274 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



yellowish ulcers of an ugly sort ; but, if properly looked 

 after, it will as a rule yield speedily to judicious treatment 

 The ulcers should be opened gently with a large needle or 

 lance, and dressed with an ointment composed of biniodide 

 of mercury and lard. A horse thus affected ought to have 

 plenty of walking exercise, with liberal feeding, and an 

 abundance of fresh cool air. Tonics, both vegetable and 

 mineral, will be found of great service. 



Mud-fever is consequent upon wet, hardship, and im- 

 proper grooming. I never allowed my horses' legs to be 

 washed after a journey, and although the uninitiated will 

 stare at this, and self-sufficient grooms be found to rail 

 against it, 1 advise a trial of my plan. When a horse 

 comes in, the dirt should be removed from his legs by 

 scraping, rubbing, and strong, rapid wisping, which will 

 very soon leave them ready for the finishing brush. If the 

 horse has white legs, they may be sponged next morning, 

 and dried with a towel. This is a pleasant operation to 

 lovers of horses, and a beautiful cleanliness is the result. 

 Where there is mud-fever the horse should not be worked. 

 A little aperient medicine may be given, and a linament 

 applied, composed of liquor plumbi and olive oil — or 

 petroleum-jelly, or " veterinary vaseline," may be tried. 



Despite the aptitude which many horses have to cracked 

 heels, I never had a case of them in my own stable, and this 

 immunity I attribute almost entirely to the rigidity with 

 which my orders against leg-washing were carried out. 

 Strong vigorous hand-rubbing, and perfectly dry woollen 

 bandages when not at work, were my preventive measures. 



