143 



unworthinefs of the purfuit, but the kind of perfons 

 who have hitherto followed it, that has made it fo. 

 I believe no one will difpute the value of dogs ; com- 

 mon humanity dilates the neceffity of alleviating 

 their dittrcfles; and their faithful attachment to man- 

 kind claims not only the exertion of our humanity, 

 but the full efforts of our gratitude and affection. 

 And though, in real utility, they are fubordinatc to 

 the horfe, they are, in many points, more eflential 

 to our immediate comfort; and are certainly, by 

 their domeflic habits, connected to us by much more 

 winning ties. 



If, then, tliey are fo valuable, and if it is our duty 

 to attend as well to their fick as their healthy mo- 

 ments (which it undoubtedly is, for it is the life of art 

 we have fabje<rted them lo ihiit has emailfid difeafe 

 upon them) ; furely thofe who improve this branch 

 of the healing art deferve attention, and not reproba- 

 tion. But, in the firft inftance, it muft, in this as in 

 farriery, be the refpedability of the praditioner that 

 mull refcue the purfuit from ignominy; and after- 

 wards, as the ideas of mankind become more liberal 

 and extended, and the public eye opens on the ne- 

 celTity and utility of the fubjeft, the art will then 

 not only bear itfelf up, but even add refpedtability 

 to its practitioners. In every country the pradlice 

 of medicine, in all its branches, has been efteemed 

 a liberal and noble purfuit; and it has always been 



