320 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



" 6. The fore limbs are swollen from the knees downwards, 

 and the hind limbs from the hock downwards, and within the 

 hollow of the heel of the right fore limb is a deep crack or fissure, 

 which stretches across the shin, and discharges an offensive mat- 

 ter ; the left heel is also slightly chapped. 



" It is difficult to accurately determine the cause of the attack 

 in the present case, unless it arose from the sudden exposure of 

 the skin. Previous to its being clipped, it was perfectly healthy; 

 and since then it has been regularly used and fed as before, 

 while the weather has remained, upon the whole, very fine, (con- 

 sidering the period of the year) during the last six or eight days." 



The treatment in this case was homoeopathic. 



Treatment. — We might with truth say " no clipping, no treat- 

 ment ; " for, if acute irritation is the result of clipping, we have 

 only to discontinue the practice, and that is the end of the matter. 

 But Dame Fashion is such an arbitrary slut that it is no sort of 

 use to oppose her mandates, especially when they receive the 

 sanction of her millions of votaries ; therefore we must prescribe 

 something to mitigate the sufferings of the poor victim that has 

 been thus deprived of his natural clothing, and made the subject 

 of unnecessary torture. A simple alkaline wash may possibly 

 answer every purpose. One ounce of saleratus to half a bucket 

 of water will be sufficiently strong : indeed, we do not know but 

 sponging the body twice a day with cold water instead of the 

 former — which should be so used — might have a good effect. 

 If, however, the patient is uneasy, irritable, and feverish, in short, 

 has the usual symptoms of sympathetic derangement of some one 

 or more of the functions, then give the following : — 



Castor oil, 8 ounces, 



Tincture of aloes, 2 ounces, 



Essence of peppermint, .... 2 drachms. 



The groom should be careful to use a soft brush, and dispense 

 with the currycomb ; and, as it is customary, and perhaps ju- 

 dicious, to clothe the animal, whether exposed or otherwise, the 

 blanket should be lined with soft linen, and when not in use 

 must be spread out to dry.* 



* "If the owner," says Haycock, "cannot suffer a long coat of hair, and 

 will have it shortened, he must never allow the horse to be motionless while he 



