92 



THE ADVENTURES OP A GENTLEMAN 



brittle. This is easily demonstrated by soaking two 

 hoofs of opposite colors and equal weight, in water : 

 the white hoof will become heavier than the other 

 when saturated with water, and will become dry 

 again far sooner. It is also quite notorious among 

 farriers, that when a horse is lame, having one foot 

 white and the other black, the disease is generally 

 found in the white foot. So common is this prepos- 

 session against white feet, that I have known instan- 

 ces of the hoof being stained by chanters ; but 

 while I admit that a preference is due to the dark 

 hoof, I cannot say that I would reject a horse for the 

 want of it. 



