DIPOSTURES mACnSED. tHENCn MODE OF EXAJSnNING A HORSE. 20? 



lower the access of inflammation, which so much pain must naturally pro- 

 duce. Either of the three evacuations being suppressed, or imperfectly per- 

 formed, must be restored, and a purgative, a urine-ball, or a diaphoretic 

 powder be administered as occasion requires, and opportunity presents itself: 

 of course, neither of those will be given while the animal is out of doors. 



PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY TO BE OBSERVED ON BUY 

 ING A HORSE. 



Much as hath been said of the make, shape, and proportion of the various 

 breeds of horses in Book I., some few precautionary hints, still more familiar, 

 seem desirable in this place. Of the several points of inquiry to which pur- 

 chasers apply themselves, the age of the animal is ever considered the most 

 deserving of attention ; the state of its legs, bodily health, and eye sight, coming 

 next in order, if general appearance does not precede every other. On each 

 of those heads I ofter a few words of advice, most of which are tolerably well 

 recognised, though seldom in print, as most of those who deal, in horse-flesh 

 acquire their knowledge from experience rather than books. Before all things^ 

 the new horse-dealer should guard against imposition, and not *' look at a 

 horse" where he has got to withstand two or three masked advisers. To be 

 sure, no one desirous of a nag would submit to the imposition of a cart-horse 

 instead ; but, next to this kind of gross attempt, the thorough-paced dealera 

 practise deceit of every species, and throw obstacles in the way of cool exa- 

 mination, especially when we come to investigate the seat of any actual defect. 



General appearance : an idea of a good horse. — And first, that we may 

 make no blunders, and the younger portion of readers be thinking of one part 

 of him, whilst I am talking of another, let the annexed plate of " Terms com- 

 monly made use of to denote the external parts of the horse," be kept con- 

 stantly in sight, so that there be no mistake of that sort. 



Previous to stating our own old English notions, it may not be useless to 

 quote the instructions with which the purchasers of cavalry for the French 

 military service travelled (as [ believe) over that country. Its coincidence 

 with our own opinions and practices is at least curious, though on such a topic 

 no Englishman whatever requires instructions from a foreigner, if his own as- 

 sertions are to be taken for genuine. " The persons sent to purchase horses 

 should not only keep in mind the colour, height, and price of horses for which 

 he is to treat ; but also the usual defects of the country, that he may guard 

 against them ; these are, faulty sight, flat hoof, too brittle, or too soft, and 

 affections of the lungs. 



" Those things being well thought on, the purchaser will look at the horse 

 sideways at a tolerable distance : he will choose him as nearly as possible one 

 tenth longer than he is high, measuring from the breast to the quarter, and 

 from the withers to the ground, so that if the horse be five feet high, his length 

 should be five feet and a half. 



" Preserving the same situation, he will see 1st, If the horse has a small 

 head, not too fleshy, perfectly free from tumours, and well placed, neither cai 

 tying it too low nor too high ; 2nd, If he has not an ill-shaped neck, with hia 

 windpipe hanging too low, or bending ; 3rd, Whether his withers be either too 

 sharp or too large, with fleshy shoulders ; 4th, Whether he is not hollow back- 

 ed ; 5th, Whether his chest be well formed, neither too round nor too flat , 

 6th, Whether he be low-bellied, with a small sheath ; 7th, Whether he be 

 touched in the wind ; 8th, If his fore legs are not too slender, or his hock do 

 not bend forwards too much; 9th, If the tendons or back sinews be not ailing, 

 i. e. either sore to the touch, or else stift-jointed ; 10th, Whether the animal 

 06 not either long-jointed, or short-jointed; 11th, Whether he be strained i:i 

 19* 



