76 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



petticoats having been devoted to the covering of horses' 

 loins upon such occasions, there is no doubt that the 

 good wife will, either with or without hope of the gra- 

 tuity with which you will gladly recompense her, bestow 

 hot water sufficient to make the gruel of the temperature 

 of new milk ; it should scarcely be warmer, or it may 

 cause a horse to break out on his progress home. The 

 delay of five or ten minutes which this will occasion you, 

 may be well spared, even should you be ever so late, or 

 wet, or cold ; — remember that, though you have had your 

 Sandwich, or biscuit, to operate as a " stay stomach," and 

 appease your own natural cravings, your horse has been 

 many hours since he started for the place of meeting in 

 the morning, without anything in the shape of nourish- 

 ment ; all which time he has been subjected to incessant 

 demands upon his strength. Something must supply the 

 vacuum thus created ; and, if you leave him too long with 

 nothing but the bridle between his teeth, he will inhale 

 wind enough to distend his bowels, and occasion all those 

 symptoms of distress (and tndy distressing they are to 

 witness) which have not been perceivable till he has re- 

 gained his stall ; his unrelenting spirit having carried him 

 thus far, you are then wonderfully surprised that, after 

 coming home, as well as ever he was in his life, he is all 

 at once very ill, and, for some time, unfit to come out in 

 his turn ; whereas, had you thought less of your own 



