Acupuncture in thoracolumbar disc disease

puncture points by a variety of techniques had major physiological and therapeutical effects on the defence systems of the body in animals and man. This evidence might help to explain the encouraging clinical experience with canine TLDD, especially types I and 11.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank Mr Phillip A. M. Rogers, from

Dublin, Ireland and Mr Luc A. A. Janssens, from Antwerpen, Belgium for comments on the manu- script.

REFERENCES BIsctiKu. J. (1978) Einfiihrung in die Akupunkter, loth edn,

Haug Verl, Heidelberg. pp 10-38 DAVIES. 1. V . ’ & SHARP, N. J. H. (1983) A comparison of

conservative treatment and fenestration for thoracolumbar disc disease in the dog. Journal of Small Animal Practice 24, 72 1

HOERLEIN, B. F. (1971) Canine neurology - Diagnosis and treatment. 2nd edn. W. B. Saunders. Philadelphia. pp 303- 391

JANSSENS, L. A. A. (1983a) Investigation and treatment of canine thoracolumbar disk disease: one practitioner’s perspective. Veterinary Medicine Small Animal Clinician 78, 1235

JANSSENS, L. A. A. (1983b) Acupuncture treatment for canine thoracolumbar disk protrusions: A review of 78 cases. Veter- inary Medicine Small Animal Clinician 78, 1580-1588

KLIDE, A. M. & KUNC. S. H. (1977) Veterinary acupuncture. 1st edn, University of Pennsylvania Press. pp 67-275

MANN, F. (1975) The treatment of diseases by acupuncture. 3rd edn, Redwood Burn, London. pp 63-75

POMERANZ, B. (1982) Neurochemische Grundlage der Akupunk- ter. Akupunktur - Theorie und Praxis 10, 142

ROGERS, P. A. M. & BOSSY, J. (1981) Activation of the defence systems of the body in animals and man by acupuncture and moxibustion. Acupuncture Research Quarterly 5, 47

ROGERS, P. A. M., WHITE, S. S. & OITAWAY. C. W. (1977) Stimulation of the acupuncture points in relation to analgesia and therapy of clinical disorders in animals. Veterinary Annual 17, 258

STILL, J. (1988a) Acupuncture treatment of type Ill and IV thoracolumbar disc disease. Modern Veterinary Practice

STILL J. (1988b) Acupuncture treatment of thoracolumbar disc disease: A study of 35 cases. Companion Animal Practice 2, 19

BOOK REVIEW

A review of recent developments in small animal practice Advances in Small Animal Practice Ed E. A. Chandler. Published by Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. Price €32.50, 198 pages. 1988.

This book is intended to provide a review of recent developments in specific areas of small animal practice. The 10 sections are each written by recognised leading veterinary authors in their own area. There is a strong feline input, with articles on hyperthyroidism, leukaemia virus, chlamydia1 in- fection and even separate sections for feline and canine reproduction. Exotics are not forgotten, with John Cooper contributing an excellent article on endoscopy in those species. In addition there are general articles on ophthalmology, anaes- thesia, analgesia, and the laboratory assessment of hepatobiliary disease.

Review articles should bring together current thoughts and new approaches to areas of study and research. Good examples come in the articles on anaesthesia and on analgesia, where there are not so many advances in research, but the articles manage to question some long-held beliefs and lead one to question established routines. The

other end of the spectrum is the article on hyper- thyroidism, where there is great emphasis on the latest results from researchers in the field. All sections have an extensive list of references-for further reading.

One of the problems about a book like this is the time lag between writing and publishing. This means that some of the articles are already out of date. The use of bile acids as a liver function test is now established in veterinary practice and has already been well reviewed in the American litera- ture. This review is too tentative on the signifi- cance of bile acids and more attention could have been given to this important development. Another example is the failure to mention carbima- zole, which is being used because it is readily available in this country, as an alternative to methimazole in the treatment of hyperthyroidism.

While some articles, such as the one on ophthal- mology, are disappointing in that they contribute little to one’s knowledge of the subject, the book as a whole is a useful and helpful addition to the practice library. The cost is not cheap at €32.50, and I think that one must compare its cost to that of major textbooks such as Current Veterinary

‘Therapy. I would think twice about the purchase, but I would still buy the book.

Anthony Young

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