2i6 Management and Treatment of the Horse. 



jured and pieces of the bone splintered off, and 

 done by men who would be shocked at the idea 

 of not being considered Christian gentlemen, and 

 who would be quite ready to punish severely any 

 slight act of cruelty done by an ignorant drover. 

 It may be easily conceived the great pain this 

 causes to the poor animal, and those who have 

 had the slightest touch of inflammation of the 

 gums will have some idea of its sufferings. Every 

 man with any feeling will make it his first study 

 to see that the bit fits the horse, does not hurt 

 its mouth, and can in no way injure the sides of 

 the mouth or the palate. Even his own comfort 

 ought to dictate this, as no horse can perform 

 its work pleasantly while it is suffering from an 

 irritation of the mouth. When the owner or 

 groom finds the bone injured, he should at once 

 send for a veterinary surgeon, as it may be 

 necessary to perform an operation to remove the 

 shattered portions of the bone ; but if the wounds 

 are only of a fleshy nature, they may be cured by 

 the parts being frequently washed with alum, one 

 ounce to one quart of water. If the wound has 

 become ulcerated, it may be necessary to touch 

 the parts affected with lunar caustic or liquid 

 nitrate of silver, to stimulate and cause them to 

 heat ; at the same time the wash is being used, 

 it will be proper to give a laxative such as has 

 been recommended for farcy. This complaint is 

 one that could be entirely prevented by a little 

 care and patience on the part of the rider or 

 driver, yet we often see men pull at the sensitive 

 mouth of a horse as if they had a bull by the 



