OPERATIONS. 93 



practical and may be depended on, though intended to 

 be harmless in any eve'nt. 



However, every one must be aware that doctors will 

 differ, and some who are critics may have pet theories 

 of their own, which they might here and there prefer 

 to parts of the practice here recommended. 



It may be borne in mind, nevertheless, that diseases, 

 like politics, with time and occasion are liable to change 

 their character. 



Many diseases are far more easily prevented than 

 cured ; and I must, in the very first instance, protest 

 against the unnatural and injurious warmth by heated 

 foul air, so much advocated by grooms, as a means of 

 giving condition, to produce which, food, work, and air 

 are the safe and natural agents. 



Wherever a means of avoiding any disease herein 

 touched upon has suggested itself, it is prominently 

 set forth, in just appreciation of the golden rule, that 

 "prevention is better than cure." 



OPERATIONS. 



As all painful operations can now be performed under 

 the influence of chloroform, the least compensation an 

 owner can make to his poor beast for the tortures he is 

 put to, in order to enhance his value and usefulness to 

 his master, is to lay an injunction on^the professional 

 attendant to make use of this merciful provision, in 

 cases where severe pain must otherwise be inflicted on 

 the animal. 



Rarey's method of casting for operations, or when 

 a horse is so extremely unruly as to require to be 



