242 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



Such a plaster will eotirely prevent the friction of the 

 saddle or blanket, while the salve upon it is very healing. 

 It also excludes the air, and is almost equivalent to a new 

 piece of skin. Using it thus is emphatically patching the 

 horse's back. Should the plaster come 8ff, apply another 

 immediately. If an ulcerated sore has formed, either a hole 

 may be cut in the blanket, so as to relieve the part from 

 pressure, or the blanket may be folded in such a manner 

 as to lift the saddle from the sore entirely. 



With this treatment, the horse may be ridden constantly, 

 and the saddle gall will not only grow no worse, but will 

 slowly heal. But it can be recommended only in the case 

 we have supposed. When the horse can be at home, no 

 saddle should be allowed to touch his back until it is quite 

 well again. 



IN JURIES < OF THE EAB. 



Among the many cruelties practiced upon the horse is 

 that of pinching and pulling the ears. If the animal is rest- 

 less or fractious while shoeing, many blacksmiths have a 

 fashion of taking hold of the ear with their pincers; and 

 should he rebel against such usage, he is pulled by the ear 

 with all the strength which the smith can exert, or that of 

 some assistant who holds him while the shoe is being fast- 

 ened. Other persons habitually pursue the same course when 

 they wish to control a wild or fractious horse. 



By such means the ear is often badly injured, and the ten- 

 dons which sustain it in its erect position being broken, it 

 drops down to one side. The horse no longer has any con- 

 trol over it, and it flaps about with every motion of the 

 head and neck. Serious ulcers are sometimes the conse- 

 quences of these lesions of the muscles and cartilages of the 

 ear; and cases have occurred where the same causes proi 

 duced a running sore, similar to poll-evil, on the upper side 

 of the ear, near the head. 



But these abuses occasionally result in still graver disorders. 

 Ulcers have been formed in the cavities of the ear within 



