COLOFB OF THE HAIR, 297 



tb8 instrument as evenly as possible. It must then, be dipped 

 in naphtha and liglited, and drawn gently over the coat U 

 the horse, taking care not to go too deep at once, but 

 repeating it frequently until the hair be burnt as close to 

 the skin as possible. During this operation a blunt table- 

 knife must be held in the left hand, with which to scrape 

 out the flame from time to time, to preveno it burning 

 too deep in any part, as well as to preserve the skin from 

 being blistered. The singed hair must always be scraped 

 carefully ofi' before the flame be re-applied. The same part 

 should not be singed several times in succession without 

 allowing it to cool thoroughly, otherwise great irritation and 

 fever may be induced. In singeing the neck, the mane 

 must be turned to the opposite side to that which it is 

 intended to burn, and a wet brush should be passed over 

 the roots of it, to prevent the flame running over it. We 

 would recommend that the operation of singeing should 

 not be done all at one time, but by degrees on several 

 successive davs. 



COLOUR OF THE HAIR. 



Fashion too frequently regulates the prevailing colour of 

 horses, because, as we have already observed, the colour of 

 the coat is dependent upon chemical action, and conse- 

 quently the constitution of the animal is connected with it. 

 It will be found that there is also a sympathy between tlie 

 colour of the hair and that of the eyes. The three primi- 

 tive colours in the horse are white, red, and black ; and all 

 the intermediate shades are modifications of these. ]\Iilk- 

 white horses have very often wall-eyes, while blacks have 

 dark liazel, and cliestnut brown, varying in intensity witli 

 the depth of colour. 



Black horses have in general excel lent constitutluns. In 



2ii 



