68 MODERN FARRIER. 



astringent ointment mentioned above should be 

 changed for the following : 



Yellow resin, - - 4 ounces. 

 Olive oil, - - - half an ounce. 

 Red nitrated quicksilver in 



fine powder, - - half an ounce. 



In all cases of grease, exercise on clean and dry 

 ground is of the highest consequence ; and if he be 

 weak, a liberal allowance of corn, with careful 

 grooming, is of great service. When the disease is 

 subdued, a run at grass is highly proper. For pre- 

 venting a return, cleanliness and frequent hard rub- 

 bing is essentially necessary ; and a horse whose 

 legs are disposed to swell should be bandaged after 

 hard work, and the bandage moistened with alum , 

 and water. | 



' It is a general, but a very erroneous opinion,' 

 says IMr. Lawrence, that the hair harbours dirt, 

 and consequently promotes the disorder. But the 

 contrary is the fact. From the hair being longer at 

 the heels than in any other part of the leg, it is ] 

 clear that nature had some particular reason for that i 

 difference ; and that reason is, on a moment's consi- t 

 deration, self-obvious : namely, for the defence of a 

 part which is more exposed to friction than the rest ] 

 of the limb. This hair, by lying close to the skin, ; 

 shields it from the action of the dirt, which, when ,] 

 the heels are trimmed close, always insinuates itself, j 

 and by rubbing the skin irritates it and inflames it \ 

 to a considerable degree ; for when the hair is cut I 

 close, that which is left does not lie smooth, but ) 

 stands out endways like a brush, and thus easily 

 admits mud, and clay, and every other kind of dirt. ■ 

 The skin secretes a natural oily fluid, for the pur- i 

 pose of keeping it soft and flexible ; but when it is ] 

 thus exposed by trimming off the hair, this fluid is j 

 rubbed off by friction, and the skin becoming hard 

 and dry, soon cracks, and the grease ensues. 



