SUMMERING THE HUNTER. 181 



domesticated horses that are advanced in years, and 

 that have been accustomed to such changes, do not 

 always escape, unless some precautionary measures 

 be taken ; for hunters taken up from grass in August, 

 unless due attention be paid to the temperature of 

 the stable, are often the subjects of catarrhal at- 

 tacks." 



Perhaps the summer of 1835 may be produced 

 in proof of the danger of subjecting stabled horses 

 to atmospherical changes. In the first week of 

 June, 78, 80, 82, and 84 degrees of heat were 

 marked by the thermometer. On the 1.3th, the 

 maximum of heat was 15 degrees less than that of 

 the preceding day ; and on the 23d, the thermome- 

 ter fell to 47 degrees, succeeded by four days' rain, 

 with wind veering to south-east, back to west, then 

 to north and north-east, at times furiously high ! 



We must be allowed two more remarks on the 

 evils of the out-of-door system. Amongst the phy- 

 sical changes which the body is capable of receiving, 

 none is so visibly effected as in the diminished, or 

 increased, size of the belly ; and the latter alterna- 

 tion of form is speedily effected by a horse eating 

 grass, and nothing but grass. When a man goes 

 into training for a match against time, or a prize- 

 fight, the first act of his trainer is, to reduce the 

 size of his belly ; for, until that is done, his respi- 

 ration is not free enough to enable him to make 

 such bodily exertions as are essential to augment 

 his natural vigour, and put him into the best pos- 

 sible condition ; and this exactly applies to the 

 grass-fed hunter taken up in August. He has 



