MR. BARLOW’S ANSWER TO MR. MAYHEW. 
393 
by Saunier, and published in the year 1734, entitled “ La parfaite 
Connoissance des Chevaux,” the ligamentous bands are represented 
in plate 16, to which plate there is a reference table. 
But it seems that, for my “ own sake , it is necessary” I should 
substantiate the amount of my knowledge “ by adding to the little” 
Mr. Mayhew has brought forward, instead of dwelling, as I do, 
on such “ common-place matters as the ligamentum nuchae, and 
the yellow elastic aponeurosis of the external oblique.” I agree 
with him that “ the subject is not yet exhausted,” and hope he will 
one day agree with me that his discoveries , with respect to the 
situation and functions of certain “ ligamentous bands” and so forth, 
come as much by way of “ common-place” matters as any thing 
that could be said regarding the ligamentum nuchse, or yellow 
elastic abdominal faschia. The “ mysteries now known only to” 
myself I may, perhaps, at some future time, in all “ kindly feel- 
ing,” oblige him by enlarging on ; but as there are apparently some 
“ common-place” things on which he may yet with advantage 
bestow a little more labour, I at present scarcely conceive him pre- 
pared for a reception of higher “ mysteries.” It may, perhaps, not 
come amiss if I remind him, that should he, in his investigations, 
meet with “ certain structures,” it will be well to be quite satisfied 
that he has some right to consider them his own discoveries , in- 
stead of taking his own fancies and the statements of people “ who 
call themselves scientific,” or even the “ commendation” of the “ me- 
dical press,” as evidence that he has, indeed, stumbled upon “ some- 
thing new.” As regards myself, I feel disposed to continue the 
silence which Mr. Mayhew so much deprecates ; for I dare not at- 
tach such importance to any thing I might think exclusively mine 
in the shape of discovery, as by its publication to incur the risk of 
falling into an error similar to that by which Mr. Mayhew finds 
himself “ engulphed.” 
Yes, “ there is a higher branch of science than that of anatomy;” 
and I am happy to find that I receive some credit for not being “ ig- 
norant of this.” After giving a beautiful apostrophe in favour of 
some “ higher branch of science than that of anatomy,” but for- 
getting in his rapture to mention which “ branch” he means, the 
author of the “letter” concludes a paragraph by jumping to the 
conclusion, that I am “ easily satisfied concerning physiology.” I 
am not anxious to know how his physiology would satisfy me ; but 
I hope that when he brings forward “ something new” in this sci- 
ence, it will stand the test as to originality better than do his ana- 
tomical discoveries. As yet, his only physiological knowledge, 
which I have seen displayed, calls for nothing more than the 
remark, that “ that was known before .” 
VOL. XIX. 3 H 
