THE HUNTER AT HOME. 175 



date, as even " Nimrod/^ that most practical of writers 

 upon stable subjects, never mentions it. So one would 

 tbink tbat it was a new tbing, and tbeory would suggest 

 tbat it bas arisen since clipping tbe bunter became 

 general. I can remember tbe existence of sucb an 

 affection for tbe best part of twenty years, and I am in a 

 position to say tbat it bas notbing to do witb clipping or 

 singeing, as I bave bad a mare attacked wbo was bunting 

 witb ber winter coat on. I ascribe it to general foulness of 

 tbe system, arising from bard work, stimulating food, and 

 beats and cbills. New oats are said to be a predisposing 

 cause, but, altbougb I bave occasionally been obliged to 

 give bunters (after Cbristmas) oats of tbe last barvest, I 

 bave never found tbem cause mud fever, altbougb tbey 

 are otberwise objectionable. Horses wbo bave been 

 summered at grass are especially liable to it. Wasbino* 

 bunters on tbeir return bome witb bot water is said to 

 cause it as well; but foulness of babit, or, in otber 

 words, want of pbysic, is, I. am persuaded, tbe true 

 cause. Since I bave left off giving my borses green 

 meat in tbe summer I bave never bad a spot of mud 

 fever on any of tbem. But eacb borse bas two doses of 

 pbysic between bis beginning exeroise and Cbristmas 

 eacb year, one about tbe middle or end of February, and 

 one on leaving off bunting. My doses are, bowever, 

 very mild, as I depend cbiefly on tbe preparation, and 

 never give more tban 4 dracbms of aloes, often only 3 ; 

 tbis, of course, depending on tbe constitution of tbe 

 individual borse. Little time is lost by tbese mild doses, 

 as tbe borse can bunt on tbe fourtb day after tbe pbysic 

 bas " set ^' — sometimes even sooner. Tbis is my mode 

 of prevention of mud fever. Tbe cure is tbe pbysic, 

 better late tban never, and a little rest. Wben tbere is 



