—is a term used for the first tongue of a hound after throwing into covert, to draw either for fox, or an out-lying deer. Upon the challenge of a single hound, if he is staunch, and to be relied on, a general silence ensues; ears are all open for a repetition, and every eye for a view; the huntsman (who well knows how far to depend upon the truth of the declaration) instantly encourages the pack to the promised point, by "hark to Gamboy!" "hark to Galloper!" or whatever may be the name of the favourite hound so to be relied on. The hounds by this means are immediately rallied to the precise spot, and ready to go off in a body with their game, as a lucky find frequently follows an unexpected challenge; more particularly in the present fashion of going to covert, at a time of day when our predecessors of only one generation past used to return.
CHAFFING
,—so called, is a loss of hair, and laceration of the skin, by the pad of the saddle having got too hard in the stuffing from constant use, and for want of timely circumspection. It is also frequently occasioned by the extreme heat and friction, in continuing to travel very long stages in the hotter months, without more frequent relief or rest to the horse. This is a very common fault, or act of indiscretion, with the mechanical part of the community; who possessing rather too much of the spirit of trade, anxiously endeavour (in the extent of their sagacity) to do much more, in less time, than nature ever intended, by humanely travelling a horse two stages instead of one, thereby saving most arithmetically one half the expence, upon the city principle of Old Philpot, that "a penny saved, is a penny got."
There cannot be a more prudent precaution in either sportsman or traveller, than an occasional inspection of the stuffing of the saddle, which invariably gets hard with constant use: it should sometimes be beat and softened with a stick, afterwards lightly raised in every part with the point of a packing needle, and made smooth and free from lumps upon the surface, by which means every chance of injury will be avoided. Nothing can be productive of more anxiety than a sore back of the horse, either to the traveller on his journey, or a sportsman in the field; or any thing more mortifying, than to recollect such injury originated in the neglect of the master, and not in a fault of the horse. The backs of some well-bred and thin-skinned horses, particularly young ones, are subject to chaffing and warbles upon very slight occasions; to counteract which, nothing can be better, more simple, or more easily obtained, than two or three table-spoonsful of the best white wine vinegar, bathed cold upon the part, and that so soon as the saddle is taken off, and while the pores are open.
CHARGE
—was a favourite part of former practice in farriery, and consisted of compositions in the form of an adhesive mass, which being plastered upon the part afflicted, was there left to act as a corroborant, an emollient, a discutient, a repellent, or, in fact, to effect any purpose intended, or that the case might require. These preparations were applied in different states, and were denominated hot or cold charges, according to the mode in which they were laid on. As, however, no great proofs of their efficacy were ever established, or any authenticated records of their utility known, they seem to have glided out of modern practice, and been totally superseded by the more rational introduction of penetrative stimulants, in fomentations, embrocations, &c. which come into more immediate contact with the affected parts, where injury has been sustained.
CHEST
—is the part of a horse comprehended in the side view, from his wither to the bottom of his ribs near the elbow, at the upper part of the fore arm; and is perfectly understood, when we say, "that horse is well let down, and deep in the chest." If, in addition to this, he is "round in the barrel," he may then be said to have a good carcase. To judge well of the chest, it is necessary to come before, and take a front view, if which is broad, and the horse stands wide and firm, it is a proof of strength; but if narrow in the breast, (alias the chest,) he will not only be very likely to cut before, but to become chest-foundered, if put to any extraordinary exertions.
CHEST-FOUNDERING
,—a debility in the shoulders, chest and fore-quarters of a horse, seemingly less understood, and certainly less explained hitherto, than any one disorder or defect to which the horse is incident. Those who have written upon this subject, evidently echo each other; as they literally and individually say, "it proceeds from hard labour, whereby the horse becomes surfeited; so that, upon the whole, it is no more than a severe cold, and is to be managed accordingly." These are, in fact, the very words of Bracken, who precedes it with this remark: "Most authors agree it is so;" giving no opinion of his own, beyond its originating in a "severe cold," and is to be "managed accordingly." He says, "the signs are a staring coat, and heaving of the flanks more than common." That a chest-foundered horse may happen to have a staring coat, or a heaving of the flanks, from some different or remote cause, cannot be denied; but that either of them are diagnostic symptoms of chest-founder, no scientific practitioner will ever admit.