78 THE NEW POCKET FARHIER. 



knife. In the latter case, however, great care should 

 be taken by the operator not to injure the tendinous liga- 

 ments which run along the neck, under the mane. 

 When matter lies on both sides, the opening must also 

 be on each side, that the ligament may remain undivided. 

 The following poultice should be used in bringing the 

 tumour to a head ; marsh-mallows, corn-meal, hog's 

 lard, and oil of turpentine. If the matter flows in great 

 quantities, resembling melted glue, and is of an oily con- 

 sistence, the cavity of the wound should be carefully 

 examined by the finger or probe, and further laid open 

 by the knife and dressed with spirits of turpentine, honey 

 and tincture of myrrh, until a light and thick-coloured 

 matter appears. Cleanse the sore well with a sponge 

 dipped in soap-suds ; then take half an ounce of verdi- 

 gris, four ounces oil of turpentine, two ounces blue stone 

 and half an ounce green copperas, which mix together 

 and hold over a fire until the mixture is as hot as a 

 horse can endure; then pour it into the abscess and 

 stitch it up. This must remain several days, without 

 any other application except bathing with spirits of wine. 

 When the matter becomes of a whitish colour" and de- 

 creases in quantity, a cure is rapidly advancing. 



RAT'S TAIL. 



This is a malignant kind of disease in horses, re- 

 sembling scratches. It proceeds sometimes from too 

 much rest, and the keeper's negligence in not rubbing 

 and dressing them well ; also by reason of being highly 

 kept and not properly exercised. This disease makes 

 its appearance on the back sinews, and may be known 

 by the part being without hair, and from two or three 

 fingers' breadth below the ham to the very pastern- 



