XXll PEEFACE. 



Being desirous to avoid even the appearance of 

 severity or injustice to his countrymen in endeavouring 

 to point out and rectify certain abuses and absurdities, 

 to wliich he has ah-eady referred, the Author has pro- 

 bably extended these prefatory observations to too great 

 a length, and introduced what may be deemed by some, 

 irrelevant matter : he, however, claims the indulgence 

 of his readers while making a few concluding remarks. 



Although some important works have, from time to 

 time, been published on Veterinary science, yet, being 

 principally intended for professional men, they are like 

 so many edged tools in the hands of the inexperienced. 

 To make a judicious use of such books it requires a great 

 deal of skill, judgment and ability ; so that, notwith- 

 standing the competency of the writer, such works are 

 ■ liable to be abused in the hands of the ignorant and 

 assuming practitioner. Physicians find it often very 

 difficult to determine the disease with which their 

 patient is afflicted, although the sick person explains in 

 what manner he is affected — how much more difficult 

 then, is it to decide in tlie case of a dumb brute, and 

 what a great amount of experience, skill, intelligence 

 and penetration, are requisite in order to treat a sick 

 animal successfully ? The nature of the disease must 

 first be satisfactorily ascertained before such medicines 

 can be used, as chemically combining with the injurious 

 or poisonous matter generated in the system, shall 

 neutralize its effects. 



When a Surgical operation becomes necessary, what 

 a perfect knowledge of the anatomy of the Horse is 



