DOCTORING. 275 



and whenever my neighbours had a case of them we doc- 

 tored by applying oatmeal poultices until all inflamma- 

 tory symptoms had subsided, and then dressed the sore 

 parts with an ointment composed of alum and lard, with a 

 good admixture of zinc. 



Saddle-galls are terribly common evils. I pointed out 

 the causes of them in a former chapter. Ladies' horses 

 are the chief sufferers, and therefore every lady ought 

 to be able to attend to her own animals, should they 

 chance to become affected. The moment that a tender 

 spot is noticed, the horse's work should at once be stopped, 

 and the part well bathed with cold salt and water. A little 

 fuller's earth may then be applied. It is a great mistake, 

 and a general one, to begin by fomenting with hot water ; 

 such a practice only makes the skin peculiarly delicate and 

 sensitive to future hurt. Where there is abrasion, the part 

 should be well cleansed, bathed with zinc lotion, and 

 smeared abundantly with zinc ointment until it heals. For 

 collar and harness galls the same treatment will be found 

 effectual, and the stuffing or padding of the articles that 

 have caused the injury should be looked to without delay. 



Almost all hunting ladies know by troublesome ex- 

 perience what an overreach is. I once possessed a hunter 

 whose hind action was so extravagant that he was con- 

 stantly hitting the fleshy heels of his fore feet, but after a 

 while I found a remedy, or rather a preventive, by having 

 the toes of the hind shoes set back, and rounded. My 

 treatment for the overreach was to bathe and cleanse the 

 wound, take away any adherent broken horn, and lay on 



T 2 



