52 Accidents and Iv juries . 



SITFASTS are dark- coloured round scabs, hard but. sore, on 

 the back from neglected warbles. Poultice to remove scab, unless 

 you can get a professional man to do so with a knife, then 

 apply zinc or any good healing ointment, or blister the part if 

 very bad. 



SORE BACK or SHOULDERS, from undue pressure of saddle 

 or harness. If possible, do not work the animal, though he should 

 be well exercised, and bathe the spot affected for half an hour at 

 a time, several times a day with a warm lotion of one wineglass- 

 ful of arnica or spirits in half a bucket of water, if the skin is 

 not broken, till the swelling has subsided. But on a campaign, 

 or when travelling, this may be too tedious and impracticable; if 

 so, bathe the part frequently with 1 ounce of salt dissolved in 

 half a tumbler of water, and pour cold water from a bhisti's mus~ 

 suck on the spot twice a day from a height of .3 or 4 feet as a 

 douche. Water can be made cold by dissolving a little nitre in it. 

 If a bit of skin be knocked off without any swelHng or tenderness, 

 apply Friar's Balsam for a speedy healing. If there is a hot 

 and tender swelling on the withers, inside of which matter can 

 be discerned by pressure of the finger, the treatment for FISTUIjA 

 must be followed. For open sores apply either carbolic or zinc 

 ointment, or the following is an excellent yet simple remedj^: — 

 Mix about 5 ounces of camphor with 1 fluid ounce of carbolic acid 

 in a bottle, shake violently, and before use put it in the sun or 

 before a fire. Pour a little frequently over the sore, and at 

 night apply a piece of lint steeped in the mixture to the spot, 

 also if the horse must be used, whilst at work. This mixture 

 is soothing, healing, keeps of flies and destroys maggots. It 

 must have more camphor than the acid can melt, so if all the 

 camphor be taken up, add more. With this proviso, either or 

 both of the drugs may be added to the bottle as its contents are 

 expended. Don't add oil or anything else. This is especially 

 useful when a large number of animals, such as transport ponies, 

 have to be treated, being cheap and efficacious. 



PREVENTION OF SORE BACK. Salt and water, or alum 

 and water, in equal parts well rubbed in twice a day, hardens the 

 skin. A piece of mutton fat rubbed over the shoulder or back 

 just before the collar or saddle is put on is an additional security, 

 and a softened lamb's skin may be sewn over the whole interior 

 surface of the collar with advantage. Good fitting saddles and 

 collars are essential, and those with Indiarubber sponge lining 

 (patented and sold by Champion and Wilton, 261, Oxford Street, 

 London) are very highly spoken of by military men for campaign- 

 ing and travelling long distances with impunity in this respect. 

 In the stable avert the pressure of ordinary clothing on any sore 



