246 
CASE OF SPASM OF THE DIAPHRAGM. 
Now this is a thing* by no means of so frequent occurrence as 
one would at first be led to suppose, from the frequency of 
horses being pressed to exhaustion. As some proof of this, I can 
only say that, although I may lay claim to a considerable share 
of practical experience, I have never seen but one well marked 
instance of it; and that has occurred very lately. After the 
mention of this circumstance by Nimrod, which shews him to be 
a man of great observation, as well as an accomplished horseman, 
we find a dispute in the Sporting Magazine, as to whether the 
noise proceeded from the abdominal muscles or from an increased 
action of the heart only. Mr. Smith, of Woodhouse, contends 
that it is nothing more or less than the beating of the heart; 
whilst my friend Mr. Sewell, of Brighton, maintains Nimrod’s 
position. It is only by actual observation that a point like this 
can be cleared up and set at rest: and it is chiefly in reference 
to this disputed point that I venture to think the case I have had 
an opportunity of witnessing may be sufficiently interesting to be 
worthy of being put on record. 
Lord Howth, who is a keen sportsman and a first rate horse¬ 
man, seems to have brought stag hunting much in fashion in the 
neighbourhood of Dublin: at present it is a very prevalent 
amusement here, the country a little way to the west of the Irish 
metropolis affording an excellent arena for this sport. There one 
may go and have a good gallop any day—be always certain of 
a Tun—and sometimes find an opportunity of satisfying the 
keenest nag alive. It is, perhaps, rather riding than hunting: 
his heart, however, must be truly British who goes in the first 
flight with Lord Howth. 
Mr. C., a young officer of this garrison,has a very fine thorough¬ 
bred horse, which he has ridden several times with my Lord 
Howth, and which is reputed a good hunter: he certainly pos¬ 
sesses many of the essential qualities that give a claim to that 
character; being of a cool, courageous temperament; a remark¬ 
ably good leaper; and I should say, fast enough for any hounds 
in the world. Although he is by no means a horse of a fat or 
gross habit, yet on the occasion to which I allude he was in no 
condition to go, having been laying by for ten days or a fortnight, 
in consequence, I believe, of some accident; and besides this, by 
some mistake he had been allowed to drink plentifully of water 
late in the morning of the day on which he was taken out to hunt. 
Lord Howth turned off a stag at a short distance from Dublin, 
which gave them a quick run of near an hour without a check, 
going’ a distance, it is supposed, of about thirteen miles, across 
a country much intersected with wide ditches and high banks. 
Towards the latter end of the run, Mr. C. (who by the way is but 
