Diseases of BomesUe Animals, xxxi 



is that of the submersion of swallows in rivers, creeks, or 

 ponds, during the winter, which has long been implicitly 

 believed.^^ 



12. A knowledge of the principles of comparative anato- 

 my are as essential to the landscape painter, sculptor and 

 engraver, as the knowledge of the human anatomy is to the 

 painter of mankind. An artist may indeed depict upon 

 canvass aii animal, which without an inscription under it, 

 may be known to be of the species intended to be represented ; 

 but unless he is acquainted with the relative and natural 

 proportions and forms, which modern improvements have 

 shown are connected Avith not only beauty of person but pro- 

 fit, he will not reach that perfection in his portraits or deli- 

 neations, nor produce that effect by his labours, which is at 

 all times desirable. It was this knowledge that has render- 

 ed the engraved figures of the horse, by Stubbs, so much and 

 so justly admired, although done so many years since, (1766, 

 London ;) and w hich contributed greatly to the reputation of 

 the painter Adrian Vandervelde,^^ and a few others ; and 

 although a minute knowledge of the anatomy of all animals 

 is not expected from an artist, yet an acquaintance with 

 the structure and mechanism, peculiar to each, is essen- 

 tially necessary to enable him to delineate the muscles, and 

 their action in various positions of the body, and to prevent 

 the commission of those gross absurdities we sometimes see 

 in statues and paintings, such as a walking horse represented 

 with two diametric opposite feet in an elevated position.^^ 



13. Comparative anatomy is as essential to the successful 

 practice of veterinary medicine, as a knoAvledge of the struc- 

 ture of the human body is to the cure of the diseases and 

 accidents incident to mankind. It is owing to a want of 

 this knowledge of their structure, that our useful domestic 

 animals arc so mismanaged by farriers, and pretenders to 

 animal medicine ; and that diseases, trivial in their nature, 

 or that slight suigieal cases often end in death, or lameness. 



