446 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



during long-continued exertion and it is brought about by a system of 

 training which has become a fine art. A physic-ball is often the first act in 

 the preparation, and other balls or powders for conditioning follow. They 

 appear to have the effect of getting rid of effete material, and enabling the 

 subject to derive the utmost benefit from the food consumed and the 

 carefully-apportioned exercise enforced. Appended is a recipe for a famous 

 proprietary ball which has been largely used in racing- and hunting-stables- 

 throughout the kingdom: 



Calomel ... ... ... ... ... 15 grains. 



Socotrine Aloes ... ... ... 25 grains. 



Powdered Ipecacuanha ... ... 50 grains. 



Nitrate of Potash ... ... ... 2"drams. 



Hard Soap ... ... ... ... 1 dram. 



The above dose is given twice a week for about three weeks, and then 

 an interval allowed, as there is danger of over-stimulating the liver. 



Show or dealer's " condition " is as opposite from the fine-drawn racer or 

 "fit" hunter as possible in a horse in good health. Even the best judges 

 of horses are favourably impressed by the round and sleek appearance of 

 the dealer's horse that has been fed upon boiled foods and "stodges". The 

 purchaser sees in such a horse a good "doer", arid the seller is able to 

 conceal some defects by loading on fat. To enable the horse to digest and 

 accumulate a large amount of fattening food while taking but little exercise, 

 recourse is had to such drugs as assist to prevent fermentation in the 

 digestive tract and further act upon the kidneys and skin, giving a soft and 

 glossy appearance to the latter. 



The spices and so-called "foods" sold for this purpose are chiefly com- 

 posed of salt, fenugrec, and lentil flour. A favourite ball for this kind of 

 conditioning is composed of equal parts of ginger, aniseed, gentian, grains 

 of paradise, and liquorice made up with treacle or glycerine. 



The character and composition of the blood, and the part it plays in 

 the animal economy, has been dealt with in that part of this work devoted 

 to physiology. It has been shown that every part of the body depends 

 upon the blood for the supply of those materials which maintain it in 

 health and repair the waste that is always going on. 



Every tissue, nerve, muscle, bone, skin-cell, and hair-follicle depends 

 upon the blood-stream for its maintenance, every gland for its functional 

 activity. 



