x Preface. 



All the advice and assistance which veterinary 

 science has almost up to the present time fur- 

 nished to the stockowner in the works to which 

 he has had access, have been far below the re- 

 quirements of the age, and shrouded beneath 

 faulty detail and even positive error, the result 

 of young and recent observation. Much incon- 

 venience, mischief, and vexation have been caused 

 by exclusive attention to effects, while the causes 

 have been altogether overlooked. The greater 

 part of the mortality among live stock is preven- 

 table, and, to demonstrate that, it is required that 

 the causes of disease should be clearly under- 

 stood. A scientific estimate of the animal body, 

 its habits, and nature has led to that understand- 

 ing, and the irrefragable proof; and both will 

 become more apparent day by day, as scientific 

 truths are submitted to the thinking and working 

 community. By these means we are daily adding 

 fresh stores of information in that department 

 which relates to the preservation of animal life; 

 and one of the great principles is to obtain a 

 thorough acquaintance with the laws of health 

 which always rightly precedes a study of the laws 

 of disease. Horsekeepers, stockfeeders, and flock- 

 masters require the first in order to adopt a cor- 

 rect system of prevention, rather than seek disap- 

 pointment in practising curative measures, the 



