PREFACE. 



Whatever person would consult these pages with profit 

 s.jould previously read the first book with care ; for in it 

 he will find laid down the principles upon which all the 

 subsequent details are founded, how the process of nature 

 is carried on in health, and the cure is to be effected in 

 every species of derangement. Indeed, he should study 

 it hard, if he would become proficient in 'Uhe Art of 

 Farriery," and not rely implicitly upon other people's pre- 

 scriptions for the cure of any alleged disorder, which have 

 been composed for the most part witiiout any such prepa- 

 ration. 



From this neglect, also, symptoms of one disorder are 

 conlounded with those of another, when the proposed reme- 

 dies can not possibly eti'ect the cure. If he be imbued with 

 the proper thirst after knowledge, be his station in life 

 about the horse what it may, he had best to comply with 

 the advice strenuously urged at the very outset, to examine 

 the iniernal parts of dead horses, as often as opportunity 

 presents itselt, which, in the neighbourhood of large towns 

 and hunts is frequent enough. For this is the manner m 

 which i was myself mainly instructed; as well as by noting 

 down wnatever then appears worthy of observation, con- 

 nected wiT.n the previous disease of the deceased subject. 



Such was my manner of proceeding for several years. 

 And next about the present volume, how I came to write 

 it., and what were my views in the manner of executing 

 the task that was rather imposed upon me by the booksel- 

 lers than sought after by me; and which was, in efl'ect, oc- 

 casioned by the nature and quantity of veterinary facts and 

 observations I had a long time been in thehaoit of heaping 

 together. But I had already been an author nearly a quar- 

 ter of a century, having partly translated the manual of La 

 I* 



