—are the eatable part of a deer's entrails, which being a perquisite of office, afford a treat to the keeper and his friends.
URINE
—is that well known excrementitious fluid secreted or separated by the kidnies from the blood; the evacuation of which is sometimes partially obstructed, or totally suppressed, by different injuries sustained, or diseases particularly affecting the kidnies, the bladder, or some of the parts appropriated to the secretion and discharge of urine. Internal inflammation, or a paralytic affection of the kidnies, as well as external violence there; spasmodic stricture upon the neck or sphincter of the bladder; calculous concretions, originating in the kidnies, and afterwards descending the ureters, occasions sometimes a most painful suppression of urine: having obtained a seat in the bladder, they then lay the foundation of stone; and many well-authenticated instances are extant, where stones of considerable weight have been extracted from the bladders of different horses after their death.
Horses, on the contrary, from a debility of the parts, or some remote causes, are subject to an immoderate and involuntary flux of urine, and that almost incessantly; so that, from a latent flaccidity, it seems to come away immediately after its secretion. This preternatural discharge may probably be sometimes occasioned by a sharp, ferous and acrimonious state of the blood; in young horses, the being too severely and unreasonably overworked; a weakness of the loins and kidnies, brought on by drawing weights disproportioned to the strength of the horse; standing long in the cold and chilling rains of winter; or, what produces it still more frequently, is the eating of ship oats, which have been long upon their passage, and imbibed a portion of saline particles, and effluvia, from the sea. In all cases of the former description, recourse must be had to medical assistance; but in the latter, nutritive food, gelatinous clean-boiled oatmeal gruel, with two or three ounces of gum Arabic dissolved in water, and mixed with the gruel for drink, will, in all slight and recent cases, be productive of a speedy restoration.
W.
WALK
—is the slowest of a horse's natural paces, upon the safety, excellence and ease of which, much of his worth depends. Good walkers are always in request, and will (if gentle and good tempered) never fail of finding purchasers, even among the aged and infirm. There are numbers to be seen daily, who are admirable goers in the fast paces, that cannot walk at all; but instances are very rare, of a horse who is a good walker, not having a gift of his other paces in proportion.
WALNUT
,—the name of a horse of much racing reputation. He was bred by the present Duke of Hamilton, foaled in 1786; got by Highflyer, out of Maiden, (who was got by Matchem,) own sister to Pumpkin. In 1790, then four years old, Walnut started at York, and won a subscription of 25 guineas each, seven subscribers. The same week he won the great subscription of 295l. beating those excellent runners, Telescope, Enchanter, Toby, Tickle Toby, and Camilla. At Doncaster he walked over for the Doncaster Stakes of 10 guineas each, six subscribers, with 20 guineas added by the Corporation; and the next day won the 100l. plate, beating Harold and Telescope. In 1791, he again won the great subscription at York, beating the Prince of Wales's Creeper, and Telescope. At Doncaster he again won the Doncaster Stakes of 10 guineas each, with 20 guineas added by the Corporation.
The first of his produce, as a stallion, appeared in 1798. A bay filly (Duke of Hamilton's) won 200 guineas at Doncaster: and a bay colt (Mr. Peirse's) 200 guineas at York, and 80 guineas at Malton. In 1799, seven of his get started, who were the winners of ten plates, matches, and stakes. In 1800, nine appeared, and were the winners of sixteen prizes. In 1801, twelve started, and won twenty-five plates, matches, and sweepstakes, of which Lord Strathmore's colt won seven; Lignum Vitæ, five; Jack's Alive, three; and Richmond, two. In 1802, the Duke of Hamilton's bay filly won two sweepstakes at Ayr; 80 guineas, 50l. and 20 guineas, at Hamilton. Lord Strathmore's bay horse, two fifties at Chester, and the King's Plate at Newcastle. Risby, 150 guineas at Catterick, and 86l. 15s. 0d. at Morpeth; and Lignum Vitæ won the first class of the Oatlands Stakes, 450 guineas, 50l. and the King's Plate, at Newmarket; 120 guineas at Newton; 70 guineas at Stamford; 220 guineas, and the King's Plate, at Litchfield.