358 
MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY* 
taken to the open air thus overheated, induces coughs and 
other diseases in the mucous membrane, as well as inflam¬ 
mation in the kidneys and lungs; and should the weather 
be cold, rheumatism and stiffness in the joints, because 
horses are frequently allowed to stand for some time before 
they are put in motion, and are in consequence chilled. It 
also too frequently happens that carriage or cart-horses are 
allowed to stand an hour or more in harness after they have 
been overheated by -severe exercise or labour. This is the 
reason why such horses seldom live to be aged, and too fre¬ 
quently die in the prime of life. The horses of stage and 
hackney coaches seldom live beyond the age of eight or nine 
years ; and this is chiefly owing to the carelessness of their 
drivers and grooms ; whereas horses have been known to 
acquire a very great age when they are looked after with that 
care which so valuable and useful an animal requires. A 
remarkable example of this occurred in Warrington, where a 
horse attained the extraordinary age of seventy-six years, and 
was well known by the name of Old Billy. As far as I have 
been able to learn, this was the oldest horse which ever 
lived, and may hence be considered the Parr among horses. 
He belonged to the Mersey and Irweli Navigation Company, 
and more than half his life had been spent in towing 
boats. The company, for many of his last years, on account 
of his great age, kept him without working. In summer 
he grazed on the luxuriant pasture on the banks of the 
Mersey, and in winter was taken into stable and fed on 
mashes and soft food. When he died, the company had his 
head preserved, the skin stuffed, and the cranium cleaned, 
and presented it to the Museum of the Manchester Natural 
History Society, where it is still to be seen. 
Few people are aware that after a horse has been worked 
hard or galloped, that his return to a hot stable is nearly as 
