138 THE HUNTING FIELD 



working there is about a horse's foot the better, as 

 we well know. 



On this point, however, we shall enlarge when 

 we come to treat of our friend Elijah Bullwaist, the 

 blacksmith, whose rubicund visage now greets us as 

 he enters the hunting field on his shaggy white pony. 



Instead of seeing a saddle-room shelf studded with 

 bottles and boxes, we would rather see a good assort- 

 ment of combs, brushes, scissors, towels, buckets, 

 sponges, leathers, knee-pails, and such like things. 

 Warm water is a grand specific. It is like the tongue 

 of the dog to a wound. A little sharp water is useful 

 in cases of cuts and over-reaches. The following is 

 a good recipe taken from Mr. Smith's "Diary of a 

 Huntsman," and he recommends a Whipper-in carrying 

 a small phial of it, with a feather in the cork, ready 

 for immediate use : — 



8 drops of oil of thyme 

 10 drops of oil of vitriol 

 1 ounce of spirits of wine 



As an alterative medicine the following recipe was 

 given us by an old sportsman endorsed " an excellent 

 medicine for horses : " — 



4 ounces of nitre 



4 do antimony 



4 do cream of tartar 



4 do sulphur 



Mix, and give it once or twice a week in their corn, 

 about a tablespoonful at a time. 



Instead of inquiring into an ordinary working 

 Groom's scientific acquirements, his knowledge of 

 "Taplin," the "Gentleman's Recreations/' and so on, 

 we would infinitely prefer putting him into a loose 

 box beside a dirty hunter, and seeing him set to work. 

 There is something about a workman, be he a joiner, 

 painter, glazier, mason, or what not, that proclaims 



