120 THE HORSE 



perform, has led to the closer study of the matter, 

 and has resulted in the discovery that the above- 

 mentioned ills are enthely due to (or, at any rate, 

 can be entirely prevented by abstention from) 

 washing the feet and legs. The evil lies, of 

 course, in the drying rather than the actual wash- 

 ing. The extreme cold produced by the rapid 

 evaporation of the half -dried hair drives the blood 

 away from the part, and the consequent cold feet 

 are liable to eczema and cracked heels. The cHp- 

 ping of the hair off the back part of the fetlock is 

 another predisposing cause. Bandaging the legs 

 immediately after washing may to some extent 

 prevent the evil ; but the only true and satis- 

 factory method is to clean the legs with a wisp, 

 and never allow water to be applied to them. 

 Grooms object to this, as it gives them more 

 trouble and the legs do not look so nice ; but it 

 should be insisted on. The slight dust and mud 

 collected by the feet during exercise has been 

 found to be the reverse of prejudicial if left on, 

 and no horse-owner need fear any ill effects from 

 departing fi^om the old-established method of 

 washing the feet and legs of horses. He will 

 find, on the contrary, that his stable will be abso- 

 lutely free from those complaints to which nine 



