272 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



A pint of warm gruel should be at once prepared, and in it 

 put an ounce of tincture of opium and oil of turpentine, 

 together with double that quantity of nitric ether. The 

 horse should be walked about as much as possible, and his 

 attention distracted from his pain. If the attack continues 

 obstinate, the dose must be repeated. 



Inflammation of the gums, or bars of the mouth, com- 

 monly called lampass, is a very general ailment, and when 

 horses are suffering from it they will not eat, I have 

 never tried any treatment except a gentle aperient and a 

 mash diet, except in one or two extreme cases where a 

 lance was applied. The old remedies of a hot iron or an 

 iron nail were mere symbols of cruel barbarism. 



Navicular disease cannot be cured, but it may be miti- 

 gated by blistering the coronet ; and a horse affected by it 

 may be made to go sound for awhile by dividing the 

 sensitive nerves that supply the feet : an operation for 

 which the services of a skilled V.S. will be, of course, 

 imperative. 



Foot-fever is another ailment that ought not to be trifled 

 with. Before the arrival of the surgeon, get the shoes taken 

 off, the feet put into warm poultices, and administer a pur- 

 gative medicine. 



Thrush is both common and curable, if taken at once. 

 It will be necessary to remove the ragged bony particles, 

 and treat the foot daily with an astringent dressing, having 

 the horse at the same time so shod that the frog will, when 

 exercising, be brought quite close to the ground. 



