I believe this is a useful operation after a day of extraordinary exertion. It subdues or prevents the tumefaction of the joints and sinews, to which the legs of many horses are very liable. The water should be as hot as the hand can bear it, yet not hot enough to pain the horse. Clean water is the best fomentation; salt, sugar of lead, Goulard's extract, soap, and herbs, are sometimes added; they are perfectly useless, and in large quantities some of them fire the skin. The legs need not be bathed higher than the knee and the hock-joints. The water is applied with a sponge, and if possible, there should be a man to each leg. If there be but one groom, the operation is tedious to a tired horse, and wet warm bandages may be employed as a substitute for fomentation. That the horse may lie dry, he should be fomented out of the stall, or loose-box, whichever be destined for his repose. If he flinch as the sponge passes over a particular place, that part is to be examined, lest a thorn be lodged in it.

After the mud is washed off, the hand may be drawn gently up and down the legs in search of thorns.

The fomentation need not be continued above ten minutes. When finished, the legs are to be enveloped in flannel bandages, dry if the legs be sound, or wet if there be any sign of injury or inflammation.

Leg Bandages are strips of flannel four to six yards in length, and four or more inches in breadth; each has strings at one end for tying. It is coiled up with the strings in the centre; the groom unrolls it as he wraps up the leg. Two coils run completely round the pastern, close to the hoof, and the rest is wound round the leg in a spiral form, each coil overlapping another until the leg is bound up to the knee or the hock, where the bandage is secured. Few horses will attempt to lie when the bandage is carried over these joints. Care must be taken that the bandage presses equally, and not tightly; the strings should admit the finger after tying. The bandages, one to each leg, are used sometimes wet and sometimes dry.

Dry Bandages are necessary only when the legs are wet or cold, or likely to become cold; they confine heat, and absorb moisture. After they have done all they are wanted to do, they should be removed, and the legs hand-rubbed for a little. Some horses will not lie with their legs bandaged. They must be taken off before night, or they should not be put on; the legs may be dried and warmed by hand-rubbing. A dry bandage should always be quite loose, just tight enough to keep its place. When firmly applied, it does not retain the heat so well.

Wet Bandages are of more service than stableman are generally aware of They retain heat, reduce and prevent swelling, and abate inflammation. When the horse is subject to swelled legs, to tenderness and tumefaction about the joints and sinews after severe work, warm wet bandages help greatly to preserve the legs. If fomentation can be well and quickly performed, it may; if not, it is better not attempted. The bandage may be dipped in warm water, and applied rather more firmly than a dry bandage. The heat and the moisture operating together, produce gentle and continued perspiration. The effect is nearly, or quite the same as if the legs were in a warm poultice. If the horse will lie with them, the bandages may be kept on all night; but they must be kept wet. The legs may be dipped into a pail of warm water at shutting up the stables; or the bandages may be so long and thick that they will remain moist till it is time to remove them. A dry bandage to an inflamed leg does more harm than good. It retains the heat without producing the perspiration which abates inflammation.

The hind-legs rarely need wet bandages.

Water

The tired horse is usually disposed to drink more at one time than is good for him. The water should be tepid, and given every fifteen or twenty minutes, till the horse refuses more. He may have a couple of quarts whenever his work is done. Gruel or hay-tea may be given when the horse needs nourishment, and refuses solid food. He will not take either till it is nearly cold.