56 THE HORSE. 



overfulness of habit than, I think, experience warrants ; 

 I have more usually found this predisposition to arise 

 from weakness. It may be said, and it is sometimes 

 found to be so, that the legs would not swell so 

 much with the horse at grass as in the stable ; it is 

 therefore inferred that the stable-feeding causes the 

 defect, in nine cases in ten. This is an error. The 

 legs do not swell, perhaps, in some cases, so much at 

 grass as in the stable. This arises from the constant 

 exercise the horse takes while at liberty ; but bring him 

 into the stable, and his legs will be found to swell far 

 more after his gi-ass-feeding than before. I have not 

 had many horses subject to swelKng of the legs, but 

 such as I have had, I always found benefited or cured 

 by the very reverse of grass — ^namely, beans in addi- 

 tion to their oats, and tonics as medicine. Diuretics, 

 that grooms are so fond of, will be found, in most 

 cases, to aggravate the ailment. If the swelling is ac- 

 companied with great heat and tension of parts, and 

 more particularly by cracked heels, then mild aperients 

 and fomentation is a good beginning ; but where any 

 flaccidity exists, stimulants^ and tonics I have found 

 the sovereign remedy." These remarks coiTespond 

 most completely with my own practical observations, 

 and they are in perfect accordance with sound views of 

 animal physiology. 



The farther the sinews are thrown out from the 

 shaft of the shank-bone, the better. If they are tied 



