STABLE MANAGEMENT 257 



weather, for an ordinary hood is apt to be displaced by the 

 wind, and thus the rain can be troublesome on a tempes- 

 tuous day. The American sheet is made all in one piece, 

 completely covering the horse from the ears to the tail, and 

 is kept in its place at the head by a browband, being also 

 fastened underneath with a strap and buckle, and so requir- 

 ing no roller ; and it has another fastening in rear, at 

 the tail. If it is quaint in appearance it certainly has 

 the merit of shielding the animal from all vicissitudes of 

 weather, and thus fulfils the purpose for which it is 

 required. 



Bandages. 



Without a supply of bandages a groom would indeed be 

 at a loss, for they afford him invaluable assistance in the 

 treatment of horses' legs. They should be 3 yards in 

 length, those in ordinary use being made of serge or of 

 flannel, and also of linen. The former are required for 

 warmth, especially when horses become aged, or from other 

 causes have a feeble circulation, resulting in puffy fetlock 

 joints and filled legs, and for this purpose should be 

 wrapped quite loosely. They are also employed for 

 fomentations, being wrung out of hot water and imme- 

 diately put on, and it is an excellent method to put 

 another dry one outside, which serves to keep up the heat 

 and prevent evaporation. Linen bandages are used when 

 evaporating lotions are employed to produce cold ; but for 

 this purpose chamois leather is often substituted instead, 

 as it has the advantage of retaining the moisture longer. 

 When a sweating bandage is required, a Hnen one is the 

 proper material to use, being applied wet, with oilskin 

 outside, and kept continuously on until the skin becomes 

 scurfy, this being the usual plan for reducing enlargements. 

 Nowadays spongio-piline is perhaps more commonly 

 employed instead of the above, being a handier way of 

 attaining the same result. 



Worn and puffy legs are frequently treated by another 

 process, thick layers of cotton-wool being used to envelope 

 the legs, and then either serge or linen bandages put on 



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