The Field Book: or, Sports and pastimes of the United Kingdom: compiled from the best authorities, ancient and modernMaxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
History
The Field Book: or, Sports and pastimes of the United Kingdom: compiled from the best authorities, ancient and modern
Maxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
Amusements -- Great Britain; Sports -- Dictionaries; Sports -- Great Britain
The accidental causes of this latter (morbid _condition_) are various; a
very common one is found in injudicious feeding, both as to quality and
quantity. Any sudden alteration in the articles of a horse’s diet will
frequently, according to the term of horse amateurs, “_throw him out of
condition_,” such as removing him from the grass field or the straw yard
to a full allowance of dry hay and corn, with a scanty supply of water
“_to draw up his belly_;” all which are perhaps done at once, without
the smallest preparation. In these cases the alimentary canal, being
hardly yet in a state of digesting capacity, suffers from the increased
powers necessary to draw nutriment from substances which, although in
themselves more nutritious, yet are, in this instance, less digestible
than those before in use. Thence follow costiveness, heat, and thirst;
as well as an unhealthy state of the coat, which stares, and feels harsh
and dry, being a necessary consequence of the ordinary sympathy between
the stomach and the skin. A sudden remove from a generous to a poor diet
is unfavourable to _condition_ likewise; for in such case the chyle or
nutritious pabulum, from whence all the vital organs are recruited, and
all the vital energies derive their vigour, cannot be separated in
sufficient quantities: the blood thereby becomes deteriorated; universal
absorption takes place of the softer parts, which produces lessened
bulk; while a laxity of fibre in the remaining portions is productive of
langour and debility. The quality of the food is also of considerable
consequence to the _condition_. Mow-burnt hay, by exciting a partial
diabetes, is very apt to “_throw a horse out of condition_.” Musty hay,
also, and oats highly kiln-dried, have an unfavourable effect on it
also. The liquid aliments should likewise be attended to in a
consideration of the _condition_. Mineral waters are unfavourable to it
in most cases; although there is reason to believe that in some morbid
affections they are salutary. Sea-water may be considered in the same
light, but a continued use of the brackish water found near sea-bathing
places, is unfavourable to the _condition_ of such horses as have not
been accustomed to it: to which, in union with the bad care taken of
them in most of the livery stables of the sea-coast bathing, I attribute
the universal complaint of the ill-condition in which they so frequently
return from thence. Badly ventilated stables, excess of clothing, and
deprivation of water, are also frequent causes of _morbid condition_, as
I have often witnessed: for, in some of these cases, after a course of
purgatives, followed by alteratives and tonics, has failed, the more
simple means of succulent food, a proper quantity of water, a well
regulated but perfectly cool stable, with a free access of air, and very
moderate clothing, have created an immediate change. An inordinate
quantity of exertion, particularly if continued unremittingly for
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