12 INTRODUCTION. 



me cordially, and promised me all the aid in their power, 

 Dr. Walton afterward giving me much aid on several 

 important points. By his advice, I called upon Dr. Hamill 

 (416 East 14th Street), formerly Professor of Pathological 

 Shoeing in the college, for the purpose of getting his assist- 

 ance in the writing of the chapter on Shoeing. This gen- 

 tleman, upon introducing myself, recognized me as an old 

 acquaintance, having attended my lectures while in the city 

 in 1872. He expressed himself especially interested in my 

 efforts, and volunteered all the aid in his power to give. 

 I took notes from him on all the necessary points on 

 Shoeing, and he promised to read over anything I should 

 write on the subject, and make such additions or alterations 

 as he might find advisable. I found it more difficult to 

 secure the necessary assistance in the other departments. 

 I stated the difficulty to Dr. Hamill, and expressed the fear 

 that I would be likely to fail, when he came nobly to my 

 aid, with his personal services and fine library, which were 

 constantly at my disposal. He also secured for me the 

 help of two of his colleagues, Dr. Meyer (409 East 84th 

 Street), New York City, and Dr. John McLaughlin of 

 Jersey City, now of Providence, R. I., both of whom a few 

 years previous had graduated with high honors at the 

 Columbia Veterinary College. 



To facilitate my work, I had these gentlemen dictate 

 to me the outlines of treatment in the simplest language 

 possible, with permission to make any changes I desired. 

 The dictations in all cases were made without premedita- 

 tion or study, the point in view being to give me facts in 

 the fewest words. This was the more difficult for them 

 from the fact that in all cases they were limited to my 

 ability to take notes, as on account of the peculiarly 

 sensitive condition of my health I could endure but very 

 brief conversation, and but thirty or forty minutes' writing 



