9Q PHYSIO. ^ 



eutire list of vesicatories lost to the knowledge of mankind. The blister 

 is, according to present veterinary practice, employed more often to 

 gratify the passing whim of some wayward proprietor than with any 

 medical intention or with the remotest regard for the quadruped. A 

 man, while lounging through the stable of an evening, a prey to lassi- 

 tude and the victim of idle thoughts, but without the slightest pretense 

 to medical knowledge, may conceive he will have the entire stable blis- 

 tered "right through," and few veterinary surgeons will presume to 

 expostulate with so wild a notion. 



The compliance of the professional attendant is, however, in strict 

 keeping with opinions implied by the expressions commonly employed 

 by "horsemen." Thus, it is very general to hear these persons speak 

 of — "a good horse with battered legs" — "a beautiful animal, but with 

 legs that have done their work" — "an excellent frame, but not having a 

 leg to stand upon," etc. Such phrases are sheer nonsense 1 But they 

 serve to countenance the equine superstition which regards the legs as 

 distinct from the body. The stable-man cannot conceive a want of live- 

 liness in the motions to be one of the indications of failing health. Yet 

 this symptom pervades all nature. It is exhibited by beasts, by birds, 

 by fishes, and by insects ; nay, the very vegetables, when disease attacks 

 them, no longer spread their branches to the breeze, but droop their heads 

 and incline their bodies earthward. 



To propagate such opinions, however, must destroy much of the power 

 so dearly loved by the vulgar horse owner, and abolish much of the pleas- 

 ure such a person experiences when surveying his long rows of miserable 

 dependents 1 These men are always corrupt 1 It is astonishing how 

 unfitted human frailty is to possess absolute authority in any shape ! 

 The men who live and think in stables are never so happy as when ex- 

 ercising their despotic power. The next illustration is an example of 

 this fact. An omnibus proprietor has entered to speak with a veteri- 

 nary surgeon, who is witnessing the man's orders fiilfilled on the fore- 

 legs of a wretched stud. Let the reader contemplate this engraving, 

 and he will soon perceive the animals stand in need of something far 

 less costly than any mixture which can proceed from the cheapest 

 pharmacy. 



It will be remarked that the creatures represented are separated 

 by "bales," or long poles, suspended by chains from the ceiling. This 

 kind of arrangement permits more horses to be packed into a limited 

 apartment, and is, therefore, adopted whenever the expense of lodging 

 becomes a primary consideration. It will also have occurred to the 

 spectator that the roof is depicted as ^sery low, and the gangway or free 

 thoroughfare behind the animals is exhibited as exceedingly narrow. 



