Norman F. Cheville

The Pathology of Vitamin E Deficiency in the Chick

Syndromes of encephalomalacia, exudative diathesis and muscular dystrophy were produced in day-old chicks placed on a torula yeast base diet deficient in vitamin E. Changes in the percentage of dietary lipid were responsible for variation in the disease processes. Chicks receiving 3-9% lipid had vascular alterations which determined, in most cases, the severity of the resulting tissue changes. Encephalomalacia occurred only in chicks on 9% dietary lipid. Muscular lesions were seen in all chicks and were thought to be due to damage to the mitochondria. Acid phosphatase activity was not directly associated with degeneration of muscle.

The Pathology of Proliferative Ileitis of the Golden Syrian Hamster

Lesions of an acute and chronic ileitis of hamsters were studied. A total of 92 animals between 6 and 12 weeks old was examined. Morbidity and mortality rates were 25 to 60% and 90% respectively. The initial lesion was epithelial hyperplasia of the ileal mucosa. Severe inflammatory changes in the ileum and adjacent structures were secondary. No etiologic agent was isolated. The disease was not neoplastic.

Publishing the Scholarly Manuscript

With this issue the journal changes both editor and printer. To explain the idiosyncracies of our editorial office, I offer advice to authors, especially to those early in their careers as veterinary pathologists. These comments clearly reflect a personal bias, but that bias will be part of the journal for the next few years. Veterinarj. Patholog?, will continue to be a forum for natural and experimental disease of animals and should remain open to free and honest criticism. The standard for this, as for any good scientific journal. could be Jefferson’s motto for the University of Virginia: “For here we are not afraid to follow truth, wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.” Our manuscripts are evaluated both on scientific merit and on composition. The primary question is always “does the manuscript present enough significant new information to justify publication?” Assuming the answer is yes. a second question remains: “is the manuscript scholarly?’ Four keys to good writing-grammar, writing style, organization, and word precision-are crucial to the success of any manuscript. Authorship implies the freedom and flexibility to make a paper both interesting and informative. Yet. there are certain pitfalls to which new writers are susceptible. Grarnrnar and syntax. Grammar, the study of word class and function, is not a major problem for the journal, although some authors have trouble with verb tenses. In general, past tense is used for results and present tense for discussion and quotation of previous publications. Typical papers go back and forth between tenses, which is permissible, but most of the abstract should be in past tense and most of the introduction and discussion should be in present tense. Svntax, or word order, is a common and deceptive hurdle. A reader recently called attention to this example of bad syntax: “Aujeszky’s disease is a naturally occumng disease of piglets caused by a herpesvirus.” Although no one will assume that piglets are caused by herpesviruses, authors should be attentive to the intricacies of syntax. U’ritingstyle. Redundant phrases litter the pages of some manuscripts: “it has been determined that . . . .” “it is of interest to note that. . . ,” or “at this point in time” (choose “point” or “time”). Do not be afraid to make strong statements without reference if, in your experience, they are true. It is your right as an author to make your stance clear. Do not sprinkle the text with “it appears that” and other hedging devices. Authors should avoid negative writing if possible, e.g., “there is no information regarding . . .” (always untrue) or “little is known about . . .” (usually untrue). “Nonsuppurative” is a negative adjective to be avoided in histologic descriptions; although comfortable by virtue of tradition, it remains jargon and in most instances should be replaced by a positive descriptive adjective such as “lymphocytic.” Some other habits to avoid are inappropriate pathologic cornbinations. e.g., “atrophic enteritis”; admittedly a catchy term for discussion, it is more appropriate to rephrase as “enteritis with atrophy o f . . . ,” i.e., inflammation and its sequela: unnecessary sentences: a common filler is “The results of examining the lung culturally are presented in Table 1”; authors should simply put “(Table 1)” after the first positive statement on results to which the data in Table 1 apply: and backward composition, which masks the point to be made (usually by placing it at the end of the paragraph); this is especially important in the discussion section. where each paragraph should begin with an impact statement and then lead to the ramifications of that statement. Organization. Strict attention to journal instructions saves time. Avoid repetition among sections of the paper; e.g.. do not include the same information in the summary, results, and discussion. Manuscripts usually (but not necessarily) consist of a standard format with sections and subheadings in papers that are complex. Include all key indexing words in the title of your paper. Avoid abbreviations and excessive length. Avoid “waste words” such as “Studies on . . .” or “Observations on the . . . .” Each author listed must understand the study and be capable of explaining it; otherwise, contributors should be given credit in acknowledgements. W70rd precision. Make certain that each word means exactly what it should (and what you mean it to be). All too often the scientific data are precise, but the writing is not; it is sad to see good work expressed in crude and slovenly writing. Here is an example from a paper destroyed by inept composition.

Book Review: Veterinary Pathology in RussiaSaundersL. Z.Veterinary Pathology in Russia, 1860–1930. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, 1980. 327 pages.

This book contains 30 of 35 papers presented at a symposium on reproductive biology and diseases of captive reptiles sponsored in 1978 by the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. The book has 37 contributors and it is divided into three parts: I, a historical introduction; 11, reproductive biology of captive reptiles; and 111, diseases of captive reptiles. Part I presents a very brief overview of the past and current state of the art of managing and exhibiting captive reptiles. Part I1 contains 17 papers, of which the first few emphasize the fundamental factors of environment, physiology, and behavior that are critical to successful reproductive activities by captive reptiles. One paper has a clear and succinct discussion of semen collection and artificial insemination of snakes. The remaining papers deal with specific reproductive strategies in the management of captive sea turtles, Galapagos tortoises, geckos, green iguanas, boas, pythons, alligators and crocodiles. Part I11 contains 11 papers, mainly comprehensive descriptions of specific neoplasms and their causes reported in various species of captive reptiles. Emphasis is placed on clinical findings, major gross lesions, and treatments. Histologic descriptions are most extensive in the papers on bacterial and viral diseases. The information remains current, in spite of the publication lag time. Part I11 is complemented by Part I1 with respect to factors that greatly influence the health of captive reptiles. Such factors are frequently unknown to or overlooked by veterinarians and pathologists who are called upon to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases in captive reptiles. Pathologists will find the information superficial and clinically oriented but the subjects are succinct, well organized and richly referenced for more detailed reading. Veterinary students, clinical veterinarians and pathologists will find this book to be a valuable addition to their library. MARILYN ANDERSON

25.00.

This book is aimed at practitioners and students; perhaps there is the hope that instructors of diagnostic methods will use the book and suggest that their students purchase it. Major thrusts include a plea for standardization and competence in the necropsy laboratory and a plea for necropsists to become accomplished laboratorians in the areas of simple bacteriology, parasitology, toxicology, and clinical pathology. Simple methods in these areas are outlined. In addition, there is instruction in gross evaluation of tissues, description, and specimen collection and submission. Brief chapters on autolysis, evaluation of ingesta of cattle, and abortion problems, plus two chapters on avian necropsy and diseases, were included. The volume concludes with chapters on disposal of dead things and malpractice in veterinary medicine, with some sections on various aspects of the whole legal scene. In the chapter on malpractice the author emphasizes that whatever the practitioner does must be done skillfully and diligently, and that, “negligence of malpractice consists of the practitioner doing something he should not do.” Would this book help veterinarians become skillful and diligent necropsists and laboratorians? Well, it’s a start. The author encourages necropsists to record measurements by the metric system; appendices on normal weights and measures would have been welcomed because this kind of information is scarce. Throughout the text there are tables which are used to condense and simplify; several appendices outline how to perform various laboratory procedures. There are a few imperfections such as misspellings, errors in grammar, and misnumberings, but these will not be distracting to most readers. Some statements are vague or oversimplified, but serious students will supplement by consulting the references. For those wanting a refresher course on necropsy and some of the associated challenges and for those wanting to become laboratorians skillful in other areas, this book may be of interest.

Book Review: Diagnostic Immunopathology

This 21 1 page book on histologic diagnosis of soft tissue sarcomas by Artemis Nash is part of a series of short books on biopsy interpretation, some books completed, and several others in preparation. Its objective is to arrive at the most correct histologic diagnosis. It is limited to human tumors, which are generally classified according to the latest WHO system and the 1983 edition of Soft Tissue Tumors, a recent major work by Enzinger & Weiss. It is divided into chapters according to major tumor categoriesfibrosarcoma, fibrohistiocytic tumors, liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, vascular tumors, neuroectodermal tumors, synovial tumors, extraskeletal osseous and cartilagenous sarcomas, “malignant mesenchymomas,” and tumors of uncertain classification (e.g., epithelioid sarcoma, extraskeletal Ewing’s sarcoma). For each tumor, a definition, concise description of clinical aspects and gross appearance (human), and a more detailed histologic description of each of the major variants is presented. The microscopic discussion includes appropriate photomicrographs and suggestions for special stains and immunohistochemical techniques. One of the most helpful aspects is the list of differential diagnoses, including benign and nonneoplastic lesions, that is given for each tumor, and the histologic and staining features that separate them. The work is illustrated by 163 good quality black and white photomicrographs. Gross photographs are not presented. A separate chapter is devoted to electron microscopy, which stresses the most important differential ultrastructural features of the various sarcomas. This chapter is illustrated by 17 high quality electron micrographs. A random check of the index revealed that it is accurate and that a nutshell description of a particular tumor and its differentials could easily be located. The book is directed to the diagnostic pathologist and does not include discussions of pathogenesis or the latest basic research. Since the soft tissue sarcomas are somewhat rare in veterinary medicine (although certainly an important diagnostic challenge) and such tumors in animals do not always have an identical human counterpart, the book deals with only a small part of veterinary pathology. It would be quite useful, however, to a veterinary pathologist with a busy surgical biopsy service and well worth the suggested price of

Book Review: Ultrastructural Pathology of the Cell and MatrixGhadiallyF.N., Vols. I and II, 3rd ed., 1340 pp. Butterworths, London, England, 1988.

65.00. For comparison, a much more complete work, very detailed, but more cumbersome to use (Enzinger, F.M. & Weiss, S.W., Soft Tissue Tumors, 2nd ed., 840 pp. C. V. Mosby, St. Louis, MO, 1988) is available for approximately

225.00 (U.S.).

175.00.

Book Review: Inflammation: Basic Principles and Clinical Correlates

of veterinary medicine. The words are translated in a scholarly fashion. The French poet, Paul Valery, said, “A translation is like a woman, the more beautiful, the less faithful.” To the extent that my knowledge of both languages permits me to judge, Mr. Mack’s translations, in both directions, are most faithful. Not only are the linguistic aspects properly handled, but the author has taken great pains to assist the veterinary reader. Thus, under the entry Magenwurmer, klein, he gives the translation as “small stomach worms,” then adds that these belong to the genera Trichostrongylus, Ostertagia, Cooperia, and Nematodirus. There are numerous other examples of going beyond the minimum of providing a translation, wherein the translated term is oriented among cognate terms. The second section, in which English terms are rendered in German translation, will interest chiefly those in Germanspeaking countries who are reading a veterinary paper in English. Many educated readers in those countries will have a better command of spoken and written English than their counterparts in English-speaking countries have of German. Perhaps this is the reason that this section is shorter than the first. Here, too, the translations are accurate and useful; if there is an idiomatic as well as a scientific German word for a given entry, both are printed. Thus, an English-speaking reader wishing to extend hidher German vocabulary could browse happily among the words in the second section. As it happens, one can browse, but only with difficulty. The author has not been served well by his publisher with respect to typography, so finding and reading an individual entry is unduly time consuming. There are several typographical problems which make it extraordinarily difficult to scan. Almost all dictionaries use bold face type for ease in displaying the terms to be defined. This one does not. The book is set in small type, which makes the use of a serif type face mandatory; regrettably it is sans-serif. Spacing between lines in a given entry and between each individual entry is the same, depriving the eye of some means of distinguishing where one ends and the next one begins. In each individual entry, the word spacing is likewise inadequate; there is so little space that one cannot tell at first glance where one language ends and the other begins. Thus, the reader must struggle to isolate an entry from the adjacent ones, and to isolate the parts within an entry. One need not go far afield, merely to Mr. Mack‘s previous Russian-English Veterinary Dictionary, to see how such a book ought to be printed. There is, however, no comparable veterinary dictionary in existence. Furthermore, nobody reads a dictionary page after page except a reviewer, whose job it is to answer a single question: Will the book help the English speaker with German veterinary terms and vice versa?The answer is an unequivocal yes. Some words in this book can be found in other GermanEnglish/English-German dictionaries of agriculture or medicine, but most of them cannot, making Roy Mack‘s dictionary a unique reference source book. It is an invaluable contribution to the literature of veterinary medicine, filling a void that has existed all too long. The book deserves a place in the library of every veterinary educational or research institution. Every scholarly veterinarian who reads German, no matter how well, will find it helpful and sometimes indispensable.

Book Review: Atlas of Renal Disease in Aotus Monkeys with Experimental Plasmodial Infection

This 97-page booklet contains 7 1 illustrations (54 in color) but only 7% pages of text devoted to simian renal disease. There are many electron micrographs of excellent quality, and the histology of mesangiopathic glomerulopathy of plasmodial-infected monkeys is carefully done. There is much unrelated information on the biology of owl monkeys including three tables of hematologic data. Many of the color prints do not have marked tone differences and do not require color prints; because the background is gray and the contrast reduced, the material would have been better presented in a black and white print. As an atlas, this book succeeds and it will be required for those working on the pathology of renal disease and malaria.