THE HORSE AND ITS DISEASES. 



PART FIRST. 



SECTIO:?^ I. 



INTRODUCTION — EARLY RECORDS OF THE HORSE THE WILD 



HORSE — THE DOMESTICATION OP THE HORSE — HORSES OP 

 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES — THE TEETH CHARACTERISING THE AGE. 



Introduction. 



If the animals domesticated by man are essentially- 

 necessary to his comforts and convenience, no apology 

 need be offered for attempting to reduce into a system 

 the arts of preserving them in health, and of removing 

 their diseases, both of which must be founded on a 

 knowledge of the structure and functions of the animals 

 in question, and it is these therefore that form the 

 groundwork of what is called the art of Farriery. The 

 principal hindrance to its advancement has been its total 

 confinement in the hands of persons proverbially ignorant. 

 Custom reconciles the grossest absurdities, and hence, 

 though the value of the animal in question is a theme 

 that has exercised in every age the pens of thousands, 

 yet, the knowledge of the means of preserving them in 

 health, and of curing theii' diseases, has been regarded 

 as a subject beneath the dignity of a gentleman. But 

 at length superior to vulgar prejudices, and aware of its 

 great utility and importance, mankind are content to 

 consider this among the liberal arts, and to regard the 



A 



