THE SUMMERING OF HUNTERS. 153 



to rush in and out abreast, pushing and squeezing 

 each other, entirely setting aside their good manners, 

 Many a "poll-evil" is caught by a low doorway. 

 Doorways to stables, especially cart-horse stables, 

 are almost invariably far too low. 



When July has well set in, liberty and green meat 

 begin to be curtailed. This ought to be done 

 gradually, and the 1st of August must see the 

 end of green meat. The first week in August is 

 generally the commencement of the " conditioning " 

 season. From this time to the commencement of 

 the season the animal machine — the slackened 

 strings— have now to be tightened. For this pur- 

 pose, besides other things, of course, two doses of 

 purging medicine, at least, are required. The whole 

 tissues are saturated with water from the green food 

 which has to be removed. The bowels drain it off 

 nicely, and with safety, if stimulated to do so by aloes. 

 We have said that at least two doses are required. We 

 ought not to hesitate in using a third, if need be. 

 No great preparation is required, but it is best to 

 give a bran mash on two successive nights, and then 

 give the physic on an empty stomach on the third 

 morning, and continue the mashes till the purging 

 sets in. The evacuations during the first dose are 

 so watery and copious that men often get alarmed 

 lest super-purgation should set in. This is seldom 

 the case. We must remember what a store of 

 watery material there is in the animal fresh from 

 grass. However, this time is not without its source 



