THE NOBLE SCIENCE. &7 



introduced, if required, for the benefit of their/eei, which 

 will call for constant attention on the part of the head 

 groom, or person in charge of them. I am not presuming 

 to indite any code of rules for attaining the degree of 

 condition which, I have stated, is the sinequd nan: having 

 already made allusion to what I hold to be the printed 

 laws, I do not wish to appear as a dwarf treading in the 

 footsteps of a giant; but this book would fall far 

 short of its purpose, if I did not, with regard to horses, 

 record what I have found to succeed best in my own 

 practice. 



Some contend that spring grass is, of itself, alone 

 sufficient physic for horses at the close of the season, but 

 I conceive that they require more thoroughly cooling 

 with active medicine, as soon as they are thrown out of 

 work. This will prevent the inflammatory tendencies 

 consequent upon the high state in which they have been 

 kept since the autumn. In all cases where firing or 

 blistering is necessary, it is an invariable rule to adopt 

 this plan as a precautionary measure, and I believe that 

 even with the soundest and healthiest, it is better not 

 omitted. I am no advocate for bleeding, except in cases 

 of positive illness, where active inflammation must be 

 subdued by summary measures. I would resort to the 

 lancet with the caution recommended by the poet, as to 

 the use of superhuman agency in a story or a play, 



" Nee Deus intersit, nisi clignus vindice nodus, 

 Incident."— 



Bleeding, merely as an alternative, must lessen its eflect 



5—2 



