[iv] 



offices^ and fiindtions in the ftruSfure of a horfe 

 with thofe of human nature^ was a fufficient allure^ 

 tnent to invite gentlemen to take them under a more 

 mature confideration^ and to refcue the noble ani- 

 mals from the hands of the mofi illiterate empi- 

 rics. 



I do not intend to expatiate upon the ufe and im- 

 portance of thefe animals in life^ as they are evi- 

 dent already to every obferver \ I mean only to give 

 fome little account of the improvements made by 

 the Sieur la Foffe upon farriery in the following 

 treatife ; which 1 am the more ready to do that 

 thofe of my countrymen^ whofe concerns require the 

 imployment of horfes, may profit of it in their ma- 

 nagement and the cure of their difeafes. 



Nor would I in the leafl forget the fenfible trea- 

 tifes wrote and publifhed by our own authors Gib- 

 fon^ Bracken^ and Bartlet, who have treated the 

 fubje^ in a learned manner^ and who made 

 early and ingenious fieps towards reducing it to a ra- 

 tional fyfi em ^ ivell knowing it was a matter of 

 weight enough to engage the mofi fagacious in the 

 improvement of an art^ from which fo con/tderable 

 a benefit ari/es to the greater^ and indeed thefuperior^ 

 part of mankind. 



But I fhould think myfelf wanting in the duty I 

 owe my country^ if I did not propagate among 

 them, whatever occurred to me that might tend to 

 fuch laudable ends., in the mofifpeedy and befl manner 

 I could. And therefore as foon as this valuable 

 little bock come to my handsy I took care to tah 



2 the 



