TEXTBOOK OF LARGE ANIMAL SURGERY, Second Edition, Edited by Frederick W. Oehme DVM, PhD; Pub- lished by Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, MD (1988); 714 pages; $64.95 U.S.

The first edition of this book was published 14 years ago. New techniques have been developed since then, and new qualified equine surgeons have come on the scene, many of whom have contributed to this text.

"Large animal surgery continues to be a unique blend of scientific knowledge, manipulative skills, and case-oriented innovation," writes the editor in the preface to the second edition. "The adoption by large animal surgeons of develop- ments from human and small animal surgical practice have of late been dampened by the economics of food animal practice. Equine surgery has continued to rapidly develop, keeping pace with our human medical and small animal colleagues. The result has been that in the 14 years since the first edition of this text appeared, knowledge and application of large ani- mal surgical principles has increased, and equine surgical techniques have become more definitive. Surgical procedures in food-producing animals have been refined with experience, but the development of new methodologies has been slow. The expense of sophisticated surgery must still be justified when the patient has a limited economic worth.

"This species variation in the growth of large animal surgery was apparent during the development of this second edition. Although surgical procedures in small ruminants and swine were added to many chapters, the most significant change involved improvements in general surgical principles and the expansion of indications for equine surgery and its greater scope and improved prognosis."

J. L. Milne adroitlysets the stage for the rest of the book with an introductory chapter on general surgical considera- tions. In a philosophical tone he writes, "With the passage of time, it is probable that the terms medicine and surgery will lose their separate identifies under the more embracing term, therapeutics. Surgery will then be restricted largely to what is known today as operative surgery, in which the scalpel and suture are the means to achieve an end and the physician who uses these means will be referred to, as he is today, as a surgeon." For the benefit of students, Milne starts with the basics and carefully covers general surgical principles.

180

Restraint and anesthesia are covered from beginning to end, in two separate chapters. The differing approach with each species is described and'illustrated. A very complete description of suturing techniques is presented in Chapter 4. This includes descriptions of suture material, instruments, wound anesthesia, knot tying, suture patterns, and various specialized techniques of suturing, such as needed for ten- dons, nerves, vessels, and the gastrointestinal lining.

One chapter covers wound healing and tissue repair. The special considerations of the integumentary system, such as skin, hoof, claw, and appendage, are covered in a special chapter. There is an extensive description, with illustrations, of special procedures for the hoof, but the bulk of this material relates to cattle hoofs. A conspicuous omission in this chapter is coverage of equine hoof surgery, including important new techniques such as hoof resection.

The chapter on the musculoskeletal system is much more oriented to the horse than the chapter on the integumentary system. Procedures such as caudal myotomy, cribbing sur- gery, and tendon splitting are covered. A disappointment in this chapter is the omission of up-to-date material on surgery for angular limb deformities. The section on fractures includes one paragraph on arthroscopy. The use of plaster and fiber- glass casts is extensively covered.

J.E. Schneider has done an admirable job with the chapter on the respiratory system. He includes a lengthy description of laryngeal hemiplegia and its surgical correction. Good illus- trations of laryngopasty are included. Arytenoidectomy is adequately described and illustrated, as well as correction of epiglottal entrapment.

The chapter on the digestive system includes some equine dentistry, but probably not enough for those who are espe- cially interested in the subject. There is more space devoted in this chapter to the rumenotomy procedure than to a considera- tion of equine colic, which is most certainly disappointing to equine practitioners.

In general, this textbook accomplishes the intent of the editor of being an all purpose large animal veterinary surgery book. It should be most valuable for the general practitioner and the student. The equine practitioner will undoubtedly need to supplement the book with others on more specialized equine surgery. WEJ

EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE