SEA TRANSPORT. 265 



firmly against the animal's feet), scatter a few ashes to prevent shpping, 

 and he will rise with ease. If the horse struggles and cannot rise, slip 

 parting boards between him and his companions to prevent his injuring 

 or scaring them. In the event of a horse being down on the deck during 

 a storm and it being impossible for him to rise, he becomes a danger to 

 others as he is shot from side to side by the roll ; in such circumstances 

 the feet may be hobbled together and the animal tied firmly to the nearest 

 suitable support, until it is possible to let him get up. 



Sickness amongst horses on board ship is due to or aggravated by Sickness, 

 excessive heat (fever and heat stroke), want of fresh air (staggers and 

 pneumonia), or want of exercise (fever m the feet). By carrying out the 

 methods previously stated, these may usually be prevented, but in case 

 of any sickness it may be taken for granted that fresh air is wanted, and 

 the patient should be brought under a hatchway immediately. If a horse 

 is suddenly violent (staggers), douching with water after bringing under 

 the hatchway will be found effectual. As a measure of prevention, horses 

 which are stood in badly ventilated stalls (if any) should be moved every 

 few days to better positions. 



Fever may occur frequently, and horses be off feed as a consequence ; 

 but fresh air only will prove a curative, and medicine is not often 

 necessary. 



Constipation which is frequent should be overcome by sloppy mashes, 

 and not by physic. 



Fever in the feet will not occur if exercise is given, and the importance 

 of this cannot be over-estimated. It will, however, occur in unshod 

 remounts which stand still all the voyage and will be exhibited on landing. 



Care on Landing. 



Troop horses which have been well exercised during the voyage may 

 be brought on to light work without any interval if necessary, but it is 

 invariably better if time permits to allow as long as possible for 

 graduated exercise on shore before any effort is called for. Remounts, 

 which are embarked soft and not exercised on board, it is impossible to 

 work until they have been thoroughly conditioned ; any attempt to do 

 otherwise can only end in absolute disaster. As a rule such an animal, 

 called on to work immediately, does one day only and is then broken 

 down beyond recovery. 



The amount of time required for this gradual conditioning, therefore, 

 varies inversely to the fitness of the animal on embarkation, and the 

 amount of fresh air and exercise it receives on the way. 



