128 

 account for the use of that agent by imagining" 

 certain persons to be totally ignorant of its action. 

 In the first place, it destroys the part with which 

 it comes in contact ; inflammation follows and sup- 

 puration ensues ; a quantity of blood is diverted to 

 the surface, and of course drawn from the pulp of the 

 new tooth, which originally it flowed to and nurtured. 

 A slough must take place, and the mouth remain 

 sore till the escar is thrown off" and the exposed 

 granulating surface cicatrized. But wherever the hot 

 iron is applied the immediate part is thickened, ren- 

 dered more hard and tense. Which of these effects 

 is it the horse-dealer regards as likely to promote his 

 wishes? A little knowledge would inform any one, 

 that the cautery must act in the opposite direction 

 to that, which it is supposed, by ignorant people, to 

 favour. Indeed, I do not think, that horse-dealers or 

 others have yet obtained so great a mastery over 

 nature, that the dame can be made to hurry at their 

 bidding, however cruelly their orders may be en- 

 forced. A "Yorkshire five" may sound well, but 

 there is no more possibility of making a four-year 

 old colt, by barbarity, show the development of a 

 five-year old horse, than there is, by wrenching, 



