152 
CHRONIC FOOT LAMENESS. 
encouraged me, with good success, to persevere with chronic 
cases of foot-lameness, in a situat on where it much abounded. 
Before dispatching the above, one or two occurrences have sti¬ 
mulated me to take my pen again, and venture on some rambling 
remarks, though it is treading on what 1 am sensible is somewhat 
debatable ground. But I am in no way tied to any set of opi¬ 
nions or persons, and care not, therefore, to give expression to any 
sentiments I entertain. I am alike indifferent to being; taken for 
an opponent or a partizan. 
Of any dicta which are sought to be given to the public as 
doctrinal, any one is entitled to freely express his opinion ; 
and where a public character has been attacked or canvassed, in 
any way, every one interested should have an assent or a dissent. 
Absence from England has made me ignorant, or behind-hand, 
of much that has been transacting of interest in the profession ; 
and when at leisure I often refer back. I have just been looking 
over some numbers of a periodical work, now defunct , u The Farrier 
and Naturalist,” and of “ The Lancet;” and from them has ori¬ 
ginated my inclination to say these few words: in the latter, 
the numbers of which are some four years and upwards old, I 
have been reading of Mr. Bracy Clark and his doctrines on the 
horse’s foot and shoeing, which I find lauded in opposition to 
those of Mr. Coleman, whose opinions are critically affected to be 
palpably and demonstrably erroneous. Now, my views in the 
treatment of the cases of chronic foot-lameness, which I purpose 
to narrate in The Veterinarian, prompt me to here hazard a 
remark or two. Mr. Clark’s is a name I have habituated my¬ 
self to look towards with respect, for he has devoted much time 
to writing on subjects connected with veterinary science and pur¬ 
suits ; and I am of opinion, that to create even discussion is 
ever of beneficial consequence. This respect on the one hand, 
and a consciousness of my own inability clearly to follow him in 
his expositions, on the other, forbid my attempting to judge of 
or appreciate his theory; though, speaking generally in regard to 
Mr. B. Clark’s labours, I would incline to say, if erudition or 
elaborate research, as applicable to veterinary improvement, could 
ever be termed over-much, I would humbly venture to designate 
that gentleman’s so. I might shrink from the betrayal of igno¬ 
rance of “ Greek or Latin lore,” but yet I must say, the title 
he has ushered forth some of his productions with, smacks too 
much of classical derivation for my fancy, and, to many veteri¬ 
nary readers, would never convey an idea of the subject treated of. 
This is a great error, in my estimation. Unadorned principles 
and plain practical facts are grand veterinary desiderata, and 
