CONDITION OF HUNTERS RESUMED 291 



action, and deposit a considerable quantity of new 

 bone to supply its place. 



So much for the theory of big legs. They are eye- 

 sores, it is true ; but thousands of good hunters and 

 coach-horses have them, and are as sound as when 

 they were foaled. Indeed it is a rare circumstance 

 to see an old hunter's legs quite free from these 

 callosities, although not so rare since the indoor system 

 has been pursued in the summer months, as, by the 

 help of rest and proper regimen, absorption takes 

 place more freely. 



Barring the effects of severe accidents, nothing 

 more contributes to the general healthy state of a 

 horse's legs than keeping him internally clean, and 

 bandaging his legs with flannel after severe work, 

 so as not only to determine the blood to the skin, 

 but to increase the circulation of it throughout the 

 limb. Warm water and a loose box are auxiliaries. 

 The legs of many hunters, however, will get round, 

 do what we will with them ; but I would never take 

 active measures with them unless lameness were the 

 consequence. Bathing callous legs in cold salt water 1 

 is very strongly to be recommended. On this part 

 of my subject I shall quote Osmer, whose sentiments 

 so accord with my own, and with the result of my 

 experience in guarding against the consequence of 

 severe work. " To remove the inflammation of the 

 glands," says he, " and to prevent an induration and 

 enlargement of the ligamentous parts, and the integu- 

 ments of the fetlock joint — the consequence of re- 



^ Put two double handfuls of salt into a pail of cold water. 



