DISEASES OF HORSES TREATMENT 175 



Scratches. 



An inflammation of the glands of the skin in the regions of the heels. It 

 is usually the result of improper feeding or overfeeding on grain, or irrita- 

 tion while traveling on slushy, muddy roads. Caustic soap washes, improper 

 bandaging or severe exertion are frequent causes. There are scaly substances 

 on the heels and cracks develop similar to chapping on hands. 



Treatment. Clean the part. Clip the hair close to the skin and apply a 

 warm poultice of bread and milk; repeat in 12 hours. Then cleanse thor- 

 oughly and dust boric acid into the sores. 



A good vaseline or ointment of 1 teaspoonful sugar of lead, carbolic acid, 

 10 drops, and lard is used by many farmers. Pine pitch smeared on parts 

 proves successful. Cover with a cloth. Grease the parts twice a day when 

 the horse is worked. 



Screwworms Or Maggots in Wounds. 



The fly bites the horse and sucks the blood. It lays eggs in wounds, 

 which develop into small maggots that burrow in and cause poisonous devel- 

 opment. This may be stopped by applying kerosene oil to kill them. The 

 kerosene is antiseptic and healing. It acts somewhat as though it seared 

 the wound and causes it to heal from within toward the outer surface, in 

 place of just on the surface leaving a wound that may later develop into a 

 poisonous sore. 



Tobacco juice is a good remedy to give. 



Hickory wood ashes are used by some farmers. 



Shoe Boil. 



Shoe Boil or Capped Klbow 



Kicking with the hind feet or chafing of the belly 

 band of the harness causes a bunch to appear. It may 

 appear on any part of the lower limbs. They have a 

 core which distinguishes them from a common swell- 

 ing. It is similar to both a tumor and an abscess. 



Treatment. These should be cut once across in 

 both directions with a sterilized, sharp, clean knife. 

 A good poultice will often soften the core which can 

 then be pressed out. A mixture of salt and soap is a powerful application to 

 soften and bring it to a head. 



Sore Throat. 



An inflammation of the throat is serious more from the point of the dif- 

 ferent diseases into which it may develop, than of the temporary disease 

 itself. The chief causes are chills and exposure. 



Symptoms. A cough develops and there is difficulty in swallowing. 

 Glands below the ears and between the jaws are swollen. Discharge comes 

 from nostrils and breathing becomes hard. 



