Agricultural Society of Philadelphia, xlv 



the object here recommended, honourable, politic, and pro- 

 motive of the public interest and prosperity. While agri- 

 culturists are employed in the production of plants^ their 

 stocks of useful animals are abandoned, when diseased, to 

 all the calamities attendant on ignorance of their maladies, 

 or cure. . Pretenders and empirics, of the most contemptible 

 characters, prey on the necessities and credulity of those who 

 are compelled to apply to them on this subject. 



The essay proposed, should among other requisites, be 

 calculated to rouse the attention of medical professors, to this 

 important branch of neglected knowledge. It should con- 

 vince them, that they cannot employ themselves, in any part 

 of their studies, in a manner more conducive to real re- 

 spectability of character, than in gaining and promulgating 

 information, so intimately connected with the wealth and po- 

 litical (Economy of their country. This society pledge them- 

 selves to distinguish, with some testimony of their gratitude, 

 any medical professor who will assist them in calling the at- 

 tention of students, to this very interesting subject. 



Investigations into anatoiiiy^ diseases and re?nedies^ for the 

 preservation and improvement of animals, on which our sub- 

 sistence and comforts so materially depend, must assuredly 

 be considered worthy tUw most patient enquiry, intelligent 

 observation, and professional talents, of the most celebrated 

 among those, who have devoted themselves to medical pur- 

 suits. As patriots, it should stimulate their public spirit. — 

 As professional men, nothing can more entitle them to the 

 rewards due to their labours. Who is there among the most 

 respectable of our own citizens, or in the highest grades of 

 society in the old world, who has not deemed it meritorious 

 to promote the interests of agriculture ? And is there any 

 branch of that occupation so important, as that now recom- 

 mended to the notice and enquir\' of medical men ? If it has 

 held an inferior rank in the classification of science and know- 

 ledge, it is entirely owing to the unmerited neglect with 



