# 



894 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



with a little hartshorn — and continued washing of the wound 

 with hot salt and water. Half a pound of salt should be 

 given the patient at the outset. This method will cure when 

 the horse is first bitten ; but after great swellings have taken 

 place, no remedy can be depended on. Extensive suppura- 

 tion and gangrene will probably supervene, followed by de- 

 rangement, blindness, convulsions, and death. 



If the bite is discovered immediately, the better plan 

 would be to cut out the entire wound with a sharp knife, 

 and apply some of the corrosive liniment ; or, in the absence 

 of this, a very small quantity of pulverized sublimate ; yet 

 the internal treatment, as above prescribed, should not be 

 neglected. By this means the virus will be effectually coun- 

 teracted. A thimble pressed forcibly upon the wound, and 

 bound fast, will often extract the poison and prevent swelling. 



Venomous Spiders. — Spiders abound in every part of the 

 country, but only a .very few are poisonous, or ever bite. 

 There is a species of black spider, with a small white spot 

 upon the back, whose bite is nearly as deadly as that of the 

 rattlesnake. All of the large black spiders are more or less 

 poisonous, and will sometimes resent pressure by biting ; but 

 none show such a viciousness as the one just referred to, ex- 

 cept the terrible tarantula of the plains of Texas. This 

 latter monster, whose body sometimes attains to a length of 

 two inches, while his legs are twice that in length, will attack 

 both man and beast, and only the most prompt and energetic 

 treatment can save the victim's life. 



Horses are sufferers from these insects more frequently than 

 is generally supposed. There is a swelling and soreness of 

 the nose or legs, for instance, and the owner is apt to attrib- 

 ute it uniformly to some contusion or strain, when, in many 

 cases, it is really caused by the sting of these detestable 

 creatures. The proper course is to examine all such swellings, 

 and see whether there is any appearance of a wound, or of a 

 nucleus that is fuller and harder than the surrounding skin. 

 If so, the case should be promptly treated as for poison. 



I 



