STIMULANTS. 135 



young ones, consequently want such a stimulus. 

 Horses on long journeys really require beans; 

 and, in fact, if horses are accustomed to them, 

 they cannot work without them. Two things 

 should, however, be strictly observed in giving 

 beans; first, that they are bruise! (not ground), 

 and, secondly, that they are not given just before 

 a horse starts on quick work : nothing is more 

 likely to produce colic. Late in the day, and 

 night, if on a journey, is the proper time to give 

 beans. There is, however, a third precaution to 

 be observed as regards beans, — they must be old, 

 if given at all. New beans are worse than use- 

 less ; they are absolutely dangerous in the extreme. 

 Old beans I consider to be to the horse what 

 sound old port or ale is to the man : new ones 

 are tantamount to drinking sweet-wort or port 

 while undergoing its manufacture, and, conse- 

 quently, produce the direct opposite effect to 

 that we seek in giving them to such horses as we 

 judge may require them. I should say that in a 

 general way, half a quartern, split or bruised, is 

 3nough. Certain work and certain constitutions 

 nay require double the quantity, but more than 

 ■,hat I should say would be injurious. I have, 

 lowever, I remember, mentioned, in something I 

 lave before said of beans in another work, a case 

 vhere I gave considerably more, but it arose from 

 the following cause. Some years past oats were 



