PRECAUTIONS IN MOULTING SEASON 167 



Although the word surfeit may be considered an 

 indefinite term, yet there is a species of foulness in 

 the habit of our horses which comes under that de- 

 nomination, and is produced by a sudden constriction 

 of the pores of the skin, when exposed to a stream 

 of cold air, after having been expanded by severe 

 exercise. Here the blood is most materially affected, 

 as the matter which should have been thrown off by 

 perspiration is thrown back upon the circulation, and 

 the whole mass of it is at once contaminated. The 

 symptoms here cannot be mistaken, as they almost 

 immediately shew themselves in the staring and un- 

 kind appearance of the coat — by a cough, swelKng 

 of the legs, or, in some instances, by a violent in- 

 flammation of the lungs, which comes on about the 

 third or fourth day. In the mildest of these cases 

 a change of the blood, or, more properly speaking, an 

 alteration in the quality of it, is absolutely necessary ; 

 but this must be the work of time. 



On the first appearance of this change for the 

 worse in the condition of a hunter, I have endeavoured 

 to stop its progress by giving him half a drachm of 

 calomel with a drachm of emetic tartar over-night, 

 and a dose of physic in the morning, and have several 

 times succeeded in doing so. When time and cir- 

 cumstances would not permit of the calomel and physic, 

 from a drachm to two drachms of tartar emetic, in 

 half an ounce of cordial ball, may be given every other 

 day for a week — taking especial care that more than 

 common attention be paid to the horse whilst under 

 the effect of the medicine, by keeping him warm. 



