THEORY OF GROOMING 85 



by exercise. Hence the necessity of the free secretion of 

 perspiration by the skin of hard- worked horses. 



Apart from the foregoing considerations, we may see 

 that the fact of the skin being in a healthy state will tend 

 to induce a like condition of the stomach, intestines, and 

 air-passages ; for the skin is continuous with the mucous 

 membranes which line these organs. Owing, therefore, 

 to the sympathy which exists between the various portions 

 of these respective surfaces, we find that, in cases of 

 derangement of the stomach, etc., the coat becomes dull 

 and unthrifty. In like manner, a return to health will 

 be marked by an improvement in the state of the skin, 

 affections of which are more or less followed by an 

 impaired condition of the digestive apparatus. Experi- 

 ence, as well as physiology, teaches us that the stabled 

 horse's general well-being is greatly dependent on his skin 

 being clean, well polished, and healthy. 



From these considerations, we may readily see how 

 important the process of grooming is to the maintenance 

 of high condition in the horse. 



I may briefly sum up the objects sought to be obtained 

 by good grooming as follows : (1) to remove the scaly 

 part of the outer skin in order to allow of ready exit to 

 the fluids that flow from the oil and sweat glands ; (2) to 

 stimulate by friction these glands to increased activity; 

 (3) to determine blood to the surface of the body, so as 

 to relieve the internal organs; (4) to remove all super- 

 fluous hair, the presence of which would tend to check 

 evaporation from the skin ; (5) to induce a healthy state 

 of the skin itself, in which the mucous membranes of the 

 digestive and respiratory organs will tend to participate. 



