INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 27 



furdities of his veterinary predeceflbrs, ex- 

 cepting one folitary inftance, where his philo- 

 fophy and good fenfe fuflkring a momentary 

 fuipenfiou, i.e incautioufly recommends the 

 flupid and cruel practice of attempting to 

 dilate narrow heels, an inch or two, by the infer- 

 tion of a fplint of iron in the frufh, which 

 was to be previoufly cut open with a fleam, in 

 order to the reception of the iron ; as though 

 it were equally practicable to force nature from 

 her deflined courfe, as, experience teaches us, 

 it is, to aflift her in it by gentle and legitimate 

 means. But it is indeed wonderful that they 

 flopped where they did, and that Markham, or 

 fome other conjuror of the enlightened days of 

 yore, did not recommend an attempt to in- 

 creafe the longitudinal dimenfions of a horfe's 

 neck, by virtue of an operation of the mecha- 

 nic powers. Of this abfurdity, however, as 

 well as of feveral others of minor confequence, 

 the judicious Gibfon has purged his writings 

 in the laft edition. Indeed he enjoyed, in the 

 interim, the advantage of confulting the in- 

 valuable work of Dr. Bracken, of whole re- 

 marks (made, it is true, w r ith here and there a 

 fpice of the ufual petulance of that eccentric 

 writer) he has numerically taken the advan- 

 tage, but without acknowledging the obliga- 

 tion, which he furely might have done without 

 (hame, confidering the great learning and 



medical 



