BRUISES. 243 



not be forgotten that a horse thrown out of work and exercise 

 for sprain and lameness, should have light diet. Bran-mashes 

 should be given for the first few days instead of oats, and after- 

 wards half bran-mash and half oats mixed should be allowed 

 of course, with the addition of hay or grass. If blistering for 

 sprains is not successful, firing may be tried ; and it often 

 succeeds when all other remedies have failed. 



The foregoing may be called the general principles of treat- 

 ment for sprains, and they can be applied according to the 

 varying circumstances of each particular case. There are 

 sprains of the flexor tendons and ligaments of the hind-legs, as 

 well as those of the fore; and also sprains of tendons and 

 muscles in different parts of the body, which it is beyond the 

 scope of this book to describe. 



BRUISES. 



The best treatment for bruises is, as a general rule, fre- 

 quent fomentations for at least half an hour at a time, and 

 this remedy is usually successful. Some mild stimulating 

 liniment may, after a time, be applied, to remove any obstinate 

 remaining swelling. 



The eye is sometimes injured, the part most frequently 

 suffering being the outer transparent coat, called the cornea. 

 Sometimes this is injured by the rider carelessly striking the 

 horse about the head j or it may be injured against trees or 

 other objects. When the cornea has been injured, the eyelids 

 are nearly or quite closed. On opening them, the cornea is 

 probably found to be abraded, and perhaps more or less of a 

 milky whiteness. This is very apt to alarm the inexperienced 

 owner, as it seems unlikely that so much opacity would ever 

 clear away ; yet it often will, in a very astonishing manner. 

 Fomentations are the best treatment here, and many recom- 

 mend that a wet cloth should be placed over the eye, to keep 

 Q 2 



