6 THE DISEASES OF HORSES, 



when, if not opened, it will generally ulcerate and discharge through the 

 skin. The danger in an abscess is that it should discharge internally, 

 when death is the result ; the object, therefore, is to stimulate the process 

 and by hot fomentations, poultices, &c, to soften the skin and draw 

 the matter towards the surface. When abscesses are deep-seated it ia 

 unsafe for anyone unaccustomed to the knife to attempt to open them ; 

 where they are more superficially situated they may by attention to a few 

 general rules be safely and successfully treated. When first discovered, 

 the part should be bathed with water as hot as can well be borne, and this 

 must be kept up continuously— an intermittent application being worse 

 than useless -or a poultice made with bran and hot water, and which 

 cannot be too large, should be kept constantly applied, and changed as 

 it gets at all cold. To prevent the evaporation of heat, cover it with 

 woollen cloths when practicable. Sometimes when an abscess forms 

 very tardily, it ia advisable to apply a blister, or a good strong stimu- 

 lating liniment should be rubbed all over the swelled part with consider- 

 able friction, and poultices afterwards applied. When the abscess is fully 

 formed, or ripe, as it is called, which may be ascertained by its prominence, 

 softness to the touch, and partial fluidity of its contents, it should be opened 

 with an abscess knife or strong lancet, by inserting it into the softest and 

 most prominent part and cutting downwards when the position will 

 permit of that, so as to insure good and speedy drainage of the matter ; 

 pressure, and afterwards keeping the parts clean, is all that is then 

 necessary, unless the wound shows an indisposition to heal, when it may 

 be washed with a stimulating lotion, or the following ointment, which is 

 useful for dressing any old sore that shows an indisposition to heal, 

 may be applied a few times : 



Ointment for Healing Wounds. — Take red precipitate, 2dr. ; Venice 

 turpentine, loz. ; lard, loz., mixed. 



If an abscess has been of such magnitude as to cause debility, the 

 horse should have a course of tonic powders, which from their genera] 

 utility we may at once introduce here. 



Tonic Powders. — For debility, loss of appetite, emaciation, want of blood, 

 wasting, &c. : Take pure sulphate of iron, 6oz.; powdered gentian root, 4oz.; 

 powdered ginger, 2oz. ; ground carraways, 3oz. ; bicarbonate of soda, loz.; 

 locust bean meal |lb. Mix thoroughly and give a tablespoonful in the 

 food (slightly damped) twice a day. 



B. 



Back Sinews, Strain or Sprain of.— This is one of the numerous 

 injuries to which the complicated structure of the foot and leg are liable, 

 and as with the horse " 'tis the pace that kills," so it oftenest happens to 



