350 MR. MAY HEW IN REPLY TO MR. MAYOR. 
after Mr. Mayor’s denial, I cannot contend my informant was not 
mistaken. 
Granting so much, still it had perhaps been better if Mr. Mavor 
had been pleased to make known the signs by means of which he 
was morally justified in pronouncing so decided and so unqualified 
an opinion. The case, as I described it—and it was my endeavour 
not to overcharge the history—seems a little obscure. There was 
what most practitioners might esteem reason for guarding the judg¬ 
ment ; and I am therefore naturally desirous to know what nice 
knowledge enabled Mr. Mavor to speak so decidedly, and without 
the shadow of a reservation. It would be ungenerous to suspect 
he made a guess, and took the chance of being right or wrong as 
the event might turn up for or against him. We know some 
people do act thus, and often by their luck establish the reputation 
knowledge was wanting to obtain; but in Mr. Mavor’s position, 
far be it from me to insinuate he boldly staked his name upon a 
chance. I am certain he must have been guided to his conclusion 
by deep principles; but as the indications of early melanosis are 
not by our profession yet well comprehended, and many even 
assert that in the early stage the disease is not to be confidently 
recognised, it is a subject for regret that a gentleman so peculiarly 
qualified to instruct his brethren did not condescend to give an 
outline of the delicate symptoms he was able to read so plainly. I 
lament Mr. Mavor’s silence the more, because there are some 
people who will believe nothing without proof, and with such 
persons assertions, however bold, rather startle than convince. 
About the possibility of removing the tumour by operation, Mr. 
Mavor says, “ I did not consider that its removal was impracticable , 
but that in the event of an operation being performed , serious con¬ 
sequences would in all probability ensue , and endanger the life of 
the animal; and therefore the more jwlitic course would be to 
leave it entirely to itself” In other words, Mr. Mavor viewed the 
operation as possible, but highly dangerous. Here, again, the gen¬ 
tleman does not declare he never to any person at any time or in 
any place pronounced removal by the knife an impossibility; but 
his words imply so much, and 1 am willing to read them in their 
fullest signification. 
I feel for the unfortunate individual who, being my informant, 
spoke what he believed he heard, and nevertheless was so entirely 
mistaken that nothing he has related turns out to be correct. It is 
really a pity an individual so well inclined, and without a particle 
of desire to do Mr. Mavor an injustice, should have been so much 
deceived as in no respect to be faithful in his narrative. I am sure 
the party will greatly regret the treachery of his senses. But not 
