THE HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 387 



left to himself — that is, to tie him up in such a way as to prevent him 

 from rubbing the wound. This can be done by having a rein at each side 

 of the halter, and tying it up, one to each side of the stall, and suffi- 

 ciently back and high up to keep him from putting his jaw against either 

 ihe trough or the wall against which it stands. 



If the wound has recently broken, shave the edges so as to remove all 

 roughness and bring them closely and evenly together. Then cover with : 

 collodion, putting on coat after coat until it is strong enough to keep the) 

 wound from bursting. 



If the sore is of long standing, and the case evidently obstinate, the 

 first care must be to determine whether the channel has become closed 

 between the wound and the mouth, as sometimes happens. If so, make 

 a new one and keep it open by passing a thread through it. This thread 

 must have a flat button affixed to each end, one inside the mouth the 

 other outside the wound, to retain it in place. It should not be so closely 

 shortened by the buttons as to prevent its being slipped a little, first one 

 way then the other, until the walls .of its passage have become callous or 

 firm, and not likely to adhere. It must then be withdrawn, and the way 

 being open for the secretion to escape into the mouth the outside wound 

 must be closed. To do this, make an adhesive fluid by saturating gum 

 mastic with the strongest spirit of wine, or by dissolving India rubber in 

 sulphuric ether. Pare off the edges of the wound till the healthy skin 

 and flesh are laid bare, which may be known by bleeding. Now wash the 

 surrounding parts thoroughly with warm soap suds, so as to remove the 

 oily secretion from the skin and hair, and render the latter dry, so that 

 an adhesive preparation may the more readily stick. When the bleeding 

 has stopped and the hair is dry, lay over the orifice a piece of India 

 rubber, and over that a cotton cloth. Fix the cotton firmly by means of 

 the adhesive fluid above mentioned, first attaching one side, then, when 

 that is dry and firmly fixed, stretching and fastening down the other 

 edge. Continue to fasten on these strips one after another in this way — 

 some of them cross-ways — until there is a good body of them ; then 

 thoroughly saturate the whole with the adhesive fluid and tie up the 

 animal as already directed. When his reins are loosened in order that he 

 may eat, he must be watched to see that he does not rub and re-open the 

 wound . 



This one covering, as described, is generally sufficient to effect a cure < 

 but if it falls off before the orifice is entirely closed, wait a day or two, 

 «till feeding on soft food, and then put on another coat of the India 

 rubber, cotton, and mastic solution ; and so continue until a cure U 

 effected. 



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