INTRODUCTION. IX 



horses as comfortable as possible. Judging from what 

 I saw, the masters of these men were not sparing of 

 expence, as there seemed to be an ample supply of the 

 best food and clothing, so that an inexperienced ob- 

 server would naturally have concluded that no horses 

 could be more properly treated. But, as I have already 

 observed, these grooms, from their ignorance of the 

 practical principles of training, wanted confidence in 

 themselves ; and from such deficiency, I have known 

 them bring horses out very unfit to run. 



When I had attained the age of thirty, I left the 

 stables, as the gentleman with whom I was living at 

 the time was going abroad ; and as I had then no in- 

 clination to leave England, I gave up my situation as 

 groom. A horse belonging to the above gentleman 

 having fallen lame at this period, it was thought ad- 

 visable to send him for recovery to the Veterinary 

 College, to which place [ took him. Observing here 

 a large establishment for the treatment and cure of 

 diseased horses, and having heard so much of the value 

 of the Veterinary Art, I asked Mr. Sewell (who had 

 just been questioning me relative to the horse I had 

 brought in) whether I could be admitted into the Col- 

 lege as a pupil — to which he replied in the affirmative; 

 observing, at the same time, that men of a similar de- 

 scription to myself were the most fit persons to become 

 Veterinary Surgeons. Such information as was neces- 

 sary at the moment Mr. S. very kindly gave me. He 

 also named the amount of the entrance fee, which I 

 immediately paid ; and I remained in the College as a 



