BANDAGES. 113 



giving them no more weight, because you are favorably 

 impressed with my skill, than if they had been uttered by 

 some one not familiar with the subject. A person must 

 think for himself, and education is only just commencing 

 when we put our knowledge to a practical test. 



Bandages have many duties to perform. To a horse 

 that has good sound legs that do not swell from the work 

 he receives, their only use is to prevent evaporation, and 

 keep the legs warm. They would be unnecessary even for 

 this purpose, if, after the legs were washed, each could be 

 rubbed dry at the same time, though I am not so much 

 given to hand-rubbing the legs as many are, and would 

 prefer the loosely applied bandage. Should the work 

 have been very severe, bandages dipped in hot water, and 

 left on all night without being permitted to get dry, will 

 be found a great preventive of soreness. If the legs are 

 inclined to tumefaction and tenderness, wet bandages are 

 almost indispensable. Bear it in mind, that dry bandages 

 will increase the inflammatory symptoms, and are never 

 to b*e applied when inflammation exists. Warm water, 

 the degree of heat being regulated so that you can just 

 bear your hand in it, is just as good as any of the medi- 

 cated compounds so much in vogue. I prefer the bandages 

 to fomentations, not that they are better, but are less 

 troublesome to apply. 



The reasons for my preferring wet bandages to dry, and 

 warm water in place of cold, are, that the moisture acts 

 as a poultice, and the heat of the water, confined by the 

 flannel, keeps up a perspiration that relieves the parts. 

 When applied in the stable, dry bandages should be 

 put on loose, so that when the string is tied, you can slip 

 your finger easily between it and the leg ; wet ones bear 

 being a little tighter. It is quite a knack to put on ban- 

 dages properly, particularly where a horse has to take his 

 work in them. Have your bandage rolled up smoothly, 



