Agricultural Medicine: A Practical Guide / Edition 1

by James E. Lessenger

Overview

The reader of this volume will experience a voyage of discovery with one of the finest guides available. James E. Lessenger has combined experience in private practice, preventive medicine, and public service in California’s San Joaquin Valley, one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. His experience and selection of chapter authors is, in every sense, a contri- tion to illuminating the art and science of agromedicine. As one examines the table of contents, one is impressed by the range of topics and the importance of each concern. Covering both injury prevention and environmental h- ards, this innovative work is a practical guide for the family physician wo- ing in a rural area. The contents demonstrate the vitality of agromedicine and the vision and insight of the authors. The chapters on farm chemicals provide thorough information about the many types of chemicals commonly used in the farm environment, how they are applied, and the principles of diagnosis and management for family physicians treating patients for toxic chemical exposure. These chapters underscore the fact that the use of farm chemicals is one of the things resp- sible for the increase in worldwide agricultural production and that risks can be managed through preventive measures. The Agricultural Medicine represents a benchmark in the evolution of a concept begun in South Carolina over two decades ago called agromedicine.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781441920584
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	10/05/2010
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of hardcover 1st ed. 2006
Pages:	542
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.24(d)

Table of Contents

The Agricultural Environment.- Food Safety and Agricultural Medicine.- Overview of Hazards for Those Working in Agriculture.- Occupational Regulation.- Education and Training as Intervention Strategies.- Personal Protective Equipment and Safety Engineering of Machinery.- Disability in Agriculture.- Physical Monitoring.- Biological Monitoring.- Drug Programs and Testing.- Work Site Visits.- Children in Agriculture.- Chemical Exposure: An Overview.- Fertilizers and Nutrients.- Plant Growth Regulators.- Pesticides.- Neurological Injuries in Agriculture.- Dermatological Conditions.- Agricultural Respiratory Diseases.- Renal and Hepatic Disease.- Disease and Injury Among Veterinarians.- The Mental Health of Agricultural Workers.- Neurotoxicity of Chemicals Commonly Used in Agriculture.- Repetitive Motion Injuries.- Trauma in the Agricultural Setting.- Diseases from Plants.- Diseases from Animals, Poultry, and Fish.- Diseases from Soil.- Emerging Zoonotic Agents of Concern in Agriculture.- Arthropod Bites and Stings.- Mammal Bites.- Reptile Bites.- Heat, Cold, and Water Immersion Injuries.- Injuries from Electromagnetic Energy.- Acoustic Injuries in Agriculture.- Reproductive Hazards.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

"Agricultural Medicine, a multiauthored book edited by James E. Lessinger, is a study in ‘agro-medicine’ … . Lessenger and colleagues have assembled a wealth of information that will be useful to a wide audience in understanding the health of a dynamic population of workers and their families. Agricultural Medicine belongs on the desks (and not just in the libraries) of occupational specialists, primary care physicians practicing in rural communities, and anyone else interested in the health and well-being of agricultural workers and their families." (Jeffrey L. Levin, The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 355 (9), 2006)

"Agricultural Medicine: A Practical Guide is a textbook about the hazards, injuries, illnesses, disability, and mortality associated with agriculture. ... this is a reference book of agricultural medicine, which is a subset of occupational medicine ... . Agricultural Medicine: A Practical Guide should have a place in ... training and practice, along with preventive and clinical references in primary care, agro-medicine, and occupational medicine." (John R. Wheat, JAMA, Vol. 295 (4), January, 2006)

From the Publisher

4 Stars! from Doody

Reviewer: Donald R. Frey, MD (Creighton University Medical Center)
Description: This is a practical manual for practitioners caring for farmers, farm families, and workers in the agricultural setting.
Purpose: This book was written to address the unique health issues of those involved in the wide-ranging but often neglected agricultural industry. Given the fact that in urban-oriented America, rural health is often ignored, this book fills a much needed role in the medical literature.
Audience: The book is intended for clinicians working in rural and agricultural settings. It is also useful for students aspiring to join rural practices. The authors have strong ties to universities tasked with developing physicians and caregivers for rural America.
Features: This is a chapter by chapter outline of how to approach virtually every aspect of care for rural families and agricultural workers. There is an excellent balance of prevention and treatment, as well as appropriate discussions of the chemical risks of modern herbicides and insecticides. Given the severe stresses inherent in the current agribusiness climate, the section on mental health is particularly pertinent.
Assessment: This is the best 500-page sized book on agricultural medicine that I have encountered. While much of its information is available elsewhere, it is nonetheless a ready source of information for busy clinicians who treat farmers and farm families. Urban physicians should also find it an interesting read, if for no other reason than to find out what they are missing.

Doody's Review Service