80 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



FEET AND LEGS. 



On the subject of feet it is not my intention to dwell, 

 supposing that none of you are disposed to consider 

 good and sound feet of less importance to a hunter 

 than a hack, and taking it for granted that, even in the 

 smallest studs of hunters, your head groom is capable of 

 counteracting thrushes (for which there is no excuse, 

 want of care and cleanliness being the prevailing causes), 

 and also of dealing with corns, wounds from stubs, and 

 all the minor diseases and injuries to which feet are liable. 

 It would be easy enough for me here to make extracts, 

 and fill many pages with matter not irrelevant upon the 

 treatment of lamenesses, by gleanings from professional 

 lore ; but it w^ll be far easier for you, in any case re- 

 quiring more than common attention, to send for the 

 veterinarian professor of your district, and you will profit 

 far more by his timely assistance than by the practical use 

 of the most that could be written for your learning. As a 

 simple rule, in the observance of which you cannot err, 

 whenever you have reason to suspect that the foot is the 

 seat of lameness, off with the shoe in the first instance, 

 and place the foot in a poultice; or, which is still better, 

 let the horse stand up to his knee in hot water. 

 Your stable should be provided with buckets made for 

 this especial purpose. The benefits of hot water, as 

 applied externally to the animal frame of man or beast, 

 are incalculable. I say externally, not wishing to be 

 mistaken either for a disciple of Sangrado, or for a tee- 



