SITFASTS, BURNS, AND SCALDS. 471 



for some time, particularly after being kept idle in a stable on a 

 scanty allowance of grain, as in winter, he is soft and tender and 

 sweats easily when put to work again. In this condition he is apt 

 to sweat and chafe under the harness, especially if it is hard and 

 poorly fitted. This chafing is likely to cause abrasions of the skin, 

 and thus pave the way for an abscess, or for a chronic blemish, unless 

 attended to very promptly. Besides causing the animal considerable 

 pain, chafing, if long continued, leads to the formation of a callosity. 

 This may be superficial, involving only the skin, or it may be deep- 

 seated, involving the subcutaneous fibrous tissue and sometimes the 

 muscle and even the bone. This causes a dry slough to form, which 

 is both inconvenient and unsightly. Sloughs of this kind are com- 

 monly called " sitfasts " and, while they occur in other places, are 

 most frequently found under the saddle. (See also page 448.) 



Treatment. Abrasions are best prevented by bringing the animal 

 gradually into working shape after it has had a prolonged rest, in 

 order that the muscles will be hard and the skin tough. The harness 

 should be well fitted, neither too large nor too small, and it should be 

 cleaned and oiled to remove all dirt and to make it soft and pliable. 

 Saddles should be properly fitted so as to prevent direct pressure on 

 the spine, and the saddle blankets should be clean 'and dry. Parts of 

 the horse where chafing is likely to occur, as on the back under the 

 saddle, should be cleaned and brushed free of dirt. 



The remedies for simple harness galls are numerous. Among them 

 may be mentioned alcohol, 1 pint, in which are well shaken the whites 

 of two eggs ; a solution of nitrate of silver, 10 grains to the ounce of 

 water; sugar of lead or sulphate of zinc, 20 grains to an ounce of 

 water; carbolic acid, 1 part in 15 parts of glycerin, and so on almost 

 without end. Any simple astringent wash or powder will effect a 

 cure, provided the sores are not irritated by friction. 



If a sitfast has developed, the dead hornlike slough must be care- 

 fully dissected out and the wound treated carefully with antiseptics. 

 During treatment it is always best to allow the animal to rest, but if 

 this is inconvenient care should be taken to prevent injury to the 

 abraded or wounded surface by padding the harness so that chafing 

 can not occur. 



BURNS AND SCALDS. 



These wounds of domestic animals are fortunately of rare occur- 

 rence; however, when they do occur, if at all extensive, they prove 

 quite troublesome and in many cases are fatal. According to the 

 severity of the burn we distinguish three degrees: First degree, 

 where there is a simple reddening of the skin ; second degree, where 

 there is a formation of vesicles, or blisters ; third degree, where there 

 is a complete destruction of vitality of the tissues, such as would 

 occur in charring from direct contact with flames or from escaping 



