240 SITFAST. 
attention requires to be engaged; but the chief sustenance ought to 
consist of oats and beans. When the carriage is not wanted for the 
day, care should be taken to see the groom gives at least four hours’ 
exercise. 
With regard to the heavy animals, the custom of blowing them out 
with chaff or hay is not to be commended. A good horse is surely 
deserving of good provender, and the best manger food is not generally 
deserving of any higher character than the word ‘“ good” may convey. 
A horse for work should be in sound flesh without being fat; when not 
required, it should not be allowed to remain in the stable all day. Who, 
however, ever saw a cart-horse being exercised? These animals have 
to stand in the stall of a heated stable throughout the Sabbath; the 
excuse is, that the creatures may enjoy a day’s rest. But four hours’ 
easy exercise given at different times, although it might occupy the time 
of the attendant, would assuredly greatly add to the comfort of the 
quadrupeds which he is paid to look after. 
When a horse is troubled with swollen legs, take it from the stall and 
place it in a roomy, loose box; nothing more quickly removes this affec- 
tion than easy and natural motion. At grass, dropsy generally attacks 
the abdomen; but the author has not heard of the legs being affected 
in the field, the limbs there being in constant action. Having placed 
the animal in a loose box, abstain from giving hay for some weeks; pro- 
cure some ground oak-bark ; having damped the corn, sprinkle a handful 
of the powder among each feed of oats. Particularly attend to the 
exercise ; and should the legs still enlarge, do not allow bandages to be 
employed, but set both groom and coachman hand-rubbing till the natu- 
ral appearance is restored, 
SITFAST. 
This, whenever it occurs, provokes great vexation. Generally it 
affects animals of the highest value or of fast capabilities, which are 
used only for saddle purposes. The affection consists of a patch of 
horn, resembling a corn upon the human foot. These patches are not 
absolutely large, though of course in size they vary. Neither are they 
all similar in form or in thickness. In one respect, however, a family 
likeness runs throughout the kind. They are not simple corns, but their 
different nature is shown by a margin of ulceration. The situation 
which they invariably occupy is under the saddle-tree. Their presence, 
of course, obliges the horse to be disused; and they are the more an- 
noying, since there is no chance of these comparatively trifling ailments 
disappearing without treatment. The treatment, moreover, cannot be 
speedy. Whatever measures may be resorted to, time is necessary for 
