198 Air, 



is stripped r>.T them, just before they are brought out into the cold 

 external atmosphere. In the latter respect, therefore^ we treat these 

 animals in a mode diametrically opposite to that which we adopt with 

 regard to ourselves, under similiar circumstances. For, in winter 

 before we quit our warm apartments, we enable our system to with- 

 stand the effects of the sudden change of temperature, by putting 

 on what is called warm cloathing. But in strict philosophical 

 lan^-uae-e. this expression is incorrect, as the heat of suchcloathina-, 

 if measured by the thermometer, is found to be no hotter than that of 

 the surrounding atmosphere, but being made of such material* as are 

 slow conductors of the matter of heat, it prevents the escape of that 

 principle from our bodies, and thereby enables us to sustain the sud- 

 den change of temperature, without injury to our healths. 



Can we wonder then that under the circumstances which have been 

 described. Horses should suffer the most lamentable ill effects; or 

 will the shivering and staring of the coat which always take place, 

 more or less, upon such occasions, be matter of surprize to any person 

 of common sense or reflection ? surely not. It is comm.only supposed 

 however, that as the immediate ill consequences of this monstroas 

 mode of treatment (which ai'e too evident indeed to be totally over- 

 looked) may be speedily obviated by brisk exercise, so may any ulti- 

 mate ill effects also. But nothing can be more erroneous than this 

 mode of reasoning. For the attainment of this desirable end, will 

 commonly depend upon a variety of circumstances ivot within our 

 power to command. For instance, how shall we be enabled to pro- 

 portion the exercise in such a manner, as to counteract exactly the 

 sudden propulsion of so gr^at a portion of the blood from the capil- 

 lary vessels of the ekin, upon the lungs and other internal organs that 



