SORE BACK, WITHERS, AND SITFASTS. 151 



When all is dry and clean apply a second dressing, 

 proceeding as directed for the first, and a third after the 

 two days have elapsed and the second cleaning process 

 has been thoroughly gone through, after which the dis- 

 ease ought to be eradicated. A mere disposition to 

 scratching is generally successfully treated by giving 

 bran mashes night and morning for some days, and 

 part green food instead of hay. Others recommend for 

 mange, as most successful, the following application, to 

 be well rubbed in once a-week all over the animal with 

 a stiff horse-brush : — 



Barbadoes tar, . . 1 part. 



Linseed oil, ... 3 parts. 



To be mixed and gently warmed in a pan. 



The whole of the horse's body to be thoroughly washed 

 with soft soap and warm water, and perfectly dried, 

 previous to rubbing in the foregoing application. 



SORE BACK, WITHERS, AND SITFASTS, 



should be carefully attended to with poultices or water- 

 dressing (see page 160), while a disposition to throw off 

 pus is present, after which the application of healing 

 agents (among which chloride of zinc lotion and glycer- 

 ine are now prominent) is the proper course, but appli- 

 cable only to decidedly trifling and superficial cases. It 

 is imperative, if a cure be desired, that no pressure 

 whatever from the saddle or any other cause of irrita- 

 tion be permitted; therefore, unless a saddler can 

 effectually chamber and pack the saddle so as to prevent 

 the possibility of its touching on or near the sore, the 

 saddle must not be used at all. 



