ii phef^jce. 



For, I felt conscious that to attempt a s} stematic Veterinary work 

 upon a comprehensive scalp, was a task too gigantic for my abilities, 

 or, perhaps indeed, for those of any individual; and, after all, such a 

 work, if executed, would, in all probability, be but little read, and 

 still less generally understood. 



On the other hand, I could not but be sensible that popular trea- 

 tises on pv^r ^rt ^(^S only a|?om;^^j, hvS see^f^, i^i a ii^nner, to havf 

 ej|hau?t^d the public ^.^'i^\\y, h^ow grea^ ^Qeyer '\% n(\^y ^^ve fojfmerly 

 b^CR, fpr wJa^t^yeJi pTofc;s?ed ^o contain jn(oriiijka(ioii^, pn fiHl^er tl^^ 

 general m^pag^prt^nt, pr t^\e iJ^Je^jc^l t^-e^trp^i^t ol" the Jlo^se. 



Nor was I wHhput le^Ung 9onsi4er^|]|l6 ^i^l^jiri^^^^sipdept, ^s Ijq tihe 

 moi^ in, whicj> I <^y^\i to e^^yoju: ta cw^uniiQ^tie thje. ipfwnfta^^i|i?i 

 I wi^d to ^ay bi^fot^ the P^^k. ,.„ j^,,. s;..>J,iui u ii,ii; 



For> ha4 i ati,f ttip.tf^; a sity^^ %nd n^^nne^i, correspondej^^ ^tpgethep 

 to. what spw^ migm l^avebee^ iaclui^(J tp, ej^p^ect fjfpn^ iQe,^ ^^ a publi<? 

 Lect^vei- pn an i^vppirUitnt Ij^rai?^^ Pf Si4?i<enc^, it vs c^rtftij^ th^t such, a 

 performance would have proved too abstract for the g^nifiRl r^a<^^r,, 

 and^ QPP^ftWjently, w^^sjef migl^jti h^v,^ b^^n^ t^e in|ijinsic iperiti of 

 the WpsH, iV i¥«sA b.ave.bew ^n»J?P^*ib^e ^a^ji, ^^fl l?^v^ l^e^n, fen-, 

 der«d gewetaljy use^vl. ,a\ b;uurf«i ouijiijij 



At the same time, an endeavpur tp treat my si^J^iect ia a maqjaei? 

 extreruely femiliar, might h^^v^ ha^a^r^A tl?e, rep^tioQ pf th.e wprk, 

 in the ppinioft pf the supei:ipi; qla^^ q( readers, aji^l wnst hpve 

 inevitably lessened it in the estimatipn, pC tfe^ mft^^V^^ ^P4 pMo^Pfi.hi-, 

 cal world. 



