BANDAGES AND BANDAGING. 61 



above to swell, and induces thereby a degree of numbness which, 

 after the bandage is removed, may for a time occasion an 

 impediment or irregularity in its motion. Such effects will not 

 probably follow when the limbs are merely bandaged for two or 

 three hours, neither are the minor evils at all times to be 

 avoided. If circumstances necessitate, that the limbs should 

 be regularly bandaged when the animal is within the stable, 

 it is not advisable in such cases to apply the wet bandage too 

 frequently ; with too frequent use it becomes inert. Many 

 horses, otherwise excellent animals, are affected with swelling 

 of the extremities, which, as is well known, supervenes upon 

 their standing a few hours. To "some extent, bandaging is 

 found to remedy this, and as the practice may be necessary, it 

 is desirable that the process be understood, and properly done. 

 The modus operandi is as follows. First, damp lightly and 

 uniformly the hair of the limb to be encased. Take the 

 bandage (previously made into a compact roll) in your right 

 hand. Let the horse stand straight upon his legs. Drop upon 

 your knees near to the fore foot of the horse. Pass the loose 

 end of the bandage to the outer side of the leg, and round by 

 the inner side by means of the right hand, securing the loose 

 end firmly to the Kmb with the left hand, then pass the bandage 

 alternately from one hand to the other, encircling the limb. 

 Let every fresh circle overlap about one third of the width of 

 the previous one, keeping the bandage at the same time as 

 straight and as even to the limb as possible, and in this manner 

 repeat the process until complete. The proper place to fix the 

 loose end to the limb, is a little below the knee, and on the 

 outer side of the leg. In coming to the heel, a little manipula- 

 tion may be required to maintain the bandage evenly over the 

 curves of the limb. To do this it may be necessary at these 

 points to give the bandage a half turn or twist upon itself. 



