516 ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 



being about a quarter of an inch wide. It is wrapped with flax or 

 thread moistened with turpentine, and pushed down into a pocket made 

 in the skin, to induce a running sore. They are little used now; setons 

 accomplishing the object fully. 



Setons. — A cord or ligature of leather thrust in, under and out of the 

 ^kin, and tied. It is soaked with turpentine or smeared with irritating 

 compounds, and turned every day, the object being to promote and keep 

 up a discharge of pus, and reduce inflammation. 



Seton needles. — These are broad, curved blades, with a round shaft 

 eighteen inches long, and with an eye at the blunt end. Used for thread- 

 ing setons of tape, cord or leather into wounds made. Needles for sew- 

 ing up wounds are of several sizes, curved, square needles. 



Tents. — These are pledgets of tow, lint or other substances introduced 

 into wounds to cause them to form matter. They should be moistened 

 with Venice turpentine. 



Twitch. — A loop of leather or strong cord, fastened securely upon a, 

 stout handle two feet long. Used for holding refractory horses, or dur. 

 ing surgical or other operations. Pass the upper lip through the loop, 

 and twist until sufficient force can be used to keep the animal still. 



Hopples. — Ropes for casting a horse. They should be each twenty- 

 five feet long. Have two strong straps of leather double, with a two 

 inch seam between, and so they may be buckled tight to the fetlock. 

 Fasten both ropes securely to the bottom of a collar placed on the horse's 

 neck. Or if the rope is long enough, loop the middle to the collar ; 

 buckle a strap securely to each hind pastern, pass the ends of the rope 

 through the rings, and back through the collar. One man manages the 

 head to bring the horse down properly and easily, while assistants pull 

 forcibly on the ropes ahead. A horse should never be cast except upon 

 a thick, soft bed of straw or tan bark. If it is simply wished to hopple 

 the horse, fasten the ends of the rope to the collar, and of such a length 

 that the horse cannot kick. 



Slings. — These are an apparatus to suspend a horse's weight in case of 

 fracture, rheumatism, or other diseases when the animal cannot bear full 

 weight on the limbs. First a broad strip of leather or strong canvas two 

 feet wide and six or seven feet long, stiffened at the ends by being sewn 

 around smooth billets of wood. To this a breeching is attached to pass 

 around the buttocks, and others to and about the breast, to hold it se- 

 curely. Loops must be fastened to the billets at the ends of the girdle of 

 sufficient strensfth to bear the weight of the animal. Double blocks and 

 pulleys are attached to these, suspended at proper points, and thus the 

 animal is lifted and suspended so as to bear much or little weight on his 

 limbs. 



