ILLUSTRATED LECTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1928, Page 3

ILLUSTRATED LECTURE

DISE ASE OF THE HORSE

The Ashburton A. and P. Association’s room was packed, when Mr J. Lukey (Government veterinary S, surgeon) gave an illustrated lecture on the horse, dealing parffcularly ivit-h diseases from which the various breeds suffer. A large number of slides were shown. Mr Lukey 1 said • there Avere many things to consider in examining a horse for unsoumlness. In a horse used for dray Avork, if it Avas sore in the back it must be unsound, but in other horses the back did not count. The first slide shoAved the of the fnuscleS of a horse, and the lecturer shoAved how to deal, Avith Avounds. The flesh of a horse would heal as readily as that of a human being, but the horse «was difficult to deal Avith, as it, could not be kept still. Stitching, therefore could seldom he done. The main thing was to keep the wound clean, and not to use too much water or too strong antiseptic. Mr Lukey went on to enumerate diseases Avhich afflicted horses in Nerv. Zealand and in Australia. A horse must have good sound legs, or it is useless, and any stallion which had any of the predisposing.disease should not he alloived to go on the road. Dealing with broken legs, Mr Lukey said that it Avas often said that a broken leg spelt the end of a horse, but this Avas not so. The trouble of setting a bone Avas that of keeping the animal still. A foal, especially, ccu’cl he successfully treated. It was, however, a matter of the amount of money the oAvner Avas prepared to spend. Mr Lukey then shoAved how splints Avere applied. These may sometimes be placed so badly that they avou ld cause trouble throughout the horse’s life, hut if the operation Avas carefully done, there Avould he little trouble afterivards. Slides Avere then slroAvn to deniet the effects of ringbone, “ knuckling over,” side bone (of-.which there is no cure). The benefit cf uie doubt had to be given by inspectors in the show ring, knowing that in tAA'elve months the horse Avould he unsound. He would advise a buyer to have an examination made by a private vet. Quittor Avas usually the result of a nail or stake puncture above the hoof. If early treatment is resorted to in this case, a cure can ho effected, otherwise it is a hopeless case. Paring should be done rill the-hoof is very thin, and Hen-one dee]> cut should he made to alloiv the blood to fIoAV. Horses in this country Avere shockingly neglected in regard to the hoof. This neglect cost owners ninnv pounds sterling. A rasp should he regularly run round the-hoof, to prevent the roughness, Avhich aided in further erackhjg. Seedy toe usually folloAved the placing of a shoe that is too hot. Most of the trouble in the front legs Avere found in the fetlock. Avhile in the hind legs they were found in the hock.

The lecturer then dealt with the condition of tetanus, which he said was jono off the worst diseases a horse could suffer from. It frequently followed decking, and took from two to ten days to become apparent. Treatment was expensive. Strangles, generally found in young horses, should lie opened up to prevent it breaking inter? nally. Insects which attack horses were then described.

Mr Lukey was thanked for his able address.