324 THE HORSE 



should also be fastened lightly above and below the knee, to 

 keep dirt from the wound. No flies will approach when 

 Iodoform is used ; and whenever an animal can reach an 

 injured place with its teeth the precaution should never be 

 omitted of putting a cradle round its neck, or keeping it 

 racked up, lest it should do itself mischief by gnawing the 

 wound. 



Air getting into a Wound. 



When a serious wound occurs and the animal has a long 

 way to travel home, the first thing to be attended to is to 

 take means to prevent air getting into the wound, and under 

 the skin. The next consideration is to get the horse back to 

 its own stable if it can by any means be accomplished. 



When an accident occurs which leaves a large gaping 

 orifice, such as happens when a horse is badly staked, as 

 soon as the journey is commenced air will get in, until the 

 whole body is blown out to a vast size ; and if the hand is 

 passed along the skin a curious crackling sound will be both 

 heard and felt. To prevent this occurring the wound should 

 be plugged with anything clean and handy, a handkerchief, 

 cotton-wool, tow, &c., and if possible a stitch or two should 

 be put in to draw the edges together ; or a pin may be 

 inserted through both lips of the wound and bits of string 

 lapped round its head and jDoint in a figure-of-eight, which 

 will draw the wound together and keep the pin from falling 

 out. If the body should become badly swollen a rug may be 

 repeatedly steeped in warm water and placed over the horse 

 as soon as it arrives at the stable, another dry rug being put 

 on outside. This causes the skin to act freely, and by this 

 means the air will gradually pass out through the pores, 

 though many hours will elapse before the animal becomes 

 entirely relieved. 



Unhealthy Sores. 



Sometimes it is necessary to apply a caustic, such as 

 Nitrate of Silver, to sores that are unhealthy, but it is well 

 first to apply a few drops of Friar's Balsam after fomenting 

 the sore, and then dust some Flowers of Sulphur over it. 



