IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. 209 



of nettles and cow-itch was the finest diet in the 

 world for a coach-horse on a journey !" When I 

 mentioned the cow-itch I thought the fellow would 

 have gone mad, and not without reason ; some of the 

 spicula had attached themselves to the cufif of his 

 coat, and I doubt not they tickled him to some 

 purpose for a week after ! 



I have already observed on the expediency of 

 giving a horse that shows symptoms of distress, a 

 gruel drink ; but sometimes these symptoms are too 

 severe not to require further aid. This is almost the 

 only case in which cordials can be administered with 

 advantage : where a horse exhibits signs of being 

 " done up," completely exhausted by severe exertion, 

 I should not hesitate (though I believe it is contrary 

 to the opinion of many experienced judges,) to give 

 him a bottle of good sherry : but this certainly would 

 be wrong, after any of the inflammatory symptoms of 

 a chill have shown themselves. In that case prompt 

 and free bleeding only can save the horse, and any 

 cordial is decidedly injurious. The state of the pulse 

 will usually indicate the existence of inflammatory 

 action. It is necessary to inform the inexperienced 

 that the only place where the pulse can be felt to 

 advantage, so as to discriminate the sensation with 



