THE SUMMERING OF HUNTERS. 127 



is evident that each stage must need different treat- 

 ment. The first stage points unmistakably to less 

 work or the suspension of all work for a time, and 

 if this be not noticed and cared for it always ends in 

 the second stage, where no amount of rest will take 

 away the condition. It forms an excellent beacon, 

 and points to less weight or a shorter " spell " being 

 required ; and they are wise who interpret its mean- 

 ing. Frequently it happens that this state of things 

 will go on for many months before permanent en- 

 largements obtain ; but all this time— the warning 

 not being heeded — the secreting surface is getting 

 ready for the overwork which it, as a secreting sur- 

 face, has to face ; it thickens and accommodates 

 itself to its task like the skin of a blacksmith's 

 hand. In thickening, the surface loses the nice 

 balance it has held in throwing out new oil and 

 absorbing it after it has become old and unfit, and 

 then the firing-iron is set to work to compel absorp- 

 tion of the stationary, thickened, half-useless oil. 

 Supposing that we have been foolish enough to 

 bring about thorough-pin, windgall, &c., then we 

 have to face hard facts : we have to bring ourselves 

 to believe that not any means we yet know of will 

 do for us what the healthy membrane used to do. 

 All that the firing-iron, or the blister, or the mercurial 

 ointment can do is to cause a splutter of vitality 

 in tlie part, by which the absorbents are for a time, 

 but only for a time, quickened. These means lessen 

 but do not remove entirely the enlargement, and, 



