ON THIE EXTERNAL CONFORMATION. 3 

 In the exposition of the external structure, 

 which I have attempted in the following sheets, 

 I certainly do not lay claim to originality in 

 the undertaking, since certain French veterinary 

 writers, particularly Bourgelat, have treated on 

 the subject, and the late Mr. St. Bel, who was the 

 first professor at the veterinary college, had it in 

 contemplation to publish a work of the same 

 nature, but did not live to complete his inten- 

 tions. With regard to myself, the profession of 

 portrait painter of horses, which I have pursued 

 in conjunction with the veterinary practice, has 

 directed my attention particularly to this branch 

 of the science ; and the accuracy of observation 

 which the eye acquires by making draughts 

 from living objects, has probably enabled me to 

 make more minute researches than might have 

 been effected by others who possessed not the 

 same advantages. The principles upon which I 

 have founded the present system, I can with 

 truth affirm to be the result of experience. 

 B2 The 



