CLICKET
—is the sporting term for the act of COPULATION with both HARES and FOXES. During the first warm weeks in February, when the males and females seek each other, they are then said to be CLICKETTING; or that at this particular season they go to CLICKET. After conception, they are said to be knit; when the DOE HARE or VIXEN FOX will make the most powerful and persevering efforts before the hounds to save their lives. Jack hares and DOG FOXES at this season generally fly their country, and lead long chases.
CLYSTERS
—are, in a variety of cases, and upon many emergencies, so truly and so expeditiously useful, (without the least danger of being injurious,) that their salutary effects cannot be too well known, or too generally understood. They are differently prepared, from a decoction of the aromatic garden herbs, as marshmallows, camomile flowers, and wormwood, gruel, a handful of salt, and half a pint of oil; or, indeed, from any of the prescriptions with which books upon physic and farriery are generally loaded. When prepared, and of a proper warmth, they are gently conveyed into the body through a wooden pipe, to which is fixed a large bullock's bladder, containing the clyster to be injected. The pipe having been previously moistened upon the surface, with either sweet oil or lard, is then insinuated within the sphincter of the anus; when which is effected, the string hanging from the bladder (and to the other end of which the cork is annexed, that plugs up the internal mouth of the pipe confined in the bladder) is steadily pulled with the right hand, while the left is employed in keeping the pipe in its proper situation, and supporting the bladder with its contents: upon the cork's being withdrawn, and a free passage made for the clyster, the hands are pressed moderately, and in motion upon the bladder, so as to force the whole into the body; when which is done, the pipe is gently taken away, and the effect of course is waited for, or repeated, if necessary. The mild and advantageous mode of obtaining relief by clysters, is greatly preferable to the rough old method of extracting the dung from the rectum by introducing the hand, which is not only producing unnecessary pain to the patient, but very frequently of exciting inflammation. Every sportsman of experience must know, that, upon all emergencies, in fever, cholic, strangury, inflammation of the lungs or kidnies, a clyster may be so soon prepared, and so soon administered, (particularly in remote situations in the country,) that no gentleman, anxious for the safety and preservation of his stud or stock, should be without such articles as would enable him to adopt some extemporaneous means of relief, till assistance (which is sometimes at a great distance) could be obtained.
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 sizey, 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
—was formerly a sport so exceedingly prevalent (from the great and perpetual variety it afforded in betting) that matches were constantly fighting between different counties, as well as opulent individuals, and at most of the horse-races in every part of the kingdom, for very considerable sums of money. This practice, however, like every other species of sporting, in the course of time, opened so great a field for villainy amongst the subordinates, who become unavoidably instrumental, (as feeders, setters-to, and assistants,) that, in addition to the incredible expence of breeding, walking, feeding, matching, removing and carrying cocks from one walk to another, collecting them when brought up to fight, injuries sustained upon their walks, consequent disappointments when taken up, with a long train of collateral considerations, have very much reduced both the sport and the breed in every part of England.
When all the leading expences are brought into one point of view previous to a MAIN of COCKS being placed in the pens, and the aggregate of expenditure annexed to the match money, (then to be deposited,) it plainly appears, that any man so fighting, is doing it at a disadvantage of two to one against himself. If he wins, he wins but the match money; this, probably, may, or may not, even pay his expence: if he loses, he has then lost both the deposit, and his previous expenditure in breeding, feeding, &c. constituting loss upon loss; and if he wins, he is no gainer, because the winning has been absorbed in the predatory payments already described. In fact, COCKING then (divested of every moral consideration in respect to its alledged cruelty) is the most ungentleman-like, the least entertaining, and the most doubtful in probable profit, that any sportsman of honour and integrity can possibly engage in: but as fashions continually vary, and it may hereafter undergo a renewal, farther particulars respecting the sport will be found under the proper heads of Game Cock, and Cockpit Royal.