276 Exercise, 



the discharge by the emunctories of the skin, in the form of sensible 

 perspiration, nor that, perhaps equally important one, of the regu- 

 lar state of the bowels, which it is commonly the means of preserv- 

 ing. For, the aptitude which these vessels of the skin have, to give 

 out the sweat readily, (provided they be not too easily excited, to an 

 over-profuse discharge) seems to be one great means of enabling 

 Horses, that are highly fed atnd regularly worked, to go through 

 their labour with more ease, than they otherwise could do. 



And this, the sweating effects, partly by preventing the growth of 

 superfluous fat, partly by throwing off a good deal of recrementi- 

 tious matter from the system, and partly by cooling the animal, in 

 consequence of the evaporation it produces from the surface. So 

 that it is by no means uncommon, to hear ignorant people who put a 

 Horse, on a sudden, to the performance of some great efforts which 

 he has been unaccustomed to, express their surprize that the animal 

 became blown, that is, unable to breathe and to proceed, even before 

 he began to sweat. But, these advantages, important as they are, 

 which Horses derive from regular exercise, are but as a feather in the 

 scale, compared to the incalculable benefits they derive from the pure, 

 sweet, external atmosphere. 



For, most certain it is, that if the same quantity of labour were to be 

 performed in an atmosphere similar to that of stables, in a like space 

 of time, the same beneficial consequences would not arise, nor 

 would Horses be found long- able to support it. At the same time, it 

 cannot be denied, that regular exercise, even under this heavy dis- 

 advantage, would be found to mitigate, in a very great degree, the 

 evils which spring from the combination of a state of inaction, with 

 that of being constantly obliged to inspire foul air. If we look at 



