A CURE FOR INFLUENZA. 4SI 



for themselves, as to their trustworthiness. But it is not so 

 with girths. Owners seldom look at them — still less at the 

 weak and easily-rotted webbing to which the girth straps are 

 attached. And even grooms, you know, are little better than 

 mere mortals. For my part, with the nervous caution of a 

 child who has been burnt by many fires, I treat myself to new 

 girths, new webbing and straps, and new leathers, directly my 

 old saddles require them — considering this outlay more 

 justifiable than that upon a new yellow saddle when mine 

 grows black and unsightly, and arguing that of all falls, 

 voluntary and obligatory, none is more unpleasant than one 

 brought about by broken harness. 



Tltursday, Jan. 16. — Kill or cure was a day's foxhunting ; 

 and a few lines shall describe the cure — the recipe being 

 Ladbroke Gorse thirty minutes. Sumat celeriter cum impedi- 

 mentis. W. de B. 



The above taken hot, and on a young one that wanted 

 expanding with a cutting whip all the way, constituted a 

 medicine that I can conscientiously recommend to all influenza- 

 stricken patients, and that is obviously more palatable than 

 watergruel, hot bottles, and a general course of reflection and 

 misery in a sick bed. Yet the latter proffered itself as 

 Hobson's choice (a point I mention only as apology for a very 

 meagre letter) until the morning came out so warm, so quiet, 

 and hunting-like. The Warwickshire were in their wildest, 

 grassiest, country ; and a great field followed upon the Hunt 

 Ball of overnight. Ladbroke Gorse has this season been 

 subjected to mange and consequent costly thinning-out. But 

 it held a brace of foxes to-day — one for the refreshment of the 

 ballgoers, the other for that of the hungry pack. The latter 

 chopped their game in covert, while an earlier fox was stealing 

 his way over the country. Thus it was only after a few wild 

 fields of the bridle path towards Shuckburgh that hounds really 

 took up the going. Then for some twenty-five minutes more 

 they led us over a level and enjoyable line much akin to that 



of the last gallop from Welsh Road Gorse. Passing to the 



r i 



