PREFACE 



Bovine pathology has not been hitherto adequately re- 

 presented in British Veterinary Literature^ but the time 

 has now come when it ought to take up its proper position 

 as a distinct section of veterinary science. Under these 

 circumstances it is somewhat surprising that none of our 

 leading veterinary surgeons have produced a scientific 

 work of a comprehensive nature on diseases of cattle. 

 It seems that some^ owing to their professional engage- 

 ments, have had little time left for literature, while others 

 have been deterred by supposing that there must already 

 be many preparing to fulfil so urgent a task. An oppor- 

 tunity of preparing a work on this subject having pre- 

 sented itself, I have not hesitated to avail myself of it ; 

 and in doing so I have not advanced to my work heedless 

 of the amount of labour involved in it, or of the uncer- 

 tainty of the data on which it would have to be based. 

 My ideal of a work on special pathology necessitated, in 

 the first place, the somewhat dogmatic summary of the 

 general study of disease comprised in the Introduction, 

 Section 1. With the data thus afforded I was in a better 

 position to specially consider diseases of the ox. No 

 trouble has been spared in assigning to each, part of the 

 work its proper position, with a view to practical conveni- 

 ence and facility in study. The table of contents is, to a 

 certain extent, an expression of the careful arrangement 

 which. I have adopted. The intimate matter requires some 

 comment ; my aim has been to tersely indicate the bear- 

 ings of the subjects dealt with, to point out that which 

 has been based on science and confirmed by experience 

 in contrast with crude theory and superstitious empi- 

 ricism. In following out this plan I have been compelled 



