Overview
This book describes the basic facilities required for surgery on farm animals. The approach and selection of animals for experiments is defined, and animal welfare is discussed. Instructions are given for the catheterization of blood vessels to allow collection of specific blood samples or to make defined infusions into an organ or gland. The surgical exteriorization of vessels in skin-covered loops is described, as well as fistulation of the alimentary tract, allowing sampling of the digested contents and providing access to the secretions from the ducted glands. Direction to obtain access to the lymphatic system for the implantation of electrodes in the smooth muscle of the intestine, and for the excision of endocrine gland and the physical transplantation of the glands to provide access to their blood supply are given. Surgery of the uterus and of the fetus is described.
The book advocates the highest standard of endeavor in the pursuit of research objectives requiring the use of surgical preparation in the experimental farm animal. Most of the techniques described have been successfully performed by the author and provide satisfactory survival and standard repeatable animal preparations. This reduces the possible suffering of the experimental animal and the number of animals required to obtain meaningful results. It also enhances the scientific value by the repeatability of the results.
The book contains black-and-white illustrations.
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: John C. Huhn, DVM, MS(University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)Description: This book describes numerous common experimental surgical techniques used in cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats. A mechanistic approach is used to describe experimental methods for assay of various organ systems.
Purpose: The purpose is to promote informed and thus humane use of experimental farm animals in research. This book is much needed, given the fact that these techniques are not normally covered in standard veterinary surgical texts. Although such information is generally available, a collation of such information of this quality is difficult to find.
Audience: This book is intended for use by graduate veterinarians involved in postgraduate research. The author has had numerous previous publications involving surgical experimental protocol in farm animals and is thus a credible source in this subject area.
Features: Ample illustrations are used to supplement textual descriptions of experimental procedures. Numerous references are cited to provide additional information, although these tend to be rather dated and limited in scope. Additional attention should be given to anesthetic techniques, which have made particular advances in the past decade. The book features an attractive cover, and the text quality is of a high standard. Drug and equipment suppliers are appropriately cited, although they are predominantly European sources and thus have limited applicability for U.S. readership.
Assessment: This book is a useful primer for veterinary surgeons engaged in farm animal research. Although the topics covered are adequate, surgical methods described for a given procedure are limited. I would recommend it for library inventory, to be used as a starting point for those whose surgical research experience in a given area is limited.
John C. Huhn
This book describes numerous common experimental surgical techniques used in cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats. A mechanistic approach is used to describe experimental methods for assay of various organ systems. The purpose is to promote informed and thus humane use of experimental farm animals in research. This book is much needed, given the fact that these techniques are not normally covered in standard veterinary surgical texts. Although such information is generally available, a collation of such information of this quality is difficult to find. This book is intended for use by graduate veterinarians involved in postgraduate research. The author has had numerous previous publications involving surgical experimental protocol in farm animals and is thus a credible source in this subject area. Ample illustrations are used to supplement textual descriptions of experimental procedures. Numerous references are cited to provide additional information, although these tend to be rather dated and limited in scope. Additional attention should be given to anesthetic techniques, which have made particular advances in the past decade. The book features an attractive cover, and the text quality is of a high standard. Drug and equipment suppliers are appropriately cited, although they are predominantly European sources and thus have limited applicability for U.S. readership. This book is a useful primer for veterinary surgeons engaged in farm animal research. Although the topics covered are adequate, surgical methods described for a given procedure are limited. I would recommend it for library inventory, to be used as a starting point for those whose surgical research experience in a given area islimited.3 Stars from Doody