THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XIV, No. 161.] MAY 1841. [New Series, No. 101. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE PRESENT EPIZOOTIC 
AMONG HORSES. 
By Mr. Hugh Ferguson, F.5., Lecturer on Zootomy , Zoo - 
pathology , and the Principles and Practice of Veterinary 
Surgery. 
ONE of the gieatest difficulties with which the practitioner 
of veterinary medicine has to contend, is the treatment of that 
class of diseases termed “ epizootical,” from their attacking a 
number of animals about the same time, each being the prevail- 
ing disease of the season in which it makes its appearance. In 
no other instance is the superiority of the well-educated veteri- 
nary surgeon over the mere empiric, whose merit rests on ex- 
perience alone, better exemplified than in the manner in which 
this description of malady is treated by each. Here the skill of 
the empiric generally falls far short of the great expectations that 
have been raised by his “ extensive experience,” and long cata- 
logue of former “ cures.” Unfortunately for his reputation, and 
the pockets of those proprietors of animals requiring his aid, the 
disease, although so intense in its character, so rapid in its course, 
and so fatal in its termination, is yet generally so transitory in its 
sojourn, that it is but the affair of a single season ; and, there- 
fore, remains not a sufficient length of time to enable him to pro- 
fit by that description of experience, which is the only principle 
by which he was ever guided in the practice of his art. It is 
only when the disease has almost entirely disappeared, when 
such know ledge is no longer of any practical utility, that he 
commences to understand any thing about its peculiarities. Dearly 
bought is such experience ! Not only have all his endeavours 
proved ineffectual towards assisting nature to contend against 
the disease, but, by the exhibition of improper remedies, he has 
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