90 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



and his blood in a proper state of fluidity — frequently 

 cleansed of its excrementitious matter, which so power- 

 fully contributes to disease, after work. This can only 

 be done by repeated perspiration ; and I have heard 

 veterinary surgeons say that the perspirable matter 

 which flies off through the pores of the skin is of more 

 consequence, as far as clear wind and condition are 

 concerned, than all the other secretions. 



What I have now said chiefly applies to the state 

 of the blood. The state of the bowels is equally 

 important. Rest not only generates a redundancy of 

 blood and humours, but the bowels become overloaded, 

 and distend beyond their proper size, in which state 

 violent exertion must always be attended with danger. 

 In perusing an old article on farriery, I recollect being 

 gravely told that a horse should not be ridden with 

 fox-hounds under three weeks after a dose of physic, 

 or with stag-hounds under a month. All this is laugh- 

 able ; but, if true, what would become of the race- 

 horse, who sweats six days after his physic sets ? For 

 my own part, were I to know to a certainty that I 

 were to see a severe day's sport with hounds, I should 

 prefer riding a horse which had gone through a dose 

 of physic ten days before : I should prefer this, not 

 only as a preventive of danger after it, but with the 

 confidence that I should be better carried than if he 

 had not had it. 



The ill effects of rest, and the good effects of work, 

 on the powers and energies of a horse are astonishing. 

 In long-continued rest his flesh becomes soft and flabby, 

 and the muscles lose their elasticity, and even their 



