The management and treatment of the horse in the stable, field, and ...

In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 91)
of the foot of the horse lead to and are the primary cause
of many diseases, amongst which none are worse than
navicular joint disease ; and as my writings are only
meant as a sort of pilot to guide the groom in his pursuit
of knowledge under difficulties, I would here impress
upon his mind that although I from time to time give
the symptoms and treatment of different diseases, yet they
are only to enable him to become a good nurse, and be
the right hand of the practical veterinary surgeon ;
for if the veterinary surgeon finds an intelligent groom,
he will most assuredly be able to leave his medicine with
confidence, and the groom should always bear in mind
that practice makes perfection,—that however well
versed a groom may be, the veterinary surgeon has the
best of him in practice as he is enabled to see a hundred
cases to the groom's one. Calling in the aid of the
veterinary surgeon is not a sign of the groom's ignorance,
as some are too prone to remark, but to any man of
common sense, it would prove that the groom knew he
had a bad case, and also that his treatment was the right
one to adopt under the circumstances, and that by calling
in the aid of the joractical veterinary to consult with he
was doing his best for the benefit of his employer. It
always gives the author great pleasure to call in such
men as Professor Pritchard, of London ; Mr Wadlow, of
Oxford ; Mr Stanley, of Leamington ; or Mr Broad, of
Bath ; to consult with in difficult cases ; they are men of
knowledge and do not call grooms and blacksmiths fools,
but will kindly point out the quicksands under their feet,
and help them on to firm ground and sound judgment.
It is owing to the friendship of those men and Mr