REVIEW. 
123 
REVIEW. 
DISEASES OF THE OX. 
By J. H. Steel, M.R.C.V.S. 
The apearance of a new w T ork on cattle pathology, (Diseases 
of the Ox, by J. H. Steel, M.R.C.V.S.,) is indicative of the rapid 
progress that veterinary science is making in this direction. 
In America, within the recollection of some of the older 
members of the profession, the diseases of cattle were but im¬ 
perfectly understood, and it was seldom thought necessary or 
economical to employ the veterinarian in treating this class of our 
domestic animals. All diseases of cattle were treated by the cow- 
doctors or cow-leeches, as they were called. Not infrequently 
these animals when diseased were left entirely to nature. 
The present volume is timely and fills a much needed aud 
widely felt want. The general character of the work is such as 
to commend it to the busy practitioner as well as to the student. 
In style it is terse, vigorous and precise. The author de¬ 
serves special praise for omitting lengthy discussions of disputed 
points, as well also as in referring his readers to works that treat 
of special diseases, rather than to encumber a work of this 
description with all the details that properly belong to separate 
and more or less distinct subjects. 
In point of scientific exactness the work is fully abreast with 
the times. If there is one feature more than all others that merits 
particular notice it is the absence of formular receipts and pre¬ 
scriptions. It is indeed a relief to find works of this kind that 
have not encouraged empiricism by the insertion of numerous 
prescriptions. 
Of the internal arrangement of the .book some comment is 
needed. The introduction, covering almost ninety pages, occu¬ 
pies too much space. This has necessarily rendered subsequent 
parts of the work too concise. A book wu-itten expressly for the 
veterinary profession need scarcely be burdened by such a lengthy 
explanation of technicalities, already supposed to be fully under¬ 
stood. The section comprising bovine therapeutics and Materia 
Medica presents a convenient tabular arrangement of the more 
common drugs with their actions and uses. 
