REVIEW. 
11 
though the good they achieve by the arresting and punish- 
ment of flagrant abuse and ill-treatment cannot but have 
some salutary check on subjects of the class we are pointing 
attention to. The wretched creatures doomed to drag street- 
cabs constitute the description of horses most calling for the 
beneficent eye of the Society; to which we would add one 
other, to wit, horses in tradesmen’s — particularly in butchers’ 
carts; which, in some instances, are most shamefully treated 
by drivers who appear to have about as much feeling 
for their horses as they have for their dead carcases. 
We are in doubt whether this useful, and in one sense, co- 
operative Society, be as generally known in the Veterinary 
world as it deserves to be ; and this it is that induces us to 
trace an outline of its history, its objects, and its workings. 
The subject, as we well remember, was first brought under 
public notice by Mr. Martin, M.P., who, though ridiculed 
at first in his project, at length succeeded in obtaining from 
Parliament “ powers for the protection of the brute creation.” 
In his humane purpose, he was assisted by Lord Hatherton ; 
while, at the present day, we find a person of no less renown 
in the sporting world than the Duke of Beaufort, taking 
the lead in the office of President of the “ Royal Society for 
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.” Without a Society, 
Mr. Martin found that his Act, when obtained, was likely 
to prove abortive : what was everybody’s business turned out 
nobody’s business — anj T person may chance to behold, in the 
course of his walks or rides, a case of cruelty, but what person 
scarcely will give himself the trouble, or devote the time 
to collect evidence, lodge information, &c., while it may be, 
after all, have to bear the costs of court? Herein is the 
great advantage of a Society like the present one ; it takes the 
trouble and time and risk of expense on its own hands, 
and withal, conducts the proceedings with much better chance 
of their successful issue. And what renders this Society of 
more consideration still, is the preventive influence such legal 
proceedings, on its part, must necessarily have, and with the 
class of the community especially among whom arc to be 
found the greatest delinquents. 
