The chief paces for a hack to carry a gentleman are the walk and the canter. A very quick trot is a most ungentlemanlike pace, and only fit for a butcher; besides which, it wears out a horse much sooner than a canter, from the weight being all thrown upon one fore leg at the same time; whereas, in the canter, it is equally divided between both. Added to this a canter is much more easy, as well as safer to the rider, the horse having his haunches more under him than when he trots, thereby more likely to recover himself in case of making a mistake, which the best is sometimes subject to. Fast trotting also distresses a horse more than cantering, because in the one he is going up to the top of his speed, and in the other much below it.—_Nimrod._ CANTHARIDES, _s._ Spanish flies, used to raise blisters. These insects are found adhering to trees of different kinds in France, Germany, and Spain: those from the latter country are considered the best. Cantharides are so very acrimonious, that they inflame and excoriate the skin; and hence raise a more perfect blister than any other substance: this property renders them extremely useful in veterinary practice, in which a good _blister_ is the most important of all external remedies. Cantharides should be finely powdered; but previously to this operation they should be sifted, that they may be free from a great deal of dust and useless matter, which we generally observe with them. When powdered, they may be either formed into an ointment, a liniment, or a spirituous tincture; but the former is the best form, and most commonly used. (See BLISTERS.) Cantharides are imported from Sicily and Astracan, in sacks and small chests. The best are of a lively fresh colour, a small size, and not mouldy, nor mixed with the _Melolontha vitis_; an insect resembling them in some degree, but possessing no vesicating property. It may be distinguished by its form, which is more square than that of the Spanish fly, and by its black feet. If Spanish flies have been properly dried and kept in a well-stopped glass bottle, they retain their acrimony, and remain unchanged a great length of time; but sometimes they are attacked by a small worm, which, however, feeds on the inactive part only of the fly, reducing it to a powder that still possesses the active quality of the entire insect. They soon putrify when kept in a damp place, and therefore should be occasionally spread out to the air.—_Thomson’s London Dispensatory._ CANTLE, _s._ A piece with corners. The hinder part of the saddle. CAP, _s._ A strong covering for the head, formerly worn by huntsmen—hats are now preferred by gentlemen riders. _Vide_ COPPER. CAPARISON, _s._ A sort of cover for a horse; generally horse furniture. CAPELOT, _s._ A swelling on the hock; it is harmless, but incurable. CAPERCALZIE, (_Urogallus vulgaris_, FLEM.), _s._