The whole of the horse’s body to be thoroughly washed with soft soap and warm water, and PERFECTLY _dried_, previous to rubbing in the foregoing application.
should be carefully attended to with poultices or water-dressing (_see_ page 160), while a disposition to throw off pus is present, after which the application of healing agents (among which chloride of zinc lotion and glycerine are now prominent) is the proper course, but applicable only to decidedly trifling and superficial cases. It is imperative, if a cure be desired, that no pressure whatever from the saddle or any other cause of irritation be permitted; therefore, unless a saddler can effectually chamber and pack the saddle so as to prevent the possibility of its touching on or near the sore, the saddle must not be used at all.
The worst and common result of sores on the back is, that sinuses or cavities, with an almost imperceptible orifice, insidiously eat away like poll-evil into the more important part of the adjacent structure. Here the aid of the veterinary surgeon is indispensable.
(Being myself acquainted with anatomy, I used to get a depending orifice as near as possible to the bottom of the sinus (as discovered with a probe) by a bistuary, laying the sinus open all the way; or if the direction were rather superficial, by the insertion of a seton-needle about the width of the sinus, run out at bottom, leaving the seton in to direct the discharge. The latter operation, if carefully conducted, is decidedly the simplest and best when practicable.)
For prevention of sore back avoid injurious pressure from an ill-fitting saddle; also removing it too quickly from, the back of a heated animal (_see_ “Work,” page 37). Pressure of the terret-pad (_see_ page 59), or of the roller from not being properly chambered over the ridge of the back (_see_ page 19), must also be carefully guarded against.
if deep or dangerous, should meet with the immediate attention of a surgeon, as none but anatomists should deal with them. Generally speaking, the loss of a moderate quantity of blood is rather beneficial than otherwise, tending to avert inflammation. Where water-dressing (_see_ page 160) can be applied, nothing is better in the first instance; and when the wound is fairly cleansed and evidently healing, the chloride of zinc lotion (_see_ page 158) will advance that process and help to dry it up. When the surface is _perfectly_ healed and a new skin formed, the growth of the hair will be promoted by the application of hog’s lard coloured with very finely powdered burnt leather.