Of* > 
ooo 
the grooms oracle. 
Should he tell us that his design is to make a scientific groom ; 
to teach a man who knows nothing , and is conceited to the 
highest degree in his ignorance, a little of something: we answei, 
that he has undertaken to untie the gordian knot; and that, 
even supposing he should succeed to ever so little a degree, he 
would, m all probability, only render the ass more stubborn and 
dangerous than he was before. 
In the examination of a former work of Mr. Hinds , we found 
it quite impossible to pay him any compliments as an authoi ; 
and, from the complexion ol the present one, we are sorely afiaid 
Mr. H. has made but little improvement in that capacity : how¬ 
ever, such as the publication is, we conceive it our duty to take 
some notice of it; and therefore, without further anticipation, we 
shall commence our analysis. 
Following the path of that class of modem authors who pro¬ 
fess to set things before us in a plainer and more intelligible 
form, and at the same time to teach us a shorter road to the ac¬ 
quirement of knowledge, Mr. Hinds has adopted the dialogic oi 
conversational method ol instruction: w'e have long ago had in 
our possession “ Conversations on Chemistry, “ Natural Phi¬ 
losophy,” “ Botany,” &c. &c. ; and now we have got Conver¬ 
sations on Farriery and Grooming . Ihe work is divided into 
XVI “ Conversations,” to which are added an Appendix, and 
an Index. 
Conversation I. “ What is the first duty of every good groom? 
A. To ascertain the state of health , the horses, at any time placed under 
his care, may be in; to preserve them in that stale , at least, and to find out 
the seat of any ailment, and the cause thereof, so that it may be removed as 
soon as possible, or at any rate alleviated; lor you cannot reasonably hope 
to keep a horse in working condition whilst he suiters pain. ’ 
Now, it is far from our desire to be considered hypercritical by 
any author, and more particularly by Mr. Hinds; lest he should 
think fit to rank us among those who, in his estimation, compose 
“ the quidnunc part of the Press:” but, really, we cannot pro¬ 
ceed and leave our readers, or even Mr. Hinds’ readers, to con¬ 
ceive for a moment that a groom , admitting even that he can 
ascertain horses’ actual state of health, is equal “ to find out the 
seat of any ailment, and the cause thereof ” ! If the groom can 
do all this, what need is there of the veterinary surgeon ? If Mr. 
Hinds’ works can qualify their readers to take the medical as 
well as the hygienal charge of studs, what further occasion can 
there be for the Veterinary College?—But, to proceed: 
Q. “ Or inconvenience, we may add? 
A. Yes; when speaking of high-bred cattle. 
Q. He he never so fat, the least pain of long continuance throws him out 
of condition, I observe ? 
