74 AN ESSAY ON THE CONDITION OF HORSES, &C. 
journey, at a moderate pace, become literally tired. When I 
assert that nine out of ten of these cases of debility proceed from 
the want of Condition, I do not confine myself alone to the ge- 
neral acceptation of the term Condition, by which is understood, 
on the turf and in the field, a fit state of the muscular system to 
perform violent exertion with only moderate fatigue ; I go fur- 
ther, for, by repeated experiments on these non-effective sub- 
jects, I have found that the defect has its seat in the blood, this 
important circulating medium being in fault from a want of qua- 
lity ; and to this I attribute the many instances we see of valuable 
looking horses that, in regard to work, are incapacitated. 
The spurious mode of feeding adopted by the breeders of 
horses, when intended for sale, is productive of most of these 
cases. 
It is a forcing system of dieting, which possesses the power 
of making the most blood, and consequently the most fat, in 
the shortest possible time. During this process, work, or even 
brisk exercise, is studiously avoided, in order that their legs and 
feet may be in the best trim. Those nutritious articles of food 
are selected that are the most easy of digestion, that make 
the most chyle, and load the vascular system with the greatest 
possible quantity of blood, without any other consideration as to 
the quality of the blood than that of taking care (and which, 
by the by, is their most especial care) that it shall be weak, in 
order that the young animal, naturally plethoric, and now ren- 
dered so in the highest degree artificially, may be kept in health, 
and avoid inflammatory attacks, which would speedily defeat 
the object in view. 
Fine young sound horses, in this bloated state, come into Lon- 
don for sale. Their unfitness to undergo exertion at this time is well 
known, and, by way of preparation for work, or rather prevention 
of disease, a little blood is taken, and a dose of purging physic 
is administered, and they are immediately afterwards put upon 
sound hard keep. Their new owners are now naturally eager to 
try their merits in their several paces. Here, it may be said, too 
often begins a work of destruction, for, although they are ridden 
or driven with caution, still, from the feeling and understanding 
that they are sound and strong, they are usually put to the ex- 
tremity of their action, yet perhaps only for short distances. But 
what is too often the consequence of this apparently moderate 
act of exertion ? The perspiration which follows is usually most 
profuse. Such a sweat ensues, as the animal, in all probability, had 
never before experienced in his life. The next day he refuses his 
corn, coughs, hangs down his head, appears dull, breathes short 
and quick, the mouth and tongue hot, and, in short, such an attack 
