286 WINDGALL. 



Nevertheless, if lameness be an accompaniment of the bursal 

 swelling, or if the tumour be such as either from its volume or situa- 

 tion incommodes the animal in any way, or offends his master's eye, 

 treatment must be adopted ; and we know of no better, when the 

 case is recent, than such as is a combination of the antiphlogistic 

 and the stimulant. We have repeatedly found, for the reduction 

 of recent bursal tumefaction, a good blood-letting, as topical as it 

 can be made, combined with the operation of a brisk cathartic upon 

 the body, and that of a blister upon the windgall itself, most 

 effective in reducing the enlargement. We are not friendly to 

 fomentations, the best of which in such a case would be the 

 spongio-piline (of which, by the by, we have not yet had sufficient 

 trial to enable us to offer any opinion about in respect to windgall) ; 

 neither have we experienced the same happy results from refri- 

 gerant lotions and bandaging as we have from vesicatories. And 

 so soon as the influence of the blister has subsided, it is an 

 excellent practice to renew the excitement by daily well rubbing 

 into the surface of the tumour some ointment or embrocation 

 known to possess the power of bringing the absorbents into action. 

 Hurtrel d'Harboval speaks in high terms of commendation of a 

 mixture of the volatile oil of lavender and oil of turpentine in 

 equal parts. From twenty-five to thirty drops of this mixture he 

 directs to be well rubbed in for nearly half an hour ; the horse 

 afterwards to be walked out until the irritating effects of the 

 application subside : the same to be repeated again in the course 

 of the day, the part being kept covered up during the interval by 

 a woollen bandage firmly pressed upon it. 



The best remedies we know of are the iodine and strong mer- 

 curial ointments, some practitioners preferring, to their separate use, 

 availing themselves by mixture of the combined action of the two. 

 Whatever ointment or liniment — for one or other is the usual and 

 best form of application — be used for windgall, it must be borne in 

 mind ihsit friction has a good deal to do with its efficacy : without 

 being well "rubbed in," little good can be expected. Indeed, it is 

 an excellent practice to rub the part for some time before applying 

 the ointment ; the inungation being doubly effectual upon a surface 

 thus warmed, and whose pores, through friction, have become 



