FIRING 257 



the summer time to horses' legs, greatly diminishes 

 the necessity for it. The reader must be aware of the 

 disadvantage I labour under in treating of so many 

 subjects in so limited a space ; they must expect, 

 therefore, that I shall have occasion to return to some 

 of them at a future opportunity — particularly the 

 preparing hunters for their work, with the least 

 possible expense of legs, which can only be done to 

 advantage with horses of a gross habit of body by 

 the effect of alterative medicines. As the hunting 

 season, however, is now commenced, I wish to guard 

 my brother sportsmen against an evil which has 

 deprived me of three good hunters in my time, but 

 which might have been avoided if proper precautions 

 had been taken — I mean fever in the feet, and other 

 inflammatory attacks, produced by severe work with 

 hounds. I do not so much address myself now to 

 those persons who keep first-rate grooms, as they are 

 generally awake to this danger ; but many of my 

 brother sportsmen, who, though equally fond of the 

 sport, and desirous of keeping in the front rank, may 

 not have that advantage. 



After a severe day every horse ought to have some 

 gentle medicine, if it were only to keep off fever, 

 and bring him sooner into the field again ; and, in 

 general, an alterative ball or a diuretic ball will be 

 sufficient. Should he, however, appear much dis- 

 tressed, one of the following balls should be given, 

 which, by its stimulating quality and its general 

 effect on the secretions, will greatly tend to restore 

 him, and prevent ill consequences : — 



R 



