INTR0D.] OF THIS METHOD OF STUDY. 21 



medical treatment — both being equally destructive. 

 But we shall shortly enter into more minute de- 

 tails — not indeed so minute and particular as the 

 subject is capable of, but quite sufficient to enable 

 the student to commence these examinations with 

 pleasure, so that he may derive as much profit 

 from this labour as will fully serve his purpose 

 herein. He will hence learn how to appreciate the 

 value of the remedies we come immediately after- 

 wards to propose for the cure of disorders thus 

 accruing ; as he will, also, in the course we mean 

 to lead him, see the propriety, the humanity, of 

 timeously preventing many of those disorders from 

 making head, and committing those dreadful rava- 

 ges which are inflicted upon this valuable animal ; 

 or, in other words, are acquired unfairly, through 

 mistreatment or abuse of his powers. 



15. In this latter respect, what mistakes occur, 

 what mischiefs are perpetrated ! Whereas, much 

 loss would be prevented and some just reproaches 

 avoided, by putting horses to that labour only for 

 which, by the nature of their breed, they are best 

 adapted : neither to expect fleetness or strength be- 

 yond a certain extent, where the gift of fleetness, 

 or surpassing strength, is denied to the individuals 

 under consideration. For example, we do not run 

 a horse that is lame ! — then why work him until 

 he falls lame ? We do not expect a tender horse 

 to stand exposed at the covert side with impunity ; 

 — then why take him thither at all ? Or, if he be 

 ill-formed, we cannot reasonably expect him to go 



