TREATMENT OF STRAINS,
A strain, even a comparatively slight one, is quite capable of developing into a serious matter if not attended to in time, and consequently when one is ttuspeeted the horso shoxild at once bo stopped in his work and cold water applied liberally to the leg where the strain is. 'ihe iimb may either bo played upon by a hose- or he immersed in a bucket of cold water for as long a time, in reason, as can bo managed, and then it should be bandaged, not too tightly, tho bandage being kept as w-et as possible. It is, in fact, no use at all, but the reverse, to leave the bandages on long enough for them to become dry, as if they do they become hot and only aggravate the sprain ; therefore it is best to take them off the last thing at mghi. Some persons prefer hot fomentations of the part, affected, but for the purposes of most people the cold application will bo sufficient, and it is certainly simpler. The diet should be- cooling, - bran mashes being substituted for oats afc the first outset, whilst later on half feeds Gloats may be given. If the inflammation shows no signs of abating it may become necessary to blister tho limb after a fortnight or 'o of th© cold water treatment, but if the horse begins to go sound he may be spared the operation. Sometimes it will case him when he first goes to work again if his shoes ars raised at the heels so as to remove the pressure on the back tendon. Some persons advocate calkins on the heels in the case of hoisps which have suffered from the effects of sprain ; but though these may be efficacious in some cases, they are not lo be generally recommended for animals v/hieh kave io do fast work, though it must he admitted in their favour that calkin;; on i.hfi> outside of th© heels will act as preventives again.-fc slipping. In th& ca^e of hunters, too, they are useful for the same purpose, but it is quite a different thing when the harness horse- is considered, and consequently, though there are cases when calkins are not only desirable, but necessary, their universal adoption is not recommended.
TREATMENT OF STRAINS,
Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 54
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