The Code of Health and Longevity

282 APPENDtX. care was taken, to have the ikin wellrubbed withwarm dry flannel. Diet, the venifon parts of legs of mutton, beef-fteaks, lightly done, old and llrong malt liquor ; which I perceive agrees with the account given by a clergyman, who lived within a mile ortwo ofSmith's refidence. " As to game-cocks, I fear Ifhall not beable to give you any particular information. The following is what 1 have obtained from a cock-feeder. He thinksthe fur periority of particular breeds depends upon parentage, and that ofthe femaleof moft importance. He remarks, that he has feen verygood fighting chickens, out of a true high-bred game-hen, got by adunghil cock ; but chickens out of a dunghil hen, by a game-cock, are on­ ly fit for the fpit. Shape, neither too fmall nor too large, but lengthy ; for the firft is weak and tedious in fighting, the other unwieldy and inaftive, and confe- quently flow in returninghis blow and both very diffi­ cult to match in along main. The head fmall, a quick eye, and a ftrong back ;the mufcles of the thigh full and flrong, fland ftraight, flately in walking, nar­ row heel, that upon every rifing he fo hits his adverfary, that hedraws bloodat every blow, threatening his ad­ verfary with immediate death. They are at their prime for fighting at two and three years old. After that age they becomelumpy, and gain fomuch flefh as to. become unwieldy. They fhould be rought up at corn- walks, and where there is goodwater :generally taken up about ten daysbefore fighting ; and fuch as require to be reduced, they phyficwith rhubarb and creamof tartar, which is feldom givenmore than once, and by which theywill be reduced inweight about three ounces in twenty-fourhours. Many cocks,from tendernefs of conflitution.