FEEDING. 219 



air fouled by repeated breathing is a blood poison. Burn- 

 ing gas unduly heats the air and contaminates it. "Scruta- 

 tor," whose opinions are always worthy of being taken to 

 heart, wrote, " I had much rather keep a horse in a barn 

 during the winter months, with good warm clothing, than 

 in such a place as our common stables ; and I am quite 

 satisfied he would enjoy better health, and be less liable to 

 catch cold, or subject to diseases of any kind, and would do 

 much more work, than any hot-house plant." 



There is a great deal too much bandaging in our stables. 

 In the case of cold damp legs broad flannel bandages, four 

 to five yards long, may be rolled on loosely and evenly, but 

 should never remain on longer than four or five hours. 

 When removed the legs must be rapidly but lightly hand- 

 rubbed. During continuous wet weather, when the roads 

 are muddy, or in the hunting season, what is termed "clay 

 fever," an affection of the skin of the legs, may to some 

 extent be warded off by, in lieu of washing the legs, on the 

 horse's return to the stable, putting on rough thick woollen 

 bandages, or those of peat-wool, and letting them remain 

 on whilst he is being cleaned. The mud will thus harden 

 and peel off, any remaining being brushed off. Wet linen 

 bandages, soaked in arnica lotion (mix one fluid ounce of 

 tincture of arnica with fifteen of water), are of great use 

 in averting a tendency to enlargement of, or heat in the 

 back tendons, so common after hard work : they must be 

 kept constantly saturated. 



Dark stables injuriously aftect the eyesight. White 

 glazed wall tiles over the manger have a similar tendency. 



Never allow the groom to cut or pull the long hairs out 

 of the horse's ears. 



If a horse comes home very tired rub, pull, and dry his 

 ears well. Should he when once dry break out again into 



