204 FARRIERY, ETC. 



ral length. For this practice there has been recently sub 

 Btituted that of singeing with burning gas, by means of an 

 apparatus made for the purpose, which may be obtained 

 at most saddlers' in cities where gas is consumed. 



This is an operation which requires to be performed by 

 a person who thoroughly understands it, and it is unnec- 

 essary to give any directions for it in this work. 



There have been opposed to this practice many objec- 

 tions, most of which were groundless, in the case of horses 

 which are highly prized and proportionately well cared 

 for. It would, of course, be unwise to apply it to horses 

 receiving only ordinary care, such as working-horses; but 

 'for all that are kept for pleasure driving, or for fast work, 

 'there can be no doubt that it is judicious, inasmuch as it 

 gives them a much better appearance, prevents their break- 

 ing out in cold sweats in the stable, or carrying wet coats 

 ■after perspiring freely. Indeed, it is at least questionable, 

 whether in the case of all horses that are not required from 

 the nature of their work to stand, unblanketed, in the cold, 

 it would not cause a great saving of their natural heat and 

 str. nsrth by keepi ng their coats generally in a dryer condition. 

 To prove that there is less danger of taking cold in conse- 

 quence of this treatment than would be supposed, the fol- 

 lowing extract is made from an English work on "Stable 

 Practice" (by Ce^.il): 



I was returning home one evening, in the month of 

 November, and, passing through a gentleman's park undei 

 some trees, the branches of which I could not discern, in 

 oonsequcnce of the excessive darkness, I was thereby pulled 

 olf my hack, a mare which had been clipped only the day 

 previous. This disaster gave her her liberty ; and, although 

 I obtained the aid of the keeper, and other assistance, I 

 could not succeed in finding the mare. She therefore re- 

 mained in the park, without shelter, all night. Moreover, 



