CHAPTER II. 



STABLE MANAGEMENT OP THE SICK AND INJURED. 



CARE OF THE SICK. 



The sick horse should, if practicable, be immediately removed 

 to a large, clean, light and well-ventilated box stall, free from 

 drafts and located as far as possible from other horses. Clean 

 bedding should be provided, and the stall kept free from 

 manure and moisture. If such a stall can not be provided a 

 double stall, with the kicking bar removed and ropes or bars 

 placed across the front of it, will answer the purpose. 



If the patient is suffering from a febrile disease (fever) dur- 

 ing the cold season of the year, paulins or horse covers can be 

 hung up in such a manner as to serve as a protection from 

 drafts, care being taken to allow sufficient air to enter this iui- 

 provised box stall. Such patients must be clothed according 

 to the season of the year, the blanket drawn well forward on the 

 neck and fastened in front, the legs, after hand-rubbing, band- 

 aged with red flannels. The bandages should be changed 

 several times daily, and the legs thoroughly rubbed to stinui- 

 late circulation. 



Horses with diseases of the nervous system require to be kept 

 absolutely quiet, and must be removed as far as possible from 

 all noise. It is preferable that only one man be allowed to 

 attend to their Avants, as a change of attendants would very 

 likely cause excitement and thus increase the severity of the 

 disease. Animals suffering from debilitating diseases should 

 be tempted with and fed any food that is rich in nourishuient 

 and easily digested. It should be given only in such quantities 

 as the animal Avill readily eat, and any portion left over should 

 be at once removed, as food constantly placed before a sick 

 animal will have a tendency to deprive it of all apj^etite. 

 Food that is wet, such as bran mashes or steamed oats, will soon 

 sour in warm weather and will get cold or may freeze during 

 the winter; if eaten in these conditions it may cause diarrhea 

 colic, etc. Feed boxes, water buckets, and all parts of the stall 



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