196 Among Men and Horses. 



weak spot. I have found, on the contrary, that properly 

 applied cotton-wool bandaging in connection with well- 

 regulated massage will, as a rule, if employed early, restore 

 such sprained parts to a sound condition. A large number 

 of trainers and owners in India have adopted with great 

 success this method of treating such sprains. In course of 

 time, it will, no doubt, become popular in England. Prior 

 to meeting Dr Henderson, I often utilised, with good results, 

 the effect of pressure on sprained parts by means of a com- 

 bined bandage and 'charge,' with which, however, I was 

 unable to massage the injured structure. One great beauty 

 of this cotton-wool treatment is that instead of keeping men 

 up all night or employed all day bathing, fomenting, irrigat- 

 ing, or applying lotions, liniments or embrocations to a bad 

 leg ; not more than a quarter of an hour is required to 

 massage the part and to put on the bandage, after which 

 the horse may be left, without any fear of ill results accruing, 

 for twenty-four or even forty-eight hours. The good effects 

 of this treatment for injuries which form the large majority 

 of those that unfit saddle horses for work, manifest them- 

 selves in a surprisingly short time. I need hardly say that 

 this method of bandaging cannot cure a sprain ; but it can 

 place the injured parts in the best possible position to 

 become cured by the various reparatory functions of the 

 body. Cotton-wool has no mysterious curative power; but 

 is merely a convenient agent for distributing the effects of 

 pressure. 



Besides horse-dealing and occasional breaking, I trained 

 several horses with a fair share of success. At Calcutta, 

 which is the great Indian turf metropolis, the racing is well 

 managed, and liberal prizes are given. Having confidence 

 in the capacity and rectitude of the stewards, the public 

 attend the meetings with all their spare cash in their pockets 

 to back their fancy ; and, accordingly, to supply the demand 

 men like Bob Topping, Miller and Brittain, who 'field' 

 during the summer in Italy, Archer, Crouch, who is well- 



