confine ourselves, therefore, to the follow- with regard to the operation of clysters: ing forms given by Mr. Denny. Take of Glauber's salt, four ounces. Mix. Take of oatmeal-gruel, four quarts. Barbadoes aloes, one ounce. Mix. Mr. Clark observes, that there are many cases where clysters may be administered with great success, besides those already hinted at, as in inflammatory fevers, spasmodic constrictions, and colicky complaints in the bowels; in recent coughs, apoplexy, convulsions, paralytic complaints, swelling of the belly, whether from air or from hardened excrements.They are required also in cases where horses are troubled with worms, as the ascarides, which lodge in the lower part of the intestines; or when botts are observed sticking in the anus, or voided with the dung; in very costive habits, before laxative or opening medicines are given by the mouth; in wounds which penetrate deep into the muscular or tendinous parts, or in the belly, &c.; in inflammation of the eyes, or when the head seems particularly affected; in inflammatory swellings on any part of the body. Clysters composed of mucilaginous substances, as starch, linseed, &c. are also of great benefit in violent diarrhoeas, whether proceeding from natural causes, or from too strong purging medicines given by ignorant farriers. It ought always to be remembered, that clysters should be repeated frequently, till such time as the disorder for which they are given is either removed or greatly abated. This injunction may be the more readily complied with, as the administer ing clysters to horses is not attended either with much trouble to the operator, or disturbance to them. Mr. Clark adds the following caution It frequently happens, in colics, and other complaints in the bowels, that a horse will dung frequently, probably from pain, &c. but in a very small quantity at once; at the same time, what he passes may appear somewhat soft or loose. In such cases, the practitioner may be told that clysters are unnecessary and superfluous: this, however, ought not to prevent him from prescribing them; as, in such cases, the flatulences which occasion the disorder may be seated in the colon, where the excrements at the same time are extremely hardened; and it frequently happens, that, after the second or third injection, they are discharged in such a quantity, and in such a state, as to surprise those who were just before opposing and deriding the practice recommended. These prejudices every practitioner will have to combat; for he will frequently have as troublesome nurses to deal with as the physicians complain of, and who are no less ready with their impertinent advice. COAT. The coat of a horse (which the hair is called) is not only an object of sporting exultation when the horse is in fine condition, but, to the judicious and penetrating eye, is in a great degree indicative of the state of health. Nothing will so soon demonstrate the ability, the care and attention of the groom, as the coat of his horse. If the coat is observed to become suddenly rough, standing different ways, with a dusty hue underneath, and the hair to look harsh and bristly upon the surface, the blood is then sizy, and tending to an unhealthy state; the porous system has been collapsed by some chilling exposure to wet or cold; the integument acquires a tightness and rigidity, which, if not relieved, soon displays itself in some slight degree of disease: this may, in general, be prevented by taking away blood, and proceeding upon a short course of antimonial alteratives. COCKING. Men have long availed themselves of the antipathy one cock shews to another, and have encouraged that natural hatred, for the purpose of producing diversion. The origin of this sport is said to be derived from the Athenians, on the following occasion: -When Themistocles was marching his army against the Persians, he, by the way, espying two cocks fighting, caused his army to behold them. "Behold, these do not fight for their household gods, for the monuments of their ancestors; not for glory, not for liberty, nor for the safety of their children, but only because the one will not give way unto the other." This so encouraged the Grecians, that they fought gallantly, and obtained the victory over the Persians; upon which cock fighting was, by a particular law, ordained to be annually practised by the Athenians. The inhabitants of Delos were great lovers of this sport, and Tamagra, a city of Bælotia, the isle of Rhodes, Chalcis in Eulæa, and the country of Media, were famous for their generous and magnanimous race of chickens. It appears they had some method of preparing the birds for battle. Cock fighting was an institution partly political, at Athens, and was continued there for the purpose of improving the seeds of valour in the minds of their youths.-But it was afterwards perverted and abused, both there and in other parts of Greece, to a common pastime and amusement, without any moral, political, or religious intention, as it is now followed and practised amongst us. It appears that the Romans, who borrowed this, as well as many other things, from Greece, used quails as well as cocks for fighting. The first cause of contention between the two brothers, Bassianus and Geta, sons of the Emperor Septimius Severus, happened, according to Herodian, in their youth about fighting their quails and cocks. Cocks and quails, fitted for the purpose of engaging one another to the last gasp for diversion, are frequently compared in the Roman writers, and with much propriety to gladiators. The fathers of the church inveigh with great warmth against the spectacles of the arena-the wanton shedding of human blood in sport. One would have thought that with this, cock fighting would also have been discarded, under the mild and humane genius of Christianity; but it was reserved for this enlightened era, to practise it with new and aggravating circumstances of cruelty.The Shrove Tuesday massacre is now, indeed, abolished; but that monstrous barbarity, the battle-royal and the Welch-main, still continue amongst us-a striking disgrace to the manly character of Britons. It is probable that cock fighting was first introduced into this island by the Romans. The bird itself was here before Cæsar's arrival. William Fitz Stephen, who wrote the life of Becket, in the reign of Henry II. is the first of our writers who mentions cocking, describing it as the sport of school-boys on Shrove Tuesday. The theatre (the cock-pit) it seems was the school, and the master was the comptroller and director of the sport; from this time at least, the diversion, however absurd, and even culpable, was continued amongst us. It was followed, though disapproved and prohibited (39 Edward III.); also in the reign of Henry VIII. and A. D. 1569. It has by some been called a royal diversion, and every one knows the cock-pit at Whitehall was erected by a crowned head, for the more magnificent celebrating of the sport. It was prohibited, however, by one of Oliver's acts, March 31, 1654. AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING COCK-MATCHES. Fryday March 31. 1654. Ordered by His Highness the Lord Protector, and his Council, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed and published. HENRY SCOBELL, Clerk of the Council. London, Printed by William du-Gard and Henry Hills, Printers to His Highness the Lord Protector, 1654. Whereas, the Publique Meetings and Assemblies of People together in divers parts of this Nation, under pretence of Matches for Cock-fighting, are by experience found to tend many times to the disturbance of the publique Peace, and are commonly accompanied with Gaming, Drinking, Swearing, Quarrelling, and other dissolute practices, to the dishonour of God, and do often produce the ruine of Persons and their Families: For prevention thereof, Be it Ordained by his Highness the Lord Protector, by and with the advice and consent of his Council, That from henceforth there shall be no publique or set meetings of Assemblies of any persons within England or Wales, upon Matches made for Cock-fighting; And that every such meeting, and assembly of people for the end and purposes aforesaid, is hereby declared to be an unlawful Assembly, and shall be so adjudged, deemed and taken to be, and punished; And all Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, Maiors, Bayliffs, Constables, and Head-boroughs, within their several Counties, Cities, Limits, and Jurisdictions, are hereby required to suppress, hinder, and disperse all such meetings and assemblies. Friday March 31. 1654. Ordered by his Highness the Lord Protector, and his Council, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed and published. Henry Scobell, Clerk of the Council. There is always a great secret made amongst cock-feeders of their arts of training; being an amateur of the cock-pit, and having seen the management of many different feeders, I am really inclined to deny them the greater part of the merit they would arrogate to themselves. I am convinced that a great deal depends upon breed, and nearly all the rest upon the cocks being well walked, and in good condition, both of body and plumage. A well-walked cock will strike harder, and fight, in steel, with more vigour and success when he has been taken from his walk for three or four days, than one that has been ill-walked, but has had all the improvement that feeding can give. For fighting in silver, more trim, exercise, and physic are required. A very proper and indispensable prelude to feeding of any sort is the breeding up of cocks that will bear such a course of training as they are usually subjected to. Corn of the finest quality and of the |