PREFACE 



TO THE 



FIRST AMERICAN EDITION 



"There are two great source!? of the ii^rtality of cattle and phepp, and the loss 

 of agricultural property ; anc^it-is 'drfficult to say which is the worst,— the ignorance 

 and obstinacy of the se.rvan^lind the cow-leech, or the ignorance and supineness of 

 the owner." • Youatt. 



The beneficence of an all-wise Providence in so organizing 

 man as to secure him dominion over ^nimals of inferior physical 

 construction, imposes on him the obHgation to exercise that emi- 

 nent advantage in a spirit of mercy, and in mitigation of the 

 pains and disorders of the brute creation ; and botli the obliga* 

 tion and the necessity to do so, are enhanced by the considera- 

 tion, that in being domesticated and made subservient to our 

 uses, animals lose in a gTeat measure that instinct wliich enables 

 them to distinguish what is noxious from that which is whole- 

 some, and become, as does the human race in the process of 

 civilization, liable to numerous and comphcated diseases to which 

 they are comparatively strangers when roaming in the simple 

 habits and unrestrained freedom of nature. 



Assuredly, there is no great charity in the creed which would 

 teach that of all the variety of God's creation that make up his 

 animal kingdom, some of them displaying high culture and fine 

 affections of mind and heart, he should care alone for the pre- 

 sent and future happiness of man ! 



" Know Nature's children all divide her care ; ' 

 The fur that warms a monarch warmed a bear ; 

 While man exclaims, • See all things for my use !' 

 ' See man for mine,' replies a pampered goose : 

 And just as short of reason must he fall 

 Who thinks all made for one, not one for all." 



(xi) 



