Accidents and Injuries. 49 



24 or 30 hours after the accident, the horse may be slung and 

 loose cold water bandage applied in the meanwhile. 



BROKEN KNEES. May be slight, only hair scraped off when 

 loose folds of wet linen will be sufficient ; bad when blood is 

 seen ; or very bad when the synovial glands are cut, and a glary 

 yellowish transparent fluid comes out besides blood. 



Treatment. — First remove all dirt by squeezing sponge soaked 

 with water (warm, if immediately available, is best, but better use 

 cold than wait) above the wound so as not to touch the injured 

 part with sponge. If the synovial gland is not cut, dab the 

 knee gently with sponge four or five times a day for five minutes 

 at a time, with a wash compound of three drachms carbolic acid 

 to a quart of lukewarm water. 



If a horse with broken knees lies down, he will, in bending his 

 legs, constantly re-open the wound, therefore either sling him, or 

 tie up his head so that he cannot lie down. His head should be 

 towards the stable entrance to avoid turning him round each 

 time his knees are attended to. 



If synovial fluid comes out, let it coagulate until it drops off of 

 its own accord, and use chloride of ziuc lotion constantly (1 grain 

 to 1 oz. of water). Any bits of loose skin must be, as far as 

 possible, restored to original position. Whilst horse is recovering 

 give cooling food. When a broken knee is healed, dress 

 the whole front of the knee and round it with James', or any 

 similar blister to take off all the hair both above and below the 

 injured part. In a month, during which it should be gently 

 rubbed downwards daily to make it lie smooth, fresh hair will 

 have grown without any difference in colour to mark the wound 

 as there would have been without the blister. 



Gunpowder mixed with a little water will temporarily conceal 

 a slight scar on any dark-coloured horse. 



Never stitch up a broken knee, don't probe it, don't cut off 

 broken skin, don't poultice or apply hot fomentation, and don't 

 bandage leg tightly, or you stop circulation of blood. Don't let 

 the horse touch his knee with his mouth, and forbid the syce 

 using the favourite native remedy called Nilburee. 



BRUSHING. See Speedy cut. 



BURNS and SCALDS. If slight, a coating of flour or mari- 

 gold ointment is sufficient. If not, apply lime water and linseed 

 oil mixed in equal parts. 



CHOKING. If the impediment in the throat can be felt by 

 hand from outside, push it gentlj up and down ; if it can be thus 

 moved, however slightly, the curf> will probably be easy. Give 

 liquids, such as gruel, or an emulsion made of equal quantities 



