THE ARMY HORSE. 59 



witch-hazel, 1 ounce of acetate of lead, and water enough to 

 make 1 quart. If pain is very severe the following may be 

 used : Tincture opium, 4 ounces; acetate of lead, 2 ounces; water 

 to make 1 quart ; this application is of more benefit when 

 applied Avarm. All applications should be used several times 

 daily. 



If, after the inflannnation is reduced, the parts remain large 

 and swollen, benefit will result from the application of tincture 

 of iodine, well rubbed in, twice a da}'. If this treatment fails 

 to restore the parts to their normal condition in a reasonable 

 length of time, a blister should be applied. It is made as fol- 

 lows: Cantharides (powdered) 1 part, cosmoline -i to 5 parts; 

 or, cantharides (powdered) 1 part, biniodide mercury 1 part, 

 cosmoline 4 to 6 parts. 



Before applying either the blister or the iodine the hair 

 should be clipped from the parts to which the medicine is to 

 be applied. To obtain the best results from the blister it should 

 be well rubbed in for at least fifteen minutes. The animal 

 must be tied in such a manner that he can not reach the 

 blistered part with his mouth; the blister should be left on for 

 a period of twenty-four to forty-eight hours; it must then be 

 removed by washing with warm water and castile soap. After 

 the blister has been removed the animal may be untied. The 

 parts should be kept clean, free from scabs, and soft from the 

 use of cosmoline, olive oil, or glycerin. 



Rest is necessary throughout the treatment, and even to test 

 his soundness the animal should not be moved more than is 

 necessary. 



If the disease does not yield to blisters, the parts must be 

 fired. For this operation, two kinds of instruments are used : 

 The thermo-cautery, which generates its own heat, and the 

 more common form, the iron heated in the fire. Two methods 

 of firing are in general use: Line fring^ for diseases of the 

 tendons, ligaments, etc. (Plate X, Fig. 4), and puncture -firing^ 

 for diseases of the bone (Chapter XI). 



BRUISES. 



In the cavalry horse the most frequent bruises are saddle 

 and cinch galls, and bruises of the withers. 



Certain horses suffer more than others, on account of the 

 presence of old sores, scars, or scabs, or because of peculiarities 

 in conformation. 



