470 Hygiene and Medicines, 



made by some horsemen, when a horse has been driven 

 through muddy roads. It appears that it is better to allow 

 the mud to dry on his coat before removing it, and then not 

 comb or wash it off, but remove it by brushing only ; other- 

 wise the skin is liable to crack. (See page 211). 



Ventilation. — In many stables, especially in cities, there is 

 great neglect of proper ventilation. The air in the stalls in the 

 morning is close, hot and foul. Consequently, the animals easily 

 take colds and sore throats, and recover slowly. Fresh and 

 pure air is one of the greatest safeguards to the health of the 

 lower animals, as of man, and often attention to this alone 

 will do away with the need of tonics and condition powders. 

 It is unnecessary to enter into the various details of ventila- 

 tion, as their excellence often depends upon the structure 

 and position of the particular building. 



"CONDITION POWDERS." 



Under this name large quantities of secret preparations are 

 sold throughout the country, the avowed object of which is 

 to restore to vigor horses which are ^' out of condition,^' and 

 to increase the appetite and fattening capacities of stall-fed 

 steers, sheep, etc. The great majority of these powders do 

 more harm than good. They are composed of stimulating 

 and heating substances, and indiscreetly administered, by 

 persons ignorant of their composition, they often give for a 

 time a fallacious appearance of health and vigor to the animal, 

 followed by prostration and disease. We warn against their 

 iLse, and will here give simple and efficient substitutes for 

 them, which can be bought at much less cost. 



But, first, let us inquire what we mean by saying that an 

 animal is "out of condition ?'' The term is applied to two 

 very different states of the system. 



One, and the more common, is where the animal has been 

 Well fed and cared for, and is sleek and seemingly robust. 



