DISEASE IN GENERAL 153 



Good light, freedom from drafts, and bedding of a loose texture, 

 such as straw, sawdust, or shavings, are all important details to be 

 looked after when preparing a place for the sick animal. Patients 

 suffering from a nervous disease, like tetanus, need quiet, so an 

 effort should be made to avoid noises and other annoyances. 

 Darkening the windows of the stall will be found helpful in caring for 

 nervous animals, and in summer has the additional advantage of 

 keeping out flies. A temperature of 45° to 50° F. is best for most 

 housed animals in the winter. 



Horse clothing consists of blankets, hoods, and bandages of 

 various kinds. Blankets are necessary in the winter to protect the 

 horse from exposure to the elements. In the summer light cotton 

 sheets are useful in affording protection from the attacks of flies 

 and other biting insects. A specially designed hood is useful in 

 throat and lung diseases to protect the head and neck. Too much 

 covering is detrimental to health and should be avoided, for the 

 skin will be hindered in performing its functions of an excretory 

 and temperature equahzing organ. Damp, foul-smelling horse 

 clothing is harmful, so care must be taken to air and dry it each 

 day. Bandages protect, warm, and support the legs. Those 

 made of flannel are preferable. The woven cotton, or Derby 

 bandages, possess much elasticity and are very serviceable. 

 Bandages should be changed several times daily, and at each change 

 a thorough hand-rubbing given the legs to stimulate the circula- 

 tion of the blood. At the same time the application of a mild, 

 stimulating liniment, composed of equal parts of alcohol and witch 

 hazel, may be made. Strong liniments applied under a bandage 

 will blister. When applied to the legs bandages should be rolled 

 from below upward to prevent interference with the flow of blood 

 in the veins. Care should be taken that no wrinkles are left to 

 cause unequal pressure and interfere with the circulation. If a 

 bandage is too tight a ring-like swelling appears above and below it. 



Food for sick horses should be selected very carefully. Con- 

 fined animals are usually fed too much. Digestive disturbances 

 can be materially alleviated by withholding feed for ten or twelve 

 hours. Smith says that, instead of forcing food on a horse which 

 is "off his feed" from overwork and giving him stimulants, it is 

 much better to allow him a full supply of drinking-water and some 

 green food or carrots, so as to facihtate the removal from his sys- 

 tem of the deleterious products that are the cause of his depression. 



