358 HORSE AILMENTS AND HOW TO DOCTOR THEM. 



BLISTERING. 



When it is decided to blister any part, the hair should first 

 be cut off as closely as possible ; the blister ointment is then 

 rubbed in with the hand for ten minutes, leaving a good 

 quantity smeared on the outside. If the legs are to be blistered 

 the heels should be protected by lard. 



Blistering is sure to cause itching after two or three days, 

 and great care should be taken that the animal does not gnaw 

 the part to such an extent as to cause a serious blemish. 



Blisters may be composed of several different ingredients, of 

 which the following remedy is, perhaps, as good as any. 



Biniodine of Mercury, . . .1 drachm. 



Lard, . . . . . 1 oz. 



Mix 4 



In my practice I have not put a blister on a horse for up- 

 wards of ten years ; but for spavins, curbs, splints, etc., where 

 others think necessary to blister, I use Dimon's Spavin Cure in- 

 stead, with uniformly better results. The latter acts as a 

 sweat blister and does all that the blister will do and does not 



take off the hair. 



CATARACT. 



There are two species of cataract of the eye of the horse : 

 one by a diseased condition of the lens, and the other a forma- 

 tion of a false membrane over the lens ; either of which is 

 liable to produce blindness. 



Symptoms. Cataracts are unlikely to be discovered by the 

 careless owner or groom until a difficulty of vision is made 

 obvious by the horse exhibiting the usual indications of blind- 

 ness. It usually commences by a speck like a ray of the sun in 

 appearance, forming on the lens of the eye, seen through the 

 pupil either at its center or its upper or lower edge. This 

 speck is liable to increase until it entirely covers the pupil, 

 causing it to appear of a uniform whitish color, and producing 

 complete blindness. 



Treatment. Veterinary surgeons fail to agree as to the cura- 

 bility of cataract, or rather, as to the propriety of operating 



