STAGGERS. 533 



2. In most cases the operation is unnecessary, and the appli- 

 cation of the following blister will have the desired effect: Take of 

 biniodide of mercury, 1 drachm; lard, 1 ounce. Mix, and after cut- 

 ting the hair short, rub a little into the skin covering the splint, 

 every night, until a free watery discharge is produced from the sur- 

 face. To facilitate this the leg should be fomented with very warm 

 water every morning and afternoon, and this should be continued 

 for several days after the ointment has been discontinued. If, 

 after a week's interval the splint does not appear much reduced in 

 size, the ointment should be re-applied, and repeated at similar 

 intervals till the swelling is removed. 



STAGGERS. 



Remedies 1. This is a stupid condition occasioned by 

 engorgement by eating too much green or other food, liable to fer- 

 mentation. When discovered, put the horse in a safe place and 

 give immediately of aloes, 6 drachms ; raw linseed-oil, 1 pint. If 

 it does not operate in twenty-four hours, give injections of warm 

 water and soap. There is another form of staggers, allied to apo- 

 plexy, and dangerous because due to pressure of blood on the brain, 

 a horse often becoming unmanageable in harness. Throw cold water 

 over the head, first releasing the harness. A horse subject to this 

 should never have the collar, headstall or other portions of the har- 

 ness obstruct the free circulation of the blood. 



2. Cause the horse to inhale into hit nostrils an even teaspoonful 

 of snuff. This is an infallible cure for the staggers in any stage of the 

 disease, as long as there is life in the animal. The diet should be con- 

 fined to a small amount of good hay or grass, with a plentiful supply 

 of water. 



STRAINS. 



Symptoms Strains are caused by overstretching of or me- 

 chanical injury to the muscles, ligaments and tendons. Symptoms; 

 heat, swelling and pain on pressure or in movement, in the one 

 case by flinching and in the other by lameness. Sometimes effusion 

 of blood or serum. 



Remedy 1. Foment the affected limb with a lye made by 

 dissolving two ounces of sal-soda in a pailful of hot water. Apply 

 the lye with a sponge as hot as it can be borne, twice daily 

 for one hour each time; keep your lye to this temperature of heat 

 during each fomentation ; dry the parts fomented each time from 

 all the lye material, and bathe them with a strong infusion made 

 of either wormwood or hops (use whichever of these is the more 

 convenient) and pure cider vinegar- steep the hops or wormwood in 



