PART I. 

 THE DISEASES OF DOMESTIC A1STIMALS. 



The subject of the relation of animal diseases to the public 

 health, while not by any means unknown to hygienists, is still one 

 which has not until the last few years attracted the scientific study 

 which its importance demands. This is mainly due to the practical 

 tendency which has prevailed in all veterinary schools, and which 

 has been pushed, to the undue neglect of scientific investigation. 

 Thankfully, the day of the school empiric is fast drawing to a close, 

 and the rising sun of scientific research is beginning to dispel the 

 fogs of tradition and the apathy of self-content which has rested 

 upon veterinary medicine. 



The day has come when veterinary medicine is beginning to 

 make its power felt, and to take its true place as a scientific institu- 

 tion among the nations of the world. 



We have all been taught that the first commandment is "to 

 have no other gods besides me." But without desiring to enter 

 into the discussion of religious questions, the hygienist may say 

 that, while this may be very important to the spiritual man, the 

 earthy man has also certain positive responsibilities to himself, 

 which find their expression in the command, " Man, know thyself." 

 This commandment seems to be a stranger to the minds of most 

 men, for how little do we know of the physiological laws which 

 control that complicated machine, the animal organism, or of the 

 means by which we can in a large measure prevent diseases, not 

 only among ourselves, but among our animals ! The majority of 

 our people assume that the nucleus of all knowledge is to be found 

 somewhere in that record of Jewish history, the Christian Bible. 



With reference to the prevention of human diseases from causes 

 to be sought in the animal world, either directly or indirectly, we 

 find, however, but little of practical value in that book. The in- 

 l 



