The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-04-29
WHY BAkDAGE THE LEGS2

One by one the deleterlous methods
and practices on our friend, the horse,
are being dropped by the more practi
cal and investigating drivers and
owners. until the wonder is provoked if
after a few years, we will not lock upon
most OF the methods al present in
vogue as beng more or less handi-
cap to their attainment Of present or
future usefulness, or how much better
would their records be had they not
been scorched in the crucible of mod
ern training
The first fallacious theory yielding to
reason and a gradual fining of horse
temperament was that of parsimonious
feeding. Only a very few years ago
two or three quarts of oats, swallow
OF water and wisp of hay, with the
leaves and seed mostly shaken off, was
about the proper diet for a trotter.
Now they are given all they can eat and
drink.
The next hinderance to be relegated
to innocuous desuetude was the hoof
softening, enamel destroying soak tub.
Rub rags were next asSailed and treated
to a share Of just condemnation; and
now it looks like old speed killing
joggity, jog, jog, would be next to take
back seat, which will undoubtedly
lead to material reduction of records
While the ceaseless, nonsenslcal walk
ing habit does not find the favor it once
did, yet this drilling monotony could be
material lessened with pleasure to the
horse and profit to the owner. But of
all the handicaps under which the
American product labors to day, by far
the most serious is the ever present
and iGnocent looking "derby'' bandage
the most insidious in their destruc-
tive influence because OF their supposed
| beneficial effects. Since the foremost
veterinarians of the world have come
to believe that all the ailments of the
limbs are but the result of diseased or
unbalanced feet, any application to the
legs which is determined to the feet Is
very foolish practice, and injury to the
feet is the inevitable result of bandag-
ing. OF course, loose bandages are
not as injurious as tight, though if moi
used at all no mistake will be made
To what ridiculous extremes the ban
dage business is carried, the coddllng
and bandaeing Of old campaigners,
young campaigners as well as the
thousands that can't go any, will
testify.
A philosopher must conclude that the
horse was not calculated by nature fol
the business, for an attempt is made tc
counteract results of every exertion
with some sort OF tinkerlrg; and, while
the appearances from which the con
clusion is deduced are misleading, yet
the assumption is in the main correct
for the horse never was calculated by
nature to withstand the keying uE
ordeal, much less the killing three IN
five contests to which they are subject.
ed, should their superior vitality bring
them through the keying up process
alive; though in justice we may say
that from present appearances thess
old inhuman relics will soon give way
to more humane and reasonable
demands, and the main, though mis-
taken, need Cor excuse) for almos
constant and tight bandaging & will thu
be removed.
Primarily bandages were used tt
counteract slight fever and swelling
brought on by exertion the animal wa
unused to, the tissue perhaps beinI
weakened by some physical allment
but fashion now prompts their using
simply because their use and abuse di
not prevent some good horses gettin
fast records. The fever generated b
overexertion shows an effort of natur
to repair the injury or replace the wor
out with healthy tissue, and bandage
/ only retard the rep3ration by restric
ing the circulation of blood, and tn