40 HANDBOOK OF THE TURF. 



they firmly adhere to the cuticular portion of the stomach by 

 means of two large cephalic hooks. After the bots have 

 attained perfect growth, they A^ohmtarily yield their hold and 

 allow themselves to be carried along the alimentary canal until 

 they escape with the faeces. They sooner or later fall to the 

 ground and bury themselves under the surface to undergo trans- 

 formation into the pupa state, w^here, after a pei-iod of six or 

 seven weeks they emerge from their pupal cocoons as perfect 

 insects. Bots usually pass about eight months of their life- 

 time in the digestive organs of the horse. 



JBottoiii. Native strength ; stamina ; courage ; powder of 

 endurance. Of a horse possessing great courage and staying 

 quality, it is said that he has " great bottom ;" " good bottom." 



Bow Leg'g'ed. A defective conformation, usually notice- 

 able in the hind legs, whereby the feet are so shaped that the 

 greater strain comes upon the outside, the hocks bowing 

 outwardly. 



Box ; Box-stall ; Loose Stall. A room into w hich a 

 horse is turned loose. The average size is 14 by 16 feet, 

 although 14 by 18 is preferred by some. They are generally 

 without any manger or feed rack for the hay, wdth an iron feed 

 box fastened to one corner. Many, how^ever, prefer that the 

 feed box should be entirely detached from the stall, and be 

 removed as soon as the horse is done eating. The hay is placed 

 on the floor in one corner of the room, and thus there are no 

 projections, boxes, mangers, racks, or sharp angles upon which 

 a spirited horse may injure himself. In such a room the horse 

 is not confined by halter, has perfect liberty of movement, and 

 the liability of injury is reduced to a minimum. 



Boxes. Metal tubes fitted to the arms of the axletree, 

 fixed firm in the hub or nave of a sulky or carriage wheel to 

 contain oil. 



Brace. The iron part supporting and connecting the 

 axle of a bicycle sulky to the shaft or thill, where the same 

 has been changed over from the high wheel sulky. 



Bran Masli. Given as a conditioner, j)eriodically, and 

 according to the best -judgment of the trainer regarding the 

 characteristics of his horses, bran or shorts, made in mashes 

 with boiling water poured upon it and allow^ed to cool, is the 

 best laxative. Thus prepared, it is not wdthout nutritive 

 qualities. By the action of the boiling water a mucilage is 

 formed which cannot be created in the stomach of the animal. 

 Its laxative action is caused , by the mechanical friction of the 

 grains on the mucous membrane. It should not be given dry 



