08 Grease, 



as an Inflammation of the skin of the fetlock joint. The Disease is^ 

 in truth, the Chilblain of the Horse. 



Yetj no one, I believe^ has ever ventured to maintain^, that Chil- 

 blains were contagious, or curable by such mternal medicines, as 

 are capable of correcting* a vitiated state of the blood and humors. 

 Now, though I have more than once observed, that we ought to be 

 exceedingly cautious, how we apply the argument of analogy ; lest 

 we be led thereby, into irretrievable error ; yet, here^ I apprehend, is 

 a fair and safe case^ for its application. For, if I mistake not, the 

 more intimately we investigate the two diseases, and the more close- 

 ly we sift their phoenomena, the greater similiarity shall we per- 

 ceive, to exist between them, and the more resolutely shall we be 

 confirmed in our opinion, that neither the one, nor the other, de- 

 pends upon a morbid state of the blood or humors. I shall be ex- 

 cused, I hope, for being somewhat diffuse upon this point, because, 

 upon it, consequences of the greatest practical moment, entirely 

 iiinge. For, if we be determined to adopt the notion, that the dis- 

 ease depends upon a vitiated state of the blood and humors, or, in 

 other, words, that it arises from a constitutional, and not a local 

 cause, we must inevitably ( provided our practice be consistent with 

 our theory) exhibit such internal remedies, as are considered capable 

 of rectifying these supposed defects, and place but small depen- 

 dence, comparatively, upon external applications. — And hence, we 

 shall be inevitably led to adopt a practice, at once feeble, tedious,, 

 and inefficacious. — Simple views of things, provided they accord 

 with truth and nature^ are of the utmost use to us^ in all our specu- 

 lations. 



