270 Exercise. 



pendedj in order to give them time to recover their flesh. But there 

 is seldom much judgment shewn, as to the choice of the means 

 pro])er to accompHsh this end ; or any medium chosen, between one 

 or other of the following modes of treatment: inasmuch as they are 

 either suffered to remain pent up in a narrow stall, breathing the 

 pestilential atmosphere of a crowded stable for a week or two, without 

 any thing like that quantity of motion, which can deserve the name of 

 exercise ; or, they are suddenly turned abroad, if the proprietor hap- 

 pen to have a field, with the view, as it is said, of letting them stretch 

 tlieir limbs, without miyck regard, however, to the state of the 

 weather, or, to what is of still far greater consequence, that of the 

 thermometer, at tlie time they are turned out of the stable. So that 

 in the first instance, if the animal's appetite fail not, he continues to 

 gorge his stomach, and by so doing, along with the additional aid of 

 rest, he recovers his flesh in part. But, for want of motion, the 

 vessels of the extremities become languid, the muscles from disuse 

 refuse to perform their proper functions, the animal's limbs become 

 stiff and swoln, and thus, the advantage he gains in one way, he 

 loses ill, another. 



In the second instance, unless the weather happen to be warm, the 

 vivifying refreshing effects of the external air, upon the system at 

 large, (contrasted with the enervating atmosphere of the stable,} 

 together with the advantage of voluntary motion to the limbs, are, 

 in a great measure, counlci balanced, by what I have formerly defi- 

 ned and described as a sort of seasoning, which the animal under- 

 goes. So that it is no uncommon thing to hear people say, when 

 they wish to explain this fact, that the Horse did not do well abroad 

 mi account of the cold pinching him too much. Whereas, if stables 



