xxii INTRODUCTION. 



reliable as possible, special parts on the more malignant diseases 

 were submitted to two or three in succession. 



After the copy thus distributed had been all returned and put 

 in type, it occurred to me that it would be a feature of special in- 

 terest to my readers, to have the portraits of these professional 

 friends engraved and placed in the work ; and I was so fortunate 

 (in some instances only after considerable persuasion) as to obtain 

 permission to do so from those whose portraits are given ; and I 

 take great pleasure in presenting them as a good representation of 

 the class of men engaged at present in the veterinary profession. 



It is proper in this connection to state that should there appear 

 any minor errors in the text, the responsibility for them must be 

 entirely assumed by the author, as it was not possible, except at 

 great inconvenience, after the matter had been put in type, to sub- 

 mit proofs to the gentlemen who had aided me in this work. 



I may mention also that I made it a special object to have 

 every detail of the work as fully and thoroughly illustrated as I 

 could, as well as to include such features as would be most useful to 

 the farmer. In carrying out this purpose I inserted in the stock 

 department the large number of 800 figures, and in the horse de- 

 partment the still larger number of 950, among which are eighteen 

 elegant plates. It is only necessary to state that there is no work 

 heretofore published of this description that has more than a fourth 

 of this number, and these usually of a very indifferent character, 

 while this comprises the enormous aggregate, as will be seen, of 

 1,700, all having special reference to the text. 



Particular attention is directed to the large number of illustra- 

 tions of parasites common to the domestic animals ; the great vari- 

 ety of figures illustrating the different diseases ; the diversity of 

 breeds of stock, particularly dairy cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry. 

 Certainly no work yet published can show any approach to the large 

 number and varied character of the illustrations in these respects. 



Interesting features will also be found in chapters on the Dog, 

 on Bee-culture, the Growth of Fruit, including Insects Injurious to 

 Fruit, and a Plea for the Birds, showing their value to the farmer. 



The chapter on Bees, and that on the Protection of Fruit and 

 Fruit Trees, will be found particularly interesting and valuable. 

 That on Bee-culture was prepared with special care, under the 

 supervision of A. I. ROOT, Esq., author of " The A B C of Bee 

 Culture," and the highest authority on the subject, and includes the 

 largest number of illustrations for the space occupied, that has 

 yet been given on bees. 



