THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 321 



SWEATING. 



" My horse sweats easy," is a common complaint among horse 

 owners ; and as such view it in the light of a peculiar disease, the 

 practitioner must be prepared to prescribe for such cases. The 

 sweating seems to be the feature most regarded, and if that can 

 only be made to disappear, our employers are generally satisfied, 

 although they are not always solicitous to learn the real cause of it. 



Let us, therefore, in as brief a manner as possible, inquire into 

 the causes of increased transpiration of the fluids of the body. 



A large quantity of watery vapor is continually passing off 

 from the body of horses, and it may be very considerable, although 

 not sensible. If the atmosphere be warm and dry, it readily ab- 

 sorbs the cutaneous exhalation, so as to pass off unobserved ; 

 but on a damp day, when the atmosphere is highly charged with 

 vapor, — almost to saturation, or completely so, — then the ex- 

 halation from the surface is there condensed so as, occasionally, 

 to give the horse an appearance of being in a profuse sweat. 

 Under these circumstances, the amount of condensed perspira- 

 tion depends on the warmth, dryness, and motion of the sur- 

 rounding air. 



The motion of the atmosphere has considerable to do with 

 carrying off the insensible fluid. Many of our readers must have 

 observed that a horse will dry off quicker, and of course sweat 



is wet or exposed to a cold blast. He must have a good groom and a good 

 stable. Those who have both seldom have a horse that requires clipping ; but 

 when clipped, he must not want either. A long coat takes up a deal of mois- 

 ture, and is difficult to dry ; but whether wet or dry, it affords some defence to 

 the skin, which is laid bare to every breath of air when deprived of its natural 

 covering. Every one must know from himself whether wet clothing and a 

 wet skin, or no clothing and a wet skin, is the most disagreeable and danger- 

 ous. It is true that clipping saves the groom a great deal of labor. He can 

 dry the horse in half the time, and with less than half the exertion which a 

 long coat requires ; but it makes his attention and activity more necessary, for 

 the horse is almost sure to take cold if not dressed immediately. "When well 

 clothed with hair, he is in less danger, and not so much dependent on the care 

 of the groom. These observations contain the whole rationale of clipping, and 

 show it is inapplicable to farm horses; and as country grooms are usually 

 qualified, clipping would prove but problematically beneficial to the saddle or 

 harness horse of the farmer." 



