SWEATING. 469 



After the rugs and clothes are taken off, the man should 

 be quickly dried, and should then have a warm bath, after 

 which he may have a cold douche, if his liver be in good 

 order. He should not dress until he is thoroughly cool, and 

 ought to forbear taking anything to drink, as long as he 

 possibly can after a sweat ; for the more heated the body is, 

 the more rapidly will it absorb fluid. 



In India and in other hot countries, a man cannot walk in 

 clothing much more than half the distance he could accom- 

 plish in England under similar circumstances. 



If a man has hacks to ride, and is unable to walk, he can 

 take a sweat on horseback by putting on clothes as described, 

 and then going for a sharp ride ; but this, though pleasanter, 

 will not be as effective as walking. 



A sweat like that I have described, will take from four to 

 six pounds off an ordinary man, provided that there is little 

 or no wind, which very materially checks perspiration. When 

 taking a sweat in hot climates, one should avoid the sun as 

 much as practicable; for few things tend to make one so 

 nervous, as hard exercise when exposed to its influence. 

 Having one's nerves in good order is of far more consequence 

 than being able to get the exact weight ; a remark which 

 applies particularly to men who ride their own horses, for 

 jockeys have but little option in the matter, because owners 

 are often foolishly exacting on this point. I am certain that 

 on the flat, a jockey can ride fully five pounds better when 

 he is fit and well, than he can do when he is weak from 

 wasting. In steeplechasing, the difference is one of stones 

 and not pounds. 



A lamp bath is often taken instead of a regular sweat, if the 

 jockey is lazy, or is not able to walk well. It can be arranged 

 as follows : A lamp for the purpose, or three or four small 

 saucers full of oil with lighted cotton wicks in them, are placed 

 under a chair on which the man sits. It is well to have the 



