JOHNA.SEAVERNS Ill 3 9090 013 413 295 ( .•7>fcik A j-^/if-a: (^i^ / \U<^/M^ yjjrt- y/j Webster Family Library of Veterinary Msd Cummings Sciiool of Veterinary Medicine Tufts Universfty 200 Wasrboro Road - Wnrfhfimftnn MAHi^'^^ A BOOK FOR EVERY FARMER. THE AMERICAN VETERINARIAN; OR DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. SHOWING THE CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND REMEDIES, RULES FOR RESTORING AND PRESERVING HEALTH BY GOOD MANAGEMENT. WITH DIRECTIONS FOR TRAINING AND EREEDING, BY S. W. COLE, EDITOR AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT BOSTON CULTIVATOR, FORMEULT EDITOR YANKEE FARMER AND FARMER'S JOURNAL. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY JOHN P. JEWETT & COMPANY. CLEVELAND, OHIO: JEWETT. PROCTOR & WORTHINGTON. 18 5G. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by S. W. COLE, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. The animals in our Frontispiece, " Lady Messenger," and her colt, " Morgan Messenger," are descendants of the famous Morgan and Messenger horses. They were formerly owned, nxid the colt was raised, by S. W. Jewett, Esq., Weybridge, Vermont ; but are now the property of General S. W. Bur- roughs, Medina, Orleans county, New York. Stereotyped by GEORGE A. CURTIS; BNOLAND TYPB AND STSaEOTTPB FOUNDBRT. PKEFACE. In the whole routine of husbandry, there is not a subject on which there is so great a want of infonnation as in treat- ing sicJi animals, and preventing diseases ; and in no case do so serious and frequent losses occur, for want of knowledge. These losses, in this country, amount to a vast sum annually, not less than some miUions of dollars ; the greater part of which might be saved by good management and proper treat- ment. More than twenty years ago, we commenced collecting valu- able rules and prescriptions, for managing animals and curing diseases, for our own private use in pursuing the business of farming ; and in a number of instances, neighbors con- sulted these authorities, and by aid of a simple recipe, saved the lives of valuable animals. A mere item of a few lines, that costs less than one mill, may enable the farmer to save the life of an animal. By the help of a single prescription, whole herds and flocks have been saved from the 'pestilence that walketh in darkness, and the destruction that wasteth at noonday." We have continued our collection of valuable matter, con- sulting the best American and European authorities on the vetermary art, and many skilful practitioners, from whom we have obtained new and valuable prescriptions ; and in con- ducting agricultural jounials for more than twelve years, we have carefully examined all the works of this character, in this country, and some of the principal English periodicals, through which numerous intelligent farmers have communi- cated their experience in managing stock and treating diseased animals. Availing ourselves of our own experience and observation as a practical farmer, and conductor of papers devoted to the tarming interest, and of our numerous sources, we have col- lected a vast heap of valuable materials on the subject of this work. This we have examined, sifted, arranged, digested, and reduced, by excluding words and retaining ideas, facts, and opinions, so as to present the cream and substance of the whole, in one neat, cheap volume, within the means of every one, and in a clear, simple style, within the comprehension of every one of common capacity. This work is not only adapted to the wants of the farmer, but It should be in the hands of every mechanic, and persons VI PREFACE. of every profession, who keep only a single iiorse, cow, sheep, pig, dog, or a few fowls. For every one who keeps ammais should not only learn to keep them in good health for pecu- niary gain, but as a matter of humanity and benevolence, in relieving distress and adding to the comfort of those animals which a kind Providence has placed under his care and con- trol, for his own special good. On some nice and difficult subjects, as to the peculiar prop- erties and effects of certain medicines, and some points in the pathology of diseases, involved in the sciences of anatomy and physiology, we have had the assistance of the most skiU ful and experienced. We are more especially indebted to Dr. Holmes, the worthy Editor of the " Maine Farmer," for freely offering any aid, and giving valuable information, from his own experience and observation, on some of the the most diffi- cult cases that occur in the veterinary art ; and to Sanford Howard, Esq., one of the able Editors of the " Albany Culti- vator," who is excellent authority in breeding and managing stock, for assistance on abstruse points and questionable sub- It has been our object to give several remedies, especially for the most common and destructive diseases ; as, in case a medicine does not succeed in due time, it affords an opportu- nity to try another ; and many simple remedies are brought forward which the farmer has in his own house, or on his own premises, while he does not have convenient access to the apothecary's shop ; and these simple means are often as effi- cacious as a compound collected from the /our quarters of the world, and New Holland besides. Among the simple and valuable medicines which the far- mer generally has at hand, are common salt, saltpetre, lime wood ashes, soot, lard, eggs, oil, mustard, molasses, honey, sugar, charcoal, ginger, tobacco, pepper, cayenne, bran, gruel, spirits of turpentine, coffee, camphor, sulphur, vinegar, tar rosin, chalk, and many other articles. And numerous herbs, barks, roots and plants, afford valuable decoctions, infusions, digestions and fomentations, that are among the most sov- ereign remedies for beast or man. We would invite intelligent men, who carefully investigate the subjects in this work, to give us their CEindid opinions on any part that claims particular attention, in the way of com- ment. Such notice will be gratefully received. March, 1847. S. W. COLE. Fourteenth Edition, or Thirtieth Thousand. Revised and Improved by the Author. New England Farmer Office. Quincy Hall, Boston, 1850. S.W.G CONTENTS. ANIMALS. Utility of Animals, 13 Treatment of Sick Animals, 15 To promote the Health of Stock, 17 Comfort of Animals, 20 Exercise, 20 Abstinence, 22 Unhealthy Meat, 24 Animals Differ, 26 Training and Breaking, 27 Gestation, 29 Water and Watering Places 30 Cooking Food for Horses and Cattle, 31 Symptoms of Diseases, 32 Physic, 33 Diuretics, 34 Seton or Rowel, 35 Bleeding, » 37 Back-Raking, 39 Accidents, &c., 40 Holding the Tongue when giving Medicine, 41 Mode of giving Liquid Medicine, 41 Mashes, 42 Fomentations, 42 Poultices 43 Caustics, , 44 Disinfectants and Anti-Putrescents, . , 44 Clysters, or Injections, 45 Astringents and Tonics, 47 Anodynes and Sedatives, 48 Stimulants and Carminatives, . , 48 Aromatics and Stomachics, 50 To stop Blood, » 50 Liniments, Opodeldoc, Embrocations, Ointments, &c., . 51 Poisons of Various Kinds, 53 Wounds of Various Kinds, 56 Broken Bones, 6p Vlll CONTENTS. Inversion of the Rectum, go Locked Jaw, or Tetanus, .'.*.'.'* 64 Rheumatism in the Joints, , gg Inflamed and Sore Eyes, rr For a Film on the Eye, !.*.*.*.* .67 HORSES. Description of a Good Horse, 69 Chobsing a Good Horse, * 7, To ascertain a Horse's Age li Blind Bridles, . . . f ! !! Check Reins, ll Stables, . ; ; 11 Docking and Nicking, ....*..* l^ Exercise, " * * g" Rearing and Training Colts, .....'. o? Taming, Training, and Breaking, ...'..*.***** oo Care ofa Healed or Wet Horse, ... * * * ' rq Dressing Vicious Horses, ng Utility of Dressing and Friction, ...'..'. on ohoeing, * ' * * qo To Save Horses from Fire, '. '. '. -.* !.*.*.*.*.***** 9" Food of Various Kinds, and its Preparation. .*.'.*.*'* 91 Water, \ ' ' * qq Care of Horses in Travelling, ' * qq Feeding on the Road, ,on General Management, {01 Stomach and Intestines, ', ' \no Physic, : ..:''' lot Diuretics, J^^ Fever, f^J Scours, ;°5 Hove,' ..:.:.::. 07 Distinction between Colic and Inflammation,* ! .* .* * * loa Cohc, \ ^ .108 Inflammation of the Stomach and Intestines. .* ! ! ! ! 'in pots, *112 Indigestion, or Stomach Staggers, * 117 Vellows, or Jaundice, * * ' 1 it Glanders, ....... ttl Horse-Ail, :::::;: : ::::;• 2? Distemper, or Epidemic Catarrh, 103 Cold, or Common Catarrh. ' * ioq Cough, :::::: :\ll CONTENTS IX Bronchitis, 126 Pleurisy, 127 Inflammation of the Lungs 128 Heaves — Thick and Broken Wind, 130 Diseases of the Urinary Organs, .132 Poll Evil, 138 Phrenitis, or Inflammation of the Brain, 141 Vertigo, Megrims, or Fits, 142 fiig Head, 143 Rabies, or Madness, (see also page 277,) 145 The Horse Disease, 145 Lampas, 146 Black Tongue, 146 The Ears, 147 Founder, 147 Eating too much Grain, 148 Hide-Bound, 149 Lice, 150 Moulting, or Shedding the Hair, 151 Abortion, 151 Wounds and Bruises, 152 Cramp, or Drawing of the Nerves, 152 Castration, 153 Salivation, or Slobbers, 165 Fistula, 156 Sweeney, 157 Galled Back, 157 The Sheath and Penis, 158 Spring Halt, 159 Stifle, 159 Splent, 161 Spavins, 161 Swelled Legs, or Weed, 163 Ring-Bone, ... • 163 Scratches, or Selenders, 164 Diseases of the Feet, • ......... 165 NEAT CATTLE. Marks ofa Good Cow, . 169 Marks of a Good Working Ox, , . . . 170 To ascertain the Age of Cattle, 170 Training, 172 Food, 174 Managing and Feeding Working Oxen, 176 Feeding and Managing Milch Cows, 177 Xll CONTENTS. Apoplexy, 260 Staggers, 260 Foul Noses, 261 Influenza, 261 Scours, or Diarrhoea, 261 Dysentery, 263 Rot, 263 Fever, 265 Consumption, 266 Stretches, 266 Braxy, 267 Dropsy, 267 Foot-Rot, 268 Hoven — Abortion — Swelled Udders — Management when with Young, 269 SWINE. To preserve Health, 271 Issues, 272 Swellings, 272 Ruptures, 272 Giving Drenches, 273 A General Medicine, 273 Disorder, . . 273 Fever, 273 Swine Pox, 273 Catarrh, 273 Measles, 273 Itch, or Mange, 274 Blind Staggers, 274 Is Tobacco Poisonous to Hogs? 274 Sore Throat, 274 Quincy, 276 Scours, 275 Black Teeth, 275 Kidney Worms, 275 Murrain 276 Sows devouring their Offspring, 276 Sows after Littering, 276 Abortion from Biestings, 276 Dogs, 277 Hens, 281 Turkeys — Ducks, 283 Geese — Birds — Bees, 284 Principles of Breeding 285 DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. Domestic Animals lessen the solitude and retirement of the country. They please us with their gambols when young, and by their actions in raaturer life. They fur- nish the means of improving the soil, and perpetuating its fertility ; and we are gratified with our sovereignty over them. The Horse greatly adds to our pleasure and our profit by his labor in the field and on the road, and his fleetness in carrying us from place to place. He aids in keeping up a communication with distant sections of the country, and serves as a necessary part of the cement of civilized society. He administers to our health, as well as to our pleasure and general welfare. He often evinces great sagacity, and a strong attachment for his master. Neat Cattle contribute largely to the blessings and comforts of life. The strength and patience of the ox in the plough and team, have greatly contributed to the wealth and happiness of the husbandman, in every age of the world. The cow has strong demands upon our gratitude. Her milk furnishes subsistence to a great part of mankind ; and its products in cream, butter, and cheese, form agreeable parts of the sustenance and luxuries of our table. A pustule upon her udder sup- nlies a matter, which, when introduced into the human system, defends it from one of the most fatal and loath- some scourges that ever afflicted mankind. Their flesh affords an agreeable nutriment ; their tallow serves as a substitute for the sun, and enables us to prosecute our business during a part of the long and dreary night . Their 2 14 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. hair affords a necessary ingredient in plaster ; their skins protect our feet from injuries and the weather, and fur- nish covering for books, carriages, trunks, and form the best material for harnesses, saddles, bands, and many other valuable purposes. Their horns supply combs, and, with their bones, are used in a variety of ways. Sheep are a pattern of innocence and a symbol of purity. In all nations, and in all ages of the world, their flesh has been admired as a delicious and wholesome food ; and they annually yield their warm and liberal fleeces to defend us from rigorous cold, protect us from inclement weather, and contribute to comfort, elegance, and taste. The Hog, while living, will make manure for the farmer, being one of the most useful of manufacturers for this purpose ; and at his death, he furnishes his flesh for food, his bristles for brushes, and other impor- tant uses, his fat for medical and culinary purposes, and his oil for light. The Dog is distinguished for his courage and fidelity in defending our persons and property ; for his strong attachment for his master ; and, in many cases, his sa- gacity in saving the life of his friends, commands our admiration, and commends him to our kindness and attention. Poultry have strong claims upon our kindness and care. They adorn our yards and fruit-trees with their beautiful plumage and various lively actions. They inform us of the approach of day. They furnish quills for writing, and feathers for beds ; and their eggs and flesh are a mild sustenance for the invalid, a delicious food for the hale, and a banquet to grace the board of hospitality and elegance. Although different species of animals differ materially in some respects, yet they are nearly the same in others. In regard to good, wholesome food, pure water, fresh air, exercise, dieting, abstinence, protection from expo- sure, kind treatment, and general management, the same, or nearly the same rules and remarks apply to all ; and some few diseases, their causes, the treatment and remedies, are nearly the same in all. DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 16 Therefore, to save repetition, and comprise as much useful matter as possible in this compend, we have arranged, under the general head of " Domestic Ani- mals," several articles that appertain to all, or to several kinds ; and we have treated of those diseases and the management peculiar to each species, under their appro- priate heads. Owing to this arrangement of the work, those who consult it, on the diseases of any species, should consider these general articles first. TREATMENT OF SICE ANIMALS. There are many erroneous notions prevalent in the community, in regard to the treatment of sick animals, and numerous unnatural and injurious practices prevail^ in consequence of these notions. If animals could speak, they would tell sad tales of "WTongs and out- rage." No wonder that this course is pursued with animals, when we consider that many human beings frequently have their stomachs converted into apothecaries' shops; and after taking emetics and purges, emptying the stomach and washing it out, the patient, poor and debil- itated by the severe operations and necessary starvation attendant upon them, is again built up, with all possible despatch, by roast beef, baked lamb, boiled pork, and a host of other substantial dishes, and numerous condi- ments to excite the appetite ; when a little abstinence, allowing the over-tasked digestive organs a little rest, would have cured, without impairing the powers of the system. • We recommend to owners of animals to exercise common se7ise, act with moderation and discretion, and not take hasty and harsh measures, and kill an animal by rough treatment, and by numerous and powerful doses, when, perhaps, if he was left for nature to do her own work, first removing the cause of disease, he would recover without medical aid. Be cautious against too much doctoring. Remember the distich, " You say you doctored me when lately ill ; To prove you didn't, I 'm living still." 16 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. Remember, also, the remark of a celebrated physician of England, whom the faculty attempted to keep down, as he was not rising by rule, but who i^ame tip in spite of their influence, and when he had attained eminence, and become a celebrated lecturer, he often told his stu- dents, that when they had pursued a regular course of treatment with a patient, and noted the treatment and his condition from time to time, till he recovered, it was of the greatest importance to consider whether he got well by virtue of the medicine, or in spite of it. This remark shows profoimd wisdom, and a monument should be built to the memory of the man who made it ; to him who saves life, by wise direction, rather than to him who, as a hero, destroys it. Diseases, directly opposite in their nature, are often treated with the same medicine. A quack once said to his patient, who was taking his medicine wthout amend- ment, "My medicine is good for all diseases." '"But," says the patient, " I want a powerful medicine applying directly to my peculiar disease, which is severe and obstinate." He dismissed his medical attendant, pro- cured a simple medicine of a friend, good for that par- ticular disease, and he immediately recovered. This shows the folly of giving medicines at random, or giving general medicines without regard to their quality or the nature of the disease. The disorder should be well known, and the medicine and treatment particularly adapted to it. Most diseases in animals closely resemble those of the human family, and require similar treatment, though with some variation and peculiarities, but not those outra- geous departures from common sense which are often witnessed. A horse with pleurisy or inflammation of the lungs, or apoplexy, reqtiires a very different treatment from one with colic or worms. There is, everywhere, too great a propensity to resort at once to active treatment and powerful medicines, without proper regard to the disease, its causes, the syn^p. toms, or the remedy; forgetting, or perhaps never having learned, that there is in nature a restorative power, under DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 17 favorable circumstances, and the grand object of all medicines, and all treatment, is to assist nature. In the human family, great cures are performed by proper attention to food, abstinence, exercise, air, bath- ing, rest, and to the various habits of the patient. Some severe and obstinate diseases, that have refused to yield to the most powerful medicines, have been com- pletely conquered by abstinence — even sometimes ap- proaching to starvation. Why should not some of these gentle means, or the last severe course, if necessary, be pursued with brute patients ? Keep animals constantly under favorable circum- stances for health ; and, in case of sickness, remove and withhold all causes of irritation and disease, and place the patient under the most favorable treatment for recovery. Keep the bowels open, the skin clean and well rubbed ; give pure water, good food, suited to the condition, fresh air, yet protect from exposure ; and but very little medicine will be necessary, excepting in sudden attacks with acute diseases. Judicious management is the main thing, both in preserving and restoring health. We say of good man- agement in regard to animals, as Demosthenes said of pronunciation in oratory, — it is the FIRST, the second, and the third important requisite. TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF STOCK. Under various heads, in other parts of this work, we have given directions for the management of stock ; we here give some general rules, with a few remarks on subjects not elsewhere considered. Mix, occasionally, one part of salt with four, five, or six parts of wood ashes, and give the mixture to different kinds of stock, summer and winter. It promotes their appetite, and tends to keep them in a healthy condition. It is said to be good against bots in horses, murrain in cattle, and rot in sheep. A correspondent of the " Southern Planter" says, that he put ashes into his hogpen, and sprinkled them with 9* 18 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. salt, and his hogs ate greedily of the mixture. He gave it to his cattle, and they improved wonderfudy. "We have given it to cattle and sheep, apparently with good effect. They eat it freely. It neutralizes the acid in the stomach. Horseradish root is valuable for cattle. It creates an appetite, and is good for various diseases. Some give it to any animal that is unwell. It is good for oxen troubled with the heat. If animals will not eat it volun- tarily, cut it up fiR3 and mix it with potatoes or meal. A quart or two of new chamber lye, frequently given to each animal is a preventive of disease. A piece of rosin, the size of an egg, pounded fine and given to a horse once a month, in his provender, is excellent foi keeping him m good health ; it keeps the urinary pas- sages open. Feed all animals regularly. They not only look foi their food at the usual time, but the stomach indicates the want at the stated period. Therefore feed, morning, noon and evening, as near the same time as possible. Guard against the wide and injurious extremes of satiating with excess and starving with want. Food should be of a suitable quality, and proportioned to the growth and fattening of animals, to their production in young and milk, and to their labor or exercise. Animals that labor need far more food, and that which is more nutritious, than those that are idle. Those with young should be well kept, as they have an extra draught upon their resources ; but they should not have very rich food, as high condition, in such cases, is often attended with difficulty and danger. Animals with young will do better by having moderate exercise, as it tends to insure health, strength, and per- fection in their offspring. When giving milk they should have an abundance of rich food, but not such as will tend too much to flesh and fat, nor so much to milk as to make them poor. IMales used for propagating their species extensively, should be well kept at all seasons, and fed high at the time their services are most in demand ; and, at other seasons, they should have a moderate share of exercise, to give them strength, symmetry and health. DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 19 Young animals, that are growing fast, are very hearty and need good keeping. Those that are fattening require rich food and a good supply. Yet there are seasons in which some animals are not growing, fattening, nor laboring, and there are no heavy draughts upon them ; in such cases they should be fed only moderately, and with plain food, as that which is rich will tend to cloying and disease. In grazing, animals are often injured and their health destroyed, by feeding on unwholesome plants in luxuri- ant, wet, marshy lands, and by the unv/holesome exha- lations and water of such regions. In such cases, give salt, ashes, a little salt-petre now and then, tar, and other condiments that are conducive to health ; and keep ani- mals from such lands at night, and supply with water from high lands, if possible. Unwholesome food is often fed to animals in wmter, such as bad grain, musty hay, and other fodder, and hay salted too highly, to save it when got in green. In such cases a peck of salt to a ton is too much, if it all be salted at this rate , for thirteen cows will eat about a ton of hay in a week ; and we have observed that when cattle are at grass, at a season in which they eat more salt than in winter, thirtee^x grown animals will not, on an average, through the summer, eat four quarts of salt a week, given to them twice. This would indicate four quarts to a ton to be an abundance. Musty hay is improved by cutting and moistening with water, adding occasionally a little salt to the water, if no salt was put on the hay. Guard all descriptions of stock against cold and expo- sure, especially against cold storms of rain, sleet and damp snow, and against lying out on the cold ground, in cool nights, in the spring and fall. In a dry time, see that animals have a good supply of pure water. When the fountains are low, they drink the drainings of fountains, streams, and passages of water, which are unwholesome. If barns and stables are very tight and warm, ventilate in mild weather, even in winter. In feeding animals on apples or roots, begin with a 25U DISEASES OF ANIMALS. small quantity and gradually increase it. It ■would be better to have all changes in food made gradually, when there is a material difference in the nature of the food ; as from hay to grass, and the reverse ; from much fodder to much grain, and the reverse. COMFORT OF ANIMALS. An animal may be well fed, and apparently well attended, and yet be uncomfortable, owing to an uneven floor to stand or rest on, a bad rack or manger, or some other inconvenience in the stable. There may be a want of exercise, or condiments, or change of food, pure air, currying, pure water, or something else necessary to comfort. He may breathe on his food, and render it offensive ; something not very apparent may incom- mode, vex, tease, or render the animal in some way un- comfortable. Of course, his digestion is impaired, his appetite declines, he will not grow or fatten, and is unfit for labor, and the female will not be in good condition for propagation, or yielding plentifully good, wholesome milk. Therefore, make your animals comfortable. EXERCISE. The health of man depends more on exercise in the open air than on any other one thing. A proper diet, bathing, protection from exposure, regular rest, regu larity in meals, suitable employment for the body and mind, freedom from trouble and vexation, and many other favorable circumstances, are all conducive to health, and some of them highly important, and to those who do not exercise, they are not only indispensable to health, but to life J for they cannot live without great attention to them. But, as important as these are, let a man of common constitution be accustomed to a plenty of exercise in the open air, and he will often bid defiance to them all ; and even contend strongly for many a long year against the gigantic monster intemperance. He will li\e on the fat of the land, or flourish on plain living or hard fare. He DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 21 will neglect bathing for a whole year, unless he is caught in a shower. He will bear the sun of a torrid summer, and face old Boreas in the sternest winter ; he will take Jack Frost by the nose, and manage him to his advan- tage ; will handle him in all shapes and conditions, and even pack him up, send him off, and sell him. He will sleep ten hours a night, if necessary to kill time ; or he will sleep fast, and occasionally get along comfortably with only a few hours' rest. He can eat four or five meals a day, when convenient, and at other times, he will flourish on two meals, and in cases of necessity he will endure labor on only one. He will attend to any employment, or, Yankee like, pursue every profession under the sun. And he will stem a torrent of vexation and trouble. We have spoken of bipeds, as their habits and the influence of their habits are accurately known ; for " How can we reason but from what we know ?" portance to health than anything else, and consider that animals in a state of nature take much exercise in pro- curing their sustenance, or as a matter of pleasure, and are consequently in good health, should they not have exercise in. a domestic state, when, from high feeding, and plethoric habits, they have far more need of it ? This subject has never received the attention its im portance demands, and we fear that it never will ; but we make these remarks, hoping that, in many cases, they wiU set the intelligent and discriminating to thinking, and lead to improvement. We pursue a course with animals which would kill ourselves, and when they aje half dead from inaction and repletion, we kill and con- sume them, and thus live fast and short — wearing out our machine by too much speed, or we are suddenly thrown off the track and smashed — unless we save our- selves from these evils by an abundance of exercise. But the wise man, in addition to this first thing for the preservation of health, will attend to all others also ; for although of minor importance compared with exercise, yet they are of great moment. The subject of healthy 22 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. meats should receive particular attention m regard to exercise, this indispensable requisite to health — this emphaticai sine qua non, (not without which.) Let all animals have suitable exercise ; it is alike con- ducive to their health, comfort and happiness ; and it contributes largely to their utility for every purpose for which we keep them, whether for labor, propagation, for the production of milk, or for their flesh. ABSTINENCE. A great many diseases may be cured by abstinence, or by living a few days, or longer, if necessary, on light food. Many a person, by living on gruel, porridge, potatoes, turnips, fruits, and other light food, for a short time, has warded off threatened disease, or saved him- self from active treatment under medicine that would have prostrated him, weakened the powers of digestion, and perhaps impaired the strength of the constitution. Physicians generally, and the most skilful in particu- lar, are too wise to take much medicine, however lib- erally they may deal it out to satisfy the expectations of their anxious patients, who depend mostly on them for recovery. Howard, Napoleon, and many other dis- tinguished men, who had a great knowledge of the human system, seldom took medicine ; but, on the approach of disease, they fasted, or lived abstemiously, and thus avoided sickness. "We make these remarks with a view of urging the importance of abstinence, or light feeding, in treating animals that are suffering from inflammatory complaints, and various diseases brought on by too rich and too liberal feeding. Light food, such as bran mashes, roots in small quantities, coarse fod- der, straw, &c , will fill ^he stomach, satisfy and make the animal comfortable, and prevent the danger that might arise from an empty stomach, in case of total abstinence, and yet afford but little nutriment to support inflammation, and feed a disease. In this way ,^ many diseases may be prevented by timely consideratio'n, and this course of treatment, while the animal is under disease, may cure, or serve as a valuable auxiliary in connection with the medicines- DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 23 Those who consult this work will please bear this subject m mind, and regard its importance in those cases in which light food is recommended ; for more can be done to keep an animal in health, or restore health when he is diseased, by good management, than by- medicines. Nature wisely provides that our appetites shall fail when we are sick and the system cannot dispose of food. We should improve upon this hint, and prevent sickness by moderation in all things. On this our health and life depend. And as health depends so much on temper- ance in eating and drinking, so, in case of illness, resto- ration to health depends greatly on abstinence, or light food. Few are aware of its importance ; many who are essentially benefited by it, lose sight of the cause. A man, who was sick from high living, consulted a physician, -who put him oh the most rigid, spare diet, as the only means of restoring health. He pursued it awhile ; (suflfering like the famous Sancho Panza, who saw the table groaning beneath rich viands which he dared not taste ;) at length he resolved that his belly, which was his god, should be filled with something bet- ter than gruel and bran, and he nullified the physician's directions, and soon demolished a plate of mutton chops, and washed it down with brandy, and then said that these things cured him of such a disease ; giving the physician no credit for curing him by starvation, allow- ing his system rest, and chance to regain its powers of digestion, so as to dispose of anything that was put into it. Another case directly to the point : — A young man was ailing, and it was thought that he was going into a decline. He consulted several physicians, and tried their prescriptions, but in vain ; and mesmerism was tried, with no better success. A friend proposed to undertake his cure, if he would follow his severe direc- tions ; to which he agreed. He was kept on gruel, and only a small allowance of that, as his case was an obsti- natl^one. Under this regimen he recovered, and we saw him some months after, hale and robust, pursuing the sturdy labors of the farm. 24 DISEASES OF AI^IMALS. The sick often injure themselves by feasting, being tempted by the excellent, rich dishes provided for them. The following is an illustration : An invalid had a favorite food prepared for his weak stomach ; and when he had despatched the eleventh dumpHng, and was about making an attack on the last, his little daughter ex- claimed, " Oh ! dad, give me dat ! " when he replied, with a most lugubrious countenance, and in a melancholy tone, "Go away, child ; poor dad is sick ! " "We give these cases as illustrations, as they show the importance of abstinence, where we can and have judged of its effects. By reasoning, we can see its bearing on the health of domestic animals, and make the applica- tion ; for, in this respect, all animals are much the same, whether two-legged or ibur-legged. UNHEALTHY MEAT. Great labor injures meat. A fat ox was overworked, and then killed, and his flesh sent to market. Of twenty- four persons who ate of the meat, fourteen died, mostly with diseases of the stomach and bowels. Driving animals rapidly in hot weather, so as to pro- duce excessive fatigue and exhaustion, renders their meat unwholesome, as well as unsavory; hence the superiority of the meat of animals brought to market in steamboats and cars, or allowed to travel leisurely, feed by the roadside, and gain on the way, over that of ani mals driven rapidly, and far, in hot weather. All very young meats are hard to digest, and of course unwholesome. A calf at three weeks old is harder to digest than an ox at ten. A young pig is more unwhole- some than a piece of an old hog. A chicken one month old is more difficult of digestion than a hen of one year. Young animals, in this respect, are like fruits, that not only lack maturity, but are only partially grown. With this view of the subject, the authorities of Paris have ordained that no veal shall be offered for sale, unless the calf was six weeks old. Putrid exhalations produce obstructions and ulcers in the livers of animals, which render them unfit for food ; DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 26 hence the importance of pure air for healthy meat. Any. thing that tends to make animals unhealthy, tends also to render their flesh unwholesome. Animals are always unwholesome in the season in which they propagate their species. Hence the wisdom of that church which substitutes fish for flesh during a part of the spring months. Even the heal of summer, in middle climates, renders their flesh unwholesome. Hence the propriety of living mostly on vegetable food, with a small portion of salted meat, during the summer and early part of autumn. Animals sometimes become so fat that they cannot see, and for weeks or months before their death, cannot get up without help. Such have the fat disease, that would soon destroy them ; but they are saved from waste by being killed and eaten. Some animals are kept in filth and foul exhalations, and are fed on the most nasty and putrid vegetable and animal matter, taking no exercise, and are thus fatted without a breath of fresh air, or a mouthful of pure food. This course would soon termi- nate their existence, but the butcher's knife kindly saves them from a lingering death, and they are sold in the market, and eaten by the purchaser, who is unconscious that death is in the pot. Some persons are so great epicures that they only wish to feast on those fat meats that the man of common sense would pronounce fit only to aid in the composition of soap. They seem to live merely for the sake of eating, but they defeat their own purpose, by living too highly, and feasting on meats so rich and unwholesome that their career is as short as it is inglorious. In and about cities there is a vast amount of filth, fit only for manure, that is converted into food for man ; and with so little change, that the meat produced from it engenders disease and death. To insure life and health, an animal, as well as man, should have pure air, pure food and exercise ; and any deviation from these rules produces disease, and those who eat diseased matter, animal or vegetable, violate nature's laws, and must, sooner or later, pay the sad penalty annexed to the transgression; no matter whether they do it from 3 26 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. temerity or indiscretion, — she knows no exceptions. Her laws are inflexible, — as fixed as those of the Medes and Persians. Again we say, keep your animals, for your own eat- ing, on wholesome food, pure water, and in good air ; allow them exercise, and place them under all those various circumstances that produce good health, and of course pure meat. And if you make meat to sell, love your neighbor as yourself, and " Be to others kind and true, As you 'd have others be to you." Steal from a man's pocket, or rob him on the high- way, — as criminal as it is, and as horrid and awful as may be the consideration of such crime, — rather than rob him of his money, his health, and his LIFE. Oh, that the "auri sacra fames, ''^ (cursed love of gold,) could find some less criminal mode of gratification, some other way of accomplishing its purpose, than that of tamper- ing with the health and life of human beings ! ANIBIALS DIFFER. There is not only a great difference in the diseases peculiar to different species of animals, but the effects of medicines on them vary. Knowledge of the diseases of animals in general can- not be inferred from a knowledge of one particular spe- cies ; for in the diseases of different races, the causes vary, the peculiar nature of diseases is different, and there is also a great difference in the effects of medicine on different species. The anatomy and physiology of animals differ. The dog has no insensible perspiration. Hogs do not perspire over the whole system, like cattle and horses, but they have issues on the inside of their fore legs, which are an outlet for the superflous fluids of the body. In the horse, the mouth conveys nothing to the lungs or from them. The passages to the lungs and to the stomach are distinct. The horse and decB, unlike other '^uadmpeds, have no gall bladder. Cattle have bots in DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 27 their skin, but not in the stomach, like the horse, unless from associating with that animal, and licking the nits from him. Hove, or bloating, is peculiar to cattle and sheep, from their organization, in having four stomachs, and rumina- ting, or re-chewing their food. It is unusual in the horse The eifects of medicines on different species of ani mals vary as much as their structure and diseases. Salts, which are a valuable physic for cattle and sheep, operate on the horse as a diuretic ; while aloes, which is the surest and best purgative for the horse, is very un certain for cattle, and sometimes dangerous, from pro ducing inflammation. Calomel, rhubarb, and colocynth do not operate as purgatives on the horse ; nor do any medicines operate on him as tartar emetic and ipecacuanha upon the human species. The horse can vomit only through the nose. Mercury will not salivate him, (but various plants will,) nor will sugar of lead poison him. But wheat, the natu ral food of man, is poisonous to the horse, when taken in very large quantities. Spirits of turpentine, which a child may handle without injury, operates as caustic when applied to the skin of the horse ; yet it may be applied to sores without pain. It is also like fire, when applied to the skin of the dog. [For other differences, see Poisons.] Notwithstanding these and other peculiar differences, animals in general are alike in many respects, both as to the causes and nature of diseases, and some remedies operate alike favorable on all. And as to treatment, in regard to wholesome food, pure water and air, exer- cise, protection from cold, wet, excessive heat, regularity of feeding, diet, keeping the bowels open, and the skin clean, &c. &c., nearly the same rules apply to all. TRAINING AND BREAKING. Animals should be trained, not broken. Train up an animal in the way he should go, and he will never need breaking. Some let their animals run -wdld, until three or four years old, and they become strong, wayward, and 28 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. ignorant ; and then they undenake to break them, — ann breaking it is, emphatically ; for they often break their constitution, their courage, their spirit, and sometimes their bones; and occasionally the breakers themselves get their own bones broken in this hazardous business. Besides these evils, there is great loss of time, and frequently a smash of carriages, a destruction of har- nesses, and a large consumption of whips ; and the ani- mal, by this hard usage, — this breaking instead of train- ing^ — often contracts bad habits, from which he never can be broken ; and frequent fright, and sometimes seri- ous injury, or loss of life, is the consequence. The most valuable animals for service, — the kindest, the safest, the most pleasant, and the most tractable, — are those that are trained in the way they should go, and well educated in their duties from their youth, or infancy, up to mature years. In all this training there should be great kindness; the most gentle means should be used, and the young animal should be taught, with patience and perseverance, what he should perform ; not driven to do what he does not know, what he cannot un- derstand, while threatened, frightened, and excited under the exercise of arbitrary authority and dictation ; and sometimes smarting under the lash, or groaning under tlie unmerciful blows of the cudgel, until enraged and infuriated to desperation. If managed with intelligence and discretion, with due regard to their tenderness and liability to injuries from bad treatment, no matter how early the training com- mences, — even when the animal is a few weeks old ; he will soon become familiar, docile and tractable. While the animal is young, and unaccustomed to con trol, and strongly inclined to follow his dam, or his fel- lows, great caution and kindness should be used in urging him in a way contrary to his habits and affections, while these form a ruling passion, and he has but little intelli gence or knowledge ; as fright and sad distress would be the consequence of crossing them. Under such circum- stances, a young animal may be shut up or tied, and thus tamed and controlled, but he should not be driven by brute force, against his will. You miv confine a young animal to a spot against hiy DISEASES OF ANIMALS. ZSl Adll, or carry him in your arms, by your superior force, without injury ; but if you attempt to compel him to stay on that spot, or go the way you would have him, by the use of the lash or cudgel, you might kill him, but you could not overcome his inclination while it is strong- er than the love of life, or he knows not the cause of the punishment so liberally and unmercifully inflicted. GESTATION. The experiment made by order of Earl Spencer on cows, has been reported in the Journals of the Royal Agricultural Society, and is very full and satisfactory. The number of cows noted was 764. The shortest period in which a live calf was produced was 220 days, or not much over seven months ; but no calf, produced in less than 242 days, or about eight months, could be raised. The longest period of gestation was 313 days, or ten months and nine days. Of the 764 cows, 314 calved before the 284 days, and 310 calved after the 285th day. From this it would appear that the probable gestation in the cow may be fixed at 285 days, or nine months and twelve days. The report of M. Teissier of Paris, of his experiment, made on the experimental farm established by the French government, both on cows and mares, shows the follow- ing results : — Of 582 mares which received the male but once, the shortest period of gestation was 287 days, or little less than nine months and a half — and the longest 419 days, or about thirteen months and a half; making a difference of 132 days, or over four months. Of 575 cows, 21 calved between the 240th and 270lh day; 544 calved between the 270th and the 299ih ddy — mean 282 days ; and 10 calved between the 299th and 321st day — mean 313 days. A German publication gives the following table : — Animal. Shortest period. Longest period. Mean period. Mare 322 days. 4i9 days. 347 days. Cow 240 do. 321 do. 283 do. Ewe 146 do. 161 do. 154 do. Sow 109 do. 143 do. 115 do. 3* 30 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. Professor Johnson observes, '' That any calf, producec at an earlier period than 260 days, must be considered decidedly premature ; and any period of gestation exceed- ing 300 days must also be considered irregular ; but in the latter case the health of the produce is not affected.'' Youatt says the usual time of gestation with cows is 270 days ; but Bement, of Albany, who has made many observations on this subject, finds a different result. He sets it down at 283 or 288 days. Mr. Parolett, an English farmer, found, from his experiments, that sheep went with young from 144 to 158 days. Those that came earliest were ewes, and those that came latest were rams, proving that animals go longer with males. - WATER AND WATERING PLACES. very farmer should have a good watering place con- nected with his barn-yard, if possible, and it can gener- ally be done at a small expense. It is not only a great advantage to stock, but it makes a great saving of ma- nure. When animals have water in or near the barn-yard, they will drink as they need it, and keep m better con- dition. When the water is far off, they often go mthout, even when they suffer for want of it. The distance, and often deep snows, and a cold blast, prevent their quench- ing their thirst at all times, as they would if water was at hand ; and when very thirsty they drink to excess, and thus injure themselves. In many cases, cattle, after going a distance for water, meet with troubles. The supply may be insufficient, or tlie water may be covered with drifting snows, or the ice may have accumulated so that the water is reached vfiih great difficulty. Strong animals molest the weak ones on the way, or exhibit their domineering spirit by driving them from the water, or preventing their approaching it. These evils can only be properly remedied by having a good supply of water in the barn-yard, or very near it ; but if this cannot be done, provide, in a trough, or by other means, a good supply of pure water, of convenient access : keep it well cleared of snow and ice, and see that DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 31 the weaker animals are protected from the encroach- ments of the strong and tyrannical ; if it be exposed to the north, put up a high board fence, or other protection, on that side, near the water. In summer, stock should not be doomed to get an insufficient quantity of water from a mud-hole, as is often ihe case, when the fountain is small ; but a good trough, or other vessel should be provided as a reservoir, that vrill hold enough for the whole stock, and these should be often cleaned out, that the water may be pure. We made the following arrangement where the sup- ply was small, and one or two animals would drink nearly all the water in the spring or fountain, and roil the rest. A duct was laid some feet, to give the water a little elevation. This was covered with earth, and the spring was also covered over. From the duct the water was conducted into a large trough, and then it ran into a half hogshead tub. In this v/ay, a good supply of pure water was provided for the whole stock, when they all came to slake their thirst. These vessels were often emptied, and washed out clean. Some farmers have provided a good supply of water in their barn-yards, at a cost of fifty or one hundred dollars, and would not how be deprived of it for the interest of five hundred dollars. It is less labor to pump water for stock at the yard, than to go some distance, and keep it clear of snow and ice, and see that the weaker animals can drink j besides the great saving of manure. Cold, hard well-water, is very injurious to animals that are heated. It should stand awhile before using. Hard water, of a suitable temperature, is not injurious to animals that are accustomed to it. Sometimes a change from soft to hard water has an unfavorable effect for a few weeks. COOKINa FOOD FOR HORSES AND CATTLE If grain be ground, it is more easily digested for this operation, and there is not so much need of cooking it. Green food, su2h as roots, grass, green com fodder, and 32 DISEASES OF ANIIVIALS. otner herbage, is easiiy digested ; but in steaming dry hard fodder, it is softened, and affords more nutriment In this way, straw was substituted for hay, where con- siderable grain or meal was used, in an experiment made in England, on ninety head of cattle and horses, in which a saving of sixty-seven pounds was made. The cost of cooking was only five pounds. In some cases it has been found profitable to cook- potatoes and other roots, for horses and cattle, and there is no doubt that meal of any kind is greatly improved by cooking, but whether this improvement is sufiicient to pay the expense and trouble, is another question. Mix up bran with a small quantity of water, and it appears much like sand, add more water, and it seems thin and light, but put it over the fire, and boil it a short time, and the whole mass becomes thick, and evidently greatly improved. As to the economy of cooking food for cattle and horses, much depends on circumstances, such as the price of food and fuel, and the value of labor. Some thing depends, likewise, on the convenience for cooking. Some can cook food with half the labor and fuel that others can, owing to improved apparatus for the purpose. Horses, cattle and sheep, are accustomed to the use of coarse food, and their powers of digestion are great ; therefore there is not so much need of cooking food foi them as for hogs, which tlirive far better on cooked food. SYMPTOMS OF DISEASES. The following is from the American Agriculturist: — A full and frequent pulse, loss of appetite, dejected head, iand a languid or watery eye, with a disposition to lie dowm in a dark or shady place, are certain marks, in all brute animals, of one of the most frequent diseases with which they are affected — that is, the fever. The watery eye, an inability to bark, or barking with a sterterous hoarseness, indicate the approach of madness in the dog. The elevation of the hair on the back of a cat, and its not falling upon its feet when thro^\^l from a moderate DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 33 height, are the premonitory signs of that disease which has long proved fatal to that species of animal both in Europe and America. The tail of a horse losmg its regu- larity of motion from side to side, indicat**^ that he is indis- posed, and the part in which the disease is seated is pointed out by one of his ears inclining backwards to the side affected. The seat of disease in the abdomen, where the signs are concealed, may be known by press- ing the hand upon his whole belly. When the diseased part is pressed, he will manifest marks of pain. PHYSIC. There are few medicines so much abused as purga- tives. They are often given without any reason, fre- quently in powerful, and injurious, and sometimes in fatal doses. Many animals, particularly horses, are destroyed by excessive doses of physic. Yet purgatives judiciously administered, are highly useful. In inflammatory complaints, by rapid evacuations from the bowels, they expel the chyle, and cut off tem- porarily the supply of nutriment, and they promote the secretions on the inner coat of the intestines, drawing from the fluids of the body, and reducing the circulation ; and thus they relieve an affected organ, or abate a gen- eral inflammation. Physic removes from the stomach and bowels causes of irritation, and gives rest to the digestive organs which have been over-tasked, and relieves the stomach which has been overloaded. By the moderate use of physic, together with proper attention to diet- and general treatment, many diseases may be cured, which are now generally treated ^vith bleeding and other harsh modes. In chronic and slow diseases, it is best to prepare the animal for one, two, or three days, if convenient, by giving mashes, as this will loosen the bowels, and not only require a less dose of physic, but it will be more effectual in its operation. But the most important consideration is, that the bow- els being open, the purgatives can freely operate without 34 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. any obstruction, and obviate the danger that attends giving physic when the bowels are constipated, which is like the working of cider in a cask that is bunged, and sometimes produces severe and fatal cases of colic. But if the disease be acute, and of so great severity that it will not admit of delay to prepare for physic, then a clyster should be given to aid the operation of physic, and if the bowels are constipated and apparently dor- mant, give some stimulant with the purgative, as gin- ger; and give an exciting injection to evacuate the bowels, and make way for the physic, and to rouse to healthy action the sluggish intestines. In cases of very obstinate constipation of the bowels, ten or fifteen grains of the farina of the Croton nut, freshly prepared, may be added to the dose of physic, for horses or cattle. This is very powerful. [See under each species, the kinds of physic adapted to each, and the quantity for a dose.] DIURETICS. Diuretics cause a copious flow of urine, reducing the circulation, tending to abate fevers and inflammatory complaints. Several diseases are mitigated by the use of diuretics, and they may be used in some cases instead of bleeding, which it is desirable to avoid, as it is a harsh course of treatment. In swollen legs, cracks, or dropsical affections, and in grease in horses and foul foot in cattle, or any unnatural enlargements by fluids, diuretics are given to great ad- vantage. They are good to alternate with other medi- cines, in the treatment of mange, and other cutaneous diseases. But in all accumulations connected with debility, they may do harm. We may remove swellings and extrava- sations to-day, and they may return to-morrow. In such cases, we must strengthen the system by tonics, proper feeding, and mild exercise ; and aid the local debility by hand rubbing and bandages. There must be caution in the use of diuretics, for as they produce a powerful eflfect on the kidneys, by DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 35 increased secretions in these organs, there is danger of injury and debility from over-action. [See Diseases of the Urinary Organs in Horses.] Diuretics are used more in the treatment of horses, than m cattle practice. The following are diuretics ; — rosin, turpentine, juniper, gin, saltpetre, honey, potash, digitalis, squills, tobacco, and cream of tartar. Many kinds of food have a diuretic effect, such as apples, pumpkins, roots generally, green corn-stalks, and most kinds of green herbage, at first. [For the principal diu- retics in use, and the dose, see this subject under Horses and Cattle. For sheep, use the same as for cattle, only one eighth part as much for a dose.] The following is good, as a general diuretic drink : — Powdered sahpetre, two drachms ; powdered rosin, half ounce ; ginger, two drachms ; mix well together in a lit- tle molasses, and give in warm gruel. SETON OR ROWEL. A seton is a piece of leather, cord, coarse tape, braided horse-hair, or tow, passed, by means of a large needle, through the base of an ulcer or abscess, such as ulcer- ated poll evil, fistula, &c., to drain ofi" the acrid and irritant humors ; or they are inserted between the skin and muscular, or other parts beneath, in a sound part, to create an artificial issue, and make a general improve- ment in the whole system, or relieve a neighboring afiection. Setons are inserted in the breast of horses, and in the dewlap of cattle, in case of general inflammation, which is abated by a discharge of matter. They are also good m case of inward strains, and for swellings that cannot be dissolved. When the blood is in a bad state, a seton will draw off" the foul humors, and thus improve the condition of the blood. In cases of local complaints, this general issue will draw superfluous humors from all parts of the body, and discharge them, and thus relieve the complaint. When the local affection is very severe, and wiU not yield to other treatment, a seton may be inserted near it, say 36 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. a hand's breadth below it, which will excite a new and artificial inflammation in the vicinity of the old one, and thus reduce its intensity, giving a new direction to the olood and humors, and concentrate a part of the nervou? power on a new point. A seton should be tolerably thick, and from eight to twelve inches long, and before inserting it, dip it into spirits of turpentine, or other exciting matter. In cattle, insert the needle in the upper part of the*brisket or dewlap, and in the horse, in the breast, and bring it out four inches or more below the place of insertion. Fasten the seton by tying a large knot in each end. ]\Iatler wiU begin to run the second day ; and after that, draw the seton up and down two or three times a day, to 'irritate the parts and increase the discharge. When, for inflammatory diseases, or other complaints, you would produce a more copious discharge, rub the seton with blistering ointment. This will stimulate thr parts to action, and hasten suppuration. Clater says that the root of the common dock is a speedy and powerful seton for cattle, and the root of the black hellebore is still more powerful. The American hellebore, (Veratrum viride,) often called Indian poke, or poke root, strongly resembles the white hellebore (Vera- tum album) of Europe. Whether it is hke the black hellebore here recommended, we cannot say. The American hellebore, or poke root, which grows in swamps, is very different from poke weed, {Phytolacca decandra,) generally called garget, also cocim and jalap, which grows on dry land, the root of which is much used in New England, in the dewlap of cattle, instead of a seton. [See Garget, under the general head "Cattle."] When there is a considerable discharge of matter, wash the place once a day in warm soap suds, and con tinue this after the seton is removed, while the sore is healing. DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 37 Bleeding is practised as a very speedy reliet in some disorders. It reduces at once ttie circulation in the sys- tem, and diminishes nervous power. It is considered useful in the following cases : 1. In all kinds of inflammatory complaints, whether general or local. 2. In violent colds, catarrh, and influenza. 3. When inflammation is apprehended from bruises, internal or external strains, wounds or injuries of any kind. 4. When, from the exhibition of humors, as in cutane- ous eruptions, sores, swelling of the glands, &c., the blood appears to be in a vitiated condition. 5. In cases of yellows in horses, and jaundice in cattle, attended with fever and constipation of the bowels. Bleeding does not remove the cause of disease, but it 2:ives temporary relief, and sometimes saves from a sud- iien and fatal termination, affording time and opportunity (o remove the cause, and administer restorative medicines. We will suppose that there is a violent aff'ection of the Ijrain, by the determination of blood to that organ, that would prove fatal before medicines could operate, or a restorative course could be pursued. By bleeding, the circulation could be reduced immediately and relief a {forded, and then by physic, diuretics, light food and otlier favorable treatment, the animal might be restored to health. In acute inflammation, it is not only necessary to bleed copiously, but it should be done speedily, and the blood should run largely, as more efiect is produced on the disease by one quart taken quickly, in a full stream, than by double that quantity allowed to dribble down slowly ; as a powerful efiect is produced on the disease, before the organs can accommodate themselves to the loss. The quantity of blood taken must depend on various circumstances, such as the nature of the disease, size and condition of the animal, &c. &c. In very sudden and v^lolent cases, it is recommended to bleed freely, even till 4 38 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. the animal falters, and the force of the circulation is sen sibly reduced. In other cases, it is better to bleed mod- erately, or only slightly. This remedy should be used with sound judgment, and with great caution; for, though it sometimes arrests a disease at once, at other times it may take away what little remaining strength the animal has. Always catch the blood in a vesse^ that the quantity may be determined. Give warm water after bleedmg, and light food for several days, or longer ; if the animal be in a weak condition, and keep him dry and warm. We are aware that many, of very respectable authori- ty, are opposed to bleeding in almost all cases, whether in the biped or quadruped race ; and we must say that we regret to find that in works that are generally regard- ed as the best extant, bleeding is recommended for almost every disease that poor animals are liable to. Verily, it seems that the writers on the veterinary art are a blood- thirsty set. One, who is regarded as high authority, in treating of twenty-nine different diseases incident to one species of animals, recommends bleeding in twenly-three cases ; directing to bleed the poor creatures to the amount of six, eight, or ten quarts, or until they faint and fall, and, in some cases, repeat the operation. The English term, cow-leech, is very appropriately ap- plied to a cow-doctor, as they draw blood so profusely They are leeches in very deed. The English veterina rian surgeons bleed for most disorders. Although bleeding to so great an extent as recom mended by foreign authorities, and as practised by some in this country, who follow in their track, is, by no means, to be recommended, yet there are two reasons why bleeding may be more necessary in animals than in the human subject. 1. The animal is often very severely attacked before it is known that he is diseased, and some very powerful remedy is necessary, and that which will produce a very sudden effect ; on the contrary, the human patient can give notice of disease at its first approach, when it if more easily subdued. DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 39 and in numerous cases an excellent substitute for bleed- ing, as it subtracts very largely from the blood, reducing temporarily the circulation, producing debility, and puri- fying the blood ; this may be practised conveniently in the human subject, but in animals it is very difficult. In this work, we have preferred other remedies to that of bleeding, so far as others seemed efficacious, as shown by practice » but as all works on the diseases of animals have run so much on bleeding, and as this has been the practice to a great extent, it is impossible to avoid intro- ducing bleeding occasionally, in giving the modes of treat- ment that have been generally pursued ; as few or none, who are opposed to bleeding, as a general thing, have given their views to the public on the treatment of ani- mals. Mild means one preferable to bleeding. As we give the modes pursued by those who practise bleeding, all who prefer that way can pursue it, and of course they will not complain ; whilst those who depend more on other remedial means, will find that we have given various other remedies and modes of treatment, which may generally be substituted for bleeding by those who prefer them. Among the substitutes, are purga- tives, diuretics, setons, abstinence, light feeding, astrin- gents, anodynes, sedatives, &c. &;c. Abstinence is far preferable to bleeding, as it is more convenient, more pleasant, and more economical ; and in many cases, it will answer the same purpose, not only checking the disease, but removing the cause. [See further directions and remarks on this subject, under different species of animals.] BACK-RAKING. This process is very useful in cases of fever, costive- ness, colic, and other diseases, in order to favor the oper- ation of purgatives and injections ; for in these diseases, the dung in the rectum, or straight gut, becomes dry and hard, to the great inconvenience of the animal, and se- rious disadvantages as to the operation of medicines. When he has not dunged for some time, and a fulness IS perceived about the flank and fundament, back-raldng should be attended to, as follows : 40 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. Let the operator strip his arm bare, and having well anointed it and his hand with soft soap, lard or butter, preferring the first, the fingers should be brought to a point, and the hand gently introduced into the rectum and draw away the indurated faeces. This should be done several times, and then the animal should be left to himself a short time, while a drink for physic, or an in- jection, or both, as the case may be, is preparing. This simple process often afibrds much relief, and it is imme- diate, which is important in cases of great distress. ACCIDENTS, &CC. Accidents and various affections are incident to am- mals, that are not readily perceived ; therefore they should be thoroughly examined, occasionally, in every point, especially young animals, and those not generally used, so as to allow of casual inspection, in order to see that no accident has befallen them, or that some affection is not creeping upon them imperceptibly, that will, neg lected, become a formidable evil. It is highly important that animals be timely relieved from accidents, as sometimes a delay will prove fatal, and diseases of every description are far more easily cured, when taken in their first stages, than when they have " Grown with their growth and strengthened with their strength." A horse that appeared sick, was examined very atten- tively for the cause of complaint, and a piece of cob was found across the roof of his mouth, nearly stopping up his throat. This is only one among thousands of in- stances. There are numerous accidents and complaints with which animals are afllicted, that may escape the notice of a superficial observer, or that may occur on those animals not generally handled, and by neglect they may increase, from small beginnings, to severe and obsti nate diseases. DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 41 HOLDING THE TONGUE WHEN GIVING MEDICINE. That animals may swallow freely, and the medicine go down the right way, their tongues should be free. As a caution on this point, a case was related to us for publication. An ox, after eating hearty, and drinking late in the morning, was puffed up. On being worked, the swelling went down. On drinking again at night, the swelling returned. Some medicine was prepared, but the swelling had abated, and the ox was eating hay. The medicine was given, to prevent a recurrence of the disorder. It was given by holding his tongue out of his mouth, and pouring the medicine down his throat. He breathed not again, but fell douTi, and died immediately. On examination, his windpipe, for eight inches in length, was completely filled with chewed hay. It is supposed that on holding the tongue, the windpipe is open, and is liable to receive whatever is poured down the throat ; and the reason that no more injury is done in this way, is because the medicines are generally liquid. Pouring medicine down the throats of animals, with the tongue held, generally occasions coughing, which is doubtless owing to some of it going down the wrong way. The use of those parts connected with the roots of the tongue, is doubtless necessary in closing the passage into the windpipe, which is effected in the act of swallowing in the natural way. MODE OF GIVING LIQUID MEDICINE. Sometimes, when medicines have no nauseous taste, animals will drink them voluntarily. Or, if refused in this state, they may be induced to take them in palata- ble food. But there are numerous cases in which it is necessary to turn the medicine down the throat. Some use a junk bottle for this purpose ; a horn is better, as a bottle is liable to be broken. In using a horn, stop up the large end, and pour from the small one, as it is less liable to waste. 4# 42 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. MASHES. Mashes of bran and shorts are a soft diet, and highly valuable for many purposes. They relax the bowels, and prepare them for administering physic \\'ith safety and good effect. They will, in common conditions, operate gently on the bowels, clearing out their con- tents, and thus save the necessity of resorting to purga- tives. When horses are not used on Sunday, a bran mash ;iiay be given on Saturday night, instead of grain, which will have a favorable effect, and prevent injury from full feeding, while at rest. Mashes are very useful to horses in high condition. As a food, mashes are remarkably soothing, cooling, and emollient. In all inflammatory complaints, and other disorders, when light feeding and laxative food are rec- ommended, this will be found a most excellent article of diet, as it fills the stomach, affording the stimulus ol distention, without furnishmg much nutriment. It is like keeping the fat and gouty patient, who has had more than his share of the good things of this life, on turnips, or on bran or saw-dust pudding. Mashes may be made of ground malt, bran, or shorts, or other similar substance, in hot or cold water. When the animal is in a weak or low condition, boiling water should be poured on the substance, so as to wet it well, then stir it thoroughly, and when lukewarm, give it. By boiling bran or shorts a short time, the water becomes thick, like mucilage ; and we have no doubt that this process renders it more valuable as food, and more soothing. In cases of catarrh or sore throat, or any intestinal affection, an emollient mash may be made by adding to the bran or shorts, a decociion of linseed or oil cake. FOMENTATIONS. These are highly valuable in opening the pores of tht skin, and keeping up per.^piration in the part, and thug abating local swellings, relieving pjin. and lessening DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 43 inflammation. Hot or warm water may be used; or a decoction of any herbs. The principal virtue is in the warmth of the water or decoction. In obstinate eases of diseases, fomentations should be often applied, and contmued long. They have a very soothing and san- ative effect. POULTICES. An external application for producing inflammation, promotmg suppuration, cleansing and preparing wounds or sores for healing ; for mitigating pain, and pre\ tntmg mortification. r ; r & Poultices are generally prepared -with linseed meal, to which IS added oil, lard, or other greasy matter, to pre- vent adhesion to the parts, and keep up the moisture for a longer time. Indian meal may be used instead of Unseed meal, but it is not quite so soothing. A good scattering poultice, to reduce inflammation, may be made of equal parts of hops, Indian meal, and pulverized slippery-elm, mixed with a strong decoction of raspberry or other astringent liquor. Any powerfully astringent substance may be used as a scattering poul- tice, and meal is good to form a body. A poultice may be rendered more soothing by adding opium, or more active and drawing by adding turpen- tine, or chloride of lime. For old sores or ulcers, the chloride of lime is excel- lent to add to the poultice ; so is finely powdered char- coal ; and both of these substances are good to prevent mortification. The pulp of roasted carrots is a most valuable poul- tice for cleansing and healing old sores or ulcers. Alum curd is a valuable application for ulcers. It has a very healthy effect, and tends to prevent mortifi- cation. Prepare it by putting powdered alum into new milk. No matter if there be more than will dissolve. vVheat flour, mixed with molasses, and applied as a poultice, IS somewhat drawing, and hastens suppuration. It IS much used on boils to bring them to a head, that tney may break, or be prepared for opening. 44 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. CAUSTICS. BuTYR (chloride) of Antimony is certain for destroying proud flesh, or othei-wdse unhealthy surface to which it is applied ; and its destructive power is confined to the surface. Lunar Caustic {nitrate of silver) is an excellent reme- dy for proud flesh. Wet a stick and rub a little on the part you would have aflfected by it. Burnt Alum is a good caustic for the destruction of proud flesh. Sometimes it is not sufliciently powerful. Blue Vitriol, {sulphate of copper,) one ounce pow- dered, and dissolved in a pint of water, forms a mild caustic. The powder, sprinkled on the sore or wound, is still stronger. DISINFECTANTS AND ANTI-PUTRE SCENTS. These are chloride of lime, plaster of Paris, charcoal, and gum myrrh. Chloride of Lime. — After contagious or infectious diseases in the cattle-house or stable, the walls, floor, and furniture should be washed a few times with it, and then the sound animals may return in safety. Applied to the pudenda of the cow, that has aborted, it destroys that peculiar odor which causes abortion in others, more effec- tually than any other preparation. In'blain, foul in the foot, and sloughing ulcers of every description, it removes the fetor, and if decomposition has not proceeded too far, it gives a healthy surface to the ulcers. Administered internally, in blain, in the ma- lignant epidemic, and in diarrhoea and dysentery, it is highly useful. In the last disease, it is very beneficial in changing the nature of the discharge, depriving it of its putridity and infection, and disposing the surface of the intestines to take on a more healthy character. Half an ounce of the powder, dissolved in a gallon of water, will give a solution of suflicient strength, both as a disinfectant applied to the cow-house, and as an inter- nal or external remedy applied to the animal. DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 45 Plaster of Paris is a powerful disinfectant. It ab- sorbs putrid smells, exhalations, and unpleasant gases, and tends to purify the air around. It is used in stables to absorb the ammoniacal gas, and render the air more wholesome. Charcoal is, in many cases, used as a disinfectant, with wonderful success ; a piece of fish, or meat, becom- mg putrid, is rendered completely sweet by being boiled with a few pieces of charcoal. In the treatment of ulcers and foul sores, finely pulverized charcoal is used as an ingredient in poultices, as it absorbs the fetor, tends to cleanse the sore, and, from its powerful anti-putrescent quality, it prevents mortification. Some cases of mortification have been cured by this simple substance alone ; but of late years, pyroligneous acid, containing the same anti-putrescent quality, has been used for this purpose, and with wonderful success. Gum Myrrh is valuable. Apply it in a strong tincture of four ounces to a quart of alcohol. It is good to guard against mortification. CLYSTERS, OR INJECTIONS. Injections into the fundament are highly useful, when a speedy action of the bowels is required. Sometimes they are so obstinately constipated, the dung having be- come dry and hard, that physic will not remove the obstruction. In most cases of costiveness, clysters are more effectual in relieving and curing than purgatives. They should be used in all severe cases. Clysters may be made of soap suds, in the proportion of two ounces of soft soap to a gallon of water ; or for a more active operation, use half a pound of Epsom salts. In severe cases of colic and constipation, in order to open a way for the immediate action of physic, an excit- ing clyster should be given. Mild injections, such as herb teas, warm water, gruel, &c., produce effects only from their softening influence, and mechanical effect, in expelling the hardened fasces ; but exciting clysters have effect on the nerves, and influ- ence the whole bov^^els, producing copious discharges far beyond their reach. 46 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. Soap has some exciting effect — salts increase it ; but the most exciting clysters are made by adding to a gallon of any common injection, as herb tea, or the like, half a pint of strong decoction of tobacco, or a great spoonful of fine Cayenne pepper. The pepper produces a more speedy action. Lobelia, added to an injection, has an exciting effect ; but if used liberally, it excites vomiting also. Any of these exciting substances, made up into a little ball, and put into the fundament, will excite the bowels and produce discharges ; and sometimes they answer the purpose of an injection. In severe cases of costiveness, back-rake before giving injections, as this will render them more effective. The importance of clysters is not sufficiently known. In numerous cases bipeds, as well as quadrupeds, are dosed and dosed with physic ; days pass without relief, and the bowels are almost ready to burst with the power- ful fermentation caused by physic, when the use of liberal and exciting injections would afford immediate relief, and save the patient from days of distress, from prostration, and serious and permanent injury in the bowels. When the bowels are tender, or irritated, a soothing and emollient injection may be thrown far up the intes- tines, and brought in contact with the inflamed bowels, give relief and promote a cure by its soothing influence. For soreness and tenderness of the bowels, use a tea of either of the following substances, as a soothing injec- tion. Slippery-elm, bass wood (linden) bark, marsh-mal- lows, or flax-seed. Linden is similar to slippery-elm, but it has not so much virtue. For inflamed and irritated bowels, or over purging, use a decoction of either of the following astringent sub- stances : — Rosemary, barberry bark, cranesbill, hard- hack, raspberry, and chocolate or Jones' root. In locked jaw, or other affections, as sore or swelled throat, when the animal can take no food, nutriment may be given by injecting gruel. Let it be done in moderate quantities, that it may be retained. There are various modes of giving clysters. The old fasViioned way is with a bladder and pipe, and this will answer. By elevating the bladder, the liquid wi'.l be DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 47 mjected from its weight. A syringe is good for this pur pose. A pretty good one may be made of tin. In En«y- land, Reed's stomach pump is used for this purpose, in preference to all other apparatus. ASTRINGENTS AND TONICS. These medicines are of a binding nature, and tend to the reduction of inflammation, and to constipation in the bowels ; on this account, while they are given, internally to cure some disorders, it is necessary to use laxative Jood, such as mashes, potatoes, &c., or gentle physic, to keep the bowels in good condition. Opium, or laudanum, is a powerful astringent, and i/ IS also a good anodyne. It is used both for cattle and horses, for colic, spasms, locked jaw, &c. It should however, be given with great caution. It is mostly used internally. In fevers it irritates, but after a fever it soothes. The usual dose is one ounce of laudanum for a lull-grown animal. Alum, as an astringent, is used both internallv and ex- ternally. Catechu is a powerful astringent, and is often given to animals. It is mostly used internally, but as a tincture, it is good externally. It is generally used in connection with other medicines, entering into the dose to the amount of four drachms. Blue Vitriol {sulphate of copper) is used internally, to check nasal discharges, and externally for hoof-ail warts, and sometimes, lightly, in the treatment of wounds' I'owDERED Chalk is a valuable astringent in some cases, particularly as the alkali unites with the acid in the stomach and neutralizes it. There is much acid in the stomach of calves afflicted ^vith dysentery : hence tiie advantage of supplying them with a lump of chalk to lick. Black Cherry and Yellow Birch Bark are good astringents for the jaundice. Raspberry Leaf Tea is a mild astringent, and an ano- ayne. It is used internally and externally. It allays mflammation of the bowels, and fever, and tends to the reduction of external inflammation or swellings. 48 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. Camomile is a mild tonic, and is sometimes given m doubtful cases, when, from a mistaken view of the dis ease, a powerful astringent might do injury. ANODYNES AND SEDATIVES. Opium, or laudanum, is a powerful anodyne, as well as astringent. A decoction of poppy heads, which far- mers can raise, answers the same purpose, it being the same thing in another state. In human and animal practice, opium is used more than all other anodynes, by doctors of the old school. Thomsonian and botanic phy- sicians use American valerian and Cayenne pepper Fox-aLovE, or digitalis is a valuable and powerful sedative, and is considerably used. There should be caution in its use, as it is far more powerful when fresh. A man was killed, in Boston, by taking a dose of fresh, the apothecary not being aware that it was so much stronger. Raspberry is a sedative as well as astringent ; it is a valuable medicine in numerous cases. It is not very powerful, but it is quite safe. American Valerian, or lady's slipper, (Cypripedium piibescens,) is a valuable anodyne. There are several varieties, but they differ very little in their virtues. Cayenne Pepper and Hot Drops are safe anodyms, and though stimulant at first, become sedative. STIMULANTS AND CARIMINATIVES. These medicines, which warm and excite to healthy action those parts with which they come in contact, and tend to prevent flatulency and colic, are often used with the best success with purgatives, even in cases of inflam- mation. Hence ginger or other stimulants are added to aperient medicine, which greatly aid it in producing the desired operation; and hence the use of wine in low fever. The success of a purgative often depends as much on the stimulant accompanying it as on the med- icine itself. Ardent Spirits. Among the stimulants DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 49 minatives, are all kinds of ardent spirits ; though some may be moditied, or have other qualities from the addi- tion of other substances ; as gin is made a sedative by the addition of juniper berries ; and brandy is a power- ful astringent as v/ell as stimulant, from the addition of the extract of oak to alcohol. Ginger is a stimulant as well as aromatic. A Warm Stimulant Drink. Powdered ginger, half an ounce ; caraway seeds, six drachms ; allspice, half an ounce ; in a quart of warm water-gruel, or ale. Cayenne Pepper alone, or m compositions, is a pow- erful and highly valuable stimulant in the human patient. It is excellent m colds, clearing the pipes and 'ungs of phlegm ; and in low condition it warms and revives ; when the stomach is dormant, it rouses it to action, creates an appetite, and promotes digestion, and has many other favorable effects, when judiciously ad- ministered. It is equally valuable for animals. It has been but little used in animal practice, there- fore we cannot give precise directions for its use ; but as it is powerful, it should be used m moderation. We have reports on fev/ cases. A horse was drooping, and had no appetite ; as his pulse was reg-ular, he evidently had no fever. Two table spoonfuls of Cayenne pepper, anil a small portion of ginger and lobelia, were given to him in warm water ; and he soon revived and recovered. In another case, a horse had been driven nearly all day, -ind he failed, and refused to go, from disease, fatigue, or 1 117 ger ; and, a physician being in the carriage with his medicine chest, he gave him a pint of hot drops, (a Thctmpsonian preparation in which there is Cayenne,) and he immediately revived, started off with spirit, and chajrfuUy performed the rest of the journey, of about sevi>n miles. In both of these cases, we think the dose was very large, — large enough for two, Hot Drops are considerably used, of late, for horses. They are good for colic, for cold shivering fits, for a dull, low state, as they warm into action the dormant bowels, promote digestion, and thus create a heaUhy appetite. They are one of the best medicines. 60 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. AROMATICS AND STOMACHICS. Stomachics are soothing, emollient, warming, and strengthening. They allay irritation in the bowels, reduce soreness and tenderness, and they warm and excite to action, the bowels, when in a torpor or dormant condition. Powdered Caraway seeds are a good stomachic, but not equal to ginger, excepting in cases of flatulency. Yet they may be used as an occasional change for gin- ger. Dose, from half an ounce to two ounces. Like ginger and other stomachics, it is often given in connec- tion with other medicines, such as purgatives and astrin- gents. Ginger is the best aromatic in the list of cordials. Dose, from half a diachm to four drachms. Gentian is an excellent stomachic and tonic, whether at the close of illness, or as a remedy for chronic debility. The dose varies from one to four drachms, and should be almost invariably combined mth ginger. The following is an excellent stomachic : — Powdered ginger, half an ounce ; powdered gentian, one ounce ; carbonate of ammonia, (volatile salts,) two drachms ; infusion of camomile flowers, one pint. Mix for one dose. Sage, Pennyroyal, Peppermint, and other aromatic and warming teas, or essences, are good stomachics. TO STOP BLOOD. Cold water is often sufiicient. Cobwebs applied to the wound, are a still more powerful remedy ; so is a strong alum water, or powdered alum. The soft, inner part of sole leather has a powerful effect in stopping blood. Scrape it fine, and apply it as lint, or apply a soft piece to the ruptured vessel. Charcoal, in fine powder or dust, is a good styptic ; so is a puff-ball. A strong decoction of sweet apple-tree bark has a very powerful effect in stopping blood, more so than most other styptics. DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 51 LINIMENTS, OPODELDOC, EMBROCATIONS, OINTMENTS, &;c. Opodeldoc. Three ounces common white soap ; one ounce camphor ; one eighth ounce oil of rosemary ; one eighth ounce of oil of origanum ; and one pint alcohol. Put all the articles but the soap into the alcohol, and when they are dissolved, cut the soap fine, and dissolve it in the alcohol, with a gentle heat. Pour into wide-mouthed vials or jars, to cool. LiQum Opodeldoc. Take two ounces castile soap, mstead of the common soap, as above. Opodeldoc to scatter Swellings. Warm, over coals, one quart of proof whiskey, or other spirit, and dissolve in it half a pint of soft soap. When cool, put it into a bottle, and add one half ounce of camphor. Liniment. The following liniment has been long in use, and is in high repute, being found very efficacious for sprains, bruises, cracks, sores, wounds, rheumatism, external or internal, in beast or man ; and no family should be without it, or some other valuable liniment. Half an ounce spirits of hartshorn ; two ounces cam- phor ; one gill spirits turpentine ; half pint sweet oil ; and one pint alcohol. Shake all together, and apply, rubbing it in with the hand. King of Oils. This name has been given to the fol- lowing preparation, from its valuable effects in curing wounds in animals, particularly horses. It has per- formed surprising cures : — 1 ounce green copperas, (sulphate of iron.) 2 " white vitriol, (sulphate of zinc.) 2 '•' common salt, (muriate of soda.) 2 " linseed oil. 8 " molasses. Boil over a slow fire fifteen minutes, in a pint of urine ; when almost cold, add one ounce of oil of vitriol, (sulphuric acid,) and four ounces spirits of turpentine. Apply it to the wound with a quill or feather. Ejibkocation for Strains, Bruises, and Rheumatism. Bay salt, four ounces ; oil of origanum, one drachm ; 52 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. rub them well together, until the salt is reduced to a powder ; then add half a pint of vinegar, two ounces of brandy, and one quart of water. Bathe the parts fre- quently with this. It is good for cattle, horses, and men, when the skin is not broken. Fomentation with hot water should precede the application. Bay salt is made naturally in the bays of St. Ubes, at high tides in spring and fall. It is the purest and best for medical and culinary purposes, containing 960 parts of chloride of sodium in 1000. A Stronger Embrocation for deeply-seated strains. Spirits of turpentine, half a pint ; oil of origanum, half an ounce ; olive oil, a pint and a half ; cantharides, one ounce. Mix together ; shake often ; keep in a bottle. Rub it in, morning and night. This is not intended to blister, and should it produce redness and tenderness, reduce it by adding olive oil. Hheuaiatic Embrocation. Neat's foot oil, four ounces ; camphorated oil, spirits of turpentine, and laudanum, one ounce each ; oil of origanum, one drachm. Mix. Camphorated Oil, or Stimu^lating Embrocation. Camphor broken into small pieces, two ounces; olive oil, or spermaceti, one pint. Put them into a bottle ; cork tight ; set it in a warm place, and shake it daily, until the camphor is dissolved. This is good for stiff- ness and swelling of the joints, rheumatism, &c. Cooling Ointment. Melt lard five or six times, and cool, by pouring each time into a fresh pailful of water. Then simmer it with sliced onions, and it will make an excellent cooling salve, almost infallible for inflamma- tions from taking colds in wounds. Blistering Ointment. One part of cantharides, (Spanish flies,) finely powdered; three of lard, and one of yellow rosin. Melt the lard and rosin together, and add the flies when the other ingredients begin to cool. To make it more active, add one pint of spirits of tur pentine. Another. Yellow basilicon, one ounce ; powdered cantharides, three drachms ; spirits of turpentine, two drachms. This is applied to setons, to cause a more speedy operation, and a more powerful effect. Another. Melt together four ounces palm oil, and DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 53 01M5 ounce rosin ; and when they begin to cool, add one ounce of finely powdered cantharides, and continue to stir the whole together till it is set. This ointment, if well rubbed in, will always blister, and never blemish. Ointment to promote the Growth of Hair. Cala- mine powder, (an ore of zinc,) finely rubbed down, two drachms ; levigated charcoal, one drachm ; liquid tur- pentine, one drachm ; lard, four drachms. Rub them well together; and then add one drachm of the last- named blistering ointment, and rub the whole together. Let this be well rubbed, but not hardly, into the part, morning and night. Healing, Cleansing Ointment. Lard, two pounds ; rosin, half a pound ; melt together, and when nearly cool, stir in half a pound of very finely powdered cala- mine. Ointment. Equal parte ©f Venice turpentine and lard, beaten together. Compound, for Brihsis uf Horses or Cattle. One quart of vinegar ; half an onnce of laudanum ; and quarter of an oxmce of s«gar of lead. Mix well, and apply three or four times a day. If possible, apply a flannel wet with the mixture. Vinegar and Salt. Strong vinegar saturated with common salt, used warm, is good for strains, and for reducing swellings. For Swellings. One ounce of white vitriol ; one ounce of green copperas ; two tea-spoonfuls of gun -pow- der. Pulverize all, and dissolve in a quart of soft water. Use cold, rubbing it on thoroughly. A skilful physician informs us that he finds this powerful for the reduction of swellings. It was given to him by a man who had used it extensively and successfully on animals. POISONS OF VARIOUS KINDS. yew. The tender branches of yew are poisonous to horses, cattle, sheep and deer ; and yet these animals have eaten of yew without injury. It is said to be harmless when 5* 54 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. ^e animal has azotized food. Horses and cattle wiU E / '^V'"^^ of growing yew, even hedges, andTot ln^\ ' .^^ '''^f,'' '^ '' ^">'' ^^^ appearance IS changed and then they will eat it freely "^i^geu, Symptoms. They are affected in the brain, and vnth reeling and vertigo. They usually die suddenly. Remedy Give to full-grown horses or cattle one and a half pints of linseed Sil each ' Another Give a strong dose of physic, in a pint ot gruel, to which add a gill of vinegar CHERRY LEAVES. — PEACH LEAVES. h.l7u^^ ''^'^' ^^'? occurred in which cattle and sheep have been poisoned by eating the leaves of the wild cherry; the tame cherry is equally poisonous. It has been stated that cherry-leaves are free from poison until the leaves have Malted, but cases have occurred in which the green leaves have poisoned animals. It is said that they contain Frussic acid. Peach-leaves are said to con- tain Prussic acid also, and they are supposed to be poi- sonous. ^ v^n^'T''^' ,P- ^- ^^"'^^"' ^^ ^^e "Massachusetts Ploughman," recommends as a remedy a pint of New England rum, mixed with a pint of molasses, and -iven to each grown animal. Salt would doubtless be b?nefi. aal, as it is useful in cases of poison from the bite of snakes, sting of bees, &c. ELM BARK. A horse died from eating elm bark. On post mortem examination, it was found that the bark had produced a violent mflammation of the intestines. LOW LAUREL OR LAMBKILL. ,./heep and calves will eat of low laurel, (Kalmia an^us- Ufoha,) in the winter and spring. They swell a little, grow stupid, and throw up greenish fluid, which runs out of the mouth, discoloring the lips Remedy. Gag the animal, that the fluid may be thrown out, and not swallowed, and give roasted onions and sweetened milk. DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 55 Another. Bruise well the green twigs of white ash ; boil them one hour, in water enough to cover them when pressed down. Two table-spoonfuls will generally cure, if given within twenty-four hours of the poisoning. Another. Take two quarts of pure red or yellow earth from under the surface soil. Pour on water enough to cover it. After ten or fifteen minutes, drain off the water, and give two or three table-spoonfuls for a dose. Give three or four doses, at short intervals. Another. Give a gill of sweet oil, or castor-oil, — lard or fresh butter will answer, — in a pint of new milk, to each animal. In addition to any of these remedies, give salt freely. beech-nuts. These are a good food for swine, a favorite with pigeons, and much admired by human bipeds ; yet both the oil and the cake that is left after the oil is pressed out, are fatal to the horse, and have caused death in twelve hours. WATER PARSLEY AND WATER DROPWORT. Water Parsley has produced palsy in the horse. Wa- ,er Dropwort has poisoned brood mares, and it has poi- soned cattle early in the spring. CROWSFOOT AND WATER HEMLOCK. Crowsfoot, of some species, and Water Hemlock, have poisoned cattle in the spring, before other herbage started. GARGET, OR POKE WEED, (Phytolaca decundra.) The root of this plant, which is excellent for cattle, taken internally, or used as a seton in the dewlap, for the garget, is very poisonous to the horse. An ear of com, with garget root in the pith of the cob, was given to a horse, and it killed him. A dose of garget was prepared in meal for a cow ; she refused it and it was given to a horse, and was fatal. 56 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. Mayweed, (^Anthemis cotula.) or wild camomile, has sometimes poisoned the horse, and produced death. He will not eat it green, but will when mixed with hay. We have taken a decoction of this plant, in strong doses, for a cold, (not being aware that it was poisonous,) for which it is very efficacious in producing perspiration, but we were never pleased with the taste nor the feelings produced from its use. GENERAL REMARKS. One of the best remedies for poisons is the use of the stomach-pump, by which water is thrown freely into the stomach, which often excites vomiting and gives relief, if this fails, the water may be drawn out, and the opera- tion repeated. In this way the poisonous matter is diluted and removed. Most vegetable poisons are acids, and alkalies will neutralize and destroy them. Ammonia, lye of wood- ashes, and pot and pearl ashes, are used for this purpose. We have inquired and sought in vain for a remedy for cattle that eat white lead, by licking paint on buildings. BITES OF SNAKES. Cut the wound and squeeze out the blood ; then apply fine salt or some alkali, as named above. Give inter- nally half a pint of olive oil, or rape oil, or half an ounce of volatile sah, dissolved in a quart of water. We were told, in Pennsylvania, that a sure cure for the bite of poisonous serpents was cutting the wound to make it bleed, applying fine saU and pulverized gun- powder, and keeping the patient on sweet milk, until sickness ceased, which is generally in two or three days. AVOUNDS. Dr. James Bates, Superintendent of the Insane Hos- pital, Augusta, Me., says, in the "Boston Cultivator," "The best possible coatings which can be applied to injured parts are, first, the blood, then the serum, the DISEASES OF AI^MALS. 57 coagulable lymph, afterwards the matured matter. It is the business of art to assist nature, and do that which she cannot do. In cuts and lacerated wounds, she has made no provision for bringing the sides mto immediate contact. This should be done in the first place ; and when this is impossible, then bring them as near as may be, with the least pain and irritation. " In all cases of man or beast, if we can bring and re- tain together the sides of wounds by adhesive plasters and bandages, it should be done. If stitches must be resorted to, they should never remain more than thirty- six or forty hours, as they will have done all the good they are capable of in that time ; and they will do mjury if they remain longer. No stitch should ever be used over or near an important joint. In some rare cases, it may be necessary to put straight needles through the sides of a wound, and wind them with ligatures in the form of a figure 8 ; but they should never remain more than forty-eight hours. " Discard healing-salves and plasters, as the healing process is carried on by the living functions of the ani- mal, and not by what is applied. Applications are use- ful, not for their healing properties, but simply to exclude the air, and allow nature to do her work, and we should use the most inoffensive and least stimulating covering, such as one part of beeswax and two parts of lard, melted together. " If the granulations become spongy, and a great flow of matter takes place, apply powdered rhubarb daily, or even some more powerful astringent, if necessary ; this will give tone to the granulations. Should the matter from the wound become thin and bloody, attend to the general health of the animal. Old sores or ulcers, which refuse to heal, must be made new ones, by destroying the old surface by the knife, caustic or actual cautering, (hot irons,) and then treat them as fresh wounds. In some such cases, setons or issues, in adjacent parts, may aid the cure." Here is the conclusion of Dr. B.'s judi- cious remarks. 58 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. SIMPLE CUT WOUNDS. When only small blood vessels are cut quite through they draw back, and the blood soon ceases to flow. When wounds made by sharp instruments are consid erable, they are generally attended by a flow of blood. If the effusion be great, and if, from its florid color, and flowing in jets, it appears to proceed from an artery, it must be quickly stopped. If there be no means of ap- plying pressure on the course of the artery, between the heart and the wound, the finger may be introduced into the wound, and pressed on the artery, to stop the blood till the artery can be taken up, or some means used to stop it. An instrument called tenaculum, which is a sharp, pointed hook, is the most convenient for taking up an artery to be tied. A double thread being waxed, and an open knot made on it, it is put over the instrument. The artery is then laid hold of by the point, and drawn out a little, the open knot is slipped over it, and firmly drawn, and the ends of the thread allowed to hang from the wound. Veins may be secured in the same way. If a blood vessel cannot be tied, and no means used to stop the effusion, fold a piece of linen rag to a quarter of an inch in thickness, and apply it to the orifice of the Dlood vessel, and press it with the finger, first wetting the rag in strong alum-water. [See directions to stop blood.] The cure of wounds is effected by adhesion or suppu- ration. When the sides of a fresh wound are brought into accwrate contact, and kept together, they adhere very soon, and the wound soon heals, with little or no trciuble. This is called healing by the first intention. The flesh of horses does not unite so readily by the first iiiteiition as that of other animals, and the wound is more likely to heal by suppuration. PUNCTURED WOUNDS. These are made by pointed instruments, splinters ol wood, bites, &c. They are more dangerous than cui wounds, as they excite more inflammation, and it is difli DISEASFS OF ANIMALS. 59 cult to get the sides to adhere uniformly. When the orifice heals before the bottom of the wound, collections of matter are formed, which corrode the parts. Poultices are useful in such cases. Fomentations with a decoc- tion of camomile flowers may be preferable. It is some- times necessary to make an incision, to allow the col- lected matter to escape. CONTUSED AND LACERATED WOUNDS. In such wounds, the parts are torn or bruised, so as to leave the texture destroyed. There is less appearance of danger in these, as well as in punctured wounds, from the flow of blood usually being less ; yet there is the more to be dreaded. The danger of wounds is too often estimated from the flow of blood alone, yet from the most dangerous, there is sometimes no flow whatever. When the texture of the wounded parts has been com- pletely destroyed, or wounds have been neglected or badly treated, healmg must be effected by suppuration. After the wound has been cleansed, and freed from all extraneous substances, such parts as are almost lorn or squeezed off, should be removed. But if the parts are not much injured, there is a chance of their adhering, if placed as nearly as possible in their natural position. The wound should be carefully guarded against expo- sure, but not tightly bandaged. As it proceeds, it may be cleansed and softened, by washing with Castile or mild shaving soap. Some mild and emollient salve may be used to keep the parts soft and pliant. In case of inflammation, poultices may be used to bring on suppuration. A large, warm, oiled poultice, folded in a piece of thin linen or muslin, should be laid over the wounded and neighboring parts, and changed twice a day. Unless the injury is very severe, this treatment will probably soon bring on the formation of good matter, and the parts where the texture is com- pletely destroyed, will slough or mortify, and fall off. When this has happened, and the inflammation has abated, the poultice should be discontinued, and some mild and soothing salve used to promote the healing. But sometimes, instead of the suppuration, there is 60 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. violent inflammation, that causes a mortification in tne surrounding parts, which is attended with danger. When there is no mdication of a suppuration, and morti- fication is apprehended, use' a scattering poultice, (as on page 53,) to which add freshly burnt powdered charcoal, which is a preventive of mortification, from its disin- fectmg and anti-putrescent qualities. Vv'OnNDS IN THE JOINTS. These are very difficult to manage. A cure may be attempted by keeping the air from the wound, and bring- ing the sides into contact by adhesive plaster, and em- ploying poultices. An extensive wound in a joint is generally incurable. For joint or sinew water, burn a cork to a coal, pulverize it finely, and put the dust into the wound. JMAOaOTS IN WOUNDS. These may be destroyed by tar or honey ; both are healing ; but tar is too harsh alone ; mix it with lard, and it will be equally good against worms. BROKEN BONES. The mending of a broken bone is by no means diffi- cult, when the parts covering the bone have not been injured. Let the limb be stretched, and the broken ends of the bone placed as nicely together as possible, and held in that position till a piece of stiff" leather, or thin wood, as a splint, is laid along, so that it may extend a few inches beyond the contiguous joint. This must be kept in its place by winding flannel, an inch and a lialf broad, and as long as may be necessary, around it. The splint should be worn ten days or a fortnight ; and after it has been removed, the bandage should be continued moderately tight, till the limb has acquired its former strength. When any considerable swelling ap- pears, the bandage should be slackened, and tightened again when the swelling abates. When a bone is broken in more than one place, all the pieces are to be nrought into their proper place, and secured. DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 6l Sometimes a fracture is made, and a part ot a bone protrudes through the skin. In such case, a wound must be made of sufficient length to allow the bone to be replaced ; and it may be proper to remove some of the splintered portions by a saw or nippers. The splint and bandage must then be applied in such a way as to leave the wound accessible, that it may be dressed. Some persons kill an animal on his having a limb broken, supposing that there is no cure. But we have known cases of broken bones, that, by careful setting, splintering, and good management, have been cured, and with but little trouble. The following is from the Farmers' Cabinet : — BROKEN BONES CURED. An idea prevails with many persons, that broken bones of horses and other quadrupeds cannot be cured, owing to the difficulty of keeping the part sufficiently at rest during the time necessary for a broken bone to heal. I heard of a case, some months since, which was suc- cessfully treated in the following manner, viz. : — Two pieces of scantling sufficiently strong to support the horse, were placed over and parallel with him in the stable; a piece of strong linen was then passed under him, and the two opposite ends confined to the scantling, so as to raise him from the floor ; a wooden box was provided with a bottom, fwo sides, and one end, com- posed of boards nailed together, and of sufficient length, width and depth to contain the leg from the knee to the foot, inclusive, besides a space of half an inch or more, on each side of the leg, to admit the necessary bandages, vV;c., with the bottom cut away sufficiently for the foot to enter, and retain its natural relative position with the leg. The broken leg was confined in this box, and treated in the usual manner, and the box, together with the leg from the knee to the foot confined in a horizontal posi- tion, or nearly so, by straps of leather passing over the horse's back, and the two ends confined to the box ; the horse was permitted to put his other three feet upon the floor, sufficiently to preserve a healthy action of the "6 62 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. limbs, but not so as to displace the broken limb in the box. A cm-e was effected in a few weeks. This was one of the fore legs. I see no difficulty in* treating the hind leg, by partially suspending the animal in this Tianner, and varying the other parts according to the jarticular nature of the case. The following singular cases are from J. Sanford, of Marcellus, New York, as appears in the Genesee Far- mer: — YOUN& CATTLE THEIR OWN SURGEONS. I had a very fine young bull, which I found with his right fore leg broken, about half way between the knee and fetlock joint. The bone was not only broken, but appeared to be shattered in pieces for several inches, and pricked through the skin. I got him up, and, on three legs, he worked his way six or eight rods, to an open shed, where he could be by himself. I splintered and bound up the leg as well as I could, and left him for the night ; but in the morning, the bandage was off. He had got up, and moved about, and sometimes bear- ing on the foot, which had nothing but the skm and tendons to support it. I saw no way to manage it bet- ter, and gave it up, and sent for a man to kill him. But, on further reflection, as he ate well, and was con- tented to stay v/here he was, I concluded to let him live, if he would, and see how he would manage it himself, and let the leg alone. He kept in flesh ; would move about two or three rods, and I have seen it bent at nearly right angles. No appearance of heaUng the bones in sight, when the leg was bent, I concluded it would perish, and come off. In this manner he contin- ued, until the first days of JMay, near three months, when I moved him to a pasture, having good shade and water. Then he adopted a course of conduct for himself j had his abode at a fine maple-tree ; would get up, feed round as far as necessary to get a good bite of grass, go to the water two or three rods, and back to his tree. In this way he continued about two months ; was in good health, gained in flesh, and, except the lee, appeared DISEASES OP ANIMALS. 63 fine. The leg had been enlarging some time, and now was double the size of the other at the place broken, but as yet had no strength, and would yield to pressure and bend about, as he happened to hit or bore any weight upon it, and durmg this time, several bones had worked out of the wound, which still kept open, to which no application was applied, except his own tongue, which was verv frequent. I saw him from day to day, and watched" the progress until about the middle of July, when I found he could bear some weight on it, and was getting into shape ; and about one month more it became strong ; the wound had healed, and he walked as well as ever. The joints above and below were perfect, the leg straight, the length exact with the other, and as good, but for the odds in size. He was in fine condition, com- petent for all purposes by September, and fought as good a battle as others. When coming four years old, I fattened, and butchered him ; and sawed up the leg, and found an entire new bone had formed, of about three and a half inches in diameter, and gi-aduated above and below so as to fit the former, and no appear- ance of the old one for six or more inches, which had doubtless been discharged as I stated above. Also, I have now a fine three year old steer, which had his thigh broken by the kick of a horse, at about seven months old. Him I left to manage as he might. He was in a distant pasture with a large lot of other young cattle ; took his own position wide from the rest, and in about two months he got well ; and now no one, without a close examination, would suspect that he had ever met with the accident. INVERSION OF THE RECTUM. Sometimes, from straining in dysentery, a portion of the rectum comes out of the fundament, and the animal can- not draw it back. Give a pint of castor-oil, with two drachms of opium, to a full-growTi animal, as an ox or horse. The part protruded should be cleaned ^\ath soap suds ; then fomented an hour with a decoction of poppy heads, or other mollifying herb, and then gently return It. Cold wate" should then be applied around the anus 64 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. LOCKED JAW, OR TETANUS. This is the effect of some acute disease, and in some cases it is a symptom of approaching death. In most cases, the muscles of the jaws become so contracted and rigid, that it is impossible to open the mouth to give food, or medicine, and the animal dies of starvation. In some cases, a tooth has been knocked out, and medicine given that has relieved and cured. Causes. Pricking in shoeing, running a nail or other thing into the foot, or other parts where there are many nerves. Also, turning animals out on cold, wet nights, after hard work and perspiration, and over driving. Docking and nicking horses are causes, also. Symptoms. In the horse, there is a stiffness of the neck and tail, and a constant spasm of the muscles of voluntary motion. It is seldom preceded by any serious illness, although the horse will appear dull for a few days. As it approaches, he gulps his water, (swallows with forcible action,) and quids his hay, (partly chews and lets it fall out.) He stands stiff, with his legs bracmg, his tail quivering, and despair in his looks. In cattle, the animal is off his food, and ceases to rumi- nate, and stands with head protruded ; but as there is no dryness of the muzzle, or coldness of the ears, the attendant may not be alarmed, and not thinking of the locked jaw, the animal is neglected. He continues the same, rarely moving, and when made to turn, moves stiffly. By examining the mouth in season, the disorder may be known, and the animal saved. Remedy. At the Maryland Farmers' Club, Sir. Pearce, U". S. Senator, stated that he had a horse that stepped on a nail, and symptoms of locked jaw appeared eighteen days after. He being absent, no remedies were used till the third day, when the animal was bled, and aloes administered, but without effect. He could scarcely walk; his nostrils were distended and inflamed; nis breathing difficult ; his tail stiff; he could not bend his neck, and could eat nothing but a little mash. Galvanism was then tried, in shocks as severe as the horse could bear. The currents were first passed through DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 65 Ihe head, and then applied at different points along the sj^ne. His tail and neck soon lost their rigidity, he moved his limbs rapidly, and kicked smartly. These applications were repeated five or six times, with inter- vals of a day or two, beginning with slight shocks, and gradually increasing them. His neighbor insisted that he should also try his rem edy, which he said he had tried five or six times with complete success. Accordingly, the horse was plunged into deep water every day, and made to swim three or four minutes. He improved slowly. In a fortnight he was turned to grass, and the harness put on him in a month. He became well, and as active and spirited as ever. Another. Some very severe cases have been cured by dashing thirty or forty pailfuls of cold water suddenly all over the animal, and repeating the operation, if neces- sary, at intervals of two hours. This was recommended by the late eminent Dr. Rush. A mare that seemed almost dead with locked jaw, was revived and cured by repeated applications of cold water. Another. Mix strong soft soa p with pulverized chalk, so as to make them of the consistence of buckwheat bat- ter. Apply this to the wound that causes the locked jaw, or from which it is apprehended, and keep the chalk moistened with soap, until the wound begins to discharge, and the patient is relieved. Note. In cases of human patients, it is said that the application of a piece of brass or copper, — if rusty the better, — a cent, for instance, is excellent for drawing a wound made by a nail in the foot, and thus prevents the locked jaw. In cases of a nail in the foot, we have used, and known others to use, with excellent success, the rind of salt pork, the flesh part applied to the wound, and, in severe cases, renewed every day. Another. English authorities recommend bleeding freely, almost to faintness ; and when the jaws have re- laxed, give gentle physic, and turn it down slowly, (in cattle or sheep,) that it may go into the fourth stomach, and not into the paunch, as it will if poured down at once. At the iame time, administer clysters every three 6* 66 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. hours, till there is an operation on the bowels, [f the physic does not operate in eight hours, repeat half dos6s every six hours. After purging is estabUshed, admin- ister some sedative, such as opium. Give the animal mashes at first, and then light food, sparingly. He will need many kind attentions. Another. It is stated in the "Boston Medical Jour- nal," that Dr. Isaac Heister, of Reading, Pa., cured a boy, sixteen years old, by the use of a solution of the extract of Indian Hemp, (Lidica cannabis — but Apocynum cannaUnum of Eigelow.) He directed an aqueous solu- tion, containing two grains to the tea-spoonful, to be ad- ministered at intervals ; and in the course of a few days, the patient was entirely reUeved. RHEU3IATISM IN THE JOINTS. Cattle and horses, from great exposure to cold and wet, particularly cows after calving, have a stiffness in the joints ; they sometimes swell, and cannot be bent without pain and difticult)^ Remedies. Good shelter, and sulphur and ginger ; and rub the joints with camphorated oil, or spirits of turpen- tine. Turpentine and hartshorn are good. In bad tu- mors of the joints, rub on iodine. Use the solution of the chloride of lime with water, for ulcers about the joints. [For further remedies for rheumatism, see Lini- ments, &c., page 51. J INFLAMED AND SORE EYES. Causes are various ; sometimes from colds. It is often caused by a diseased state of the body, or head, and is only a symptom of disease. Remedy. Remove the cause. If the system generally, or the head, is diseased, restore it to a healthy condition. The eye is one of the most tender and delicate organs, and if its texture is destroye.-3, nature will not restore it. Therefore, put the body in that healthy state that wiL carry restoration to every diseased part_ anc' use only aiild applications to the eyes. DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 67 For Inflamed Eyes, foment them in a strong decoc- tion of raspberry leaves, or beech bark, or other astrin- gent tea. Another. Put a handful of the inner bark of sassafras twigs, of one year's growth, into a pint of cold water ; let it stand several hours, and it will become a thick mucilage; wash the eyes out well with this. The Haw of the eye, in the horse, is a membrane that is used to clear the eye of dust and protect it from injury. It descends and returns with astonishing velocity. When the eye is inflamed, the haw hardens and projects ; and some ignorant persons cut it off, to the serious and last- ing injury of the poor animal. For Sore Eyes, wash them in Castile or other mild soap J this will have a cleansing and curative effect. Warm milk and water is a soothing wash, and if honey or molasses be added, it will be still better. A weak lye of the ashes of beech bark is excellent for sore eyes. For Weak Eyes, wash them in warm milk in which camomile has been steeped. Raspberry tea is also good. FOR A FILM ON THE EYE. Pulverize loaf sugar finely, put it in a quill, and blow it into the eye. We have observed excellent success to attend this simple remedy. In some cases, sight has been restored when the animal had become completely blind. Another Remedy. An effectual mode of removing a film from the eye of an animal is, to apply a tea spoon- ful of molasses to the eyeball ; so says one who has cured oxen, horses, cows, and sheep in this way. Another. Mr. Isaac Hamblin, of Livermore, says in the " Maine Farmer," if the left eye be injured, he puts a piece of fresh butter, as large as a hen's egg, into the right ear ; and if the right eye be affected, into the left ear. If the film is of long standing, two applications may be necessary. It will remove it in a short time. He has tried this remedy for forty years, v/ithout failure. To Prevent a Film. If any horned creature should have a film gro^^^ng on the eye, from a hurt, put in fine salt. It is a sure cure, but rather harsh. HORSES. TERMS DENOTING THE EXTERNAL PARTS OF THE HORSE. 1. Muzzle. 21. Croup. 2. Race. 22. Dock. 3. Forehead. 23. Quarter. 4. Poll. 24. Thigh or Gaskin. 5, Crest. 25. Hamstring. 6. Jowl. 26. Joint of the Hock 7. Gullet. 27. Ham or Hock. 8. 9. Point of the Shoulder. 28. 29. Common. Fetlock. 10. Breast or Bosom. 30. Large Pastern. 11. Arm. 31. Small Pastern. 12. Elbow. 32. Coronet. 13. Girth. 33. Hoof. 14. Flank. 34. Knee. 15. Sheath. 35. Common. 16. Stifles. 36. Fetlock. 17. Withers. 37. Heel. 18. Back. 38. Large Pastern. 19. Loins. 39. Small Pastern. 20. Hip. 40. Hoof. The engi-avmg on the left represents the English cart- horse, to which the highest prize of the Royal Agricul- tural Society was awarded, in 1843, These horses are of a large size, distinguished for strength and endurance, and are well adapted to slow, heavy draught. DESCRIPTION OF A GOOD HORSE. The head should^not be large, but rather light, and neatly, not abrupuy, affixed to the neck; the eyes bright, full, rather prominent, and set well apart ; horses with white, or wall-eyes, cannot see well, and are more liable to be skittish ; eyelids thin and dry ; the quirl high in the forehead ; ears thin, narrow, erect, of mid- dling length, and not distant from each other ; forehead 70 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. flat, not too large or square, and running nearly in a straight line to the muzzle ; nostrils capacious ; muzzle small and fine; lips thin; mouth tolerably deep; the jaw bones wide at top. The neck rather short and light, as the reverse, as well as a heavy head, induces stumbling ; it should not be gross and thick, nor large and deep, but rising strong and promptly from the shoulders and withers, and after- wards declining and tapering to the head, with a strong crest, and somewhat crowning at the top ; on the under part, the neck should be straight from the chest, and by no means convex. The shoulders capacious, of large extent, and spread- ing well back ; they should reach fairly to the top of the withers, which should be well raised, but not too high ; if the withers are low and flat on the top, the horse will be inclined to plunge and stumble ; the chest should be deep, rather broad, and full. The body substantial, deep, and round, a cylinder being the best form for capacity ; round horses have the best wind, as their lungs have full play, and they keep in the best condition, and require the least food; the back a plane of good width, handsomely rounded ; back bone straight, or-with a trifling inclination, and rather short ; a very short back indicates strength, but not speed and action ; loins wide, and the muscles of the reins full and swelling on each side the back bone , ribs well rounded out ; the hip .bones thrown well forward, forming a strong loin, with a sufficient space between the ribs and hip bones, which should be round; the buttocks deep and oval ; the rump level with, or not much elevated above, the withers ; the croup must have reasonable space, and not sink too suddenly, as that would set the tail too low, which ought to be nearly on a level with the back ; the dock should be strong, and well covered with hair. The hinder quarters should spread to a wider extent than the fore parts, and the hind feet stand further asunder than those before ; the thighs should be straight, large, muscular, and of considerable length ; the hock wide and clean ; the shank not too long, but flat, and of HORSES. 71 sufficient substance, its sinew large and distinct ; the fet- locks long ; the hocks should form an angle of such an extent as to place the feet immediately under the flank. The fore arms, like the thighs, should be large, muscu- lar, and of good length, the elbows not turning outwards ; the knees large, and lean ; the shank, or cannon bone, flat, strong, and not too long; the tendon large; the fore arm and shank must form nearly a straight line ; fetlock joints large and clean ; pasterns inclining to a certain degree, not too long, but large in proportion to their length ; the coronary rings not thick or swelled, but clean, dry, and hairy ; the feet neither too high nor too flat, and of size apparently a sufficient base for the weight they have to sustain ; hoofs, of color dark and shining, without seams or wrinkles, tough and strong, not hard like oak ; foot internally concave, sole hard, but not shrunk, heels wide and of middling height ; frog not too large or fleshy, but tough and sound ; the feet of equal size, should stand exactly parallel, so that the front or toe incline neither inward nor outward; the fore feet should stand perpendicular to the chest; not too much under it, and they should be less wide apan than the fore arms ; the legs should not be loaded with hair. CHOOSING A GOOD HORSE. Besides regarding the most prominent marks of a good horse, there are many other things to be taken into consideration. Perfect feet are indispensable. A horse with bad feet is always unsafe ; he will trip, and is very liable to fall. Any tenderness or uneasiness about a horse's feet renders him unsafe. When a horse is offered for sale, the purchaser should ask one question, \'iz : — ''Is he, in all respects, perfectly sound ? " Should a cheat be practised, damages could be recovered. View his feet and legs ; large ridges on the hoofs, or very^ flat feet, discover a horse to be subject to founder; large, gouty legs, with enlarged tendons, indicate strains and other injuries. Examine his hind legs ^vith great attention, just below the hock, and inside the hind knee ; if there is anv unnatural prominence, or 72 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. knot, unlike the other knee, it wears the appearance ol spavin, which renders a horse of but httle value. Splent, which appears on the inside of the fore leg, and wind- galls, upon the ankles, are unpleasant to the eye, but seldom produce any other injury than stiffness, as he advances in years. Ride, yourself, for the purpose of trying his gaits and other qualities, as a rider accustomed to a horse by pri- vate signs, such as manner of riding, bearing on the bit, leaning foru'ard or backw^ard, holding the heels close to the sides, &c., can make a dull horse appear gay and spirited ; a mid horse, gentle ; a stumbler, sure-footed ; one that is blind, appear to see ; and a starting horse, free from that great objection, &;c. Before mounting him, examine his knees, to discover if they are skinned, the hair off, or scarred. These are strong symptoms of his politeness, to a fault. Ride with your bridle loose, over an uneven ground ; if he is in the habit of stumbhng, he will very readily inform you. Then approach some object offensive to the sight; if he appears much alarmed, you may judge he has long been in the habit of that bad practice. Ride him in all his different gaits, to ascertain if they are smooth, easy, and agreeable. Move him about a mile, out and back, in fully half speed ; frequently stopping him suddenly, to try his uind ; also if he is spavined. If his wind has been injured, he will blow unnaturally, making a loud wheezing noise, with great difficulty of breathing. When a horse is rode by any person for you to judge of his gaits, you should have him moved towards you, from you, and finally by you, that you may have the opportunity of discovering if there is any turning in or about his knees and ankles, before or behind. A well shaped horse will track as true, or his legs will follow each other in as direct a line, as the wheels of a well constructed carriage. Hard steps, short going, arid great apparent labor, is offensive to the sight, unpleasant to the rider, and fatiguing to the horse himself. The following judicious remarks on choosing a horsi are from Dr. Paul Jewett, of Rowley, who, some forty or fifty years ago, conferred an important favor on the pub- HORSES. 73 lie by valuable directions for managing stock and treat- ing sick animals : *•' There is much pleasure and profit in the service of a good horse, and but very little of either in a bad one. There are many mean horses that make a good appear- ance when taken from the hands of a jockey. In pur- chasing a horse, then, trust not too much to the seller's word; let your own judgment, or that of a friend, be chiefly relied on. See that he has good feet and joints, and that he stands well on his legs. See that his fore teeth shut even; for many horses have their under jaw the shortest ; these will grow poor at grass. See that his hair is short and fine, for this denotes a good horse. Observe his eyes, that they are clear, and free from blem ishes ; that he is not moon-eyed, or white-eyed ; for such are apt to start in the night. A large, hazel colored eye is the best. " Take care that his wind is good ; let him be fed on good hay for twenty-four hours ; take him then to water, and let him drink his fill, placing him with his head the lowest ; if then he will breathe free, there is no danger. See that his countenance is bright and cheerful. If his nostrils are broad, it is a sign that he is well winded ; narrow nostrils, the contrary. "See that his spirits are good, yet gentle and easily governed. In travelling, mind that he lifts his feel neither too high nor too low ; that he does not interfere nor overreach, and that he carries his hind legs the widest. Age from five to ten is the best. There are many tricks practised by jockeys, to make horses appear young. Horses' teeth, when young, are wide, white and even ; the inside of their mouth is fleshy, and their lips hard and firm. On the contrary, the mouth of an old horse is lean above and below ; the lips are soft and easily turned up ; their teeth grow longer, narrower, and of a yellow color." 7 74 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. TO ASCERTAIN A HORSE'S AGE. The age of a horse is only determinable with precision by his teeth ; and that rule fails after a certain period, and is sometimes uncertain, even within that period. A horse has 40 teeth ; namely, 24 double tieeth or grinders, 4 tushes or single teeth, and 12 front teeth or gatherers. Mares have no tushes, in general. The mark which discovers the age is to be found in the front teeth, next the tushes. In a few weeks, with some, the foal's 12 fore teeth begin to shoot ; these are short, round, white, and easily distinguishable from the adult or horse's teeth, with which they come afterwards to be mixed. At some period between two and three years old, the colt changes his teeth ; that is to say, he sheds the 4 middle fore teeth, 2 above and 2 below, which are some time after replaced with horse's teeth. After three years old, 2 others are changed, one on each side the lormer; he has then 8 colt's and 4 horse's teeth. After four years old, he cuts 4 new teeth, 1 on each side those last replaced, and has at that age, 8 horse's and 4 foal's teeth. These last new teeth are slow growers, compared with the preceding ; they are the corner teeth, next the tushes, are called pincers, and are those which bear the mark : this mark consists in the tooth being hollow, and in the cavity bearing a black spot, resembling the eye of a bean. The tushes may then be felt. At four years and a half old, these mark teeth are just visible above the gum, and the cavity is very conspicuous. At five years old, the horse has shed his remaining 4 colt's teeth, and his tushes ap- pear. At six, his tushes are up, and appeal white, small and sharp, near about which is observable a small circle of young growing flesh ; the horse's mouth is now com- plete, and the black mark has arrived at, or very near, the upper extremity of the corner teeth At seven, the 2 middle teeth fill up. Between the seventh and eighth year, all the teeth are filled up, the black mark has van- ished, and the horse is then said to be aged, and his mouth full. From that time forward, the age of the horse can only HORSES. 76 be guessed at from certain indications ; but these guesses are usually made with considerable accuracy by experi- enced people. If his teeth shut close, and meet even, are tolerably white, not over long, and his gums appear plump, you may conclude he is not yet nine years old. At that age, and as he advances, his teeth become yellow and foul, and appear to lengthen, from the shrinking and receding of the gums. The tushes are blunt at nine ; but at ten years old, the cavity or channel on the inside of the upper tushes, until that period to be felt by the finger, are entirely filled up. At eleven, the teeth will be very long, black, and foul, but will generally meet even ; at twelve, his upper-jaw teeth will overhang the nether j at thir- teen, and upwards, his tushes will be either worn to the stumps, or long, black and foul, like those of an old boar. Beside those exhibited by the mouth, nature ever fur- nishes a variety of signals, denoting the approach of old age and decay, tnroughout the bodies of all animals. After a horse has passed his prime, a hoUowness of his temples will be perceived , his muscles will be continu- ally losing something of their plumpness ; and his hair, that gloss and burnish which is the characteristic of youth and prime, will look dead, faded, or entirely lose its color in various parts. In proportion to the excess of these appearances, will be the horse's age. The following are among the devices practised by a set of unfeeling rascals, who have no other rule of con- duct than their supposed interest to counterfeit the marks of age in horses. At four years old, they will frequently knock out the remaining colt's teeth, in order to make the horse appear five ; but you will be convinced of the fraud by the non-appearance of the tushes ; and if it be a mare, by a shortness and smallness of the corner teeth, and, indeed, of the teeth in general. To give an old horse the mark, is termed to bishop him ; from the name of a noted operator. They burn a hole in each of the corner teeth, and make the shell fine and thin, with some iron instrument, scraping all the teeth to make them white ; sometimes they even file them all down short and even. 76 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. BLIND BRIDLES. " Look and reflect; use your own intellect." " Yes, use your thinking powers, friends ; they were given you to use, and not abuse. Blind bridles! truly named, surely. Art never invented a more fatal thing to the eyes of horses than when she devised this plan of de- priving the horse of what nature intended he should enjoy. But, says one, how are blinders injurious to the horse ? Because they gather dirt and heat around the eyes Dirt irritates the eye, and heat produces inflammation. These bridles so entrammel the eyes of the horse that he is compelled to be constantly straining them, to see his way. The overexertion of the nerve brings on disease. Eyes were not made in vain. Had they been needless, the Creator would not have located them in the head. They were placed on the corner of the head that he might have the advantage of looking in different directions. Men, in the abundance of their wisdom, concluded the horse had too much sight, and they wished to curtail it ; hence the origin of bhnd bridles. Think of this seriously, and you will abandon the use of so destructive an ap- pendage. Remember, that blind bridles and diseased eyes are inseparably connected. Custom hoodwinks the senses of men as much as blind bridles do the vision of horses." — [J. Maddock, Farrier.] We once had a young horse that was so frightened on removing the blind bridle to bait him, which suddenly brought the chaise to his sight, that he was restrained with great difficulty, and would have cleared with the carriage, had he not been pent up by the fence. "We never used the blinders again, but made him familiar with carriages before harnessing him. Without blinders, horses can see objects as they ap- proach them behind ; but when blinded, the object comes close and suddenly upon them, and often occasions af- fright. HORSES. CHECK REINS. 77 The check or bearing reins of a horse answer no good purpose, but are a great evil ; a severe restraint and vexa- tion; confining his head in an unnatural position, by which he is constantly tormented. He cannot travel at ease, nor see impediments in the road, and, when he makes a misstep, is more liable to stumble. We have observed that the greatest travellers are those horses whose humane masters have allowed their heads to be free ; and as they draw a load up hill, a motion of the head is perceived, which supports the motion of the feet and legs, in the same way as a man, in walking, assists the motion of his legs by a counteracting motion of the arms. How would a man walk with his arms tied to his sides? Let those who torment their horses with unnecessary restraint, try it on themselves. Besides these serious disadvantages in travelling, the horse, by the use of the fixed bridle, is in a painful posi- tion at all times ; even when standing, he cannot rest at ease, but is incessantly tossing up his head, to get momen- tary relief from this painful position ; which violent and constant action produces inflammation and ulceration on the point upon which the head articulates Avith the spine ; hence the poll evil, and here we have the reason for this formidable disorder being almost exclusively confined to carriage horses. "We found, a long time since, by experience and obser- vation, that horses would travel better, perform more labor, and were less liable to stumble, when their heads were free ; therefore, we abandoned the cruel practice ; and we hope that it will be totally abolished, and, with that absurd custom of using blind bridles, sink into obliv- ion, so that, in regard to these fashions, our grand- children may laugh at the folly of their forefathers. 7* 78 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. STABLES. Stables should be on an elevated, dry situation, so that a horse can go in and out, clean, in bad weather. He delights in cleanliness, and would snuff the pure breeze, and slake his thirst at the crystal fountain. Sta bles should be capacious, and well ventilated. These are important requisites to the health and comfort of the horse. All offensive matters should be removed from the stable, lest diseases be generated. After cleaning the stall, strew plaster on the floor, to absorb the gas. This will pay all expense, in the improvement in the manure. Stables should be light, but a very strong, glaring light should be avoided. Dark stables are injurious to the eyes ; so is the ammonial gas that arises from impure stables. Close, hot, foul stables, are very unwholesome. They not only cause disease, but they make the horse tender, and predispose him to other diseases than those generated in the stable. Over the horses, stables should be ceiled tight or plas- tered, to prevent the hay from being scented by the exhalations from the dung, urine, perspiration, and breath. The rack should be smooth, and the uprights about four or four and a half inches apart, so that the horse can conveniently draw out the fodder, and yet not draw it out so fast as to waste it. The part of the rack next the horse should be upright, that the chaff, dust, and seed, may not fall down into the horse's fa :e, eyes, ears, and mane. In some stables in England, there is no rack, all the fodder being cut, and fed into the manger. The halter should run through a ring, or hole in the manger, and be kept tight by a weight of about one pound ; then, when the halter is slack by the horse's advancing, it is drawn up out of the way, so that he cannot step over it. If the length of a halter is station- ary, it is too short to allow the horse to lie down ;. or so long that there is danger of his stepping over it, and HORSES. 79 being cast. Many a fine horse has been ruined in this way. The stalls should be four and a half or five feet wide, that the horse may lie down with ease. As a level posi- tion is most natural for the horse's feet, the floor of the stall should slope barely sufficient to drain off' the urine. STABLE FLOORS. There is no doubt that a floor of plank, or other hard substance, is injurious, not only from its hard, unyield- ing nature, but from its keeping the fore feet dry. The horse, in his natural state, stands on a soft and yielding substance, and which is often moist. The hoofs of horses are a horny, porous, elastic substance, often receiving moisture, which is necessary to their well being. The constant dryness of their fore feet in stables, may account for their being more lame in these feet. Plank floors, as usually constructed, cause horses to stand uneasy, constantly straining some of the muscles of their legs, while sustaining themselves in an unnatu- ral position. To remedy these evils, on plank floors, make them almost entirely level, and allow horses bedding to st^nd on, to mollify the hardness ; and frequently wet the fore feet. Many prepare a floor of earth, and there is no doubt that it is better. Many farmers have a room for a horse, where he can stand on the manure all win- ter, having it levelled occasionally, especially where he stands to eat, that it may not accumulate too high under his hind feet. There is less waste of manure than when thrown out, and it will not ferment so early in spring. One of the best kind of stable floor, where the soil is dry, is made of lime, clay, and ashes, in equal parts. Mix into a mortar, and spread a foot deep. It will soon dry, and make a smooth, fine flooring, easy and agreea- ble for horses to stand on, and free from objections to stone, bricks, and wood. When the corks on the shoes are long and sharp, have the litter deeper, to preserve the floor. 80 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. DOCKING AND NICKING. Nicking is an innuman practice, that has gone almost entirely out of use. It not only inflicts severe punish- ment on the beast, during the tedious operation, but it weakens him forever afterwards ; it is also Liable to pro duce locked jaw. Of late years, there are many reflecting, intelligent persons, who think the horse's tail was made for some useful purpose, and that he should have it to defend him- self from myriads of flies and insects that swarm around him, in the warm season, to his great annoyance and vexation. Some think the horse will look better for being docked, and that this operation will cause his hind quarters to fill out fuller and stronger. Docking is per formed by a single stroke of some sharp instrument. If it bleed too much, put the inner, soft part of sole leather on the wound, and tie the hair over it. The tail should be cut in a joint. This custom is declining. EXERCISE. Horses constantly stabled should be moderately exei- cised two hours a day, when the weather permits, in order to keep up their health and strength ; for a horse will soon lose his strength as well as health, without exercise, if confined. Much depends on age, as a young horse requires more exercise than an old one. For neither should it be violent ; and the horse sliould not be put up till he is cool ; nor should he be allowed to cool at rest ; but during very gentle exercise. Horses run- ning in the pasture are better for moderate exercise frequently. A horse's exercise should be in proportion to his strength, manner of feeding, labor required, &c. Horses should not be rode fast after having been newly fed and watered. A fat horse requires a long course of moderate exercise before he can be safely put to a violent trot. It should be a general rule to ride a horse moderately HORSES. 81 at the beginning of a stage ; afterwards increase the pace, and slacken it again a mile or two before stop- ping, so as to bring him tolerably cool into the stable [See remarks on Exercise, page 20.] KEARING AND TRAINING COLTS. In his infancy, the colt will generally get along very well by his own exertions, wdth the affectionate care of his mother. But sometimes, colts, like calves and lambs, are weak or foolish, and need assistance ; and, again, the mother may be ignorant or unfeeling, and some attention may be necessary. The sooner the training commences, the better, after the colt is several weeks old, if it be done by a discreet person, so that he may receive the kindest treatment He may be fastened by a halter, where he cannot injure himself, or shut up in a safe room. The better way is to fasten him, generally ; then, after having tried in vain to break away, he will learn to stand hitched, and by leading him, and handling him when fastened, he will the sooner be tamed and rendered familiar. There are many disadvantages in colts following their dams, and they should frequently be left at home when their mothers are going far and will return the same day or evening, or are going a moderate distance and back quick, so that the exercise would be too much for the colt. If the mare travels far in hot weather, the colt will not only be injured by travelling, but he will be greatly injured by using heated milk. If he be left at home, the milk can be extracted on the way, to prevent injury to the mare ; and, on returning, it should be nearly all drawn out, to prevent injury to the colt ; then he will gradually fill his stomach, as the milk is secreted- This is by far the better way of the two ; but the best way of all is to use the mare but little. Some would object to the colt's going without milk all day. What do they think of thousands of calves that do this, and grow and flourish well ? Sometimes colts will go off after another horse. Again, they will start to go abroad, and will not follow well ; 82 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. and they often busy themselves in eating harnesses. These are all vexations. Colts are weaned when four to seven months old. They should be put into a small enclosure, for conve- nience in seeing to them often, where there is pure water, a plenty of sweet herbage, and trees, or some- thing that will be " From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade." Give them a little salt. If weaned after the green herb- age is gone, feed on rowen, well saved, clover, and a few roots. A little meal and a few oats are good. Take colts to the barn in the fall, when cold nights come on ; and give them clover hay, roots, and some provender. They require special attention the first winter. A little exercise is of great advantage. Under a wise manager, they may be trained to a sleigh. When well disciplined, drive moderately ; walk up hill, and down hill, too, if quite steep. Consider that a colt is a " wee bit of a thing," compared with a horse, in strength ; and he should be put to no hardships. Gentle training will save breaking, and he will make a more intelligent and tractable horse. Put no weights on his back in his tender age. Colts are seldom or never vicious by nature. If well educated, by first learning them what they are required to perform, and then encouraged and directed, by gentle means and the kindest treatment, there would seldom be any trouble, or need of compulsion or severity. [See Training and Breaking, page 27, and the following article.] TAMING, TRAINING, AND BREAKING. We have given some general rules on this subject. We here give modes of taming wild and \acious horses, and training horses, generally, to specific purposes. TAMING VICIOUS HOKSES. Mr. Denton OfFutt, of Kentucky, distinguished him- self in taming horses, in all their varieties of vices and faults. He would make any horse follow him in the HOKSES. 83 Street, in a few minutes. His mode v\'as very gentle. He slowly approached a horse, rubbed him gently on the head in the direction of the hair, the faster the better ; then rubbed and patted him all over, going to his head whenever he seemed alarmed. He would put on the bridle and halter ; talk kindly to him, saying, " come along." Put on and took off the saddle, always calming his fears with kindness. In this ■way, he would tame and subdue by gentleness ; the horse would become familiar, pleased, and tractable. TAMIiS'G ANIMALS. Mr. Catlin, in his work on the North American Indians, gave the following account of their method of taming the wild buffalo calves, and wild horses : — " I have often, in concurrence with a well-lmown cus- tom of the country, held my hand over the eyes of the calf, and breathed a few strong breaths into his nostrils ; after which, I have rode several miles into our encamp- ment, with the little prisoner busily following the heels of my horse, as close and affectionately as its instinct would attach it to the company of its dam. During the time that I resided at this point, in the spring of the year, on my way up the river, I assisted in bringing in. in the above manner, several of these little prisoners, which sometimes followed for five or six miles close to our horses' heels, and even into the fur company's fort, and into the stables where our horses are led. In the same way the wild horses are tamed. When the Indian has got him well secured with tht lasso, and a pair of hobbles on his feet, he gradually advances until he is able to place his hand on the animal's nose, over his eyes, and at length to breathe in its nostrils, when it soon becomes docile and conquered ; so that he has little more to do than to remove the hobbles from his feet, and ride him into the camp." The following is an account of an experiment by this mode. A horse-tamer saw a farmer and his tenants trying, ineffectually, to break a horse in t^c old way ; and he proposed to try the effect of his new mode. The 84 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. tilly was tied short up to a tree by the wall, and the tamer was warned to be cautious, as she would strike him with her fore feet. He approached cautiously over the wall, and by the tree. Immediately upon his touch mg the halter, the horse pranced about, and finally pulled away, mth a dogged and stubborn expression, which seemed to bid defiance. Taking advantage of this, he leaned over as far as he could, clinging all the time to the tree with his right hand, and succeeded in breathing in one nostril, without, however, being able to bhnd the eyes. From that moment, all became easy. He was very skilful in the management of a horse,, coaxed it, and rubbed its face, and breathed from time to time into the nostrils, while the horse offered no resist- ance. In about ten minutes, he declared his conviction that the horse was subdued ; and he then unfastened it, and, to the great and evident astonishment of all, led it quietly away with a loose halter. Stopping in the mid- dle of the field, with no one else near, he quietly walked up to the horse, placed his arm over one eye, and his hand over the other, and breathed in the nostrils. It was pleasing to observe how agreeable this operation appeared to the horse, who put up his nose to receive the pufi". In this manner, he led the horse through all the fields to the stable yard, where he examined the fore feet of the horse, which ofi'ered no resistance, but Mobile he was examining the hind feet, bent its neck round, and kept nosing his back. He next buckled on a surcingle, and then a saddle, and finally fitted the horse with a rope. During the whole of these operations, the horse did not offer the slightest resistance, nor did it flinch in the least degree. BKEAKING AND TAMING WILD HORSES. The following mode was practised by ]Mr. Jonathan Smith, of Virginia. A vicious mare was given him to tame, which, it was said, he could not manage, unless he dealt with the devil, for she was a wild, skittish young thing, high-tempered, and disposed to kick and bite. He ordeicd her into a stable, and then entered and fastened the door. Before she had time to survey him, HORSES. 85 he was giving her the lash smartly. Around she went, kicking a.nd jumping. No rest was given ; the sweat flowed, and she slackened in her movements. When she approached him, he slacked his whip, held out his hand, and said, "Come along." Again she was off, and the lash applied. This was repeated several times before she would advance, and when she moved towards him he approached and patted her, and as he moved away, and said, " Come along," she followed. In a moment she darted off; he applied the lash smartly. She stopped, trembled, and approached him ; he patted her neck, and said, "Come along," and she followed him several times round the stable. When she lagged, he was away, and the whip applied. After that, she would not remain two feet from him. He ordered the door opened, and the mare followed close to him to the crowd and back to the stable. This shows the general course, but not all the acts, in the tragi- comedy. It required about half an hour; and he said that it would not need repeating ; that it was humane, as it prevented further contention. TO TRAIN A SHY OR SKITTISH HORSE. Never strike him for swerving, as this will increase his fears ; but gently rub him in the face, and walk by the side of his head to the cause of alarm, and let him examine it ; then go back, and let him slowly approach the object again ; repeat, if necessary. We were once training a high-spirited and skittish colt, and he stopped with affright at a lock of hay in the road ; we gently led him to the frightful object, and allowed him to eat it, to show him his folly. Notwithstanding his spirit and shyness, we trained him to stop short or lie still at the word wha ! (long a, that he might distinguish from the word go !) on any emergency, even if lying uncomfortably in a snow-bank : and we taught him to stop suddenly, whenever the har ness broke or halter fell, even when travelling rapidly on a dark night. [See BUnd Bridles.] Lead a horse carefully over bridges, till his shyness abates ,• but if he continues shy, always lead b'ra oTer 8 86 DISEASES OF Ax^l..f herbage. In this way, they are supplied with a great variety of food, affording all the necessary elements of nutrition. The principal grasses cultivated in this country, are herds-grass, red-top, and red and white clover : all of which are excellent. There are other grasses cultivated to less extent, and many kinds grow spontaneously. A few grasses salivate the horse. [See Salivation.] Indian Corn. Green cornstalks are a good food for 92 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. horses and other stock. Some have worked on it for months, without grain. In such cases, it is the better for having age and substance. [See Food for Cattle.] Small Gkains and othePw Plants. The small grains, while the straw is green, or while they are growdng, and fed off like grass, are excellent food for horses. IMillet, in the green slate, is good horse feed. Besides the things we have named, there are hundreds of plants, far too numerous to mention, indigenous and exotic, cultivated and spontaneous, that are nutritious and palatable food for horses, cattle and sheep. DRY HERBAGE. Hay is the principal dry fodder used in this country for horses and other stock ; and although a few varieties, such as herds-grass, red-top and clover, are the principal Snds used, yet owing to soil, their growth, the time of cutting, the weather for saving, the manner of curing, and the condition in which they are saved, there is a vast difference in the quality of hay. While some kinds are worth $20 per ton, others are not worth $5, and some lots are fit only for manure. Herds-grass, (Timoth}^,) with a little red-top and clo- ver, makes a very substantial fodder for animals that are at hard labor ; but for milch, growing, or idle animals, clover, well cured, is a superior article. To make it without wasting the leaves, put it into tumbles when partially dry. This will cause the moisture to spread from the stalk to the dry portions ; then open and dry again. If not well made when got in, put it with straw^ old hay, or coarse vines or herbage, in alternate layers. These will save it, and become sweefby contact. Quality of Hoy. Hay is of various qualities, as we have named. Some is cut too early, and is flashy and too physical for laboring animals. Some stands loo long in the field, and becomes lifeless. It sometimes lodges, and is poor when cut. In bad weather, or by neglect, it is exposed to rains or dews, and much injured. The hot sun, after it is pretty well made, destroys its sv\ cetness and fine fragrance. Hay is often put into the barn m too green or damp state, and mow-burns, and becomes HORSES. 93 musty and poor. Some save hay by much salt ; but if more salt is put on than animals would eat while con- suming the hay, w^hich is about four or five quarts to the ton, it will be injurious. This would give a horse that eats four tons a year, about forty or fifty pounds of salt, which is much more than the usual allowance of an ounce a day, or eight ounces a week. Avoid all kinds of bad hay, if you would keep your animals in good con- dition. Straw, of various kinds, is used as food for stock. It contains some nutriment, and when animals are fed highly on grain, straw is better than hay, as it gives bulk to fill the stomach, with less nutriment. The value of straw depends much on the time it is harvested, and the manner of saving It is much better for being cut in a machine. Corn fodder is valuable, being very nutritious and palatable, when cut in season and well cured. A good crop will afford six tons of dry fodder to the acre. Other Plants. As we have said of green herbage, there are hundreds of plants that afford good dry fodder, when cut in their tender state and well saved. Some, that animals will not eat in their green state, are quickly devoured when dry. Horses and other animals wiU eat poisonous plants, and lobelia, in a dry state, which they avoid when green. [See Poisons.] Oats are used more extensively for horses than any grain. They are an excellent food, giving strength and spirit ; and, omng to the hull, they afford the stimulus of distention, as well as nutriment. They are less liable to injure horses than corn, wheat or rye, which are more solid, or concentrated food. There is a vast difference in the value of oats, — some having full meat, others bemg mostly hulls. Some weigh twice as much as others, and this should be considered in purchasing and feeding. Bad oats are often given to horses, which have an un- favorable effiect, producing the diabetes and other dis- eases. Sometimes oats are injured by storms, or in 94 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. Euring. New oats, not well saved, are hard to digest, and rather purgative. If too old, they become musty, and full of insects. Some contain dirt, dust, earth, &c. Preparation and Feeding. Horses prefer oats whole and raw. Grinding is not generally considered profita- ble. Bruising is good, but it is much labor. Soaking is good; even wetting is beneficial in hot weather. When horses are travelling, they waste oats from a trough, and they lose many from provender baskets by tossing up the head. Nose- bags are best, with a good fit, to prevent waste, yet allowing room for the jaws to operate. Indian Corn is used to a great extent in this country for horses ; it being the cheapest grain raised, consid- ering the nutriment it contains. But, owing to its heat- ing properties, and the large amount of nutriment in a small space, it should not be given alone, excepting in moderate quantities. Hence the advantage of grinding the cob with the corn, to add to the bulk. The cob con- tains some nutriment, also. Meal, or cracked com, is better than whole corn. If a horse be fed on whole corn, fowls win live well on the manure, or particles of undi- gested grain that are voided. Some soak corn a day or two before feeding, which is doubtless an advantage. Barley. Some regard barley as valuable as oats, pound for pound. Others say it is heating and laxative. Its laxative effects soon cease. It is better for boiling or soaking ; or grind and scatter it on cut, moistened fodder. Feed lightly at first. Wheat is hard to masticate and digest ; therefore it is not good food without preparation. Horses are very fond of it, and will eat it to excess. It is said to be poisonous in large quantities. It has proved fatal in several cases. Wheat bran, pollard, and shorts, are valuable for mashes. Buckwheat is but little used for horse feed. In some parts of Europe it is used, being first made into bread. Some say this grain is too laxative ; others, that it has stupefying effects. Rye is but Httle used as food for stock. We have observed that it is laxative ; and this might be inferred from its peculiar qualities. A good preparation would be to grind it and strew the meal on fodder HORSES. 95 ROOTS. Potatoes, both raw and cooked, are a gooc food for horses. They are rather laxative, especially raw. In large quantities, raw, they are apt to produce colic in horses not accustomed to them. They are in some measure a substitute for grain, in horses accustomed to slow work, and they are better than grain to keep idle horses in an healthy state ; but for horses accustomed to speed and violent exertion, this food is not sufficiently solid. A very few may be given at night, or a moderate mess on Saturday night, when the horse is allowed to rest on Sunday. They prevent costiveness. Turnips are much used in England as food of farm and cart-horses. Ruta-bagas are best. The white are poor. For slow workers, turnips, to a moderate extent, supersede grain ; but for fast workers, they are a substi- tute for hay. They are better cooked. Turnips produce a good skin, and a smooth, shining coat. It is best to give them at night. Carrots are probably the best roots for horses. When first given they are slightly laxative and diuretic, but in a short time these effects abate. They improve the condi- tion of the skin. They are a good alterative for horses out of condition. To sick and idle horses they render grain unnecessary. They are good in diseases of the skin ; and they are very useful in chronic cough and bro- ken x\and. They are excellent in restoring a worn-down horse. Carrots are fed raw. They should be washed and sliced. For slow working horses they answer in- stead of grain. One bushel of oats and one of carrots are considered equal to two bushels of oats. Horses like carrot-tops, and they are considered wholesome. Parsnips are much used in France as horse feed. In some places they are used for fattening all kinds of stock. It is said that they injure the eyes of horses, but this is not well established, as in some parts they are used extensively, without this effect. Parsnips are used raw and boiled. Their leaves, in good condition, are eaten as readily as clover. Beets, Artichokes, Vegetable Oysters, and other roots, have been but little used for horses. 96 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. Washing Roots. A little dirt may do no injury, especially in winter. Some think it is beneficial. Sheep are doubtless benefited by a little. The dirt has a laxa- tive efiect ; and the roots, and salt used on them, have the same effect. This may be sufficient without dirt. The dirt may wear the teeth too fast, and sometimes horses loathe it. It is but a little trouble to wash them in a machine, or by putting them into a basket, and shaking them in a tub of water. VARIOUS OTHER FOOD. Beans are seldom used in this country. In England, they are much used. Old beans are preferred, as new are more flatulent and harder to digest, producing colic and founder. Sometimes they are mouldy, and insects may eat out the flour and vital part. Beans are very nutritious, heating and constipating. Therefore, use them sparingly. Grind them, and strew the meal on fodder. The meal is good for diabetes. Peas are much the same as beans, only rather harder to digest. The meal is still better for diabetes. Flax-seed, in small quantities, either whole or ground, raw or boiled, is sometimes given to sick horses. It is too nutritious for a fever, or any condition that requires light food. But it is excellent for a cough; it makes the skin loose, and the coat smooth and shining. Half a pint may be mixed with the food every night. For a cough, it should be boiled, and given in a bran mash, and the compound will be improved in its medical qual- ities by adding a little coarse sugar, honey, or molasses. Oil Cake, ground, which is called oil meal, is very good in boiled food, which is not very rich ; or it may be prepared by turning on water, and let it stand awliile. In this state, it may be sprinkled on to cut feed, or any fodder. Two pounds a day is the usual allowance ; it makes the hair glossy, and the skin soft and pliant. Hemp-seed is supposed to be invigorating and good for the wind. It is given to stallions in the travelling sea- son The allowance is four or five ounces every night. EcMJS and New Milk are given to stallions in the sea- son they are much used, but the former is a very expen- HORSES. 97 s*ve food. In Arabia these articles are considerably used for horses. Milk is the natural food of the colt, for the first four or six months. Bread is considerably used on the continent of Eu rope, as horse feed. It is made from various kinds of grain, and fermented. It is nutritious and wholesome, and, in some sections, economical. Fruits, of various kinds, are used, such as apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, dates, &c. Some think pumpkin-seeds should be removed ; lest, from their diuretic quality, they produce diabetes. Flesh and Fish are fed to horses in Iceland, and some parts of Norway. PREPARATION OF FOOD. Something has already been said on this subject, in regard to several kinds of food which we have named. [See, also, page 31.] Cutting Fodder. There are several advantages in cutting fodder. Different kinds may be mixed together, and all consumed without waste, the unpalatable with the good. When a horse is heated, hungry, and thirsty, lie may eat moistened food, and thus quench his thirst, satisfy his hunger, and cool gradually ; when, without this preparation of food, he would be too hot to drink, aud too thirsty to eat dry fodder. By this preparation, a horse has time to eat his food, and "lie down, and rest, instead of standing all night, and chewing hard, long, 'dry fodder. This is important, v.^ien a horse has been on his legs all day. Cut and moistened fodder prevents the heaves, and it cures this disorder, or so far relieves it, that animals which have been thus affected, are enabled to do good service, and appear to be cured. The superintendent of a stable of forty horses, informed us, that during many years' experience, and his horses in very hard service, he never had one affected with the heaves ; and several that he procured, when they had this disorder, in some cases severely, were cured in the course of a few months, and not troubled in this way again while under his care. He attributed these favorable results to the con.stant use 9 98 DIbfi SES OF ANIMALS. of moist food. Fodder should not be cut very short, as some animals swallow it without chewing it well. In such cases, the sharp ends of fodder have cut the intes- tines so as to produce blood in the dung. From one and a half to two and a half inches is short enough. Some cut it two or three inches long. S0AKIN& Fodder. Some soak fodder from morning till night, and the reverse, and prefer this to cutting. It greatly promotes mastication and digestion. In this case, it would be well to have stock in a cellar during winter. GENERAL REMARKS ON FOOD AND FEEDING. When great labor is required, feed a horse on dry fod- der, cut and moistened, and grain ground or cracked. This is the best practice in this country and Europe. When horses are heated, and pressed hard, without time to rest, give them meal in soft, but not cold water. If the horse has time to eat, give him moistened fodder. Grain gives the horse strength, affording much nutriment to support the wear of muscle under great exertion. But for his health, he should occasionally have roots; or feed these in very small quantities, if violent exertion is required; and to slow working and idle horses, feed them constantly. They keep the animal in better health than grain ; they open the bowels, cool the blood, deter- mine the secretions to the surface, render the skin loose, and the hair smooth and glossy ; and besides the advan- tage of keeping the horse in good condition, roots are a cheaper food than grain. The food of a horse has great effect on diseases. Wounds heal more kindly ; inflammatory diseases are not so fatal, or are more easily cured ; and chronic dis- orders frequently abate, or entirely disappear, under tlie use of grass or other green herbage. But on such food, his flesh is soft, he sweats more, and is sooner exhausted. Such food is not suitable for horses at hard labor ; but it will answer for slow, moderate work. When horses are first taken from grass, they shou d be gradually accustomed to a dry diet, by giving them laxative food, such as roots, mashes, clover hay, &c., with their other fodder, which should be gradually HORSES. 99 increased, and oats or other grain should be fed lightly, at first. They should be put into a cool stable, and have a plenty of walking exercise, or light labor. These pre- cautions will save medicine and horses. As horses for labor are to be kept only in condition, not fattened for slaughter, they should always have moderate exercise, and food should not be kept con- stantly before them; but there should be intervals of three or four hours between each meal, that they may rest, and regain their appetites ; and that one meal may be well digested, before another is taken into the stom- ach, to over-tax the digestive organs with a double task at once. Some animals have no discretion, and some keepers of stock exercise no more judgment, but keep horses always eating, causing a burthen of fat and disease, in horses not exercised. WATER. Pond, river, or brook water, if it be pure and sweet, agrees well with horses. Hard \vater is said to be irn- proved by throwing in chalk or clay, and exposing it in cisterns to the open air. Sometimes hard water at first relaxes the bowels, and affects the skin, causing the coat to staer. When water is taken from cold fountains, in hot weather, it should stand an hour or two before used ; or add warm water or meal. Cold water is refreshing to a thirsty, heated horse ; and, if allowed, he would drink to his own destruction. After he has stopped tw^o or three minutes, to recover his wind, he may drink a little cold water, and travel on immediately, to keep up the temperature of the system. In winter, guard against extremely cold water, by ice or snow in it, or by exposure to the freezing atmosphere. CARE OF HORSES IN TRAVELLING. Take particular care of your horse at every stopping- place, and see yourself that he is properly treated. Sometimes the hay at taverns is poor; in that case, your horse must have more grain. If you feed freely 100 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. on grain, lie should be accustomed to it, else the sudden change may prove injurious. Oats are not so solid food as Indian corn, of course less liable to injure the horse. If grain be given mostly at night, it will become well digested, and nourish and strengthen the horse ; but if fed freely just before starting, the horse v>ill travel with difficulty ; the digestion will not be complete, and the food will pass off without affording proper nourishment. Hard driving after eating is more injurious than eat- ing after hard driving. Many persons, on starting from home, or on the road, will stuff their horses with fodder, and then with grain, which they will eat, though full enough before ; like the thoughtless child, who will eat a piece of pie, though already pretty full. Hard driving, under such circum- stances, is ruinous ; the horse should go moderately till the contents of the stomach are reduced. Wlien travelling, allow the horse to drink often, and but little at a time, especially if he be heated, and the water cold ; then he will not wish to drink to excess ; and when he stops, let him cool before drinking. IMean- while, he may eat moist food. If a horse grows costive, give him some mashes of scalded bran, or a mess of potatoes or carrots, at night. After travelling, a horse's feet should be picked, and all dirt and gravel washed out. In hot weather, wash- ing his legs is proper, but they should always be well rubbed and dried, afterwards. In cold weather, cold water is injurious to the heels, and apt to bring on swell- ing, and the grease. Washing a horse's legs and feet in brine prevents stiffness in the joints, and it makes the hoofs tough. [For further directions on this subject, see Food, Water, Feeding on Hhe Road, General Man- agement, &c.] FEEDING ON THE ROAD. JMany persons, in travelling, feed their horses too much and too often — continually stuffing them, not allowing them time to rest and digest their food; of course they suffer from over-fulness, and carrying HORSES. lai unnecessary weight. Some make it a rule to bait every ten miles, which is very inconsistent, as in some cases, with a fleet animal, good road, favorable weather and load, this distance may be travelled in one third the time that it can under unfavorable circumstances as to speed. It would be better to regulate the feeding by time rather than distance. Mr. S. B. Buckley, who made a botanical tour among the Cumberland Mountains, says, in the Albany Culti- vator, " Four young men came in, travellers on horse- back, who, according to the southern custom, ride all day, without stopping to dine or feed their horses. Horses will do well and keep in good condition under such treatment, as I can testify from experience." Horses should be well fed in the evening, and not stuffed too full in the morning, and the travelling should be moderate on starting, with a horse having a full stomach. If a horse starts in good condition, and trav- els rather quick, he can go twenty or twenty-five miles without baiting ; this is evident, when we consider the time necessary to accomplish this space with tolerable speed ; as it will require only three or four hours. On the contrary, with a heavy load and bad road, a horse would only go eight or ten miles in that time. Why cannot horses travel half a day, or four hours, without eating, as well as to work that time on a farm ? If there be more exertion on the road, it is a reason against fre- quent feeding at that time. GENERAL MANAGEMENT. We make a few remarks on subjects not considered elsewhere. The whip or spur should never be used, for any fault but dulness and obstinacy ; and the latter can be cured better by gentleness. With kind treatment, the horse is generally gentle and tractable. Washing horses, or allowing them to swim immedi- ately after hard work, or when heated, produces colds, fevers, colics, and fatal chronic complaints. Even the partial application of cold water to the legs, head, or back; when the horse is heated, should be avoided, g* 102 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. When horses are at hard service, in hot weather, before feeding, cleanse their nostrils, inside and out, with a sponge or rag, wet in water and vinegar, or water alone, if vinegar be not at hand. Sometimes a horse will not lie down, when tied up in a stable, and he may suffer in his feet, joints, and in his whole system, by standing constantly. As a remedy, put him untied into a stall or pen, with a good bed to tempt him to rest his weary limbs. If you would improve the condition of a horse, and prepare him for hard service, you must work the flesh on to him, as the saying is ; that is, give him moderate exercise or labor, while he is gaining flesh; this will prevent the accumulation of fat, and increase the mus- cular part of the system 5 it will give good health, and solidity and firmness to the flesh, and greatly increase his strength and power of endurance. In different stables, the quantity of salt varies from one to two ounces daily, for each horse. In others, none is given excepting on Saturday night, when eight ounces are given to each. This prevents any evil from Uberal feeding while at rest on Sunday. Better give a small portion in food, and allow the horse to help himself to more when he pleases. For loss of appetite, give mashes, a few roots, and once or twice a week, three or four drachms of saltpetre, and give -gentle exercise. A little Cayenne pepper, or J^o? ^ro/is may be good. [Seepage 49.] We have revived a horse's appetite by feeding on sheep's orts. Sometimes a cold bit freezes to the tongue, and takes the skin off". For ulcers in the mouth, apply a tincture of myrrh, or a solution of alum. For bridle-sores at the corners of the mouth, touch them daily uith salt water ; rest. STOMACH AND INTESTINES. Stomach. There is a strange difference between the four stomachs of the ox, and one of them so large, and the one small stomach of the horse — very small in pro- HORSES. 103 portion to his size. He seems admirably calculated for exertion, speed, and strength, on every emergency, full or fasting ; yet by hard driving, after over-fulness, he is very liable to injury. If the horse had a large stom- ach, it would render him clumsy and heavy, when full, and it would press heavily on the lungs, and impede inspiration. A part of the horse's stomach, like the paunch of cattle, is insensible, and serves as a reservoir for food, which he is often compelled to eat fast, and without sufficient chewing, where it is macerated and prepared for digestion, which process is partially per- formed in the other parts, and then the food passes on to the Intestines, in the first portion of which digestion is continued, as it is larger than in other animals, and is well adapted to digestion, by a thick, villous coat, with numerous folds, like a second stomach. This process is continued in the small intestines, and is not perfected until the food has passed the larger intestines ; the first of which, the colon, is very large in horses, compared with that in cattle ; here the food is retained awhile among the deep cells, and further digested. It then enters the ccBcum, which is large, and adapted to digestion by its complicated cells. After its retention, and further diges- tion here, it passes into the rectum, or last intestine, and is discharged, a part still remaining undige3iig, striking the poll in passing into a low stable or elsewhere ; jerking back the head, when hitched by the bridle or halter. It is sometimes occasioned by a general morbid state of the system. It is often caused by tossing up the head to avoid the pain and discomfort occasioned by the check or bearing reins, which constrain the head in an unnatural position. [See page 77.] Symptoms. At first, the animal appears restless, throwing up his head, and returning it. He soon drops his head, holding it first on one side, and then on the other. He appears dull about the eyes, and sluggish in all his movements. Heat and swelling of the poll follow. [f the evil is deep, the swelling is wide ; but vvhen near the surface, it presents a point. * Remedy. When taken early, the disease may some- times be dispersed. Abate the inflammation by bleed- mg and physic, and frequent application of warm vine- gar, saturated with salt. Observe a cooling regimen, reducing the quantity of oats, and soon discontinue them altogether. Apply an astringent or scattering poultice ; but be careful and not pursue this course far, unless it is likely to succeed. If heat, swelling, and tenderness increase, matter will form in the tumor, and the whole course of treatment must be changed ; a full habit will be necessary, in order to bring it to a suppuration as fast as possible ; and the parts should be softened and drawn by a poul- tice of oat or Indian meal, applied lukewarm, twice a day. The power of the poultice may be increased by roasted onions. Mix with it a small quantity of hog's lard or sweet oil. It should cover the whole swelling two inches thick. When the tumor is ripe, if near the top, it may break ; but if deep, it must be opened. The opening should be a little below the centre, and lengthwise, lest the cervic- ular ligament under the mane be cut, M^hich will cause the head to droop ever after. In order that the matter may run out as fast as formed, and not collect at the bottom of the ulcer, corroding and irritating it, a seton should be inserted, penetrating through the bottom, and 140 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. coming out on the side of the neck, a little below the bottom of the abscess. Perhaps, by pressing the parts, in order to produce a discharge, keeping it open at the top, and by cleansing v/hh frequent washmgs in strong soap suds, the matter can be expelled without a seton. If the ulcer deepens and spreads, and threatens to eat the ligatures of the neck, cleanse it by a weak lye of wood ashes, and apply a poultice of the soft pulp of roasted carrots, to which add a small quantity of char- coal powder. Should the healing of the wound proceed too fast, the granulations should be touched with some caustic. The operator should be cautious, as the acri- monious matter discharged from the abscess may be absorbed at the roots of his finger nails, and infect the system with poison. " Another. Friend Solon Robinson says, in the Frank lin Farmer, ''Here is a cure for poll evil, in its worst state ; when the swelling breaks, put into the opening from which the matter discharges, a lump of pearlash or potash, as big as you can with your finger. These applications will cure the worst cases of poll evil or fis- tula I ever saw." Another. A correspondent of the Albany Cultivator recommends, as soon as the tumor appears, to make a strong decoction of the root of the meadow plant or vine, known by the name of poison ivy, mercury, or poison vine, (Rus radicans ;) bathe the tumor with this decoc- tion every day, .as hot as the horse can bear it, and heat it in with a hot iron. It will soon begin to subside, and, after some v/eeks, disappear. He cured a horse in this way, that was so bad that he could not drop his head to drink. Another. Several severe cases have been cured by washing with soap suds, and putting common salt into the ulcer, repeating it frequently. Another View of the Case. D. P. IMosely, of West Liberty, Kentucky, thinks this disease may be caused otherwise than by external injuries. He says, "The cerumenous glands are internally connected with the ear and occiput, (hinder part of the head.) Their office is to secrete cerumen, (ear wax,) which lubricates the HORSES. 141 organs of hearing. When these glands become injured by colds, fatigue, &c., the secretions become obstructed, and produce swellings, and suppuration. He recom- mends a stimulant upon the muscles of the ear, as fol- lows : — Put three spoonfuls of finely pulverized flint glass into a bottle containing a pint of urine ; bury it in the ground for three days ; then shake it up, and put one spoonful into each ear of the horse, once a day, for three, four, or five days. He states the cure of a very severe case, from this application, in which the tumor had broken, and become very offensive. After pulver- izing the glass, it should be scronched through very fine cambric or gauze. Perhaps some other stimulant would answer. PHRENITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN. The term staggers used to be applied to this disease, but it is only a symptom of this and other diseases. Phrenitis is produced by a determination of the blood to the brain. Causes. Change from poor to high feeding and rich pastures, over-exertion in close, sultry weather, espe cially in fat, high-fed horses, lately accustomed to only a little labor. It sometimes results from other diseases, or a change of inflammation from one organ to another ; it may suddenly leave the bowels, lungs, or other parts, and attack the brain. But it is usually caused by a diminution of the excretions which produce costiveness and induration of the contents of the intestine, and a strong flow of blood to the head. Symptoms. Hanging of the head, dulness, watery eyes, reeling of the body, and sleepiness. While eating, the animal becomes lethargic, droops his head, with the tongue hanging out and saliva dribbling ; and he will stagger and almost fall. If aroused, he stares around, and then slumbers again. If he faUs, he will start up as though frightened, wander about, stagger and fall again. This nay continue some hours, or a day, and then the 142 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. scene changes ; he is alive, his ears up and eyes glar- ing; he is constantly changing his posture, pamng and stamping. He has intervals of calmness for a short time. Again he is active ; he whinnies, moans, dashes, plunges, bites and kicks, without object or conscious- ness. He exhausts himself, and then he is stupid and sleepy. And so he generally goes on, till he has rup- tured a blood-vessel in the brain, or worn himself out by violence. Remedy. Bleed profusely. Give a gallon of herb drink, made of mallows or other herbs. Give flax-seed tea to lubricate the bowels and prepare for physic. Back-rake, and give an exciting injection. In the course of six or ten hours, give a dose of physic. Then give mashes and feed sparingly, and keep in a dark stable. Another. Make an incision in the forehead, in the form of a cross, two inches in extent, down to the bone ; dissect up the angles, and introduce a tea-spoonful of cantharides ; then close the skin, and confine it by stiches. In a few hours an inflammation takes place, a copious flow of mucus from the nose ensues, and the symptoms of the disease abate. A deep sore is formed, which should be cleansed daily by soap suds. In this case the cause should be removed by laxative food and gentle physic. Another. Give physic and keep on light food. After an operation on the bowels, give the follomng fever drink : emetic tartar, one drachm ; powdered digitalis, half a drachm ; saltpetre, three drachms ; mix, and give in a quart of gruel. When this medicine cannot be ob- tained, give, as a fever drink, two quarts of strong rasp- berry tea, or other soothing astringent tea, adding the saltpetre, or some other light diuretic dose, if convenient. VERTIGO, MEGRIMS, OR FITS. This is an inflammation of the brain in its mildest form. The horse appears well, but owing to heat, ful- ness of flesh, rather fast driving, or the effects of exer- ^on after inaction, he is suddenly seized, stops, shakes .ts head, is giddy, looks around half unconscious. After HORSES. 143 tl7 "^'^T^' '^e ' ^^ '^""''^^^ '"^'^^ go^s on, but not so well as before Sometimes, without any warning, he drops, lies a few minutes apparently insensible, then starts up and goes on again. Or he drops and struggles violently for a few mmutes, then calmly rises and pro- ceeds, though somewhat oppressed and weakened Oc- casionally he drops and dies at once. Prevention. Keep the horse in a good, healthy con- dition, and give moderate exercise. Be careful and not teed too high. _ Remedy. Give physic and fever drinks, with light diuretics, and feed lightly. BIG HEAD. Young horses are more liable to fhis disease than older ones It does not seem to be contagious, yet when it i« ma large stock of horses, many are liable to be affected before it can be eradicated. It is slow in its progress both in its effects on those attacked, and in attacking others ; in this way, it will sometimes remain on a place several years Some say this disease is caused by blind teeth which should be removed. English writers do not speak of this disease. It is unknown in the Northern r^l^^'-vxr-^'^ prevails in the South, and in some sections ot the West. It is most prevalent in new countries, and usually attacks horses that run at large and live in the Appearances after Death. The bones of the head, particularly of the jaws, are heaved up and distended! i he bone at the surface appears solid and of the usual consistence, but when broken open, the inner part is distended and not compact, exhibiting the appearance ot dry honey-comb, or pumice-stone. The teeth also are atlected, and have the same unnatural distention and want of solidity as the jaw bones. Some of the bones in other parts of the system are affected. Symptoms. The first appearance of the disease is an enlargement of the front of the head, between the eve<^ and nostrils. This unnatural bulk continues to increase, wth greater or less rapidity, in different subjects. After 144 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. the hcjjse has been some time affected, the under jaw also begins to exhibit a like growth and distention. Sometimes it exceeds the other in increase. At an early- period, some, and a later period, other subjects, begin to languish and lose their activity and strength ; the joints grow stiff and unshapely ; the back becomes weak and unelastic, until he dies, or is killed to terminate his suf- ferings. REikTEDY. Numerous modes of treatment have been tried for this disorder, without success. The following has been attended with favorable results, when the dis- order has been taken in season. Take a piece of bar iron, and have it formed into the shape of a chisel, about two inches wide. Let it be about as sharp as chisels or axes usually are before ground. Heat this in the fire until it is quite red. Search out a gristle or ligament which extends from near the eye to near the nostril. It is almost as large as a person's little finger. Apply the edge of the heated iron across this ligament, about mid- way between the eye and nostril, and sever it by burn- ing entirely into the bone, on both sides. Let the wound alone. The severed ligature should be prevented from reuniting again too readily, and the irritating and suppurating state of the wound may be advantageous ; and having kept open the sore for some time, it will heal of itself. If the disease has not advanced far, the head will gradually and slowly shrink to its former dimensions. If it has advanced further, the horse may be servicable, though the head may not regain its natural shape. It is said to be attended with no danger. Another Remedy. One quart of hog's lard ; one quart of tar ; one pound of sulphur, or brimstone ; put all together in a pot over a slow fire, and boil until the brimstone disappears. Then make a mop on a strong slick, and rub the horse's head, from the eyes to the nose, once a day, with this mixture, till it is all gone HORSES. 146 RABIES, OR MADNESS. This dreadful disease is produced by the bite of a mad aog, or by such dog licking the muzzle of a horse whose lips are galled by the bit. Symptoms. The horse stops, looks round, staggers and falls. He will soon rise, proceed again; and again stagger and fall. After a while, he becomes violent and lurious ; stamping, biting, tearing, and endeavoring to demolish everything around him ; acting with apparent consciousness and intent on mischief. Unlike other domestic animals, even the dos, in which this disease originates, the horse, like the human being, generally has a dread of water, or hydrophobia ; as the head is suddenly snatched from a pail of water, amidst drinking, and he trembles and sometimes falls to the ground, convulsed, at the sound of falling water. There is no cure, but it may be prevented by cutting out the wound immediately after the bite, before the poison has entered the circulation, or by the applicatior of lunar caustic, so as to destroy every part that is in jured. It must reach to the very bottom of the wound ]t is dangerous to do anything with a horse when this malady controls him. [See page 277.] THE HOESE DISEASE. This term was given to an unusual and very fatal malady that prevailed among horses around the city of New York, particularly on Long Island, in the summer and early fall of 1846. It mostly affected those tha were pastured. It seemed to be a congestive fever on the brain. The internal organs were free from inflam- mation. Cause. It was supposed to be caused by miasma in the air, arising from the decomposition of vegetable and animal matter, which, taken into the lungs, vitiated the blood, or. prevented the usual purifying effects of vita air. Symptoms. These varied. O 146 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. menced by the horse refusing food, and hanging iown his head. He soon became stupid, and leaned against any object for support. In a few hours he i'ell, and in a day or two expired. In other cases, it commenced by weakness across the loins, and stiffness of the limbs, which gradually increased till the animal fell, generally to rise no more. In the latter case, the brain did not appear to be affected. Remedy. Many medicines were tried, and mostly in vain. General bleeding usually hastened death ; in some few cases, when it was attended to at a very early stage, it seemed to have a favorable effect. Bloderate bleeding in the head was considered useful ; after this operation, cold water was applied to the head, with appa- rent benefit. In some cases, it was thought that cam- phor, in others, calomel, had a good effect. But, in most cases, it proved fatal, in spite of medicines and treat- ment. About five hundred died. LAMPAS. A swelling of the bars of the mouth. Young horses are most subject to it. It will generally subside without medical treatment. A few mashes, with light physic, will generally relieve the animal. A few cuts across the bars, with a penknife, in the middle part, to avoid the principal artery and vein of the palate, will relieve the inflammation. Burning is unnecessarily cruel, and renders the part callous. Sometimes the lampas is caused by the lushes coming through the gums. In that case, lance the gums above the teeth. BLACK TONGUE. In the winter of 1834, an epidemic, under this name, prevailed extensively in Maine, among cattle and horses. The tongue swelled, turned dark, cracked, and the skin peeled off, and it was so sore that it was difficult for the animal to eat. Cooling laxatives, and washing the tongue in a decoction of white pine bark, had a good effect. The remedy used for cattle would doubtless be beneficial. [See this subject under the head, "Cattle."] HORSES. 147 THE EARS. The ears of horses are covered with a short down oh the inside, mixed with large hairs, to prevent cold air, snow, sleet, rain, dust, and flies, from hurting the inter- nal ear. Therefore, trimming this part is very inju- rious. In hot weather, there is a species of flies that eat the mside ot the ear till it is raw ; they are exceedingly tor- menting. To prevent this, apply some oil, lard, or other grease, to the inner part of the ear, once in a few weeks, in the warm season. Begin before the flies, else it wiU FOUNDER. This disease is caused by riding the horse until much heated and fatigued, and then allowing him to cool sud- denly, by drinking freely of cold water, or standing in an exposed situation', or in a cold stable without cover- ing; or, without sudden cooling, it may be produced by too bountiful feeding, and his swallowing his food gree- dily, while very warm and hungry. Under such unfavorable circumstances, the poor ani- mal, after resting, instead of being refreshed, is stifl*and sore ; his rest, food, and drink, being more destructive to health than constant action and abstinence. On the contrary, had he been allowed to cool gradually, and fed sparmgly, he would have escaped injury. Remedy. Take from the neck vein a gallon of blood, and give as a drink, in a quart of strong sassafras tea, a table spoonful of saltpetre, and a quarter of an ounce of assafcetida ; withholding any drink for six hours ; at the end of which, should he not be better, take half the quantity of blood, repeat the drink, offering him bran or oats scalded with sassafras tea, his drink being mixed with tea. His feet should be well cleaned, and filled with cow dung. Another. As soon as your horse is foundered, bleed lim in the neck in proportion to the severity of the case 14& DISEASES OF ANIMALS. In extreme cases, bleed him as long as he can stand. Then draw his head up, and with a spoon, lay salt back on his tongue, till he has swallowed one pint. Let him drink only moderately. Anoint his feet with spirits of turpentine, and he will soon be well. The founder per- vades every part of the system. Bleeding arrests it in the blood, and the salt in the stomach and bowels. At- tend to it immediately after the injury. Another. Curry the horse with a sharp curry-comb, very briskly, against the hair, from his hoofs over the whole body, and with sufficient severity to draw blood slightly, in places ; then jump on him, and run him some distance, and he will be relieved. Another. If your horse founders over night, take him the next morning, and, by turns, set each hoof in a pint of boiling hot hog's lard, first cleaning the hoof j and better still, if the shoe be taken off. Have it boil- ing hot for each foot, and with a spoon, put it over the hoof as near as possible to the hair. He will be fit for use in three or four hours ; so says a Kentuckian who had practised this mode of cure for fifty years without a single failure. Another, Immediately on discovering the founder, give the horse about a pint of sun-flower seeds in his feed. This may aid in the cure; but it may not be sufficient alone. H. Cole, in the Prairie Farmer, recommends, as a simple and certain cure, to bleed the horse freely in the neck, as soon as the founder is discovered, and as soon as practicable, place him in water about up to his belly ; the colder the better, and let him stand two thirds of a day; or, if badly foundered, longer. This drives the founder from his feet and legs, and prevents its settling there. EATING TOO MUCH GKAIN. Some animals eat grain to excess when they get access to it, and it would often kill them, unless relieved. The grain absorbs the juices of the stomach, and with the heat becomes so swelled as to be in danger of burst- ing it. Or, if this does not take place, the stomach may HOKSES. 149 diseases ensue. Besides the distention from swelled grain, there may be gases from fermentation. The general opinion among farmers has been, thai after a creature has eaten too much grain, he must not drink, lest the water cause swelling of the grain. Some say he would better drink ; and our opinion has been, that he would better drink moderately of salt water, or of an alkaline solution, as this will absorb the gas, and nvevent swelling and fermentation, and at the same time supply moisture to the dry stomach. On this contested point, we have obtained the opinion of Dr. Holmes, of the Maine Farmer, who makes the following judicious remarks : — " The injury arises from two causes, the swelling of the mass by absorption of the juices and lluids in the stomach, and gases arising (iom fermentation. The animal should drink moder- ;iiely, for the grain, warmed and moistened by the stom- nch, will swell, and by absorbing all the juices in the stomach, is apt to bring on a fever. A small portion of w ater will relieve the dryness in the stomach, and put the mass of grain in a condition to move out of the system." Remedies. Give drink moderately, and let it include a good dose of lime or chloride of lime, or a lye of wood " ashes. If the case be severe, back -rake, and give injec- tions— exciting ones, if obstinate constipation require it. Soon after giving the alkaline solution, give a pint of any kind of oil, or melted lard. A little gentle exercise may be useful. Ardent spirit of any kind is good, or atiy warm stimulant in a small compass, as Cayenne jiepjier or hot drops, as it checks fermentation, and warms and excites the stomach to action. For some time- after, feed lightly, and treat kindly, for the stomach will be weak ond tender. HIDE -BOUND. This often results from poor keeping and bad usage j sometimes from surfeit. The animal grows poor, his skin becomes dry and rigid, and seems to adhere to his 150 DISEASES OF ANIBIALS. bones, and sometimes small boils break out on his back. It is generally only a symptom of disease, particularly of the digestive organs. Treatment. Feed liberally, and give bran mashes, roots, or green food, to keep the bov/els open ; work moderately, oil the skin, and curry often, but not harshly, as the bones are too prominent for such an operation. This, with good usage, will generally cure, when the complaint is owing to poverty and harshness. But if it does not yield to the above treatment, the digestive organs are probably disordered, and medicine may be necessary. Give alternative medicines : — two drachms of levigated antimony, the first night ; three drachms of saltpetre the second night ; and four drachms of sulphur the third night, in bran mashes. The bran will keep the bowels loose ; the antimony and sulphur are fine for the skin ; the sulphur for the bowels, and the saltpetre for the urine. If the horse can be spared from labor, gentle physic v/ill be beneficial. Rub him well, and use warm clothing, if the weather be cool. LICE. See this subject under the head " Hen?;." The smaller kind of lice that infest hens often get on horses, when the hen-roost is near them. They mul iply rapidly, and notwithstanding their small size, they become a formi- dable enemy, tormenting the poor as imal almost to death. He rubs and scratches, tearing )ff the hair and skin, but all in vain ; they continue to tease and bite. They are difficult to destroy, and some owerful means that are recommended would sooner kiL the horse than the lice, as they are more hardy, and m 11 long endure what would kill the horse instantly. Mr. Albert Todd, of Smithfield, R. 1 had a horse sadly afflicted with lice, from having the -en-roost near him. As he knew not what ailed him, tL-v became an awful scourge before he discovered the cau e of the evil. After he learned the cause, he tried tobacco, soap suds, and oil, but in vain ; he then soaked him all over in HORSES. 151 new rum, and this destroyed them. In such cases, the litter should be removed beyond the reach of any ani- mals, and the stall and furniture whitewashed, with a liberal portion of salt in the wash; and the harness should be carried off, and brushed, washed or oiled. For these lice will live long without food, and then re- vive and increase. We have kept them alive nearly a week in a phial, without food. MOULTING, OR SHEDDING THE HAIR. This IS not a disease, but a condition that requires attention in the management of the horse. It takes place in the spring and fall, — more thoroughly or sud- denly in the spring, and then the animal is more affected by it. It produces indisposition to a moderate extent ; sometimes a slight fever, as the vital power, which, in health, is equally distributed through the whole system, is, in this condition, determined to the skin, and employed in the reproduction of hair. Consequently, there is lan- gor, and less capacity for labor. At these seasons, give cooling and loosening food; manage carefully, clothe well, and let the labor be less than usual. More than common attention to currying and rubbing is necessary while the moulting process is going on, as it will remove the old hair and promote the growth of the new. ABORTION. Abortion frequently happens to mares. It often arises from over-exertion during the latter period of pregnancy. They are also liable to various accidents in the pasture, which caitse them to slip their foals ; such as kicks, tumbling into holes and ditches, leaping over fences, &c. Stinting the mare in the quantity of her food, or food of a bad quality, is a cause of abortion. On the contrary, if she be fed high and not worked at all, there is equal danger of miscarriage, by high condition and idleness, causing inflammation and other disorders. Therefore avoid extremes, and when the beast is near 152 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. her time, put her in a suitable pasture by herself. This subject is treated of more fully under the head " Cattle." WOUNDS AND BRUISES. One who has much experience confidently recom- mends the following treatment : Dissolve saltpetre in warm water, in such proportions as to be moderately strong to the taste, and add blue stone, blue vitriol, (sulphate of copper,) until the solution is slightly tinged. use this, and nothing else, for a week, two or three times a day. It purifies the wound, destroys proud flesh, produces granulations, and heals the worst wounds in a short time. It is good for a kick, and is not liable to leave a scar. It will generally do well without any covering. It protects from flies, and as the skin will approximate as the wound heals, under this treatment, there is not so much need of sewing up wounds. Another, Mode. Wash the wound, morning and night, in warm soap suds, and anoint immediately with whale oil. This purifies and heals the wound as fast as desirable for soundness, protects it from cold and flies, and the hair is replaced of the natural color. Another for Flesh "Wounds. Steep Life of Man root in chamber lye, boil it doMTi one half, and wash the wound with it several times a day. It is said to be very eflectual. [See Wounds, page 5Q.'\ CEAMP, OR DRAWING OF THE NERVES. Cause. Taking cold after hard labor and sweating. The excretions being suddenly diminished brings on spasmodic and convulsive symptonis. Every nerve seems contracted to overthrow its antagonist and dis- member the ungovernable body. The eyes are con- torted, and generally nothing but the white appears. Remedy. Sweat the horse, by taking a large pot filled with mayweed and tansy, and when boiled, place il under his belly, and cover him with a large rug or cov- erlet, to keep the steam confined to his body. A little HORSES. 153 before the steaming, give him sixteen grains of opium in half a pint of wine. Keep him covered for a few days, and give him warm water, and be careful that the cold be not repeated. If opium be not at hand, give some warm drink, such as ginger and water, peppermint or pennyroyal tea, adding two tea-spoonfuls of pulverized Cayenne pepper. This will greatly promote the perspiration, and warm the whole system. Hot drops are also very good as a warming medicine. [See page 49.] CASTRATION. If horses are constantly worked, so as to be no trouble, they are better for being entire, as they will be stronger and endure more hardship. On this account, many that are kept almost constantly in harness are not altered, and they are perfectly kind and docile. But as most horses are sometimes idle and run out with others, it is a general custom to castrate them. This operation, as with calves, lambs and pigs, could be done with the least trouble, injury or risk, when the colt is only a few months old. But as the form of the neck and shoulders are materially improved by his re- maining perfect, he is not generally castrated till after he is a year old. If the fore quarters are then large and full, the sooner it is done the better ; but if they are thin and weak, he should remain six months longer. Many do not CEistrate the colt till he is two years old. The operation should be performed in mild weather, and the patient should be prepared by a dose of physic. Many new modes of emasculation have been recom- mended, — such as turning the testicles, cording, apply- ing the clams, &c., — but the old mode of cutting is generally preferred ; and if it be properly done, under favorable circumstances, it generally, or almost univer- sally, succeeds. After carefully casting the colt, the operator should examine the scrotum, and see if the testicles have come down thoroughly, so that he can grasp them rmly 154 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. They may not have come down well. If there is any prospect of a difficulty in retaining them in the grasp, he should pull them down as low as he can without violence, and place a pair of clams above them. He grasps the testicle, pushes it to the bottom of the bag, and then makes the bag tight over it ; then with one incision, from before backwards, he cuts along the whole extent of the lower edge of the testicle ; he cuts through the scrotum, the dartos muscle, and the tunica vaginalis, and the testicle slips out. Some make the incision with a red-hot firing iron, but this is unneces- sarily painful, and the wound will not heal so soon. There may be some cases in which it heals too soon, while matter is in the scrotum ; but these cases are rare. The operator must now seize the testicle, hold il steadily, not draw it violently, humoring the struggles of the animal, and when he is still, draw it out a little further, and place the clams upon the cord, havmg first wound a little tow around them. The vas deferens, which is continued from the lower part of the testicle, should be divided, which will save the colt much un necessary pain. He then settles in his mind where he will divide the^ cord, so as not to leave it so long as to protrude out of* the scrotum, nor so short as to be difficult to seize in case of bleeding. The clams are then closed, and fast- ened sufficiently tight to stop the blood, but not so hard as to bruise the cord. The cord is now divided. Some cut the cord with a knife, and sear the end to prevent bleeding, but the difficulty is that bleeding will sometimes occur after this precaution. The better way is, to draw a firing iron, with a sharp edge, rapidly and repeatedly, yet lightly, across the cord, and not wholly in the same line, until it is divided. The vessels will then be more securely closed, and bleeding will seldom follow. The clams should be a little loosened to see if bleeding is stopped. If only a little blood oozes out, apply the firing iron again. This is a nice point, as the application should be just sufficient to accomplish the intended purpc >e ; for many of the colts that are lost die of inflammation from needless severity in the appUca tion of the hot iron. HORSES. 155 Proceed in the same manner with the other testicle, and the operation \vi\\ he completed. Cleanse the part with cold water, as nothing is better. No balsam or salve need be applied, nor is it generally necessary during the healing of the wound. At tirsi he should be kept up in a pen, as stirring a little will cause the pus and other fluids to run out, and prevent swelling and inflammation. He may be walked out daily for a quar- ter of an hour. To turn him out, exposed to the flies and cool nights, is cruel and dangerous. But little attention will be necessary afterwards. There will often be considerable swelling, and some- times extending beyond the scrotum along the belly. But if there be a healthy discharge of pus on the third day, there will be no danger, and the swelling will grad- ually subside. Whether there is swelling or not, if there be no discharge of pus, the wound should be opened a little with the fingers, that any pus pent up in the bag may escape. If there be great swelling, foment the parts long and often. A strong decoction of raspberry leaves, or other astringent, will be good for this purpose. In case fever attend, give gentle physic, and light food, • such as bran mashes, &c. SALIVATION, OR SLOBBERS. Causes. The food is doubtless the cause, whether it be green or dry, as is shown by experiments in chang- ing food. Some have attributed salivation to the second crop of clover, but from very nice experiments that have been made, it is evident that clover has no such eflfect, unless the seed be a cause. There are several grasses, weeds, and other plants, that will cause salivation. Lo- belia will cause it when eaten by horses ; but in the pas- ture, they generally, if not universally, avoid it ; but when mixed with hay, horses will eat lobelia, and it will produce slobbers, as experiments have plainly shown. Some say that clover seed will cause salivation ; hence this disease from eating ripe clover. The principal cause of salivation is doubtless spurge, (Euphorbia maculata,) which is generally found in a ser 156 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. Mid crop of clover ; and a later variety (hypericifoUa.) It comes forward, flowers, and ripens at the same time as the second crop, and it is gathered with clover seed. In this way, it may be diffused all over the coun- try, and it is found in most parts of the United States. All the plants of the genus Euphorbia contain a very acrid juice. [Some of them stand at the head of vegeta- ble poisons.] It has the greatest effect in the green state, and is most effective when in flower, which is in July and August. Symptoms. They are very apparent. A profuse dis- charge of saliva from the mouth, to the great annoyance of man and beast. It doubtless weakens the animal very much. Remedies. Change the pasture, or the fodder. Take a horse that is salivated, from grass, and feed him on pure hay, and the salivation will be stopped in one night. Feed with cabbage leaves ; and if they be not at hand, use turnip tops, radishes, mustard, or other crumiferous plants. Mix, occasionally, a table spoonful of sulphur with the salt that is given to the horse, and give salt freely. FISTULA. This disease may generally be attributed to careless- ness. If the saddle has not been properly champered, or the padding has shifted so that the saddle presses on the edge of the withers, swellings and sores will be pro- duced, which, in bad cases, may run to ulcers of the same kind as those of poll evil. If the sinuses penetrate between the shoulder and the ribs, it is even more seri- ous than poll evil, and the seton must pass through the very deepest of them. In many respects, this disorder is similar to poll evil, and the treatment should be sim- ilar. Another Rebiedy. If it has broken, or has been lanced, and runs, make a wash of elder, (Sambucus can- adensis,) wild cherry and sassafras root, equal parts, boiled After washing, apply salseratus to the sore. HORSES. SWEENEY. 157 Sweeney is the name given to a certain disease in which there is a wasting of the flesh in the bone, called the scapula [shoulder-blade] of the horse. It is generally- occasioned by a sprain of one of the joints of the leg, causing an interruption of the circulation of the fluids which nourish the muscles [flesh] of that part of the shoulder — hence the wasting of the flesh occurs. Farm- ers call the disease sweeney, but it is not found under that name in the books. The remedy is simple. In the centre of the wasted part, take hold of the skin, and pull or lift it up with the thumb and finger^ and with a sharp knife, cut off" the piece thus lifted up, so as to remove entirely a piece of the skin about an inch in diameter ; then dress the spot with a suppurating salve, to make it run matter for two weeks; then let it heal. The cure depends upon the inflammation occasioned by the wound and the salve ; this occasions an increased flow of nourishment to the wasted part. We would suggest whether the insertion of a rowel would not answer the purpose more efiectually, and with .ess trouble, than removing a piece of the skin, and applying suppurating salve. Another Remedy. " Take half a pint of grease, tried from old rusty bacon ; half an ounce gum cam- phor, shaved fine ; four or five red peppers ; simmer all together till thoroughly mixed. Apply this every other morning to the affected shoulder, rubbing it briskly with a smooth stone until it becomes quite hot. Pulling up the skin two or three times a day, where the flesh is wasted will expedite the cure." GALLED BACK. Remedy. White lead moistened with milk is an ex- cellent remedy. Keating, in his expedition to the source of St. Peter's River, found this the most successful appli- 14 158 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. cation. When milk ^annot be had, sweet oil may be substituted. Another. Gather a quantity of smart weed, (arse- smart,) which generally grows in moist land around stables ; bruise it well, and put it into an iron vessel, in the corner of the stable ; cover it with chamber lye, and wash the galled places whenever the horse enters or leaves the stable, or oftener, if necessary. A cure will be effected. If badly galled, bruise some of the leaves, and lay on. To prevent galling, wash daily the parts most exposed to injury. Another. If the skin is worn off the back, and the sores are swelled, bathe it with hot urine, or with warm salt and water ; this will disperse the swelling. If you wish to dry up the sore, powder chalk, or old shoes burnt, and cover the back with it. If the back is full of hard lumps or saddle boils, bleed him freely in the mouth, which will serve him as a dose of physic ; then wash his back often in hot rum and vinegar. THE SHEATH AND PENIS. Sometimes the sheath of the horse becomes foul from dust and perspiration, which causes irritation and inflam- mation. Wash it thoroughly, internally, with soap suds, and remove all the foul matter. When well cleansed and dry, anoint it with some soothing ointment or lini- ment. Lard, or oil of any kind, will answer. If there be not much inflammation, the washing alone may be sufficient. If there be much inflammation, after wash- ing, foment it, externally and internally, with some astringent. Sometimes, at the close of a severe illness, the sheath becomes suddenly inflamed. Give gentle physic and mild diuretics, and foment the inflamed parts with astringent liquor. If the sheath be not occasionally examined and cleansed, filth may collect and remain there long, caus- ing excoriations and ulcers, eating deeply into the parts, and producing a mass of disease on the glans of the penis, so that amputation becomes necessary. Some- times masses of fungus, weighing several pounds, will HORSES. 159 cover the glans. They cannot be successfully removed with the knife or cautery, as they will sprout again. Amputation of the penis is the only remedy j which is neither difficult nor dangerous. Turn back the sheath, and draw out the penis as far as possible, and then cut it off as far below the diseased part as may be deemed necessary. The remaining portion will be retracted within the sheath. Little bleeding will generally follow ; excepting a slight flow of blood for a few days, in the passing of urine. The orifice of the urethra is kept open by the urine, and no unpleasant circumstances usually follow from this oper- ation. SPRING HALT. Spring halt, or string halt, is a kind of lameness pecu liar to the hind quarters of a horse, which causes a sud- den jerking of the legs upwards in his going. When it seizes the outside muscles, the horse straddles and throws his legs outward. When the inside muscles are affected, his legs are twitched up to his belly. It is in one or in both legs. The cure is difficult. Rubbing and fermen- tations are recommended, with moderate exercise daily. STIFLE. Cause. It is caused by the dislocation or slip of a small bone, about as big and as long as a man's finger, at the stifle joint, above the inside bend of the hough or gambrel, which is much the same as the knee-pan in man. Symptoms. Lead the horse over bars or other imped- iments, one and a half or two feet high, and he will drag a stifled leg over, being unable to raise it up, and step over. Remedy. If the stifle is not slipped out of place, but only strained, it may be cured by bathing it in a lini- ment made of three parts of brandy and one of the oil of spike, heated in by a chafing dish of coals. This will contract and strengthen the ligament, and if the lame 160 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. ness is recent, it will be likely to cure. But if the stifle is out of place, fasten a strong rope or chain round the foot-lock of the lame leg, and let a strong man hold it ; then move the horse directly forward, while the rope i? held fast by the man behind, pulling the rope, so as to occa- sion the leg to be extended back as far as it can be drawn. Let this be done three or four times before the rope is taken off. Be careful and pull the leg directly back behind, for if turned on one side, the leg may be injured. It is said that this treatment never fails ; but if the stifle has been of long standing, the operation should be re- peated in a few days. This restores the bone, and the application of astringent medicines, like the liniment just named, will have a tendency to keep it in its place. Another. If the stifle is dislocated, make a stifle shoe, three inches high, using a common shoe for the base ; put this on the well foot, that the horse may stand four or five days on the lame one ; that will keep thf joint in its place, and in the mean time bathe the join^ with the liniment above mentioned. The stifle shoe ir. preferable to strapping the well leg, as it hinders circu lation, takes off the hair, and often lames it. Another. " A handful of sumach bark, and a hand- ful of white oak bark, boiled in a gallon of water, down to two quarts ; bathe the stifle with this solution twice iK day four days ; then put on a salve made of the white of an egg and rosin, and bathe the same in, with a hot shovel, two or three times, and the horse is cured." Another. Take one gallon of urine, and put therein a small handful of junk tobacco ; boil down to one quart ; then add two ounces of the oil of spike, one ounce of the oil of amber, two spoonfuls of spirits of turpentine, and two spoonfuls of honey. Put it into a ]ug, and cork it tight for use. Process of Application. Rub the stifle bone hard with the mixture, fifteen or twenty minutes j then dry it in thoroughly with a red-hot fire shovel; then ride the horse forth and back one hundred rods. Repeat the above two or three times, and the cure will be effected. HORSES. Ittl SPLENT. Splents, strictly speaking, are bony substances inter- posed between the larger and smaller bones of the leg. But horsemen generally call any bony tumor along the side of the leg, a splent. They are caused by early and over work, and external violence, and are most common to young horses. The growth of the splent is attended with heat, tenderness and pain, and some lameness. When they have become grown, and the other parts around them have become accommodated to them, they do no material injury, though unsightly, unless they interfere with the action of any joint. This disease is most common to the fore legs. Remedy. If they produce lameness, or are in situa- tions where they are likely to, cut off the hair around them 5 put on a smart blistering plaster, to be kept on three days ; chafe the part strongly with a tincture of flies, and once a day rub in opodeldoc, with one quarter spirits of turpentine, unless this substance is in the opodeldoc. Another. Rub on well, for four days, a little mercu- rial ointment ; or, better still, a compound of iodine and mercurial ointment. Then wash cleanly, and apply a blister. Blister. Mix four drachms of cantharides with sweet oil, to the consistence of molasses, and rub it on with the hand, five or ten minutes. SPAVINS. Bone Spavin is similar to splent, excepting it is con- ' fined to the joints, and common to the hind legs. Some call all bony excrescences spavins when on the joints, and splents when on other parts of the legs. The bone spavin, definitely considered, is a bony enlargement at the upper end of the shank bone, inside the hock joint, or a nttle below it. It belongs to the hind leg only. At the seat of this disorder, the leg is composed of three bones, fitting into one common cavity at the hock 14* 1<)2 DISEASES OF ANBIALS. yet possess separate motions to give elasticity to the animars tread, and assist him in progression. By mounting the colt while too young to bear much weight, and pushing him too hard at work, these bones are strained asunder, inflammation ensues, and a spavin is thrown out. Remedy. Blister the part affected, first shaving off the hair. Another. Two table spoonfuls of melted lard; one table spoonful cantharides, made fine ; a lump of corro- sive sublimate, as big as a pea, made fine ; all melted together, and applied to the callous, once a day till used up. This quantity for one leg. It will make a sore and weaken the joint while applied, but be not alarmed. Another. Take six ounces of oil origanum, two ounces of camphor, two ounces mercurial ointment ; mix them well together, and rub the place affected two or three times a day, keeping the horse dry. This is said to be a good remedy from actual exjieriment. It is also good for ring-bone. Boo Spavin owes its origin to hard work in early life. It commonly comes in the ham, and is caused by the joint-oil of the hough issuing into the membrane that surrounds it, and, stagnating under the vein, causes it to swell. Prick the swelling, but take special care and not injure the nervous cord, as this may bring on the locked jaw. Upon opening the swelling, you will find a gela- tinous humor to issue from it. Now apply a turnip poultice for a few days, to draw out the humors, and then strengthen the part by bathing it in good brandy. Blood Spavin is caused by a vein being ruptured , the blood extravasates, and forms a protuberance. The following remedies are good for bog spavin, or blood spavin : Take a strong mixture of copperas and vinegar, with which rub the parts affected, Iceeping the horse dry, and stirring him only enough for exercise. Take about a pailful of urine, into which tlirow a quantity (the more the better) of old rusty iron ; put the vessel near a fire, and let it stand three or four days, stirring :t occasionally, when it will be fit for use HORSES. 163 Apply this mixture twice a day ; and in all cases it will soon effect a radical cure, or prove highly beneficial. SWELLED LEGS, OR WEED. This complaint is frequent and troublesome. The causes are various and difficult to determine. Young horses are most subject to this disease, especially if high fed on being taken from grass. It is more common and more severe in the hind legs. It frequently comes on very suddenly. Sometimes it is only the shifting of an inflammation from the lungs, intestines, or other parts. Sometimes a general fever attends it, the pulse quickens, the mouth is hot, and the horse ceases to eat. Remedy. Foment the legs with warm water, give a good dose of physic, and follow it by a diuretic medi cine. In very severe cases, bleed freely. The legs should be well rubbed and slightly bandaged, and gentle exercise used. The legs of horses that are over worked frequently swell, without much pain, on stand- ing a day or two in the stable. The legs of some horses swell every night. This is owing to debility, either general, or of the part. It may be owing to over work or high keeping. Remedy. Give mild physic and diuretics ; use regular exercise, and rubbing, and bandages around the legs. Decrease the quantity of food a little, and give mashes, and green food, if in the season. Attend to the general management of the horse, to promote his health. RING-BONE. This is an ossification or bony excrescence on the front of the smaller pastern bone, just above the hoof, and be- low the fetlock joint; generally it is not very injurious, but sometimes the same atfectfon on the lower part of the larger pastern, at the join.t, causes much lameness. Causes. Colts that are kept on stable floors that are cleaned daily, and not littered, are subject to this disease- Low keeping, by weakening the joints, has a tendency 164 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. to produce it. In young horses, it is often caused tv strains, in being driven too hard; and by running in pastures, and leaping fences. Symptoms. Lameness is sometimes the first intima- tion that we have of ring-bone, which may be ascer- tained by passing the hand down over the part affected. A Eemedy is difficult, out something Eia;^ be done by way of preservation and relief, and if tlie ossifica- tion is not at the joint, it wll not be a serious injury. As soon as the evil is discovered, foment tlie part fre- quently and apply the following linament. One quart of vinegar, two ounces of salt, and one quart of hot drops. Another. One pint tincture of lobelia, one pint tincture of Cayenne pepper, and four drachms oil of ori- ganum. Beat up the last in a small quantity of alco- hol. Another. Clean and dry the part affected. Then rub on it, well into the hair, some good common house soap, and dry it in with a hot iron, but not so hot as to burn. Try this three mornings, and if a cure be not effected, repeat it. It is perfectly safe. SCRATCHES, OR SELENDERS. A disorder between the hinder pastern joints and hoofs, consisting of cracks, soreness, with suppuration. It is most troublesome in spring, while the roads are muddy, which obstructs the perspiration of the parts, together with snow-water, which is very unfavorable. Remedy. As a preventive or cure, cut off the hair close, and wash the legs in strong soap-suds or urine. Washing in warm vinegar, saturated with salt, will be an additional advantage. In severe cases, apply for a few days a turnip poultice, with a small quantity of hog's lard. In inveterate cases, a run at grass may be the only remedy. Another. Wash the legs in warm, strong soap-suds, and then in beef brine. Another. With warm soap-suds wash the part affected, and with a cob or other rough substance rub HORSES. 165 off all scabs ; then apply oil or hog's lard just so as to moisten the skin ; then take a fine powder of hemlock bark, and cover the parts well with it ; a few applica- tions will effect a cure. DISEASES OF THE FEET. Brittleness of Hoof is a disease arising from keep- ing the hoof too dry; though it is a natural defect in some horses. It prevails most in hot, dry weather, and is a serious inconvenience. The hoofs chip away at every shoeing, until at last there is scarcely nail-hold, and there is danger of pricking the horse. For this complaint, stopping is commonly used. The best stop- ping is cow dung, with a small portion of clay to give it consistency and tenacity. Apply it to the soles of the feet when not at work. But the follo-v\dng liniment is preferred. Oil or spirits of tar, one pint ; common fish oil, one quart ; mix them together. When the horse comes from work, cleanse the feet, and rub this liniment over the whole crust and sole. Brittleness in the hoof would be prevented, in some measure, by the horse stand- ing on the ground instead of a plank floor. Sand Crack is a longitudinal crack in the hoof, the predisposing cause of which is brittleness of hoof. It is most common on the inner quarter of the fore foot, that part being rather weak, and liable to much stress and pressure. But in the hind foot it is the most frequent at the toe, for there is the principal stress in drawing. The slightest appearance of sand crack should be attended to. It begins from without, and penetrates inwardly, and may be arrested in its progress, when superficial. Rasp the hoof; if done in season, the crack may be rasped out. If it proves to be deep, and yet no lameness, the foot should not be weaken 2d by cutting to the bottom of the fissure, but a line sh ould be deeply drawn, with a sharp firing iron, above and below it, to prevent its spreading. If lameness attend sand crack, the fissure has pene- trated hrough the horn to the sensible parts, and either gravel has insinuated itself, and is giving pain by its 166 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. pressure, or a portion of the sensible part beneath hau protruded itself into the crack. The crack must be searched to the bottom, the fides must be pared off a little, and then, with a very small drawing knife, the fissure must be opened and examined. When the dirt or gravel is removed, a piece of tow, dipped in balsam, should be put into the crack, the foot immersed in a linseed poultice for a few days, and a stimulating liniment rubbed on the coronet, to encourage the growth of horn. Split Hoof is sometimes occasioned by corking when the travelling is bad, and the inconvenience of a horse lying idle several months is very great. A case is re- ported of two horses that had split hoofs from corking, which were kept constantly in the team, without any signs of lameness. The blacksmith bored the hoof in two places on each side the split, and then passed nails through the holes, and clenched them tightly. On this point, Sylvester Staftor, of Thetford, remarks as follows, in the Boston Cultivator : — " 1 had a horse that had a splii hoof, caused by being corked the winter previous ; it had become a cloven hoof on the outer part, and the horse was very lame. I met one of my neigh- bors on tlie road, and he observed that my horse was lame ; he took his jack-knife and cut through the soft hough, a little above the crack, a cross slit, extending three fourths of an inch each way. I kept it soft with stimulating ointments, and as soon as a new hoof could grow, it was as good as any other. Rattlesnake's oil is one of the best ointments." To Make the Hoofs Tough. Wash them frequently in brine, and turn up the feet, and turn brine upon the bottoms, and soak them a few minutes. This will make the feet tough, and prevent britileness in the hoof. A correspondent of the Western Farmer and Gardener, fried this, on the recommendation of an old Kentuckian teamster, and it relieved his horse from stiffness in the joints, and his hard, brittle hoofs became soft and tough, and he drove him fourteen hundred miles without further trouble. Some regard water as the best application to keep the HORSES. 167 hoof soft, and in good condition. It will penetrate the hoof better than oil, and other oleaginous preparations for this purpose. In warm weather, moisten the feet often in water. HooF-BouND. The hoofs are dry and hard, and con- tracted at the top so as to pinch the quick, and prevent a free circulation. Remedy. Keep the hoof cool and moist, as a preven- tive ; and for a cure, open the hoof a little at the edge of the hair, that it may spread. Then grease it daily with any soft grease, such as that of woodchucks, skunks, dogs, or geese. Wash for the Hoofs. The following wash is excel- lent for softening and toughening the hoofs: — Spirits of turpentine, four ounces ; tar, four ounces ; whale- oil, eight ounces ; mix, and brush over the hoofs often. This is a disease of the frog of the foot. At first there is a discharge from the cleft of this protuberance. It is caused by frequent, long continued, and extensive application of moisture. A plethoric state of the body is a predisposing cause j but too much water is the princi- pal cause. It is sometimes produced by standing constantly in moist dung. Stopping, or frequent wetting the feet in water, as a remedy for brittle hoofs, when carried to the extreme, will produce thrush. If thrush be neglected, it spreads, affecting the whole foot. The horn becomes ragged and irregular ; the frog shrinks, and the foot contracts. The horse is disposed to go on his toes to favor his heels. Rut generally, he shows no lameness until the disease is much advanced, except when the frog comes on a stone, or is pressed in rough or deep ground. Preventive. To prevent thrush in feet predisposed to it, keep the frog dry ; and if the sole needs moisture, stopping may be applied, first covering the frog in pitch. Remedy. Clean thoroughly the cleft of the frog, and all the moist crevices, and fill them with pledgets of tow dipped in warm tar, every day, and keep the foot dry. % 6 H ^ Si • O «-i O X!^ O p.- 0,3 ^ - - 'l'^'d-glcs°-^3^= ej ^ t; o *- G

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