408 HIDE -BOUND. 



the cuticle are no longer penetrated "by the hair, but separating 

 themselves in every direction, give that peculiar roughness to the 

 coat which accompanies want of condition. It betokens impaired 

 function of the vessels everywhere, and particularly those of the 

 stomach and bowels. Hide-bound is not so much a disease as a 

 symptom of disease, and particularly of the digestive organs ; and 

 our remedies must be applied not so much to the skin — although 

 we have, in friction and in warmth, most valuable agents in pro- 

 ducing a healthy condition of the integuments — as to the came 

 of the hide-bound, and the state of the constitution generally. 

 Every disease that can affect the general system may produce 

 this derangement of the functions of the skin. Glanders, when 

 become constitutional, is strongly indicated by the unthrifty ap- 

 pearance of the coat. Chronic cough, grease, farcy, and founder, 

 are accompanied by hide-bound ; and diet too sparing, and not 

 adequate to the work exacted, is an unfailing source of it. If 

 the cause is removed, the effect will cease. 



Should the cause be obscure, as it frequently is — should the 

 horse wear an unthrifty coat, and his hide cling to his ribs, with- 

 out any apparent disease, we shall generally be warranted in 

 tracing it to sympathy with the actual, although not demonstrable, 

 suspension of some important secretion or function, either of the 

 alimentary canal or the respiratory functions. A few mashes, and 

 a mild dose of physic, are first indicated, and, simple as they ap- 

 pear to be, they often have a very beneficial effect. The regular 

 action of the bowels being re-established, that of all the organs 

 of the frame will speedily follow. If the horse cannot be spared 

 for physic, alteratives may be administered. There is no better 

 alterative for hide-bound and an unthrifty coat, than that which 

 is in common use, pulverized antimony, nitre, and sulphur. The 

 peculiar effect of the antimony and sulphur, and electric influ- 

 ence on the skin, with that of the sulphur on the bowels, and 

 of the nitre on the urinary organs, will be here advantageously 

 combined. 



Should the horse not feed well, and there is no indication of 

 fever, a slight tonic may be added, as gentian or ginger ; but in 

 the majority of cases, attended by loss of condition and an un- 

 thrifty coat, and hide-bound, tonics and aromatics should be care- 

 fully avoided. 



The cause of the impaired action of the vessels being removed, 

 the powers of nature will generally be sufficient, and had better 

 be left to themselves. There are not any more dangerous medi- 

 cines in common use in the stable, and especially in cases like 

 these, than tonics and cordials. They often arouse to fatal action 

 a tendency to fever that would otherwise have slept, or they pro- 

 duce a state of" excitement near akin to fever, and apt to degen- 



