74 CHAPTER 6. 



ing cold. On the contrary, for the above reasons, we believe it increases 

 the liability. 



Though it is especially essential, for the reasons given in the preceding 

 paragraph, that horses which are wet from sweating should be dried 

 immediately on their return from work ; yet the above remarks, though 

 in a less degree, apply also to all horses which, from any cause, such as 

 rain or the state of the road, return wet to their stables. 



116. Extremities to be dried first. 



It should be a standing rule that the legs should be dried before the 

 body, both because the circulation gets feebler in proportion as the part 

 is distant from the heart, and because all parts which, like the legs in the 

 horse, or like the hands and feet in man, expose a large surface in pro- 

 portion to their bulk to the action of external cold and evaporation, are 

 peculiarly susceptible of chill. If two horses return from work at the 

 same time, both sweating or wet, in charge of only one servant, the legs 

 of both should be dried and bandaged before the bodies of either are 

 touched ; but in such case it is essential that rugs be thrown over the 

 bodies of both horses. 



117. Special precautions in regard to the "back and, loins, 



Many a cough or cold is produced by injudiciously removing the saddle, 

 and exposing the heated back and loins to the cold, whilst the groom is 

 employed about the extremities. It should be a standing rule not to 

 remove the saddle or harness until the servant is ready to dry the back. 

 In addition to this precaution, if the horse is hot, a rug should during 

 the intervening period be thrown over the loins and back ; and if very 

 hot, a second rug should be added across the loins. 



118. Of washing the skin. 



Water has very little effect in cleansing the skin of a horse. The 

 hair acts as a thatch, and water penetrates through it with difficulty, ex- 

 cept when it is out of order, and then acts as an irritant. Besides this, 

 it tends to check the action of the oil glands, and to render the coat dry 

 and harsh by removing the oily secretion. 



Water, therefore, should not be applied to the coat, except with the 

 view of washing off external mud, and so saving time and trouble to the 

 servant. In all such cases, however, it is necessaiy that the part be dried 

 immediately, or skin disease, such as cracked heels, grease, and mud 

 fever, will probably soon appear. 



119. Of drying the legs. 



The legs should not be washed. The mud and dirt should be removed 

 by rubbing the legs with loose wisps of straw and ordinary rubbers. 

 This, though by far the best practice, is troublesome to servants. 



