gotten in oiling incidents, get a mention. I strongly recom-mend this volume as an extremely useful resource notonly for anyone engaged in wildlife rehabilitation, butalso for individuals and organisations involved in environ-mental activities.

Steve BextonRSPCA Wildlife Hospital – Norfolk,

East Winch, Kings Lynn,

Norfolk, PE32 1NR, UK

E-mail address: eastwinch@rspca.org.uk

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2006.11.015

R.E. Shadwick, G.V. Lauder, Fish Biomechanics, first ed.,Elsevier Academic Press, London, 2006, ISBN 978-0-12-

350447-0, 542 pp; £63 (hard)

Fish Biomechanics is the latest volume of the classic FishPhysiology series originally edited by Hoar and Randall.The series first started in 1969 and since that time, asnew areas of physiology open up for investigation or up-dates of particular areas need to be shared, a further reviewbook on the subject is published. These volumes are gearedto research physiologists in aquatic biology departments.Nonetheless it will be of interest as a reference text for oth-ers working with fish whether on farm or in the laboratory.The book has used well drawn diagrams and there is judi-cious use of colour throughout.

At its simplest, biomechanics may be seen as answeringthe question of ‘how fish work’. The areas of the fish cov-ered by the book are skeletal tissues, lateral line systems,skull biomechanics, the jaw, mechanics of pectoral fin swim-ming and other forms of swimming. The final chapter looksat the field of biomechanics and its relevance to conserva-tion. This brings the reader to the issue of effectively manag-ing fisheries and developing policies which consider thefishes’ needs as well as man’s use of the shared environment.

The lateral line function is described by one of thereviewers as ‘touch at a distance’ and this kind of languagedraws the reader very gradually into each specialist areacovered as though through a wide funnel. This enablesthose of us who are not expert in the field to take on boardas much as possible from the text. A further description ofthe mechanism of action of the lateral line of a fish enablesus to understand in principle what is in reality an extremelycomplex physiological area. The explanation given is thatfish produce a flow field around their bodies as they swimthrough their environment. They then use the lateral line

system to detect distortions in this self generated flowand can also detect currents generated by other movingbodies or of stationary objects such as rocks. To my mindthis has explained what has always been a difficult processto understand.

Nearly 20 distinct locomotor modes have been identifiedfor steady swimming in fish. Techniques have been devel-oped which demonstrate wake flow patterns (using digitalparticle image velocimetry) helping scientists to differenti-ate the various swimming patterns from species to species.Up to 20% of fish rely on pectoral fins as the primarymeans of propulsion. This is important to note since tag-ging experiments may sometimes allow fins to be cut toidentify different groups in cohabitant experimental mod-els. Many practically observed phenomena seen on farmsare explained by some of the authors. For example caudalfin damage is often seen in trout held in circular tanks andthis has been explained by significant stress on the caudalmyotomes.

Unfortunately for this reviewer there is an over-abun-dance of mathematical formulae in some of the chapters,although this might appeal to more numerate scientists.Literature is quoted wisely and widely (from 1809 to2005) as it should be for such a review series. Although anumber of authors are based in the USA, one chapter(on fast start mechanics) has been written by Dr. JamesWakeling of the Royal Veterinary College, London.

Overall I would recommend this book as a reference textfor fish scientists and for other icthyological enthusiasts.

Lydia A. BrownPHARMAQ Ltd,

Unit 15, Sandleheath Industrial Estate, Fordingbridge,

Hampshire SP6 1PA, UK

E-mail address: lydia.brown@btinternet.com

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2006.10.009

D.C. Knottenbelt, Saunders Equine Formulary, 4th ed.,

Elsevier, 2005, ISBN 0702027901, 499pp; £37–99 (soft)

Having never failed to carry previous editions of theEquine Formulary in my car over the last 10 years, I was de-lighted to welcome the fourth edition. There is no mistak-

ing that it is a well used handbook, and my last edition wasdefinitely showing signs of wear. My first impression of thisnew edition was that middle-age spread might have set inand that the emphasis may have shifted from concise, use-ful information to a surfeit of science. However, on readingit my concerns were soon dispelled, whilst still remember-

Book Reviews / The Veterinary Journal 173 (2007) 701–704 703

ing that this is a formulary and that it is likely to be usedselectively rather than be read from cover to cover.

Vital signs and normal values in Part 1 are clear andunambiguous with no doubts about the units used. The sec-tion on diagnostic tests is much enlarged from the previousedition, with helpful highlighted comments on the impor-tant and salient features, such as the fact that the phenyl-ephrine test for grass sickness should not be performedon horses that have received acepromazine or an alpha-2adrenoreceptor antagonist drug in the previous 6–8 h.The Index of Drugs used in Equine Medicine is signifi-cantly expanded and clearly and logically laid out. Onesmall inconsistency in drugs acting on the CNS occurswhen GGE (guaiphenesin) is said in highlights ‘‘NOT TOBE USED ALONE FOR CASTING’’, as the drug hasno analgesic/anaesthetic properties. The next drug men-tioned, succinylcholine, attracts no similar contraindica-tion, although its effect in the conscious horse would be agreat deal more unacceptable to that of GGE. However,I know of no other source of such readily available doserates and general information for all drugs likely to beencountered in equine practice.

In the section on restraint, which describes many usefulmethods, there is a picture of a makeshift loop twitch fash-ioned from a metal headed claw hammer. I would respect-fully suggest that a disfiguring nostril or lip laceration fromthe claw would be a difficult to explain to an irate owner.The section on ageing is excellent, with clear illustrations.Diagrams of this quality are extremely useful to show toan owner in order to confirm the reasoning behind the age-ing of a particular horse. Humane destruction is fully cov-ered with many helpful practical suggestions on avoidingproblems in this very important part of everyday horse

practice – although the fact that succinylcholine shouldnot be used as a sole agent is not emphasised. Unfortu-nately the electrocardiology section is disappointing be-cause of confusion over the annotation of the examplesof traces. Other commonly used clinical techniques are con-cise and well described.

Anatomical diagrams supporting the section on limbnerve blocks are clear and well annotated. However, someof the photographs show a tendency to inject the distalweight bearing limb in a distal direction, which some veter-inary surgeons might feel increases the likelihood of needlebreakage if the foot is suddenly snatched up during theprocedure. Sites for synoviocentesis for sampling, jointanaesthesia and medication are well described with excel-lent diagrams. A minor criticism is that joint blocks areconstantly described in the text under the diagrams andphotographs as joint nerve blocks, which is a rather unu-sual terminology. The chapter on field anaesthesia is fullof excellent practical suggestions such as the inclusion ofanalgesics and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugsin pre-medication regimes to aid in achieving safer morebalanced anaesthesia.

In my view there are very few veterinary surgeons in largeanimal or equine practice who would fail to find this formu-lary useful on a regular basis. It can be compared to my dog,my constant companion in the car – less good company per-haps, but considerably more useful and informative.

David W. JaggerPear Hill,

Broadoak, Shrewsbury,

Shropshire SY4 3AF, UK

E-mail address: jagger@entanet.com

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.01.002

704 Book Reviews / The Veterinary Journal 173 (2007) 701–704