BLISTERING. 31:3 



0. 186, The best liquid or sweating blister is an infusion of the fly in 

 mrpentine, and that lowered with neat's-foot oil according to the degree o. 

 activity required. 



In preparing the horse for blistering, the hair should be clipped or shaved 

 as closely as possible, and the ointment thoroughly rubbed in. Much faul. 

 js often found with the ointment, if the blister does not rise, when the real 

 blame should be attributed to the idleness of the operator. 



The head of the horse must be tied up for the first two days; except that 

 when the sides are blistered, the body-clothes may be so contrived as to 

 prevent the horse from nibbling and blemishing the part, or blistering his 

 muzzle. At the expiration of twenty-four hours, a little olive or neat's-foot 

 oil may be applied over the blister, which will considerably lessen the pain 

 and supple the part, and prevent cracks in the skin that may be difficult 

 to heal. The oil should be applied morning and night, until the scabs 

 peel otf. When they begin to loosen, a lather of soap and water applied 

 with a sponge may hasten their removal, but no violence must be used. 



Every particle of litter should be carefully removed from the stall ; for 

 the sharp ends of the straw, coming in contact with a part rendered so 

 tender and irritable by the blister, will cause very great annoyance to the 

 animal. After the second day, the horse may be suffered to lie dov/n ; but 

 still, the possibility of blemishing himself should be prevented by a cradle 

 or wooden necklace, consisting of round strips of wood strung together, 

 reaching from the lower jaw to the chest, and preventing the horse from 

 sufficiently turning or bending his head to get at the blistered part. 



A blister thus treated will rarely produce the slightest blemish. When 

 the scabs are all removed, the blister may be repeated, if the case should 

 appear to require it, or the iiorse may be turned out. 



In inflammations which threaten life, a blister can scarcely be too --Native 

 or too extensive. In inflammation of the lungs, it should reach over the 

 whole of the sides, and a greater part of the brisket; for should a portion 

 of tlie fly be absorbed, and produce slrtmgury, (inflammation, or spasmodic 

 affection of the neck of the bladder,) even this new irritation may assist in 

 subduing the first and more dangerous one; but in blistering for injuries or 

 diseases of the legs or feet, some caution is necessary. When speaking of 

 the treatment of sprain of the back sinews, p. 247, we stated, that "a 

 blister never should be used while any heat or tenderness remains about 

 the part;" for we should then add to the superficial inflammation, instead of 

 abating the deeper-seated one; and enlargements of the limb and ulcera- 

 tions might follow, which would render the horse perfectly unserviceable. 

 When there is a tendency to grease, a blister is a dangerous thing, and has 

 often aggravated the disease. In winter, the inflammation of the skin 

 produced by blistering is apt to degenerate into grease; therefore, if it 

 should be necessary to blister the horse during that season, great care must 

 be taken that he is not exposed to cold, and, particularly, that a current of 

 cold air does not come upon the legs. 



The inhuman practice of blistering all round, and perhaps high on the 

 leg at the same time, cannot be too strongly reprobated. Many a valuable 

 horse has been lost through the excessive general irritation which this has 

 produced, or its violent effects on the urinary organs; and this has been 

 particularly the case, when corrosive sublimate has entered into the com- 

 position of the blister. 



If Strangury should appear, the horse should be plentifully supplied 

 with linseed tea, which is thus best prepared : a gallon of boiling water is 

 poured on half a pound of linseed; the infusion suffer^ to stand still till 



