This book investigates the complex transmission and compilation history of the Hippiatrica, a significant Byzantine veterinary corpus, to understand how ancient medical knowledge regarding horses was preserved and adapted. Anne McCabe, a specialist in Byzantine studies, utilizes an extensive analysis of surviving manuscripts—ranging from ornate presentation volumes to utilitarian field copies—to reconstruct the editorial processes of medieval scribes. By examining the intersection of veterinary science, folklore, and administrative record-keeping, the author argues that these texts represent a vital, yet overlooked, bridge between classical antiquity and later veterinary practices.

Scholars and historians of science recognize this work as a foundational resource for understanding the preservation of technical knowledge in the Byzantine Empire. Readers frequently note the academic rigor and the meticulous detail provided in the author's examination of the manuscript evidence.