138 Condition. 



has to be built up and thoroughly developed. 

 Every one knows the blacksmith's arm or the legs 

 of the danseuse become thicker by the exercise. 

 Their action stimulates their growth, and when 

 after a time they are so developed, they may be 

 said to be in perfect condition. 



The muscles of the horse also admit of this 

 gradual development. It is caused by their 

 being regularly exercised, and drawing to them 

 the nutrition from the blood which has first been 

 put into that fluid from the food. Regular 

 exercise causes the body to rid itself of all hurtful 

 substances. Good food produces good muscle ; 

 and unless there are special circumstances to 

 consider, nothing else is required to produce 

 condition, excepting regularity of system. 



The effect of physic is to weaken the system 

 and retard the development of muscle and forma- 

 tion of good blood. They are similar to bleeding, 

 but a little less intense. Professor Dick was wont 

 to state in his lectures, that " physicking horses 

 in order to get them into condition is carried on 

 to an absurd degree, as many as three doses of 

 physick being given to one animal prior to the 

 season in the space of a few weeks. The first 

 ball/' remarked the Professor, " was said to stir 

 up the humours, the second to set them moving, 

 and the third to carry them off; and/' he naively 

 adds, " which it frequently did by carrying oif 

 the horse as well." 



