530 THE HORSE. 
similar to a harness gall, and there is not the slightest necessity for 
inventing names to distinguish each stage of cruelty in the rider, for if 
attention is paid to the warble no sitfast will ever make its appearance. 
Prevention is better than cure, and it may almost always be effected by 
the adoption of the plan of always keeping the saddle on (after loosing 
the girths) for a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. Sometimes, 
however, in spite of this precaution, the skin of the back swells, and 
when a heavy man has been riding for six or eight hours on a horse 
unaccustomed to his weight, the cuticle will perhaps peel off, bringing the 
hair with it. When the swelling is considerable it should be well 
fomented for an hour, and then bathed with a lotion composed of one 
drachm of tincture of arnica in half a pint of water. The saddle should 
never be reapplied until the skin is quite cool, and free from all inflam- 
mation, even if considerable inconvenience is thereby suffered. The same 
treatment will also apply to harness galls. Oiling the inside of the collar 
will often prevent the shoulder from suffering excoriation. 
GRUBS. 
THE LARVA OF SOME BEETLE, but of what species I do not know, is 
occasionally met with in the horse, causing a small lump, about the size 
of a raisin, and usually on the back. This obstinately continues for 
months, if its nature is not understood, in spite of all ordinary applica- 
tions. At last a white larva or grub, with a black head, and very similar 
in everything but size to the maggot found in the nut, makes its appear- 
ance, and either escapes to fall to the ground and become a chrysalis, or 
else it is squeezed out by the groom, which is easily done as soon as the 
head is visible. When discovered previously, an opening may be made 
with the point of a penknife, and then the larva may be gradually 
squeezed out, avoiding too much haste in the operation, which will only 
retard the process. 
BITES AND STINGS OF INSECTS. 
HORSES ARE LIABLE TO BE STUNG by hornets, wasps, and bees. If there 
are only one or two stings made, no interference is necessary, but some- 
times a larger number ‘of poisonous punctures have been effected, and 
then the best treatment is the application of spirit of turpentine and 
laudanum in equal proportions. 
THE BITES OF THE GADFLY are so troublesome in their effects that it is 
sometimes desirable to prevent them if possible. This is effected by 
making a strong infusion of the green bark of the elder, and washing the 
flanks, &c. with it before going out. 
SWELLED LEGS. 
THE SKIN OF THE LEGS AND THE CELLULAR MEMBRANE beneath it are liable 
to two kinds of swelling, one of which is of an inflammatory character, 
while the other is solely due to a deposit of serum (cedema), owing to the 
non-performance of their office by the kidneys. Both kinds are much 
more frequent in the hind legs than the fore, but especially the former. 
INFLAMMATORY SWELLED LEG, sometimes called weed, is generally accom- 
panied by a certain amount of feverishness, and comes on suddenly, 
almost always showing itself on the inside of the hind leg, which is hot 
