136 ON THE STABLE. 



diseases to which, in a state of nature, he would 



not be subject. 



The extraordinary exertions which are fre- 

 quently required of him, from cases either of 

 necessity or amusement, are such as he could 

 not endure, if he were not prepared by daily 

 exercise and the most nourishing diet. But the 

 majority of the world use lum as a machine, 

 the powers of which they conceive to be inex- 

 haustible, and hence arise such shameful abuses 

 of one of the best animals in the brute creation. 



Nothing can be a greater reproach to 

 mankind than the appearance of a post-horse. 

 This miserable and patient creature shews how 

 far our feelings can be blunted by custom. 

 The wretched animal is seldom reduced to the 

 condition of a post-horse, until some bodily im- 

 perfection has rendered him unfit for the pur- 

 poses of parade or amusement. In this situation 

 he is consigned, by his merciless owner, for a pal- 

 3 try 



