THEORY AND PRACTICE 
OF 
VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY 
SECTION I. 
ON THE CAUSES OF DISEASE. 
Bumangs on VETERINARY SCIENCE, AND THE RELATION IT BEARS TO Soctsl 
Sorence—Vetrerinary Science; How To InavauRaTE 1r—WuHat BeEnerite 
HAVE WE DERIVED FROM ITs StuDY-—-INFLAMMATION; ITS NATURE AND TREAD 
MENT. 
VNO explain the cause or causes of disease occurring among 
_L. 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- 
DisposINe and ExcrtTine ; 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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