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to practice. We are happy to say, this state of thuigs is passing 

 away. Yet, even now, ignorance will sometimes obscure the dawn 

 of brighter days, and operates in a manner highly injurious to the 

 full application of correct principles. This, in our profession, is most 

 evident in diseases which affect horned cattle. 



Gentlemen, noble as is the horse, and valuable as are his 

 services, and however much, individually and nationally, we are 

 indebted to him for wealth, influence, and importance, these can 

 offer no reason to disregard the other domestic animals, or refuse 

 them our fostering care and protection in sickness and in health. 

 Whether I do or do not succeed in placing this branch of science on 

 its true and proper basis, I feel satisfied I shall have no cause to 

 regret the attempt. And I can assure you, that nothing less than a 

 sense of duty to my profession, could have induced me to appear 

 before you. 



With these few remarks, I throw myself on your candor, and 

 kindly ask you to give me your attention, while I enter more fully 

 into the subject. 



It would seem that at least the feelings of stock-owners are roused 

 to the necessity of a more accurate knowledge of the diseases to 

 which the animals reared for the good of man are liable. But 

 alas for the present well-being of our stock-owners ! diseases fre- 

 quently appear among their stock, which can be arrested only by 

 veterinary knowledge. Some few reflective minds have taken a 

 lively interest in the matter, while the more numerous masses have 

 laughed in their sleeves, and believed that Nature, all-powerful as she 

 sometimes proves, overpowering every effort that wilfulness, ignor- 

 ance, and presumption can devise for her destruction, would again 

 bear them through. It appears that, in times past, the more 

 ignorant and brutal a man was found to be, the better estimation he 

 had accorded to him, on all points connected Avith the diseases of our 

 domestic animals. But if a man, previously fitted by study and 

 reflection, knowledge of principles and extensive acquaintance with 

 the laws of life, in health and disease, made an attempt at ameliora- 

 tion, or uttered a voice of warning, neglect was his only reward. 

 This picture is, unJbrtunately, too faithful to truth. But this 

 persistence in a bad course is fast being removed. Now the cry 

 throughout the country is for assistance. From whence is it to 

 come ? Many have attempted to explain, and made confusion more 



