On the Gentral Treatment of the Feet, 169 



thougii I am far from meaning to palliate the fault of negligence 

 and far less the crime of drunkenness, yet it ought to be recollected^ 

 that the shoeing smith has an intricate and complicated part^ of a 

 valuable animal, the internal mechanism of which, he is but little 

 acquainted with, to keep in order; and that accidents are insepa- 

 rable from the practice of his as well as every other mechanical art. 

 Instead, therefore, of vilifying and abusing a sober industrious smithy 

 when such a misfortune occurs, as laming a Horse in shoeing, let it 

 be the endeavour of the proprietor, to convince that man, that what 

 has happened, has accrued from pricking the quick, and not from biiid- 

 i72g the Foot. For, this, by alarming him more seriously on the score 

 of the probable consequence of future negligence, will have the effect 

 of increasing his caution. And I am perfectly satisfied, that if it 

 were once generally understood by practical smiths, that the stale 

 excuse of binding or pinching the Foot, would no longer avail them, 

 this conviction alone, would produce greater circumspection on their 

 part, and fewer Horses would be lamed, from a hasty or careless 

 mode of driving the nails. But^ so long as there exists such a strong 

 feeling of hostility in the public mind, agninst these people as a 

 body, it must not only he productive of great injustice towards, and 

 much indiscriminate abuse of, individuals, but, must inevitably per- 

 petuate the. evils so commonly laid to their charge; and, thus utter- 

 ly preclude all hope of amendment, in their morals and conduct.— 

 For, how often have I witnessed a stern austere employer accost a 

 a humble, sober, diligent smith, just about to "enter upon his labour, 

 in such a way as if he conceived the latter were intent upon wilfulljr 

 injuring or laming his Horse. Now, is this the way, let me ask, to 

 encourage the industrious mechanic, or to raise him from that de- 



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