FIRST AID IN EMERGENCY 107 



chilled water. Horses, and in fact all animals, are 

 like people when sick or weary, and do not want a 

 whole cartload of food put before them. Give them 

 a little at a time ; tempt and coax them ; prepare 

 fresh mashes, and be careful they are neither sour 

 nor musty. If you have the nursing of a sick animal, 

 just try to think how you would feel in the same 

 circumstances, and how much harder it is to bear 

 pain alone and neglected. A little kindness and 

 sympathy will go a long way — much further than 

 you can imagine ; so go to your patient now and 

 then, pat and stroke him and speak gently and 

 encouragingly to him, do a little mild fussing over 

 him, straighten the rug, smooth his mane, tempt him 

 to eat a little from your hand, shake up his bedding. 

 All these little things seem to many of you who may 

 read these pages as nothing, perhaps less than 

 nothing ; but I tell you with truth and from personal 

 experience that they will work wonders. They 

 comfort the poor, suffering animal, and for a time 

 take his thoughts off himself and his pains. Unlike 

 people, horses have absolutely nothing to amuse them 

 or distract their thoughts through long days and 

 nights of pain and sickness. 



Cracked Heels. — Yet another complaint caused by 

 idle carelessness. Some horses have very sensitive 

 and delicate skins, but delicate or tough, they all 

 need care. Cracked heels are caused by damp and 

 cold ; always be careful to thoroughly dry the heels 

 and keep them clean. If they are at all inclined to 

 crack, rub a little common pork lard on before 

 starting out ; and on returning, when the animal is 

 perfectly clean and dry, rub in some more. 



Weak Fetlocks. — These may be constitutional, and 

 they may be caused by overwork, or too great a speed 

 on the hard highroad, or from kicking. Wind galls 

 or puffy swellings on the legs are caused in the same 



