TREATMENT. 13 



blood of a healthy horse, after his daily 

 exercise, be so unnaturally forced into the 

 vessels of the heels, which are of such a 

 delicate and tender construction ? 



Hoofs only (after being cleared with the 

 picker) should be washed clean in cold water, 

 with the hand or a sponge, but never with 

 the brush; nor should hoofs be oiled daily, 

 it fevers the hoof and socket, softens the 

 horn, causes rot and disease of the fetlock 

 and pattern, and, at least, always makes the 

 feet tender. Oiling hoofs is never suffered 

 in the Army. 



The custom of " stopping horses' feet " 

 with cow-dung, is also erroneous and injurious, 

 and fills the pores of the horn and channels 

 of the frog with rank filth; in cases of 

 fever or other unnatural heat in the Foot, 

 stop the hoof, when necessary, with tow soak- 

 ed in warm vinegar and water, and keep it 

 and the leg bathed with the same mixture ; 

 hoofs should never be hard, dry, and brittle, 

 nor hot and soft, but should be so managed 

 (with a little oil, perhaps once a month, if requi- 

 c 



