3i8 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



rises into the upper regions of the atmosphere, ulti- 

 mately flows thence back to the poles, to restore the 

 equiUbrium, 



The influence that cold, combined with humidity, 

 exercises over the animal economy, is too well known 

 to be dwelt or enlarged upon, and I never yet saw 

 a horse produced in perfect condition from a cold and 

 damp stable. The latter evil property is not sufli- 

 ciently appreciated ; but, very early in life, I saw its 

 baneful influence, A friend of mine, residing under 

 the Broadway hills in Worcestershire, paid the greatest 

 attention to the condition of his hunters, but never 

 could attain it there, although, to the eye, his stable 

 was everything we could desire, and it was warm and 

 well-ventilated. When his stud moved to Stratford- 

 on-Avon in Warwickshire, where his stable was very 

 inferior to look at, they immediately improved in their 

 condition. The fact was, the first-named stables were 

 damp, although he drained them ; and the latter 

 were dry. 



Mr Percivall (Lecture 38) says — " He that has 

 clean and cool stables will have a healthy stud ; and 

 the converse of this will never fail to engender disease. 

 Above all other considerations then, in taking the colt 

 from his natural state, it behoves us to guard him 

 from the vicissitudes of cold and heat, and to keep 

 him in an atmosphere as pure as that of which we 

 have just deprived him." This is strongly in favour 

 of the regular in-door system, for we know the out- 

 door system is anything but regular : yet, with great 

 deference to Mr P., he has gone a Uttle too far here. 



