258 
LAMINITIS AND ITS TREATMENT. 
respects corroborated the opinions expressed in his essay, 
and in calling attention to the able, and almost exhaustive, 
articles on the subject, from two eminent French veterinary 
authorities, articles which Mr. Broad was evidently unac¬ 
quainted with, I could give offence or draw down upon my¬ 
self the terrible designation of inexperienced theorist.^^ 
Had I thought such a reward likely to be forthcoming, my 
few notes would most certainly have been consigned to the 
waste-paper basket, and a rigid silence been observed. It is 
difficult, however, to forget that our profession is, or rather 
ought to be, a science^’ and not an arF^ as it has so long 
been in this country. When the time arrives for which all 
true progressionists are striving, and we can say that w^e 
are students of a science like that of human medicine, then 
I feel convinced to be called a theorisV^ or to be found 
‘Mheorizing,^^ will not carry with it the discredit that now 
appears to be attached to any one who ventures to explain 
the why and wherefore of disease and its treatment. We 
will then have got a step beyond blind empiricism, which does 
a thing, finds perhaps it answers, and perhaps it doesidt, 
but cannot tell why success or failure should follow; and 
we will have stolen a march upon the farrier and cow- 
leech. 
I make these remarks solely because it is somewhat the 
fashion in our profession, as at present constituted, when it 
is desired to be particularly severe on any one, to designate 
him a theorist,^^ and to demolish him altogether to add 
inexperienced.^^ If he can ever hold up his head again 
among those who abhor theory^^ and style themselves prac¬ 
tical,^^ he is a bold man. Not being desirous of meriting 
the appellation of either a mere theorist, or an utterly inex¬ 
perienced veterinary surgeon, but, if possible, to claim the 
middle rank, I beg to be allowed to notice Mr. Broad^s com¬ 
ments, though in the most amicable and peace-loving, or 
rather science-loving, manner, and to explain myself if 
need be. 
Let me, then, first ask Mr. Broad if ever he has employed 
turpentine frictions to the body of a horse affected with 
laminitis ? If he has not, then better authorities in veteri¬ 
nary science than either of us have, and recommend them. 
Therefore, if we condemn them without trying their recom¬ 
mendation, I suppose we are theorizing. For my own part, 
I would rather use turpentine than the whip; and surely if 
its effects passed off in twenty minutes the friction could be 
repeated; but if it be true that the animal rapidly begins to 
move easier after progression is once established, then a re- 
