CARE OF PACK ANIMAL 33 



been during the march. Take it off and observe where 

 the wet spot of the bunch has left its mark on the apar- 

 ejo. 



Carefully, so as not to disturb the rest of the pad- 

 ding, take the hay from under the wet spot so that no 

 pressure for the next march can fall on the bunch. The 

 principle is identical with that of treating corns with a 

 corn plaster or hollow pad on the human foot. 



The bunch will rapidly subside. Gradually replace 

 padding after a cure has been effected where it was 

 taken out until the right quantity has been replaced. 



Even though the end of the march has been reached 

 the animal having a bunch should be loaded and 

 marched sufficiently to reduce the bunch. Ordinarily 

 this will be a matter of a few hours. If the bunch is 

 not reduced it will most likely form a "steadfast" 

 which is something on the order of a permanent cal- 

 lous. A neglect of thirty-six hours is sufficient to pro- 

 duce a steadfast from a bunch, while after a neglect 

 of but twenty-four hours a bunch is obstinate and dif- 

 ficult to reduce. Bunches should be properly at- 

 tended to. 



Bell^ Bunches. — When the bunch appears on the 

 belly of the animal it is an indication that the boots 

 of the aparejo have been too heavily padded, thereby 

 forcing the aparejo to stand out from the animal and 

 not conform to its shape, and a.^ a result bringing 

 a concentrated pressure on the belly with the cincha. 

 When such a bunch appears on the belly all the hay 

 or padding should be taken out from the boot across 

 the width of the aparejo. 



The aparejo should bend with a certain springiness 

 to the shape of the animal; experience alone can regu- 

 late this and recognize its quality. The padding should 

 be adjusted to conform to the irregularities in the form 

 of the barrel of the animal. When these conditions 

 are present the aparejo is well fitted. Then it is only 

 the character of the load and the difficulties of the 

 trail begin to make trouble with the bunches and 

 bruises. 



The unapproachable superiority of the aparejo lies 

 in the fact that it can (a) be more perfectly fitted to 

 varying animal conformations than any other pack 

 saddle: (b) that it can be more easily changed under 



