374 ROAD HORSES. 



come fo univerfal, that we perceive its adoption 

 in almoft every inn yard of eminence through 

 the kingdom : that I may, however, avoicj 

 the accufation of rafhly condemning a pradlice 

 fo numeroufly fupported, I fliall only ftart 

 fuch matters of opinion for due dehberation, 

 as may more materially concern thofe ihte* 

 relied in the confecjuence. 



That is, whether, it is poffible to believe^ 

 (after a moment's refleftion) that a horfe who 

 has gone ten, fifteen, or twenty miles with 

 great exertion, and is brought in with the per- 

 fpirable matter pailing off in ftreams, can be 

 completely plunged into a torrent of cold 

 WATER, without at leaft the very great pro-, 

 b ability of deftruftive confequences, from in- 

 ftantaneoufly clofing the cuticular pores, and 

 inevitably locking up the whole mafs of fe- 

 creted perfpirative matter in a ftate of tempo- 

 rary ftagnation ? 



In this unnatural fliock the conftitution 

 becomes the criterion of decifion, the whole 

 afpecft depending entirely upon the ilate of the 

 blood ; if the horfe fliould be luckily free from 

 every trait of difeafe, and rather below than 



above 



