296 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



of fashion is condemned to spend many hours wait- 

 ing about the windy streets while madame is shop- 

 ping, or at the theatre or other entertainment. His 

 vital organs, wholly denuded of their natural cover- 

 ing of long hair, are totally unprotected from the 

 rigours of the climate, unless the absurd and insuffi- 

 cient little loin-cloth which is sometimes worn under 

 the harness may be dignified by the title of blanket. 

 This article, usually of leather or waterproof, covers 

 the loins only, from the saddle back, and extends but 

 a little way down the sides. This handbreadth it 

 protects from rain, but it also, from its texture, 

 induces an insensible perspiration which renders its 

 wearer afterward very prone to be chilled, and to 

 take cold across the loin and " small of the back," 

 imless he is properly shampooed with alcohol upon 

 his return to the stable, for the purpose of closing 

 the pores. Every city should pass an ordinance 

 requiring all horse owners to blanket fully, warmly, 

 and dryly any horse which stands about the streets 

 for more than ten minutes in any one place. The 

 delivery wagon and truck-horses are blanketed 



