168 THE POCKET AND THE STUD. 



Well, he deserves it, thought I ; observing, " I 

 suppose he is going to do something for her im- 

 mediately ? " " No," says the ostler, " he has given 

 her some balls, but he says she is sure to die ; so 

 he won't do nothing else." " He is quite right," 

 said I, "as to her dying, for die she most cer- 

 tainly will under her present treatment." So ended 

 our conversation. 



A friend of mine, one of our most eminent 

 and, I believe, most experienced army veterinary 

 surgeons, called on me next morning, and, on 

 going to the stables, I showed him the mare, 

 as a living proof of the ignorance of common 

 farriers. Nothing had been done; he was told 

 the same story I was, and also of the prediction of 



the mare's dying. " Die be ," said my friend, 



"so she will, and that very soon, if nothing is 

 done for her ; but if I had her under my care, I 

 would insure her life for half a sovereign." Not- 

 withstanding the ostler told his master this, in- 

 stead of sending for some man of sense, he took 

 the word of the young man who stood so high in 

 his estimation. The consequence may be anti- 

 cipated : a useful animal was lost through im- 

 proper and want of proper treatment. 



