72 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER, 



fcalding method is exprefsly referved bv them 

 both for inveterate cafes, which will not fubmit 

 to meafures of inferior force and efficacy. No 

 one can feel with more poignancy of regret, 

 with more acute and painful fenfations than 

 myfelf, the numerous unavoidable occafions 

 of animal mifery ; no one would go farther to 

 extinguifTi all fuch as are poffibly avoidable ; 

 but are we to fuffer a ufeful animal afflicled 

 with difeafe, to languifh under it, or are we to 

 knock him on the head, rather than force him 

 to undergo the momentary pain of a probable 

 and effectual cure. I hope the fcalding method 

 is not fo frequent as formerly, I hope there is 

 lefs occafion for it ; but I have known it prac- 

 tifed with fuccefs, and in one inftance by a 

 farrier of the higheft repute. It has never 

 come within my knowledge, that any Horfes 

 were killed, or even at all injured by it. Nor 

 is the pain of the operation fo exceflive as, 

 from the nature of the thing, one might be at 

 firft led to imagine ; the ufual large quantity of 

 glewy, oleous matter, (heathing and defending 

 the parts, and the coldnefs and deadnefs of the 

 ulcer rendering them very little fufceptible of 

 feeling. It is remarkable that Mr. Sharpe, in 

 his operations of furgery, gives an account of 

 an ulcer in the body of a human patient, treated 

 with fuccefs in this manner ; and the pain was 

 found to be inconfiderable. The laft inflance I 



knew 



