BULL’S VETERINARY INSTRUCTION. 
233 
interesting to every horseman : nay, it is even of national im- 
portance. It has long been our pride to boast that our country 
produced theffinest horses in the world : to retrograde in this 
respect would not only reHect great discredit upon us, but in 
various ways would affect our national interests : it would con- 
siderably lessen the commercial traffic in horses at present carry- 
ing on ; it would lower the estimation in which our cavalry are 
now so deservedly held ; and it would injure and detract from 
the enjoyment of both the turf and the hunt. 
It is therefore, we repeat, of vast import to all engaged in 
horse concerns to ascertain whether we really are retrograding 
in our breeds ; and if so, what steps should be taken to avert 
or put a stop to the evil courses. How far our author’s views 
and plans be correct and worthy of adoption, must form the sub- 
ject of a future article. In the meantime, we most cordially 
tender him our thanks for agitating the question. 
[To be continued.] 
A Compendious System of Veterinary Instruction, by 
Question and Answer , prepared and arranged upon modern 
and scientific Principles. By B.Bull, Veterinary Surgeon , 
Launceston. Simpkin, Marshall & Co. ; and H. & W. Wright. 
We confess that we object to the title of this book. In “ a 
compendious system” of instruction on any science, we expect to 
find not only brevity and condensation, but, most of all, com- 
prehensiveness. The work should contain, in a short compass, 
all that is valuable relating to that science. “ A compendious 
system of veterinary instruction” should include the anatomy, 
physiology, and diseases of every domesticated animal. This 
volume, with all its merit, is confined to the horse; and the title 
page, as in the excellent works of Mr. Percivall, should have 
clearly expressed it. It is high time that the noble scope of our 
art should be well understood. 
We likewise object to the catechetical form which is given to 
it. We have not forgotten the pleasure and improvement with 
which, many years ago, we read some of Mrs. Marcet’s elementary 
works ; nor have we forgotten the parrot-like form of other books 
of our younger years, by which the memory was scarcely bur- 
dened, for the impression was evanescent, while the intellectual 
power was unemployed, and taught habitually to slumber and 
to waste away under the lethean influence of the mere gabbling 
by rote. 
The charm and the utility of Mrs. Marcet’s works consisted 
in the conversational form into which she contrived to throw 
them, and the process of reasoning and mental exertion which 
