374 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



stones, flint, and dirt, between the sole and shoe, 

 which it is likely would take place but for this pro- 

 tection. 



WATER AND POULTICE BOOTS. 

 WATER-BOOT. PLATE XI, FIG. 7. 



Considerable difficulty has been experienced in keep- 

 ing diseased feet effectually wet by the application of a 

 poultice. The usual method has been to put the poultice 

 in a piece of old rag or sacking, and set the foot into it, 

 and to tie the edges of the cloth round the fetlock. It 

 must be obvious that the pressure of the foot will soon 

 displace that portion under the sole, where probably it 

 may be most required. Besides this, the cloth is 

 liable to be cut through by the crust, and consequently 

 the greater portion of the application escapes. 



The poultice and water-boot is constructed with a 

 leather bottom, defended by iron plating of different 

 sizes. When required for the application of a poultice, 

 a linen drill top is only necessary ; but when required 

 for a continued application of cold or warm water, it is 

 necessary to have two or three thicknesses of bath- 

 coating sewed together, and cut of a proper form for 

 the top. In order that the whole foot may be sub- 

 jected to moisture, a bottom consisting of two or three 

 pieces of this cloth are sewed together, of the exact 

 form and size required. The top must be soaked in 

 water, and this will naturally descend to the bottom of 

 the boot, where it is absorbed by the doubles of cloth. 

 To keep the boot duly moist, it would be proper to 

 dip the foot with the boot on into a pail of water 

 occasionally through the day, and immediately before 

 shutting the stable for the night. In this way the 

 cooling moisture may be kept up for any length of 

 time. 



