256 
AMERICAN VETERINARY PRACTICE. 
personal ill-feeling to any man, I deny it. But, that these two 
cases — Mr. M‘Ritchie ? s mare, and the Marquis of Dalhousie’s 
horse — did occur, as stated in that paper, I positively affirm as 
true. And if I, Mr. Houston, or any other veterinary surgeon, 
were to perform any operation, stupid though it might be, and 
publicly advance that as something new — rsomething superior 
to what others do, or can do — something speedily operative, 
instead of our old plan of firing, blistering, and cruelly 
torturing a poor dumb animal for months, what would 
people say? This punching-off does not keep a horse off 
work more than three days, and cures the spavin. Such prac- 
tices are worse than American. It is for a public benefit — 
for the benefit to the veterinary practitioners in particular — 
that such practices are put a stop to ; and we have no right, 
in such cases, to assert that notice of such practices was for 
the sake of originating some personal quarrel with ourselves. 
In any case, I have ever written to The Veterinarian , I have been 
in the practice of giving name and place , and I think it 
would be better if this were done in all cases ; it would at 
least prevent people from thinking, as is done by many, it 
was somebody in some of our northern Mr. A. B., of C. 
D. manufactories; and that such cases were merely got 
up to increase a circulation, and fill the pockets of an 
editor. Mr. M‘Ritchie, of Whitburgh, is a gentleman and a 
farmer, second to none in this county. I have no doubt he 
would at once attest the truth of the report of his case. The 
Marquis of Dalhousie’s horse was sold lately to Mr. Cowan, 
farmer, Brian’s, about a mile from this place, for about £l 5; 
he had been kept all this time, but is doing work without 
the spavin having been punched off. I should recommend 
any persons interesting themselves in punching to call and 
see him. I think they will see spavin as far off as they can 
see he is a horse; I think, dear as the horses are, they 
would think £10 a full price for such. 
Not having been reading The Veterinarian since I went to 
America, I have not seen this said letter. I will see it soon, 
purposely to inspect this said refutation of these punching 
cases ; but, as I am aware where this imputation was likely 
to have been made, unless there be something more par- 
ticular in it, I shall not think it worth while to trouble you 
any more about it. 
I am, &c., 
Your most obedient servant. 
