The Code of Health and Longevity

ONATHLETIC EXERCISES. 159 will not have that ftrength andaftivity which hehad be­ fore under his athletic weight, whichmay be owing to the lofs of weight going on after he arrives at his athle­ tic weight, and then falling on the heart, blood and mufcles, which muft neceffarily occafion a lofs of adtivi- ty and ftrength. It is known by experience, that a cock cannot ftand above twenty-four hours at his athletic weight, and that a cock has changed very much for the worfe in twelve hours. When a cock is at the top of his condition, that is, when he is at his athletic weighty his head is of a glowing red colour, his neck thick, andhis thigh firm •, the day after, his complexion is lefs glow­ ing, his neck thinner, andhis thigh fofter ; and the third day his thigh will be very foft and flaccid. Four game­ cocks reduced to their athletic weights were killed, and found to be very full of blood, with large hearts, large mufcles, and no fat. The athletic weight of an animal is a very dangerous weight, by p. 67, andHipp. Aph. 3. Seft. 1. Fevers and apoplexies are the diforders which commonly happen to animals, under or near their athle­ tic weights. Horfes fed upon dry food, are much more fubjed to fevers and apoplexies than thofe fed upon grafs ; and the former are much nearer their athletic weights than the latter. TRAINING JOCKIES. Extratt of a Letter from a Gentleman, dated 19th Sep" te??iber 1806. WHENthe word " draining" is applied to a jockey, preparing himfelf to ride a race, it is mofl completely mifapplied ; the term Ihould be " Wafling." For by trainings we undcrftand a man or animal put into a Hate capable