BANDAGES. 127 



Wet bandages are usually made of woollen, and are 

 used when the legs are hot, tender, or sore, and for the 

 purpose of applying lotions and constant fomentations. An 

 excellent method is the application of a bandage made of 

 chamois or wash leather, wet with a lotion made of one 

 drachm each of acetate and sulphate of zinc dissolved in a 

 pint of rain water. To gain the full advantage from wet 

 bandages, one of dry linen should be wound round and over 

 the wet one, to prevent evaporation ; and we may renew 

 the moisture by occasionally pouring water or other fluid 

 on the leg, between it and the bandage, taking care to wet 

 the outside bandage as little as possible. Wet bandages 

 should not be continued above twelve hours at a time, after 

 which they should be removed and the part exposed to the 

 air, to prevent scalding and falling oflf of the hair. If too 

 long continued, the hoofs will become so soft that they will 

 not be able to bear much weight upon them, especially 

 when on stony roads or cobble-paved streets. 



Bandages should be from two to three yards in length, 

 and the breadth about six to eight inches, tapering to the 

 other end to about three inches, and to this tape for tying 

 them should be affixed. In well furnished stables, each 

 horse should have his full set of bandages. As the appli- 

 cation of bandages is quite an art, the greatest care 

 should be exercised in applying them ; first, to prevent 

 wrinkling the hair, and second, to insure their staying in 

 place when put on the leg. This latter consideration is 

 important, as no horse of value should be pfaced in a rail- 



