HAND-KUBBING THE LEGS. 433 



Hand-rubbes^g the Legs. — This is not altogether an orna- 

 mental operation, but as it is performed chiefly or onlj where 

 decoration is attended to, this seems to be the proper place for 

 taking notice of it. I have said that the hair of the body is 

 anointed by an oily kind of matter, which serves in some mea- 

 sure to repel the rain. The long hair of the heels is anointed in 

 the same way, but these parts are more liable to become wet, 

 and the oily or lubricating fluid is secreted in greater abundance 

 here than elsewhere. It is produced by the skin, and has a 

 slightly fetid smell, which becomes intolerable when the skin is 

 the seat of the disease termed grease. This fluid is easily washed 

 off, but it is soon replaced ; the greater part of it is removed by 

 brushing and washing the hair, especially with soapy water, and 

 it is some time ere the hair and skin are again bedewed with it. 

 Dry friction with the hand or a soft wisp stimulates the skin to 

 furnish a new or an extra supply. This is one good reason for 

 hand-rubbing, an operation seldom performed by untrained 

 grooms. " Take care of the heels, and the other parts will take 

 care of themselves," is an old saying in the stable, and a very 

 good one, if it mean only that the heels require more care than 

 other parts. In some horses, particularly those that have little 

 hair about the legs, the hollow of the pastern is very ajDt to 

 crack ; the anointing fluid is not secreted in sufl&cient quantity 

 to keep the skin supple ; it is always dry, and whenever the 

 animal is put to a fast pace, the skin cracks and bleeds at the 

 place where motion is greatest. Lotions are applied which dry 

 the sore, but do not prevent the evil from recurring ; hand-rub- 

 bing must do this. The legs of some horses are apt to swell or to 

 itch, particularly when they stand idle for a day or two. Others, 

 cold-blooded, long-legged horses, are troubled with cold legs 

 while standing in the stall. These things are generally dis- 

 regarded among coarse horses ; if they disap]>ear, it is well, if 

 not, they are neglected till they become more formidable. But 

 little evils of this kind often produce much annoyance to those 

 who own horses of greater value. It is difiicult to avoid them 

 altogether among horses that are not in good condition, loaded 

 with fat, or plethoric ; yet, frequent hand-rubbing does much. 

 Some grooms give it five or six times a-day ; so much is seldom 

 required, indeed never, except under disease; but it does no 

 Vol. XL— 28 



