32 



HEALTH AND DISEASE 



Any other portion of a front leg, including the knee, may be dealt with 

 in the same manner. In the absence of a bandage, an old stocking from 

 which the foot has been removed may, by being drawn over the leg, serve 

 the purpose, but it fails to keep in the heat as does a flannel bandage. 



The Hock is a most difficult joint upon which to retain a poultice. 

 The movements of this joint are so extensive, that a special bag must be 

 made of such a size and form as to embrace the whole of the joint and 

 allow of its being securely fastened above and below. In adjusting the 



poultice, the stocking should first 

 lie drawn into position, then tied 

 below with tape or bandage, and, 

 lastly, the material composing 

 ' * fc *^\ v the poultice should be introduced 



and well packed round the joint. 



The Head. — When poultices 



have to be applied to any part 



of the head or face, it is usual 



to make the leather head -collar 



serve as a support, while a hood 



may also be utilized to retain 



them in such positions as the 



poll, the eye, the face, &c. In 



poulticing the throat, nothing 



serves better for adjustment than 



a couple of flannel bandages; 



but if it is required to embrace the space behind the jaws, the throat 



bandage (fig. 445) must be employed. 



The Withers and back can be poulticed by means of portions of strong 

 flannel, or, what is better, old rugging, cut to suitable shapes and tied as 

 illustrated in fig. 446. 



The Sides of the Chest and Belly.— Nothing serves the purpose 



of adjusting a poultice to these parts better than the arrangement depicted 

 in Plate XLVIII, where a broad sheet of rugging is suspended by six 

 bands, two of which from either side are tied over the loins and back 

 respectively, and two others to a collar-band in front. A seventh may be 

 employed to attach the collar-band to the sheet between the fore limbs, to 

 prevent its backward movement. 



The Breast. — A suitable bandage for this region is that given in 

 fig. 447. 



Fig. 447. — Poultice applied to the Breast 



