HORSES. 



HOT WATER. 



A word here about hot water. This is often used too hot, 

 which may cause bad blemishes, not to mention the unnecessary 

 suffering given to animals by such use. Whenever hot water is 

 referred to in this book, it is intended to mean just as hot as a 

 man can comfortably bear his elhoiv in; the hand of those 

 engaged in manual labour being usually much less sensitive 

 than the skin of the horse. After fomenting for half an hour 

 rub in Elliman's with both hands, changing the attitude of 

 the horse from time to time, flexing and extending the limb 

 by turns. An extra piece of rug or flannel may be stitched 

 inside the rug covering the lame shoulder. On subsequent days 

 the Elliman's may be diluted with an equal amount of soft 

 water, and the treatment continued until the horse is well. If 

 there is no improvement it will be due to some other cause than 

 sprain, and a veterinary surgeon should be consulted, as there 

 may be disease of the shoulder. Navicular disease in the foot 

 is a complaint which is often mistaken for shoulder lameness. 



Prevention. — The chief causes of injury have been enumer- 

 ated and the reader will see that some of them are preventable. If 

 horses must be led in and out of the stable with winker-bridles 

 on, they should be led slowly and given plenty of space to turn 

 in. Gates should be set wide-open before colts are allowed to 

 rush through them. Special care should be exercised with 

 nervous horses, and, whether riding or driving, sudden twists 

 and turns should be avoided. 



ELBOW LAMENESS. 



This part of the horse is seldom a cause of lameness. Some- 

 times the inflammation of "capped" elbow is so great from 

 improper treatment, that lameness results. {See Capped Elbow, 

 page 39-) 



