4 LETTEK OF TRANSMITTAL. 



and reputation would insure a valuable contribution. By adopting this i)lau the 

 contents of the volume have been made ready for the printer within a year from the 

 time the work waa begun. While, on account of this method of preparation, there 

 may not be quite the same uniformity of style and treatment which would be 

 expected in a volume written by a single author, it is hoped that this will not be 

 found objectionable, and the speedy completion and the cooperation of authors who 

 have given special attention to their subjects will prove of great advantage. 



The need of a work on the diseases of the horse, which could be distributed to 

 farmers as a safe and scientific guide in the treatment of this species of our domesti- 

 cated animals, either when affected with slight disorders or serious illness, has long 

 been felt. This obvious want has led to the preparation of the present volume, 

 which is designed as the first of a series to cover the di&eases of all varieties of farm 

 animals. The writer would not advise the farmer in ordinary circumstances to dis- 

 pense with his veterinarian, anymore than he would advise him to treat the diseases 

 of his own family, to manufacture his own furniture, or to be his own blacksmith. 

 There are, however, only too many cases in which the veterinarian can not be pro- 

 cured in time for success, if at all; and, consequentl-y, the farmer who knows or has 

 the means of learning the nature of the disease and the proper treatment will be 

 able to save an animal when otherwise he would lose one. It is common for intelli- 

 gent people to laugh at the idea of attempting to make every man his own doctor, 

 his own veterinarian, or his own carpenter, and in an ideal condition of society no 

 doubt this would be absurd. But under the conditions Avhich actually obtain on our 

 farms, the farmer Avho can use tools, if but awkwardly, often finds it extremely con- 

 venient to temporarily usurp the functions of the carpenter; and he also finds that in 

 many cases he must treat his ailing animals or allow them to suffer without treat- 

 ment. Knowing this to be the case, is it not far better for the stock owner to have 

 at his command the advice of veterinarians eminent in their profession than for him 

 to follow the absurd, often barbarous, methods of treatment which have been handed 

 down by tradition from the empiricism and ignorance of long-past ages? 



It is an extremely diflficult matter to divest medical literature of technical terms 

 and expressions more or less incomprehensible to the general reader. This has 

 made scientific medicine a sealed book to the masses of our people, and there is no 

 subject of which they are more ignorant. An attempt has been made in this work 

 to present the matter in as simple language as possible, and while some of the authors 

 have been more happy than others in this respect, it is believed that no great diffi- 

 culty will be met with in any of the articles. 



While the subject has been treated in language of a more or less popular style and 

 the book is intended as a guide to the farmer, its intrinsic scientific value should not 

 be entirely lost sight of. In many respects it is a notable contribution to existing 

 knowledge, and it will be prized by the veterinarian not less than by the farmer. No 

 doubt there are some defei-ts in this first edition which the experience of the future 

 will enable us to remedy, but as a whole the book is one which can not fail to be of 

 numense service in educating horse owners and in hastening the adoption of humane 

 and scientific treatment in the disorders which afflict man's most patient and faithful 

 servant. . 



The illustrations have been very carefully drawn by Mr. Haines, the greater part 

 of the subjects being selected by Dr. Cooper Curtice. In cases where they have been 

 copied due credit has been given on the plates, but it should be stated here that we 

 are indeljtcd to Dr. John S. Billings, of the Army Medical Museum, for the use of 

 the Auzoux models and a number of specimens of diseased feet from which drawiuo^s 

 were made. " 



Very rospectfully, ^ D. E. Salmon, 



Cli ief of Bureau of An Imal Industry. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



