—was one of the most celebrated sons of Herod, both as a RACER and a STALLION. He was bred by Sir J. Kaye, and foaled in 1780; was got by Herod, dam (Frenzy) by Eclipse, grand-dam by Engineer, out of Lass of the Mill, who was got by Traveller. His performances upon the turf so strictly corresponded with his name, that the infinity of mares brought to him in the first seasons of his covering, afforded him an opportunity of adding to his reputation in a degree almost beyond former example. He covered in Yorkshire at 10 guineas a mare, and in 1791 produced the following winners: Lord A. Hamilton's Chesnut Colt, who won two fifties; Freeholder, who won 100 guineas at York, and a 50 at Stockton; Mongrel, who won 25 guineas at Lewes; Pigeon, who won 200 guineas at York, 50 at Manchester, 50 at Wakefield, 50 at Boroughbridge, and 50 at Northallerton; Roman, 140 guineas at York; Rosalind, 700 guineas, and 300 guineas, at York, 300 guineas at Doncaster, and 50l. at New Malton; and Stride, 600 guineas at York.
In 1792, Lord A. Hamilton's Brown Colt, 120 guineas at Doncaster, and 50l. at Penrith; Charactacus, 50l. at Tenbury; Comet, 50 at York, 50 at Hull, and two 50's at New Malton; Forester, 50 at Carlisle; Freeholder, 50 at Durham; Heroine, 300 guineas at Newmarket, 100 guineas and 50 at ditto; Huby, 400 guineas and 50l. at York, 50l. and 50 guineas at Carlisle, and 100l. at Doncaster; Lizard, 50l. at Preston; Pigeon, 50l. at Catterick Bridge; Rosalind, 150 guineas at York, the King's Plate, and 50l. at Lincoln; Squirrel, 125 guineas at York, 160 at Wakefield, and 100 guineas at Doncaster.
In 1793, Comet won 80 guineas, the Stand Plate, and the King's Plate, at York; Heroine, the Queen's Plate at Chelmsford, the King's Plate and 70 guineas at Lincoln; Huby, 400 guineas at Newmarket, 175 guineas and 295l. at York; Messenger, 50l. at Manchester; Restless, 50l. at York, 100 guineas at Preston, and the King's Plate at Carlisle. In 1795, Ambush, 50 guineas at Wakefield; Charmer, 50l. at Catterick Bridge, 50l. at Lamberton, and 50 guineas at Stockton; Gay Deceiver, 300 guineas at Doncaster; Heroine, 50l. and 50 guineas at Newmarket, and the King's Plate at Lincoln; Huby, two 50's at Stockton, and the King's Plate at Dumfries; Sheperdess, 100 guineas at York.
To these excellent runners, in the successive years have been added Laura, Roseberry, Caroline, Bellissima, Wonder, Stella, Stripling, Tartar, Hyale, Jupiter, (Mr. Hawke's,) and many others who won large stakes as COLTS and FILLIES, but were never named.
PHYSIC
—is a term sometimes given (particularly in the country) to every kind of MEDICINE that can be administered to either MAN or HORSE: the more polished and general acceptation confines it solely to the operation of PURGING, in which sense alone it can be properly understood. It is but a few years (since the appearance of "The Gentleman's Stable Directory,") that the general necessity for, and palpable utility of, occasionally PHYSICING HORSES, became almost universally admitted. Its salutary effects stand, however, upon too firm a basis to be again shaken by the obtrusion of speculative opinions: there are but few, if any, remaining, who will presume to arraign or challenge the consistency of annually cleansing full thirty yards of the intestinal canal, replete with INTERSTICES, and appropriated to little other purpose than the excretion of filth.
Physic is prepared of different proportions, and of different ingredients, according to the purposes for which it may be designed. If only to soften and remove the accumulated contents of the bowels, and prevent PLETHORA, and its probable effects, the MILDEST degree will be sufficient. If the carcase is evidently enlarged, the vessels perceptibly distended, the horse dull, heavy, and inactive, a STRONGER must be brought into use. In cutaneous diseases, SWELLED LEGS of long standing, tendency to GREASE, old obstinate COUGHS and WORMS, mercurial physic had better be adopted; letting the extra care be proportioned to the mildness or severity of the season in which it is given. Under judicious and proper management, there is no more danger in the operation of MERCURIAL than in any other physic, provided it is faithfully prepared, and of the proportions by which safety is in a great degree to be insured; but if given in immoderate quantities, and little attended to during the progress of its operation, danger and death may probably ensue. Neither one, or the other, are, however, known to happen, where a proper degree of circumspection is used by those whose business it is to superintend the subordinates.
PICKER
.—A horse-picker is a small iron instrument, so truly convenient upon many emergencies, that a prudent traveller, or experienced sportsman, is hardly ever seen without one annexed to the handle of a knife which he carries in his pocket: its use is to extract stones, pebbles, or flints, from the bottom of the foot, when they are picked up in hunting, or upon the road. They are sometimes so firmly fixed between the inner edge of the SHOE and the FROG, that nothing but very violent force with a hammer can remove them; in such cases, horses are sometimes led a considerable distance to some dwelling-house, before the stone can be extracted; and the foot is probably bruised, or sustains a serious injury, for what might be obtained at a trifling expence, and carried with little inconvenience.