TREATMENT OF HORSES’ LEGS.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 12, 17 June 1893, Page 11

TREATMENT OF HORSES’ LEGS.

The Americans (remarks the Australasian) are generally understood to be the best horsemasters in the world, and any practice that is followed by them is worthy of the serious consideration of horsemasters generally. Their trotters are the fastest in the world, and they keep up their record to an age long past that at which the English racehorse is considered past work, The following remarks arc by a horseman, and though he is not a veterinary surgeon, they may be of use to horse-owners. The writer says ; —The advice to bandage a horse’s swollen leg without any restrictions can hardly be followed with safety. When bandages arc on the leg the cords and muscles are confined, the circulation obstructed, the pores of the skin clogged, the air and light excluded, and the effect is an unnatural and unhealthy condition. “ If a horse’s leg is swollen the swelling will generally go down by driving the animal. '.Now, nothing could be worse than applying . ,a bandage when he comes in. Although the .exercise may reduce the swelling, the cause is not removed. If the bandage keeps the leg in one place to the proper size for a time the . swelling will go to some other part, and when -.the bandage is removed the inflammation will reappear in a more aggravated form. The force of an ignited blast of potvder can .be confined ns easily ns a fevered leg can be prevented from swelling. If the swelling is ..confined or forced back in one place, it will appear in another. If there is no fever in the leg, perhaps a bandage wound from the bottom of the ankle up, if not applied too lightly, and left on a couple of hours, might not be injurious. Hand rubbing of the ankles, and a good •deal of it, will keep them compact and strong, and is preferable to any other treatment. We -jec a great many wimbpuffed and wcak-ankled . trotters from too much -bandage. Blankets for horses are also unnatural and ; unhealthy, although they have to be used to a , certain extent in this cold climate. Too warm ; and ill-ventilated stables and too many and too heavy blankets have been fore-runners of colds and much pneumonia, and have probably caused the death of many valuable vtrotters. When scratches (the preliminary stage of : greasy heels) appear, put the horse as near as possible in the condition he would be running .out to grass (ns scratclies generally soon dis-

appear after a horse is turned to pasture) by taking off the heavy grain rations, which have a tendency to inflame the system, and give simple food of a laxative nature. Give plenty of moderate exercise to prevent the leg from swelling. Keep the parts clean and soft and from cracking by applying some simple ■ointment. Don’t try to heal by outward applications while the horse is standing day after day with its legs swollen. If ari animal has a cut or wound, put nothing on at first, only carefully covering it to exclude the air and dust, and wait and see if it will heal by first intention, as it generally will with a healthy animal, not leaving much of a scar. Strong applications produce irritation and inflammation and then suppuration, and the result is an unsightly callous and scar. If the wound should become inflamed, counteract it by cold applications ; be patient and let nature effect the cure. We all acknowledge that nature is the great restorer, and all that we can do is to keep'the conditions favourable. We cannot be reminded too often, in the treatment of man or beast, to keep as near to nature as possible, and to discard all advice that is not supported by reason.”