MAYHEW OX CLIPPING. 283 



compulsory idleness, appropriately finished by the 

 payment of a long bill to the veterinary surgeon.' 



Here I must call attention to another point. I 

 have already mentioned the cautious manner in 

 which Mayhew, as a man of science, writes when he 

 treats of a subject which is outside his peculiar 

 province. This very caution gives additional weight 

 to the absolute decision with which he writes when 

 on his own ground. As to the question about freedom 

 of movement being the result of clipping, no matter 

 how absurd such a statement may seem, he writes 

 as follows : ' This may be the fact, although the 

 author has hitherto seen no such marked change 

 follow the operation as will allow him to deliberately 

 corroborate the general assertion.' 



But when he treats of the evils which clipping 

 inflicts upon the horse, he uses no such caution, but 

 employs the most direct and positive language : 



' Horses which have been clipped or singed are 

 (not may be) rendered more susceptible to many 

 terrible disorders. Any internal organ may be 

 acutely attacked, because the perspiration has by 

 exposure of the skin been thrown back upon the 

 system. Numerous hunters (which animals are 

 always clipped) fail (not may fail) at the beginning 

 of the season from this cause.' 



This is the voice of one who speaks as having 

 authority. 



