■£ m,$ m \* fV I *8b frT?* .^ It-'V* « ^-At* ^%& &-#■ M NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE Washington Founded 1836 U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Public Health Service \ -V I I" THE COMPLETE FARRIER, OR, GENTLEMAN'S TRAVELLING COMPANION, COMPRISING A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PERFECTIONS AND IMPERFECTIONS of that NOBLB ANIMAI THE HORSE, WITH A CONCISE ACCOUNT OF HIS DISEASES, THEIR SYMPTOMS AND REMEDIES ; AND ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO PURCHASE, Age. action, condition, shoeing, feeding, exercise, docking, nicking, pricking the tail, and the structure and management of the stable; WITH DIRECTIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF A HORSE, PREPARATORY TO, AND ON A JOURNEY, Whereby a person will be at once prepared to treat any accident or disease that may occur. ' COMPILED from the best authorities, particularly adapted to this country, and interspersed with much original matter, the result of the observation of a GENTLEMAN of known experience in tl« United States. PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY BRADFORD AND INSKEEP, NO. 4, SOUTH THIRD STREET. 1809. ; r \ COPY-RIGHT SECURED ACCORDING TO LAW. PREFACE. THE following treatise on farriery is fmostly a compilation, from the best authorities, the choicest materials having been selected from vari- ous authors.* These are arranged in the most intel- ligible manner, with many valuable alterations and additions entirely original, partly the result of long experience, and, partly, suggested by persons of mi- nute observation in the United States. Many of the prescriptions, however, as well as other interesting and important matter, are taken from the works of others, but more particularly, from those of James White, surgeon to his Britannic majesty's roy- al dragoons, who is held to be one of the most expe- rimental, as well as scientific writers on the art of farriery. In this work is explained the nature and structure of that noble and useful animal, the horse; an accurate description of the bones, eyes, internal organs and their functions; anatomy of the feet; * Blaine, Burk, White, Bracken, Saunier, Ryding, Coleman, Taplin, &c. IV PREFACE. remarks on the principles and practice of shoeing ; a concise description of most of the diseases to which the horse is liable, with their symptoms and various remedies; observations with respect to the structure and management of the stable ; on condition, feeding, watering and exercise; treat- ment of a horse preparatory to, and on a journey ; advice to purchasers, how to avoid deception, and to judge of the age with a considerable degree of accuracy; advice as to docking, nicking, and pricking the tail, &x. &c Great pains has been taken to keep this work within the size of a mode- rate pocket volume, in order that persons travelling may avail themselves of the use of it with but lit- tle incumbrance. By a frequent reference to this work, their journey will, in all probability, be much accelerated ; as they will at once be prepared to treat with propriety, any accident or disease that may occur, and to which horses are particularly liable on a journey. When we consider the immense regions over which the population of the United States is spread, and that the intercourse between the different sections of this extended country must necessarily be kept up, in a great degree, by means of those useful animals ; and, also, that the agriculture of the country is almost exclu- sively carried on by them ; it becomes a subject of PREFACE. V no small consideration, on the score of humanity, as well as interest, to devise the best means in our power to ameliorate the condition of those animals, which, as the writer trusts, will be materially sub- served by this small treatise, and which, it is hoped, will be found to contain more practical and useful matter, than has been collected in the same number of pages in any work hitherto written on the subject. The necessity, as well as utility, of such a work, is rendered more apparent, since it is ascertained, with some degree of certainty, that, in the year eighteen hundred and seven, the whole number of horses in the United States, exceeded twelve hun- dred thousand, and that their increase has hitherto kept, and, no doubt will continue to keep pace with the population, which we are informed from high au- thority doubles itself every twenty years. Another consideration seems to point out the necessity of such a work. This is, the unbounded number of quack farriers in the United States, by whose un- skilful and merciless treatment, thousands of those useful animals are destroyed. It cannot have es- caped the observation of those who have any thing to do with horses, that almost every stable-keeper, jockey, ostler, and horse shoeer, are professed farriers, most of whom take an active part in this work of destruction, which may, in a great measure, VI PREFACE, if not effectually, be guarded against, by an atten» tive perusal and observance of the rules and pre- scriptions laid down in this little treatise, the cost of which is only one dollar. The loss of tens or, perhaps, fifty times that sum may be prevented by a person possessing himself of it before he goes to purchase a horse, or sets out on a journey. CONTENTS. page Abdomen or belly, viscera of - 14 Apoplexy or staggers - 83 to 88 Anatomy of the foot - - 140 to 155 Advice on the management of a"] horse preparatory to and on a i- 197 to 208 journey J Advice and directions with re-") spect to the purchase of a horse, [■ 233 to 244 to avoid deception - J Age, how to judge of - 245 to 248 Appetite, how to be restored 201 & 218 Astringent ointment - 106, 107 Do. lotion - - 105, 106 Do. ball - 89 Alteratives - - 208 Do. powders - - 105 & 209 Do. for the mange - 102 Do. ball - - - - 89 & 411 Anodyne draft or drench - 42 Do. glyster ... 48 Do. how to be given - - 82 B Bones, description of 1 CONTENTS. page Bowels, inflammation of (and re-") 42 . 4fi medy) - J Do. do. the symptoms") different from the cholic J" Bladder, inflammation of, (and") -- -fi remedy) ... j Broken wind - - - 72 to 76 Bots or worms • 92 to 98 Bound, hide - 98 Bruises - - - 121, 122 Back sinew strain - 133 to 135 Do. blister for - - 215 Bleeding, advice and directions 183 to 188 Blisters, directions how to be ap- ") plied - - j ^l3toZ15 Do. ointment - - 214, 215 Ball, how to be given - 82 Do. for inflammation of the ") bladder - - - J 5i> Do. do. of the liver 57 Do. alterative - 61, 89, 104, 211 Do. for a cough - - 64 & 212 Do. for broken wind - 76 Do. for jaundice - - 77 Do. for cholic or gripes 82 Do. for diarrhoea or purging 89 & 204 Ball for excessive staling - 90 Do. for suppression of urine 92 Do. for bots or worms - 95 to 97 Do. hide bound - - 98, 99 Do. for farcy - - . 115 Do. laxative - . 179 Do. for an effectual purge 191 CONTENTS. page Ball for diuretic - - 192 Do. to restore the appetite 207 Do. astringent - - 89 Do. cordial - - 207 C Cold or catarrh - - 62 to 64 Cholic or gripes - - 77 to 82 Cholic and inflammation of the") bowels, different in their > 48 symptoms J Curb..... 134 Cracks, sand in the hoof - 173 Corns in do. - 174 Canker - - 179 to 181 Cutting or interfering - 181 to 183 Cordial balls - - 207,208 Cough, chronic - - 210 to 212 Condition of a horse described") and the diseases that prevent I 315 to 291 good condition - - J D Diarrhoea or purging - 88 Diabetes or excessive staling 89 to 91 Diuretics - - - 192 to 193 Diseases of the feet - 164 to 172 Directions with respect to the") purchase of a horse - j 233 to 244 Docking, nicking and pricking") the tail - - - j ^y to Z61 Drench or draft, how to be given 82 Do. restringent draft - 47 Do. anodyne do. - do. Do. for cholic or gripes 80, 81 CONTENTS. Drench or draft for a founder 202, 203 Do. for the staggers - 86, 87 Do. for a common purge 192 Doses of physic - - 191, 192 Eyes, description of - - 7 & 239 Do. inflammation, &c. - 65 to 69 Do. film on the surface (and *) fi_ remedy) - - - J Do. water for weak eyes do. Evil, poll - - - 125 47 Embrocation of mustard, how to *) be applied J Do. for strains - - 135 Do. for bruises - 122 Do. for saddle galls - 127 & 206 Do. for wind galls - 137 Exercise and feeding - - 225 to 229 External perfections and imper-") fections. (See advice to pur- > 233 to 244 chasers) J F Fever, description of (and reme-") dies) - J Do. powder - 33 Film on the eyes (and remedy)- 68 Flatulent cholic or gripes - 77 to 82 Farcy 111 to 116 Do. ointment - 116 Fistula in the withers - - 122 to 124 Feet, diseases of - - 164 to 172 Fomentations, how made and applied 193 Founder - - - 201, 203 30 to 36 CONTENTS. page- Feeding and exercise 200, 201 Do. on a journey 225 to 229 G Grease or scratches 102 to 107 Glanders 108 to 111 Galls, saddle or warbles 126 & 206 Glysters - 196 Do. how to be given- 82 Do. anodyne 48 H Heart - It Haw on the eyes » 69 Heaves, or broken wind 72 to 76 Hide bound I Internal organs, description of - 98 _ 8 Inflammation, description of, (and } 23 to 30 remedies) Do. of the lungs 36 to 42 Do. of the bowels . 42 to 48 Do. of the stomach 49 to 54 Do. of the kidneys 54 Do. of the bladder 55, 56 Do. of the liver - 56, 57 Do. of the eyes 65 to 69 J Jaundice, (and remedy) 76, 77 K Kidneys, inflammation of (and 1 54 remedy) J remedy) A2 CONTENTS. L page Lungs - - - 9 to 11 Do. inflammation of (and remedy) 36 to 42 Liver, inflammation of (and do.) 56, 57 Locked jaw - 70 Lampas ... 71 Laxative medicine - - 213 Do. ball - 179 Lotion astringent - - 105, 106 Do. for the mange - 101 Do. saturnine - - 134 M Mange - - - 100 to 102 Mallenders and sallenders - 107, 108 Medicine, laxative - 213 Mustard embrocation - 47 N ^t'tail Cl°Ckin-S 3nd rkkinS} 229 to 232 O Organs internal, description of 8 Ostlers, never trust to them when ") on a journey j Ointment for the strangles or 5 sore throat J* **" Do. astringent - - 106, 107 Do. for the farcy - 116 Do. for fistula - 124 Do. for the mange, poll evil, &c. 101 Do. for sitfasts - 128 201 CONTENTS. Ointment for canker . page 180 Do. for blisters 214 P Purging or diarrhoea 88 Do. when travelling 204 Poll evil - 125 Physic, observations, &c. 188 to 192 Do. a proper dose 191 Poultice for strains, &c. 135 and 194 Pulse 195 Powder for a fever . 33 Do. alterative 209 Purge to be given in case of founder 202, 203 Perfections and imperfections") see advice to purchasers $ 233, 234 Q Quittor - 175 R Ring bone 135 Roaring, description of 71 Rowels - 194 Restringent draft or drench S Structure and functions of the in. 47 ■} ternal organs 8 to 14 Swellings or external inflamma- } tions - - 25 to 30 Stomach, inflammation of and '} remedies - - - 49 to 54 Strangles or throat distemper 58 to 61 CONTENTS. * pa&c Staggers or apoplexy - 83 to 88 Staling or diabetes - - 89 to 91 Suppression of urine - 92 Surfeit - - - - 99 Scratches or grease - 102 to 107 Saddle galls - - - 126 & 206 Sitfasts - - - 127, 128 Strains described - - 128, 129 Do. of the shoulders - . 130 to 132 Do. of the stifle - 132 ,:, Do. of the hip joint - 133 Do. of the flexor tendons 1 .,,. io„ c _.„ ... S- 133 to 135 & 215 or back sinews J Saturnine lotion for strains - 134 Do. poultice - - 135 Splents - 138 Spavin - - 138, 139 & 215 Shoeing, practice and method of 155 to 164 Sand cracks - 173 Stable, structure of, remarks, &c. 222 & 224 Saddle, how to prevent the pad") bearing upon a saddle gall or l 207 tumor - J Sore back, treatment of on a 1 journey - - j" T Throat distemper or strangles 58 to 61. Thorough pin - 136 Thrush - - - 176 to 179 Tar water for a cough - 212 Teeth (see age) - - 245 U Urine, suppression of - 92 206 0 CONTENTS. W page Wind broken - 72 Worms or bots - - - 92 to 98 Wounds.....116 to 120 Wind galls - 136,137 Water for weak eyes - - - 68 £\ OF THE OSTEOLOGY OR BONES OF THE HORSE. AS the bones are the foundation and support of the whole body, so the knowledge of them is the ground-work of anatomical research. They may be considered, collectively, as forming a surface of attachment for the various soft parts which they are .the means of preserving in their trufe form and situation. Bones in their structure are hard, compact, and durable bodies, insensi- ble but when inflamed, and of a whitish colour. We may consider them as principally made up of two parts, a membrane of the size and form of the bone, and an earthy matter filling up this membrane. To detect these two principles, we need only macerate or soak a piece of fresh bone in sgjh-it of salt, which acts on the earthy matter alone, dissolves it without affecting the mem- brane, which still retains its form and size, B 2 though it may be rolled up and put into a phial, when the addition of water will open and bring it to its original shape. This earthy matter ap- pears deposited in layers, composed of fibres crossing each other and forming a net work. They are not placed exactly alike in all bones, nor in all parts of the same bone ; in some they are so close as to make it almost solid, as in the middle of the long bones, whereas the extremi- ties or ends appear spongy throughout, composed of little cells extending through the centre only of the compact parts ; thus their ends are larger than their middle, to allow a greater space for muscles to attach themselves, and to extend the surface of the joints. Bones are furnished with arteries of two kinds, one entering at their extremities to afford nourishment, the other piercing the middle to secrete the marrow, which is deposited in the cells we have noticed. This substance keeps them moist and from becoming brittle ; thus the bones of old animals, where it exists but in small quantities, break more frequently than those of the younger. It may become diseased from long fevers, it then corrodes and eats through the bone, producing a thin foetid discharge ; thifwill happen (more particularly to blood colts near the 3 knee and hock) without previous fever, and then is called, as in the human, spina ventosa. The veins of the bones, though not very evident, yet are now and then detected; and the sensibility of inflamed bone, and of the fungus arising from a diseased one, plainly shews the existence of nerves. In common with other parts, they are likewise furnished with a set of vessels, named absorbents or lymphatics. As all the fluids of the body are continually changing, and fresh poured out in their room, it is necessary that there should be appropriate vessels to carry back what the ar- teries before deposited, which is performed by the absorbents. Both externally and internally the bones are covered by a membrane, from its situ- ation termed beriosteum ; it serves to strengthen and prevent their overgrowth, and to give a rough STrrlace for the attachment of muscles, &c. It is very sensible, and when stretched, as in splents, spavins, &c. becomes very painful. It may like- wise itself become diseased, and is then apt to be mistaken for an affection of the bone. Bones are furnished with ligaments, which are common and proper : the common surround the ends of the bones, fastening them together, forming the connected parts, called joints, into complete cavi- ties, within which is secreted, by glands, a fluid, 4. called synovia or joint oil, for the purpose of eas- ing the motion of the joints, by rendering the ends of the bones smooth and slippery. In old animals it is formed only in small quantities, and this occasions that stiffness and cracking of their joints we so constantly observe. From a defect in the absorbents, or from an increased secretion of this fluid, is produced a dropsy of the joints, to be distinguished by attention from wind-galls. The cure consists in making a small opening into the cavity, and letting out the contents, carefully preventing the air from getting into the joint. The proper ligaments are such as are attached to particular parts, as those of the foot, that which connects the thigh bones with the pelvis, and se- veral others. In their structure they are firm and inelastic, and from this cause arises the great difficulty of removing extensions or strains of trie joints : from this likewise we are made sensible that the cure must consist in such applications as tend to brace the relaxed fibres. The progress of ossification, or the formation of bone, appears to begin in a few weeks after conception, or after the mare is in foal: at first little limes shoot out, which prove to be the membrane of the bone ; by degrees this hardens into gristle; the earthy mat- ter then begins to be deposited in the middle of 5 it, and gradually proceeds to the ends, where the ossification is not compleated 'till the fourth year; consequently young horses should not be exer- cised violently 'till then ; the lessening of the joints being the last act of growth, may afford a rule to guide us in this respect. The complete formation of the bones may be hastened by ex- terior causes, as by pressure, whether arising from any foreign body, or from increased and vi- olent action of the muscles. This pressure may act on the blood itself going to form bone, or it may produce its effect by accelerating and pro- pelling it, and thus incorporate the long matter more speedily and minutely : however it may act, it appears evident that it has the effect attributed to it; the spine becomes so ossified in horses long used to burden as sometimes to form one en- tire piece : it must likewise be the increased ac- tion of the blood-vessels, when we give spirits to puppies and bathe them in it, that prevents in a measure their future growth ; the same reason accounts for the appearance of splents and spa- vins in horses when too early worked. If a tinging substance, as madder, is given to animals, even after they have arrived at their full size, the bones partake of the colour; should the madder be omitted, after some time they resume their b 2 6 natural appearance : from this it would appear that the earthy matter of bone is taken up by the absorbent vessels, and a fresh supply is deposited by the arteries, and this change seems continued through life. Should not this teach us the neces- sity of feeding young horses well ; and that, if bones partake so much of whatever is taken into the stomach, how much firmer will be the bone produced from oats, beans, and hay, than from marsh grass or straw ? The ends of the bones are covered, or, as it were, tipped with a white, smooth substance, called cartilage or gristle ; by its elasticity it prevents the jar that would other- wise arise from any violent action, as leaping, trotting, &c. When this becomes diseased, it is not easily replaced, but bony matter is thrown out, and a stiff joint generally follows. To the ends of many of the bones are small processes or parts, of a bony nature, adhering, called epiphyses : most of them by age are so firmly joined as to appear one and the same bone ; they are then termed apophyses ; their use is considerable, in furnishing a broader surface for the attachment or fastening of muscles, and preventing the ten- dons or sinews from inserting themselves too near the centre of motion. Bones being irregu- lar and various in their, form, must necessarily 7 have many risings and depressions j these re- ceive names according to their shape and appear- ance : thus a rounded body jutting out, is called a head, as is the part that supports it, a cervix or neve ; if flattened on each side, a condyle ; when rough and irregular, a tuberosity ; a sharp rising is named a spine, but if slight a crest ; when the risings are more determined, they are called processes, and these are various, as transverse, ob- lique, inferior, superior, &c. The cavities are likewise named according to their appearances, as sinus, fossa, groove, nitch,channel, furrow, &c.; but as these are so expressive, we shall not par- ticularize them ; neither shall we enter into a de- tail of the various names and classes that the junction of the bones with each other, called articulation, receive ; it is sufficient to say, they are more or less moveable according to their situ- ation and the nature of their office. OF THE EYES. THE eyes form one of the principal organs, and are in most animals two in number, wisely and securely placed by nature within a long bony canal formed of the bones of the head. The principal part of the eye is the globe j the others 8 are some external and some internal, as the lids, caruncula lachrymales, puncta lachrymalia, the membrana mictitans, fat, lachrimal gland, nerves, blood-vessels, &c. • The cavity wherein the eye is lodged is called ,ihe orbit, it is lined through- out by a production from the dura mater, and is perforated at the bottom for the passage of the optic and other nerves, and blood-vessels. The globe of the eye is made up of several pro- per coats, forming a shell containing fluids, termed the humours of the eye. The coats are some additional, while some properly invest the humours. The coats investing the globe of the eye are the sclerotic, the cornea, forming the an- terior part, the iris, choroides, and retina. The additional coats are two, one called tendinosa or albuginea, this forms the white of the eye, the other is called conjunctiva. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERNAL ORGANS. THE hollow part of the body is divided into twocavitiesby a strong muscular partition termed diaphragm or midriff; the anterior part is named thorax or chest; and the posterior abdomen or 9 belty. The thorax contains the lungs and heart ; the abdomen the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen or melt, pancreas or sweet-bread, kidneys and bladder. OF THE LUNGS. IN describing the lungs it is necessary to be- gin with the trachea or windpipe, which is a cy- lindrical cartilaginous tube, extending from the throat to the chest ; the trachea is not made up of one entire cartilage, but of several cartila- ginous rings, which are united by strong mem- branes, and such is the elasticity of these cartilages that the tube is enabled to preserve its cylin- drical form, even when it receives considerable pressure, and thereby afford free ingress and egress to the air in respiration. The upper part of the trachea is composed of stronger cartilages than the other parts of the tube, and is termed larynx; to this is connected a curious kind of valve, called epiglottis, which is always open, ex- cept in the act of swallowing, it is then forced down upon the larynx so as to prevent food, or any thing which may be passing over the throat, 10 from falling into the windpipe: when the tra- chea arrives at the chest,it divides into numerous branches, which gradually becoming smaller, at length terminate in minute cells ; the lungs indeed are made up of the ramifications of the trachea and blood-vessels ; the interstices being filled with cellular membrane, which serves not only to unite them, but likewise to give a uniform and homogeneous appearance to the whole mass. The lungs are covered with a fine delicate mem- brane cajled the pleura, which also covers the in- ternal surface of the ribs and diaphragm, and by stretching across the chest from the spine to the breast-bone, divides the thorax into two cavities; this part of the pleura is therefore named medias- tinum. On every part of the pleura an aqueous fluid is secreted for the purpose of preventing a cohesion of the parts, and when this is produced too abundantly, it constitutes the disease termed hydrothorax or dropsy of the chest. The lungs are divided into two parts, one of which is situa- ted in each cavity of the thorax ; this division seems to have been provided in case of acci- dents, it having been proved that when one lung has been incapable of performing its func- tion in consequence of injury or disease, the other has been found adequate to the support of life. 11 The lungs are the organs of respiration or breathing, but they do not appear to be actively concerned in the performance of this office; when the diaphragm and the muscles of the belly and ribs contract, the cavity of the thorax is conside- rably diminished, and the lungs so compressed, that all the air contained in them is forced out through the windpipe ; when this has been effect* ed, the muscles relax, and the thorax returns to its original size; there would now be a vacuum between the internal surface of the ribs, and the external surface of the lungs, did not the air rush in through the windpipe, and so distend its branch- es and cells as to make the lungs completely fill the cavity ; thus are the lungs constantly em- ployed in inspiration and expiration, and this process, which we call breathing, is carried on by the combined action of the diaphragm, and the muscles of the ribs and abdomen. OF THE HEART. THE heart is placed nearly in the middle of the thorax, it is rather conical in its form; the apex inclining towards the left side. The heart 12 is divided into two cavities, termed ventricles, each of them having a small hollow appendage, which from a slight resemblance it bears to a dog's ear, has been named auricle. When the left ventricle is full of blood, it contracts so pow- erfully as to force its contents into the aorta or grand artery, by which the blood is distributed all over the body ; it is then taken up by the veins, and conveyed by them to the right auricle, whence it flows into the right ventricle ; this also, whenlt is sufficiently distended, contracts upon its contents and propels the blood into the pul- monary artery, by which it is conveyed to every part of the lungs. The pulmonary veins then receive it, and convey it to the left auricle, from whence it is propelled into the left ventricle, that it may again be distributed by the aorta to every part of the body—The blood is thus continually circulating through the body, and this process may be considered as one of the most important actions that is performed in the animal machine; if it be stopped for a few seconds, all motion is suspended, and if it be prevented a longer time from going on, vitality is destroyed. The func- tion of the lungs is of equal importance in the animal economy, and cannot be stopped even foe 13 a short time, without suspending or totally de. stroying animation. Ancient physiologists had a very imperfect idea of the manner in which those organs so essentially contributed to the support of life ; the moderns, however, have been more successful in their researches ; they have discovered that the blood derives from the air which is taken into the lungs, the most impor- tant properties, without which it would be an use- less vapid mass, totally inadequate to the pur- poses for which it was designed. If we examine the blood in the left ventricle of the heart, and in the arteries, it will be found of a bright scarlet colour, and replete with those properties that render it capable of nourishing the body, and stimulating the whole system to action : in the veins it becomes of a much darker colour, and when it arrives at the right ventricle is nearly black, and destitute of those enlivening qualities which it possessed when in the left ventricle : had not the Deity then provided some means for its renovation, it would have been quite unfit for a second circulation, and the duration of life must have been short indeed ; but from the right ventricle it is conveyed by the pulmonary artery to the lungs, at the moment they are distended with air : here the blood undergoes a wonderful 14 alteration, itresumes its bright scarlet colour, and is returned by the pulmonary veins to the left side of the heart, with all its original and essential qualities restored to it. Hence we may learn how important are the functions of respiration and circulation of blood, how essential to the life of animals, and how de- pendant they are on each other. VISCERA OF THE ABDOMEN. HAVING finished our description of the tho- racic viscera, we shall proceed to notice those of the abdomen or belly ; the first and most impor- tant of which is the stomach. Whatever this or- gan receives, is conveyed to it by a long muscu- lar tube, named cesophagus or gullet; the oesopha- gus originates in the throat, where its size is considerable, but it suddenly diminishes into a small tube, and is continued of the same size to the stomach ; this upper part has been thought to resemble a funnel in its form, and is distinguished by the term pharynx. The aesophagus having passed along the throat and back part of the chest, penetrates through the diaphragm, and terminates in the stomaeh. 15 The oesophagus of a horse has on its internal surface an insensible membrane, which stretches into the stomach and lines nearly one half of it ; this peculiarity of structure enables us to account in some measure for the inactivity of many vio- lent poisons when given to the horse. In the human esophagus this membrane does not exist, the whole of its internal surface, as well as that of the stomach, being exquisitely sensible. If two grains of emetic tartar are swallowed by a man it soon occasions violent vomiting, whereas two hundred times that quantity would produce no sensible effect upon the horse. At the cardaic orifice, or that part where the sesopha- gus enters the stomach, its internal coat is so loose as to be thrown into folds, appearing as if it were designed as a valve to prevent the regur- gitation of the contents of the stomach ; from this cause, as well as from the insensibility of the mem- brane with which great part of the stomach is lined, a horse very rarely vomits, but the opinion that he is totally incapable of that action, is cer- tainly not true, as the contrary is well ascer- tained. When we examine the throat of a horse, ano« ther vulgar structure is observed, which is formed by the epiglottis or valve of the windpipe, and a 16 membranous substance that hangs from the back part of the roof of the mouth, and is peculiarly large in the horse, termed velum pendulum palati; these bodies form a very complete valve, which opens downwards only, thereby preventing the return of any thing through the mouth, either from the lungs or stomach : thus we find that a horse breathes only through his nose, except in coughing, by which the valve is so deranged as to allow the air, which is thrown out from the lungs, to pass through the mouth. In case of vomiting the contents of the sto- mach are at first observed to pass through the nose, at length, by a violent cough, the valve is deranged, and a considerable quantity of fluid, mixed with masticated food is evacuated by the mouth. That part of the stomach where the sesopha- gus terminates, is called the cardaic orifice, and that where the intestines begin, is termed Py- lorus. The intestines or bowels consist of one very long tube, which terminates at the anus. In the horse the intestines measure nearly thir- ty yards, but being convoluted in order to adapt them to the cavity in which they are placed, they have the appearance of several distinct parts. 17 The internal surface of a horse*s intestines are not lined with that insensible membrane which is found in the aesophagus and upper part of the stomach, on the contrary it is endued with a high degree of sensibility, and appears to be more susceptible of irritation than that of most other animals ; from this irritability of the intes- tines, many horses have been destroyed by the administration of strong purgatives, and hence arises the necessity of using those medicines with skill and caution. The intestinal tube is not throughout its whole extent of a uniform size ; that part next the stomach is rather small, and continues for about fifteen yards nearly of the same diameter, it then becomes very large, but again diminishes before it terminates the anus. Anatomists in describing the intestinal canal, divide it into two parts, viz. the small and the large intestines ; these are subdivided, the for- mer into duodenum, jejunum, and ileum ; the lat- ter into coecum, colon, and rectum. All the internal surface of the intestinal tube is covered with a mucoeus substance, for the purpose of defending it from the action of acri- monious bodies. The various convolutions of the intestines are held together by a membrane c 2 18 called mesentery, which not only serves this pur- pose, but affords also a bed for the lacteals, or those small vessels by which the nutritious parts of the food are conveyed to the heart to be converted into blood ; but before we give a particular description of those vessels, it will be necessary to describe the process of nutri- tion. When food is taken int© the mouth, it is broken down by the teeth, and so mixed with saliva, as to be in a proper state for entering the stomach: it is then by the united action of the tongue and muscles of the throat forced into the aesophagus, whence it passes into the stomach; in this organ it undergoes a considerable altera- tion, for here nature has provided a curious li- quid, called gastric juice, which has the property of dissolving every thing that is taken into the stomach, and of converting it into a soft pulpy mass, of an uniform and homogeneous appear- ance ; when the food has been thus altered, it is forced by a contraction of the stomach into the duodenum, or first part of the intestinal ca- nal ; this mass, however, does not consist wholly of nutritive parts, or such as are fit for the for- mation of blood, and another operation is neces- sary in order to separate them from such as are 19 useless : this seems to be effected by the bile and pancreatic juice.* The bile is formed by the liver, which is a large glandular body, divided into several lobes, and situated immediately behind the diaphragm, to which it is firmly attached ; the form of the liver is too well known to require a particular description, we have only to observe, therefore, that the bile which it secretes, is conveyed by the hepatic duct into the duodenum, within three or four inches of its origin. In man, and the greater part of the quadrupeds, all the bile does not flow immediately into the intestine, there being a small vessel connected with the hepatic duct, which conveys a certain portion into a sac that is attached to the liver, and called the gall bladder, whence it is occasionally expelled ; but this does not exist in the horse, although Mr. Taplin, in his Stable Directory, has attempted to give an accurate description of its situation and diseases. The pancreas is also a glandular body, and se- cretes a fluid somewhat resembling saliva, which is conveyed by the pancreatic duct into the duo- * This opinion appears to have been proved by the expe- riments of Mr. Ashley Cooper, Lecturer on Anatomy and Surgery, and Assistant Surgeon of St. Thorr.as's Hos- pital. 20 denum, at the same place where the hepatic duct enters. When these fluids (the bile and pancre- atic juice) are poured into the intestine, they mingle with the mass of digested food, which has been expelled from the stomach, and sepa- rate from it all those essential parts which are fit to be converted into blood; this process is termed chyiification. We have before observed, when describing the mesentery, or that membrane by which the intestines are held together, that an immense number of small delicate vessels are spread over its surface ; these are named lacteals^ from their containing a fluid, which in its ap- pearance resembles milk ; this fluid is in fact the essential parts of the food, proceeding to the heart in order to be converted into blood. All the lacteals open into the intestines, and cover the whole of their internal surface, where they are always disposed to absorb the nutritious parts of the food in its passage through the intestinal canal. Some physiologists suppose that the mouths of the lacteals have the power of selecting such parts of the food as are fit to be converted into blood, that no previous separation takes place, and that the bile serves only as a natural purgative, constantly stimulating the intestines, thereby keeping up a small degree of motion m 21 them, and promoting the expulsion of the fecu- lent parts of the food. It will probably be asked how it is that the mass of food passes through the intestines, since they are so convoluted that it cannot possibly be effected by the power of gravity ; but if we ex- amine their structure, this phenomenon may be readily explained. The intestines are composed, in great measure, of muscular fibres, some of which run in a circular, and others in a longitu- dinal direction: when the circular fibres contract,. the diameter of the canal is diminished, and when the longitudinal fibres are in action, it becomes shorter ; by the combined action of those fibres, the food is gradually propelled through the whole of the intestinal canal -r the motion thus excited may be distinctly seen in an animal recently killed, and in some it continues a considerable time after death. The intestine, however, is not entirely composed of muscular fibres, its internal surface is lined with a fine nervous and muscular membrane, which is endued with exquisite sen- sibility, and has the power of forming on its sur- face a mucous substance, which serves to pro- tect it from the action of acrimonious bodies. Besides the muscular and nervous coat there is another which enters into the composition of the 2a intestine, and this is a thin membrane called pe- ritonaeum. The peritonaeum not only forms the third and external coat, it likewise envelopes the whole of the abdominal viscera, and is then so reflected, as to form a kind of sac, in which they are all enclosed. Thus are the intestines com- posed of three coats, which are closely in contact with each other; the peritonaeel, the muscular, and the nervous coat. We have yet to describe the course of the lacteals, or those vessels which take up the chyle or nutritious parts of the food. We have before observed that they are spread upon the mesentery, from whence they pass on towards the spine, becoming larger and less nu- merous in their progress, at length they termi- nate in a large tube, which runs along the spine, and is named thoracic duct; this pours its con- tents into a large vein near the heart, to which part it is immediately after conveyed and con- verted into blood. The Kidneys are two glandular bodies, situ- ated within the loins; their office is to separate urine from the blood : the urine thus separated is conveyed by two tubes of considerable length, termed ureters, into the bladder, which is com- posed of three coats like those of the intestine, and when it has received a sufficient quantity of 2d urine to stimulate its muscular fibres into action it contracts upon the urine, and forces it out, through the urethra or urinary canal. We have now furnished our sketch, which has been given merely with a view to render the de-^ scription we are about to give of the diseases in- cident to the horse more intelligible to those rea- ders who are totally unacquainted with anatomy, than it would otherwise have been. INFLAMMATION. **•■■«■ IT was supposed by the celebrated Boerhave, and other physiologists of his time, that inflam- mation depended on a viscidity of the blood, which rendered it unfit for circulating in the finer vessels, and that hence arose obstructions and those appearances by which the disease is characterised: this opinion, however, has obtain- ed very little credit with modern physiologists, and is now universally rejected, it having been proved that blood drawn from an animal labour- ing under inflammation, is more fluid, and re- mains fluid longer, than that which is taken: from the same animal when in health. 24 The most prevailing opinion at present respect- ing inflammation is, that it consists in an increas- ed action of the heart and arteries, when general; whereby the blood circulates with unusual veloci- ty, throwing the whole system into derangement, and when local or existing in a particular part, the increased action is also confined to the ves- sels of that part. When a part is inflamed, there arises in it un- usual degree of heat, generally attended with considerable tension and swelling; the sensibility and irritability are always increased, and pro- duced by it in parts where it did not before ex- ist ; in bones and tendons, for example, scarcely any sensibility can be perceived when they are in a state of health, but when inflamed it is roused to an alarming degree, and the most dangerous con- sequences may ensue from it. Inflammation has four modes of termination; the first is termed resolution, that is, when the disease, after going a certain length, gradually disappears again ; the second, suppuration, that is when matter is form- ed, or an abscess produced ; the third is named effusion, which implies an extravasation either of blood, coagulable lymph or serum; and the fourth, gangrene or mortification, by which is meant the death of the inflamed part. Inflam- 25 mation of-the external parts is generally occasi- oned by some mechanical injury, such as wounds, bruises, &c. sometimes, however, it rises, in con- sequence of an internal inflammation,' or symp- tomatic fever, and is then to be considered as an effort of nature to cure the internal disease: thus we sometimes find in fevers, abscesses taking place on the surface of the body, by which the fever is considerably diminished, and generally terminates favourably. Inflammation is often produced by plethora, or a redundancy of blood in the body ; in this case it is sometimes general, the whole arterial system having its action increased ; this also may be con- sidered as an effort of nature to get rid of the su- perfluous blood, and in such cases she must be assisted by copious bleeding: it more commonly happens, however, that the redundant blood is determined to some particular part, occasioning local inflammation ; in horses it very frequently falls upon some of the internal organs, and the lungs are peculiarly liable to suffer in this case; from this source, indeed, their most dangerous fevers arise. In the treatment of external inflammation, we should endeavour to bring it to the most favour- able termination, that is resolution, except where D 26 it arises from an effort of nature to cure some in- ternal disease ; it is then desirable to bring it speedily to suppuration. The remedies to be employed for resolving inflammation, are, local or general bleeding (vide bleeding) purgatives, or fomentations, poultices, or the saturnine lotion made warm ; sometimes, indeed, we have seen cold applications used with success, such as sal ammoniac dissolved in vinegar,, golard, &c. When inflammation takes place in tendinous parts or joints, the saturnine poultice has been found an useful remedy, and in the latter case we have often found blisters extremely efficacious ; as in those cases the inflammation generally proves more troublesome, and as the pain which it occasions is often so considerable as to produce symptomatic fever, it becomes necessary to em- ploy without loss of time, the most prompt and efficacious means for its reduction ; with this view we excite artificial inflammation in the con- tiguous skin and cellular membrane, which are parts of far less importance in the animal econo- my, than joints or tendons, and capable of bearing a considerable degree of inflammation without much inconvenience to the animal; this is done by means of rowels and blisters, and the inflamma- tion thus excited, will tend in a considerable degree 27 to diminish that which is going on in the more im- portant part. Should we fail in our endeavours to resolve inflammation, it will probably terminate in suppuration ; and when it appears that the dis- ease does not abate by the use of the remedies we have recommended, an assiduous application of fomentations and poultices, will expedite the suppurative process, and afford great relief to the animal. When the inflammation, or rather the swelling which it occasions, arrives at this state, it is termed an abscess, in which, when the suppu- ration is complete, and it contains matter, a fluc- tuation may be felt upon its being pressed by two fingers alternately ; when this point has been as- certained, an opening is to be made with a lan- cet or knife, in such a way that the matter may be completely evacuated, and a future accumu- lation prevented ; it is then to be dressed with digestive liniment or ointment. Should the wound appear indisposed to heal when this treat- ment has been pursued for a short time, dis- charging a thin offensive matter, and wanting that red appearance by which the healing process is indicated, the detergent lotion will soon re- move those unfavourable appearances ; the dis- charge will become whiter and thicker, and red granulations of new flesh will sprout up; should 28 these granulations however become luxuriant, constituting what is commonly termed proud flesh ; they are to be kept down by means of the caustic powder. It sometimes happens that when a part is inflamed and swollen, instead of going on to suppuration, it degenerates into a hard and almost insensible tumour; this depends on the inflammation having terminated in effu- sion of coagulable lymph, and is to be removed by stimulating embrocations or blisters. When inflammation runs very high, which is sometimes the case, in violent bruises, or deep and extensive wounds of the lacerated kind, it may terminate, in gangrene or mortification, which is generally attended with danger; in this rase the matter discharged, instead of being white and thick, consists of a dark coloured fluid, of a peculiar offensive smell ; the constitution is generally affected, the pulse becoming quick, weak, and sometimes irregular, the appetite goes off, and there is a great degree of debility : when inflammation terminates in this way, if it arises from a wound, let it be dressed with digestive liniment, oil of turpentine, or camphorated spi- rits of wine ; the diseased parts should be scari- fied, and fomentations applied almost incessantly* until the mortified parts appear to separate, and 29 the matter loses in a great measure its offensive smell, appearing whiter and more thick. When the horse is weakened by the disease, and he loses his appetite, particularly if there is a copi- ous discharge from the wound, one or two of the following cordial balls are to be given daily: No. 1. Yellow Peruvian bark, 1 oz. Ginger, powdered, 2 drams. Opium, - 1 dram. Oil of carraways, 20 drops. Syrup or honey enough to make the ball for one dose. No. 2. Yellow Peruvian bark, | oz. Powdered snake root, 2 drams. Powdered cassia, 1| dram. Oil of cloves, - 20 drops. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. Remark.—The opium in the ball, No. 1, is to be omitted when the horse is costive, or if it ap- pears to take off his appetite ; but when the dis- d 2 30 ease is accompanied with a purging, it is ex- tremely useful. When any of the internal parts are inflamed, a fever is generally produced, the violence of which will depend upon the importance of the in- flamed organ, as well as upon the extent of the inflammation ; some of the internal parts being more essential to life than others, and when in- flamed occasioning of course greater derange- ment in the system. The only favourable ter- minations to which internal inflammation can be brought, are resolution and effusion, and as the first is by far the most desirable, the most vigor- ous measures ought to be adopted to effect it ; the most important remedy in those cases is copious bleeding, and the earlier it is employed the more effectual will it prove : the next reme- dy is external inflammation, artificially excited by means of rowels and blisters. The fever powder and occasional glysters, are of considera- ble service. FEVER. THE fevers of horses bear very little analogy to those of the human body, and require a differ- 31 ent treatment. Writers on farriery have described a great variety of fevers, but their observations appear to have been drawn from the works of medical authors, and their reasoning seems to be entirely analogical. We have been able to dis- tinguish only two kinds of fever, the one, an idio- pathic or original disease, and therefore properly termed simple ; the other, dependant on internal inflammation, and very justly denominated symp- tomatic fever : for example, if the lungs, bowels, or stomach were inflamed, the whole system would be thrown into disorder, and a symptoma- tic fever produced ; but if a collapse of the per- spirable vessels happens to take place, the blood will accumulate in the interior parts of the body, and though inflammation is not produced by it, the unequal distribution of the blood alone will occasion that derangement in the system which constitutes the simple fever. The simple fever does not occur so frequently as the symptomatic, nor is it by any means so formidable in its appear- ance, yet it is necessary to give it the earliest at- tention, for unless nature receives timely assist- ance, she will be sometimes unable to get rid of the load which oppresses her ; and the blood will accumulate in the interior part of the body, un- til inflammation in some of the viscera is pro- 32 duced, and a dangerous disease established. The following are the symptoms of simple fe- ver :—Shivering, succeeded by loss of appetite, dejected appearance, quick pulse, hot mouth, and some degree of debility ; the horse is ge- nerally costive and voids his urine with dif- ficulty. Sometimes the disease is accompa- nied with quickness of breathing, and in a few cases with pain in the bowels, or symptoms of cholic. As soon as a horse is attacked by this disease, let him be bled freely, and if costiveness is one of the symptoms, give a pint of castor oil, or the oil of olives, and let a glyster of warm water gruel or flax-seed tea be injected; the fever powder is to be given once in twelve hours, and continued until its diuretic effect becomes considerable.—Warm water and mashes are to be frequently offered in small quantities ; warm cloathing, frequent hand-rubbing, and a liberal allowance of litter are also necesary, and when the fever runs high, it is advisable to insert rowels about the chest and belly, in order to prevent internal inflammation from taking place. When the disease appears to be going off, the horse looking more lively, and the appetite returning, let him be led out for a short time in some warm situation, and give now 33 and then a mash of cut straw, with a small quan- tity of oats and shorts mixed, for the purpose of recovering his strength. FEVER POWDER. No. 1. Powdered nitre, 1 oz. Camphor and tartarized antimony, 1 of each - - - - J 2 dn Mix for one dose. No. 2. Powdered nitre, - 1 oz. Unwashed calx of antimony, 2 dr. Mix for one dose. No. 3. Antimonial powder, 3 dr. Camphor, - 1 dr. Mix for one dose. SYMPTOMATIC FEVER. THE symptomatic fever is generally occa- sioned by high feeding with dry food, close sta- 34 bles, and a want of proper exercise ; sometimes, however, a sudden transition from a cold to a hot temperature is evidently the cause of it ; in this respect it is different from the simple fe- ver, which, as before observed, sometimes ari- ses from exposing a horse suddenly to a cold air, when he has been accustomed to a warm stable. Horses that are taken from camp or grass, and put suddenly into warm stables, are extremely liable to those internal inflammations on which symptomatic fever depends, and ma- ny thousands have fallen victims to this kind of treatment. When a fever is symptomatic, it is not prece- ded by shivering, nor is it so sudden in its attack as the simple fever ; but when it is not subdued by an early application of remedies, the symp- toms gradually increase in violence until they present a very formidable appearance. WThen the disease however is occasioned by great and long continued exertion, it generally comes on sud- denly, and the complaint has a very dangerous appearance in its earliest stage. The symptomatic fever has many symptoms in common with the simple fever, which are, loss of appetite, quick pulse, dejected appearance, hot mouth, and debility ; and if to these are joined Go difficulty of breathing, and quick working of the flanks, with coldness of the legs and ears, we may conclude that an inflammation of the lungs is the cause of the fever. If the horse hangs down his head in the manger, or leans back upon his collar with a strong appearance of being drowsy, the eyes appearing watery and inflamed, it is probable that the fever depends upon an ac- cumulation of blood in the vessels of the brain, and that the staggers are approaching ; in this case, however, the pulse is not always quickened, sometimes indeed we have found it unusually slow. When the symptoms of fever are joined with a yellowness of the eyes and mouth, an inflamma- tion of the liver is indicated. Should an inflam- mation of the bowels be the cause, the horse is violently griped. An inflammation of the kidneys, will also produce fever, and is distin- guished by a suppression of urine, and an inabi- lity to bear pressure upon the loins. When in- flammation of the bladder is the cause, the horse is frequently staling, voiding only very small quantities of urine, and that with considerable pain. Extensive wounds, and particularly those of joints, will also produce symptomatic fever. Sometimes several of the internal parts are in- flamed at the same instant, and indeed when in- 36 ft&mmation has existed for a considerable length of time, it is seldom confined to the organ in which it originated ; the disease spreads to other viscera, and when more than one organ is in- flamed, the symptoms will generally be com- plicated ; still, however, the essential remedies are the same, that is to say, copious and early bleeding, with rowels and blisters. Having now given a general description of symptomatic fever, we shall proceed to treat of those cases separately to which above we have briefly alluded. INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. This is a very dangerous disease, and one to which horses are extremely liable ; the frequency of its occurrence seems to be occasioned by im- proper management, and not by any natural de- fect in the constitution of the animal, it may therefore be prevented by proper attention in the groom. Medical writers make a distinction be- tween inflammation of the lungs and of the pleu- ra or the membrane, which covers those organs, calling the former peripneumony, and the latter .S N 0( pleurisy; this distinction, however, is not neces- sary in veterinary nosology, since we never find those parts affected separately in the horse. The progress of this disease is often very rapid, and unless proper remedies are employed at an early period, it frequently terminates fatally. Its ap- proach is indicated by the following symptoms : loss of appetite, an appearance of dullness, and disinclination to motion, unusual quickness in the motion of the flanks, hot mouth, and sometimes a cough. If the disease, by adopting an inert, or improper mode of treatment, is suffered to pro- ceed, all these symptoms will increase, respira- tion will become extremely quick and laborious, the pulse more frequent, and at the same time weak. A striking appearance of uneasiness and anxiety may be observed in the animal's counte- nance, the nostrils are expanded, the eyes fixed, and the head inclining downward, the legs and ears become cold, and the debility is so considera- ble, that he is incapable of moving in the stall without great difficulty ; he never lies down un- less so much weakened as to be incapable of standing. The disease, however, is not always so rapid in its progress as we have here described it, and not unfrequently a considerable remission may be observed, which is occasioned probably E 38 by an effusion of serum or water having taken place in the chest, and this remission is some- times so conspicuous, that we are led to give a favourable prognosis, the horse beginning to feed again, and the pulse becoming less frequent; but this flattering appearance often proves fallacious, the disease soon returns with accumulated force, and puts a period to the animal's life. I have seen cases where bleeding has not been per- formed with sufficient freedom, in which the in- flammation being checked in some degree, at length terminated in a plentiful^effusion of water in the chest; wrhen this happens the horse returns to his food, looks more lively, in short, the symp- toms of fever in a great measure disappear; still however, there is an unusual quickness in respi- ration, generally accompanied with a cough, the hind legs swell, and the horse very rarely lies down ; a rough unhealthy appearance may also be observed in the coat, the skin feeling as if stuck to the ribs, and the animal continues in a state of weakness ; after some time the inflam- mation generally returns, and then speedily ends in death. It sometimes happens that the inflam- mation terminates in suppuration, in this case also the fever is in some degree lessened, and the horse begins to feed a little, but he still remains 39 in a very feeble state, has a weak cough, and dis- charges foetid matter from his nostrils, at length the disease again becomes violent, and soon puts a period to his sufferings. The first thing to be done when this dangerous disease is observed, is to bleed copiously, say three or four quarts, even till the horse begins to faint from loss of blood. We have known six quarts drawn at one operation, and with the best effect ; sometimes indeed the disease will be completely subdued by thus bleeding freely at its commence- ment.—Should the horse be costive, or even if the bowels are in a natural state, it wall be ad- viseable to give a pint of castor oil, and inject a glyster of flaxseed tea or warm water gruel; it will then be necessary, in order to divert the in- flammation from this important organ, to insert rowels about the chest and belly, and to" blister the sides extensively; let the legs be kept warm by almost constant hand-rubbing, and warm cloath- ing, if in cool weather, must never be omitted ; nothing is more pernicious in this complaint than obliging the animal to breathe the impure air and stimulating vapours of a close and filthy stable , this is indeed so obvious a truth, that it would be unnecessary to mention it if it were not a con- stant practice with grooms on this occasion t« ■+0 stop every crevice they can find, by which pure air might be admitted, and the noxious ex- halations suffered to escape. If the disease does not appear to abate in twelve hours after the bleeding, particularly if it has be- come more violent, let that operation be repeated and with the same freedom as at first; we need not be apprehensive at this early period of the disease, of any dangerous debility ensuing from the loss of so much blood, on the contrary, it will tend to re-establish strength, by subduing the in- flammation on which the fever depends. In some cases, indeed, it has been found necessary to bleed several times, and very plentifully; it must be recollected, however, that when the fe- ver has existed for sometime, and has nearly ex- hausted the horse's strength, bleeding seldom does good, and in some instances, has probably been the means of hastening death. When suppura- tion takes place in the lungs, though there is little probability of saving the animal, his life may be prolonged by giving frequently good water gruel and infusion of malt opium, salt of hartshorn, and other cordials, will also be of service. We have generally given the following ball on those occa. sions, and though we have never seen a horse re- cover after suppuration had taken place in the 41 lungs, yet these remedies have certainly afforded considerable relief. Salt of hartshorn, - 1* dr. Opium, - - 1 dr. Powdered aniseeds, - | oz. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. When the mode of treatment we have recom- mended is adopted before the disease has gained much ground, it will generally succeed completely; considerable weakness will of course remain afW the fever has been removed, but that also will gradually go off, if proper attention is paid to the horse's diet and exercise. When the appetite begins to return, it will be adviseable to give small quantities of oats that have been softened by steeping in boiling water ; good water gruel will also be found serviceable in recruiting his strength; the sweetest parts should be selected from the hay, and given frequently in small quan- • tities; malt is an excellent restorative on these occasions, but must not be given too freely. When the weather is favourable, let the horse be led out for a short time every day ; or if a small enclosure can be procured, and the season of the year will admit of it, he may be turned out for a E '2 42 few hours every day, while the sun shines, taking care that he is well cloathed during that time, by these means he will be gradually restored to his original strength. INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. THIS disease is not so frequent as the preced- ing, though equally dangerous, and generally more rapid in its progress. Inflammation may attack either the peritorial coat of the intestine, or that delicate membrane which forms the internal or villous coat; in the former case the disease will be attended with costiveness, but in the latter a violent purging is the most conspicuous symp- tom ; but which ever of these coats is first at- tacked, the inflammation, in a short time gene- rally spreads to the other. The peritonseal inflammation begins with an appearance of dullness and uneasiness in the horse; the appetite is considerably diminished, or is entirely lost, and the pulse becomes more frequent; the pain and febrile symptoms gradu- ally increase ; he is continually pawing with his 43 fore feet, and frequently endeavours to kick hib belly; he lies down and suddenly rises again, and looks round to his flanks, strongly expressing by his countenance the violence of the pain he suffers ; his urine is commonly high coloured, and in small quantity, and sometimes voided with considerable pain ; he is generally costive, and the pulse is remarkably small and quick ; the legs and ears become cold, respiration is very much disturbed, and sometimes, from the vio- lence of the pain and the animal's struggling, profuse perspiration breaks out; at length mor- tification takes place, and is quickly succeeded by death. Sometimes the progress of this dis- ease is remarkably rapid, in one instance a com- plete mortification has taken place in the course of twelve hours, and that very extensively. When only the internal coat of the intestines is inflamed, there is generally a violent purging, accompanied with febrile symptoms, these, how- ever, are seldom so considerable as in peritonseal inflammation, nor does the animal appear to be in so much pain. This disease is commonly pro- duced by the improper use of physic, or by neglect- ing a horse during the operation of a purgative. In the treatment of peritonseai inflammation, early and copious bleeding is the most important 44 remedy. The efficacy of artificial inflamm idon on the surface of the body is remarkably con- spicuous in this disease, and we would recom- mend covering the back with fresh sheep skins, which would soon excite and keep up for a con- siderable time, a copious perspiration on the part; the whole of the abdomen or belly should have the mustard embrocation carefully rubbed upon it, the stimulating effects of which may be pro- moted by covering the part afterwards with sheep skins or warm cloathing; rowels also may be in- serted about the chest and belly, putting into them blistering ointment instead of turpentine, or the common digestive, which is usually employed for the purpose. Should the horse be costive, which, as we have before observed, is almost always the case, give a pint or twenty ounces of castor oil, and let glysters of flaxseed tea or water gruel be injected. He should be allowed to drink plentifully of warm infusion of linseed, or warm water alone ; and hand rubbing to the legs, with a liberal allowance of clean litter, should not be forgotten. If the disease does not abate in six hours after the bleeding, the operation must be repeated, and if the costiveness continues ten or twelve hours after the oil has been taken, give another *lose. and repeat the glysters. If the 4J iusease continues and increases in violence aftei all these remedies have been properly applied, there will be but little probability of recovery, particularly if the pulse has become so quick, weak, and fluttering, that it can scarcely be felt, and there appears to be a remission or cessation of pain, or if the horse becomes delirious ; these are always fatal symptoms, denoting that mortifi- cation is taking place, which is the eertain har- binger of death; but if the pain should continue after the above remedies have been fairly tried, the anodyne glyster may be injected. With respect to the causes of peritonseal in- flammation, the most common appears to be high feeding on dry provender and want of exercise ; it is not unfrequently occasioned, however, by putting a horse suddenly into warm stables when taken from camp or grass, the fatal consequences of this management has often been experienced before the veterinary art had made sufficient pro- gress to point out its impropriety and danger. In some instances the disease appears to have been produced by the distension which the in- testines have suffered in flatulent cholic or gripes, where that complaint has been neglected or improperly treated, or where the spasm has been 46 so violent as to resist the operation of every re- medy. An inflammation of the villous or internal coat of the intestine, we have before observed, is most commonly occasioned by giving too strong physic, or by inattention during its operation, and is generally accompanied with profuse purging; in this case a different treatment is required from that we have recommended for peritonseal in- flammation, and bleeding must not be employed unless the pulse is much accelerated and the febrile symptoms considerable ; the oil also must be omitted ; here the mustard embrocation and sheep skins to the back and belly are eminently useful. It is of consequence to make the horse drink freely of fine water gruel or linseed tea, which if he refuses to drink must be given by means of a long necked bottle, introduced into his mouth, his head to be held up until he swallows. If the disease continues, notwithstanding these reme- dies have been carefully employed, let the ano- dyne glyster be injected, and if that fails, give the anodyne or the restringent draft. It some- times happens when a horse has taken physic, that gripes and violent sickness occur before the purging takes place, in this case by means of a 47 glyster, a plentiful exhibition of thin water gruel and exercise, will produce an evacuation and relieve the animal. Peritonaeal inflammation has sometimes been mistaken for flatulent cholic or gripes, but their appearances are very different, and they may easily be distinguished by referring to the annexed table, in which their symptoms are contrasted. Restringent draft. Opium, - ' - 1 dr. Prepared chalk, \ oz. Compound powder of tragacanth, 1 oz. Mint water, - - 1 pint. Anodyne draft. Opium, - - - 11 dr. Water gruel, - - - 1 quart. Mix for one dose. Mustard embrocation. Camphor, - - - 1 oz. Oil of turpentine and water of pure ") ammonia, each - - J Flour of mustard, - - 8 oz. To be made into a thin paste, and rubbed for a considerable time on the part. 48 Anodyne glyster. Opium, - Water gruel, or linseed tea Mix for one injection. £ oz. 3 pints. A table, shewing the difference between flatident cholic or gripes, and inflammation of the boxvels. Symptoms of inflamma- tion of the bowels. i. Pulse very quick and small. 2. Lies down and sud- denly rises again, sel- dom rolling upon his back. 3. Legs and ears, gene- rally cold 4. Generally attacks ra- ther gradually, is com- monly preceded and always accompanied by symptoms of fe- ver. 5. No intermissions can be observed. Symptoms of flatulent cholic. 1. Pulse natural tho' sometimes a little quickened. 2. Lies down and rolls upon his back. 3. Legs and ears ge« nerally warm. 4. Attacks suddenly, is never preceded, and seldom accom- panied by any symp- toms of fever. 5. There are frequent- ly short intermis- sion. 49 4 INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH. THE stomach, like the intestines, may be in- flamed either on its external or internal surface ; when the former is the seat of disease, the symp- toms are nearly the same as those by which pe- ritonaea! inflammation of the intestines is indi- cated, and the same treatment is required: the only difference observable in the symptoms is, that in this case the pain seems to be more acute and distressing than in the other, the same dif- ference, indeed, may be observed, between the large and small intestines, the latter being pos- sessed of more sensibility than the former. When inflammation attacks the peritoneal coat of the stomach, it very soon diffuses itself to the small intestines and neighbouring viscera ; or if the small intestines be its original seat, it fre- quently spreads to the stomach, and sometimes to the large intestines also. In examining horses, therefore, that have died of these diseases, we seldom find the inflammation confined to one particular organ ; it more commonly happens, indeed, that the whole of the abdominal viscera will exhibit morbid appearances, but in different degrees ; those most contiguous to the part first diseased having suffered very considerably, while F such as are more remote from it, are perhaps scarcely altered, for we can generally distinguish the original seat of the inflammation. An inflammation of the intenml or villous coat of the stomach is not a very common disease, and is generally occasioned either by poisons or strong medicines that have been swallowed, or by that species of worms termed bots. When poisons or strong medicines, incautiously given, are the cause of this disease, it will of course come on suddenly, the pulse will be extremely quick and so weak that it can scarcely be felt, the extremities will become cold, and there will be a peculiar dejected appearance in the animal's countenance, respiration will be disturbed; some- times there will be a cough, and always a high degree of debility. The treatment of this dis- ease consists in giving oily or mucilaginous li- quids freely, such as decoction of linseed, gum arabic dissolved in wa'er, &c. and at the same time raedirines that are capable of decomposing or'destroying the poison ; for this purpose the sulphurated rati is useful in doses: of half an ounce, provided the poison be either mercurial or arsenical. Glysters are t<3 be injected, and if the disease is accompanied with purging, they should be composed of strong linseed decoction 51. or water gruel. We once saw five cases of in- flamed stomach, all of them occasioned by poi- son, in which the above treatment was pursued ; four of them perfectly recovered, and one died. —The inflammation which bots produce in the stomach is indicated by symptoms somewhat dil- ferent from those we have been just describing, indeed it may more properly be considered as ulceration of the stomach than inflammation, since, upon examining horsts .that have died of this complaint, ulcers of considerable size have always been found. This disease generally comes on very gradually, the horse becomes hide- bound, has a rough unhealthy coat, gradually loses flesh and strength, though he continues to feed well, and has a frequent and troublesome cough ; the disease perhaps will continue in this state for some time, and no serious consequences are apprehended ; its cause and seat are - seldom suspected, medicines are given to remove the cough, with common alteratives for the purpose of improving his condition. In some instances these insects are spontane- ously detached, and expelled through the intes- tines : in such cases, if the stomach has not been much hurt by them, it will gradually recover^ and the horse will be restored to his originu* 52 strength and condition. It sometimes happens, however, that these worms produce such con- siderable mischief in the stomach, as to throw the whole system into disorder. The lungs are particularly liable to sympathize with the sto- mach in this case, and frequently become in- flamed in consequence. The inflammation thus produced in the lungs is extremely obstinate, and though it may be checked in some degree by bleeding, and the "ftther remedies we have re- commended for that disease, yet as the cause cannot often be removed, it generally terminates fatally. This symptomatic inflammation of the lungs may be distinguished from the idrophatic or original, by the following circumstance :— It is generally preceded by an unhealthy appear- ance in the coat and a troublesome cough; the animal seldom bears bleeding well, the loss of any considerable quantity causing a rapid dimi- nution of strength, whereas in the idiophatic in- flammation of the lungs, the strength of the pulse, as well as the whole system, is often in- creased by bleeding. With respect to the reme- dies for this disease, those recommended for in- flammation of the lungs are the best, but when the stomach has been considerably injured, there is little prospect of success. Infusion of malt 53 has been recommended for the purpose of in- ducing bots to disengage themselves, (see Bots) ; It is doubtful, however, whether any thing will effectually remove them, though they frequently come off spontaneously, particularly about the Spring. We have had an opportunity of exa- mining the bodies of several horses that had been destroyed in this way, in all of them there was mortification and suppuration of the lungs, which appeared to have been the proximate cause of death, but on opening the stomach an immense number of bots was found, many of them at- tached to the sensible part, and to the pylorus or beginning of the intestine ; in every instance there were ulcers of considerable size found, in some the coats of the stomach had been nearly destroyed. It appeared very clearly, in all these cases, that the disease of the stomach was ante- cedent to that of the lungs. It must not be supposed, from what has been said on this subject, that bots cannot exist in the stomach without producing all this mischief; on the contrary, they are often found in healthy horses that have been shot or otherwise destroyed, and it has been known that such horses have suf- fered no apparent inconvenience from them du- ring life. In all these instances, however, they y 2 54 have been attached to the upper or insensible coat of the stomach.—See bots. INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. THIS disease does not occur very frequently, and is generally occasioned, it is believed, by an immoderate use of strong diuretic medicines. At the first attack of this complaint the horse constantly stands as if he wanted to stale, some- times voiding a small quantity of high coloured or bloody urine ; when the inflammation be- comes more considerable, a suppression of urine and fever generally takes place ; if the loins are pressed upon, the animal shrinks from it, and appears to feel great pain. In the first place bleed freely, then give a pint or twenty ounces of castor oil, throw up glysters of warm water, and cover the loins with sheep skins, having pre- viously rubbed upon them the mustard embro- cation ; should these remedies fail of procuring relief, repeat the bleeding, and should the oil not have operated sufficiently, let another dose be given. AU diuretic medicines are to be care- 55 fully avoided, or any thing capable of provoking urine. INFLAMMATION OF THE BLAD- DER. WHEN the bladder is much inflamed, its irritability is so increased, that it becomes inca- pable of containing any urine, contracting upon every drop almost that passes into it from the kidneys; in this complaint, therefore, the horse is attempting almost constantly to stale, but voids only a few drops of urine, and that with con- siderable pain : it is generally attended with quick pulse and other symptoms of fever. Nothing is more beneficial in this disease than causing the horse to drink largely of linseed decoction, or any other mucilaginous liquid, and throwing up frequently glysters of the same, bleeding, and a dose of castor oil, are likewise highly necessary ; after the operation of the oil, let the following ball be given every sixth hour. Should no relief be obtained by these means, the horse continu- ing to void his urine frequently, in small quanti- ties, and with pain, give one dram of opium 56 twice a day and omit the ball: costiveness tends very much to aggravate this complaint, whenever itoccurs, therefore, let a glyster be injected, and a dose of oil given. THE BALL. Powdered nitre, - j oz. Camphor, - 1 dr. Liquorice powder, - 3 dr. Honey sufficient to form the ball for one dose. INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER. THIS disease is indicated by a yellowness of the eyes and mouth, red or dark coloured urine, great weakness, and fever, generally, though not always, accompanied with diarrhsea or purging ; the horse has a very languid appearance, and is almost constantly lying down: sometimes the progress of this complaint is very rapid, speedily terminating in death ; at others it proceeds more slowly, the animal lingering for a considerable time ; in this case it not unfrequently terminates in dropsy, or inflammation of the bowels. Bleeding can only be employed at the com- 57 mencement of this disease with safety, after- wards it generally does harm, by inducing a dangerous degree of debility ; the sides should be blistered, and if there be no purging, the ball, No. 1, given once in twelve hours, until it occa- sions moderate purging; but if the bowels are already in a lax state, the ball, No. 2 or 3, will be better adapted to the complaint, and is to be given in the same way. THE BALL. No. 1. Calomel, - - - \ dr. Aloes, - - - 1 dr. Castile soap, - - 2 dr. Rhubarb, - - \ oz. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. No. 2. Opium - - 1 dr. to 1 dr. Calomel, - - - 1 dr. Castile soap, - - 2 dr. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. No. 3. Opium and calomel, of each, 1 dr. Emetic tartar, - - 2 dr. Liquorice powder, - 3 dr. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. 58 STRANGLES, or THROAT DISTEM- PER. THIS disease generally attacks young horses between the 3d and 5th year of their age, and consists in an inflammation and swelling of the glands under the throat, accompanied with cough and a discharge of white thick matter from the nostrils ; sometimes there is likewise a sore- ness of the throat and difficulty in swallowing. The inflamed glands commonly- suppurate in a short time and burst, discharging a large quan- tity of matter; when this has taken place, the cough and other symptoms generally go off, the sore gradually heals, and the horse speedily re- covers. In some cases the strangles assume a more formidable appearance, are attended with a considerable degree of fever, and the throat is sometimes so much inflamed, that the horse is incapable of swallowing either food or water: but however violent the attack may be, if a pro- per mode of treatment is adopted, everyfunplea- sant symptom may be easily removed, and a speedy recovery effected. It is not a very un- common circumstance for the strangles »o at- tack young horses while at grass, and then they are frequendy not perceived until nature has nearly effected a cure. 59 The approach of strangles may be known by a dulness of countenance, watery eyes, cough, and a slight degree of swelling in the glands un- der the jaw ; as soon as they are discovered^ let the hair be carefully clipped off from the inflamed glands and contiguous parts of the throat ; let a large poultice be then applied to the throat, in doing which it is necessary to take care that it is so secured as to be constantly in contact with the throat, for unless this is attended to, the poul- tice will be but of little service. It will be found that by rubbing a small quantity of some stimu- lating ointment on the inflamed glands, previous to the application of each poultice, suppuration may be considerably promoted, for this purpose the following formula will be found useful: Camphor, - - - 2 dr. Oil of origanum, - 1 dr. Spermaceti ointment, . 2 oz. mix. When matter is completely formed in the glands, which may be known by the tumor be- coming larger, and by the skin feeling tense, and somewhat elastic, an opening should be made with a lancet, and its contents evacuated ; this plan is certainly preferable to that of waiting until it 60 bursts spontaneously, as the animal is instantly relieved by it, and the cure more speedily effect- ed. To evacuate the matter perfectly, it is ne- cessary to use moderate pressure with the fin- gers, and when this has been done, let a piece of lint, dipped in digestive liniment be inserted for the purpose of keeping the lips of the wound open, and allowing the matter to escape freely ; the poultice is to be continued until the swelling is perfectly reduced. When strangles attack so violently as to render the horse incapable of swal- lowing, and particularly if the swelling in the throat is not considerable, it will be adviseable to blister the throat, and keep the bowels open with glysters of flax-seed tea or gruel. It is very ne- cessary, in every case of strangles, to steam the head well, that is, to put hot bran mashes into the manger frequently, so that the horse may inhale the vapours. It is of consequence to distinguish cases of inci- pient strangles from common colds ; in the latter bleeding is an useful remedy, but in the former it does much harm, by interrupting a process of na- ture. We cannot, by any argument, shew why bleeding should be improper in the strangles, in- deed, if our practice were guided by theory only, we should be led to consider it as a case of com- ^61 mon inflammation, and consequently adopt that mode of treatment which would tend to remove it most expeditiously and prevent suppuration, and with this view we should have recourse to bleeding and purgatives ; experience, however, certainly sanctions a different treatment, and has fully proved the propriety of using every means for encouraging suppuration. We have seen se- veral hundred cases in which this plan has been pursued and not one of them terminated unfavour- ably. Should a cough or any unpleasant symp- tom remain after the strangles are healed, let the following alterative ball be given every morning, until moderate purging is produced, and if it is found necessary, let it be repeated after an inter- val of four or five days. It is almost superflu- ous to add that great attention must be paid by the groom ; the head, neck, and chest, as well as the body, should be cloathed, warm water should be given frequently in small quantities, a large quantity of litter should be allowed, and hand-rubbing to the legs should never be omitted. ALTERATIVE BALL. Succotrine aloes, - 1 dr. Emetic tartar and Castile soap,") 2 dr> of each, J To be made into a ball for one dose. G 62 CATARRH OR COLD; IT would be superfluous to give a particular description of this complaint, since it is so well known, and its appearances so generally under- stood, that scarcely any one can be at a loss to distinguish it from other diseases. It consists in an inflammation of the mucous membrane, which lines the internal part of the nose, throat, &c. sometimes attended with a slight degree of fever; hence arise the cough and discharge from the nostrils, which are its principal symp- toms. On the first attack of this complaint, bleeding \jg}l generally be found an effectual re- medy, but if it is neglected until a considerable discharge has taken place from the nostrils, it seldom proves beneficial. A dose of fever pow- der is to be given every'lmorniDg and evening until the symptoms abate, or a considerable diure- tic effect is produced, and then every second or third day only. Sometimes a swelling takes place in the paro- tid glands, which are situated immediately be- neath the ear. Should no;nnusual heat or ten- derness be observed in those swellings, apply the stimulating ointment recommended for stran- gles, but if they feel hot, are painful and appear 63 to be in a state of active inflammation, a poultice is the best remedy. If the eyes are inflamed and watery, a rowel should be inserted under the jaw, and if the inflammation in the throat is so considerable as to render the swallowing painful and difficult, a blister will afford great relief. Hot bran mashes should be given frequently, which will not only serve to keep the bowels open, but will act as a fomentation to the in- flamed membranes, since the horse will be con- stantly inhaling the vapour which escapes from them. Should he be costive (which is not likely to happen while he is taking bran mashes) let glysters be injected occasionally. The head and chest, as well as the body, should be well cloathed, the legs frequently hand rubbed, and a large quantity of litter allowed ; by these means he will soon be restored to health. Should a cold be attended with a considerable degree of fever, or if the appetite goes off, an<|%he flanks work quicker than usual, it is necessary to make some alteration in the treatment (vide fever and inflammation of the lungs). It is necessary to observe before we conclude this subject, that the strangles on their first attack are sometimes mis- taken for a cold ; this may be productive of mischief, since bleeding is generally improper in 64 that complaint; if, therefore, a cold is accoro- panied with a swelling of the glands under the jaw, if they feel hot and are painful, and particu- larly if the horse is young, we may conclude that the strangles are approaching, and treat it ac- cordingly. Should the cough remain after the other symptoms are gone off, give the ball, No. 1, every morning, until moderate purging is produced, and if it continues after this, let the ball, No. 2, be given every morning for a week. No. 1. Succotrine aloes, 1 dr. Castile soap and tartarised anti-") « j mony, of each, - J To be made into a ball with syrup. ..- <»* No. 2. Powdered squills, - - 1 dr. Gum ammoniac, - - 3 dr. ----opium, - | dr. Syrup enough to form the ball. 65 INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE. WHEN the eye is inflamed it loses in some measure its transparency, appearing sometimes as if covered with a film, the lids are partially closed, and the haws become more visible.— Should the inflammation have been brought on by some external injury, and particularly if it is not very considerable, washing frequently with salt and water or molasses and water cold, will be sufficient to remove it, but in more violent cases it will be necessary also to bleed moderately and give a laxative ball of succotrine aloes, 4 dr. castile soap, i oz. by these means inflammation arising from external injury may generally be cured in a short time. The eyes often become inflamed in consequence of cold and fevers, in which cases the cause is to be chiefly attended : when that is removed the inflammation usually ceases. The most common cause, however, of this com- plaint, is high feeding, without sufficient exercise, or too violent exercise ; a. dark and badly venti- lated stable, foul litter, &c. ; these cases require great care and attention, for unless proper reme- dies are employed on the first attack, the disease (though it appears to go off) will be frequently returning, and in all probability eventually g2 66 produce blindness. The first remedy to be employed on this occasion, is bleeding, and the quantity of blood that is drawn should be proportionate to the violence of the in- flammation, and the condition of the animal, say from two to three quarts.—Should the ves- sels on the white part of the eye and inner part of the eye-lids appear to be distended with blood, great advantage will be derived from scarifying the latter with a lancet.—A laxative ball, or half a pound of salts dissolved in three quarts of wa- ter is to be given, and the bowels afterwards kept in a lax state by means of bran mashes. A seton placed immediately under the eye is a very useful remedy: but unless the operation is nicely performed, it frequently leaves an unpleasant mark behind, which would lead a person, expe- rienced in horses, to suspect that the eye had been diseased, and might therefore diminish the value of the horse. This kind of inflammation gene- sally comes on rather suddenly, sometimes at- tacking only one eye, at others, both are affected; as there is no apparent cause for this sudden at- tack of inflammation, the groom very commonly attributes it to seeds or dust having fallen from the rack into the eye, and very little attention is paid to it; notwithstanding this neglect, the dis- ease frequently goes off, and in some tases its dis- appearance is nearly as sudden asils attack ; in a short time however, it again appears as unexpected- ly as at first, and again perhaps goes off; in this un- certain way it may continue a considerable tim e, the eyes sometimes appearing transparent, and free from inflammation, at others, watery, inflamed, and opaque on the surface ; at length the inter- nal parts of the eye are affected, and a cataract produced. Whenever a horse's eye becomes inflamed, it is necessary to enquire into the cause of the inflammation ; if it arises from a mechanical injury or any of the aforesaid causes, and is not very considerable, there will be great probability of its being speedily removed,.by means of the remedies pointed out, if employed sufficiently early, but if they are neglected at the commencement of the disease, though the inflam- mation, after some time appears to go off, and the eye, to a superficial observer, seems to have re- covered, yet the disease frequently returns and ul- timately occasions blindess. Should the disease have occurred before, and particularly if the form- er attack was violent, there is still less chance of its being removed, and all our remedies may prove ineffectual. It frequently happens that when both eyes are inflamed, and a complete cataract 6S forms in one of them, the other becomes per- fectly sound and strong. It must be observed that when a horse has suffered more than once from this disease, and is in low condition, evacu- ations must not be made too freely ; there are few cases, however, where moderate bleeding and a laxative ball or a dose of salts are not re- quired. With respect to topical applications, or those remedies which are applied immediately to the eye, much benefit is not generally derived from them, except when the inflammation has abated considerably, and there remains an opa- city or film on the surface, in which case, put a scruple of roach alum and a scruple of white vit- riol both finely powdered, into a gill of spring water and with a feather put a drop or two into the eye morning and evening. (EYE-WATER, EXCELLENT FOR WEAK EYES. Put half a drachm white vitriol, half a drachm sugar of lead into a |pint of rose or spring water, apply a drop or two with a feather morning and evening.) Do not use grease or oil about the eye, or blow powders of any kind into them ; always prefer liquids. Whenever the eyes are weak, or 69 in a state of inflammation, the vapours which arise from foul litter, should be carefully guard- ed against, indeed, it is by no means an impro- bable conjecture that when the eyes are weak, these irritating vapours may often prove the ex- citing cause of inflammation. There is a carti- laginous body connected with the eyes of horses, commonly termed the haw. Whenever the eye is drawn into the socket, (which the horse has the power of doing by means of a muscle that does not exist in the human subject) the haw is forced over the eye, so that when dust happens to adhere to the surface of the eye, he is enabled by means of this cartilage to wipe it off ; and as light is painful to the animal when the eye is in a state of inflammation, we generally find that or- gan, on such occasions, drawn more than usual into the socket, and consequently the haw be- comes conspicuous on its surface. Some Far- riers in this case consider the haw as an unusual excrescence, and the cause of the disease, they frequently therefore cut it off. The celebrated Mr. Taplin considered the haw as a preternatu- ral enlargement of the corners of the eye. The haws should never be cut off; as blindness is generally hastened by this cruel operation. ro LOCKED JAW. THIS disease, very fortunately occurs but seldom, and generally terminates fatally ; it be- gins with a difficulty in mastication, at length the jawrs become so completely and immovea- bly closed, that neither medicines nor food can be got into the stomach ; the muscles of the neck are generally in a state of rigid contraction, add ' the animal appears to suffer great pain: it is of- ten brought on by trifling causes, such as wounds of the foot, inflammation in the tail, from dock- ing or nicking, &c. and sometimes it attacks without any apparent cause. Various remedbs have been tried in this complaint, but no effec- tual mode of treatment has yet been discovered; immersion in cold water, or even snow, is said to produce a temporary relaxation of those mus- cles by which the jaws are closed. Opium and camphor have been strongly recommended. We have lately been informed of a case in which a combination of those medicines completely succeeded. In America and the West India islands, where the disease is more frequent than it is in Europe, strong stimulants have in some instances been found effectual; it would be ad- viseable therefore to try the same plan in horses 71 should opium and camphor fail. The best sti- mulants for this purpose are spirits of hartshorn; ether, opium, and brandy, given internally. LAMPAS. ' WHEN the bars or roof of the horse's mouth., near the front teeth, become level with, or higher than the teeth, he is said to have the Lampas, and tills is supposed to prevent his feeding. Far- riers burn down this swoln part with a red hot iron made for the purpose. We believe this operation is performed much more frequently than is necessary, but we have never seen any bad consequences arise from it. ROARING. THIS disease takes its name from a peculiar sound in respiration, particularly when the horse is put into a brisk trot or gallop; it seems to arise from lymph that has been effused in the windpipe or its branches, which becoming solid 72 obstructs, in a greater or less degree, the pas- sage of air. As a remedy for this complaint blistering the whole length of the windpipe has been recommended; It is believed, however, that this disease is always incurable. BROKEN WIND. IT seems to be universally allowed that this complaint is incurable, though it will admit of considerable alleviation, and if its approach be perceived sufficiently early, may probably be prevented. Horses that appear to be most sub- ject to it, are those with voracious appetites, that eat even their litter, and keep themselves in good condition upon a moderate allowance of corn ; also such as are fed highly, and at the same time not properly exercised. The lungs of broken winded horses are generally unusually large, with numerous air bladders on the surface ; this must have arisen from a rupture of some of the air cells, for in that case some part of the air which is inspired, will necessarily get into the cellular membrane of the lungs, and diffuse itself until it arrives at the surface, when it will raise 7S the pleura so as to form the air bladders we ob- serve. This is the reason that the lungs of bro- ken winded horses do not collapse when the chest is punctured, and this will serve to explain the peculiar motion of the flanks in broken wind- ed horses, which does not consist, as Mr. L. asserts, in a quick expiration and very slow in- spiration, but quite the reverse ; air is received into the lungs very readily, which is manifested by a sudden falling of the flanks, but is expelled slorvly, and with great difficulty, as may be per- ceived by the long continued exertion of the ab- dominal muscles. When the membrane which lines the windpipe and all its branches, has been effected with in- flammation, it becomes thickened in consequence, and the capacity of the lungs will of course be diminished : this will cause'^a quickness in respi- ration, but not that irregular or unequal kind of breathing, by which broken wind is characterized; the complaint, which is thus produced, is com- monly termed thick wind, and the horse so af- fected, if made to move rapidly, wheezes almost like an-asthmatic person, and is unfit for any vio- lent exercise. It not Unfrequently happens, we believe, that this complaint proves a cause of bro- K 74 ken wind, for when the membrane is much thick- ened, many of the finer branches of the windpipe are probably obstructed in a greater or less de- gree, the violent coughing which usually accom- panies this disease, Will, under such circumstan- ces, be very liable to rupture some of the air cells. The same effect may be produced by vio- lent exercise when the stomach is distended with food or water; we believe, however, that a ple- thora or fulness of habit is most commonly the remote cause of broken wind; in that case there is generally an undue determination of blood to the lungs, whereby the secretion within the air vessels is increased, and perhaps rendered some- what acrimonious and viscid, exciting a violent and troublesome cough. Whenever a horse appears to be imperfect in hjs wind, if he coughs violently, particularly when exercised, with unusual working of the flanks, and if at the same time he appears to be in good health and spirits, feeding heartily and eager for water, let him be bled moderately, and fake a laxative ball, by these means, assisted by a bran diet attd regular exercise, the lungs will soon be relieved, and the cough, if not complete- ly removed, will be considerably diminished ; 75 then give the following ball every morning for a week, and take care that regular exercise is never omitted: it will be adviseable also to prevent the horse from filling himself too much with hay or water, the latter should be given five or six times a day, in small quantities; the com- mon method of stinting a horse in water, when his wind is supposed to be bad, is certainly pre- judicial; corn should be, given sparingly, for high feeding tends very much to aggravate the complaint; bran is an useful diet, if mixed with corn, and cut hay or straw. The vapours which arise from foul litter and the air of a close stable are extremely pernicious. We have seen very good effects froni turning the horse into a yard or lot during the day, when the weather is fa- vourable. When the cough and other symptoms have been removed, these means must be still persevered in, or the disease will probably re- turn : regular and long continued exercise tends more than any thing to keep it off, but violent exercise is extremely improper. Whenever cos- tiveness occurs it should be removed by means of a glyster and bran mashes, and should the horse be disposed to eat his litter, it is to be pre- vented by means of a muzzle. 76 THE BALL. Powdered squills, 1 dr. Gum ammoniac, \ oz. Powdered aniseeds, - 3 dr. To be made into a ball with syrup, for one dose. (How to be given, see p. 82.) JAUNDICE. THIS disease is indicated by a yellowness of the eyes and mouth, dulness and lassitude ; the appetite is generally diminished, the urine of a reddish or dark colour. Sometimes the com- plaint is attended with costiveness, but more com- monly with a purging. This disease does not often arise from an obstruction in the biliary ducts, as in the human subject, but generally from in- creased action of the liver, whereby an unusual quantity of bile is secreted. Inflammation of the liver is sometimes mistaken for jaundice, but may be distinguished from it by the fever with which it is always accompanied. When costiveness is one of the symptoms of jaundice, give the ball, No. 1, every morning, until moderate purging is produced, but if the bowels are already open, or in a state of purging, 77 give the ball, No. 2, every morning. The horse's strength should be supported by an infu- sion of malt or water gruel. THE BALL. No. 1. Calomel, - - - \ dr. Aloes, - - - 1 dr. Castile soap, - - 2 dr. Rhubarb, - - 3 dr. To be made into a ball with syrup, for one dose. No. 2. Calomel and opium, of each, 1 dr. Columbo root, powdered, 3 dr. Powdered ginger, - \ dr. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. FLATULENT CHOLIC, GRIPES, OR FRET. THIS disease generally attacks rather sud- denly, and isbrought on by various causes; some- times it is occasioned by drinking a large quan- tity of cold water when the body has been heated, and the motion of die blood accelerated by vio- H2 78 lent exercise. In horses of delicate constitutions, that have been accustomed to hot stables and warm cloathing, it may be brought on merely by drinking water that is very cold, though they have not been previously exercised. Bad hay appears to be another cause of the complaint; but it frequently occurs without any apparent cause, and then probably depends upon a sudden loss of energy in the stomach or bowels, occasi- oning a spasmodic constriction of the intestine, and a confinement of air. The air which is thus confined, does not appear to be produced by fer- mentation of the contents of the intestine, it is more probably a secretion of the internal or vil- lous coat, in consequence of its atonic state; this opinion, however, is founded merely upon ana- logy, the air having never been examined. The pain and uneasiness which this complaint occasions are so considerable as to alarm those who are not accustomed to see it, and lead them to be apprehensive of dangerous consequences; but if properly treated, it may be easily and ex- peditiously removed. It begins with an appear- ance of uneasiness in the horse, he is frequently pawing the litter, voids a small quantity of excre- ment, and makes fruitless attempts to stale; the pain soon becomes more violent, he endeavours 79 to kick his belly, and looks round to his flanks, expressing by groans the pain he labours under; at length he lies down, rolls about the stall, and falls into a profuse perspiration ; after a short time he generally gets up, and appears for a mi- nute or two to be getting better, but the pain soon returns and the succeeding paroxysm is ge- nerally more violent, than the former—the pulse is seldom much accelerated, nor are there any svmptoms of fever. The disease will sometimes go off spontaneously ; it more commonly hap- pens, however, when proper remedies are not employed, that the air continues to accumulate, and so distends the intestine, as to produce inflammation of its coats : the distension has sometimes been so considerable as to rupture the intestine, whereby the horse is speedily de- stroyed. As soon as this disease is observed, let one of the following draughts be given, and a glyster injected, composed of six quarts of water gruel or warm water, and 8 oz. common salt. If the disease has existed for several hours, and the pain appears to be very considerable, particular- ly if the pulse has become quick, it will be ad- viseable to bleed to three quarts, with a view to prevent inflammation and remove the spasmodic 80 contraction of the intestine. If the disease, how- ever, is perceived on its first attack, the draught and glister will generally be sufficient to cure it: but should no relief be obtained by these means in an hour or two, let the draught be repeated, and let the belly be rubbed for a considerable time with the mustard embrocation. Should the disease be so obstinate as to resist even these remedies, which will scarcely ever happen, give a pint of castor oil, with \\ oz. tincture of opium or laudanum, and if castor oil cannot be had, 1 \ pint of linseed oil may be substituted: as soon as the horse gets up, let him be rubbed perfectly dry by two persons, one on each side, and afterwards let him be well clothed. It is necessary in this com- plaint to provide a large quantity of litter for the purpose of preventing the horse from in- juring himself during the violence of the pa- roxysm. THE DRAUGHT. No. 1. Balsam ofcapivi, 1 o?. Oil of juniper, - 1 dr. Spirit of nitrous ether, - £ oz. Simple mint water, - 1 pint. Mix for one dose. (How to be given, see p. 82.) 81 No. 2, Venice turpentine, - 1 oz. Mix with the yolk of an egg, and add gradually Peppermint water, - 1 pint. Spirit, of nitrous ether, - ± oz. Mix for one dose. No. 3. Camphor, - - - 2 dr. Oil of turpentine, - - | oz. Mint water, - - - 1 pint. Mix for one dose. Or in case neither of the foregoing prescrip- tions can be had (but not otherwise) use No. 4. Gin ©r other ardent spirits, - 3 gills, diluted with an equal quantity of warm water, which may be repeated in half an hour if the pain does not subside. As this complaint is liable to occur during a journey, in situations where the above remedies cannot be readily procured, I have annexed a formula for a ball, for the convenience of those who are in the habit of travelling. If this ball is wrapped up closely in bladder, it may be kept a considerable time without losing its virtues. 82 THE- BALL. Castile soap, 3 dr. Camphor, - - 2 dr. Ginger, - - - 1| dr. Venice turpentine, - 6 dr. To be made into a ball for one dose. DRENCH OR DRAUGHT. The best method of administering a drench or any liquid medicine, is by means of a claret, or any other bottle with a long neck ; the liquid be- ing first put into the bottle, the neck is to be in- troduced as far into the mouth of the horse as possible and the contents discharged, his head is at the same time to be held so high with a bri- dle as to prevent his throwing out any of the liquid; the under jaw and tongue must be left at liberty or he cannot conveniently swallow.— When a ball is given the same method must be observed as to holding up his head. CLYSTER. The method of administering a glister is by means of a large bladder (to be softened by put- ting it into warm water before it is used) and a pewter pipe or common reed, or indeed any other tube nine or ten inches in length which is 83 not more than about one inch in diameter. The neck of the bladder should be cut off and after the glister is put into it through a funnel, it must be securely tied round one end of the tube, the other end after being made smooth, is to be well oiled and then introduced several inches in- to the anus; the liquid in the bladder is to be 'orced through the tube by pressure with the hand. When the glister is given the horse should be placed with his hind parts much the highest, and if he will not stand a twitch should be put upon his nose. APOPLEXY OR STAGGERS. THIS disease generally begins with an appear- ance of drowsiness, the eyes being inflamed and full of tears, and the appetite diminished ; the disposition to sleep gradually increases, and in a short time the horse is constantly resting his head in the manger and sleeping, the pulse is sel- dom much altered ; costiveness and a deficient secretion of Urine commonly attend this complaint. Sometimes the disease will continue in this sut«r 84 for several days, at others it assumes a formida- ble appearance very early, or even at its com- mencement, the horse falling down and lying in a state of insensibility, or violent convulsions coming on. Sometimes a furious delirium takes place, the horse plunging and throwing himself about the stable, so as to render it dangerous for any one to come near him. From this variety in the symptoms, writers on farriery have divided the disease into the sleeping and the ma*/staggers. It has been supposed that the staggers are fre- quently occasioned by a diseased condition of the stomach. When the complaint originates in the stomach, the horse is generally in a state of debility previous to the attack, the pulse is quick and weak, there is a yellowness in the eyes and mouth, and should the stomach be considerably distended with air and food, the belly Will be swollen and feel very tense, and respiration will be much disturbed : it will also occasion very acute pain, which will be strongly expressed by the animal. In cases of this kind it must be ob- vious that bleeding is a doubtful remedy, and should not be employed unless there are* evident marks of congestion in the brain, bleeding, how- ever has proved a sovereign remedy, if employed with sufficient freedom,before an effusion of water, 85 iravasaiiou, or inflammation have taken place; for it appears evident that the first stage of the complaint arises from an accumulation of blood in the vessels of the brain, which impedes, in some degree, the functions of that important or- gan ; and if these vessels are not relieved by co- pious bleeding, there will be either an effusion of water in its ventricles, an inflammation of the membranes, or a rupture of some blood vessel, and consequently an extravasation of blood.— These are the causes which give rise to those violent symptoms denominated mad staggers,. and which frequently prove fatal. There is sometimes so sudden a determination of blood to the brain, that those dangerous symp- toms make their appearance before any effectual remedies can be applied. From the view we have given of the staggers, it will appear, that the terms which farriers have adopted to distinguish its different appear- ances, are very inadequate ; and that it would be better to consider the disease under the two fol- lowing heads, viz. the idiopathic and the sympto- matic staggers. In the former, bleeding is the grand remedy, and seldom fails of affording re- lief if employed with freedom at the commence- ment of the disease. It will be adviseable also i 86 to give the following purgative draft, and inject a stimulating glyster, composed of a gallon of water and 8 oz. common salt. (How to be given, see p. 82.) Should the symptoms not abate in eight or ten hours after the bleeding, there will be great probability of obtaining relief by openingthe temporal arteries, and suffering them to bleed free- ly. When the disposition to sleep is not removed by the first bleeding, the head should be blistered, and a rowel inserted under the jaw. With respect to the symptomatic staggers, which originate in a diseased condition of the stomach, a different treatment must be pursued. In this case medi- cines of a stimulating and antispasmodic quality have been strongly recommended, of this kind are salt of hartshorn, assafsetida, ether, fsetid spirit of ammonia, camphor, &c. &c. It appears, how- ever, that an opening medicine is preferable, and for this purpose the following formula is re- commended : Aloes, - - - 6 dr. Myrrh and ginger, of each, 2 dr. Castile soap, 3 dr. Simple mint water, - 1 pint. Mix for one dose. (How to be given, see p. 82.) Its operation may be assisted by a glyster.— 87 Should this not succeed in relieving the animal, it will be adviseable to have recourse to one of the three following formulae : No. 1. Fsetid spirit of ammonia, - 1 oz. Camphor, - - - 1 dr. Mint water, - - - 1 pint. Mix for one dose. No. 2. Spirit of hartshorn, - 1 oz. Powdered valerian, - 6 dr. Mint water, - - 1 pint. Mix for one dose. No. 3. Assafsetida, - - \ oz. Camphor and salt of hartshorn, > 1 ^ of each, - J To be made into a ball with syrup for one dose; PURGATIVE DRAFT. Succotrine aloes, - 1 oz. Castile soap, - - - 2 dr. Common salt, - - 4 oz. Water, - - - lpint. Mix for one dose. 88 Bleeding, it has been before observed, i- sel- dom proper in symptomatic staggers ; but when- ever the pulse is tolerably strong, and the dispo- sition to sleep considerable, it should by no means be omitted. DIARRHEA OR PURGING. THIS is not a very common disease in the horse, and seldom difficult of cure ; it may be oc- casioned by a suppression of perspiration, or by an increased secretion of bile ; from whatever cause it may proceed, give in the first place the following laxative ball, and if the disease does not cease in two or three days, let the astringent ball be given. Warm clothing is particularly re- quired in this complaint, and exercise should not be neglected ; his water should be moderately warm, and given frequently in small quantities. When a purging is accompanied with griping pains and fever, it is to be considered as a case of inflammation in the bowels, and treated ac- cordingly. 89 LAXATIVE BALL. Succotrine aloes, 4 dr. Powdered Rhubarb, - 3 dr. Castile soap, - - 2 dr. To be made into a ball with syrup for one dose. ASTRINGENT BALL. Opium, - - 1 dr. Tartarized antimony, - 3 dr. Powdered ginger, - - 2 dr. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. DIABETES OR EXCESSIVE STALING. THIS disease often proves extremely obsti- nate, and not unfrequently incurable ; it is be- lieved however, that if attended to at its com- mencement, a cure may sometimes be effected without much difficulty. The complaint at first consists merely in an increased secretion of urine, the horse staling frequently, and in considerable quantity ; the urine is generally transparent and colourless like water; at length he becomes fe- verish, the mouth feels dry, and he seems to suf- fer much from thirst, the appetite is diminished, I 2 -90 and the pulse becomes quick ; the horse is gener- ally hick-bound, and gradually loses flesh and strength. Lime water has been much recom- mended as a remedy for this disease ; it is some- times given, however, without any good effect. Some recommend diaphoretic medicines, from a supposition that it depends in a great measure upon a suppression of perspiration. Bark and other tonics have also been considered as useful remedies. A number of cases have speedily been cured by means of the following ball: BALL TOR DIABETES. Opium, - - - 1 dr. Powdered ginger, - 2 dr. Yellow Peruvian bark, - ^ oz. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. But these were all cases, not attended with fe- ver, nor had the horses lost much strength or be- come hide-bound in any considerable degree, yet the disease was well marked, and would, no doubt have produced all those symptoms, had it not been attacked as soon almost as it made its ap- pearance. In all these cases the quantity of urine discharged was very considerable, the mouth was dry, and there appeared to be a constant 91 thirst. It seems, therefore, highly necessary to attend to this disease at its commencement, since, if neglected at this period, it becomes ex- tremely obstinate, and sometimes incurable.— Should the above remedy fail, try one of the fol- lowing formulae: BALLS FOR DIABETES. No. 1. Emetic tartar, 3 dr. Opium, 1 dr. To be made into a ball for one dose. No. 2. Salt of hartshorn, 2 dr. Opium, i dr. Powdered ginger, 1 dr. Liquorice powder, 3 dr. To be made into a ball for one dose. No. 3. Salt of steel, - ^ oz. Myrrh, - - 2 dr. Ginger, - - 1 dr. To be made into a ball for one close. ' ,92 SUPPRESSION OF URINE. HORSES are-often attacked with a difficulty in staling or'making water, sometimes amount- ing to a total suppression of that excretion ; this most commonly arises from spasms in the neck of the bladder, or from hardened excrement in the rectum or latter part of the intestines.— When this happens letglysters of warm water be injected until all the hard excrement is discharged, then give the following ball. Nitre, 1 oz. ..CanxpHprv - 2 dr. Linseed or other meal, and syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. Should there 'be any appearance of fever, or should the horse appear to feel pain when the loins are pressed upon, it is probable that the kidneys are inflamed, in such cases the ball would be improper (vide inflammation of the kid- neys.) WORMS. THERE are three kinds of worms found in horses. The most common and mischievous r«- 93 /ide in the stomach, and are named bots. They are of a reddish colour, and seldom exceed three fourths of an inch in length : at one extremity they have two small hooks, by which they attach themselves, and the belly seems to be covered with very small feet; they are most frequently found adhering to the insensible coat of the sto- mach, and then they do not appear to cause any considerable uneasiness or inconvenience ; some- times, however, they attach themselves to the sensible part, and do great injury to this import- ant organ, keeping up a constant irritation, and thereby occasioning emaciation, a rough staring coat, hide-bound; and a cough. Frequent in- stances happen of their destroying the horse by ulcerating the stomach in a considerable degree, and cases are recorded where they have pene- trated quite through the stomach. It is asto- nishing with what force these worms adhere, and how tenacious they are of life ; they have been found to resist the strongest poisons, nor is any medicine yet discovered fully capable of destroy- ing them, or of detaching them from their situa- tion. It seems probable that this worm, like the ft caterpillar, undergoes several changes ; it is said to be originally a fly, which depositing its eggs in the horse's coat, causes, an itching which in- 94 duces him to bite the part, in this way he i-, supposed to swallow some of the eggs, which by the heat of the stomach, are brought to maturity and produce bots. When the bots are fit to as- sume the chrysalis state, they are spontaneously detached, and gradually pass off with the faces. This is the most rational account given of their production. It has been asserted that the fly from which bots are produced, crawls into the anus of horses, and deposits its eggs there, that the worms when hatched soon find their way farther up the intestines, and often penetrate into the stomach. This account is literally copied by a late writer on Veterinary Pathology ;* but it appears rather strange that any one who has con- sidered the structure of the horse's intestines should for a moment give credit to it. It seems impossible indeed for this worm. to crawl from the anus to the stomach, and as far as the best observation go they are never found residing in the intestines ; sometimes, indeed two or three are f mnd, but they are evidently proceeding to- wards the anus to be expelled. It has been ob- served that no medicine has yet been found ca- pable of detaching or destroying these worms, though the strongest mercurial preparations, and * Ryding's Veterinary Pathology. 95 many powerful medicines have been tried; we are informed, however, by Mr. Ryding, in the book just noticed, that the following medicine will be found " most effectual: " Take yellow emetic mercury, - 1 dr. " Liquorice and linseed powder, of each, | oz. " Syrup or honey sufficient to form the mass ; " and divide into two balls. " The horse should be put upon a diet of " bran before this medicine is given, after which " let him take one of these balls, and the other " about forty hours afterwards, and when you " have waited about the same time for the ope- " ration of the medicine, let the following brisk " purge be given : " Take Barbadoes aloes, from 6 to 8 dr. " Calomel, - - 1 dr. " Venice turpentine sufficient to form the ball. " By paying proper attention to the operation a of this medicine, we may be able to judge if it " has the desired effect ; but if, after it is over, u we suspect there are still some worms re- 96 - maining, a second course may be repeated m " about a fortnight afterwards." The next worm we have to describe is very slender, of a blackish colour, and seldom ex- ceeds two inches in length ; they are never found in the stomach, and very rarely in the small intes- tines, the largest part of the canal being gener- ally the place of their residence: here they prove a constant source of irritation, occasioning loss of condition, a rough unhealthy looking coat, and frequently a troublesome cough. A variety of alte- rative medicines have been proposed for the de- struction of these worms, and some of them are supposed to be infallible; it is believed, however, that none of them are possessed of much effica- cy, and ought not therefore to be depended upon. The following are the alteratives to which we allude:—Savin, rue, box, aethiops mineral, anti- mony, sulphur, emetic tartar, calomel, and vitri- olated quicksilver ; the two last, if given with aloes, so as to purge briskly, and particularly the calomel, are excellent remedies ; but given merely as alteratives, they do no good. The following ball has been found very effectual, giv- ing the preceding night from half a dram to a dram of calomel. The calomel mixed with the 97 ball will be found equally efficacious ; the forme* method, however, is generally preferred. Succotrine aloes, - 6 dr. . Powdered ginger, - 1| dr. Oil of wormwood, - 20 drops. Prepared natron, - - 2 dr. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. (How to be given, see p. 82.) It is often necessary to repeat this medicine, but there should always be an interval of ten days between each dose. The third kind of worm is of a whitish colour, frequently seven or eight inches in length, and generally found in the lower part of the small in- testines. These worms are not so common as the other, but appear to consume a considera- ble quantity of chyle, or the nutritious part of the food ; they may be got rid of by the same means that we have recommended for the small blackish worm. We may always be satisfied of the existence of worms in the intestines, when a whitish or light straw coloured powder is observed imme- diately beneath the anus. Giving one dram and 98 a. half of aloes every morning until purging is produced, will sometimes destroy them. HIDE-BOUND. THIS term implies a tightness of the skin, which feels as if it were glued to the ribs, the coat having at the same time a rough unhealthy appearance. This complaint is generally occa- sioned by worms, or want of attention in the groom ; it occurs sometimes, however, without any manifest cause ; in such cases give the al- terative No. 1, every morning, until moderate purging is produced, and if this does not suc- ceed, try the alterative No. 2, which is to be given every morning for eight or *ten days, taking care to assist its operation by warm cloath- ing, good grooming, and regula* exercise. alterative balls. No. 1. Succotrlne aloes, - 1 oz. Castile soap, - - 9 dr. Powdered ginger, - 6 dr. Syrup enough to form the mass, to be divided in- to* six doses. 99 No. 2. Tartarized antimony, - 2^ oz. Powrdered ginger, - II oz. Opium, - - - 1 oz. Syrup enough to form the mass, to be divided into eight balls. ♦ SURFEIT. THIS absurd term is given by farriers to a disease of the skin, consisting in small tumours or knobs which appear suddenly in various parts of the body, sometimes in consequence of drink- ing largely of cold water, when the body is unu- sually warm : it appears frequently without any manifest cause. It may be easily cured by bleeding moderately, or giving a laxative ball ; sometimes, indeed, it goes off without any me- dical assistance. There is another disease of the skin of the same name, which is generally more obstinate, and attacks horses that are hide-bound and out of condition; in this a great -number of very small scabs are felt in various parts of the body ; the horse is frequently rubbing himself, and sometimes the hair falls off from those nam 100 which he rubs. This complaint approaches u* the nature of mange, and requires the same treatment, assisted by a generous diet, good grooming, and regular exercise. MANGE. THIS disease fe seldom met with, except fn stables where scarcely any attention is paid to the horses, and where their food is of the worst quality ; it is thought by some to he contagious, and may in that way attack horses that are in good condition. It is known to exist by the horse being constantly rubbing or biting himself, so as to remove the hair, and sometimes produce ulceration; the hair of the mane and tail fre- quently falls off, and small scabs may generally be observed about the roots of that which re- mains.- The mange is, we believe, a local disease and requires only the following ointment or lo- tion for its removal ; in obstinate cases, how- ever, it may be adviseable to try the effect of the following alterative : 101 mange ointment. No. 1. Sulphur vivum, finely powdered, 4 oz, Oil of turpentine, 3 oz. Hog's lard, - - - 6 oz. Mix. 0* Nro. 2. Oil of turpentine, 4 os^.,. Strong vitriolic acid, -| oz. Mix cautiously, and add Train oil, - - - 6 oz. Sulphur vivum, - - - 4 oz, Mix. MANGE LOTION. White helebore, powderedr -■ 4 oz. Boil in 3 pints of water to 1 quart, then add mu- riate of quicksilver, - - 2 dr. That has been previously dissolved in 3 drams of muriatic acid, x. % . 102 ALTERATIVE FOR MANGE. Muriate of quicksilver, - | oz. Tartarized antimony, - 3 oz. Powdered aniseeds, 6 oz. Powdered ginger, 2 oz. Syrup enough to form the mass, to be divided into sixteen balls, one of v\ hich is to be given every morning. Should they appear to diminish or take off the appetite, or create a purging, they must be discontinued two or three days. GREASE, OR SCRATCHES. THIS disease consists in an inflammation, swelling, and consequent discharge from the heels, the matter having a peculiar, offensive smell, and the heels being sometimes in a state of ulceration ; the swelling frequently extends above the fetlock joint, sometimes as high as the knee or hock. When the inflammation and swelling are considerable, apply a large poultice to the heels (vide Poultice), taking care to keep it constantly moist, by adding to it occasionally a 103 little warm water; at the same time let a dose of physic be given. After three or four days the inflammation and swelling will have abated con- siderably, the poultice may then be discontinued, and the astringent lotion applied five or six times a day. Should the heels be ulcerated, apply the astringent ointment to the ulcers, and if they are deep and do not heal readily, wash them with the detergent lotion previous to each dressing. Regular exercise is of the highest importance, but it is necessary to choose a clean and dry situation for the purpose. In slight cases of grease the astringent lotion and a few diuretic balls will generally be found sufficient to effect a cure ; but when the disease is of long standing, and particularly if the horse has suffered from it before, there will be more difficulty in its removal; in such cases the fol- lowing alterative powder may be given in the corn every day until it produces a considerable diuretic effect; in very obstinate cases rowels in the thigh have been found useful. Though the grease is most commonly occa- sioned either by high feeding and want of exer- cise, or by neglect in the groom, there are cases which seem to depend on general debility. A horse is rendered more susceptible of it by be- 104 ing in a state of weakness, and the complaint sometimes owes its continuance to this cause. When a horse has suffered much from this dis- ease, and particularly if he appears to be weak and out of condition, a liberal allowance of corn will tend to recover him, if assisted by the as- tringent lotion and careful grooming ; in cases of this kind exercise is essentially necessary. It must be obvious that when this disease depends upon debility, a dose of physic would not be an eligible remedy, yet considerable benefit has sometimes been obtained by giving the following alterative every morning until the bowels are moderately opened. ALTERATIVE BALL. Succotrine aloes, - - 1 oz. Castile soap, " - - \\ oz. Powdered ginger and myrrh, of each, \ oz. Syrup enough to form the mass, to be divided into six balls. This medicine, though of an opening quality, will improve the horse's strength, and a* the same time promote absorption* 105. ALTERATIVE POWDER. Powdered rosin and nitre, of each, 4 oz. Mix, and divide into eight doses. Give one daily. Nothing tends so much to prevent grease and swelling of the legs, as frequent hand-rubbing, and washing the heels carefully with soap suds, as soon as a horse comes in from exercise. In inveterate cases of grease, where the disease ap- pears to have become habitual in some degree, a run at grass is the only remedy ; if a dry pas- ture be procured where a horse can be sheltered in bad weather, and fed with hay and oats, it will be found extremely convenient, as in such circumstances he may perform his usual labour, and at the same time be kept free from the com- plaint. In obstinate cases the mercurial altera- tive will be of service, giving one ball every morning until the bowels are opened. ASTRINGENT LOTION, OR WASH. No. 1. Alum powdered, - 1 oz. Vitriolic acid, - - -1 dr. Water, - V " * P*nS* Mix.v 106 No. 2. Alum powdered, - 4 oz. Vitriolated copper, - | oz. Water, - - 1} pint. Mix. The strength of these lotions often requires to be altered; where the inflammation and irrita- bility of the part are considerable, they must be diluted with an equal quantity of water; but if the inflammation is subdued, and a swelling and ulceration remain, the alum solution cannot be made too strong. ASTRINGENT OINTMENT. No. 1. Gunpowder, - - 1 oz. Butter, - - 2 oz. Mixed and made fine and smooth by the poin of a knife or spoon. Apply the ointment twice a day, the heels to be washed perfectly clean with strong soap suds, at least twice every day; this is a most efficacious remedy, and may even be used upon a journey with almost certain success. 107 No. 2. Venice turpentine, - 1 oz. Hog's lard, 4 oz. Alum, finely powdered, 1 oz. MERCURIAL ALTERATIVE. Calomel, . . _ I dr. Aloes, - - 1 dr. Castile soap, - - 2 dr. Oil of juniper, - 30 drops. To be made into a ball with syrup for one dose. MALLENDERS AND SALLENDERS. WHEN a scurfy eruption appears on the posterior part of the knee joint, it is termed mal- lenders, and when the same kind of disease hap- pens on the anterior of the hock joint it is named sallenders. Should these complaints occasion lameness, it will be proper to give in the first place a dose of physic ; let the hair be carefully clipped off from the diseased part, and let all the scurf be washed off with soap and warm water f a cure may then be soon effected by applying the following ointment twice a day: 108 THE OINTMENT. No. 1. Ointment of wax or spermaceti, 2 oz. Olive oil, - - - 1 oz. Camphor and oil of rosemary, of each, 1 dr. Acetated water of litharge, - 2 dr. Mix. No. 2. Ointment of nitrated quicksilver,"* olive oil, of each, - J 1 oz, Mix. No. 3. Oil of turpentine, 2 oz. Vitriolic acid, 1 dr. Mix cautiously, and add of Oil of bay, 3 oz. Mix. GLANDERS. THIS is believed to be a contagious disease, and has hitherto proved incurable. The most 10'J essential thing to be known with respect to the glanders, is the method of preventing its being communicated to sound horses ; and the appear- ances by which it may be with certainty distin- guished from other diseases. The symptoms are, a discharge from one or both nostrils, and a swelling of the glands under the throat: if one nostril only is affected, it generally happens that the swollen gland is on the same side of the throat: sometimes the disease remains in this state for a considerable time, at others the dis- charge increases, becomes of a greenish colour, and very foetid; ulceration takes place within the nose, and the swollen gland becomes harder, and feels as if closely attached to the jaw bone. A cold has sometimes been mistaken for the glan- ders, but may very easily be distinguished from it. In colds, there is generally a certain degree of fever, the eyes appear dull or watery, the ap- petite is diminished, and there is almost always a cough. If the glands of the throat should swell, they are not so closely attached to the jaw bone, as in the glanders, but feel loose and move- able under the skin ; they are also generally in a state of active inflammation, feeling hot, and softer than in the glanders: in colds, both nos- trils are almost always affected ; in the glanders, L 110 it frequently happens that the discharge is from one only. In colds the nostrils are never ulcer- ated—in glanders it always happens, though at different periods of the disease ; sometimes ul- ceration takes place at its commencement, at others a month or two may elapse before it can be perceived. The strangles has been sometimes mistaken for the glanders or sore throat, but in this disease the inflamed glands very soon sup- purate and burst, whereby all the other symp- toms are generally removed, whilst in the glan- ders the glands seldom or never suppurate: in order, however, to avoid all danger, it is advise- able, the moment a horse is perceived to have a discharge from his nose, to put him into a sta- ble where he can have no communication with other horses : if the glands of the throat are en- larged and inflamed, apply a large poultice to them, steam the head three or four times a day, let him be well clothed, particularly about the head, and give the fever powder, No. 2, every day, or once in twelve hours. Should the dis- charge arise from a cold, it will soon be removed by these means. When considerable ulceration is perceived in the nose, with the other concomi- tant symptoms of the glanders, the horse should be destroyed instantly. Ill The most effectual mode of purifying stables in which glandered horses have been kept, is to remove or carefully wash, every thing on which the horse may have deposited any matter, and afterwards to cover every part of the stable with a thick coat of lime and size. FARCY. THE farcy generally appears in the form of small tumors or buds (as they are commonly termed) frequently in the course of the veins, from which they are erroneously supposed to consist in a swelling of those vessels. These tumors generally burst, discharging a thin wa- tery matter, and degenerating into foul spread- ing ulcers. The contiguous glands are usually inflamed and swollen from an absorption of the poison. This disease sometimes makes its ap- pearance in diffused swellings of the hind legs, sheath, or other parts of the body. The most common cause of farcy appears to be contagion, either from a glandered or farcied horse, for there can be no doubt that those diseases xvill re- ciprocally produce each other; whence we may 112 tonclude that they both originate from the ope- ration of the same poison, which produces differ- ent effects according to the parts on which its noxious influence is exerted. There being certain parts only of the body which are obnoxious to this poison, its effects are always partial in some degree ; thus we find the internal parts of the nose particularly liable to be affected by it; the skin likewise is very susceptible of its action, more particularly along the under part of the neck upon the veins, and on the inside of the fore and hind legs ; and when the horse is suffered to live a sufficient time for the poison to acquire its highest degree of virulence, or to produce its full effect, the lungs do not escape the contagion. The farcy may be either constitutional or local: if glander- ous matter, or the matter taken from a farcy ul- cer is applied to the skin where the cuticle has been torn or abraded, a chancre or foul ulcer is produced, which may easily be distinguished from all others by its peculiarly foul appearance, the edges becoming thick, and the discharge consisting of a thin and rather glutinous matter, it generally spreads rapidly, and never looks red or healthy: the absorbents or lymphatics about the ulcer become inflamed and swollen from an 113 absorption of its poisonous matter, the swellings. produced in this way are commonly mistaken for veins, and hence has arisen the opinion of the blood vessels being the seat of the disease : the glands likewise, to which those lymphatics lead, become inflamed and enlarged ; at length small tumors or buds appear in the course of these ab- sorbents, which are small abscesses arising from the inflammation of those vessels. Thus far the disease is certainly local, and the constitution untainted ; the poison being arrested by the glands, and for a time prevented from mixing with the blood ; at length however it in- sinuates itself into the circulation, and poisons the whole mass. At length the bones of the nose become carious or rotten, and finally the * poison falls upon the lungs, and very soon puts a period to the sufferings of the unfortunate ani- mal. Sometimes the progress of the disease is extremely rapid, and destroys the horse in a very short time ; at others it is remarkably slow, and continues in the same state for a considera- ble time, without affecting either the appetite or strength. In the first stage of the Farcy, while it is per- fectly local, a cure may be easily accomplished, and should the disease be discovered quite at its l2 114 commencement, the application of the farcy oint- ment aided by half an ounce of nitre given in his feed or water morning and evening will generally remove it; which however, must be continued for some time. But should the disease have been neglected, or not perceived at its commencement, should the lymphatics be enlarged or corded, (as it is termed by farriers) and the neighbouring glands swollen, the cure is by no means so cer- tain, in that case some of the poison may have got into the circulation, though its effects have not been visible. Whenever therefore the farcy has been neglected at its first appearance, it will be adviseable to give the following ball, once, twice, or even three times a day, if the horse's strength will admit of it; taking care to restrain its inordinate effect upon the bowels or kid- neys by means of opium; at the same time it is necessary to keep up the horse's strength by a liberal allowance of grain mixed with mash- es, malt has been found useful also on those oc- casions. During the time the horse is taking this strong medicine, great attention must be paid to him, he must be warmly cloathed if the weather is cold, have regular exercise, and ne- ver be suffered to drink cold water. The following balls indeed have proved so ef- 115 ficacious, there is seldom occasion to try other internal remedies ; unless however they are given for two or three weeks after every symptom has beenremoved, the cure will seldombe permanent. With respect to that kind of farcy which ap- pears in the form of diffused swellings of the limbs or other parts, it seldom originates from infection, and does not often depend perhaps on the action of the glanderous poison, being mere- ly common osdematous swellings, such as accom- pany the grease ; from this we may account for the efficacy that has sometimes been attributed to purgatives and diuretics as remedies for the farcy. When large abscesses form in consequence of farcy, they do not require any peculiar treatment, but it is particularly necessary to support, the horse's strength in those cases by means of corn and malt. It has been supposed that the farcy depends altogether upon debility, and medicines of the tonics or strengthening kind have been re- commended for its removal. BALL FOR FARCY. Muriate of quicksilver, - 1 sc' Powdered aniseeds, - | oz. Syrup enough to form the ball. (How to be given, see p. 82.) • 116 The quantity of muriate of quicksilver may be gradually increased, as far as the horse's strength will allow. When violent sickness, purging, or excessive staling is produced by it, it will be ad- viseable either to discontinue it for two or three days, or to diminish the dose considerably. One dram of opium will sometimes prevent such vio- lent effects. FARCY OINTMENT. Oil of vitriol, l oz. » Oil of turpentine, 2 oz. Mix carefully in an earthen, stone, or iron ves- sel, as it will boil furiously for a few minutes.— Add a little train oil, then apply this ointment to the buds or tumors twice or three times a day, well rubbed in by a sponge or rag tied on the end of a small stick. WOUNDS. THE first necessary operation in wounds is to remove carefully all dirt or other extraneous matter, and if the wound be made with a clean cutting instrument, and not complicated with 117 bruising or laceration, the divided parts are to be neatly sewed together ; and, where it can be done, a roller kept constantly moist with the sa- turnine lotion, diluted with an equal quantity of water, is to be applied, in order to assist in re- taining the parts in their situation ; this roller is not to be removed for several days, that the di- vided parts may have time to unite, and that the wound may heal by the first intention, as surge- ons term it, unless considerable swelling and in- flammation come on, it then becomes necessary to remove the roller, and apply fomentations. This kind of union, however, can seldom be accom- plished in horses, from the difficulty of keeping the wounded parts sufficiently at rest, and from their wounds being generally accompanied with con- tusion or laceration ; yet it should always be at- tempted where it appears at all practicable. Fo- mentations and warm digestives then become ne- cessary, in order to promote the formation of matter in the wound : should considerable swel- ling and inflammation arise, moderate bleeding as near the affected part as possible, and laxative medicines, or even a dose of physic are strongly to be recommended, and a poultice, if the situation of the part be such as to admit of its application, will be found of great use. As soon as the swel- 118 ling and inflammation shall have been removed, the fomentations and poultice are no longer neces- sary, and the digestive ointment only is to be ap- plied ; should the wound appear not disposed to heal, discharging a thin offensive matter, apply the detergent lotion previous to the digestive oint- ment. When the granulations become too luxu- riant, that is, when what is commonly termed proud flesh, makes its appearance, the caustic powder is to be sprinkled on the wound—slight wounds generally heal with very little trouble, and sometimes without the interference of art; and it is from this circumstance that many nos- trums have acquired unmerited reputation: in wounds of this kind, tincture of myrrh, or com- pound tincture of benzoin may be used. Whenever a considerable blood vessel is wound- ed, and the hemorrhage is likely to prove trou- blesome, the first object is to stop the bleeding, which, if the wound be in a situation that will admit of the application of a roller or bandage, may be easily effected, for pressure properly ap- plied is generally the best remedy on those oc- casions, and far more effectual than the most ce- lebrated styptics: in some cases it becomes neces- sary to tie up the bleeding vessels ; this is rather a difficult operation, and not often necessary. 119 Punctured xvounds, or such as are made with pointed instruments, are generally productive of more inflammation than those that have at first a more formidable appearance; and if such wounds happen to penetrate into a joint, or the cavity of the chest or belly, the worst consequences are to be apprehended, unless it be skilfully treated. When a joint has been wounded, the synovia or joint-oil may be observed to flow from the wound ; the first thing to be done in those cases, is to close the opening that has been made into the joint, for as long as it remains open the in- flammation will go on, increasing, and the pain will be so violent as to produce a symptomatic fever which has often proved fatal: the most ef- fectual method of closing the wound is by ap- plying the actual cautery or red hot iron ; this will appear probably a very strange remedy to those who have not seen its effect, yet it is certainly the most efficacious that can be em- ployed, but is only applicable where the wound is of the punctured kind, and small; for when a large wound is made into the cavity of a joint, and particularly if it is of the lacerated kind, it is impossible to close it effectually, and death is frequently the consequence. As soon as the opening has been closed, it is of consequence to 120 guard against the inflammation that may be ex- pected to arise, or to remove it if already pre- sent—for this, bleeding and purging are the most effectual remedies—a rowel in any convenient part near the affected joint, will be found useful also. Should the joint be swollen much, the blister, No. 2, will prove very efficacious, and far superior to fomentations or poultices. Wounds about the foot, from stubs, over- reaching, &c. often prove troublesome when ne- glected ; as soon as they are perceived, care should be taken that no dirt gets into them—the detergent lotion and digestive ointment, or oil of turpentine alone, are the most useful applica- tions on those occasions. When the foot is wounded in shoeing, the nails being driven into the sensible parts, the compound tincture of ben- zoin or oil of turpentine is to be applied. When the tendons or their membranes are wounded, considerable inflammation is likely to take place, which is to be removed by fomentation and the saturnine poultice ; purging is also of great use in those cases, and when the wound is exten- sive, and the inflammation runs high, bleeding likewise may be necessary7. , In extensive, lacerated, or contused wounds, *V the inflammation sometimes terminates in mor- 121 tihcation (vide Inflammation), in such cases fo- mentations are to be frequently applied, and the horse's strength supported by means of rich mashes and the cordial ball for mortification. BRUISES. IN recent bruises, fomentations are the most essential remedies—when they are violent a con- siderable degree of inflammation may be expect- ed to supervene, it will then be proper to give a laxative ball, and to bleed moderately, as near the affected part as possible. If abscesses form in consequence of a bruise, discharging large quantities of matter, particu- larly if the matter is of a bad colour and an of- fensive smell, the wound also appearing dark- coloured and rotten, indicating approaching mor- tification ; the horse's strength must be support- ed by allowing him a large quantity of grain, and if he can be made to eat malt, it will be found still more effectual. If the appetite goes off he must be drenched with good water-gruel, and strong infusion of malt: it will be necessary al- so to give the cordial ball for mortification, once M 122 or twice a day. Stimulating applications to the part, such as camphorated spirit and oil of tur- pentine, equal parts, are of great use. Should a hard callous swelling remain in con- sequence of a bruise, the following embrocation is to be well rubbed into the part twice a day, and if it does not succeed in removing it, recourse must be had to a blister. EMBROCATION FOR BRUISES. No. 1. Camphor, - | oz. Oil of turpentine, 1 oz. Soap liniment, - - \\ oz. Mix. No. 2. Tincture of cantharides, - 1 oz. Oil of origanum, - - 2 dr. Camphorated spirit, - 6 dr. Mix. FISTULA IN THE WITHERS. THIS disease generally originates in a bruise from the saddle, and is at first simply an abscess, 123 which by early attention and proper treatment may be easily cured ; but when neglected it de- generates into a fistulous sore, proves extremely difficult of cure, and cannot be removed without very severe treatment. As soon as the injury is discovered, fomenta- tions should be applied in order to promote sup- puration, and when matter is formed let the tu- mor be opened, so that its contents may be com- pletely evacuated, and a future accumulation prevented ; the sore may then be healed by dress- ing it daily with digestive liniment or ointment, but should they prove ineffectual, apply the de- tergent lotion until the sore assumes a red healthy appearance, and the matter becomes whiter and of a thicker consistence. When the dis- ease has been neglected in its first stage, and the matter has been suffered to penetrate among the muscles, affecting the ligaments or bones of the withers, it becomes necessary to adopt a more severe treatment. The sinusses or pipes are to be laid open with a knife, and if it is practicable, a depending opening is to be made, that the mat- ter may run off freely; the sore is then to be dressed with the following ointment, which is to be melted and poured into the cavity while very hot. 124 The sore is not to be dressed, until the sloughs which this ointment occasions, have separated from the living parts ; which generally happens two or three days after the operation. If the surface of the sore looks red and healthy, and if the matter appears to be whiter and of a better con- sistence, a repetition of this painful operation will not be required; the digestive liniment or oint- ment being sufficient to complete the cure ; but if the sore still retains an unhealthy appearance, and the matter continues thin and of a bad colour, the hot dressing must again be applied. THE OINTMENT. No. 1. Ointment of nitrated quicksilver, Oil of turpentine, Mix. No. 2. Verdigris, Oil of turpentine, Ointment of yellow resin, Mix. 4 oz. 1 oz. I oz. 1 oz. 4 oz. 125 POLL EVIL. THIS disease like the preceding one, general- ly originates in a bruise, and if neglected, re- quires the same severe treatment: it consists at first in an abscess in the poll, which by early at- tention might be easily cured ; but if the matter is suffered to penetrate to the ligaments and bones, it frequently proves more difficult of cure than the fistula in the withers. Mr. Taplin, in his Stable Directory, very pompously declaims against this method of treat- ing inveterate cases of fistula and poll evil; it is certainly, however, the only effectual one that is known ; and had this verbose author but seen the effect of this remedy, as well as of that which * he recommends himself, before his book was written, it is probable he never would have fa- voured the public with the declamation above al- luded to. It is surely more consistent with hu- manity to rescue an animal from a painful and gradually increasing disease, by means of a se- vere operation, than to suffer him to linger out a life of pain and misery, by adopting a mild, but inert mode of treatment. M •» 126 SADDLE GALLS OR WARBLES. THESE consist of inflamed tumors, and are produced by the unequal pressure of the saddle: if neglected they become troublesome sores, and are often a considerable time in healing. As soon as a swelling of this kind is observed, let several folds of linen be moistened with one of the following embrocations, and kept constantly applied to the tumor until it is reduced ; but if matter has been allowed to form, let it be opened with a lancet, andMafterwards dressed with di- gestive liniment or ointment. Should it appear not to heal readily under this treatment, apply the detergent lotion made hot. When swellings of this kind are large and much inflamed, it will *be adviseable to bring them to suppuration as ex- peditiously as possible, by means of fomentations or poultices. Should a hard swelling remain after the inflammation is in great measure re- moved, try the embrocation for strains, and if that does not succef#, recourse must be had to a blister. THE EMBROCATION. No. 1. Water of acetated litharge, 2 dr.— 127 Distilled vinegar, - 3 oz. Spirit of wine, 4 oz. Mix. No. 2. Muriate of ammonia, - J oz. Muriatic acid, - - 2 dr. Water, - from 8 to 12 oz. Mix. No. 3. Soap liniment and water W ace- "I 2 oz. tated ammonia, of each, J Mix. SITFASTS ARE occasioned by repeated bruises from the saddle, which instead of inflaming the skin, as most commonly happens, causes it to become callous, and gives it somewhat the appearance of leather. The following ointment is to be ap- plied until the callous part appears disposed to separate, it is then to be removed, which gener- ally requires some force, and the sore which re- 128 mains may be healed with digestive liniment or ointment. OINTMENT FOR SITFASTS. Ointment of althea, - 4 oz. Camphor, - - . 2 dr. Oil of origanum, - l dr. Mix. STRAINS. THIS is a subject with which ever sportsman ought to be well acquainted, since his horses are particularly liable to such accidents. Strains may affect either the muscles, ligaments, or ten- dons. Muscular strains consist in an inflamma- tion of the muscles or flesh, occasioned by vio- lent and sudden exertion. W7hen ligaments are the seat of this disease, there is generally some part of them ruptured, whereby very obstinate and sometimes permanent lameness is produced; in this case also inflammation is the symptom which first requires our attention: but tendons are the parts most frequently affected, particular- ly the flexors of the fore leg or back sinews as 129 they are commonly termed.—Tendinous strains are commonly supposed to consist in a relaxa- tion or preternatural extension of the tendon, and the remedies that have been recommended, are supposed to brace them up again; however plau- sible this opinion may be, it is certainly very er- roneous ; indeed it has been proved by experi- ment that tendons are neither elastic nor capable of extension, and from investigating their struc- ture and economy, we learn, that were they posv sessed of these qualities, they would not answer the purpose for. which they were designed. From an idea that a strain in the back sinews depends on a relaxation of the tendons, many practitioners have been apprehensive of danger from the use of emollient or relaxing applications, than which nothing can be more useful at the beginning of the disease. Tendinous strains consist in an inflammation of the membranes in which tendons are inve- loped, and the swelling which takes place in those cases depends on an effusion of coagulable lymph, by the vessels of the inflamed part. In- flammation being the essence of a strain, we are to employ such remedies as are best calculated to subdue it, and should any swelling remain, it 130 is to be removed by stimulating the absorbent vessels to increased action. STRAIN OF THE SHOULDER. THIS disease is by no means so frequent as it is supposed to be, lameness in the feet being often mistaken for it; the difference, however, is so well marked that a judicious observer will never be at a loss to distinguish one from the ether. A shoulder strain is an inflammation of some of the muscles of the shoulder, most commonly, we believe, those by which the limb is connected with the body. The lameness which this acci- dent occasions comes on rather suddenly, and is generally very considerable. When the horse attempts to walk, the toe of the affected side is generally drawn along the ground, from the pain which an extension of the limb occasions ; in violent cases he appears to be incapable of ex- tending it. When lameness arises from a disease of the foot, it is generally very gradual in its attack, un- less occasioned by an accidental wound, and doe? not at all hinder die extension of the limb ; an unusual heat and tenderness may also be per- ceived in the foot, and as the horse stands in the stable, the affected foot will be put forward, that it may bear as little as possible of the weight of the body. The first remedy to be employed on those oc- casions is bleeding in the shoulder or plate vein, then give a laxative ball, and if the injury is con- siderable, let a rowel be put in the chest ; by means of these remedies and rest, the disease will generally be removed in a short time ; a cool- ing opening diet, with perfect rest, will also be necessary. When the inflammation and »*-.me- ness begin to abate, the horse should be turned into a loose stall, and after a week Qr two he may be suffered to walk out for a short time eve- ry day, but should this appear to increase the lameness, it must be discontinued. The inten- tion of moderate exercise, after the inflammation is in great measure subdued, is to effect an ab- sorption of any lymph that may have been effused, and to bring the injured muscles gradually into action. After an accident of this kind, particu- larly when it has been violent, the horse should not be rode, or worked in any way for a consi- derable time, as the lameness is very apt to recur 132 unless the injured parts have had sufficient rest to recover their strength ; if he can be allowed two or three months grass, it will be found ex- tremely useful, provided he is prevented from galloping or exerting himself too much when first turned out; it is necessary also to choose a situation where there are no ditches in which he may get bogged. With respect to embrocations and other external applications, they are certainly useless, unless the external parts are affected, and then fomentations may be employed with ad- vantage. STRAIN OF THE STIFLE. IN this case the stifle joint will be found unu- sually hot, tender, and sometimes swollen. The remedies are fomentations, a rowel in the thigh, and a dose of physic. When by these means the inflammation of the joint has abated considera- bly, and at the same time the swelling and lame- ness continue, the embrocation for strains, or a blister, should be applied. Strains in the hock joint require the same treatment. 133 STRAIN OF THE HIP JOINT, (COMMONLY TERMED WHIRL BONE OR ROUND BONE.) WHEN lameness occurs in the hind leg, the cause of which is too obscure for the farrier's comprehension, he generally pronounces it to be a strain in the round or whirl bone, which, how- ever, on an attentive examination is often found to be an incipient spavin. It is adviseable there- fore in all such cases, that the hock joint be care- fully examined, and if any unusual heat or tender- ness be observed on the seat of the spavin, it is probable that the lameness arises from that cause, and that it may be removed by the application of a blister. STRAIN OF THE FLEXOR TENDONS OR BACK SINEWS. A STRAIN of the back sinews depends, as we have before observed, on an inflammation of the membranes in which they are enveloped, and is sometimes complicated with a rupture of the ligaments which are situated immediately under N 134 the sinews. When the lameness and swelling are considerable, bleed in the shoulder vein, and give a dose of physic; then let the saturnine poul- tice be applied so as to extend from the hoof to the knee, and let it be frequently moistened with the saturnine lotion.—When the inflammation and lameness have abated considerably, and a swelling still remains, apply the embrocations for strains, rubbing it well on the part twice or three times a day ; if this does not succeed, recourse must be had to a blister; it will be adviseable also to turn the horse loose into a large stable or barn, and to give him this kind of rest for a consider- able time: should he be worked too soon after the accident, the part is very liable to be injured again, particularly when it has been violent. These swellings sometimes prove so obstinate, that even repeated blistering proves ineffectual; as soon, however, as the inflammation which caused them is completely removed, they seldom occasion lameness, yet they vill not admit of any violent exertion in the part, and are therefore always an impediment to speed. SATURNINE LOTION. Acetated lead, 4 oz. Vinegar and water, of each, 1 pint. Mix. 135 No. 1. SATURNINE POULTICE. Fine bran, . . I peck. To be made into a thin paste with hot satur- nine lotion ; to this add as much linseed meal or boiled flax-seed as will give it a proper con- sistence. EMBROCATION FOR STRAINS. No. 1. Oil of rosemary and camphor,") „ . of each, - - J Soft soap, 1 oz. Spirit of wine, - - 2 oz. Mix. No. 2. Soft soap, spirit of wine, oil of "V turpentine, and ointment of £>4 oz. elder, of each, - J Mix. RING BONES ARE bony excrescences about the small pas- tern bone near the coronet, or in an ossification 136 ef the cartilages of the foot (vide anatomy of the foot;) if it be observed in its incipient state, a blister will probably be of service ; but when of long standing and large, and it has proceeded so far as to cause a stiff joint, there is no chance of recovery. THOROUGH PIN. BY this term is meant a swelling both on the inside and outside of the hock joint. When one of the tumors is pressed with the fingers, the flu- id which it contains is forced into that on the op- posite side—from this communication between the two swellings the disease has probably ob- tained its name. It is generally a consequence of hard work, and therefore difficult to cure ; the only reme- dies are blisters and rest. .. r _ WINDGALLS CONSIST in an enlargement of the mucous sacs, which are placed behind trie flexor tendons 137 for the purpose of facilitating their motion. The swelling appears on each side the back sinew, immediately above the fetlock joint; if punctured they discharge a fluid resembling joint oil, indeed they frequently communicate with the cavity of the joint, and therefore cannot be opened with- out danger of producing an incurable lameness. Blisters are the only applications likely to be of service, and these seldom effect a cure unless as- sisted by rest. This complaint does not often occasion lameness, and is therefore seldom much attended to ; but as it is almost always a conse- quence of hard work, and sometimes renders a horse unfit for active labour ; it diminishes his value considerably. Sometimes rollers or bandages applied to the legs will have a good effect, keeping them con- stantly moist with the following embrocation: Muriate of ammonia, - 1 oz. Muriatic acid, 1 oz. Water, - 1 quart. Or, a strong solution of sal. ammonia and vinegar. N.2 138 SPLENTS ARE bony excrescences about the shank-bone, i. e. between the knee and fetlock joint; they never occasion lameness, unless situated so near the knee or back sinews as to interfere with their motion. Many cases of lameness are attributed to splents, when the cause evidently existed in the foot. These excrescences may sometimes be re- moved by strong blisters ; but the old method of bruising and puncturing the part before the blister is applied, ought not to be attempted as it often does harm. SPAVIN. A SPAVIN is a swelling on the inside of the hock, and is of two kinds; the first is termed a bone spavin, consisting of a bony excrescence ; the other a bog or blood spavin. The former of- ten occasions lameness just before it makes its appearance, and then can be discovered only by feeling the part, which will be found unusually 139 hot and tender; if a blister is applied and repeat- ed at this period of tse disease, it will generally prove successful; but when the disease lias e:\ist- ed for sonfe time, the cure \s much more diffi- cult ; in such cases the skin should be irritated by caustic and the following day a strong Vas- ter applied; after this two or three months r^st (at grass) are absolutely necessary ; this disease is, however, generally incurable. The bog spavin does not so often occasion lameness as the other, except when a horse is worked hard, which generally causes a temporary lameness removable by rest; but it does not often admit of a radical cure, for though it is fre- quently removed by two or three blisters, it ge- nerally returns when the horse is made to per- form any considerable exertion. CURB. THIS term implies a swelling on the back part of the hock, which sometimes occasions lameness. Blistering and rest are the only reme- dies j it is frequently necessary, however, to ap- 140 ply two or three blisters before a cure will be ef- fected. ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE FOOT. OF all the diseases to which horses are liable, there are none more difficult of cure, or that oc- cur so frequently, as these which attack the foot; and however improbable it may appear to those who have not paid much attention to this sub- ject, it is an incontrovertible fact, that almost all of them are the consequence of bad shoeing and improper management of the foot. No one can be aware of the importance of this branch of the Veterinary Art, but he who has had frequent opportunities of seeing those dis- eases, and has taken the trouble to enquire into their causes ; and such a man will be convinced that nearly half of the horses that become unser- viceable, are rendered so by some defect in the feet; and he will find that such defects are most commonly occasioned by a bad method of shoe- ing ; therefore it must surely be of importance to every man who values his horse, to acquire 141 such a knowledge of this subject, as may enable him to preserve so useful an animal from a mul- titude of diseases. The bad effects which arise from the common practice of shoeing are so gradual, that we can easily account for their having been so generally overlooked: the gradations between soundness and absolute lameness are so numerous, that it has been found rather difficult to trace the dis- ease back to its source ; and this cannot be done readily without having some knowledge of the structure of the foot, and the particular uses of * the various parts which compose it. It is neces- sary also to be well acquainted with the natural form of the foot, in order to determine how far it has been altered or destroyed by any plan of shoeing ; for example, take a horse that has had a sound well-formed foot, let it be improperly pared, and let bad shoes be applied, in all proba- bility lameness will not be the immediate conse- quence ; by a repetition, however, of this prac- tice, it will be found that the original shape of the foot is gradually altered, and that eventually it will be so far deformed as to produce perhaps incurable lameness ; therefore we ought not to be satisfied with a plan of shoeing, merely be- cause a horse is not immediately made lame by 142 it, but should examine also the effect produced by it upon the shape and structure of the foot; and this rule may invariably be depended on, that any mode of shoeing and treating the foot, which has a tendency to alter the form given to it by nature, is highly absurd and destructive ; while that practice which tends to preserve its origin- al form, is founded upon sound and rational principles. It has been very justly observed, that if we wish to examine a perfect foot, such as nature made it, it is generally necessary to find one that has never been shod ; for the common mode of ' shoeing is so frequently destructive, that we sel- dom meet with a horse whose feet have not lost, in some degree, their original form; and this deviation from their natural shape, is generally proportioned to the length of time he has worn shoes. From this circumstance writers on far" riery have been led to form various opinions re- specting the most desirable form for a horse's foot; but had they consulted nature, this varie- ty of opinion would not have existed—they would have been convinced, that the feet of all horses that have not been taken from a state of nature, or improperly shod, are nearly of the same shape ; and surely no one will dispute that this form 143 which the Creator has given it, is the most perfect, and far better adapted to all the purposes for which the animal was designed, than any that can be given by the most ingenious farrier. A person unacquainted with the anatomy of the horse's foot, would naturally suppose that the internal parts are simply inclosed by the hoof, and that by its hardness it served to protect them from the blows and pressure to which they would otherwise be constantly exposed; but very little reflection would convince him how incomplete and inadequate such a protection would be ; let him consider tfiat those internal parts are replete with blood-vessels and nerves, and possessed of a high degree of sensibility: let him consider also, what an immense weight is thrown upon them at every step, and what painful concussion must be occasioned to the animal, were this the only safeguard against it; but nature, ever provident, has so constructed this part as to obviate all those inconveniences; if we examine any part of the animal economy, we are astonished at the infinite wisdom that is displayed in it; it is not however too much to assert, that the structure of the horse's foot is "Strikingly beautiful and curious; here we find a variety of wonderful contrivances to prevent any 144 painful concussion, from the most violent exer- tions, or from carrying heavy burthens; but such is the folly and obstinacy of farriers, that they frequently destroy or pervert the whole of this beautiful mechanism, and the poor ani- mal is doomed to painful labour, or perpetual lameness. It would not be consistent with the objects of this book, to give an elaborate description of the anatomical structure of the horse's foot; but it will be essentially useful to give such an ex- planation of it, as will enable the reader fully to comprehend the principles of shoeing, and the method of preserving the feet, from many trou- blesome and incurable diseases. The horse's foot is made up of a great variety of parts, some of them possessing blood-vessels and nerves, like other parts of the body, and highly sensible; others are composed of dead horney substance that is perfectly destitute of feeling. All the external parts of the foot, which, when taken together, are termed the coffin or hoof, are composed of this horney substance, which is not only very hard, but is possessed also of a considerable degree of toughness and elasticity, which render it extremely durable, 145 and well calculated to protect the sensible parts which it encloses. The hoof consists of the xvall or crust, the sole, the frog, and the bars; the upper part of the crust, where it is connected with the skin, is termed the coronet, the lower part in front; the toe, the sides of the crust are named the quarters, the quarters terminate in the heels, and the heels are connected with the frog. The crust grows from the coronet, and instead of taking a per- pendicular direction becomes oblique in its de- scent, whereby it acquires a conical figure, being considerably wider at the basis than at the coro- net ; but this description of the hoof applies only to the healthy foot, that has not been improperly treated, for when the bars have been cut away, and the frog mutilated and prevented from re- ceiving pressure, the heels will contract, or ap- proach each other, and the shape of the foot will be considerably altered. When we examine a hoof that has been re- cently separated from the foot, an immense number of small orifices or pores may be ob- served in that groove, which is found on the inside of the coronet; into the orifices the ex- tremities of those vessels are inserted, which secrete the horney matter, the whole of which o 146 appears to be pervaded by a fine fluid, serving to prevent brittleness, and to preserve in the hoof a proper degree of elasticity. All the internal surface of the crust, except the groove we have just mentioned, is covered by a beautiful membranous or laminated sub- stance, which very much resembles the under surface of a mushroom ; these are united, or rather interwoven, with similar laminae or mem- branes, which cover all the anterior and lateral surfaces of the sensible foot, forming a very se- cure union between the crust and the internal parts, nor are those membranes possessed merely ©f great strength; they possess likewise a con- siderable degree of elasticity, constituting one of those curious springs which nature has provided to prevent concussion when the animal is in mo- tion; that these laminae form an union between the crust and sensible foot, of sufficient strength to support the animal's weight, has been proved beyond a doubt, by removing from a living horse the bottom of the hoof, that is, the sole and frog: in this case, had the laminae been un- able to support the horse's weight, the internal foot must have slipped through the hoof so as to come down upon the ground, but this did not 147 happen, and the sole, as it was re-produced, as- sumed its proper concave form. As these laminae form so secure an union be- tween the crust and the internal foot, it is evident that the weight of the horse is in a great measure supported by the crust, which therefore ought to possess considerable strength, for if it were too weak and inflexible, it would not be adequate to the burthen which it has to sustain, and must consequently bend to it; in this case the hoof would lose that oblique form which it had ori- ginally, and would approach the horizontal line, at the same time, the sole would lose its concave form, from receiving an unusual degree of pres- sure, becoming flat, and at length convex or pro- jecting, but when the crust is sufficiently strong, the internal foot, and consequently the whole animal is suspended by those elastic membranes, as a carriage is by its springs; and though the bottom of the internal foot is in contact with the sole, it nevertheless does not press upon it con- siderably, except when the horse :s in motion, and then the back part of the sole descends a lit- tle (being somewhat elastic), and suffers the laminae to elongate in a small degree, so as to prevent any painful concussion. 148 The bottom of the hoof is formed by the sole(, ihe frog, and the bars. The sole is rather concave or hollow on its external surface, and consists of a different kind of horn from that which forms the crust, being of a scaly texture, and sometimes soft and pul- verable on its exterior surface ; its use is to de- fend the sensible sole that lies immediately un- der it: from its concave form the horse is enabled to tread more firmly on the ground, and the sensible parts are less exposed to blows or pressure than they would be, had it been made either fiat or convex ; and being somewhat flexi- ble and elastic towards the heels, it assists in the action of those curious springs we have just described. The frog is a very important part, and re- quires to be particularly considered; it is inti- mately united with the sole, but is composed of a tougher and more elastic kind of horn; it resembles a wedge in its form ; but towards the heel, where it becomes wide and expanded, there is a separation in the middle which is con- tinued to the heel: when the frog receives the pressure of the horse's weight, this separation is increased, and consequently the frog becomes wider, and as it is connected with the heels of 149 the crust, the same effect must be produced up- on them.' As great part of the frog is placed behind the coffin bone, all the intervening space between it and the back sinew being filled with a fatty elastic substance, it forms another of those curi- ous springs which nature has provided to prevent concussion. When the frog is in contact with the ground, it is evident, from its construction with the heels of the crust, as we have before observed, and with two cartilages or elastic bodies, which are covered in a great measure by the heels and quarters of the crust, and belong to the internal foot, that it must tend to widen or expand the heels, and however they may be disposed to con- tract, by the foot being kept hot and dry, such contraction cannot possibly take place while the frog bears on the ground, because it is then opposed by a very considerable part of the ani- mal's weight. It has been supposed by some, that the prin- cipal use of the frog is to serve as a cushion and point of support to the back sinew. When we consider, however, the structure and relative situation of those parts, this opinion does not, appear to be very probable. From what has o 2 150 been said of the frog, the reader may judge of its importance, and how necessary it is to attend to its preservation; but such is the mutilated practice of farriers, so determined do they seem on most occasions to act in opposition to nature, that this essential part is generally the first that is destroyed or rendered useless. The bars form two ridges, one on each side the frog, extending from the head of the crust towards the toe of the frog; they appear to be a continuation of the crust, being like it, com- posed of strong longitudinal fibres ; at the part where it joins the crust a very firm bearing is afforded for the heel of the shoe. The use of the bars is to oppose any disposition there may be in the hoof to contract, by acting as props to the heels; but in the common practice of shoe- ing they are generally destroyed, for farriers have supposed that they bind the heels together and prevent their expansion; they have therefore named them binders, and cut them away in order to open the heels, as they term it; this practice, however, is not now so frequent as it used to be. Having finished our desciiption of the hoof, we shall proceed to describe the internal or sen- sible foot. . All the parts, of which the internal foot is 151 composed, are, as we have before observed, en- dued with great sensibility; and so nicely is it adapted to the cavity of the hoof, that it com- pletely fills h, without suffering the least incon- venience from pressure; but when the foot has been improperly treated, when the frog has been deprived of its hard surface, for the pur- pose of giving it what farriers conceive, a neat and fashionable appearance, (as if nature had been so clumsy in this part of her work, as to require a polish from the hands of those inge- nious gentlemen) when the frog has been thus mutilated, the bars destroyed, and shoes ap- plied that are either turned up or made very thick at the heels, and when this shoe, for the purpose of saving trouble, has been applied to the foot almost red hot; in such circumstances the hoof must necessarily contract, whereby its cavity will be diminished, so that the nerves and blood-vessels will be compressed, the cir- culation of the blood impeded, and inflammation and lameness will most probably be the conse- quence. All the anterior and lateral surfaces of the sen- sible foot are covered with that membranous or laminated substance which we have before de- scribed ; but it differs from those laminae which 152 are found on the internal surface of the crust, in possessing numerous blood-vessels, which can be easily demonstrated by injecting coloured wax into the trunk of the arteries; but the laminae of the crust cannot be made to appear vascular even by the finest injection, and are therefore supposed to be insensible. At the upper part of the sen- sible foot, where the laminae terminate, a round- ish projecting body may be observed, extending all round the coronet to the back part of the frog, this is termed the coronary ring, its surface is covered with the extremities of vessels, which are very conspicuous when the arteries have been injected with coloured wax or size, it is from this part that the hoof is formed. The bottom of the internal foot is formed by the sensible frog and sole, the' former perfectly resembles in shape the horney frog, to the con- cavities of which its convexities aref nicely adapted. In describing the horney frog, we had occasion to mention its connection with two elas- tic bodies or cartilages, that are in a great measure covered by the heels and quarters of the hoof; but this connection is, through the medium of the sensible frog, which is more immediately united to those cartilages. When the former come in contact with the ground, and receives 153 the pressure of the horse's weight, the latter is forced upward and rendered wider, and at the same time the cartilages are forced upward and outward, tending thereby to expand the heels and quarters, and assist in taking off concussion. From the sensible frog and sole the horn which composes the external frog and sole is secreted; for this purpose they are supplied with numerous blood-vessels, the extremities of which may be seen upon their surface, and become very con- spicuous when the arteries have been injected with coloured size. Hence we are enabled to account for thrushes, and that rottenness of the frog which generally accompanies that disease : for when the sensible frog is compressed and in- flamed by a contraction of the heels, it becomes incapable of performing its principal function, that is, the secretion of horn; and the blood which should have been applied to this purpose, is chiefly expended in forming that offensive matter discharged in thrushes; from this we may learn also the cause of that unnatural thinness in the soles of horses that have pummice or flat feet. When the crust gives way to the pressure of the horse's weight, allowing the internal foot to bear so upon the sole as to render it either flat or convex, the extraordinary pressure which the 154 sensible sole receives, inflames it and impedes in a greater or less degree the secretion of horn. The sensible sole lies immediately under the horney sole, by which it is defended from blows or pressure. When the horney sole loses its concave form, and becomes thin and incapable of performing its function, if flat shoes were applied, or if the sole were suffered to bear upon the ground, lameness would be the consequence; and it is for the purpose of preserving the sole from pressure, that the concave or hollow shoe is employed in these cases. When these parts which we have described are removed from the sensible foot, the tendons, ligaments, and bones come into view. It will be unnecessary to give a particular de- scription of these. It may be useful, however, to point out the sesamoid bones, and the navi- cula or nut bone : the former is connected pos- teriorly with the lower extremity of the cannon or shank bone; they consist of two small bones, firmly united by means of very strong ligaments; they compose part of the fetlock joint, having a moveable articulation with the cannon bone; their external part affords a smooth polished surface for the back sinews to slide upon, and the same ligament which composes this surface, 155 comes round the back sinews, so as to form a sheath for them, and keep them in their situa- tion. In this sheath a fluid similar to synovia, or joint oil, is formed for the purpose of render- ing it smooth and slippery, and enabling the tendon to move easily upon it. As these bones project a little, they serve as a pulley for the ten- dons to slide upon, and afford a considerable mechanical advantage to the flexor muscles of the limb. The nut bone serves as another pulley for the tendon or back sinew to move upon: it is connected posteriorly with the coffin bone and the small pastern, and affords the same kind of polished surface and sheath for the tendon as we have before described. ON THE PRACTICE OF SHOEING. HAVING given a concise description of the horse's foot, and pointed out the uses of the va- rious parts which compose it,- we shall now de- scribe the method of shoeing; but first, it will be necessary to observe, that as the mode of shoeing most commonly practised has so de- structive a tendency, and produces such a variety 156 of diseases, that we seldom meet with a foot that has not lost in a greater or less degree its original shape; it must be obvious therefore, that one kind of shoe cannot with propriety be recommended for general application, and that it is necessary on all occasions to adapt it care- fully to the state of the foot. This constitutes the most difficult part of the art of shoeing, and from neglecting this precaution, shoes of the best form have often occasioned lameness. If we examine the foot of a hundred colts, it will be found that more than ninety of them are of the same form ; it is true that some may have grown more luxuriantly than others, whereby the crust will be deeper, and the bot- tom part may have been partially broken, so as to give the foot a ragged and uneven appear- ance, still the essential shape is the same, and when this superfluous horn has been removed, it will be found that the bottom of the foot will be nearly circular, the sole concave, the bars distinct, the frog and heels open and ex- panded. In preparing a horse's foot for the shoe, the lower part is to be reduced, when luxuriant, which is generally the case, more particularly at the toe, and this is to be done by means of a 157 buttress or rasp: the loose scaly parts of the sole are likewise to be removed, so as to pre- serve its concavity, and the small cavity is to be made with a drawing knife, between the bar and crust, to prevent the shoe from pressing on that part, and occasioning corns: it is however ne- cessary in doing this, to take particular care that the connection between the bar and crust is not destroyed or weakened, which would of course render the bar useless. The junction of the bar and crust affords a firm bearing for the heel of the shoe, and is to be rasped perfectly flat, and so low as to be ex- actly on a level with the frog, that they may bear equally on a plane surface, before the shoe is applied; indeed, the whole of the bottom of the crust is to be made perfectly flat and even at the same time with the rasp, that the shoe may bear equally on every part of it: farriers should never be allowed to do this by means of a hot shoe, which is too frequently the case. If any ragged parts are observed in the frog, they are to be carefully removed with a knife, for, if suf- fered to remain, they might afford a lodgement for dirt and gravel. Thus do we prepare a foot for the shoe, and to a foot of this description, meaning one that is sound and perfect, or that v 158 has not suffered any material alteration in jtt, form from improper shoeing, a shoe of the fol- lowing description is to be applied. The toe of the shoe for a middle sized horse intended for active service is about an inch in vvidjth, and a quarter of an inch in depth or thickness; the heels about half an inch in width, and barely three eighths in depth; the wearing part of the toe is best to be made of steel, and the nails ought to be brought very near to the toe, but not quite round it; for when that is done, there must also be a groove made, which con- siderably weakens that part, and almost all horses wear principally at the toe, no nails must be put near the heels. Both surfaces of the shoe must be perfectly flat, and the heel of the shoe rests upon the junction of the bar and crust, be- yond which it should never extend. It will be supposed, perhaps, that a shoe which is flat on that surface next the foot, will be apt to produce lameness by pressing on the sole ; but let it be recollected, that this shoe is recommended only for a sound foot, in which the sole is always a little concave, so that it can- not possibly receive any pressure from a flat shoe; it may be' said also, that when the nails are placed far from the heels the shoe will not be 159 sufficiently secure, and will be frequently loosen- ed ; but as'the shoe bears equally on every part of the crust, this objection cannot have any weight; it must be granted, however, that when a foot is pared in the common way, that is, when the heels have been opened, and the shoe so applied, that nearly an inch of the heel has no bearing upon the crust; that if the nails were placed so far from the heels, as before recom- mended, the shoe would be very insecure, for as much of it as has no bearing upon the crust, would operate occasionally as a lever in raising the nails, and consequently the shoe would fre- quently be loosened. Farriers therefore find it necessary, when the foot has been thus pared, and the shoe applied in this way, to place the nails in the quarters, by which the shoe is cer- tainly rendered more secure than it would be had it been placed nearer the toe. Many disadvantages, however, attend this method. In the first place, by placing the nails in the quarters, they prove a considerable obsta- cle to the expansion of the heels, and as the crust is generally much thinner at the quarters than at the toe, the sensible parts are more liable to be wounded ; but this does not apply to the hind feet, in which the crust of the quarters is gene- ICO rally thicker than that of the toe. When a horse over-reaches, if any part of the shoe has no bearing upon the crust, it is very liable to be struck by the toe of the hind foot, and shoes are often forced off in this way; to this may be ad- ded, the insecurity of such a shoe when a horse is rode on deep or heavy ground. It will probably be observed of the shoe here recommended, that it is inconsistent with the principle which has been laid down respecting the necessity of the frog's receiving pressure. It is an incontrovertible fact, that unless the frog receives a certain degree of pressure, it will be- come soft and incapable of affording sufficient protection to the sensible frog which it covers; that the heels will gradually contract, and the natural form of the foot will be destroyed, for it has been proved by experiment, that the bars alone are not sufficient to prevent contrac- tion, though they certainly oppose it with con- siderable force ; but it does not follow from this, that it is necessary for the pressure to be con- stant^ nor is it believed that a shoe which allows the frog to bear upon the ground, when he stands upon a plane hard surface, can be always applied, even to sound ket, wkhout inconvenience; there is no doubt that a horse in a state of nature has 161 his frog almost always in contact with the ground, and then of course he feels no inconvenience from it; but when burthens are placed upon his back, and he is driven about upon hard roads, he is certainly in very different circumstances, and if the frog in such cases were constantly ex- posed to this severe pressure, it would no doubt occasion lameness. When a shoe is applied agreeable to the fore- going directions, the frog would be raised three- eighths of an inch from the ground ; that when the horse is going upon a hard surface, where he would be most liable to feel inconvenience from the pressure on the frog, it receives none ; but upon soft yielding ground the frog certainly re- ceives pressure, and without giving the animal any pain. To a horse that travels or works regu- larly, and is occasionally taken upon soft ground, the pressure therefore that the frog receives in this way, is quite sufficient to preserve the foot in a state of health; but when a horse is kept almost constantly in the stable, standing upon hot litter, particularly in hot and dry weather, his feet will certainly be undergoing an alteration in their form, and will be in a progressive state to- wards disease. In those cases, however, contraction of the p2 162 hoof may be effectually prevented by means oi the patent artificial frog, invented by Mr. Cole- man.* By this ingenious contrivance a horse's frog may receive sufficient pressure, in what- ever circumstances he may be placed to prevent contraction, and keep the foot sound and healthy, without the inconvenience of wearing thin heed- ed shoes; but it must be remembered that when- ever the frog is much exposed to pressure, whether it be by applying the patent frog, or by the thin heeled shoe, and reducing the crust at the heels, it is necessary that the quarters and heels should possess a proper degree of pliancy; if they are rigid and inflexible, it is evident that the sensible frog and cartilages would be placed between two fixed points, and they would con- sequently be bruised and enflamed. Indeed many cases of lameness are produced in this way; whenever the hoof appears to be too dry and strong, or to have lost its natural elasticity, it is necessary to rasp the quarters and to keep the whole hoof moist, either by applying several folds of flannel round the coronet, constantly wetted, or by making the horse stand in water or soft clay four or five hours during the day; by * Professor of the Veterinary College. 163 these means the natural flexibility of the horn would be restored, and the heels and quarters would yield in a small degree, whenever the horse's weight was thrown upon the frog. Having said as much.as appears to be requi- site of the method of shoeing a sound foot, we shall proceed to describe those diseases of the foot which render a different kind of shoe ne- cessary. In the first place it will be proper to observe that when a horse, even with a sound foot, has worn shoes that are very thick, or turned up at the heels, particularly if at the same time the crust at the heels has been suffered to grow so high that the frog is kept at a con- siderable distance from the ground, it would be very improper to reduce the heels suddenly, so as to allow the frog to receive pressure; the back sinews would in that case be injured, and lameness might ensue. In feet of this descrip- tion it is necessary to remove from the toe all that can be done without exposing the part too much, and to lower the heels gradually; the toe of the shoe should be made rather thin, and of the best steel. The shoes for draught horses should be made flat on both surfaces, provided the sole is of a proper form and thickness, but if flat or convex, 164 and consequently too thin, which is often the case in horses of this description, the internal surface of the shoe must be concave; still the external surface should be flat, for the convex shoe, which is commonly used for draught horses, prevents them from treading securely, and renders them incapable of exerting the whole of their strength. Shoes for draught horses that seldom go out of a walk should be much stronger than those for horses employed in active service, and may be turned up or raised at the toe and heels with advantage, when the ground is frozen. DISEASES OF THE FOOT. THE most frequent cause of lameness in the foot is a contraction of the horney matter that composes the hoof which is generally accompa- nied with an increased concavity and thickness of the sole. The cavity of the hoof being thus diminished, the sensible foot suffers a greater or less degree of compression, which occasions in it inflammation and lameness. When we exam- ine the bottom of a contracted foot, instead of 165 being circular, it will be found of an oblong form, the heels and frog will appear as if they had been squeezed together in a vice. Some- times the frog has become rotten, and discharges an offensive matter. The sensible foot may also be compressed and inflamed by an increased thickness, and a con- sequent loss of elasticity in the hoof and sole, and in this case there is seldom any considera- ble alteration observed in the external form of the foot. We sometimes meet with horses that go per- fectly sound, though their hoofs are much con- tracted ; on the other hand we often see severe lameness produced by a slight degree of contrac- tion. In attempting to cure this disease, the first step to be taken is to remove carefully with a knife all the rotten parts of the frog, and apply tar to those which are sound: and oil of turpen- tine should be poured into the cleft of the frog; this will promote the secretion of horney matter, and if assisted by pressure, will increase the so- lidity of that which is already formed. The quarters and heels are then to be rasped, parti- cularly at the coronet, and the superfluous parts of the sole removed with a butteris and drawing- knife. The toe is to be shortened as much as 166 can be conveniently done, and if the heels are too high, that is, if the crust at the heels is too deep, it will be-necessary to reduce it with the butteris and rasp. It frequently happens, how- ever, in feet of this description, that the heels are too low, in such cases they must be carefully preserved, and when a shoe is applied, it should be made thicker at the heel than at the toe, and somewhat longer than that recommended for a sound foot. When the contracted hoof has been thus treated, the next thing to be done is to keep the foot as moist as possible, and expose the frog con- stantly to pressure, either by means of the arti- ficial frog, or by reducing the crust at the heels. When these remedies have been persevered in for a short time, the frog will have acquired a certain degree of hardness and solidity; it will then be proper to turn the horse out into some soft meadow ground, without shoes, taking care that the bottom of the foot is occasionally reduced, so that the frog may constantly receive pressure. If the foot is examined after a short time, it will be found that all the new formed hoof at the quarters and heels, that is all the horn that has been produced at those parts since the remedies were first employed, instead of growing down 167 nearly in a perpendicular direction, or obliquely inward, is forced outward in its descent, so that the cavity of the hoof will be considerably en- larged, and the compression of the internal parts removed. When the horse has been at grass a sufficient time for the new hoof to* grow com- pletely down, the shape of the foot will be found much altered ; the heels instead of being narrow, will be open and expanded, the frog will be con- siderably widened, and not squeezed together as before, and the oblong form will be changed to one that is more circular, in short, when the frog during this time has been properly ex- posed to pressure, and the quarters so rasped as to be rendered sufficiently flexible, the hoof will be found very similar in its form to that of a colt. In cases where a contraction of the hoof has already produced inflammation and lameness, particularly if the lameness is not recent, it will be adviseable to blister the pasterns previous to turning the horse out, and when the inflamma- tion is very considerable, a Jaxative ball, with a cooling diet, will be serviceable. The cruel operation of drawing or tearing off the sole has been recommended as a remedy for contracted feet, but very little reflection will convince anv 168 @ne of its inefficacy; whenever it has been sup- posed to do good, the benefit has probably arisen from the long run at grass that becomes neces- sary after it, and then the advantage might have been equal, perhaps greater, had the operation been omitted. It has been observed before, that in contracted hoofs there is generally an increas- ed concavity in the sole, whence we may reasona- bly conclude that it opposes the contracting powers, though in the end it is not capable of preventing the contraction from taking place. Upon a horse that has been lame from this dis- ease a considerable time, it is difficult, if not im- possible, to perform a radical cure. When the lameness is not so considerable as to render the horse totally unfit for work, it will be adviseable to apply a shoe that is thicker, wider, and longer at the heels than that recommended for a sound foot, and if the frog is tender and rotten, the bar-shoe will be found serviceable. It will be useful also to keep the hoof as moist as possible, by making the horse stand in water or wet clay four or five hours during the day, or in a bran poultice. In examining the feet of horses after death, that have been thus diseased, we find generally that the laminae have been destroyed, the coffin- 169 bone injured, the lateral cartilages ossified; in some cases, however, no appearance of disease can be perceived on the interal parts of the foot. When the disease has gone so far as to injure the laminae, cartilages, or coffin-bone, there is not a possibility of removing it, which shews how necessary it is to attend to the feet of horses more than is commonly done; and that when- ever any alteration is perceived to be going on in the shape of the foot, when the heels appear to be getting narrower, the frog squeezed to- gether and discharging matter, in consequence of the compression which the sensible frog suf- fers ; it surely must be of importance to adopt such measures as will not only prevent the disease from going any further, but will also restore the foot to its natural healthy state ; for when it has gone so far as to produce absolute lameness, the cure is by no means certain. How frequently do we meet with horses that are said to be ten- der in the feet, and how subject are they to fall in consequence of this tenderness, which gene- rally arises from contraction of the crust; in this case the sensible frog is extremely irritable and inflamed, and the horney frog which nature de- signed for its protection being soft and rotten, and inadequate to its function, every blow that 170 it receives must of course give the animal very considerable pain. Whenever therefore any of those symptoms make their appearance, and whenever the foot seems to be undergoing an al- teration in form, immediate recourse should be had to the mode of prevention we have pointed out. The next disease to be noticed is the flat or convex sole, or, as it is most commonly termed, the pummice foot. This disease most commonly occurs in heavy draft horses, and seems to arise from a weakness of the crust; for when the sole becomes flat or convex, the crust also loses its proper form, and becomes flatter, appearing as if it had been incapable of supporting the ani- mal's weight, and had therefore given way, al- lowing the internal foot to press so upon the sole as to give it the appearance we observe. This explanation of the disease will perhaps appear the more probable, if we consider that when a horse is drawing a heavy load, not only his own weight, but great part of that which he is draw- ing also, is thrown ultimately upon his feet, and as the fore feet support by far the greatest share, it is not at all astonishing that the crust should sometimes give way ; for though it possesses sufficient strength for the purpose of the animal 171 in a state of nature—yet that strength is limited, and not always adequate to the burthens which the crust has to sustain. When the sole becomes flat or convex, it is rendered also thinner than it is naturally, and sometimes so much so as to yield easily to the pressure of the finger; the sole in this state is of course incapable of afford- ing sufficient protection to the sensible sole? which is then closely in contact with it; and if it be exposed to pressure, lameness must be the consequence. It is almost superfluous to ob- serve, that the flat shoe would be ill adapted to a foot of this description ; it becomes necessary in this case to apply one that is concave on its external surface, that the sole may not receive any pressure from it, and of sufficient width to protect the sole as much as can be done from the pressure of the ground. In attempting to cure this disease, it is first necessary to take off the horse's shoes, and to make him stand on a flat hard surface; this kind of pressure will harden the soles, and in the end render them thicker, particularly if tar be frequently applied to them, and although a radical cure may not be affected by this treatment, considerable advantage may be derived from it. We sometimes meet with horses, particularly 172 among those that are well bred, whose pasterns are remarkably long and oblique in their posi- tion, while the heels are very low, and the toe of considerable length ; if thin heeled shoes were applied to feet of this description, or if the toes were not kept short, the horse would be very liable to lameness, from the extraordinary pres- sure to which the ligaments and back sinews would be exposed; the heels therefore of such horses are to be carefully preserved, and the toes kept as short as possible. The shoes which are applied should be made sufficiently thick and long at the heel to make up for the deficiency of horn in that part, in order to relieve the liga- ments and back sinews, and with the same view the toe should be made rather thin, and of the best steel. There is another kind of deformity sometimes observed in the foot, that is, the hoof loses its oblique form, and approaches towards the perpendicular, at the same time the heels becomes very high; in this case it is necessary to reduce the crust at the heels, and apply the thin heeled shoe. 173 SAND CRACKS. ARE longitudinal fissures in the hoof, gene- rally next the heels, beginning at the coronet. Horses, whose hoofs have become dry and brit- tle are most subject to them, and they generally occur in the hot and dry months of summer, and seem to be occasioned by a strong disposition in the hoof to contract, at a time when it is dry and inflexible; they do not always cause lameness, and are sometimes very easily cured; but when the fissure or works is so deep as to reach the sensible parts, it often produces very severe lameness, and requires a considerable time to be completely removed. Having raspe'd the quar- ter, let the crack be opened with a drawing knife, so that the actual cautery, or red hot iron may be applied to it; this will cause a matter some- what resembling glue to exude, which will tend to fill up the fissure, and protect the sensible parts that would otherwise be exposed. Oil of turpentine will however, generally effect a cure without burning. Our next object is to remove the contractile disposition of the hoof, without do- ing which every other remedy.would avail little; this is to be effected by keeping the hoof con- Q.2 174 stantly moist, either by means of clay, poultices, or by turning the horse out to grass in soft moist ground, but previous to this it is necessary to rasp the bottom of that quarter which is crack- ed, so that no part of it may appear upon the shoe. CORNS. CORNS are generally the consequence of bad shoeing, or improper management of the foot, and may therefore be avoided by following the directions we have given under that head ; but when they do occur, it is necessary to remove the red part or Corn, with a drawing knife, and to apply the shoe so that the tender part may not receive' any pressure : when it has been ne- glected, we sometimes find matter formed in this part which often breaks out at the coronet, in this case it is necessary to make an opening for the matter in the angle between the bar and crust. The sore is to be dressed with compound tinc- ture of benzoin, and the cavity to be loosely filled with lint or tow, which is to be kept in by means 175 of a bar shoe, and spirits of turpentine poured into the wound frequently. QUITTOR. THIS disease generally arises from a wound or bruise in the coronet, and if neglected, pene- trates under the hoof, forming sinuses in various directions. The most effectual method of treat- ing those complaints is to ascertain, in the first place, the direction and extent of the sinuses, and then to force into them with a strong probe some chrystalized verdigris, rolled up in thin blotting or silver paper. This, though appa- rently a severe remedy, will be found very effec- tual. Sublimate and arsenic have been strongly recommended as remedies for the quittor, in- deed it is probable that any caustic application would effect a cure. When a corn has been ne- glected and suffered to break out at the coronet,. or when the foot has been wounded or pricked, as it is termed, by the farrier in shoeing, and this is not discovered until matter appears at the coronet; though these may be considered as cases of quittor, a different treatment is required from 176 that we have just described ; in those cases the cure greatly depends on making an opening for the matter in the bottom of the foot, where the nail which inflicted the injury entered ; or if pro- duced by a corn, the opening must be made in the angle between the bar and crust. The best dressing on those occasions is the compound tincture of benzoin and digestive ointment, or oil of turpentine alone ; a poultice is sometimes required to soften the horney matter, and subdue any inflammation that may exist in the foot. THRUSH. THIS disease consists in a discharge of foetid matter from the cleft of the frog, which part is generally rotten, and so soft as to be incapable of affording sufficient protection to the sensible frog which it covers ; hence arises that tenderness of the foot which is so often observed. When this complaint attacks the fore feet, it is seldom, if ever, an original disease, but merely a symptom or effect. The cause is generally a contraction of the horney matter at the quarters and heels, by which the sensible frog is compressed and in- 177 flamed ; the discharge which takes place is a con- sequence of this inflammation, and may be con- sidered as an ineffectual effort of nature to cure it; the discharge, however, certainly diminishes the inflammation, and prevents it from coming so considerable as it otherwise would, for it of- ten happens when it has been stopped by the in- judicious application of astringents, or when it ceases spontaneously, that the inflammation be- comes violent, extends to the other parts of the foot, and occasions severe lameness, which ge- nerally is relieved or removed by a return of the discharge ; but we are not to infer from this that an attempt to cure thrushes is improper, it only shews that it is necessary in the first place to re- move the cause of the disease ; with this view the quarters are to be rasped, and the hoofs kept constantly moist by making the horse stand in clay for some part of the day, or bran poultice, taking care to keep the frog dry by means of tar if possible. When by these means we have suc- ceeded in removing in some measure the com- pression and consequent inflammation of the sensible frog, it will be adviseable to apply oil of turpentine or some other astringent to the frog, which, if assisted by pressure and tar, will ren- 178 der that part firm and solid, and the discharge will of course cease when the inflammation leaves the sensible frog. The best astringents for this purpose are a so- lution of white or blue vitriol, alum, &c. There are some cases, however, of thrushes which though occasioned by impression of the sensi- ble frog, it is difficult, if not impossible, to era- dicate. With respect to those thrushes which attack the hind feet, and which sometimes, though rarely, happen also in the fore feet, indepen- dently of the above cause, a different treatment is required When the discharge has existed for a considerable time, by stopping it hastily we frequently produce inflammation and swelling of the legs; still it is necessary to check the dis- ease, since, if negelected, it sometimes dege- nerates into that dangerous disease termed can- ker. It is adviseable, therefore, in such cases, to keep the bowels open by the following laxa- tive ball, given every morning until the desired effect is produced, and repeated occasionally.— The best application for the frog is tar, and one of the above astringents. This treatment will be greatly assisted by two or three hours exer- 179 cise every day, and frequent hand-rubbing to the legs. LAXATIVE BALL. Take aloes, - - - 3 dr. Castile soap, - - 3 dr. To be made into a ball for one dose. CANKER. THIS disease frequently originates in a thrush, and most commonly attacks the hind feet; it generally proves difficult to cure, and not unfrequently incurable. The frog is the part first attacked, which becomes soft and rotten, dis- charging matter of a peculiar offensive smell; the horney frog is at length totally destroyed, and the sensible frog, instead of secreting horn, forms a substance somewhat resembling shreds of leather. The disease soon extends to the sole and other parts of the foot, even to the coffin- bone, and is then considered incurable. The first thing to be done is to cut away freely all the diseased parts, and when the bleeding is stopped, let the following liniment be applied, and re- 180 peated every morning; the dressings may be kept on by means of a bar shoe. Pressure on the diseased part will very materially assist in effecting a cure, if a cure is practicable ; when- ever the foot is dressed, such diseased parts as may again make their appearance are to be care- fully removed, and to such as do not appear to be sufficiently affected by the liniment, let a lit- tle sulphuric or nitrous acid be applied. When the parts which were diservsed begin to look red and healthy, and the discharge loses that peculiar smell before noticed, becoming whiter and of a thicker consistence, there is great probability of a perfect cure being effected, and when these favourable appearances take place, some mild ap- plication will be proper, except to such parts as do not appear to have entirely lost their foul ap- pearance. STRONG!- LINIMENT. No. 1. Oil of turpentine, - 1 oz. Sulphuric acid, ^ oz. Mix very cautiously. Tar, - - 4 oz. 181 Mix. No. 2. Red nitrated quicksilver, 1 oz. Nitrous acid, - - 2 oz. The former being dissolved in the latter, mix them cautiously with 4 oz. tar. MILD LINIMENT. Chrystalized verdigris, finely powdered, 1 oz. Honey, - - - - 2 oz. Powdered bole and alum, of each, A oz. Vinegar enough to give it the consistence of a liniment, to be mixed over a gentle fire. CUTTING. A HORSE is said to cut when he wounds the inside of the fetlock joint with his foot in travel- ling. This may arise from various causes, the most common of which seems to be an improper position of the foot; the toe, instead of being in a line with the point of the shoulder, inclining either inward or outward; in the latter case we generally find that the inner quarter of the- hoof is lower than the other, and that the faulty posi- R 182 tion of the foot depends upon this inequality of the quarters; it must be obvious, therefore, that the remedy in this case consists in lowering the outer quarter, and making the inner branch of the shoe thicker than the other. When the toe inclines inward, it renders a horse liable to cut on the inside of the knee, at the lower part of the joint; this is termed the speedy cut, from its happening upon the trot or gallop, and this is considered as a dangerous failing in a horse, the violence of the pain which the blow occasions sometimes causing him to fall very suddenly. The remedy for this is to keep the toe as short as possible, that being the part which generally inflicts the wound and to alter the improper po- sition of the foot. Cutting frequently depends upon weakness or fatigue, and is therefore very liable to happen to young horses when rode hard over deep heavy ground. The only remedy in this case is to avoid the cause until the legs acquire more strength, or to protect the wounded part with leather, or a boot, as it is termed. When- ever a horse cuts, it is adviseable to ascertain what part it is that inflicts the wound, and this may often be done by applying tar to the wound- ed part; this will of course adhere to that part of the hoof or shoe which comes into contact 183 with the wound. Should it be the edge of the shoe, which is seldom the case, the cause may be easily removed by the farrier; whatever part of the hoof it may be, it should be rasped away as much as can be done with safety, and parti- cular attention paid to the position of the other foot, which if improper, should be improved as much as it can be by shoeing. BLEEDING. THIS operation is frequently necessary in the diseases of horses, and is performed either with a lancet or fleme, in the neck vein. The blood should always be preserved that the quantity drawn may be accurately known, and that its quality may be ascertained. If, after it has coagulated, a white, or rather a light buff coloured jelly, is found on the sur- face, an inflammatory state of the body is indi- cated ; but in order to render this criterion useful, the blood must not be taken from too small an orifice, nor should it be suffered to run down the sides of the vessel which re- ceives it. 184 Blood drawn, from a healthy horse very soon coagulates, and appears like an uniformly red jelly with a small quantity of fluid, resembling water, floating on its surface ; this red jelly may by washing be rendered of a light buff colour, and exactly resembles the buff or size, as it is term- ed, of inflamed blood. The most healthy blood, therefore, contains this size, and the cause of its not being conspicuous in such blood, is that coagulation takes place before the red colouring matter can have time to separate from it; but as blood that is drawn from an animal labouring under general inflammation or fever always pre- serves its fluidity much longer than healthy blood, and as the red colouring particles are specifically heavier than the fluid with which they are mix- ed, they will of course be gradually subsiding as long as the mass continues fluid, leaving a coat of buff coloured jelly on the surface. It has been observed before that healthy blood, when suffered to coagulate, appears to consist of two parts, the red jelly, termed crassamentum, and the water, or serum; and that the former may afterwards be separated by washing into two parts, viz. the red colouring particles, or red globules, as they are termed by anatomists, and buff coloured jelly, or coagulable lymph. The 185 proportion which these component parts of the blood bear to each other, seems to depend upon the state of the system at the time it is drawn. When the body is healthy and vigorous, we find but little serum ; when it is preternaturally ex- cited, or in a state of inflammation, there is still less, and when the animal is weak and debili- tated, there is generally an abundance of serum. Another circumstance to be attended to in ex- amining blood is the firmness or tenacity of the coagulum.—In health the blood when drawn and suffered to coagulate, is of a moderately firm consistence, and easily broken, but when the system is highly excited, as in general in- flammation, so great is the tenacity of the mass, that the finger can scarcely penetrate it; on the other hand, when the powers of life are weak, as in the latter stage of symptomatic fever, the blood almost loses its power of coagulating. The necessity of examining blood that is drawn from the diseased horse must be obvious, as it assists in forming a judgment of the nature of the dis- ease", and points out the proper remedies. When blood exhibits buff on its surface, particularly if at the same time the coagulum is firm and solid, we may be certain that the complaint is inflammatory, and that bleeding may be repeat- 186 ed with advantage. If on the other hand the mass of blood is wanting in tenacity, and has more serum than usual, we may safely conclude that the system is in a state of debility, and con- sequently that bleeding is highly improper. In cases of symptomatic fever it will gene- rally be necessary to take away four or five quarts of blood at the first bleeding; even six quarts have been taken with manifest advantage. It is at this period of the disease (its commence- ment) that copious bleeding is particularly use- ful, and it is from an absurd prejudice that obtains against this practice, that so many horses are destroyed by such fevers. It is truly laugh- able to hear a groom or quack farrier pronoun- cing, with an affectation of unerring sagacity upon the qualities of blood, frequently observing that it is too hot, and that consequently the horse must have a fever ; or that it is too dark colour- ed, and therefore foul, or that it is too thick, and consequently unfit for circulation; it is said to be full of humours. With respect to the heat of the blood it will be sufficient to observe that it preserves nearly the same temperature while circulating in the body, whether the animal be an inhabitant of the most sultry or the cold? 187 est country, whether in health or in the highest fever. As to the colour of the blood while flowing from the body, it may be either red or of a dark colour, as the operator pleases, for pressing on the vein for a short time before the orifice is made, it may always be made to appear of a dark colour. The opinion that blood sometimes becomes thick or viscid in the body, was sup- ported by many respectable philosophers, but is now universally abandoned, because it has been proved to be erroneous. It is a bad practice to bleed horses frequently when there is no urgent occasion, as they there> by acquire a plethoric habit, and unless the ope- ration be regularly performed and gradually increased in frequency, troublesome diseases might ensue. Horses of a full habit, that are consequently liable to inflammatory complaints, will receive most benefit from moderate, but long continued exercise, and good grooming. When bleeding is performed for the cure of im- portant inflammatory diseases, a large orifice should be made in the vein, and the blood drawn in a large stream, as we thereby diminish the action of the heart and arteries much more rea- dily than if it were drawn slowly from a small 188 orifice. In cases of external and circumscribed inflammation, topical bleeding is eminently use- ful, which is done by opening some veins con- tiguous to the affected part, or by scarifying the inflamed surface. PHYSIC. IN purging horses great care and attention are necessary, their bowels being particularly irritable, and liable to inflammation. The phy- sic commonly given is certainly too strong, and many horses have been destroyed by the immo- derate doses that have been recommended by writers on farriery; when this happens, the mis- chief is generally attributed to the coarseness or impurity of the medicine, and the druggist is un- deservedly censured. When time and circumstances will allow, it is adviseable to prepare a horse for physic by giv- ing him bran mashes for a day or two; this will gently relax the bowels, and remove any indu- rated fceces that may be lodged in them, it will also tend to facilitate the operation of the medi- cine. 189 When a horse is purged for the first time, it is prudent to give a very moderate dose ; were the common quantity given to one of weak, irri- table bowels, there would be danger, not only of producing great debility, and thereby of coun- teracting the intention of the medicine, but like- wise of destroyingthe animal, by bringing on an inflammation of the bowels ; and this is by no means an unfrequent occurrence.—Should the first ball not operate sufficiently, a stronger may be given after an interval of a few days. The morning is the best time for giving a pur- gative, the horse having previously fasted two or three hours. If he is disposed to drink after taking the ball, give a moderate quantity of warm water, which will promote its solution in the stomach, and consequently expedite the ope- ration : during this day the horse is to be kept in the stable, and fed with bran mashes and a moderate quantity of hay; he may be allowed also to drink plentifully of warm water, and if he refuses it in this state, let it be offered nearly, but not entirely cold. The following morning he is to be moderately exercised until gentle perspiration is produced, and at this time the medicine will generally begin to operate. Should the purging appear to be sufficient, he need not be taj^en out 190 a second time, but when the desired effect does not readily take place, trotting exercise will tend to promote it; during this day also he is to be carefully supplied with bran mashes and warm watery warm clothing, (if the weather is cold) more particularly when out of the stable, must not be omitted; the next day the purging will generally have ceased, and then a small quantity of oats may be added to his mash. When phy- sic does not operate at the usual time, the horse appearing sick and griped, relief may generally be obtained by giving a glyster of water gruel, and making him drink freely of warm water. When the purging continues longer than usual, and the horse appears to be considerably weakened by the evacuation, let the astringent ball be given. It will be observed, perhaps, that some in- gredients, commonly thought necessary in phy- sic, have been omitted in the following formulae. —These medicines have been proved, however, to be perfectly useless. Jalap, though given to the amount of four ounces, will produce very little purgative effect upon a horse, nor will cream of tartar; rhubarb, however large the dose, will not operate as a purgative, though it may be useful in moderate doses as a stomachic. 191 PHYSIC No. 1. Succotrine aloes, - 5 dr. Prepared natron, - - 2 dr. Aromatic powder, - 1 dr. Oil of caraways, - - 10 drops. Syrup or molasses enough to form the ball, one dose. (How to be given, see p. 82.) No. 2. Succotrine aloes, - 7 dr. Castile soap, - - \ oz. Powdered ginger, - 1 dr. Oil of caraways, - - 10 drops. Syrup enough to form the ball, one dose. No. 3. Succotrine Aloes, - ■ 1 oz, Prepared natron, - 2 dr. Aromatic powder, - 1 dr. Oil of anise-seeds, - - 10 drop*. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. The ball, No. 2, is generally found sufficient 192 for strong horses, and there is scarcely ever oc- casion to go farther than No. 3. Should any one, however, be desirous of stronger medicine. it may readily be procured by adding one or two drams of aloes, or one dram of calomel to the ball No. 3; but it is proper to observe, that there may be some danger in making the addi- tion. No. 4. One pint or 20 oz. of castor oil is also a safe and excellent purge, or li pint of linseed oil. DIURETICS. THESE are medicines which by stimulating the kidneys, increase the secretion of urine. The following formulae I have found both con- venient and efficacious. No. 1. Castile soap, 4 oz. Powdered rosin and nitre, of each, 2 oz. Oil of juniper, - - |oz. Linseed powder or any flour and syrup enough to give it a proper consistence, to be divided into 193 six balls for strong, or eight for weak delicate horses. No. 2. Castile soap, - - 4 oz. Venice turpentine, - - 2 oz. Powdered anise-seeds enough to give it a pro- per consistence, to be divided into six balls. Cold water must never be given after pur- gative medicine, nor until it has entirely work- ed off. Moderate exercise until a gentle perspiration is produced, the next morning, or twenty-four hours after the purge is given, will assist the ope- ration much. FOMENTATIONS. FOMENTATIONS are commonly made by boiling wormwood, southernwood, camomile, and bay leaves in water, so as to make a strong de- coction, which being strained off, is to be ap- plied as hot as it can be, without giving pain to the animal, by means of large flannel cloths.— The efficacy of fomentations depends in a great s 194 measure on their use being continued for a con- siderable time together, and being frequently repeated. POULTICE. THE following mixture will he found useful as a common poultice; fine bran one quart; pour on it a sufficient quantity of boiling water, to make a thin paste, to this add of linseed pow- der or boiled linseed, enough to give it proper consistence. ROWELS. WHEN these are used with a view of reliev- ing internal inflammation or fever, it will be found useful to apply blistering ointment in- stead of turpentine, or the digestive commonly made use of, for this will produce a considera- ble degree of inflammation in a short time. 195 PULSE. IN the management of sick horses great ad- vantage may be derived from attending to the state of the pulse, as we are thereby enabled to udge of the degree or violence of the disease, and the probability there may be of recovery: we are in some measure assisted also by it, in ascertaining the nature of the complaint, and in the application of remedies. In a healthy horse the pulsations are about 36 or 40 in a minute, and may be felt very distinctly either on the left side, or in an artery which passes over the lower jaw bone; in short a pul- sation may be felt in every superficial artery. When the brain is oppressed, the pulse gene- rally becomes unusually slow: in a case of wa- ter in the brain, the pulse has been known to fall to twenty-three in a minute ; in the progress of the disease, however, it became unusually quick. When a horse appears rather dull, and does not feed properly, it is adviseable to examine the pulse, and if it is found to exceed the standard of health, immediate recourse should be had t© 196 bleeding: by this timely interference many dan- gerous complaints may be prevented. When the pulse rises to 80 or 90 in a minute, there is reason to be apprehensive of danger, and when it exceeds 100, the disease frequendy terminates i\ death. GLYSTERS. A variety of compositions have been recom- mended for glysters by those who have written on the subject, there being scarcely an article in the Materia Medica that has not been occasion- ally employed in this way. It is ascertained, however, from considerable experience, that for a common glyster, water-gruel is as efficacious as the most elaborate composition ; when that cannot be readily procured, warm water has been used without perceiving any difference in the ef- fect. Where a purgative glyster is required, from four to eight ounces of common salt may be added; and if an anodyne be wanted, or an astringent, let half an ounce of opium be dis- solved in a quart of water-gruel. If a glyster is employed for the purpose of emptying the large 197 intestines, or of purging, the quantity of liquid should not be less than a gallon or si* quarts ; but when it is used as an anodyne or astringent, from a quart to three pints of the liquid will be sufficient. (How to be given see p. 82.) ADVICE, ON THE MANAGEMENT OF A HORSE PREPARA- TORY TO, AND DURING A JOURNEY. PREVIOUS to setting out on a journey, your horse should be exercised one hour every morning and evening in the gait in which he is intended to be used, for eight or ten days at least, and every precaution should be employed to bring him into as perfect a state of health as possible, as you may thereby avoid much trou- ble and inconvenience; should he be at all sub- ject to grease or swelling of the legs, a dose of physic is to be recommended, takingvcare to preserve the heels clean, and to keep up a brisk circulation in the legs by frequent hand rubbing; • should the feet of the horse be tender, it is ne- cessary to enquire into the cause of the tender- s2 198 ness; if it arises from corns, let the directions be followed that are given under that head; if it proceeds from flat and thin soles, apply tar to them, and let the horse stand upon a flat surface, without shoes, by which means they will be ren- dered thicker and more firm: and when he is rode let the concave shoe, be made use of. When thrushes or rottenness of the frog are the cause of the tenderness, cut away the diseased parts, apply tar with a pledget of tow, first pouring in oil of turpentine, and upon this place an artifi- cial frog—the natural frog will in consequence soon become firm and solid, and the tenderness will be in a great measure removed: if the thrushes are occasioned by a contraction of the heels, which is frequently the case, it will- then be necessary to rasp the quarters moder- ately, and should they appear to be too strong, wanting a proper degree of elasticity, keep the hoof constantly moist. Horses that travel during the winter are very liable to have their heels in- flamed and cracked, as it is termed, unless great attention is paid to them in the stable. In cases where the heels are already thus affected, they should be washed with moderately warm soap suds as soon as the horse gets in, and afterwards care- fully wiped dry with a cloth ; if much inflamed the 199 astringent lotion may be applied, or strong soap suds will answer: and if there be any ulcers or cracks, use the gunpowder ointment twice a day at least, (see grease or scratches) and if the horse can be permitted to stand for a couple of days, give him half a pound of salts in about two quarts of water. Particular attention should be paid to your sad- dle, (if the horse is to be rode), taking care that it is well fitted to his back, with a good soft woollen pad, sufficiently stuffed to prevent any bearing upon the chine or back bone. When you are mounted, there must be sufficient room to introduce your finger between the saddle and the chine or back bone of the horse, before and be- hind ; the pad ought to be beat with a stick eve- ry two or three days to prevent it becoming hard. A soft blanket folded and placed under tr!e saddle in cool weather has a tendency to preserve the horse's back, but it is too heating in warm. Your first day's journey, (if you have a long one to perform) ought not to exceed twenty miles, which may be increased daily from five to ten miles, but should never exceed, except in cases of real necessity, forty miles in one day, nor should you ever travel at a gait exceeding 200 five miles an hour, and even less when the roads are not good. A traveller that has industry enough to start early in the morning, and patience enough to jog on at this moderate gait, will in all probability get over 75 to 100 miles more in the course of a fortnight than he would do if more speed were attempted; besides the advantage of preserving his horse in a condition capable of continuing his journey to almost any extent; while on the con- trary an attempt at more speed would most pro- bably be productive of lameness, sore back, founder or some other casualty still more fatal. It is adviseable, except in very cold or stormy weather, to start very early in the morning and travel eight or ten miles before you feed or break- fast ; this will enable you to give jour horse se- vefal hours rest at different periods through the day, which will be of essential benefit to him, and yet afford you sufficient time to make your day's journey good. At your first stage in the morning after your horse is'well wash- ed down and cool, feed with four quarts of oats; again in the middle of the day with about six, and at night with six, eight, or ten, or as much as he will eat, given at differ- ent times in the course of the evening, always 201 sprinkled with water. If oats can be had, never feed with Indian corn, or any other grain; but if you are necessitated to do so, the quantity must be reduced one half, or one third at least, and given but in small portions at a time. A horse ought to eat at least from sixteen to twenty quarts of oats per day, otherwise he will not, nor cannot, perform a long journey. Clean fresh hay, and a little water, should be given as often as you stop. Never trust to ostlers when you are on a jour- ney. It is essentially necessary that you person- ally see to the cleaning, watering, feeding, and littering of your horse, otherwise you will in all probability soon be necessitated to hire, or pur- chase another, or abandon your journey. Should your horse lose his appetite, give him half an ounce of nitre in a bran mash once or twice. This, with a little rest, will soon recover him. Should you be so unfortunate as to have your horse foundered, by injudicious feeding, or wa- tering, before he is sufficiently cool, which is al- ways to be apprehended when you feed on In- dian corn, or any other grain except oats ; it is adviseable on the first appearance of founder, to take two quarts of blood from the neck, and also 202 bleedin two places (in each foot) in the coronet or upper edge of the hoof, about one inch each way from the centre, and if it is possible to get him out of the stable, force him to take exercise ; which is, of all others, the most efficacious reme- dy, and if persevered in, however cruel and pain- ful it may appear to be, seldom or never fails to carry off the complaint in a short time, especially if the founder or stiffness is not very severe. But should it be found impracticable to move the horse out of the stable, which is sometimes the case, he must be bled as before directed, and bran poultices applied to his legs and feet, kept constantly wet with cold water ; and one of the following purges must be given. No. 1. Mix. Soft soap, - • \' pint Beer or porter, - \\ pint. Add a handful of fine salt. If beer or porter cannot be had, substitute a pint of molasses. If this dose does not operate in ten or twelve hours, especially if the horse can be exercised, it may be repeated. (How to be given, see p. 82.) 203 No. 2. Castor oil, 1 pint, or Linseed oil, - - - \\ pint The latter will not operate so quick as the former ; probably in not less than double the time, say in about twenty four hours ; either of which, however, ought to be assisted by exercise if possible ; glysters of three quarts of warm wa- ter, flaxseed tea, or water gruel, ought also to be given, and repeated, if necessary, with a handful of fine salt in either. While the stiffness conti- nues, the horse should be fed upon bran mashes, with a small quantity of oats added, and be al- lowed but little water, and that not entirely cold. Exercise must on no account be omitted. When a horse's wind appears to be imperfect he should not be allowed to fill himself with hay or water, and must be prevented from eating his litter, which horses of this description are gene- rally inclined to do, particularly when stinted in hay ; in this case costiveness sometimes oc- curs, which always increases the complaint; to remedy this, let a glyster and a few bran mashes be given ; too high feeding is also very prejudi- cial in those complaints, as any thing which tends to create a plethora, and determine too much blood to the lungs, is sure to aggravate 204 the disease. To a horse that purges or scours in travelling, and appears taint, sweating much with moderate exercise, give the cordial ball, the efficacy of which is sometimes increased by being mixed with a pint of ale or strong beer j if the complaint does not give way to this treat- ment, let the astringent ball be given. As soon as a horse comes into the stable, let his legs and feet be well cleaned by washing, as it cannot be effectually done otherwise. It is a very common practice with ostlers, even in winter, to tie the horse up in the yard, that he may undergo the ceremony of having his heels washed with cold water; this is very proper in warm weather, but should never be permitted when cool, as many bad consequences may arise from it, but washing with warm water is highly commendable. Dur- ing hot weather, when the roads are dry and dusty, allow a horse to rest a few minutes every six or eight miles and to drink a small quantity of water; this not only refreshes him considera- bly but has the useful effect of cooling and moistening his hoofs, if he is permitted to stand in the water while drinking, (if not thev should be wet by the ostler) nor is there the least dan- ger to be apprehended from it, unless he is rode very hard immediately before or after drinking. 205 In winter he should never be taken into the water if it can be avoided conveniently. Some horses are particularly subject to the flatulent cholic or gripes ; this is often the case with crib-biters ; on such occasions it is adviseable to be always pro- vided with a remedy, and as a ball is the most convenient form, I have given a recipe for the purpose (see flatulent cholic or gripes). For want of the ball or some of the prescriptions for that complaint, (but not otherwise) give three gills of gin or any other ardent spirits diluted with an equal quantity of warm water. Should the pain not subside in half an hour repeat the dose and give copious glysters of water-gruel or warm water, and bleed from two to three quarts. A suppression of urine or great difficulty and pain in staling, is an accident that sometimes occurs in travelling ; and in such cases a diuretic ball is commonly given, which though sometimes successful, has often done mischief. The most effectual way of relieving the horse, in this case also, is by throwing up a glyster, (how to be given, see p. 82) and bleeding moderately: should there be no appearance of inflammation in the kidneys, a dose of nitre may also be given. The common practice of loading a horse with clothes, and keeping him in a close warm stable, T 206 if he happens to take cold during a journey, is certainly improper, since he is liable to be fre- quently exposed to wet and cold in travelling; it is a well-known fact, that animals are not hurt by being kept in any uniform temperature, whether '•: bt hot or cold; and that their diseases more commonly arise from sudden changes, or fre- quent variation of temperature. When a horse becomes suddenly lame in tra- velling, let the feet be carefully examined. Should the lameness be occasioned by a wound from a nail or flint, apply oil of turpentine, tincture of Myrrh or Fryar's balsam, having previously re- moved all dirt or gravel from it; and if the wound has been inflicted with a nail, let it be carefully opened to the bottom with a small drawing knife, and proper means used to prevent dirt from get- ting to it. Should the back of your horse get sore by sad- dle galls, or other inflamed tumors, wash the part affected with crude sal. ammoniac dissolv- ed in vinegar or water ; or with any ardent spi- rits alone, which must be done very frequently to prevent matter forming ; in which case, the sore will be more troublesome and difficult to heal. You must also take special care to pre- vent any friction or bearing of the pad of the sad- 207 die upon the tumor, which may be effectually done by cutting a small slit or hole in that part of the pad whictv bears immediately upon the tumor, and pull out so much of the stuffing as will prevent any bearing ; this may be done with- out any essential injury to the pad, and even in various places if necessary. CORDIAL BALLS. No. 1. Cummin-seeds, Anise-seeds, Caraway-seeds, of each, 4 oz. Ginger, - - - - 2 oz. Treacle or molasses enough to make it of a proper consistence for balls. The dose about 2 ounces. (How to be given see p. 82.) No. 2. Anise-seeds, Caraway-seeds, Sweet Fennel-seeds, and Liquorice Powder, of each, 4 oz. Ginger and Cassia, of each, \\ oz. Honey enough to form them into a mass. The dose about 2 oz; 208 No. 3. Cummin-seeds, Coriander-seeds, Caraway-seeds, of each, - 4 ©z. Grains of Psradise, - 1 oz. Cassia, - - - | oz. Cardamon-seeds and Saffron, of each - - 2 dr. Liquorice, dissolved in white wine, - 4 oz. Syrup of Saffron enough to form the mass. The dose about 2 oz. No. 4. Powdered ginger, - - 4 oz. Oil of caraways, - ■» 1 oz. Liquorice powder, - - 8 oz. Treacle enough to form the mass. ALTERATIVES. THESE are medicines which produce their effects almost insensibly; the following formula will be found efficacious: 209 ALTERATIVE POWDERS. No. 1. Levigated antimony, - - 6 oz. Flower of sulphur, - - - 8 oz. Mix for eight doses. No. 2. Powdered Rosin, - 4 oz. Nitre, - - 3 oz. Tartarized Antimony, - 1 oz. Mix for eight doses. No. 3. Unwashed Calx of Antimony 2 oz. Calomel - - 2 dr. Powdered Anise-seeds, - 4 oz. Mix for eight doses. Should a ball be thought more convenient than a powder, the change may be easily made by the addition of syrup and linseed powder, or any kind of flour or meal T 2 210 CHRONIC COUGH. WE have already noticed this complaint as one of the symptoms of a cold, but did not at that time give any particular directions for its treat- ment, because it generally ceases as soon as its cause (the cold) is removed. It sometimes hap- pens, however, that the cough continues, al- though every other symptom is gone off. This complaint, which from its long continuance, is distinguished by the term chronic, may be rea- dily accounted for, when it is recollected that what is called a cold, consists in an inflammation of the membrane which lines the nose and throat; that this membrane also forms the internal sur- face of the windpipe and its branches. When the cold, therefore, has been violent and impro- perly treated, the inflammation is liable to ex- tend to the windpipe, or even to its branches, causing ah effusion of coagulable lymph from the membrane, which proves a constant source of irritation. It is probable also that the inflamma- tion may sometimes render the membrane so very irritable, or so alter its secretion, as to keep up a constant irritation and cough, without any effusion having taken place. When a considera- 211 ble quantity of coagulable lymph has been effused, it obstructs the passage of the air in respiration in some degree, causing that sonorous kind of breathing which is termed thickness of wind or roaring. Take from two to three quarts of blood from the neck, then give one of the following al- terative balls every morning, until purging is produced, and this if assisted by proper attention to exercise, diet, and grooming, has often ef- fected a cure. Bran mashes with a little oats added, is a proper diet. The chronic cough is frequently occasioned by worms in the bowels or stomach, and is then t« be treated accordingly (see worms.) ALTERATIVE BALLS. No. 1. Succotrine aloes - 1 dr. to 2 dr. Castile soap, - - 2 dr. Tartarized antimony, - - 2 dr. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. (How to be given, see p. 82.) 212 Should the disease not submit to this remedy, try the following: Gum ammoniacum, - 3 dr. Powdered squills and opium, of each 1 dr. Camphor, - - - 2 dr. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. This is to be given every morning, and con- tinued five or six days. A stable properly ven- tilated, should be chosen, and the vapours of foul litter carefully avoided. Tar water has also been found beneficial in this disease. If this is given, the horse should be permitted to drink plentifully of it for a fortnight or more, during which time no other drink should be al- lowed. The proper way to prepare it is, to put three or four quarts of tar into a wide vessel, open at one end and capable of containing eight or ten gallons, keep a sufficient quantity of soft water always standing on the tar for use. 213 LAXATIVES. THIS term is applied to opening medicines, that operate very mildly, and produce so gentle a stimulus upon the intestine, as merely to has- ten the expulsion of their present contents, with- out increasing their secretions. Castor oil seems to be the best medicine of this kind, though oil of olives and linseed will produce nearly the same effect; the dose of the former is about a pint, but the latter may be given to a pint and a half. When a laxative ball is required, the fol- lowing will be found useful: Succotrine aloes, - 2 oz* Castile soap, - - 3 dr. Syrup enough to form the ball for one dose. BLISTERS. PREVIOUS to the application of a blister, the hair should be cut from the part as closely as possible, the blistering ointment is to be well 214 rubbed on it, and afterwards a small quantity is to be spread over the part with a warm knife. When the blister begins to operate, horses are very apt to bite the part, which, if suffered, might produce a permanent blemish; it is ne- cessary therefore to guard against this accident by putting what is termed a cradle about his neck, or by tying him up to the rack. When the legs are blistered, the litter is to be entirely swept away, as the straw might irritate the blis- tered parts. BLISTERING OINTMENT. No. 1. Spanish flies, powdered, \ oz. Oil of turpentine, - 1 oz. Hog's lard, - - - 4 oz. Mix. No. 2. Oil of turpentine, 1 oz. To which add gradually, Vitriolic acid, - - 2 dr. Hogs lard, 4 oz. Spanish flies, powdered, 1 oz. Mix. 215 No. 3. Common tar, 4 oz. Vitriolic acid, - 2 dr. Oil of origanum, " ' i oz* Hog's lard, - - - 2 oz. Spanish flies, powdered, \\ or 2 oz. Mix. Remark.—The blister, No. 3, is remarkably used in removing enlargements of the back sinews or wind galls. Sublimate is often re* commended as an ingredient in blisters, but it is very apt to ulcerate the skin, and leave a per- manent mark or blemish; it is therefore omitted in the above formulae ; but in cases of bone spa- vin, in which severe blistering is necessary, it may be employed with advantage. CONDITION. BY the term condition is to be understood not only a fat and sleek appearance in a horse, it implies also a proper degree of vigour, by which he is enabled to perform extraordinary labour, without being too much fatigued. Every defect 216 with respect to condition must originate either in disease or in bad grooming. Under tne latter head must be comprehended feeding, exercise, and the general management of the stable ; the former will include various disorders, which will be concisely described, and the most effec- tual means pointed out for their removal. In treating of the anatomy and physiology of the internal organs, an explanation has been given of that curious process by which the body is nourished, and enabled to perform its various functions with regularity : from thence it will appear that the following circumstances are ne- cessary to produce that degree of vigour and ge- neral^ healthiness of appearance which constitute good condition. 1st. That there is no impediment to mastica- tion—It sometimes happens that the molar teeth or grinders wear so irregularly as to have sharp edges, by which the inside of the cheek is wounded: the pain which the act of chewing oc- casions in this case, induces the horse to swal- low some part of the food unbroken, which being difficult of digestion, frequently passes through the body unchanged. This complaint may be removed by rasping down the sharp edges of the teeth. 217 The lampas is said to be another impediment to feeding (see lampas), and are therefore re- moved with a red hot iron. This operation is certainly performed much oftener than is ne- cessary. 2d. That the saliva which is formed in the mouth passes into the stomach: this juice being designed by nature to assist the stomach in its office of digestion. Horses that have acquired the vicious habit termed crib-biting, suffer great inconvenience from the waste of saliva which it occasions, the stomach being in a great measure deprived of this liquid, performs its functions imperfectly; hence arise flatulent cholic or gripes, general emaciation and debility. The remedy commonly employed is a leather strap, buckled tight round the neck immediately beneath the jaw; this, however, is seldom effectual; a better method is to cover the edge of the manger, and every other part he can lay hold of, with sheep skins, (the wool side outward) until the habit is destroyed. There are other causes by which the energy of the stomach may be impaired; among these are excessive fatigue, bad food^ defect in respiration or breathing foul air, taking too much food or water at once, or at an improper time, bots, fever, in short, the stomach is so iinpor- u 218 tant an organ in the animal system, that scarcely any part can be materially injured without af- fecting it in some degree ; and whenever the sto- mach is hurt, the whole system seems to sym- pathize and partake the injury. Weakness of the stomach is sometimes very easily cured, the powers of nature indeed are often capable of restoring its tone ; at others we find the disease extremely obstinate, resisting the most powerful medicines. This difference depends upon the variety in the causes by fvhich the weakness is induced. When it arises from loading the stomach with improper food, that contains scarcely any nutriment, such as straw, i and where the horse has been fed in this way for a considerable time, the diet should be gradually changed to one more nutritious. During the time we are making this alteration it is generally necessary to give one or two doses of laxative medicine, joined with aromatics (see laxatives), to prevent any inflammatory affection of the eyes, lungs, or heels, or according to the more fashionable language of groems, to prevent hu- mours from breaking out. Should the appetite appear deficient, the cordial ball will be found of great service, given occasionally. When ex- cessive fatigue is the cause of the weakness, 219 which we often find after a hard day's run with the hounds, nothing is so effectual as the cordial ball, particularly in old horses; it soon gives them an appetite, and renders them fit for work again much sooner than they would otherwise be. Where a speedy effect is required, the ball may be mixed with a pint of good beer or ale. If a horse, after sweating from exercise or any other cause, is allowed to drink freely of cold water, the stomach is suddenly debilitated, and the whole system is frequently affected in Consequence ; hence arise flatulent cholic, sup- pression of urine, shivering, quick pulse, and other symptoms of fever, (for the remedies in this case see flatulent cholic, suppression of urinej and fever.) The stomach sometimes becomes weak, gra- dually, and without any apparent cause ; this is first indicated by the appetite failing, which is soon followed by general debility, emaciation, and unhealthy looking coat. The most effectual remedies in this case are the tonic balls and a nutritious diet; the corn should be given more frequently than usual, but in small quantities : a little malt on those occasions is extremely useful. The stable should be well ventilated, but not cold ; regular exercise will also be very benefi- 220 cial, and should never be omitted. It should be understood, however, that although exercise tends to promote strength, if carried beyond the animal's power, it becomes a cause of debi- lity : it is highly necessary, therefore, when a horse is in a state of weakness, to take care that his exercise is but moderate. Worms in the stomach and bowels are a fre- quent cause of leanness and debility in horses, and while they exist, every exertion to promote condition will be ineffectual (see worms.) 3. That there is no defect in the organs of respiration. If the blood is not duly supplied with that vivifying principle, which is derived from the air by breathing, a greater or less de- gree of debility must be the consequence; hence a want of tone is always observable in the sto.. mach ahd bowels of broken-winded horses, as well as a deficiency in the muscular power in general. The same evils will result from keep- ing a horse in too close a stable, where the air does not contain the usual proportion of this principle. 4th. That the liver and pancreas are healthy, and that there is no obstruction in the tubes by which their respective juices are conveyed to the intestines. The liver is very subject to dis- 221 ease, particularly inflammation (see inflamma- tion of the liver); it may also have an unusual quantity of blood determined to it, whereby its action or secretion will be increased". This ge- nerally causes a purging and a yellowness of the eyes and mouth (see jaundice.) It it very probable that the internal surface of the intestines may sometimes be so loaded with mucus, that the mouths of the lacteals are in some measure plugged up, ancUrendered incapa- ble of absorbing a sufficient quantity of nutriment or chyle. A dose of physic in this case is the best remedy. Having described those diseases which most commonly prevent horses from acquiring condi- tion, I shall endeavour to point out the best method of promoting it in such as are in other respects healthy. A good stable being essen- tially necessary to this purpose, I shall beg leave to offer a few observations on that head. u2 222 ON THE STABLE. IN building a stable there is no circumstance more deserving attention, or that is more gene- rally neglected than ventilation ; the most conve- nient method of doing this is to have one aper- ture or window in each stall a little above the manger so contrjyed that it may be occasionally shut; this will prevent the air from becoming impure, and enable you in some measure to re- gulate the temperature of the stable. The stalls should be of sufficient width to al- low the horse to turn freely say at least five feet; narrow stalls are not only very inconvenient, but have some times occasioned dangerous diseases of the spine. The floor should be made of plank and nearly level, very little declivity being sufficient to drain off the urine. The common method of making the back part considerably lower than the front, is cer- tainly very improper. When a horse stands in this way the muscles and ligaments of the hind legs are kept constantly on the stretch in some 22S degree, frequently producing a swelling of the legs. Dark stables are very injurious to the eyes, the windows therefore should be larger than they are commonly made. There is a neatness and advantage in having the manger made so as to slide into the wall, like a drawer, and an iron rack is preferable to one of wood; by this contrivance they may be more easily kept clean, and the horse will not be so liable to acquire the vice of crib-biting.— Horses should not be suffered to stand on their litter during the day, unless they have under- gone considerable labour, nor should it be placed under the manger as is usually the case; the stimulating vapours, which constantly exhale from it, being injurious to the eyes and lungs; it tends also to produce in the hoof a disposition to contract: it is adviseable, therefore to remove the litter every morning, and expose it during the day to the air ; the moisture and stimulating vapours would be completely dissipated by the evening, and it would be nearly as useful as fresh straw. Another advantage arising from this plan is, that a horse would have but little opportunity to eat his litter, which they are fre- quently inclined to do when stinted in hay. The 234 quantity of litter which some horses eat during the day is productive of much mischief; it cer- tainly oppresses the stomach, and weakens its digestive power ; it tends also to injure the wind, without affording the smallest quantity of nutri- ment. I'hough ventilation is of the utmost importance in a stable. Heat, in a mode- rate degree, is certainly congenial to the consti- tution of the horse, and contributes to the pro- motion of condition; warm cloathing therefore during the winter is strongly to be recommended. When a horse is brought in from exercise he should not only have his feet cleaned out with a picker, but it is necessary also to wash them well with a brush and water; this will effectually re- move all dirt and gravel, and serve likewise to cool and moisten the hoofs. Horses should if possible be watered at a pond or brook in hot and dry weather, the moisture which the hoofs receive in this way, will frequently prevent those sand-cracks and lameness which are so apt to oc- cur in the hot months of summer. In winter, cold water is injurious to the heels, and tends to bring on swelling and grease; in cold weather therefore horses should be always watered in the stable. 225 FEEDING AND EXERCISE. This is a subject of considerable importance, and requires more attention than is commonly paid to it; since by a judicious management in this respect, many troublesome diseases may be prevented. When a horse is in a state of nature, and using only voluntary exercise, there cannot be a doubt that the food which nature provides for him is perfectly sufficient for his support, and better cal- culated than any other to keep him in health; but when he is employed in the various labours in which he is found so essentially useful, it be- comes necessary to adapt the quantity and quality of his food to the exercise he has to perform ; for example, if a horse, whose work consisted merely in being walked out for an hour every day, were to be fed daily with twelve quarts of oats, and an unlimited quantity of hay, he would in all probability become full of humours, accor- ding to the language of grooms, and some trou- blesome disease, either of the lungs, eyes or heels, would be the consequence ; but if one that per- forms the hard labour of a post horse were to be kept on such allowance, he would soon lose flesh, 226 and become inadequate to his work. When we undertake, therefore, to get a horse into conditi- on, it is necessary to enquire what kind of work he is designed for, as it is by this circumstance that his feeding and exercise are to be regulated* It is a fact, not sufficiently known perhaps, that the strength of an animal, or any particular part of an animal, may be increased to a considerable degree by means of exercise properly conducted. Thus we find that the arms of a waterman are particularly large and strong from frequent exer- tion of its muscles ; and the same may be obser- ved of the legs of a porter, who is almost con- stantly employed in carrying heavy burthens. In like manner, a horse, by means of exercise gra- dually increased, and proper feeding, may have his strength brought to the highest degree of per- fection of which it is capable. It is a very common practice, and thought by, many to be indispensibly necessary, to give a horse three doses of physic, in order to train him for the field, or to bring him into high condition. We believe, however, that this practice frequently does mischief, and it has been proved that a horse's wind and strength may be made as per- fect as possible, merely by proper management in feeding and exercise. 227 With respect to the food most proper for hor- ses, oats and clean hay free from dust are cer- tainly the best. Indian corn appears to dispose the body to inflammatory complaints, unless this effect is counteracted by a considerable degree of exercise ; it should be given only to such horses as work very hard, and then it will be found a ve- ry invigorating and nutritious diet. To a horse that works moderately, ten or twelve quarts of oats and fourteen pounds of hay are a sufficient allowance for twenty four hours. If at any time he is required to perform more work than usual, there should be a proportionate increase in the quantity of oats, but the above quantity of hay will on all occasions be sufficient. But straw or hay well wet and mixed with shorts, chopped rye or corn, is a most healthy and desirable diet for a horse, particularly in warm weather; and, indeed, occasionally at other times, when he is not employed in much active service. Those who have paid most attention to the ef- fects of different kinds of water upon horses, are of opinion that pond water is to be preferred, where the bottom is composed of clay, and the water generally turbid. It has been asserted al- so by persons of considerable experience, that 228 without good water it is difficult, and often im- possible to bring a horse into high condition. A horse should not be stinted too much in wa- ter, but should be served three times a day, par- ticularly in summer; many horses are injured in this way, but they should not be allowed to drink too much at one time, nor should it be very cold. The hours of feeding should be regularly ob- served, and never deviated from if it can be a- voided. ■ To a horse that does no work, two or three hours exercise every day is necessary to his health ahd condition. W'hen a horse is to be prepared for the road, and is intended for mo- derate riding, his exercise may be confined to walking; but if he is designed for fast riding or for hunting, he must be gradually accustomed to that velocity of motion for which he is wanted; it is in this way only that his wind can be brought to perfection. Horses are very liable to be injured by too sudden a change of temperature ; this has been often avoided by bringing them too hastily from grass into warm stables, many fatal diseases having been produced by it; on those occasions, therefore the most open stables should be chosen at first, and the diet should consist of hay, bran, 229 i ut-straw, &c. After a few days a small quan- tity of oats may be given, and the stable made a little warmer. He may thus be brought gradu- ally to usual diet and temperature. If, during this time, any symptoms of inflammation make their appearance, such as cough, inflamed eyes, quickness of breathing, swelling of the legs, &c. he should be immediately bled, and next morn- ing take a laxative ball. .Were these precautions more attended to than they are, many fatal dis- eases might be prevented. DOCKING. THIS operation is to be performed as fol- lows : a twitch is to be put upon the upper lip of the horse but not so high as to effect his breath- ing, a cord is to be made fast to the fetlock of one of his hind legs, thence carried forward and made fast to his near fore leg, below the knee and from thence to the fetlock of the other hind leg; which will effectually prevent his striking or kicking during the operation. The horse being thus bound, a block of wood is to be placed under his tail and a sharp instrument is to be x 230 drove through it (at a joint if possible) with one stroke. The bleeding is to be stopped by sear- ing the dock with a hot iron of a circular form prepared for the purpose ; some powdered rosin is first to be applied to the dock. After the first day, let a little train oil and spirits of turpentine mixed, be applied daily, which will lessen the inflammation and soon heal the sore. The best method of docking however, is by an instrument prepared for the purpose which operates as a pair of shears. NICKING. AFTER the horse is securely bound as di- rected in case of docking and the twitch applied to his nose; the tail is to be held up and three deep incisions are to be cut (though not so deep as to touch the bone) with the point of a sharp pen-knife, so as to effectually divide the low- er sinews, the ends of which sinews however, need not be cut off or shortened as usual; as they never can unite if the tail is kept in the pul- lies until the incisions heal up, which ought to 231 be particularly attended to, otherwise the ope- ration will in a great degree be useless. The first incision should be about two inches from the root of the tail; another at about the same distance from the end, provided the dock is already reduced to the proper length, and the other at a medium distance between the two. A pulley should be placed over each side of the stall, precisely opposite to the tail when the horse stands in a position to feed ; a cord is then to be passed through each pulley and the ends brought together and securely fastened by means of strong twine, to the hair of the tail; a mode- rate weight must be attached to the other end of each cord, sufficient to keep the tail perpendicu- lar ; thus situated the horse will generally stand in the middle of the stall, which will effectually prevent the tail from inclining to one side or the other, which is too often the case when but one pulley is used. The tail should be kept in the pullies at least one month, in order to give the new flesh that generates in those deep incisions time to become firm, otherwise the horse will not carry so well. He ought to have an hour or two of moderate exercise daily after the first two or three days and a little train oil applied to the worse for service. The countenance should be chearful, the ears sharp, well pricked, set high and moving, which indicates life and activity ; while on the contrary, thick, leering, wide set and unmoving ears, are signs of dulness^ and bad temper. The cheeks should be wide and thin, and the space between the jaws also wide, and without knots or kernels, and the windpipe very large; which are all signs of good wind as well as courage. But if the jaws are fat and thick and the space between them fleshy and nearly closed up, the horse must necessarily breath with difficulty. The head should be of a gradual taper, rather small just above the mouth, which should be large, as a horse with a small mouth never carries or bears the bit well. The nostrils should be wide, and when the horse is in motion, a redness should appear within, which indicates free breathing. 239 EYES. i THESE organs ought to be most minutely examined, and in a situation where the glare of light is not too strong; the middle sized eyes are,to be preferred, it is better, however, that they should be rather large than small; they should be round, lively, dark coloured (but not entirely black) and so clear and shining that you can see far into them, and when the horse is moving, but little of the white should appear___ Eyes that are very black or cloudy, ought to be avoided, as they are generally prone to disease. Most dealers in horses are prepared to account (and sometimes with great adroitness) for every defect that an observing purchaser may happen to discover or point out, and particularly as re- spects the eyes, which they studiously endeavour to make appear as trivial, or of no consequence at all. The purchaser however should be aware of such sophistry, and not rely too implicitly up- on it; but rather trust to his own judgment, or that of some disinterested friend. 240 NECK AND SHOULDERS. THE neck should be long, and small at the setting on of the head, growing deeper from thence to the shoulders. The upper edge should be thin and rising a little semi-circular from the shoulders to the head; the mane thin and strong, as a heavy thick mane, bull neck, or a very lean and slender neck, are never pleasing to the sight. The shoulders should be thin, and lay well back ; but to judge correctly of them, the horse should stand upon level ground. If the shoulders are thick and upright, he will not answer well for the saddle, as too much weight will necessarily be thrown upon his fore legs, which will make it unpleasant, as well asfunsafe for the rider. For a draught horse however, thick and upright shoulders are rather a recommendation than otherwise. Beware of swellings on the top of the head, or on the withers, as the former may result in the poll-evil and the latter in the fistula. 241 BODY. THE back should be short, and the chine broad or thick, and moderately curved, but if too much bending, or what is called saddle backed, it is never strong. A horse with a high or roach back is very objectionable as he never can be used under the saddle with satisfaction to the rider. If the chine be thin the saddle will not sit well. A horse with a high back, or thin chine, is however, not the worse for harness. The ribs should not be flat, but bend well out- ward, the last rib should approach the hip or huckle bones within about four or five inches and the belly be moderately let down, but not to swag. A flat ribbed horse with a guant or clung up belly, can never perform much labour. The buttocks should be round, full, and the rump nearly on a level with the back, and the tail set high. Thin, contracted, or steep buttocks, are always offensive to the eye, though probably do not injure the animal for actual service It is a good sign when a horse is deep in the girthing place; but if, on the contrary, he is there slender, it indicates weakness, Y 242 MOVING. AFTER having attentively examined the horse standing, let him be rode in your presence, on hard level ground, fifteen or twenty rods backward and forward frequently, first in a walk, then alternately in his other gaits. Observe his mouth that he bears steady and fair on the bit, his head well up, but his nose not much projecting, as this is a great fault, especially for a riding horse. Stand occasionally before as well as behind him, and see that his toes neither turn inward or outward, and that he goes rather narrower before than behind, as no horse can move well on his legs unless he does. If he goes too close there is reason to believe he will cut; his action should be lively and when in a trot his fore legs well thrown forward, though even and regular, and not clambering; observe that he treads firm on the hardest ground, other- wise you may be assured he is tender footed, which is a great fault and diminishes his value much. His hind legs when in a trot should move even, bending a little outward at the hock, and be thrown well under him, though never to strike the fore shoes, which is called forging and 243 is very objectionable. If he takes up his feet slovenly, throws them outward, steps irregular, or clambers, have nothing to do with him for any active service; as he is only fit for the heavy , draught. RIDE YOURSELF. AFTER a minute examination, such as be- fore recommended, should you be of opinion that the horse is likely to answer your purpose, mount yourself and ride him a few miles alone, otherwise you cannot judge correctly of his gaits or spirits, as most horses go much freer and better in com- pany than they do alone. This is a proper time also to observe his wind. Such trial is the more necessary as it is not uncommon to meet with horses whose gaits and actions are pleasing to the eye; yet, when mounted, are intolerably rough and unpleasant to the rider, and often addicted to start and stumble. Do not permit yourself to be hurried into the purchase of a horse because he is a beautiful figure, or otherwise fascinating in his external ap- pearance, but always examine more than once be- fore you purchase; otherwise, it is highly probable that some material defects will escape your no- tice; especially, if you are not a critical judge. This caution is the more necessary because your morals as well as pecuniary interest may both suffer. For, should it so happen that by making 7 a hasty purchase, you get a horse defective in some essential points, that will by no means an- swer the intended purpose, you may possibly be induced to commence the jocky, to get him off your hands; and, in order to do this with the least loss to yourself, you may not consider it indispensibly necessary to acquaint the purchaser (perhaps as unwary as yourself) with the whole truth respecting the defective animal; in which case your morals will most certainly be impli- cated. It is also necessary to have particular regard to the kind of service for which the horse is in- tended. If for,the saddle or any active service, the middle size, say about fifteen hands high, well formed as before described, is to be prefer- red; but, if for a slow.and heavy draught,.the larger and stronger the better. Small horses answer equally well for the pur- poses of agriculture, as well as for many other employments to which their strength are ade- quate. 245 < All the extraordinary qualities and exact symmetry, before described will seldom or ever be met with in any one horse ; the purchaser how- ever, will, no doubt, give a preference to those that approach them the nearest. AGE. A horse that has arrived at an age fit for ser- vice ought to have forty teeth; twenty-four grinders, twelve foreteeth, and four tusks. Mares however, have but thirty-six, except when they happen to have tusks, which is by no means common. It is by the fore teeth and tusks that the age of a horse is to he judged of, and as they are not generally put to service until they come three years old, (and indeed that is one year too soon) we shall commence our description of the teeth at that age. At three therefore, he will have four horse and eight colt teeth, which are easily distin- guished, by the horse teeth being much larger and flatter than the colt's. These four horse teeth, which are called pincers, have a deep ,*■ Y2 246 I black hole in the middle ; while those of the colt, are round solid and white. A short time before the horse comes fotir years old, he loses four middle teeth, two above and two below, which are followed by four more horse teeth, with black holes in the middle, the same as the pincers. A few months before he comes five, he sheds the four corner teeth, two above and two below, which is his last colt's teeth, and at five they are replaced with horse teeth, hollow as before de- scribed and grooved on the inside. At this age he also gets his four tusks, the two lower ones generally three or four months before the upper. Some horses however, never have any upper tusks, but this is not common. The appearance of the two lower tusks is the most certain proof that the horse is coming flve years old; even if some of his cdlt's teeth still remain. When he is nearly six, all his fore teeth are full grown, pointed and a little concave on the inside. At six the grooves on the inside begin to fill up, and soon after disappears, the black hole in the middle of the teeth also begin to fill up, but are still very apparent. At seven all the fore teeth except the corner enes are generally 'filled up%mooth, though a black spot in the centre may yet appear. Between seven and eight the corner teeth also fill and be- come smooth; after eight it is difficult, and in- deed by some held to be impossible to judge correctly of the age of a horse; all the striking marks of his mouth having disappeared. After which period, recourse must be had to the general aspect of the mouth. If the tusks be flat and pointed, and has two small grooves on the inside, which you can readily feel with your finger, be assured he is not old, probably not yet ten, but if you find only one groove within the tusk, you may conclude that he is approaching twelve. After twelve the grooves generally disappear and the tusks become blunt, and as round with- in as without. The length of the teeth is by no means a certain criterion to judge of the age, though long teeth, projecting forward, certainly indicates an advanced age, as the teeth of young horses are not so long and generally meet almost perpendicular. The lips of a young horse are very firm and elastic, while those of an old one is soft, flabby, and hanging, and the tongue often so large, that the cavity of the mouth is scarcely capable of containing it. 248 The holes in the centre of the teeth, some times continue to an advanced age, but when the tusks become round and blunt, the fore teeth long and projecting forward, the tongue large and lips flabby; the horse is most certainly old; say from txvelve to twenty, or upwards, not- withstanding any apparent marks to the con- trary. Having noticed all the material marks which serve to instruct us as to the age of a horse, it is believed that a person of the most common capacity may, by paying attention to the forego- ing description, ascertain the age of a horse with a considerable degree of certainty; at least until he is too far advanced to be of much value. THE ENB. ERRATA. Page 227, line 16 from the top, for But, read Cut. 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