6 
J. C. DALTON. 
for this by the beauty of his organization, his willingness of dis¬ 
position, and the admirable way in which he is adapted to the 
work he has to perform. All he wants is to know what his mas¬ 
ter expects of him, and he is ready to do it, by an instinct which 
is part of his nature. No doubt there are vicious horses, as there 
are vicious men; and for both of them punishment is the best 
remedy. But this is the exception in one case as well as the 
other. At least nine times out of ten, when a horse does not 
do the right thing, it is because he does not understand what is 
wanted of him; and if he can be quietly shown this by any 
means, he is only too glad to be put on the right track. You 
will probably have frequent opportunity as veterinarians, to 
observe the peculiarities of nervous organization in different ani¬ 
mals. They are not all alike in this respect, and a knowledge 
of their variations in temper, intelligence or excitability, may 
sometimes be useful in a medical point of view. The indepen- 
ence of some animals, the sociability of others, the quickness 
and impressibility of some, and the comparatively phlegmatic 
disposition of others, are always interesting things to notice, and, 
when we understand them, make it all the easier to treat the 
animal or use him to the best advantage. Even when a horse is 
sometimes a little capricious or light headed, I do not think that a 
very serious fault. It is usually a temporary matter, and when 
the animal has kicked up his heels a few times he is generally 
satisfied in his mind and ready to go along quietly for the rest of 
the day. 
But your usefulness as practitioners will not be confined to the 
horse. 1 on will be called upon for advice and treatment for the 
other domestic animals. And in regard to all those used for pur¬ 
poses of draft or food, you will have to do with interests of high , 
value to the wealth of the country. Beside the ordinary affect¬ 
ions to which these animals are liable, there is a further subject 
of great importance and scientific interest, which comes directly 
within the range of veterinary medicine. That is the subject of 
parasites. These creatures are often the pests of the farmer and 
the stock-breeder. They are lurking vagabonds and intruders, 
that insinuate themselves secretly into the bodies of higher ani- 
