PREFACE. XV 



whole deficiency of profeffional knowledge 

 confifts the danger which fo often occurs and 

 expofes him to that labyrinth of perplexity, 

 that dilemma of didrefs, from which no bril- 

 liant fertility of genius, no idea of the ftruc- 

 ture of parts, no correfponding knowledge of 

 medicines, or their efferts, can poffibly arife to 

 extricate him, whilft the fufFering animal (in 

 perhaps the mod excruciating agonies) expires 

 at the feet of this *' learned judge ^'' j^if^y^ and 

 executioner* 



Experience juftifies the aflertion, that nine 

 times out of ten the complaint (if internal) 

 remains a matter of hypothefis and conjecture, 

 without one explanatory note^ fentence^ A'^^g» 

 or ejaculation^ by which we may be led to 

 underftand or difcovcr the caufe: but, as pro- 

 feffional ftupidity muft be defended, we are 

 at laft told (with a fyftematic fimplicity and 

 vacuity of countenance) " the horfe is in a 

 ** great deal of pain J' 



This firft point being (not without feme dif- 

 ficulty and feeming depth of thought) at length 

 dilcovered, the remedy is then to be obtained^ 

 and as, in general, cowards once puflied on 



become 



