92 HORSES AND ROADS. 



in somewhat similar terms. Another equally bane- 

 ful habit is ' stopping ' the hoofs with hot greasy 

 mixtures or cowdung, under the idea of soften- 

 ing them or cooling them. This idea works 

 wrong end first ; for stopping and greasing heat 

 the horn, whilst soft horn is not desirable ; tough, 

 dense, springy horn is the right kind of thing, just 

 such as Nature supplies when she is not interfered 

 with. As to the blister, mercurial ointment, or 

 stimulating embrocations (which latter the stable- 

 man will call ' oils ' — a name that has always carried 

 great weight with it amongst his class), in the words 

 of Mr. Fearnley, ' all they can do is to cause a 

 splutter of vitality in the part.' What is the use 

 of a mere splutter of vitality ? That which is 

 wanted is a renewal of vigorous and lasting vitality, 

 not dependent on the irritation caused by the con- 

 tinual application of drugs. 



There is another way of treating brittle hoof, 

 called the 'water cure.' The horse's shoes are 

 removed, and he is put to stand on the bare stones 

 or bricks. Folded flannel is then fastened round 

 the pastern, but allowed to fall over and cover the 

 coronet and hoof; the flannel is kept well soaked 

 with cold water by day. As it cannot be kept wet 

 and cool by night it is best to remove it the last 

 thing, or otherwise it will heat the foot instead of 

 cooling it. The horse must be walked out twice a 

 day (removing the flannel for the time) over a 

 smooth hard road. In a few days the top of the 

 hoof will begin to lose the harsh, dry, shrivelled, 



