INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 41 



lion alter tliis determination, for I should infer 

 from the circumstance a predisposition to the 

 complaint. With gentle work, proper feeding, 

 proper medicine occasionally, and a proper atmo- 

 sphere in the stable, it is quite possible no return 

 might ever take place ; but as no one is obliged 

 to buy such a horse when there are so many others 

 to select from, I should still say reject such a pur- 

 chase, however free from disease he might be at 

 the time. 



It is quite true that a man, or a horse, may 

 have a tendency to some particular ailment which 

 may come on on any extraordinary occasion ; yet 

 such a man, or horse, may, in a general way, be 

 able to fulfil his ordinary duties ; the headach in 

 man, to instance. But inflammation of the luno:s 

 or bowels in the horse are quite diflTerent affairs 

 from headach in man. These complaints (I 

 should rather call them attacks) are not mere 

 matters to render the animal, in a temporary way, 

 unequal to his duty : they are matters of life or 

 death ; the latter in a very few hours, unless the 

 most skilful medical aid is at hand. This induces 

 me to give such strenuous advice against pur- 

 chasing a horse where we have the slightest 

 reason to dread their attack. The much-dreaded 

 cholera in man is not more rapid in its progress 

 than is inflammation in the lungs or bowels of 

 the horse : if not immediately attended to, two 



