HYGIENE, UNSOUNDNESS, DISEASE. 269 



sharp teeth cause him much pain and irritate 

 him greatly. The dirt may be got out of the 

 skin with the brush and the currycomb should 

 be used to cleanse the brush, not the hide. In 

 coarse-coated horses naturally the use of the 

 currycomb on the skin is more or less necessary, 

 but it should always be used lightly. 



If horses in winter are forced to work so 

 hard that they must sweat freely and must 

 reach their stalls wet and uncomfortable, they 

 should be clipped and kept clipped all winter. 

 A horse with a long winter coat thoroughly sat- 

 urated with sweat will take from four to six 

 hours to dry out, the heat contained in his grain 

 ration being thus diverted from its proper uses. 

 On the other hand if he is clipped, rubbed off 

 lightly when he comes home and is then blank- 

 eted he will dry out in half an hour, remain 

 warm all night and his food will be utilized to 

 repair wasted tissue. If his work is such that 

 he does not sweat habitually, it does not make 

 much difference how long his coat is. 



Abortion is the most deadly foe of the horse 

 breeder. Whenever a mare slips her colt iso- 

 late her at once and if the fetus can be found 

 burn it or bury it deep in quicklime. Summon 

 professional assistance promptly in order that 

 the mare may be treated intelligently until the 

 parts resume their normal condition. No 

 breeder can afford to take any chances with 

 abortion. The veterinarian will flush out the 



