MANAGEMENT OF THE FEET 285 



sufficient to accomplish the purpose for which bandaging is designed. 

 From the projection backwards of the pastern joints it is impossible to 

 make the folds lie perfectly smooth, and there must be loose parts, which 

 however are covered over by the next turn. No wi'itten description, 

 however, will suffice to teach this little opei'ation, and the young groom 

 should watch a good bandager, and imitate him as exactly as he can. 

 The tapes at the end serve to tie the bandage on, and these also must 

 neither be so tight as to cut the leg, nor so loose as to allow the bandage 

 to fall down. 



When cold lotions are to be applied by means of bandages, linen is the 

 proper material, as flannel is too bad a conductor of heat, by evaporation, 

 for the purpose. The whole bandage, after being rolled wp moderately 

 tightly, should be dipped in cold water, or in the lotion which may be 

 recommended, an 1 then while quite wet it is to be applied in the way 

 which I have juit described. The following lotion is useful for the 

 purpose : — 



Take of Tincture of Arnica a wine-glass full. 

 , , Nitre | oz. 

 , , Sal ammoniac 1 oz. 

 ,, Water half a bucket-full. 

 Mix and use by dipping the bandages in before applying them, and by wetting them with 

 this solution afterwards by means of a sponge. 



If the groom is careful, he may remove inflammation of the legs better 

 by means of dipping them in cold water, or the above lotion may be 

 applied with a sponge every half-hour, holding each leg over the bucket, 

 than with the aid of bandages. A cold douche by means of a forcing- 

 garden engine is also extremely beneficial to the legs, but it must be 

 used out-of-doors, as it will wet the litter and the walls of the stall if 

 the water is splashed over them within-doors. 



For Drying and Warming the Legs when the horse is being dressed, 

 flannel is the only proper material for bandages. Its mode of application 

 is not of much consequence, provided the bandages are put on moderately 

 loosely, for tight pressure has a tendency to prevent the return of natural 

 heat, which is so much desired. After wetting the legs the bandages 

 should be applied somewhat more tightly, so as to absorb the moisture as 

 much as possible. 



MANAGEMENT OF THE FEET 



In the stabled horse the feet require constant care, for they are not 

 only artificially shod, but they ai-e allowed to stand on a material which is 

 a much worse conductor of heat than the surface of the earth, by nature 

 designed to bear them. Hence, if neglected, they either become hai'd 

 and brittle, oi; they are allowed to be constantly wet, and then the soft 

 covering of the frog is decomposed, and emits a disagreeably smelling 

 discharge, which soon wastes it away, leaving no other protection to the 

 sensible organ beneath, and constituting what is called an ordinary thrush. 

 Again, it is found by experience, that not only must the shoes be renewed 

 as they wear out, but even if no work is done, and consequently they are 



