VI PREFACE. 



of every profession, who keep only a single iiorse, cow, sheep, 

 pig, dog, or a few fowls. For every one who keeps ammais 

 should not only learn to keep them in good health for pecu- 

 niary gain, but as a matter of humanity and benevolence, in 

 relieving distress and adding to the comfort of those animals 

 which a kind Providence has placed under his care and con- 

 trol, for his own special good. 



On some nice and difficult subjects, as to the peculiar prop- 

 erties and effects of certain medicines, and some points in 

 the pathology of diseases, involved in the sciences of anatomy 

 and physiology, we have had the assistance of the most skiU 

 ful and experienced. We are more especially indebted to Dr. 

 Holmes, the worthy Editor of the " Maine Farmer," for freely 

 offering any aid, and giving valuable information, from his 

 own experience and observation, on some of the the most diffi- 

 cult cases that occur in the veterinary art ; and to Sanford 

 Howard, Esq., one of the able Editors of the " Albany Culti- 

 vator," who is excellent authority in breeding and managing 

 stock, for assistance on abstruse points and questionable sub- 

 It has been our object to give several remedies, especially 

 for the most common and destructive diseases ; as, in case a 

 medicine does not succeed in due time, it affords an opportu- 

 nity to try another ; and many simple remedies are brought 

 forward which the farmer has in his own house, or on his own 

 premises, while he does not have convenient access to the 

 apothecary's shop ; and these simple means are often as effi- 

 cacious as a compound collected from the /our quarters of the 

 world, and New Holland besides. 



Among the simple and valuable medicines which the far- 

 mer generally has at hand, are common salt, saltpetre, lime 

 wood ashes, soot, lard, eggs, oil, mustard, molasses, honey, 

 sugar, charcoal, ginger, tobacco, pepper, cayenne, bran, gruel, 

 spirits of turpentine, coffee, camphor, sulphur, vinegar, tar 

 rosin, chalk, and many other articles. And numerous herbs, 

 barks, roots and plants, afford valuable decoctions, infusions, 

 digestions and fomentations, that are among the most sov- 

 ereign remedies for beast or man. 



We would invite intelligent men, who carefully investigate 

 the subjects in this work, to give us their CEindid opinions on 

 any part that claims particular attention, in the way of com- 

 ment. Such notice will be gratefully received. 

 March, 1847. S. W. COLE. 



Fourteenth Edition, or Thirtieth Thousand. 



Revised and Improved by the Author. 



New England Farmer Office. Quincy Hall, Boston, 1850. 



S.W.G 



