PHYSIC. 8t 



fited ; but one was discovered to be much worse for its period of liberty. 

 It was very weak, and its constitution evidently was shaken, for nothmg 

 seemed capable of invigorating it. If put into harness and driven merely 

 round to the street door, the body was sure to be white with perspira- 

 tion, and the poor quadruped exhibited signs of exhaustion. If permit- 

 ted to remain in the stable, the creature would generally be found with 

 the head depressed, the corn untouched, the breathing audible, and the 

 body leaning for support against the trevise. 



The animal was in this state when the family again left London for a 

 few weeks ; the horse was taken with them by railroad. Before they 

 quitted town, the author found occasion to speak with the proprietor. 

 The writer said that, during the sojourn of the family in the country, it 

 was probable the urgency of the symptoms would necessitate the calling 

 in of a local veterinary surgeon ; therefore the proprietor was warned 

 that the ailing quadruped was on no account to be bled ; for to deplete 

 a life in so exhausted a condition was positive slaughter. 



As the author had conjectured, so events literally happened. The 

 symptoms suddenly became alarming. The attendance of the nearest 

 veterinarian was requested. To him the warning given to the proprietor 

 was repeated. The gentleman replied that the author had not seen the 

 animal in its then serious state, or he could not have tendered such 

 advice. Medical etiquette forbade positive injunctions. The operation 

 was performed, and the family returned to town leaving a carcass behind 

 them! 



It is very seldom that the system of a horse, when doing full work, can 

 endure depletion. The labor is exhausting, and the toil is sufficiently 

 severe to employ it all had the animal twice its normal energy. Many 

 observant stable-men are of opinion that, nurture as they may, the prov- 

 ender consumed cannot be equal to the work. There are, however, too 

 many persons who study to underfeed, and who nevertheless are morally 

 convincecT that every quadruped in their keeping not only possesses a 

 sufficiency of vigor, but can part with a gallon or two of blood, twice in 

 every year, with positive advantage. 



Here are two opposite convictions ; and the cost of horse flesh to each 

 party, could we inspect the private accounts, would certainly best settle 

 the dispute. But as men mostly object to laying open their books to 

 public investigation, we must, therefore, endeavor to decide this point by 

 drawing inferences, after having submitted the lives of most quadrupeds 

 to review. None, except the wealthy, keep horses, save for use. The 

 feelings of men are seldom gratified by feeding idle animals. Two horses 

 very commonly have to perform extra duty, while the master is looking 

 about him and in no hast# to purchase a third laborer. Rarely do we 



