INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 6l 



my own; but I then made a vow, which I have 

 religioufly kept for eighteen years, and find 

 myfelf (till lefs difpofed than ever, to break. 

 When in due time I effayed to mount this 

 mare, (he bent under me like a twig, although 

 I could then have ridden confiderably lefs 

 than nine ftone. I was under the neceflity of 

 giving her fix months run abroad, but am not 

 certain that herconPdtution ever recovered the 

 (hock. 



Bracken has entered a very proper caveat 

 againft the ule of diagridium, in particular, in 

 his 2d vol. p. 143, where he relates the death 

 of the beft racer he ever poffeffed, from a 

 purge in which that drug was one of the in- 

 gredients. I knew an inftance perfectly iimilar 

 myfelf. A poor fellow with a very large 

 family, who was unfortunately a good judge 

 of race horfes, after many unfuccefsful trials, 

 at length either bred or purchafed a well- 



fhaped colt, of good fize, that manifefted indu- 

 bitable proofs of running. The colt's flefh did 

 not come off fo well in training as the fimple 

 owner fuppofed neceflary; and as the ufual 

 quantum of aloetic phyfic had been adminif- 

 tered, it was fagely determined that an addi- 

 tional dofe was indicated, with the aid of fome 

 article of greater power and efficacy. A 

 proper dofe was given in the morning, and 

 about twelve at night the poor man was called 



up 



