Venomous and Poisonous Animals: A Handbook for Biologists, Toxicologists and Toxinologists, Physicians and Pharmacists

Abstract

Professor Dietrich Mebs of Frankfurt, Germany, has written Venomous and Poisonous Animals: A Handbook for Biologists, Toxicologists and Toxinologists, Physicians and Pharmacists. The book contains 261 color photographs and 71 black-and-white figures. The content includes information on the life history of poisonous and venomous animals and their toxins, clinical envenomations and poisonings, and clinical management. There is an introduction to toxinology, a very nice section on venomous marine animals, a section on poisonous marine animals, and then a discussion of terrestrial animals, including invertebrates (scorpions, spiders, ticks, centipedes, bees, wasps, hornets, beetles, caterpillars), amphibians, lizards, snakes, birds, and mammals. The figures are plentiful and of very high quality, with superb color reproduction. I found most of the clinical recommendations to be up-to-date but not very comprehensive or extensive. Furthermore, there is a bit of therapeutic nihilism, such as the advice that no specific therapy is recommended for a fire coral sting. Anyone who has suffered a fire coral envenomation will attest that it hurts and that there are effective therapies. Additionally, much of this book has been translated into English with the assistance of an Australian author, so oftentimes drugs that are mentioned are not in US formularies. The strengths of this book are in the descriptions of the creatures, discussions of methods of envenomation, and wonderful photographs. It belongs in the library of anyone within its intended audience who wishes to have a complete reference set related to toxinology. It provides more than a sophisticated overview—it is well written and quite fascinating.