4»8 THE HORSE. 



some severe remarks upon this operation, and al- 

 though most of his rubbish will soon die and be for- 

 gotten, yet as he wrote at a period when few others 

 had published anything on the subject, his presump- 

 tion was mistaken for knowledge ; and as some of 

 the readers of this work may have seen his strictures 

 upon " Fundamental Firing," as he calls figging, a 

 few observations may be requisite to remove a pre- 

 judice occasioned by so erroneous a plu-ase. The 

 pain of this operation is soon over, and it is a query 

 whether it is as bad at any time as that of the gripes, 

 or cholic, or a cold. People would always prefer a 

 smaller to a greater evil. Figging, then, in order to 

 prevent or remove one of these complaints, is any- 

 thing but the barbarity the writer alluded to describes 

 it to be ; and as it may obviate both, the objections 

 to it are still fewer. Moreover, there is no danger 

 in the operation; in the gripes there is a great deal; 

 besides, under the shivers may be lurking inflamed 

 lungs. Very hard water generally occasions these 

 symptoms. As by exposing it, however, to the sun 

 for a few hours before using it would prevent sudi 

 unpleasant effects, the ostler should not be given his 

 fee if he omitted this little attention. Where figging 

 does not produce the desired l)enefit, a ginger-ball 

 should also be administered. Should a shivering 

 seize the horse after exposure to rain, figging and a 

 ginger-ball will be found of the greatest service, 

 frequently preventing serious after illness. 



While treating of this subject, it may be as well 

 to follow it up with a few other observations. Ostlers 

 and stable-keepers, who generally farm or rent the 

 stables from the innkeeper, often stint the horses of 

 their food, upon the pretext that they cannot eat so 

 much when they are thirsty and feverish, as they 

 would if they were perfectly cool and tranquil. These 

 Btable-people know that the owners of horses are most • 

 ly satisfied, if they see hay placad before their steeds 



