Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-05-04
FARM, FIELD AND GARDEN.
SUBJECTS SURE TO INTEREST BOTH
FARMERS AND STocKMEN.

Old Prejudices That Ought to BE BanIshed
from the stable-Common Sense Talk
About the Care Of Horses Legs and
Feet.
Ancient prejudices and ignorances die
hard in the stable, as well as elsewhere
on the farm. Among other things it is
difficult to persuade groom or farm
hand that 1t Is not a vital necessity that
his charges legs should be trimmed clear
of all hair, and that, in addition, they
should be washed ON the return from
work.
In the best managed hunting and post
ing stables 1t has been discarded, and in
consequence there is little or no mud
fever and cracked or greasy heels, where
as under the ancient rule they were enor-
mously prevalent. The custom is to be
strongly deprecated, but it is well always
to render reason for the faith that is in
you; therefore, let us consider how these
things can be.
The same principle applies whether the
animal be a hunter or a cart horse-both
are much exposed to mud and dirt. Some
soils have particularly irritating proper
ties, and cause Inflammation of the skin,
desquamation of the cuticle, loss of hair,
and cracks and chaps of the parts most ex-
posed to its influence. Clipping the hair
from the legs aggravates the matter, be-
cause the thick hair, to great extent,
would prevent actual contact of particles
of mud, sand and manure with the skin.
1t naturally acts as kind of percolater
or filter, passing the liquid but rejecting
the solid particles.
But If the legs are allowed to remain
unclipped, and yet are washed, the effect
is as bad or even worse. Tho washing is
invariably performed in perfunctory
fashion, the legs are specifically clean,
but the mud is washed into closer con-
tact with the skin. Even if the washing
is thoroughly carried out there yet re-
mains the difficulty of drying, and there
are many attendants who have not the
necessary time, and still more, who lack
the inclination to rub them dry before
the animal is left.
Theextremities have invariably weak
circulation, they are farthest away from
the center of blood supply, and there is
In consequence always tendency to be
cold, unless during movement; therefore
it is obvious that leaving the hair wet
must still further aggravate the matter
by chilling the skin, lowering its vitality,
and disposing it to disease. This is no
fancy picture-no attempt to introduce
a system founded on pure theory; the
practice confirms it, for horses appar-
emily neglected are far more free from
the three curses of the stable-mud fever,
cracked heels, and grease-than are
many animals that are supposed to be
more carefully tended.
It Is not, however, necessary to go to
the extreme Of letting the animal stand
in its mud all night; he can be cleaned
just as effectually as by washing, only
that more labor is involved-a fatal OBJ
lection in too many cases. When the
horse comes in wet and dirty remove the
thickest of it with a scraper, and either
twist up the legs in hay bands or put ON
proper set Of flannel bandages. While
the attendant is looking after the harness
or saddlery, the horse is rapidly drying,
and the remainder Of the dirt can be
brushed out with the dandy brush. 1t is
more trouble than to throw two or three
buckets of water at the animal OF to drive
it into the pond, but it is left warm and
dry instead of wet and uncomfortable,
anddisease is prevented, which is great
deal better than curing it.