The Treatment of Horses 



applied, may save serious injury. My principle 

 is to use few drugs and to apply the simplest 

 remedies. It is also well to remember that pre- 

 vention is better than cure. In the case of cuts 

 and wounds which are not serious, as, for example, 

 jagged cuts on the legs such as horses are liable 

 to in stony countries : to wash the wound clean 

 with cold water and keep the dirt and air 

 out is all that is needed. It is undesirable 

 to heal a wound too quickly, it should heal from 

 below. Grooms are very fond of healing a place 

 superficially. But if we keep the place thoroughly 

 cleansed, and put round it a bandage over a little 

 cotton- wool with a little iodoform ointment, we 

 may leave the rest to nature. In very many cases 

 it is desirable to give a complete rest until the place 

 heals up. In this case the diet must be reduced 

 and the horse fed on bran, linseed and hay, with 

 but a very small allowance of oats. The food 

 should be plentiful, nourishing, but not heating. 

 Where most people fail is in want of patience ; the 

 horse is taken out too soon, the place reopens, and 

 we have much of our trouble over again. 



In fact in all injuries which have to do with the 

 legs — cuts, wounds, bruises, blows or strains — rest 

 is a great factor in permanent recovery. In most 

 cases where firing or blistering are resorted to, 

 the principal benefit derived is from the enforced 

 rest. Rest and cold or hot water is the best cure, 

 I had almost written the only one. With regard 



