Prefatory Statement. 11 



tion have been very limited, we liave endeavored to ad- 

 vance only such conclusions, testing them occasionally by 

 the best methods within our reach, as we hope will bear 

 the ordeal of discussion, and the test of experience. Minor 

 errors will of course be met with ; but we hope and believe 

 the views stated will be found, after due consideration, 

 mainly correct. Apparent repetition will be met with, the 

 object being to give various bearings of certain facts, and 

 emphasis to views and principles that, if they are under- 

 stood — as on the importance of exercise for other stock, as 

 well as horses, for instance — there is little, if any, evidence 

 of it, in practice, except in the distinguished case of horses. 

 We believe a change in this matter is required, and our 

 object is to promote the due use of the locomotive organs, 

 and the lungs of animals that are now overmuch restricted 

 in this respect, as shown in succeeding pages. 



At our advanced age, faults of style are quite likely to be 

 met with, from the fact that ill health has many times made 

 rest, from days to weeks at a time, a necessity. But with 

 persistent labor, we have endeavored to make the reasoning 

 and meaning so clear that no one who takes time to think 

 carefully* need be misled. Positive accuracy or perfection 

 in statement or reasoning is out of the question, as if per- 

 fection were reached in any given direction, no further 

 progress or improvement in that field would be practicable, 

 so stagnation would ensue, which would not advance im- 

 provement, or progress. 



The husk and kernel grow together, and though it be- 

 comes necessary to separate them, we cannot have either 

 without producing both. The poorer in quality protects 

 the richer in value. And we hope that if, in some parts 

 of this work, rough bark or dry husks be met with, sound 

 heart-wood and nutritive kernels in other parts will be 



♦Foster's Physiology is a good work to refer to. 



