66 ADVICE TO BUYERS. 



skill from the flesh, then he will insert a hollow tube, and 

 blow out the chest as large as he desires; he will then 

 withdraw the tube, stitch up the orifice, place a plaster over 

 it, and after a few days the place will heal up, leaving the 

 chest quite full and prominent, which will remain so until 

 the animal is put to work. They have also resorted to 

 this plan to equalize the appearance of hocks, or to fill up 

 a lop-sided horse where the muscles of one side have 

 wasted away. 



They have a plan of giving white or cream-colored 

 horses black marks, so that they match well in appearance, 

 such as, all black legs, a black star, black mane or tail, or 

 certain attractive black spots ou the body ; the method of 

 doing this is to take six ounces of litharge, quicklime 

 twelve ounces, powder them very jinely, then mix them 

 together, place it into a pan, and pour on it sharp lye, 

 then boil it, and you will find a fatty substance floating on 

 the top, which skim off, and use to rub the horse in such 

 places as you desire to have black, and it will become 

 black almost immediately. 



It will also change hair that is bay, or chestnut, or sorrel, 

 to a black, with only this difference, viz. : Take six ounces 

 of litharge, and quicklime six ounces, and use fresh water 

 instead of the lye to be used as the other. The coloring 

 of such colored horses may require a second application, 

 but, in most instances, the parts will be black by the next 

 morning. 



Many dealers have a pair of horses that match well in 

 every respect, except that one has a large star on his fore- 

 head, and the other has none ; he will, to give both a star, 

 take a razor and shave off the hair from the horse without 

 the star, to the size and shape he wishes ; then he will take 

 a small quantity of oil of vitriol, and with a brush paint 



