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CHAP. XXXI. 



OTSr THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STALLIONS, 

 MARES, AND GELDINGS, IN POINT OF SER- 

 VICE. 



IT has been frequently disputed whether 

 gelding of horses be an advantage or disad- 

 vantage, and whether their strength and action 

 be not impaired by this operation. It may be 

 urged in favour of stallions, that as nature 

 does nothing in vain, and as she in her regu- 

 lar operations created them entire, they ought 

 to remain so; but this argument cannot be well 

 maintained *, for as those animals seem to have 

 been created by the Deity for the use of man, 

 and man being a rational creature, he ought to- 

 use his reason in converting them to the uses 

 best adapted to his interest and convenience. 

 The same argument may be urged in favour of 



