oveb-steppinq] modern VETERINAUT PTIACTICT3. [nnEAKiKO-Di.wN. 



then said bv persons wlio have to drive suoli a | cannot pot out of the way of the hind ones, 

 horse, " Oh ! it wilt (/o ojj'as he hecovws warm ;" I When tliia ocrurH it is very liable to injure llio 

 not at all rt'lK'otiiiu; on the sulVcriiiKs of the fore leps, and, in some cases, bo iiiuc-h so, nu to 



poor animal. The artion of exeirise, oceasiun- 

 ing friction, prudiiccs warmth, stimulates the 

 iibsorbenta to ttike up the lliiul Iroin the 

 mouth of the ruptured vessels, and conse- 

 quently, for ft time, or when the liorse is in 

 action, the swelling and lameness either 

 partially or wholly disappear. i'rom these 

 circumstances, the advantage of hand-rubbing 

 and the flannel bandage will at once be per- 

 ceived. 



Por the treatment of strain in the back 

 sinews, we must refer our readers to where we 

 have treated of strains in general. Here, how- 

 ever, we may add, that on the first discovery 

 of the accident, the shoes should be taken olf, 

 and the heels turned up about half an inch. 

 This will greatly relieve the pain under which 

 the animal may be labouring. Bleed in the 

 plate vein ; next bathe the leg in warm water, 

 and use the "tar liniment," as before directed. 

 If symptomatic fever should come on, use the 

 alterative medicine, and a cooling diet, as bran 

 mashes, and a few carrots, now and then ; corn 

 need not be so plentifully given. 



Should the repetition of the liquid blister 

 not be successful, have recourse to firing ; and, 

 with care, this operation may be performed 

 not only with neatness, but as scarcely to be 

 seen. We have, in severe cases, been obliged 

 to fire twice, which has proved successful ; still 

 we do not recommend firing until all other 

 remedies fail ; and previous to which, we would 

 advise the application of mercurial plaister ; 

 or, perhaps, what may be more convenient, 

 mercurial ointment. Take of 



Mercurial Ointment (strong) . , , 2 oz. 

 Kub a portion of this on the diseased part, 

 first warming it to make it ])liable, morniug 

 ana night, for three days ; then, waiting one 

 day, apply the liquid blister as before described. 

 Put a cradle on the neck of the horse, to pre- 

 vent his biting the parts ; and if he appears 

 rritable, tie him up to the rack. 



OVER-STEPPING. 

 Over- stepping, or, as it is called by some, 

 over-reaching, arises from a peculiar length of 

 action which the hind lejis have to the fore 



throw the horse dnwn. 



()ver-ste|)ping Homctimes liappeiiH from the 

 toe of the hind foot being too long, and not 

 squared oil" properly. It may also occur from 

 bad rilling, in j)ulling up short, or by a \uirnQ 

 galloping with the wrong leg first, which alto- 

 gether alters his gait, so much bo as to bo 

 uncomfortable to both " man and beast," Tho 

 consequence is, that in the attempt to get 

 himself into the proper mode of gallop, he will 

 strike his hind foot against his fore leg; and, if 

 he does not come down, will lacerate the leg, 

 sometimes in a terrible manner. AN'^henever 

 tlie wound is such as to leave a flap of skin, 

 whether it is U[)ward3 or downwards, or side- 

 ways, it should immediately be cut ofl*as close 

 as possible, as a reunion of the parts can 

 never take place; and by leaving the flap, and 

 attempting to efl'ect the reunion of the parts, 

 there would be a thickening and a greater 

 blemish, and its removal would be found 

 necessary at last. 



Though we have introduced this afFection in 

 the chapter on Strains, it probably would have 

 been better in the chapter on Wounds ; but it 

 so frequently happens that the tendons become 

 injured by the blow inflicted, that we may be 

 pardoned for including it with diseases of the 

 tendons. 



In treating for over-stepping, poulticing wilV 



be highly advisable ; and nothing can be better 



than a warm bran poultice, which should be 



applied until the inflammation is subdued, 



always recollecting to bathe the leg in hot 



water, AVheu the inflammation is removed, 



use the following two or three times a day : — 



Hog's Lard . . • . . .2 oz. 



Alum, finely powdered ... 3 do. 



Sulphate of Zinc , . . . i do. 



Work these ingredients well together in a 

 mortar, and apply as above. A cure may be 

 expected in a few days, 



BREAKING-DOWN, 



Breaking-down is a terra so generally under- 

 stood, that it is familiar to all sportsmen and 

 horsemen, though, in medical language, it ia 

 called ^^riiplure of the suspensory ligaments. 



ones, in consequence of which the fore legs , This is an accident that most frequently occurs 

 2k' 249 



