104 



MODERN HORSE MANAGEMENT 



[chap. 



Rub in for fifteen to thirty minutes. After 

 twenty-four to thirty-six hours wash off and 

 grease well with antiseptic animal fat, e.g. lard 

 and oil of eucalyptus. 

 2. Mild blister. 



Mercury biniodide 1 dr. 



Cantharides powder 1 dr. 



Lard, to make 2 oz. 

 Rub in as in No. 1. 



411. Firing.— The part should be clipped, but 

 not too closely. Local anaesthesia should always 

 be resorted to, because firing a horse without 

 using any form of anaesthetic is barbarous, and 

 the operation cannot be carried on properly 

 unless the horse is kept quite still. Cocaine is 

 generally used. (See Chapter XVL) When the 

 part is properly anaesthetised, the irons must be 

 applied almost at a white heat. Firing is either 

 done with a sharp edge, forming lines close 

 together, known as line firing, or with a point, 

 forming a number of small punches close 

 together, known as pin firing. The cross-firing 

 should never be done, because the part enclosed 

 by the crossed lines will have the blood supply 

 cut off. These parts will eventually die and 

 come off. As firing is done to increase the blood 

 supply to the part it would be contradictory to 

 stop the supply to a portion of the part. Before 

 the action of the cocaine has stopped, about ten 

 minutes after the operation, the part must be 

 well greased with an antiseptic grease, such as 

 antiseptic lard. An antiseptic should be used, 

 because the burnt part readily absorbs infection. 

 The part must be greased morning and night. 

 With a local anaesthetic there is never any need 

 to use ropes for securing the horse. 



It is inadvisable to blister or fire on the inner 

 side of any joint, such as the front of the hocks, 

 or behind the knee, or at the back of the pasterns. 



412. Diet.— As stated above, the horse must 

 be dieted when suffering from a severe sprain. 

 On no account must heating foods be given, but 

 green food, mashes, and plenty of water, and a 

 teaspoonful of nitre once a week in the food. If 

 the horse is in a well-fed condition, a mild ball 

 of aloes (6 dr.) should be given. Absolute rest 

 is essential for the cure of all sprains, and the 

 part must be relieved of as much weight as 

 possible ; for example, a high heel shoe must be 

 put on for any injury to the back tendons or 

 suspensory ligament. As soon as the horse is 

 able to walk slowly with ease he should be 

 turned out to pasture for six or more weeks. The 

 time the horse is kept in the stable, and the time 

 he is kept at pasture afterwards, depend much 

 on the injury and the length of time that he can 

 be spared. If a horse is valuable, three to six 

 months should be given at pasture for spavins 

 and sprained tendons. 



Enlargements of a minor nature, such as 

 slight curbs, bone spavins, thoroughpin, etc., can 

 often be satisfactorily removed by a mercury and 



iodine liniment ; this treatment does not necessi- 

 tate the horse being laid up. Enlarged tendons 

 can be cured also by the following : 



Mercury bichloride 35 gr. 



Potassium iodide 4 dr. 



Iodine 1 oz. 



Water, distilled 1 oz. 



Ether, to make 8 oz. 

 Paint on daily for five days, after clipping the 

 part. Keep the part free from damp ; if it is 

 allowed to get wet the liniment will blister 

 severely. Then wash off and immediately grease 

 well. After a week repeat again for five days if 

 necessary. 



413. Throwing. — Before many minor opera- 

 tions, or before a general anaesthetic is given to 

 a horse, it is often necessary to throw him. The 

 horse must be taken on to a thick bed of hay or 

 straw, so that he will not hurt himself when he 

 falls. He should be taken quite quietly, the 

 hobbles put on him, and then made to fall down 

 gently. He must then be secured, someone being 

 at his head to prevent him throwing it about and 

 becoming frightened. The best method of attach- 

 ing the hobbles is to put on each pastern a 

 shackle with a ring sewn to it ; these shackles 

 must be very strong, and padded with thick felt. 

 Buckles must be placed on the outside of the 

 legs. A 2-in. surcingle is passed around the girth 

 and buckled tightly ; there must be a ring sewn 

 on each side half-way up. Two long ropes are 

 used, both being put on in the same way. The 

 rope is securely tied to the foreleg hobble and 

 then passed through the surcingle ring down to 

 the hindleg ring, back to the surcingle ring, and 

 is held by an assistant. Another assistant holds 

 the other rope on the other side. When both are 

 ready, a person at the head leads the horse for- 

 ward a step, and as he raises one foot, both ropes 

 are gently but firmly pulled until the horse drops 

 on to his knees. The ropes then are drawn tight 

 until all the four legs are secure. The rope is 

 twisted around the foot of the hindleg with a 

 double half hitch. The man at the head must 

 hold the head securely all the time the horse is 

 down, and he must make much of the horse 

 after it is down, and avoid causing it fear. 



414. Detection of Lameness. — The horse's 

 attitude in the stable should always be watched. 

 A sound horse stands equally on both fore feet 

 and alternately rests the hind ones. One fore 

 leg may be slightly advanced, but in the sound 

 horse the weight will be equally borne on both. 

 It is better to find out that a horse is lame before 

 starting out to work than when we are away 

 from home. If one suspects lameness, the horse 

 must be taken out on ground that is hard, level, 

 and free from stones. The dishonest horse- 

 dealer trots his horse on soft ground. 



For the detection of lameness the trot is the 

 best pace ; lameness must be acute for a horse 

 to show it at the walk. A horse, like a man, 



