CONDITION BALLS AND OTHERS. 373 



essential of training, and in their opinion could as ill 

 be spared as either food or exercise. They are given 

 just before the horses take their exercise, or immedi- 

 ately on their return to the stables on an empty 

 stomach. Mr. Parr, to whom I believe the honour 

 of this great discovery is due, used to give them at 

 the former time ; but so long as they are regularly 

 administered once a day, or even in the night, I don't 

 think there is much difference in their powerful effect ; 

 for we know that epicures take their digestive pills, 

 either just before they dine, or late in the evening. 

 Then there are fever-balls, tonic and laxative; balls 

 for giving tone and clearing the respiratory organs, 

 such as the prima donna will take for strengthening 

 her vocal powers. For removing the rumbling caused 

 by flatulency, a complaint to which the racehorse is 

 very liable, another ball is given as necessity requires. 

 The component parts of this most excellent of all 

 medicines is a secret known only to the favoured few 

 who make it ; but I think I am not for wrong: in 

 stating that, in essence, this ball closely resembles 

 ' Page "Woodcock's celebrated Wind Pills,' which have 

 so startling an effect upon the human system. To 

 name others, or to oive a list of the various drinks 

 and powders that cannot now be dispensed with, 

 would be to extend my observations to the length 

 of a treatise on medicine, for which end I lack 

 time, space, and ability. I will therefore content 

 myself with saying, that that most useful remedy, the 



