WATER BANDAGES. 69 



both. They are used principally for racing pur- 

 poses, and are somewhat expensive. 



Water bandages are made entirely of linen ; the 

 best are those which are made of twilled linen. 

 They are, as their name implies, used wet, for the- 

 purpose of reducing inflammation, etc. 



The twilled linen retains the water longer 

 than the finer material. When water bandages 

 are used, they must be kept constantly wetted, as 

 if they are allowed to get dry they are worse than 

 no bandages at all. When new they should 

 always be well soaked for some hours. In every 

 case before applying a w r et bandage to a horse's 

 leg, it is advisable to rub a little grease (oil or 

 glycerine) into the hollow of the heel before the 

 bandage is applied, in order to prevent the heel 

 becoming 1 cracked : and this should be done whether 

 the bandage is wetted with water only or with any 

 kind of lotion. The best kind of bandage to use 

 as a wet bandage is one made of chamois leather. 

 These remain wet for a very long time, but they 

 are somewhat expensive, and do not last long. 

 They are, however, far superior to a linen bandage. 

 There is a description of bandage which is a com- 

 bination of a wet and woollen, called a sweat- 

 ing bandage, which has a very powerful effect in 

 reducing swellings, etc. It is, in fact, what doctors 



