220 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



indifferent a horse may be to caressing or kind attention 

 during health, when ill he certainly appreciates them, and 

 when in pain will often apparently endeavour to attract notice 

 and seek relief from those with whom he is acquainted. There- 

 fore it is that kindness and careful nursing will sometimes do 

 more in effecting recovery than drugs and medical attendance. 

 Fresh air and cleanliness, quiet and comfort, are always to be 

 allowed, if possible. The stable or loose box should be warm 

 without being close, and free from draughts. If the weather 

 is cold, and especially if the horse be suffering from disease of 

 the air passages, it may be necessary to maintain the warmth 

 by artificial means, though care should be taken that this does 

 not render the air too dry to breathe. The surface of the 

 body can be kept warm by rugs, and the legs by woollen 

 bandages; yet it must be remembered that a sick horse is 

 easily fatigued and annoyed by too much clothing, and there- 

 fore it is better to resort to artificial heating of the stable than 

 to overload the body or impede movement, by heavy clothing. 

 If blankets must be used, should the horse have an irritable 

 skin, it is well to place a cotton or linen sheet innermost. 



For bedding, long straw should be employed as little as 

 possible, as it hampers movement. Clean old litter, sawdust, 

 or moss litter, are the best. If the hoofs are strong, and the 

 horse likely to be confined for some weeks, it affords relief to 

 take off the shoes. Tying up should be avoided, if possible, 

 unless it is urgently required, the horse being allowed to move 

 about or lie down, as he may prefer. 



With regard to food, a sick horse, if the appetite is lost, 

 should be tempted to eat by offering him that which is enticing. 

 It should be given frequently, and in small quantities, but not 

 forced on him ; and it often happens that food will be taken if 

 offered from the hand, when it will not be eaten out of the 

 manger. Whether fed out of a bucket or a manger, any that 

 is left should be thrown away, and the receptacle well cleaned 



