THEORY AND PRACTICE 



OF 



VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



SECTION I. 



ON THE CAUSES OF DISEASE. 



Ricmarks on Veterinary Science, and the Relation it bears to Sociai 

 Science— Veterinary Science; how to Inaugurate it— What Benefit! 

 have we derived from its Study — Inflammation; its Nature and Treat- 

 ment. 



ri^O explain the cause or causes of disease occurring among 

 domestic animals is an herculean undertaking, when ex- 

 pounded by the theory and faulty logic as applied to the ancient 

 method of reasoning on " false facts ; " but, thanks to the genial 

 spirit of progression and improvement, we are enabled to throw 

 some light on the subject. We have been taught to believe that 

 many of the causes of disease are invisible and mysterious ; but 

 this is not the fact. We are in possession of evidence going to 

 show, very conclusively, that the causes of disease may be classi- 

 fied very distinctly and intelligently under two heads, viz. : Pre- 

 disposing and Exciting; yet this classification is not offered by 

 the author as absolute, but is a more convenient arrangement 

 than any other to study the multifarious conditions which people 

 believe are remotely or immediately concerned in the production 

 of disease. For example, many interesting and valuable facts are 

 on record, going to show that the peculiar properties, characters, 



and qualities of the parent — whether good or bad, healthy or dis~ 



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