TREATMENT OF HUNTERS IN SUMMER 105 



certain degree of pain on animals given to us for their 

 services, if those services cannot be available on other 

 terms. 



Having given the hunter his physic, and the liberty 

 of a loose box, his legs will be reduced as nearly to a 

 state of nature as can be expected after what they 

 have gone through, or after the injuries they may 

 have received. If no ligamentary enlargements, or 

 callous substances on the sinews or on the tendons, 

 should appear, a man may congratulate himself that 

 his horse has been so fortunate as to escape them, 

 and his legs may go on for another year ; but they 

 should be minutely inspected, and by one who knows 

 the evils when he sees them (no mean accomplish- 

 ment), and, having found them, circumstances alone 

 must direct us to which of the two remedies must be 

 applied. If blistering will reach the cause, it has 

 certainly the reputation of being the milder operation 

 of the two ; but if the injury is considerable, the parts 

 where it exists material, and of more than one or two 

 months' standing, nothing but the actual cautery 

 can be depended on. With those horses which carry 

 high weights firing is too often a sine qua non ; for 

 when once nature gives way under such circumstances, 

 nothing short of so violent a remedy will restore the 

 injured parts. Curbs, splints, and, above all, blows 

 on the legs, are frequently very obstinate to deal with, 

 often requiring repeated blisters, followed by firing, 

 to get rid of them. 



With respect to horses' feet in the summer, there 

 are two opinions amongst good judges as to whether 



