68 MODERN FARRIER. 



astringent ointment mentioned above should be 

 changed, for the following : — 



Yellow resin, - _ 4 ounces. 

 Olive oil, - - - half an ounce. 

 Red nitrated quicksilver in 



fine powder, - - half an ounce. 



In all cases of grease, exercise on clean and dry- 

 ground is of the highest consequence ; and if he be 

 weak, a liberal allowance of corn, with careful 

 grooming, is of great service. When the disease is 

 subdued, a run at grass is highly proper. For pre- 

 venting a return, cleanliness and frequent hard rub- 

 bing are essentially necessary ; and a horse whose I 

 legs are disposed to swell should be bandaged after ' 

 hard work, and the bandage moistened with alum 

 and water. 



* It is a general, but a very erroneous opinion, 

 says Mr. I^awrence, 'that the hair harbours dirt, 

 and consequently promotes the disorder. But the 

 contrary is the fact. From the hair being longer at 

 the heels than in any other part of the leg, it Ls 

 clear that nature had some particular reason for that 

 difference ; and that reason is, on a moment's consi- 

 deration, self-obvious : namely, for the defence of a 

 part which is more exposed to friction than the rest 

 of the limb. This hair, by lying close to the skin, 

 shields it from the action of the dirt, which, when 

 the heels are trimmed close, always insinuates itself, 

 and, by rubbing the skin, irritates and inflames it 

 to a considerable degree; for when the hair is cut 

 close, that which is left does not lie smooth, but 

 stands out endways like a brush, and thus easily 

 admits mud, and clay, and every other kind of dirt. 

 The skin secretes a natural oily fluid, for the pur- 

 pose of keeping it soft and flexible ; but when it is 

 thus exposed by trimming off* the hair, this fluid is 

 rubbed off" by friction, and the skin becoming hard 

 and dry, soon cracks, and the grease ensues. ' 



