PREFACE. 



Ten years ago, whilst studying in Milan, I was invited to undertake 

 certain duties as demonstrator and teacher at the Royal Veterinary 

 College, London. Although finally I was unable to accept the terms 

 of invitation the proposal so far influenced me as to bring about a 

 species of mental stock-taking, the first result of which was the 

 discovery of my own lamentable ignorance regarding much that I 

 had been asked to impart to others ; the second, a resolution to 

 amend this state of things as soon and as thoroughly as possible. 

 The work I then undertook has been helpful to myself, and I have 

 reason to believe that the portions published have not been without 

 value to others. The present effort is perhaps of a more ambitious 

 character than its predecessors, and aims at furnishing English 

 readers with a concise account of the most recent views regarding 

 the practice of veterinary surgery from the standpoint of both British 

 and Continental authorities. It will be divided into three volumes, 

 of which this is the first ; the second volume will deal with General, 

 and the third with Regional Surgery. The second and third volumes 

 are now in hand, and I trust that one, at least, may be published 

 shortly. Regarding that now submitted, however, I trust no one 

 will be deceived into ascribing to me greater merit than I possess. 

 Veterinary science has become too specialised for any writer to rely 

 solely on his own experience, and, like many much more eminent men, 

 I have found my chief usefulness less in enlarging than in rendering 

 available existing stores of knowledge. It is true I have satisfied 

 myself to the best of my ability of the soundness of the views put forth, 



