392 



THE HORSE. 



flammation resulting is called a "warble," and if this is neglected, 

 so as to cause a troublesome sore, the term "sitfast" is applied. 

 The effect produced is similar to a harness gall, and there is not 

 the slightest necessity for inventing names to distinguish each stage 

 of cruelty in the rider, for if attention is paid to the warble no sit- 

 fast will ever make its appearance. Prevention is better than cure, 

 and it may almost always be effected by the adoption of the plan 

 of always keeping the saddle on (after loosing the girths) for a 

 quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. Sometimes, however, in 

 spite of this precaution, the skin of the back swells, and when a 

 heavy man has been riding for six or eight hours on a horse unac- 

 customed to his weight, the cuticle will perhaps peel off, bringing 

 the hair with it. When the swelling is considerable it should be 

 well fomented for an hour, and then bathed with a lotion composed 

 of one drachm of tincture of arnica in half a pint of water. The 

 saddle should never be re-applied until the skin is quite cool and 

 free from all inflammation, even if considerable inconvenience is 

 thereby suffered. The same treatment will also apply to harness 

 galls. Oiling the inside of the collar will often prevent the shoulder 

 from suffering excoriation. 



GRUBS. 



The larva of .some beetle, but of what species I do not 

 know, is occasionally met with in the horse, causing a small lump, 

 about the size of a raisin, and usually on the back. This obsti- 

 nately continues for months, if its nature is not understood, in 

 spite of all ordinary applications. At last a white larva or grub, 

 with a black head, and very similar in everything but size to the 

 maggot found in the nut, makes its appearance, and either escapes 

 to fall on the ground and become a chrysalis, or else it is squeezed 

 out by the groom, which is easily done as soon as the head is visi- 

 ble. When discovered previously, an opening may be made with 

 the point of a penknife, and then the larva may be gradually 

 squeezed out, avoiding too much haste in the operation, which will 

 only retard the process. 



BITES AND STINGS OF INSECTS. 



Horses are liable to be stung by hornets, wasps, and bees. 

 If there are only one or two stings made, no interference is neces- 

 sary ; but sometimes a larger number of poisonous punctures have 

 been effected, and then the best treatment is the application of 

 spirit of turpentine and laudanum in equal proportions. 



The bites of the gadfly are so troublesome in their effects 

 that it is sometimes desirable to prevent them if possible. This is 

 effected by making a strong infusion of the green bark of the elder, 

 and washing the flanks, &c, with it before going out. 



