CAEE AND MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 735 



as a support after work is undoubted, it prevents legs from 

 filling by supporting the lymphatic vessels ; so that after a 

 hard day's work instead of the animal coming out with 

 ' filled ' legs the latter remain ' fine.' 



Mud fever alluded to above was originally believed to be 

 due to some irritating property in the mud, but this is 

 known to be incorrect. Mud fever is due to washing the 

 legs and not drying them, and in industrial stables practice 

 shows that this class of affection is prevented by not wash- 

 ing the mud off, but letting it dry on and having it brushed 

 out. The explanation is simple, the coating of mud 

 excludes the air and prevents the temperature of the skin 

 from being lowered. 



In connection with chapped legs (mud fever) and cracked 

 heels, it is to be observed that some legs are more liable to 

 the latter condition than others ; white legs, for example, 

 especially with a pink skin devoid of pigment. It is not, 

 however, because the legs are white that the heels crack, 

 but for the reason that it is only a white leg that gets 

 regularly washed. 



If legs are washed they must have all the soap taken out 

 of them and thoroughly dried, a long operation that only a 

 first-class groom will do conscientiously ; after drying the 

 legs are hand-rubbed and then bandaged. 



The only way to thoroughly dry the skin of the heel is 

 by means of a soft rubber, and when all the wet is got rid 

 of, to dry the part with bran which is rubbed in until it 

 falls off the skin, showing no moisture remains. 



It is usual to attribute both mud fever and cracked heels 

 to bad stable management, and this is undoubtedly true. 

 Both can be prevented by the greatest care and attention. 



Grooming is required as a matter of comfort and con- 

 venience to the owner, and as a necessity for working 

 horses. For the horse in training it is something more 

 than mere body cleanliness that is aimed at, nothing can 

 be better for muscles than massage, especally for hard- 

 worked animals, and every good groom who puts heart into 

 his work imparts this as well as cleanliness. 



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