In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 91) 



of the foot of the horse lead to and are the primary cause 

 of many diseases, amongst which none are worse than 

 navicular joint disease ; and as my writings are only 

 meant as a sort of pilot to guide the groom in his pursuit 

 of knowledge under difficulties, I would here impress 

 upon his mind that although I from time to time give 

 the symptoms and treatment of different diseases, yet they 

 are only to enable him to become a good nurse, and be 

 the right hand of the practical veterinary surgeon ; 

 for if the veterinary surgeon finds an intelligent groom, 

 he will most assuredly be able to leave his medicine with 

 confidence, and the groom should always bear in mind 

 that practice makes perfection, — that however well 

 versed a groom may be, the veterinary surgeon has the 

 best of him in practice as he is enabled to see a hundred 

 cases to the groom's one. Calling in the aid of the 

 veterinary surgeon is not a sign of the groom's ignorance, 

 as some are too prone to remark, but to any man of 

 common sense, it would prove that the groom knew he 

 had a bad case, and also that his treatment was the right 

 one to adopt under the circumstances, and that by calling 

 in the aid of the joractical veterinary to consult with he 

 was doing his best for the benefit of his employer. It 

 always gives the author great pleasure to call in such 

 men as Professor Pritchard, of London ; Mr Wadlow, of 

 Oxford ; Mr Stanley, of Leamington ; or Mr Broad, of 

 Bath ; to consult with in difficult cases ; they are men of 

 knowledge and do not call grooms and blacksmiths fools, 

 but will kindly point out the quicksands under their feet, 

 and help them on to firm ground and sound judgment. 

 It is owing to the friendship of those men and Mr 



