230 THE CHEST. 



Very great improvement has taken place in the construction of saddles for 

 common use and in the cavalry service. Certain rules have now been laid 

 down from which the saddler should never deviate, and attending to which 

 the animal is saved from much suffering, and the mechanic from deserved 

 disgrace. 



The first rule in the fitting of the saddle is, that it should bear upon the 

 back, and not on the spine or the withers, for these are parts that will not endure 

 pressure. 



Next in universal application is the understanding that the saddle should 

 have everywhere an equal bearing, neither tilting forward upon the points nor 

 backward upon the seat. 



When the saddle is on, and the girths fastened, there should remain space 

 sufficient between the withers and the pommel for the introduction of the hand 

 underneath the latter. 



The points of the tree should clip or embrace the sides without pinching 

 them, or so standing outward that the pressure is all downwards, and upon one 

 place, instead of being in a direction inwards as well as downwards, so as to be 

 distributed uniformly over every part of the point that touches the side. Horses 

 that have low and thick withers are most likely to have them injured, in con- 

 sequence of the continual riding forward of the saddle, and its consequent 

 pressure upon them. Fleshy and fat shoulders and sides are also subject to 

 become hurt by the points of the trees either pinching them from being too 

 narrow in the arch, or from the bearing being directly downward upon them. 



Injury occasionally results from the interruption which a too forward saddle 

 presents to the working or motion of the shoulder, and the consequent friction 

 the soft parts' sustain between the shoulder-blade inwardly, and the points of the 

 saddle tree outwardly *. 



WARBLES, SITFASTS, AND SADDLE GALLS. 



On other parts of the back tumours and very troublesome ulcers may be 

 produced by the same cause. Those resulting from the pressure of the saddle 

 are called warbles, and, when they ulcerate, they frequently become sitfasts. 

 Warbles are small circular bruises, or extravasations of blood, where there has 

 been an undue pressure of the saddle or harness. If a horse is subject to these 

 tumours, the saddle should remain on him two or three hours after he has 

 returned to the stable. It is only for a certain time, however, that this will per- 

 fectly succeed, for by the frequent application of the pressure the skin and the 

 cellular substance are bruised or otherwise injured and a permanent sore 

 or tumour, of a very annoying description, takes place. The centre of the sore 

 gradually loses its vitality. A separation takes place from the surrounding 

 integument, and there is a circular piece of dried and hard skin remaining in 

 the centre. This is curiously called a navel gall, because it is opposite to the 

 navel. No effort must be made to tear or dissect it off, but stimulating poul- 

 tices or fomentations, or, if these fail, a mild blister, will cause a speedy separa- 

 tion ; and the wound will then readily heal by the use of turpentine dressings, 

 more or less stimulating, according to circumstances. 



Saddle galls are tumours, and sometimes galls or sores, arising also from the 

 pressure and chafing of the saddle. They differ little from the warble, except 

 that there is very seldom the separation of the dead part in the centre, and the 

 sore is larger and varying in its form. The application of cold water, or salt 

 and water, will generally remove excoriations of this kind. 



With regard, however, to all these tumours and excoriations, the humane moil 



Perciv&]l'& Hippopailiology, vol. i., p. 19y. 



