MANAGEMENT OF THE FEET. 253 
When cold lotions are to be applied by means of bandages, linen is the 
proper material, as flannel is too bad a conductor of heat, by evaporation, 
for the purpose. The whole bandage, after being rolled up moderately 
tightly, should be dipped in cold water, or in the lotion which may be 
recommended, and then while quite wet it is to be applied in the way 
which I have just described. The following lotion is useful for the 
purpose :— 
Take of Tincture of Arnica a wine-glassful. 
»  Nitre 3 oz. 
» Sal ammoniac 1 oz. 
» Water half a bucketful, 
Mix and use by dipping the bandages in before applying them, and by wetting 
them with this solution afterwards by means of a sponge. 
If the groom is careful, he may remove inflammation of the legs better 
by means of dipping them in cold water, or the above lotion may be 
applied with a sponge every half-hour, holding each leg over the bucket, 
than with the aid of bandages. A cold douche by means of a forcing 
garden engine is also extremely beneficial to the legs, but it must be 
used out of doors, as it will wet the litter and the walls of the stall if the 
water is splashed over them within doors. 
For Drying anp WarRMING THE Lecs when the horse is being dressed, 
flannel is the only proper material for bandages. Its mode of application 
is not of much consequence, provided the bandages are put on moderately 
loosely, for tight pressure has a tendency to prevent the return of natural 
heat, which is so much desired. After wetting the legs the bandages 
should be applied somewhat more tightly, so as to absorb the moisture as 
much as possible. 
MANAGEMENT OF THE FEET. 
IN THE STABLED HORSE THE FEET require constant care, for they are not 
only artificially shod, but they are allowed to stand on a material which is 
a much worse conductor of heat than the surface of the earth, by nature 
designed to bear them. Hence, if neglected, they either become hard and 
brittle, or they are allowed to be constantly wet, and then the soft covering 
of the frog is decomposed, and emits a disagreeably smelling discharge, 
which soon wastes it away, leaving no other protection to the sensible 
organ beneath, and constituting what is called an ordinary thrush. Again, 
it is found by experience, that not only must the shoes be renewed as they 
wear out, but even if no work is done, and consequently they are not 
reduced in size, they no longer fit at the expiration of about three weeks, 
and they must then be removed, to allow of a portion of the sole and crust 
being cut away before they are again put on. The groom must therefore 
attend to the following points :—Virst, to prevent the feet from becoming 
too dry; secondly, to take measures against their becoming thrushy 
from wet ; thirdly, to see that the shoes are removed at the end of every 
three weeks, or more frequently if necessary; and fourthly, to examine 
carefully every day that they are securely nailed on without any of the 
clenches having started up from the surface, so as to endanger the 
other leg. 
DRYNESS OF THE FEET is prevented by the use of what is called stopping, 
which is composed either of cow-dung alone, or cow-dung and clay mixed, 
or of cow-dung and pitch. The"first is by far the most powerful applica- 
tion, but it moistens the sole too much if employed every night, and then 
