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Cooper, J. E., and Cooper, M. E. Introduction to Veterinary and Comparative Forensic Medicine. 415 pp. Blackwell Publishing Professional, Ames, Iowa, 2007. $119.99. ISBN 978-14051-1101-0.

This is a first edition of an introductory text on veterinary and comparative forensics. For those unaware, forensic medicine is the application of medical knowledge - including but not limited to pathology - to legal cases. This text is intended as both an introduction and an overview of veterinary forensic medicine, and so will be useful to both clinical practitioners and pathologists who routinely or occasionally become involved in legal cases involving animals.

This book is organized into 13 generally short and readable chapters, which are further organized into subsections dealing with introductory material, particular types of legal cases, and the largest section dealing with methodologies. Following the chapters are several useful appendices, which include examples of submission and report forms, a very useful list of journals, organizations and information sources for more information, a glossary of terms, and 11 sample case studies. Additional appendices include a list of forensic facilities and equipment, the Council for the Registration of Forensic Practitioners Code of Practice, a thorough and up-to-date reference list, and a complete index. Each reader regardless of their prior experience and interest in forensic medicine will find several valuable chapters as well as some practical information in the appendices. In addition, the text is well illustrated with 157 illustrations, including eight pages of color plates which refer back to the various chapters.

The authors are a husband and wife team composed of a veterinary pathologist and a lawyer. This combination of professional careers has provided them with unique insight and experience in forensic pathology. While the references and legal concepts lean significantly toward the United Kingdom, the authors have supplemented this with more universal codes covering wildlife internationally, and there are many similarities between the US and UK legal systems. Therefore, this book will be applicable to many veterinary practitioners and pathologists throughout Europe and North America, and to a lesser extent worldwide. While no single text can adequately prepare you for a career in forensic medicine, this is a useful text which when supplemented with proper training, experience and additional reading can serve as an excellent starting point and reference.

Dr S. D. Fitzgerald

Michigan State University
Lansing, MI

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