422 THE HORSE, 



events anyfnrtlier. Tlie next tiling of which we become aware 

 is generally an iniiamuiation of the feet, the throat, the Inngs, or 

 some other part. But we cannot tell M'hat is going on betM-een 

 the time that the body becomes hot, and the time that inilam- 

 mation appears. I am not even certain that the other changes 

 take ])lace in the order in which they are enumerated ; nor am 

 I sure that there is no other change. The analysis may be de- 

 fective ; something may take place that I have not observed, 

 and possibly the loss of heat by evaporation may not always 

 produce these effects without assistance. It is positively known, 

 however, that there is danger in exposing a horse to cold when 

 he is not in motion ; and, which is the same thing, it is equally, 

 indeed more dangerous to let him stand when he is wet. If he 

 cannot be dried by manual labor, he must be moved about till 

 he is dried by evaporation. 



WispiNG A WET HORSE. — A\^hen there is sufficient force in 

 the stable, the proper way to dry the horse is by rubbing him 

 with wisps. After removing all the water that can be taken 

 away with the scraper, two men commence on each side. They 

 rub the skin with soft wisps ; those which absorb moisture most 

 readily are the best, and should be often changed. None but a 

 bred groom can diy a horse expeditiously and well in this way. 

 The operation requires some action, and a good deal of strengtli. 

 An awkward groom cannot do it, and a lazy fellow will not. 

 They will wisp the horse for a couple of hours, and leave him 

 almost as wet as at the beginning. They lay the hair, but do 

 not dry it, and they are sure to neglect the legs and the belly, 

 the very parts that have most need to be dried quickly. The 

 man must put some strength into his arm. lie must rub hard, 

 and in all directions, across, and against the hair, oftener than 

 over it. His wisp should be firm, yet soft, the straw broken. 

 Some cannot even make this simple article. A stout fellow may 

 take one in each hand, if only two are employed about the 

 horse ; and a boy must often take one in both his hands. Two 

 men may dry a horse in half an hour, a little more or a little 

 less, according to his condition, the length of his coat, and the 

 state of the weather. 



Clothing a wet Hoese. — When the horse can neither be 

 dried by the wisp nor kept in motion, some other means must 



