2l8 ON VETERINARY MEDICINE 



thropic chara6lers, in various parts of our own, 

 and a neighbouring country. 



The endeavour to promote veterinary prac- 

 tice amongft enhghtened men, mufl necellarily 

 be a firft obje61 in a treatife profeffing the prin- 

 ciples of humanity : ..it is our buf ne(s then to 

 enquire, what caufes have hitherto operated, or 

 now fubfift, to prevent or retard its progrefs ; 

 to demonftrate how Httle they confift with right 

 reafon, and to propofe fuch pra6licable mea- 

 fures, as may effecl, by eafy and gradual fteps, 

 the defired reformation. 



Ancient prefcription and a falfe pride amongft 

 the facuky, compofe the two-fold caufe which 

 has hitherto generally deprived our domeftic 

 animals of the benefits and comforts of regular 

 medical and furgical affiftance. Cattle have al- 

 ways been doftored in every country, either by 

 their attendants, or by men pretty nearly upon 

 a level with thofe in point of education, who 

 on the ftrenglh of having learned to perform 

 the moft fimple and common operations, and 

 from the want of abler proficients, have under- 

 taken the arduous tafl\ of prefcribing medicine. 

 We will not wonder, that in former times, fuch ' 

 profeffors were held duly qualified, fince men 

 impartially committed their own perfons to the 

 hands of ignorant barber-furgeons, and fince fo 

 many other abfurdities of equal magnitude fub- 

 fifted, which like fpedres and ghofts have va- 



nifhed 



