THE CAKE OF HORSES. 309 



vinegar. The blue vitriol, about two ounces, nun- be 

 put in a quart bottle of water, filled with vinegar, the 

 vinegar to be used when it has aquired a rich green 

 or blue tinge. It is best applied by means of a small 

 oil can with a spout. Thus the liquid can be directed 

 where it is needed, without touching the sound parts 

 of the foot. Tar and many other remedies are also 

 used for thrush. 



When the horse is groomed in the morning, his feet 

 should be well picked out, and in summer washed. 

 In most good stables, the foot is washed also when 

 the horse comes in. I have noticed that horses seem 

 to enjoy this process ; and a thorough soaking of the 

 hoof when they are groomed in the morning, and 

 again when they come in after work, will go far to 

 keep their feet soft and healthy. Care should be 

 taken, especially in winter, that nothing but the hoof 

 is wetted. It is very easy for the groom to splash a 

 little water on the heels and under the fetlock, and 

 thus scratches may be induced. For this reason, the 

 safer plan is to omit washing the foot in winter unless 

 your groom happens to be absolutely trustworthy. 



At grass, the foot never becomes hard, but when 

 the horse stands on straw or wood it is apt to become 

 hard and dry, and many horses require to have their 

 feet stopped once a week. The time-honored material 

 for this purpose is a mixture of cow-dung and earth ; 

 but if it be used, the foot should be well washed the 

 next morning with soap and water. In cit} 7 stables, 

 oil-meal and bran are commonly employed. A recent 

 invention for this object is petrolatum, — a packing 

 saturated with petroleum. It comes in pails which 

 aro sold at $1.50 apiece, and a pail will last a long 



