VI PREFACE. 



It is a practical subject to which tiresome and long- 

 spun paragraphs would be utterly meaningless and 

 irrelevant. 



I am encouraged, in laying this before the public, by 

 the conviction that my conclusions have not been 

 arrived at by unprofitable conjectures and high-flown 

 theories ; but by careful study of, and practical labours 

 in, each branch treated of. 



Perhaps some apology may be thought necessary for 

 treating the veterinary portion of the subject so feebly ; 

 but I was less afraid of saying too little than too much, 

 and have endeavoured to direct the course of treatment 

 of diseases which would be the safest, and, if insufficient, 

 at any rate not injurious. 



It is impossible, without going more deeply into the 

 veterinary art — which would have defeated the object 

 of this work — to explain the nature and treatment of 

 every disease ; and, therefore, it occurred to me that, 

 by setting forth as briefly as possible the nature of 

 some of the diseases most frequently met with, and 

 explaining the symptoms of each in sufficiently clear a 

 manner to lead to their detection and treatment — 

 previous to the services of a professional man being 

 available — I should go as far as would be prudent in 

 addressing the class of persons for whom this work is 

 intended. 



It has been my endeavour to explain in every in- 



