536 
mr. b. ci.ark’s hippodonomia. 
adopted his expansive method of shoeing: we will not, at present, 
enter on the consideration of this, but we will affirm, that these 
accusations, so intemperately urged by our author, have not the 
slightest foundation. They are shadowy “ as the baseless fabric 
of a vision.” 
We have repeatedly heard Mr. Coleman speak in the highest 
terms of the value of Mr. Bracy Clark's researches. We have 
heard him recommend his work to the most careful perusal of his 
students. We have heard him acknowledge the truth and the 
importance of some of these “ discoveries." He has, indeed, said 
so much, and in such a tone of adulation, that even we, knowing 
certain circumstances which had occurred, ventured to remon¬ 
strate with him. But he did not subscribe to all these “ discove¬ 
ries ;" he endeavoured to prove the absurdity and impossibility of 
some of them ; and much less did he subscribe to the conclusion 
which Mr. Bracy Clark drew from them. He asserted the right 
of private judgment, and he entreated his pupils to enquire and to 
judge for themselves. Was there any thing wrong in this ? 
It is not in human nature, that all these professors should 
unite in trampling on one unoffending individual. Their habits, 
their wishes, their interests, would induce them eagerly to ex¬ 
tend the hand of fellowship to the man who w&s labouring to 
remove the greatest stigma on veterinary science. He who would 
enable them to remedy the evils most frequent in occurrence, most 
mysterious in their nature and seat, most obstinate in attack, 
that result from the iron fetter in which the foot of the horse is 
enclosed, and thus relieve their minds from many an anxious 
feeling, and their professional reputation from many a stain, would 
be eagerlv hailed as a valued benefactor and friend. But, then, 
we must not have even benefits forced upon us ; we mast not be 
compelled to swear in the words of the most erudite preceptor; 
that which we most prize, must be rendered dearer as being the 
object of our freest choice; and, most especially, we must not be 
constantly twitted with the benefits we have received, and the 
gratitude we ought to express:—our gratitude must flow free and 
unconstrained ; one demand for it, and it vanishes “ into air—thin 
air." Here is the secret of the whole business, and we will leave 
this unpleasant part of our critical labour, recalling to our authors 
recollection the true character and pride of Harvey: “He was can¬ 
did, cheerful, upright, living on terms of great harmony with his 
friends and brethren, and shewing no spirit of rivalry or hostility. 
He was as little disposed by nature to detract from the merits of 
others, as to make an ostentatious display of his own. The 
many antagonists whom the renown and the novelty of his opinions 
excited, were treated with modest and temperate language, fre¬ 
quently very different from their own; and while he refuted their 
arguments, he decorated them with all due praises.” To this we 
