28 



DISEASE. 



y 



Whilst surgeons are engaged in administering to their 

 fellow-men, veterinary surgeons are employed in contributing 

 to the welfare of the animal part of the creation. To our 

 philanthropy there may be gradations, and even qualifica- 

 tions ; but it can hardly be said to have limits — 



" Friend, parent, neighbour, first it will embrace, 

 His country next, and next all human race ; 

 Wide and more wide, the o'erflowings of the mind 

 Take ev'ry creature in of ev'ry kind." 



But half a century ago, the practice of veterinary medi- 

 cine was in the hands of men as unfitted for the office as the 

 barbers of old were to practise human surgery. And yet, 

 when persons will place their lives in such jeopardy, as we 

 behold numbers doing by their dealings with empirics, we 

 have no right to feel surprise at the hold that farriers still 

 maintain on our art. As, however^ we ourselves become 

 more able, and our abilities become 'known among the pro- 

 prietors of horses, we shall find veterinary practice rolling 

 into those channels that have undergone the necessary pre- 

 paration. People will find it their interest to come to us ; 

 and whatever may be urged on the score of other considera- 

 tions, perhaps this is the one, after all, that will sway the 

 most. 



The necessity of treating of generalities before we descend 

 to particulars or specialities, must not be lost sight of in the 

 study of pathology. General pathology teaches us what is 

 common to all diseases, as the causes producing them, the 

 symptoms indicating them, their termination, course, progress, 

 decline. Opinions given on diseases must have reference to 

 their severity, favorableness, duration, complication. Special 

 pathology is the study of any isolated disease, its causes, 

 symptoms, &c. (Delafond.) 



The immediate object of all medical science is disease. 



