377 ■ . 



1092. Setons are occasionally used to set up counter-irritation for the removal of 

 deep-seated inflammations, and to drain off the contents of a watery cyst or an 

 abscess, also to act as an alterative, as well as a prophylactic measure against 

 black-quarter in cattle. The seton consists of a piece of linen tape, smeared over 

 with some digestive or blister ointment, and inserted under the skin by a special 

 needle, and secured by tying the ends of the tape together, or by attaching to 

 each end of the tape a small piece of wood or a pledget of cloth. The tape 

 should be moved and dressed with some antiseptic oil twice a week. 



1093. Slinging.— This method of giving' mechanical support to the horse is 

 frequently resorted to. T"he slings should be made of good, strong double 

 canvas, about five feet long and about two feet si.\ inches wide, and fixed at 

 each end to a horizontal bar of wood or iron, with loops or rings at each end of 

 the two bars, to which ropes, chains, or pulleys are attached, and fi.xed to 

 overhead beams. A good strong, broad leather breast and neck strap and broad 

 breeching band behind are required to keep the patient in its place. It is not 

 necessary to suspend the animal; the slings are only for support and to keep 

 the patient steady and prevent it falling. This appliance is of great service in 

 cases of tetanus or when extensive injury has been done to the limbs or other 

 portions of the body. A good strong India-rubber bag or bed filled with air and 

 placed in the centre and sides of the slings affords great comfort to the patient 

 and prevents chafing of the skin. 



1094. Slinging the Hind Quarters in Difficult Parturition, or in Eversion 

 OF the Womb. — First fix a good puJley block to a beam above the patient, then 

 double a good strong, soft cart rope. Raise the hind quarters, and, with the 

 loop end of the rope facing the back of the animal, draw the rope under the 

 quarter on which the patient is lying, until one portion of the rope is pulled in 

 front of the haunch bone, the other part being beneath the quarter, half way 

 between the root of the tail and haunch point. The two free ends are now 

 situated under the hind legs, one of which must be fixed to the left hind leg, 

 and the other to the right by means of two half-hitches around the hock, one 

 being above and the other below the joint ; then carry the two ends over the 

 upper quarter and pass them through the loop end, pull tight and tie them 

 securely, Hook on the pulley block and raise gently, packing bags of chaff or 

 bundles of straw under the lower quarter to assist in maintaining the animal in 

 position. Or again, a good strong sack may be used, and to make it secure and 

 to prevent the ropes slipping, pieces of old rags rolled into a ball or a 

 medium sized potato should be tied into each of the four corners of the 

 sack. The sack is then drawn underneath the quarter on which the animal is 

 lying, one end towards the back and the other towards and under the hind legs. 

 Get the front edge of the bag well forward -and in front of the haunch, and front 



