AND SURGERY. 235 



men to lay afide the expedation of all other 

 uncaufed efFefts. ^ 



It ought never to be forgotten, that all im- 

 provements in the treatment of beafts have been 

 made by gentlemen and men of fcience ; and 

 to the lefTons of fuch, received at firfl: with 

 averfion, and inculcated by flow degrees, the" 

 prefent race of grooms and farriers owe their 

 fuperiority over their predecefibrs. Precifely 

 the. fame remark was formerly applicable to 

 farmers, and if we except Ellis of Gaddefden, 

 Bakewell, Ducket, and a few other individuals, 

 men of genius and of an inquifitive mind, it 

 would be difficult to find one who had ever 

 been emulous of difengaging himfelf from the 

 trammels of cuftom. Yet far be from me the 

 arrogance of pafling fentence of condemnation 

 upon the whole body of farriers, in the aggre- 

 gate, or of afferting their total inutility. There 

 muft neceffarily exift, in fuch a numerous body, 

 men of talents, and of very extenfive praftice ; 

 but would not thefe men be rendered ftill more 

 capable in their profedion by the aids of edu- 

 cation ? The force of authority and prefcription 

 is generally an over-match ibr the reafoning 

 faculty. Your horfe is fick — you apply, in 

 courfe, to a 'regular farrier — it is a common 

 cafe, the do6lor hits it, and fucceeds ; or nature, 

 reft, and the untaxed bill of cofts, do the bufi- 

 nefs. If a complicated and dangerous cafe, I 



fay 



