16 HOESE-KEEPINQ FOR AMATEURS. 



with advantage, green meat, and a general cooling diet 

 resorted to, not forgetting a small quantity of nitre occasion- 

 ally, in a bran mash. Corn must be knocked off at once. 

 As soon as the primary symptoms have disappeared, a slight 

 blister should be applied, or else some embrocation, composed 

 of equal parts oil of turpentine and spirits of wine, say 3oz. 

 each to loz. of camphor, well rubbed into the part affected. 

 If it is a genuine case of shoulder lameness, at least two 

 months' rest will be required, though during that period the 

 horse should be quietly led about for exercise ; under no cir- 

 cumstances allow anyone to get on his back. 



Strains of the hip joint and of the stifle joint are more 

 frequent than shoulder strains, and the treatment for them 

 all is the same. 



Strains of the back sinew are mostly caused by the severe 

 exertions made by the racehorse and hunter. If the strain is 

 slight, and it is taken in time, one need not despair of 

 effecting a complete cure. A large, egg-shaped swelling 

 appears on the tendon, about midway between the knee 

 joint and fetlock, and this may be unaccompanied by absolute 

 lameness. In this condition, the next sharp gallop will 

 probably produce actual breakdown. When the breakdown is 

 a very severe one, the fetlock joint actually comes on to the 

 ground. In treating these injuries, the animal's system should 

 first be cooled by means of purging medicine, his corn taken 

 away, and green meat and bran-mashes substituted. No 

 exercise at all must be given. Cold bran poultices, and, in 

 the more severe cases, ice, must be constantly applied to the 

 leg until the inflammation be reduced, after which a cold- 

 water bandage should be kept on for about a month. At the 

 end of this time, the limb must be blistered, and, for this 

 purpose, a very useful blister may be made from can'harides, 

 mixed with lard and resin. Neat's foot oil, applied over the 

 blister the following day, will allay the irritation, and prevent 

 the skin cracking. The oil should be applied twice a day 

 afterwards until the scabs peel off. Instead of a blister, a 

 charge may be used. This consists of a plaister put on hot 

 to the leg, and covered (whilst still hot) with pieces of tow. 

 A common recipe for the charge is as follows : Burgundy 

 pitch, 3oz. ; tar, 5oz. ; red lead, 3oz. ; beeswax, l^oz. The 

 lead must be added after the pitch, tar, and wax have been 

 melted and mixed together. A little oil may be added, to 



