28 THE TURF 



' enough to make a horse sick ' indeed 

 finishing with the whites of eggs and wine, 

 internally administered, and chafing the 

 legs of his courser with train-oil and brandy. 

 On the other hand, if these worthies could 

 be brought to life again, it would astonish 

 them to hear that twelve months are now 

 considered requisite to bring a race-horse 

 quite at the top of his mark to the post. 

 The objects of the training-groom can only 

 be accomplished by medicine, which purifies 

 the system, exercise, which increases 

 muscular strength, and food, which pro- 

 duces vigour beyond what nature imparts. 

 To this is added the necessary operation 

 of periodical sweating, to remove the super- 

 fluities of flesh and fat, which process is 

 more or less necessary to all animals called 

 upon to engage in corporeal exertions be- 

 yond their ordinary powers. With either 

 a man or a horse, his skin is his com- 

 plexion ; and whether it be the prize-fighter 

 who strips in the ring, or the race-horse at 

 the starting-post, that has been subjected 

 to this treatment, a lustre of health is 

 exhibited such as no other system can 

 produce. 



