128 THE SUMMERING OF HUNTERS. 



what is more, they do not give a fresh lease to the 

 oil-secreting and oil-absorbing surface. These 

 means, and the rest which accompanies them, 

 may prevent the mischief getting worse, but that 

 is all they can do. When the enlargements are 

 of old standing and hard, they call for deep firing, 

 blistering, and rest : when they are of long standing, 

 but not hard, rest and blistering are the best, or rest 

 and mercurializing. It is a common practice to apply 

 mercury in the form of mercurial charge to these 

 parts in this last condition. The charge is made up 

 of mercurial ointment and pitch, and after being 

 melted is spread on, and short tow or v/ool stuck 

 over the parts. Cradles are put on, and the horse 

 wears the charge for weeks, or until it peels off. A 

 better way of applying mercury for the purpose we 

 have indicated, that is, we repeat, when the parts are 

 permanently enlarged and full but not hard, is the 

 oleate of mercury. This is a preparation not at all 

 well-known, being rather recent. 



We will now say something more about this new 

 preparation — the oleate of mercury — for use in wind- 

 gall, thorough-pin and enlargements, with or without 

 heat, in the greasing apparatus generally. We have 

 said, new preparation. This is only correct so far as 

 general surgery is concerned, for the oleate has been 

 known and used for some few years in a select circle 

 of the medical profession. We may say broadly 

 that mercury in one preparation or another is used 

 as a local application in old-standing (chronic) in- 



