Mark Purdey's life changed one day in 1984 when a Ministry of Agriculture inspector told him he must administer a toxic organophosphate pesticide to his dairy herd. Passionately committed to organic farming and convinced of the harmful effects of chemicals in the environment, he refused to comply. 'It was as if my whole life became focused', he explained later. Before they had a chance to prosecute, Purdey took the Ministry to court and won his case. These experiences led him to challenge the orthodox line on the origins of Mad Cow Disease and its human counterpart variant CJD. Could the insecticide used in the official programme have precipitated the spread of the disease?Purdey's quest to discover the truth was hampered at every turn by government bureaucracies and self-serving scientific cliques who sought to smear and marginalize him. Dogged by dirty tricks and forced to work alone as something of a scientific sleuth, he struggled to reveal hidden interests and dangerous secrets. His supporters included many members of the public, as well as Prince Charles and the poet Ted Hughes. The latter wrote to him expressing 'a million congratulations'.Increasingly sceptical of the official narrative, Purdey was certain that toxic environmental factors would provide answers, and so embarked on a self-funded worldwide odyssey to investigate. "Animal Pharm" follows him on these eco-detective trails to locations as diverse as Iceland, Sardinia, Colorado and Australia. Purdey uncovers contamination from industry, munitions, pesticides, nuclear experiments and natural geology, linking these with the emergence of a range of neurodegenerative diseases. His research is at once compelling and disturbing, helping to create a paradigm shift in our understanding of the relationship of pollutants to disease and health.

This superb book was initially published in 1998 and has been out of print for several years. This new edition has been updated to show the most recent developments in all areas relating to the heavy horse industry. The Working Horse Manual has been designed to act as bible for heavy horse enthusiasts. Diana Zeuner has collected articles from 24 leading heavy horse experts who, between them, have covered a wide array of topics including: o Choosing your breed o Harnesses and harnessing o Horses in forestry o Multiple hitches o Farriery o Ploughing o Plaiting o Horse-drawn machinery and equipment o Veterinary care o Transport law o Caring for horse-drawn vehicles o Road driving For this new edition the chapters about Training for Horsemen, Working Horses in Forestry and Transport and the Law have been completely updated to reflect recent changes. The rest of the book has also been amended accordingly. This new edition also has an increased section on cross-country driving and an improved 'useful addresses' section. The book is highly illustrated with photographs and diagrams. The Working Horse Manual is the only UK book of this type and is on the recommended reading list of the British Driving Society.