CHAPTER IV 



nature's vinaigrette 



I HAVE often wondered, Count, what the dry grey warts on 

 the inside of each foreleg of the horse, and about the size 

 of a silver dollar, could be intended for. They are the only 

 spot on all his beautiful body that could be called unsightly, 

 and so I questioned an owner and breeder of fine horses. 



' And what did he tell you ? ' 



He said that he had thought the osselets, for so he called 

 them, a sort of safety-valve through which the blood was 

 rid of its impurities. So when one of his horses had 

 ' scratches ' he peeled off the layers as close as he could, 

 and watched the results. When the ' scratches ' went away, 

 he attributed the cure to what he had done, but admitted 

 that it may have had no influence. He thought also that 

 when the horse rubs his nose against his legs he may be 

 trying to peel off the layers, and thus get relief from some 

 little ailment. Is this your theory also. Count ? 



' Ah, madam, that is a question that has been asked over 

 and over again by men of science, of deep practical learn- 

 ing and observation, without discovering any satisfactory 

 reply. We all know that before the foal is born, the fore- 

 legs are joined together at the osselets. I have made 



