652 OPERATIONS. 



After two days, the part may be bathed with warm water, and 

 some sweet oil smeared over it. 



Mares " in season," horses inclined to dropsy, and those in a 

 debilitated state, or shedding their coats, should not be blistered ; 

 for in such cases the part is apt to swell enormously, and its skin 

 to slough. These untoward symptoms are liable to ensue after 

 blistering in hot climates during the rainy season. In such cases, 

 a mild dose of physic — a pint of linseed oil for choice — may be 

 given; or if the animal is weak, and is consequently in an unfit 

 condition to stand purging, half an ounce of nitre may be mixed 

 in his drinking water for a few days. A liniment of equal parts 

 of Goulard's extract and sweet oil can be applied to the part. 



An " unnerved '' (p. 680) leg should on no account be blistered ; 

 for a blister in such cases, often gives rise to gelatinoid degenera- 

 tion (shown by swelling and softening) of the tendons and liga- 

 ments of the part, from an inch or so above the blister down- 

 wards. 



Casting a Horse. 



The usual methods for casting a horse are : by ropes ; and by 

 hobbles. The former is the better of the two for castration, 

 removal of a scirrhous cord, and operations for hernia; as the 

 hind legs can be kept wider apart by it than by hobbles, which are 

 more convenient for all other operations. A piece of soft old 

 grass land is, in every respect, the most suitable place on which 

 to cast a horse. A ploughed field, sandpit, or, failing these, a bed 

 of straw will also do. With ropes used in the ordinary manner, 

 straw should not be generally employed, as it is impossible to tell 

 within a few feet where the horse will fall ; but with well-managed 

 hobbles, or according to Mr. Over's plan, he can be made to drop 

 on the very spot on which he had previously stood. As a rule, .1 

 twitch should be put on Before the horse is cast. As horses are 

 liable to fracture their backs in this operation, be very careful 

 about casting animals which appear stiff in their backs ; especially 

 old ones. 



The following are useful ways for casting horses. 



1. By ordinary side lines. The casting rope is thick, soft, about 

 20 yards long, and provided with two metal eyes, at equal distances 

 from its centre, and about 30 inches apart from one another, so as 

 t(i form pulleys for the rope. The usual method is to knot the rope, 

 so as to make, at its centre, a loop which will fit, when passed 

 over the animal's head, like a collar round the base of the neck. 

 The knot is placed uppermost, in line with the withers ; and each 

 end of the rope is passed backwards between the hind legs, brought 



