THE HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 



If inflammation and considerable swelling has set in before the hurt is 

 discovered this must be first reduced by cold water applications, or better, 

 hot water fomentations, if persistently applied. Then the joint must be 

 brought to place by traction and force. If there is no inflammation this 

 will not be difficult. 



"WTien a starch bandage may be employed, this should always be used 

 to hold the parts together. If not the dislocation must be splintered or 

 padded, or both, to keep the parts intact and in place. The slings should 

 always be employed to rest the horse when they may be had. This with 

 cooling lotions to subdue inflammation, rest, proper care and feeding, 

 will ensure recovery in the end. A bad dislocation, however, usually 

 leaves the horse out of condition for anything but farm or slow work. 



XVI. Various Fractures. 



To fracture a limb completely, so the leg hangs loose, is of so serious 

 a nature, in the horse, that unless in the case of a very valuable animal 

 for breeding purposes it had better be killed at once. In very many 

 cases, however, one of the bones of the leg is fractured or split part way, 

 though the horse may not exhibit extreme pain, may even travel upon it. 

 Softening, however, sets in, and sometime after, in getting up in the 

 stable, the bone gives way entirely. So the fibula, as the smaller bone of 

 the leg is called, may be fractured. If there is lameness after falling in 

 harness, or from a blow, with tenderness, it is safe to treat for fracture. 



What to do. — Place the horse in the slings and splinter the limb, first 

 having applied a starch bandage, when it may be made to act. All that 

 will be necessary further will be to feed and water regularly, keep the 

 bowels naturally open, reduce inflammation and soreness by the use of 

 arnica, and trust to time for a cure. A month or six weeks ousht to so 

 strengthen the bone that the animal can eat grass, or be fed in a box 

 stall until recovery is perfected. 



XVn. Various Distortions. 



A distortion arising from fracture or from any chronic difficulty cannot 

 be cured. In case of severe recent strain of the ligaments of the neck, 

 by which the head is thrown to one side, and held so, the neck should be 

 brought straight, splintered, and held so until the ligaments recover their 

 normal tone. Poll evil often leaves the animal with a stiff neck, pro- 

 ducing a distorted manner of holding the head. Distortions are often 

 produced by injuries of various kinds. These must be attended to during 

 the cure of the superinducing cause. Distortions often occur in young 

 animals, as knuckling, turning the fetlocks from weakness, etc. The 



