THE HUNTER AT HOME. 163 



no business to liave cracked heels, and if these are not 

 left wet after work, they will not be troubled with them. 

 By the way, I have known cracked heels produced by 

 the constant use of wet bandages in one case. Chronic 

 cough is quite a hunter's complaint, though not peculiar 

 to them. It arises in most cases from neglect in the first 

 instance, and there is always the chance of its ending in 

 roaring. This danger is reduced as much as possible by 

 keeping the horse cool in his system. A few carrots now 

 and then are always good for a horse suffering from 

 chronic cough ; but, on the other hand, it is not wise to 

 give them too often to a horse doing hard work. A common 

 cough should be nipped in the bud by a smart blistering of 

 the throat, combined with diminished corn, and the best 

 application for the purpose is ^'FarrelFs vesicant," a 

 patent blister which is to be got of most saddlers now, 

 and which raises a blister in a few seconds, ceasing to 

 give pain in a few minutes. The whole thing does not 

 occupy much more than five minutes, and, though the 

 pain is sharp while it lasts, it worries the horse less than 

 the comparatively slow action of a mustard embrocation. 

 If a little of it gets on the groom's hand, it will give him 

 a lesson concerning the sensation of a blister, which may 

 possibly have the effect of preventing him from recom- 

 mending blisters to be applied on all occasions to horses. 

 Capped hocks do not lame the horse, and therefore need 

 no consideration here. Contracted feet are not a cause 

 but an effect of lameness — any foot lameness may produce 

 them ; but we will consider those to which hunters are 

 most liable presently. Cutting and brushing are very 

 common faults among hunters ; hitting the legs, too, is a 

 thing by no means unknown. A horse inclined to 

 brush or hit himself may not do it while he is compara- 



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