ON THE LiyE-STOCIC

214

is not known that there is any disease peculiar to the farm-horses of Scotland . There is one observation, however, thatmay be permitted on this important subject, namely, that re-gularly educated veterinary practitioners are unknown overthe greater part of Scotland ; that immense losses are sus-tained from the general ignorance of farmers and blacksmiths,and that it would greatly redound to the honour of our pub-lic institutions, and to the benefit of husbandmen, as well asof the country at large, were a part of the funds appropriatedto internal improvement, expended in educating, and after-wards in establishing, one or more veterinary surgeons inevery county.

Asses and Mules can hardly be said to constitute a por-tion of the agricultural live-stock of Scotland . Their num-ber is very small, and their labour is almost engrossed by adescription of people who neither sow nor reap. A few assesindeed are kept for the medicinal qualities of their milk, byindividuals belonging to a better order of society. But it isnot probable that either asses or mules can be advantageous-ly employed in the labours of agriculture, at least not suchbreeds as are to be found in the country at the present time;and it has not yet become fashionable to use donkies for thesaddle in the northern part of the island. Whenever theservices of small animals are required, the Highland poneyis in every respect preferable to an ass or a mule,