viii PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION 



fit all cases of a certain disease, and he will hesitate to risk the 

 use of medicines of which he knows very little in diseases of 

 which he knows less. 



Lecture notes which have been collected during a period of ten 

 years have formed the basis for this work, and I am now unable, 

 in many cases, to give credit to authorities that have been con- 

 sulted, where credit is fairly due. 



Illustrations have not been used in any case merely as pic- 

 tures. Every one is intended to illustrate something and make 

 that illustration as impressive as possible. 



Suggestions to the teacher. It is not intended that this text- 

 book should entirely supplant lecture work. On the contrary, 

 nearly every lesson may be supplemented to advantage and so 

 give opportunity for originality and the greatest effectiveness. 

 It will be readily understood that certain subjects are of great 

 importance in some states, and unimportant in others. Each 

 teacher should add what he thinks best for his grade of pupils 

 and his local needs. 



When time permits much time can be profitably spent on 

 more extended anatomy work, especially for students who wish 

 advanced live stock work. It can be readily illustrated and 

 easily impressed : for instance, that smooth or rough hips de- 

 pend upon a fraction of an inch, more or less, on the external 

 angle of the ilium; and that high or low withers, in the main, 

 depend upon variations in the length of the superior spinous 

 processes of the dorsal vertebrae ; and that conformation depends 

 upon the bony skeleton and muscular developments. 



Much time with considerable actual practice should be given 

 to the study of unsoundness ; to common forms of lameness, and 

 the types of conformation which tend toward these unfortunate 

 conditions. Common irregularities of the teeth are easily illus- 

 trated in classroom. These are given as suggestions and to im- 

 press the fact that this text is not expected to cover the entire 

 field of veterinary teaching for all agricultural colleges. 



I respectfully suggest that teachers should insist upon study 

 of illustrations. In my own class work I find the constant diffi- 

 culty that students glance at the illustrations carelessly and 

 hurriedly, and thus fail to get the benefit which they might 

 easily have. Students may be selected at random and asked to 



