GROOMS AND BOVS. 221 



quietly on with me, and all I ask of you is, just to 

 make your observations on the principles the author 

 has given us ; for, if I mistake not, he affirms, " that 

 any man who will attentively consider them, may 

 train horses for the turf." Well, then, let us again 

 quote, from the author's work, such of his principles 

 as appear to be connected with the subject of "condi- 

 tion." We shall then be able to form some idea how 

 far we may be likely to succeed in getting a horse into 

 racing form, by adopting them. 



First, I shall commence with the author's reasons 

 for physicking horses on their being brought from the 

 fields into the stables, (page 252.) 



" When a horse has been taken from grass about a 

 week, I think it advisable to give him a very mild pur- 

 gative, such as No. 1 (see physic). Not that I am con- 

 vinced of its being absolutely necessary, but because 

 it cannot do any harm ; and if the horse has been fed 

 too liberally, or not exercised enough, or should the 

 stomach or bowels be out of order, or have any worms 

 in them, a mild purgative will be of great service. It 

 is on this ground that I always recommend two or 

 three doses of mild physic during the time a horse is 

 getting into condition." 



Now, in the above paragraph, we find the author 

 advising physic to be given as a preventative to disease ; 

 he also thinks it advisable to give a mild purgative 

 to a horse after he has been taken from grass about 

 a week ; "not that he is convinced of its being ab- 

 solutely necessary, but because it cannot do any harm." 



