838 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



consequences which accompany such an event. A gun should 

 never be laid aside without being washed, if even a single 

 shot has been fired with it, as the evaporation of the salt- 

 petre contained in the composition of gunpowder attracts 

 the moisture, and that will attract oxygen from the atmo- 

 sphere, and produce a corrosive and destructive rust. The 

 barrel is washed out by means of a little tow or rag wrapped 

 round the screw-end, with hot water if possible, and when 

 well cleaned out must be rendered thoroughly dry by means 

 of dry tow, or flannel used in the same manner. When the 

 fowling-piece is laid aside for the season, if a perfectly dry 

 situation can be had, it will be unnecessary to use any other 

 means for its preservation than stopping up the muzzle with a 

 cork, and the motion-hole with a small piece of wood ; and then 

 let it be rubbed externally once a week, or even a fortnight, 

 with a dry cloth. If, however, a dry situation cannot be had, 

 then the barrel and cock may be rubbed with sheep's fat or 

 neat's-foot oil. These should be freed from the acid, which 

 all oils contain, by means of some small pieces of lead put 

 into the bottle, and leaving the cork out, when, if exposed to 

 the sun, it will be found that all the feculent matter will have 

 adhered to the lead, which must now be removed and the 

 bottle stopped, to prevent the atmosphere from rendering it 

 rancid, and consequently embued with acid. 



2. In the operation of loading care must be taken to ram 

 the shot home close to the powder, so that no vacuum is left 

 intervening, otherwise the barrel may burst on being dis- 

 charged. If a bullet is used which exactly fits the bore the 

 greatest caution is necessary on this point. 



3. Take care in leaping a ditch that no earth or snow 

 accidentally fills up the muzzle of the gun, as it is almost 

 certain to burst when discharged. It is also well known, 

 that if the muzzle of the gun-barrel is put into water, even 



