PREFACE. 



tained a high character for successful practice; his close ob- 

 serv^ition of the symptoms and attention to the operation 

 of his physic, supplying the want of a *' regular education," 

 which no one farrier could at that time iDoast of: indeed, 

 few of them could even copy their own receipts, which 



they preferred to carry in their memory. At a very early 

 period I endeavoured to repair this apparent defect by 

 study; with what success the reader may judge, and I will 



endeavour in the next pages to make him comprehend how 

 my task has been executed. 



The reputation of our name induced the bookseller just 

 named to ask my father's opinion and mine (among others), 

 of a certain manuscript beheld in his hand, which upon in- 

 spection turned out to be a treatise on the rationale of horse- 

 medicine, with very plain directions for ascertaining the 

 true symptoms of dieases before attempting to apply any 

 remedy, howcA^er estimable. As the expositions of the 

 writer agreed mainly with our own ideas, it was impossi- 

 ble to withhold approbation. Finally, Mr. Badcock also 

 consulted with W. S. Rickword, of Moor-lane, and other 

 veterinary surgeons of the college, and resolved upon the 

 spirited publication of his new purchase, notwithstanding 

 he had received the uncheering disapproval of Bracy Clark, 

 of Smithfield, who gave for answer that "no one could 

 learn the treatment of horses' diseases from printed books.'' 

 Yet has Bracy Clark since then printed many books. The 

 great success of the publication alluded to, which was James 

 White's " Com.pendium of the Veterinary Art," justified 

 our oj)inions of its merits, and gratified my vanity at tlie 

 early share I took in its promulgation, and the revision of 

 many passages with a view to simplifying the terms (in 

 particular); in which commendable quality, by the way, 

 Mr. White is not deficient, though, in other respects, a 

 lapse or two which have since fallen out, come unler notice 

 m the course of the following pages (viz. pp. 39, 83, 111, 

 and 154). No man can be perfect; howfewamong us know 

 every thing that pertains to themselves. 



Even at this moment preceding the birth of my volume, 

 I am not certain but 1 may be found similarly tripping — to 

 have expressed myself obscurely, when 1 fancied my Ian 

 guii2;e most completely understandable by the meanest capa- 

 city; and 1 douht thaf my familiar style may frequently ap- 

 })oai vulgar to more polished eyes and ears than mm 2. But I 



