PREFACE* 



T T is a truth, generally acknowledged and univer- 

 faily lamented, that amidft all the improvements 

 of the prefent age, none has received fo little advan- 

 tage from the rays of refinement as the Art of Far- 

 riery* And it muft be likewife confefTed, it is an ill 

 compliment to a country abounding with Jportjmen^ 

 and thofe remarkable for their extreme liberality, 

 that the intelledual faculties of many diilinguifhed 

 members of the different learned focieties fhould be 

 abforbed in abftrufe contemplations and intenfe lu- 

 cubrations upon the antiquity of a mn, the prcbofcis 

 of an elephant y the genus of an exotic^ or the beautiful 

 variegations of a butterfly \ whilft a branch of fcience 

 and fludy, involving the health, fafety, and preferva- 

 tion, of the moft beautiful and elleemed animal this 

 kingdom has to boaft, is negled:ed, as derogatory to 

 the dignity of a man of letters : and, from this mif- 

 taken idea of degradation, a fubjed: of fo much con- 

 fequence has been for many years fubmitted to the 

 arbitrary didation of the moft illiterate part of the 

 community, without a fingle effort of weight or in- 

 fluence to abolifh the ancient and almoft obfolete 

 mode of pradlice; or a fingle attempt made, from 

 ■proper authority ^ to intr>.duce the modern improve- 

 ments and difcoveries in every branch of medicine. 

 It is moft certain there is no one period of hiftory 

 where the horfe has been ranked fo high in general 



A 4 qftimation> 



