772 
OBITUARY— M. HURTRKL D’ARBOYAL. 
them, — to discard the thousand erroneous opinions which had pre- 
vailed during the previous ages of darkness — in a word, to elicit 
harmony from a chaos so discordant, — this was the end which 
Hurtrel d’Arboval proposed to himself, and which he attained by 
the publication of his Dictionary. Alone and unassisted he ac- 
complished this mighty task. If in four closely-printed volumes 
there were certain imperfections and errors, the candid reader will 
at once acknowledge that they were attributable more to the age 
in which he lived than to any want of talent and research in the 
author. He will also acknowledge that there are fewer incon- 
sistencies — and errors too — in a work conducted by one talented 
and conscientious writer, than if many literary labourers, with pe- 
culiar and inconsistent principles, had undertaken it. 
The author was perfectly aware of the imperfections of this 
attempt at the classification of the principles and practice of vete- 
rinary medicine ; and the first edition had scarcely issued from the 
press ere he was laboriously employed in preparing another and a 
better. As the physiology of the domesticated animals became 
more and more known ; as facts connected, not with general medi- 
cine, but the advancement of our peculiar branch of the healing 
art accumulated, he erased many of those dissertations on general 
physiology and medicine by which his first edition was encum- 
bered ; and his work became an able and an honest explication of 
veterinary science. 
He lived to complete a second edition, increased to six large 
volumes, although nearly half of that which the first edition con- 
tained was erased. It has, perhaps, one fault of considerable con- 
sequence — it is too much confined to French veterinary literature; 
but so far as that goes, it may be considered as perfect. 
The printing of the second edition commenced early in 1838. 
The three last volumes of the work were published in 1839 ; and 
on the 20th of July he died, aged 62 years. It was singular 
that his death should so soon follow the accomplishment of his 
great work. His memory will be the more devoutly cherished 
by those who justly estimate the value of his labours. Respect- 
fully, and from the heart, we offer this tribute to his memory. 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
We have two valuable cases for which we could not find room in the present 
number. They shall appear in our next. 
The account of the Horse Trial at Bristol was received. It is set up, and shall 
appear as soon as we can insert it. It is exceedingly interesting, but very long. 
The Indices will occupy a considerable portion of our next number. 
Will those gentlemen who intend to favour us with their company on- the 18th 
kindly send us a note a few days before the time ? This will also better enable our 
worthy Secretary to arrange the proceedings of the dinner. It is not a slight affair 
which will excuse the absence of any practitioner on that day. 
