186 HOW TO PHYSIC A HORSE. 



orders if not watclied, most be avoided as one would avoid 

 poison. 



The treatment for over-reach, tread, or wounds produced 

 by injuring one foot by the caulks of the other, are to be 

 treated precisely in the same manner as broken knees. 



For all strains, wrenches, or contusions, where the skin 

 is not broken, hot fomentations of vinegar and water, ap- 

 plied by means of flannel bandages, and constantly re- 

 peated, are the best possible treatment. Where there is 

 much swelling and acute inflammation, linseed, turnip, or 

 carrot poultices may be applied with advantage ; and the 

 parts should be kept tightly bandaged, when not under 

 other treatment. When the swelling and inflammation 

 have passed, but weakness and lameness continue, the 

 part should be wrapped nightly with a close, but not 

 tight, Harpocrates bandage of cotton cloth, saturated in 

 3old water, and above that tightly swathed in a double 

 flannel bandage. This treatment, if resolutely persevered 

 in, will, nine times out of ten, remove the injury. If 

 it do not so, the veterinary surgeon must be called in, 

 and blistering, or other stronger means, resorted to. But 

 these measures should not be tried until the disease is be- 

 coming chronic, and until all inflammation is at end. 



It is believed, that if applied carefully and with con- 

 siderate judgment, the above-described simple remedies 

 will be found all-sufficient for the simple ailments and 

 simple accidents mentioned ; and they can all be applied 

 from materials to be found in every house, and by any one 

 with ordinary sense and common judgment. For all more 

 serious accidents and complicated disorders, good medical 

 treatment is actually necessary ; and, in such cases, it is 

 even greater folly to attempt home treatment, than it ifl 

 uot to attempt it in such cases as we have referred to. 



