Horses' Clothing. 215 



own use, although I had given to each of my native 

 grooms a couple of blankets before starting from Cawn- 

 pore. The swift and sharp chastisement which fell on 

 the syce was unable to avert the ill effects of the chill 

 from the horse, who, next morning, on coming out of 

 his stall, was hardly able to move out of a walk, and 

 presented all the symptoms of congestion of the liver — 

 •a disease which is peculiarly rife during the autumn 

 in those parts of India where the days are hot and 

 the nights bitterly cold. Of course it would hardly 

 'Cver occur were the stables free from draughts, though 

 well ventilated, the horses comfortably bedded down, 

 ■and warmly clothed with a body -piece and a good 

 English rug, or two country-made ones. I would advise 

 that no hoods or " nightcaps " be used. The former are 

 very inconvenient for employment at night, for if they 

 be tied to the roller or body-piece they will prevent a 

 horse getting his head down ; while if they be unattached, 

 they will, when the animal lowers his head, fall over his 

 «ars. I have always found that the use of "nightcaps" 

 is very apt to give horses that wear them coughs or 

 colds. My experience on this subject is corroborated by 

 that of Mr. J. H. Moore, who has abolished them from 

 his stable on that account. If horses do not require any 



