OF THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH HORSES. 
515 
This approaches in the catalogue of extraordinaries to the whis- 
pering specific for restiveness in Ireland, the reality of which is, I 
believe, no longer disputed. 
The rarity of blindness in French horses must be the result of 
some part of their treatment — probably the frequent, if not daily 
partaking of wheaten straw and bran. It may also be attributed to 
the circumstance of their being so generally kept in the stable when 
in work, and consequently not subject to the effects of determina- 
tion of blood and humours to those parts, from the downward po- 
sition of the head, to which so many of our horses, those of farmers 
especially, are subject, after having had their system heated by work 
during the day ; and likewise principally, I should say, to their 
seldom passing the night in the fields when working, which so many 
of our farming horses do. 
1 have not seen a case of glanders since I have been in France, 
and only two of grease. The general absence of grease (for gene- 
ral it is, and wonderfully so considering the little grooming French 
horses have) may, to a certain extent, be laid to the absence of the 
trimming scissars, which are here never applied to the heels, nei- 
ther is there any washing of legs in cold weather. The stables in 
France are strangely inferior to ours ; but I have observed that a 
current of air is never permitted, which is a prolific source of glanders 
and grease. What are called megrims is a disorder little known in 
France — at least, I have not been able to hear of a single case 
amongst road coach-horses. This may be accounted for by the 
lax state of the intestines, which the food of French horses causes. 
Neither can I produce a single case of staggers, which may be simi- 
larly accounted for. Poll-evil is also rare. I have only seen one 
case. The kind treatment of the drivers of cart-horses may have 
something to do with the infrequency of this disease, as well as the 
good state of the blood from the alterative nature of the food, which 
latter circumstance renders farcy one of not common occurrence in 
this country. On the other hand, the disease called Anticor is 
somewhat prevalent among French horses. As this is a complaint, 
to a certain degree, connected with the state of the blood, it would 
appear that, the form of the French horse, who is very fleshy in 
his fore parts, may tend towards its frequency. Drinking cold 
water when the animal is hot is also one cause, and on this point 
owners of horses appear to me to be somewhat inconsiderate. 
As to the prevalence or absence of thrush in French horses, 
I am not able to give an opinion, the disease not being perceptible 
to common observation, en passant . I do not recollect above two 
cases; but of ring-bones, and of sandcracks, I have seen none. 
The absence of both these may, in part, be laid to the generally open 
form of the feet of French horses, which secures the articulation of 
