124 ON PHYSIC. 



Now, as exercise greatly assists the action of medi- 

 cine, the groom should not only regulate the time each 

 horse is to remain at exercise, but also how often each 

 horse should come out on the day the physic is work- 

 ing off. Those which the groom observes to purge 

 freely, may not be out more than once, or twice at 

 farthest, the first thing in the morning, and at four 

 o'clock in the afternoon. But others, which may be 

 thought not to purge sufficiently, and which may be 

 rather lusty, may come out to exercise three times 

 in the day ; the first thing in the morning, at eleven or 

 twelve o'clock in the day, and at four in the afternoon. 

 Any of them that may require to be out for longer 

 periods than others may be sent out half an hour or an 

 hour earlier than the rest, so that they may all come in 

 together, to admit of the whole of the stables being shut 

 up at the same time. But on their first coming into 

 the stables from exercise, it is necessary again to take 

 the precaution with them, in regard to not bringing 

 them round in the stalls to have their heads dressed. 

 Each boy should ride his horse into the stall, dismount, 

 take off his hood and bridle, wisp and wipe his horse's 

 head, sponge his nostrils, and with a rubber, wipe them 

 dry, then put on his collar, and chain up his head. 



I have known some grooms, who would not have 

 their horse's feet washed, or even have them dressed on 

 the day of their physic working off. All they woidd 

 allow to be done would be to have their clothes put 

 straight, their quarters cleaned, and their legs well 

 rubbed. I must confess I was rather particular in 



