276 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



a piece of cotton wool steeped in sulphate of zinc, taking 

 care that the torn portions of the integument were pressed 

 nicely into proper place, and the whole secured with a 

 bandage. 



Wounds of all sorts should be most carefully washed, 

 bathed, and the edges brought tenderly together. When 

 a horse gets staked in the hunting-field, the rider ought 

 at once to dismount, remove the glove from his right hand, 

 and probe the depth of the wound with his index finger. 

 If not deep, there will be no danger, provided it be 

 attended to at once ; but to prosecute a run on an injured 

 animal is a piece of cruelty, happily very rarely witnessed. 

 I strongly advise, however, that a horse so hurt should be 

 ridden or led quietly home, if within possible distance, 

 rather than that he should be removed to an adjacent 

 stable until sent for, which is a usual practice, meant to be 

 merciful, but in reality extremely the reverse, as the 

 animal stiffens on its injury, and suffers intensely in the 

 transit. 



In cases of laceration of the wall of the belly and pro- 

 trusion of a portion of the intestines, the best thing to do 

 will be to remove the saddle without a seroncTs delay, press 

 the exposed gut very gently back into its proper place, 

 bring the edges of the wound together with an improvised 

 suture (such as I have previously described), and bandage 

 the whole tightly up. The horse must not be moved until 

 proper assistance shall have arrived for the requisite con- 

 veyal to his stable, where he should be kept in a standing 

 position, with plenty of air about him, complete quietude 



