I Rmh^ on studying the diseases of Animals, 



in proportion to the extent of the objects to which we direct 

 our benevolence. The physician who loves the whole human 

 race, will always be actuated with more zeal to extend the 

 usefulness of his profession, than the physician whose affec- 

 tions are confined to the limited circle of his habitual patients* 

 His zeal will be more active, and jnore impressive upon his 

 understanding, should he descend in the overflowings of 

 his benevolence irom the human species, and embrace in his 

 studies and labors the means of lessening the miseries of do- 

 mestic animals. This part of the brute creation have large 

 demands upon us. The design of this lecture is simply to 

 point out the duty and advantages of studying their dis- 

 eases, and the remedies tliat are proper to remove them. — 

 The subject is an interesting one to private gentlemen as 

 well as to physicians, and I entertain too high an opinion of the 

 good sense and correct views of medical science of my pre- 

 sent audience to believe, that ^ few remarks upon it will be 

 deemed an improper introduction to a course of lectures 

 upon the institutes and practice of medicine. 



We are bound in the first place to discharge the important 

 duty to domestic animals which 1 have mentioned, by the re- 

 lation that has been estabhshed between them and us by the 

 author of nature. They were created at the same time, and 

 from a portion of the same dust of which our great ancestor 

 was formed. They are the only part of the brute creation 

 over which man has retained his dominion since his banish- 

 ment from paradise. We are to them (says Dr. Hartley) 

 the vicegerents of God ; and empowered to receive homage 

 from them ; and we are obliged by the same tenure to be 

 their guardians and benefactors.* Their subjection to death, 

 and all the diseases and pains which they feel in common 

 with us^ are the effects of the same rebellion against the Go- 



*Observations on the frame, duties and expectations of man. Vol. l.p. 

 415. 



