210 THE HORSE 



those of a much more serious nature. The old motto 

 " A stitch in time saves nine." Doubtless many horses 

 are predisposed to cutaneous injuries of the kind now 

 under consideration, but nevertheless both saddle and 

 collar galls are frequently the outcome of neghgence on 

 the part of the owner or his attendants. Any horse 

 suffering in the manner indicated ought not to be worked, 

 or at any rate until the pain induced by the pressure has 

 been removed. A form of injury that has been extremely 

 common amongst army horses picketed out on ground 

 lines is the so-called '' rope " or " heel " gall, usually 

 resulting from the head-rope being left too long. Some- 

 times very severe injuries to the heels resulted in this 

 manner. Through negligence nasty sores were occasion- 

 ally found on the poll through failure when grooming to 

 shift the strap or halter passing over this region. Both 

 these injuries are the result of pure carelessness and should 

 be dealt with accordingly. To work a horse with either a 

 collar or saddle gall constitutes cruelty and is punishable 

 either by fine or imprisonment. Injuries to the angles of 

 mouth by the bit are occasionally observed, especially 

 in horses which are hard mouthed and strong pullers. It 

 is equally cruel to work a horse in this condition. A bit 

 covered with India-rubber will sometimes abolish a 

 trouble of this nature. At any rate it is always expedient 

 to try whether it is serviceable or otherwise. The point 

 of the elbow and the tissues beneath this are commonly 

 the seat of a bruise, very often the result of the heel of 

 the inner branch of the shoe pressing upon the point of 

 the elbow during lying and rising. This injury constitutes 

 what is known as " capped elbow " — an abnormal condi- 

 tion which may become very unsightly if neglected. 

 A corresponding condition is often observed as " capped 

 hock," usually produced by a bruise or bruises on the 

 point of the hock. Carters and contractors' horses 

 commonly suffer from collar galls, and when a horse has 

 been troubled in this manner there is a special liability 



