26 THE HORSE. 



Opening and fasten two strings, one on each side near the top, so that 

 it can be fastened to the animal's head after its nose is placed in the bag. 

 In the bottom of the bag make some holes, fill the bag partly full of 

 clean hay. Upon this pour some boiling water, and as soon as the hay 

 is saturated put the animal's nose in the bag and fasten in place over the 

 animal's head. As soon as the steam stops rising, more boiling water 

 should be added till the steaming has lasted an hour. 



Poultices. While these can be easily applied to man and easily 

 fastened in place, it is much more difficult to do so in the case of the 

 horse or cattle. A poultice to be of any good must remain moist, and 

 therefore it has to be made large and thick. Again the poultice must 

 be fastened on, but care must be taken that it is not so tightly tied as 

 to stop the circulation of the blood. Use a strip of cloth two or three 

 inches wide to tie on the poultice instead of strings. 



In order to prevent the substance from which the poultice is made, 

 from sticking to the hair, they should be placed in a bag made of strong 

 thin material. Another way is to spread the poultice on a thick piece 

 of cloth and then cover the part to be placed to the skin with two thick- 

 nesses of mosquito netting. Various irritants, disinfectants, anodynes, 

 etc. , may be mixed with the poultice or spread upon the surface. 



How to Make a Poultice. A poultice to be used simply for 

 warmth is best made of bran mixed with hot water. One intended for 

 softening or "bringing to a head" should be of equal parts of moist 

 bran, flax-seed meal and olive oil. A very good one may be made of 

 turnips or carrots mixed with bran. For a sore that does not seem to 

 do well a flax-seed poultice is best. If the sore is painful, tincture of 

 opium may be poured over the surface of the poultice. In inflammation 

 of the foot, to soften the horn, saturate oakum with heavy crude petro- 

 leum and apply to sole and wall of the hoof. 



Blisters. A mark or scar the result of a blister is needless, if the 

 blister is properly applied and cared for after removal. The part to be 

 blistered should have the hair closely clipped or shaved off. As soon as 

 the blister has sufficiently drawn remove it, wash the sore and rub over 

 the place some sweet oil. Be careful not to break or remove the loose 

 skin, let it come off of itself. If the only purpose of the application is 

 to produce simple irritation, remove the irritant as soon as sufficient 

 redness appears and after washing apply the oil. 



Antiseptics. In cases of wounds it is often the case to find that 

 poisonous germs existing in the air are absorbed, and the wound does 



