PREFACE. 



THE British stockowner has, in the improvement of the 

 breeds and management of the Domestic Animals, brought 

 to bear on his favourite pursuits the highest talent and the 

 most indomitable perseverance. Our agriculture is more 

 distinguished for its short-horns than its wheat, its horses 

 than its hay, and the hunting farmer, the prize-taking 

 breeder, the enlightened grazier and feeder, are as character- 

 istic of Britain as our House of Commons and a free press. 



The success of the stockowner, however, has been more 

 due to his own industry and practical intelligence than to 

 any advice or assistance he may have obtained from the 

 current works on veterinary subjects, which, as a rule, do 

 not embody the most recent information, and are far below 

 the requisitions of the age. 



As it is believed that scientific truths admit of being set 

 forth in plain English, and as both the agriculturists and 

 the veterinarians of this country have learnt, and are learn- 

 ing daily, the duties of scientific men in discovering, com- 

 paring, and balancing facts, and deducing general principles, 

 it is the object of the author of this Treatise, to embody, in 



251992 



