94 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



pitch, and a variety of compounds, was a favourite sum- 

 mer appendage to the hunter of the old school, and was 

 not without its uses ; but there is, I believe, no known 

 absorbent equal to mercury, and wonders have been per- 

 formed upon horses' legs by charges in which the potent 

 quicksilver is the main ingredient. Something of the 

 kind is prepared by most veterinary surgeons, but I 

 ^magine that the best recipe (because the most miracu- 

 lous in effect of any I ever witnessed), was in possession 

 of that most excellent old Encflish afentleman and 

 thoroughly good old sportsman, the late Mr. Villebois, 

 a master of foxhounds in Hampshire, at his own expense, 

 for more than a quarter of a century. It has been said 

 that 



" The evil that men do lives after them — 

 The good is oft interred with their bones ; " 



but if any one would read his epitaph, it is to be found 

 in the bosoms of all who knew him, in the records of 

 nought but good through the whole of a long, and, let 

 us hope, a well-spent life. It is not for me to pronounce 

 his eulogy, or rob the H. H. of a tribute justly theirs ; 

 I will leave them honouring the memory of him they 

 have lost, and happy in a master well qualified, and 

 in every way worthy, to tread in his steps. The 

 charge I allude to is prepared from this recipe, which 

 was presented by Mr. Villebois to a chemist at Alresford. 

 It is also to be had at Winchester. It must be made 

 hot, then spread upon a piece of linen, or Rusaia-duck, 

 cut exactly to the size of the horse's leg, to fit him like 



