A BUBBLE KEPUTATION. 247 



seemed sorely perplexed, pleaded some mistake, and 

 requested another examination, which was granted, 

 and finally, a second time, rejected the horse as un- 

 sound; so that within a week three certificates were 

 given by the same man on the same horse, and, accord- 

 ing to the usual order of things, the ratio was two to 

 one in favour of unsoundness. 



Surely no one will charge this very successful prac- 

 titioner with neglecting his recognised duties, and say 

 that he was willing to overlook a morbid tendency in 

 the dealer's horse, which became a matter of paramount 

 importance in the gentleman's. 



If one ventured to allege that the horse was sound 

 after all, the ansAver would assuredly be a list of his 

 miraculous discoveries in occult cases, and his numerous 

 triumphs over rival practitioners. 



For what matters it to the monopoliser of a liberal 

 art that a few men should exist who are sceptical of 

 his claim to infallibility? 



It is a matter of perfect indifference to him, so long 

 as they do not succeed in robbing him of either his 

 character or practice. 



Now, we know that there are a set of men, even in 

 these enlightened days, who — claiming to be descen- 

 dants of the apostles — desire one to be satisfied with 

 their authority, and walk with one's eyes shut in order 

 that one may be able to see the better ; and many 

 there are who are content submissively thus to eke out 

 their existence. But since the veterinary art in this 

 country dates neither from the prophets nor the 



