CAEE AND MANAGEMENT OP ANIMALS 743 



bedding has been ' set fair,' and may lead to a breach of 

 the peace ; but chastisement is not of the slightest use to 

 prevent the habit. In some cases it may be due to the ends 

 of the straw tickling the legs, if so bandages might be tried. 

 Peat moss as a bedding is very largely used, it has 

 economy to recommend it and the further advantage of 

 absorbing the urine. A clean bed of moss litter though 

 not attractive is comfortable, and horses do admirably 

 upon it. A neglected bed of moss is an unpleasant sight 

 to look upon, a black squelching mass trodden down to the 

 consistence of clay, and about as comfortable and warm to 

 lie on. The disadvantage of using peat moss as bedding is 

 the common impression that it requires no care, whereas it 

 requires more than an ordinary straw bed. It is not self 

 cleansing, every day it remains down adds to its foulness 

 unless all wet portions are removed daily. Six pounds of 

 the litter should be allowed daily for a stall to replace that 

 which is soiled. 



Good as moss litter is where proper hygienic care is 

 practised, it is capable of committing great havoc to the 

 feet where it is used under the impression that it requires 

 no care or looking after. The feet are bathed in a poultice 

 of ammonia, and the action of this on the horn of the sole 

 and foot pad has only to be seen to be realized. 



Peat moss bedding badly kept does not only provide a 

 wet uncomfortable bed for the horse to lie on, but destroys 

 the feet. No objections of a stronger character could 

 possibly be put forward. Under good hygienic manage- 

 ment it provides a comfortable, elastic dry bed, does no 

 damage to the feet, saves the stable drainage, in fact drains 

 need not exist. 



Sawdust makes an admirable bed, if it can be obtained 

 in sufficient quantity : sand makes a soft but cold bed, but 

 there are times when it may be usefully employed, viz. 

 when nothing else is obtainable. Sawdust, and to an 

 extent sand, like peat forms an absorbent bedding, which 

 requires all solid portions to be removed daily if it is to be 

 kept in a hygienic condition. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



