M ANITA L 



OF 



VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



CHAPTER I. 

 INTEODUCTION. 



Nursing, Loose Box, Blankets, Fresh Water, Appetite, Delicate Feeders, Mashes, 

 Mangers, Hand-rubbing, Beds, Fomentations, Cold-water Bathing, Giving a 

 Ball, To give a Drench, Injections into the Nostrils, Enemas, Disinfectants, 

 Deodorizers, Steaming, Poultices, Powders, Electuaries, Blisters, Bleeding, 

 Firing, Setons, Bandages, Sutures, Slings, Twitch-ups, Holding up a fore-foot, 

 Side lines. Throwing or Casting. 



NURSING. 



Whilst there is no real difficulty in giving medicines to most horses, 

 and in carrying out the directions to be found in treatises on veterinary 

 medicine, there is nevertheless a knack in many of the practical opera- 

 tions which is only to be acquired by experience — so that no one should 

 be discouraged by his awkwardness at first, but bear in mind that gentle- 

 ness, firmness, and patience will enable the operator to accomplish his pur- 

 pose easily with all but the most high-strung and vicious animals. Horses 

 vary greatly in disposition; some can be manipulated in almost any man- 

 ner without the slightest resistance, others resist any unaccustomed 

 handling, and some require the experience and skill of the professed vete- 

 rinarian for medical or surgical treatment. 



The first requisite for a sick horse is pure fresh air, avoiding always 

 draughts from any direction. If much sick, a loose box, as it is called, is 

 very essential, as it allows the animal more room to move about and as- 

 sume whatever position is most restful to him. 



A Loose Box should not be less than ten feet square and should have 

 a low half door, over which the sick horse can droop his head if so in- 

 clined. The box should be in a quiet part of the stable, removed if pos- 



