THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 91 



It is well to contrive that the operation be finished 

 at a time of day when yon can immediately give him a 

 good gallop in clothes ; but his remaining a night in his 

 box will not signify, if, instead of walking him out, as 

 usual, and letting him feel the loss of his coat, you warm 

 him at once, on his first going out. You thus guard 

 against any check to that insensible perspiration so 

 essential to man or beast. The surface of the new coat 

 is broken ; it, at once, adapts itself to the skin, assuming 

 a natural complexion; and the horse will never after seem 

 to regret his loss, if a little more care be taken, than 

 otherwise might have been, to avoid standing still too 

 long in a current of cold air, for the first two or three 

 times that he is out, after being lightened of his burthen, 

 I have been always in the habit of having my horses well 

 sponged over with tobacco-water — an infusion of tobacco 

 made about the strength of that which makes a good 

 wash to kill fleas in dogs. This used, as soon as the 

 clipping is finished, will cause the coat to lie smooth, if 

 it have no other effect ; but, I am inclined to think, it is 

 a preservative, also, from cold. Having had from ten to 

 twenty horses clipped, annually, according to this mode 

 of treatment, without one instance of mischief ensuing, 

 I can confidently recommend the custom, especially to 

 those with short studs ; as the clipped horse, having less 

 taken out of him, either in work or subsequent protracted 

 dressing, will come out at least a day sooner in his turn 

 than the rough- coated one. Singeing, with spirits of wine 

 lighted on tow, has the same effect, and has a very neat 



