84 HOESE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 



raised beyond it by exercise. Hence the necessity of 

 the free secretion of perspiration by the skin of hard- 

 worked horses. 



Apart from the foregoing considerations, we may see 

 that the fact of the skin being in a healthy state will 

 tend to induce a like condition of the stomacl^ intes- 

 tines, and air passages ; for the skin is continuous with 

 the mucous membranes which line these organs. 

 Owing, therefore, to the sympathy which exists be- 

 tween the various portions of these respective surfaces, 

 we find that, in cases of derangement of the stomach, 

 &c., the coat becomes dull and unthrifty. In like 

 manner, a return to health will be marked by an 

 improvement in the state of the skin, affections of which 

 are more or less followed by an impaired condition of 

 the digestive apparatus. Experience, as well as 

 physiology, teaches us that the horse's general well- 

 being is greatly dependent on his skin being clean, 

 well polished, and healthy. 



From these considerations, we may readily see how 

 important the process of grooming is to the mainte- 

 nance of high condition in the horse. 



I may briefly sum up the objects, sought to be obtained 

 by good grooming, as follows : 1, to remove the scaly 

 part of the outer skin, in order to allow of ready exit 

 to the fluids that flow from the oil and sweat-glands ; 

 2, to stimulate, by friction, these glands to increased 

 activity ; 3, to determine blood to the surface of the 

 body, so as to relieve the internal organs ; 4, to remove 

 all superfluous hair, the presence of which would tend 

 to check evaporation from the skin ; 5, to induce a 

 healthy state of the skin itself, in which the mucous 



