Rush^ on studying the diseases of Animals* Ixi 



It is alike foreign to my inclinations, and to the design of 

 this lecture, to enter further into this question. To such of 

 you as wish to see all the arguments that are urged in its favor, 

 from reason and revelation, I beg leave to recommend the pe- 

 rusal of an essay in the works of Dr. Hildrop, a learned and 

 pious clergyman of the church of England, intitled " Free 

 thoughts upon the brute creation." In whatever way the con- 

 troversy may be decided, I shall only add, that a belief in the 

 opinion suggested by the physician, and defended by the di- 

 vine, whose names have been mentioned, is calculated in no 

 one instance to do any harm, but on the contrary, much good, 

 by increasing our obligations to treat our domestic subjects 

 with tenderness and care. If the opinion be erroneous, let 

 the justice and mercy of the Supreme Being, in his con- 

 duct to his brute creation, remain unimpeached. The divine 

 government in this world, may be compared to the dreary 

 prospect of an extensive and highly cultivated countiy, on a 

 winter's day. The last revolution of our globe, will clothe 

 this prospect with all the beauties of the vernal, and all the 

 products of the autumnal months. It will then appear that 

 the apparent discord in the being and end of all intelligent 

 and animated creatures, was 



" Harmony not understood ;" 



And that all their sufferings were a necessary part of " uni- 

 versal good." 



But if the claims of domestic animals be so numerous, and 

 the advantages of attending to their health be so great, and 

 above all, if their high destiny hereafter be in the least de- 

 gree probable, it may be asked, why do we doom them with 

 so much cruelty to premature death, and afterwards feed 

 upon their flesh ? I answer, that by destroving them we pre- 

 vent their perishing by hunger, for in the present state of 

 cultivation of our earth, there would not be subsistence for 

 them and their offspring for more than a few years, by which 

 means their species would soon be extinct. By thus midtl- 



