38 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



the fetlock, but do not put any great pressure on until we reach the pastern 

 and begin to ascend the les;. 



Starch Bandages. — To give support in cases of fracture, starch or 

 glue bandages are sometimes employed. The foi'mer are either dipped in 

 a basin of freshly-made warm starch and then loosely rolled before being 

 applied, or spread upon a table and pasted over with a brush. Glue may 

 be employed in the same manner, but the fingers need to be dipped in 

 warm water to prevent them from sticking, as the liquid quickly cools. A 

 starch bandage is more easily dealt with when the time comes to remove it, 

 but glue sets more quickly at the time of application and may be preferred 

 with a restless patient. 



A better bandage than that formed of either starch or glue may be 

 made by mixing the white of eggs with Hour in such proportion as to form 

 a paste that will readily spread upon a strip of calico or other suitable 

 material. It requires no heat and quickly sets, remaining firm until 

 softened by warm water when it is desired to remove it. 



Plaster Of Paris Bandage. — This form of bandage affords a greater 

 degree of support than any other, but its rigidity necessitates more precau- 

 tions against the production of sores when it has to be retained for a long 

 period on the limb. It is essential that the plaster should not have been 

 exposed to the air, and tins containing it should be sealed or it may be 

 found to have lost its "setting" power when required for use. To carry 

 the plaster a loosely- woven material is to be preferred. When this has been 

 unrolled, dry plaster of paris is rubbed into it by an assistant. It is then 

 slowly rolled again and each fold carefully filled. Before wetting it, the 

 part of the animal to be bandaged should be covered by a plain bandage, 

 or be padded with cotton-wool, wood-wool, tow, or spongio-piline. Every- 

 thing being ready, the plaster bandage is dipped in water, and as soon as 

 it is wet through, applied as quickly as possible, consistently with uniformity 

 and neatness. The outside is smeared all over with more plaster of the 

 consistence of cream. A dry roll of bandage is made to cover the whole, 

 and the patient restrained from all movement for half an hour, by which 

 time it should be set and quite hard. 



BLISTERING 



Blistering is an operation frequently resorted to in the treatment of 

 horses, and many permanent blemishes result from the use of improper 

 materials and the neglect of simple after-precautions. As a preliminary 

 measure the hair on the part to be blistered should be first closely clipped 

 and the scurf brushed out of the skin. 



