WATER. 55 



common cause of horses going off their feed than 

 is generally supposed. They are frequently thrown 

 out on the heap of bedding, and left in the sun 

 all day, and when put into the horse's mouth the 

 iron of the bit is burning hot. I consider that this 

 is one of the chief reasons of the sores that so 

 frequently form at the angles of the mouth in the 

 summer months, and which are most troublesome to 

 cure. The bit of the watering bridle should be 

 scrubbed daily with sand until it is polished, and 

 the leather-work cleaned with soap (sabon) or 

 dubbing (momrogan) ; if this is not done, it very 

 soon perishes with the heat and becomes rotten, and 

 if a horse is- at all fresh and plays about, it breaks, 

 the animal gets loose, and a serious accident is the 

 result of the want of a little forethought. 



Leeches (jonJc), 



In India leeches frequently get into the nose 

 while the horse is drinking, especially out of 

 ponds and streams, and although they are not 

 absolutely dangerous, they cause troublesome bleed- 

 ing, and make the animal cough and sneeze. They 

 are sometimes very difficult to get rid off, and the 

 best plan is to place some water in a bucket before 

 the horse and splash it about. The leech is attracted 



