BROOD MARES AND COLTS 219 



Mr Norris, who resides near Havant (who had also 

 seen the run), into my stable, and convinced him of 

 the fact. What is singular, Mr Norris told me, that 

 when he saw what I had written on this subject in one 

 of my letters on the condition of hunters, he spoke 

 of it to a veterinary surgeon in his neighbourhood, who 

 immediately confirmed the truth of it — adding, that 

 the noise could not proceed from the heart, unless the 

 heart lay where it should not lie. 



A short time since, a gentleman by the name of 

 Taylor — who resides at Beworth, and hunts regularly 

 with Mr Villebois', or the Hambledon hounds — in- 

 formed me that a friend of his had a horse, in the 

 inside of which, towards the hinder part of his body, 

 he always heard a beating noise after a run, but could 

 not satisfy himself whence it proceeded. I then told 

 him it was from a convulsive action of the abdominal 

 muscles. 1 The noise is not at all like the beating of 

 the heart, and the ear immediately directs us to the 

 seat of it. 



Mr Smith also doubts the use of cordials when a 

 horse is much exhausted after a run ; but an appeal 

 to common sense will save me the trouble of replying 

 here. Mr Smith may be a veterinary surgeon, which 

 I think he is ; and he may be an excellent practitioner ; 

 but with all the respect which I have always expressed 

 towards that highly useful profession, there are points 

 on which men who have much experience in riding 

 and the management of hunters can dictate a little 

 to them. Is it to be supposed that either themselves 



^ Due to spasm of the midriff. — Editor. 



