260 
REVIEW. 
upon events in which they are the principal performers. Seeing, 
then, that the stake dependent upon an animal in repute as a racer 
is at times so very great, and yet that such animal is obnoxious, 
and especially so, to all the ills and infirmities which horse-flesh is 
by nature — in its artificial condition — heir to, how essential it be- 
comes that there should be somebody at hand able to restore him 
to health and soundness from the moment he happens to fail in 
either; else, what is to become of him at the post, what of his pro- 
prietors and backers 1 Here is a thousand pounds, or it may be five, 
hinging upon the contingency of a certain horse winning a certain 
race. The horse, a little before the event is to “ come off,” falls 
amiss or lame ; and it is of thousands-of-pounds of consequence 
that he should be restored by such a day. What is to be done in 
such an emergency ] Who can be called to his aid like a competent 
veterinary surgeon — a man who has made his diseases his own 
peculiar study, and from experience is skilled in all the ready and 
effectual means of their palliation or cure 1 
The present work, it is true, treats of the “ laws” or “ rules,” 
and not of the science, of horse-racing ; and of “ betting,” “ handi- 
capping,” &c. of branches of racing, in fact, with which the less, 
it might by some be said, a veterinary surgeon in practice, especi- 
ally if that practice happen to be among the race-horses engaged 
in such contests, the better. Still, it is but natural to veterinarians 
in their profession that they should experience some penchant for 
racing, feel some pleasure at least in the sports of the turf ; and 
that on the course they should feel ashamed not to be in possession 
of sufficient turf knowledge to enable them to understand what is 
transacting, and how matters, of which they from profession have 
become spectators, are carried into execution. Now, this is pre- 
cisely what we would have them glean from the work before 
us, and by which we would regulate our extracts ; though, before 
commencing such as have reference hereto, we would crave our 
readers’ attention while we recite to them, from the Preface, a neat, 
little, historical sketch of the origin of our native racer. 
“The English race-horse boasts of a pure descent from the 
Arabian ; and under whatever denomination the original stock of 
our thorough-bred horses have been imported — viz. as Turks, 
Barbs, or Royal Mares, there can be no doubt they were selected 
