3o6 ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



Nursing. Niirsmg is attention to every detail which conduces to the comfort or 



benefit of the patient. The chief points to be noted are : — 



1. Ventilation (in buildings), which is plenty of fresh air and no 



draughts. Horses and other animals do not require to be kept 

 in a warm atmosphere, but they do, better if extremes of tempera- 

 ture can be avoided during the 24 hours. Standing in the open 

 as animals do on service, they should be sheltered as far as 

 possible from high winds, but as a rule cases of illness make 

 good progress in the open air, unless the weather is bad. 



2. Clothing should be sufficient for warmth, but not so heavy as to be 



a burden to weak animals or make them sweat. Body rollers 

 should not be drawn tight enough to impede the movements of 

 the chest in breathing. 

 Bandages should be applied to the legs from below the knee to 

 the coronet to keep up the warmth of the limbs. They should 

 not be too tight or they will impede the circulation, and if 

 procurable, they should be woollen. Hay or straw bands or 

 strips of blanket or sacking may be utilized on emergency, or if 

 linen bandages are to be had, tow, cotton wool, hay or straw 

 may be loosely bound round the legs. 



Bandag- Baitdaging. — Don't draw any one portion of the bandage tighter 



ing- than another ; don't tie the strings tighter than the bandage is 



put on ; fasten the strings at the outside of the leg. In bandaging 

 uneven surfaces (such as the hock and knee) or swollen surfaces, 

 be careful to put plenty of wool, tow or any soft padding under 

 the bandage, and do not draw it tight. In bandaging wounds 

 which have a hanging lip of skin, be careful to commence from 

 below, so that the lip is brought into its natural position. Do 

 not bandage wounds of joints at all tightly. For hot bandages use 

 flannel or blanket ; for cold bandages use thin doosuti or linen. 



3. Bedding, when obtainable, should always be used for the sick 



unless they are camped on loose sand, when it can be dispensed 

 with. Horses will take rest, especially when sick, if their bed is 

 level and soft, but will not lie long or often unless this is attended 

 to. In all cases it should be kept dry and free from smell. 

 Food. 4. Food. — Animals which are likely to be at work again within a 



short time should be kept on a plentiful ration, so that they 

 return strong and fit, care being always taken not to allow their 

 bowels to become constipated. Cases likely to remain in 



