This book was written as a textbook for those who are learning general pathology. This text was not written nor would it serve as a reference book for clinical pathology. The text explains general pathology and how it relates to clinical medicine. The information in this text is an excellent reminder of the importance of supplying accurate information to pathologists who examine samples to enable them to provide the most accurate diagnosis.
The text begins with ‘About This Book’ which explains how to get the most out of the text which I found helpful. Additional features include a glossary, additional reading guide, and an index. These show the author’s interest in making sure the reader understands this subject. The text was published for the United Kingdom as its main audience so the reader will find spelling differences if not accustomed to the UK terminology; some are pointed out in the text, others are not. This was not a detriment, but entertaining, reminding me that although we speak English on both sides of the pond, there are still some differences.
Each chapter starts with an outline and the ‘Aims’ of the chapter highlighting important sections. Each chapter ends with a ‘Summary of Key Points,” followed by a test to discover how much the reader retained from the reading. I found that reading the questions before the chapter and answering as I went along was my preferred method of study. The answers for the self test are found in the back of the text.
The text has ample illustrations and outlines included in each chapter. Often a key point is illustrated and/or outlined to further explain the concept. I found these to be excellent teaching tools.
The author is a pathology instructor for veterinary nurses at the Royal Veterinary College in the United Kingdom. It is obvious that her knowledge is extensive and her passion for her subject is woven throughout the book. I also enjoyed the author’s writing style; she clearly enjoys not only her subject but also teaching others. Examples include breaking words down to Greek/Latin origins, adding study tips and including suggestions for further reading. These bonuses are sprinkled throughout the text.
The chapters include:
-
Introduction to Veterinary Pathology
-
Aetiology (Etiology)
-
Cell Injury
-
Inflammation
-
Pathology and the Immune System
-
Tissue Repair
-
Circulatory Disorders
-
Disorders of Cell/Tissue Growth
The author has written an excellent book for the beginning veterinary technician student, assistants or someone interested in a good overall review of clinical pathology. The book is not intended for veterinarians or experienced technicians unless they would like the review. This basic information is very well presented. I would highly recommend this text to any veterinary technician program.
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell (2010).
ISBN: 978-1-4051-5590-8.