366 STABLE ECONOMY. 



should be strictly obeyed. In many cases a handful of oats, 

 or a bucket of cold water, may keep the horse a week longer 

 from work, or even kill him. 



Bhfdins- — After a horse has been bled from the neck, let 

 his head be tied up for at least three hours ; and if there be 

 no objection, it had better be tied up all night. Never tie it 

 higher than the manger. If the horse happen to faint, as 

 some do after a bleeding, he may be choked. The head is 

 tied high enough, when the horse can not get it lower than 

 the bottom of the manger. Never remove the pin and tow by 

 which the vein is secured. They will fall away in a few 

 days ; but though they should remain for eight or ten, they 

 will do no harm. If removed too soon the vein is apt to in- 

 flame. It is best to let them remain. 



Fomenting. — In fomenting for lameness or an external in- 

 jury, the groom rarely has enough of water, and he does 

 not continue the bathing long enough to do any good. If the 

 leg is to be fomented, get a pailful of water as hot as the hand 

 can bear it ; put the horse's foot into it, and with a large 

 sponge lave the water up as high as the shoulder, and keep 

 it constantly running down the whole limb. Foment for 

 about half-an-hour, and keep the water hot by adding more. 

 If a poultice or wet bandage is to succeed the fomentation, 

 apply it immediately, before the leg has time to cool. 



Poulticing. — Warm poultices are usually composed of bran- 

 mash, to which it is proper to add turnips, linseed-meal, or 

 oatmeal porridge ; either will do, and one of them is necessa- 

 ry, for bran alone does not retain heat and moisture suffi- 

 ciently. 



Whether applied for sores, bruises, or sprains, the poultice 

 should be large, moist, and as warm as possible and con- 

 venient. It is almost invariably too small ; it should cover a 

 good deal more than the part injured. It should have as much 

 water as it will hold, and more should be applied every second 

 or third hour, either by pouring it on the poultice, or by dip- 

 ping or soaking it. Care must be taken that no part of the 

 cords or bandages be too tight. They should admit the finger 

 quite easily after they are all adjusted. When properly ap- 

 plied, and properly attended, a good poultice need not be 

 changed in less than twenty-four hours. When the horse tears 

 it off with his teeth he must be tied up ; when he paws or 

 throws it off, he must be shackled. , 



When too small, a poultice does little good ; when too dry, 

 it confines heat, and increases infiammation ; when the strings 



