BLISTERING. 323 



exercise, as soon as the pain is sufficiently subsided to admit 

 of the animal being moved about. In many cases the swellings 

 involve the sheath of the penis and the under surface of the 

 abdomen. Punctures are very useful in such parts, by allow- 

 ing the escape of the contained fluid. I have seen tetanus 

 ari.se from a very limited blister to one fore leg. 



It is necessary to tie the horse's head to the rack after a 

 blister has been applied, in order that he may not bite it, 

 or lick it with his lips or tongue, and thus blister the mouth 

 and blemish the blistered spot. It is also necessary to tie the 

 head so that the horse cannot lie down, for if he lies upon the 

 blistered limb the vesicant will adhere to that part of the body 

 brought in contact with it whilst the animal is recumbent, and 

 produce an effect upon it as well as upon the part to which it 

 has been purposely applied. If the blistered spot be within 

 reach of the tail, the tail should be tied up, or it is apt to 

 become daubed, and the blister whipped on to the thighs, sheath, 

 or mammary gland. 



If the effects are not sufficiently apparent in about thirty 

 hours after the blister has been applied, a very little more, or 

 what is remaining on the skin, wdiich may be sufficient, should 

 be gently rubbed in ; and in about forty-eight hours after the 

 application the part is to be washed, and every trace of the 

 blister removed; a little oil being now applied, or, what suits 

 perhaps better, an emulsion of sweet oil, carbonate of potash, 

 and water. It is a mistake to keep the parts soft too long ; 

 the eschars should be allowed to accumulate, and to desquamate 

 gradually. 



When the head is untied from the rack, a cradle must be 

 put on the animal's neck to prevent him from biting the blistered 

 spot. A cradle is, however, useless when the lower part of 

 the fore legs is blistered, since the animal can elevate his feet 

 from the ground, and thus get at them with his teeth; and 

 when he is lying the cradles are of very little use when a blister 

 is below the knee. In such cases the best method is to keep 

 the head tied up until a thick scab is formed, which will destroy 

 itchiness in the part. 



Firing, or the application of the actual cautery, is supposed 

 by some to be beneficial in acting as a suppurant, and by others 

 in forming a permanent bandage round the part ; but I appre- 



