Manual of British Rural Sports

ACCIDENTS IN TRAINING. 453 tendency to too great a loss of flesh, th n it is desirable to allow considerable change from day to day; and, as far asis prudent, to comply with the particularlancies of the palate. Many stomachs bear port wine well ; and in those who have a tendency to diarrhoea it is often indispensable. Others, again, are purged by oatmeal, and this is a sufflcicnt reasonfor avoiding porridge. In some all the bread should be toasted, to prevent diarrhoea, whilst in others, when constipation is present, coarse brown bread, made from the genuine undressed flour, is a good remedy for that troublesome evil. Whatever bread is eaten should be two days old, and the beef and mutton hung as long asthe weather will permit. The best part of the sheep for chops is the leg of a two or three-year -oldwether; and for steaks, a well-hung rump or the inside of the sirloin. It is often the practice to all w the crew to put into a river-side tavern during the hours of practice, and take half a pint or a pint of beer or porter each. This plan I am sure isbad, the strengthought never to depend upon immediate stimuli, and it is far better to shorten the practice than to keep it up by these means. I am quite sure that in training there are very few who require more than three pints, or at the outside two quarts of good beer per day, of the strength of five bushels to the hogshead; and the average quantity required is cer­ tainly not more than two pints and a half per man. Allowance must of course be made for previous habits, and for strength or weakness of constitution. In theearly days of practice, and in the race itself, great distress sometimes occurs; there is con­ siderable blueness of the face from conges­ tion, and the breathing is laboured and difficult. The best remedy for this state is a glassof warm brandy and water, and plenty of hard friction on the feet, legs, and thighs; or, If it still persists, a warm bath t 98 degrees. CHAP. IIL TREATMENT OF ACCIDENTS •W. B LISTERSOP THE H ANDS AND F EET 'liese troublesome little companions occur e .ner on the hands from rowing, or on the ^ ' rom walking; in both cases without u 2 preparation. They also occur in a still moretroubiesome situation, either from the inwart in rowing, or flroin the saddle in "Si but in the lattercase onlyin the t i' - v ra . 1£ ' an< lyoung equestrian. Should nrint a f ISeon tlle baiids, they should be P ed with a flue needle, if this can be nhnnii^ f 6t ' ley ' iave burst. The needle fluiH inserted obliquely, and the watery h, ., m COn j aine ' i in tlle blister should then sscd out; and this should be repeated «won as the blister has filled a second or air is I nthis way the contact of the skin 11/. ' aiu ' 'n two days the true scarf.^?" 168 protected by a new cuticle or brokon £ uu ' ortunat ely, the blister is collfMiinn • ^ P lan is t0 apply some a „ bra3h ; " gives con- than «ivi? 8 se ldom remains on more reneivii l Tf r Jt afte . r wllich time it requ res then nrmi,. .!? e pain of th i s i s objected to, cotton in e ^ er flnel y-carded (medicated) layer mider a kid ^ove, or Mf tho l j 6 gurn arub lc; but in either carefully umfwi" 1 " 8 ' be kept from water • 1111111 the expirationof 24 hours. OCCURRING IN TRAINING. If possible,three dayshould elapse before the oar is again taken in hand; but if the oarsman cannot be spared, a kid glove should be put on over the collodion. Whe the feet are the seat of the mischief, there is the same necessity for the preservation of the cuticle, and the needle should be used In the same way; it; however, this protection Is removed, a piece of fine kid should be spread with soap plaister, and applied over the skin, extending for at least half anInch beyond the blister In every dir ction. This treatment answers on the feet, while on the hands it is wholly useless, because the friction of the oar soon rubs ff the plalster, while under the shoe it remains tolerably well and smoothly applied. Where the bhster exists on the seatof honour, in consequence of the friction of the thwart, it is v y difficult to manage, and I have seen hundreds of men with their flannel trousers extensively stained with blood fr m this cause. Collodion Is the best remedy, but even that Is of little use, and the only plan I haveever known at all effectual Is to wear apair of tight wash- leather drawers, extending only a few Inches down the thighs. If these are made to fit very nicely, and are well-oiledwith neatsfoot-oil, they willafford astonishing