86 DISEASES OF THE HORSE’S FOOT 
carrying to every foot case a compact outfit, such as that 
carried by the smith. This will consist of hammer and 
pincers, drawing-knife and buffer. Much valuable time is 
then often saved which would otherwise be wasted in 
driving round for the nearest smith. 
There are other special operations requiring the use of 
specially-devised instruments for their successful carrying 
out. These we shall mention when we come to a con- 
sideration of the operations in which they are necessary. 
C. THE APPLICATION OF DRESSINGS. 
One of the most common methods of applying a dressing 
to the foot is poulticing. Usually resorted to on account 
of its warmth-retaining properties, the poultice may also 
be medicated. In fact, a poultice, strongly impregnated 
with perchloride of mercury or other powerful antiseptic, 
is a useful dressing in a case of a punctured foot, or a 
wise preliminary to an operation involving the wounding 
of the deeper structures. The poultice may consist of any 
material that serves to retain heat for the longest time. 
Meal of any kind that contains a fair percentage of oil is 
suitable. Crushed linseed, linseed and bran, or linseed- 
cake dust are among the best. 
To prepare it, all that is necessary is to partly fill a 
bucket with the material and pour upon it boiling water. 
The hot mass is emptied into a suitable bag, at the bottom 
of which it is wise to first place a thin layer of straw, in 
order to prevent the bag wearing through, and then secured 
round the foot. This is generally done by means of a piece 
of stout cord, or by straps and buckles fastened round the 
pastern and above the fetlock. 
An improved method of fastening has been devised by 
Lieutenant-Colonel Nunn : 
‘A thin rope or stout piece of cord about 5 feet long is 
doubled in two, and a knot tied at the double end so as to 
form a loop about 5 or 6 inches long, this length depending 
on the size of the foct (as at A, Fig. 48). The poultice or 
other dressing is applied to the foot, and the cloth wrapped 
