26 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



the power of every man who keeps his hunters to get 

 them. They are scarce ; and their demands for wages, 

 and other concomitant expenses, are not within the 

 reach of us all. 



In the common language of the stable, a horse is 

 said to be " in condition " when he is full of flesh, has 

 a shining coat, and a healthy look ; whereas, with 

 all these outward appearances, being in perfect health, 

 he may be quite incapable of exerting his physical 

 powers with effect : for although, in some measure, 

 the skin may be said to be the complexion of a horse, 

 yet it is more by the feel than by his look that his good 

 or bad condition is to be appreciated. 



It is well known that animals in a state of domesti- 

 cation exhibit powers unknown in their wild and 

 natural state ; and so does man. With respect to the 

 latter, it has been ascertained by the hynanometer, or 

 measure of strength, of Regnier, that the physical 

 powers of man in a savage state are only as 51 to 69 

 of that of a Frenchman, and 71 of that of an English- 

 man. Good food, aided by exercise, invigorates the 

 muscles by consolidating the flesh ; and the texture 

 of the body depends, in great measure, on the food 

 on which all animals live. 



Next to the nature and accomplishments of a 

 hunter, his condition is of the first importance. In 

 my own opinion it has always been considered of such 

 paramount necessity, that I have thought no pains or 

 expense ill bestowed to obtain it ; having so often 

 proved that a middling horse in condition will beat 

 a good one not fit to go. The system which I have 



