RACEHORSE SANATORIUM

Press, Volume C, Issue 29554, 1 July 1961, Page 17

RACEHORSE SANATORIUM

Facility In Japan (NZ.PA.-Reuter) TOKYO Japanese race-horses suffering from aches and pains now have a special hot spring sanatorium where they can recover and, their owners hope, return to the tracks as certain winners The sanatorium was opened in Funabashl City, near Tokyo, almost a year ago. Since then it has handled 2500 "in-patients” and 5500 "out-pationts” from nearby tracks and stables. It looks like a hotel without furniture. In the clinic the heart and blood of horses are tested while they are X-rayed. Each “patient" is medically checked before it receives the hot bath treatment. The hot bath section is designed so the horses may soak their injured legs while doused in a shower of hot mineral water. Four separate showers from the ceiling enable attendants to adjust them to spray any part of the horse. The treatment usually occurs twice a day for 30minute periods. Attendants say the horses usually stand with their eyes half-closed, lick their lips and adopt the horses’ expression tor contentment The horses also receive solar-lamp and infra-red ray treatment The overall treatment usually lasts for two months. The horses are then released on a nearby training ground to exercise their healed leg*.