210 GENERAL TREATMENT OF HORSES. 



of these most essential members of the horse's 

 frame ; with the friendly auxiliaries of hot-water, 

 flannel-bandages, and loose boxes, after severe work, 

 and good shoeing at all times. 



The Foot. — Owners of valuable horses may con- 

 gratulate themselves on the assurance that, by the 

 aid and extended influence of veterinary science, 

 they have no longer to apprehend injury to the 

 feet from the mere application of shoes. On the 

 contrary, they may rest satisfied that, provided no 

 internal disease attack them, from over-excitement 

 by work, (and that often is created on ground 

 where shoes would be unnecessary, such as crossing 

 a very deep country,) they will be not only as 

 sound and healthy, but in better form, from having 

 been properly shod, than if they had not been shod 

 at all. Some hoofs, however, having a greater dis- 

 position to secrete horn than others, and thus called 

 strong feet, should never remain more than three 

 weeks without being subject to the drawling-knife 

 of the blacksmith, (the ruinous butteris is now put 

 aside.) and the shoes properly replaced. Neither 

 should stopping with damp tow be omitted ; as 

 moisture, not wet, is beneficial to the health of the 

 foot. Here, then, again, are at once apparent the 

 evils of the out-of-door summering of hunters. The 

 foot of a horse so exposed, is at one time saturated 

 with wet, and at another exposed to a drying wind 

 and a burning sun, the contractile powers of which 

 upon horn are too well known to require comment. 

 Do what we may, however, horses that are required 



