FOMENT A TIONS — FO T 



the case of valuable foals this is worth remembering. (See 

 Weaning^ 



Fomentations. — A very usual mistake that is made 

 when warm fomentations are being applied is to have 

 the water too hot, as if it is just hot enough for the hand 

 to bear it will be sufficient, excepting in cases of severe 

 inflammation, when the hotter it is the better. When it 

 is necessary to foment the stomach, as in cases of colic, 

 the way to proceed is to soak a large blanket in very hot 

 water and to spread it over the belly securing it by band- 

 ages, using in all such cases another blanket, or preferably a 

 waterproof sheet, over it so as to keep in the heat. When 

 the fomentation has to be renewed it may be done either 

 by providing another blanket for immediate application when 

 the first one is removed so as to reduce the chances of a 

 chill, or else more hot water may be gently poured from 

 the top of the blanket in use and allowed to run down 

 on to it. When the blankets are finally removed the belly 

 may be rubbed with some stimulating liniment to keep 

 in the heat. 



The best way to foment the legs is to place the injured 

 limb in a bucket of hot water, and if the water has been 

 thickened by the addition of some chaff or moss it will 

 prevent its being spilled about the floor of the stable should 

 the horse be fidgety. When the leg is removed from the 

 pail, woollen bandages should be put on rather loosely. 

 It should be borne in mind that after hot fomentations have 

 been applied there is always a risk of the horse taking 

 cold, and hence the part should not only be thoroughly 

 dried but kept warm afterwards, and the animal must 

 not be exposed to draughts or cold. 



Food. — See Feeding. 



Foot. — The feet of horses are perhaps the most important 

 of all the many important portions of their anatomy, which 



134 



