110 VALUE OF CLOTHING AND CLEANLINESS. 



in the depth of winter with a blue blouse over a warm coat. 

 The smock-frock seems to be destined to catch all the wind, 

 and appears at first sight to be a cold garment, but experi- 

 ence teaches us the reverse, and science explains its teachings. 

 As the best material to keep a body warm is that which 

 carries the heat off with, greatest difficulty, so do we find that 

 all substances, such as wool and feathers, which imprison a 

 considerable amount of non-conducting air around an animal, 

 are those which are best calculated to maintain the heat of 

 the body. The blouse, like a light linen sheet thrown over 

 a common horse-rug, has a stratum of air beneath it which 

 is an admirable non-conductor. We obtain the largest 

 amount of heat with the least possible inconvenience to the 

 animal in that way; and it is for this reason, that in bandag- 

 ing the cold limbs of a sick animal, the bandages should be 

 put loosely round the limbs, and not rolled round as if they 

 were intended to nip the horse's legs in two. Hay and 

 straw bands should also be rolled lightly round the limbs 

 when required, and a very desirable way of favouring a 

 healthy exhalation by the skin, and still keeping sick animals 

 warm, is to place a layer of straw between a horse's skin and 

 a common rug. 



I look upon clothing in changeable and cold climates as 

 essential, especially for horses; but I am anxious that it 

 should be employed with judgment, and especially that the 

 groom's labour should not be saved by such a preposterous 

 practice as that of cutting a horse's natural coat off, and 

 making up the deficiency by means of sweltering and un- 

 healthy horse-rugs. 



The clothing used for animals is not often beaten, brushed, 

 and washed, but it is very essential to attend to cleanli- 

 ness in this way. I have known the most violent irrita- 

 tion of the skin kept up to a great extent by foul clothing 





