CLIPPINa HOESES. 253 



ters to mount them showed often as sad specimens of 

 injudicious exposure to cold. 



Before any man has a horse singed let him con- 

 sider for what purpose he wants him, and how far he 

 is likely to be exposed to the inclemency of the wea- 

 ther ; having considered that, let him have his horse 

 singed accordingly, for a further most important 

 advantage singeing has over clipping is — in the latter 

 process a horse, to look well, must be clipped quite 

 close. In singeing this is not the case ; it can be 

 done so as to leave sufficient protection to the body, 

 without any undue length of coat being taken off; 

 in point of fact, a very long coat cannot be closely 

 taken off at one operation ; in the first place, it would 

 be unevenly done if attempted, and secondly, passing 

 the flame repeatedly over the same part produces an 

 exudation from the pores of the skin that renders the 

 coat clammy, and after this all effect from the appa- 

 ratus ceases. After going evenly over the surface the 

 horse should be well washed with soap and warm 

 water, with a proper proportion of soda in it ; this 

 cleanses the coat and skin. If in a few days we wish 



