MEMOIRS OF A VETERINARY SURGEON. 689 
plicity, and as this class of diseases comes before me more 
frequently, and forms the greater proportion of my cases, 1 
have selected such for my present purpose out of a miscella¬ 
neous number attacking every breed of horse, including several 
hundred of heavy-draught horses belonging to our largest 
firms, the majority of them gross, fat, dangerous subjects ; 
and which are being continually replenished with fresh young 
horses brought straight from the open straw-yards of the 
breeding counties, and taken at once into town stables, and 
there fed upon full diet and subjected to town usages. Add 
to this that this large city is made the central station or 
depot, from whence all branch establishments are supplied 
with seasoned horses. Under these circumstances it will be 
seen that there is a transition, or a serious and critical change 
taking place in thus inuring these animals; and whenever 
active fever or inflammatory disease supervenes, it requires a 
most discreet and prudent method of treatment to steer the 
patient safely through. Before railway times, these large 
cities, which are such great centres of industry, had the 
above difficulties to contend with, but only in a smaller 
degree, and I hesitate not to say that the losses to the horse¬ 
keeping community in this town alone were at least fifty per 
cent, more, twenty or thirty years ago, compared with what 
they are now. Let us next inquire how this great change 
has been brought about. Has it resulted from profound 
pharmaceutical and physiological research, which so often 
seduces the intellect? I think not. 
“ These leave the sense their learning to display.” 
Neither is it attributable to the maintenance of antiquated 
notions of practice, where the old farrier bled, blistered, and 
physicked, but all in vain; for when the patient was opened 
he was pronounced to be cc as rotten as a pear.” Thus did 
he continue 
“ Bold in the practice of mistaken rules.” 
My conviction is, that this change in the order of things is 
referable to several causes arising out of more enlightened 
times, viz.— 
First . The improved breed of our horses generally, leading 
to a sounder and healthier class of stock, whereby many of 
those hereditary predispositions, or unhealthy organizations 
and consanguinities, have disappeared from among them. 
Secondly. The improved stable-management, and the greater 
care which is exercised in the system of seasoning young 
horses. 
