174 PRELIMINAET EEMAEKS. 



weight to the solid and fluid substances excreted bj the bowels 

 and the kidneys in a similar period of time. 



The skin is subject to a number of diseases, one or two of 

 which are of such a nature as at times to prove destructive to 

 the life of the horse. The generality of its maladies, however, 

 are not of so injurious a character. 



From the anatomical and physiological relations of the skin 

 to some of the principal organs of life, (as the respiratory, 

 digestive, and urinary organs), it manifests great sympathy 

 when they are diseased, especially when they are affected with 

 chronic maladies, and maladies of a malignant character. 



In summer, horses which are used for the general purposes 

 of society perspire more copiously than during the colder 

 months of the year ; and as a natural consequence, the kidneys 

 secrete a less amount of fluid, a fact which should be borne in 

 mind by those who own and groom horses, and who are so 

 frequently desirous of administering to their animals diuretic 

 medicines to regulate what is considered by them deficiency of 

 urinary secretion. 



The skin of the horse does not suffer from such a numerous 

 class of diseases as what are known to attack the human skin. 

 Probably this exemption may arise from the following causes : — 

 1st, its free exposure, at almost all times and seasons, to the 

 full influence of the atmosphere ; 2nd, from its being more 

 frequently cleansed, and subject to friction with combs, wisps, 

 brushes, and cloths ; and lastly, from the more simple life of 

 the animal with regard to its diet and general hygienic treat- 

 ment. 



But although the skin of the horse does not manifest such a 

 numerous class of maladies, yet, from the intimate relations v.-e 

 have already named between it and the internal viscera, a 

 similar law of sympathy prevails with one as with the other. 



