280 CO^JPENDIUM OF THE VETERINARY ART. 



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heartily." This opinion, hke many others, has 

 arisen from the foolish and mischievous 

 practice of forming general rules upon a few 

 facts, or a very limited experience ; and too 

 often, I fear, from examining those facts 

 through the medium of prejudice. It must be 

 granted, that we sometimes meet with horses 

 that become loose in their bowels, and fall off 

 in condition, sweating violently, and appearing 

 fatifrued from moderate exercise, if allowed 

 to drink even two pails (five or six gallons) 

 in the twenty-four hours; particularly when 

 they are employed now and then in hunting, 

 or any kind of violent exercise : but this is to 

 he attributed to a weakness of constitution 

 not often met with in horses, and points out 

 to us the necessity of observing a horse 

 attentively when we first undertake the 

 manao;ement of him, in order to ascertain what 

 quantity of water is most conducive to 

 the preservation of his health and condition ; 

 and if we find a horse sliivering, and his coat 

 staring immediately after drinking freely, it is 

 not to be hastily concluded, that he is to be 

 allowed only a small quantity of water daily. 

 In such a case, a very moderate quantity 

 should be giveu.at once, and^thc horse should. 



