boose; their effect will be to keep up due warmth in the extremities, and to absorb the moisture left by the ablution on the leg. In another way they are employed when the legs are perfectly dry and finished, to prevent their swelling-or, in more comprehensive stable lingo, filling-the principal cause of which is an imperfect circulation; that is, the arterial circulation is more energetic than the venous, the absorbent vessels also being in a languid state, consequently the arterial blood is thrown out to the extremities more abundantly than the veins can return it, or the absorbents take up those superfluities which are intended for their service; thus the veins become suffused with blood often to a painful, and, in some instances, a dangerous degree, when cracked heels and such like nuisances become the outlet for those superfluities which the absorbents cannot dispose of. Cracked heels, however, may arise from other causes, although acted upon in a similar way; but as the subject is treated upon more fully in the chapter appropriate to the care and treatment of the legs and feet, it is only necessary to recur to those pages. Dry flannel bandages, when properly applied, produce their good effects in various ways. In the first place, by their warmth they stimulate the venous system to action; in the next, by the moderate pressure which they produce when perfectly adjusted, they slightly allay the arterial circulation. But here is the difficulty of, and art in, applying them; if irregular pressure be produced, they will have just the contrary effect, because they will act as a ligature to a vein, and prevent the return of blood -in a similar way to what a surgeon's bandage does with a man's arm when he is about to bleed him, or the pressure on the vein of a horse when he is undergoing a similar operation. It is, therefore, of the greatest importance that a bandage be firmly and regularly adjusted, in which case it will produce an admirable effect; but, on the other hand, if it be put on too tight-especially if it be unevenly rolled on-it will have a most inimical one. The best material for woollen bandages is the serge, which is made for the purpose; it has a selvage, which is much more elastic, at the same time more even than if sewn or hemmed, which must be the case if common flannel be used.

It is necessary to point out the circumstances which require the use of wet flannel bandages, and, indeed, which are much more frequently in demand in the hunting than in the racing stables. They are principally necessary when blows, or such like injuries, have caused soreness and inflammation, whereby an immoderate degree of heat is established in the leg, which, having been well fomented in warm water, demands a bandage dipped in warm water, and just pressed out; it is applied for the purpose of cooling the part, by the process of evaporation which takes place. After an old horse has been working on very hard ground, and his legs indicate heat, soreness, and stiffness, from the effect of previous labour, flannel bandages dipped in hot water will generally afford great relief.

Linen bandages are employed for the purpose of applying cooling lotions, in which case the legs and the bandages should be thoroughly saturated with whatever application may be determined upon, and never suffered to become dry; cold water is, in most cases, as good a

remedy as can be obtained, and, even when the refrigerating agentssuch as nitre, ammonia, goulard, vinegar, and such like preparations -are used, if the legs and bandages have been thoroughly soaked with them, it will be quite sufficient for them to be immersed in cold water, in order to keep the part wet. It should be observed that the power of all these cooling compounds is greatly increased by the action of cool atmospheric air, consequently they operate much more effectually out of the stable than in it; therefore, when it is found necessary to obtain the utmost power of these compounds, the wet bandages should be put on when the horse goes to exercise. It is only necessary to try this experiment to be convinced of the great advantage which is produced. If the horse remains out any length of time, it may be requisite to renew the application of cold water; but the time that a bandage continues sufficiently moist will greatly depend upon the local heat and inflammation which exists in the limb.

The proper length for bandages is three yards; and, when prepared to be put on the legs, they should be very evenly rolled up, commencing with the end on which the tape is sown. In order to roll them up firm and even, they should be placed with the under part on the thigh, so that the resistance of the small-clothes will make them pretty tight. To put them on the horse's legs, the near fore-leg is to be the first object of attention. Taking a bandage in the right hand, holding the end in the left, the bandage is passed round the limb rather more than half way up, in which position it must be secured by the hand till the body of the bandage is passed over the end, when it must be exchanged into the left hand, passed round to the right again, and so on alternately, drawing it firm and even, but not tight. The two first folds should be nearly over each other when the bandage is to be worked up towards the knee; it is then to be gradually carried downwards, at intervals of rather more than a quarter of an inch, kept firm round the pastern joint, and, after taking two turns, tied round the small pastern. Tie it there. Many people tie it round the middle of the leg, but in the stable it is better to be secured below the pastern; for this reason: if it be tied round the leg and the bandage should slip, either from the horse stamping or rubbing it, or if the leg should fill at all during the time the bandage is on, the tape forms a ligature and produces the evil already discussed; but if tied round the small pastern, that being the lowest part, no ill

consequences can occur.

Such is the conformation of the legs of horses, and so great is the importance of preserving them sound, that it becomes a matter for the utmost attention to secure them as much as possible from injury, by adopting, on all occasions, the most rational measures that human ingenuity can devise. As many-in fact, most-horses will injure their legs at times when galloping, by striking the opposite foot against them, a protection has long since been employed in the form of boots, which, being subject to many objections, have been condemned by numerous trainers, who, foolishly falling into another extreme, have worked their horses without any safeguard at all, and lameness has been the consequence. The great objections to the use

of boots may be summed up in very explicit and convincing terms. In the first place, the manner of securing them on the legs is very defective. The buckle and strap, which must be drawn sufficiently tight to prevent their turning, will chafe and inflame the part around which it passes; and if one strap be drawn tighter than is proper, it acts as a ligature, and interferes with the circulation of the blood. It should always be remembered, that whatever cause produces inflammation, weakness of the part is an attendant; and when weakness of the legs is discovered, lameness or breaking down is always to be apprehended. However soft and well boots may be made in the first instance, they will become hard from the frequent exposure to wet and the accumulation of perspiration, which they are constantly subject to; moreover, with all the care that can be bestowed, some dirt will work into the texture of the serge or other material with which they are lined.

Within the last few years bandages have been adopted for exercising horses in, and they are decidedly a very great improvement upon boots, as being void of many objections which the latter will ever be subject to. In the first place, they afford equal security from blows; they are readily freed from the accumulation of wet, perspiration, or dirt, with which they may become saturated, by being washed with soap and water; and when nicely put on, they afford some little support to the limb. Not that I am prepared to allow that their good effects on that point are quite so universal as some veterinary surgeons with whom I have conversed would ascribe, because any slight pressure or support which a bandage may afford to the sinews is lateral. Whereas the benefit, if it could be obtained, in order to avert the probability of a horse breaking down, should be longitudinal; and, for this reason, I have very little faith in the use of a bandage when a horse is running, if it be merely to reduce the chances of his breaking down; indeed, put on so tight as I have seen many, they tend to interfere with the action, and are decidedly mischievous. If it be required to prevent a horse from hitting his leg, it is all very proper; but it must be remembered that it must be of some considerable substance to afford that protection. In putting on bandages for exercise, they must be tied round the leg instead of the small pastern, as recommended in the stable. The latter adjustment is inadmissible in this case, as it would not secure the appendage; neither is it required to be brought lower than the pastern joint, unless, when travelling, to secure the heels from dirt. On whatever part the horse hits, the bandage should have an extra fold or two, and an additional tape should be tied round the leg to prevent the bandage becoming loose whilst the horse is galloping-a circumstance upon which the only exception that I am aware of can be established against their use; but if they be properly and carefully put on, are of a sufficient width-not less than four or four and a-half inches--and are secured with two or three pieces of tape, there is no cause to apprehend their slipping.

(To be continued.)

190

REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEES ON GAMING.

BY CASTOR.

It was our full intention to have taken a review of these terrible "blue books" in our last number, but on second consideration we deemed the Derby trial quite law enough for one month in a magazine, the grand object of which professes to be what poor Hudson, the comic singer, would have called " Pleasure and Relaxation." Moreover, from having thus ordered the Common's Report to lie on the table for a few weeks, we are enabled to include with our notice of it a greater portion of the evidence taken before the committee of the Upper House; we might, indeed, have waited longer, so as to have had the two reports complete, but, as we intimated last month, there is reason to believe that the conclusion of the inquiry made by the Lords will not be published. The second report, printed by order on the 25th of July, is confined to the evidence of the hero of this eventful history-Mr. J. T. Russell, solicitor, of 37, Percy-street, Bedfordsquare; a gentleman who prayed to be examined, was examined accordingly (at least up to a certain point), and from whose straightforward, highly-creditable testimony we gather the following particulars of the rise and progress of the Qui Tam actions.

Something like a year since, as Mr. J. T. Russell was leaving his office one morning, a gentlemanly-looking man-about-town sort of fellow met him at the door, and requested a few minutes' private conversation, which this eminent solicitor, not being particularly engaged at the time, immediately granted. The man about town (Mr. Russell doesn't know him by any other name up to this day) is asked in, and asked to sit down, and, having accepted of these civilities in the same kind spirit in which they were offered, proceeds at once to business. Did Mr. Russell know whether an action could be brought against a man for winning money by betting on horse-racing-and would Mr. Russell draw out a case to take counsel's opinion on, so as to ascertain conclusively whether it was to be or not to be? Mr. Russell didn't exactly know at the moment, but he'd see-takes a look at that infernal statute of her lady Majesty, Queen Anne, prepares the case, gets Mr. Erle's opinion, pockets his fee, and informs the mysterious, perhaps illustrious, stranger that it is to be done. Of course, the natural rejoinder from the unknown is that he (Russell) will do it, but here we find how terribly he had mistaken his man. No, Mr. Russell would rather not; he was on terms of intimacy with many heavy-betting men, and should be sorry to do them so great an injury. All honour to the Russell! a man and a lawyer, who sacrifices the profits of the profession to the sacred ties of friendship! "Well," says this tempter-this evil genius, "if your conscience won't allow you to engage in the matter, I'll be bound I will soon find

a man that will ;" and this threat, we are sorry to say for the sake of poor humanity, settles the question. After a vain attempt to dissuade his seducer from going on, Mr. Russell declares his willingness to go on himself. So far the lawyer triumphs over the philanthropist, though the reason Mr. Russell gives for accepting office happily in some measure qualifies the situation in which he had condescended to place himself. Why did he undertake the job? Why! if he didn't somebody else would. Nay! he undertook it solely that he might protect, that is, not proceed against the parties with whom he was intimate! Talk of immunity-talk of a king that can do no wrong! Why, I'll ruin the whole family of Rothschild if they'll only find pluck enough to back their opinion; and as to consequences, punishment, and penalties-pshan-stand out of the way sir.-Damn it!-don't you know I'm a friend of Mr. Russell's? O, Richmond, Richmond, if Russell, solicitor, had only been included amongst the fashionables who are provided with bed and breakfast at Goodwood House during the week, we should have heard nothing of this; or if Eglintoun had only opened his heart and his castle, his St. Leger sovereigns might have rested in peace.

The first act, as we have shown, concludes with the Bedford-square attorney's installation as managing-man for the plaintiff; the second opens with a declaration from the stranger-the man about town (confound the fellow! we wish Lord Glasgow would lay hold of him, and" Give-him-a-Name")—that he is only the agent, the friend of the man who finds the money, and the anxiety to put an end to this system; and we may as well remark here, wishing to keep the plot as clear as possible, that the man about town forthwith makes his exit, all further communication being carried on between the bona fide plaintiff and his solicitor. Now this said plaintiff has all through shown great backwardness in coming forward; it consequently became necessary to find some ostensible plaintiff, in whose name the different actions might be proceeded with: this Mr. Russell was not long in effecting, having fixed on his own brother, whose character, as he candidly confesses, he knew to be already so tarnished, that merely bringing these actions could in no way injure him. We certainly quite

agree with our learned friend here: the brother having, by his own evidence, figured as head man in robbing a hell-we must in justice to him add that we never heard of his robbing a church-because, we believe, he never had an opportunity. Well, instead of having been, as he might and ought, transported, his brother, the lawyer, compromises the felony, and his own fair fame, by saving the felon for other and better things! And these are the men who come armed with all the power of the law to enrich themselves and do the public good service by putting a stop to excessive gaming: the agent or professional man, one who at this moment stands a self-acknowledged defaulter by betting on horse racing! The informer, one who broke his trust and the cash-box while porter at a common gambling-house! Open robbery, shuffling, swindling, every kind of rascality that has a name, we have it here," and for these courtesies we give you thus much monies!" If ever common justice or common sense called on Parlia ment to use its prerogative, this was the case; and if ever you, Mr.