The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-02-04
BLANK ETING HORSES.

From considerable experience with horses
Tor more than thirty years, especially in SER
vice where they must stand exposed to a cold
much greater than they find in the stables, we
have long been satisfied of the bad policy of
much banketng, and of all means which keep
t',em too warm there, because, rs with the hu-
mtn subject it is these extremes which pro-
duce colds, intlammations, and often death. 1t
- as If e man should wear his overcoat in the
house by fire, and then, after brisk exercise
tur am hour or two, should stand as much long
cr out doors, during cold winters day or
night, III merely his under clothes. For the
last few years we have used no blankets in the
stable, except when the cold was below zero and
when, IN quite cold weather, the horses came
10 The stable in heated condition; and so sat
l>lactOry has it proved To us and to many 9TH
cts who have tried it, that we would earnestly
recommend it to the public. Hon. David Sears,
VI Boston, who raises much horse stock, and
ot choice kinds, on his farm in Searsport, al
lows little or no blanketing, while his stables
are un i bleak hill, and make no pretensions to
warmth. The article below, from a recent No.
1i Hearth and Home, contains SO much sound
philosophy on this subject as to merit the wild
rst circulation.
Professor Liautard, the veterinary surgeon,
las favored US with some observations upon
TINS subject, which are of special Importance
a' this season of the year.
he believes that very much harm is done by
to heaoy 6tankettng, supporting this view by
sound physiological reasons.
The skin Of one domestic as of all ycrte-
q ii ha
outer, or cutlcle, is comp poSed of layers of round
cells, III which resides the coloring matter
Though deprived Of blood d-vesses and nerves,
HllS outer skin has a true vitality, and its prop
eF functions.
The inner or true skin has a more perfect
ofsaniLation, Is more sensitive, and is the real
f0otlng-place of the hair 1t varies In thick
ness in different animals and in different por-
tlons OF the same animal. 1t is much thinner
and more sensitive in the thorough bred racer
thah IN the ordinary cart horse On the inte-
FLOR part of the thigh, the skin is thin on the
exterior much thicker. The hair, also, which
Is distributed over the whole surface, varies in
thickness and length, as protection against
toiu Is more or less needed. From all domes-
VIC ANIMALS in healthy state there Is an exha-
iatoh from the surface Of the skin, called in
Se"St0te "0'tSptrdtoa. When this cxcretion be-
comes seDslbie' oy active eXcrton or condition
oI temperature, 1t Is called sweat
Both forms OF excretion are important tn tho
vital economy, ana vary greatly with the state
of the atmosphere, activity of the doest,va
organs and quick or long continued mnscnlar
exertion. 1t is, if we may use TIE language
sort of skin byeatting, by means of which
foul or unnecessary matter is eliminated from
The body, just vtiated and carbonized air is
thrown off by the lungs. Thus, sometimes
TINS cutancous Transportation will have t.c odor
oi urine; AT other times (atter dozing,) it will
nave the oIor of sulphur.
This natural Transportation should neither be
checked nor should it be excessively provoked
feavy blanketng In stables will very likely
make the hair lie smoothly (thus saving some
labor to the groom, and make the skin supple :;
out IT will open the pores unna. .urally, and
make delicate horse fearfulIy sensitive to
sudden changes Of temperature.