56 THE POCKET AND THE STUD. 



to shiver for half an hour at some old lady's or 

 hypochondriac gentleman's door, while the worthy 

 Esculapius is persuading either that their case 

 requires the most delicate care, or in a case, 

 which, in justice to our medical friends let us 

 allow, is of quite as frequent occurrence,* namely, 

 where the fancied invalid endeavours to convince 

 the medico of the same thing. Such animals (not 

 the invalid or medico) must be kept cool in every 

 way both as to stable and clothing. So far as their 

 outsides go, their warmth must emanate from (in 

 stable slang) their " body lining ; " and even then 

 they must be brought to bear this sort of treatment 

 by degrees; for let a medical man, in the middle of 

 winter, purchase of a private gentleman, a pair of 

 horses which have been accustomed to different 

 treatment, in a month, or perhaps less, he would 

 want another pair. We should recollect that gen- 

 tlemen's horses are in their stables, taking one day 

 with another, perhaps twenty hours out of the 

 twenty-four, and when they are exposed to the air 

 they are at exercise or work. Consequently the 

 proper warmth of the air they breathe in their 

 stables is of vital importance to them ; and though 

 I most decidedly object to their breathing a hot 

 damp air all this time, I am quite sure, clothe him 

 as you will, a horse will never feel comfortable, or 

 be in condition, that breathes a cold one. How 

 should we like (clothe us in blankets if you will) 



