THE CHARACTER OF THK HORSE. 231 



in veterinary works, unless he be able to form a correct 

 opinion of the disease from which his horse may be 

 suffering, as the medicine that would cure one disease 

 or ailment might be very injurious, or perhaps kill the 

 patient suffering from another. I would also warn the 

 tyro not to listen to the host of clever men (in their own 

 estimation) with which he is sure to be beset, when his 

 horse is the least bit amiss, or he will most likely learn, 

 when too late, that medicines are useless and dangerous 

 when prescribed by men who are unable to form a cor- 

 rect opinion of the disease. 



That disease in its various forms does, and no doubt 

 ever will, more or less, spread its devastating influence 

 among the horses of both this and other countries there 

 cannot be any doubt ; therefore, horse owners should 

 look well to the cause of disease, as we are aware that 

 there never was a disease without a cause, nor a cause 

 without an effect. The causes are various, some of 

 which we are unable to account for; but there are 

 many, of which we are well convinced, and yet at the 

 same time never take measures to remove them. 



One great cause, which I cannot too much impress 

 upon the mind of my tyre, is the manner in which our 

 stables are built, as well as the manner in which they 

 are conducted ; and although I am well aware that a 

 very laudable endeavour is now, and has been for a 

 few years back, made by architects and builders to im- 

 prove the dwellings of our horses, yet there are thou- 

 sands of stables in the crowded streets and back slums 



