TREATMENT OF HUNTERS IN SUMMER loi 



that I had given him a shake at a leap with a con- 

 siderable drop into a road which was hard, on the 

 last day of hunting him. I determined, however, not 

 to rely on my own judgment, and sent for the nearest 

 veterinary surgeon of eminence in his profession (Mr 

 Samuel Palfrey), who was at first as much puzzled 

 as I was ; but, on a minute examination of his legs, 

 he discovered two incipient splints, as they are termed, 

 very little larger than peas, growing out just under the 

 joints of the knees. These being removed by the 

 operation of two mild blisters, the horse recovered 

 his action, and my alarm was at an end. 



Now it is very probable that had this horse been 

 in the hands of a groom he might have been put to 

 all kind of torture in the stable, or, what is more likely 

 if in the possession of many persons, he would have 

 been turned out to grass with the hopes of that being 

 the catholicon for all such cases, and with the assurance 

 that he would come up sound at the expiration of his 

 three months' run. 



What, however, would have been the consequence ? 

 Why, the splints would have grown, though perhaps 

 the lameness might have disappeared ; and when the 

 horse came into work again at the commencement of 

 the next season, inflammation would have returned, 

 and it would have been more than propable that half 

 the season might have passed away before he could 

 have appeared by a covert-side again. Here then 

 is the old adage verified — " a stitch in time saves 

 nine." 



Indiscriminate blistering of hunters' legs has been 



