* BIPEDS AND QUADRUPEDS. 



another word on the subject ; no law would be 

 required to punish brutality, no police to prevent its 

 infliction, no commendation for the absence of it ; 

 interest would at once eff'ect that which neither law, 

 shame, nor eulogium, would produce. 



Nothing injures any cause more than making any 

 assertions, or using any arguments, that can be 

 absolutely refuted, for if this is done as regards 

 either, it throws a doubt on all that remains ; and 

 I am aware there are cases where, though sickening 

 and disgusting to witness, or even hear of, pecu- 

 niary gain is the result of brutal treatment of 

 animals, possessed by miscreants of various sorts, 

 who hesitate on no disgraceful act if it tends to 

 their interest to put it in practice ; it is better 

 therefore to allow at once a truth that we cannot 

 controvert ; and, with such as would avail them- 

 selves of such degrading source of gain, we can 

 only trust to the strong arm of the law, and the 

 vigilance of those who, in a commendable spirit, 

 devote a portion of their time to the detection 

 and punishment of such offenders, as the means of 



