48 SPRAINS. 



trouble to carry out, a charge may be applied. This is an adhesive 

 plaster, arranged as follows; — Take 4 ounces, each, of Burgundy 

 pitch and beeswax ; melt them together ; and stir in 2 ounces of 

 mercurial ointment. Apply the mixture, taking care that it is 

 not so hot as to hurt the skin, to the leg by means of a stiff 

 painter's brusli, so that a thick coating shall cover the back 

 tendons, and fill up the depressions on each side. Place, from 

 time to time, cotton wadding, cotton wool or tow on both sides of 

 the leg, and then cover it with the mixture, until the part presents 

 a round appearance. Over the whole, roll tightly a cotton bandage 

 (about 18 ft. long and 3 in. wide), between the folds of which the 

 mixture is to be freely plastered, so as to obtain uniform and firm 

 pressure. The bandage may be finally secured by sewing 

 According as it works loose, it should be unrolled, and tightened 

 up afresh, from time to time.. It should not be kept on longer 

 than a month, lest it make the skin sore. 



A charge acts by pressure. 



A long and complete rest from work, which throws undue strain 

 on the part should be given. When the structures have, to all 

 appearance, recovered their normal strength, the work should be 

 gradually increased, within thoroughly safe limits, until the 

 animal attains his ordinary standard of labour. After a severe 

 sprain of structures below the knee or hock, a hunter or race-horsa 

 should not be put into strong galloping work sooner than three 

 months subsequent to the accident. The time need not be so long 

 with trotters ; for, at their pace, when one foot comes on the 

 ground, it is always supported by its diagonal fellow; that is, the 

 near fore, by the off hind ; and vice versa. It is evident, here, 

 that the trot should be largely used in bringing gallopers which 

 have sprained their fore legs, into full work ; that is, in preparing 

 them to stand the strain of a sharp gallop. 



Raoe^horses that have suffered from any of the injuries in 

 question should not be given work which is both fast and long. 

 If it has to be fast, it should be short; if long, it ought to be slow. 

 Half-a-mile or three ftu-long gallops, repeated a couple of times, 

 with half-an-hour's rest between, and not oftener than three times 

 a week, will generally be as much as a race-horse, rendered infirm 

 by a sprain, can safely stand. If he shows signs of heat or tender- 

 ness after a " spin," it should not be repeated till these symptoms 

 have disappeared. The ground on which such " screws " ought to 

 be worked, should be soft, springy, free from inequalities, and up 

 a gentle incline. Hard, " holding," or slippery ground is par- 

 ticularly unsuitable. If the horse is used for heavy draught, he 

 ought to be shod with calkins ; if for light harness or saddle-work, 

 his toes should be kept low and his lieels allowed to grow down a 



