Feeding. 45 



be able to inform the practical veterinary sur- 

 geon the symptoms that have taken place since 

 his last visit. The veterinary surgeon has great 

 drawbacks to contend with in the treatment of 

 animals, and I am afraid he has too often reason 

 to find fault with the ignorance of the groom. 

 This is not to be wondered at, as a great many 

 gentlemen take lads from the plough, and in a 

 few years, without any training, and without any 

 knowledge of the business beyond cleaning a set 

 of harness, washing a carriage, and dressing a 

 dirty horse, he is put into position of groom or 

 coachman, and the trust and care of valuable 

 animals thrust upon him. It is this sort of thing 

 that makes the name of a stableman the scoff of 

 a large number of gentlemen, and enables them 

 to ride their hobby-horses and air them at almost 

 every dinner-table, by a never-failing discourse 

 about their fools of grooms, who have let their 

 horses get the influenza, or have thrown their 

 horses down and broken their knees. The groom 

 always thrown the horse down, the horse always 

 falh down with the master. A gentleman once 

 went to the late Mr. Field, veterinary surgeon, 

 of Oxford Street, and told him his groom had 

 thrown his horse down, and he had discharged 

 him. Mr. Field asked, "Did your man throw it 

 down?" and was answered, ''Yes, decidedly;" 

 to which Mr. Field replied, ''Then when you 

 have done with your man, have the kindness to 

 send him to me ; I will find him emj)loyment ; 

 he will be very valuable to me, as I often want 

 a horse thrown down, and have to employ five or 



