be made in
the use of the Hungarian saddle. The remainder of the equipment should
remain (as it always has been) composed of a breast-strap, crupper, and
martingale, etc."

The improvements of the present age do not appear to have developed any
thing advantageous to the saddle; on the contrary, after experimenting
upon numerous modifications and inventions, public sentiment has at
length given the preference to the saddle-tree of the natives in Asia
and America, which is very similar to that of the Hungarians.

SORES AND DISEASES.

If a horse be sweating at the time he is unsaddled, it is well to strap
the folded saddle-blanket upon his back with the surcingle, where it is
allowed to remain until he is perfectly dry. This causes the back to
cool gradually, and prevents scalding or swelling. Some persons are in
the habit of washing their horses' backs while heated and sweating with
cold water, but this is pernicious, and often produces sores. It is
well enough to wash the back after it cools, but not before. After
horses' backs or shoulders once become chafed and sore, it is very
difficult to heal them, particularly when they are continued at work.
It is better, if practicable, to stop using them for a while, and wash
the bruised parts often with castile soap and water. Should it be
necessary, however, to continue the animal in use, I have known very
severe sores entirely healed by the free application of grease to the
parts immediately after halting, and while the animal is warm and
sweating. This seems to harden the skin and heal the wound even when
working with the collar in contact with it. A piece of bacon rind tied
upon the collar over the wound is also an excellent remedy.

In Texas, when the horse-flies are numerous, they attack animals
without mercy, and where a contusion is found in the skin they deposit
eggs, which speedily produce worms in great numbers. I have tried the
effect of spirits of turpentine and several other remedies, but nothing
seemed to have the desired effect but calomel blown into the wound,
which destroyed the worms and soon effected a cure.

In the vicinity of the South Pass, upon the Humboldt River, and in some
sections upon other routes to California, alkaline water is found,
which is very poisonous to animals that drink it, and generates a
disease known in California as "_alkali_." This disease first makes its
appearance by swellings upon the abdomen and between the fore legs, and