'5fi 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



oeen oli'.iged to fire twice, and which has 

 proved successful ; still 1 would not recom- 

 mend lirins:, until all other remedies failed, 

 and previous to which I would advise the 

 mercurial plaister ; or, perhaps, what may 

 be more convenient, the application of mer- 

 curial ointment. 



Take Mercurial ointment (strong) 2 oz. 



Rub a portion of this ointment on the diseased 

 part (first warming it to make it pliable,) 

 morning and night, for three days ; then, wait- 

 ing one day, apply the liquid blister as before 

 described. Put a cradle on the Horse's neck, 

 to prevent his biting the parts, and if he 

 appears irritable, tie him up to the rack. 



OVER-STEPPING. 



Over-stepping, or, as it is called by some, 

 over-reaching, arises from a peculiar length of 

 action the hind legs have to the fore ones, in 

 consequence of which the fore legs cannot get 

 out of the way of the hind ones ; which, when 

 it occurs, is very liable to injure the fore legs, 

 and in some cases so much so, as to throw the 

 Horse down 



These accidents sometimes happen, from 

 the toe of the hind foot being too long, and 

 not squared oflF properly. It may also occur 

 from bad riding, in pulling up short, or by a 

 Horse galloping with the wrong leg first, 

 which altogether alters his gait, so much so 

 as to be uncomfortable to both horseman and 

 the Horse. The consequence is, that in the 

 attempt to get himself into the proper mode of 

 gallop, he will strike his hind foot against his 

 fore leg ; and, if not come down, will lacerate 

 the leg sometimes in a terrible manner. 

 Whenever the wound is such as to leave a 

 flap of skin, whether it be upwards, or down- 



wards, or sideways, it should be immediately 

 cut off as close as possible, as a re-union of the 

 parts can never take place, and by leaving the 

 flap, and attempting to effect the re-union of 

 the parts, there would be a thickening and a 

 greater blemish, and its removal would be 

 found necessary at last. 



Though I have introduced this affection in 

 the chapter of strains, it probably might have 

 been better in the chapter on wounds ; but it 

 so frequently happens that the tendons be- 

 come injured by the blow inflicted, that my 

 readers must pardon me for including it with 

 diseases of the tendons. 



Now, in this case, poulticing will be highly 

 advisable ; and nothing can be better than a 

 warm bran poultice, which should be applied 

 until the inflammation is subdued, always re- 

 collecting to bathe the leg in hot water. 

 When the inflammation is removed, app.Y the 

 following, two or three times a day. 



Take Hog's lard - - - 2 oz. 



Alum, finely powdered - 3 do. 

 Sulphate of zinc - ■ 



ido. 



Work well together in a mortar, an 1 app?y as 

 above, it will effect a cure in a few days. 



BREAKING DOWN. 



Breaking down is a term so generally un- 

 derstood, that it is familiar with all sportsmen 

 and horsemen, though in medical language it 

 is called " rupture of the suspensory liga- 

 ments.''' This is an accident that most fre- 

 quently occurs to young Horses, either in 

 breaking or training, and more particularly so 

 to the race-horse than any other. The severe 

 trainms: the race-norse has to undera:o at the 

 present day, makes him exceedingly liable to 

 rupture the suspensory ligament, as the fixed 



