ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOGY. 203 



to be in fine condition, but, if put to work, will be found to sweat 

 freely after slight exertion and to tire easily. His condition 

 should be hardened by gradual work or exercise. 



Neglect of sanitary care of the feet, by allowing the horse 

 to stand in manure, or in urine-soaked mud, will bring on thrush, 

 scratches, and other diseases of the soft tissues of the feet. 



Neglect of grooming is responsible for loss of condition, 

 thus making the horse liable to disease. Much of the excretion 

 of waste tissues is done through the pores. If this way of ex- 

 cretion is closed because of the clogging of the pores, the waste 

 tissues will accumulate near the surface, impeding the flow of 

 blood in the capillaries, the hair will appear lusterless and dead, 

 through being badly nourished, the dead cells of the skin will fill 

 the coat. The horse will appear listless and irritable. His vi- 

 tality will be low and he will be ready to receive and foster the 

 germs of disease. If he is thoroughly groomed, the circulation 

 will be stimulated instead of retarded, excretion will go on prop- 

 erly, and the coat will show its healthy condition and that of 

 the skin beneath by its smooth luster. Grooming does not ben- 

 efit the coat by smoothing it, but by cleaning the skin. The 

 smoothing of the coat is the merest incidental. 



Bad forage is responsible for diseases of respiration and 

 digestion. Dusty hay is hay that has not been properly cured 

 and that breaks up into minute dust-like particles. These par- 

 ticles are sharp and irritating to the mucous membrane of the 

 lungs, and render it liable to disease. Musty or sour hay, grain, 

 or bran produce indigestion and, ultimately, colic. 



Reference has been made to the order of watering and 

 feeding. First water, then hay, then grain, — no water for at 

 least two hours after grain. A horse that has been all day at 

 work comes in at night ravenously hungry. If he finds his oats 

 in the manger, he will rush at them, bolting them without chewing 

 them. With their hard husk, which is mostly cellulose, un- 

 broken, they pass through the stomach undigested, to lie in the 



