18 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



national pride, especially when we contemplate the universal in- 

 telligence that pervades all classes of community. There are in- 

 tellectual stars in this country, the brilliancy of whose productions 

 has astonished the world of literature in every department except 

 the one here alluded to, and that is a barren waste — neglected, 

 unexplored. Works of authority are those recognized as such 

 by the faculty, written by men whose impartiality, love of truth, 

 practical industry, and method have gained for themselves that 

 popularity and respect which the author seriously recommends 

 to American rivalry. 



It is true we have works on farriery, but they are not of the 

 right kind ; they lack merit ; they may be rich in theory, but 

 their pages are barren of the practical and useful ; the few golden 

 truths that they contain are so mixed up with the sands of error? 

 that, in order to distinguish and select one from the other, a 

 greater amount of veterinary talent and discrimination is needed 

 than usually falls to the lot of those who read. 



Without, however, casting any reflections on the authors of 

 such works, who have given to our people the very best proofs 

 of their noble natures and philanthropic motives, we observe that 

 these productions, although the very best they were enabled to 

 write, are not what the age requires, or our interests demand. 



If the community wish to peruse a work of authority on lame- 

 ness, glanders, or farcy, they must, at great expense, procure 

 foreign authors ; they must consult a Percivall, or some such 

 writer. A horse literature is sadly needed, for we have diseases 

 in this country, peculiar to climate and location, that differ some- 

 what from those familiar to the nations of the old world. 



The extreme diversities in the climate of the United States 

 are a frightful cause of disease — a subject worthy the investi- 

 gation of all men ; especially does the subject demand attention 

 from those who would boast of the sanitary condition of their 

 flocks and herds, for it is only by comparing the diseases of 

 locations most dissimilar in their character and temperature, that 

 the most useful illustrations of morbid influences are to be ob- 

 tained. 



We ask, Where are our statistical tables of diseases peculiar 

 to this country ? And echo answers, Where ? 



