THE HORSE, 103 



up a straw into his sheath ; in this case, perhaps not 

 immediately observed, and the horse being unquiet 

 and fretful, the necessary remedial measures will be 

 difficult, and a degree of inflammation may ensue, 

 leading to dangerous consequences. 



The nomenclature of the stable, I believe, has 

 not received any addition in our days; servants in 

 this capacity are styled grooms, stable boys, hostlers, 

 and horse keepers ; the two latter terms referring to 

 those employed where horses are let out on hire, to 

 inns, and to cart stables ; a teakettle groom is a func- 

 tionary well known to that numerous class, who keep 

 a horse upon the economical plan, without much soli- 

 citude as to its figure and condition ; this boy or man 

 also takes his share in domestic services, or perhaps is 

 employed by several masters to take care of their 

 horses. In grooms of this description, of course, 

 much nicety of stable attention is not to be expected, 

 which requires not only a specific knowledge of the 

 duty itself, but also a certain dexterity of hand to put 

 it in practice. Persons intrusting their horses to the 

 management of such grooms or horse keepers, after a 

 due attention to the grand point of feeding, will find 

 it another very important point, to have a constant 

 eye upon the legs and feet of their animals, that they 

 be left perfectly clean, dry, cool, and as smooth as the 

 nature of their skin and hair will admit ; and this 

 more particularly on the approach of winter. In this 

 part of their duty it is, where ordinary stable men are 

 most deficient, and should a horse be round and 

 fleshy legged, thence naturally disposed to grease and 

 scratches, a few days neglect may render him an ex- 



