THE "WARBLES" AND THEIR CURE. 31 



patient is disposed of the better ; for scarcely one in a 

 thousand ever stands a preparation after. 



Bandages, as I have said, I never use except in illness, when 

 dry flannels are the best. In health I prefer hand-rubbing to 

 anything else, to assist circulation. The benefit derived from 

 bandages I consider more imaginary than real. Still, like other 

 fanciful matters, they have their purpose of ornamentation if 

 not of use. The wavy appearance given to the hair on the legs 

 could probably not be so effectively produced in any other way. 



Cracked heels are seldom heard of now, whilst formerly 

 almost every horse sufifered more or less from this trouble- 

 some complaint, which in very bad cases affected their 

 condition considerably. The primary, if not the sole cause, I 

 believe, used to be sweating, for the evil has simultaneously 

 disappeared with its abandonment. But if the heels are left 

 wet after washing out the feet (which is too often the case), 

 it will produce soreness ; therefore care should be taken to 

 wipe them perfectly dry. However, should any horse be so 

 affected, the best remedy is fomentation after the water has 

 been steeped in bran, and strained through a sieve or a wire 

 strainer, and a little of the following ointment applied twice a 

 day : Mix a little red precipitate powder with hog's lard, 

 simmer over a slow fire, and stir till cold.^ 



Just before becoming, or when actually fit, horses are very 

 frequently attacked with " warbles," an irritating and very 

 troublesome complaint, though not dangerous. It usually 

 appears on the back and sides, and is no sooner cured in one 

 place than it returns in another. They are very seldom seen in 

 any horses except those in strong work, and in other respects in 

 the best of health. A little cooling medicine may be given, and 

 an astringent lotion applied twice a day to the parts affected. 



* Hog's lard, i^ lb.; powdered camphor, 3 oz.; red precipitate, powdered, J oz. 



