CRACKED HEELS 163 



bred suffer from it, and it is chiefly confined to under- 

 bred, low-classed animals ; though there are excep- 

 tions to the rule, and there are also horses which are 

 naturally predisposed to it. Physic, the use of oint- 

 ment (a drachm of sugar of lead to an ounce of lard), 

 and in extreme cases poulticing, will generally in the 

 end effect a cure — of course always provided that the 

 stable management is properly carried out. 



Cracked heels are no more than chapped heels, 

 caused by the heels not being properly dried after 

 being washed, or when the horse has come in sweating. 

 The ointment prescribed above for grease will be 

 found as good as anything. Horses which are at all 

 predisposed to grease are, perhaps, more inclined to 

 cracked heels than others, and I may also remark that 

 white heels are generally those which are the more 

 liable to become cracked. 



The foregoing comprises, I think, a list of such ail- 

 ments, their cause and cure, as may be ordinarily met 

 with by the average horse-owner. It is, of course, 

 impossible, in such a work as the present, to go 

 fully into the subject of ailments. Nevertheless, the 

 short reference which I have made to those which I 

 have dealt with may prove of use, even though the 

 subject itself may not contain much that is of in- 

 terest. 



I have in the foregoing pages of this work made 

 frequent reference to the sagacity and intelligence 

 possessed by horses, and I am convinced that with 

 trouble and kindness their powers in this respect may 

 be very fully matured. To those who may be sceptical 

 on the subject, I most strongly advise their taking the 

 opportunity, if such may offer, of visiting the Fire 



