both. Neither of the hocks shewed any symptom of disease externally; and in one of them, which belonged to a mare I treated for shoulder lameness, the cuboid and magnum are united, so that in this case the joint really possessed the usual number of bones. As illustrating a variety in conformation where none has been before observed, but where, from my having met with two specimens without searching for them, I cannot deem a circumstance of only occasional difference or very uncommon, I lay these specimens before the Association for their inspection.

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF HUNTERS.

By Mr. E. BODDINGTON.

THE author of the Essay, after dwelling on the necessity of the educated veterinary surgeon being intimately acquainted with this subject, and the advantages that he will derive from it, proceeds to observe

"We are not only expected to understand the nature of the various diseases to which the animal is liable, but also the causes that are in operation to produce them. That many of them are the result of the violent exertions of the field, and the sudden changes the animal has to undergo to prepare him for those exertions, I feel assured no one will be bold enough to deny. I shall now endeavour, as plainly and distinctly as possible, to give you my views upon this subject; and I hope, imperfect as they may be, they will not fail to elicit from those of you who are more conversant with it than I am, not a little information.

'I shall consider it under three distinct heads; namely, 1st, The preparation or conditioning of the hunter for the coming season; 2dly, The treatment during the season; and, 3dly, That part which affects the country veterinary surgeon more particularlythe summering or throwing out of condition.

"In the preparation for the coming season I consider that both town and country veterinary surgeons are concerned. It is no uncommon thing for a gentleman to take a horse to his professional adviser, and to say that he wishes to have him prepared for the

hunting season. Under such circumstances, you should first make a few inquiries as to the manner he has been kept during the summer: neither should his age be forgotten by you, likewise whether he may have been in the grass field, having only that food which it produces, or in the bay of a barn, or a loose box, there being allowed corn with his green meat. Upon these, and other similar inquiries, of course, will depend your after-mode of treatment. It will be right also to examine the horse as to soundness, so that, should any disease exist which in your opinion would be likely to prove detrimental to him in the field, you can inform your employer of it. Should none exist, you can at once proceed with your treatment. This, perhaps, will generally be about the last week in June at least, in my opinion, it should not commence later than this. And whatever may have been the mode of the animal's living previously, the change you are about to produce upon him must be gradual. The state of the feet should be the first thing looked to; and here a great deal of care will be requisite. It is impossible for me to lay down any fixed rule as to the method of shoeing, as this must, of course, depend upon various circumstances. Do not forget to well examine the frog, as it is not unlikely that thrush may exist: if so, this, of course, must be attended to. The stable should by no means be a warm one, neither should clothing be allowed at present; the grooming, too, should simply consist of the employment of a whisp. The change of diet also must be most carefully and gradually effected. If the grass field has been his summer abode, and its produce alone his food, his diet for a fortnight or three weeks should consist of a mixture of hay and grass, or green clover, as may be most convenient, with small quantities of bran and oats. You may now administer a gentle dose of some cathartic agent, say aloes 3iv, previous to any further change, which will consist in moving him to a warmer stable or a loose box (the latter is always to be preferred), allowing better grooming and better keep, which may be as follows,-old hay six pounds, from eight to ten pounds of old oats, with ten or twelve pounds of bran and chaff per diem. This quantity should be given at three or four feedings. From one to four hours walking exercise should also be allowed every morning early; after which he must be well groomed, and then left loose if in a box: if in a stall, care should be taken that the head be let down, for 3 F

VOL. I.

grooms are too apt to keep horses tied to the rack, to prevent them from dirtying their quarters, and consequently to save themselves the trouble of cleaning them.

Much importance is to be attached to the exercise being given early in the morning, as then there is the whole of the day for the animal to rest; in fact, when he has had his feed in the middle of the day, his head should be loosed and the door locked until the evening. This plan may be continued for a fortnight or three weeks; when, perhaps, it may be advisable to administer a second dose of cathartic medicine, say aloes 3v, combined with calomel 3j; after which the last change of treatment may be proceeded with as follows:-His clothing should now be warmer than before, and the same continued throughout the season. The temperature of the stable should at no time exceed 64°, it being at the same time well ventilated. The food may be increased to six or eight pounds of hay, from ten to twelve pounds of bruised oats, and from six to eight pounds of split beans, per diem. The corn should be old and dry; and I would strongly recommend that the oats be English, in preference to either Irish or Dutch: the former (as sent into this country) are generally full of dirt and small stones, the latter very apt to be heated and fusty. The exercise must now be more active; and a short canter may be given once or twice a week, with the usual walking exercise every morning, and this increased gradually until within a few weeks of the approaching season. If it be found necessary, clipping may be had recourse to, previous to his having what is termed his sweating gallops once or twice a week, as may be thought proper, and which should very gradually increase in distance and decrease in time, until a three or fourmile canter can be taken without distress; after which care must be exercised that he be made perfectly dry, which can be best done by using first what is termed a scraper: the legs are then to be well washed, rubbed dry, and immediately bandaged with flannel, which should remain on until he has been well groomed the bandages must then be taken off and replaced by clean dry ones, which should continue on for some time.

Should the horse have been living on dry food, and in the bay of a barn, &c., during the summer, of course, it will not be necessary to exercise so much caution as regards change of diet, temperature of stable, &c., as in the former case; and you may, even

in the course of a day or two, perhaps, advantageously administer a dose of cathartic medicine; then at once proceed to your more active treatment, which should be the same as beforementioned, and it may be summed up in a few words,-good diet regularly given-proper exercise-stable or box well ventilated-not too much clothing-good grooming—and attention to the state of the bowels.

We now come to a consideration of the second division of our subject; which is, the treatment during the season. Upon this but little will be said, as it does not much concern the veterinary surgeon, the horse generally remaining in the owner's hands during this time. He is now liable to many accidents, such as sprains— throwing out of curbs-spavins-splents-being staked, &c., over which, with a variety of such like maladies, neither the owner nor the veterinary surgeon can have any control; but, when they do occur, the animal must be treated accordingly. But, during this time he will require occasional nursing, more particularly after a hard day's work, and I would recommend, when brought in, that about two or three quarts of tepid gruel be given instead of water, and a small quantity of hay whilst he is being groomed-which latter should not be too long about; and his legs being bandaged as before advised, and the dirt rubbed off him, by the side of his corn a warm bran mash should be placed. Neither should I object to a tonic ball being given, containing pulv. gentian et zingib. āā zij, and most decidedly I should allow one or two hours walking exercise the next morning. Occasional doses of cathartic medicine during the season will, I have no doubt, be likewise found of service.

We now pass on to a consideration of the third and last portion of our subject; and though the last, it is not in my opinion the least in importance. It is, I have said, this division which, perhaps, most especially affects the country veterinary surgeon; and this, because it is seldom that the town practitioner has the conveniences necessary for what is termed the summering of hunters. A great change is now to be brought about; and in throwing a horse out of condition as much, nay more, skill and caution are called for than in preparing him for that which he is now about to lose. The system has been brought into a highly excitable state, not only by the best of provender, &c., but also by the sports of the field, in which the animal has daily joined, and he is now to be withdrawn

from these stimuli. Having deprived him gradually of his clothing, warm abode, and grooming, he should be put either into a loose box, the bay of a barn, or a shed, having a yard about twelve feet square attached to it, a portion of the bottom of which should be covered with clay and tan, and constantly kept moist by means of cold water. Upon this part, more particularly, should he be fed, his diet consisting of hay six or eight pounds, or, if convenient, grass, green clover, &c., with about eight pounds of old oats and ten pounds of bran and chaff per diem: no grooming should be allowed.

I consider this mode of summering far preferable to turning horses out in a large grass field, where their feet are injured by the hardness and heat of the soil, the flies are continually teazing them, their legs are battered and bruised by galloping about, and they are liable, from being with others, to accidents of various kinds. Besides which, from the low state of condition they are allowed there to fall into, their constitutions are ruined by the sudden change they have to undergo in the preparation for the coming season; and this, I have no doubt, is the reason why so many hunters are worn out after only a few seasons' work; whereas, had they been kept on dry food and in doors, they would have been enabled to undergo, without any constitutional derangement, any change that might have been required.

The veterinary surgeon will, during this time, be expected to attend to the general state of the health of the animal, and also the treatment of any injury that may have been inflicted during the season, which is often the principal reason the animal is placed under his care; such, for instance, as what is called getting the legs fine, either by continual cold water bandages, the use of lotions, blisters, or the actual cautery.

It will, perhaps, be said, that I have omitted a most important branch of this subject, viz. that of shoeing. Had I entered upon it, I must also have considered the treatment of many diseases connected therewith; and feeling assured that there are many among you better able than myself to undertake that part of veterinary science, and, moreover, that it would be an excellent subject for a future Essay, which would be gladly received by the Association, I leave it, and remain

Your's respectfully,