244 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



ths art of training consists; but a total departure from 

 nature's rules, by unnatural heat, deprivation of light, 

 stimulating food, restraint from water, and excessive 

 clothing, are not now as heretofore considered even in 

 our racing-stables as the means best calculated to pro- 

 mote these ends ; on the contrary, the light of truth 

 and nature is forcing a ray through the almost imper- 

 vious casements of these prison-houses. We must 

 not, however, join in a popular outcry, and thereby 

 stifle the experience of many years, and the evidence 

 derived from that state of our racers which has enabled 

 them to beat the stock from whence tliey sprang ; na- 

 ture, as we have innumerable proofs, may be improved 

 by art as regards the powers of her creatures : nature 

 gives due capabilities for all such purposes as are con- 

 nected with the preservation and propagation of ani- 

 mals, and to these she confines her hmits. The art 

 of man now steps in, diverting nature from her course; 

 he is enabled to enlarge particular powers, which he 

 directs to particular purposes, at his will, but which in- 

 road on nature is always found to be at the expense 

 of some of the remaining qualities ; and thus it is that 

 speed in the race-horse is increased at the expense 

 of the safety and duration of his progression. In the 

 greyhound, also, the celerity has been improved by 

 man, but scent has been withheld from the animal by 

 nature as the improvement gained its maximum. As 

 the rapidity of the race-horse has evidently been in- 

 creased by artificial means, we are now led to consider 

 him altogether an animal of art, and as such we also 

 consider him as one whose powers can only be kept 

 ip by a continuation of means not altogether natura'. 

 That condition, therefore, which results from what is 

 I ailed training, it is more than probable is essentially 

 accessary to the speed exhibited by the British racer 



