lOO THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



the language of grooms, in three weeks than they 

 would at the expiration of a three months' run at 

 grass in the summer. 



I cannot but be aware that I may in some degree 

 be encroaching on the practice of the veterinary pro- 

 fession ; but such is the esteem in which I hold that 

 highly useful body of men — every real member of 

 which is a treasure in the neighbourhood in which 

 he resides — that so far from it being my wish to take 

 a guinea out of their pockets, I should prefer putting 

 one into them, or giving them any encouragement to 

 which they are so justly entitled ; and I have no hesita- 

 tion in saying that it would answer to any sportsman 

 who keeps hunters to call in the assistance of one of 

 them to look over his stud at the end of every season, 

 and to submit them to his treatment and superintend- 

 ence during the summer months, which would repay 

 him well in the end : for whatever may be the experi- 

 ence of a gentleman or his groom in such matters, 

 the veterinary surgeon, from his anatomical know- 

 ledge of the animal, is enabled to see defects which 

 are not observable by others, and to meet the danger 

 before it becomes insurmountable. By way of illus- 

 tration take the following example in my own stable. 



A few years ago I had a remarkably clever grey 

 horse, for which I gave 220 guineas. At the end of 

 the season, when only six years old, he lost his action, 

 and went Hke an old post-horse, being to all appearance 

 groggy. With the most perfect feet and legs, and 

 without a visible sign of anything wrong, I became 

 alarmed, and could only account for it by supposing 



