Litter. 229 



the shod feet of thosfr that stand constantly on litter (a fact I think 

 not easily controvertible) it must be pretty plain, that the use of litter 

 is highly inimical to the feet. I am of opinion, moreover, that the 

 practice of letting Horses stand upon Litter is injurious to their feet, 

 for other reasons than merely this of accelerating contraction. For, 

 I cannot but consider that the soft cushion which the straw furnishes 

 to the feet, must render the elastic fibres that connect the hoof to the 

 coffin-bone, less capable of bearing the shocks which they are neces- 

 sarily subjected to, when the Horse is galloped or trotted on our arti- 

 ficial roads. 



Thus, it sometimes happens, that Horses which are just taken up 

 from grass, and immediately rode fast upon hard roads, are affected 

 with acute inflammation in these fibres, (which is denominated a 

 sudden founder in their feet) in consequence of the very gentle and 

 gradual nature of the extension, previously given to them, whilst the 

 animal was in the field. The chief means however, by which 

 Litter becomes prejudicial to the foot of the Horse, is by heat- 

 ing it; and this it does, not by communicating heat to, but by con- 

 fining it in, that organ. For, the materials of which Litter is com- 

 posed, being slow conductors of heat, will prevent the hoof from ever 

 becoming so cool, and by consequence so pliable, as it would other- 

 wise be, in case the Horse stood upon the pavement, the mate- 

 rials of which, being better conductors of heat, than straw, though 

 actually not much colder, will more rapidly carry off the heat from 

 the hoof. 



But, we are misled by our feelings on this important point, and 

 obeying their immediate impulse, our language (philosophically 

 speaking) becomes incorrect. For, if cotton, wool or fur, which 



3M 



