THE I xM PROVE*) ART OF FAlvfUERY. 299 



horse underwent this severe exercise, and how came 

 they to fall down on this occasion only ? Unless a 

 horse has been gradually habituated to exercise pre- 

 vious to the undergoing that which is violent or long- 

 continued, his vessels will be too full of fluids ; and 

 these, especially the finer capillaries, from the force 

 and rapidity of the circulation during the exercise, will 

 admit the grosser fluids that do not usually circulate 

 in them. They are likewise liable in these cases to be 

 ruptured ; hence the fluids they contain escape into 

 the cellular membrane, where they stagnate, and being 

 then out of the course of circulation occasion a 

 swelling. If this happen in the legs, as the most de- 

 pendant part of the body, the humours are then said 

 to have fallen down ; the swelling causes a distension 

 of the skin, cuticular pores are then enlarged, and ad- 

 mit through them the thinner parts of the fluids to 

 the outward surface of the skin, which on being ex- 

 posed to the external air, are then changed in their 

 quality, and acquire, according to circumstances, either 

 a clammy or greasy nature, or else a sharp foetid icho- 

 rous quality that erodes the skin, and by lodging there 

 forms small ulcers. 



It ought always to be remembered that great evacu- 

 ations weaken an animal body ; and if they are re- 

 peated frequently, and too close upon one another, 

 without allowing a proper interval between each, or 

 if they are carried to excess, as is sometimes the case, 

 the weakness of the animal system is thereby increased, 

 the powers of life are overcome, and death follows 

 of course." 



Further upon this subject Mr. Clark says, *' I do 

 not approve of repeating purge after purge merely be- 

 cause this or that horse is to run or hunt, without 

 first considering whether the animal be fat or lean, or 



