ACCIDENTS OF WORK. 349 



into the belly, among the bowels, the horse may go home- 

 When the belly is penetrated, a portion of bowel protrudes. 

 Sometimes it is no larger than an egg. Whether large or 

 little, the horse must not move a yard till something be done 

 to replace the bowel, or to prevent further protrusion. As 

 every motion of the horse tends to force out more of the in- 

 testine, he ought in the first place to be twitched. A twitch 

 can be made from whip-cord, and a key or whip-handle will 

 serve to tighten it, if nothing better be at hand. By a little 

 gentle manipulation, the bowel may be replaced, the edges 

 of the wound drawn together, and secured, by pins and tow, 

 or hemp, and a bandage bound round the belly, sustaining a 

 pad over the aperture ; the horse may then be led home, or 

 to the nearest stable, there to remain till a veterinarian ar- 

 rives. When the gut is wounded, it is not to be replaced 

 till sewed ; none but the surgeon can do that properly. No 

 hair nor the least particle of dust must enter the belly. When 

 the bowel can not, or should not be put in place, a bandage 

 and pad will prevent further escape till assistance is procured. 



Bleeding Wounds. — The shoulder and breast are exposed 

 to deep and extensive wounds from shafts, from the pole and 

 the splinter-bar. Until professional assistance can be obtained, 

 all that need be done is to arrest the bleeding, which, however, 

 is seldom very profuse from lacerated wounds. Some blood 

 must escape, and much may be lost before life is endangered ; 

 but if a large stream be running from some particular point, 

 pressure may be applied till the veterinarian arrive. En- 

 deavor to seize the wounded vessel between the finger and 

 thumb, or apply a finger on the origin of the stream. This is 

 better than general pressure, by means of a handkerchief, 

 which fills the wound with blood, and prevents a proper ex- 

 amination by the veterinarian. Bleeding wounds on the legs 

 may be bound by a handkerchief. 



Choking. — Heavy draught horses, going up hill with much 

 weight behind, sometimes choke in the collar. The collar 

 presses upon the windpipe, and the horse instantly falls; 

 sometimes he staggers for a moment before sinking, but in 

 general there is no warning. Should the fall throw the col- 

 lar off the windpipe, the horse recovers immediately. The 

 first thing to be done is to free the windpipe, if it be not al- 

 ready free. The collar must be pulled down, or the draught 

 rolled forward, so as to throw the strain from the collar. 

 This must be done quickly ; pressure on the windpipe will 

 produce death in three minutes. Should the driver observe 



30 



