520 CHATTER 66. 



think, be present to those who make Veterinary science their life's study. 

 It is almost impossible for a man of average sensibility to observe closely 

 and to note the painful expression and the intelligence of those creatures, 

 whose structure and organisation he has to investigate before he can 

 minister to their ailments, it is impossible for him to witness their 

 sufferings, to witness the brutal treatment which they too often meet 

 with from ignorant and cruel men ; it is impossible for him to see these 

 things without sorrow, without endeavouring to alleviate their agony, 

 and endeavouring to ameliorate their hard fate. 



It is said to be, and justly said to be, the type of the highest Christian 

 virtue to do good to those who cannot repay you, who cannot or who 

 will not even thank you. If this be so, and it is so, then there can be no 

 higher virtue than the alleviation of animal pain and suffering. I know 

 of no more real satisfaction than to relieve an animal of pain, or to cure 

 him of a disease from which he suffers as acutely as we do ourselves. 

 Animals do appreciate our help. Of that I have no doubt. Some show 

 their gratitude more visibly than others. Dogs, for instance, and some 

 other animals, show it outwardly and plainly enough; but doubtless all 

 animals made by the same Creator feel it, not in our, but in their own 

 way. 



1044. Horses. 



Veterinary science and Veterinary surgeons can and should do much 

 to lighten the hard lot of animals which toil incessantly for man ; and 

 surely no creature stands more in need of this aid than the horse. His 

 life is often one of continual slavery, and in many instances of perpetual 

 discomfort. He ^lone, or almost alone, of all creatures is doomed to 

 never-ceasing labour. The life of the ox, the cow, and the sheep, is one 

 of comparative, if not absolute happiness, whilst the life of the dog is 

 generally happy. 



But the horse seems to be haunted by the demon of labour and fatigue 

 almost from his earliest years, and generally increasing to the hour of 

 his death to be haunted by a demon whose power to torment seems to 

 increase as the horse becomes older and more worn. 



If any animal deserves, as a reward for services to man, and as a 

 compensation for days, weeks, and years of abuse ; if any animal deserves 

 a tranquil future, a glorious pasturage traversed by never-failing crystal 

 streams of water, surely that animal must be the horse. 



These views of animal pain and suffering, and the doctrine of an animal 

 soul, are deeply mingled with that of future retribution to man for 

 cruelty to the lower creation. Ruskin has eloquently said, " Can any man 

 account for all that happens to a cab horse? Has he aver fairly looked 

 at the fate of one of those beasts as he is dying? Has he measured the 

 work it has done, and the reward it has got ? Has he ever put his hands 

 on the bloody sores through which its bones are piercing, and so looked 

 to Heaven with an entire understanding of Heaven's ways about the 

 horse ? Yet the fate of the horse is no dream ; no revelation among the 

 myrtle trees by night. The dust it lies upon, and the dogs that eat it 



