This may be applied, by means of what cooks term a "paste brush," morning, noon, and night, until soreness is produced. It will, at first, seem cool, and be grateful to the part. After every application, have ready three pieces of flannel—no house-cloth, no open and thin stuff, which some economical housewives presume to think is good enough for the stable, but soft, thick, and warm, new flannel, such as any feeling person would bind around a sore and inflamed part. Put these over the embrocation, and bind all on with a flannel eight-tailed bandage. An eight-tailed bandage is simply a long piece of flannel having three slits at either end. Its use, and the manner of applying it, is shown in the above illustration.
A HORSE WITH STRANGLES WEARING AN EIGHT-TAILED BANDAGE.
When the tumor points, the surgeon takes with him two assistants into the box where the horse is confined. One proceeds to apply the twitch; this twitch is an instrument of torture—it is a strong stick, having a short loop of cord at one end. The sensitive upper lip of the horse is grasped by the assistant's left hand, which has previously been thrust through the loop of the twitch. The loop is next slid over the left hand, and with the right hand placed upon the lip, while the fellow-assistant, by twisting the stick round and round, tightens, and thus pinches into a ball this most sensitive lump of imprisoned flesh; for in the upper lip of the horse resides the sense of touch—anatomy shows us it is more largely supplied with nerves than any other part in the body.
The attendant, who had first put on the twitch, gives the stick to his companion, and lifts up one of the animal's legs. The horse, with its attention engrossed by the agony of its lip, is rendered disinclined to motion, and is comparatively powerless while standing on three legs. The surgeon then takes an abscess knife, not a lancet, which is a coarse and clumsy instrument—the lancet simply punctures, whereas in an abscess more is desirable. A free opening is always wished for; and where living flesh is to be operated upon, it is, for very many reasons, preferable to do all the cutting at once. The knife is held lightly in the hand, with the thumb resting on the back of the blade. The horse, when it feels the incision, is apt, spite of the twitch, to drag suddenly backward. Thus it pulls against the back of the knife, and no injury can occur; whereas, with a double-edged lancet, an ugly and a dangerous wound has, by the motion of the animal, been inflicted. The thumb, in this situation, also serves another purpose. It allows only so much of the blade to enter the abscess as is above the nail of the member—this is usually about three-quarters of an inch. The thickness of the skin, increased by disease, requires so much; and if not, the pus, accumulated beneath the skin, will save the more important parts from being injured.
OPENING THE ABSCESS OF STRANGLES.
The leg being raised and the head guided upward by the elevation of the twitch, the operator approaches the horse. He looks well at the part he has to open, and mentally determines where to make his incision. He also ascertains the extent of the tumor. This is necessary; for if the swelling be to one side, a single incision will be sufficient; but if this extend (as is usually the case) from right to left, two incisions are requisite. In either case the surgeon seizes the left rein with the left hand, and, placing his right hand in a proper position, by a short and simple motion of the wrist the knife is driven through the skin.
The horse, during every operation, is usually blinded. Darkness invariably increases terror, and is unnecessary, since the horse cannot see what is being done under its jaw; nevertheless, the creature is obviously amused by watching the people about it. From the behavior, we have no reason to imagine the animal draws any conclusions. To blind the horse is, therefore, to increase to fears of excessive timidity. It is easily accomplished. Double a handkerchief into close longitudinal folds; then tie either end to the sides of the bridle, so that the handkerchief may rest upon the eyes, and the object is attained.
Every case of strangles will not be settled so readily. Occasionally the soreness of the internal throat will cause much annoyance. The animal is continually gulping its saliva. When it attempts to drink, the fluid flows back through the nostrils. The animal will not eat, and the strangles or tumor may threaten to be absorbed. In such cases the food must be carefully prepared. No mashes, made by merely pouring hot water into a pailful of bran, stirring it round once or twice and splashing the mess into the manger, will now do. Even malt mashes will not answer the purpose. Good gruel must be carefully prepared and frequently changed. The drink must also be varied, so as to tempt the sick stomach,—as a general rule, equal parts of grits, (not oatmeal,) linseed meal, bean or pea flour, may constitute the ingredients. Let the drink be always just warm when placed before the animal. Sometimes clover-hay, or simple hay tea, may form the basis of the drink; sometimes one or other of the constituents may be withdrawn. Too much care cannot be taken of the horse at this period. Good nursing is now the most effectual, as well as the cheapest medicine; and all warranted expense at this time is a saving in the end. The breathing also is frequently most acutely distressed. In severe cases the symptoms are so alarming as to demand the immediate performance of tracheotomy. This the surgeon is forced to have recourse to, although at the time he knows it will only be temporarily required. When, though distressing, the disease is not of so fearful a character, relief may be sometimes obtained by mingling steam with the air which the animal inhales, and casting upon the source of vapor ten or fifteen drops of the etherial tincture of phosphorus. This last artifice may be renewed every quarter of an hour should it appear to afford even the slightest relief.