7 8 Journal of Agriculture. [8 Feb.. 1907. 



dry flannel or by the application of a mild stimulating liniment. The 

 proper temperature of the water for hot fomentations may be best gauged 

 by the hand. It should never be hotter than can be borne without pain 

 or scalding when the hand is dipped in it. 



Cold Applications to the feet are best made b} standing the animal 

 in a foot bath. Where the limbs are concerned, the easiest method of 

 application is by means of the hose, the end of which may be lightly 

 bandaged in the position in which it is desired that the water should 

 play. Cold applications should be continued for one or two hours at a 

 stretch, two or three times a day, and the parts should always be rubbed 

 dry and bandaged on ceasing. Ice, in the form of chunks or rough 

 powder, may be bandaged in position, and serve to quickly reduce the heat 

 in cases of severe sprain. 



Poultices are most frequently used in veterinary practice in foot 

 cases — laminitis, pricked foot, corns, quittor. and inflammatory injuries. 

 In addition to other more or less problematical benefits, they serve to soften 

 the horn, thereby relieving pressure, and also rendering operations and 

 ' searching" of the foot much easier. Scalded bran applied hot is the 

 most commonly used material, but linseed meal, boiled turnips, and hops 

 have each their advocates ; the latter substance has the advantage of being 

 very light, and is, hence, useful in poulticing the udder, under-side of 

 jaw, or other part where the poultice is likely to " sag " with its own 

 weight. Cow dung, so frequently used by the ignorant as a poulticing 

 material, because of its supposed possession of special " drawing " quali- 

 ties, is an abomination, and frequently causes an otherwise healthy wound 

 to become septic. Care should be taken that the poultice remains 

 '• sweet." If soured in the least, it should not be re-applied. To pre- 

 vent souring, powdered charcoal is sometimes added to the poultice, and 

 an addition of a little anti-septic solution, such as Ivsol or carbolic acid, 

 to the water with which the poultice is being made, is a useful pre- 

 caution. 



Slinging. 



The use of slings for supporting horses when suffering from various 

 injuries has been largely adopted in veterinary practice. The author's 

 experience of their use, however, has been so adverse that it is not intended 

 to suggest even that advocacy of them which would be implied in detail- 

 ing the usual methods of slinging. Occasionally it may be advantageous 

 to place slings under an animal that it is required to keep standing, so 

 that he may "rest" in them, but, as a rule, by the systemic irritation 

 thev give rise to, their interference with respiration and digestion and 

 other untoward result<i. such as bed-sores, which they produce, their use 

 does more harm than good. At any rate, an afiimal should never be 

 suspended in slings. 



YELLOW-BREASTED ROBIN. 



Eopsaliria Ausiralis {Latham). 

 C. French, F.L.S., F.E.S., Government Entomologist. 



This is Avithout doubt one of our commonest robins, its home usually 

 being in the heavily-timbered country near gullies, rivers, creeks, and also 

 along the tea-tree scrub fringing the coast. As an insectivorous bird it 



