FREEDOM VERSUS CONFINEMENT. 117 



ignorant practice is the cause of much suffering, since 

 any irritation of the mucous membrane, bronchial 

 tubes, or any other part of the system, gives rise to 

 greater thirst, which if not satisfied will produce a 

 feverishness and irritability of the whole system, which 

 will necessitate a resort to cooling diet, physic, and a 

 stoppage in work ; or, in other words, will aggravate 

 the state of the disease. 



SUMMERING THE HUNTER. 



The hunting men of the present day are apt to run 

 into the opposite extreme to their forefathers, and con- 

 fine their horses in such small and close places that 

 they have not sufficient room to move for the proper 

 performance of their functions. Exercise horses must 

 have, after a time, or they will lose their muscle. 



About one month's or six weeks' rest on some fresh 

 tan in a cool box is all that can be required for the 

 purpose of refreshing the system ; after which all horses 

 which are not suffering from disease, the effects of an 

 operation or accident, will be all the better for a little 

 walking exercise on some fallow ground and soft turf. 



It is preposterous nonsense for men to assert that 

 c the horse does not lose condition in the box without 

 exercise, if on hard food." 1 Every man of experience 

 must know that the horse which has been running at 

 grass is by far the stronger animal of the two during 

 the first two or three weeks ; though, of course, the 

 flesh of the former is looser, and therefore is more 

 quickly shaken off, and consequently he will require 



