The management and treatment of the horse in the stable, field, and ...

In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 190
irritant such as a preparation of black hellebore j
turpentine, iodine, euphorbium, &c. A peculiar
system sometimes employed successfully in spavin
is the introduction of a thread, medicated in this way,
deeply into the soft parts over the seat of the bony
tumour. This is chiefly recommended by the fact
that if well managed it leaves no bluish marks on the
hock.
SORE BACKS.
In most cases these are attributable to two causes,
ignorance and a want of cleanliness. The skin of the
horse is subject to many diseases, and is very sensitive
the cuticle or outer skin is often subject to injury through
careless and ill-fitting harness, especially cart saddles,
which are the chief cause of bad backs, coupled with
unskilful loading. Everyone knows that it is necessary
to load a cart forward to enable a horse to draw a load
up-hill ; but how few do we see who shift the load back-
ward when the horse has to go down-hill. The carters
in Scotland are very particular in these matters, and
when carrying stone from quarries will always have some
large stones which they can move to balance the load.
Another thing they always use, plenty of grease to the
backhand or chain which runs through the saddle, to
enable it to run easily through, as the shafts vibrate
from side to side over the inequalities of the road.
These things are often neglected, especially in Kent, and
consequently the load, bearing with undue weight upon
the horse's back, and the backhand not being greased,
every time the cart vibrates the saddle rocks upon the