680 OPERATIONS. 



tape, before being inserted, is sometimes smeared over witli blister- 

 ing ointment to increase the irritation. The object of the seton will 

 usually be accomplished, when free suppuration has been set up, 

 which will be in five or six days. A seton should not be allowed 

 to remain longer than ten or twelve days in any part in which 

 a subsequent blemish would be a matter of consequence. 



Slinging 



is the employment of means for resting a horse when it is indis- 

 pensable that he should be kept standing, or when he is unable to 

 lie down. In the absence of jDroperly-made slings, a good substi- 

 tute may be obtained by taking a sheet of thick canvas, such as 

 a strong sack, which will suit admirably as regards size, and is 

 generally available. Each end is turned over and sewn firmly on 

 to a piece of wood a little thicker than a stable-fork handle. This 

 impromptu sling having been passed under the horse's belly, ropes 

 are attached to the four free ends of the pieces of wood, and are 

 made fast to the rafters of the stall, or other convenient supports. 

 Slings should be provided with a breastplate and breeching to 

 prevent the horse slipping forward or backward, and a chain block 

 is used to lower or raise the slings at pleasure. 



Slings, when used, should lightly touch the abdomen of the horse 

 when he stands up, so that he may rest in them, or not, as he 

 chooses. The animal should never be suspended in them ; for in 

 that case they would interfere with his breathing and digestion. 

 Employed as I have advised, he will readily accept the offered 

 support, if he is in need of it. 



Slings form an admirable means of control in cases of irritable 

 or vicious horses whose hind legs have to be dressed on account 

 of injuries, etc. 



Steaming the Nostrils 



is very useful in cases of inflammation of the air-passages. It 

 may be done by soaking hay in boiling water, and then placing it 

 in a nose-bag which is to be put on the horse's head. Two nose- 

 bags may be alternately employed. A better arrangement might 

 be made with a kettle, to the spout of which is attached a piece of 

 india-rubber tubing to lead into a deep nose-bag half filled with 

 hay. The addition of 1 part of oil of turpentine to 4 or 5 parts 

 of water, may prove useful for steaming the nostrils in cases of 

 bronchitis, and sore throat. In these affections, I would suggest 

 the employment of inhalations from carbonate of ammonia, an 

 ounce of which might be placed in a nose-bag to be put on the 

 iiorse's head. It will not require the aid of heat. 



