158 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



cation. When milk ^annot be had, sweet oil may be 

 substituted. 



Another. Gather a quantity of smart weed, (arse- 

 smart,) which generally grows in moist land around 

 stables ; bruise it well, and put it into an iron vessel, in 

 the corner of the stable ; cover it with chamber lye, and 

 wash the galled places whenever the horse enters or 

 leaves the stable, or oftener, if necessary. A cure will 

 be effected. If badly galled, bruise some of the leaves, 

 and lay on. To prevent galling, wash daily the parts 

 most exposed to injury. 



Another. If the skin is worn off the back, and the 

 sores are swelled, bathe it with hot urine, or with warm 

 salt and water ; this will disperse the swelling. If you 

 wish to dry up the sore, powder chalk, or old shoes burnt, 

 and cover the back with it. If the back is full of hard 

 lumps or saddle boils, bleed him freely in the mouth, 

 which will serve him as a dose of physic ; then wash 

 his back often in hot rum and vinegar. 



THE SHEATH AND PENIS. 



Sometimes the sheath of the horse becomes foul from 

 dust and perspiration, which causes irritation and inflam- 

 mation. Wash it thoroughly, internally, with soap suds, 

 and remove all the foul matter. When well cleansed 

 and dry, anoint it with some soothing ointment or lini- 

 ment. Lard, or oil of any kind, will answer. If there 

 be not much inflammation, the washing alone may be 

 sufficient. If there be much inflammation, after wash- 

 ing, foment it, externally and internally, with some 

 astringent. Sometimes, at the close of a severe illness, 

 the sheath becomes suddenly inflamed. Give gentle 

 physic and mild diuretics, and foment the inflamed 

 parts with astringent liquor. 



If the sheath be not occasionally examined and 

 cleansed, filth may collect and remain there long, caus- 

 ing excoriations and ulcers, eating deeply into the parts, 

 and producing a mass of disease on the glans of the 

 penis, so that amputation becomes necessary. Some- 

 times masses of fungus, weighing several pounds, will 



