Treatment.—In the former case, a well fitting pad must be made and bandaged on; the bandages or pad being well oiled with Veterinary Oil.
In the latter case, the horse must be kept quite still, and treated where he is. The protruding bowel must be gently and carefully washed from all blood, dust and grit with warm water, then oiled and replaced by very gentle pressure. The lips of the wound must then be oiled and drawn together and kept in place with pins. A pad saturated with the Veterinary Oil should then be placed on the wound and kept in place by a bandage around the body. If the bowel itself is wounded, it must be stitched with catgut ligatures, and then replaced. If this is impracticable at the time, a pad and bandage should be placed on injured part until surgical aid can be obtained.
As there is danger of inflammation, A.A. should be given at two-hour intervals, and also a dose of I.I. each day. The horse should be kept very quiet and fed sparingly on soft food.
Capped Elbow
This is a swelling formed at the point of the elbow, consisting of an infiltration of bloody serum, and thickened skin. It may be the result of a blow, but is most generally caused by the horse in so lying that the calks of the shoe press upon the elbow joint. In some cases, inflammatory action sets in, and the tumor softens and is discharged, or if the pressure is continued, the swelling becomes hard and firm.
Treatment.—When the injury is recent, apply hot water three times per day, and afterwards apply the Veterinary Oil. Alter the shoe by removing the calks and smoothing the shoe, as far as possible, to prevent any further irritation. Should it have become soft and matter formed it should be treated as an abscess.
Capped Hock
This form of injury most frequently results from kicking or some similar violence, and manifests itself either as a swelling at the point of the hock, which consists of an effusion of bloody serum and thickened skin; or the swelling bulges out on each side of the hock, making the enlargement more prominent at the sides. This is found to consist of an enlargement of the bursa or small bags, which contain the lubricating fluid for the part, and over which the sinews glide.
Treatment.—Give ten drops of B.B., three times per day. Wash the part with hot water morning and night, applying the Veterinary Oil afterwards as for capped elbow. After the heat and irritation are reduced, careful hand-rubbing and the use of I.I., at night will do much to disperse the enlargement of the bursa.