34 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



skin of the flank, the sheath of the horse or gelding, and the teats of the 

 mare, as the inclusion of these parts causes unnecessary pain at the time of 

 application, and possibly obstinate sore places afterwards. 



The Liver. Where an application of mustard is advised over the 

 region of the liver, it is understood to refer to the right side, to which the 

 organ is more especially inclined, and it will be most effective if applied for 

 a space of four or five inches behind the back ribs. 



BACK-RAKING 



Among the many services the attendant on the sick is called upon to 

 perform may be mentioned such minor operations as the administration of 

 clysters and enemata. These are often preceded by the operation of un- 

 loading the rectum with the hand, vulgarly known as "back-raking". It 

 may be as well to describe the process first. 



Very little knowledge of horse ailments will be necessary to convince 

 the reader of the importance of this performance. There are many cases in 

 which this operation is followed by relief, especially in colic, impaction of 

 the bowels, and in diseases of the urinary apparatus; in inflammation of the 

 testicles in stallions, parturition in mares, and in those febrile and other 

 conditions in which the animal is too languid, or enduring such pain as to 

 preclude the necessary posturing and exertion to defecate. We might 

 -enumerate a great many other cases in which such aid would prove valu- 

 able, but the examples quoted will be sufficient. 



To perform this task it is required that the fingers of the operator 

 .should be free from rings, and the nails closely paired. The horny hand 

 of a person accustomed to manual labour should be previously softened by 

 washing in hot water. Although the majority of horses submit to this 

 performance without display of temper, it is well for a right-handed man 

 to have the left fore-leg held up by an assistant, while the operator stands 

 somewhat to the near side of the quarter, or, if the left arm is used, the 

 reverse order will best serve to protect from a kick. There is practically no 

 danger so long as the tail is held firmly erect, as a kicker always depresses 

 the tail before " lashing out". As a preliminary, the hand and arm should 

 be well smeared with some vaseline, lard, or butter (free from salt), and a 

 little may be introduced with the finger into the rectum before proceeding 

 to unload it. In introducing the hand into the rectum the fingers are 

 gathered together, and by gentle and persistent pressure made to enter the 

 anal opening. At first a good deal of resistance will be met with from the 

 muscle encircling the orifice (sphincter muscle), but by steady perseverance 

 it will soon be overcome, and the hand and arm allowed to enter. 



