BLISTERS. 613 



livered ; failing in that, get it into the next easiest, viz., the hind 

 legs first ; that impracticable, remove those parts of the foal which 

 offer most resistance, care being taken in so doing not to bruise or 

 lacerate the mare. In no circumstances are tact, coolness, and 

 steady perseverance more required than in a protracted case of 

 labor ; however, the dictates of humanity no less than professional 

 duty demand that we shrink not from the most difficult. For diffi- 

 culties incident to parturition, such as inflammation, flooding, etc., 

 see Chapter XX, page 183, Second Part. 



Blisters. 



Before a blister is applied, the hair must be cut off from the 

 part as closely as possible. The blistering ointment is then to be 

 well rubbed into the part with the hand ; and after this has been 

 continued about ten minutes, some of the ointment may be smeared 

 on the part. In blistering the legs, the tender part of the heel, 

 under the fetlock joint, is to be avoided ; it may be better to rub a 

 little hog's lard or vaseline on it, in order to defend it from any of 

 the blisters that may accidentally run down from the leg. When 

 the legs are blistered, all the litter should be removed from the stall, 

 and the horse's head should be carefully secured, to prevent his rub- 

 bing the blistered parts with his nose. On the third day he may 

 have a cradle put around his neck, and be turned loose into a large 

 box, or a paddock, or an orchard. In a field he would be apt to 

 take too much exercise. About a week or ten days after the blister 

 has been applied, the parts should be oiled with some olive-oil or 

 vaseline. If flies are troublesome, and make the horse restless, they 

 may be kept off by the tar ointment, or tar and train oil mixed. 



COUNTER-IRRITANTS. 

 Their Uses, How to Employ Them, etc.,— Williams. 



In all painful affections, warm fomentations or poultices must as a rule be pre- 

 scribed. In the course of some days, however, if the pain is subsiding, and the 

 parts seemingly relaxed, much benefit will be obtained by making a change to cold, 

 mild astringents and bandages, to promote absorption of the exude. 



The congested capillaries may be relieved by local bleeding, but the parts upon 

 which such an operation is performed are very few, except about the coronet of the 

 foot. An incision- into the coronary plexus will reach the vessels at once ; the 

 utility of this is, however, very doubtful, except in rare cases. Bleeding at the toe, 

 although much practiced by many, is not to be commended. 



Purgatives are very useful during the first stages of lameness, reducing the in- 

 flammation. A full dose of aloes may be given with advantage, the diet being 

 properly regulated and restricted to bran mashes, a little hay, and the water to be 

 chilled. 



