HYGIENICS APPLIED TO DISEASED ANIMALS 143 



generally, and of the ears and extremities particularly. Under such circum- 

 stances it is important to conserve the heat by the application of clothing, 

 which, if necessary, may be made to cover the whole of the animal's body. 

 This is done by adding to the ordinary rug a hood which will cover the 

 head down to the nostrils, with separate cases for the ears, and reaching 

 downwards to the withers, joining the ordinary rug which should buckle 

 across the chest (fig. 491). The further addition of flannel bandages to the 



Fig-. 491. Clothing for Sick Horse 



extremities will complete the clothing, which will naturally be thick or thin 

 according to circumstances. 



Grooming is very commonly entirely neglected in the case of sick 

 horses, from a mistaken notion that it is better not to expose the surface 

 of the animal to the open air, or to excite it by the employment of brush 

 or wisp. This excess of precaution may be desirable during the continu- 

 ance of the very acute stage of a febrile disease, and in cases generally 

 where the animal's life depends upon perfect quiet being maintained; but 

 as soon as the animal's condition will permit, friction to the surface should 

 be employed daily, and two or three times a day it may be desirable to 

 stimulate circulation in the extremities by removing the bandages and 

 hand-rubbing the skin of the legs until warmth is restored, applying the 

 bandages again immediately. 



Exercise. Presuming that the horse has a good roomy box, the want 



