CONDITION BALLS AND OTHERS 275 



system is shown in teaching the head-lad how to 

 distinguish between the different diseases, and by 

 allowing him access to the medicine-chest, to ensure the 

 administration of the proper nostrum without the least 

 delay. For when castor-oil has proved little effective, 

 croton-oil, nux vomica, calomel, and arsenic are readily 

 exhibited. 



Amongst our advanced trainers the absolute necessity 

 of daily administering a ball is recognised as an essential 

 of training, and in their opinion could as ill be spared as 

 either food or exercise. They are given just before the 

 horses take their exercise, or immediately on their 

 return to the stables on an empty stomach. Mr. Parr, 

 to whom I believe the honour of this great discovery is 

 due, used to give them at the former time ; but so long 

 as they are regularly administered once a day, or even 

 in the night, I don't think there is much difference in 

 their powerful effect ; for we know that epicures take 

 their digestive pills either just before they dine, or late 

 in the evening. Then there are fever-balls, tonic and 

 laxative ; balls for giving tone and clearing the respira- 

 tory organs, such as the prima donna will take for 

 strengthening her vocal powers. For removing the rumb- 

 ling caused by flatulency, a complaint to which the 

 racehorse is very liable, another ball is given as necessity 

 requires. The component parts of this most excellent of 

 all medicines is a secret known only to the favoured few 

 who make it ; but I think I am not far wrong in stating 



that, in essence, this ball closely resembles P 



W 's celebrated Wind Pills,' which have so startling 



an effect upon the human system. To name others, or 

 to give a list of the various drinks and powders that 

 cannot now be dispensed with, would be to extend my 

 observations to the length of a treatise on medicine, for 



