percivall’s anatomy of the horse. 
587 
ledge of anatomy and physiology lies at the foundation of all 
good practice, and no really useful veterinary learning can be 
acquired without them; our young students cannot be too deeply 
impressed with this truth. They may depend upon it that this 
is “ the only effective weapon by which they will be enabled to 
combat their opponents’’—the groom, the blacksmith; nay, in 
the present state of our art, in too many cases, the man of educa¬ 
tion and the surgeon. 
Mr. Percivall’s “ Elementary Lectures” combined the anatomy 
and physiology and pathology of the horse. This volume con¬ 
tains the first of these—the foundation of the other two. If the 
reader will be disappointed in any thing, it will be, that the able 
author of this work has given no distinct pledge of his intention 
to rear the proper superstructure upon the foundation here so 
firmly laid. There is, however, a tacit obligation, the force of 
which he will neither forget nor evade.—Another short quotation 
from his Introduction will combine his duty, as well as that of 
the veterinary students and the lovers of the horse, who are 
already so much indebted to him. “ By learning anatomy we 
become acquainted with the situation, form, connexion, and 
structure of every part of the body. Its action or use is taught 
by the science of physiology: from which we proceed to the 
third link in the crane of fundamental medical knowledge— 
pathology, or the doctrine of disease. Anatomy prepares the 
mind for, while it excites it to, the study of physiology ; a science 
no less admired for the sublimity of its dogmas, than ardently 
pursued for its fruitful and valuable products. Anatomy forms 
the groundwork of physiology; and he who possesses a know¬ 
ledge of both sciences combined, holds in his hand the key to 
all rational practice, as well in medicine as in surgery, be it 
human or be it veterinary.” 
-- W. Y. 
Remarks on the Condition of Hunters , $c. By Nimrod. 
[Continued from page 539 ] 
To whatever extent we may concede the practice of the “art 
and mystery” of getting horses into condition into the hands of 
the groom, we must not lose sight of the principles upon which 
that practice is founded; but remember that they form “part 
and parcel” of the science of the veterinarian. No man can be 
deemed qualified to undertake the management of a horse in 
disease who is unacquainted with his nature and habits in a 
state of health. These have become so altered by our artificial 
treatment of the animal, that it requires a sort of servitude in 
the stable to get possession of such knowledge : nay, more, a 
man can hardly be said to “know a horse”—his habits, temper, 
