AN KSSAY ON THE CONDITION OF HORSES, &o. 77 
with all the law expenses, while the opulent purchaser, the very 
man who killed the horse, has walked off unhurt. 
The following are some of the diseases which are often the 
result, directly or indirectly, of exposing a horse to much exertion 
when out of condition : viz. 
General inflammatory fever. 
Inflammation of the lungs. 
Inflammation of the heart. 
Cough situated in the lungs. 
Cough situated in the throat. 
Chronic shortness of breath, or thick wind. 
Catarrh and sore throat. 
Loss of appetite. 
Inflamed eyes, and, not unfrequently, incurable lameness. 
These maladies are also frequently occasioned by other causes, 
but this is one which has been overlooked, or at least the bearings 
of it have not been sufficiently noticed by those who have under- 
taken to inquire into the primary causes of the most formidable 
diseases to which the horse is liable. 
When I speak of the defective state of the blood of a horse out 
of Condition, I am anxious that it may not be supposed that I am 
reverting to the old exploded pathology of humours in the blood, 
for I do not consider the blood in a state of disease, however far 
the animal's state may be from that which is considered good 
condition, whether bloated with loose flesh, or very poor. In either 
case, the blood circulating in the vessels of the animal furnishes 
all the supply to the solids and the system generally, which is 
necessary for its existence and ordinary functions. 
Disease is not of frequent occurrence, even with the fat, bloated 
horse, while he is kept almost in a quiescent state. From the cir- 
cumstance of his food (notwithstanding its nutritive and fattening 
quality) being relaxing and cooling, it has a tendency to soften 
the muscular fibre, and moderate the susceptibility of the system 
to inflammation : therefore I consider the blood of such horses not 
only free from disease, but even faultless, while they are allowed 
to live in idleness. 
As respects the power of the constitution to preserve itself in 
health, although enveloped in fat, we have familiar instances daily 
before us of prize cattle, fancy dogs of the domestic class, and some 
men whose fat alone would exceed in weight all the rest of their 
body : but it is equally well known that these subjects can bear 
no exertion ; and, how soon are they irrecoverably lost when by 
any accidental circumstance the system becomes suddenly agi- 
tated ! 
VOL. XVI. 
L 
