PREFACE, 



The object of the author in preparing this work, is to meet a great 

 emergency, which all persons interested in the welfare of the Horse, 

 acknowledge to exist. 



For example, many works on the treatment of equine affections 

 are too voluminous for practical use among those, who, from sheer 

 necessity, are compelled to try their skill as amateur physicians, in 

 view of restoring to usefulness a sick or disabled animal. 



I find that in the hour of need, or when a horse is suddenly at- 

 tacked with a dangerous malady, and appears to suffer tormenting 

 pains, and no surgeon at hand, humanity prompts the owner to seek 

 for some information that may enable him to prevent the destruction 

 of his property ; under such circumstances he cannot spare the time 

 to sit down and read a lengthy ai'ticle; his object is to ascertain, 

 without delay ^ the nature of the disease and its treatment. 



Since the commencement of our present national troubles, the 

 spread of disease is alarmingly on the increase, from the fact that 

 thousands of diseased animals have been disposed of and distributed 

 all over the country, carrying with them the propagating germs of 

 infection ; and many of these animals have proved a sore pest, and 

 dear purchases, although they may have cost but a trifle. In the 

 same ratio, therefore, as disease multiplies, so also will be the desire 



