264 BEDDING. 



may be allowed the expression. Wood shavings, and chips 

 appear to occupy an intermediate position between the two. 



EFFECTS OF BEDDING ON HORSES' FEET. 



The various kinds of bedding materials might be divided 

 not only into absorbent bedding and drainage bedding, but 

 also into (i) those which exert an injurious influence on the 

 feet of horses stabled on them ; and (2) those which do not 

 exhibit that tendency. In the former we may include all 

 kinds of litter which, like peat moss, tan, and sawdust, are 

 bad conductors of heat, and which are liable to become 

 retained (" balled ") in the feet in a more or less compact 

 form. When the feet are allowed to continue in this state, 

 even for a few hours in some cases, the soles and frogs, as we 

 may find on removing the offending material, become unduly 

 heated, with the result in time, if the cause be permitted to 

 remain in action, that thrush will become developed and 

 the heels as a rule will become contracted. When we seek 

 for the cause of the heated condition of the frogs and soles 

 from balling, we find that the retention by the feet of a 

 substance which is a good conductor of heat, does not unduly 

 raise their temperature. For instance, " stopping " the feet 

 with clay, which is a good conductor of heat, has as we all 

 know a cooling effect on them. Frequent picking-out of the 

 feet will keep them sound as far as the bedding is concerned. 



The ill effects of balling by means of a bad heat conductor 

 are greatly increased, as we might expect, by the litter in 

 question having corrosive or astringent properties. For this 

 reason tan, which contains more or less tannic acid, has a 

 very heating effect on the feet of horses which, like those 

 in many riding schools, are worked on it, or are bedded 

 down on it. 



We have previously (p. 47) considered the bad effect which 

 urine has on horses' feet. 



