MODERN FARRIER. 231 



of the fluids to the outward surface of the skin, 

 which, on being exposed to the external air, are 

 then changed in their quality, and acquire, according 

 to circumstances, either a clammy or greasy nature, 

 or else a sharp fetid ichorous quality that erodes the 

 skin, and by lodging there forms small ulcers. 



' It ought always to be remembered, that great 

 evacuations weaken an animal body ; and if they are 

 repeated frequently and too close upon one another, 

 without allowing a proper interval between each, or 

 if they are carried to excess, as is sometimes the case, 

 the weakness in the animal system is thereby in- 

 creased, the powers of life are overcome, and death 

 follows of course.' 



Farther upon this subject Mr. Clarke says, I do 

 not approve of repeating purge after purge, merely 

 because this or that horse is to run, or hunt, with- 

 out first considering whether the animal be fat or 

 lean, or whether he has been kept at hard meat with 

 proper exercise, or whether he has run a considerable 

 time, or late in the season at grass. All this, and se- 

 veral other circumstances necessary to be attended to, 

 ought to be duly weighed and maturely considered 

 before any purging medicines are administered : for 

 example, if a horse has run long at grass, and is of a 

 plethoric and full habit of body, evacuations by 

 purging, and diuretic medicines, to a certain degree, 

 are necessary, together with length of time, good 

 feeding, and regular exercise, to bring his body into 

 that proper habit to enable him to perform with 

 freedom such active exercises. But if a horse is of 

 a lean, low, or dry habit of body, whether it may 

 proceed from the want of proper food, from fatigue, 

 or any other cause, can it be proper to reduce him 

 still lovv-er by repeated evacuations of any kind? 

 There is such an inconsistency in this practice, that 

 it would not even deserve to be noticed, were it not 

 too much practised every day ; for, with some peo- 

 ple it is no matter of consideration with them what 



