AND THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 13 



of our most talented medical gentlemen immediately 

 made a post-mortem examination, and came to the con- 

 clusion that the death of the horse was produced by apo- 

 plexy, caused by congestion of the heart, brought on b^ 

 over-excitement and violent exertion." 



The annals of domestic animals abound in cases to 

 show how liable they are to acute affections and suffer- 

 ing, far beyond the apprehension of the most considerate 

 and humane. 



Thus much, good reader, have we gladly seized the 

 opportunity, and even gone a little beyond the require- 

 ments of our publishers, to say in the way of appeal in 

 behalf of speechless creatures, as alive to pain as to a 

 sense of gratitude for generous treatment ; and having 

 already adverted to the obligation we are under to study 

 the laws of their existence, and the means of their meli- 

 oration, it may now, even be insisted that in the whole 

 range of the occupations and interests of breeders of 

 their own stock, there are fe\Y things that demand more 

 consideration and skill than does this very branch of 

 rural industry. 



The study and the pride of every one should be, not 

 merely to maintain them at a point of excellence already 

 acquired, but to have them progressively improving in 

 whatever constitutes economy and value ; for w^hy should 

 any man indolently conclude that his stock has already 

 attained the ne plus ultra in the way of amelioration^ 

 however superior it may be ? Such is not the fact, nor, 

 it may safely be affirmed, would it be consonant with the 

 orders of Providence, or even with our own interests, 

 that it should be so. To man has been given dominion 

 over the beasts of the field — that, like the earth itself, he 

 should cultivate and improve them; and for that, among 

 other purposes, w^as he endowed with the great, dis- 

 tinguishing, and godlike power to prosecute intellec^^ua^ 



