CLOTHING WHEN WET. 59 



with wash leathers until they are dry. This is, however, 

 objectionable in many ways, for without possessing much 

 compensating good, it has many attendant evils. In the first 

 place, if the circumstance of the animal being in this state has 

 arisen from severe and prolonged labour, rubbing delays the 

 period of his getting to rest ; since to rub a wet horse dry, is a 

 work of considerable time, and the animal under the circumstances 

 is apt to become chilled, which condition of body may induce 

 Pneumonia, Inflammation of the Bowels, or other kindred diseases. 

 A better plan, therefore, is at once to scrape briskly the body 

 and limbs, then to clothe the former, and bandage the latter. 

 Nothing less than an entire suit of clothing, and a large woollen 

 rug in addition, should under these special conditions be 

 deemed sufficient. The value of the extra rug is this : woollen 

 clothing, when placed in immediate contact with wet, rapidly 

 absorbs it ; and if two rugs are placed one upon the other, (the 

 lowest one being in contact with the wet skin,) all the wet will 

 rise to the surface of the upper rug, so that after a sufficient 

 time, and when the drying process is complete (which is much 

 more readily effected by this, than by the means ordinarily 

 pursued), it is only necessary to remove the top rug, and the 

 horse will be found dry, warm, and comfortable. ISor will he 

 have experienced the slightest irritation, but on the contrary 

 an extra amount of warmth and comfort to the exhausted frame. 

 "While upon the subject of clothing, it may prove of 

 advantage to many, if I describe the manner in which the body 

 rug should be put upon the horse. " A straw will shew" it is 

 said, " which way the wind blows ;" in like manner, the simple 

 act of putting on a rug is a good criterion of an experienced 

 groom, or amateur with horses. It should be done as follows : — 

 The rug is first gatliered into folds, such folds being parallel to 

 each other, and running across the fibre or nap of the sheet. 



