HIDE-BOUND. 161 



and unhealthy condition of the secretions of the skin, and 

 particularly of those little glands which secrete the oil, by 

 which the hair and skin are kept in their naturally soft and 

 elastic condition. 



But the first and important cause, as before stated, is some 

 disease by which the system has become deranged, and hide- 

 bound has taken place as a consequent or symptomatic dis- 

 ease. Derangement of the stomach and digestive organs is 

 the most frequent cause. But constitutional diseases, gen- 

 erally, will produce it — as farcy, glanders, founder, and 

 consumption, and, particularly, insufficient food, or starva- 

 tion. 



Treatment. — This will depend on the cause that produced 

 the hide-bound. A careful examination of the horse must be 

 made to ascertain the disease under which he is laboring, and 

 if that can be discovered, the proper treatment for it Avill cure 

 the hide-bound. But a great deal of good may be done, in 

 any disease which interferes so greatly with the action of the 

 skin, by proj)er friction, cleaning, and rubbing, and warmth 

 of clothing; and these measures should be made use of whether 

 the disease causing the hide-bound can be ascertained or not.. 

 But they must not be relied on to effect the cure. 



In cases where the disease causing the hide-bound is ob- 

 scure, or can not be ascertained, the following treatment, 

 should be pursued until the disease can be ascertained, or 

 until the coat and skin become healthy: Rub the horse welly, 

 morning and evening, so as to keep the coat clean, and aid in. 

 producing warmth of the skin. Blanket warmly. Use for 

 this purpose two blankets, joined along the back with tapes,, 

 so as to leave a space of two inches between them. This is 

 done to permit the insensible perspiration to more readily pass 

 off. For internal treatment: 



Take — Flax-seed 2 quarts. 



Boiling water 2 gallons. 



Mix the flax-seed in the water, and boil slowly until, when cold, the mass 

 11 



