186 Condition. 



bined with philosophical examination,, has proved 

 the fallacy of such reasoning. 



Some time ago the writer was thrown into 

 conversation with a gentleman holding these 

 tenets with extreme force. No argument could 

 shake the view he held of the necessity for two or 

 three doses of physic. " It had always been 

 the practice, and would always remain so/' he 

 contended. It happened that an old vicious animal 

 belonged to the stud, to which no man dare give 

 a ball, nor could he be induced to take any medi- 

 cament in his food, and the circumstance rushing 

 to the mind, prompted the following queries in a 

 way which looked at first like yielding up the 

 point and turning the conversation. 



" By-the-by, how many horses have you 1" 



" The old number, eight/' 



" Oh ! is the old gray alive yet ?" 



" Alive ! of course when will he die ? He's 

 too tough, I assure you." 



" How long have you hunted the old fellow ? 

 if I remember rightly, some years/' 



" Yes, nine this season. He has carried me 

 without a stumble, and cost me not a fraction 

 for illness. I am never carried so well as when 

 upon old Sergeant's back. No matter what 

 country, he goes pell-mell, and I am sure to be in 

 first." 



" You say he never cost you a fraction through 

 illness ; do you mean me to infer that he has 

 never been ill?" 



