DISEASES OF THE LIVER, URINAKY ORGANS, ETC. 347 



then being covered with planks or boards, so as to form a 

 shelter from the sun and rain. The posts, well braced apart, 

 served an excellent purpose for a sling, substantially the same 

 as that represented by the illustration given in Chapter XXI. 

 The ropes may be carried over the side pieces, and made fast 

 either to them or to strong pins placed on the outside o^ 

 them. 



But a quicker way of raising any horse to his feet, and 

 that which was most practiced in the cases under considera- 

 tion, consists in building a rail-pen around him. For this 

 purpose, all that is needed, beside the rails, is three strong 

 planks and five or six men. The planks should be not less 

 than one and a half inches in thickness, and at least ten feet 

 long, and they are to be put under the animal's body so that 

 they shall project equally on each side. On the'planks should 

 be spread first some hay or straw, and then an old blanket or 

 quilt, or some carpeting, as a pad for the body to rest on. 

 This required especial care in colt-founder, as the belly was 

 very tender and sore. When this has been done, and plenty 

 of rails are at hand, the preparations are complete. There 

 should now be one man for each plank, another to handle the 

 rails, and two to stand at the animal's head and hold him 

 still by the bridle. Let the ends of the planks be raised on 

 one side, and a rail laid under them, about one foot from the 

 ends of the planks, the rail being so placed that they shall 

 be about the middle of it. Then raise the other ends of the 

 planks in the same way. End rails can now be laid on, so 

 as to be ready to raise the planks again. In this way, as the 

 pen is gradually built up, the horse is raised along with it. 

 When part way up, it is very likely that he may struggle 

 considerably, the position in that stage being novel and some- 

 what uncomfortable ; but he must be held by the bridle as 

 still as the two men at the head can hold him, and the pen 

 raised to its proper height as soon as possible. This height, 

 of course, should be such that the feet will touch the ground, 

 and may be rested upon, if ihe horse is disposed to do so. 

 The rails of the pen must be carried up still higher in front 



