BREAKING AND TRAINING. 469 



present time ; whereas it is now almost that which it has been from the 

 earlier period of authentic record. 



No notice is taken of the presence of railways ; of the general custom 

 of using fire-arms; of discharging fire-works, or the almost universal 

 habit of gas illumination; not to mention the various strange sights 

 and novel exhibitions which the modern streets and highways fre- 

 quently display. Accidents, neither few nor far between, are provoked 

 by these things ; but the breaker, nevertheless, refuses to acknowledge 

 their existence. He views his duties as perfected, and as needing or 

 admitting of no improvement ! 



So also the trainer. His system has been only influenced by the evils 

 generated through the customs which he obeys. Beyond the race-course, 

 he sees and acknowledges nothing. Railways bring crowds down to all 

 the great contests ; but he still trains his horses to run in stillness and 

 in solitude. Many quadrupeds "shut up," when the people shout: the 

 cause of this conduct the trainer refuses to recognize. Numerous ani- 

 mals only show their qualities after age has familiarized them with the 

 tumult of the mob ; still, the trainer can see no intimation in so evident 

 a sequence, although intimately associated as cause and effect. 



Then, with respect to aloes. This drug should be discarded altogether. 

 Neither should any of the different nostrums, now common in the stable, 

 be employed. Supposing the abdomen to be larger than is desirable, its 

 amendment should be controlled by condensed diet, and sufficient but 

 easy exercise. An occasional drachm dose of iodide of iron, which 

 medicine is both an absorbent and a tonic, may, at long intervals, be 

 exhibited. Where costiveness prevails, a bran mash or two, with a 

 bundle of green meat, would counteract the symptom. To improve 

 the coat, liquor arsenicalis, in ounce doses, should be administered ; for 

 this preparation operates upon the integument, by strengthening the 

 body. 



The trainer may exclaim against green meat ; but it does not retard 

 condition or generate weakness like aloes, and if employed as a medicine, 

 it is of all importance. Beyond the drugs mentioned, nothing should be 

 given, save under professional advice : the lockers should be cleared of 

 all medicinal agents. Other compounds are not quite abolished; but 

 these should be exhibited only by the veterinary surgeon — the quad- 

 ruped being physicked as little as possible. When trained after the 

 method which has been indicated, all the dangers of the process would 

 be avoided : the health, not the judgment of any interested individual, 

 would declare whether the instructions had been obeyed, or the orders 

 had been violated. Mystery and impudence would be rendered inoper- 

 ative, and every animal started for a race should return to the post. 



