32 THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTENTION 



lion of communities, by facilitating mtercourse betwerj. 

 ihem and the individuals of whom they are composed. 



It is not, then, astonishing that in the abstract, so much 

 importance should be attached to the multiplication and 

 improvement of an animal so useful ; but is it not 

 Amazing that this universal admission of his value, and 

 the general interest of society in cultivating his finest 

 qualities, should give rise to no association or system in 

 our country, based on reason, and guided by scientific 

 principles? On the contrary, everything is left to chance, 

 to ignorance, and to narrow and sordid calculations of 

 economy. True, we have societies that group the Horse 

 with every other animal and thing, and offer petty pre 

 miums for the mere exhibition of the best that may 

 happen to be convenient to, or purchased for the show • 

 but should not an object so important be made the sub 

 ject of special associations, and of legislative encourage- 

 ment, directed to a thorough investigation of the princi 

 pies to be followed in all enlarged and judicious plans 

 for the melioration of the whole race? Look at the 

 amount of capital involved in the whole Union — 4,365,669 

 horses. Value these at an average of $50, and we have 

 a capital of $218,283,450, which, with anything like 

 judgment or system, might be brought to an average 

 improvement of at least twenty per cent, in a few' years. 

 What is the number lost by exposure to sudden vicis- 

 situdes of weather — to lad shoeing — in short, to ill 

 treatment and ignorar.ce of the management and the 

 remedies prescribed in this work, no one can venture to 

 estimate. Youatt sets down the loss of cattle by disease 

 annually in England at $50,000,000 !— and the loss of 

 sheep at one-tenth of the whole number; and though 

 tJiere the veterinary art is taught as a science in the en- 

 dow^ed colleges, and regular professors practise it 

 throufihouc the kmgdom, he says it is difficult to say 



