THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 447 



BLISTERING. 



The preparation and ingredients of Blisters will be found 

 in List of Medicines. 



Blisters are very important aids in inflammatory 

 aflfections as counter-irritants, derived from a law in 

 the animal economy, that two inflammations seldom exist 

 in the vicinity of each other. Therefore, when such an 

 afiection has taken place in any part, and we wish to 

 remove it, we attemjjt to raise an artificial inflammation 

 in the neighbourhood by means of blisters ; which, if 

 persevered in, destroy, or at least lessen, the original one. 

 Occasionally, also, we blister the immediate inflamed part, 

 with an intention to hasten the suppurative process by 

 increasing the activity of the vessels — as in deep-seated 

 abscesses, and also in those which attack glandular parts. 

 We therefore employ blisters to hasten the maturation of 

 the tumours in strangles. 



In applying a blister, cut the hair as close as possible 

 from the part, then hand-rub in the blistering compound 

 from ten minutes to a quarter of an hour. In blistering the 

 legs, take care the hinder part of the heel, under the fetlock 

 joint, is rubbed with lard or melted suet, to prevent the 

 action of any of the blister that may run down the leg ; 

 this will often prevent some troublesome sores forming 

 from the blistering ointment falling on these sensitive 

 parts. While a blister is acting, the litter should be 

 removed from under the feet, or it will tickle the legs, and 

 irritate ; the head ought to be carefully secured for two 

 days and nights, to oppose lying down, more especially to 

 prevent the horse biting the blistered part. 



On the third evening he may be permitted to repose ; 

 but a prevention should even then be continued, by means 

 of what is called a cradle. (This apparatus may be bought 

 at every turnery shop, or may be made of eight or ten 

 pieces of round wood, an inch and a half in diameter, 

 and two feet long ; these are strung at each end on a 

 rope, and fastened around the neck.) When it is intended 

 to blister repeatedly, the efiects of the first blister should 

 have subsided before the second is applied, the scurf and 

 scabs also be cleared away, and the part well washed with 

 soap and water. In all cases, the third or fourth day after 

 the application the part should be thoroughly painted over 



