40 MANUAL OF PACK TEANSPOKTATION. 



CARE OF THE APAREJO. 



Sec. 8. Care of the aparejo. — Packmasters should attend to the 

 cleanUness of the rigging (aparejo proper) at least once a week. 



The following directions for cleaning and preserving the leather 

 equipment should be carefully followed: 



To preserve the life of leather equipments they should be cleaned 

 whenever dirt, grit, or dust has collected on them or when they have 

 become saturated with the sweat of the animal. In cleaning each 

 part do not separate the crupper from the body of the aparejo, 

 except where attached to the carrier pieces, using a lather of castile 

 soap and warm water. If the equipment is cared for frequently this 

 method is sufficient, but if the leather has become hard and dry a 

 little neat's-foot oil should be applied after washing with castile soap. 

 When the oil is dry the equipment should be sponged lightly with soap 

 and water, which will remove the surplus remaining on the surface. 

 If a polish is desired a thin coat of russet leather polish issued by the 

 Ordnance Department should be applied and rubbed briskly with a 

 dry cloth. 



Particular care should be taken not to use too much oil on the body 

 piece, as the result will cause the belly piece to become baggy, as the 

 more firm the leather of the belly or body piece is, the better it will 

 hold the padding of hay to its place. In no case should leather be 

 dipped in water or be placed in the sun to dry. 



All accessories of the aparejo and other equipment of the train will 

 likewise be kept clean. 



CAUSES OF BODY AND BELLY BUNCHES, SORE TAILS, SORE WITHERS 

 AND LOINS, OR KIDNEY SOKES, ON PACK MULES, AND DIRECTIONS 

 FOB THEIR PREVENTION AND CURE. 



Sec. 9. The term "bunch" is applied to a swelling or "puffing up" 

 of the skin, caused by the stopping of the circulation of the blood at 

 that part of the body; it shows unevenness in the ribbing, or placing 

 of the padding (hay), causing undue bearing or pressure on that 

 part of the body. 



Use as little hay through the body of the aparejo as possible. When 

 the hay has become packed the thickness should not be greater than 

 2 inches. 



If through unevenness of the filling a "bunch" is caused on the body 

 of the animal, mark this "bunch" by wetting it with water; wet the 

 face of the "bunch" only, as its shape on the animal's body is what 

 must be indicated on the aparejo. Nowplace the aparejo on the 

 animal, without corona or blanket, where it rests when cinched on; 

 do not turn crupper. Place a hand on each side and rock the aparejo 

 so that the wet surface on the body of the animal will leave its 

 imprints on the aparejo. Eaise the aparejo clear of the animal and 

 extend it on the ground, inside facing up, and it will show the location 

 where the "bunch" has been caused. 



Remove the hay under the wet surface, and nowhere else, and 

 take it out down to the ribs. The better this can be done without 

 disturbing the bed, but only where it has been marked, the more 

 confident one can be that the "bunch" will disappear on the next 

 travel. If not traveling, a "bunched" animal should be loaded with 



