XXX Introduction. 



ance, in order that a nation be spared great loss, inconvenience, and 

 anxiety, that the science of comparative pathology should receive that 

 wide and judicious study and that fostering care to which it may with 

 great justice lay claim. And as it is yet in its infancy in this country, and 

 is obliged to contend with prejudice and charlatanism, it cannot be 

 wondered at that great losses have been sustained, that the science of 

 medicine in general should make but little progress, and that the defect- 

 ive state of our sanitary police should merit the derision of continental 

 nations. 



The medicine of the lower animals differs from that of man in no 

 particular, perhaps, so much as in those principles which may be termed 

 ' utilitarian.' The life, or rather the vigour and sound condition, of all the 

 domestic animals, has a money value which greatly modifies consider- 

 ations of a curative kind, when health and usefulness are replaced by 

 disease and inefficiency. The life of man, though it be robbed of 

 nearly all its attractions or utility, is yet considered too sacred to have a 

 mere pecuniary value. But that of the creatures we have domesticated 

 is in almost every case worthless, if, when they are attacked by disease, 

 the expense of medical treatment exceeds their market price, even 

 though a thorough cure may be possible. But when there are doubts 

 as to the certainty of complete restoration to health and soundness, 

 monetary considerations ordinarily decide against the adoption of re- 

 medial measures. 



This peculiar feature in the medicine of the domesticated animals, 

 brings all the more prominently before us the value of the old adage that 

 'prevention is better than cure.' The comparative pathologist must not 

 only be well skilled in all those branches of science of which medical 

 knowledge is composed, and be able to minister to the varied and nu- 

 merous ailments of the domestic animals, but above all he should be 

 thoroughly conversant with the history and nature of general diseases, 

 their causes, particularly their mode of extension, as well as the best 

 measures to recommend for their prevention and eradication, so as to 

 be able to guard the country from the risk of serious loss and embar- 

 rassment. 



In Britain, as before mentioned, the value of comparative pathology, 

 in the relation it bears to human medicine, to the public health, to 

 agriculture, and to legislation, has been strangely overlooked, — and this, 

 in recent times, has not only been the cause of a great national calamity, 

 but to some extent a national disgrace. 



In consequence of this neglect, but little allowance has been made 

 for the difficulties the comparative pathologist has to contend with, nor 



