PREFACE. VII 



m incipient attacks, topical applications effect the remain- 

 der in Dad cases. 



For the same reasons few medicines are necessary in ve- 

 terinary practice, but certain modifications of these add to 

 their efficacy in particular cases; though the school in which 

 I was first initiated, as well as the modern writers, White, 

 and the Lawrences, quite overwhelm their readers with 

 the quantity and apparent contrariety of their prescriptions, 

 that frequently possess no essential variation from others 

 that may be applicable to a whole series of disorders. 



Under such circumstances, I have been extremely chary 

 of puzzling the reader by merely altering the vehicle when 

 the active material of the prescription had been already 

 compounded for a similar disorder; therefore 1 have avoid- 

 ed repetition of such (mostly purgatives) by referring the 

 reader to the page where these may be found. Notwith- 

 standing the apparent difficulty of this mode, yet has it cer- 

 tain advantages that outweigh the trouble, and compensate 

 for the moments thus expended. During my noviciate, 

 and long intercourse with persons employed about the horse^ 

 in almost every capacity, I noticed that all those who con- 

 sulted the books respecting any actual disorder, did little 

 more than turn to the prescription which was recommend- 

 ed in their particular case, and it was made up and given to 

 the animal without once more reading over and comparing 

 *'the symptoms," and notwithstanding they already had 

 the same medicine upon the shelf. By this blind manner 

 of proceeding, they did but adhere more closely to the old 

 system of their *'book of receipts," to the entire neglect of 

 the anomalous symptoms, and risked the mistaking of one 

 disease for another, in many cases. To compel the inquirer 

 to study his case before he applies the remedy, 1 at one 

 time thought of adopting the method of La Fosse, and 

 others, who have thrown their prescriptions all together, 

 and referred to each numerically; but, after due considera- 

 tion, I adopted the middle course, and simply avoided re- 

 petition in this respect, as that which best suited with my 

 views of instruction. In some cases, the remedy is men- 

 tioned in general terms only; for example, at page 170, 1 

 said, <' blistering ointment may beapplied," &c. The read 

 er will of course, in this and all similar cases, consult the 

 Index; and under ''Blistering," he will find himself ref^^.r 

 red to page 76. 



