REMARKS ON THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS. 649 
hunter can be got into blooming condition ; that is to say, to look 
well in his skin, to dry immediately after a sweat, and to be in 
full vigour of body. Of these medicines there are several sorts 
in use ; but the diuretic and diaphoretic are, in my opinion, the 
best.”—“ Antimony forms the principal diaphoretic ; and from 
its weight, a sufficient quantity—one ounce divided into four 
parts,—may be given him every day in his com for eight days 
gether; but this should be given when the weather is warm, or 
danger from catching cold may arise from the pores of the skin 
being relaxed.”—“ All this, however, without a good stable, and 
good stable management is of no avail. Diet, therefore, is a most 
essential point to be attended to in promoting and preserving the 
condition of a horse; for, as evacuation is the cure, repletion is 
the cause of disease. Horses in a state of nature are subject to 
few disorders. As has been elegantly observed, ‘ they contract 
no disease from unseasonable indulgence or inordinate revellings : 
the pure stream their drink, the simple herb their repast; neither 
care disturbs their sleep, nor passion inflames their rest.’ The 
state, however, in which we keep them for the different purposes 
to which we apply them, is strangely at variance with this tem¬ 
perate and natural state ; and it is only by constant recourse to 
physic and exercise, that we can preserve their health under such 
trying circumstances.” 
“ We are told, that in former times, before wheat was found out, 
oats fed the vassal and his lord, as they now do many a nabob, 
squire, and Scottish laird. Formerly wheat was given to race 
horses as more nutritious than oats ; but now the latter form the 
chief food for all descriptions of horses. Beans, however, have 
been for some years allowed to hunters, and when given with 
discretion are most beneficial. 1 remember hearing Mr. IToare 
exclaim, as his hounds were settling their fox, and he ex¬ 
pected a good run, ‘ Now we shall see what gentlemen’s horses 
eat old oats, and what eat new.’ I am inclined to think that 
this distinction may be applied to those horses that eat beans, 
and those that eat none ; for they help to bring them home at 
the end of a long day, and support their strength in the run. 
They are said to dispose the constitution to inflammatory com¬ 
plaints, which I believe to be the case, when given in large 
quantities to horses of plethoric habits, and whose work is mo¬ 
derate ; but when given Jn proper quantities are most nutritious 
and wholesome. Two single handfuls in each feed of corn is 
the allowance for a hunter who is fed (as he ought to be) five 
times a-day.”—“ About eight pounds (of hay) a-day, one truss 
per week, is considered sufficient for a hunter that will eat five 
feeds of corn per day. A larger quantity of hay is found to in- 
VOL. v. 4 s 
