AN ESSAY ON THE CONDITION OF HOUSES, &c. 73 
with the utmost vigour and rapidity, and maintain a continuance 
of these efforts, thereby propelling the animal machine with the 
greatest velocity. 
I am induced to solicit the attention of the public to an inquiry 
into the Condition of Horses. 
First — Because I am of opinion, that the act of working horses 
at a quick pace on the road (to say nothing of the field), when 
out of Condition, is more productive of disease, and of the most 
formidable disease, than all other causes, notwithstanding so 
much has been said and written by scientific men, both in and 
out of the veterinary profession, on the subject of disease being 
principally engendered by confining the animal in hot stables. 
Secondly — The enormous sacrifices often made by the pur- 
chasers of high-priced horses, in selling them, only a few months 
after purchase, at a loss perhaps of 50 per cent., finding them 
unable to do a common day’s work with ease to themselves or 
pleasure to their owner : such horses are in general hastily con- 
demned by their new masters, and considered delicate, weakly 
constitutioned, or deficient in mettle. These instances occur re- 
peatedly, without any visible unsoundness. 
The deficiency is generally attributed to defective stamina ; 
and, under an impression that the cause is permanent, and that 
they never can be made to stand work, they are often sold at a 
very great loss to the proprietor. 
Now I will venture to affirm, that nine out of ten of these 
cases are within the reach of treatment, and that the inability to 
do an ordinary day’s work well does not depend on permanent 
or immovable causes. Of course, I allude to such horses as can- 
not be pronounced unsound ; and many there are of this class, 
and in their prime of life, that cannot do a day’s work, and 
repeat it on the following day, half so well as others that might be 
selected, labouring at the same time under a variety of diseases. 
This extraordinary difference in the capabilities of horses depends 
entirely on Condition, although the appearance of many of these 
ineffective horses, as to their exterior, is often such as to induce 
their owner to think they are in excellent Condition. Instances 
of this sort repeatedly occur even with a fine coat, the hide loose, 
and with the appearance of a moderate proportion of flesh, gay- 
ness of spirits, so fresh at exercise as scarcely to be held, and, al- 
though kicking up their heels, yet unable to do a day’s work half 
so well as a seasoned post-horse of only ten pounds value. Such 
horses, when required to work, generally sweat profusely. They 
perform the first three or four miles of their journey cheerfully, 
and then begin to flag, rest on the bit, breathe short and quick, 
falter with their legs, and in the course of a ten or twelve miles 
