THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 37^ 



to excite displeasure ; besides, the pranks thus provoked b3? 

 torture often continue after the cause has been removed. 



Upon the summit of the abscess appears a black spot. li 

 is at this spot the larva receives the air needed to support a 

 dormant existence. This fact being known to certain 

 people, the knowledge is employed to destroy the parasite. 

 The swelling is fir*it slightly greased, and then a drop oi 

 melted tallow is let fall upon the breathing place. By 

 such means the insect is effectually suffocated, and 

 assuredly dies. 



Others employ a darning needle as the instrument of 

 execution. The needle is thrust through the central spot 

 into the swelling for three- eighths of an inch. The larva 

 thereby is pierced, and the life certainly is sacrificed. 



Neither method occasions at the time the slightest pain to 

 the horse. In either case the maggot dies ; but the business, 

 unfortunately, is only rendered worse by killing the source 

 of evil. The dead body putrefies. A foreign and corrupt- 

 ing substance beneath the skin may enlarge the abscess to 

 many times its original dimensions. After all, the system 

 has to cast forth the irritating matter ; and for that purpose 

 inflammation, with its attendant fever, must be perfected. 

 Much suffering is thus occasioned, and the proprietor is, 

 for several weeks, forced to forego the employment of a 

 valuable servant. 



The safest, the surest, and the quickest manner of 

 eradicating these parasites is, with the point of a lancet 

 slightly to enlarge the central opening, and then, with the 

 finger and thumb applied on either side of the swelling to 

 squeeze out the intruder. The abscess rapidly disappears ; 

 and it only requires a few dabbings with the solution of 

 chloride of zinc, one grain to the ounce, to close the wound. 

 However, the best manner to avoid such annoyances is, not 

 to turn the horse out, and treat a domesticated as an 

 untamed quadruped. 



MALLENDERS AND SALLENDERS. 



When a scurfy or scabby eruption at the posterior part 

 of the bending of the knee appears, it is termed mallenders ; 

 and when a similar one appears at the bend of the hock, it 

 is called sallenders. Neither of them lame or do much 

 harm ; but sometimes, when neglected, they degenerate 



