64 ON THE (ECONOMY OF THE STABLE. 



contrived, more ferviceable, as well as more 

 beautifying, to harnefs. As to conftantly greaf- 

 ing and flopping the feet of horfes with dung, 

 and the various compofitions in immemorial 

 ufe, all which I difcontinued in my own prac- 

 tice, from my firft perufal of Mr. Clarke's book, 

 about the year 1782 ; according to the beft ob- 

 fervations I have been able to make, their gene- 

 ral tendency is to heat, dry, and harden ; and if 

 it be allowed, that the hinder feet, in a flovenly 

 ftable, grow faft from {landing conftantly foaked 

 in dung, and urine, yet fuch is not a found, but 

 a fungous and preternatural growth and en- 

 laro-ement of the bottom of the hoof, which, in 

 the meantime, aflumes a deep and improper 

 fhape, becoming hot and contraQed above. 

 The flune falfe kind of horn is obferved to 

 fhoot very quick, from the hoof being con- 

 ftantly bathed by the difcharge of greafe, in 

 an inveterate cafe. The warmeft advocates 

 for the old pradice will allow, that notwith- 

 ftanding their oiling and ftopping, moft feet 

 will contraft, and become feverifli by long 

 ftanding in the ftable ; turn the horfe abroad, 

 and the coolnefs and moifture of the earth 

 will foon occafton the horn to relax, the heels 

 and quarters to expand, and the whole foot to 

 take its natural fhape. This feems to point out 

 to us the proper fubftitutes within . doors ; to 

 wit, water and cooling earth. In fa6l, I have 

 taken horfes frequently, with feef render- 

 ed 



