208 GENERAL TREATMENT OF HORSES. 



Treatment of Horses' Legs. — We have already- 

 said, that the management of horses' legs forms 

 part of the science of the stable, and a most import- 

 ant part too. It is no where so well understood 

 as in racing stables ; but from the violent nature 

 of his work, the hunter is equally indebted to it. 

 The barbarous practice of blistering all four legs 

 previously to turning out, is now happily exploded ; 

 but as, in less violent exertion than following 

 hounds, a certain insecurity from accidents . is in- 

 separable from the delicacy of all animal structure, 

 the legs of hunters will occasionally fall amiss. It 

 being useless, however, without stating the extent 

 of the injury, to talk of prescribing remedies, we 

 have only to state, that a very efficient one has 

 been found for the torturing one of firing, in many 

 cases where the actual cautery was considered as 

 the only one. For example, for ligamentary en- 

 largements, cases of enlarged joints, tendons show- 

 ing symptoms of giving way, or any other appear- 

 ance in the limbs, of a departure from their primitive 

 tone and vigour. This consists in the application, 

 during the non-hunting months, or any other 

 period of rest, of the mercurial charge, in either of 

 the following forms. It is made up by Mr. Field, 

 veterinary surgeon of London, and no doubt by 

 others in the profession, in a strong adhesive form ; 

 or, at a distance from the metropolis, it may be 

 applied, as recommended by Mr. Kueny of Notting- 

 ham, who is constantly in attendance upon the 

 studs at Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire. It 



