The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository, Volume 2 (of 2): Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the FieldTaplin, William
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The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository, Volume 2 (of 2): Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field
Taplin, William
Hunting -- Dictionaries; Sports -- Dictionaries
LETHARGY.—The lethargy, or SLEEPING EVIL, as it is called by the lower
class of rustics and farriers, is a drowsy kind of stupefaction, to
which DRAFT HORSES are more particularly subject than any other; with
whom it is considered a kind of prelude to the STAGGERS, which in
general soon follow, if the cause is not speedily removed. A horse upon
being attacked, closes his eyes, drops his head into the manger,
suddenly recovers himself, and as gradually drops again; opens his eyes,
as if surprized, picks a little hay, or corn, relapses with it in his
mouth; and this is, perhaps, alternately repeated, till fixing his head
in one corner of the stall, he seems to be deprived of both ACTION and
ANIMATION, standing in a state of perfect _insensibility_. This
prognostication (for in its first stage it can hardly be called a
disease) denotes a _struggle_, in which the whole SYSTEM is affected;
but where the struggle is dependent entirely upon the state of the
circulation, which is become (from some remote cause) partially
defective, and stands in need of such STIMULATIVE assistance, as may
prove the means of constituting immediate REVULSION. Instantaneous
BLEEDING, followed by much _friction_ upon the body, as well as upon the
extremities; warm glysters of gruel, in which a couple of sliced onions
have been boiled; and to which a handful of common salt, and a gill of
linseed oil, may be added; should be given and repeated in three or four
hours. The pectoral cordial balls, impregnated with a drachm of myrrh,
assafœtida, and ammoniacum, might be administered with advantage; all
which not completing a cure within _two_ or _three_ days, BLISTERING
largely behind the ears should not be neglected.
LIGHT IN HAND.—A horse is said to be light in hand, who, bearing
properly upon his haunches, (or hind-quarters,) requires little or no
assistance from the BIT. Horses of this description are generally well
formed in their fore-quarters, with a curved crest, carrying their heads
well up, with long necks, high withers, and a commanding forehand. Those
with short necks, thick shoulders, dull spirit, slow action, and the
withers lower before than the spinal (or rump) bone behind, are always
of a _contrary_ description; they _bore_ along, invariably bearing upon
the bit, and from that circumstance are said to be heavy in hand.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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