Ti THE GREASE, 



outside, and leave it to dry by its own evapora* 

 tion. On the other hand, if tlie hair has been 

 cut off close to the heels, both water and dirt 

 will have access to them, and when the pastern 

 bends during progression, a very considerable 

 friction is produced, which must consequently 

 irritate the surface of the skin. When the ani- 

 mal returns from his daily labour, the legs are 

 washed with cold water, and except they are 

 well rubbed with straw or the hand (a benefit 

 which seldom falls to the lot of ordinary horses) 

 they are suffered to become dry in a natural 

 way ; but whilst this evaporation is going on, 

 the legs are extremely cold for two or three 

 hours, and the skin being deprived of its own 

 fluid, which it secretes in order to preserve its 

 pliancy, becomes corrugated and inflamed, and 

 swelling of the cellular membrane ensues, with 

 all its bad consequences. 



In objection to this doctrine it will probably 

 be argued, that blood horses are not thus furnish- 

 ed 



