350 HUNTING. 



ments and practical experience. Those of my readers 

 who wish to understand the treatment of horses in 

 health and disease, cannot do better, as far as books 

 are concerned, than to study my husband's Stable 

 Management and Exercise, and Veterinary Notes for 

 Horse-owners. 



One point about the examination of a hard-ridden 

 hunter which is within the comprehension of even 

 an inexperienced girl, is the detection and proper 

 treatment of lumps on his back which have been 

 produced during the ride by hurtful pressure of the 

 saddle, and which almost always appear on the off 

 side of the withers, and on the off side of the back, 

 near where the cantle rested. If these swellings be 

 neglected, they will probably become developed into 

 abscesses, which will incapacitate the animal from 

 work for a month or longer. An admirable way of 

 treating them, as soon as the saddle is removed, is 

 to pour some whiskey, brandy or other spirit into 

 the hollow of the hand, apply it to' the lump, and 

 rub the swelling briskly with the palm of the hand 

 for at least five minutes. I have often seen a large 

 swelling of this kind visibly decrease in size during 

 this process, which, in the many cases I have 

 witnessed, always caused the lump to disappear by 

 the following morning. In applying this form of 

 massage, no delay should occur, after removing the 

 saddle, which should always be taken off the moment 

 the animal returns to his stable, and his back well 

 rubbed with the hand or with a dry whisp of straw 



