4 THE HORSE AND ITS DISEASES. 



profession and practice of it as no longer incompatible 

 with, the pretensions of a scholar, or the rank of a gente- 

 man. The generality of Farriers unfortunately are not 

 willing to be put to the trouble of learning, nor to the 

 mortification of owning that they need it ; hence they 

 obstinately maintain that nothing is necessary, but what 

 is known, and that there is a mechanical art learned by 

 initiation, in common with every other handicraft 

 pursuit. But Parriers should be aware that there is no 

 mortification in candidly pleading ignorance ; on tlie 

 contrary, ingeniousness would enoble them. In the 

 first place, it should be understood that there is no 

 honorary distinction between the Yeterinarian and 

 Parrier. The terms should be well explained. Farriery 

 is a branch of Veterinary medicine only ; Yeterinarian 

 is not an assumed term, simply it is a definite appellation 

 to which the Farrier has an equal right, if he professes 

 and understands the diseases of animals in general ; that 

 though the Yeterinary College holds out the means of 

 attaining this art by scientific progression, yet, the same 

 means that they pursue are within the reach of other 

 persons ; they possess no secret arts — the book of nature 

 is equally open to the meanest Farrier if he pursues 

 investigation upon equally excellent principles. 



Outlines of the Art of Farriery. 

 Man, ever ready to improve surrounding objects to 

 his advantage, would not be long without subjecting to 

 his use such animals as his reason led him to suppose 

 would prove most usjful, or his experience had proved 

 were the most tractable. And it is possible that the 

 practice of that branch of it called Farriery was of later 

 date, inasmuch as the subjugation of the horse himself 

 was subsequent to that of other domestic animals. At 

 what exact period this took place is not necessary to 

 inquire, yet, that it was very early cultivated, we have 

 sufficient testimonies ; indeed reason would convince us 

 that as man beheld liis own disease removed or lessened 



