CONDITIOIXG.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[CONDITIONINO. 



a bucket of chilled water, but not warm, into ' 

 which about a handful of oatmeal should be : 

 thrown. When his thirst has been partly 

 quenched he will probably eat. I 



The legs, from excessive labour will, ofj 

 course, be weary, and often inclined to heat 

 and inflammation, particularly if the horse has 

 been ridden among brambles, thorns, or furze. 

 The greatest attention must, therefore, be paid 

 to them. Hot tcater should always be ready 

 against his being brought in from hunting, for 

 the purpose of washing his legs ; for nothing is 

 more grateful and refreshing to these members, 

 when they burn with heat and weariness, than 

 soaking them well in hot water. It opens the 

 pores of the skin, and draws out the lieat. Let 

 the water be hot, and bathe the legs well with 

 it, having two pieces of woollen cloth, one to 

 remain in the water, whilst the other is being 

 used, so that by alternately changing them the 

 leg will be kept constantly warm. Apply these 

 well round the fetlock, joints, and pasterns. Do 

 this for at least three-quarters of an hour ; after 

 which wipe them as dry as possible with a 

 sponge ; then carefully feel with your hands for 

 any brambles or thorns that may be lodged in 

 the skin ; for the hand may now discover what 

 the eye cannot perceive. Whatever may be 

 found of this kind, must be picked out with 

 care, so as not to enlarge the apertures they 

 themselves have made, nor break or leave any 

 part of them in. Much care, therefore, is ne- 

 cessary in extracting these foreiga bodies ; for 

 they frequently produce a blemish, from the 

 scab or scratch they occasion, by which the 

 value of the horse is greatly deteriorated. 



In some instances we have known thorns to 

 penetrate so deep as to break within the skin ; 

 and, if such are not discovered, which it is 

 sometimes difficult to do, an abscess will form. 

 If this should be the case, immediately on 

 discovering it, take linseed meal, four ounces, 

 common turpentine, one ounce : mix well 

 together with scalding water, and apply warm 

 to the part affected, in the shape of poultice. 

 This, in all probability, will draw out the 

 offending particle ; after which it must be 

 dressed, as a common wound, with tincture of 

 myrrh and aloes, three or four times a day. 



A case of the above kind occurred with a 

 valuable horse, when the village farrier was 

 Bent for. This professor opened the tumour 

 124 



on the top or upper part, the consequence of 

 which was that there was little or no discharge. 

 He then introduced a piece of tow saturated 

 with butter of antimony ; the consequence of 

 which was a wound of an amazing extent. The 

 veterinary surgeon was then sent for, when a few 

 days' poulticing, accompanied with cooling medi- 

 cine, produced a healing process ; but the horse 

 had always a blemish. Being a well-known 

 good hunter, however, this did not take so 

 much off his value as might have been expected. 

 Had the stupid fellow punctured below, instead 

 of above the abscess, it would have relieved 

 itself, and prevented the blemish, and, of 

 course, the disagreeable eye-sore. 



We mention this, in order to show the 

 necessity of carefully examining for thorns. 

 Should a similar circumstance happen, take 

 a middling-sized abscess lancet, and open the 

 abscess at the bottom. By this means the 

 accumulated pus will discharge itself. Then 

 treat as above. Apply a bandage round the 

 part, which will keep the lips of the wound toge- 

 ther, and accelerate the healing of it. 



Having carefully searched, and extracted 

 brambles or thorns, whisp and wipe the legs 

 pei'fectly dry. After this, and after the 

 animal has had his water, if he will not feed, 

 it is most likely for the best. Extraordinary 

 exertion, perhaps, more than he has been sea- 

 soned to, may have caused an inward or sym- 

 pathetic fever ; and, until he has had rest, free 

 circulation of air, and a little cooling medicine, 

 the appetite will not return. In such a case 

 give — Barbadoes aloes, one drachm ; ginger, two 

 drachms, formed into a ball, with half an ounce 

 of common soap. Give this to the horse if his 

 appetite has not returned by the morning after 

 the chase. Some persons mahe themselves 

 very uneasy on such occasions ; and many are 

 for giving a warm mash, which, of all things, 

 the horse will not eat. Others are for giving a 

 cordial ball, or something comfortable in the 

 shape of a warm drink, all of which is of no 

 use whatever. We recommend patience until 

 the morrow ; and if it should be deemed neces- 

 sary, repeat the medicine. If nothing of a 

 dangerous tendency exhibits itself, such as in- 

 flammation of the lungs, &c., make him up a 

 good bed, and leave him to rest. 



In the morning, the horse will, in all proba- 

 bility, feed a little ; you must then proceed as 



