504 
SADDLERY AND SORE BACKS. 
but which is sufficient to produce a certain amount of irritation. Exu¬ 
dation of the watery parts of the blood takes place, resulting in a 
matted condition of the hair. This is a very simple case, and can be 
easily remedied; all that is required is to leave off the saddle for a 
few days, or to fold the blanket with an extra turn so as to prevent 
pressure to the part; sponge the gall with tepid water and afterwards 
apply a little carbolised oil or vaseline. 
A very common form of injury is that of a fluctuating swelling on 
one or both sides of the withers, or in any other position liable to 
saddle pressure, arising from the same cause as the more simple gall 
just described, and resulting in the formation of a small sac of fluid 
underneath the skin. In very slight cases fomentations by means of a 
woollen cloth folded, wrung out of hot water, and placed over the part 
should be applied, or a folded linen cloth saturated with a lotion com¬ 
posed of one drachm of the sulphate of zinc to a pint of water may 
be secured over the injury, and kept wet for two or three days, after¬ 
wards a little stimulating liniment, such as a Elliman’s Embrocation,” 
may be used, with slight friction. If, however, the case is of a more 
severe nature, and the sac is of considerable size it should be freely 
slit open at the most depending part, and then treated as a common 
wound. The orifice must not be allowed to close quickly, or the sac 
will refill. Gentle pressure should be applied, with wet lint or car- 
bolized oil dressings, and the wound will speedily granulate and heal. 
On active service in the field, when it is absolutely necessary for 
every horse that can be ridden to be in the ranks, a heavy blanket can 
be so folded as to generally protect such an injury from pressure unless 
it is very severe. It used to be the practice in some regiments, and 
may be now for aught I know to the contrary, if a horse was discovered 
to have a sore back on the line of march, to punish the rider by making 
him walk the rest of the journey. I cannot help thinking that this is 
a very great mistake, as it tends to make men endeavour to hide a gall 
instead of reporting it at once, and by this means a very trivial injury 
may degenerate into a serious case. 
Girth galls and skin abrasions can be treated very simply by merely 
cleansing them, and bathing them with salt and water, afterwards 
applying a little vaseline. Of course, the cause must be ascertained 
and steps taken to avoid a recurrence. The saddle should be carefully 
refitted, and a raw-hide girth may—when practicable—be used with 
advantage. 
A ff sitfast ” is the result of an improperly treated or neglected 
saddle gall, and consist of a piece of dead skin lying embedded upon 
the sore. There is only one method of treatment for this : that is to 
dissect it out; it is not a difficult matter, and can be readily performed 
by lifting the edge of the skin with a forceps and cutting it out with 
a sharp knife. Then treat as a common wound with wet lint, or car¬ 
bolised oil. In these cases, if the dissection is of a considerable 
extent, the granulations or new growth may become too “ luxuriant” 
and assume the character of what is generally known as “ proud flesh.” 
This may require cauterising with nitrate of silver or a little powdered 
sulphate of copper, and the granulations will soon be reduced, while 
the stimulus from the caustic will increase the healing process. 
