ROWELLING. 271 



mount, under the consolatory adage of 

 *' better late than never ^' every member of 

 the community must wish it the most unin- 

 terrupted success. 



Returning to the operative part of our sub- 

 ject, and its salutary effects upon the consti- 

 tution, it may be remembered, that rowels 

 have been strenuously recommended by ad- 

 vocates of every denomination, to draw off the 

 corrupt or diseased humours from the blood, 

 leaving the remainder in a state of purifica- 

 tion : this, however, has never been roundly 

 and boldly asserted as a fact not to be dis- 

 puted, but founded originally in conjecture, 

 and pusillanimously reiterated accordingly. 

 But for the moment, and better promotion 

 of disquisition and the discovery of truth, let 

 us admit the absurdity; out of which will 

 evidently arise a question to establish the fal« 

 lacy of opinion founded in error ^ and fostered 

 by ignorance : viz. Whether any professional 

 writer, or scientific investigator, will stand 

 forth and say, the operative effect of a rowel 

 . is equally applicable to the difference of dis- 

 ease, arising from either a viscid tena- 



