The frightful wounds on the backs of camels, too often caused by the carelessness of native camel-drivers, are particularly liable to take on an almost putrid condition. In the treatment of these we have found leather burned to a black, crisp mass, and then reduced to a fine powder, a most valuable preparation. Simply strewed over and into the wound, it quickly causes healthy action to be set up. Any sproutings of new flesh which mount above the surface of the skin are known as “proud flesh,” and should be reduced to the proper level by the use of nitrate of silver, blue stone (sulphate of copper), nitric acid, or even the red-hot iron. In order to perform many of the operations for the treatment of diseased or injured animals, it will be requisite to cast and properly secure them. The horse is best thrown by the aid of hobbles, a set of which, as adjusted for use, are represented in the above illustration. The leather strap attached from the fore to the hind-leg is put on after the animal has been thrown down by hauling on the rope-ended chain, shown at the front of the fore-foot. When the legs are drawn sufficiently close together, a spring clip is passed through a link of the chain; when the horse is to be released, a small screw-pin is drawn, which causes all the four hobbles to be set free, they then fall off as the animal rises. Makeshift casting ropes. In the absence of regular hobbles, a very good substitute may be formed by doubling a very long pliant rope, knotting it securely far enough down the doubled end to form a collar for the head and neck of the animal to pass through (see Fig. 11, [p. 796][p. 796]); the two free ends are now carried between the fore legs, under the body, inside the two hind legs, above the hocks; the ends are then brought forward on each side, and passed from within outwards, through the collar rope. When all is adjusted, the hind-leg rope loops may be evenly and gently shaken down until they rest in the hollows of the fetlock joints. On the free ends being hauled on the horse will be thrown, when the ends of the rope are secured by half-hitches.
The annexed illustration will serve to explain the nature of this contrivance. A soft spot should be chosen to cast on; a halter should always be securely placed on the head, and in cases of great timidity a folded rug as a blind over the eyes. The head of a cast horse should be firmly held down by a man told off for the purpose, until the animal is freed from the ropes and about to rise. An ox is cast by catching his hind-leg, or both if possible, in a noose in the end of a reim held by means of a vangstock, or “catching stick;” another noose is thrown about his horns, one or two fellows catch his tail and pull against those who have the legs, while very likely, if he has tolerably large horns, another uses them as levers to throw him off his balance, and the spare hands assist by pushing with all their might at his broadside, when, as a matter of course, he must go down.
Hints on camp medicine making.
Large open gashes from horns, weapons, or tusks can be sewn up by separate stitches of either flexible wire or fine, smoothly-cut strips of raw hide. A very useful dressing for wounds of this character is made as follows: Common aloes, ½lb.; gum myrrh, ¼lb.; spirits of almost any kind, 2 quarts; water, 1 quart; place the vessel containing this mixture in moderate sun heat for from twelve to fourteen days; strain and bottle for use; apply on lint, tow, or the plume of a large feather; myrrh can be obtained in the East from one of the Mimosa tribe, and aloes from the plant of that name.
In South Africa aloes juice is thus collected by the Hottentots: a hole is made in the earth, and a sheepskin forced into it. The leaves of the aloe are all cut off except two pairs of the youngest left in the form of a cross in the centre; the leaves are then ranged with their cut ends over the hollow in the sheepskin, and left to drain. If wind arises, however, it stops the drainage by coagulating the gum on the surface, and the labour is lost; the juice is thickened by boiling, and sold for exportation to England. The farmers use the fresh juice as a varnish for wood-work, to which it gives a good polish and a brown colour; it is said, also, to be an effectual vermifuge.
Wherever the aloe plant grows, the above rough and ready mode of obtaining its juices may be had recourse to. A very useful purgative for mules and horses is made by breaking a pound of aloes into rough pieces; throw these into seven pints of rain water, and then add a pint of spirit of some kind. The dose will vary with the size and condition of the animal from 4oz. to 6oz. Liquids are best given to animals from a small thin horn from which a long tapering slice has been cut, so as to form a sort of scoop.
The water and grain of some districts cause severe attacks of colic or gripes; these need immediate attention. A dose consisting of linseed oil, 1 pint; tincture of opium, 1oz.; nitric spirit of ether, 1oz.; mixed, should be given, and repeated in half an hour, if the pain is not subdued. Warm soapy water enemas should be frequently thrown up. An enema apparatus is easily extemporised from a large bladder or leather bag and hollow stick with its extreme end or mouth cut perfectly round and even. Soap suds are best formed by rubbing a piece of soap on a rough brush in a pail of warm water.
Opium is a most valuable pain-killer, either in its solid or liquid form. To prepare makeshift laudanum: Take of rough bazaar opium 3oz.; powder it roughly between two stones; throw the powder into an earthen pot, and add a quart of good clear sound spirit; cover with a flat stone, and place in the shade for twelve days; strain through a double cotton cloth, and bottle for general use of man or beast.