94: THE MULE. 



PHYSICKING. 



This is another of those imaginary cures resorted to 

 by persons having charge of mules. Yery many of 

 these persons honestly believe that it is necessary to 

 clean the animal out every spring with large doses of 

 poisonous and other truck. This, they say, ought to be 

 given to loosen the hide, soften the hair, &c. In my 

 opinion it does very little good. If his dung gets dry, 

 and his hair hard and crispy, give him bran mashes 

 mixed with his grain, and a teaspoonful of salt at each 

 feed. If there is grass, let him graze a few hours every 

 day. This will do more towards softening his coat and 

 loosening his bowels than any thing else. When real 

 disease makes its appearance, it is time to use medi- 

 cines ; but they should be applied by some one who 

 thoroughly understands them. 



STRINGHALT. 



This sometimes occurs in the mule. It is a sudden, 

 nervous, quick jerk of either or both of the hind legs. 

 In the mule it frequently shows but little after being 

 worked an hour or so. It is what I regard as unsound- 

 ness, and a mule badly affected with it is generally of 

 but little use. It is often the result of strains, caused 

 by backing, pulling and twisting, and heavy falls. You 

 can detect it in its slightest form by turning the animal 

 short around to the right or to the left. Turn him in 

 tlie track he stands in, as near as possible, and tlien 

 back him. It' he has it, one of these three ways will 



