BROKEN WIND IN FRENCH HORSES. 
501 
heavier loads. There is a stud of fish-cart horses near my house ; 
but neither amongst them, nor in the common carriers, scavengers, 
boat, or water-cart horses, can I find broken wind. 
Fifthly.—With respect to water, French horses have their 
bellies filled with it, as our cart horses have in England ; but 
bran is generally stirred into it—in the coach and post-horse 
stables always. The latter eat beans. 
Sixthly.—I have not met with a roarer—not even a whistler, 
in France. 
On these points I only hazard one or two queries. Is that 
violent “sweating’’ that we subject our ricks to in England 
beneficial as to the nutritive quality of hay, or has it a contrary 
effect in exciting thirst, fever, &c. ? Is the fragrancy of hay 
a recommendation of it to the palate of a horse ? I have my 
doubts on this subject, and will say why. I saw an experiment 
tried, some years back, in Wales, as to whether the preference 
would be given to fragrant meadow hay, or musty florin grass, 
harvested in November. It was tried on nine horses, five of 
which were mine, and each horse left the former for the latter, 
devouring it most greedily. “There is no accounting for taste;” 
is a standing apothegm applied to the human race; and it may 
be difficult to account for the fact of certain apparently inviting 
and highly succulent grasses being refused by the horse when 
feeding, ad libitum, in pastures. 
You may expect me to say a word or two on shoeing. It is 
performed here in the coarsest and most unworkmanlike way; 
not even generally with the counter-sunk nail; yet I see very 
few horses lame in the feet; but then they go no pace, except in 
the newly established pair-horse mail, and there has not been 
time hitherto to see the effect of that. Lots of broken knees, for 
want of the bearing-rein, and coachman’s hip. 
Perhaps the following fact may also not be unworthy your 
notice:—In the month of May last, I purchased a well-bred 
mare galloway, much out of condition, from low keep, and no 
grooming. I prepared her for physic, and gave her five drachms 
of aloes, &c. No effect. Prepared her again; gave her six, 
and no effect. Suspected the goodness of the aloes; inspected 
it, and found it all right. Put her on green meat, and gave her 
six drachms prepared by another chemist, famous for the purity 
of his drugs : no effect, save a slight discolouration of her water, 
and a visible amendment in her legs and general condition, 
which improved very rapidly. 
It may be proper to describe the sort of animal T am now 
speaking of, which can be done in a few words. Her age is 
seven (got by a Ilcubcn’s horse that covered in this country), 
