OF THE HUNTER. 
35 
entirely at grass, despairing of condition on any other terms. I per- 
sist in considering it a mere substitute for good grooming ; and as 
for its “ almost universal adoption” — to use Mr. Gabriel’s words — 
such is far from being the case. I did not see three clipped horses 
last year at Melton ; in the Quorn stables, not one ; ditto, Mr. Fol- 
jambe’s. Singed ones I did see, to a certain extent ; but a hard- 
riding Meltonian told me he would have no more spirits of wine 
charged in his groom’s book — “ a mere substitute, in my stable,” 
said he, “ for the old-fashioned elbow-grease.” In my opinion, the 
horse is not yet foaled which cannot be got into perfect condition 
without this outrage on nature — which clipping must be allowed to 
be — and a long coat is no bar to it. 
I now take my leave, with this simple remark. “ I wish,” said 
a celebrated sportsman to me, knowing that I occasionally contri- 
bute to your pages, “ you would induce the veterinary profession 
to turn their attention as much as possible to the living as they do 
to the dead horse. The latter,” added he, “ they have pulled to 
pieces so effectually as to know and describe every bone, muscle, 
joint, nerve, sinew, and fibre in his carcass, and great is the value 
of their research ; but they might tell us a little more of the living 
one.” I found the object of my friend’s remark was to express a 
wish that veterinary surgeons, in hunting countries, would enter 
more than they do into the condition of the studs they are in the 
habit of visiting, and give the result of their observation to the public, 
as well as a few hints to the owners of them. “ My own stables,” 
added he, “ are weekly visited by a first-rate veterinary surgeon ; 
but I could never learn that any suggestions have been offered by 
him to my groom, who would listen to them, as to the state of any 
horse to whose particular case his attention had not been directed ; 
and there must always be appearances in some of a large stud 
which, if not indicative of disease, could not fail attracting the eye 
of a practised observer of the slight boundary which so frequently 
exists between disease and health.” 
Your’s, very truly, 
Nimrod. 
St. Pierre, 
Dec. 17, 1840. 
