PREFACE, JiJ 



At length, however, after many scruples and much perplexity, I 

 decided upon the plan of the present work, which will be found to 

 \k^ Qf a mixed and miscellaneous nature, and which I now venture to 

 l^y before the Public. . ^ , j i on 



And this I do with that diffidence, indeed, which a consciousness of 

 its imperfections naturally produces in me, yet hoping, nevertheless, 

 Miat th,e experience of more than eighteen years in the diseases of 

 Horses, and that experience gained upon a pretty large scale, may 

 justify me in expecting a candid examination of the opinions I have 

 maintained, and entitle me to request a fair trial of the practice which 

 I have recommended. 



For, though I have felt it incumbent upon me to disclaim the 

 merit of any positive discovery in Veterinary science, yet, I cannot 

 help aspiring to the hope that some views which I have given both 

 of the diseases which I have treated on, and also of the general ma- 

 nagement of the Horse, will not only be sufficient to secure me against 

 the imputation of plagiarism, but will enable the reader to profit, in 

 some degree, from the perusal of the work. 



As to the style, I may remark, that I have chiefly aimed at perspi- 

 cuity and precision ; and though some of my readers may be of 

 opinion that I have occasionally indulged more in philosophical and 

 chemical disquisition, than can be considered strictly reconcileable to 

 a work, avowed to be chiejl;y of a practical kind, yet, the liberal 

 and reflecting, will readily perceive the kind of dUemma in which an 



