FARRIER.
1. The horse, as well as the other domestic animals, is subject to a great variety of diseases, which, like those affecting the human system, are frequently under the control of medicinal remedies; and the same general means which are efficacious in healing the disorders of our race, are equally so in controlling those of the inferior part of the animal creation.
2. The great value of the domestic animals has rendered them, from the earliest periods, the objects of study and attention, not only while in health, but also when laboring under disease. For the latter state, a peculiar system was early formed, including amateria medica, and a general mode of treatment considerably different from those for human patients.
3. Of the authors of this system, whether Greek orRoman, nothing worthy of notice has been transmitted to us, beyond an occasional citation of names, in the works of Columella, a Roman writer, who flourished in the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, and in Vegetius Renatus, who lived two centuries afterwards. The former treated at large on the general management of domestic animals, and the latter more professedly on the diseases to which they are liable.
4. Both of these writers treated their subject in elegant classical Latin; but neither they nor any other ancient author whose works have reached us, had any professional acquaintance with medicine or surgery. Celsus is the only physician of those times who is said to have written on animal medicine; but this part of his works is not extant.
5. Xenophon is the oldest veterinary writer whose work remains; but his treatise is confined to the training and management of the horse for war and the chase. The chief merit of the ancient writers on this subject consists in the dietetic rules and domestic management which they propose. Their medical prescriptions are said to be an inconsistent and often discordant jumble of many articles, devoid of rational aim or probable efficacy.
6. On the revival of learning in Europe, when the anatomy and physiology of the human body had become grand objects of research in the Italian schools, veterinary anatomy attracted the attention of Ruini and others, whose descriptive labors on the body of the horse have since served for the ground-work and model to all the schools in Europe.
7. The works of the veterinary writers of antiquity were eagerly sought and translated in Italy and France, and the art was extensively cultivated, sometimes under regular medical professors. Every branch of the equine economy was pursued with assiduity and success, whether it related to harness and trappings, equitationand military menage, or the methodical treatment of the hoof, and the invention of various kinds of iron shoes. Evangelista of Milan distinguished himself in the education or breaking of the horse; and to him is attributed the invention of the martingale.
8. The new science having been extended over a great proportion of the continent of Europe, could scarcely fail of occasional communication with England; nevertheless, the medical treatment of horses and other domestic animals continued exclusively in the hands of farriers and cow-doctors, until some time in the first quarter of the eighteenth century.
9. At this period, that branch of this art which relates to the medical and surgical treatment of the horse, attracted the attention of William Gibson, who had acted in the capacity of army surgeon in the wars of Queen Anne. He was the first author of the regular medical profession, in England, who attempted to improve veterinary science; and the publication of his work forms an era in its annals, since his work became, and has continued to the present day, the basis of the superior practice of the English.
10. The eighteenth century was abundantly fruitful in veterinary pursuits and publications. France took the lead; but a zeal for this branch of science pervaded Germany and the states north of that part of Europe, and colleges were established in various countries, with the express view of cultivating this branch of the medical art. It is said that the French have improved the anatomical and surgical branches of the art, and the English, those which relate to the application of medicines.
11. The first veterinary school was instituted at Lyons, in 1762. Another was established at Alfort, in 1766. A similar institution was opened at Berlin, in 1792, and in the same year, one at St. Pancras, near London. In these colleges, lectures are given,and degrees conferred. In the diplomas, the graduate is denominatedveterinary surgeon. A great number of these surgeons have been dispersed in the armies of Europe, as well as through the different countries, where they have been employed in the medical and surgical treatment of diseased animals, to the great advantage of their owners.
12. From the preceding account, it is evident, that the light of science has shone conspicuously, in Europe, on the domestic animals, in relation to their treatment, both while in health, and when laboring under disease. In the United States, we have no institution for the cultivation of this branch of knowledge. The press, however, has been prolific in the production of works treating on the various branches of the veterinary art; and many persons, by their aid, have rendered themselves competent to administer to animals in cases of disease, in a rational manner.
13. Nevertheless, the practice of animal medicine is confined chiefly to illiterate men, who, from their laborious habits, or from other causes, have not attained to that degree of information on animal diseases, and the general effects of medicine, that might enable them to prescribe their remedies on scientific principles. But this state of things is not peculiar to our country; for, notwithstanding the laudable efforts of enlightened men in Europe, the blacksmiths form a vast majority of the horse-surgeons and physicians in every part of it; and the medical treatment of the other domestic animals is commonly intrusted to persons who are still more incompetent.
14. The attention of blacksmiths was very early turned to the diseases of the horse, from the practice of supplying him with shoes. The morbid affections of the foot were probably the first which attracted their notice; and descanting upon these induced the generalbelief, that they understood every other disease which might affect the animal.
15. These men, as artificers in iron, were originally termed ferrers or ferriers, from the Latin wordferrum, iron; and their craft, ferriery. These terms, by a usual corruption or improvement in language, have been changed to farrier and farriery, both of which still remain in general use, the former as applied to persons who shoe horses and administer to them medicines and surgical remedies, and the latter to the art itself, by which they are, or ought to be, guided.
16. The appellation of veterinary surgeon is applicable to persons who have received a diploma from some veterinary college, or who have, at least, studied animal medicine scientifically. There are a few such individuals in the United States; and the great value of the domestic animals, and the general increase of knowledge, certainly justify the expectation, that their number will increase.
THE END.
Transcriber's Notes:Obvious spelling and punctuation errors were repaired. Period spellings were retained (for example: orchestres, etc.), along with valid alternate spellings of the same word. "Stationary" is used for "stationery" consistently in this text. Retained.There were several words that the original included in both hyphenated and non-hyphenated forms; these were retained.Heading punctuation and formatting, which varied in the original, has been standardized.Illustrations on P. 63 (Printer), 73 (Type-founder), and 81 (Paper- maker) have no captions in the original.P. 66, "Durandi Ralionale divinorum officiorum" in the original is the official title in several sources. Retained "Ralionale" spelling.Changes not covered by notes above were:P. 10, "now became clefs"; original reads "clifs."P. 159, "convex drawing-knife"; original reads "onvex."
Obvious spelling and punctuation errors were repaired. Period spellings were retained (for example: orchestres, etc.), along with valid alternate spellings of the same word. "Stationary" is used for "stationery" consistently in this text. Retained.
There were several words that the original included in both hyphenated and non-hyphenated forms; these were retained.
Heading punctuation and formatting, which varied in the original, has been standardized.
Illustrations on P. 63 (Printer), 73 (Type-founder), and 81 (Paper- maker) have no captions in the original.
P. 66, "Durandi Ralionale divinorum officiorum" in the original is the official title in several sources. Retained "Ralionale" spelling.
Changes not covered by notes above were:P. 10, "now became clefs"; original reads "clifs."P. 159, "convex drawing-knife"; original reads "onvex."