PREFACE. 
In no branch of knowledge has there been of late years more decided 
progress than in that of Comparative Pathology; and we may venture 
to say, without fear of contradiction, that upon the still further prospective 
elaboration of this most important Science, human welfare in large 
measure depends. To the greater encouragement of original research 
in the various departments in ‘Pathology by the more enlightened 
countries, in Europe, in America, and in our colonies, our progress 
in sanitation and therapeutic knowledge is very greatly due. 
The bonds of union between human and veterinary medicine and 
surgery are yearly—we had almost said daily—becoming more and more 
intimate, as men are beginning to realise the necessary connection which 
must subsist between all vital phenomena, whether normal or abnormal. 
Hence it comes about that investigation in each and every branch of 
Pathology and Surgery is of the greatest importance, not only in itself, 
but as bearing upon every other part of each of these two wide subjects. 
It was in 1885, that we first put before the veterinary and scientific 
- worlds primarily, and before the public secondarily, “A Manual of the 
Theory and Practice of Equine Medicine.” In the preface to that work, 
our intention to follow it up by the production of other treatises was 
intimated. We have it in contemplation before long to issue a work on 
Comparative Pathology, which is already in hand, and conjointly, “A 
Manual on the Theory and Practice of Equine Surgery.” A complete 
and comprehensive book on veterinary medicines is already written 
by Mr. George Gresswell, in co-operation with Mr. Charles Gresswell. 
