BLISTERING. ^23 



p. 186. The best liquid or sweating blister is an infusion of the fly in 

 turpentine, and that lowered with neat's foot oil according to the degree of 

 activity required. 



In preparing the horse for blistering, the hair should be cliy^ped or 

 shaved as closely as possible, and the ointment thoroughly rubbed in. 

 Much fault is often found with the ointment if the blister does not rise, 

 when the real blame should be attributed to the idleness of the operator. 



The head of the horse must be tied up for the first two days ; except 

 that, when the sides are blistered, the body-clothes may be so contrived as 

 to prevent the horse from nibbling and blemishing the part, or blistering 

 his muzzle. At the expiration of twenty- four hours, a Uttle olive or neat's 

 foot oil may be applied over the blister, which will considerably lessen the 

 pain and supple the part, ,and prevent cracks in the skin that may be 

 difficult to heal. The oil should be applied morning and night, until the 

 scabs peel off. When they begin to loosen, a lather of soap and water 

 apphed with a sponge may hasten their removal, but no violence must be 

 used. 



Every particle of litter should be carefully removed from the stall, for the 

 sharp ends of the straw coming in contact with a part rendered so tender 

 and irritable by the blister, Avill cause very great annoyance to the animal. 

 After the second day the horse may be suffered to lie down ; but still the 

 possibility of blemishing himself should be prevented by a cradle or wooden 

 necklace, consisting of round strips of wood, strung together, reaching from 

 the lower jaw to the chest, and preventing the horse from sufficiently 

 turning or bending his head, to get at the blistered part. 



A blister thus treated will rarely produce the slightest blemish. When 

 the scabs are all removed, the blister maybe repeated, if the case should 

 appear to require it, or the horse may be turned out. 



In inflammations which threaten life, a blister can scarcely be too active 

 or too extensive. In inflammation of the lungs it should reach over the 

 whole of the sides, and the greater part of the brisket; for, should a portion 

 of the fly be absorbed, and produce strangury (inflammation, or spasmo- 

 dic affection of the neck of the bladder,) even this new irritation may assist 

 in subduing the first and more dangerous one ; but in blistering for inju- 

 ries or diseases of the legs or feet some caution is necessary. When 

 speaking of the treatment of sprain of the back sinews, p. 247, we stated, 

 that ' ablister should never be used while any heat or tenderness remains 

 about the part,' for we should then add to the superficial inflammation, 

 instead of abating the deeper seated one ; and enlargements of the limb and 

 ulcerations might follow, which would render the horse perfectly unser- 

 viceable. When there is a tendency to grease, a blister is a dangerous 

 thing, and has often aggravated the disease. In winter, the inflam- 

 mation of the skin produced by blistering is apt to degenerate into grease ; 

 therefore, if it should be necessary to blister the horse during that 

 season, great care must be taken that he is not exposed to cold, and, par- 

 ticularly, that a current of cold air does not come upon the legs. 



The inhuman practice of blistering all round, and perhaps high on the 

 leg at the same time, cannot be too strongly reprobated. Many a valuable 

 horse has been lost through the excessive general irritation which this 

 has produced, or its violent effect on the urinary organs ; and this has been 

 particularly the case, when corrosive sublimate has entered into the com- 

 position of the blister. 



If strangury should appear, the horse should be plentifully supplied with 

 linseed tea, which is thus best prepared — a gallon of boiling water is poured 



Y 2 



