WIND-GALLS. 315 
four hours. Should the horse, however, appear to lose flesh and spirit, 
boiled corn must form a portion of the diet, and the quantity can be 
regulated only by him who has charge of the case. 
One caution must be given before concluding this article. A sick 
animal is very sensitive as to noises; a door banged to will excite the 
terror of the poor creature, which, probably, was half asleep, with the 
head hanging down. A loud word or an energetic action will not unsel- 
dom call forth symptoms of such alarm as may threaten, through their 
utter recklessness, to demolish the structure in which the horse is con- 
fined. For these, if from no purer motives, respect the sufferings and 
wisely try to soothe the animal. As the creature is devoid of reason to 
shape its fears, approach it noiselessly; speak softly at first; ascertain— 
although the eye be closed—by the motion of the ears, whether your 
voice is heard. Then lay the hand upon the neck and gently caress the 
sick body; after that you may do what you please, so nothing be very 
sudden or very loud. 
Such slight considerations will not be thrown away, even in a medical 
point of view. A moment of excitement may do the injury which no 
physic will remove; nay, in critical stages, many a life has been lost 
from want of thought in the attendants about a diseased horse. 
DISTENTION OF SYNOVIAL MEMBRANE—WIND-GALLS. 
Man treats the horse after a strange fashion. He buys the animal for 
a large sum, because it possesses some particular quality; but, hardly 
has he obtained it, before he behaves as though he desired only to 
destroy the property he has so dearly purchased. A horse, for private 
use, is generally bought for its beauty; in a short time afterward it is 
sold as having become too deformed for its master’s service. A year or 
two commonly suffices to spoil the most perfect animal. Many are 
ruined in their colthood ; many more are made worthless by the trainer. 
Of all creation, the horse is most abused. So universal is this custom 
that the marks of ill usage are in the market even regarded as if they 
were natural consequences. Those affections designated wind-galls are 
generally lightly esteemed by most horsemen when the animal is required 
for actual service—as hunting, racing, coaching, etc. 
Such marks, however, are evidences of hard work having been per- 
formed. They are not natural formations; but are blemishes, which 
man, in his consideration for a dumb servant, is pleased to make light 
of. They do not generally impede the action—and lameness is the only 
fact a true horseman cares to notice. He will not stay to inquire what 
must have been the kind of work which could occasion the synovial 
