exhalants on the surface become relaxed, pouring out profuse perspiration without any adequate cause for it. "This process of preparation for the endurance of cold is going on throughout the whole animal kingdom: in the wild as well as the domestic tribes, in birds and reptiles as well as animals; and the moulting of the one, and the shedding the skin of the other, is precisely analogous to the changing the coat, whether of wool or hair, of animals. Is it a mistake of Nature's to include the horse in this arrangement? Would he be better with his thin silky coat, in a cold frosty night, than in a rough one? Certainly not. She works on general principles, not for specific purposes; and her arrangements are made for animals in a natural state, and are equal to all the demands likely to be made on that state: but when we keep them in an artificial state, and make extraordinary demands on their powers and constitutions, we must have recourse to art to assist nature in the keeping up the supply of the necessary stamina. And this leads us to the main point of consideration,- the remedy. "In considering cases of this description, it must be borne in mind that two objects may be had in view, requiring very different modes of treatment; one being merely to assist Nature in the process she has commenced; the other, to get rid of the result of that process when completed. "The first object will be best obtained by attention to diet, allowing more liberal feeds, and those of the most nutritious quality: if beans, cracked or ground, have usually been given, an increased proportion should be allowed; if not, they should be added to the general feeds. Old sweet hay, sound dry oats, and a liberal proportion of cracked beans will, in very many cases, supersede the necessity for medicine. Should this, however, not be the case, a course of tonic or alterative medicine will be found highly efficacious, or a judicious combination of the two will effect all we could wish. "Were it not high treason, and that, too, of the most dreadful description, in this age of the march of intellect, to quote an old author on veterinary matters, I would declare that I know of nothing more desirable of the first class than the far-famed Doctor Bracken's far-famed cordial balls. Who, that has the slightest pretensions to the slightest knowledge of horses, has not the name of Henry Bracken, M. D., ' familiar in his mouth as household words?' and who, that has ever heard of the celebrated doctor, has not heard of, nay more, does not even know, every identical ingredient in his universal panacea, his all-infallible cordial ball? I never knew but one modern at all to be compared to the worthy doctor, and his name will, I am sure, be anticipated by every pupil who attended the Veterinary College during his lifetime, it is Dr. George Pearson of eccentric memory. Who does not respect the name of the old man, and who will not admit the truth of the comparison? Not, indeed, in horse knowledge-for there the M.D. of the seventeenth century had an infinite advantage-but in the ardent pursuit of truth, the love of the veterinary profession, and the straightforward, original, and absorbing manner in which they both communicated the vast stores of knowledge they possessed. Peace to their manes! "One of these balls, then, I say, or some similar composition-for which, as every one has an invaluable prescription, a recipe here introduced would be merely a piece of supererogation-should be given every day. Should alteratives be preferred, any of the preparations of antimony combined with a warm aromatic, with the addition of a little sulphate or carbonate of iron, will have a most beneficial effect, by restoring that secretion on the skin, from the want of which arises that dry arid state invariably found accompanying a staring coat. Warm clothing, a warm had almost said a hot stable-not, be it remembered, a foul or badly ventilated one, will materially aid the object in view. The adoption of these remedies will to a great extent assist Nature in her operations, and in many cases considerably shorten the process; but whether they are had recourse -I to or not, the process will be accomplished, the extra demands will subside, and, the exciting cause being got rid of, the horse will be himself again. It is this fact that explains why the nondescript modes of treatment recommended by some, such as bleeding, physic, diuretics, and the like, are supposed to be efficacious; while the truth is, the animal rallies in spite of them. With respect to the second object to be had in view, the getting rid of the great coat, which too often becomes a wet blanket, we go the whole length of the warmest advocates for clipping, shaving, singeing, or any other more expeditious or scientific process that may be discovered, for removing at 'one (not) fell swoop' the whole of the naturally desirable but A free escape of perspiraartificially inconvenient result of cold weather. tion, a moist and softened state of the skin, an increase of health, a capability of enduring fatigue, and a short and easy way of making him fresh after it, may be reckoned among its many good effects; letting alone the mere pecuniary consideration, that a horse so treated will positively do better, and work harder on shorter feeds, than he could before, without, as far as I am aware, a single drawback to qualify them. In short, I know of no modern innovation in the stable management of horses at all to be compared to this; and, therefore, am not in the least surprised at witnessing its almost universal adoption. "Trusting these few cursory remarks may lead to a better understanding of the causes affecting, and, of course, a more rational treatment of the horse at this peculiarly susceptible season of the year, I may conclude with observing that, although among those with whom we have principally to do-that is, trainers, stud-grooms, jockeys, 'et id hoc genus'-we occasionally find some whose obstinacy proves that where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise;' yet that, in general, they are open to conviction, and ready to attend to reason, provided it is laid before them in a moderate and conciliatory manner, instead of being dogmatically asserted and authoritatively insisted on." 6 A NATURAL HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS, AND OTHER MAMMIFEROUS Nos. VII. VIII. ANIMALS. By W. C. Linnæus Martin, F.L.S. and IX. WE are ashamed that our duty to this admirable work should be thus tardily performed; and we lament that want of space precludes us from doing it, even now, the justice to which it has such unquestionable claims. In the character of its embellishments, no book extant in zoology can bear comparison with it; and the industry and talent evinced by Mr. Martin in the mass of novel and interesting matter This is which it comprises, is worthy of far higher praise than ours. a publication which must win its way to the library of every man of taste, whatever the bias of his reading or pursuits. MATERNAL AFFECTION. THE subject of this vignette represents an incident that occurred to a foxhound bitch, the property of the Marquess of Sligo, in one of those mountain districts which form a portion of his lordship's possessions The circumstance is still often among the wilds of Connemara. alluded to by the hunters of that most anomalous of all the regions of Christendom, a territory within twenty-four hours' reach of the metropolis of the civilised world, consisting of a desert as savage and howling as any that gives a home to the cannibal. TURF REGISTER. It is not thought convenient to give the details of the running at the Minor Meetings. SWANSEA RACES (CONCLUDED).-FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH. The Tradesmen's Plate of 40 sovs.; heats, two miles. Mr. Gough's b. h. Bay Hampton, five-years old, 9 st. 1 lb. The Hack Stakes of 2 sovs. each, with 10 added. Mr. Bullin's b. h. Sergeant Botherum, five-years old Mr. H. Lucas's b. f. Butterfly, four-years old A Free Handicap of 3 sovs. each, with 15 added. Mr. Gough's bl. g. Pilot, aged, 9 st. 3 lb. .. Mr. Harris's ch. f. Lady Georgiana, three-years old, 8 st. The Hurdle Race of 5 sovs. each, with 25 added. Mr. Davies's Sam Weller, six-years old, 12 st. 7 lb. .. BLOXWICH RACES. MONDAY, August 17th.-The Bloxwich Trial Stakes of 4 sovs. each, 2 ft. with 10 added for horses that never won more than £50 at one time; the second horse to save his stake; the winner to be sold for £40 if demanded, &c.; heats, three times round and a distance. Mr. Yates's b. g. Jim Crow, six-years old, 9 st. 7 lb. (Eccles) 1 1 11 lb. dis. Mr. Moss's b. f. Louisa, by Langar, out of Vesta, four-years old, 8 st. 13 lb. dis. A Hurdle-race Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, 3 ft. with 10 added; the winner to be sold for £70 if demanded, &c.; heats, three times round and a distance, over six leaps in each heat. Mr. Hughes's b. g. Lansquenet, aged (half-bred), 11 st. 11 lb. (Hughes) 2 1 I Mr. Fryer's ch. m. aged (Eccles) Mr. Friend's br. m. Dame Durden, aged (Izon) .. 1 1 dis. Hurdle-race Match for 20 sovs. p. p. ; 11 st. each; gentlemen riders; heats. TUESDAY, 18th.-Handicap Stakes of 2 sovs. each, h. ft., with a purse added, for all horses; heats, twice round and a distance. |