170 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



has been the common antimony of the shops, giving 

 an ounce per day for eight days in succession — with 

 the occasional addition of a little yellow resin. When 

 strong symptoms of foulness appear, and it is incon- 

 venient to physic, I then prefer the emetic tartar as 

 an alterative. With the latter, however, a great 

 deal of good grooming and care is necessary, or mis- 

 chief may ensue from its stimulating property ; as 

 it may indeed from the antimony, if the system be 

 overcharged with it. When foulness of habit proceeds 

 still further than this, and amounts to a cutaneous 

 disease, I stop short in my practice, as mercurial 

 or other preparations are necessary, which I am 

 afraid to encounter. I only profess what is termed 

 the prophylactic, or preventive, art. When disease 

 appears I fly to the first veterinary surgeon I can meet 

 with, 



I must now return to the former part of this letter. 

 As there can be no condition without work, the hunter 

 to be in good form by November must now begin, 

 and in the course of the months of August and Septem- 

 ber he should have some gentle sweats — at least one 

 in each week. Having clothed him pretty heavily 

 for this purpose, put a light boy upon him to ride him, 

 or have him led in a soft meadow ; or, if you have 

 not that at your command, in a fallow field which 

 has been rolled and dragged in the course of a pre- 

 paration for a wheat crop. The common exertion 

 to get over such ground, at the same time that it will 

 benefit his general action as a hunter, will soon cause 

 him to sweat, though he do not exceed a trot of about 



