304 A STITCH IN TIME. 



756. — lu rough jagged wounds, wasb very clean with warm 

 water. It will generally be better to cut away the loose injured 

 parts than to try to restore them, especially if they have been 

 long exposed. 



757. — In deep punctured wounds, all foreign matter must 

 be removed at any cost, however deep you have to cut for it. 

 When the hoof has been pierced to the quick, it must be cut 

 away, and a free opening made for all matter to get away. If 

 this is not effectually done matter will form behind the hoof, and 

 often cause death by mortification or lock jaw. The hoof must 

 be kept soft and wet by poultices, or applications of water. 



GALLS 



758. — Can with care be prevented, but there is no cure for 

 them so long as the cause is continued. The skin of the horse, 

 like our own skin, though naturally thin and sensitive, will 

 thicken and harden so as to meet any reasonable amount of 

 friction that may be required of it. But it must have time to do 

 this, and will do it, most quickly and effectually, when regularly 

 stimulated by friction applied so gradually as not to interfere with 

 the integrity of its structure. In this way all the blood vessels are 

 left in full force, to quickly supply all that is needed to build up 

 the additional covering required to meet the demand of any 

 special friction it may be necessary to provide for. So long as the 

 skin is thus left whole and uninjured, whilst moderate friction is 

 daily applied to it, it can quickly adapt itself to anything that 

 will be required of it, but if su(.'h an amount of friction be 

 suddenly applied as to break up the connection of the blood 

 vesssls, and to destroy the healthy condition of the existing skin, 

 a longr time must be lost in first restoring a new skin before 

 anything can be done towards providing a specially thick and 

 hard one. 



759.— If the iiajiry has been carried so far as to make the 

 destruction extensive and deep, the probabihties are that after 

 losing a great deal of time in trying to repair the injury with 

 damaged tools, the patch will not be a good one after all, and the 

 new skin, besides being a perpetual blemish and eye sore, will 



