THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 183 



most efficient professor of veterinary science. Im- 

 pressed with the idea that expertness and promptitude 

 in many operations are essential to the welfare of the 

 horse and the pocket of the owner, many prefer these 

 farriers to the more scientific veterinarian, and these 

 gentlemen often recommend their employment. An 

 example may illustrate this : — Mr. Blaine was sent for 

 to fire a valuable horse, the property of J. Bean, Esq., 

 Sussex ; he gives the following account of it : — 



" It was my first essay in firing on my own account, 

 and fired as I was with my wishes to signalise myself, 

 I laboured to enter my novitiate with all due honour. 

 The farrier of the village was ordered to attend, a 

 sturdy old man, civil enough, but looking as though im- 

 pressed with no very high respect fora gentleman-farrier's 

 knowledge. The horse was cast, (I daresay awkwardly 

 enough), and secured, as will appear, even more so. 

 I however proceeded to show the superiority of the 

 new over the old school. I had just then left the Ve- 

 terinary College, not as a pupil, but as a teacher, which 

 I only mention to mark the climax. On the very first 

 application of the iron up started my patient, flinging 

 me and my assistants in all directions from him, while 

 he trotted and snorted round the yard with rope, &c., 

 at his heels. As may be supposed, I was taken aback, 

 and might have gone hack as I came, had not the old 

 farrier, with much good humour, caught the horse 

 round the neck with his arms, and by some dexterous 

 manoeuvre brought him on his knees, when, with a 

 jerk as quick as unexpected, he threw him at once on 

 his side, where our immediate assistance fixed him, and 

 we proceeded. It is needless to remark I retired mor- 

 tified, and left the village-farrier lord of the as- 

 cendant." 



In France, and many other parts, castration by 



