— 286 — 



Treatment. Wash and cleanse the parts from sand and dirt, and 

 if the skin is ragged and torn, clip ofif with a good pair of scissors. 

 After this is done, ascertain if there is any discharge from the sore 

 of an oily substance, and if so get a smooth piece of iron, immerse 

 it for ten minutes in boiling water, and apply it to the edges of the 

 wound, so as to cause the parts to swell, and prevent the escape 

 of the joint oil ; for if this be allowed to escape, the ends of the 

 bones will come against one another. Irritation and inflamma- 

 tion will be set up, and either destroy the life of the horse, or 

 make an anchylosed or stiff joint. This is an important point to 

 be observed, and that very early in all cases of broken knees or 

 open joints wherever situated. After the hot iron has been ap- 

 plied, use the following wash twice in a day : — Sulphate of zinc, 

 half an ounce ; rain, or soft water, eight ounces. Mix. This will 

 heal the sore, and prevent proud flesh from growing. This wash 

 will answer for the more simple wound of the knee, and where 

 there is no open joint. Do not apply bandages, as they will cause 

 the whole leg to inflame and swell. Sometimes a kind of pouch 

 will be formed by the lower edge of the wound, holding whatever 

 pus or other fluid may escape. This pouch should be opened at 

 its lowest bottom, so as to let the fluids out, and to prevent a 

 bulge or permanent swelling remaining after the knee has other- 

 wise healed. By attention to this, very little or no blemish or scar 

 will be left to tell the tale of a stumbling horse, or a bad horse- 

 man. 



Bruises of the Sole. — (See Foot Diseases.) 



Burns and Scalds. — Injuries inflicted upon some parts of the 

 body by the application of solid heat, is called burns ; by fluid 

 heat, scalds. 



Treatment. In horses the treatment is chiefly local; for in cases 

 of fire in large cities, the generation of steam is sometimes so great, 

 that it is inhaled by animals in the burning building : this is 

 termed scalding. Not much can be done, nor is there much 

 hope of a cure in cases of this kind. The utmost that can be done 

 is to give plenty of cold water to drink, and keep down pain by 

 means of aconite (which see). 



For burns the best application will be, one pint of linseed oil, 

 and half a pint of lime water, stirred together, or rather whipped 



