318 STABLE ECONOMY. 



undergoing preparation for fast work ; but in all racing and 

 hunting studs there are some horses that require to oe pur- 

 posely sweated. By putting the horse to exertion, under 

 heavy clothing, the perspiration is excited, and encouraged to 

 flow in much greater profusion than mere exertion would ever 

 produce. The object of this is twofold. Sweating removes 

 superfluous flesh, and it gives freedom of respiration. The 

 one object may be aimed at more than the other ; and the 

 process of sweating is, or ought to be, regulated accordingly. 

 If the main object be to remove superfluous flesh, the horse 

 may be sweated without, or with very little exertion ; if the 

 main object be to improve the wind, the horse must have a 

 good deal of exertion with less sweating. In both cases the 

 horse is drawn finer. The fluid which escapes from the skin 

 is derived from the blood. Copious perspiration is soon fol- 

 lowed by absorption. The superfluous fluids and solids are 

 carried into the circulation, in order to supply the deficiency 

 which perspiration has produced. Every sweat, if it be car- 

 ried far enough, draws the horse finer, and such is the result, 

 whether he get much or little exertion. 



I have never met with a stableman who seemed to under- 

 stand the precise effects of sweating. They confound the 

 effects of exertion with those of sweating ; they proceed as 

 if they thought the two should be combined. I have more 

 than once stated that exercise, judiciously managed, gives 

 power and alacrity to the muscular system, and freedom to 

 the breathing. I have now to observe that sweating, consid- 

 ered by itself, does neither. Copious perspiration can be ex- 

 cited with very little exertion ; and, when that is done, the 

 sweating merely removes superfluous flesh. It removes fat, 

 or other matters, which encumber the muscles and the lungs ; 

 but it does not improve the functional powers of either. Ex- 

 ertion produces one series of effects, sweating another ; and 

 though both are generally combined, there are cases in which 

 they may, with advantage, be separated. 



Sweating without Exertion. — There is some exertion, but 

 so li'/ie that it is not worth considering. The horse is heav- 

 ily clothed, saddled, mounted, and taken to the sweating- 

 ground ; here he is ridden at a steady, gentle pace, till he be- 

 gins to perspire ; so soon as the coat is damp, he is ridden a 

 a smart pace to the stable ; the doors and windows are closed ; 

 the horse is stalled with his head out, the saddle is removed, 

 and more clothing applied. The groom stands by, while an 

 assistant holds the horse's head. In a few minutes, from eight 



