91 



allow him to dry bj' evaijoration ; rubbing liiin dry and gradually 

 cooling him out is the wisest treatment. When a horse is hot — cov- 

 ered with sweat — it is dangerous to allow him to stand in a draught; 

 it is the best i)lan to walk him until his temperature moderates. In 

 such cases a light blanket thrown over the animal may prevent a cold. 

 Overwork or overexertion often causes the most fatal cases of conges- 

 tion of the lungs. Avoid j)rolonged or fast work when the horse is 

 out of condition or unaccustomed to it. Animals that have been 

 working out in cold rains should be dried and cooled out, and not left 

 to dry by evaporation. "When the temperature of the weather is at 

 the extreme, either of heat or cold, diseases of the organs of respira- 

 tion are most frequent. 



It is not to be suj)posed tliat farmers can give their horses the par- 

 ticular attention given to valuable racing and pleasure horses, but 

 they can most assuredly give them common-sense care, and this will 

 often save the life of a valuable or useful animal. Xegiect on the j)art 

 of the owner is as often (x^erhai^s oftener) the cause of disease in the 

 horse as neglect on the part of the servant. If the owner properly 

 considers his interests he will study the welfare of his horses so that 

 he may be able to instruct the servant in details of stable manage- 

 ment, as it often hapi^ens that the fault on the i)art of the servant is 

 due to want of knowledge more than to willful neglect. 



WOUNDS ABOUT THE NOSTRILS. 



Wounds in this neighborhood are common, and are generally caused 

 by getting snagged on a nail or splinter, or by the bite of another 

 horse; or by getting "run. into," or b}^ running against something. 

 Occasionally the nostril is so badly torn and lacerated that it is impos- 

 sible to effect a cure without leaving the animal blemished for life, 

 but in the majority of instances the blemish or scar is due to the want 

 of conservative treatment on the x)art of the owner or attendant. As 

 soon as possible after the accident the parts should be brought 

 together and held there by stitches. If too much time is allowed to 

 elapse the swelling of the parts will cousiderabl}^ interfere. The skin 

 in this neighborhood is thin and delicate, and therefore it is easy to 

 insert sutures. Never cut awa}' an}" skin that may be loose and hang- 

 ing, or else a scar will certainly remain. Bring the parts in direct 

 aijposition and x)lace the stitches from a quarter to a half inch apart, 

 as circumstances may demand. It is not necessary- to have special 

 surgeons' silk and needles for this operation; good linen thread or 

 ordinary silk thread will answer. The wound afterwards only re- 

 quires to be kept clean. For this purpose it should be cleansed and 

 discharges washed away daily witli a solution made of carbolic acid 

 1 part, in water 40 parts. If the horse is inclined to rub the w'ound 

 against some object on account of the irritabilit^^.his head should be 



