144 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



for his able and satisfactory researches into this 

 dreadful disease, it is but just to observe that it has 

 not altogether escaped the notice of others. Mr Cole- 

 man, in all his publications, has never reverted to this 

 disease ; though I understand that since his attention 

 has been directed to it by Mr Turner, he has admitted 

 it. Mr Goodwin did mention one instance of it in a 

 late publication, in the case of a gentleman's hunter 

 whose foot he dissected ; but to Mr Turner alone is 

 the merit of establishing the incontrovertible fact. 

 These gentlemen, however, speak of it as an individual 

 instance ; and it must be highly gratifying to Mr 

 Turner to find that eminent practitioner Mr Goodwin 

 (veterinary surgeon to his Majesty,^ and whose book 

 I have perused with the greatest pleasure) stating, 

 that " although this disease might have been pre- 

 viously known to exist in particular cases," (only one 

 of which appears in his practice), " it was not under- 

 stood to be the general cause before Mr Turner in- 

 vestigated the subject." 



For my own part I hate a hovering faith, and would 

 at any time travel a hundred miles rather than remain 

 in doubt on a subject of this interesting nature. On 

 my viewing Mr Turner's specimens all scepticism 

 vanished, but some curious reflections came across 

 my mind. " Why," said I to myself, "do we take 

 so many opinions upon trust, when we have ears to 

 hear, and eyes to see, for ourselves ? If this fact be 

 established, what must after-ages think of those 

 volumes of error that have gone forth to the world 



» George III. 



