HAIR

,—with which the frame of the horse is so completely covered, and more familiarly termed COAT, is, in general, indicative of the good or ill state of the horse; not only in respect to health, but to his CONDITION, for whatever work he may be designed. If the subject is sleek in his coat, with a glossy shining surface, soft and pliable in the skin; not tight upon the ribs, as if firmly adhering to the side; no enlargements upon the lower joints of the legs, nor any profuse and faint perspiration upon moderate work, the BLOOD may be pronounced in a HEALTHY STATE, and the horse in fair and GOOD CONDITION.

If, on the contrary, the coat is rough, hollow, staring different ways, of a variegated hue, with a tinge of dust or scaly scurf beneath the surface, the perspirative matter has been thrown upon the circulation by a collapsion of the porous system, the blood is become sizey, and disposed to morbidity, in proportion to the preternatural weight by which it is overloaded, and the obstructions it has to encounter in its passage through the finer vessels, occasioned by the languor of the circulation.

It is no uncommon thing for HORSES in tolerable GOOD CONDITION to go all to pieces, particularly in the autumn months, without the least cause to be assigned, the least reason to be suggested, by either MASTER or GROOM. Certain it is, that to two successive acts of indiscretion, (or error in judgment,) this very prevalent defeat may be attributed, without the least fear of being at all wrong in the conclusion. Grooms and COACHMEN, in general, totally unmindful of the great heat of their stables during the night, throw open the doors immediately upon coming in the morning, (regardless of even frost or snow,) and frequently so continue during the whole ceremony of "mucking out" and carrying away the dung, if not with the addition of stripping and dressing the horses into the bargain.

That the measure of indiscretion may be complete, the ceremony not unfrequently terminates in a three or four gallon pail of hard cold water from the PUMP in the yard or mews; immediately after which, a judicious observer will perceive

This prevailing practice has frequently laid the foundation of various ills, not one of which were ever attributed to the right cause. Such an accumulation of chilling frigidity immediately succeeding the extreme heat of the night, has often produced diseases without end, at least those which ended only with life. Colds, COUGHS, FEVER, (original or symptomatic,) INFLAMMATION of the LUNGS, BAD EYES, BROKEN WIND, SWELLED LEGS, CRACKED HEELS, DROPSY in the chest, with a long list of et ceteras, or even death itself, may be occasioned by circumstances which in themselves appear so trifling, yet they sometimes prove of considerable magnitude, and would attract the necessary attention of any humane man looking after his own horses; but in the present age of duplicity and deception, are very little likely to affect the sensibility or integrity of those looking after the horses of others.

Where a loss of hair has been sustained by some injury, as in broken knees, wounds after being healed, blistering or firing, the growth may be promoted (particularly in slight cases) by reducing three drachms of CAMPHIRE to fine powder, then letting it be well incorporated with two ounces of SPERMA CÆTI OINTMENT upon a marble slab, and a small portion of it well rubbed into the part affected at least once, but it will be better if persevered in twice a day.