METHOD OF APPLYING BANDAGES. 435 



and less than results from the use of hot bandages or other 

 forms of fomentations. Owing to the perishable and com- 

 paratively costly nature of the cotton wool, its use is gener- 

 ally limited to horses for show or racing purposes, or to 

 valuable horses in a time of sickness. 



STRAW BANDAGES. 



Straw or hay bandages are chiefly used in cases of emer- 

 gency, when flannel ones are not at hand. When well made 

 and properly applied, such an improvised bandage forms a 

 very excellent substitute. The straw or hay should be 

 twisted into a rope about two inches thick and about seven 

 feet and a half long. 



METHOD OF APPLYING BANDAGES 



The bandages should be undone for six 

 or eight inches and the outer face of the roll 

 placed against the outside of the canon 

 bone, near the fetlock (see Fig. 211), and 

 held there by the thumb and forefinger of 

 the right hand. The loose end should then 

 be carried around the back of the leg to the FIG - 2I1 * 

 right by the left hand and the end slipped under the roll 

 which is still held by the right hand ; at the same time 

 the roll should be drawn to the right until all the slack is 

 taken up. The end being secured, the roll should be pushed 

 with the palm of the right hand inward and around the 

 inside of the leg until it can be reached by the fingers of the 

 left hand, from which it is passed into the palm of the right 

 hand as the roll is brought to the front of the leg. First the 

 lower part of the leg and the fetlock are covered by repeating 



