798 DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



but an ordinary one in his practice, that it certainly seems worth 

 while to study the matter with care, since it is evident there is 

 much to learn on the management of this and other kinds of foot- 

 lameness, and that Mr. Bonner is so thoroughly informed on this 

 subject as to be far in advance of all accepted authority. In- 

 deed, Dr. Going, formerly veterinary editor of the Spirit of the 

 Times, who is himself one of the most successful practitioners and 

 reliable authorities in the country, in an article published in the 



Turf, Field, and Farm, admits as much, as will be seen by his 

 statement, which I copy, with the editor's comments on the 

 same : 



" Dr. Going, who was for many years editor of the Veterinary 

 Department of our Chambers street contemporary, writes as follows 

 on the subject of Horse-Shoeing, in his ' Veterinary Dictionary ' : 



" ' It is said no man has ever yet reached perfection in any branch of art, 

 science, literature, industry, etc. ; but while I am unprepared to join issue 

 with the assertion, I can safely say that the nearest approach which has ever 

 been made in this connection (horse- shoeing and the study of the horse's 

 foot) has been made by Robert Bonner, Esq., of New York, who, had not 

 the Ledger already made him famous, would undoubtedly have obtained 

 widespread renown through his almost superhuman knowledge in this de- 

 partment. I have had the pleasure of conversing with him on this subject, 

 and am pleased to have an opportunity of stating the impression the conver- 

 sation made upon me. 



* * * <j W ould say, if Mr. Bonner could only be persuaded to write 

 a book on this subject (which he so intimately understands), it would be an 

 inestimable boon to the present and future generations of man and horse. ' 



" This is a generous tribute on the part of Dr. Going to an ama- 

 teur. If other veterinary surgeons were equally generous, then 

 there would be a chance for them to learn something. At present, 

 we know that they know comparatively nothing, for instance, about 

 navicular-joint disease and other alleged incurable troubles of the 

 foot. A lesson in this line would not hurt the editor of our own 

 Veterinary Department. 



" We, too, think that Mr. Bonner ought to write a book on this 

 subject." 



All are aware how much depends upon the judgment and in- 

 genuity of the operator; that a very little want of judgment or 

 skill in making the adjustment would cause failure; that this 

 harmonizing of conditions to those of the case must be largely 

 the province of genius, aided by the most careful study, to ac- 

 complish, and this Mr. Roburg proves himself in the highest 

 degree an expert in doing. 



