S52 Light. 



easily converted into the immediate matter of nutrition^ in conse- 

 quence of being readily acted upon by the digestive organs. Thus, 

 a state of plethora, is speedily induced, and the purchasers of such 

 Horses, too often find, to their cost, that this plumpness, so agreeable 

 to the eye, is, in fact, in the sense I have described it, disease under 

 the mask of health. For, if they be put to severe labour, they 

 either fall away suddenly, from this deceptive state of fatness, to 

 that of mere skeletojis, or rapidly become victims, of some fatal 

 inflammatory disorder. Nevertheless, it is certain that many pro- 

 prietors of dark stables, have no such object in view, as this of deal- 

 ers ; but rather persist in excluding light, from ignorance of the ill 

 consequences which must result to the animals, that are kept in 

 them. 



Certain it is, that many Horses have been set down as being 

 stumblers and starters, from no other cause than being kept in 

 dark stables. Nor is this, a thing at all to be wondered at. It is, 

 in fact, nothing more than the effect following the cause. And we 

 shall cease to be surprized at it, if we give ourselves time lo reflect, 

 upon what takes place with ourselves, if, at any time, we emerge 

 suddenly fropa a dark vault or cellar, into the strong light of the 

 sun. 



For a time, objects are either not seen at all, or, at most, indistinct- 

 ly, and, consequently, wc are liable to fall over some, and to 

 mistake the form, and nature of others. I remember many years 

 ago, that a gentleman who had consulted me professionally, on some 

 other points, told me he had a favourite Horse, which had no other 

 fault, but that of starting. On enquiry, I found that the animal 

 stood in a very dark stable^ and I suggested the propriety of the 



