28 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



medical ability, as well as equeftrian know- 

 ledge, of his competitor. 



The chief merit of Gibfon, is, as a writer on 

 veterinary medicine and furgery ; in thofe 

 lights, his works are above all price, for they 

 are the productions of a judicious and well- 

 qualified profeHional man, who defcribed his 

 own extenfive practice. As an equellrian or 

 fportfman, he had no pretenfions ; but had 

 neverthelefs formed, and apparently from his 

 own obfervations, the juileft ideas of the nature 

 and true conformation of Horfes, as well as of 

 their defefts. In fine, this author mud ever 

 be efleemed as the father of veterinary fcience, 

 to whom all fucceedingr authors, as well as all 

 true lovers of the Horfe, are under infinite 

 obligation ; and when fome wealthy and ge- 

 nerous fportfman (hall hereafter have erected 

 a (lately and comfortable manfion, for the ac- 

 commodation of the noblefi. and belt of all 

 brute animals, let him alio rear a monument of 

 his own good fenfe, tafle and gratitude, by 

 adorning the edifice with a ilatute of William 

 Gibfon. 



Between the firft publication o^ Gibfon's, 

 and the appearance of Bracken's books, came 

 out a Treatife on Farriery, dedicated to Sir 

 Robert Walpole, by M. Allen; who appears 

 to have been one of the better kind of farriers, 

 and to have feen much practice ; but whofe 



book 



