be gradually increased. They will become, by this management, in a proper condition for the severest exercises, without any purging or othe evacuation. See the article PHYSIC.

Another salutary effect of grass is, that it dissolves the concretions that are apt to grow in the stomach and other viscera of horses. Van Swieten, when treating of chalky matter found in the liver in the human subject, says, that incrustations, like gypsum, or plaster of Paris, were often observed by Glisson in the pori biliarii, and its larger branches, dispersed through the livers of oxen that had been fed in stalls with hay and straw, during the winter season, and without exercise. These concretions, however, were very friable, and would dissolve again, and pass out of the body, when the cattle came to feed upon the fresh grass of the meadows;" for, in oxen that are slaughtered in spring and summer, these substances are very rarely found.

The experience of Mr. Clark confirms this statement; for, in dissecting horses, he frequently met with chalky concretions in the liver and in the lungs, especially in those animals that had been fed long on dry food. In other instances, he found round or oval balls in the stomach, seeming, for the most part, to be composed of the dust they lick from their own bodies, mixed with the hair. Whether the fresh grass dissolves these, he says, is not so certain; but that it causes these concretions to pass through the intestines, he had a full demonstration in the following instance: "In May, 1786, a horse that had been long fed on dry food was turned out to grass; in about eight or ten days afterwards, he was seized with violent griping pains, which lasted about twentyfour hours, when he died. As the horse was very fat, the man who had the charge of him wanted to make something of his grease: in searching for it, he observed a large portion of the intestine of a very black colour; and, on feeling it, found something hard and weighty. He immediately cut the intestine open with his knife, and took out a large oval hard ball, which measured four inches in length, and three inches and a half in breadth. That this concretion was originally formed in the stomach there can be no doubt, as they frequently, upon dissection, have been found there; and nothing but its great bulk had hindered it from passing through the intestines."-That these solid accumulations are not by any means unfrequent we have shewn under the article CALCULUS, where a means of preventing this evil is suggested by Dr. Withers of Newbery.

Mr. Clark further observes, with respect to the properties of spring grass, that those horses that cannot be turned out to pasture should have it given them in the house as soon as it can be cut. Indeed he reprobates the too general, and even boasted practice, of feeding horses for years toge ther on hard dry food; to which he ascribes that loathsome disease the farcy, which prevails most in England, where dry food is more persevered in than in Scotland. To the objection that horses kept for active exercises reap no advantage from oats, &c. whilst they are at grass, because the grass tends to carry off the nourishment that should be produced by the former, he answers that, "although the early grass purges a horse gently at first feeding on it, yet this purging does not continue long, neither is it attended with that weakness, faintness, and loss of flesh, which is observed in horses purged by strong medicines, where the evacuation is brought on suddenly, and perhaps to an excess."

"A change of diet," the author observes, " is not only agreeable, but wholesome for horses, as it contributes to keep them open in the body. Malt mixed occasionally with their food proves a medicine.

"Wheat, notwithstanding it affords the most nourishment, is seldom given to horses, probably owing to its price being higher than that of other grain. It is apt to purge horses a little on the first using of it; they eat it greedily, and are fond of it: but, as it becomes very slippery from the moisture in the mouth, it is swallowed whole, and passed through the body in that state; but, when it is given bruised, or mixed with chopped straw, the horse is obliged to break it minutely with his teeth before he can swallow it." It then proves very nourishing, and enables him to go through much labour. It likewise makes a horse coat well, and causes his hair to lie smooth and shining."

By lord Kaimes's calculation, the boll of middling wheat weighs fourteen stone, Dutch weight; the husks weigh two stone: for which reason, when wheat is given to horses, a less quantity will be necessary than of oats, the proportion of nourishment being as the weight.

It is well known, that barley purges horses on the first using of it; but, when it is given mixed with cut straw, it proves a wholesome nourishing diet. The Arabian, the Barbary, and other eastern horses, eat it; and these animals undergo great fatigue, and perform journeys with incredible swiftness. In England, however, farmers, grooms, &c. are much prejudiced against feeding their horses with barley, as they allege that it gives them the itch. But Mr. Clark affirms, from his own experience, that it has a very opposite effect; and that, if horses troubled with cutaneous eruptions are fed on barley, either raw or boiled, it will contribute greatly towards their cure. boll of middling barley weighs eighteen stone, Dutch weight; the husks one stone four pounds. When it is boiled, it proves light, and easy of digestion; for which reason it may be properly given to horses when they are sick, or to prevent costiveness.

The

“Oats, notwithstanding they are reckoned more heating and binding than any of the former grain, yet they are generally given to horses in Britain. To post and other carriage horses they are frequently given mixed with beans, which obliges them to break both oats and beans minutely before they can be swallowed. The adding of the beans makes this feeding very nourishing. On that account, beans should never be given mixed with oats to those horses that stand much at rest, or have not sufficient exercise. The boll of middling oats weighs fourteen stone, Dutch weight; the husks weigh six stone. Therefore, as oats have more husks than any other grain, a greater quantity is necessary. For this reason, it is probable that the standard measure of oats is larger than that of other grain. The constant feeding with oats, although it is esteemed what is called clean feeding, yet it is apt to make horses too costive, &c.; to prevent which, bran, mashed up with boiling water, is given once a-week, or as circumstances may require.

"Beans are seldom or never given to horses by themselves, unless to labouring horses. When they are boiled, they afford the strongest nourishment of all the other grain. The boll of middling beans weighs fifteen stone eight pounds; the husks weigh eight pounds, which is the smallest proportion of husks in all the grain now mentioned. Of course, they contain more nourishment;

but, as they contain a great proportion of fixed air, when given in a raw state and in too great a quantity, they are found to produce flatulence, gripes, &c."

After having fully described the different kinds of fodder, grain, &c. and their uses in the feeding of horses, Mr. Clark proceeds to consider how these are or ought to be applied to the greatest benefit. He quotes the count de Buffon (vol. iii. page 375), who asserts," that the Tartar horses will travel two or three days without stopping; receiving, for four or five days on end, only a handful of herbage every eight hours; and, at the same time, kept from drinking for twenty-four hours." In the same volume (page 369), the same writer says, "that the Arabian horses are rather meagre than fat. During the day they are not permitted to eat, but are watered twice or thrice. At sun-set, a bag, containing about half a bushel of barley, is passed over their heads, and fastened to their necks. This bag is not removed till next morning, when the barley is entirely consumed. When the grass is good, they are turned out to pasture; and, during the rest of the year, they are allowed neither grass nor hay, and rarely straw, barley being their only food: and great care is taken to give them only as much as is barely necessary; for too much nourishment makes their legs swell, and soon renders them useless."

In another place, the count tells us, that "the borses which are bred in the Indies are very indiferent. Those used by the great men of the country are brought from Persia and Arabia. They are fed with hay during the day; and, at night, in place of barley and oats, they get pease boiled with sugar and butter. This nourishing diet supports them, and gives them some degree of strength: without it they would soon perish, the climate not being adapted to their constitution." Mr. Berringernotices that "the Indians feed their horses in the rice-fields; and, when flesh is plenty, they boil the offal to rags, and, mixing it with butter, and some sorts of grain, make balls, which they thrust down the horses' throats. In scarcity of provision, they give them opium, which has the same effects both on horses and men; for it at once damps their appetites and enables them to endure fatigue."

We may here advert to Gibson's objection to the use of greasy or oily substances as food for horses. Befon likewise tells us (vol. iii. page 388), that, " in Iceland, where the cold is excessive, and where often no other food can be had than dried fishes, the horses, though small, are extremely vigorous."

"The Arabian horses intended for hunting in Arabia or Barbary soldom eat herbage or grain. Their common food, which consists of dates and camels' milk, is given them every morning and at night. These aliments, instead of fattening them, render them meagre, nervous, and very fleet. They spontaneously suck the she-camels, whom they follow till the time they are ready for mounting, which is not before the age of six or seven years."

Mr. Berringer, in his curious work on horse manship, says, "Nemesian recommends straw and barley as very nourishing diet; and it certainly conduces very much to keep horses in health, spirits, and wind, and in a state of body fit for any kind of labour, as it supports and strengthens, without rendering the animal heavy and corpulent. "The Kalmuck horses are so hardy and strong

in their constitution as to be able to run three or four hundred English miles in three days. They subsist, summer and winter, solely upon grass in the great desarts."

The rules of diet applicable to horses, and the common errors of those concerned in the care of them, are thus judiciously treated of by Mr. Clark.

"As horses are not endowed with reason, but guided entirely by instinct to such aliments as correspond with their constitutions, the appetite for food excites in them a strong desire to gratify this sense. They are therefore apt to indulge in it to excess when it is laid before them, especially grain of any kind, and more so when confined in the stable, where they have no other amusement to divert them from it. For, in the fields, at grass, after they are satisfied with eating, they run about, and play with one another a considerable part of their time, and do not begin to eat till prompted to it by hunger. For this reason, there are few or no instances of horses over-eating themselves when running at grass.

"Young horses, in particular, are most liable to be injured by too much feeding with grain. The blood of young animals is naturally disposed to be hot; high feeding increases this disposition, and renders them more subject to inflammatory diseases. Hence dry feeding with oats, &c. produces a plethoric habit of body, which renders them liable to fevers, swelled legs, and greasy heels, and, upon catching the least cold, to a variety of other disorders.

"Besides the ordinary feeding with oats, &c. at stated times through the day, it is too common to keep the racks at all times filled with hay. Hence many horses, having stuffed themselves, drink a great quantity of water, and, when they come to be exercised, they are hardly able to breathe. Numbers of horses are daily ruined from this practice; yet many people are not aware of its effects.

"There are horses too of delicate stomachs, who loath their food, from its being too constantly before them, and not having sufficient time or exercise to digest what they have caten; besides, having constantly breathed upon it, they cannot relish it afterwards. It ought, in all cases, to be remembered, that it is not the quantity of food merely which a horse eats that produces the wholesomest nourishment, but it is what he digests well that invigorates and strengthens; for, when the stomach is overloaded with food, the body is dull, heavy, oppressed, sluggish, and stupid, and the digestive faculty is impaired.

Throwing great quantities of grain before horses at one time is very improper: they, in this case, dip their mouths in it with eagerness, by which means they grasp more than they can break down properly; they devour it greedily, and swallow whole mouthfuls of it almost dry. The natu ral moisture of the stomach, or water drunk immediately after eating, causes the grain to swell, by which the stomach is greatly distended, and thereby loses its contractile power to act upon the food. By its uncommon pressure upon the intestines, the passage for the food backwards is ob structed. The confined air, arising from the indigested food not having a ready passage backwards, and horses not possessing the power of eructation, or belching, the air, by the heat and confinement, becomes rarefied to a great degree, and the horse is seized with the most acute pains; as they increase, he becomes convulsed, and in many cases the stomach bursts, and death follows of course."

(Maccabees). 6. On FOOT. Walking; with out carriage. 7, On Fooт. In a posture of action (Shakspeare). 8. Infantry; footmen in arms (Clarendon). 9. State; character; condition (Addison). 10. Scheme; plan; settlement (Swift). 11. A state of incipient existence (Tillotson). 12. A certain number of syllables constituting a distinct part of a verse (Ascham). 13. Motion; action (Grew.) 14. Step (L'Estrange). 15. A measure containing twelve inches.

Foor (Square), is a square, each side of which is 12 inches; its surface, therefore, contains 144 square inches.

FooT (Solid), is a cube whose three dimensions are each 12 inches: its capacity is therefore 1728 cubic inches.

FOOT of a horse extends from the fetlockjoint to the outer sole at the bottom of the hoof: it includes the coronary-bone, the nutbone, the coffin-bone, and the inner sole (or membranous mass), in which it is deposited; as well as the frog and the wall or hoof surrounding and supporting the whole.

To FOOT. v. n. (from the noun.) 1. To dance; to tread wantonly; to trip (Dryden). 2. To walk; not ride (South).

To FOOT. v. a. 1. To spurn; to kick (Shakspeare). 2. To settle; to begin to fix (Shakspeare). 3. To tread (Tickel).

FOOTBALL. s. (foot and ball.) 1. A ball commonly made of a blown bladder, cased *with leather, driven by the foot (Waller). 2. The sport or practice of kicking the football (Arbuthnot).

FOOTBOY. s. (foot and boy.) A low menial; an attendant in livery (Boyle).

FOOTBRIDGE. s. A bridge on which passengers walk; a narrow bridge (Sidney). FOOTCLOTH. s. A sumpter cloth (Shak

speare).

FOOT DEROBE, in the manage. A horse's foot has this appellation when it is worn and wasted by going without shoes, so that, for want of hoof, it is a hard matter to shoe him. A horse's foot is said to be worn and wasted, called in French use, when he has but little hoof, and not enough for shoeing.

FOOT-FAT, in the manage. A horse is said to have a fat foot, when the hoof is so thin and weak, that unless the nails be driven very short, he runs the risk of being pricked in shoeing.

FOOT-HALT, the name of a particular disorder incident to sheep. It arises from an insect, which, when it comes to a certain maturity, resembles a worm of two, three, or four inches in length. The first appearance of the malady is, when the sheep give signs of being lame, which increases so far as to prevent his grazing; when, what with want of sufficient food, and pain, the poor animal suffers greatly, and lingers till it dies a natural death, if not properly attended to by extracting the insect; which is very easily done.

As soon as the lameness is perceived, let the foot that is lame be examined between the close of the claws, and it will be found that in

the skin where the close separates is a small hole (not natural), through which the insect, when yet small, gets its entrance, and by degrees has worked itself upwards along the leg, between the outward skin and bone, and obtains its largest magnitude. Proportionally it finds its nourishment, and is left undisturbed. This worm must be extracted by moving the claws backward and forward in contrary directions; and it will not be long before the under.part of the worm makes its appearance at the above-mentioned sinall hole; and continuing the same operation of moving the claws, the whole worm will work itself out; which is better than when at its first appearance it is attempted to be drawn out with dan ger of breaking off, for part of it might remain in the sheep's leg, and by its rotting there be hurtful .This easy and simple operation will be found effectual without any other kind of application whatever, nature herself curing the channel which the worm had made along the leg.

FOOTSTALK, has been put by English writers both for the peduncle and petiole. See PEDUNCULUS and PETIOLUS.

FOOTE (Samuel), an English_dramatic writer and performer, was born at Truro, in Cornwall, in 1722. His father was a justice of the peace for that county, and his mother sister to sir John Dinely Goodere, of Here fordshire, who was murdered by his brother, captain Goodere, at Bristol. Foote was edu cated at Worcester college, Oxford, from whence he removed to the Temple; but the liveliness of his mind did not suit with the profession of the law; he therefore abandoned it for the stage.

His first performance was in the character of Othello. In 1747 he opened the little theatre in the Haymarket, with a dramatic piece of his own, called, The Diversions of the Morning, which was represented above forty mornings to crowded audiences. The next season he brought forward another exhibition, called, An Auction of Pictures, in which he took off some of the most noted characters of the day. He still continued to play at one or other of the theatres, and frequently brought out new pieces. In 1760 he produced the Minor at his own house in the Haymarket, and from that time it became a summer theatre. In 1766 he had the misfortune to break his leg while on a visit to lord Mexborough's in the country, in consequence of which he was obliged to have it amputated. He now began to acquire a great deal of money, and his genius being very prolific, he every season produced some laughable caricature of persons well known; which filled the theatre, and consequently his pockets. In 1776 he attacked a lady, then the subject of much conversa➡ tion; but his piece was suppressed; and some charges were brought against him of a very serious nature, no less than of his having been guilty of an unnatural offence. He was ho nourably acquitted of this accusation; but it had a deep effect upon his mind, and the year fol

lowing he died at Dover, in his way to France, for the benefit of his health. His remains were brought to town, and interred in Westminster abbey. Foote has been called the English Aristophanes, and no greater proof can be given of his comic powers than in the following anecdote, related by Dr. Johnson: "The first time," says he, I was in company with Foote, was at Fitzherbert's. Having no good opinion of the fellow, I was resolved not to be pleased; and it is very difficult to please a man against his will. I went on eating my dinner pretty sullenly, affecting not to mind him; but the dog was so very comical, that I was obliged to lay down my knife and fork, throw myself back in my chair, and fairly laugh it out. Sir, he was irresistible." His dramatic works have been published in 4 vols.

8vo.

FOOTED. a. Shaped in the foot (Grew). FOOTFIGHT. s. A fight made on foot, in opposition to that on horseback (Sidney).

FOOTHOLD. s. Space to hold the foot; space on which one may tread surely (L'Estrange).

FOOTING. s. (from foot.) 1. Ground for the foot (Shakspeare). 2. Support; root (Dryden). 3. Foundation; basis (Locke). 4 Place; possession (Dryden). 5. Tread; walk (Milton). 6. Dance (Shaks.). 7. Steps; road; track (Bacon). 8. Entrance; beginning; establishment (Dryden). 9. State; condition; settlement (Arbuthnot).

FOOTLICKER. s. (foot and lick.) A slave; an humble fawner (Shakspeare).

FOOTMAN. s. (foot and man.) 1. A soldier that marches and fights on foot (Raleigh). 2. A low menial servant in livery (Bacon). 3. One who practises walking or running. FOOTMANSHIP. s. (from footman.) The art or faculty of a runner (Hayward).

FOOTPACE. s. (foot and pace.) 1. Part of a pair of stairs, whereon, after four or five steps, you arrive to a broad place (Moxon). 2. A pace no faster than a slow walk.

FOOTPAD. s. (foot and pad.) A highwayman that robs on foot.

FOOTPATH. s. (foot and path.) A narrow way which will not admit horses (Shakspeare).

FOOTPOST. s. (foot and post.) A post or messenger that travels on foot (Carew). FOOTSTALL. s. (foot and stall.) A woman's stirrup.

FOOTSTEP. s. (foot and step.) 1. Trace; track; impression left by the foot (Denham). 2. Token; mark; notice given (Bentley). 3. Example.

FOOTSTOOL. s. (foot and stool.) Stool on which he that sits places his feet.

FOP. s. (probably derived from the vappa of Horace, applied in the first satire of the first book to the wild and extravagant Nævius). A simpleton; a coxcomb; a man of small understanding and much ostentation; a pretender (Roscommon).

FO'PDOODLE. s. (fop and doodle.) A fool; an insignificant wretch (Hudibras).

FO'PPERY. s. (from fop.) 1. Folly; impertinence (Shakspeare). 2. Affectation of show, or importance; showy folly. 3. Foolery; vain or idle practice (Stilling fleet).

FO'PPISH. a. (from fop.) 1. Foolish; idle; vain (Shakspeare). 2. Vain in show; foolishly ostentatious (Garth).

FO'PPISHLY. ad. Vainly; ostentatiously. FO'PPISHNESS. s. Vanity; showy or ostentatious vanity.

FO'PPLING. s. (from fop.) A petty fop; an underrate coxcomb (Tickel).

4.

FOR. prep. (Fon, Saxon.) 1. Because of: he died for love (Hooker). 2. With respect to; with regard to: the troops for discipline were good (Stilling fleet). 3. In the character of: he stood candidate for his friend (Locke). With resemblance of: he lay for dead (Dryden). 5. Considered as; in the place of: rashness stands for valour (Clarendon). 6. In advantage of; for the sake of: he fights for fame (Cowley). 7. Conducive to this sickness is for good (Tillotson). 8. With intention of going to a certain place: he is gone for Oxford (Hayward). 9. In comparative respect: for height this boy is a man (Dryden). 10. With appropriation to: frieze is for old men (Shakspeare). 11. After O an expression of desire: O for better times (Shakspeare). 12. In account of; in solution of: I speak enough for that question (Burnet) 13. Inducing to as a motive: he had reason for his conduct (Tillotson). 14. In expectation of: he stood still for his follower (Locke). 15. Noting power of possibility: it is hard for me to learn (Taylor). 16. Noting dependence: for a good harvest there must be fine weather (Boyle). 17. In prevention of; for fear of: he wrapped up for cold (Bacon). 18. In remedy of: a medicine for the gout (Garretson). 19. In exchange of: money for goods (Dryden). 20. In the place of; instead of. a club for a weapon (Cowley). 21. In supply of; to serve in the place of (Dryden). 22. Through a certain duration: it lasted for a year (Roscommon). 23. In search of; in quest of: he went for the golden fleece (Tillotson). 24. According to: for aught I know, it was otherwise (Boyle). 25. Noting a state of fitness or readiness (Dryden). 26. In hope of: he wrote for money (Shakspeare). 27. Of tendency to; toward his wish was for peace (Knolles). 28. In favour of; on the part of: being honest ke fought for the king (Cowley). 29. Noting accommodation or adaptation: the tool is too brittle for the wood (Felton). 30. With_intention of the book was contrived for young students (Tillotson). 31. Becoming; belonging to: must is for a king (Cowley). 32. Notwithstanding: he might have entered for the keeper (Bentley). 33. To the use of; to be used in (Spenser). 34. In consequence of: he did it for anger (Dryden). 35. In recompense of; in return of: he worked for money formerly paid (Dryden). 36. In proportion to: he was tall for his age (Shakspeare). By means of; by interposition of: but for me you had failed (Hale). 38. In regard of; in

37.