STRAINS.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[strains. 



letting down of the back sinews, has taken place. 

 Instances of this are frequent on the turt, 

 when the horse is said to be " broken down." 



When this has happened, the first thing to 

 be done is to prevent, as much as possible, in- 

 flammation from taking place in the parts. 



To this end, take away, so soon as convenient 

 after the injury is sustained, a portion of blood 

 adequate to the state and strength of the sub- 

 ject, from a vein as contiguous to the part 

 affected as may be consistent ; and as success 

 will in a great degree depend upon the earliest 

 applications, take of 



Vinegar 1 quart. 



Make this hot, and add extract of Saturn, one 

 ounce. 



Foment the leg wdtb this until it is ex- 

 hausted — say for two or three times a day ; 

 and after each fomentation, bandage the 

 leg well and firm, with a woollen bandage. 

 Give bran mashes for a day or two, and the 

 following : — ■ 



Cape Aloes . , , . 2 drachms. 



Juniper Berries . . . 1 do. 

 Form into a ball with soft soap. 



Give one every other night. 



After fomenting with the above for two days, 

 use the following embrocation. Let two or 

 three table-spoonfuls be gently and gradually 

 rubbed into the affected part, every night and 

 morning, always remembering to use the ban- 

 dage tolerably tight and firm : — 

 Liniment for Strains. 



Barbadoes Tar .... 



Spirits of Turpentine 



Opodeldoc 



Mix well together, and keep well stopped for 



2 oz. 

 2 do. 

 4 do. 



"Whilst applying this liniment, rest must be 

 given to the animal. Too much stress cannot be 

 laid upon this first necessity, from which the 

 greatest good must certainly result. It is to the 

 want of patience and mercy only, that we are to 

 attribute the blemishes to be found in such an in- 

 finite number of fine horses. Were such horses 

 indulged with proper time in the field, or the 

 luxury of a loose box, many of them would 

 be saved from having their legs seared with 

 the hot iron. Although the present age is full 

 pf equestrian sagacity and penetration, few can 

 be found, whose reason or experience has de- 

 monstrated to them the absolute necessity of 

 246 



time and rest to restore the tone of a relaxed 

 muscle or tendon. 



AVhen the horse has continued in the stable, 

 under the treatment mentioned, for at least a 

 fortnight, he should, if in the winter-time, have 

 his liberty in a loose box, bay of a barn, or large 

 stable, where he will, by a natural attention to 

 his own ease and safety — unless hurried, driven, 

 or disturbed, which should by all means be pre- 

 vented — sufficiently guard the injured parts. 

 On the contrary, if in the summer, he should 

 be turned into a paddock or pasture, alone, at a 

 distance from other animals, where he cannot, 

 by their neighings, be excited to any exertion 

 of spirit or extravagance that may occasion a 

 relapse. In either case, if the enlargement of 

 the part does not subside, and the lameness 

 bears no visible marks of amendment so soon as 

 may be reasonably expected, take him up, and 

 apply a liquid blister, composed of the following 

 ingredients : — 



3Iild Liquid Blister. 



Cantharldes, powdered ... 4 drachms. 



Vinegar 4 oz. 



Mix well together. 



This must be gradually rubbed over the 

 whole part for at least half-an-hour, letting 

 it, if possible, be entirely absorbed around the 

 seat of pain; then apply the bandage as before 

 described, and shorten the halter, to prevent 

 the horse from gnawing the part. At the 

 expiration of three or four days, he may 

 either be turned otit, or put into a loose box, 

 as the time of year may serve; but let the 

 time of year be what it may, a loose box is 

 preferable to anything. When be is first 

 brought into use, let bis work or exercise be 

 gentle, for fear of a relapse. If this should 

 occur from some accident or misadventure, the 

 following lotion must be applied to the affected 

 part : — 



The best Vinegar, or Verjuice . . 1 quart. 



Common Salt 4 oz. 



Rub the parts well with this twice a day. 



By pursuing this mode of treatment, we 

 have seen the complete cure of many, without 

 the necessity of firing, which is in general by 

 far too hastily adopted, and hurried on by the 

 frequently unnecessary anxiety of the farrier. 

 With all kinds of strains, however, the animal 

 must have rest ; and to this alone, nine times 

 out of ten, the cure is to be attributed. Even 



