340 HUNTERS. 



performance of every function^ that it be- 

 comes entitled to a proper degree of con- 

 sideration ; but knowing (from the very 

 nature of the inquiry) how little attention 

 would be paid to a tedious and desultory 

 diffusion of matter^ upon the different 

 kinds of water, their properties, the mine- 

 ral particles they contain, the distinct strata 

 through which they run, and become im- 

 pregnated as they pass, with their pro- 

 bable or possible effects, upon the consti- 

 tutions of horses would lead us again into 

 a very extensive and unentertaining field 

 of physical disquisition, that we wish by 

 no means to renew, unless it could tend 

 to enhghten the subject, or improve the 

 judgment : in an attempt to succeed effec- 

 tually in either. Bracken must be even- 

 tually cited to justify one assertion, Clarke 

 to demonstrate another ; the sum total of all 

 which could amount only to an accumu- 

 lation of mere conjecture respecting stone, 

 gravel, and strangurij, without any thing 

 being positively ascertained, b}'* a cata- 

 logue of conditional suppositions, founded 

 upon the various properties of different 



