VISITS TO REMOUNT DEPOT AT SAHARUNPORE. 861 
The sole exercise given the depot horses is that voluntarily taken 
when turned out in the paddocks, and by the “ liberty system ” 
ordered by the stud commission they are supposed to spend the 
greater portion of the twenty-four hours in freedom ; this, how¬ 
ever, is practically sadly curtailed, for in hot weather they are 
only allowed to be out from sunset to sunrise, and, when it rains, 
they are entirely confined to the stable, where they are tied up by 
the halter, injuriously keeping them in a constrained position, 
especially detrimental to the development of the younger animals. 
It would appear that, in a place so well stocked with beautiful 
trees as Saharunpore, sufficient shelter would be found, and the 
hours of confinement to the stable might be beneficially abbre¬ 
viated. 
With the grooming I was disappointed : instead of the wisp, 
and that invigorating process resorted to in India, termed the 
“ mull ” (a kind of shampooing performed by the dextrous appli¬ 
cation of friction by means of the syce's arms). I observed 
the brush and curry comb to be almost solely used, a duster 
very occasionally being also applied. 
Considering the large number of horses here kept for a con¬ 
siderable time it appeared to me a pity that they should be sub¬ 
jected to no training whatever. Surely some preparation might 
be made for adapting them to their future duty, thereby prevent¬ 
ing the bad habits which too often result from idleness in horses 
as well as in human beings, ensuring a certain amount of whole¬ 
some exercise, which would assist in the development of the 
young, and rendering them more speedily available for duty on 
joining the corps to which they are subsequently drafted. Mr. 
Kettlewell, V.S., obligingly showed me interesting records of 
the health of horses both during the stud and depot systems. 
Of course we must be prepared to find the per-centage of 
deaths much greater during the breeding times in consequence 
of the danger of parturition, infantile ailments, and castration, 
but 25 per cent appears rather a large mortality; yet, such 
was the average. Thanks to stable management and the compara¬ 
tive absence of juveniles, the death rate has been reduced at this 
reserved remount depot to 3*20 per cent, in the years 1876-77; 
2*2 in 1877-78; 2*36 in 1878-79. The diseases most prevalent 
are skin affections, such as urticaria, prurigo, &c.; indigestion 
and colic, indicating error in feeding, which might be avoided by 
permitting veterinary supervision. Pneumonia and catarrh, 
which, it is well known, ought to be exceptional cases; eczema, 
strangles; nervous diseases are rare; liver disorders, which may 
clearly be traced to too high feeding and want of exercise, are 
frequent, and a most debilitating form of bilious fever sometimes 
occurs as an epizootic. Much damage is done by immature 
