112 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



of firm fat. Heart, kidneys* and other organs are propor- 

 tionally loaded. Amidst the fibres of the heart and other 

 muscles the enfeebling fat is also laid down, interfering with 

 muscular capability. Woe betide the unfortunate animal 

 which, in such a state of obesity, is put to severe exertion. 

 Sudden death may result from the giving way of some organ 

 or vessel weakened by the fatty degeneration, or dangerous 

 disease of the air passages or laminitis is established; whilst 

 eight or ten months of careful feeding and regulated exercise 

 are required before such an overfed horse is fit for really 

 hard work. Surely the reprehensible fashion of forcing and 

 overfeeding animals intended for work or for breeding should 

 be held somewhat in check by the consideration of the dan- 

 gers of such a practice and by its serious interference with 

 successful breeding! 



It has been noticed that draft stallions im- 

 ported to this country are frequently troubled 

 with what appears to be chronic grease, or 

 scratches, which causes ugly, itching sores on 

 the legs; and, so far as my observation goes, 

 the horses thus attacked have almost univer 

 sally been such as have been kept in very high 

 flesh, with but little exercise. From this fact 

 I several years ago adopted the theory that 

 this diseased condition was usually the result 

 of the course of feeding and management pur- 

 sued, and that no treatment would avail to cure 

 the disease so long as the cause remained. 



Acting on this theory I undertook the treat- 

 ment of a stallion that was affected as above 

 described. Commencing soon after the close 

 of the season, he was turned out in a small 

 pasture lot, which was so securely fenced that 



