68 ON THE CECONOMY OF THE STABLE. 



with {linking oil : the bridle is then hung up, 

 probably againfl a damp wall, and put upon 

 the horfe next day without being cleaned^ but 

 encafed with oil and ruft as it is ; by which, if 

 a puny feeder, he is rendered fick and off his 

 flomach : for moll: horfes have great averfion 

 to any thing greafy, and their bits ought to be 

 as fweet and clean as their mailer's filver fpoon. 

 I believe that oil is, however, not fo much in 

 ufe as formerly, either in the ftable or the 

 dwelling-houfe, and have been informed by 

 fome, whom I efteem good houfe'wives, that 

 elbow-greafe is of all others the beft beautifier 

 both of fteel and mahogany. 



Another great defe6l exifts among grooms, 

 even fuch as fet up for profefibrs. They take 

 no c^re to dry the pads of a faddle after a 

 journey, but confining their attention merely 

 to externals, never fcruple to put a hardened 

 and damp faddle upon a horfe 's back ; it is the 

 fame with regard to body clothes, which, whe- 

 ther they be foaked through with fweat or rain, 

 or damps, are inconfiderately girted round the 

 body of a horfe, fick or well, in the precife ftate 

 in which they chance to be picked up. If 

 there be any truth at ail in analogical reafon- 

 ing, fuch praQice ought to have a very ill 

 effeft upon fine fkinned animals at lead, which 

 are fludioufly kept fo warm, and the pores of 

 which are ever in fuch a ready ftate for ab- 



forption : 



