374 ROAD HORSES. 



become so universal, that we perceive its adop- 

 tion in almost every inn-yard of eminence 

 through the kingdom : that I may, however, 

 avoid the accusation of rashly condemning a 

 practice so numerously supported, I shall 

 only start such matters of opinion for due de^ 

 liberation, as may more materially concern 

 those interested in the consequence. 



That is, whether it is possible to believe, 

 after a moment's reflection, that a horse 

 who has gone ten, fifteen, or twenty miles, 

 with great exertion, and is brought in with 

 the perspirable matter passing off in streams, 

 can be completely plunged into a torrent of 

 COLD WATER, without at least the very great 

 probabiiiti/ oi destrucUve consequences, from 

 instantaneously closing the cuticular pores, 

 and inevitably locking up the whole mass of 

 secreted perspirative matter in a state of 

 temporary stagnation } 



In this unnatural shock tlie constitution 

 becomes the criterion of decision, the whole 

 aspect depending entirely upon the state of the 

 blood : if the horse should be luckily free from 

 every trait of disease, and rather befoxv th^n 



