Having reviewed other works by Dr. Wright as published through his Animal Insides Press and being part of a veterinary technology program currently shopping the digital radiography aisle, I was anxious to see what the author had to say on the subject. This 209 page paperback is a powerhouse of information for those wishing to invest in digital radiographic equipment. The 25 chapters are written concisely with very little fluff, however the authors sense of humor shines through in a quickly and engaging manner.
The book is full of great black and white radiographic images with good explanations and real life examples which illustrate some of the most complex points. A definite plus to the authors writing style is their willingness to field questions from readers through email on the process of choosing the system that’s just right. The discussions are quick and concise with accompanying pictures for great comparisons and educational purpose. Also an interesting concept for explaining the importance of good technique is the use of a “raw” data histogram, normally a photographic tool used as a way of assessing ones technique in tone and light control and equilibrium of light distribution. The pictures and histograms are a great troubleshooting guide for those striving to perfect their usage of digital radiography.
Of the 25 chapters there are some chapters that really stand out in their usefulness. By far the best chapter is Chapter 5 entitled: Get Ready to Rumble: CR vs. DR which is written by both authors in a format that has each author squaring off in defense of their favorite type of digital radiography which in this case are opposite views. While Dr. Wright champions the cause of computed radiography (CR), Dr. Hornof is equally diligent in his defense of the Direct Radiography (DR). Both authors present compelling cases whose merit I will leave to those in a position of selecting machines for their practice. Among other chapters of interest are Chapters 6 and 8 which address Image Backup and Salvage and evaluating image quality. For the veterinarian who is the “ultimate investor” in this technology Chapters 11 and 15 discuss both investment strategies to allow the machine to pay for itself as well as information on how to evaluate service contracts to ensure that all of the clinic needs will be met in the regular servicing and maintenance of the machine.
For veterinary technicians, Chapter 13 proves to be the shining moment that will make said technicians superstars as they are introduced to the installation day checklist in order to gear up to receive their new diagnostic machinery. There are only a few slights to this book, and they are mostly directed at the audience focus. While there are areas that technicians will utilize (Chapter 13, etc.), some information such as the section on Modulation Transfer Function proved difficult to understand for the reviewer and was deemed best left to a veterinarian’s interpretation. For this reason this may not be a book that veterinary technicians will readily find a need for while veterinarians may reach for this book for guidance. As a side note there is also no index to this book making it difficult to look things up quickly. For these reasons, the reviewer feels this book merits a 4 out of 5 star rating.
Publisher: Animal Insides Press (2010)
209 pages; paperback
ID#: 8640288
VIN Store: currently unavailable