350 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



from any of the blister that may accidentally run down from 

 the leo-. When the Icirs arc blistered all the litter should be 

 removed from the stall, and the horse's head should be carefully 

 secured, to prevent his rubbing the blistered parts with his 

 nose. On the third day he may have a cradle put about his 

 neck, and be turned loose into a large box, or a paddock, or an 

 orchard. In a field he would be apt to take too much exercise. 

 i\bout a week or ten days after the blister has been applied, the 

 parts should be oiled Avith some mild oil, such as olive oil, or 

 fresh made neat's foot oil. If flies are troublesome, and make 

 the horse restless, they may be kept off by the tar ointment, or 

 tar and train oil mixed. 



[The formula for blisters will be found under that head in the 

 Materia Medica. It will there be seen that cantharides forms the 

 principal and indispensable ingredient, and that its effect is to pro- 

 duce considerable pain and irritation. The statements put forth 

 therefore by the puffers of quack blistering ointments to the 

 effect that their nostrums produce no irritation, and that no 

 precaution need be exercised afterwards, are altogether fallacious, 

 and calculated to do much mischief. The fact is, the greater 

 number of horses will not rub or blemish themselves after any 

 blister ; but if one in ten will do so it is desirable to use pre- 

 cautions with the whole number. If, however, a very slight 

 blister is used there will be no occasion to tie up the head, as 

 the irritation will depend on the degree of vesication excited. 

 — Ed.] 



Rowels. 



Rowels are seldom so convenient or so useful as setons. They 

 are formed by making an incision in the skin where it is rather 

 loose, as in the chest, about an inch in length. This being- 

 done the finder is to be introduced, or an instrument called a 

 cornet, that is, the crooked end of a small horn made for the 

 purpose, and the skin sepai'ated from the parts underneath all 

 around for the space of about an inch. Into the cavity thus 

 made a round piece of leather, with a hole in the middle, 

 wrapped in tow and smeared Avith digestive ointment, is to be 

 Introduced. The orifice In the skin is then to be plugged up 

 wdth tow, and kept there until suppuration takes place, that is, 

 four or five days. The tow Is then to be taken out, when a 

 great deal of matter will flow from the orifice. The rowel is 

 afterwards to be moved daily and kept clean. 



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