Book Info
Univ. of Melbourne, Australia. Pocket-sized synopsis cross-referenced to the ninth edition of Veterinary Medicine. Also parallels the parent book in the organization of its chapters, providing clinical core material linked. Emphasizes the clinical decision-making process. Outline and tabular formats. Previous edition: c1994. Trim size: 8 x 5 inches. Softcover.

ANNOTATION

The book contains black-and-white illustrations.

FROM THE CRITICS

Ronald D. Smith

This second edition consists of 35 chapters divided into two areas: general medicine (a systems approach to disease covered in 14 chapters) and special medicine (specific disease syndromes or etiologies covered in 21 chapters). An extensive index facilitates locating topics in the 731 pages of text. This companion is intended to be a clinically useful, quick reference guide to diseases of large animals and their diagnosis. New editions of both this companion and the parent text, Radostits' Veterinary Medicine: A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Goats, and Horses, 9th Edition (WB Saunders, 2000), were prompted by reports of new diseases and new information about previously described diseases. The author has also sought to help the user make a diagnosis by linking clinical or epidemiologic findings (Chapter 1) to possible causes (general and special medicine sections) through the use of extensive internal cross-references to related content. This approach practically eliminates the need to consult the index when researching a disease syndrome. Each disease heading includes a page reference to a more extensive coverage in Veterinary Medicine. This approach is a very effective means for purposeful navigation through the voluminous content. The audience for this book is veterinary students, practitioners, and animal health specialists in the hospital ward and field. Readers must be familiar with veterinary medical terminology. This new edition is a concise representation (approximately 15% of the text) of the latest edition of the parent text. Readers will find at least two features especially useful: the systematic approach to clinicalexamination and making a diagnosis, discussed in Chapter 1, and the ease with which a differential list can be developed by means of internal cross-references. Disease descriptions include etiology, epidemiology, clinical signs, follow-up diagnostic tests, necropsy findings, recommended treatment, and control measures. The 29 tables and single figure are well designed and clinically useful, but the page references in the List of Tables are in error beginning with Table 21.1. All users should first read the one-page instructions on how to use the book, which is located immediately following the preface. This is an effective approach to organizing a wealth of disease information into a clinically-useful format. It is not intended to replace the parent text, but is a highly effective guide to content in the latter. In many cases this companion may be sufficient, thus reducing the need to consult the complete text. Only large animals are covered (cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses). Companion animals, poultry, and exotics are not covered. For these species the reader may consult the Merck Veterinary Manual, 8th Edition (Merck, 1998). Although the latter is more comprehensive in species coverage, it lacks the internal cross-referencing that makes this companion so useful. A pocket companion to Ettinger's Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine: Diseases of the Dog and Cat - 2 Volume Set, 5th Edition (WB Saunders, 2000) is available. In some ways navigation through the book reviewed here is similar to navigating through an electronic text with hyperlinks. An electronic version of this companion, configured for use on compact disc and/or the web, with links from each internal page reference to its target, may be an especially useful reference source in some scenarios.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Ronald D. Smith, DVM, PhD (University of Illinois)Description: This second edition consists of 35 chapters divided into two areas: general medicine (a systems approach to disease covered in 14 chapters) and special medicine (specific disease syndromes or etiologies covered in 21 chapters). An extensive index facilitates locating topics in the 731 pages of text. Purpose: This companion is intended to be a clinically useful, quick reference guide to diseases of large animals and their diagnosis. New editions of both this companion and the parent text, Radostits' Veterinary Medicine: A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Goats, and Horses, 9th Edition (WB Saunders, 2000), were prompted by reports of new diseases and new information about previously described diseases. The author has also sought to help the user make a diagnosis by linking clinical or epidemiologic findings (Chapter 1) to possible causes (general and special medicine sections) through the use of extensive internal cross-references to related content. This approach practically eliminates the need to consult the index when researching a disease syndrome. Each disease heading includes a page reference to a more extensive coverage in Veterinary Medicine. This approach is a very effective means for purposeful navigation through the voluminous content. Audience: The audience for this book is veterinary students, practitioners, and animal health specialists in the hospital ward and field. Readers must be familiar with veterinary medical terminology. Features: This new edition is a concise representation (approximately 15% of the text) of the latest edition of the parent text. Readers will find at least two features especially useful: the systematic approach to clinical examination and making a diagnosis, discussed in Chapter 1, and the ease with which a differential list can be developed by means of internal cross-references. Disease descriptions include etiology, epidemiology, clinical signs, follow-up diagnostic tests, necropsy findings, recommended treatment, and control measures. The 29 tables and single figure are well designed and clinically useful, but the page references in the List of Tables are in error beginning with Table 21.1. All users should first read the one-page instructions on how to use the book, which is located immediately following the preface. Assessment: This is an effective approach to organizing a wealth of disease information into a clinically-useful format. It is not intended to replace the parent text, but is a highly effective guide to content in the latter. In many cases this companion may be sufficient, thus reducing the need to consult the complete text. Only large animals are covered (cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses). Companion animals, poultry, and exotics are not covered. For these species the reader may consult the Merck Veterinary Manual, 8th Edition (Merck, 1998). Although the latter is more comprehensive in species coverage, it lacks the internal cross-referencing that makes this companion so useful. A pocket companion to Ettinger's Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine: Diseases of the Dog and Cat - 2 Volume Set, 5th Edition (WB Saunders, 2000) is available. In some ways navigation through the book reviewed here is similar to navigating through an electronic text with hyperlinks. An electronic version of this companion, configured for use on compact disc and/or the web, with links from each internal page reference to its target, may be an especially useful reference source in some scenarios.

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