INDIVIDUAL HYGIENE 



137 



Fig. 487. Barton-Gillette Clipping Machine 



All the essential phenomena of the inflammatory process were thus in- 

 duced. 



Washing the feet is, of course, entirely free from the objection which 

 attends washing the skin, as the hard horny substance which forms the 

 hoof has no vessels, and consequently no circulation which can be disturbed ; 

 and when, in the case of light-coloured horses, washing the legs is insisted 

 on, it should be done with cold water, the greatest possible care should be 

 taken to dry thoroughly the parts which have been washed, and bandages 

 should be at once applied. The practice of washing horses all over cannot 

 possibly be defended. It is totally unnecessary, and, when it is done, the 

 chances are entirely in favour of the animal being left in a wet condition, 

 unless there are sufficient helpers at hand to ensure that the wisps, which 

 must be frequently changed, are applied with sufficient energy, and for a 

 sufficiently long time, to get rid of all the moisture. 



Clipping, or singeing, or both, are absolutely necessary in the case of 

 horses which have a thick winter coat, and are engaged in ordinary work. 

 There is no doubt that the presence of a heavy coat indisposes the animal 

 to exertion ; the warmth naturally leads to excessive sweating, and the coat 

 wetted in this way is dried with very great difficulty. 



