Management of tlie Feet of Horses. 213 



and a small portion brushed round the hoof each 

 day. This will be found the best and cheapest 

 preparation. Grooms, however, are often very 

 fond of some high sounding and unintelligible 

 name for a horse preparation, and would rather 

 pay five shillings for mutton suet or bacon fat 

 and the refuse of kitchens coloured with cop- 

 peras, if it has only a long name such as, 



"'CUITOMOUTONETTARGPODOSUNGUENTON," 



or such like mummery, than be content to use 

 a better remedy which may be obtained for one- 

 tenth the price. 



Foot ointments find their basis in the Archan- 

 gel tar very properly. That agent prevents 

 evaporation, and promotes the necessary elas- 

 ticity of the hoof. Grease and fats with other 

 admixtures are very prone to render the hoof 

 brittle. As for curative effects being pro- 

 duced on the sensitive part by dressing the hoof 

 outside, there is no evidence to show beyond 

 what quackery swears on false premises. 



Cutting, brushing, &c. These are terms by 

 which is understood that damage of greater or 

 less extent is inflicted, generally at the fetlock of 

 one leg, by the opposite foot during action. 



In the former case the skin is usually cut or 

 very much bruised, and great lameness occurs, 

 while in the latter the hair is slightly removed 

 from the surface by attrition, and the skin suffers 

 in a less degree. Horses, however, may " brush" 



