the impossibility of writing a prescription that will fit all cases 

 of a certain disease, and if a good student 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 un- 

 able, in many cases, to give credit to authorities that have been 

 consulted, where credit is fairly due. 



Illustrations have not been used in any case merely as 

 pictures. 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, as 

 a text book, should entirely supplant the lecture work. On the 

 contrary, nearly every lecture may be supplemented to advantage 

 and so give opportunity for originality and the greatest effective- 

 ness. It will be readily understood that certain subjects are of 

 very great importance in some states, and unimportant in others. 

 Each teacher should add what he thinks best for his grade of pu- 

 pils 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 depend upon a 

 fraction of an inch, more or less, on the external angle of the 

 ilium ; and that high or low withers are merely slight variations 

 in the length of the superior spinus processes of the dorsal ver- 

 tebrae ; 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 not discussed 

 in these pages at all, and yet the general subject is an important 

 and practical one, and one that is easily illustrated in class room. 

 These are given merely as suggestions and to impress 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 care- 

 ful study of illlustrations. In my own class work I find the con- 

 stant difficult)' that students glance at the illustrations carelessly 



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