PRECAUTIONS IN MOULTING SEASON 163 



well ascertained by other animals as well as horses. 

 The celebrated Mr Abernethy procured a rabbit, six 

 weeks old, and fed it with cabbage which had been 

 grown upon flannel, sprinkled with distilled water : the 

 animal preserved its health as perfectly as if it had been 

 running in a warren. The no less celebrated Dr 

 Fordyce enclosed in glasses, filled with common water, 

 some gold and silver fish. He changed the water 

 every three days, and without any other food the fish 

 lived and thrived for fifteen months. He then ex- 

 changed this water for distilled water, and, to prevent 

 the probability of insects getting access within the 

 vessel, he closed it up carefully ; but the fish grew 

 and performed all their natural functions as perfectly 

 as if they had been swimming in a pool. Either the 

 Brahmin who lives entirely upon vegetables and water, 

 or the Englishman who is carniverous and drinks 

 brandy, must violate his nature ; but we find each 

 of them living to a good old age. 



Now as relating to horses, there is little doubt, but 

 that, as the blood is the mainspring of life, it is to the 

 viscid and unhealthy state of it that this foulness of 

 habit is to be attributed ; but let not the reader imagine 

 that high keep and warm stables are alone to bear the 

 blame. No ! — the derangement of this vital fluid is 

 more often occasioned by poor, bad living, than by 

 good ; but the treatment in the one case is very 

 different to the other, and in the latter much more 

 difficult to succeed in. In the progress of human 

 existence, indeed, I will venture to assert that for 

 one case of disease arising solely from generous living. 



