194 



returning appetite ; but some time should be suf- 

 fered to elapse before he is indulged with his 

 usual food. 



It is no uncommon thing for the owner to 

 abandon the case as hopeless, when he sees his 

 horse spontaneously lying down. I believe this 

 to be a great mistake : a horse, in great pain, will 

 lie down and roll himself about ; but I have often 

 heard it remarked by very experienced men, that, 

 unless to relieve himself, where the legs or feet are 

 injured, a horse that is ill will continue standing as 

 long as his strength will permit : it is considered a 

 favourable sign if he lies down on the litter, without 

 being compelled by actual debility ; and it follows 

 of course, that instead of relaxing exertion, all the 

 remedies should be pursued more actively to save 

 him. 



In cases of recent local injury, fomentations, 

 poultices, and local bleeding, are generally service- 

 able ; this is particularly the case in strains of the 

 back sinews or accidents to the foot. It is very 

 important in such cases to watch closely the 

 operations of the country farrier : fomentations, 

 and even poultices are troublesome, and therefore 

 not continued, even if at first adopted ; to a recent 

 wound in shoeing, or treading on a nail. Friar's 

 balsam may be usefully applied ; ])ut where the 



