190 WANT OF CONDITION. 



I 



be a rather ridiculous object; and the practice has 

 been abandoned : for nothing man was able to per- 

 form, could change the position of the extremity ; or 

 render that, which nature had formed badly, of a good 

 shape. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



DISEASES OF THE SKIN : WANT OF CONDITION 



HIDE-BOUND SURFEIT — MANGE — MOULTING. 



WANT OF CONDITION. 



The connexion between the skin and the healthy 

 state of the horse generally is much closer than horse- 

 men seem at all times to imagine. A soft, loose, 

 mellow coat, easily raised from the muscular sub- 

 stance beneath, is considered in cattle indicative of a 

 disposition to thrive ; and in horses such a state of the 

 integument is proof of condition : but the connexion 

 between these things and the stomach is too much 

 overlooked. Condition in the hackney, the hunter, 

 the race-horse, or the common cart-horse, are very 

 different things ; but they all insist upon such a state 

 of skin as has just been mentioned. 



The skin is pierced by innumerable pores; .through 

 which exudes an unctuous matter, that gives a pecu- 

 liar, softness to the healthy skin. If there is any 

 peculiar mismanagement in the feeding; if, without 

 any care bestowed upon such a subject, the horse is 

 removed from the straw-yard to the full allowance 



