4 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



thofe profeflions) I can pretend to no claim of 

 originality ; but the acquaintance which a na- 

 tural propenfion has incited me to cultivate 

 with our belt veterinary writers, and fome fmall 

 experience which I have had in the application 

 of the medical art to the fubject in queftion, 

 will, I humbly hope, fecure me from the danger 

 of falling into errors of very confiderable mag- 

 nitude, either in the remedies, or the authorities 

 which I (hall recommend. My method in this 

 department will be, to give a catalogue of all 

 the known difeafes of Horfes, and under each 

 diflin6l head to defcribe the nature and fymp- 

 toms of the difeafe, recommending (in general) 

 either fuch method of cure as I have myfelf 

 experienced to be fuccefsful, or the authority 

 which I judge moll intitled to refpect. In 

 difficult or doubtful cafes, I {hall allow the 

 reader a proper choice of authorities. 



There is, however, one branch of my fubject. 

 (and that a very material one) which I mult 

 beg permiffion to pafs, with little or no notice, 

 I mean the flud, or breeding fyftem ; not only, 

 becaufe to handle that matter to any fatisfaclory 

 purpofe, would fwell the prefent treatife to an 

 inconvenient bulk, but becaufe my experience 

 therein has hitherto been very limited. At 

 fome future and diftant period, I flatter myfelf 

 with hopes of being able to produce fomething 

 on that head akfo, conducive to public utility ; 

 • • but 



