CRACKS
—in the heels of horses, during the winter season, are found only in stables where the master seldom or ever condescends to appear. These trifles are too frequently attributed to a defect in the constitution of the horse, when, with more propriety, they might be fixed upon a want of constitutional punctuality in the groom. Horses left with wet legs and heels after chase or journey, particularly in sharp easterly winds, or in frost and snow, constitute the evil to a certainty. So severe a rigidity is occasioned in the texture of the integument, that it becomes partially ruptured, (or broken in various places,) upon being brought into action the following day: this, with the irritation and friction occasioned by the sharp particles of gravel and extraneous matter in the dirty roads, soon produce enlarged lacerations of the most painful description. The prudent part of the world will always consider, as well in this, as in every other case, that prevention is better than cure: servants should be allowed in the stables, linen cloths for rubbers to the heels, that they may never be left in the least wet, particularly in the winter season, when once getting tender, the stubbed ends of the new and stiff straw frequently occasion or increase such lacerations.