6 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



world — to implore a more generous and hu- 

 mane treatment of thofe poor ufeful animals, 

 which nature has placed under our dominion, 

 and entrufted to our care — to remind mankind 

 of the unprofitablenefs and meannefs, as well 

 as the heinoufnefs of cruelty — in particular, to 

 convince them, if poflible, that to be compaf- 

 fionate and liberal to that mod excellent and 

 ufeful creature, the Horfe, is both their intereft 

 and their duty. 



In fine, I (hall endeavour to trefpafs as little 

 as poflible upon the patience of my Readers ; 

 but I mud beforehand make bold to folicit their 

 indulgence, if I fhould be now and then tempt- 

 ed to digrefs awhile ; engaging, at the fame 

 time, that it fhall not be upon fubjecls either 

 inutile or frivolous. 



I proceed to give fome account of former 

 veterinary writers, chiefly of our own country ; 

 with the double view of directing the inquifitive 

 Reader's attention to the proper fources of in- 

 formation, and of refcuing the characters of 

 our original writers of merit, from the hands 

 of pilfering compilers ; who are too often fuc- 

 cefsful in running away with the applaufe due 

 only to their matters ; and in rearing a tempo- 

 rary reputation upon very (lender pretenfions. 



The firft of our original writers upon Horfes, 

 of any note, was Thomas Blundevill, of New- 

 ton Flotman, in Norfolk ; by his own defcrip- 



tion, 



