RY**

The art of preventing, curing, or palliating, the diseases of horses.

The practice of this useful art has been hitherto almost entirely confined to a set of men who are totally ignorant of anatomy and the general principles of medicine. It is not therefore surprising, that their prescriptions should be equally absurd as the reasons they give for administering them. It cannot indeed be expected that farriers, who are almost universally illiterate men, should make any real progress in their profession. They prescribe draughts, they rowel, cauterise, &c. without being able to give any other reason for their practice, but because their fathers did so before them. How can such men deduce the cause of a disease from its symptoms, or form a rational method of cure, when they are equally ignorant of the causes of diseases and the operation of medicines?

The miserable state of this useful art has determined us to select, from the best authors, such a system of practice as seems to be formed on rational principles; this, we hope, will be a sufficient apology for being so full upon this article.

**Sect. I. General Directions with regard to the Management of Horses.**

1. It ought to be laid down as a general rule, to give horses as few medicines as possible; and by no means to comply with the ridiculous custom of some, who are frequently bleeding, purging, and giving balls, though their horses be in perfect health, and have no indication that requires such treatment.

2. Proper management in their feeding, exercise, and dressing, will alone cure many disorders, and prevent most; for the simplicity of a horse's diet, which chiefly consists of grain and herbage, when good in kind, and dispensed with judgment, cures him from these complicated disorders which are the general effects of intemperance in the human body.

3. In France, Germany, and Denmark, horses are seldom purged; there they depend much on alternatives; the use of the liver of antimony we have from the French, which is in general a good medicine for that purpose, and may, in many cases, be substituted in the room of purging.

4. As hay is so material an article in a horse's diet, great care should be taken to procure the best: when it is not extraordinary, the dust should be well shook out before it is put in the rack; for such hay is very apt to breed vermin.

5. Beans afford the strongest nourishment of all grain; but are fitted for laborious horses, except on particular occasions. In some seasons they breed a kind of vermin called the red bugs, which is thought to be dangerous; gerous; the best method in such a case is to procure them well dried and split.

6. Bran scalded is a kind of panada to a sick horse; but nothing is worse than a too frequent use of it, either dry or scalded; for it relaxes and weakens the bowels too much. The boots in young horses may be owing to too much muddy bran and chaff, given with other foul food to make them up for sale; particular care therefore should be taken that the bran be always sweet and new.

7. Oats, well ripened, make a more hearty and durable diet than barley, and are much better suited to the constitutions of British horses. A proper quantity of cut straw and hay mixed with them, is sometimes very useful to horses troubled with boots, indigestion, &c.

8. Horses who eat their litter, should particularly have cut straw and powdered chalk given them with their feed; as it is a sign of a depraved stomach, which wants correcting.

9. The salt marshes are good pasture for horses who have been forfeited, and indeed for many other disorders: they purge more by dung and urine than any other pasture, and make afterwards a firmer flesh; their water is for the most part brackish, and of course, as well as the grass, saturated with salts from the sea-water.

10. A summer's grass is often necessary; more particularly to horses glutted with food, and which use little exercise; but a month or two's running is proper for most; those especially who have been worked hard, and have stiff limbs, swollen legs, or wind-galls. Horses whose feet have been impaired by quittors, bad shoeing, or any other accidents, are also best repaired at grass. Those lamenesses particularly require turning out to grass, where the muscles or tendons are contracted or shrunk; for by the continual gentle exercise in the field, with the assistance of a pattin-hoe on the opposite foot, the shortened limb is kept on the stretch, the wasted parts are restored to their ordinary dimensions, and the limb again recovers its usual tone and strength.

11. The fields which lie near great towns and are much dugged, are not proper pasture for horses; but on observation appear very injurious to them, if they feed thereon all the summer.

12. Horses may be kept abroad all the year, where they have a proper stable or shed to shelter them from the weather, and hay at all times to come to. So treated, they are seldom sick; their limbs are always clean and dry; and, with the allowance of corn, will hunt, and do more business than horses kept constantly within doors.

13. If horses, when taken from grass, should grow hot and coltive, mix bran and chopped hay with their corn; and give them sometimes a feed of scalded bran for a fortnight, or longer; let their exercise and diet be moderate for some time, and increase both by degrees.

14. When horses are foiled in the stable, care should be taken that the herbage is young, tender, and full of sap; whether it be green barley, tares, clover, or anything else the season produces; and that it be cut fresh once every day at least, if not oftener.

15. When horses lose their flesh much in foiling, they should in time be taken to a more solid diet; for it is not in foiling as in grazing; where, though a horse loses his flesh at first, yet after the grass has purged him, he soon grows fat.

16. Young horses, who have not done growing, must be indulged more in their feeding than those come to their maturity; but if their exercise is so little as to make it unnecessary to abridge their allowance of hay, a little fresh straw should constantly be put in their racks to prevent their nibbling the manger, and turning crib-biters; they should also be sometimes strapped back in order to cure them of this habit.

17. It is obvious to every one, what care should be taken of a horse after violent exercise, that he cool not too fast, and drink no cold water, &c. for which reason we shall give particular directions.

18. Most horses fed for sale have the interfaces of their muscles so filled with fat, that their true shapes are hardly known. For which reason a horse just come out of the dealer's hands should at first be gently used. He ought to lose blood, and have his diet lowered, though not too much; walking exercise is most proper at first, two hours in the day; in a week or fortnight two hours at a time, twice a-day; after this usage for a month, bleed him again, and give him two or three times a-week scalded bran, which will prepare him for purging physic, that may now be given safely, and repeated at the usual intervals.

19. When a horse comes out of a dealer's hands, his clothing must be abated by degrees, and care taken to put him in a moderately warm stable; otherwise the sudden transition would be attended with the worst consequences.

Sect. II. Of Blood-letting.

1. Horses who stand much in stable, and are full fed, require bleeding now and then; especially when their eyes look heavy, dull, red, and inflamed; as also, when they feel hotter than usual, and mangle their hay.

Young horses should be bled when they are shedding their teeth, as it takes off those feverish heats they are then subject to. But the cases that chiefly require bleeding, are colds, fevers of most kinds, falls, bruises, hurts of the eyes, strains, and all inflammatory disorders, &c.

It is right to bleed a horse when he begins to grow fleshy at grass, or at any other time when he looks heavy; and it is generally proper to bleed before purging.

Let your horse always be bled by measure, that you may know what quantity you take away: two or three quarts are always enough at one time; when you repeat it, allow for the disorder and the horse's constitution.

Although the operation of blood-letting is generally thought to be pretty well known, yet there are many untoward accidents that frequently happen from the unskilful and unexperienced in performing it. The following directions and cautions on this head are extracted from Mr Clark's Treatise on the Prevention of Diseases incidental to Horses.

As horses are naturally timorous and fearful, which is too frequently increased by bad usage and improper chastisement, they require in some cases, particularly in this of bleeding, to be taken unawares or by surprise, prife, and the orifice made into the vein before their fears are alarmed. For this reason, the fleam and bloodstick, as it is called, have been long in use, and in skilful hands are not improper instruments for the purpose; although with many practitioners the spring-fleam would be much safer, and on that account ought to be preferred. When a lancet is used, the infant the horse feels the point of it, he raises or shakes his head and neck, in order to shun the instrument before the operator has time to make a proper orifice, which frequently proves too small or too large; for this reason, those who have tried the lancet have been obliged to lay it aside.

Many persons tie a ligature or bandage round the neck, in order to raise the vein, and that they may strike the fleam into it with the greater certainty; but a slight view of its effects in preventing this, and its other consequences, will show the impropriety of the practice.

When a ligature is tied round the neck previous to bleeding in the jugular veins, it is to be observed, that it stops the circulation in both veins at the same time; hence they become turgid and very full of blood, insomuch that they feel under the finger like a tight cord; and as the parts around them are loose and soft, when the stroke is given to the fleam, the vein by its hardness or tightness slips to one side, of course it eludes the stroke; hence a deep wound is made by the fleam to no purpose, and this is sometimes too frequently repeated. Unskilful people have likewise a custom of waving or shaking the bloodstick before they strike the fleam in view of the horse, whose eye is fixed on that instrument; and when they intend to give the stroke, they make a greater exertion: hence the horse being alarmed by its motion, raises his head and neck, and a disappointment follows. The struggle that ensues by this means prolongs the operation; the ligature at the same time being still continued round the neck, a total stagnation of the blood in the vessels of the head takes place; and hence it frequently happens, that the horse falls down in an apoplectic fit. In such cases the operator being disconcerted, generally desists from any farther attempts to draw blood at that time, under the idea that the horse was vicious and unruly, although the very treatment the horse had just undergone rendered bleeding at this time the more necessary, in order to make a speedy revolution from the vessels of the head. Therefore, a ligature or bandage ought never to be used till such time as the opening is made into the vein; and even then it will not be necessary at all times if the horse can stand on his feet, as a moderate pressure with the finger on the vein will make the blood flow freely; but if the horse is lying on the ground, a ligature will be necessary.

But farther, the concussion or shock the horse receives from his falling down in the above situation, which will always happen if the ligature is too long continued, may cause a blood-vessel within the head to burst, and death may be the consequence.

Another custom equally absurd is allowing the blood to fall in a dunghill amongst straw, in dry land, or in dry dust, by which means no distinct idea can be formed of the quantity that is or ought to be taken away. In such cases horses have fallen down in a faint from the loss of too much blood, before the operator thought of stopping up the orifice. For this and a variety of other reasons which might be mentioned, a measure, as above observed, ought always to be used, in order to ascertain the quantity of blood that is taken away.

In pinning up the orifice, some have a custom of raising or drawing out the skin too far from the vein; hence the blood flows from the orifice in the vein into the cellular substance between it and the skin, which causes a large lump or swelling to take place immediately: this frequently ends in what is called a swollen neck; a suppuration follows, which proves both tedious and troublesome to cure. In cases where a horse may be tied up to the rack after bleeding in the neck, pinning up the external orifice may be dispensed with; but when a horse is troubled with the gripes or any other acute disease, in which he lies down and tumbles about, it is necessary that the orifice be pinned up with care, in order to prevent the loss of too much blood.

As the neck or jugular vein on the near side is commonly opened for convenience by those who are right-handed, the young practitioner should learn to perform on both sides of the neck. This he will find in practice to be not only useful but necessary, as he may frequently have occasion to draw blood from horses in very awkward situations; he will likewise find his account in it a variety of cases, which it is needless here to particularize.

The proper place for making the opening in the neck or jugular vein is likewise necessary to be attended to: for when the orifice is made too low, or about the middle of the neck, where the vein lies deep under the muscular teguments, the wound becomes difficult to heal, and frequently ends in a suppuration, with a jetting out of proud flesh from the orifice; which, unluckily, is as unskillfully treated in the common method of cure, viz., by introducing a large piece of corrosive sublimate into the wound; this not only destroys the proud flesh in the lips of the wound, but a considerable portion of the flesh around it; and in farriery it is called coreing out the vein. It frequently happens, that this corrosive application destroys the vein likewise; and sometimes violent hemorrhages follow, so as to endanger the life of the animal.

The most proper place for making the opening in the jugular veins is where the teguments are thinnest, which is about a hand-breadth from the head, and about one inch below the branching or joining of the vein which comes from the lower jaw, and which may be distinctly seen when any pressure is made on the main branch of the vein.

In performing the operation with a fleam, the operator should hold the fleam between the fore-finger and thumb of the left hand; with the second finger he is to make a slight pressure on the vein, and before it becomes too turgid or full make the opening; the same degree of pressure is to be continued on the vein, till such time as the quantity of blood to be taken away is received into a proper measure.

Another great error, which generally prevails in opening the veins with a fleam, is the applying too great force, or giving too violent a stroke to it, by which it is forced through the opposite side of the vein; hence there is danger of wounding the coats of the arteries, as they generally lie under the veins; or, in some particular places, of wounding the tendons, especially when this operation is performed in the legs, thighs, &c., or in the veins, commonly called the plate veins, under the breast, the consequences are frequently very troublesome to remove, and in some cases prove fatal. Mr Gibbon, in his Treatise on the Diseases of Horses, mentions a case of a fine horse that was blooded in the plate veins for a lameness of the shoulder, which was followed with a hard oval swelling about the size of a goose egg, which extended upwards on the breast, and likewise down the leg, attended with excessive pain, fever, deadness in the horse's looks, and all the other symptoms of a beginning mortification.

In order to avoid the consequences sometimes attending these local operations in the breast, legs, &c., and as horses are more or less troublesome and restless, whereby accidents of this kind may happen, it will perhaps be advisable, in most cases of lameness, &c., to draw blood from the larger veins in the neck only, where there is less danger of accidents, more especially if a spring stream is used; for although it might be of some advantage in particular cases to draw blood as near the affected part as possible, yet the bad consequences frequently attending it ought to counterbalance any advantages that may be expected from it, especially as the quantity of blood drawn from the small veins is but inconsiderable, and of course no great benefit can be expected from it in horses when they are diseased.

The principal view in drawing blood is the lessening of its quantity, by which the remaining mucus circulates with more freedom in the vessels; it likewise takes off the inflammatory tendency of the blood, removes spasms, &c., and prevents other bad consequences that may follow, especially in plethoric habits; and it ought always to be remembered, that when the signs or symptoms of a disease are taken from the motion of the blood, the disorders arising from it depend upon its circulation being either increased or diminished; hence, therefore, all the changes which take place in the texture, quantity, and quality of the blood, are attended with a diminution or increase of its velocity.

Although the cases which may require bleeding are numerous, yet one general caution is necessary, namely, never to take away blood but when it is absolutely necessary; for it is a fluid that may be easily taken away, but cannot be so easily replaced; besides, the practice of bleeding frequently, or at stated times, is exceedingly improper, as it disposes the body to become lax, weak, and plethoric. In bleeding, therefore, a due regard must always be had to the constitution, age, strength, &c., of horses, and the state or habit of body they are in at the time.

Although we ought to be sparing of drawing blood from horses on trifling occasions when they may be said to be in health, yet when cases occur that do require it, it may not only safely, but usefully, be recommended to take away a greater quantity at once than is generally done; that is, from six to eight pounds, which will be about three or four quarts English measure, according to the urgency of the symptoms, &c., at the time, strength and age of the horse considered. For as horses are very subject to inflammatory diseases and those that are of the spasmodic kind, and as bleeding plentifully relaxes the whole system in these cases, the taking away a small quantity of blood, about one quart or two pounds, is in fact trifling with the disease; the horse is said to have been bled, and that satisfies his owner and the farrier; time is lost; the disease acquires strength; it will then be beyond the power of art to mitigate or to conquer it: hence the horse falls a sacrifice to timidity and ignorance. It is to be remembered, that inflammatory diseases, particularly when the bowels are affected, make a very rapid progress in horses; and if they are not overcome at the beginning by bleeding plentifully, the horse commonly dies in 24 or 30 hours of a gangrene and mortification in the intestines.

Sect. III. Of Purging.

Purging is often necessary in gross full horses, in some disorders of the stomach, liver, &c., but should be directed with caution. Before a purge is given to any horse, it is necessary some preparation should be made for it, in order to render the operation more safe and efficacious; thus a horse that is full of flesh should first be bled, and at the same time have his diet lowered for a week, especially those that have been pampered for sale; several baths of scalded bran should also previously be given, in order to open the bowels, and unload them of any indurated excrement, which sometimes proves an obstacle to the working of the physic, by creating great sickness and griping.

Let it be remembered, that a horse is purged with difficulty; that the physic generally lies 24 hours in the guts before it works; and that the tract of bowels it has to pass through is above 30 yards, all lying horizontally; consequently refractory and other improper drugs may, and often do, by their violent irritation, occasion excessive gripings and cold sweats, shave off the very mucus or lining of the guts, and bring on inflammations, which often terminate in mortifications and death. It is remarkable too, that the stomach and guts of a horse are but thin, compared to some other animals of the same bulk, and therefore must be more liable to inflammation and irritation.

Horses kept much in the stable, who have not the proper benefit of air and exercise in proportion to their food, should in spring have a mild purge or two after a previous preparation by bleeding, lowering their diet, and scalded mash.

Horses that fall off in their stomach, whether it proceeds from too full feeding, or engendering crudities and indigestible matter, should have a mild purge or two.

Horses of a hot temperament will not bear the common aloetic purges; their physic therefore should be mild and cooling.

Purging is always found very beneficial in stubborn dry coughs: but mild mercurials joined with them make them yet more efficacious.

Horses of a watery constitution, who are subject to swelled legs, that run a sharp briny ichor, cannot have the causes removed any way so effectually as by purging.

The first purge you give to a horse should be mild, in order to know his constitution.

It is a mistaken notion, that if a proper prepared purge does not work to expectation, the horse will be injured by it; for though it does not pass by stool, its operation may be more efficacious as an alternative to purify. Purging the blood, and it may pass by urine or other secretions.

Purging medicines are very successfully given in small quantities, mixed with others; and act then as alternatives.

If mercurial physic is given, care should be taken that it be well prepared; and warmer clothing and greater circumspection are then required.

Purges should be given early in the morning upon an empty stomach: about three or four hours after the horse has taken it, he should have a feed of scalded bran; and a lock or two of hay may then be put into his rack. The same day give him two more mashes; but should he refuse warm meat, he may be allowed raw bran.

All his water should be milk-warm, and have a handful of bran squeezed in it; but if he refuses to drink white water, give it him without bran.

Early the next morning give him another mash; but if he refuses to eat it, give him as much warm water as he will drink: let him be properly cloathed, and rode gently about. This should be done two or three times a day, unless he purges violently; once or twice will then be sufficient: at night give him a feed of oats mixed with bran.

During the working, a horse should drink plentifully; but if he will not drink warm water, he must be indulged with cold, rather than not drink at all.

We shall here infer some general forms of purges.

Take focotorine aloes ten drams, jalap and salt of tartar each two drams, grated ginger one dram, oil of cloves 30 drops; make them into a ball with syrup of buckthorn.

Or,

Take aloes and cream of tartar each one ounce, jalap two drams, cloves powdered one dram, syrup of buckthorn a sufficient quantity.

Or the following, which has an established character among sportsmen:

Take aloes from ten drams to an ounce and an half, myrrh and ginger powdered each half an ounce, saffron and oil of aniseed each half a dram.

Mr Gibbon recommends the following:

Take focotorine aloes ten drams, myrrh finely powdered half an ounce, saffron and fresh jalap in powder of each a dram; make them into a stiff ball with syrup of roses, then add a small spoonful of rectified oil of amber.

The focotorine aloes should always be preferred to the Barbadoes or plantation aloes, though the latter may be given to robust strong horses; but even then should always be prepared with the salt or cream of tartar, which, by opening its parts, prevents its adhesion to the coats of the stomach and bowels; from whence horrid gripings, and even death itself, has often ensued. This caution is well worth remarking, as many a horse hath fallen a sacrifice to the neglect of it.

Half an ounce of Castile soap, to a horse of a grofs constitution, may be added to any of the above; and the proportions may be increased for strong horses.

When mercurial physic is intended, give two drams of calomel over night, mixed up with half an ounce of diapente and a little honey, and the purging ball the next morning.

The following, when it can be afforded, is a very gentle and effectual purge, particularly for fine delicate horses; and if prepared with the Indian rhubarb, will not be expensive.

Take of the finest focotorine aloes one ounce, rhubarb powdered half an ounce or six drams, ginger grated one dram; make into a ball with syrup of roses.

The following purging drink may be given with the utmost safety; it may be quickened or made stronger, by adding an ounce more fenna, or two drams of jalap.

Take fenna two ounces; infuse it in a pint of boiling water two hours, with three drams of salt of tartar; pour off, and dissolve in it four ounces of Glauber's salts, and two or three of cream of tartar.

This last physic is cooling, easy, and quick in its operation; and greatly preferable in all inflammatory cases to any other purge, as it passes into the blood, and operates also by urine.

When horses lose their appetite after purging, it is necessary to give them a warm flomach-drink made of an infusion of camomile flowers, aniseeds, and saffron; or the cordial ball may be given for that purpose.

Should the purging continue too long, give an ounce of diacordium in an English pint of Port-wine; and repeat it once in 12 hours, if the purging continues. Plenty of gum-arabic water should also be given; and in case of violent gripes, fat broth glysters or tripe liquor should be often thrown up, with 100 drops of laudanum in each.

The Arabic solution may be thus prepared.

Take of gum arabic and tragacanth of each four ounces, juniper-berry and caraway-seeds of each an ounce, cloves bruised half an ounce; simmer gently in a gallon of water till the gums are dissolved: give a quart at a time in half a pail of water; but if he will not take it freely this way, give it him often in a horn.

When a purge does not work, but makes the horse swell, and refuse his food and water, which is sometimes the effect of bad drugs or catching cold, warm diuretics are the only remedy; of which the following are recommended.

Take a pint of white-wine, nitre one ounce; mix with it a dram of camphire, dissolved in a little rectified spirit of wine; then add two drams of oil of juniper, and the same quantity of unreduced oil of amber, and four ounces of honey or syrup of marshmallows.

When a horse swells with much physic, do not suffer him to be rode about till he has some vent; but rather lead him gently in hand till some evacuation is obtained.

As it is observed, that horses more willingly take sweet and palatable things than those that are bitter and of an ill taste, care should be taken that the latter be given in balls, and that their drinks be always contrived to be as little nauseous as possible, and sweetened either with honey or liquorice. Those that are prepared with grofs powders are by no means so agreeable to a horse as those made by infusion; as the former often clam the mouth, irritate the membranes about the palate and throat, and frequently occasion the cough they are intended to prevent.

Balls should be of an oval shape, and not exceed the size Clysters. size of a pullet's egg; when the dose is larger, it should be divided into two; and they should be dipped in oil, to make them slip down the easier.

The following cathartic balls are recommended by Mr Taplin *, the ingredients of which are differently proportioned, so as to suit different circumstances in respect to strength, age, size, and constitution:

1. Socotrine aloes one ounce; India rhubarb two drachms; jalap and cream of tartar each one drachm; ginger (in powder) two scruples; essential oil of cloves and aniseed each twenty drops; syrup of buckthorn a sufficient quantity to form the balls.

2. Socotrine aloes ten drams; rhubarb, jalap, and ginger, each two drams; cream of tartar three drams, and syrup of buckthorn to make the ball.

3. Barbadoes aloes nine drams; jalap, Castile soap, and cream of tartar, of each two drams; diagyrium and ginger (in powder) each a dram; syrup of buckthorn sufficient to make the ball.

4. Barbadoes aloes ten drams; Castile soap and jalap (in powder) of each half an ounce; cream of tartar and ginger each two drams; oil of aniseed forty drops; of cloves twenty drops; which form into a ball with syrup of roses or buckthorn.

Sect. IV. Of Clysters †.

Clysters administered to horses, are of greater importance in relieving them from many acute complaints, than is generally imagined; and if were to be wished, that, in place of the more expensive cordial drenches, &c. which are but too frequently given in most of these cases, a simple clyster of warm water, or thin water-gruel, were substituted in their stead; the latter proving of great benefit, whilst the former too frequently prove hurtful.

Clysters serve not only to evacuate the contents of the intestines, but also to convey very powerful medicines into the system, when perhaps it is not practicable to do it by the mouth: for although they are only conveyed into the larger intestines, and perhaps hardly penetrate into the smaller; still they are extremely useful, by fomenting as it were the latter, and at the same time by softening the hardened excrement that is accumulated in the former, and rendering it so soft as to be expelled out of the body, by which flatulencies or other offending matters that may be pent up in them are likewise expelled. Besides, by their warmness and relaxing powers, they act as a fomentation to the bowels; hence they may be of considerable service in removing spasmodic contractions in the bowels, carrying off flatulencies, and in preventing inflammation in the intestines, &c.; or, by conveying opiates to the parts affected, give speedy relief in cholera, &c. &c.

The use of emollient clysters in fevers are considerable. They act by revulsion, and relieve the head when too much affected. Besides, by throwing in a quantity of diluting liquor into the intestines, it not only relaxes and cleanses them, but may be said to cool the body in general; at the same time, a considerable portion of the liquid is absorbed and conveyed into the mass of blood, by which means it is diluted; and, in particular complaints in the bowels, clysters give almost immediate relief, as the remedies, when judiciously prescribed, pass immediately to the parts affected, with little or no alteration from the powers of the body.

Nor is the use of clysters confined to medicines only: food and nourishment may be conveyed into the system in this way, when a horse is unable to swallow anything by the mouth. Horses have frequently been supported for several days together by nourishing clysters, made of thick water-gruel, during violent inflammations or tumors in the throat, till such time as they have been discolored or suppured.

Nor will these effects appear strange to those who have an acquaintance with the anatomical structure of the body. For the sake of those who have not, it may just be sufficient to observe, that certain vessels called lacteals, whose mouths open into the inner cavity of the intestines, absorb or drink up the chyle or nourishment that is produced from the food, and convey it into the mass of blood. The same process takes place when nourishment is conveyed into the intestines by the anus or fundament: only the food requires to be so far prepared, broken down and diluted with water, as to render it fit to be absorbed by the vessels mentioned above.

In administering clysters, it ought always to be observed, that the contents of the clyster be neither too hot nor too cold, as either of these extremes will surplice the horse, and cause him to eject or throw it out before it has had time to have any effect. Previous to introducing the clyster-pipe, the operator, after anointing his hand and arm with oil, butter, or hog's-lard (observing, at the same time, that the nails of his fingers are short), may introduce it into the rectum, and draw out the hardened dung gradually. This operation, in farriery, is termed back-racking; and becomes the more necessary, as it frequently happens that great quantities of hardened dung is, in some cases, collected in the rectum, and which the horse cannot void easily without assistance of this kind.

The composition of clysters should be extremely simple: on that account they will be easily prepared, and as easily administered, provided the operator is furnished with a suitable instrument for the purpose. The generality of clyster-pipes that are used, are by far too small and too short: although it may appear a kind of paradox, yet it is a fact, that a clyster-pipe of a larger size than the ordinary ones, and of a proper thickness, is much easier introduced into the anus than one that is considerably smaller. It is likewise obvious, that when the pipe is too short, it renders clysters of no use, because it cannot convey the clysters so far up into the intestines as is necessary for them to be retained; a small short pipe of six or eight inches long, is not capable of conveying the injection to the end of the rectum, which, in a horse of a middling size, is about 16 or 18 inches long.

But farther, after the hardened dung is taken out of the rectum by the operation above mentioned, the bladder being distended and full of urine, it cannot exert its contracting power immediately, so as to expel its contents; it therefore presses up the empty rectum, and forms as it were a kind of tumor in it; if the pipe... Clysters. is too short, it cannot reach beyond this rising in the rectum, which forms as it were a declivity back towards the anus; and hence the liquor regurgitates or flows back at the anus as soon as it is discharged from the pipe.

The smallness of the bag or bladder, which is generally proportioned to that of the pipe, is another very material objection to these instruments, as it seldom contains one quart of liquid; from which circumstance, very little benefit can be derived from the use of them in such large intestines as those of a horse. Doctor Bracken, in his first volume, page 203, has a very judicious remark on the use of clysters. He observes, that "the colon of a horse seems to be three guts, by reason of the two necks of about half a yard each, is drawn up into many cells or purses by means of two ligaments, one of which runs along the upper and the other the under side of it, which, with the assistance of a valve or flap at its beginning, hinder the excrements either from returning back into the small guts, or falling too soon downwards, before the chyle or milky substance prepared from the food be sent into its proper vessels. And, indeed, the cæcum or blind gut, which is the first of the three larger guts, seems to be so contrived in the manner of a valve, to hinder the aliment and chyle from passing too soon into the colon; for, if the aliment and chyle were not in some measure hindered in their passage through these large guts, the body could not be sufficiently supplied with nourishment. The first of these colons is about a yard and a half in length, the second about a yard, and the third, or that part which joins the rectum or arse-gut, near six yards in length; so that the colon of a horse 14 hands high, may be said to be nearly eight yards and a half long; and, from it, along the rectum or straight gut to the anus, where the excrements are discharged, is not above half a yard; so that it is plain, clysters operate mostly in the colon; though I must say they are given in too small quantities; for what signifies two quarts of liquor in a gut nine yards long, and four or five inches diameter, in a natural state; but in the colic, it is so distended with flatusencies, that its diameter exceeds seven or eight inches, as I have frequently observed in those dying of that distemper."

Large syringes are frequently used for the purpose of giving clysters; but of all the instruments ever invented, they seem the most improper for horses. The shortness and smallness of their ivory pipes, are not only a material objection against the use of them, but they are apt to tear and wound the gut; for if a horse should prove restless, either from pain, as in cases of the gripes, or from viciousness, the syringe and pipe being quite inflexible, in the struggle to throw up the injection the gut may be wounded or hurt, by which a discharge of blood and other bad consequences may follow. But although there was not the least chance of their hurting the horse or wounding the gut, yet the force with which they throw up the liquor, always causes a surprise, of course a resistance, attended with a vigorous effort to throw it out; which indeed frequently happens before the pipe of the syringe is withdrawn, and frequently upon the operator.

The most proper instrument for the giving of clysters, is a simple bag or ox-bladder, which will hold two or three quarts, tied to the end of a wooden pipe about 14 or 15 inches long, one inch and a half diameter where the bag is tied, and of a gradual taper to the extremity, where the thickness should suddenly increase, and be rounded off at the point, and made as smooth as possible; the perforation or hole through the pipe may be made sufficiently large, so as to admit the end of a common funnel, for pouring in the liquor into the bag. By the flexibility of the bladder at the end of this instrument, no danger can happen to the horse; the clyster is conveyed so far up into the intestines that it will be retained; it causes no surprise (providing the liquor be neither too hot nor too cold, but milk warm), as no other force is required to throw it up than the holding the bag a little higher than the level of the pipe; by which means the liquor flows gently into the gut, without any surprise to the horse. After using the bag, it may be blown full of wind, a cork put into the pipe, and hung up in some dry place to prevent it from rotting; by which means it will last a considerable time.

Clysters are distinguished by different names, which denote the quality of the ingredients of which they are composed, as emollient, laxative, diuretic, anodyne, &c. As the more general use of clysters, in the practice of farriery, would be attended with the most salutary effects, especially in acute diseases, where the speediest assistance is necessary, we shall here subjoin some forms of recipes for composing them, together with the cases in which they may be administered with advantage.

1. Emollient clyster. Two or three quarts of thin water-gruel, salad oil and coarse sugar, of each six ounces. Dissolve the sugar in the water-gruel, then add the salad oil—Give it milk warm.

2. Laxative clyster. Two or three quarts of thin water-gruel, Glauber's salts eight ounces, salad oil six ounces.

When Glauber's salts are not at hand, common salt may be used in its stead.

A great variety of recipes might be added for making clysters, composed of the infusion of different herbs, seeds, &c. But the above ingredients are always easily got; and they will be found to answer all the intentions required under this head, which is to soften the hardened excrements, to lubricate the intestines, and, by exciting a gentle stimulus, promote a free discharge of their contents; which, when once obtained, seldom fails of giving relief in inflammatory cases, spasms, &c.

3. Purging clyster. Infuse two ounces of senna in two quarts of boiling water; strain it off; then add syrup of buckthorn and common oil, of each four ounces.

This clyster will operate more briskly than the former, and, on that account, may be preferred when an immediate or speedy discharge is necessary.

4. Anodyne clyster. The jelly of starch, or infusion of linseed, one pint; liquid laudanum, one ounce or about two table spoonfuls.

When there is reason to apprehend inflammation in the bowels, opium may be given in place of laudanum, from 20 to 30 grains, in proportion to the urgency of the symptoms; it ought to be well triturated or rubbed. bed in a mortar, with a little of the liquid, till it has thoroughly dissolved. The smallness of the quantity of liquid here recommended, gives it the better chance of being the longer retained, as the good effects to be derived from the opium depend entirely on this circumstance. This clyster is proper to be given in violent gripings, attended with purging, in order to blunt the sharpness of the corroding humours, and to allay the pain usually attending in such cases. The starch will in some measure supply the deficiency of the natural mucus, or covering of the intestines, which has been carried off by violent purging. It may be repeated, if the symptoms continue violent, only diminishing the quantity of laudanum or of the opium.

5. Nourishing clyster. Thick water-gruel three quarts.

When clysters of this kind are found necessary, they may be given four or five times in the day, according as circumstances may require; they are of considerable service in cases where the horse cannot eat sufficiently to support him, or swallow any thing, from inflammation of the throat, jaws, &c. or in convulsions, attended with a locked jaw, &c.

6. Diuretic clyster. Venice turpentine two ounces; Caftile soap one ounce. Dissolve the soap in two quarts of warm water; then add the turpentine, after it has been well beat up with the yolks of two eggs.

This diuretic clyster is of great use in the strangury, and obstructions in the urinary passages; and as it is immediately applied to the parts affected, it seldom fails of giving relief, and has a much better effect when prescribed in this manner than when given by the mouth: by this last way it mixes with the whole mass of fluids, and may lose a considerable portion of its diuretic quality before it reaches the kidneys; but, by being administered in the form of a clyster, it is readily absorbed by the neighbouring vessels, and promotes a free discharge of urine.

It would be needless to add more forms of clysters, as those above mentioned will answer most cases, without any material alteration, but what may be easily supplied by the judicious practitioner.

There are a variety of cases where clysters may be administered with great success, besides those already hinted at; as in inflammatory fevers, spasmodic contractions, and cholicky complaints in the bowels; in recent coughs, apoplexy, convulsions, paralytic complaints, or swelling of the belly whether from air pent up in the bowels or from hardened excrements; in cases where horses are troubled with worms, as the acares which lodge in the lower part of the intestines, or when bot-worms are observed sticking in the anus, or voided with the dung; in very coltive habits, before laxative or opening medicines are given by the mouth; in wounds which penetrate deep into the muscular or tendinous parts, or in the belly, &c., in inflammations of the eyes, or when the head seems particularly affected; in inflammatory swellings on any part of the body, when a horse cannot swallow any food, &c. whether it proceeds from spasm in the muscles of the throat, inflammations, or swellings. Clysters composed of mucilaginous substances, as starch, linseed, &c. are of great benefit in violent diarrhoeas or loofenels, whether it proceeds from a natural discharge, or from too strong purging medicines.

It ought always to be remembered, that clysters should be repeated frequently, till such time as the disorder for which they are given is either removed or greatly abated. This injunction may be the more readily complied with, as the administering clysters to horses is not attended either with much trouble or disturbance to them.

Sect. V. Rowels and Setons.*

1. Rowels for horses, answer the same purpose as issues in the human body. The method of introducing them is by making an incision through the skin, about three-eighths of an inch long, and then separating the skin from the flesh with the finger, or with a blunt horn, all round the orifice, as far as the finger will easily reach; then introducing a piece of leather, very thin, shaped round, about the size of a crown piece, having a large round hole in the middle of it. Previous to introducing the leather, it should be covered with lint or tow, and dipped into some digestive ointment; a pledget of tow, dipped in the same ointment, should likewise be put into the orifice, in order to keep out the cold air: the parts around it soon fwell, which is followed with a plentiful discharge, from the orifice, of yellow serum or lymph; and, in two or three days at most, the discharge turns into thick gobs white matter: the rowel is then said to suppurate.

These artificial vents act by revulsion or derivation; and hence they become of great use in many cases, as they empty the surrounding vessels by a regular flow discharge of their contents, and are even of great service when there is a redundancy or fulness of humours in general, which may require a gradual discharge, in preference to greater evacuations by purging medicines, &c. Rowels should be placed (especially in some particular cases) as near the affected part as possible; and, at all times, they ought to have a depending orifice, in order to admit of a free discharge of the matter that may be contained in them.

The parts where they ought to be inserted, and where they are found to answer best, are the belly, inside of the thighs, the breast, and outside of the shoulders and hips; they are sometimes, but very injudiciously, put in between the jaw-bones under the root of the tongue, where they never come to a proper suppuration, on account of the constant motion of the parts in eating, &c. neither do they answer any good purpose from being placed in that situation. In some disorders it is found necessary to put in several of them at once, in order to make a sudden revulsion from the parts affected; but this should be determined by the horse's age, strength, and circumstances that require them.

But though rowels are found very beneficial in some cases, yet, like a number of other operations common to horses, they sometimes, by the improper use of them, become hurtful to the constitution; and, in some diseases, they frequently, instead of suppurating, turn gangrenous. Thus, in violent fevers, where they are frequently very improperly applied, they never suppurate properly: whether this proceeds from the quickness of the pulse, together with the violent rapidity with which the fluids in general are then carried through the vessels, or from the violent agitation in which the whole system is thrown, FAR R I E R Y.

Sect. VI.

It is difficult to determine; but experience confirms the observation, when properly attended to. In such cases, the surrounding parts where the rowel is placed, seldom or never swell (as in the ordinary course, when they suppurate properly), but appear dry, or much in the same state as when they were first put in; there is little or no discharge from the orifice; and the little that does come is thin, ichorous, and bloody. In such cases, they ought to be taken out immediately, and the parts well fomented with a strong infusion of camomile, or an emollient poultice applied, if it can be properly fixed, and frequently repeated; at intervals, the parts ought likewise to be bathed with ardent spirits, as that of wine, turpentine, &c., covering the parts from the external air; and, provided there is no fever at the time, two or three ounces of Peruvian bark may be given through the day, either made into balls or given in a liquid; and this continued till the threatening symptoms are removed.

Rowels are of great use in carrying off rheums or defluxions from the eyes; in great swellings of the glands, &c., about the throat and jaws, which threaten a suffocation; or when the head seems particularly affected, as in the vertigo or staggers, apoplexy, &c., &c.; in recent lameness; swellings of the legs and heels, attended with a discharge of thin ichorous matter, &c.; in large and sudden swellings in any part of the body; or when extravasations of the fluids have taken place, from blows, bruises, &c., or when a horse has had a severe fall, &c., and in a variety of other cases, which will occur to the judicious practitioner.

2. Setons are of great use in carrying off matter from deep seated tumors or abscesses in different parts of the body. They ought all times to be used in preference to making deep incisions into the muscular parts, which not only disfigure horses, but such deep incisions are very difficult to heal up in them, on account of the situation of some of these tumors, and the horizontal position of the body, which is unfavourable in many cases for procuring a depending opening in order to carry off the matter, as in tumors on the back, withers, and upper part of the neck immediately behind the ears, which are very common. Besides the horizontal position of the body, the natural reflexions and impatience of horses renders it impracticable to fix proper bandages on those elevated parts; the situation of them likewise will not admit of proper dressings being fixed on them with any degree of certainty of their remaining for any length of time; by which means the openings made into such tumors or abscesses are frequently left bare, and exposed to the cold air, &c.: hence such openings degenerate into very foul ulcers, and produce a great deal of proud flesh, and which require to be repeatedly cut away with the knife, as the strongest caustics that can be applied are not sufficient to keep it under.

Setons are introduced by long, thin, sharp-pointed instruments or needles, shaped like a dart at the point, and having at the other extremity an eye to receive the end of the cord, which is to be left in the tumor. The size of the instrument may be determined by that of the tumor, and the thickness of the cord which is to follow it, and which at all times ought to be smaller than the perforation made by the point of the needle. Every practitioner in farriery should always have a number of these needles by him, of different sizes, that is, from 6 to 14 or 15 inches long, a little bended on the flat or under side. The following is the method of applying them in cases of tumors, &c. When the matter is found to fluctuate in the tumor, the needle, armed with a cord at the other end, is to be introduced at the upper part of it, and the sharp point of the instrument directed to, and brought out at the under or lowermost part of the tumor, including the whole length of it; or, if needful, through the sound muscular flesh on the under part, in order to make a depending orifice for the matter to run freely off; the cord should be dipped in some digestive ointment, and then tied together at both ends with a thread, in order to prevent its slipping out. But if, from the length of the perforation, the cord should not admit of being tied together at the ends, a small button of wood, or some such substance, may be fixed at each end; only, from this circumstance, the cord will require, when shifted, occasionally to be drawn upwards and downwards; whereas, when the ends of it are tied together, it forms a circle, and may always be shifted downwards to the lower orifice. When the matter in the tumor appears to be wholly discharged or dried up, and no thickness appearing but where the cord is, it may then be cut out, and the orifices suffered to heal up.

When the needle for introducing the seton is to pass near to any large blood-vessels or nerves; in order to prevent the chance of their being wounded, it may be concealed in a canula or case, open at both ends; and after an opening is made at the upper part of the tumor sufficient to admit the needle with its case, it may then be directed with safety to pass the blood-vessels, &c. It may then be pushed forward through the canula and the opposite side of the tumor, and, having only the common teguments to perforate, all danger will be avoided.

Sect. VI. Of Alterative Medicines.

By alteratives, or altering medicines, are to be understood such as, having no immediate sensible operation, gradually gain upon the constitution, by changing the humours or juices from a state of distemperature to health. This intention in some cases may perhaps be effected by correcting the acrimony of the juices, and accelerating the blood’s motion; and in others by attenuating or breaking its particles, and dividing those coctions which obstruct the capillaries or finer vessels, and so promote the due secretions of the various fluids. It is certain, that many have but an indifferent opinion of a medicine that does not operate externally, and gratify their senses with a quantity of imagined humours ejected from the body; but let such people remember, that there are good humours as well as bad, which are thrown off together; that no evacuating medicine has a power of selecting or separating the bad from the good; and consequently that they are thrown out only in a proportionate quantity. These few hints may be sufficient to convince the judicious reader of the great advantages arising from alteratives, and the preference due to them in most cases over purgatives; unless it could be proved, as already mentioned, that the latter could cut out and separate from the blood the bad humours solely, leaving the good behind; but this Sect. VI. FARRIERY.

Alternative this selective power has long been justly exploded as ridiculous and uncertain; since it is plain, that all kinds of purging medicines differ only in degree of strength, and operate no otherwise upon different humours than as they stimulate more or less.

We shall therefore take this opportunity of recommending some alternative medicines which are not so generally known as they ought to be; and that too on the surest grounds, a proper experience of their good effects in repeated trials. The first, then, is nitre or purified salt-petre; which has long been in great esteem, and perhaps is more to be depended on in all inflammatory fevers than any other medicine whatever; but besides this extensive power of allaying inflammatory disorders, it is now offered as an alternative remedy, taken in proper quantities for surfeits, molten grease, hide-bound, grease-heels, &c. And as it has been known to succeed even in the cure of the farcy; what other distempers in horses, arising from vitiated fluids, may it not be tried on, with a strong probability of success? This great advantage will arise from the use of this medicine over most others, that, as its operation is chiefly by urine, it requires no confinement or cloathing; but the horse may be worked moderately throughout the whole course. This medicine has been found equally efficacious (by many trials made in one of our hospitals) in correcting the acrimony of the juices, and disposing the most obstinate and inveterate fores to heal up; and hence probably it came recommended as an alternative to our horses.

The quantity of nitre given at a time should be from two to three ounces a day; let it be finely powdered, and then mix with it by little at a time as much honey as will form it into a ball: give it every morning fasting for a month; or it may be given at first for a fortnight only, intermitting a fortnight, and then repeat it. If it be observed that the horse shows an uneasiness at the stomach after taking it, a horn or two of any liquor should be given after it, or it may be dissolved at first in his water, or mixed with his corn; though the ball, where it agrees, is the easiest method of giving.

When horses take drinks with great reluctance, powders must be given in their feeds: thus crude antimony, or liver of antimony finely powdered, may be given to the quantity of half an ounce, night and morning; but in all surfeits, gum guaiacum mixed with antimony is found more efficacious. Thus,

Take of crude antimony finely powdered, or, where it can be afforded, cinnabar of antimony, and gum guaiacum, of each a pound; mix together with an oily pebble to prevent the gum's caking: divide the whole into 32 doses, viz. an ounce each dose: let one be given every day in the evening-feed.

Or, Take of cinnabar of antimony, gum guaiacum, and Castile or Venice soap, of each half a pound; salt of tartar, four ounces; beat them up into a mass, and give an ounce every day. To these may be added very advantageously an ounce and an half of camphor.

Æthiops mineral, given to the quantity of half an ounce a day, is a very good sweetener and corrector of the blood and juices; but it has been observed, after having been taken a week or ten days, to make some horses flabber, and unable to chew their hay and oats; and the same symptoms have arisen, where only two drams of crude mercury has been given, and continued about the same space of time.

Diet-drinks—1. A decoction of logwood, prepared like that of guaiacum, is also successfully given in surfeits.

2. Lime-water prepared with shavings of sassafras and liquorice, is a good diet-drink to sweeten and correct a horse's blood; and may be given with the nitre-balls for that purpose.

3. Tar-water also, may in many cases be well worth trial; but let it be remembered, that all medicines of this kind should be continued a considerable time in oblitinate cases.

Sect. VII. Of Colds.

By taking cold, we mean that the pores and outlets of the skin (which in a natural healthy state of body are continually breathing out a fine fluid, like the steam arising from hot water, or smoke from fire) are so far shut up, that these fleans, or perspirable matter, not having a free passage through them, are hindered from going off in the usual manner; the consequence of which is, their recoiling on the blood, vitiating its quality, overfilling the vessels, and affecting the head, glands or kernels of the neck and throat, the lungs, and other principal parts.

To enumerate the various causes of colds would be endless: the most usual are, riding horses till they are hot, and suffering them to stand in that condition where the air is cold and piercing; removing a horse from a hot stable to a cold one, and too suddenly changing his cloathing; whence it is that horses often catch such severe colds after they come out of dealers hands, and by not being carefully rubbed down when they come in hot off journeys.

Where there is a constant attention and care, the effects of cold are not only soon discovered, but an observation may be very early made to what part it more immediately directs its attack. For instance, if the nervous system be the most irritable, the affection is quickly perceived in the eyes; if the glandular, upon the neck, throat, under the ears, or in the head: or if more particularly the system of circulation has been affected, the consequences are soon apparent upon the lungs; and will be exerted more or less in a cough, or difficulty of breathing, according to the severity of attack, from the repulsion of perspirable matter, and its consequent absorption into the circulation. As soon as the horse is in this state, a symptomatic fever attends; which is to be understood as no more than a degree of febrile heat or irritability dependant on the original cause, which gradually ceases as the primary disease is found to decline.

From an affection of the different parts above specified, various disorders ensue, which are treated of under their proper heads. Here we have only to consider that kind of cold fixed on the lungs, which produces cough; and which, if taken in its first stage, generally yields to very simple remedies.

As soon as the attack has been observed, bleeding should be instantly performed, according to symptoms, size, state, and condition; and the blood preserved a few hours to ascertain its state: if livid or black, with a coat of size upon its surface, there is no doubt of its vascularity, and of the obstructed circulation of that fluid through the finer vessels of the lungs. In three or four hours after bleeding, give a mash prepared as follows:

Take of bran and oats, equal parts. Pour on boiling water a sufficient quantity; then stir in aniseed and liquorice powders, each one ounce; honey, four ounces. In two hours after the mash give a gallon or six quarts of soft water moderately warm, in which has been dissolved two ounces of nitre.

These mixtures Mr Taplin directs to be continued every night and morning, giving a moderate feed of dry oats in the middle of the day, good sweet hay in small quantities, and the same proportion of nitre to be repeated in the water after each mash. To these must be added the necessary regulations of good dressing and gentle exercise, which in general soon effect the cure of such colds as are counteracted upon the first attack.

To humour those who are not satisfied without some formal compositions, the following may be exhibited when the fever does not run high.

Pectoral Horse-ball. Take of the fresh powders of aniseed, elecampane, caraway, liquorice, turmeric, and flour of brimstone, each three ounces; juice of liquorice four ounces, dissolved in a sufficient quantity of mountain; saffron powdered half an ounce, salad-oil and honey half a pound, oil of aniseed one ounce: mix together with wheat-flour enough to make them into a paste.

Or the following from Dr Bracken.

Take aniseed, caraway seed, and greater cardamoms, finely powdered, of each one ounce, flour of brimstone two ounces, turmeric in fine powder one ounce and a half, saffron two grains, Spanish juice dissolved in water two ounces, oil of aniseed half an ounce, liquorice powder one ounce and a half, wheat-flour a sufficient quantity to make into a stiff paste by beating all the ingredients well in a mortar.

These balls consist of warm opening ingredients; and, given in small quantities, about the size of a pullet's egg, will encourage a free perspiration.

To a horse loaded with flesh, a rowel may sometimes be necessary, as may also a gentle purge or two to some when the distemper is gone off.

When the disorder has been neglected, and made a rapid progress, should the cough be violent and constant, the horse very dull and refusing his food, and the symptomatic fever run high, the blood will consequently prove as before described. In this case the symptoms will not perhaps yield to the above plan so soon as may be wished. It will therefore be necessary to repeat the bleeding in two or three days at farthest, according to circumstances. The mixtures may at the same time be altered to equal parts of malt and bran, scalded with boiling water; into which, when nearly cool enough for the manger, stir elecampane, aniseed and liquorice powders, each one ounce: this mash to be repeated every night and morning; continuing also the noon-feed dry, and the nitre two ounces in the water, as before directed. By a due attention to these measures, relief will soon be obtained, and a cure generally effected in the course of a few days: Whereas,

by delay or neglect, a confirmed cough, asthma, broken wind, or consumption, may be the consequence.

Sect. VIII. Of Fevers in general.

1. The symptoms of a fever are, Great restlessness; the horse ranging from one end of his rack to the other; his flanks beat; his eyes are red and inflamed; his tongue parched and dry; his breath is hot, and smells strong; he loses his appetite, and nibbles his hay, but does not chew it, and is frequently smelling to the ground; the whole body is hotter than ordinary (though not parched, as in some inflammatory disorders); he dungs often, little at a time, usually hard, and in small bits; he sometimes stales with difficulty, and his urine is high-coloured; and he seems to thirst, but drinks little at a time and often; his pulse beats full and hard, to 50 strokes and upwards in a minute.

The first intention of cure is bleeding, to the quantity of two or three quarts, if the horse is strong and in good condition: then give him a pint of the following drink, four times a-day; or an ounce of nitre, mixed up into a ball with honey, may be given thrice a-day instead of the drink, and washed down with three or four horns of any small liquor.

Take of baum, sage, and camomile-flowers, each a handful; liquorice-root sliced half an ounce, salt prunel or nitre three ounces; infuse in two quarts of boiling water; when cold, strain off, and squeeze into it the juice of two or three lemons, and sweeten with honey.

As the chief ingredient to be depended on in this drink is the nitre, it may perhaps be as well given in water alone; but as a horse's stomach is soon palled, and he requires palatable medicines, the other ingredients may in that respect have their use. Solely for this purpose advises two ounces of salt of tartar, and one of sal ammoniac, to be dissolved in two quarts of water, and mixed with a pail of common water, adding a handful of bran or barley-flour to qualify the unpleasant taste: this may be given every day, and is a useful medicine.

His diet should be scalded bran, given in small quantities; which if he refuses, let him have dry bran sprinkled with water: put a handful of picked hay into the rack, which a horse will often eat when he will touch nothing else; his water need not be much warmed, but should be given often and in small quantities: his clothing should be moderate; too much heat and weight on a horse being improper in a fever, which scarce ever goes off in critical sweats (as those in the human body terminate), but by strong perspiration.

If in a day or two he begins to eat his bran and pick a little hay, this method with good nursing will answer: but if he refuses to feed, more blood should be taken away, and the drinks continued; to which may be added two or three drams of saffron, avoiding at this time all hotter medicines: the following glyster should be given, which may be repeated every day, especially if his dung is knotty or dry.

Take two handfuls of marshmallows, and one of camomile flowers; fennel-seed an ounce; boil in three quarts of water to two; strain off, and add Four ounces of treacle, and a pint of linseed oil or any common oil.

Two quarts of water-gruel, fat broth, or pot-liquor, with the treacle and oil, will answer this purpose; to which may be added a handful of salt. These sorts of glysters are more proper than those with purging ingredients.

The following opening drink is very effectual in those fevers; and may be given every other day, when the glysters should be omitted; but the nitre-balls or drink may be continued, except on those days these are taken.

Take of cream of tartar and Glauber's salts, each four ounces; dissolve in barley-water, or any other liquor; an ounce or two of lenitive electuary may be added, or a dram or two of powder of jalap, to quicken the operation in some horses.

Four ounces of Glauber's salts, or cream of tartar, with the same quantity of lenitive electuary, may be given for the same purpose, if the former should not open the body sufficiently.

In four or five days the horse generally begins to pick his hay, and has a seeming relish for food; tho' his flanks will heave pretty much for a fortnight; yet the temper of his body and return of appetite show, that nothing more is requisite to complete his recovery than walking him abroad in the air, and allowing plenty of clean litter to rest him in the stable.

This method of treating a fever is simple, according to the laws of nature; and is confirmed by long experience to be infinitely preferable to the hot method.

The intention here is to lessen the quantity of blood, promote the secretion of urine and perspiration, and cool and dilute the fluids in general.

There is another sort of fever that horses are subject to, of a more complicated and irregular nature than the former; which, if not properly treated, often proves fatal.

The signs are, A slow fever, with languishing, and great depressions: the horse is sometimes inwardly hot, and outwardly cold; at other times hot all over, but not to any extreme; his eyes look moist and languid: he has a continual moisture in his mouth, which is the reason he seldom cares to drink, and when he does, it is but little at a time. He feeds but little, and leaves off as soon as he has eaten a mouthful or two; he moves his jaws in a feeble loofe manner, with an unpleasant grating of his teeth; his body is commonly open; his dung soft and moist, but seldom greasy; his stallion is often irregular, sometimes little, at other times profuse, seldom high-coloured, but rather pale, with little or no sediment.

When a horse's appetite declines daily, till he refuses all meat, it is a bad sign. When the fever doth not diminish, or keep at a stand, but increases, the case is then dangerous. But when it sensibly abates, and his mouth grows drier, the grating of his teeth ceases, his appetite mends, and he takes to lie down (which perhaps he has not done for a fortnight), these are promising signs. A horse in these fevers always runs at the nose, but not the kindly white discharge, as in the breaking of a cold, but of a reddish or greenish dusky colour, and of a consistence like glue, and sticks like turpentine to the hair on the inside of the nostrils: If this turns to a gleek of clear thin water, the horse's hide keeps open, and he mends in his appetite; these are certain signs of recovery.

The various and irregular symptoms that attend this slow fever, require great skill to direct the cure, and more knowledge of the symptoms of horses diseases than the generality of gentlemen are acquainted with. The experienced farrier should therefore be consulted and attended to, in regard to the symptoms; but very seldom as to the application of the remedy, which is generally above their comprehension; though it may be readily selected, by duly attending to the observations here inculcated.

First, then, a moderate quantity of blood, not exceeding three pints, may be taken away, and repeated in proportion to his strength, fulness, inward foreheads, cough, or any tendency to inflammation. After this, the fever-drink first above-mentioned may be given, with the addition of an ounce of snake-root, and three drams of saffron and camphor dissolved first in a little spirit of wine; the quantity of the nitre may be lessened, and these increased as the symptoms indicate.

The diet should be regular; no oats given, but scalded or raw bran sprinkled; the best flavoured hay should be given by handfuls, and often by hand, as the horse sometimes cannot lift up his head to the rack.

As drinking is so absolutely necessary, to dilute the blood, if the horse refuses to drink freely of warm water or gruel, he must be indulged with having the chill only taken off by standing in the stable: nor will any inconvenience ensue, but oftener an advantage; for the nauseous warmth of water, forced on horses for a time, pall their stomachs, and takes away their appetites, which the cold water generally restores.

Should the fever after this treatment increase, the horse feed little, stale often, his urine being thin and pale, and his dung sometimes loose, and at other times hard; should the moisture in his mouth continue, his skin being sometimes dry and at others moist, with his coat looking starting and surfeited: upon these irregular symptoms, which denote great danger, give the following balls, or drink; for in these cases there is no time to be lost.

Take of contrayerva-root, myrrh, and snake-root, powdered, each two drams, saffron one dram, mithridate or Venice treacle half an ounce; make into a ball with honey, which should be given twice or thrice a day, with two or three horns of an infusion of snake-root sweetened with honey; to a pint and a half of which may be added half a pint of treacle-water or vinegar, which latter is a medicine of excellent use in all kinds of inflammatory and putrid disorders, either external or internal.

Should these balls not prove successful, add to each a dram of camphor, and, where it can be afforded, to a horse of value, the same quantity of caltor. Or the following drink may be substituted in their stead for some days.

Take contrayerva and snake-root of each two ounces, liquorice-root, one ounce, saffron two drams; infuse in two quarts of boiling water clove-covered for two hours; strain off, and add half a pint of distilled vinegar, four ounces of spirit of wine, wherein half an ounce of camphor is dissolved, and two ounces of mithridate or Venice treacle; treacle; give a pint of this drink every four, six, or eight hours.

Should the horse be coltive, recourse must be had to glysters, or the opening drink: should he purge, take care not to suppress it, if moderate; but if, by continuance, the horse grows feeble, add diafcordium to his drinks, instead of the mithridate; if it increases, give more potent remedies.

Let it be remembered, that camphor is a very powerful and effectual medicine in these kinds of putrid fevers; being both active and attenuating, and particularly calculated to promote the secretions of urine and perspiration.

Regard should also be had to his stifling; which if in too great quantities, so as manifestly to depress his spirits, should be controlled by proper refringents, or by preparing his drinks with lime-water. If, on the contrary, it happens that he is too remiss this way, and takes so little as to occasion a fulness and swelling of the body and legs, recourse may be had to the following drink:

Take of salt primula, or nitre, one ounce; juniperberries, and Venice turpentine, of each half an ounce; make into a ball with oil of amber.

Give him two or three of these balls, at proper intervals, with a decoction of marsh-mallows sweetened with honey.

But if, notwithstanding the method we have laid down, a greenish or reddish gleet is discharged from his nostrils, with a frequent sneezing; if he continues to lose his flesh, and becomes hide-bound; if he altogether forsakes his meat, and daily grows weaker; if he swells about the joints, and his eyes look fixed and dead; if the kernels under his jaws swell, and feel loose; if his tail is raised, and quivers; if his breath smells strong, and a purging ensues with a discharge of fetid dark-coloured matter; his case may then be looked on as desperate, and all future attempts to save him will be fruitless.

The signs of a horse's recovery are known by his hide keeping open, and his skin feeling kindly; his ears and feet will be of a moderate warmth, and his eyes brisk and lively; his nose grows clean and dry; his appetite mends, he lies down well, and both stales and dungs regularly.

Be careful not to overfeed him on his recovery: let his diet be light, feeds small, and increased by degrees as he gets strength; for, by overfeeding, horses have frequent relapses or great surfeits, which are always difficult of cure.

If this fever should be brought to intermit, or prove of the intermittent kind, immediately after the fit is over give an ounce of Jesuit's bark, and repeat it every six hours till the horse has taken four or five ounces: should eruptions or swellings appear, they ought to be encouraged; for they are good symptoms at the decline of a fever, denote a termination of the distemper, and that no further medicines are wanted.

The true reasons, perhaps, why so many horses miscarry in fevers, are, that their masters, or doctors, will not wait with patience, and let nature have fair play: that they generally neglect bleeding sufficiently at first; and are constantly forcing down sugar-sops, or other food, in a horn, as if a horse must be starved in a few days if he did not eat; then they ply him twice or thrice a-day with hot medicines and spirituous drinks, which (excepting a very few cases) must be extremely pernicious to a horse, whose diet is naturally simple, and whose stomach and blood, unaccustomed to such heating medicines, must be greatly injured, and without doubt are often inflamed by such treatment.

Dilute the blood with plenty of water, or white drink; let his diet be warm bran-mashes, and his hay sprinkled. Should the fever rise, which will be known by the symptoms above described, give him an ounce of nitre thrice a-day in his water, or made up in a ball with honey. Let his body be kept cool and open, with the opening drink, given twice or thrice a-week; or an ounce of salt of tartar may be given every day, dissolved in his water, for that purpose, omitting then the nitre. After a week's treatment in this manner, the cordial ball may be given once or twice a-day, with an infusion of liquorice-root sweetened with honey; to which may be added, when the phlegm is tough, or cough dry and husky, a quarter of a pint of linseed or salad oil, and the same quantity of oxymel squills.

The following cooling purge is very proper to give at the decline of the distemper, and may be repeated three or four times.

Take two ounces of senna, aniseed and fennel bruised each half an ounce: salt of tartar three drams; let them infuse two hours in a pint of boiling water; strain off, and dissolve in it three ounces of Glauber's salt, and two of cream of tartar; give for a dose in the morning.

This purge generally works before night very gently; and in fevers, and all inflammatory disorders, is infinitely preferable to any other physic.

Before we close this section on fevers, it may be no improper hint to the curious, to take notice, that a horse's pulse should more particularly be attended to than is customary, as a proper estimate may thereby be made both of the degree and violence of the fever present, by observing the rapidity of the blood's motion, and the force that the heart and arteries labour with to propel it round. The highest calculation that has been made of the quickness of the pulse in a healthy horse, is, that it beats about 40 strokes in a minute; so that in proportion to the increase above this number, the fever is rising, and if farther increased to above 50 the fever is very high.

How often the pulse beats in a minute may easily be discovered by measuring the time with a stopwatch or minute sand-glass, while your hand is laid on the horse's near side, or your fingers on any artery: those which run up on each side the neck are generally to be seen beating, as well as felt, a little above the chest; and one withinside each leg may be traced with the finger.

A due attention to the pulse is so important an article, in order to form a proper judgment in fevers, that it would appear amazing it has so much been neglected, if one did not recollect, that the generality of farriers are so egregiously ignorant, that they have no manner of conception of the blood's circulation, nor in general have they ability enough to distinguish the difference between an artery and a vein.—With such pretty guardians do we intrust the healths and lives of the most valuable of animals! Sect. IX.

Pleurify, Sect. IX. Of a Pleurify, and an Inflammation of the Lungs, &c.

1. These disorders have scarce been mentioned by any writer on farriery before Mr Gibson; who, by frequently examining the carcases of dead horses, found them subject to the different kinds of inflammations here described.

In order to distinguish these disorders from others, we shall describe the symptoms in Mr Gibson's own words.

"A pleurify, then, which is an inflammation of the pleura; and a peripneumony, which is an inflammation of the lungs; have symptoms very much alike; with this difference only, that in a pleurify a horse shows great uneasiness, and shifts about from place to place; the fever, which at first is moderate, rises suddenly very high; in the beginning he often strives to lie down, but starts up again immediately, and frequently turns his head towards the affected side, which has caused many to mistake a pleuritic disorder for the gripes, this sign being common to both, though with this difference: in the gripes, a horse frequently lies down and rolls; and, when they are violent, he will also have convulsive twitches, his eyes being turned up, and his limbs stretched out, as if he were dying; his ears and feet are sometimes occasionally hot, and sometimes as cold as ice; he falls into profuse sweats, and then into cold damps; strives often to stale and dung, but with great pain and difficulty; which symptoms generally continue till he has some relief: but, in a pleurify, a horse's ears and feet are always burning hot, his mouth parched and dry, his pulse hard and quick; even sometimes, when he is nigh dying, his fever is continued and increasing; and though in the beginning he makes many motions to lie down, yet afterwards he reins back as far as his collar will permit, and makes not the least offer to change his posture, but stands panting with short stops, and a disposition to cough, till he has some relief, or drops down.

"In an inflammation of the lungs, several of the symptoms are the same; only in the beginning he is less active, and never offers to lie down during the whole time of his sickness; his fever is strong, breathing difficult, and attended with a short cough: and whereas, in a pleurify, a horse's mouth is generally parched and dry; in an inflammation of the lungs, when a horse's mouth is open, a ropy slime will run out in abundance; he gleets also at the nose a reddish or yellowish water, which sticks like glue to the inside of his nostrils.

"In a pleurify, a horse heaves and works violently at his flanks, with great reflexions, and for the most part his belly is tucked up; but in an inflammation of the lungs, he always shows fullness; the working of his flanks is regular, except after drinking and shifting his posture; and his ears and feet are for the most part cold, and often in damp sweats."

2. The cure of both these disorders is the same. In the beginning a strong horse may lose three quarts of blood, the next day two quarts more; and, if symptoms do not abate, the bleedings must be repeated, a quart at a time; for it is speedy, large, and quick-repeated bleedings that are in these cases chiefly to be depended on. But if a horse has had any previous weaknesses, or is old, you must bleed him in less quantities, and oftener. Mr Gibson recommends rows on each side the breast, and one on the belly; and a blistering ointment to be rubbed all over his brisket upon the foremost ribs.

The diet and medicines should be both cooling, attenuating, relaxing, and diluting. After the operation of bleeding, therefore, Mr Taplin directs "to have ready some bran and very sweet hay cut small, and scalded together; which place hot in the manger, that the fumes may be imbibed as an internal fomentation to relax the rigidity of the glands, and excite a discharge from the nostrils so soon as possible. The very nature of this case, and the danger to which the horse is exposed, sufficiently point out the propriety and consistency of exerting all possible alacrity to obtain relief, or counteract the disease in its first stage: therefore let the fumigation of scalded bran and hay be repeated every four or five hours, and the following decoction prepared without delay:

"Pearl barley, raisins split, and Turkey figs sliced, each six ounces; stick liquorice bruised, two ounces. Boil these in a gallon of water till reduced to three quarts; strain off; and, while hot, stir in one pound of honey, and, when cold, a pint of distilled vinegar; giving an ounce of nitre in a pint of this decoction every four, five, or six hours, according to the state and inverteracy of the disease.

"If relief is not obtained so soon as expected, and the horse is coltive, give a glyster, with

Two quarts of common gruel; coarse sugar six ounces; Glauber salts four ounces; tincture of jalap two ounces; and a quarter of a pint of olive oil. This must be repeated every 24 hours, or oftener, if necessary.

Should the symptoms still continue violent, without discovering any signs of abatement; after waiting a proper time for the effect of previous administrations, let the bleeding be repeated, in quantity proportioned to the urgency of symptoms, continuing the decoction and nitre every three or four hours, and repeating the glyster if plentiful evacuations have not been obtained by the former injection.

The diluting drink, before prescribed, is introduced here in preference to a ball, that its medicinal efficacy may be expeditiously conveyed to the seat of disease. So soon as the wished-for advantages are observed, and the predominant and dangerous symptoms begin to subside, when he labours less in respiration, is brisker in appearance, heaves less in the flank, dungs frequently, bleates freely, runs at the nose, eats his warm mashes of scalded bran, with four ounces of honey to each, and will drink thin gruel for his common drink (in each draught of which should be dissolved two ounces of cream of tartar); in short, so soon as every appearance of danger is dispelled, the management may be the same as in a common cold; giving one of the following balls every morning for a fortnight, leaving off the mashes and diluting drink by degrees, and varying the mode of treatment as circumstances may dictate.

"Castile soap, six ounces; gum ammoniacum, two ounces; anise and cummin seeds (in powder), each four ounces; honey sufficient to form the mass, which divide into a dozen balls." "To prevent any ill effects that may arise from the bad condition of the matter that has so long overloaded the vessels of the lungs, such as the formation of ulcers, knots, or tubercles, the best method will be, soon as the horse (with great care, gentle exercise, moderate and regular feeding) has recovered in a tolerable degree his natural strength, to put him upon the following gentle course of physic; and it will become more immediately necessary, where the horse bears about him remnants of the distemper, either in a gleet from the nose, rattling in his throat, difficulty of breathing, or heaving in the flanks.

"Socotorine aloes nine drams; rhubarb and jalap each a dram and a half; gum ammoniacum, calomel, and ginger, each a dram; oil of juniper sixty drops; syrup of buckthorn sufficient to make a ball.

"Six clear days or more, if the horse is weak, should be allowed between each dose."

There is also an external pleurisy, or inflammation of the muscles between the ribs, which, when not properly treated, proves the foundation of that disorder called the chest-founder; for if the inflammation is not dispersed in time, and the viscid blood and juices so attenuated by internal medicines that a free circulation is obtained, such a stiffness and inactivity will remain on these parts, as will not easily be removed, and which is generally known by the name of chest-founder.

The signs of this inflammation, or external pleurisy, are a stiffness of the body, shoulders, and fore-legs; attended sometimes with a short dry cough, and a shrinking when handled in those parts.

Bleeding, soft pectorals, attenuants, and gentle purges, are the internal remedies; and, externally, the parts affected may be bathed with equal parts of spirit of sal ammoniac and ointment of marshmallows or oil of camomile.

These outward inflammations frequently fall into the inside of the fore-leg, and sometimes near the shoulder; forming abscesses, which terminate the disorder.

Sect. X. Of a Cough, and Asthma.

The consequences of colds neglected or injudiciously treated, are settled habitual coughs, asthmas, broken-wind, and consumption.

Of coughs two are chiefly distinguished. The one is loofe, almost continual, and increasing to violence upon the least motion; the other is a short dry cough, preceded by a husky hollow kind of wheezing, as if respiration was obstructed by fragments of hay or corn retained in the passage. This last is the kind of cough called asthma by most writers, and for which mercurial purges have been recommended. These, however, Mr Taplin observes, may perhaps be exhibited with more propriety after the administration of a course of the following balls, should they fail in the desired effect. Bleeding must be first performed, and occasionally repeated in small quantities, till the glandular inflammation and irritability are allayed, and the blood so attenuated by the constant use of nitre, as to render the circulation free through the finer vessels of the lungs, from the obstructions in which all the difficulties proceed. Bleeding having taken place with the necessary circumspection as to quantity, let the two ounces of nitre be given punctually every night and morning in the water, as particularized under the article Colds, continuing one of the following balls every morning for a fortnight or three weeks, that a fair and decisive trial may be obtained.

Detergent Pectoral Ball.—Take of Caftile soap, aniseed, and liquorice powders, each five ounces; Barbadoes tar, six ounces; gum ammoniacum, three ounces; balm of Tolu, one ounce; honey (if required) to make a mass; which divide into a dozen balls.

If there should appear no abatement of the symptoms after the above trial, bleeding must be repeated, and mercurials had recourse to. Mr Taplin advises "two doses of mercurial physic to be given eight days apart, and prepared by the addition of a dram and a half of calomel to either of the purging balls (under the articles of purging) best calculated for the horse's strength and condition. After which repeat the above pectoral balls, with the addition of gum myrrh, Benjamin and Venice turpentine, each two ounces; dividing the mass into balls of two ounces each, repeating them every morning till the above proportion (with these additions) are totally consumed."

The other kind, or that long loud hollow cough which is almost incessant, and continually increasing upon the least hurry in exercise, proceeds equally from irritability and the action of the slimy mucus upon the glands in respiration, as well as the viscidity and sluggish motion of the blood through the finer passages; but yields to remedies with much less difficulty than the asthmatic. In this case, as in the other, bleeding must be premised, and followed by a mass compounded of equal parts of bran and oats, into which must be stirred and dissolved, while hot, honey four ounces. This mass must be repeated, with two ounces of nitre in the water, without intermission, every night and morning; giving also every morning the following ball, being an improvement by Mr Taplin upon the cordial ball of Braken.

Take Turkey figs, Spanish liquorice, aniseed, and liquorice powders, each four ounces; caraway seeds, elecampane, and aniseated balm, each two ounces; saffron, ginger (in powder), and oil of aniseed, each six drachms; honey sufficient to form the mass; and divide into twelve balls; of which let one be given every morning.

The figs and saffron are to be beat to a paste in the mortar previous to their incorporation with the other articles, the Spanish liquorice is to be softened over the fire by boiling in a small quantity of spring-water, and the whole of the ingredients mixed in a proper manner. "These balls (says our author) are powerfully cordial and restorative; they promote glandular excretion, warm and stimulate the stomach to the expulsion of wind, enliven the circulation, and invigorate the whole frame, as has been sufficiently ascertained by their instantaneous effect in the chafe, where their excellence has been repeatedly established; but more particularly in deep swampy countries, when, after a feverish burst, or a repetition of strong leaps, the horse has been so off his wind, or in fact, nature so exhausted, as not to be able to proceed a stroke farther; the immediate administration of a single ball has not only afforded instant flant relief, but the horse gone through the day with his usual alacrity."

Before closing this section, it may be necessary to observe, that some young horses are subject to coughs on cutting their teeth; their eyes also are affected from the same cause. In these cases, always bleed; and if the cough is obstinate, repeat it, and give warm baths; which, in general, are alone sufficient to remove this complaint.

**Sect. XI. Of a Broken Wind.**

This disorder, Mr Gibbon is inclined to think, frequently originates from injudicious or hasty feeding of young horses for sale; by which means the growth of the lungs, and all the contents within the chest, are so increased, and in a few years so preternaturally enlarged, that the cavity of the chest is not capacious enough for them to expand themselves in and perform their functions.

A narrow contracted chest with large lungs may sometimes naturally be the cause of this disorder; and it has been observed, that horses rising eight years old are as liable to this distemper, as, at a certain period of life, men are to fall into asthma, consumptions, and chronic diseases.

The reason why it becomes more apparent at this age, may be, that a horse comes to his full strength and maturity at this time; at six, he commonly finishes his growth in height; after that time he lets down his belly and spreads, and all his parts are grown to their full extent; so that the pressure on the lungs and midriff is now more increased.

But how little weight forever these reasons may have, repeated directions have given ocular proofs of a preternatural largeness, not only of the lungs of broken-winded horses, but of their heart and its bag, and of the membrane which divides the chest; as well as of a remarkable thinness in the diaphragm or midriff. This disproportion has been observed to be so great, that the heart and lungs have been almost of twice their natural size, perfectly found, and without any ulceration whatever, or any defect in the wind-pipe or its glands. Hence it appears, that this enormous size of the lungs, and the space they occupy, by hindering the free action of the midriff, is the chief cause of this disorder; and as the substance of the lungs was found more flecky than usual, they of course must lose a great deal of their spring and tone.

Whoever considers a broken wind in this light, must own that it may be reckoned among the incurable distempers of horses; and that all the boasted pretensions to cure are vain and frivolous, since the utmost skill can amount to no more than now and then palliating the symptoms, and mitigating their violence.

We shall therefore only lay down such methods as may probably prevent this disorder, when purified in time. But if they should not succeed, we shall offer some remedies and rules to mitigate its force, and make a horse as useful as possible under this malady.

It is usual, before a broken-wind appears, for a horse to have a dry obstinate cough, without any visible sickness or loss of appetite; but, on the contrary, a disposition to foul feeding, eating the litter, and drinking much water.

In order then to prevent, as much as possible, this disorder, bleed him, and give him the mercurial physic above prescribed, which should be repeated two or three times.

The following balls are then to be taken for some time, which have been found extremely efficacious in removing obstinate coughs.

Take aurum mofaicum, finely powdered, eight ounces; myrrh and elecampane, powdered, each four ounces; aniseeds and bay-berries, each an ounce; saffron, half an ounce; make into balls with oxymel squills.

The aurum mofaicum is made of equal parts of quicksilver, tin, sal ammoniac, and sulphur. We give this medicine as strongly recommended by Mr Gibbon; but how far the aurum mofaicum may contribute to its efficacy, may perhaps justly be disputed: as a substitute in its room, therefore, for this purpose, we recommend the same quantity of powdered squills, or gum ammoniacum, or equal parts of each.

Broken-winded horses should eat sparingly of hay, which as well as their corn may be wetted with chamber lye, or fair water; as this will make them less craving after water.

The volatile salts in the urine may make it preferable to water, and may be the reason why garlic is found so efficacious in these cases; two or three cloves given at a time in a feed, or three ounces of garlic bruised, and boiled in a quart of milk and water, and given every other morning for a fortnight, having been found very serviceable; for by warming and stimulating the solids, and dissolving the tenacious juices which choke up the vessels of the lungs, these complaints are greatly relieved.

Careful feeding and moderate exercise has greatly relieved broken-winded horses.

Horses sent to graze in order to be cured of an obstinate cough, have often returned completely broken-winded, where the pasture has been rich and succulent, so that they have had their bellies constantly full. As the ill consequences therefore are obvious, where you have not the conveniency of turning out your horse for a constancy, you may foil him for a month or two with young green barley, tares, or any other young herbage.

To purgative thick-winded horses, Barbadoes and common tar have often been given with success, to the quantity of two spoonfuls, mixed with the yolk of an egg, dissolved in warm ale, and given fasting two or three times a-week, especially those days you hunt or travel.

But in order to make all these sorts of horses of any real service to you, the grand point is to have a particular regard to their diet, observing a just economy both in that and their exercise; giving but a moderate quantity of hay, corn, or water, at a time, and moistening the former, to prevent their requiring too much of the latter, and never exercising them but with moderation, as has before been observed. The following alternative ball may be given once a fortnight or three weeks; and as it operates very gently, and requires no confinement but on those days it is given (when warm meat and water are necessary), it may be continued for two or three months.

Take socotrine aloes six drams; myrrh, galbanum, and ammoniacum, of each two drams; bay-berries. Mr Taplin ridicules the idea of overgrown lungs, and suggests the following as grounds of a more rational opinion concerning the source of this disease.

"Whether horses who have been in the habit of full or foul feeding, with a very trifling portion of exercise, and without any internal cleansing from evacuations, compulsively obtained by purgatives or diuretics, may not constantly engender a quantity of viscid, tough, phlegmatic matter; which accumulating by slow degrees, may so clog and fill up some of that infinity of minute passages with which the lungs are known to abound, as probably to obstruct the air vessels in their necessary expiration for the office of respiration? And whether this very probable obstruction or partial suppression may not in sudden, halting, and long continued exertions, rupture others, and by such local deficiency affect the elasticity of the whole? The probability, and indeed great appearance of this progress, has ever influenced me most forcibly to believe, that such obstructions once formed, the evil accumulates, till a multiplicity of the vessels become impervious, and render the lungs, by their constant accumulation and dilatation, too rigid for the great and necessary purpose of respiration."

That such a defect may sometimes occur, as a chest too narrow for lungs of an uncommon extension, that constitute naturally what are called thick-winded horses, our author does not deny; in which cases, it is agreed, there is no hope of a cure, nor scarcely of any alleviation. But he will by no means admit the above deformity to be a case of common occurrence, far less that it is the universal or even the most ordinary cause of broken wind.

"It cannot but be observed (says he) what an anxious desire a broken-winded horse always displays to obtain water; a self-evident conviction he is rendered uneasy by some glutinous adhesive internal substance, that instinct alone prompts the animal to expect drinking may wash away: on the contrary, if, as Bartlet and Gibson suppose, 'the lungs are too large for the chest,' every thing that increases the bulk of the abdomen or viscera (and consequently the pressure upon the diaphragm) must increase the disquietude, which is natural to believe from the sagacity of animals in other instances, they would in this most carefully avoid."

Mr Taplin therefore concludes, that if his hypothesis is founded in fact (which circumstances will not allow him the least reason to doubt), a cure may certainly be expected, provided the attempt is made upon the first appearance of the disease; though he does not hold out the probability where the original cause has been of long standing, and no attempts made to relieve.

In attempting the cure, the natural and obvious indications are, To promote the necessary evacuations in the first instance, to attenuate the viscosity of the glutinous obstructed matter, and to deterge the passages by a stimulation of the folds. Bleeding is therefore the first measure; and it ought to be repeated at proper intervals in moderate quantities, till divested of the coat of size and livid appearance that are certain signs of the lungs being obstructed either by viscosity or inflammation. After bleeding, the horse must go thro' a regular course of the mild purging balls prescribed after recovery from pleurisy. They are slightly impregnated with mercurial particles, and blended with the gums form a most excellent medicine for the purpose. In three days after the operation of the third dose, Mr Taplin directs to begin upon the following detergent balsamics, and continue to give one ball every morning, so long as may be thought necessary to form a fair opinion whether the advantage is gained or relief likely to be obtained.

Take of the best white soap eight ounces; gum guaiacum and ammoniacum, each three ounces; myrrh and Benjamin, aniseed and liquorice, each two ounces; balsam of Peru, Tolu, and oil of aniseed, each half an ounce; Barbadoes tar sufficient to make a mass, which divide into twenty balls.

It is necessary to be strictly observed, that during this course hay and water are to be dispensed with a very sparing hand, so as to prevent too great an accumulation in the stomach or intestines, that an observation may be made with the greatest certainty, whether any hopes of succeds from medicine may be justly entertained; if not, farther expense will be unavailing, as it will appear, after such trial, an incurable malady at all events, and only susceptible of palliation.

Sect. XII. Of a Consumption.

When a consumption proceeds from a defect in a horse's lungs or any principal bowel, the eyes look dull; the ears and feet are mostly hot; he coughs sharply by fits; sneezes much, and frequently groans with it; his flanks have a quick motion; he glistens often at the nose, and sometimes throws out a yellowish curdled matter; and he has little appetite to hay, but will eat corn, after which he generally grows hot.

As to the cure, one of the principal things is bleeding in small quantities (a pint, or pint and half, from some horses is sufficient), which should be repeated as often as the breath is more than ordinarily oppressed. Pectorals may be given to palliate present symptoms; but as disfections have discovered both the glands of the lungs and mesentery to be furred, and often indurated, the whole stress lies on mercurial purges, and the following ponderous alternatives, given immediately.

Take native cinnabar, or cinnabar of antimony, one pound, powdered very fine, and add the same quantity of gum guaiacum and nitre; give the horse an ounce of this powder twice a-day, wetting his feeds.

The spring-grafts is often extremely serviceable; but the salt marshes are to be preferred, and to be more depended on than medicines; for great alterations are thereby made in the blood and juices, and no small benefit arises from open air and proper exercise.

Sect. XIII. Of Apoplexy or Staggers, Lethargy, Epilepsy, and Palsy.

Farriers generally include all distempers of the head under two denominations, viz. flaggers and convulsions, wherein they always suppose the head primarily affected. But in treating these disorders, we will distinguish Apoplexy, distinguish between those that are peculiar to the head, Lethargy, as having their source originally thence; and those that &c. are only concomitants of some other disease.

In an apoplexy a horse drops down suddenly, without other sense or motion than a working at his flanks.

The previous symptoms are, drowsiness; watery eyes, somewhat full and inflamed; a disposition to reel; feebleness; a bad appetite; the head almost constantly hanging, or resting on the manger; sometimes with little or no fever, and scarce any alteration in the dung or urine; the horse is sometimes disposed to rear up, and apt to fall back when handled about the head; which is often the case with young horses, to which it does not suddenly prove mortal, but with proper help they may sometimes recover. If the apoplexy proceeds from wounds or blows on the head, or matter on the brain; besides the above symptoms, the horse will be frantic by fits, especially after his feeds, so as to flurt and fly at every thing. These cases seldom admit of a perfect recovery; and when horses fall down suddenly, and work violently at their flanks, without any ability to rise after a plentiful bleeding, they seldom recover.

All that can be done is to empty the vessels as speedily as possible, by striking the veins in several parts at once, bleeding to four or five quarts; and to raise up the horse's head and shoulders, supporting them with plenty of straw. If he survives the fit, cut several rowels: give him night and morning glysters prepared with a strong decoction of senna and salt, or the purging glyster mentioned in the directions; blow once a day up his nostrils a dram of powder of alarabacca, which will promote a great discharge; afterwards two or three abotic purges should be given; and to secure him from a relapse, by attenuating and thinning his blood, give him an ounce of equal parts of antimony and crocus metallorum for a month; or, which is preferable, the same quantity of cinabar of antimony and gum guaiacum.

If the fit proceeds only from fulness of blood, high feeding, and want of sufficient exercise, or a fizzy blood (which is often the case with young horses, who though they reel, flagger, and sometimes suddenly fall down, yet are easily cured by the above method), an opening diet with scalded bran and barley will be necessary for some time; and the bleeding may be repeated in small quantities.

As to the other disorders of the head, such as lethargy or sleeping evil, epilepsy or falling sickness, vertigo, frenzy, and madness, convulsions, and paralytical disorders, as they are most of them to be treated as the apoplexy and epilepsy, by bleeding and evacuations, with the alternatives there directed, we shall waive treating of them separately; but mention some particular rules to distinguish them, according to the plan we laid down; and then offer some general remedies for the several purposes.

In an epilepsy or falling sickness, the horse reels and flaggers, his eyes are fixed in his head, he has no sense of what he is doing, he stales and dungs insensibly, he runs round and falls suddenly; sometimes he is immovable, with his legs stretched out as if he was dead, except only a quick motion of his heart and lungs, which causes a violent working of his flanks; sometimes he has involuntary motions, and shaking of his limbs, so strong, that he has not only beat and spurned his litter, but the pavement with it; and with these alternate symptoms a horse has continued more than three hours, and then has surprisingly recovered: at the going off of the fit, he generally foams at the mouth, the foam being white and dry, like what comes from a healthful horse when he chomps on the bit.

But in all kinds of gripes, whether they proceed from disorders in the guts or retention of urine, a horse is often up and down, rolls and tumbles about; and when he goes to lie down, generally makes several motions with great seeming carefulness, which shows he has a sense of his pain; and if he lies stretched out for any time, it is generally but for a short space.

Epilepsies and convulsions may arise from blows on the head, too violent exercise, and hard straining; and from a fulness of blood, or impoverished blood, and surfeits; which are some of the causes that denote the original disorder.

In lethargic disorders, the horse generally rests his head with his mouth in the manger, and his pole often reclined to one side; he will show an inclination to eat, but generally falls asleep with his food in his mouth, and he frequently swallows it whole without chewing: excellent glysters are extremely necessary in this case, with the nervous balls recommended for the flaggers and convulsions; strong purges are not requisite, nor must you bleed in too large quantities, unless the horse be young and lusty. In old horses, rowels and large evacuations are improper; but volatiles of all kinds are of use when they can be afforded: the alternative purge mentioned at the end of this section may be given and repeated on amendment.

This distemper is to be cured by these means, if the horse is not old and past his vigour. It is a good sign if he has a tolerable appetite, and drinks freely without slumbering, and if he lies down and rises up carefully, though it be but seldom.

But if a lethargic horse does not lie down; if he is altogether stupid and careless, and takes no notice of anything that comes near him; if he dungs and stales seldom, and even while he sleeps and dozes, it is a bad sign: if he runs at the nose thick white matter, it may relieve him; but if a viscid gleet, that sticks to his nostrils like glue, turn to a profuse running of ropy, reddish, and greenish matter, it is an infallible sign of a great decay of nature, and that it will prove deadly.

Young horses from four to six years, are very subject to convulsions, from boots in the spring; and the large coach breed more than the saddle. They are seized without any previous notice; and if boots and worms are discovered in their dung, the cause seems to be out of doubt, more especially if they have lately come out of a dealer's hands.

When this convulsion proceeds from a distemperature of the midriff, or any of the principal bowels, it is to be distinguished from boots and vermin by previous symptoms; the horse falls off his stomach, and grows gradually weak, feeble, and dispirited, in his work, and turns short-breathed with the least exercise.

The lively description of that universal cramp or convulsion, called by some the flag-evil, which seizes all the muscles of the body at once, and locks up the jaws, so that it is impossible almost to force them open, we shall give in Mr Gibson's own words, who says: As soon as the horse is seized, his head is raised with his nose towards the rack, his ears pricked up, and his tail cocked, looking with eagerness as an hungry horse when hay is put down to him, or like a high spirited horse when he is put upon his mettle; inasmuch, that those who are strangers to such things, when they see a horse stand in this manner, will scarce believe anything of consequence ails him; but they are soon convinced, when they see other symptoms come on apace, and that his neck grows stiff, cramped, and almost immovable: and if a horse in this condition lives a few days, several knots will arise on the tendinous parts thereof, and all the muscles both before and behind will be so much pulled and cramped, and so stretched, that he looks as if he was nailed to the pavement, with his legs stiff, wide, and straddling; his skin is drawn so tight on all parts of the body, that it is almost impossible to move it; and if trial be made to make him walk, he is ready to fall at every step, unless he be carefully supported; his eyes are so fixed with the inaction of the muscles, as give him a deadness in his looks; he snorts and sneezes often, pants continually with shortness of breath; and this symptom increases continually till he drops down dead; which generally happens in a few days, unless some sudden and very effectual turn can be given to the temper.

In all these cases the horse should first be bled plentifully, unless he is low in flesh, old, or lately come off any hard continued duty; then you must be more sparing of his blood; afterwards give the following ball:

Take asafoetida half an ounce, Russia castor powdered two drams, valerian root powdered once ounce; make into a ball with honey and oil of amber.

This ball may be given twice a day at first; and then once, washed down with a decoction of miltotone or valerian sweetened with liquorice or honey: an ounce of asafoetida may be tied up in a piece of strong coarse linen rag, and put behind his grinders to champ on.

The laxative purges and emollient glysters should be given intermediately to keep the body open; but when the former balls have been taken a week or ten days, the following may be given once a day with the valerian decoction.

Take cinnabar of antimony six drams; asafoetida half an ounce; aridolochia, myrrh, and bay berries, of each two drams; make into a ball with treacle and oil of amber.

This is the most effectual method of treating these disorders; but when they are suspected to arise from boots and worms, which is generally the case, mercurial medicines must lead the way, thus:

Take mercurius dulcis and philonium, of each half an ounce; make into a ball with conserves of roses, and give the horse immediately: half the quantity may be repeated in four or five days.

The following infusion should then be given, to the quantity of three or four horns, three or four times a day, till the symptoms abate; when the above nervous balls may be continued till they are removed.

Take penny-royal and rue of each two large handfuls, camomile flowers one handful, asafoetida and castor of each half an ounce, saffron and liquorice-root sliced of each two drams; infuse in two quarts of boiling-water; pour off from the ingredients as wanted.

If the castor is omitted, add an ounce of asafoetida.

The following ointment may be rubbed into the cheeks, temples, neck, shoulders, spine of the back, and loins, and wherever there is the greatest contractions and stiffness.

Take nerve and marshmallow ointment of each four ounces, oil of amber two ounces, with a sufficient quantity of camphorate spirit of wine; make a liniment.

When the jaws are so locked up that medicines cannot be given by the mouth, it is more eligible to give them by way of glysters: for forcing open the jaws by violence often puts a horse into such agonies, that the symptoms are thereby increased.

In this case also be must be supported by nourishing glysters, made of milk-pottage, broths, &c. which must be given to the quantity of three or four quarts a day: glysters of this kind will be retained, and absorbed into the blood; and there have been instances of horses thus supported for three weeks together, who must otherwise have perished.

Mr Gibson mentions some extraordinary instances of success in cases of this sort by these methods, and repeated frictions, which are extremely serviceable in all convulsive disorders, and often prevent their being jaw-set; they should be applied with unrestrained diligence every two or three hours, wherever any stiffness or contractions in the muscles appear; for a horse in this condition never lies down till they are in some measure removed.

The use of rowels in these cases is generally unsuccessful, the skin being so tense and tight, that they seldom digest kindly, and sometimes mortify: so that if they are applied, they should be put under the jaws, and in the breast.

The red-hot iron so frequently run through the foretop and mane, near the occipital bone, for this purpose, has often been found to have destroyed the cervical ligament.

In paralytic disorders, where the use of a limb or limbs is taken away, the internals above recommended should be given, in order to warm, invigorate, and attenuate the blood; and the following stimulating embrocation should be rubbed into the parts affected.

Take oil of turpentine four ounces, nerve ointment and oil of bays of each two ounces, camphor rubbed fine one ounce, rectified oil of amber three ounces, tincture of cantharides one ounce.

With this liniment the parts affected should be well bathed for a considerable time, to make it penetrate; and when the hind parts chiefly are lame, the back and loins should be well rubbed with the same. To the nervous medicines above recommended may be added snake-root, contrayerva, mustard-seed, horseradish root, steeped in strong beer, or wine where it can be afforded. Take the following for an example, which may be given to the quantity of three pints a day alone, or two horns full may be taken after the nervous balls.

Take snake-root, contrayerva, and valerian, of each half an ounce; mustard-seed and horseradish root scraped, of each two ounces; long pepper two drams; infuse in three pints of strong wine. When the horse is recovering from any of the above disorders, the following alternative purge may be repeated two or three times, as it operates very gently.

Take focotrine aloes one ounce, myrrh half an ounce, asafoetida and gum ammoniacum of each two drams, saffron one dram; make into a ball with any syrup.

Where a retention of dung is the cause of this disorder, the great gut should first be raked thoroughly with a small hand, after which plenty of emollient oily glysters should be thrown up, and the opening drink given, till the bowels are thoroughly emptied of their imprisoned dung. Their diet should for some days be opening, and consist chiefly of scalded bran, with flour of brimstone, scalded barley, &c.

Sect. XIV. Of the Strangles, and Vives.

1. The Strangles is a distemper to which colts and young horses are very subject. The symptoms and progress of this disease are as follows: A dull heaviness and inactivity, loss of appetite, and a hollow husky cough, occasioned by the irritability of the inflamed glandular parts in the throat and about the root of the tongue. To excite a degree of moisture in the mouth that may allay this disagreeable sensation, the horse is often picking his hay, but eats little or none; a degree of symptomatic heat comes on, and a consequent clamminess and thirst is perceptible. As the distemper advances, he becomes proportionally languid and inactive; a swelling (with sometimes two or three smaller surrounding it) is now discovered to have formed itself between the jaw-bones, which is at first very hard, exceeding painful, and visibly increasing; he now swallows with difficulty, heaves in the flanks, and his whole appearance gives signs of the greatest distress.

The first object for consideration is the state of the subject: if the evacuations are regular (as they generally are), and the feverish symptoms moderate, let the swelling be examined, and its suppuration promoted. For this purpose (first clipping away all the long or superfluous hairs that cover or surround the part), foment with small double flannels, dipped in a strong decoction of camomile, marsh-mallows, or rosemery, for ten minutes, as hot as can be conveniently submitted to; and then apply a poultice prepared as follows.

Take of coarse bread, barley meal, and camomile or elder flowers, each a handful; boil over the fire in a sufficient quantity of milk, or in the decoction for the fomentation; into which stir about a third (of the whole quantity) of white-lily root, washed clean and pounded to a paste; adding linseed and fenugreek (in powder) of each an ounce; stirring in, while hot, of turpentine two ounces, and of lard four, laying it on moderately warm, and bandaging firm. To serve for two poultices.

Both the fomentation and poultice must be repeated every night and morning till an opening in the swelling is effected, which generally happens in the course of five or six days. Upon the appearance of discharge, the aperture may be a little enlarged with a bistort or the point of any sharp instrument adequate to the purpose, though this will be unnecessary if the discharge is made freely and easily of itself. The part should then be dressed with the following ointment spread on tow, still continuing the poultice over it to promote the digestion, and prevent any remaining hardness.

Take rosin and Burgundy pitch of each a pound and a half, honey and common turpentine each eight ounces, yellow wax four ounces, hog's-lard one pound, verdigris finely powdered one ounce; melt the ingredients together, but do not put in the verdigris till removed from the fire; and it should be stirred in by degrees till the whole is grown stiff and cool.

If the fever and inflammation run high, and the swelling be so situated as to endanger suffocation, a moderate quantity of blood must be taken away.

In this disorder, maltese must be the constant food, in small proportions, to prevent waste; in each of which Mr Taplin directs to put of liquorice and antifeed powders half an ounce, and about two ounces of honey, or in lieu of this last a quart of malt: The drink, consisting of warm water impregnated with a portion of scalded bran or water-gruel, should be given in small quantities and often. The head must be kept well covered with flannel, as the warmth will greatly tend to assist in promoting the necessary discharge; tho', unless circumstances and weather forbid, the horse need not be confined, but should have the advantage of air and short gentle exercise. Nor should regular dressing, and the accustomed course of stable discipline, be omitted, but only used in a less degree than formerly when in health.

This distemper is seldom dangerous, unless from neglect, ignorant treatment, or cruel usage. It generally terminates with a running at the nose, in a greater or less degree; which should be frequently cleaned from the inside of the nostrils, by means of a sponge sufficiently moistened in warm water, to prevent its acquiring an adhesion to those parts, or a foulness and fetor that would shortly become acrimonious.

If a hardness remains after the fores are healed up, they may be anointed with the following mercurial ointment.

Take of crude mercury or quicksilver one ounce, Venetian turpentine half an ounce; rub together in a mortar till the globules of the quicksilver are no longer visible; then add, by little and little, two ounces of hog's-lard, just warm and liquefied; and let the whole be kept close covered for use.

When the horse has recovered his strength, purging will be necessary.

If a copious and offensive discharge from the nostrils should continue after the abscess is healed up, there will be reason to suspect the disease called glanders, treated of in a subsequent section.

2. The Vives or Ives differ from the strangles only in this; that the swellings of the kernels seldom gather or come to matter, but by degrees periphrise off and disappear by means of warm cloathing, anointing with the marshmallow ointment, a moderate bleeding, and a dose or two of physic. But should the inflammation continue notwithstanding these means, a suppuration must be promoted by the methods recommended in the strangles.

When these swellings appear in an old or full-aged horse, they are signs of great malignity, and often of Sect. XV. Of the Diseases of the Eyes.

1. The cases that most frequently occur, requiring medical aid, or admitting of cure, are generally the effects either of cold, or of blows, bites, or other external injuries. In those proceeding immediately from cold, there is perceived an inflammation upon the globe of the eye, and internal surrounding parts, as the edges of the eyelids, &c. Instead of its former transparency, the eye has a thick cloudy appearance upon its outer covering, and is constantly discharging an acrid serum, which in a short time almost excoriates the parts in its passage. The horse drops his ears, becomes dull and sluggish, is frequently shaking his head as if to shake off the ears, and in every action discovers pain and difficulty. In this case, after bleeding, the treatment prescribed in the Section of Colics must be adopted and persevered in; and to cool the parts, and allay the irritation occasioned by the scalding serum, let the eyes and surrounding parts be gently washed twice or thrice every day with a sponge or tow impregnated with the following solution:

Sugar of lead one dram, white vitriol two scruples, firing water half a pint, brandy or camphorated spirits one ounce or two tablespoonfuls.

If the inflammation should not seem likely to abate, but to wear a threatening appearance, the following diuretic medicine must be administered.

Castile soap twelve ounces, yellow rosin and nitre (in powder) each eight ounces, powdered camphire one ounce, and oil of juniper five drams; mixed with a sufficient quantity of syrup or honey. The mass is to be divided into 12 balls, rolled up in liquorice or aniseed powder; one of which is to be given every morning, using also gentle work or moderate exercise.

2. The effects arising from blows or bites form different appearances, according to the severity of the injury sustained. Should inflammation and swelling proceed from either cause, bleeding will be necessary without delay, and may be repeated at proper intervals till the symptoms appear to abate; and let the parts be plentifully embrocated four times a day with the following preparation of Goulard's cerate.

Extract of Satura three drams; camphorated spirits one ounce; river or pond water one pint. The extract to be first mixed with the spirits, and then the water to be added.

If a large swelling, laceration, or wound, attends; after washing with the above, apply a warm poultice of bread, milk, and a little of the lotion, softened with a small portion of hog's lard or olive oil. In cases of less danger, or in remote situations where medicines are not easily procured, the following may be used as a substitute.

Best white-wine vinegar half a pint, spring water a quarter of a pint, and best brandy a wine glass or half a gill.

3. As to the gutta serena, cataract, film, &c., these are cases in which relief is very seldom obtained. The gutta serena is a partial or universal loss of sight, where no palpable defect or fault appears in the eye, except that the pupil is a little more enlarged or contracted. The appearances of this blemish are various, as well as the causes and effects, some of its subjects being totally blind, and others barely enabled to distinguish between light and darkness. The signs are a blackness of the pupil, an alteration of the size of the eye, and its not contracting or dilating upon a sudden exposure to any degree of light. In order to the cure, it is necessary to attend to the cause, and to apply such remedies as that may indicate; though in truth it is a disorder in which, from whatever cause originating, no great expectation can be formed from medicine either internally or externally; more particularly from the former, the seat of disease being so far out of the reach of medicinal action. If the defect should be owing to a contraction of or compression upon the optic nerve, very little can be done with any expectation of success; and much less if it arises from a palsy of that or any neighbouring part.

A cataract is a defect in the crystalline humour of the eye, which, becoming opaque, prevents the admission of those rays upon the retina that constitute vision. The disorder called moon eyes, are only cataracts forming. These generally make their appearance when a horse is turned five coming six; at which time one eye becomes clouded, the eye-lids being swelled, and very often shut up; and a thin water generally runs from the diseased eye down the cheek, so sharp as sometimes to excoriate the skin; the veins of the temple, under the eye, and along the nose, are turgid and full; though sometimes it happens that the eye runs but little. This disorder comes and goes till the cataract is ripe; then all pain and running disappears, and the horse becomes totally blind, which is generally in about two years. During this time some horses have more frequent returns than others; which continue in some a week or more, in others three or four; returning once in two or three months, and they are seldom so long as five without a relapse. There is another kind of moon-blindness which is also the forerunner of cataracts, where no humour or weeping attends. The eye is never shut up or closed here, but will now and then look thick and troubled, at which time the horse sees nothing distinctly; when the eyes appear sunk and perishing, the cataracts are longer of coming to maturity; and it is not unusual in this case for one eye to escape. These cases generally end in blindness of one if not of both eyes. The most promising signs of recovery are when the attacks come more seldom, and their continuance grows shorter, and that they leave the cornea clear and transparent, and the globe plump and full.

In all blemishes or defects, where a thickening of some one of the coats, membranes, or humours of the eye, has formed an appearance of cataract or film, it has been an established custom among most farriers to bestow a plentiful application of corrosive powders, unguents, and solutions, for the purposes of obliteration; without reflecting (as Mr Taplin observes) upon the absurdity of endeavouring to destroy by corrosion, what is absolutely separated from the surface by a variety of membranous coverings, according to the distinct seat of disease; with which it is impossible to bring the intended remedy into contact, without first destroying the intervening or surrounding parts by which the inner delicate structure is so numerously guarded. But in all disorders of this sort, whether moon eyes or confirmed Glanders. firmed cataracts with a weeping, general evacuations with internal alteratives can only take place. Indeed the attempts to cure cataracts have hitherto generally produced only a palliation of the symptoms, and sometimes have proved entirely destructive. Yet early care, it is said, has in some instances proved successful. To this end rowelling is prescribed, with bleeding at proper intervals, except where the eyes appear sunk and perishing. It is also directed, during the violence of the symptoms, to observe a cooling treatment; giving the horse two ounces of nitre every day mixed into a ball with honey; and bathing the parts above the eye with verjuice or vinegar wherein rose-leaves are infused, to four ounces of which half a drachm of sugar of lead may be added. The swelling on the lid may afterwards be bathed with a sponge dipped in equal parts of lime and Hungary water mixed together; and the following cooling physic should be given every fourth day, till the eye becomes clear.

Lenitive electuary and cream of tartar of each four ounces, Glauber's salts three ounces, syrup of buckthorn two ounces.

When the weeping is by these means removed, the alternative powders (see the Section Of Alternative Medicines) should be given every day, till two or three pounds are taken, and after an interval of three months the same course should be repeated. This method, it is affirmed, has often been attended with good success, where the eyes have been full and no way perished.

4. The haws is a swelling and sponginess that grows in the inner corner of the eye, so large sometimes as to cover a part of the eye. The operation here is easily performed by cutting part of it away; but the farriers are apt to cut away too much: the wound may be dressed with honey of roses; and if a fungus or spongy flesh arises, it should be sprinkled with burnt alum, or touched blue with vitriol.

Sect. XVI. Of the Glanders.

M. de la Fosse has distinguished seven different kinds of glanders, four of which are incurable.

The first proceeds from ulcerated lungs, the purulent matter of which comes up the trachea, and is discharged through the nostrils, like a whitish liquor, sometimes appearing in the lumps and grumous: in this disorder, though the matter is discharged from the nostrils, yet the malady is solely in the lungs.

The second is a watery humour, which usually feizes horses at the decline of a disease, caused by too hard labour; this defluxion also proceeds from the lungs.

The third is a malignant discharge, which attends the strangles sometimes, and falls upon the lungs, which runs off by the nostrils.

The fourth is, when an acrimonious humour in the farcy feizes these parts, where it soon makes terrible havoc.

The fifth kind we shall describe by and by, as arising from taking cold.

The sixth kind is a discharge from the strangles, which sometimes vents itself at the nostrils.

In the seventh fort, which he calls the real glanders, the discharge is either white, yellow, or greenish, sometimes streaked or tinged with blood: when the disease is of long standing, and the bones are fouled, the matter turns blackish, and becomes very fetid; and is always attended with a swelling of the kernels or glands under the jaws; in every other respect the horse is generally healthy and sound, till the distemper has been of some continuance.

It is always a bad sign when the matter sticks to the inside of the nostrils like glue or stiff paste; when the inside of the nose is raw, and looks of a livid or lead colour; when the matter becomes bloody, and stinks; and when it looks of an ash-colour. But when only a limpid fluid is first discharged, and afterwards a whitish matter, the gland under the jaw not increasing, and the disorder of no long continuance, we may expect a speedy cure; for in this case, which arises from taking cold after a horse has been overheated, the pituitary membrane is but slightly inflamed, the lymph in the small vessels condensed, and the glands overloaded, but not yet ulcerated.

Our author affirms this disease to be altogether local; and that the true seat of it is in the pituitary membrane which lines the partition along the inside of the nose, the maxillary sinuses or cavities of the cheekbones on each side the nose, and the frontal sinuses or cavities above the orbits of the eyes: that the visera, as liver, lungs, &c., of glandered horses, are in general exceeding found; and consequently that the seat of this disorder is not in those parts, as has been asserted by most authors. But on nicely examining by dissection the heads of such horses, he found the cavities above mentioned more or less filled with a viscid slimy matter; and the membrane which lines both them and the nostrils inflamed, thickened, and corroded with forid ulcers, which in some cases had eaten into the bones.

It is a curious remark of our author, that the sublingual glands, or the kernels situated under the jawbone, which are always swelled in this distemper, do not discharge their lymph into the mouth, as in man, but into the nostrils; and that he constantly found their obstruction agree with the discharge: if one gland only was affected, then the horse discharged from one nostril only; but if both were, then the discharge was from both.

The seat of this disorder thus discovered, the mode of cure he had recourse to was by trepanning these cavities, and taking out a piece of bone, by which means the parts affected may be washed with a proper injection, and in fine the ulcers deterged, healed, and dried up; and his success, by his own account, was very great.

But as, from the observations since made by this gentleman, there are different species of the glanders; so the cure of the milder kinds may first be attempted by injections and fumigations. "Thus, after taking cold, should a horse for 15 or 20 days discharge a limpid fluid or whitish matter from one or both nostrils, the glands under the jaw rather growing harder than diminishing, we may expect it will degenerate into a true glanders. To prevent which, after first bleeding, and treating him as we have directed for a cold, let an emollient injection, prepared with a decoction of lintseed, marshmallows, elder, camomile flowers, and honey of roses, or such like, be thrown up as far as possible with a strong syringe, and repeated three times a-day: should the running not lessen or be removed in a fortnight by the use of this injection, a restringent one may now be prepared with tincture of roses, lime-water, &c. and the nostrils fumigated with the powders of frankincense, myrrh, amber, and cinnabar, burnt on an iron heated for that purpose; the fume of which may easily be conveyed through a tube into the nostrils." Such is the method recommended by Bartlet, which he says has been found successful when used in time. But a more particular course of procedure will be afterwards described, that the reader may have the fullest information concerning this most difficult disease.

When the disorder is invertebrate, recourse must be had to the operation above described, according to the doctrine of M. la Fosse.

The pretensions of that gentleman, however, have been lately exposed with seeming justice by Mr Taplin; and the following circumstances quoted from the French farrier's work seem sufficient of themselves to throw suspicion upon the whole. We are told of three horses he trepanned, each in two places: the internal parts were constantly syringed, and they were perfectly recovered; "the wound and perforation filling up in 26 days, the horse suffering no inconvenience from the operation, though after this experiment they were put to death." We are at last confidently assured, that such operations being performed, "after opening the cavities, should it by probing be discovered that the bones are carious (or, in other words, rotten), the best way then will be to dispatch the horse, to save unnecessary trouble and expense." Which Mr Taplin interprets in plain English thus: "Deprive the horse of half his head, in compliment to the pecuniary feelings of the farrier; and if you find the remaining half will not answer the purpose of the whole, cut his throat, or shoot him through the head, to save the operator's credit."

Mr Taplin also condemns the distinction of the disorder into different species; and the various symptoms that appear, he considers as only marking different stages of the same disease. The fact according to him appears to be, "that any corrosive matter discharged from the nostrils, and suffered to continue for a length of time, so as to constitute ulcerations and corrode the bones, will inevitably degenerate into and constitute the disease generally understood by the appellation of glanders; every stagnant, acrimonious, or putrid matter, is possessed of this property, and more particularly when lodged (or by sinuses confined) upon any particular part. Divested of professional trick, chicanery, and deception, this is the incontrovertible explanation, whether proceeding from an ulceration of the lungs, or the invertebrate glandular discharges from the head (where the case is of long standing, and the bone carious) they are equally incurable." In this view, therefore, prevention, rather than cure, being the rational object of attention, it remains only to point out such methods as seem likely to obviate the disorder upon the slightest appearance of its approach, or upon the attack of any other disease that may be likely to terminate in it.

Where the lungs, then, are the seat of disease, as in the first attack of coughs, &c. no better treatment can be pursued than that laid down under the Sections of Cold and Coughs. But where a swelling shows that matter is forming under the ears, jaws, or about the root of the tongue, let every possible method be taken to produce a suppuration and discharge of matter; for, in moist cases, an external evacuation becomes the crisis, and is greatly preferable to the chance of mischief that may be produced by the morbid matter being absorbed into the system.

Should cough, difficulty of breathing, or a great degree of inflammatory heat, attend, draw blood from a remote vein in moderate quantity, to mitigate either of those symptoms; and when the swellings about the parts have acquired an evident prominence, foment them twice a day, for two or three days, with flannels dipped in the following decoction:

Camomile, wormwood, marshmallows, and elder flowers, of each a large handful, boiled in three quarts of water for a quarter of an hour, and then strained off. Let the liquor be used hot, and apply the herbs warm by way of poultice to the parts.

In two or three days a judgment may be formed whether a suppuration is likely to take place. If so, the tumors will increase in size, and feel soft and yielding in the middle when pressed; in which case apply the poultice, and proceed as directed above for the Strangles. If, on the contrary, the swellings continue hard and immoveable, a running coming on at the nose; observe whether the matter is of a white colour and without smell; or is of different tinges, and streaked with blood. The former is a favourable sign; and in that case the treatment may be as directed under the Sections of Cold and Cough. But if the matter should prove of the latter description, every precaution ought to be instantly used, to prevent in its infancy what would soon become a case of much trouble. In the first place, therefore, in order to soften the viscid matter in the affections, and relax the inflammatory stricture of the glands, prepare a vapour bath of rosemary, lavender flowers, southernwood and marjoram (each a handful), boiled in two or three quarts of water. Put this into a pail, and let the horse's head be fixed over it as near as can be borne, and so long as the fumes passing up the nostrils can be supposed to take effect as an internal fomentation. This operation should be repeated twice every day; and much of the treatment recommended under coughs and strangles with glandular discharges from the nostrils, will at the same time appear proper to be observed, as being applicable to many of the present symptoms.

Let it be particularly remembered, that, during the whole course of management, the head of the horse is to be kept as warm as possible, and in proportion much more so than the body, either in a double kersey hood, or a single external, and a flannel one underneath; as nothing can contribute more to a solution of the humours and promotion of their discharge, than a critical relaxation of the pores, particularly upon the very seat of disease.

In case the discharge should continue to increase in quantity and virulence, becoming still more discoloured, and its smell very offensive; besides continuing the fumigation, let half a gill of the following injection (milk warm) be thrown up either nostril (or both if the matter should be so discharged) with a strong forcible syringe, three or four times a day. Linseed, an ounce; camomile and elder flowers, each half an ounce; water, three pints. Boil for a few minutes; then strain off, and add to the liquor four ounces of mel Aegyptiacum, mixing well together at each time of using.

If the matter should notwithstanding grow so malignant as to threaten a corrosion and rottenness of the bones; besides a diligent use of both fumigation and injection, a course of mercurial unction must be immediately entered upon. Mr Taplin directs to "Let two, or at most three drams of the strong mercurial ointment (prepared as directed under Strangles) be very well rubbed into the glandular tumors, under the throat or ears, every night for a fortnight; first taking away with the scissors all superfluous or long hairs, that the mercurial particles may be with more certainty absorbed by the vessels, and taken into the circulation. If the owner of a horse labouring under this difficulty wishes, like a drowning man, to avail himself of another twig, he may call in the aid of mercurial physic, or alternative medicines."

Upon the whole of this subject: As long as the attack continues in its early and simple state, let unremitting attention be paid to the treatment recommended under the different heads of those symptoms that are then most predominant: but should that treatment, after a fair trial, prove insufficient to arrest the progress of the disease, the glands under the jaw-bone continuing during the whole course inflexible, the matter first tinged with blood, then becoming deep in colour and most offensive in smell, the carcass emaciated, and the whole frame sinking under universal depression, the first loss (says Mr Taplin) will be ultimately felt, in a resignation of his hide to the collar-maker, and his remains to the hounds. As to the operation of trepanning, so plausibly held forth with all its specious advantages, I shall openly and fairly enter my protest against it. For what does the whole amount to more than this?—If the horse should absolutely recover, and (what is still more unlikely) become adequate to the very purposes he was destined to before the attack; when the long illness, support, attendance, and farrier's bill, are balanced against his value, he must be a most excellent horse, and very much above the line of mediocrity, to have the credit-account in his favour. In fact, the most probable conjecture is, his inevitable dissolution; but should he miraculously escape from both the distemper and operator, ranking under the denomination of a cured horse, he may, perhaps, be then qualified to linger out a wretched existence in some park or pasture, but never enabled to encounter labour or fatigue."

Sect. XVII. Of the Colic or Gripes, and Pains in the Bowels, from sudden Accidents.

There seems to be no distemper so little understood by the common farrier as the colic or gripes in horses, one general remedy or method serving them in all cases: but as this disorder may be produced by very different causes, the method of cure must also vary; otherwise the intended remedy, injudiciously applied, will not only aggravate the complaint, but make it fatal. We shall divide this disorder into three different species: the flatulent or windy, the bilious or inflammatory, and the dry gripes; each of which we shall distinguish by their different symptoms, and then point out the proper remedies.

1. The flatulent or windy colic may in general be readily distinguished by the rumbling of the confined air through the intestines: The horse is often lying down, and as suddenly rising again with a spring; he strikes his belly with his hinder feet, stamps with his fore-feet, and refuses his meat; when the gripes are violent, he will have convulsive twitches, his eyes be turned up and his limbs stretched out as if dying, his ears and feet being alternately very hot and cold; he falls into profuse sweats, and then into cold damps; strives often to stale, and turns his head frequently to his flanks; he then falls down, rolls about, and often turns on his back; this last symptom proceeds from a stoppage of urine, that almost always attends this sort of colic, which may be increased by a load of dung pressing on the neck of the bladder.

These are the general symptoms of colic and gripes from wind, drinking cold water when hot, and when the respirable matter is retained, or thrown on the bowels by catching cold; in all which cases they are violently distended. Cribbing horses are more particularly subject to this complaint, by reason they are constantly sucking in great quantities of air.

The first intention is to empty the strait gut with a small hand dipped in oil, which frequently makes way for the confined wind to discharge itself; and by easing the neck of the bladder, the suppression of urine is taken off, and the horse stales and gets ease.

The following ball and glyster seldom fail of giving relief in these cases.

Take Strasbourg or Venice turpentine, and juniper-berries pounded, of each half an ounce; salt-prunella or saltpetre, an ounce; oil of juniper, one dram; salt of tartar, two drams: Make into a ball with any syrup; it may be given whole, and washed down with a decoction of juniper-berries, or a horn or two of ale.

If the horse does not break wind, or stale plentifully, he will find no relief; therefore in an hour or two give him another ball, and add to it a dram of salt of amber; which may be repeated a third time, if found necessary. During the fit the horse may be walked and trotted gently; but should by no means be harassed beyond his ability, or dragged about till he is jaded.

The following glyster may be given, between the balls, or alone, and repeated occasionally.

Take camomile flowers two handfuls; anise, coriander, and fennel seeds, of each an ounce; long pepper half an ounce; boil in three quarts of water to two; and add Daffy's elixir, or gin, half a pint; oil of amber half an ounce, and oil of camomile eight ounces.

The signs of a horse's recovery, are his lying quiet, without flaring or tumbling, and his gathering up his legs, and ceasing to lash out; and if he continues an hour in this quiet posture, you may conclude all danger over.

2. The next species of colic is the bilious or inflammatory. This, besides most of the preceding symptoms, is attended with a fever, great heat, panting, and dryness of the mouth: the horse also generally... FAR R I E R Y.

Sect. XVIII.

Of the Lax and Scouring, with other Disorders of the Stomach and Bowels.

It is sometimes a nice matter to form a proper judgment when to control or encourage a loofenefs; but these general rules may be a direction: If a healthy full horse, on taking cold, or upon hard riding, overfeeding, eating unwholesome food, or with a slight fever, should have a moderate purging, by no means think of stopping it; but rather encourage it with an open diet, and plenty of warm gruel; but if it continues long, with gripings, the mucus of the bowels coming away, and the horse losing his appetite and flesh, recourse must be had to proper medicines. If he voids great quantities of slime and greasy matter, give him the following drench, and repeat it every other day for three times.

Take lenitive electuary and cream of tartar of each four ounces, yellow rosin finely powdered one ounce, and four ounces of sweet oil; mix with a pint of water-gruel.

The following alternative ball alone has been found successful for this purpose when given twice a-week, with scalded bran and warm gruel.

Take fomentorine aloes half an ounce, diapente one ounce; make into a ball with the juice of Spanish liquorice dissolved in water, and a spoonful of oil of amber. To this may be added two drams of myrrh, and a dram of saffron, and (where it can be afforded) half an ounce of rhubarb.

When the purging is attended with a fever, rhubarb should first be given to the quantity of half an ounce, with an ounce and half of lenitive electuary; at night, after the working, give half an ounce or more of diacordium in a pint of red wine mulled with cinnamon; and repeat it every day, and the rhubarb-ball once in two or three.

But if the distemper increases, the horse's flanks and belly look full and distended, and he appears gripped and in pain, let this glyster be given, and the quantity of diacordium increased an ounce in his night-drink.

Take camomile flowers one handful, red roses half a handful, pomegranate and balantines of each an ounce; boil in two quarts of water to one; strain off, and dissolve it in two or three ounces of diacordium and one of mithridate; to which may be added a pint of port wine. Repeat it once a-day.

If the flux continues violent, give an ounce of rock-alum, with an ounce and a half of bole, twice a-day; or, dissolve double this quantity with two ounces of diacordium, and the cordial ball, in two quarts of hawthorn drink; to which may be added a pint of port; and give the horse, three or four times a-day, a pint of this drink. For this purpose also a strong decoction of oak-bark may be given, with either of the above remedies, and to the same quantity; even by itself, it will be found on trial no inconsiderable remedy.

When the discharge is attended with an acrid mucus or slime, the griping and pains are very severe, the common lining of the bowels being washed away; in this Sect. XIX.

Lax and this case the following glyster should frequently be in- scouring, jeeted warm.

Take of tripe-liquor or thin starch two quarts, oil of olives half a pint, the yolk of six eggs well broke, and two or three ounces of coarse sugar.

Some horses, having naturally weak stomachs and bowels, throw out their aliment undigested; their dung is habitually soft and of a pale colour; they feed poorly, and get no flesh: to remedy this complaint, give the following purge two or three times; and then the infusion to the quantity of a pint every morning.

Take focotrine aloes six drams, rhubarb powdered three drams, myrrh and saffron each a dram; make into a ball with syrup of ginger.

Infusion.—Take zedoary, gentian, winter's-bark, and orange-peel, of each two ounces; pomegranate-bark and baluittines of each an ounce; camomile-flowers and centaury, each a handful; cinnamon and cloves, each an ounce: infuse in a gallon of port or strong beer.

The bloody-flux is a distemper horses are not very subject to; however, as it sometimes does occur, whenever blood is discharged, attended with gripings and great pain in the bowels, if the flux is not speedily restrained the horse probably may be soon lost: we recommend therefore the following glyster and drink for that purpose.

Take oak-bark four ounces, tormentil-root two ounces, burnt hartshorn three ounces; boil in three quarts of forge-water to two; strain off, and add two ounces of diacordium, four ounces of starch, and half a dram of opium.

A glyster may also be prepared with the same quantity of fat broth, starch, and opium, in order to plaster over the coats of the bowels, and abate their violent irritations. Also,

Take soft chalk two ounces, mithridate or diacordium one ounce, powder of Indian-root half a dram, liquid laudanum 50 or 60 drops; dissolve in a pint of hartshorn drink, and add to it four ounces of cinnamon-water and red wine; give it twice a-day.

Gum-arabic dissolved in hartshorn drink, or in common water, should be the horse's usual drink.

When horses are apt to be coltive, from whatever cause it arises, gentle openers should be given; such as cream of tartar, Glauber's salts, and lenitive electuary: four ounces of any two of these dissolved in warm ale, whey, or water, given every other morning for two or three times, will answer this purpose; especially if assisted by an oily emollient glyster, prepared with a handful of salt. Scalded bran or barley, with an ounce of fenugreek and linseed, occasionally given, will prevent this complaint: but where it is constitutional, and proceeds from the power and force of digestion in the stomach and guts, as sometimes happens, and the horse is in perfect health, no inconvenience will arise from it; and it is observed that such horses are able to endure great fatigue and labour.

Sect. XIX. Of Worms and Botts.

Authors have described three different sorts of worms that affect horses, viz. Botts, which young horses are often troubled with in the spring; the Rotundi, or those resembling earth-worms; and the Aascarides, or those about the size of the largest sewing needle, with flat heads.

The botts which breed in the stomachs of horses, and are sometimes the cause of convulsions, appear to be very large maggots, composed of circular rings, with little sharp prickly feet along the sides of their bellies (like the feet of hog-lice), which by their sharpness (like the points of the finest needles) seem to be of use to fasten them to the part where they breed and draw their nourishment, and to prevent their being loosed from such adhesion before they come to maturity. The eggs from whence those botts are produced, are dispersed into clutters all round the lower orifice of the stomack, and are laid under the inner coat or thin membrane of the stomack; so that when the animals come to form and life, they burst through this inner coat with their breech and tail straight forwards, and their trunks so fixed into the mucular or fleshy coat of the stomack, that it sometimes requires a good pull to disengage them; from the blood of this last coat they draw their nourishment, which they suck like so many leeches, every one ulcerating and purging up the part where it fixes like a honey-comb; and they often make such quick havoc as to destroy the horse.

The symptoms of worms are various. The botts that many horses are troubled with in the beginning of the summer, are always seen sticking on the strait gut, and are often thrust out with the dung, with a yellowish coloured matter like melted sulphur: they are no ways dangerous there; but are apt to make a horse restless and uneasy, and rub his breech against the posts. The season of their coming is usually in the mouths of May and June; after which they are seldom to be seen, and rarely continue in any one horse above a fortnight or three weeks. Those that take their lodgment in the stomack, are extremely dangerous by causing convulsions; and are seldom discovered by any previous signs before they come to life, when they throw a horse into violent agonies. The other kinds are more troublesome than dangerous; but are known by the following signs: the horse looks lean and jaded, his hair flares as if he was surfeited, and nothing he eats makes him thrive; he often strikes his hind-feet against his belly; is sometimes gripped, but without the violent symptoms that attend a colic and strangury; for he never rolls and tumbles, but only shows uneasiness, and generally lays himself down quietly on his belly for a little while, and then gets up and falls a feeding; but the surest sign is when he voids them with his dung.

For the cure of botts in the stomack, calomel should first be given in large quantities, and repeated at proper intervals; Ethiop's mineral, or some of the undermentioned forms, may be given afterwards.

But botts in the strait gut may be cured by giving the horse a spoonful of savin, cut very small, once or twice a-day in his oats or bran, moistened; and three or four cloves of garlic may be added to advantage. Give also an aloeetic purge between whiles; the following stands recommended.

Take fine focotrine aloes, ten drams; fresh jalap, one dram; aristolochia, or birthwort, and myrrh powdered, of each two drams; oil of savin and amber, amber, of each one dram; syrup of buckthorn enough to form into a ball.

But as the source of worms in general proceeds from a vitiated appetite and a weak digestion, recourse must first be had to mercurials, and afterwards to such things as are proper to strengthen the stomach, promote digestion, and by destroying the supposed ova, prevent the regeneration of these animals. Thus, two drams of calomel may be given with half an ounce of diapente, and mixed up with conserve of wormwood, overnight; and the next morning the above purge: these may be repeated five or eight days. Or the following mercurial purge may be given, which will be less troublesome, and no less efficacious.

Take crude quicksilver two drams, Venice turpentine half an ounce; rub the quicksilver till no glinting appears; then add an ounce of aloes, a dram of grated ginger, 30 drops of oil of savin, and a sufficient quantity of syrup of buckthorn to make a ball.

One of these balls may be given every six days, with the usual precautions in regard to mercurial physic; and the following powder immediately.

Take powdered tin and Æthiop's mineral of each half an ounce: give every night in a mash, or among his corn.

The various preparations of antimony and mercury must be given several weeks together, in order to get entire riddance of these vermin. The Æthiop's mineral may be given to the quantity of half an ounce a-day; the mercurius alkalifatus to two drams a-day, incorporated with a bit of cordial ball. The cinnabar powders, as directed in the farcy, are no less effectual: and when worms are bred from high feeding, or unwholesome food; rue, garlic, tanfy, savin, box, and many other simples, may be given successfully; being for that purpose mixed with their food; as also cut tobacco, from half an ounce to an ounce a-day.

Sect. XX. Of the Yellows, or Jaundice.

Horses are frequently subject to this distemper; which is known by a dusky yellowness of the eyes; the inside of the mouth and lips, the tongue, and bars of the roof of the mouth, looking also yellow. The horse is dull, and refuses all manner of food; the fever is slow, yet both that and the yellowness increase together. The dung is often hard and dry, of a pale yellow, or light pale green. His urine is commonly of a dark dirty brown colour; and when it has settled some time on the pavement, it looks red like blood. He flares with some pain and difficulty; and if the distemper is not checked soon, grows delirious and frantic. The off-side of the belly is sometimes hard and distended; and in old horses, when the liver has been long diseased, the cure is not practicable, and ends fatally with a wasting diarrhoea: but when the distemper is recent, and in young horses, there is no fear of a recovery, if the following directions are observed.

First of all bleed plentifully; and give the laxative glyster (p. 120, col. 2, last par.) as horses are apt to be very colitive in this distemper; and the next day give him this purge:

Take of Indian rhubarb powdered one ounce and a half, saffron two drams, foetidrine aloes six drams, syrup of buckthorn a sufficient quantity.

If the rhubarb should be found too expensive, omit it, and add the same quantity of cream of tartar, and half an ounce of Caftile soap, with four drams more of aloes. This may be repeated two or three times, giving intermediate the following balls and drinks.

Take of Æthiop's mineral half an ounce, milipedes the same quantity, Caftile soap one ounce; make into a ball, and give one every day, and wash it down with a pint of the following decoction.

Take madder-root and turmeric of each four ounces, burdock-root sliced half a pound, Monk's rhubarb four ounces, liquorice sliced two ounces; boil in a gallon of forge-water to three quarts; strain off, and sweeten with honey.

Balls of Caftile soap and turmeric may be given also for this purpose to the quantity of three or four ounces a-day, and will in most recent cases succeed.

By these means the distemper generally abates in a week, which may be discovered by an alteration in the horse's eyes and mouth; but the medicines must be continued till the yellowness is entirely removed.

Should the distemper prove obstinate, and not submit to this treatment, you must try more potent remedies, viz. mercurial physic, repeated two or three times at proper intervals; and then the following balls.

Take salt of tartar two ounces, cinnamon of antimony four ounces, live milipedes and filings of steel of each three ounces, saffron half an ounce, Caftile or Venice soap half a pound; make into balls, the size of a pullet's egg, with honey; and give one night and morning, with a pint of the above drink.

It will be proper, on his recovery, to give two or three mild purges; and, if a fat full horse, to put in a rowel.

Sect. XXI. Of the Disorders of the Kidneys and Bladder.

The signs of the kidneys being hurt or affected are, a weakness of the back and loins, difficulty of staling, faintness, loss of appetite, and deadness in the eyes; the urine is thick, foul, and sometimes bloody, especially after a violent strain. A horse diseased in his kidneys can seldom back, that is, move straight backwards, without pain, which is visible as often as he is put to the trial: the same thing is observable indeed in horses whose backs have been wrung and wrenched; but with this difference, that in the latter there is seldom any defect or alteration in the urine, except that it is higher coloured.

The consequences of a disordered state of the urinary organs are principally two; strangury and diabetes.

1. Strangury, or an obstruction of urine, may arise from different causes. When it is not owing to wind, or hardened dung pressing upon the neck of the bladder (as was observed in the section on Colics), it may proceed from inflammation in the bladder or kidneys, ulcerations there, or spasms upon any particular part. When owing to inflammation or spasm, the general indications of cure are, to lessen the stricture upon the parts; to reduce the inflammation; and to promote the evacuation of urine: the first of which intentions may be answered by a moderate loss of blood; the second, Disorders of cond, by the use of internal emollients; and the third, by gentle stimulants and mild diuretics.

In strangury from inflammation or spasm in the parts, the horse makes frequent motions to stale, stands wide and straddling, appears full in the flank, and somewhat dejected. The first measure, as already observed, is bleeding; and that more or less plentifully according to the urgency of the symptoms. In a convenient time after this operation, Mr Taplin recommends to throw up the following emollient glyster:

"Take of thin gruel three pints, nitre two ounces, gum arabic one ounce and an half, olive oil four ounces; let it be injected moderately warm, and retained in the body as long as possible.

"So soon after this glyster as the horse is inclined by appetite to receive it, give a mash of two parts malt and one bran, they having been scalded together and stirred till of a moderate warmth; after this, if the subject has not staled in consequence of bleeding, glyster, and mash, have the following balls expeditiously prepared to forward the evacuation:

"Take Castile soap ten drams, sal prunella one ounce, camphire two drams, aniseed powder six drams, oil of juniper one dram and an half, syrup of marshmallows sufficient to make the mash; which divide into two equal parts, giving one in six hours after the other, if the former is not successful.

"These are very safe, mild, and efficacious, in general producing the desired effect without any uneasy sensations. Where a drink is preferred, as coming into a more applicable mode of administration, the following will prove equally serviceable:

"Take juniper berries (bruised) two ounces; boil in a pint and a half of water for some time, then strain (to produce by squeezing the berries three quarters of a pint); to this add of nitre and gum Arabic (in powder) each an ounce.

"This drink, or the above ball, to be repeated at distinct periods of four hours each (if a repetition of the first at the end of six hours does not effect the desired purpose), till relief is obtained by plentiful evacuations."

As a suppression of urine arises sometimes from an inflammation of the parts; so at others from a paralytic affection, particularly of the kidneys, disabling them in their office of separating the urine from the blood; in this latter case, a general suppression taking place, the bladder is usually empty, so that a horse will make no motion to stale; and if he survives a few days in this condition, his body will swell to a great degree, break out in blotches all over, and death will soon close the scene.

Strangury sometimes also arises from an ulceration of the parts; which is a case almost as desperate as the preceding. The symptoms are: A visible difficulty; the evacuation not totally suppressed, being only at times obstructed; the urine frequently altering its appearance, being sometimes thick, depositing a turbid sediment as if impregnated with membranous matter; and at other times tinged with blood, the evident effect of a corroded solution of the diseased part. In this instance the following balls or drink are recommended by Mr Taplin as the only probable means of relief.

"Take of myrrh one ounce, Castile soap and Locatelli's balsam each three ounces, nitre and aniseed (in powder) each two ounces, balsam of Peru six drams. Mix together with syrup of marshmallows, and divide into six balls, giving one every morning.

In case spasm of the parts be also suspected, the following ball may be given, and repeated at such times as the circumstances of the case may render proper.

"Take of Castile soap half an ounce; nitre, rosin, and compound powder of gum tragacanth, each two drams; opium (in powder) ten grains; oil of juniper 30 drops.—Mix.

"The following drink may be substituted with equal effect, if a liquid form is preferred:

"Take thin gruel three quarters of a pint, gum arabic and nitre (in powder) each one ounce, liquid laudanum three drams.—Mix.

"This (as the ball above) may be occasionally repeated."

2. Horses subject to a diabetes, or profuse staling, if old, or of a weak constitution, are seldom cured; they soon lose their flesh and appetite, grow feeble, their coat staring, and they die rotten. Of a young horse there are more hopes; but he must not be indulged with too much water or moist food. Give him the following:

Take Jesuits bark four ounces, bistort and tormentil-root of each two ounces; boil in two gallons of lime-water to the consumption of half, and give a pint three times a day.

As this disorder generally proceeds from too violent exercise, over-straining, &c., repeated bleedings in small quantities are absolutely necessary, till the mouths of the vessels close up.

Sect. XXII. Of Molten-grease.

By molten-grease is meant a fat or oily discharge with the dung; and it arises from a colliquation or melting down of the fat of a horse's body by violent exercise in very hot weather. It is always attended with a fever, heat, restlessness, starting and tremblings, great inward sickness, shortness of breath, and sometimes with the symptoms of a pleurisy. His dung will be extremely greasy, and he will fall into a scouring; his blood will have a thick skin or fat over it when cold, of a white or yellow hue, but chiefly the latter; the congealed part or sediment is commonly a mixture of size and grease, which makes it so extremely slippery, that it will not adhere to the fingers, and the small portion of serum feels also slippery and clammy. The horse soon loses his flesh and fat, which probably is dissolved and absorbed into the blood; and those that survive this shock commonly grow hide-bound for a time, their legs swelling both before and behind, and continue in this state till the blood and juices are rectified; and if this is not done effectually, the farcy or some obstinate surfeit generally follows, very difficult to remove.

In the first place bleed plentifully, and repeat it for two or three days successively in smaller quantities; two or three rowels should also be immediately put in, and the cooling emollient glysters (p. 121. col. 1. par. 1, 2.) daily thrown up to abate the fever, and drain off the greasy matter from the intestines. By the mouth give plenty of warm water or gruel, with cream of tartar or nitre, to dilute and attenuate the blood, which in this case is greatly disposed to run into grummes, and endanger a total stagnation.

When the fever is quite gone off, and the horse has recovered his appetite, gentle aloeic purges should be given once a week, for a month or six weeks, in order to bring down the swelled legs. To this end give the following; which, repeated for some time, will entirely remove this disorder.

Take of sanguinaria aloes six drams, of gum guaiacum powdered half an ounce, of diaphoretic antimony and powder of myrrh each two drams; make into a ball with syrup of buckthorn.

These will seldom take a horse from his business above two or three days in a week; neither will he lose his flesh or appetite with them, but on the contrary mend in both; which cannot be obtained by any other method of purging, and gives this greatly the preference in many cases.

Sect. XXIII. Of Hidebound, Surfeits, and Mange.

1. The signs of Hidebound are, "a want of flexibility in the skin, which is pervaded by a general stiffness that seems to form an entire adhesion to the flesh, without the least partial separation or distillation. There is a kind of dusty scurf, plainly perceived underneath the hair, that raises it up in different parts; and, giving it another hue, the coat in many places forms an appearance of two or three colours; conveying, even in this trifling circumstance, a very forcible idea of poverty in both food and raiment. The horse is generally languid, dull, heavy, and weak; his excrement is dark, foul, and offensive; he sweats much upon very moderate exertions; then his coat stares, the hair turns different ways (which in its effluvia is disagreeable), and affords evident proof of weakness and debilitation.

Bad food and want of stable care are, in general, the only probable reasons that can be assigned for this complaint. Long lank grass in low swampy land in autumn, and mushy hay or bad oats at any season, may in some degree allay the hunger, but not gratify the appetite; for, being in itself destitute of the effect and quality of superior food, no nutritive contribution can be conveyed for the generating of blood or formation of flesh. The sources for the supply of chyle being thus obstructed, the lymphatics are deprived of their due proportion of nutritive fluid that should pass through these smaller vessels; and they become not only in some measure contracted, but in a great degree inactive, which, with the want of proper external care and dressing, contribute to an almost universal obstruction of the cutaneous pores. These, from the preternatural debilitation of the general system, are thrown open by the most moderate exercise.

In respect to its cure very few directions will be necessary, the case being no more than a temporary inconvenience, rather than a disease. Therefore, by way of affording some little change to the circulation, take away a small quantity of blood; and in three or four hours after, increase its impetus by a bath of malt, oats, and bran, equal parts. Continue this bath every night for a fortnight, stirring in two ounces of flour of brimstone every other night; and for his other feeds (morning and noon) give equal parts of oats and bran, with half a pint of old beans in each, to prevent relaxing the body too much by the mashes. At the same time, regular and substantial dressing, air, exercise, found oats, sweet hay, and good soft water, will greatly contribute to promote the cure. And when by these means he has visibly improved in hide, coat, and condition, let him have twice in a week a brisking gallop, to produce a moderate sweat and promote the circulation; taking great care not to let him stand still till he is perfectly cool; when his dressings should be thoroughly gone through with attention, care, and perseverance, every night and morning. If this method should be unattended with success, there will be reason to suspect some unknown cause lurking behind; in which case go through a mild course of physic, feeding well between the doses.

2. Of Surfeit, according to Mr Taplin, there are two kinds, originating from different causes: One being no more than a very advanced stage of the case last described; which being long neglected, all its symptoms increase, till the entire mass of blood being at last affected, the virulence of the disorder displays itself upon the surface of the body.

The other kind of surfeit, differing from the former in cause, but very little in effect, is that where, from ignorance or inattention, a horse is suffered to drink immoderately of cold water, when in a violent perspiration, and the blood consequently in the highest degree of circulation.

The circulating fluid being so instantaneously checked by the influence of the frigid element and the sudden contraction of the solids, the capillamentum becomes immediately thickened and inflamed; while the serum or watery part, separating from the other, extravasates itself; and, by an effort of nature, is propelled to the skin for transpiration, where the pores (having been instantly collapsed at the time of the water's taking effect) are so closely obstructed that its passage to the surface is rendered impracticable. In this situation it becomes united with the perspirable matter already confined there; and is, in the course of time, compelled by the progress of internal inflammation to make its way through the skin; upon which it at last appears in a variety of forms and different symptoms, assuming distinct degrees of malignancy, according to the state, habit, and constitution of the subject at the time of attack.

Such, in substance, is Mr Taplin's account of this disorder. The indications of cure are, To resolve the inflammatory crudities, remove cutaneous obstruction, correct the acrimony of the blood, and gently quicken the circulation. The better to effect these, he directs to take away a moderate quantity of blood, that the impetus may be encouraged; to open the body with a few warm mashes; and, according to the mildness or inveteracy of its appearance, to give either two or three mercurial purges, composed of the following ingredients.

Barbadoes aloes one ounce, jalap (in powder) three drams; calomel, cream of tartar, Caflile soap, and ginger (in powder) of each two drams; with syrup of buckthorn sufficient to make a ball.

The doses must be given at proper intervals; particular care being all the while taken to guard against cold on account of the mercury contained in the composition. In three days after the last dose, a course of alternatives must be entered upon, the medicine composed as follows.

Antimony levigated and sulphur each half a pound, Ethiop's mineral and cream of tartar each four ounces. These are to be mixed well together, and divided into twelve equal parts of two ounces each, for twelve doses; one of which must be given every night with the feed of corn; the latter being first sprinkled with water, the better to retain the powders.

These must be continued with the utmost punctuality for a month; during all which time let there be also given two ounces of nitre every morning in a pail of soft water. Should any trifling eczemas, scabs, or excoriations, prove obstinate upon any part of the body, they may be washed with equal parts of lye (procured from the soap boilers) and lime-waters.

If in the course of a month no considerable advantage should be produced by the above prescriptions, the doses must be gradually increased from two ounces to two and an half, and in another week to three ounces for each dose, of both the composition and the nitre.

3. Mange is a distemper so universally known as to render a particular description unnecessary. It proceeds chiefly from poor feeding; hence it is very little seen amongst horses of any estimation; but is almost entirely confined to the lower classes of stables and proprietors.

In a mangy horse the skin is generally tawny, thick, and full of wrinkles, especially about the mane, the legs, and tail; and the little hair that remains in these parts stands almost always straight out or bristly; the ears are commonly naked and without hair, the eye and eye-brows the same; and when it affects the limbs, it gives them the same aspect: yet the skin is not raw, nor peels off, as in the surfeit.

Where this distemper is caught by infection, if taken in time it is very easily cured: and a sulphur ointment is recommended as most effectual for that purpose, rubbed in every day. To purify and cleanse the blood, give antimony and sulphur for some weeks after. There are a great variety of external remedies for this purpose, such as train-oil and gunpowder, tobacco steeped in chamber lye, &c., most of them evidently improper. Solefey recommends the following, which has been approved.

Take burnt alum and borax in fine powder of each two ounces, white vitriol and verdigris powdered of each four ounces; put them into a clean pot, with two pounds of honey, stirring till they are incorporated; when cold, add two ounces of strong aquafortis.

But when this disorder, as is generally the case, is contracted by low feeding and poverty of blood, the diet must be mended, and the horse properly indulged with hay and corn. With this view, there must be a constant supply of warm mash, prepared with half malt and half bran, or equal parts of oats and bran, with four ounces of honey dissolved in each; let these be given night and morning, with a feed of dry corn every day at noon. During this treatment (which must be continued a week, to soothe the acrimony of the fluids, and soften the rigidity of the skin) give one ounce of sulphur in each mash, and one ounce of nitre in water every night and morning. In a week or ten days, when the frame becomes more invigorated, discontinue the mash, and let the diet be changed to good oats and sweet hay; giving, in the morning and evening feeds, one of the following powders, intermixed with the corn first sprinkled with water:

Sulphur and prepared antimony each a pound, rubbed well together in a mortar, and then divided into 24 equal parts for as many doses.

Or, Antimony levigated and sulphur of each 12 ounces, liver of antimony and cream of tartar each half a pound.—These to be mixed well together, and divided into the same number of doses as the former.

As to the external treatment; previous to the commencement of the mash, procure a pail of warm water and a quarter of a pound of soft soap (tied up in a linen rag), and with this, forming a strong lather, let every infected part be thoroughly washed and cleaned, so that no scurf or filth be left upon the surface; then rub tenderly dry with a coarse cloth or separated haybands; and on the following morning begin to rub in upon every part affected a due portion of the following ointment.

Weak mercurial ointment half a pound, quicksilver four ounces, white hellebore (in powder) three ounces, black pepper (in powder) and oil of tar-tar each one ounce; with olive oil sufficient to make it of a proper softness.

The unction must be repeated for seven days, ten days, or a fortnight, according to the urgency of the symptoms; and let the powders before mentioned, with the nitre also, be continued for three weeks or a month. Lastly, as soon as the horse appears in a condition to bear it, take away a moderate quantity of blood, and give him afterwards two very mild doses of physic.

Sect. XXIV. Of the Fartin or Farcey.

The true farcy is properly a disorder of the blood-vessels and their contained fluid; by which, when inveterate, the coats and integuments are so thickened that they become like so many cords.

At first, one or more small swellings, or round buds like grapes or berries, spring out over the veins, and are often exquisitely painful to the touch; in the beginning they are hard, but soon turn into soft blisters, which when broke discharge an oily or bloody ichor, and turn into very foul and ill-disposed ulcers. In some horses it appears on the head only; in some on the external jugular; in others on the plate-vein, and runs downwards on the inside of the fore-arm towards the knee, and very often upwards towards the brisket; in some the farcy shows itself on the hind-parts, about the pasterns, and along the large veins on FAR R I E R Y.

Sect. XXIV.

Farcin or the inside of the thigh, rising upwards into the groin, and towards the sheath; and sometimes it makes its appearance on the flanks, and spreads by degrees towards the lower belly, where it often becomes very troublesome.

When the farcy appears on the head only, it is easily cured; especially when it is seated in the cheeks and forehead, the blood-vessels being here small; but it is more difficult when it affects the lips, the nostrils, the eyes, the kernels under the jaws, and other soft and loofe parts, especially if the neck-vein becomes cored. When it begins on the outside of the shoulder or hips, the cure is seldom difficult; but when the farcy arises on the plate-vein, and that vein swells much, and turns cored, and the glands or kernel under the arm-pit are affected, it is hard to cure; but more so when the crural veins within side of the thigh are cored, and befit with buds, which affects the kernels of the groin and the cavernous body of the yard. When the farcy begins on the pasterns or lower limbs, it often becomes very uncertain, unless a timely stop is put to it; for the swelling in those dependent parts grow to excessively large in some constitutions, and the limbs too much disfigured thereby with foul sores and callous ulcerations, that such a horse is seldom fit for any thing afterwards but the meanest drudgery; but it is always a promising sign, wherever the farcy happens to be situated, if it spreads no further. It is usual to affect only one side at a time; but when it passes over to the other, it shows great malignancy; when it arises on the spines, it is then for the most part dangerous; and is always more so to horses that are fat and full of blood, than to those that are in a more moderate case. When the farcy is epidemical, as sometimes happens, it rises on several parts of the body at once, forms nasty foul ulcers, and makes a profuse running of greenish bloody matter from both nostrils; and soon ends in a miserable rot.

When the farcy makes its first appearance on the head, it rises on the cheeks and temples, and looks like a net-work, or small creeping twigs full of berries. Sometimes it inflames the eye, and sometimes little blisters or buds run along the side of the nose. It arises often on the outside of the shoulder, running along the small veins with heat and inflammation; and sometimes a few small buds appear near the withers, and on the outside of the hip. In all these appearances, the disease being superficial, and affecting only the smaller vessels, is easily conquered by the following method, when taken in time; for the simplest farcy, if neglected, may degenerate into the worst fort.

This distemper, then, being of an inflammatory nature, and in a particular manner affecting the blood-vessels, must necessarily require large bleeding, particularly where the horse happens to be fat and full of blood. This always checks the beginning of a farcy, but is of small service afterwards; and if a horse is low in flesh, the loss of too much blood sometimes proves injurious. After bleeding, let the horse have four ounces of cream of tartar and lenitive electuary; which may be given every other day for a week, to cool the blood and the body; and then give nitre three ounces a-day for three weeks or a month, and anoint the buds or swellings with the following ointment twice a-day.

Take ointment of elder four ounces, oil of turpentine two ounces, sugar of lead half an ounce, white vitriol powdered two drams; mix together in a gally-pot.

The buds sometimes by this method are dispersed, leaving only little bald spots which the hair soon covers again. When they break and run, if the matter be thick and well digested, they will soon be well; but in order to confirm the cure, and to disperse some little lumps which often remain for some time on the skin without hair, give the liver of antimony for a month; two ounces a-day for a fortnight, and then one ounce a day for the other fortnight: by following this method, a farcy which affects only the small vessels may be flopped in a week or ten days, and soon after totally eradicated.

When the farcy affects the larger blood-vessels, the cure is more difficult; but let it always be attempted early; therefore, on the plate, thigh, or neck-veins appearing cored, bleed immediately on the opposite side, and apply the following to the cored vein.

Take oil of turpentine in a pint-bottle six ounces, oil of vitriol three ounces; drop the oil of vitriol into the oil of turpentine by little at a time, otherwise the bottle will burst; when it has done smoking, drop in more oil of vitriol, and so on till all is mixed.

This mixture is one of the best universals in a beginning farcy; but where it is seated in loofe fleshy parts, as flanks or belly, equal parts of the oil of vitriol and turpentine are necessary.

Rub the parts first with a woollen cloth, and then apply some of the mixture over the buds, and wherever there is any swelling, twice a-day. Give the cooling physic every other day, and then three ounces of nitre every day for some time.

When the farcy begins on the flanks, or towards the lower belly, it often takes its rise from a single puncture of a sharp spur. The pain and smarting is one sure sign to distinguish the farcy from common accidents; the staring of the hair, which stands up like a tuft all round the buds or blisters, and the matter that issues from the buds, which is always purulent and of a clammy greasy consistence, are other certain signs. After bathing with the mixture above mentioned till the ulcers are smooth and healing, should the swelling not subside, to prevent the spreading of the buds, and to disperse them, bathe with either of these mixtures as far as the centre of the belly; and at the same time give a course of antimonials as will presently be prescribed.

Take spirits of wine four ounces, oil of vitriol and turpentine of each two ounces, white-wine vinegar or verjuice six ounces.

Or the following:

Take spirits of wine rectified four ounces, camphor half an ounce, vinegar or verjuice six ounces, white vitriol dissolved in four ounces of spring-water one ounce. Mix together.

In the lower limbs the farcy lies sometimes concealed for a great while; and makes to flow a progress, that it is often mistaken for grease, or for a blow or kick, and goes by the general appellation of a humour settled there. In order to distinguish the one from the other, we shall observe, that a kick or bruise is generally attended with a sudden swelling, or a contused wound, Farcin or Farcy wound, which for the most part digests easily: the grease is also a smooth swelling that breaks out above the bending of the patterns backwards; but the farcy begins on the pattern joint usuallly with one bud, and runs upwards like a knotty crab-tree.

Very simple means have sometimes stopped it, before it has begun to spread; a poultice with bran and vinegar bound round the part and renewed once a day will often alone succeed; and if proud flesh should arise, touch it with oil of vitriol, or aquafortis, an hour before you apply the poultice; for when the distemper is local, as we suppose it here, it is to be conquered by outward applications.

The following balls are proper in every state of the farcy; and when the distemper has been in its infancy, before the skin was much defaced, has often cured it in a week or two, by giving them only once or twice a day: but in an old farcy they should be given for two or three months together.

Take of native cinnabar, or cinnabar of antimony, eight ounces; long bithwort and gum guaiacum powdered, of each four ounces: make into a paste with honey, and form into balls of the size of a large walnut, and roll them into liquorice-powder.

The tediousness of this course has encouraged the giving of mercurials; and indeed, where they are directed with skill, they must be attended with success: the stronger preparations, as the red and white precipitates, and turbith, being combined with sharp saline parts, may be hazardous and injurious; but the latter given in small quantities have been found very successful in such kind of inveterate disorders. Mr Gibson says, he has given it to a dram at a dose, where the limbs have been greatly swelled; that in 48 hours the fores were all dried up, and the limbs reduced; but that it made the horse so violently sick for several days, and scourged him to such a degree, that it could not be repeated.

Mr Bartlet observes, that the success attending this medicine so suddenly ought to have encouraged Gibson to have made further trials in smaller quantities; which had he done, it is more than probable he would not have been disappointed; for the grand secret in giving mercurials as alternatives, is the introducing them into the blood, without operating on the stomach and bowels; and to do this effectually, they must be given in small quantities, and bridled as to control their force on the first palliages; taken in this manner, they will mix gradually with the blood and juices, and operate both effectually and safely.

Dr Braken recommends the knots and cords to be rubbed with the mercurial ointment before they break, in order to disperse them; and after breaking, to dress the fores with equal parts of Venice turpentine and quicksilver; if by these means the mouth should become sore, treat as above. This method seems to be effectual, with proper care.

The following is also recommended by the same gentleman:

Take butter of antimony and bezar mineral, of each one ounce; beat up with half a pound of cordial balm; and give the bigness of a walnut, or three quarters of an ounce, every day for two or three weeks, fasting two or three hours after it.

The following mode of treatment and forms of medicine are prescribed by Mr Taplin.

Upon the very earliest appearance of the disorder, blood is to be taken away in sufficient quantity. If the horse is in high condition and full of flesh, give him mash through the day of bleeding and the next day; and on the following morning a purging ball composed of colocynth aloe ten drams, calomel and jalap (in powder) each two drams and a half, rhubarb and ginger of each a dram and a half, with syrup of buckthorn or roses sufficient to form the ball. Let the purge be carefully attended to, and duly worked off. If the physic works favourably, and sets well, let his feed (if his appetite is keen) for four clear days be plentiful, and on the fifth or sixth at farthest repeat his purging ball. If the attack has been violent, or the disorder makes rapid progress, a third dose must be given in like manner. In two days after the course is completed, it is directed to begin upon the following antimonial alternatives, assisted by a regular administration of nitre; both to be continued a month without the most trifling intermission:

Prepared antimony one pound, common sulphur twelve ounces, cream of tartar eight ounces, and cinnabar of antimony five ounces:

Which being incorporated well in a mortar, is to be divided into twenty equal parts. Of these, one is to be given every night in the corn, first sprinkling with water to ensure its adhesion, and two ounces of nitre are to be mixed with the water every morning, at which time he will generally drink it with the greater avidity as being most thirsty. The buds or swelling upon their first appearance may be well washed with the following twice every day, with a lotion composed of extract of Saturn two ounces, camphorated spirit of wine eight ounces, and distilled vinegar a pint; mixed well together, and kept close stopp'd for use.

In a more advanced or inveterate stage of the distemper, moderate bleeding should be repeated at proper intervals between the physic; and upon the scabs or effluvia peeling from the buds, wash them well occasionally with the following:

To two drams of corrosive mercury dissolved in half a pint of British brandy, add a pint of white-wine vinegar, half a pint of spring water, and two ounces of tincture of myrrh; shaking well together.

Or, Sugar of lead and white vitriol each an ounce, distilled vinegar and spring water each one pint, hytptic tincture three ounces, well mixed together.

If the ulcers should continue foul, and their edges become callous, very small quantities of the strong mercurial ointment must be gently rubbed into the centre of the most inveterate, once in three or four days, cleansing them occasionally with one of the washes before mentioned. In this case one of the following balls must be given regularly every morning for a month or longer if necessary. The proportion of nitre must be altered to three ounces, and given in the water every evening, the ball being administered in the morning.

Mercurial alternative Ball. Take Ethiopia's mineral four ounces, milk of brimstone, prepared antimony, cream of tartar, and cinnabar of antimony, each five ounces; honey sufficient to make a mass, which... which divide into a dozen equal balls, and roll up in liquorice or aniseed powder.

It may not be improper now to add the symptoms of an incurable farcy, that the owners of such horses may save themselves unnecessary expense and trouble in their endeavours to obtain a cure. When a farcy, by improper applications, or by neglect, has spread and increased, or after long continuance resifted the medicines above recommended; if fresh buds are continually sprouting forth, while the old ones remain foul and ill-conditioned; if they rise on the spines of the back and loins; if the horse grows hide-bound, and runs at the nose; if abscesses are formed in the fleshy parts between the interstices of the large muscles; if his eyes look dead and lifeless; if he forsakes his food, and scours often, and his excrements appear thin and of a blackish colour; if the plate or thigh vein continues large and corded after firing and other proper applications; these symptoms denote the distemper to have penetrated internally, and that it will degenerate into an incurable consumption: it is most probable also that the whole mass of fluids are tainted, and become irremediable by art.

Before closing this section, it is proper to take notice of what is called the water farcy; which has no resemblance to a true farcy either in its cause, symptoms, or effects, but has only obtained this name through custom and ignorance.—This water-farcy, then, is of two kinds: one the product of a feverish disposition, terminating on the skin, as often happens in epidemic colds; the other is dropical, where the water is not confined to the belly and limbs, but shows itself in several parts of the body by soft swellings yielding to the pressure of the finger. This last kind usually proceeds from foul feeding, or from the latter galls and fog that often comes up in great plenty with continued cold rains, and breeds a sluggish viscid blood. In the former case, we have seen the limbs and whole body enormously swelled, and very hard, the belly and sheath greatly distended; which were as surprisingly reduced in 24 hours, by slight scarifications within-side the leg and thigh with a sharp penknife, and three or four strokes on the skin of the belly on each side the sheath: from these scarifications there was a constant and surprising large dripping of water, which soon relieved the horse; when a few purges completed his recovery.

In the other species of dropsy the curative intentions are to discharge the water, recover the crisis or strength of the blood, and brace up the relaxed fibres throughout the whole body. To this end purge once a-week or ten days; and give intermediately either of the following.

Take black hellebore fresh gathered, two pounds; wash, bruise, and boil in six quarts of water to four; and then strain out the liquor, and put two quarts of white-wine on the remaining hellebore, and let it infuse warm 48 hours: then strain off, mix both together, and give the horse a pint night and morning.

Take nitre two ounces, squills powdered three drams or half an ounce, camphor one dram, honey enough to form into a ball, to be given once a-day alone, or washed down with a horn or two of the above drink.

In all strains, the muscular or tendinous fibres are overstretched; and sometimes ruptured or broke. To form, therefore, a true idea of these disorders, let us first consider every muscle and tendon as composed of springy elastic fibres, which have a proper power of their own to contract and extend themselves; or, to make their action more familiar, let us compare them to a piece of catgut, that we may the better judge with what propriety oily medicines are directed for their cure. Thus, then, if, by a violent extension of this catgut, you had so overstretched it as to destroy its springiness or elasticity, and was inclined to recover its lost tone, would you for that purpose think of soaking it in oil? And is not the method of treating strains, or overstretched muscles and tendons, full as preposterous, when you bathe or soak them in oily medicines, at a time that they want refringents to brace them up? Yet custom has so established this practice, and fallacious experience seemingly so confirmed it, that it would be a difficult task to convince the illiterate and prejudiced of the absurdity, who, by attributing effects to wrong causes, are led into this error, and the oils usurp the reputation that is due only to rest and quiet: they seem, however, to be aware of the ill consequences, by their adding the hot oils, as spike, turpentine, and origanum; which, though in some measure guard against the too suppling quality of the other oils, yet the treatment is still too relaxing to be of real service.

And indeed, in all violent strains of either tendons or muscles, whatever opinion we may entertain of bathing and anointing with favourite nostrums, which often succeed in flight cases, where perhaps bandage alone would have done; yet it is the latter, with proper resting the relaxed fibres till they have thoroughly recovered their tone, that are the chief things to be depended on; and frequently some months necessary for effecting the cure.

All violent strains of the ligaments, which connect the bones together, especially those of the thigh, require time, and turning out to grafts, to a perfect recovery. External applications can avail but little here, the parts affected lying too deep, and so surrounded with muscles that medicine cannot penetrate to them. The sooner, in these cases, a horse is turned out to grafts, the better; as the gentle motion in the field will prevent the ligaments and joint-oil from thickening, and of course the joint itself from growing stiff.

When a horse's shoulder is overstrained, he does not put out that leg as the other; but, to prevent pain, sets the sound foot hardly on the ground to save the other; even though he be turned short on the lame side, which motion tries him the most of any. When trotted in hand, instead of putting his leg forward in a right line, he forms a circle with the lame leg; and when he stands in the stable, that leg is advanced before the other.

In order to cure this lameness, first bleed him, and let the whole shoulder be well bathed three times a-day with hot verjuice or vinegar, in which may be dissolved a piece of soap; but if the lameness continues without swelling or inflammation, after resting two or three days, let the muscles be well rubbed for a considerable derable time, to make them penetrate, with good opo- deldoc, or either of the following mixtures.

Take camphorated spirit of wine two ounces, oil of turpentine one ounce; this proportion will prevent the hair coming off.

Or, Take the best vinegar half a pint, spirit of vitriol and camphorated spirit of wine of each two ounces.

When the shoulder is very much swelled, it should be fomented with woollen cloths (large enough to co- ver the whole) wrung out of hot verjuice and spirit of wine; or a fomentation prepared with a strong deco- ction of wormwood, bay-leaves, and rofemary, to a quart of which may be added half a pint of spirit of wine.

A rowel in the point of the shoulder in this case often does great service; especially if the strain has been very violent, and the swelling very large: but as to boring up the shoulder with a hot iron, and after- wards inflating it, it is both a cruel and absurd treat- ment: and the pegging up the sound foot, or setting on a pattern shoe, to bring the lame shoulder on a stretch, is a most preposterous practice, and directly calculated to render a horse incurably lame; for it can only be necessary in cases the very opposite to this, where the muscles have been long contracted, and we want to stretch them out.

Where poultices can be applied, they are at first undoubtedly very effectual, after bathing with hot vi- negar or verjuice; and are to be preferred greatly to cold charges, which, by drying too soon on the part, keep it stiff and uneasy: let them be prepared with oat- meal, rye-flour, or bran boiled up in vinegar, strong- beer or red-wine lees, with lard enough to prevent their growing stiff; and when by these means the inflam- mation and swelling is brought down, bathe the part twice a-day with either of the above mixtures, opodel- doc, or camphorated spirit of wine; and roll the part three or four inches, both above and below, with a strong linen roller of about two fingers width; which contributes not a little to the recovery, by bracing up the relaxed tendon; and perhaps is more to be depend- ed on than the applications themselves.

In strains of the coffin joint, that have not been discovered in time, there will grow such a stiffness in the joint, that the horse will only touch the ground with his toe; and the joint cannot be played with the hand: the only method here is repeated blistering, and then firing superficially.

Strains of the back finesws are very common; and are easily discovered by the swelling, which extends sometimes from the back-side of the knee down to the heel, but for the most part the horse sets that foot be- fore the other. The tendon should be well bathed three or four times a-day with hot vinegar; and if much swelled, apply the poultices above recommended; and when the swelling is down, bathe with the mixtures above, or with camphorated spirit of wine and oil of amber, in which is dissolved as much camphor as the spirits will take up; and roll up the tendon with a pro- per bandage or laced stocking; which laid, properly fitted to the limb, might be wore to great advantage, not only in these sort of injuries, but in most others, where there is a disposition to the gout, or other swel- lings of the limbs, from weak and relaxed fibres. Cur- riers shavings wetted with vinegar have been found use- ful for this purpose; as has also tar and spirit of wine: but where the tendons have suffered by repeated inju- ries of this kind, the case will demand blistering, firing, and proper rest.

Strains of the knees and patterns arise frequently from kicks or blows: if they are much swelled, apply first the poultices; and when the swelling is abated, bathe with the above, or the following.

Take vinegar one pint, camphorated spirit of wine four ounces, white vitriol dissolved in a little water two drams.

Or, Take the white of three or four eggs, beat them into a froth with a spoon; to which add an ounce of rock alum finely powdered, spirit of turpentine and wine of each half an ounce; mix them well together.

As great weakness remains in the patterns after vio- lent strains, the best method is to turn the horse out to graze till he is perfectly recovered; when this can- not be complied with, the general way is to blister and fire.

When a horse is lame in the stifles, he generally treads on his toe, and cannot set the heel to the ground. Treat him at first with the vinegar and cooling refrin- gents: but if a large swelling, with puffiness, ensues, foment it well with the sufficient fomentation till it disperses; and then bathe the part with any of the above medicines.

A lameness in the sub-joint and hip, is disco- vered by the horse's dragging his leg after him, and dropping backward on his heel when he trots. If the muscles of the hip are only injured, this kind of lame- ness is cured easily; but when the ligaments of the joint are affected, the cure is often very difficult, tedi- ous, and uncertain. In either case, at first bathe the parts well with the cooling medicines, four or five times a-day: in the muscular strain, this method alone may succeed; but in the ligamentous, it is rest and time only can restore the injured parts to their proper tone.

Strains in the hock are to be treated by soaking the parts with coolers and repellers; but when the li- gaments are hurt, and they are attended with great weakness and pain, use the fomentation. If a hardnes- should remain on the outside, it may be removed by re- peated blistering; if within, it may be out of the power of any external applications to remove: however, the joint should be fired gently with small razes or lines pretty close together, and then covered with a mercur- ial plaster. To the sufficient fomentation above men- tioned may be added crude sal ammoniac, with a hand- ful of wood-ashes boiled in it.

The blistering ointment for the above purposes may be found in the Section of Bone-splavus; but the sublimate should be omitted.

The firing, so generally used for the strengthening relaxed finesws or tendons, is made to act upon dif- ferent parts according to the different notions of the operator. Most usually it is intended to act only on the skin, which, by contracting and hardening it all round the finesws, compresses them more firmly like a bandage. The bowmen of old, it is alleged, submitted to this operation, in order to give strength to the mus- cles and tendons of their arms. Upon this principle, a proper degree of skill is very requisite to perform it effectually. effectually on a horse; for a due medium should be observed, and the instrument neither so slightly applied as to scarify the skin only superficially, nor so deep as to wound or cauterize the finew or its sheath. The lines should be drawn pretty close together, on each side of the joint or finew, following the course of the hair; no crois lines should be made, as they but disfigure the horse afterwards, without any real use. The firing instrument, or knife, ought to be a little rounded on the edge, gradually thickening to the back, that it may retain the heat for some time, but should not be applied till the flaming redness is partly gone off. The cauterized parts may be bathed with spirit of wine at first; and anointed afterwards with bees-wax and oil, which alone is sufficient to complete the cure. But, in every view, this operation deserves to be condemned, upon the following judicious observations of Osmer. "Between the tendon and the skin of the leg, as nothing intervenes but a thin membrane, what hand can determine betwixt the boundaries of those bodies, whose appearance, by the heat of the iron, is made undistinguishable to the eye? Now mark the event of firing. If the fire reaches no further than the skin, little advantage can accrue to the tendon, but the fibres of the skin will become contracted and less pliant; if the fire reaches the membrane or sheath of the tendon, some of its glands are destroyed, and the tendon becomes more or less rigid. If the tendon be burnt, the consequence will be still worse; and in either case the velocity of motion will be impeded: on all these occasions the horse should be turned to grass and indulged with proper rest, that the diseased parts may recover their former firmness, tone, and strength."

Sect. XXVI. Of Tumors and Impothumes.

Tumors, or swellings, arise either from external injuries or internal causes.

1. Swellings caused by external accidents, as blows and bruises, should at first be treated with refringents: Thus, let the part be bathed frequently with hot vinegar or juice; and, where it will admit of bandage, let a flannel wetted with the same be rolled on; if by this method the swelling does not subside, apply, especially on the legs, a poultice with red-wine lees, strong-beer grounds, and oatmeal, or with vinegar, oil, and oatmeal: either of these may be continued twice a day, after bathing, till the swelling abates; when, in order to disperse it entirely, the vinegar should be changed for camphorated spirit of wine, to four ounces of which may be added one of spirit of sal ammoniac; or it may be bathed with a mixture of two ounces of crude sal ammoniac boiled in a quart of chamber-lye twice a-day, and rags dipped in the same may be rolled on.

Fomentation made by boiling wormwood, bay-leaves, and rosemary, and adding a proper quantity of spirits, are often of great service to thin the juices, and fit them for transpiration; especially if the injury has affected the joints.

But in bruises, where the extravasated blood will not by these means be dispersed, the shortest way is to open the skin, and let out the grumes.

Critical tumors or swellings, which terminate fevers, should by no means be dispersed; except when they fall on the pastern or coffin joint, so as to endanger them: in this case the discutent fomentation (p. 143, col. 1) should be applied three or four times a-day, and a cloth or flannel frequently wrung out of the same should be bound on, in order to keep the joint continually breathing.

But all tumors tending to certain maturation (from whatever cause they originated), should be expeditiously assisted by fomentation as already directed; and, after each time of using the fomentation, the ripening encouraged by suppurring poultices wherever they can be applied: oatmeal boiled soft in milk, to which a proper quantity of oil and lard is added, may answer this purpose; or the poultice recommended in the Section of Strangles. These applications must be regularly continued till the matter is perceived to fluctuate under the fingers, when it ought to be let out; for which purpose, let the tumor be opened with a knife or strong lancet, the whole length of the swelling, if it can be done safely; for nothing contributes so much to a kind healing as the matter's having a free discharge, and the opening's being big enough to dress to the bottom.

Pledgets of tow or lint spread with black or yellow balsam (or the wound ointment), and dipped in the same, melted down with a fifth part of oil of turpentine, should be applied to the bottom of the sore, and filled up lightly with the same, without cramming: it may be thus dressed once or twice a-day, if the discharge is great, till a proper digestion is procured; when it should be changed for pledgets spread with the red precipitate ointment, applied in the same manner.

Should the sore not digest kindly, but run a thin water and look pale, foment, as often as you dress, with the above fomentation; and apply over your dressing the strong-beer poultice, and continue this method till the matter grows thick, and the sore florid.

The following ointments will generally answer your expectations in all common cases; and may be prepared without, as well as with, the verdigrease.

Take Venice turpentine and bees-wax of each a pound, oil of olives one pound and a half, yellow rosin 12 ounces; when melted together, two or three ounces of verdigrease, finely powdered, may be stirred in, and kept so till cold, to prevent its subduing.

Take of yellow balsam, or the above ointment, without verdigrease, four ounces; red precipitate, finely powdered, half an ounce: mix them together cold with a knife or spatula.

This last, applied early, will prevent a fungus, or proud flesh, from shooting out; for if you dress too long with the above digestive, the fungus will rise fast, and give some trouble to suppress it; when it will be necessary to wash the sore, as often as your dress, with a solution of blue vitriol in water, or to sprinkle it with burnt alum and precipitate. If these should not be powerful enough, touch with a caustic, or wash with the sublimate water made by dissolving half an ounce of corrosive sublimate in a pint of lime-water.

But this trouble may in a great measure be prevented, if the sore is on a part where bandages can be applied with compresses of linen-cloth; for even when these excrescences regerminate, as it were, under the knife, and spring up in spite of the cautics above mentioned, mentioned, they are to be subdued by moderate compression made on the sprouting fibres by these means.

As soon as the wound is skinned over, throwing aside all greasy applications, let the surface be hardened first with equal parts of tincture of myrrh and vinegar, afterwards with tincture of myrrh alone. If any effchar of consequence should remain, and the hair not follow kindly, rub the part gently every night with a small quantity of camphorated Ipermaceti ointment, the best article known to promote the return of the hair upon the knees or any other part.

Authors on farriery have given in general very proper receipts to answer every intention of this kind by medicines; but as they have not laid down sufficient rules for their application in those cases where they are most wanted, the following general directions will not be unacceptable; as the difficulty in healing some kinds of sores arises frequently from the unskillful manner of dressing them.

It may be necessary then to observe here, once for all, that the cures of most sores are effected by the simplest methods; and that it is often of much more consequence to know how to dress a sore, than what to dress it with. And in this consists indeed the chief art of this branch of surgery: for the most eminent in that profession have long since discovered, that variety of ointments and salves are unnecessary in the cure of most wounds and sores; and they have accordingly discarded the greatest part formerly in repute for that purpose; repeated observations having taught them, that, after the digestion, nature is generally disposed to heal up the wound fast enough herself; and that the surgeon's chief care is to prevent a luxuriancy, commonly called proud flesh; which all ointments, wherein lard or oil enters, are but too prone to encourage, as they keep the fibres too lax and supple; and which dry lint alone, early applied, as easily prevents, by its absorbing quality, and light compression on the sprouting fibres.

Thus, if a hollow wound or sore is crammed with tents, or the dressings are applied too hard, the tender shoots of flesh from the bottom are prevented pushing up; and the sides of the sore from this diffusion may in time grow horny and turn fistulous; nor has the matter by this method a free discharge.

On the other hand, if sores of any depth are dressed superficially, the external parts being more disposed to heal and come together than the internal, they will fall into contact, or heal too soon; and the sore, not filling up properly from the bottom, will break out afresh.

Hence we may justly conceive how little effect is to be laid on famous ointments, or family salves, unskilfully applied; for unless this due medium is observed, or obtained in the dressing, no hollow sore can heal up properly.

As soon then as a good digestion is procured (which is known by the thickness and whiteness of the matter discharged, and the florid red colour at the bottom of the sore), let the dressings be changed for the precipitate medicine; or the sore may be filled up with dry lint alone, or dipped in lime-water, with a little honey and tincture of myrrh, or brandy, about a fifth part of the latter to one of the former: a pledge of liet, dipped in this mixture, should also be applied to the bottom of the sore, which should be filled up with others to the surface or edges, but not crammed in too hard, as before observed, nor yet applied too loosely.

By this method, the sore would incarnate, or heal up properly, and soft spongy flesh would be prevented or suppressed in time; whereas when ointments or salves are too long continued, a fungus, or proud flesh, is thereby encouraged in its growth, that it requires some time to destroy and eat it down again: a proper compress of cloth, and a linen roller, is absolutely necessary both for this purpose and to secure on the dressings, wherever they can conveniently be applied.

2. Scrofulous tumors are such as originate in scrofulous or hereditary taints, and increase or diminish according to the state or acrimony of the blood. For these the principal application is the strongest mercurial unguent, thus prepared.

Quicksilver two ounces, lard six ounces, balsam of sulphur half an ounce. The quicksilver to be rubbed with the balsam in a metal mortar till the globules disappear; then the lard (first made warm) to be added by degrees.

The use of this unguent must be assisted by a course of mercurial and antimonial alternatives.

3. The other tumors that may be here noticed are the edematous, sebaceous, and encysted. The edematous and encysted tumors are nearly synonymous, originating in a cyst or bag, containing a kind of ichorous bloody fumes or gelatinous fluid; which being evacuated, the cyst does not always submit to digestives or escharotics, but must be extirpated with the knife, and cured as a common wound.

The sebaceous are those tumors that form on different parts, and pass in general under the denomination of wens, containing, when opened or extracted, a substance not unlike fuel when hardly cold.

Neither of the above are expected to submit to any topical application, unless upon the very first observation; when an attempt may be made by the most powerful repellents, and a small portion of the above mercurial ointment rubbed in every night, for a considerable length of time; but no radical cure can be in general obtained but by instrumental extirpation; and as this must be unavoidably attended with loss of time, and a proportional share of danger, if seated upon or intersected by the muscular parts, perhaps it may be most prudent to omit the experiment and submit it to chance.

Sect. XXVII. Of Wounds in General.

In all fresh wounds made by cutting instruments, there is nothing more required than bringing the lips of the wound into contact by future or bandage, provided the part will allow of it; for on wounds of the hips, or other prominent parts, and across some of the large muscles, the stitches are apt to burst on the horse's lying down and rising up in the stall. In such cases, the lips should not be brought close together: one stitch is sufficient for a wound two inches long; but in large wounds, they should be at an inch or more distance; and if the wound is deep in the muscles, care should be taken to pass the needles proportionably deep, otherwise the wound will not unite properly from the bottom.

Should the wound bleed much from an artery divided, the first step should be to secure it, by passing a crooked needle underneath, and tying it up with a waxed Wounds in waxed thread: if the artery cannot be got at this way, General apply a button of lint or tow to the mouth of the bleeding vessels, dipped in a strong solution of blue vitriol, styptic water, oil of vitriol, or hot oil of turpentine, powdered vitriol, or colcotar, &c. and remember always to apply it close to the mouth of the bleeding vessels, and take care that it is kept there by proper compress and bandage till an eschar is formed; otherwise it will elude your expectations, and frequently alarm you with fresh bleedings.

In a memoir presented to the Royal Academy of Sciences by M. La Fosse, he gives an account of the success he had met with in stopping the bleedings of very considerable arteries in horses, by the application of the powder of puff-balls, the arteries cicatrizing by this means only, without any succeeding hemorrhage. The lycopodium, or puff-ball, was made use of for this purpose in human subjects, about 170 years ago, by Felix Wurtz, a famous old surgeon in Germany; but he does not seem to have thought of trusting to it in such considerable arteries as M. La Fosse mentions, viz. those of the leg and thigh, the bleedings from which divided vessels he stopt in a few minutes by the use of this powder only. The agaric of the oak may also be used for this purpose, where it can be retained by a proper bandage.

These applications, as indeed all styptics, seem to act by constringing the extremity of the vessel, or choking it up, till a grume of blood is formed internally, which plugs up the orifice; and has been found to adhere to it so as to constitute one body with the vessel.

We avoid setting down any famous receipts for fresh wounds, whether ointments, or Friar's balms, being well assured, that, in a healthy sound constitution, nature furnishes the best balm, and performs herself the cure, which is so often attributed to the medicine; when it is otherwise, and the blood is deprived of its balsamic state, as will appear from the aspect of the wound and its manner of healing, it must be rectified by proper internal medicines, before a good foundation for healing can be laid by any external application whatever.

The lips of the wound then being brought together by the needle or bandage, it needs only to be covered with rags dipped in brandy, or a pledget of tow spread with the wound ointment, (see page 144, col. 2.) the directions in the preceding sections being observed, and the wounded part kept as much as possible from motion.

Punctured wounds from thorns, or any other accidents, should be treated in the same manner; applying the beer or bread and milk poultice over the dressing, till some signs of digestion appear; and fomenting the part well every day. This method is also very successfully used to those swellings which often arise on the neck from bleeding; the fores being sprinkled with precipitate, and burnt alum powdered, to fetch out the core or fungous, which chocks up the orifice. The usual method is to introduce a piece of vitriol, or sublimate, which often brings on a plentiful discharge, fetches out the core, and makes a cure; but it is often with the loss of the vein, and it sometimes leaves a large swelling and impoikhumation.

In gun-shot wounds, when the ball has not penetrated too deep, it should be extracted, if it can be fetched away without disturbance, together with any extraneous bodies that might pass in with it; the wound should be dressed with the old digestive of Venice or common turpentine, divided with the yolks of eggs, to which may be added some honey and tincture of myrrh. The entrance of these wounds frequently requires to be enlarged, and a depending orifice should always be procured if possible; and if the wound should not digest kindly, apply the beer poultice, and foment with the sufficient fomentation before mentioned.

In scalds, or burns from gunpowder, or any other cause, when the skin remains entire, bathe the part well, and keep it soaked with rags dipped in spirit of wine camphorated: salt bound thick on the part has been found very effectual for this purpose; and indeed all saline and spirituous applications excel others, while the skin is yet unbroken; but when the skin is separated, anoint the part, and keep it constantly supple with linseed or salad oil, and a platter spread with beeswax and oil; if the skin is so scorched, that blisters must be digested out, dress with the wound-ointment and oil of turpentine, and finish the cure with any drying ointment. Should the horse be feverish from the pain, bleed him, give cooling glysters, and treat him as we have directed in simple fevers.

There are certain wounds which occur much more frequently than any other, and which from that circumstance, though in themselves not at all dangerous, deserve particular notice. Among these are broken knees, over-reaches, and lacerations between hair and hoof. In respect to the first, it is a misfortune whenever it happens that not only reduces the horse very much in his value, but is considered as an indelible stigma of imperfection, that (with connoisseurs) renders him at first sight unworthy a second consideration. This misfortune may sometimes be occasioned by unavoidable accident; but Mr Taplin is justified in opinion that more horses are thrown down and irreparably injured by the carelessness and shameful inattention of bad riders on bad roads and over rolling stones, or when they are more cruelly exhausted with labour and fatigue, than by any other means in the whole list of accidents.

In relieving this injury, the first step is to wash the parts well with a sponge and warm water, thoroughly cleansing the lacerations from gravel or sand; for these will evidently irritate and inflame the tender parts, and be productive of a discharge which may often be entirely prevented by gently wiping them dry after the use of the sponge, and plentifully embrocating them with a mixture of camphorated spirits and vinegar in equal quantities, bandaging over a pledget of tow wet with the same, and repeating it once or twice if circumstances should render it necessary. This should be continued, that an eschar or cicatrix may be formed to render untimely or greasy applications unnecessary; but should the wound or laceration be so violent as to produce great inflammation, suppuration must ensue, and ought to be encouraged by the means already directed, and the fore healed in the manner also above directed.

As to over-reaches and other injuries in the feet, they are treated of in their order under Diseases of the Feet. Sect. XXVIII.

F A R R I E R Y.

Ulcers in General.

Sect. XXVIII. Of Ulcers in General.

We shall not here enter into a description of each particular species of ulcers, but only lay down some directions for their general treatment; by which means we shall avoid the usual prolixity of authors on this subject, and yet give so general an idea of the nature of ulcers, as we hope will be sufficiently instructive both of the application and of the proper remedy to each.

It may be necessary to observe, that we may often in vain pursue the best methods of cure by external applications, unless we have recourse to proper internal remedies; for as all ulcers, difficult to heal, proceed from a particular indisposition of the blood and juices, before the former can be brought into any order, the latter must be corrected by alteratives and sweetening medicines.

The first intention in the cure of ulcers is bringing them to digest, or discharge a thick matter; which will, in general, be effected by the green ointment, or that with precipitate; but should the fore not digest kindly by these means, but discharge a gleety thin matter, and look pale, you must then have recourse to warmer dressings, such as balsam, or oil of turpentine, melted down with your common digestive, and the strong beer poultice over them; it is proper also in these kind of sores, where the circulation is languid, and the natural heat abated, to warm the part, and quicken the motion of the blood, by fomenting it well at the time of dressing; which method will thicken the matter, and rouse the native heat of the part, and then the former dressings may be re-applied.

If the lips of the ulcer grow hard or callous, it will be necessary to foment strongly with a decoction of camomile and mallows, as hot as can be conveniently applied; then scarify superficially the whole part, both longitudinally and transversely, with a fleam or abscess lancet, so as to entirely penetrate the callous substance upon the surface: after which it must be dressed with digestive ointment twice every day; the fomentation and scarifications to be repeated occasionally, if necessary, till the callosity is quite sloughed off, and comes away with the dressings. A proper ointment for the above purpose may be prepared as follows.

Take of yellow basilicon two ounces, and black basilicon one ounce, and melt them together over the fire. When taken off, stir in one ounce of turpentine; and when cool, add half an ounce of red precipitate finely powdered, the whole to be minutely incorporated upon a stone or marble slab.

As soon as the callosity is removed, and the discharge comes to its proper consistence, dress in general with a small portion of lint, thinly covered with either of the basilicons, placed under a pledget of tow spread with the following digestive:

Yellow wax and black rosin each four ounces, Burgundy pitch two ounces: melt these in a pint of oil olive over a slow fire; and when taken off, stir in two ounces of turpentine. For large wounds, where a plentiful discharge is required, stir into this quantity three ounces of the spirits of turpentine, that it may incorporate in getting cool.

Should the wound incarnate too fast, and fill with fungous flesh, slightly touch such parts with a piece of unslacked lime, regulating the mode and application by the necessity, and repeating it as occasion may require. When the cicatrix is nearly formed, the cure may be completed by hardening the surface with a little tincture of myrrh.

All sinuses, or cavities, if no tendinous parts intervene, should be instantly laid open (with a bistort) to its utmost extent, and properly filled with a pledget of lint, well impregnated with warm digestive, and plentifully covered with tow spread with the same. After a second or third dressing, should the inside of such cavity prove callous, or hard in substance, it must be taken away by the knife, or destroyed by the means before described. If it be so situated that the parts forbid an entire separation, found with the probe, and at its extremity make a counter incision through the integuments to meet the probe, till, by passing through, it removes any lodgment that may have been left for the matter to corrode, which it will very soon do, so as in many cases to affect the bone itself.

Where the cavity penetrates deep into the muscles, and a counter opening is impracticable or hazardous; where, by a continuance, the integuments of the muscles are constantly dripping and melting down; in these cases washes may be injected, and will frequently be attended with success. The following is particularly recommended by Mr Taplin.

Take honey and vinegar each two ounces; liquefy over the fire; and when cool add tincture of myrrh and tincture of cantharides each one ounce.

Mix.

When the ulcer is by these means divested of its virulence and bad smell, the callosity sloughed off or extracted, and a favourable appearance of incarnation comes on, the dressings may be changed from the precipitate digestive before preferred, to pledgets spread with Locatellus's balsam, or the following compound.

Take white diachylon two ounces, Locatellus's balsam one ounce, and melt them over the fire in two ounces of olive oil. Take off; and when nearly cool, stir in an ounce of balsam of capivi, a little at a time, till it is all incorporated.

These sinuses, or cavities, frequently degenerate into fistulae, that is, grow pipey, having the inside thickened, and lined, as it were, with a horny callous substance. In order to their cure, they must be laid open, and the hard substance all cut away; where this is impracticable, scarify them well, and trust to the precipitate medicine made strong, rubbing now and then with caustic, butter of antimony, or equal parts of quicksilver and aquafortis.

When a rotten or foul bone is an attendant on an ulcer, the flesh is generally loose and flabby; the discharge oily, thin, and stinking; and the bone discovered to be carious, by its feeling rough to the probe palled through the flesh for that purpose. In order to a cure, the bone must be laid bare, that the rotten part of it be removed: for which purpose, destroy the loose flesh, and dress with dry lint; or the doffils may be peeled out of tincture of myrrh or euphorbium. The throwing off the scale is generally a work of nature, which is effected in more or less time, and in proportion to the depth the bone is affected; though burning the foul bone is thought by some to hasten its separation.

T a Where Where the cure does not properly succeed, mercurial physic should be given, and repeated at proper intervals; and to correct and mend the blood and juices, the antimonial and alterative powders, with a decoction of guaiacum and lime-water, are proper for that purpose.

**Sect. XXIX. Of a Bone-Spavin.**

Without entering at all into the cause of this disorder, which is a bony excrecence, or hard swelling, growing on the inside of the hock of a horse's leg, we shall content ourselves with describing the different kinds thereof by their symptoms, and then enter on their cure.

A spavin, that begins on the lower part of the hock, is not so dangerous as that which puts out higher, between the two round processes of the leg-bone; and a spavin near the edge is not so bad as that which is more inward toward the middle, as it does not so much affect the bending of the hock.

A spavin, that comes by a kick or blow, is at first no true spavin, but a bruise on the bone, or membrane which covers it; therefore not of that consequence as when it proceeds from a natural cause; and those that put out on colts and young horses, are not so bad as those that happen to horses in their full strength and maturity; but in very old horses they are generally incurable.

The usual method of treating this disorder is by blisters and firing; without any regard to the situation, or cause whence it proceeds. Thus, if a fulness on the fore-part of the hock comes upon hard riding, or any other violence, which threatens a spavin; in that case, such coolers and repellers are proper, as are recommended in strains and bruises. Those happening to colts and young horses are generally superficial, and require only the milder applications; for it is better to wear them down by degrees, than to remove them at once by severe means.

Various are the prescriptions for the blistering ointment; but the following, on proper experience, stands well recommended by Mr Gibbon.

Take nerve and marsh-mallow ointment, of each two ounces; quicksilver, one ounce, thoroughly broke with an ounce of Venice turpentine; Spanish flies powdered, a dram and a half; sublimate, one dram; oil of origanum, two drams.

The hair is to be cut as close as possible, and then the ointment applied pretty thick over the part; this should be done in the morning, and the horse kept tied up all day without any litter till night; when he may be untied, in order to lie down; and a pitch or any sticking plaster may be laid over it, and bound on with a broad tape or bandage to keep all close.

After the blister has done running, and the scabs begin to dry and peel off, it may be applied a second time, in the same manner as before; this second application generally taking greater effect than the first, and in colts and young horses makes a perfect cure.

When the spavin has been of long standing, it will require to be renewed, perhaps five or six times; but after the second application, a greater distance of time must be allowed, otherwise it might leave a scar, or cause a baldness; to prevent which, once a fortnight or three weeks is often enough; and it may in this manner be continued six or seven times, without the least blemish, and will generally be attended with success.

But the spavins that put out on older or full-aged horses are apt to be more obstinate, as being seated more inward; and when they run among the sinuosities of the joint, they are for the most part incurable, as they then lie out of the reach of applications, and are arrived to a degree of impenetrable hardness.

The usual method in these cases is to fire directly, or to use the strongest kind of caustic blisters; and sometimes to fire and lay the blister immediately over the part; but this way seldom succeeds farther than putting a stop to the growth of the spavin, and is apt to leave both a blemish and stiffness behind; besides the great risk run (by applications of these fiery and caustic medicines to the nervous and tendinous parts about the joints) of exciting violent pain and anguish, and destroying the limb.

The best and safest way, therefore, is to make trial of the blistering ointment above, and to continue it according to the directions there laid down, for some months, if found necessary; the horses in the intervals working moderately; the hardness will thus be dissolved by degrees, and wear away insensibly.

Where the spavin lies deep, and runs so far into the hollow of the joint that no application can reach it, neither firing nor medicines can avail, for the reasons above mentioned; though bold ignorant fellows have sometimes succeeded in cases of this sort (by men of judgment deemed incurable) by the application of caustic ointments with sublimate, which act very forcibly, enter deep, and make a large discharge, and by that means destroy a great part of the substance, and dissolve away the remainder; though whoever is at all acquainted with the nature of these medicines, must know how dangerous in general their operation is on these occasions; and that a proper prepared cautery made like a fleam, under the direction of a skilful hand, may be applied with less danger of injuring either tendons or ligaments. After the subdurance of the swelling has been properly penetrated by the instrument, it must be kept running by the precipitate medicine, or mild blistering ointment. Where the spavin lies not deep in the joint, and the blistering method will not succeed, the swelling may be safely fired with a thin iron forced pretty deep into the substance, and then should be dressed as is above directed.

**Sect. XXX. Of a Curb and Ring-bone.**

1. As a spavin rises among the bones on the fore-part of the hock, so a curb takes its origin from the junctures of the same bones, and rises on the hind-part, forming a pretty large tumor over the back part of the hind-leg, attended with stiffness, and sometimes with pain and lameness.

A curb proceeds from the same causes that produce spavins; viz. hard riding, strains, blows, or kicks. The cure at first is generally easy enough effected by blistering, repeated two or three times, or oftener. If it does not submit to this treatment, but grows excessively hard, the quickest and surest way is to fire with a thin iron, making a line down the middle from top to bottom, and drawing several lines in a penniform manner pretty deep; and then to apply a mild blister- Splints ing plaster or ointment over it.—This method will entirely remove it.

There is another swelling taken notice of on the outside of the hock, which is called a jarden. This commonly proceeds from blows and kicks of other horses; but frequently happens to managed horses, by letting them on their haunches: it is seldom attended with much lameness, unless it has been neglected, or some little proofs of the bone be broke. It should first be treated with the coolers and repellers in sect. xxxii. art. 2.; but if any swelling continues hard and infensible, the best way is to blister or fire; but the mild blisters alone generally succeed.

2. The ring-bone is a hard swelling on the lower part of the pastern, which generally reaches half way round the fore-part thereof, and from its resemblance to a ring has its denomination. It often arises from strains, &c.; and, when behind, from putting young horses too early upon their haunches; for in that attitude a horse throws his whole weight as much, if not more, upon his pasterns, than on his hocks.

When it appears distinctly round the pastern, and does not run downwards toward the coronet, so as to affect the coffin joint, it is easily cured: but if it takes its origin from some strain or defect in the joint originally, or if a callousness is found under the round ligament that covers that joint, the cure is generally dubious, and sometimes impracticable; as it is apt to turn to a quitter, and in the end to form an ulcer upon the hoof.

The ring-bones that appear on colts and young horses, will often infensibly wear off of themselves, without the help of any application; but when the substance remains, there needs no other remedy besides blistering, unless when by long continuance it is grown to an oblitinate hardness, and then it may require both blistering and firing.

To fire a ring-bone successfully, let the operation be performed with a thinner instrument than the common one, and let the lines or razes be made not above a quarter of an inch distant, crossing them obliquely, somewhat like a chain: apply a mild blister over all, and, when quite dried up, the rupture-plaster; and then turn the horse to graze for some time.

Sect. XXXI. Of Splints.

These are hard excrescences that grow on the shank-bone, and are of various shapes and sizes. Some horses are more subject to splints than others; but young horses are most liable to these infirmities, which often wear off and disappear of themselves. Few horses put out splints after they are seven or eight years old, unless they meet with blows or accidents.

A splint that arises in the middle of the shank-bone is nowise dangerous; but those that arise on the back part of this bone, when they grow large and press against the back sinew, always cause lameness or stiffness, by rubbing against it: the others, except they are situated near the joints, seldom occasion lameness.

As to the cure of splints, the best way is not to meddle with them, unless they are so large as to disfigure a horse, or are so situated as to endanger his going lame.

Splints in their infancy, and on their first appearance, should be well bathed with vinegar, or old verjuice; which, by strengthening the fibres, often puts a stop to their growth: for the membrane covering the bone, and not the bone itself, is here thickened; and in some constitutions purging, and afterwards diuretic drinks, will be a great means to remove the humidity and moisture about the limbs, which is what often gives rise to such excrescences.

Various are the remedies prescribed for this disorder: the usual way is to rub the splint with a round stick or the handle of a hammer till it is almost raw, and then touch it with oil of origanum. Others lay on a pitch-plaster, with a little sublimate or arsenic, to destroy the substance; some use oil of vitriol; some tincture of cantharides: all which methods have at times succeeded; only they are apt to leave a scar, with the loss of hair. Those applications that are of a more caustic nature often do more hurt than good, especially when the splint is grown very hard, as they produce a rottenness, which keeps running several months before the ulcer can be healed, and then leaves an ugly scar.

According to Mr Taplin, the only expectation of cure "without anxiety and difficulty, is to be careful in observing such appearance, in their earliest state; and then feeling that frequent friction is used for a considerable time, twice every day, with the utmost force of the operator's hands, letting the part be well moistened, after each time of rubbing, with a proportion of the following liniment, leaving a pledget of tow wet with the same, bound on pretty firm with two yards of wide tape as a roller:

"Take camphorated spirits of wine, and spirits of turpentine, of each four ounces (a quarter of a pint). Mix together.

"Or, Oil of origanum and spirits of turpentine, each half an ounce; camphorated spirits of wine, two ounces.—Mix.

"When this plan has been persevered in for ten days or a fortnight, you will then be able to judge whether any perceptible advantage has been obtained from the force of these powerful repellents: if not, procure two ounces of the strongest mercurial ointment, and let the size of a hazel-nut be well rubbed in upon the part affected, every night and morning, till the whole is consumed, using the roller each night, and taking it off in the morning. If this does not succeed, the best and most speedy method will be the immediate extirpation, by making a longitudinal incision (without bruising, hammering, &c.) through the integuments, dissecting and extracting the substance, completing the cure by taking up a couple of stitches, and treating it as a superficial wound; for which directions will be found under that head."

Sect. XXXII. Of the Poll-evil; Fistula, and Bruises on the Withers; Warbles on the Back, and Sit-fasts.

1. The poll-evil is an abscess near the poll of a horse, formed in the sinuses between the poll-bone and the uppermost vertebrae of the neck.

If it proceeds from blows, bruises, or any external violence, at first bathe the swelling often with hot vinegar; and if the hair be fretted off with an oozing through. Poll evil through the skin, make use of two parts of vinegar Fistula, &c., and one of spirit of wine; but if there be an itching, with heat and inflammation, the safest way is to bleed, and apply poultices with bread, milk, and elder flowers: this method, with the affluence of physic, will frequently disperse the swelling and prevent this evil.

But when the tumour is critical, and has all the signs of matter, the best method then is to forward it by applying the ripening poultices already taken notice of, till it comes to maturity, and bursts of itself; or if opened with a knife, great care should be taken to avoid the tendinous ligament that runs along the neck under the mane; when matter is on both sides, the opening must be made on each side, and the ligament remain undivided.

If the matter flows in great quantities, resembles melted glue, and is of an oily consistence, it will require a second incision, especially if any cavities are discovered by the finger or probe; these should be opened by the knife, the orifices made depending, and the wound dressed with the common digestive of turpentine, honey, and tincture of myrrh, and, after digestion, with the precipitate ointment; or wash with the following made hot, and fill up the cavity with tow soaked in it:

Vinegar or spirit of wine half a pint, white vitriol dissolved in spring-water half an ounce, tincture of myrrh four ounces.

This may be made sharper by adding more vitriol; but if the flesh is very luxuriant, it should first be pared down with a knife before the application. With this wash alone Mr Gibbon has cured this disorder without any other formality of dressing, washing with it twice a day, and laying over the part a quantity of tow soaked in vinegar and the white of eggs beat together.

But the most compendious method of cure, is that by scalding, as the farriers term it; and which used to be prosecuted when the sore was foul, of a bad disposition, and attended with a profusion of matter. But the cruelty, absurdity, and inutility of the practice have become so apparent, as that it seems now to be almost universally exploded; so that it would be superfluous to give any description of the operation.

2. Bruises on the withers frequently impolthumate, and for want of care turn fistulous. They arise often from pinches of the saddle, and should be treated with repellers: for this purpose bathe the tumor well with hot vinegar three or four times a-day; if that does not succeed alone, an ounce of oil of vitriol may be put to a quart of vinegar, or half an ounce of white vitriol dissolved in a little water, and added to the same quantity. These are generally held as very effectual repellers for this purpose in horses, and will frequently prevent impolthumation: when the swelling is attended with heat, smarting, and little hot watery pimples, the following mixture will then be more proper to bathe with.

Take two ounces of crude sal ammoniac, boiled in a quart of lime-water; where that cannot be had, a handful of pearl or wood ashes may be boiled in common water: pour off the decoction when settled, and mix with it half a pint of spirit of wine: anoint the part afterwards with linseed oil, or cider ointment, to soften and smooth the skin.

But when the swellings are critical, the consequence of a fever settled on this part, you must avoid the repelling method, and assist in bringing the swelling to Fistula, &c., matter, by means of suppurring poultices: experienced farriers advise, never to open these tumors till they break of themselves: for if they are opened before they are ripe, the whole sore will be spongy, and discharge a bloody ichor, which soon degenerates into a Fordid ulcer. But take care to enlarge the openings, and pare away the lips, that your dressings may be applied easily; and avoid the ligament which runs along the neck to the withers: if a gathering forms on the opposite side, open it in the same manner; but take care they incline downwards, for the sake of depending orifices, and letting the matter flow off easily. For the method of dressing, we must refer to the former part of this Section; and if the bones should be found foul, they must be dressed with tincture of myrrh till they scale off. If the fungus is very troublesome, and the discharge oily, yellow, and viscid, pledges soaked in the following, made hot, have been found very effectual, bathing the swelling round with spirit of wine and vinegar:

Take half an ounce of blue vitriol dissolved in a pint of water; oil of turpentine, and rectified spirit of wine, of each four ounces; white-wine vinegar, six ounces; oil of vitriol and Egyptianum, of each two ounces.

When the cavities are truly fistulous, the callosities must be cut out, where it can be done, with a knife; and the remainder destroyed by corrosives.

3. Warbles are small hard tumors under the saddle-part of the horse's back, occasioned by the heat of the saddle in travelling, or its uneasy situation. As soon as the saddle is taken off after a severe chase or hard journey, a good groom or houler will be very minute in his examinations to discover whether an injury has been sustained in this part or any other. He will instantly perceive, by the horse's wincing, whether there is any defect from which a warble may speedily ensue; if so, upon the first appearance, or earliest discovery, bathe three or four times a-day with the following repellent:

Extract of Saturn half an ounce, camphorated spirit of wine two ounces, soft water a quarter of a pint; the extract and spirit being well mixed by shaking, before adding the water.

4. Afit-fall proceeds generally from a warble, and is the horse's hide turned horny or callous. In some little time the hair comes off, and it bears the appearance of a foreign solid substance, fixed in the centre of what seems to be a superficial wound. For this simple and very trifling complaint there is but one certain and expeditious cure, namely, extirpation; which may be performed with a common penknife. But the most ready and least painful method of taking it off is by jutting either edge till it can be taken hold of with a pair of common pincers; when, by leaning them to any side, you have an immediate fulcrum, or lever, and separate it instantaneously without pain or inconvenience. After the extirpation, it may be treated as a simple superficial laceration, and may in general be healed by a frequent application of Friar's balm, tincture of myrrh, or even with a little common brandy. Due care, however, should always be taken to guard the cicatrix in its infancy, and prevent the buckle Poll-evil, buckle of the girth from coming into direct contact with the injured part, not only till the surface is sufficiently hardened to render a repetition unlikely, but upon all future occasions.

Some parts of the above treatment of tumors, however, has been condemned, and a more simple method by means of setons recommended, by that judicious practitioner Mr Clark of Edinburgh. The common method (says he) of treating those large tumors which are seated on the upper part of the neck, immediately behind the ears, generally known by the name of the poll-evil, and those which are seated on the withers or upper parts of the shoulders, is exceedingly improper. They are either allowed to break of themselves, or are opened the whole length of the tumor on the upper part. In this situation, especially in the poll-evil, when the head is always kept in an erect position, the matter contained in the tumor cannot be discharged from it, but is retained in the bottom of the wound, and exposed to the external air, &c.: it soon acquires a most ichorous corroding quality, and produces one of the largest and the most foridest fistulous ulcers that horses are infected with; a great quantity of fungous or proud flesh is soon produced; this requires to be repeatedly extirpated with the knife, the loss of which cannot be again supplied; hence the horse is greatly disfigured, the cure becomes both tedious and uncertain, and is seldom radical. In some cases, I have known the vertebrae of the neck affected by the sharpness of the confined matter, forming lodgments there, and, after great trouble and expense, the horses were put to death.

All these kinds of tumors, &c., are easily and speedily discussed by the use of setons, without any loss of substance, or disfiguring of the parts, and cured with the greatest certainty when the operation is properly performed. Of a number of cases, in my practice, where this operation has succeeded with great expedition in curing these tumors, I shall only mention the following.

About six years ago, an Arabian horse, belonging to a gentleman in this place, had a large tumor seated a little on one side of the withers, or upper part of the shoulder; it was forwarded by applying emollient poultices; and as soon as the matter was perceived to fluctuate in the tumor, a large seton needle, armed with a cord at the other end, was introduced at the upper part of the swelling, and brought out at the under or lowermost part of it; the matter was discharged at the lower orifice in a very short time, the tumor was by that means soon discussed, and, in a few weeks, it was entirely healed up, without any scar or blemish remaining, farther than a little baldness about the lower orifice, occasioned by the sharpness of the matter, which likewise soon disappeared, and not the least trace of the disorder remained.

The other case happened about seven years ago: a coach-horse (belonging to a nobleman in the neighbourhood) had a large tumor a little behind the ears, on the neck, which I have formerly observed is called the poll-evil; the tumor extended to both sides of the neck, and was divided in the middle by the mane; the tumor had been opened on one side, in a very superficial manner, by a farrier in the country, before the matter in it was sufficiently digested; after applying a few emollient poultices, in order to ripen it, a strong seton needle, was introduced at the upper part of it, almost close to the mane; and after pulling it through the bottom of the tumor, which was very deep, the needle was brought out through the found muscular parts below the tumor, in order to procure a sloping or depending orifice for the matter to run freely off. The same operation was likewise performed on the opposite side, beginning near the mane, and finished in the same manner. In a few weeks the cure was completed. The horse run for several years in the same nobleman's carriage, without the smallest vestige of his former disorder.

From this method of treating these tumors, together with the use of alternative medicines, &c., which in cases of this nature ought never to be omitted, they were entirely discussed, and the perforations made by the needle soon healed up, without the least deformity of the parts. I have therefore given the history of these cases, to show with what facility and expedition such tumors may be carried off by the use of setons, in preference to the common methods used, and even recommended by different authors; such as, after opening these tumors by deep incisions, and pouring into them the most corrosive mixtures, made scalding hot, together with a long tedious course of hot irritating applications, by which the poor animals are kept in the utmost torture for a considerable time, and in the end are so disfigured by the loss of substance, occasioned by the cutting away so much of the flesh from the parts, that such horses are generally rendered unfit for anything but the meanest drudgery.

Deep-seated abscesses are cured in the same manner by the use of setons; after tracing the sinuses or cavities of the abscess with a long slender blunt lead probe (which yields easily without forcing its way through the cellular membrane, or taking a direction between the interstices of the muscles); the needle, armed with a cord, should follow the direction of the sinews or pipes, as they are commonly called, to the most depending part; and in case there should be two or more sinuses, which sometimes happens, each of them should be treated in the same manner, in order to obtain a depending orifice for a free discharge of the matter, and which being once procured, seldom fails of completing a cure.

Sect. XXXIII. Of Wind-galls Blood and Bog-Spasms.

1. A Wind-gall is a flatulent swelling, which yields to the pressure of the finger, and recovers its shape on the removal thereof; the tumor is visible to the eye, and often seated on both sides of the back finew, above the fetlocks, on the fore-legs, but most frequently on the hind-legs; though they are met with in various parts of the body, wherever membranes can be so separated, that a quantity of air and serosity may be included within their duplicatures.

When they appear near the joints and tendons, they are generally caused by strains or bruises on the finews, or the sheath that covers them; which, by being overstretched, have some of their fibres ruptured; whence probably may ouze out that fluid which is commonly found with the included air; though, where these swellings, Wind-gallsings show themselves in the interstices of large muscles, blood and which appear blown up like bladders, air alone is the chief fluid; and these may safely be opened, and treated as a common wound.

On the first appearance of wind-galls, their cure should be attempted by refringents and bandage: for which purpose, let the swelling be bathed twice a day with vinegar, or verjuice alone; or let the part be fomented with a decoction of oak-bark, pomegranate, and alum boiled in verjuice, binding over it, with a roller, a woollen cloth soaked in the same. Some, for this purpose, use red-wine lees, others curriers shavings, wetted with the same, or vinegar, bracing the part up with a firm bandage.

If this method, after a proper trial, should not be found to succeed, authors have advised the swelling to be pierced with an awl, or opened with a knife: but mild blistering has in general the preference given to these methods; the included fluids being thereby drawn off, the impacted air dispersed, and the tumor gradually diminished.

2. A blood-spavin is a swelling and dilatation of the vein that runs along the inside of the hock, forming a little soft swelling in the hollow part, and is often attended with a weakness and lameness of the hock.

The cure should be first attempted with the refringents and bandage above recommended, which will contribute greatly to strengthen all weaknesses of the joints, and frequently will remove this disorder if early applied; but if these means the vein is not reduced to its usual dimensions, the skin should be opened, and the vein tied with a crooked needle and wax-thread passed underneath it, both above and below the swelling, and the turgid part suffered to digest away with the ligatures: for this purpose, the wound may be daily dressed with turpentine, honey, and spirit of wine, incorporated together.

3. A bog-spavin is an encysted tumor on the inside of the hock; or, according to Dr. Bracken, a collection of brownish gelatinous matter, contained in a bag or cyst, which he thinks to be the lubricating matter of the joint altered, the common membrane that incloses it forming the cyst. This case he has taken the pains to illustrate in a young colt of his own, where he says, When the spavin was pressed hard on the inside of the hock, there was a small tumor on the outside, which convinced him the fluid was within side the joint: he accordingly cut into it; discharged a large quantity of this gelatinous matter; dressed the sore with dressings dipped in oil of turpentine; putting into it, once in three or four days, a powder made of calcined vitriol, alum, and balsam: by this method of dressing, the bag floughed off, and came away, and the cure was successfully completed without any visible scar.

This disorder, according to the above description, will scarcely submit to any other method, except firing; when the cyst ought to be penetrated to make it effectual; but in all obstinate cases that have refused the above methods, both the cure of this and of the swellings called wind-galls should be attempted in this manner. If, through the pain attending the operation or dressings, the joint should swell and inflame, foment it twice a day, and apply a poultice over the dressings till it is reduced.

Sect. XXXIV. Of Mallenders and Sallenders.

Mallenders are cracks in the bend of the horse's knee, that discharge a sharp indigested matter; they are often the occasion of lameness, stiffness, and the horse's tumbling.

Sallenders are the same distemper, situated on the bending of the hough, and occasion a lameness behind.

They are both cured by washing the parts with a lather of soap, warmed, or old chamber-lye; and then applying over the cracks a strong mercurial ointment spread on tow, with which they should be dressed night and morning, till all the scabs fall off; if this should not succeed, anoint them night and morning with a little of the following, and apply the above ointment over it.

Take hog's lard two ounces, sublimate mercury two drams. Or, Take hog's lard two ounces, oil of vitriol two drams.

Take the next from Gibson, which is to be depended on:

Ethiop's mineral half an ounce, white vitriol one dram, soft green soap six ounces.

Anoint with this often; but first clip away the hair, and clear the scabs. On their drying up, it may be proper to give a gentle purge or two; or the nitre-balls may be taken advantageously for a fortnight or three weeks.

Sect. XXXV. Of Lampas, Barbs, and Wolves' Teeth.

1. The lampas is an excrescence in the roof of the horse's mouth, which is sometimes so luxuriant, that it grows above the teeth, and hinders his feeding. The cure is in lightly cauterizing the flesh with a hot iron, taking care that it does not penetrate too deep so as to scale off the thin bone that lies under the upper bars; the part may be anointed with burnt alum and honey, which is proper for most foals in the month.

This operation is by some thought to be entirely unnecessary; it being a general observation with them, that all young horses have their mouths more or less full of what are called lampas; and that sometimes they rise higher than the fore-teeth; but they further observe, in proportion as a horse grows older, the roof flattens of itself, and the teeth then appear to rise. We are obliged to the ingenious M. La Foffe for this remark, and hope it will be the means of abolishing this cruel and unnecessary operation.

2. Barbs are small excrescences under the tongue, which may be discovered by drawing it aside, and are cured by cutting close off, and washing with brandy or salt and water.

3. A horse is said to have wolves-teeth, when the teeth grow in such a manner, that their points prick or wound either the tongue or gums in eating. Old horses are most liable to this infirmity, and whose upper overshoot the under teeth in a great degree.

To remedy this evil, you may either chop off the superfluous parts of the teeth with a chisel and mallet, or file them down, which is the better way, till you have sufficiently waited them. Sect. XXXVI.

Of the Grease.

In order to treat this disorder with some propriety, we shall consider it as arising from two different causes; a fault or relaxation in the vessels, or a bad disposition in the blood and juices. We must here observe, that the blood and juices (or humours, for there are always some in the best state of blood) are brought to the extreme parts by the arteries, and returned by the veins; in which latter, the blood is to rise in perpendicular columns, to return the circulating fluids from the extremities: hence swellings in the legs of horses may easily be accounted for, from a partial stagnation of the blood and juices in the finer vessels, where the circulation is most languid; and especially when there is want of due exercise, and a proper muscular compression on the vessels, to push forward the returning blood, and propel the inert and half-stagnating fluids through their vessels; in short, the blood in such cases cannot so readily ascend as descend, or a greater quantity is brought by the arteries than can be returned by the veins.

The grease then, considered in this light, must be treated as a local complaint, where the parts affected are alone concerned, the blood and juices being yet untainted, and in good condition; or as a disorder where they are both complicated: but when it is an attendant on some other distemper, as the farcy, yellows, dropsy, &c. such diseases must first be cured before the grease can be removed. In the former case, moderate exercise, proper dressing, cleanliness, and external application, will answer the purpose: in the latter, internals must be called in to our assistance, with proper evacuations.

When a horse's heels are first observed to swell in the stable, and subside or go down on exercise; let care be taken to wash them very clean every time he comes in, with soap-suds, chamber-lye, or vinegar and water; which, with proper rubbing, will frequently prevent or remove this complaint: or let them be well bathed twice a-day with old verjuice, or the following mixture, which will brace up the relaxed vessels; and if rags dipped in the same are rolled on, with a proper bandage, for a few days, it is most likely the swellings will soon be removed by this method only, as the bandage will support the vessels till they have recovered their tone. To answer this end also, a laced flannel made of strong canvas or coarse cloth, neatly fitted to the part, would be found extremely serviceable, and might easily be contrived by an ingenious mechanic.

Take rectified spirit of wine four ounces; dissolve in it half an ounce of camphor: to which add wine-vinegar or old verjuice six ounces; white vitriol dissolved in a gill of water one ounce; mix together, and shake the phial when used.

But if cracks or scratches are observed, which ooze and run, let the hair be clipped away, as well to prevent a lodgment (which becomes flinching and offensive by its stay), as to give room for washing out dirt or gravel, which, if suffered to remain there, would greatly aggravate the disorder.

When this is the case, or the heels are full of hard scabs, it is necessary to begin the cure with poultices, made either of boiled turnips and lard, with a handful of linseed powdered; or oat-meal and rye-flour, with a little common turpentine and hog's-lard, boiled up with strong-beer grounds or red-wine lees. The digestive ointment being applied to the fores for two or three days, with either of these poultices over it, will, by softening them, promote a discharge, unload the vessels, and take down the swelling; when they may be dried up with the following:

Take white vitriol and burnt alum, of each two ounces; Ægyptiacum one ounce; lime water a quart or three pints: wash the fores with a sponge dipped in this three times a-day; and apply the common white ointment spread on tow, to an ounce of which may be added two drams of sugar of lead.

This method is generally very successful, when the distemper is only local, and requires no internal medicines; but if the horse be full and gross, his legs greatly gorged, so that the hair stares up, and is what some term pen-feathered, and has a large flinching discharge from deep foul fores, you may expect to meet with great trouble, as these disorders are very obstinate to remove, being often occasioned by a poor tropical state of blood, or a general bad disposition in the blood and juices.

The cure in this case, if the horse is full and fleshy, must be begun by bleeding, rowels, and repeated purging; after which, diuretic medicines are frequently given with success. Thus,

Take four ounces of yellow rosin, one of sal prunellæ; grind them together with an oiled pestle; add a dram of oil of amber; and give a quart of forge-water every morning, fasting two hours before and after taking, and ride moderately.

As this drink is found very disagreeable to some horses, we would recommend the nitre-balls in its stead, given to the quantity of two ounces a-day for a month or six weeks, mixed up with honey or in his feeds. Take the following also for that purpose, or the diuretic balls directed under Disorders of the Eyes.

Yellow rosin four ounces; salt of tartar, and sal prunellæ, of each two ounces; Venice soap, half a pound; oil of juniper, half an ounce; make into balls of two ounce weight, and give one every morning.

The legs in this case should be bathed or fomented, in order to breathe out the stagnant juices, or to thin them, so that they may be able to circulate freely in the common current. For this purpose, foment twice a-day with the diluent fomentation (p. 143, col. 2.), in which a handful or two of wood-ashes has been boiled; apply then the above poultices, or the following, till the swelling has subsided, when the fores may be dressed with the green ointment till they are properly digested, and then dried up with the water and ointment above recommended.

Take honey one pound; turpentine six ounces; incorporate with a spoon; and add of the meal of fenugreek and linseed each four ounces; boil in three quarts of red-wine lees to the consistence of a poultice; to which add, when taken from the fire, two ounces of camphor in powder; spread it on thick cloths, and apply warm to the legs, securing it on with a strong roller.

If the fores are very foul, dress them with two parts Scratches, of the wound-ointment, and one of Ægyptiacum; and Crown-scabs, &c., apply the following, spread on thick cloths, and rolled on.

Take of black soap one pound; honey half a pound; burnt alum four ounces; verdigris powder two ounces; wheat-flour a sufficient quantity.

If the diuretic balls should not succeed, they must be changed for the antimonial and mercurial alternatives, already mentioned; but turning a horse out in a field, where he has a hovel or shed to run to at pleasure, would greatly contribute to quicken the cure, and indeed would in general effect it alone; but if this cannot be complied with, let him be turned out in the day-time.

If the horse is not turned out, a large and convenient stall is absolutely necessary, with good dressing and care.

The last thing we shall recommend, is a method to oblige a horse to lie down in the stable. This undoubtedly is of the utmost consequence, as it will not a little contribute to the removal and cure of this disorder; for by only changing the position of his legs, a freer circulation would be obtained, and the swelling taken down; whereas in general it is greatly aggravated by the obstinacy of the horse, who refuses to lie down at all (probably from the pain it gives him to bend his legs for that purpose), by which means the stiffness and swelling increases, till the over-gorged and distended vessels are obliged to give way; and by bursting, discharge the fluids, which should circulate through them.

Sect. XXXVII. Of Scratches, Crown-scabs, Rat-tails, and Capellets.

1. Scratches in the heels have so much affinity with the grease, and are so often concomitants of that distemper, that the method of treating them may be selected chiefly from the preceding section; which at first should be by the linseed and turnip poultice, with a little common turpentine, to soften them and relax the vessels; the green ointment may then be applied for a few days to promote a discharge, when they may be dried up with the ointments and washes recommended in the above section. It is best afterwards to keep the heels supple, and softened with currier's dubbing, which is made of oil and tallow. This will keep the hide from cracking, and be as good a preservative as it is to leather; and, by using it often before exercise, will prevent the scratches, if care is taken to wash the heels with warm water when the horse comes in:

When they prove obstinate, and the sores are deep, use the following; but if any cavities or hollow places are formed, they should first be laid open; for no foundation can be laid for healing till you can dress to the bottom.

Take Venice turpentine four ounces; quicksilver one ounce; incorporate well together by rubbing some time; and then add honey and sheep's suet of each two ounces.

Anoint with this once or twice a-day; and if the horse is full or fleshy, you must bleed and purge; and if the blood is in a bad state, the alternatives must be given to rectify it.

2. The crown scab is an humour that breaks out round the coronet, which is very sharp and itching, and attended with a scurfiness: sharp waters prepared with vitriol are generally used for the cure; but the safest way is first to mix marshmallow and yellow balsam, or the wound-ointment, equal parts, and to spread them on tow, and lay all round the coronet. A dose or two of physic may be very proper, with the diuretic medicines prescribed in the preceding page, and the alternatives above recommended, in rebellious cases. Vide the Section on Alternatives.

3. Rat-tails are excrescences which creep from the pattern to the middle of the shanks, and are so called from the resemblance they bear to the tail of a rat. Some are moist, others dry; the former may be treated with the drying ointment and washes, p. 153, col. 2, par. 1. The latter with the mercurial ointment prescribed in the Section of Strangles, p. 129, col. 2. If the hardness does not submit to the last medicine, it should be pared off with a knife, and dressed with turpentine, tar, and honey, to which verdigris or white vitriol may occasionally be added; but before the use of the knife, you may apply this ointment.

Take black soap four ounces, quick lime two ounces, vinegar enough to make an ointment.

4. There are particular swellings which horses are subject to, of a wenny nature, which grow on the heel of the hock, and on the point of the elbow, and are called by the French and Italians capellets: they arise often from bruises and other accidents; and when this is the case, should be treated with vinegar and other repellers. But when they grow gradually on both heels or elbows, we may then suspect the blood and juices in fault, and that some of the vessels are broke and juices extravasated: in this case the suppuration should be promoted, by rubbing the part with marshmallow ointment; and when matter is formed, the skin should be opened with a lancet, in some dependent part towards one side, to avoid a fear; the dressings may be turpentine, honey, and tincture of myrrh. The relaxed skin may be bathed with equal parts of spirit of wine and vinegar, to which an eighth part of oil of vitriol may be added. The contents of these tumors are various; sometimes watery; at others fatty, or like thick paste; which, if care be not taken to digest out properly with the cyst, will frequently collect again. Was it not for the disfigurement, the shortest method would be to extirpate them with a knife, which if artfully executed, and the skin properly preserved, would leave very little deformity.

Sect. XXXVIII. Of Ruptures, Anticor, Diseases of the Mouth, and Colt-evil or Gonorrhea.

1. In regard to ruptures, though they are generally divided into particular classes, we shall only observe, that by violent efforts of the horse, or other accidents, the guts or caul may be forced between the muscles of the belly at the navel, and through the rings of the muscles into the scrotum or cod. The swellings are generally about the size of a man's fist, sometimes much larger, descending to the very hock: they are frequently soft, and yield to the pressure of the hand, when they will return into the cavity of the belly with a rumbling noise; and, in moist, the vacuity may be felt through which they passed.

On their first appearance, endeavours should be made... Ruptures, to return them by the hand; but if the swelling should Anticor, be hard and painful, in order to relieve the stricture, &c.

Relax the parts through which the gut or caul has passed, let a large quantity of blood be immediately taken away, and the part fomented twice or thrice a day, applying over it a poultice made of oatmeal, oil, and vinegar, which should be continued till the swelling grows soft and easier, or the gut is returned. In the meantime, it would be proper to throw up emollient oily glysters twice a-day, and to let the horse's chief diet be boiled barley, scalded malt, or bran.

Should the swelling afterwards return, we apprehend the refringent applications, usually recommended on these occasions, will avail little without a fulsome bandage; so that an ingenious mechanic in that art is chiefly to be relied on for any future assistance; though it has been observed, that with moderate feeding, and gentle exercise, some horses have continued to be very useful under this complaint.

2. The anticor is a disorder not very common among our horses, or those in northern climates; but is particularly taken notice of by the French, Spanish, and Italian writers; who describe it, a malignant swelling in the breast, which extends sometimes to the very sheath under the belly; it is attended with a fever, great depressions and weaknesses, and a total loss of appetite.

The cure should be first attempted by large and repeated bleedings, to abate the inflammation; emollient glysters should be injected twice or thrice a-day, with an ounce of sal prunella in each, and the cooling drink in the Section on Fevers should be given inwardly; the swelling should be bathed with the marshmallow ointment; and a ripening poultice, with onions boiled in it, should be applied over it. If by this method, continued four or five days, the inflammation in the throat and gullet is removed, our attention should more particularly turn to encourage the swelling at the breast, and bring it, if possible, to matter; to which end, continue the poultice, and give two ounces of Venice treacle dissolved in a pint of beer every night; when the swelling is grown soft, it must be opened with the knife, and dressed with turpentine digestive, the danger now being over.

But should it be found impracticable to bring the swelling to matter, and it increases upwards, so as to endanger suffocation; authors have advised to pierce the tumor with a hot pointed cautery in five or six places; to dress with the above digestive; and, in order to stimulate and promote a greater discharge, to add to it a small quantity of Spanish flies and euphorbium in powder; fomenting at the same time, and bathing the circumjacent parts with ointment of marshmallows. M. Gueriniere, as well as Soleyfet, have advised opening the skin, when the tumor cannot be brought to matter, in order to introduce a piece of black hellebore-root steeped in vinegar, and to confine it there for 24 hours; this also is intended as a stimulant; and is said to answer the intention, by occasioning sometimes a swelling as big as a man's head.

3. Besides the disorders of the mouth, which we have already adverted on, there are frequently observed on the inside the lips and palate, little swellings or bladders called giggs. Slitting them open with a knife or lancet, and washing them afterwards with salt and vinegar, is in general their cure; but when they degenerate into what are called cankers, which are known by little white specks, that spread and occasion irregular ulcers, the best method then is to touch them daily with a small flat cautery, moderately heated till the spreading is stopped, and to rub the fores three or four times a day with Egyptianum, and tincture of myrrh sharpened with oil or spirit of vitriol; when by this dressing the floughs are separated, they may be washed frequently with a sponge dipped in copperas, or sublimate water, if they continue to spread; or a tincture made by dissolving half an ounce of burnt alum, and two ounces of honey, in a pint of tincture of roses. Either of these will dry them up, and are very useful in most disorders of the mouth.

A relaxation and swelling of the palate sometimes happens to horses on catching cold. To remedy this disorder, blow pepper on the part, or anoint it with the same mixed up with honey. The tincture above mentioned may be used for this purpose, to which may be added half an ounce of spirit of sal ammoniac.

4. The colt-evil is supposed to arise from stoned colts having full liberty with mares, before they are able to cover them; whence frequently ensues an excoriation or fretting on the glands and a swelling on the sheath. This last disorder frequently proceeds too from dirt or filth lodging there, and is often removed by washing the part clean with butter and beer; but when the yard itself is swollen, foment it twice a day with marshmallows boiled in milk, to which may be added a little spirit of wine; anoint the excoriation with the white ointment, or wash it with a sponge dipped in lime, to a pint of which may be added two drams of sugar of lead; the yard should be suspended up to the belly; and if the swelling should increase with the inflammation, bleed, and give the cooling physic, anoint with ointment of alder, and apply the bread-and-milk poultice.

If a simple gonorrhoea or seminal gleet is observed to drip from the yard (which is often the case in high-fed young horses, where a relaxation of the glands and seminal vessels has been brought on by frequent emissions), let the horse be plunged every day into a river or pond; give him two or three rhubarb purges, at proper distances; and intermediate the following balls.

Take of balsam of copivi, or Venice turpentine, olibanum, and mastich powdered, of each two drams; bole arméniac, half an ounce; mix up into a ball with honey, and give it night and morning till the discharge lessens, and then every night till it goes off.

Balls prepared with rhubarb and turpentine may also be given for this purpose; two drams of the former with half an ounce of the latter.

Sect. XXXIX. Preliminary Remarks on Diseases of the Feet.

I. Of Greasing, Oiling, and Stuffing Horses' Hoofs. The custom of keeping our finest horses constantly standing upon dry litter and hot dung in the stable, is exceedingly hurtful to the feet and legs, particularly the former, which are always found to agree best with coolness and moisture. Hence we find, that horses' hoofs, whilst running in the fields, are always in bet- Remarks on the condition than those that are kept hot and dry in the stable, which, beside being liable to many diseases, are hard, brittle, shattered, and often broken.

With respect to greasy or oily applications, so often prescribed for the hoofs of horses in order to preserve them sound, tough, &c. Mr Clark * very justly condemns them as rather pernicious than salutary.

When young horses (he observes) are first taken from the fields, their hoofs are cool, sound, and tough. These are found from experience to be good qualities. But horses are no sooner introduced into the stable, than their hoofs are greased or oiled two or three times a week; and if they are kept much in the house standing upon hot dry litter, without being frequently led abroad, and without having an opportunity of getting their hoofs cooled and moistened in wet ground, their hoofs grow so brittle, dry, and hard, that pieces frequently break off, like chips from a hard stone; and, when driving the nails in shoeing, pieces will split off, even although the nails are made very fine and thin.

Now, if these same horses with brittle shattered hoofs are turned out to graze in the fields, their hoofs in time will become, as they were originally, found, tough, and good.

This change must undoubtedly be ascribed to the wet and moisture which the hoofs are exposed to in the fields, of which water is the principal ingredient; and it is a certain fact, of which we have daily proofs, that when all other means fail, horses are turned out to graze in order to recover their decayed brittle hoofs.

It is known, that the hoofs of horses are porous; and that insensible perspiration is carried on through these pores, in the same manner, and according to the same laws, as take place in other parts of the body.

Now, everybody knows, that greasy or oily medicines applied to the skin of the human body, prevent perspiration, which is frequently attended with the worst consequences. The same reasoning will hold with respect to the hoofs of horses; for greasy or oily applications close or shut up the pores of the hoof, by being absorbed or sucked into its inner substance. Hence the natural moisture which should nourish the hoof, is thereby prevented from arriving at its surface; which, on that account, becomes as it were dead, and consequently dry, brittle, and hard.

The original practice of greasing or oiling horses' hoofs, had probably taken its rise, from observing, that grease or oil softened dead substance, such as leather, &c. But this will by no means apply to the hoofs of horses, as there is a very great difference between the living and dead parts of animals; the former having juices, &c. necessary for their own nourishment and support, whilst the latter require such applications as will preserve them from decaying and rotting.

The dealers in horses about London, when they get a bad-footed horse in their hands, moisten his hoofs frequently in water; for which purpose, they keep a puddle of water and dung at the watering place, that when the horse comes to water, his fore-feet may be sunk in the puddle, by which means they are cooled and moistened twice or thrice every day; so that, whilst they are making up his carcase for the market, his hoofs are likewise repaired, and sufficient to stand the test of a trial upon sale. But no sooner do horses with hoofs of this kind come into other hands, their hoofs at the same time being kept dry and greased, &c. than they degenerate into their former state. Hence the cause of so many complaints that horses turn soon lame after they come from dealers, when, in fact, it proceeds from greasy applications, and neglecting to cool or moisten the hoofs in water; for the careful groom, when airing his master's horses, rather than lead them into a puddle, will go about in order to keep their legs clean and dry.

Another practice equally pernicious, is the stuffing up horses' hoofs (as it is called) with hot reinous, and greasy mixtures, under the notion of cooling and softening them. Various are the prescriptions recommended for this purpose, many of which are of a quite opposite nature to the purpose intended.—There is likewise a great impropriety in stuffing up the hoofs with rotten dung and stale urine: this, it is true, is moisture; but of the very worst kind, on account of the salts contained in the urine, which of itself greatly contribute towards hardening and drying their hoofs, in place of softening them; besides the other bad effects, which may arise to the frog, &c. from the rottenness of the dung. But, without commenting upon the various compositions or pompous prescriptions recommended in books, or those handed about as receipts for the softening and stuffing horses' hoofs, the author would recommend one which is more natural, and ought not to be despised for its simplicity, as it is only cooling and moistening the hoofs with water morning and evening: And, to those who are fond of stuffing, he would prescribe bran and water, or clay, &c. made into the consistancy of a poultice; and, in particular cases, where horses stand much in the stable, and the hoofs are disposed to be very hard, dry, and brittle, a poultice of this kind, or any other emollient composition in which water is a principal ingredient, may be applied all round the hoof; or, in imitation of some dealers, to keep a puddle of water at the watering place, which will answer equally well, if not better. From this manner of treatment, the hoofs will be preserved in their natural state, and a free and equal perspiration kept up, by which the nourishment natural to the hoof will have free access to its surface, as it is this only which causes that cohesion of the parts which constitutes a firm, sound, tough hoof.

II. Of the natural Defects of the Feet. It is very well known, that different climates and different soils greatly affect the feet of horses. Those that are bred in hot countries, standing mostly upon dry ground, have deep crusted hollow hoofs with small frogs; for, being but little exposed to wet or moisture, the fibres of the hoof contract more closely. And, even in Great Britain, there is a considerable difference, according to the dryness or wetness of the soil upon which horses are bred. Those that are bred upon the mountainous parts of England and Wales, and in the northern parts of Scotland, have generally good sound tough hoofs; whilst those horses that are bred upon low marshy grounds (which are mostly of the big draught kind), have flat, large, soft hoofs; for being kept too moist, by always soaking in wet, the horny fibres of the hoof are too much relaxed.

Those hoofs which are either too large or too small, in proportion to the size of the body, and thickness of the bones of the legs, are generally, and not without foundation, looked upon as bad. Large broad hoofs, for Remarkson for the most part, have thin flat soles; large, soft, spongy frogs: a strong crust, something hollow upon the upper and fore part, and full of wrinkles or rings, not unlike the rough outside of an oyster-shell. Hoofs of this shape are liable to that disease termed foundered; and to have high, round, or swelled soles, and low weak heels, &c.

Small hoofs are liable to the opposite extreme, especially those of that kind which generally go under the denomination of asses hoofs, as they are deep crusted and narrow, the sole very hollow, the frog small, the heels high and strong, the crust upon the outside clear and shining: these are naturally disposed to a contraction of the whole hoof, which is called hoof-bound; and likewise to corns, running thrushes, or frustes; either of which render a horse lame.

Some hoofs are pretty well proportioned, and look well to the eye; but, at the same time, they are thin and weak crusted, and not able to stand much fatigue in travelling upon hard stony grounds. On the other hand, very strong crusted hoofs are by no means the best, but are liable to cracks, &c. In such hoofs, the horny fibres appear very distinct, and run in a straight line from the coronet or top of the hoof to its basis, resembling the grain of some kinds of wood, particularly oak. Hence they are disposed to cracks or fissures, which cleave the hoof quite through, sometimes from the coronet down to the bottom of the hoof. In others, these cracks at first do not penetrate through the horn, but appear like a seam on the surface of the hoof, commonly named a sand-crack; which, from retaining the sand and gravel, at last works its way into the quick, and occasions lameness, &c. Another disadvantage attending very strong crusted hoofs is, that, when they stand long in a dry hot stable, they contract, and by their thickness and hardness bruise the internal parts of the foot. Hence the horse will be lame, though, at the same time, no visible defect will be seen about the hoof, excepting a great heat, pain, and tenderness in his feet; the true cause of which is seldom attended to or known; and hence the horse is said to be lame in some other part, perhaps the shoulders. Low thin heels are weak-crusted, and liable to lameness from injudicious shoeing. The opposite extreme, viz. very high heels, is equally bad; as these are subject to corns, and contraction of the hoof; and the depth of the crust causes a numbness in the feet, and unsteadiness in the horse's going, which make him liable to trip and stumble.

Much has been said by authors, with respect to the different colours of horses' hoofs, ascribing different qualities and temperaments to peculiar colours, such as hardness, dryness, brittleness, &c. But it is very well known to practitioners in shoeing horses, that there are good and bad hoofs of all colours; some being naturally weak and disposed to be brittle, whilst others are tough and strong. But a great deal depends upon the management of them in the stable, in keeping them properly moistened, in order to preserve a due medium between these opposite extremes. It is likewise generally remarked by authors, as a sure sign of bad thin hoofs, that, when the shoe-nails are drove high up in the crust, it is, say they, an evidence that the crust is thin, and that there was not sufficient hold, without driving the nails high up. But this can be no true criterion to judge by; for, if the nails can be driven high up in the crust with safety in a thin weak foot, the same may as certainly be done in a strong foot, with more ease and expedition, which indeed is frequently the case.

To form a right judgment of what may be called a good hoof, it must neither be too large nor too small in proportion to the size of the leg; at the same time, its shape must be regular, gradually enlarging from the coronet towards its basis; the crust smooth, even, and free from scams, cracks, or wrinkles; the sole strong, and a little hollow; the heels firm and open; the frog tough, sound, and dry.

Sect. XL. Wounds in the Feet.

Wounds in the feet happen frequently, but chiefly from want of proper care, and treating them injudiciously when they are first inflicted.

1. Wounds upon the coronet, or top of the hoof, when superficial, are easily cured, if not neglected or improperly treated. But the most simple wound, by bad management or neglect, may, especially if the horse should happen at the time to be in a bad habit of body, be attended with dangerous consequences: therefore, however trifling they may at first appear, they should be treated with attention.

When large deep wounds are inflicted upon the coronet, from which may be apprehended a great inflammation, and its consequences; to prevent these evils as much as possible, it will be necessary to have recourse to bleeding, and, at the same time, to give such internal remedies as are recommended in inflammatory cases; cooling salts, glysters, &c. together with a low soft diet, keeping the hoof moist and soft with emollient poultices applied around it, which may be made of turnip, mallows, or even bran and water.

Deep wounds upon the coronet are generally made by long sharp caulkers upon the heels of the shoes of the opposite foot, penetrating downwards between the coffin-bone and the hoof. In this case, as there is no depending orifice or passage for the matter contained in the wound to be discharged downwards, there is great danger of a fistula or sinus ulcer being formed; to prevent which, an artificial drain or opening must be made through the hoof, first rasping or paring it very thin upon the outside where the perforation is to be made; then introduce a sharp-pointed instrument, a little bent, into the orifice of the wound, and, passing it to the bottom, force it outwards. This operation will be performed with less pain to the animal, if the instrument be concealed within a canula or hollow tube, till it reaches to the bottom of the wound; when the perforation is to be made by pushing it beyond the extremity of the canula; and, by applying a bandage pretty tight round the coronet, the sides or lips of the wound may be brought into contact and healed up, or a seton may be introduced, and continued till the inflammation, swelling, &c. are removed. If this operation be too long delayed, the matter confined in the wound forms a number of sinules or fistulae, which frequently run in different directions under the hoof, and require a large portion of it to be cut away before they can be healed up, leaving an ugly blemish, and a weakness or tenderness on that part of the hoof, which never admits of a thorough cure. But, Wounds in by treating it in the manner now mentioned, the annular ligament may be preserved entire, and a false quarter avoided; and, although there may remain an horizontal crack or fissure in the hoof where the perforation was made; yet, as the hoof grows downward, it will likewise go along with it, and wear out, without leaving a blemish or any other bad consequence.

When the capsular ligament of the coffin-joint is wounded or perforated by any instrument, so as to admit the external air into its cavity, the glands there situated inflame; and, in place of secreting a lubricating mild liquor, they discharge a sharp ichorous fluid, which destroys and corrodes the very cartilages or gristles upon the ends of the articulated bones, which at last grow together, and form what is termed an ankylosis, and of course lameness. There are many farriers who boast of their having cured wounds in the joints after they were affected with that symptom which they call a joint-water, that is, a discharge of the synovia or mucilaginous fluid contained within the cavity of the joint. But what they commonly call a joint-water, is only a yellow serum or lymph, which is frequently to be met with issuing in great abundance from wounds in the legs; and not the synovia or fluid contained within the cavity of the joint. Notwithstanding wounds of this kind happen frequently; yet, so little are the generality of practitioners acquainted with the nature of them and their consequences, that they make no distinction betwixt them and those of a more simple nature. Hence, therefore, they find themselves frequently mistaken in prognosticating the cure of a wound, to appearance of a very simple nature.

It is a certain fact, confirmed by experience, that, when the capsular ligament of any joint is perforated or cut through, there is but little chance of a complete cure being effected, so as the horse may be useful for the saddle or carriage; although, in other respects, to those who are willing to be at the expense, he may, if a strong horse, be useful in some kinds of drudgery.

As to the mode of dressing wounds of this kind, all that art can do, is to prevent, as much as possible, a violent inflammation or flux of humours to the affected limb, by bloodings, glysters, cooling salts, together with a low soft diet, applying digestive poultices to the wound, and injecting now and then into the cavity of the joint tincture of myrrh.

2. Wounds upon the coronet towards the back part of the foot or heel, which are commonly called an over-reach, are occasioned by the toe of the hind-shoe on the same side cutting the fore-heel. Some horses are much addicted to this, owing entirely to their manner of going, viz. the hind-foot moving in the same line of direction with the fore-foot; in riding fast, the fore-foot not giving place in time, the hind-foot strikes against the fore-heel; hence some horses, in trotting, make a clattering noise with the hind-shoes striking against the heel of the fore ones; hence, likewise, many horses are thrown down by the same cause.

Although an over-reach is a wound of the complicated kind, being at the same time a contusion or bruise together with a wound; yet they are nowise dangerous, and are easily cured by treating them in the manner hereafter mentioned; for, in two or three days, when the wound comes to suppurate properly, the bruised or dead parts fall off, and only leave a larger surface of a wound than was at first apprehended.

With respect to the dressing proper for recent wounds, farriers are too much prejudiced in favour of certain balms, ointments, and tinctures; and too sanguine in the belief of their supposed specific virtues, the healing qualities of which they flatter themselves are irresistible. But the truth is, all that art can do in the healing of wounds, is to remove every impediment which may obstruct the uniting of the divided parts, and to forward the formation of laudable pus or matter; that being once effected, the rest is performed by nature, which is self-sufficient. All the balms and remedies which are said to generate new flesh, in fact only assist nature by excluding the external air, keeping the wounded parts warm, and confining the secreted humours, which, by remaining there a due time, are converted into laudable matter, which is the balm of nature's preparing. Therefore, the most approved and rational method of treating recent wounds is, to endeavour to bring them to a suppuration or discharge of laudable matter; for which purpose, poultices are most eligible, as they may be easily made more or less of a digestive quality, by melting and mixing any proper digestive ointment with the poultice whilst warm.

Digestive ointment. Take common turpentine and hog's lard, of each equal parts, melted together.

This ointment may be made stronger or weaker, by diminishing the one ingredient and increasing the other; and is very proper to be mixed with poultices, in order to keep them soft and pliable.

Digestive Poultice. Take oat-meal or coarse wheat-flour; digestive ointment, two ounces; beer-ground, a sufficient quantity: boil the whole to the consistence of a poultice. The quantity of the ointment may be increased or diminished in proportion to the size of the poultice.

The experience the author has had of the good effects of poultices of this kind in recent wounds, makes him recommend them as preferable to any other mode of dressing, for promoting a quick suppuration, and leaving a smooth even cicatrix.

3. Emollient Poultice. Take oat-meal, or coarse flour, and linseed powdered, of each half a pound. Boil them in milk or water to the consistence of a poultice: to which add of sal ammoniac, in powder, one ounce.

This emollient poultice may be applied when there is a great heat, inflammation, or swelling, attending wounds; and by the addition of fresh butter, lard, or oil, may be made of a more relaxing nature.

Many people are indeed prejudiced against the use of poultices, from a wrong notion, that they (as the phrase is) draw humours to the wounded part; but the absurdity of this way of reasoning will be evident to those who are acquainted with the healing art.

"Poultices (says Mr Bartlett) are of such real and extensive use in farriery, that we thought the composition of them could not be too general. How simple however the ingredients may appear to some (which are generally at hand), yet they will be found to answer most Wounds in most intentions, where present case is to be obtained by warmth, softening, and relaxing the injured part. Many are the cases which demand such affiance, as recent swellings, inflammations, treads, bruises, cracked and swollen heels and feet, burns, scalds, bruised and lacerated wounds from flumps, thorns, glafts, nails, &c., which last are much better treated with such simple emollient applications, than by hot oils or scalding plasters dropped into the wounds; which, under the absurd notion of drawing, but too often fear up the mouths of the vessels, hinder digestion, and consequently increase both pain and inflammation. In short, it is certain that very great services are daily done by the use of poultices, not only in those disorders to which the human body is incident, but also in those wherein the brute part of the creation is afflicted. One advantage which they have over most outward applications is peculiar to them, that they convey and retain an additional heat, besides what is often in the ingredients; and as most of them have also something emollient in their composition, they must necessarily soften and relax the skin and vessels, abate tension, attenuate and thin viscid and obstructed juices, so that their return into the common course of circulation, or discharge by the pores of the skin, must in general be much better answered by poultices than by other methods."

Poultices may be continued till such time as the wound appears to be well digested (that is, a kindly suppuration of white well-concocted matter), look smooth and equal, free from cavities or excrescences of proud flesh; in that case, the use of poultices may be left off, and the surface of the wound may be sprinkled over with the following mild escharotic powder.

Take burnt limestone, that breaks down on being exposed to the air without water, three ounces; Armenian bole, one ounce; rubbed together in a mortar, and put through a fine sieve.

After the wound is sprinkled with this powder, a pledget of dry lint may be fixed gently over it; and, when the surface of the wound is nearly equal with the skin, the powder will be sufficient, without any cloth or covering.

3. There is another species of wounds to which the feet are much exposed, called punctures, on account of their small orifice, as the parts immediately after the wound is inflicted readily close up, whereby it becomes difficult to know the depth of the wound. They are generally occasioned from treading upon sharp stones, broken glafts, sharp bones, and nails, and likewise from nails in shoeing; either of these perforating the sole or frog, and wounding the internal parts of the foot; which, from their situation and confinement within the hoof, are attended with the most violent pain and inflammation, which are frequently increased by the injudicious method generally observed in treating these wounds when first inflicted, by the application of hot corrosive oils poured into the recent wound, in order to deaden it, which is productive of the worst of consequences. Thus, a fine young chaise-horse, upon a journey, was pricked with a nail in shoeing; which being immediately observed, the farrier poured into the wound oil of vitriol. The horse continued very lame; and, upon the third day, he gave up, not being able to travel any longer. The leg, immediately above the hoof, swelled to a most enormous size, broke out in different places, and discharged an incredible quantity of bloody matter, by which the whole limb was wasted, and the horse rendered entirely useless.

Punctures or pricks from nails in shoeing, are commonly said to proceed from ignorance or blundering. This may sometimes be the case; but, at the same time, it is an accident that may, and indeed does, happen to the most expert artist; and it is surprising, considering the narrow space there is in some hoofs for driving nails, that it does not happen more frequently. When it is discovered in time, it is easily cured, by opening a passage for the matter downwards, and dressing it with any digestive ointment or poultice, and keeping the foot moist, by applying an emollient poultice all round the hoof. But when it is overlooked, or a fragment of the nail remains in the wound, the inflammation increasing, it at last suppurates. The matter accumulating, and not finding a passage downwards, from the natural formation of the hoof, it moves upwards to the coronet or top of the hoof, and forms a round tumour, which afterwards breaks out and degenerates into a most malignant ulcer, commonly termed,

4. A Quittor-bone. This tumor is attended with great pain and inflammation, and a considerable swelling round its basis. The method of cure commonly practised, and indeed recommended by authors, especially Dr Braken, is to bore a number of holes into the substance of the tumor with a hot iron, pointed pyramidally; and to introduce into these holes small pieces of corrosive sublimate (some even use arsenic), which corrodes and destroys the flesh for some space around them, and at last separates from the sound parts, in a hardened mass of dead mortified flesh, called a core, which falls off and leaves a large surface of a wound. But, frequently, a second or sometimes a third operation is found necessary, before the fistula or sinus can be opened to the bottom, and the proud flesh totally overcome, which grows very luxuriantly, and renders the cure tedious, uncertain, and very painful to the animal. Therefore, as this method of cure is attended with so many inconveniences, and is even dangerous from the quantity of sublimate, &c., made use of, which may as readily destroy the ligament of the joint, bones, &c., as the substance of the tumor, it ought never to be used but with caution, and when other means have failed, as it likewise endangers the life of the horse. The knife seems far preferable: first tie a ligature round the fetlock, in order to stop the bleeding; and, with a crooked sharp knife, cut out the tumor to the bottom; afterwards dress it like a fresh wound till it is healed up.

In ulcers of this kind, as there are a number of sinuses or fistulae which run in different directions underneath the hoof, it is hardly possible to avoid destroying the annular ligament which lies below the coronet, and cutting away a large portion of the hoof; yet, in many cases (especially when there is an opening in the tumor), the method proposed, at the beginning of this section, for curing the deep wounds upon the coronet with feton, may be first tried; and, if that does not succeed, either of the operations above mentioned may be performed.

Punctures differ little or nothing, in the manner of treating Wounds in treating them, from wounds; only the sole or frog the feet should be scraped thin all round the orifice of the wound, which, at the same time, if too small, should be enlarged, and the digestive poultice applied, taking care that no fragment or extraneous substance remain in the wound, and keeping the whole hoof moist and soft with emollient poultices around it; and, in cases attended with violent pain, recourse must be had to such internal remedies as are proper in inflammatory cases, such as the following mixture by way of a drink, in order to prevent, as much as possible, an inflammation, or a flux of humours to the afflicted limb, bleeding being first premised, together with using a low soft diet.

Take salt of nitre, two ounces; common treacle, two ounces. Dissolve in a quart of water.

It will be necessary to repeat this draught morning and evening; if the horse should show any uneasiness, or appear griped, the quantity of water may be increased, or the same quantity of nitre may be given the horse in a mash of bran twice a day, if it does not cause him loath his food. If the coffin-bone should be wounded and turns carious, it will be tedious to wait for an exfoliation, as, from the spongy texture of this bone, it exfoliates but slowly; therefore, if it can conveniently be done, the carious parts may be scraped off with a knife, and afterwards dressed with pledgets of tow dipped in the tincture of myrrh; and let the poultice be applied above it.

In punctures, as above described, it is a common practice to pour into the wound hot corrosive oils (some even run into the wound an iron nail made red hot), in order, as the phrase is, to deaden the parts. In superficial or slight wounds, when perhaps little more than the hoof is wounded, the application of hot oils can hardly be very hurtful; but the barbarous method of pushing a hot nail into a recent wound, cannot fail of being attended with bad consequences, as the cure is unquestionably worse than the disease. But, at all events, when the puncture is deep, either of these cruel methods is extremely hurtful. The wound is said to be of the most inextirpate or desperate kind; when, in fact, the bad practice of injudicious applications, &c., escape the just censure they deserve.

5. Contusions or bruises happen frequently on the coronet or top of the hoof, from the treading of other horses' feet, which will occasion lameness; although, at the same time, no external mark of violence will appear on the coronet farther than a little swelling, or the horse will show a sense of pain when the affected part is touched or pressed upon. The following poultice in this case may be applied with success, if continued for some time.

Take thick lees of wine or vinegar, one pint; crude sal ammoniac, two ounces; oat-meal or bran, sufficient to make it of a due consistence. Dissolve the sal ammoniac in the lees first.

Before concluding this section, it may not be improper to mention the following rules, which ought carefully to be attended to by every practitioner.

1. The first thing to be observed in dressing of wounds is, to remove all foreign bodies (if it can be done with safety), all lacerated or torn parts, whether of the flesh or of the hoof, &c., which, from their being left in the wound, would greatly impede the cure.

2. All wounds should be carefully inspected at every dressing, observing attentively whether any alteration has been made on their surface, whether they be clean at the bottom, and free from any extraneous substance that may hinder or retard the cure.

3. Whatever appears mortified, or any fungous or proud flesh, must be removed, either by suppuration, by the knife, or by cautery.

4. Cramming wounds with hard tents, or furring them frequently with spirituous tinctures, are extremely hurtful. The former increases the pain and inflammation, &c.; the latter produces a callus upon the internal surface of the wounds, which prevents their healing.

5. The dressings of wounds should lie smooth and easy upon the parts.

6. Over-tight ligatures or bandages should be carefully avoided.

7. As wounds in the feet or legs, for obvious reasons, are more difficult to heal than on any other part of the body; therefore, rest and a wide stall are absolutely necessary, together with a low regimen or soft diet, in order to keep the body cool and open.

Sect. XLII. Of that Disease in the Feet commonly called Founder.

The term founder is frequently applied to lame horses in a very vague manner, and without any determined or fixed meaning; for, when a horse shows any defect or impediment in moving his fore-feet, he is then pronounced to be founder, whether he really has been so or not; that is, according to what is commonly understood by that term, owing to the want or neglect of not making proper distinctions of the different diseases in the feet. If we consult authors who have treated upon this subject, we shall find their accounts of it very dark and imperfect; they bewilder the reader, and convey but a very indistinct idea of the nature of the disease; hence many errors are committed in practice, to the destruction of a number of valuable horses, which otherwise, by proper management, might have been rendered sound and useful.

When a horse is first attacked with this disorder, he shows a great restlessness, is hot and feverish, heaves much at the flanks, breathes quick, has a quick strong pulse, and groans much when moved about; at the same time, he shows symptoms of the most violent pain, sometimes in one, but more frequently in both fore-feet; for which reason, he lies down much; but, when forced to move forwards, he draws himself together, as it were into a heap, by bringing forward his hind-feet almost under his shoulders, in order to keep the weight of his body as much as possible from resting upon his fore-feet. In stepping forward, he sets his heel down first with great caution, as afraid of touching the ground. This last symptom should be particularly attended to, as from it we may conclude with certainty that the chief seat of the disorder is in the feet. The hoofs at the same time are exceedingly hot; and, if water is thrown upon them, they dry instantly; if an attempt is made to pull off any of the shoes, the horse shows great uneasiness upon the least twist or pressure made upon any part of the foot, and a great unwillingness to support the weight of his body upon the other foot, especially when they are both alike affected.

It is universally allowed, that the cause of this disease proceeds from too violent exercise, such as riding very Foundered very hard upon stony grounds or turnpike roads, and that young horses are most liable to it; and to these we may likewise add, unequal pressure upon the internal parts of the foot, from the concave or hollow form of the common shoes. All these causes combined together, when a horse is of a plethoric or full habit of body, and not accustomed to violent exercise, occasion this disease in a greater or less degree. To form some faint idea of this malady in horses, we may in a great measure appeal to what we experience ourselves in running upon hard ground; for we find, that it occasions a great heat, attended with a smart pain in our feet, which would be greatly increased from uneasy shoes, especially if compelled (like horses) to continue the running for any considerable time. The feet likewise become turgid and painful after a long day's journey, especially if the person is not accustomed to travel; and this inflammation frequently terminates in blisters upon the soles of the feet. Hence it is evident, that, in proportion to the habit of body the horse is in at the time, and the violence of the labour or exercise he has undergone, the inflammation in the internal parts of the foot will be more or less violent, and attended with all the symptoms already mentioned.

This disease, then, appears from the symptoms attending it, and the effects it afterwards produces in the feet, to be, in its first stage, an inflammation of the internal parts of the feet, arising from the violent exercise, which occasions a more than ordinary determination of the blood to the feet; hence that rapid circulation of the blood in the vessels within the hoof, which frequently terminates in a rupture of these vessels, and of course an extravasation of the blood, and, in some cases, a total separation of the horny substance of the hoof from the aponeurotic fibres upon the fore part of the coffin-bone; whilst in others, where it has been less violent, a concretion or growing together of the parts within the hoof has taken place, so as to appear upon dissection one solid mass; and hence lameness.

Thus, a young chaise-horse, after a hard day's work, was attacked with all the symptoms already mentioned, and was treated in the common manner as above related, that is, rowelled, &c. In a few weeks after the disease had taken its course in the ordinary way, he was put under the author's care. The sole, a little before the point of the frog, in one of his fore-feet, became soft; and having curiosity to see the cause of it, the author cut away the sole, which was but thin, and found a cavity containing a reddish coloured liquor: after removing the ragged parts of the hoof, a large transverse opening showed itself, into which a probe was introduced upwards between the coffin-bone and the hoof; the connection between the tendinous fibres upon the surface of the coffin-bone and the hoof was destroyed at the fore-part or toe; the bone, losing part of its support, pressed down upon the horny sole, and produced that swelling or convexity of its surface, which is called a high, round, or pumice sole. The hoof lost its former shape, growing narrow towards the toe, with a preternatural thickness of the horny substance of the crust, whilst the quarters or sides of the hoof were decayed, thin, and full of deep wrinkles, together with a hollowness upon the surface of the upper part of the hoof, the whole foot having a foundered, diseased appearance. When the horse had recovered so far as to be able to walk, in going forward he threw out his legs well before him, but drew them backwards before he set his foot to the ground; setting the heel down first with great caution, upon which he reisted most, the toe being turned a little upwards. From this symptom only, we may judge with certainty, even though at a distance, upon seeing a horse walk, whether he has ever been foundered or not.

This disease proves still more violent, and indeed sometimes fatal, if the horse has been allowed to stand in cold water when his feet are overheated. Thus, a saddle-horse, after being rode very hard, was turned loose into a stable-yard all over in a sweat; he went immediately into the water-pond, where he was suffered to stand for a considerable time in very cold weather: a few hours afterwards, he was seized with a most violent fever, and a great pain in his fore-feet; he lay upon the litter for some days in the greatest agony; and at last both his hoofs dropt off, occasioned by a mortification brought upon the parts from the application of the cold water, which rendered him entirely useless.

From what has been said with respect to this disease, it is evident, that as the circulation is greatly increased, and the current of blood chiefly determined towards the fore-feet, attended with symptoms of the most violent pain, we may thence conclude, that there is an inflammation in these parts; therefore, the cure must first be attempted by diminishing the circulation of the blood, giving cooling salts internally, glysters, an opening diet, and plenty of diluting liquor four or five times a-day, together with emollient poultices applied warm all round the hoofs, in order to soften them, and keep up a free and equal perspiration; observing, that his shoes be easy upon his feet; but by no means to pare the sole or frog to that extent which is commonly done in cases of this kind, rather than cleaning away the hardened surface of the sole and frog, in order that the poultice may have the desired effect, by increasing the perspiration through the pores; and to avoid all manner of greasy or oily applications to the hoofs, for the reasons already mentioned.

In all violent inflammations, there is nothing which contributes more to give immediate relief, than plentiful bleeding timely performed; and which ought by no means to be neglected, or too long delayed; for, in cases of this nature, although the fever may be so far overcome by strength of constitution, or prevented by medicines from destroying the life of the animal; yet the effects of it will ever afterwards remain, and, of course, the horse will be lame for life. But, in order to judge properly when this operation may be necessary, the pulse must be attended to, the knowledge of which is of the utmost importance in the practice of farriery, and should be more generally studied, as it is the only criterion or rule by which we may be directed when bleeding is necessary, or when it ought to be avoided. But when this operation is neglected, and the cure is first attempted by rowels, &c. it is a long time before they can come to a proper suppuration, on account of the violence of the fever. Hence, in place of suppurating, they sometimes turn into into a gangrene, by which many horses lose their lives.

But, at all events, before the rowels could have any effect, even allowing they were to suppurate in the common time (which is about three days), the inflammation within the hoof will by that time have taken place, and its consequences will follow, to the ruin of the feet, and, of course, the loss of the horse.

The manner in which a horse walks or stands upon his fore parts, when affected with this disorder, has induced many practitioners, &c., to conclude, that the shoulders are affected; hence they say a horse is foundered in the body; and that drains, such as rowels, are the only proper remedies. But granting there was a stiffness, &c., all over the body, which is frequently the case in the beginning of inflammatory fevers, bleeding ought to be premised, as the first necessary step towards the cure.

Sect. XLII. Hoof-Bound.

This complaint affects the hoofs differently, according to their natural shape, and the treatment they are exposed to, whether from injudicious shoeing, keeping the hoofs too hot and dry, or paring the sole and binders at every time they are shod. Some are affected with a circular contraction of the crust, compressing the whole foot. In others, the crust is contracted at the coronet only, compressing the annular ligament, &c. A third kind is, when either one or both heels are contracted; hence, therefore, in proportion to the degree of contraction, the internal parts of the foot are compressed, and the horse becomes more or less lame.

It has been already observed, Sect. xxxix., that deep-crunched narrow hoofs, or what are commonly called sullen hoofs, are naturally disposed to this malady; when they become diseased, they are easily known from their appearance, as they are smaller in proportion than the legs, and frequently smaller at their basis than at the coronet; the crust of the heels is high, thick, and strong; the frog wasted and rotten; the hoofs are almost perpendicular; the horse moves in pain, steps short and quick, and trips and stumbles frequently; it is not uncommon that one foot only is affected, which then appears considerably smaller than the other.

This disease is hastened and brought on by paring and hollowing out the sole and binders at every time the shoes are renewed, from a mistaken notion of widening the heels; hence they are thereby made to very thin, that the crust at the extremity of the heels may be forced almost close to one another even with one's fingers; and what greatly forwards the complaint, is the form of the shoes commonly used, which are made hollow; for this practice of hollowing the shoes so universally prevails, that, without any regard to the shape of the sole, whether it be flat or otherwise, the shoe is made concave or hollow upon that side which is placed next the foot. Hence the outer edges of the concave shoes force the crusts at the heels nearer to one another; which being there retained, the contraction of the hoof becomes general, and confirmed beyond the power of art or remedy.

In the second species of this complaint, the hoof acquires a particular shape, which Mr Gibbon, in his Farriery, compares to that of a bell; that is, the hoof appears contracted and tight round the coronet and instep, but spreads wider downwards to its basis; the hoof in other respects looks well and sound. This is generally occasioned by keeping the horse standing for a long time together in the stable upon hot dry litter, without moistening and cooling the hoofs, allowing them at the same time to grow to a preternatural size both in length and breadth; hence, from the great strength, the rigidity and dryness of the under part of the hoof, a preternatural stricture or pressure is made by the hardened crust at the coronet, which compresses the annular ligament and parts near it.

The third species of this malady is, when either one or both heels are contracted. This frequently happens even in all kinds of hoofs, but more especially in those that are flat, from the use of concave or hollow shoes, together with cutting out the sole and binders at every time the horse is shod. But it more frequently happens, that the inside heel only is contracted, from the natural weakness of that part of the hoof; hence the weight of the limb, &c., pressing upon the inside crust at the heel, it is inflected or bended inwards; by which, together with the concave form of the shoe, and loss of substance from paring, &c., the disorder is increased; the crust of the heels becomes contracted, and compresses that quarter of the foot, and of course occasions lameness.

With respect to any particular method of cure to be observed in removing this disease, all that can be said is, That, as it is one of that kind which comes on gradually and perceptibly, it may by proper care and management, when properly attended to, be prevented. But when once it becomes confirmed, it never will admit of a thorough cure. Nevertheless, it may be so far palliated as to render a horse in some degree sounder, by keeping the hoofs cool and moist; as, in this case, they are naturally disposed to be very hot, dry, and hard, his shoes should be flat, narrow, and open heeled, the hoofs never greased nor oiled, the soles never pared. But as the crusts of the heels in these hoofs are preternaturally high and strong, they should always be pared down till they are lower than the frog, that it if possible may rest upon the ground. This operation will tend to remove that stricture from the heels and frog, which will greatly relieve them. But many people, adhering too strictly to that general rule, which from inattention has crept into practice, viz., of paring down the toes, and keeping the heels entire, without reflecting upon the shape or natural formation of the particular hoofs, continue the same practice upon deep-crunched, high-heeled hoofs, which is only necessary to be observed in long-toed hoofs with low heels, and thereby this disorder is greatly increased; the weight of the body is likewise thrown forwards, by which the horse stands too much upon his toes; and hence the leg-bones, from the awkward habit of the horse's standing, become bent at the joints, and occasion what is called knuckling or nuckling.

The second species of this complaint, is when the crust at the coronet becomes contracted; and compressing the annular ligament, &c., occasions lameness, the hoof acquiring that shape formerly compared to that of a bell. Different methods have been tried and recommended for the cure. Mr Gibbon proposes to make several lines or rafes on the fore-part of the hoof with a drawing knife, almost to the quick, from the coronet... down to its basis, and turning the horse out to graze; others, after this operation is performed, screw the heels wide, by means of a screwed shoe: a third method practised is, to draw the sole, and divide the fleshy substance of the frog with a knife, and keeping it separated by the screwed shoe above mentioned: a fourth method in use, is to make the inner-rim of the shoe-heel very thick on the under-side (its upper surface being quite flat); and by making it rest upon the binders and sole at the extremity of the heels, by pressure from the weight of the body, the heels are forced to recede to a greater distance from one another. Either of these methods may indeed in a small degree widen or expand the horny substance of the crust, and may be of use in recent contractions. But when once it has become confirmed, and is of some standing, no means whatever can then restore the internal parts to their primitive state; for as the contraction takes place, the tender parts within the hoof being compressed, lose their tone, and diminish in their size. The blood-vessels become impervious; hence a decay or wasting of the whole foot, and not unfrequently a concretion of the parts, and of course the impossibility of the horse ever becoming sound. But as it has been observed, that the cause of this species of the complaint now under consideration proceeds from allowing the hoofs to grow to an extraordinary size, and keeping them too hot and dry, by which they acquire a rigidity and dryness, occasioning a preternatural compression upon the coronet; to remove which (as the case will only admit of palliation), the surface of the hoof at its basis must be pared down till the blood appears, the thick strong crust upon the outside towards the toe rasped in the same manner, and the horse turned out to graze in soft meadow-ground till the feet recover. But it must be observed, that if both hoofs are alike affected, one of them at one time only should be treated in the manner directed, as a tenderness will remain for some days, which might prevent the horse from walking about in search of food.

The third species is a contraction of one, or sometimes of both heels, in flat feet, from the use of concave shoes, &c. Where it has not been of a very long standing, it may, by proper management, be greatly relieved, by laying aside the use of concave shoes, and refraining from paring the sole, &c. But to remove the stricture of the hoof more immediately, the whole contracted quarter of the crust near the heel must be rasped or pared to the quick, from the coronet to its basis, close to the frog, taking care to avoid drawing blood, putting on a barred shoe, causing the shoe-bar to press upon the frog, keeping the hoof cool and moist, or turning the horse out to graze. Hence the pressure from the contracted hoof being removed, and the frog at the same time resting upon the bar of the shoe, the contracted quarter is thereby dilated or expanded: the new hoof growing from the coronet downwards, acquires a round, full shape, and becomes of its original form.

From what has been said concerning this disorder in the feet of horses, it is evident, what little prospect there is of effecting a thorough cure by art, as the complaint is of such a nature as only to admit of some palliation, and even then in some very favourable cases only. Nevertheless, it is practicable to prevent contractions in the hoofs from taking place, even in those hoofs which are seemingly disposed that way from their shape, &c. by observing the rules already laid down, viz. by keeping the hoofs moist and cool, which is their natural state; using flat shoes, from which the hoofs can acquire no bad shape; allowing the sole and frog to continue in their full strength, the latter especially to rest upon the ground; and keeping the crust within due bounds, not suffering it to grow too long towards the toe, nor too high at the heels.

Sect. XLIII. Of Corns.

In the human body, corns in the feet are termed so with some propriety, from their horny substance; but what are called corns in the feet of horses, are very improperly named, as they are quite of an opposite nature, rather resembling contusions or bruises, and not unlike those bruises which happen in the palms of the hands and fingers to working people, arising from violent pinching, bruising, &c. where the skin is thick, which appears of a blackish red colour, and exceedingly painful at first, containing blood; but in the end, the serum or thinner parts being absorbed, the red particles appear when the dead skin is removed, like red powder. In like manner corns, or rather bruises, appear red and foxy, as the phrase is. They are situated in the corner or sharp angle of the sole at the extremity of the heels, where the crust reflects inward and forward, forming the binders. But they are more frequently to be met with in the inside heel, from the manner of the horse's standing, together with the pressure or weight of the body, which is greater upon the inside of the hoof than the outside. Bruises of this kind are exceedingly painful, insomuch that the horse shrinks and stumbles when anything touches or presses upon that quarter of the hoof; hence lameness.

This complaint arises from different causes, according to the shape or natural formation of the hoof, together with the treatment they are exposed to. But the following are the most frequent.

1st. In flat low heels, from too great a pressure of the shoe-heel upon the sole, whether from caulkers, a too great thickness of iron upon the heels of the shoe, or its being bended downwards upon the sole, or the shoe made too concave; either of these causes will produce the same effect; for, from the too great pressure upon the horny sole, the fleshy sole, which lies immediately underneath it, is comprelled and bruised between the shoe-heel, the sole, and the extremities or outward points of the coffin-bone; and hence a contusion or bruise, attended with an extravasation of the blood, which afterwards gives that part of the sole a red appearance, and is the reason why the sole, on that place never grows up so firm and solid, as it was before, but remains soft and spongy, forming a lodgement for sand and gravel, which frequently infatuates itself into the quick, causing an inflammation, attended with a suppuration or discharge of matter, which, if not finding a passage below, will break out at the coronet.

2nd. This complaint is produced in wide open heels, when the hoofs are very thick and strong, from too great a luxuriancy of the binder, which, being infected or bended downwards between the shoe and the sole, compresses the fleshy sole, as already mentioned; hence lameness.

3d. This malady, in deep narrow hoofs, proceeds from a contraction of the crust compressing the heels, &c. Hence, it not unfrequently happens in hoofs of this shape, that both heels are alike affected, from the stricture and pressure of the hardened crust upon the tendinous aponeurosis, &c., on the outside of the coffin-bone, which in this case is bruised between the bone and the crust; hence the redness may sometimes be traced upwards almost to the coronet. In this case no radical cure can take place, as the cause which produces these bruises, &c., will exist while the horse lives, and at the same time the horse will be lame from the contraction of the hoof; but the remedy proposed in the preceding section, by way of palliation for hoof-bound feet, may be of use to render the horse in some measure more serviceable.

With respect to the two first causes, when the bruise proceeds from too great a pressure from the shoe-heels, &c., upon the sole, the shoe must be made so as to bear off the tender part, and likewise to some distance on both sides of it; for which purpose, a round or a barred shoe will be necessary. The red and bruised parts must be cut out to the quick, and the hoof kept soft with emollient poultices for some time. But the texture of the blood-vessels, and likewise that of the hoof at the bruised part, being destroyed, a sponginess remains afterwards, and upon the least unequal pressure from the shoe, &c., are liable to a relapse, never admitting of a thorough cure, and of consequence subject to frequent lameness.

Corns or bruises in the feet of horses might, by taking proper care of them, be easily avoided: for in those countries where horses go mostly barefooted, this malady is not so much as known; neither are those horses that go constantly at cart and plough subject to them: hence, therefore, this complaint is most frequently to be met with in great towns, where horses go much upon hard caulkery, having their shoes turned up with high caulkers on the heels, and frequently renewed, at the same time their hoofs being kept too dry and hard, from standing too much upon hot dry litter: hence will appear the necessity of complying with what is most natural to the hoofs of horses, namely, coolness and moisture, together with using such a form of shoe as will press equally upon the circumference of the crust, and without giving it any bad unnatural shape. See sect. xlvii.

Sect. XLIV. Of Running Thrushes.

1. A Running Thrush (or Frush), is a discharge of a fetid, and sometimes ichorous, matter, from the cleft in the middle of the frog, affecting one, frequently both, and in some cases all the four feet. But, generally the fore-feet are most subject to this disease. In most cases, it seldom admits of a radical cure; but is subject to frequent relapses, occasioning lameness, from the rawness and tenderness of the parts affected, on being exposed to sand, gravel, &c., or in rough ground, from the heels trading on sharp stones, &c.; and when the horse happens to be of a bad habit of body, they even degenerate into what is commonly called a canker.

Running thrushes, according to Mr Gibson, "are sometimes profitable to horses of fleshy and foul constitutions; because (says he) they drain off a great many bad humours." But however salutary or beneficial they may be in some particular constitutions, yet, upon the whole, they prove extremely troublesome, on account of the lameness and tenderness of the feet affected with them; and, where there occurs one case in which they may properly be said to become beneficial to the constitution, there are a far greater number in which they are hurtful, as they are brought on by the treatment the hoofs are exposed to, together with the injudicious method generally observed in shoeing them, particularly in those hoofs that are narrow-heeled, or disposed to be hoof-bound, running thrushes being always an attendant upon that complaint. But, to explain this more particularly, there is, in the middle of the frog, a cleft or opening, by which the heels in a natural state have a small degree of contraction and expansion, especially when the horse treads or presses his heel upon the ground, the frog then expands; when, therefore, a horse is shod with concave or hollow shoes, the heels are deprived of that power of expansion, being constantly confined in a contracted state by the resistance from the outer edges of the concave shoe, by which the frog is pressed or squeezed on both sides, by the crust of the heels being brought nearer to or almost into contact with one another. Hence pain, inflammation, an obstruction of the blood, &c. (in the fleshy substance of the frog), and of course that wasting and rottenness of its external covering, which, falling off in pieces, leaves the quick almost bare: the new frog growing in detached pieces, never acquires the solidity of the former; and hence that rawness and tenderness which ever afterwards remain, and that extreme sensibility of pain when any hard substance touches that part of the foot, and of course subject the horse to frequent lameness. There are, no doubt, other causes which may be said to occasion this malady, even in those hoofs that are wide and open at the heels, where there is not the least appearance of a contraction at the heels; but these are generally owing to the treatment the hoofs are exposed to in the stable, by keeping them too hot and dry for a long tract of time together, during which the natural perspiration is greatly obstructed, by the constant application of grease or oil to the hardened hoofs, and stuffing them up with hot, resinous, and greasy mixtures, as tar, turpentine, &c., the horse being all the while kept at full feeding, and not having proper and necessary exercise to promote the circulation of the fluids, and to forward the ordinary secretions, &c.; the legs swell and inflame; at last a running in the frog appears; and hence this discharge is said to be beneficial to the constitution, when in fact it is but too frequently brought on by a slothful neglect, and kept up by bad management. Fresh air and regular exercise are essentially necessary towards preserving horses in an active healthy state; for running thrushes, like other diseases to which pampered horses are subject, are not known in those countries where horses run at large in the fields; neither are they so frequently to be met with in the country amongst labouring horses, whose exercise is regular, and whose hoofs are much exposed to coolness and moisture, the natural state of the feet of horses.

With respect to the cure of running thrushes, it has been been hinted, that in most cases, especially where it has been of long standing, affecting all the frogs more or less, it is impracticable to eradicate it by any affiance from art. For instance, when it proceeds from contracted narrow heels in those feet which are said to be hoof-bound, it is then an attendant only on that disease; and therefore cannot be cured without removing the first cause, though then it will only admit of some small degree of palliation*. But in those hoofs which are wide and open at the heels, where the complaint is recent, one or both the fore-feet only being affected, and where there is reason to suspect that it proceeds from the use of concave or hollow shoes, or keeping the hoofs too hot, dry, and hard, the cure then may be completed with ease and safety, by laying aside the use of concave shoes, washing the frogs clean after exercise, and dressing them with Mel Egyptianum, made as follows.

Mel Egyptianum. Verderigris in fine powder, two ounces; honey six ounces; vinegar four ounces; boil them over a gentle fire till they have acquired a reddish colour.

Or a solution of blue vitriol.

Solution of vitriol. Blue vitriol powdered, one ounce; water, one quart:

keeping the hoofs cool and moist. But, at the same time, recourse must be had to internal remedies by way of revulsion, as purging or diuretic medicines, bleeding being first premised: if the former is made choice of, twice or thrice will be sufficient, repeated at proper intervals; but if the latter, which seems preferable, they may be continued for some time with great safety, without losing one day's work of the horse.

In some cases, there is frequently not only a discharge of fetid matter from the clefts of the frogs; but, at the same time, a discharge of greasy-like matter from the round protuberances of the heels, and the hollow of the patellar joints. It will be necessary, therefore, to make a distinction between the matter discharged in this case, which appears of a thick, white, clammy, or foamy consistence, and that running in the legs commonly termed a garget, which is of a quite opposite quality; the latter by good management will admit of a thorough cure, whilst the former baffles all the power of medicine.

2. In horses of a grofs habit of body, especially the heavy draught kind, running thrushes sometimes degenerate into what is commonly called a canker. In this case, the horny substance of the frog is soon thrown off; the fleshy parts grow to an immoderate size, the luxuriant substance or spongy flesh having a great number of papillae or tubercles, which Mr Gibson compares not improperly to cauliflower; the colour only excepted, which is of a pale red, and sometimes variegated and tinged with blood; attended with a copious discharge of a thin ichorous fetid humour, having a most offensive smell. If its progress be not speedily stopt, the fleshy sole, from its vicinity, becomes likewise affected; the horny sole rots, decays, and falls off; the whole foot turns into a kind of quag or bog (in warm weather full of maggots, which it is almost impossible to prevent, even with the most corrosive dressings); the tendons become likewise affected, the bones carious, the hoof falls off, and the horse is rendered useless. To prevent these and the like consequences,

as soon as a running thrush begins to show the least malignant disposition, proper means must be used to correct the habit of body, and to divert this discharge to some other outlet, either by purging or diuretic remedies, continued for some time, bleeding being first premised. As to external applications, the first thing necessary to be done, is to pare down the crust till it is lower than the fungus, or growth of the canker, and to remove any hard pieces of the hoof or sole wherever it presses upon the tender parts; the circular part of the crust should be surrounded and kept soft with an emollient poultice. For dressings, the mildest erector powders may be first tried, as the following:

Take burnt alum powdered two ounces; blue vitriol powdered one ounce.

But when it degenerates into the last species mentioned above, affecting the fleshy sole, &c. the strongest corrosive applications will then be necessary, and sometimes hardly sufficient to keep down the luxuriancy of the fungus. The caustic oils are found preferable, as ol. vitriol. aquafortis, butter of antimony: either of these may be applied once every day; otherwise, if neglected dressing too long, or to every other day, which is the common practice, the great humidity and moisture issuing from the fungus so weakens the force of the strongest oils, that they have little or no effect: when these sharp dressings seem to gain upon the canker, it may be dressed with equal parts of red precipitate and burnt alum pounded and mixed together, till such time as the new sole begins to grow; the purging or diuretic medicines being given at proper intervals till the cure is completed.

Sect. XLV. Of False-quarter, and Sand-cracks.

1. What is commonly called a false-quarter in the foot of an horse is a cleft or chink in the side or quarter of the hoof, running in a slanting direction with the horny fibres of the hoof, from the coronet to its basis, by which the horny substance of the crust is divided; one part of the hoof being in a manner detached from the other, and rendered unable to sustain its portion or share of the weight of the limb, &c. and hence the name of false-quarter: for, when the horse sets his foot on the ground, the chink widens; but, when it is lifted up, the hardened edges of the divided hoof take in between them the tender and soft parts, and squeeze them so as to occasion frequent bleeding at the chink, and is frequently attended with inflammation, a discharge of matter, and of course lameness.

This complaint, notwithstanding the different accounts commonly given as to the cause of it, is in fact the effect of a deep wound or bruise upon the coronet, by which the continuity of the parts has been entirely broke off; for we always find, that when the horny fibres are divided at their roots, they never unite or grow up as before, but leave a blemish, more or less, in proportion to the size and deepness of such wounds, &c. We have many instances of this, even in the human body; for when a wound happens at the roots of the nails, whether in the fingers or toes, it occasions a blemish, which continues to grow in the same manner afterwards. Hence it will be evident, that no radical cure can possibly take place; but we may so far palliate the complaint as to render the horse something useful, by using a shoe of such a construction. False-quarter and sand cracks for which purpose, a round or what is called a barrel shoe, will be most proper. The surface of the hoof on and near the diseased part may be cut down lower than the surface of the crust upon which the shoe is to rest; or, if the hoof will not admit of being cut down, the shoe may be raised up from the weak quarter. Either of these means will remove the weight of the body from the diseased part, and the horse will go founder.

But as sand and gravel is easily admitted into the chink or crack, where, being accumulated and pent up, it irritates and inflames the parts, whereby matter is formed underneath the hoof, which causes lameness, and which not unfrequently breaks out at the coronet, producing the most inveterate ulcers, which become extremely difficult to heal, on account of the sinus or fistula branching out in different directions underneath the hoof; therefore, horses with this defect should be carefully observed; and, when the thick hardened edges of the chink or crack grow too high, by which it is so much the deeper, and, of course, lodges the greater quantity of sand, &c., these edges should be rasped, or pared with a crooked knife, till the seam disappears. But wherever there remains a blackness, or appearance of gravel, that part must be treated farther; always observing, if possible, to avoid drawing of blood. The chink or crack thus made smooth and equal, no sand or gravel can lodge in it; and as the parts will be tender, it will be necessary to apply an emollient poultice for some days, till the tenderness wear off. If the inflammation has been great, and matter formed in the crack, or the parts wounded by the knife in cutting its hardened edges, proud flesh may rise and jet out. In this case, the hard parts of the hoof near it are to be removed, a digestive poultice applied; and when the inflammation is abated, the proud flesh may be touched with the following corrosive powder:

Take blue vitriol burnt, two drams; corrosive sublimate, one dram; rubbed into powder.

2. A sand-track is of much the same nature with a false-quarter; only they run more frequently in an horizontal direction than the latter, on the outside or surface of the crust; they are generally the effect of flight or superficial wounds upon the coronet, and grow gradually downwards towards the basis of the hoof, and at last are cut or rasped off in the shoeing; when they occasion lameness from lodging sand or gravel, they must be treated in the same manner as already mentioned for False-quarters.

Sect. XLVI. Of Horses Cutting their Legs in Travelling.

Horses frequently cut their legs both before and behind, by striking or knocking the hoof when trotting, &c., against the opposite leg, whereby a wound is made, which is attended with an inflammation, swelling, &c., and of course lameness. The parts commonly wounded from cutting in the fore-legs, are the prominent and back part of the fetlock joint; and under the knee joint on the inside of the leg. The former is most common; the latter only happens to those horses who raise their feet high in trotting; and, as such horses generally go fast, this last species of cutting is distinguished by the name of the swift or speedy cut.

In the hind-legs, horses cut themselves upon the prominent part of the fetlock-joint; and sometimes, especially those who move their legs too low, cut upon the coronet. But whether they cut before or behind, it commonly proceeds from some of the following causes.

1/3. Indjudicious shoeing; under which may be included, the hoofs being suffered to grow too large and broad, the shoe projecting over the inside edge of the hoof, the clenches or rivets of the nails rising above the surface of the crust.

There are a great variety of shoes recommended for preventing this complaint, of different constructions; but the most common are those that are made thick upon the inside heel. Others have a border or margin turned up upon the inside of the shoe's rim, commonly called a feather, which raises the inside of the hoof considerably higher from the ground than the outside. Either of these shoes may be of use to a dealer, in order to make a wry-footed horse appear to stand straight upon his limbs; but can have no effect upon a horse's manner of moving his legs, especially at the time when the foot is raised from the ground, and passing by the other leg, so as to prevent him from cutting. The reason why this method of shoeing seems to succeed, especially in the hind-feet, is this: when the shoe is made thick upon the inside heel, which part commonly strikes the opposite leg, the shoe-nails are removed to a considerable distance forward from the thick part of the shoe, which, at the same time, is kept much within the circle of the hoof; and, on that account, it becomes impossible that the shoe should touch the opposite leg. But, to show that this raising of the inside quarter or heel, by a thickness of iron in the shoe, is not necessary to prevent horses from cutting, the author has frequently caused the heel of the shoe to be made thinner than common; and, by keeping it within the hoof, it answered equally well with the former; he has likewise caused the shoe to be cut in the middle of the quarter, whereby the hoof at the heel was left quite bare; which answered the purpose so much the better, as the foot was less loaded with the additional weight of superfluous iron.

2d. The great weight of the concave shoes commonly used, is likewise another cause why horses, that in other respects move well upon their legs, do frequently cut and wound themselves; and to this we may add, the great length of the hoof at the toe, especially in the fore-feet, which is allowed frequently to grow to an unnatural size. It has been already observed, that a great load of iron is by no means necessary in a horse's shoe: on the contrary, it becomes a great disadvantage; for a flat one that is properly constructed, and well wrought, that is, well hammered, will wear as long as a concave or hollow shoe that is almost double the weight of the former. This, at first view, will perhaps appear a paradox; but, nevertheless, it is a fact: for as the round or outward surface of a concave shoe is the only part that touches the ground, and is liable to be worn, it soon grows thin, and yields to the pressure from the weight of the body; and there-fore fore must be renewed before the other parts of it are hardly touched, and but little reduced in its original weight. But the surface of a flat shoe, resting equally upon the ground, will remain firm upon the hoof, and be sufficiently strong to support the weight of the body till it wears very thin.

When horses cut or wound themselves immediately under the knee-joint, this is called the swift or speedy cut; and is occasioned by raising the feet high in trotting, whereby the inside toe or quarter of the hoof strikes against the opposite leg. This is easily prevented by making the shoe straight, and placing it considerably within the hoof at the part where the hoof strikes the other leg, observing that no nails are to be put in that part of the shoe which is kept too much within the hoof, otherwise they must immediately plunge into the quick.

3d. When cutting proceeds from a natural defect, that is, a wrong position of the foot upon the leg-bones, whereby the toes are turned too much outward or too much inward; at the same time, if the horse crosses his legs much in trotting; in this case there is no preventing his cutting altogether, though it may be palliated. Such horses are by no means fit for journey-riding, being generally addicted both to cutting and stumbling.

In the last place, it may proceed from fatigue or weakness. This happens frequently, even to those horses that deal their legs well (as the phrase is), especially in young horses; but they soon leave it off when they acquire more strength, and are accustomed to their work; most people must have experienced this in themselves when boys, as they at that age are very ready to knock their ankles with the heel of the opposite shoe, which custom wears off as they grow strong.

Upon the whole, the best general rule that can be laid down for preventing horses from cutting their legs, is to keep their hoofs round and short at the toe, and from growing too large and broad; to observe that the shoe does not project over the inside edge of the hoof; that the clenches or rivets of the nails on the outer surface of the crust are smooth; and, above all, that the shoe be made light, well worked, and properly proportioned to the size of the foot. See the following head.

**Sect. XLVII. Shoeing of Horses.**

Horses are shod in order to defend and preserve their hoofs. As feet differ, so should shoes accordingly. "The only system of farriers, (Lord Pembroke observes), is to shoe in general with excessive heavy and clumsy ill-shaped shoes, and very many nails, to the total destruction of the foot. The cramps they annex, tend to destroy the bullet; and the shoes made in the shape of a walnut-shell prevent the horse's walking upon the firm basis which God has given him for that end, and thereby oblige him to stumble and fall. They totally pare away also and lay bare the inside of the animal's foot with their detestable buttresses, and afterwards put on very long shoes, whereby the foot is hindered from having any pressure at all upon the heels, which pressure otherwise might still perchance, notwithstanding their dreadful cutting, keep the heels properly open, and the foot in good order. The frog should never be cut out; but as it will sometimes become ragged, it must be cleaned every now and then, and the ragged pieces pared off with a knife. In one kind of foot indeed a considerable cutting away must be allowed of, but not of the frog: we mean, that very high feet must be cut down to a proper height; because, if they were not, the frog, though not cut, would still be too far above the ground, as not to have any bearing upon it, whereby the great tendon must inevitably be damaged, and consequently the horse would go lame.

"The weight of shoes must greatly depend on the quality and hardness of the iron. If the iron be very good, it will not bend; and in this case the shoes cannot possibly be made too light: care, however, must be taken, that they be of a thickness so as not to bend; for bending would force out the nails, and ruin the hoof. That part of the shoe which is next the horse's heel, must be narrower than any other, (as is seen in the draught, Plate CLXXXIX.) that stones may be thereby prevented from getting under it, and sticking there: which otherwise would be the case; because the iron, when it advances inwardly beyond the bearing of the foot, forms a cavity, wherein stones being lodged would remain and, by pressing against the foot, lame the horse. The part of the shoe which the horse walks upon should be quite flat, and the inside of it likewise; only just space enough being left next the foot to put in a picker (which ought to be used every time the horse comes into the stable), and also to prevent the shoe's pressing upon the sole. Four nails on each side hold better than a greater number, and keep the hoof in a far better state. The toe of the horse must be cut short, and nearly square (the angles only just rounded off); nor must any nails be driven there: this method prevents much stumbling, especially in defects; and serves, by throwing nourishment to the heels, to strengthen them: on them the horse should in some measure walk, and the shoe be made of a proper length accordingly; by this means, narrow heels are prevented, and many other good effects produced. Many people drive a nail at the toe, but it is an absurd practice. Leaving room to drive one there causes the foot to be of an improper length; and moreover, that part of the hoof is naturally so brittle, that even when it is kept well greased, the nail there seldom stays in, but tears out and damages the hoof. That the directions for shoeing a proper length may be the more clear and intelligible, we have annexed a draught of a foot shod a proper length standing on a plain surface, and with it a draught of the right kind of shoe.

"In wet, spongy, and soft ground, where the foot sinks in, the pressure upon the heels is of course greater than on hard ground; and so indeed it should be upon all accounts. The hinder-feet must be treated in the same manner as the fore-ones; and the shoes the same; except in hilly and slippery countries, they may not improperly be turned up a little behind; but turning up the fore-shoes is of no service, and is certain ruin to the fore-legs, especially to the bullets. In descending hills, cramps are apt to throw horses down, by flopping the fore-legs, out of their proper basis and natural bearing, when the hinder ones are rapidly pressed; which unavoidably must be the case, and consequently cannot but push the horse upon his nose. With them on a plain surface, a horse's foot is always thrown forwards on the toe, out of its proper bearing, which is very liable to make the horse stumble. The notion of their utility in going up hills is a false one. In ascending, the toe is the first part of the foot which bears on, takes hold of the ground, and whether the horse draws or carries, consequently the business is done before the part where the cramps come to the ground.

Ice-nails are preferable to any thing to prevent slipping, as also to help horses up hill, the most forward ones taking hold of the ground early, considerably before the heels touch the ground; they must be so made, as to be, when driven in, scarce half an inch above the shoe, and also have four sides ending at the top in a point. They are of great service to prevent slipping on all kinds of places; and by means of them a horse is not thrown out of his proper basis. They must be made of very good iron; if they are not, the heads of them will be perpetually breaking off. From the race-horse to the cart-horse, the same system of shoeing should be observed. The size, thickness, and weight of them only should differ. The shoe of a race-horse must of course be lighter than that of a saddle-horse; that of a saddle-horse lighter than that of a coach or bat horse; and these last more so than a cart, waggon, or artillery horse. At present all shoes in general are too heavy; if the iron is good, shoes need not be so thick as they are now generally made.—The utmost severity ought to be inflicted upon all those who clap shoes on hot; this unpardonable laziness of farriers in making feet thus fit shoes, instead of shoes fitting feet, dries up the hoof, and utterly destroys them. Frequent removals of shoes are detrimental, and tear the foot; but sometimes they are very necessary: this is an inconvenience which half-shoes are liable to; for the end of the shoe, being very short, is apt to work soon into the foot, and consequently must then be moved."

In a late treatise on this subject by Mr Clark of Edinburgh, the common form of shoes, and method of shoeing, are, with great appearance of reason, totally condemned, and a new form and method recommended, which seem founded on rational principles, and to have been confirmed by experience.

Common method. "In preparing the foot for the shoe, our author observes, the frog, the sole, and the bars or binders, are pared so much that the blood frequently appears. The shoe by its form (being thick on the inside of the rim, and thin upon the outside*), must of consequence be made concave or hollow on that side which is placed immediately next the foot, in order to prevent its resting upon the sole. The shoes are generally of an immoderate weight and length, and every means is used to prevent the frog from resting upon the ground, by making the shoe-heels thick, broad, and strong, or raising cramps or cakers on them.

"From this form of the shoe, and from this method of treating the hoof, the frog is raised to a considerable height above the ground, the heels are deprived of that substance which was provided by nature to keep the crust extended at a proper wideness, and the foot is fixed as it were in a mould.

"By the pressure from the weight of the body, and resistance from the outer edges of the shoe, the heels are forced together, and retain that shape impressed upon them, which it is impossible ever afterwards to remove; hence a contraction of the heels, and of course lameness. But farther.

"The heels, as has been observed, being forced together, the crust presses upon the processes of the coffin and extremities of the nut-bone: The frog is confined, and raised so far from the ground, that it cannot have that support upon it which it ought to have: the circulation of the blood is impeded, and a wasting of the frog, and frequently of the whole foot, ensues. Hence proceed all those diseases of the feet, known by the names of foundered, hoof-bound, narrow-heels, running thrushes, corns, high feet, &c.

"I have likewise frequently observed, from this compression of the internal parts of the foot, a swelling of the legs immediately above the hoof, attended with great pain and inflammation, with a discharge of thin, ichorous, fetid matter: from which symptoms, it is often concluded, that the horse is in a bad habit of body (or what is termed a grease falling down), and must therefore undergo a course of medicine, &c.

"The bad effects of this practice are still more obvious upon the external parts of the hoof. The crust toward the toe, being the only part of the hoof free from compression, enjoys a free circulation of that fluid necessary for its nourishment, and grows broader and longer; from which extraordinary length of toe, the horse stumbles in his going, and cuts his legs. The smaller particles of sand infilluate themselves between the shoe and the heels, which grind them away, and thereby produce lameness. All this is entirely owing to the great spring the heels of the horse must unavoidably have upon the heels of a shoe made in this form.

"This concave shoe in time wears thin at the toe, and, yielding to the pressure made upon it, is forced wider, and of consequence breaks off all that part of the crust on the outside of the nails. Instances of this kind daily occur, insomuch that there hardly remains crust sufficient to fix a shoe upon.

"It is generally thought, that the broader a shoe is, and the more it covers the sole and frog, a horse will travel the better. But, as has been formerly remarked, the broader a shoe is of this form, it must be made the more concave; and, of consequence, the contracting power upon the heels must be the greater. It is likewise to be observed, that, by using strong broad-rimmed concave shoes in the summer-season, when the weather is hot and the roads very dry and hard, if a horse is obliged to ride fast, the shoes, by repeated strokes (or friction) against the ground, acquire a great degree of heat, which is communicated to the internal parts of the foot; and, together with the contraction upon the heels occasioned by the form of the shoe, must certainly cause exquisite pain. This is frequently succeeded by a violent inflammation in the internal parts of the hoof, and is the cause of that disease in the feet so fatal to the very best of our horses, commonly termed a founder. This is also the reason why horses, after a journey or a hard ride, are observed to shift their feet so frequently, and to lie down much.

"If we attend further to the convex surface of this shoe, and the convexity of the pavement upon which Shoeing which horses walk, it will then be evident that it is impossible for them to keep their feet from slipping in this form of shoe, especially upon declivities of streets.

"It is also a common practice, especially in this place, to turn up the heels of the shoes into what is called cramps or caulkers, by which means the weight of the horse is confined to a very narrow surface, viz. the inner round edge of the shoe-rim and the points or caulkers of each heel, which soon wear round and blunt; besides, they for the most part are made by far too thick and long. The consequence is, that it throws the horse forward upon the toes, and is apt to make him slip and stumble. To this cause we must likewise ascribe the frequent and sudden lamenesses horses are subject to in the legs, by twisting the ligaments of the joints, tendons, &c.

"I do not affirm that caulkers are always hurtful, and ought to be laid aside: On the contrary, I grant, that they, or some such like contrivance, are extremely necessary, and may be used with advantage upon flat shoes where the ground is slippery; but they should be made thinner and sharper than those commonly used, so as to sink into the ground, otherwise they will rather be hurtful than of any advantage.

"The Chinese are said to account a small foot an ornament in their women, and for that purpose, when young, their feet are confined in small shoes. This no doubt produces the desired effect; but must necessarily be very prejudicial to them in walking, and apt to render them entirely lame.

"This practice, however, very much resembles our manner of shoeing horses: for, if we looked upon it as an advantage to them to have long feet, with narrow low heels, and supposing we observed no inconvenience to attend it, or bad consequence to follow it, we could not possibly use a more effectual means to bring it about, than by following the method already described.

"In shoeing a horse, therefore, we should in this, as in every other case, study to follow nature; and certainly that shoe which is made of such a form as to resemble as near as possible the natural tread and shape of the foot, must be preferable to any other.

"But it is extremely difficult to lay down fixed rules with respect to the proper method to be observed in treating the hoofs of different horses; it is equally difficult to lay down any certain rule for determining the precise form to be given their shoes. This will be obvious to every judicious practitioner, from the various constructions of their feet, from disease, and from other causes that may occur; so that a great deal must depend upon the discretion and judgment of the operator, in proportioning the shoe to the foot, by imitating the natural tread, to prevent the hoof from contracting a bad shape.

"In order, therefore, to give some general idea of what may be thought most necessary in this matter, I shall endeavour to describe that form of shoe and method of treating the hoofs of horses, which from experience I have found most beneficial.

Vol. VII. Part I.

"Froper Method. It is to be remembered, that a horse's shoe ought by no means to rest upon the sole, otherwise it will occasion lameness; therefore it must rest entirely on the crust: and, in order that we may imitate the natural trend of the foot, the shoe must be made flat (if the height of the sole does not forbid it); it must be of an equal thickness all around the outside of the rim (A); and on that part of it which is to be placed immediately next the foot, a narrow rim or margin is to be formed, not exceeding the breadth of the crust upon which it is to rest, with the nail-holes placed exactly in the middle; and from this narrow rim the shoe is to be made gradually thinner towards its inner edge. See fig. 5.

"The breadth of the shoe is to be regulated by the size of the foot, and the work to which the horse is accustomed: but, in general, it should be made rather broad at the toe, and narrow towards the extremity of each heel, in order to let the frog rest with freedom upon the ground. The necessity of this has been already shown.

"The shoe being thus formed and shaped like the foot, the surface of the crust is to be made smooth, and the shoe fixed on with eight or at most ten nails, the heads of which should be sunk into the holes, so as to be equal with the surface of the shoe. The sole, frog, and bars, as I have already observed, should never be pared, farther than taking off what is ragged from the frog, and any excrescences or inequalities from the sole. And it is very properly remarked by Mr Osmer, 'That the shoe should be made so as to stand a little wider at the extremity of each heel than the foot itself: otherwise, as the foot grows in length, the heel of the shoe in a short time gets within the heel of the horse; which pressure often breaks the crust, and produces a temporary lameness, perhaps a corn.'

"This method of shoeing horses I have followed long before Mr Osmer's treatise on that subject was published; and for these several years past I have endeavoured to introduce it into practice.

"But to much are farriers, grooms, &c. prejudiced in favour of the common method of shoeing and paring out the feet, that it is with difficulty they can even be prevailed upon to make a proper trial of it.

"They cannot be satisfied unless the frog be finely shaped, the sole pared, and the bars cut out, in order to make the heels appear wide (s). This practice gives them a show of wideness for the time; yet that, together with the concave form of the shoe, towards the contraction of the heels, which, when confirmed, renders the animal lame for life.

"In this flat form of shoe, its thickest part is upon the outside of the rim, where it is most exposed to be worn; and being made gradually thinner towards its inner edge, it is therefore much lighter than the common concave shoe: yet it will last equally as long, and with more advantage to the hoof; and as the frog or heel is allowed to rest upon the ground, the foot enjoys the same points of support as in its natural state. It must therefore be much easier for the horse in his way

(a) For a draught-horse about half an inch thick, and larger in proportion for a saddle-horse.

(b) Wide open heels are looked upon as a mark of a sound good hoof. Shoeing way of going, and be a means of making him furer-footed. It is likewise evident, that, from this shoe, the hoof cannot acquire any bad form; when, at the same time, it receives every advantage that possibly could be expected from shoeing. In this respect it may very properly be said, that we make the shoe to the foot, and not the foot to the shoe, as is but too much the case in the concave shoes, where the foot very much resembles that of a cat's fixed into a walnut-shell.

"It is to be observed, that the hoofs of young horses, before they are shod, for the most part are wide and open at the heels, and that the crust is sufficiently thick and strong to admit of the nails being fixed very near the extremities of each. But, as I have formerly remarked, from the constant use of concave shoes, the crust of this part of the foot grows thinner and weaker; and when the nails are fixed too far back, especially upon the inside, the horse becomes lame: to avoid this, they are placed more towards the fore-part of the hoof. This causes the heels of the horse to have the greater spring upon the heels of the shoe, which is so very detrimental as to occasion lameness; whereas, by using this flat form of shoe, all these inconveniences are avoided; and if the hoofs of young horses, from the first time that they were shod, were continued to be constantly treated according to the method here recommended, the heels would always retain their natural strength and shape.

"By following this flat method of shoeing, and manner of treating the hoofs, several horses now under my care, that were formerly tender-footed, and frequently lame, while shod with broad concave shoes, are now quite sound, and their hoofs in as good condition as when the first shoes were put upon them: In particular, the horse that wore the broad concave shoes, from which the drawings of fig. 2. and 3. were taken, now goes perfectly sound in the open narrow kind of shoes, as represented fig. 4. 5.

"If farriers considered attentively the design of shoeing horses, and would take pains to make themselves acquainted with the anatomical structure of the foot, they would then be convinced, that this method of treating the hoofs, and this form of shoe is preferable to that which is so generally practised.

"It has been alleged, that in this form of shoe horses do not go so well as in that commonly used. This objection will easily be laid aside, by attending to the following particulars. There are but few practitioners that can or will endeavour to make this sort of shoe as it ought to be. The iron, in forming it, does not so easily turn into the circular shape necessary as in the common shoe; and perhaps this is the principal reason why farriers object to it, especially where they work much by the piece. And as many horses that are commonly shod with concave shoes have their foals considerably higher than the crust, if the shoe is not properly formed, or if it is made too flat, it must unavoidably rest upon the sole, and occasion lameness.

"The practice of paring the sole and frog is also so prevalent, and thought so absolutely necessary, that it is indiscriminately practised, even to excess, on all kinds of feet: And while this method continues to be followed, it cannot be expected that horses can go upon hard ground (on this open shoe) with that freedom they would do if their soles and frogs were allowed to remain in their full natural strength.

"Experience teaches us, that, in very thin-foled shoes, we feel an acute pain from every sharp-pointed stone we happen to tread upon. Horses are sensible of the same thing in their feet, when their soles, &c. are pared too thin. Hence they who are prejudiced against this method, without ever reflecting upon the thin state of the sole, &c. are apt to condemn it, and draw their conclusions more from outward appearances than from any reasoning or knowledge of the structure of the parts. From a due attention likewise to the structure of a horse's foot in a natural state, it will be obvious, that paring away the sole, frog, &c. must be hurtful, and in reality is destroying that substance provided by nature for the defence of the internal parts of the foot: From such practice it must be more liable to accidents from hard bodies, such as sharp stones, nails, glass, &c. From this consideration we will likewise find, that a narrow piece of iron adapted to the shape and size of the foot, is the only thing necessary to protect the crust from breaking or wearing away; the sole, &c. requiring no defence if never pared.

"There is one observation I would farther make, which is, that the shoe should be made of good iron, well worked or what smiths call hammer-hardened, that is, beat all over lightly with a hammer when almost cold. The Spaniards and Portuguese farriers use this practice greatly, inasmuch that many people, who have seen them at work, have reported that they form their horses' shoes without heating them in the fire as we do. It is well known, that heating of iron till it is red softens it greatly; and when shoes thus softened are put upon horses feet, they wear away like lead. But when the shoes are well hammered, the iron becomes more compact, firm, and hard; so that a well-hammered shoe, though made considerably lighter, yet will last as long as one that is made heavier; the advantage of which is obvious, as the horse will move his feet with more activity, and be in less danger of cutting his legs.

"The common concave shoes are very faulty in this respect; for, in fitting or shaping them to the foot, they require to be frequently heated, in order to make them bend to the unequal surface which the hoof acquires from the constant use of these shoes; they thereby become soft; and to attempt to harden them by beating or hammering when they are shaped to the foot would undo the whole. But flat shoes, by making them, when heated, a little narrower than the foot, will, by means of hammering, become wider, and acquire a degree of elasticity and firmness which it is necessary they should have, but impossible to be given them by any other means whatever; so that any farrier, from practice, will soon be able to judge, from the quality of the iron, how much a shoe, in fitting it to the circumference of the hoof, will stretch by hammering when it is almost cold; this operation, in fitting flat shoes, will be the less difficult, especially when it is considered, that as there are no inequalities on the surface of the hoof (or at least ought not to be) which require to be bended thereto, shoes of this kind only require to be made smooth and flat; hence Shoeing hence they will press equally upon the circumference or crust of the hoof, which is the natural tread of a horse.

When the roads, &c. are covered with ice, it becomes necessary to have the heels of the shoes turned up, and frequently sharpened, in order to prevent horses from slipping and falling. As this cannot be done without the frequent moving of the shoes, which breaks and destroys the crust of the hoofs where the nails are drove, to prevent this, it is recommended to those who are willing to be at the expense, to have steel points screwed into the heels or quarters of each shoe, which might be taken out and put in occasionally.

The method of doing this properly, as directed by Mr Clark, is first to have the shoes fitted to the shape of the hoof, then to make a small round hole in the extremity of each heel, or in the quarters, about three-eighths of an inch in diameter, or more, in proportion to the breadth and size of the shoe; in each of these holes a screw is to be made; the steel points are likewise to have a screw on them, exactly fitted to that in the shoes. Care must be taken that the screw on the points is no longer, when they are screwed into the shoe, than the thickness of the latter. The steel points are to be made sharp; they may either be made square, triangular, or chisel pointed, as may be most agreeable; the height of the point above the shoe should not exceed half an inch for a saddle horse; they may be made higher for a draught horse. The key or handle that is necessary to screw them in and out occasionally, is made in the shape of the capital letter T, and of a sufficient size and strength; at the bottom of the handle, a socket or cavity must be made, properly adapted to the shape of the steel point, and so deep as to receive the whole head of the point that is above the shoe. In order to prevent the screw from breaking at the necks, it will be necessary to make it of a gradual taper; the same is likewise to be observed of the female screw that receives it, that is, the hole must be wider on the upper part of the shoe than the under part; the sharp points may be tempered or hardened, in order to prevent them from growing too soon blunt; but when they become blunt, they may be sharpened as at first. These points should be unscrewed when the horse is put into the stable, as the stones will do them more injury in a few minutes than a days riding on ice. A draught horse should have one point on each shoe, as that gives them firmer footing in drawing on ice; but for a saddle horse, when they are put there, they are apt to make him trip and stumble.

When the shoes are provided with these points, a horse will travel on ice with the greatest security and steadiness, much more so than on causeway or turnpike roads, as the weight of the horse presses them down in the ice at every step he makes.