INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. gl 



ranee of farriers and grooms, and die grofs 

 defects of the old fyftem; at the fame time 

 obliquely hinting, or even roundly aflerting, 

 that fuch dangerous errors, and unfkilful prac- 

 tice, are derived from the works of thofe 

 writers, with whofe names he has adorned his 

 title-page: but the enquirer after the true ilate 

 of the cafe, may find the felf fame complaints 

 of the dangerous errors of ancient praclice, 

 delivered as much at large, and in language 

 much more rational and to the purpofe, in the 

 works of Gibfon, Bracken, and Bartlet, particu- 

 larly in the preface to Gibfon's firit publication, 

 and in that of Bartlet ; the attentive perufal of 

 which I would warmly recommend to all 

 perfons defirous of the acquifition of veteri- 

 nary knowledge: and where they will find the 

 very efience of the Stable Directory. He thus 

 attempts to turn the proper arms of thofe 

 writers againft themfelves. 



I have Mr. Taplin's eighth edition before me, 

 and (hall pafs over thefe models of the brilliant, 

 the eloquent, and the intelligible, his dedication, 

 and his addrefs to the reader, in order to make 

 a quotation from page xiii of his preface ; 

 where he courageoufly and modeftly proceeds 

 as follows : " Well aware of the arduous talk 

 of attempting to eradicate vulgar and habitual 

 prejudices, in favour of ancient practice, or 

 the improbability of reconciling attachments 



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