LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
663 
known to possess the power of bringing the absorbents into action. 
Hurtrel d’Harboval speaks in high terms of commendation of a 
mixture of the volatile oil of lavender and oil of turpentine in 
equal parts. From twenty-five to thirty drops of this mixture he 
directs to be well rubbed in for nearly half an hour ; the horse 
afterwards to be walked out until the irritating effects of the 
application subside : the same to be repeated again in the course 
of the day, the part being kept covered up during the interval by 
a woollen bandage firmly pressed upon it. 
The best applications we know of are the iodine and strong mer- 
curial ointments, some practitioners preferring, to their separate use, 
availing themselves by mixture of the combined action of the two. 
Whatever ointment or liniment — for one or other is the usual and 
best form of application — be used for windgall, it must be borne in 
mind that friction has a good deal to do with its efficacy : without 
being well “rubbed in,” little good can be expected. Indeed, it is 
an excellent practice to rub the part for some time before applying 
the ointment ; the inungation being doubly effectual upon a surface 
thus warmed, and whose pores, through friction, have become 
cleansed of any obstruction, and so rendered more bibulous. 
And in situations where it can be conveniently applied, pressure 
likewise, by bandage or otherwise, will be found an important 
agent in promoting absorbent action. An ointment which has 
been strongly recommended to us for the dispersion of bursal 
swellings that are becoming chronic, is composed of the bi-chloride 
of mercury and simple ointment or hogs’ lard, in the ratio of 3i to 
§i. In using an application of this kind, however, the same as in 
the case of an ordinary blister, we must bargain for the loss of 
hair from the parts : such a vesicatory, however, may be used as with 
caution to guard against this consequence. The acetum can - 
tharidum, compounded and used in the manner prescribed at page 
180, will not disturb the hair. 
Should such measures as we have recommended fail in accom- 
plishing our object, the question might be raised of how far it 
would be desirable or politic to employ cauterization : and, to 
carry this into effect, either the windgalled parts may be fired in 
the usual mode, or the hot iron may be applied over the surface of 
them, with a piece of hog’s skin interposed, so as to imitate 
pretty closely what surgeons call the moxa. It rarely happens, 
however, that we are called on to use the actual cautery for wind- 
gall alone : generally speaking, the windgalled legs are, at the same 
time, from other causes, failing legs; and very often there are 
present the accompaniment of thickened and rounded sinews, and 
that for these causes is the firing especially required ; the wind- 
galls being probably more secondary than primary in the causation 
of the failure. 
