A marked interest has of late years been manifested in our country
relative to the subject of breeding and rearing domestic cattle. This
has not been confined to the dairyman alone. The greater portion of
intelligent agriculturists have perceived the necessity of paying more
attention than was formerly devoted to the improvement and perfection of
breeds for the uses of the table as well. In this respect, European
cattle-raisers have long taken the precedence of our own.
The gratifying favor with which the author's former publication, "The
Horse and his Diseases," has been received by the public, has induced
him to believe that a work, similar in spirit and general treatment,
upon Cattle, would not be without interest for the agricultural
community.
In this belief, the present treatise has been prepared. The author has
availed himself of the labors of others in this connection; never,
however, adopting results and conclusions, no matter how strongly
endorsed, which have been contradicted by his own observation and
experience. In a field like the one in question, assuredly, if anywhere,
some degree of independent judgment will not be censured by those who
are familiar with the sad consequences resulting from the attempted
application of theories now universally exploded, but which in the day
and generation of their originators were sanctioned and advocated by
those who claimed to be magnates in this department.
To the following works, especially, the author acknowledges himself
indebted: American Farmer's Encyclopaedia; Stephens's Book of the Farm;
Flint's Milch-Cows and Dairy Farming; Laurence on Cattle; Allen's
Domestic Animals; Youatt and Martin on Cattle; Thomson's Food of
Animals; Allen's Rural Architecture; Colman's Practical Agriculture and
Rural Economy; Goodale's Breeding of Domestic Animals; and Prof.
Gamgee's valuable contributions to veterinary science.
Particular attention is requested to the division of "Diseases." Under
this head, as in his former work, the author has endeavored to detail
the symptoms of the most common ailments of cattle in such a manner that
every farmer and cattle-owner can at once understand them, and also to
suggest such procurable remedies as a wide experience has proved to be
most efficacious.
A generous space has been devoted to the consideration of that fatal
epidemic, now generally known as "Pleuro-Pneumonia," as it has
manifested itself in Europe and this country, in the belief that a
matter of such vital importance to the stock-raiser ought to receive a
complete exposition in a work like the present. As the author's personal
experience in connection with the treatment of this peculiar disease has
been, perhaps, as large and varied as that of any American practitioner,
he is not without the hope that his views upon the matter may prove
productive of some benefit to others.
Should the present volume prove as acceptable to those interested as did
his former work, the author will be abundantly satisfied that he has not
mistaken in this instance the wants of the public.