REVIEW. 
81 
singeing is the dull appearance which it entails upon all 
horses at the spring of the year, just at the period of shedding 
their coats. These operations have likewise an influence in 
postponing the time when the new coat makes its appearance, 
— inconveniences which are trivial compared with the advan- 
tages derived at that season of the year when the services 
of the hunter are most valuable to the sportsman.” 
Now comes a “ knotty point.” 
“ There is a most extraordinary phenomenon connected 
with horses’ coats, which I believe has never yet been ac- 
counted for ; that is, blind horses will have fine coats in the 
winter, and rough ones in the summer, thereby reversing the 
order of those which enjoy the faculty of sight. It is far 
beyond my comprehension to explain or even guess at the 
cause ; at the same time it would be exceedingly interesting 
to all who are concerned in the management of horses, if the 
knotty point could be elucidated. If it could be discovered, 
there is a possibility that the result might lead to the sub- 
stitution of means whereby the coats of horses could be kept 
fine throughout the winter without resorting to the alter- 
natives of clipping or singeing. An attempt has been made 
by a veterinary surgeon, whose name I am not acquainted 
with, to explain this mystery ; but he unfortunately failed at 
the outset by stating that blind horses are always rough in 
their coats, which is not the fact. In the days when stage 
coaches triumphed, many blind horses were employed ; and 
any superficial observer would readily detect those which 
were so afflicted in the winter months by the peculiar fineness 
of their coats. No difference of treatment would occasion 
this, as the horses composing a team most assuredly fared 
alike; hence it is more conclusive that some physical in- 
fluence, as yet unknown, produces this extraordinary cha- 
racteristic.” 
Strange, passing strange !— if true? And that it is true, 
“any superficial observer would readily detect it.” The 
same question was mooted, twelve or eighteen months 
ago, in Bell's Life , — perhaps by Cecil — but no satisfactory 
explanation was given of the fact — if fact it be . For our own 
part we have not noted — indeed have had no opportunity of 
noticing the point. 
Here we shall close our account. The little book we have 
been examining is one of that light class which a Veterinarian 
may read after the business of the day is over, without 
