32 General Principles of Veterinary Medicine, 



health, and improvement in disease, we believe it a very 

 desirable procedure. Not to discuss the question we shall 

 simply quote the words of that very eminent authority, 

 Prof. W. Williams; Principal of the Veterinary College 

 of Edinburgh. He says : " AYith reference to the clipping 

 of horses, I am of opinion that it is a great advantage ; they 

 work better after being clipped ; thrive on less food ; are less 

 liable to disease ; and when sick recover in a much shorter 

 time." Frequently, therefore, it is a part of good nursing 

 to clip them. 



When this is not done, it is often of advantage to cut 

 away the hair at the fetlocks, and under the chin, and trim 

 the main and tail. Many horses which are " hide bound," 

 out of condition, mangey, and generally run down, will re- 

 cover forthwith as soon as they are clipped and closely 

 trimmed. 



In all instances the feet should be looked to. The shoes 

 should be removed, and a " stopping " of equal parte of cow 

 dung and clay be used in horses ; while in cattle it is well to 

 paint the hoofs with tar, or impure carbolic acid. 



POSITION, SLINGS AND CEADLES. 



A horse has generally a nervous fear about lying down 

 when sick, on account of the increased difficulty he experi- 

 ences in breathing in that condition ; hence he is apt, when 

 he can no longer stand, to give up the struggle in despair 

 and to die when his attack is not necessarily mortal. This is 

 not the case with cows and cattle, as they spend much of 

 their time reclining, and as a rule adopt that position early 

 in their sickness. 



Of course, when the leg or foot is seriously diseased, the 

 horse finds far greater comfort lying, and then it is bad man- 

 agement to prevent him doing so. But otherwise we incline 

 to believe a horse should be encouraged to stand as long as 



