256 THE HORSE. 



gruel, with locks of the sweetest and finest hay ; and 

 also the cheering; and invigorating effect of the cor- 

 dial ball (compounded of genuine and proper ingre- 

 dients), when no contra indications are apparent from 

 inflammation. But in the presence or suspicion of 

 inflammatory symptoms, cordials should certainly be 

 omitted ; and as for the ball sometimes prescribed in 

 the case, half nitre, and half cordial ball, it is a 

 mawkish and sickening mess, in the old Suffolk far- 

 rier's opinion, ' a kind of a heater, and a kind of a 

 cooler/ but very unfit for the deranged and debilitated 

 stomach of the horse. The heated and swollen legs 

 of the horse are cooled by water as warm as he can 

 bear it, and are then bandaged with flannel rollers, 

 the legs and feet having been previously and carefully 

 examined for thorns, bruises, over-reach, or wounds, 

 to the risk of which, the legs of hunters must be so 

 unavoidably exposed. In a dangerous case, when 

 from the inflammatory symptoms the abstraction of 

 blood must be resorted to, the presence of an able 

 veterinary surgeon is necessary. 



SECTION XXXVIII. 



Being no sycophant either of individuals or bodies 

 of men, however elevated in the world's opinion, but 

 simply and sincerely the humble advocate of their 

 honour and their interest, and having already made 

 free with the rising favourite, but not very defensible 

 amusement of hunting the steeples of holy mother 

 church, I proceed to that other noble and exalted 

 sportive gratification of riding to death in the field, 

 the most willing, generous, and meritorious of brute 



