STABLES. 101 



but unless there are men of long experience about the stable, 

 such cases had better be confided to the veterinary surgeon. It 

 is not easy to be too careful. 



That some horses have a predisposition to various diseases 

 is almost too much a matter of course to be mentioned, but it is 

 equally true that disease usually arises from neglect or mistaken 

 treatment. It is a not unfrequent boast with many men that 

 they have not had a veterinary surgeon in their stable for 

 long periods. They do not always say, and doubtless do not 

 always recognise the fact, that their horses would often have 

 been cured of ailments more surely and speedily if the best 

 medical advice had been obtained. Most grooms think that 

 they can perform a number of operations which they are totally 

 incompetent to perform, partly from want of practice and 

 partly from ignorance of the horse's anatomy and of the real 

 objects and effects of the treatment they endeavour to follow. 

 In serious cases, or cases which threaten to become serious, 

 it is best to obtain skilled advice ; but at the same time there 

 are many simple cures which any experienced stableman can 

 accomplish, especially if he really understands the cause of the 

 illness or injury. With many diseases of the feet as a rule 

 the consequences of bad shoeing the groom can deal. We 

 cannot do better than summarise the very clear and effective 

 remedies prescribed by Mr. Digby Collins in his work, ' The 

 Horse Trainer's Guide,' for those comparatively simple diseases 

 for which veterinary aid need not be sought. There is usually 

 one right method and many wrong methods of treatment for 

 every ailment, and these are perhaps nowhere more tersely and 

 lucidly summed up than in the book named. 



Corns are the result of pressure on the sole of the foot, whereby 

 the blood-vessels are ruptured, giving rise to a morbid secretion, 

 which, if allowed to continue, will render the corn well-nigh in- 

 curable. The treatment will consist in removing the pressure and 

 stimulating the sole to secrete a healthy deposit of horn, by means 

 of the application of oil of turpentine and spirits of wine equal 

 parts of each, after having cut out the corn with the buttress. 



This dressing should be applied fcr three consecutive days, 



