6 HORSES AND ROADS. 



applied to keep their hoofs together, and yet they 

 work them, and no one interferes. They manage to 

 steer clear of the law, of which it has been said that 

 ' a coach and four may be driven safely through any 

 Act.' These diseases are the result of reckless treat- 

 ment, which is very unprofitable to horse owners, let 

 alone the cruelty. 



It is pretty well known — or, if it is not, it should 

 be — that any of these diseases, once set up, are 

 extremely difficult to cure ; but, on the contrary, 

 mostly go on increasing under the care of ignorant 

 farriers. If an intelligent veterinary should be 

 called in, he will mostly advise a long rest and mild 

 remedies ; but this means loss of work, although it 

 means also a prolongation of the useful life of the 

 horse, if the warning be taken on the first appearance 

 of disease. In general, however, violent remedies, 

 such as blistering, &c., are resorted to, and as soon 

 as possible the horse is put to work again, without 

 having had even the benefit of a rest ; for a horse 

 with a blister on cannot be expected to enjoy as a 

 rest the few days he is suffering with a blister. 



Kailway companies are not referred to in this case, 

 or in any future ones. They were mentioned only 

 as being a power in the land, with a special 

 facility for applying mechanical means to reduce the 

 work of their horses, which are spread over the whole 

 of the kingdom. Improvements on their part would 

 therefore be more extended, general, and useful, 

 than even those adopted by brewers or distillers, who, 

 having, as a rule, no dividends to pay, perhaps work 



