HIDE-BOUND. 301 



The pied horse is in many instances an attractive animal, 

 although seldom used as a riding-horse. If more than half- 

 bred and well matched, thej are showy in a carriage. They 

 are, however, liable to have Avhite legs and feet, points not 

 desirable in any horse. 



IIIDE-BOUiYD. 



Symptoms. — This complaint consists of an alteration in 

 the substance of the skin, proceeding from a hardness and 

 unyieldingness of texture, in consequence of the want of 

 the ordinary oily secretion on its surface, as well as in its 

 whole parts. The skin to the touch has a dry and rigid 

 feel, which proceeds from a want of energy in the vessels of 

 the skin, rendering them unfit to perform their functions, 

 and indeed in th.e vessels of the stomach and bowels, which 

 must affeci those of the whole system. 



This rigidity of the cuticle naturally causes a dryness in 

 the scales which cover it ; and these being separated in all 

 directions, turn the hairs in that irregular manner, and 

 produce the rough, uneven coat, which is termed staring, 

 always indicating a want of condition in the animal. This 

 complaint may rather be considered as the concomitant of 

 disease, than the ailment itself ; for the root of the evil is 

 seated in the stomach and bowels. This being the case, we 

 must apply the remedy to the seat of the disease, as well as 

 to the skin itself. 



Cause — This state of the skin accompanies various com- 

 plaints, consequently the first thing we must look to is to 

 discover its cause. Farcy, founder, chronic cough, grease, 

 and glanders, when they have assumed the constitutional 

 character, are all accompanied by an impaired state of the 

 digestive organs ; and to them our first remedies must be 

 applied ; and so soon as the cause is i-emoved the skin 



