On the General Treatment of the Feet. 155 



contraction of the heels and quarters, thai; no cure or caution cau 

 completely j^uard a«^ainst. Now, should any one be inclined to 

 doubtj that the use of litter is capable of altering the healthy condi- 

 tion of the frog", and of producing- running* thrushes, yet surely no 

 one will hesitate to admit, that the application of wet litter to a frogi 

 that has already become diseased, must, on account of its acrimony, 

 contribute materially to exasperate the complaint. For which reason, 

 Hoi*ses that are kept in stables, ought to stand through the day on* the 

 pavepient, which should be flat, and ought to be swept accurately, 

 clean. . And, as the liUer would by this means be less fitted for the 

 purpose of manure, on account of its being' less imbued witii the 

 animal's urine^ (the admixture of which with the straw, is of more im- 

 portance to the farmer than that of the foeces) stables ought to be so 

 constructed, as to carry off the Horse's urine into a proper recepta- 

 cle ; as by this means, it might be appropriated to the purpose of 

 any compost, instead of being permitted to mix itself with the litter, 

 or run to waste. But, besides contributing to the slow and gradual 

 contraction of the Feet, as well as to produce and exasperate run- 

 ning- thrushes, the practice of letting Horses stand upon litter, 

 through the day-time, lays them more open to the attack of that sud- 

 den inflammation in their Feet called a Founder, which 1 must here 

 observe ought to be distinguished from that chronic species of 

 Founder, that depends upon gradual contraction of the heels 

 and quarters, is slow in its progress, and consequently so, in the 

 exhibition of the lameness attendant upon it. For, the soft cushion 

 which the litter affords to the feet, (independently of the affair of 

 heat) must render them, less capable of bearing* violent and sudden 

 battering upon hard roads, during a long journey. 



