THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

PRESENTED BY

PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND

MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID

A BOOK Foil KVKKY FABMER^^

—;-Y'u ■ e" ' ^

FARMER'S PRACTICAL

HORSE

FARRIERY.

CONTAINING-

rarey's art of taiming vicious horses, with illustrated instruc-
tions, PRACTICAL RULES ON BUYING, BREEDING, BREAKING, LAME-
NESS, VICIOUS HABITS, MANAGEMENT, PREVENTION, SYMPTOMS,
TREATMENT AND CURE OF DISEASES. AND THE
LARGEST C0LLEX:TI0N OF VALUABLE RECEIPS,
EVER PUBLISHED, &€, &C, &C.

TO WHIOn 18 PKEFIXED

AN ACCOUNT OF THE BREEDS IN THE UNITED STATES
WITH NTJMEEOUS ILLUSTRATIONS.
COMPILED BY E. NASH.
10 til Thousand Revised.

AUBURN.
EPHKAIM NASH.
- ' NEW YORK:

C. M. SAXTON, 35, PARK ROW.
1859.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred

and fifty-seven,

BY EPHRAIM NASH.

In the Olerk'e Office of the District Court of the Northern Disti-ict of New York.

>

-)(

PREFACE

The title of this work will in some degree indicate our purpose
in presenting it to the public ; a few remarks, however, may be ap-
propriate.

The conviction that the works on Horse Farriery, at the present
da} , as a general tiling, are not written so much to instruct and
benefit the horse owner and breeder, as the veterinary surgeon, that
they confuse raiher than instruct the common reader, that they arc
too scientific, technical, minute and elaborate, to meet the wants
and demands of our agriculturists, who, from the scarcity of com-
petent veterinary surgeons and frequent impositions, are comi)elIcd
to tri-at their own horses, are among the prominent reasons that
have induced us to present these pages to the farming community.
AVe do not claim to have presented much that is new, but as
usefulness rather than originality was the object kept constantly
in view, we feel but little regret on this point.

We have consulted the best American and English authorities
on the veterinary art, and skillful practitioners, the experience
of many intelligent and practical farmers who have communicated
their views and experience in such papers as the Veterinary Jour-
nal, Cultivator, Agriculturist, Rural New Yorker, Boston Culti-
vator, Vermont Stock Grower, N. Y. Tribune, &c., for years past,
and have obtained from these many valuable prescriptions and sug-
gestions. Availing ourselves of these sources, we have collected a
vast amount of valuable material on the subject of the work. This we
have examhied, sifted, arranged, digested, and reduced, by exclud-
ing words, retaining ideas, facts and opinions, so as to present the
substance and cream of the whole in a clear, simple style, within
the comprehension of every one of common capacity. We have
submitted the matter, previous to publishing, to one of the most
noied stock breeders in the U. S. ; and the symptoms and treatments

mymm

iv Preface

of diseases, to one whose experience and ability has eminently
qualified him. To these gentlemen we are under special obligations.

This work is not onl}- adapted to the wants of the farmer, but
it should be in the hands of every person who owns a horse, for
every one who keeps a horse should not only learn to keep him
in health, for pecuniary gain, but as a matter of humanity and
benevolence.

We have aimed to be practical and definite on all poiiits. We
regret that we have felt compelled to be so brief on many im-
portant matters, and indeed several articles have been thrown
out entirely, for the w;uit of room. If the reader will reflect
that a large volume has been written on the horse foot alone, he
will easily conceive our confined, embarrassed, and cramped situ-
ation ; having to treat on so many different points and subjects
within the scope of 200 pages, we have omitted illustrations, rea-
sons, arguments, &c,, and presented the naked facts. To those
who may wish for a more extended description and treatment of
diseases, we most cheerfully commend Dr, Dadd's Modern Horse
Doctor, or Youatt on the Horse,

More space is given to the method of training and breaking
horses, in view of the interest that has been elicited on the sub-
ject, than would have been, under other circumstances.

The method of treatment of Mr. Rai'ey, found in this book, we
will guarantee is fully equal if not superior to any of the so called
Patent Rights, and we have our serious doubts, from all the evi-
dence we have been able to gather, that there is any Patent Right,
Copy Right, or any other right about them, but what the public
have just as good a right to as they have to the President's Message.
The use that has been made of this so called Right, and the manner
in which it has been conducted of selling it as a Patent Right, and
a little 6 cent pamphlet for SlO, binding the purchaser under S300
bonds never to disclose it, and selling County rights for §1000,
and the like, we think is one of the greatest impositions that has
ever been passed upon the American People.

Conscious of its imperfection, but trusting that it will in some
degree meet the wants of the farmers, in adding to the comforts,
ipiproving the condition, relieving pain, removing disease, and
sometimes saving the life of the noblu and most useful animal,
the horse, the author now lays it hopefully before the public.

CONTENTS

CHAPTEli I.

niST'>KY, BREEDS AND VAEIETIES OF HOESES IN THE TNITED STATES.

Ori-- ■md \ aino »i the horse — The Arabian horse— Tlie Morgan horse— The raoa
h.Hsc— Tlie V anaaian horse— The Norman horse— The Clevehind bay— Th*
Aaierican trotUug horse — Dray or draft horse Page 13-2S.

CHAPTER II.

BRKEDING AND MANAGEMENT OF COLTS.

Laws of breeding— like begets like— exceptions— illustrations— object of breed
ing — breeding — ^Tempeniment — Errors in breeding — Size — Condition — Exam
ple--Selections of iiiarcs — Stallion — Disposition — After manarcment of mare8
—b ceding fancy colors— Rearing and management of colts—Breaking— Cas-
tra; ion — How to tame wi d horses 28-48.

CHAPTER HI.

J Q T- \". vjj KEW METHOD OF TAMING WILD HOESES.

Three fundamental principles- Flow to succeed in getting the colt from pasture.
How to stable a colt without trouble— The kind of halter— Remarks on the
horse— Experiment wifeli the robe— Sense of smelling— Powel's system— To
govern horses of any kind— If of a stubborn disposition— How to halter and
lead— Side of a broke horse— Hitch without having him pull on the halter-
Kind of bit, how to accustom a horse to it— To stable a colt— To mount the
colt— To ride a colt— To drive a horse that is very wild and has any vicious
habits— On balking— To break a horse to harness— How to hitch a horse in a
sulky— To make a horse lie down— To make a horse follow you— To make a
horse stand without holding. . . 48-90.

vi Contents.

CHAPTER IV.

GENERAL MANAPEMENT, ETC., OF THE HORSE.

Stabling— Air and litter— Grooming— Dressing vicious horses— Exercise— Food —
Age— To save horses from fire— Method of administering medicines— Scalded
Sliorts— Judging the cliaracter of horses by their color— Warrantees— Snow
bells on liorses' feet— To manage a horse when fallen down 90-111.

CHAPTER V.

THE VICES AND DISAGREABLE OR DAXGEROTTS HABITS OF THE HORSE.

Biting— Kicking— Running away— Crib-biting— Wind-sucking — Cutting — Not
lying down— To prevent rolling in the stall— Overreaching the clinking— Paw-
ing—Shying— Slipping tlie halter— Tripping— Horses jumping fences.. 111-121.

CHAPTER YI.

OPERATIOX, ETC., ETC.

Setons— Bleeding— The pulse— Clysters— Tracheotomy— Physicking— Docking
—Nicking— Blaze or star— To spot a black horse with black spots— Description
of a skeleton of a horse— Getting the check of the bit into the mouth— Colts
chewing halters 121-1.34.

CHAPTER VII.

DISEASES OF THE BRAIX, RESPIRATORY ORGANS AND AIR PASSAGES.

Staggers— Megrims— Apoplexy— Phrintis or inflammation of the brain— Hydro-
phobia or madness— Influenza or horse-ail— Spasms of the larynx and laryngi-
tis— Pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs— Pleurisy — consumption — Stran-
gles or horse distemper— Bronchitis — Catarrh — Nasal gleet— Roaring —
Common cough — Chronic cough — Thick wind— Heaves or broken wind-
Blistering 1.^4-155

CHAPTER VIII.

DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS, DIGESTIVE CAVITY, AND EYE.

Inflammation of the Iddneys — Inflammation of the bladder — Inflammation of
the stomach and bowels — Bots — Colic — Scours and constipation in young colts
— Diarrhcea — Indigestion — Inflammation of the ej^e — Locked jaw or tetanus —
Fever— Putrid fever- Hysteria in mares— Slobbering 155-1 7'2.

CHAPTER IX.

LAMENESS, DISEASE OF THE MOUTH, SKIN, HOOF, GENERALITIES, &C.

Spavin— Windgalls— Ringbone— Founder or acute rheumatism— Chronic found-
er-Cramp— Splent— Lameness— Elbow joint lameness— Toe crack- Swelled
legs— Scratches- Poultry lousiness— Hide bound— Glanders— Farcy— Poll evil
and Fistula Withers— List of Medicines— Receipts Table of Doses. 172-19'^.

CHAPTER I.

mSTOEY, BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES IN THE

TJNITED STATES,

ORIGIN AND VALUE OF THE HORSE.

The history of the Horse, intimately interwoven as it is with man,
can hardly fail to interest the most careless student. From the
earliest ages, he has been man's faithful ally and willing slsve*
f n war, he not only moves all the machinery of the field and
camp, but shares with his rider, all the fatigue and danger of the
battle. In peace, how various and invaluable are his services.
Every branch of industry owes much to his patient toil. He
plows the soil, sows the seed, reaps the harvest, and transports it
to market. He has been admired, cherished and loved equally
by the most enlightened and most barbarous races of man, and is
almost invariably considered the most useful and manageable of
all our domestic animals. He was domesticated in the days of
Mores, and the earliest record traces him to Egypt, whence he
gradually found his way to the various Egyptian Provinces.

The wild horses of South America, are supposed to have been
descended from animals left in the country by early Spanish ad-
venturers. J'ossils have lately been discovered in the south which

14 The Horse Farriee.

seem to show that the horse was an inhabitant of the wes-
tern hemisphere, long before his discovery by the Egyptian.
The principal varieties of horses which are found in the United
States, are the Arabian 5 the Morgan ; the Race-Horse ; the Can-
adian ; the Norman ; the Draft Horse ^ and the American Trot-
ting-IIorse. The mongrel known as the ■'^coiinnon hotf-e/' ia
descended from the many different varieties and exhibit too many
different charactestiss to admit of any particular description.
THE ARABIAN HORSE.

This Horse deservedly occupies the very highest rank. As late
as the eleventh century, the Arabs possessed but few houses,
and these were of inferior quality. The horses they obtained
from Capadocia, and neighboring provinces, were preserv( d
with so much care, and so uniformly propagated from the be.-t
animals, that in the thirteenth century they had obtained a just
and unrivalled celebrity.

The Arabs divide their horses into three classes, the Aitecln\
or inferior breed, which are of little value ; the KudiscJii, or mixe(i
breed; and the Kochlani, or thorough-bred, whose pedigree^ li'
we credit the Arabian account, can be in some instances traced
for two thousand years.

The Arabian Horse would not be acknowledged by every
horseman to possess a perfect form. His head, however, is inim-
itable, and is uuiversally acknowledged to be unsurpassed in any
other breed. The shoulders, withers, loins and hips are excellent^
The feet are good, the pasterns long and oblique, and the limbs
light, but well shaped and muscular. They are not adapted to
carrying heavy weights or drafts^ and they are never put to such
service.

Thk Ap.abian Horse 7^

The muscles of the thi.crh and foro-ai m are strikingly developed,
and assure us of his ability to perform many of the feafs of
strength and endurance related of him. But in reading of his
really marve'ous marches, we must remember that there are no
watches to note accurately the time, no mile stones to mark cor-
rectly the distance on the paths of the desert, and much allowance
must be made lor the proneness of the Bedouin to exaggeration.
The Arabian is as celebrated for his docility and good temper as
for his speed and courage. It is to the Arabians that the English
are chiefly indebted for their unrivalled breed of horses for the
turf and chase.

Layard, the explorer of Nineveh, who is as familiar with
Arabs as he is with antiquities, gives some curious details respec-
ting the true horse of the desert. Contrary to the popular notion,
the Arabian is celebrated less for swiftness than for courage and
endurance. Only when pursued, does a Bedouin put his mare to
full speed. It is the long distance they will travel, in emergency,
without rest, and the comparatively small amount of food they re-
quire, which render the Arabian horses so valuable. Layard
says that he knew of a celebrated mare, which carried two men
in chain armor beyond the reach of some Aneyza pursuers. This
mare rarely had more feed than twelve handsful of barley in
twenty-four hours, except during the spring, when the pastures
were green, and it is only the mares of the wealthy Bedouin^ that
can get even this allowance. They are never placed under shel-
ter during the summer, nor protected from the biting winds of
the desert in winter. The saddle is rarely taken from their backs.
Cleaning and grooming are strangers to them. They sometimes
reach fifteen hands in height, and never fall belov/ fourteen. In
disposition the}^ are as docile as lambs, requiring no guide but a
halter; yet in the flight and pur-suit their nostrils become blood
red. their eyes glitter with fire, the neck is arched, and the main
and tail are raised and spread to the wind, and the animal seems
wild and unmanageable, when in fact it is guided by the slightest
touch or word, while its fleet and tireless step '" leaves clamor
and pursuit behind." Their value is so great, that a thorough-
bred mare is generally owned by ten. or even more persons, and
one can rarely be obtained, except by fraud and excessive bribery.
The reason is this. The Bedouins are almost constantly engaged
in quarrels with their neighbors, or among themselves, and are
often exposed to dangers from which they can escape only by the
superior speed and endurance of their horses. It is not surprising

16 TiiK Horse Farrip:r.

thnt t'le Bedouins, whose entire possession consists of a few
household utensils, his tent and his mare, should set such enor-
mous value upon the latter, provided she be more fleet and endu-
ring than the majority of her kind. It will be a subject of regret,
to those who admire fine horses, to learn that the Arabian is
thought to be degenerating, owing to the decline of the Bedouin
tribes.

The amount of Arabian blood which mingles in the vems of
the common horses of the U. S. is probably greater than is usu-
al Ij- supposed. The first importation of these horses was the
Lindsay Arabian. He was folded in 1762 and landed in 1766,
His stock proved very valuable, and he left a numerous
progeny. Numerous importations have since been made at vari-
ous times, of Arabian horses, and there are several imported an-
imals of this stock, owned in different parts of the country.

In additition to the Arabian blood, imported directly from the
east, much has been borrowed through horses imported from Eng-
land, which were nearly related to Arabians*

THE THOROUGH-BRED HORSE.

Mr. Youatt says : " There is much dispute with regard to the
origin of the thorough-bred horse. By some he is traced through
both sire and dam to Eastern parentage ; others belive him to be
the native horse, improved and perfected by judicious crossing
withthe Barb, the Turk, or the Arabian."

In England a horse is held to be not strictly thorough-bred un-
less his pedigree be directly traceable on both his sire and dam
side to an imported Barb and Arabian. The English racer is
generally distinguished by his beautiful Arabian head ; his fine
and finely-set-on-neck ; his oblique, lengthened shoulders ; well-
bent hinder legs ; his ample, muscular quarters, his flat bony
legs, rather short from the knee to the fetlock, but apt to be a lit-
tle narrow below the knee, long and elastic pastern, sound good
feet, and a beautiful short and glossy coat. He has been bred for
many generations solely for the race course, and in his speed com-
bined with ability to carry a heavy weight through a four mile race
he has no rival, and has beaten every competitor on his native soil

A large majority of the best thorough-bred horses are descend-
ants from the Darly, or Gudolphin Arabian, the former was im-
ported in England by Mr. Darly, in 1703, and the latter was
brought into England about 1730. The most distinguished sons
of the Darly Arabian, were Flying Childers, and the Bleeding or
Bartlett Childers, and through Ciiilders, and Blaze descended.
JSampsoM is said to have been ihe strongest horse that has ever
apjiCaied on the turf.

The Race Horse.

17

FLYIXG CUILDEllS.

It is niw a little more than one hundred years since the first
importation of noted thorough-lired horses were made to this
country. Of the importation prior to IbOO, tlie most celebrated
horses were Fearnaught, James jNIorton, Traveler, W'ildair, Dio-
nell, Medley, Shark, and Messenger. Many of the best horses of
England have been at different times imported, and their blood
mingled largely with that of the common stock of the countr}-.
Race horses are most common in the Southern States, and much
attention is there paid to breeding and training them, In that
section of the country light single carriages are but little used
in ordinar}' business traveling, unless in public convej^ance, be-
ing usually performed on horseback. For use under the sadille
the thorough bred horse is eminently well suited.

In the Northern States a person is seldom seen on hor-eback.
Light carriages or open buggies have come into universal use,
and the trotting has taken the place of the saddle horse. For
several years past comparatively little attention has been paid in
breeding the thorough bred in the New England, and the Northern
and Western States. In Virginia and Kentucky, a great deal of
attention is paid to the breeding and training of the race horse, and
it is claimed that the best specimens of the breed in this country
are to be found in these States.

It has been assert^'d by some writers that the race horse deter-
iorates upon being transported to this country, and that our soil
and climate are not well suited to best developement of his powers

'%;^^m^^

The Norman Horse. 19

The best autliori'Lies in the country are of the contrary opinion,
and hold that the soil snd climate of the U. S. is in respect in-
ferior to that of Great Britain, for the fullest development of the
power and qualities of the horse There can be but little doubt
that this opinion is well founded.

The soil and climate of the central and southern portion of this
country, certainly more nearly resemble that of Arabia th.an
does the soil and climate of the British Islands ; and the fame of
the horses of Arabia, which for four centuries has been universal,
seems abundant evidence that the soil and climate of that country
are eminently well fitted for his most perfect development.

We introduce an engraving of Alexander, one of this breed,
which is one of the finest horses in ^yestern New York, he has
a high carriage, a proud and fearless style of movement, a lively
and intelligent expression, perfectly gentle and docile, is safe for
a women to drive at any time, has a strong, compact, and vigorous
constitution, is easily kept, and is all that could be de^^ired for a
carriage horse. He has never been trained for the course, but has
gone with ease a mile inside of tiiree minutes, several of his colts
have been sold on account of thier speed at high figures* His
stock generaly are remarkabl fine animals, and we believe will
compare favorabely with any in the coyntry.

THE NORMAN HORSE.

The Norman Horse derives his name from the provinces of
Normandy, in France, where he is bred. The origin of the most
esteemed variety is said to have been across between the Andalu-
vian horse of Spain (which is descended from the Arabian and
BarN, brought into Spain by the Moors.) and the old Norman
draft horse, it partook very nmch of the general character of all
the heavy horses of the •• low countries" which have been for
st'veral centuries celebrated for their size and strength, their
docile and teachable temper, and their admirable adaptation to
purposes of heavy draft.

The Norman horse is remarkable for strength, good wind,
and great power of endurance. It is said, " with their necks cut
to the bone, they flinch not ; they put forth all their efforts at
the voice of the driver ; ifietj keep their 'position lohen other
horses would die of neglect and hard treatment. They are so
hardy that there is but little risk in raising them, and they are
so exceedmgly docile and free from vicious habits, that little
trouble is experienced in breaking them to the harness. Thev
possess a tolerat-ly lively temperament, but are not fast Th: y
Seem pirticuhu-ly adapted to carrying heavy weights at a med \.'.n
rale, beins; much l)etter travelers than the English draft hoi ■ ,

20

The Horse Farrier.

and not so gool as the Hackney. The}^ are much liked by the
stage proprietois of France, and they are very generally employed
by them in haulinp^ coaches u<ed in that country for the transpor-
tation of the mails and pHSsen!.;;ers. The rale of travel is from
7 to 9 miles the hour, tliev aie nearly 10 hiinds hich. and weiiih,
from 1000 to 1200 lbs.

The Kii'pfcst specimens of the breed make excellent animals for
quick and heavy draft. The Normandy carriers travel with a team
of four horses, and from fourteen to twenty two miles per day,
with a load of 90,000 weight. But few of these horses have as
yet been imported to the United States,

^^^

A CANADIAN" HOUSE.

THE CANADIAN HORSE.
There can be little doubt that the Canadian Horse is of Nor-
man French descent, as in very many of his characteristics he
displaj's a strikin:; resemblance to tiios3 horst^. Indeed, the
principal diference between them consists in t!ie inferior size-
of the Canadian, which may be accounted for by the little atten-
tion that has been paid to breediii:^ theui. the r^'gun of climate,
and the scanty' fare upon which they live. T!iey are foun I chiefly
in the province of Canada, though met wiih in consi-ierable
numbers through the Northern Stites. In so ne parts of Canada

Thr Draft 1Ior.sk. 21

ihcy have been crossed vrith the Engh'sli race horse, with
♦ ery decided benefit. Many pacers are found among them, and
these make excellent saddle horses for short journeys, and are
sometimes very f;ist. foi- a short distance. No pacing horse can
maintain a high rate of speed for a long time. Some of tlieni
have proved fast trotters, but have generally shown some traces
of racing blood. Moscow, formerly owned by Gen. Dunham,
v.-as a Canadian horse, brei near the head of Lake Champlain.
He was one of the fastest horses in the country at that time. It
is said that his dam was by Sir Walter, a thorough bred horse.

Canadian horses arc \or.g lived, easily kept, and exceedingly
hardy and good tempered. They make excellent horses for woik
on the farm, and when large enough, are good for heavy draft.

They are usually fi-om 13 1-2 tol4 1-2 hands high, and weigh
from 800 to 1000 lbs. Considerable numbers of these horses are
shipped every year to the Southern States, and to the West Indies
where they are used to cultivate cot! on and sugar.

DRAFT HORSES.

We have in the United States no distinct breeds of draft hors-
es, and very little attention is now paid to breeding horses that are
adapted solely to purposes of draft The Canestago horses, bred
chiefly in Pennsylvania, are the nearest approach to this, and pri-
or to the construction of railroads they were in much demand.
Like the English draft horses, thc}^ are descended principally from
the Flemish horses, crossed with varieties of the English, which
have at various times been imported. The demand for these hor-
ses has of late years almost entirely ceased, and the breed are rap-
uJly disappearing They are generally bay, and sometimes brown
or black, but rarely any brighter color. They are often over sev-
enteen hands high. The quarters are generally good, the shoul-
ders ample and well phiced, the neck rather long and the liead
good. The limbs are usually well shaped, but are often too long,
and they are inclined to be too light in the bressel. They are
dull travelers. Few horses exhibit greater docility and tractability,
and their patience in bad spots, and unwavering willingness to
exert themselves, render them very valuable for purposes of slow
draft. In some parts of the conntr}^ draft horses are bred by
crossing mares of the common stock with stallions imported from
Europe.

The Cleveland Bay Horse is now nearly extinct. They
are distinguished by their good figure activity and great strength.
They have been known to carry more than 700 lbs. 60 miles in
24 hours, and to perform this journey four times in a week, and
mill horses have carried 900 lbs. for 3 miles.

22

The Horse Farrier.

A CLYDESDALE HOUSE.

Fifty years since, the coach horse most in repute in England
was obtained by crossing the Cleveland mare with a three-fourth
or a thorough bred stallion. They are much used on the coach
es in England, and their average speed is about ten miles per
hour. Some of these horses have been imported into the State of
New York, and within the past ten years into Maryland. They
h;ive not been bred fruui sufficiently as 3'et, to warrant a confident
fn> nion as to the character of the animals produced by the cross
with our native stock. It seems, however, fair to presume that
t''(\v will prove valuable horses for heavy farm woik, and for
ail purposes of quick but heavy draft.

Ttiii Clydesdale Horses are deservedly esteem-jd for the cart
and fur the plow on heavy soil. They arc strong, hardy, stead}-,
true pullers, of sound constitution, and from fourteen to sixteen
hands high. They are broad, thick, heav}^, compact, well made
for (hiraliilit}-, health, and power. They have sturdy legs, strong
shoulders, back, and hips, and a light face and head.

THE MORGAN HORSE.

This American variety of horse is, perhaps, held in higher es-
timation; and has obtained a greater celebrity than that of any
other in the United States, particularly in the Northern and Eas-
tei-u States; and, we think, the fact would sustain the assertion,

The Morgan Horse,

23

BLACK HAWS U^^i^.

HO Siorse kas been so generally admired, and taken the number of
first class prizes at our State and ether Fairs as the Morgan.

Tiieir liigh carriage, light and rapid step, lively and intelligent
expression, and perfect docility, combined with courage and hardy
constitution, have made theiii geaeraliy favorites wherever they
iiave been well known.

A horse called Justin Morgan, is universally admitted to have
been tiie founder of this famous breed. He was folded near
Springfield. !Mass>. in 1793, and was got by a horse called True
Britton, or Beautiful liay. His dam was of a stock of horses
much esteemed in Massachusetts and Connecticut, called wild in
breed. The Justin Morgan was about fourteen hands high,
weighed aboot 950 lbs. His color was a dark bay, with black
legs, mane and tail. Head good, not extremely small, but lean
and bony ; forehead broad ; ears, small and rather wide apart;
€yes5 medium size, dark and prominent, with a spirited and pleas-
ant ezpression ; nostrils, very large ; muzzle, small ; lips, close
and firm ; back, short; shoulder blades and hip bones, very long
and obliqued ; loins, exceedingly broad and muscular. His body
k rather long, round aii 1 deep, close ribbed up; chest, deep and

24 The Horse Farrier.

v^ride ; breast, broad, projecting in front ; legs, shorty close-jointed
thin, but very wide, hard, and free from meat ; muscles remarka-
bly large for a horse of his size. " His hair was short, soft and
glossy ; a little long hair about the fetlocks ; feet small, but well
shaped. He was a very fast walker ; in trotting, his gait is low
and smooth, his step short and nervous. He was not what is
calledj in these days, a fast horse, though it is claimed by some
that he could trot a mile in three minutes. His proud, bold and
fearless style of movement, his vigorous, untiring action have, per-
haps, never been surpassed.

He was thoroughly trained to the saddle, and was a great
favorite with military men, as a parade horse, and scarcely a mili-
tary review took place in that section of the country where he
was owned, of which he was not a prominent attractive feature.
He was perfectly gentle, docile, loved to be groomed and caressed,,
but disliked children about him ; had an inveterate hatred for dogs j
if loose, always chased them the instant he saw them j and was
an eager and nimble traveler, patient in bad spots, and celebrated
for his willingness to do his best, and for his great power at what
is called a '• dead lift." He died in Chelsea, Vt., in 1S21, at the
age of 29 years, from the efieets of a kick received from a horso
which was running loose with him in .the yard. Previous to this,
he was perfectly sound, and free from blemish. His appearance-
was remarkably fresh and youthful, a life of hardship and seve-
rest toil had not broken his constitution or impaired his courage.
Age had not quenched his spirit, nor dampened the ardor of his
temper. His eye was still bright, his step firm and elastic.

All the immediate descendants of this remarkable horse have a
striking resemblance in all his leading characteristics. Each ex-
hibits in a high degree those qualities that have given such cele-
brity to their sire ; all had the compact form, wide bony legs^
great energy, vigorous health and iron constitution. This com-
pactness of fornix nervous energy, strength of constitution, docili-
ty, and power of endurance, is exhibited in a high degree by the
Morgan of the present day.. There has been, and are now, doubt-
less, more "fast horses"' of the Morgan breed than of any other
one variety in the United States. Among them may be named
•'Fanny Jenks," (who trotted 100 miles in 9 hours 25 minutes;)
'• Black Hawk," (who trotted 5 miles in 16 minutes;) the celebra-
ted " Lady Sutton,'^ (who trotted 2 miles in 5 minutes 17 sec-
onds;) " Blue Morgan/' ''Flying Morgan," and the matchless
Lansett, the fastest trotting gelding that has ever appeared on
the turf.

The Trotting Horse* 25

These horses are particularly well adapted to pleasure driving
in light carriages. They are not large enough for purposes of
heavy draft, and rarely move in any other pace than a walk or a
trot The}^ do not make good saddle horses.

THE TROTTING HORSE

The trotting horse is bred and trained successfully only in the
United States. The English, with all their taste for the sports
of the turf, and their skill in breeding the race horse, have failed
to produce any trotters which in this country would rank higher
than second or third class animals. The best trotting ever done
in England or on the continent, has been performed by Ameri-
can horses, and these were not considered with us first class
animals. The French Emperor, who formally spent some time in
this country, seems well aware of their superiority, and keeps in
his stables some fifteen or twenty American horses.

Strictly speaking, we have no distinct breed of trotting horses
in this country. In examining the besi trotters in the country,
we are struck with the great dissimilarity of form, temperament,
and general characteristics, and the little evidence of any rela-
tionship in blood. If, for example, we compare Lady Suffolk and
Lady Sutton, for the first class trotters ten years since, the dif-
ference in their form, temperament and style of movement and
general appearance will be very apparent ; indeed, they exhibit
scarcely any characteristics except speed, which were common to
both. So with the two animals confessedly at the head of
the list of trotters in the country at the present time. Flora Tem-
ple and Lancet. Scarcely any resemblance can be traced between
th«m except in their speed, and yet in this latter respect there is
little to choose between them. This dissimilarity in the form,
temperament, style of movement and general appearance of our
trotting horses would lead us to infer that they are descended
from breeds or families of horses of widely different characters.
Such is the fact, and there is scarcely a family or strain of horses
in the oountry which has not a trotting representative. But al-
though every family or strain of horses may have its trotters,
comparativly few are noted for producing what sporting men call
'' flying." The trot is an unnatural pace to the horse, and in his
wild state he moves only in a walk or gallop. Had it been im-
possible for man to teach him this pace, he would have proved a
far less useful servant than he is, and we should be compelled to
use him chiefly under the saddle.

Careful training and constant use in harness for many genera-
itious so developes and improves and fixes this pace that the off-

26

The Horse Farrier.

LADY SUFFOLK.

spring at an early age manifest their precocity in this respect.
Hence the breeder who wishes to obtain rapid and graceful trot-
ting horses, will select both the sire and the dame from those
families or breeds of horses which have exhibited superior excel-
lence in this . particular, and he should also be sure that the
animals selected exhibit peculiar excellence in this respect. Not
that they must be what is called "fast," but they should be nim-
ble, lively steppers, should move easily and gracefully, and exhib-
it that oneness and quickness of temper which renders them at
all times perfectly manageable. Pursuing such a course, the
breeder may reasonably expect to produce animals the average
of trotting horses, but if he expects every colt will prove a "fl}'-
er " he will be pretty sure to be disappointed, for by the utmost
care and skill a few only will prove fast.

The training of the trotting horse requires much time and
skill, and differs very materially from the race horse. In train-
ing the race horse, the principal object sought is to put the ani-
mal in such condition as will most fully develope his muscKlar
powers. The pace is a natural one, and comparatively little can
be done to improve it.

In training the trotter, not only must he. be put in the same
phenial condition, but in addition to this, he must be taught to
oxort his powers in a pace altogether unnatural to him, and one
whicli, when pushed, it is difficult for him to keep.

Ponies. 27

WILD OR PRAIRIE HORSE.
The wild Horse of South America descended from two stallions
and four mares, which the early Spanish adventurers left there.
The wild horses, which abound in the Southwestern States are
doubtless sprung from the same stock, which were of the celebra-
ted Andalusian breed, derived from the Moorish Barb. The prairie
horses are often captured, and when domesticated are found to be
capable of great endurance. They are not however, recommended
by the symmetry or elegance of apperancefor which their type is
so greatly distinguished, being generally rather small and scrubby.

SHETLAND, MUSTANG, AND INDIAN PONIES.

The Shetland are the most remarkable of all the pony races,
and the best adapted for the principal purpose to which they are
used, for learning little boys and girls to ride. They are natives
of all the Scottish isles, and rarely exceed three feet four inches
in heighth, and none are considered truly bred which exceed three
feet eight inches. Many are found which do not exceed thirty two
inches; their color is usually black, are exceedingly tough, strong,
hardy, spirited, docile, intelligent, affectionate, and free of disease ;
they bear a strong resemblance to the Norman and Canadian horse,
literally made of iron, will subsist on almost nothing ; in their
native country, wild meadow hay or barley straw is a dainty for
them. Their speed is not great but will go along at a sort of a
waddling run, their fifty miles a day for weeks under a weight that
would bother some horses, that is 150 to 200 lb. or 300 lb, in a
wagon. They are not often of the pure breed imported into this
country.

The Mexican Mustang ponies are of Spanish origin, are found
chiefly west of the Mississippi. They possess considerable spirit,
and vigor, their height is usually about four feet six inches, may be
found of all colors, but lack in symmetry, hardihood, and endurance.

The Northern Indian pony prevails from Canada downward
west of the lake's — never exceed four feet six inches in height, they
are short barreled, round ribbed, strong-limbed short and thick
necked, with legs, fetlocks and feet literally of iron, his mane, tail,
and forelocks, very heavy.. In a word, he is the pure Norman vrar-
horse, of the largest and oldest type razeed into a pony. They
are in every respect, but size and speed, all that could be desired.
They are sure footed and as easily fed as a mule, and fifty to one
more enduring of cold. At their own pace, from five to seven
miles an hour, they will jog along, perfectly unwearied, for fifty
miles a day, week after week, with a load of 160 lb on the saddle,
or 300 in a wagon. They are very docile, intelligent as dogs, good-
tempered when not stallions, and extraordinarily high-couraged.

CHAPTER II.

BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT GF COLTS.

ErvEEDING.

That a proper knowledge of the laws of breeding, is
a matter of primary and vast importance, is a generally-
admitted fact, and requires no argument to prove, as it
is only by this means we can maintain the present
qualities of our improved breeds, and prevent the race
from degenerating, and correct and improve their im-
perfections. And it is equally true that there are many
erroneous views entertamed and practiced by many of
our Farmers. Ko person should attempt breeding,
particularly the horse, without first making it a matter
of investigation, patient study, and inquiry. The first
axiom we would lay down, says Youatt, is, that hke will
produce like, that the progeny will inherit the general
or mingled qualities of the parents. There are but few
diseases by which either of the parents are affected
that the foal does not inherit or show a predisposition
to. Broken wind, spavins, ring-bones, founders, bhnd-
ness, roaring and the hke, are transmissible, there can
be no question not excepting ill-usage and hard work.

Like Begetds Like. 29

These blemishes may not appear in the immediate pro-
geny, but will in the next or more distant generation.
From this arises the necessity of some knowledge of
both the sire and the dam. The most careless breeders
have observed qnahties appearing in their stock that
belonged to neither sire nor dam, but which belonged
to their ancestry further back; such as a vicious
temper, some peculiar mark, white face or feet, Not
Qnly are diseases inherited by the offspring, but the
form, spirit, constitution and temper, *This maxim,
however, that *' like begets like," is only true in part, as
there is a constant tendency to change, arising from
difference in food. Change of climate, or other physi-
cal conditions to which they might be exposed, might
naturally be expected to produce considerable cor-
respondhig modifications in the form, size, color, and
coating of animals ; as it is well known that cattle
generally become very large and fat when reared for
many generations on moist rich soUs, where good
pasturage abounds, but are distinguished by the short-
ness of their legs ; while on drier situations, where the
herbage is sparse, their whole bulk is less, and their
limbs more muscular and strong, A country of heaths,
or of other innutritions plants, will not produce a horse
so large nor so strong as one of plentiful herbage, as is
manifested between those reared on bleak mountains
and fertile plains, high latitudes and more temperate
climes, sandy deserts and watered vales. A change of
situation in the one case, after a succession of gen-

*D. J. Bowne, in Patent Office Official Report, 1854,

30 The Hoese Farrier.

erations, not only diminislies the size of the animal,
but affects the character and form of his body^ head^
and limbs. Thus, if a London dray horse be conveyed
to Arabia, and subjected to the same influences to
which the native breed of that country is esj^osed, in
the course of some generations he Tvill present the
leading characters of the Arabian horse. On the con-
trary, if the race thus changed be conveyed again to
England, in the course of several generations, it -will
gradually acquire the properties it formerly possess-
ed. This fact would seem to prove that the Ara-
bian horse cannot esist in perfection in any of the
northern or western countries of Europe, and that the
humidity of the climate and the influence indirectly
arising from that cause, are the principal reasons of this
change. Similar instances might be given in reference
to the changes which have been observed in the sheep,
the goat, and the hog. The former, when subjected
to the climate of the West Indies, from Thibet, Spain,
or Vermont, where their fleeces are fine, delicate, and
soft, after a few years are entirely covered with rough,
coarse hair, resembling that of the goat.

Breeding should be conducted with some definite
object in view. There is no gi-eater error than the
common remark of some farmers, of some wretched
under-sized, ewe-necked, cat-hammer wreck of a mare,
broken-winded, rmg-boned, and spavined, *' Oh, she
will do to raise a colt out of!" She will do ! but vvhat
vriU the colt be ? It will not be worth the mare's grass,
let alone the price of the stallion's service. But it is
a good feature that there is a growing anxiety among
fkrmers to raise valuable stock. This is attributable to

Breeds in Horses. 31

the fact, that it is not only as cheap to keep a good
horse as a bad one, but in reality it is much cheaper.
The prime cost is the only difference to be considered ;
the cost of stable room, keep and care is identical,
while the wear and tear is infinitely less, in the sound,
able, useful animal, than in the broken jade. The work
which can be done, and the value earned by the one,
is in no possible relation to that of the other. The
horse bought at the age of four years at $300, when he
has attained the age of'eight is worth twice the money,
either for work or for sale, to the horse that was
bought for a third of that price, when he has attained
the same age.

What is called breed in horses, consists in the supe-
rior organization of the nervous and thoracic organs,
as compared with the abdominal ; the chest is deeper
and more capacious ; and the brain and nerves are
more highly developed. More air is respired, more
blood purified, more nervous energy expended. —
Whilst the heavy cart-horse may be considered to
possess the lymphatic temperament, the blood horse
may be regarded as the emblem of the nervous and
sanguine temperament combined ; the latter, however,
predominating. When the nervous temperament has
the ascendance, the animal will carry but little flesh,
but will go till he drops, never seeming to tire. He
will, however, take too much out of himself, become
thinner, and is what is called a hot horse. When the
sanguine temperament greatly prevails, the horse will
have great muscular j^owers, but not much inclination
to put them to the stretch. When the lymphatic tem-

32 The Horse Farrier.

perament has superior influence, the animal, though
looking fresh and fat, and starting well at first, will
soon flag and knock up, and will rather endure the
lash than make an extra exertion. It is the happy
combination of these three temperaments that make a
perfect horse, when severe exertion is demanded. The'
full development of the abdominal organs is essential,
inasmuch as it is through the food that both the mus-
cular system and the nervous energy is furnished. If
the digestion is weak, the other powers will be in-
efliciently supplied. The sanguineous organs are need-
ed to furnish the muscular powers, and the nervous sys-
tem is demanded to furnish the muscles with the re-
quisite energy and capability of endurance. What is
called bottom in the horse, is neither more nor less thau
the abundant supply of nervous energy, the muscles
being at the same time well developed.

There are two errors commonly committed by per-
sons selecting animals from which to breed. Some pay
too much attention to pedigree, and too little to form,
spirit, etc. The correct theory is, though form and
character is of primary importance, the blood should
never be neglected. The great joouit to be aimed at
m a horse for all work, is the combination in the same
animal, of maximum of speed, comj^atible with suffi-
cient size, bone, strength, and solid power, to carry
heavy weights, draw large loads, and to secure to the
stock the probability of not inheriting deformity or
disease from either parent. Breed as much as possible
with pure blood, of the right kind, and breed what is
technically called up, not down, that is to say, by breed-

Breed with Pure Blood. 33

ing the mare to a male of superior, not inferior blood
to herself; except where it is desired to breed hke to
like, as Morgan to Morgan, for the purpose of perpet-
uting a pure stream of any particular variety which is
needful. A half-breed mare should never be put to a
half-breed stallion, as in that case the product m nine
cases out of v^n degenerates below the dam, whereas
if she be bred to a thorough-bred stallion, the product
vn\l be superior. And the error is, to breed from mares
that have become noted for their speed. Some persons
will pick up some long-legged, rangy, broken down,
trotting mare, which could 'j^erhaps trot her mile in
2.30, thinking to produce something very fine. Xothing
can be more ill-judged, as in the majority of instances
it is sure to ^nd in disappomtment. A mare, with
all the best blood in her veins, if she has not got good
shape and good points, is not fit for a stallion.

And the'great and common error in breeding, is to
cross a comj^act dam with a large sire, the object
being to increase the size of the offspring above that of
the dam ; the result is almost sure to end in disappoint-
ment. This has been attemj^ted in England, and has
proved a failure. The rule deduced from experience, is,
the dam must be as lar2:e or larsjer than the sire. —
This is a historical fact. The history of breeding
shows that to improve a breed, we must select the best
formed, largest mares, and cross them with medium
sized, compact, muscular staUions.

Size is not the measure of power. Some horses that
weig^h 900 lbs. will exceed in streng^th and endurance
others of 1,200 lbs., or more ; and of those horses that
have • distinguished themselves as trotters, a large

34 The Horse Farrier.

majority have been of medium size. Shortness of legs
with compactness of form is indispensable to great
endurance. The size of the muscles of a horse, other
things bemg equal, deternmies his power. In selecting
a stallion, aim to get one that excells in the points that
the mare is deficient in, and you Tvash to avoid in the
offspring. Let him exhibit courage and endurance, rath-
er than speed. No one stallion is best adapted to all
mares ; determine, with a matured judgment, which
class of animals your mare is best calculated to produce,
whether a roadster, coach horse, or draught animal,
and having determined this, use a stallion best cal-
culated to produce the thing reasonably expected,
bearing in mind the rule that " lake mil produce
like." Breeding, to be successful, must be a matter of
study. One point, says Youatt, is, absolutely essential,
it is " compactness" — as much goodness and strength
as possible, condensed into a little space.

"Next to compactness, the inclination of the shoulder
wiU be regarded. A huge stallion, with upright
shoulders, never got a capital hunter or hackney.
From him the breeder can obtain nothing but a cart
or dray horse, and that, perhaps, spoiled by the op-
posite form of the mare. On the other hand, an up-
right shoulder is desirable, if not absolutely necessary,
when a mere slow draught-horse is required.

The condition of the stallion, is too often over-
looked by the most of our farmers. By condition is not
meant a high state of fotness, but on the contrary, it
indicates the greatest health and strength, reducing
all superfluous fat, bringing the flesh into clear, hard,

Condition of a Stallion. . 35

md powerful muscles. Too many fanners are content
with the form and figure of a horse, without regard to
3ondition.

A remarkable case occurred in England, some years
since. George the IV. owned, and was m the habit of
riding as a hunter, a horse of miequaled excellence.
His Royal Highness caused a few of his mares to be
bred to him in the spring, after he had been kept in
the highest condition as a hunter throughout the winter,
and the })roduce, on gro^vnng up, proved every way
worthy of their sire. When His Royal Highness be-
came seriously engaged in the cares of Government,
and therefore relinquished the pleasures of the chase,
behig desirous to perpetuate the fine qualities of this
stock, he ordered the horse to be kept at Windsor for
public covering, provided the mares should be of the
first quality ; and m order to insure a sufiicient number
of these, directed the head groom to keep him exclu-
sively for such, and to make no charge, with the ex-
ception of the customary groom's-fee of half a guinea
each. The groom, anxious to pocket as many half
guineas as possible, published His Royaf Highness's
liberality, and vaunted the qualities of the horse, in
order to persuade all he could to avail themselves of
the benefit. The result was, the horse bemg kept with-
out his accustomed exercise and in a state of reple-
tion, and serving upwards of a hundred mares yearly,
the stock, although tolerably promising in their early
age, shot up into lank, v/eakly, awkward, leggy, good-
for-nothing creatures, to the entire ruin of the horse's
character as a sire — until some gentlemen, aware of the

36 The Horse Farrier.

cause, took pains to explain it, pro\dng the correctness
of their statements by reference to the first of the
horse's get, produced under a proper system of breed-
ing, and which were then in their prime, and among
the best horses iu England. *

*' In selecting a mare," says Youatt, " it is perhaps
more difficult to select a good mare to breed from than a
good horse, because she should possess somewhat op-
posite qualities. Her carcase should be long, m order
to give room for the growth of tlie foetus, and yet with
this there should be compactness of form and shortness
of leg. In frame, the mare should be so formed as to
be capable of carrying and well nourisliing her off-
sprmg ; tliat is, she should be w^hat is called ' roomy.'
There is a formation of the hips which is particularly
unfit for breeding purposes, and yet which is some-
times carefully selected, because it is considered ele-
gant ; this is the level and straight hi]), in which the
tail is set on very high, and the end of the haunch bone
is nearly on a level with the projection of the hij) bone.
Xearly the opposite form is the more desirable. She re-
quires such a shape and make as is well adapted for the
purpose she is intended for," that is to say, for pro-
ducing colts of the style and form she is intended to
produce. We will add, that she must have four good
legs under her, and those legs standing as a foundation
on four good, well shaped, large feet, OjDened-heeled
and by no means flat-soled. That she should have a
good, lean, bony head, small cased, broad fronted, well
set on, upon a high, well carved neck, thii» at its

Selection of Mares. 37

junction with the head ; high withers, thia shoulders,
and, above all, long, sloping shoulders. A straight
shoulder is an abomination; it renders speed impos-
sible, and gives a rigid, inflexible motion, often pro-
ducing the bad fault of stumbling. She should be
^vide-chested and deep in the heart place. Her
quarters should be strong, well let down, long and
sickle-shaped above the hocks. It is better that she go
with her hocks somewhat too wide apart than too near
together — the former point indicating power, the
latter weakness, of a bad kind. It has been shown that
a breed mare may, nay, should be considerable longer
in the back than one would choose a working horse to
be, but if she be particularly so, it is desirable to put
her to a particularly short-backed and close-coupled
horse.

The next thing to be observed by the horse-breeder,
in raising stock of any kind, after the blood and form
of the mare and the qualities of the stalHon, is the
temper and condition of the dam. The former, be-
cause nothing is more decidedly transmissible in the
blood than temper ; the second, because, unless she is
in good health and vigor, it is impossible that she can
produce vigorous and healthy ofispring.

The first tune a mare is to be covered, it is of the
utmost importance that the staUion should be the best
that can be procured, as instances have been known
where the staUion having possessed some striking points,
the colts of the mare have shown those points for several
colts after, though a different stallion was used.

38 The Horse Farrier.

Under no possible circumstances breed from a stal-
lion which has any affection of any kind of the respi-
ratory organs, whether seated in the lungs or in the
windpipe, or from one which has any affection of the
eyes, unless it be the direct result of an accident, such
as a blow or a jrancture, nor even then, if the accident,
having occurred to one eye, the other has sympatheti-
cally followed suit; and, on the other side, we should say
on no account breed from a mare affected in either way,
unless she be possessed of some excellences so extra,
ordinary and countervailing, that for the sake of pre-
serving the stock one would be willing to run some
risk of having a worthless animal for his own use, in
the hope of possibly having one free from the dreaded
defect and of superlative excellence.

Previous to sending the mare to the horse she should
be got into the most perfect state of health and con-
dition, by moderate exercise, abundance of good, nutri-
tous food and warm stabling. It is not desirable that
she should be in a pampered state produced by hot
stables or extraordinary clothing, that she should have
the short fine coat or the blooming and glowing con-
dition of the skin, for which one would look in a race-
horse about to contend for a four mile heat — not that
she should be in that wiry form of sinew and steel-like
hardiness of muscle, which is only the result of train-
ing. Still less desirable is it she should be overloaded
with fat, especially that soft fat generated by artifi-
cial feeding.

The temper is of great impoltauce, by whicli must

Condition of Mares. 39

be understood, not that gentleness at grass, which may
lead the breeder's family to pet the mare, but such a
temper as will serve for the purpose of the rider, and
will answer to the stimulus of the voice, whip or spur.
A craven or a rogue is not to be thought of as the
mother of a fliinily ; and if a mare belong to a breed
which is remarkable for refusing to answer to the call
of the rider, she should be consigned to any task
rather than the stud farm. Sulkiness and savageness
are likewise to be avoided, whether in staUion or mare.
From the time of covering, to within a few days of
the expected period of foaling, the cart-mare may be
kept at moderate labor, not only without injury, but
with decided advantage. It will then be prudent to
release her from work, and keep her near home, and
under the frequent inspection of some careful person.
When nearly half the time of pregnancy has elapsed,
the mare should have a Uttle better food. She should
be allowed one or two feeds of grain in the day. This
is about the period when they are accustomed to slink
their foals, or when abortion occurs : the eye of the
owner should, therefore, be frequently, upon them.
Good feeding and moderate exercise will be the best
preventives of this mishap. The mare that has once
aborted, is liable to a repetition of the accident, and
therefore should never be suffered to be with other
mares between the fourth and fifth months : for such
is the power of imagination or of sympathy in the
mare, that if one suffers abortion, others in the same
pasture will too often share the same fate. Farmers
3

40 The llor.si-: Faiuuer. • '

wasli, and paint, and tar tlicir stables, to prevent some
supposed infection; — the infection lies in the imagin-
ation.

When the period of parturition is drawing near, she
should be watched and sliut up during the night in a
safe yard or loose box.

If the mare, whetlier of tJie pure or common breed,
be thus taken care of, and be in good liealtli while in
foal, little danger will attend the act of parturition.
If there is false presentation of the fcetus, or difficulty
in producing it, it will be better to have recourse to a
w^ell-mformed practitioner, than to injure the mother
by the violent and injurious attempts that are often
made to reheve her.

The parturition being over, the mare should be
turned mto some w^eli-sheltered pasture, with a hovel
or shed to run into when she pleases ; and if she has
foaled early, and grass is scanty, she should have a
couple of feeds of grain daily. The breeder may de-
pend upon it, that nothing is gained by starving the
mother and stinting' the foal at this time. It is tlie
most important period of the life of the horse ; and if,
from false economy, his growth is arrested, his puny
form and want of endurance w^ill ever afterwards testi-
fy the error that has been committed. The grain
should be given in a trough on the ground, that the
foal may partake of it with the mother. When the
new grass is plentiful, the quantity of corn may
gradually be diminished.

The mare will usually be found again at heat at or

After-Management of Mares. 41

before the expiration of a month from the time of foal-
ing, when, if she is principally kept for breeding pur-
poses, she may be put again to the horse. At the
same time, also, if she is used for agricultural purposes,
she may go again to work. The foal is at first shut in
the stable during the hours of work ; but as soon as it
acquires sufiicient strength to toddle after the mare,
and especially when she is at slow work, it will be
better for the foal and the dam that they should be to-
gether. The work will contribute to the health of the
mother ; the foal v/ill more frequently draw the milk,
and thrive better, and will be hardy and tractable, and
gradually familiarized with the objects among vvhich it
is afterwards to live. While the mother, however, is
t!iiis worked, she and the foal should be well fed ; and
two feeds of corn, at least, should be added to the
green food which they get when turned out after their
Avork, and at night.

In four or six months, according to the growth of
the foal, it may be weaned, and the mother should be
put to hai-der work, and have drier food; One or two
urine-balls, or a physic ball, would be useful in the milk,
should she be troublesome or pine after the foal.

Mares frequently produce colts, at fourteen and
fifteen years of age, and sometunes twenty. Experience
has proved that from six to twelve, is the most valu-
able part of a mare's fife for raismg colts. They are fre.
quently incapacitated by breeding too young.

42 The Horse Farrier.

BREEDING FANCY COLORS.

The following is taken from a correspondent in the
Albany Cultivator ; as to the correctness of the theory
we cannot vouch: "In order to obtain a cream color-
ed colt from a bay horse out of a bay mare, I tried the
following experiment, which proved entirely success-
ful ; a cream stud was first led out and used to tease
the mare. After putting blinds on the mare, the cream
was taken out of the way, and the bay horse used to
cover the mare, and not seen by her, but immediately
returned to the stable, and the cream colored horse
led right in front of her, and exposed to her view for
some time." This may be attributable to the nervous
influence of the dam, or what is called the influence of
the imagination of the dam on the faetus. It may
have been something akin to this, by the influence of
which, through the medium of peeled rods, Jacob
caused the cattle to be born ringed streaked and spot
ted.

REARING AND il^VNAGEMENT OF COLTS.

Colts should be taken from the dam v/hen about six
months old, if in a good condition, and shut up in a
house loose, or in a small yard, (if the yard is large
they are likely to run themselves poor,) with a fence
that they cannot leap. It is at this time they usually
acquire the habit of leaping which follows them through
hfe. They should be kept out of sight and hearing of
the dam, as much as possible. They may be allowed to
re-join each other once a day, for a short time, in or-

Management of Colts. 43

der that the foal may empty the udder, and not be
suddenly deprived of its natural food.

They should be fed with oat meal and sweet apples
shced ; about two pints of the former, and two quarts
of the latter, three times a day, with a sufficiency of
good timothy hay. They should eat out of a manger
about as high as they naturally hold their heads — a
stable with earth foundation, kept dry T\ith straw, —
chaff, or leaves is preferable — if on a stable floor, their
dung should remain with occasionally leveling off, and
provided with linter — they should be let out daily for
exercise, and should not be tied in the stable. Con-
tinv. . this feed through the whiter. If fed oats, they
should be soaked.

There is no period which is of more importance
than the first winter. We frequently see very prom-
ising colts make poor horses from want of proper man-
agement when young. They should on no account be
allowed to get poor while growing, unless it be on
grass when three years old, for a short time this is
thought by some to be beneficial. No investment that
the fai-mer can make will pay better than keep-
ing colts in a ^r>od condition. On the other hand they
should not be too fat, nor forced to maturity too soon,
or you may give them a kind of hot-bed growth.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF TERMS.

Action. — ^The paces of a horse. These may be greatly
improved by judicious bitting and riding.

Arrests, or Arrets. — A term given by farriers to a
scurfiness of the back part of the hind-leg.

Backing. — Mountmg a oolt or filly for the first tima

44 Tae Horse Farrier.

BisHOPixG. — Artificial marks in a horse's teeth, to give
the appearance of greater youth. In allusion to the name
of the man who was the first to prctice the trick.

Breaking Down — An accident that often happens in-
racing, hunting, and other violent exercises.

Bridle-Hand. — The left is called the bridle-hand, in con-
tradistinction to the right, which is termed the whip-hand.

Buck Eyes. — A term used by dealers and jockeys, for
bad eyes.

Capped Hock. — ^A swelling on the point of the horse's
hock, generally occasioned by blows in kicking.

Condition. — This term is used to imply a horse being
in perfect health, or as Mr. Taplin says, "fine in coat, firm
in flesh, liigh in spirits, and fresh upon his legs."

Cradle. — A sort of wooden neck -lace, made to hinder
horses from biting their legs when sore.

Feather. — A mark in the horse's forehead or neck,
made by the turn of the hair. It is considered ornamen-
tal, and, by some, as an indication of good qualities.

Feel. — To feel a horse in the hand, is to observe that
he obeys the directions given by the bridle, and bears
upon the bit. To feel a horse upon his haunches, is to
observe that he pHes them and does not lean on the
shoulders.

Gaunt-Bellied. — A term apphed to a horse when he
is drawn up in the flank.

In Hand. — Keeping a complete command of the horse
by both the reins and the pressure of the legs.

Hand. — The division in the standard of measuring
horses is thus named. A hand is four inches.

Pace. — ^The paces of the horse are the walk, the amble,
the trot, the canter, and the gallop.

Pattering — Walking with a mincing gait.

Romping. — Throwing about the feet in the paces.

Scrambling. — Using the leg from the knee as if catch-
ing at something.

Training — By the word training is meant putting a
horse in that state in which all the functions of the body
are carried on with vigor.

CHAPTER III

THE AMEEICAN ART OF TAMING, AND BREAKING HORSES.

GEIGINALLY SYSTEMATIZED AND PKACTIOED
BY JOHN S. EAREY.

ITS HISTORY.

The first person of whom we have any knowledge as practising
horse-taming was a Moor, and was a man of immense muscular
power, and upon this, in a contest with a horse he depended for
success.

The second horse-tamer was called Jumper, and lived in York-
shire, England. Of the power of Jumper over the horse, Mr
Castly relates the following incident : — "When a young man .
purchased a horse at a fair that was offered very cheap, because
he was unmanageable. No body could ride him. He objected to
having anything upon his back, and when made to move forward
with nothing but a saddle on him, he would throw himself down
upon his side with great violence and roll over. Jumper took
this animal away and in ten days brought him back again, in as
good condition, but perfectly subdued and almost as obedient as
a dog — he would lie down at this man's bidding, and only raise
at his command, and would carry double or anything-, i took to
riding him myself, and may say, that I was never better carried
for six or eight months, during which time ho never showel tho
least vice whatever. 1 sold him to a Lincolnshire; farmer, who
said he would give him a summer's run to grass, and shew him i\
very fine horse at the great Horncastle Horse Fair.

Next upon the stage, we find Sullivan, the '•\\^hispeier." —
This man is described in Croker's ^' Fairy Legends and TraX
ditions of Ireland,^'' as follows: — 'He was an awkward, ignoran-

46 The Horse Farrier.

rustic of the lowest class ; Ids occupation, horse-breaking-. The
nickname of 'Whisperer' he acquired from the vulgar notion of
his being able to comaiuuicate to the animal what he wished by
means of a whisper, and the singularity of his method seemed in
some degree to justify the attribute. In his own neighborhood,
the notority of the fact made it seem less remarkable, but I doubt
if any instance of similar subjugating talent is to be fo'nd on
record. _ As far as the sphere oV his control extended, the boast of
veni, vidi, vici, was more justly claimed by Sullivan than by
Cjssar himself." How Sullivan acquired the art, and in what
it consisted, will be forever unknown, as he died in 1810, without
divulging it.

Of the first two mentioned — , the Moor and the Jumper, —
their skill doubtless lay in manual strength, as it was often no-
ticed that, after an interview with the animal practiced upon, both
horse and experimenter were entirely exhausted. Sullivan
performed with wondrous celerity, — his movements were secret,
but without apparent coercion. Every description of horse or
mule, whether previously broken or unhandled, whatever their
peculiar vices or habits might have been, submitted without show
of resistance to the magical influence of his art. and in the short
space of half an hour became gentle and tractable, and the effect
seemed to be durable.

"We come now to the horse-tamer of the present day, J. S.
Rarey, who has performed such astonishing feats, and created
such excitement and interest as was never before known in this
country or England. In the opening of his process, he says : —
'•The one principle which you must establish firmly in your mind,
and which is so essential in horse-taming that it is almost the
corner stone of the theory, is the law of kindness. Next to
kindness you must have patience, and next to patience indomitable
perseverance. In a natural state he is afraid of man, and never,
until j^ou teach him that you do not intend to hurt him, will that
fear cease — we mean that wild, natural fear — for you must have
him fear you as well as love you. before you can absorb his attentiou
as nuich as is uecessary to break him to your liking."

"The horse, according to the best accounts we can gather, has
been the constant servant of man for nearly four thousand years,
ever rewarding him with his labor, and adding to his comfort
in proportion to his skill and manner of using him j but being, to
those who govern him by brute force, and know nothing of the
beauty and delight to be gained from the cultivation of his finer
nature, a fretful, Ticious, and often dangerous servant ; while to

Three Fundamental Principles. 47

the Arab, whose horse is the pride of his life, and who governs
him by the law of kindness, we find him to be quite a different
animal. The manner in which he is treated from a foal gives him
an affection and attachment for his master not known in any
other country. The Arab and his children, the mare and her foal,
inhabit the tent together ; and although the colt and the mare's
neck are often pillows for the children to roll upon, no accident
ever occurs, the mare being as careful of the children as of the
colt. Such is the mutual attachment between the horse and his
master, that he will leave his companions at his master's call, ever
glad to'obey his voice. And when the Arab falls from his horse, and
is unable to rise again, he will stand by him and neigh for assistance,
and if he lies down to sleep, as fatigue sometimes compels him to
do in the midst of the desert, his faithful steed will watch over
him, and neigh to arouse him, if man or beast approaches.

THREE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES.

First.— That he is so constituted by nature that he will not
offer resistance to any demand made of him, which he fully cona-
prehends, if made in any way consistent with the laws of his
nature.

Second.— That he has no consciousness of his strength beyond
his experience, and can be handled according to our will, without
force. .

Third. — That we can, in compliance with the laws of his
nature, by which he examines all things new to him, take any
object, however frightful, around, over or on him, that does not
inflict pain, without causing him to fear.

First, Some of the reasons why I think he is naturally obedient
and will not offer resistance to anything fully comprehended.—
The horse, though possessed of some faculties superior to man's,
being deficient in reasoning powers, has no knowledge of right or
wrong, of free will and independent government, and knows not
of any imposition practiced upon him, however unreasonable
these impositions may be. Consequently he cannot come to any
decision what he should or should not do, because he has not the
reasoning faculties of man to argue the justice of the thing de-
manded of him. If he had, taking into consideration his superior
strength, he would be useless to man as a servant. Give him
mind in proportion to his strength, and he will demand of us the
green field for his inheritance, where he will roam at leisure,
denying the right of servitude at all. God has wisely formed
his nature so that it can be operated upon bv the knowledge of

4 3 Tui-: RORSE Fx\riiikr.

man according to the dictates of his will, and he mi.irht well be
termed an unconsciou-^, submissive servant. This truth we can
see verified in every day's experience by the abuses practiced
upon him. Any one who chooses to be so cruel, can mount the
noble steed and run him till he drops with fatigue, or, as is often
the case with the more spirited, falls dead beneath the rider. If
he had power to reason, would he not vault and pitch his rider,
rather than to suffer him run him to death? Or would he
condescend to carry at all the vain impostor, who, with but equal
intellect, was trying to impose on his equal rights and equally
independent spirit ? But, happily for us. he has no consciousness
of imposition, no thought of disobedience, except by impulse
caused by the violation of the law of his nature : consequently,
when disobedient, it is the fault of man.

Second — The fact of the horse being unconscious of the
amount of his strength, can be proven to the satisfaction of any
one. For instance, such remarks as these are common, and per-
haps familiar to your recollection. One person says to another,
''If that wild horse there was conscious of the amount of his
strength, his owner would have no business with him in that
vehicle — such light reins and harness, too : if he knew, he could
snap them asunder in a minute, and be as free as the air we
breathe, they would no more resist his powerful weight and
strength than a cotton thread would bind a strong man."

Third — He will allow any object, however frightful in appear-
ance, to come around, over or on him, that does not inflict pain.

We know, from a natural course of reasoning, that there has
never been an effect without a cause : and we infer from this that
there can be no action, either in animate or inanimate matter,
without there first being some cause to produce it. And from
this self-evident fact, we know there is some cause for every im-
pulse or movement, of either mind or matter. Then, according
to this theory, there must be some cause before fear can exist ;
from the effect of imagination, and not from the infliction of real
pain, it cannot be removed by complying with those laws of nature
by which the horse examines an object, and determines upon its
innocence or harm.

A log or stump by the road side may be, in the imagination of
the horse, some great beast about to pounce upon him ; but after
you take him up to it, and let him stand by it a little while, and
touch it with his nose, and go through his process of examination,
^le will not care anything more about it. And the same principle
and process will have the same effect with any other object, how-

Taming Vicious Horses.

49

ever frightful in appearance, in which there is no harm. Take a
boy that has been frightened with a false face, or any other object
that he could not comprehend at once, but let him take that face
or object in his hands, and examine it, and he will not care
anything more about it. This is a demonstration of the same
principle.

With this introduction to the principles of my theory, I shall
next attempt to teach you how to put it into practice, and what-
ever instructions may follow, you can rely on as having been
proven practically by my own experiments. And knowing from
experience j.ust what obstacles I have met with in handling bad
horses, I shall try to anticipate them for you, and assist you in
surmounting them.

TAMING VICIOUS HOESES.

The horse should be
led into a close stable, the
operator should be pre -
viously provided with a
stout leather halter : a
looped strap to slip over
the horse's knee; a strong
ci rsingle, and a long and
short strap — the first
to fasten round the fore-
foot which is at liberty
and the second to per-
mantely secure the leg
which is looped up.

The application of the
straps will be better un-
derstood by reference to
the engraving.

Fig. 1. First position.

In the first place, if the horse be a biter, muzzle him ; then lift
and bend his left fore leg, and slip a loop over it. Fig. 1. Next
put on a cirsingle, and fasten the long strap around the right foot,
just above the hoof, and pass the end through a loop attached to
the cirsingle. Fig. 2. Then fasten on vX couple of knee-pads; (these
can be put on in the first place if convienent :) the pads will pre-
vent the horse injuring or abrading his knees as he falls. When
this portion of the business is complete you are ready for active
operations. Take a short hold of the long strap with your right
hand standing on the left side of the horse, and grasp the bit in
the left hand.

50

The object now
is to back the
horse about the
stable until he
is tired and ev.
ideutly wishes
to lie down,
bear your
weight firmly
against his
shoulder then
compel him. to
move forward,
and when he
lifts the off foot
for that purpose, ^g- ^- Teaching the horse to kneel

draw upon the strap fastened around that leg, thus elevating it to
a like position with its mate. The procedure is portrayed in our
second engraving As soon as this strap is drawn tightly, let the
animal down easily upon his knees, as in fig. 3. This is'a critical
period and the operator must possess coolness and energy to pre-
vent disaster to himself or the anmial.

When the horse
attempts to rise, pull
his head around to-
wards the shoulder
and his efforts will
prove futile. Bear
your weight against
his hips, not hard,
but with a steady,
equal pressure, and
by voice and action
endeavor to give an
idea of your wishes,
and in about ten

minutes he will lie rig. 3. The horse in a kneeling posiure preparatory
down. to lying down.

When he is down, keep the strap tight in your hand, so that he
cannot straighten his legs, and pull his head towards his shoulders
to prevent his rising. As soon as he is done struggling, caress his
face and neck, remove the strap and straighten his legs. Render
yourself as familiar as possible.

Horse Taming.

51

Handle all parts of
his body. After he
has lain fifteen or
twenty minutes, let
him rise and imme-
diately repeat the
operation. After
throwing him two to
five tiroes, he will
become as subraisive
as a well trained dog
and you weed not be
afraid to indulge in
Fig. 4. Lving down and subdued. any liberties with him.

If a thorough course of instructon is given— anc/ he must be ed-
ucated: no boy's play about it— he will seek the floor if you snnply
raise the fore-leg and give the command, "lie down, sir." When
this is learned, tap him on the opposite leg with a stick, as you
take hold of his foot, and in a short time he will lie down from the
motion of the stick. If the horse is very powerful or fractious,
the straps should be very strong and broad, and well secui*ed in
such a manner as not to chafe the legs. An incorrigible horse
should have two lessons a day. We give the following rules, simp-
ly remarking that their strict observance is imperative:

First— The horse must not be forced down by violence, but
must be tired out til! he has a strong desire to lie down.

Second— lie must be kept quiet on the ground until the expres-
sion of the eye shows that he is tranquilized, which invariably takes
place f)v patiently waiting an<l gently patting the horse.

Third- Care must be taken not to throw the horse upon his neck
when bent, as it may easilv be broken

Fourth— In backincr him. no violence must be used, or he may
be forced on his haunches and his back broken.

Fifth' The halter and off-rein are held in the left hand, so as to
keep the head away from the latter; while, if the horse attempts to
plunge, the halter is drawn tight, when, the off leg being raised, the
animal is brought on his knees, and rendered powerless.

HOW TO SUCCEED IX GETTING COLT'S FROM PASTURE.
Go to the pasture, and walk around the whole herd quietly, and
at such a distance as not to cause ihem to scare or run. i hen
approach them very slowlv and if they seem to be frightened,

52 The Horse Farrier.

hold on until they become quiet, so as not to make
them run before you are close enough to drive them
in the direction you want them to go. And when you
begin to drive, do not flourish your arms, or halloo,
but gently follow them off", leaving the direction free
for them that you wish them to take. Thus taking
advantage of their ignorance, you will be able to get
them in the pound as easily as the hunter drives the
quails into his net. For, if they have always run in
the pasture uncared for, (as many horses do in prairie
coimtries, and on large plantations,) there is no reason
why they should not be as "\\ild as the sportsman's
birds, and require the same gentle treatment, if you
want to get them without trouble ; for the horse, in
his natural state, is as wild as any of the undomesti-
cated animals, though more easily tamed than most of
them.

HOW TO STABLE A COLT WITHOUT TROUBLE.

The next step will be, to get the horse into a stable
or shed. This should be done as quietly as possible,
so as not to excite any suspicion in the horse of any
danger befaUing him. The best way to do this is to
lead a gentle horse into the stable first, and hitch him ;
then quietly walk around the colt, and let him go in
of his own accord. It is almost impossible to get men
who have never practiced on this principle, to go slow
and considerate enough about it. They do not know
that, in handhng a wild horse, above all other things
is that good old adage true, " haste makes waste ;"
that is, waste of time, for the gain of trouble and per-
plexity.

Stabling Colts. 53

One wrong move may frighten your horse, and
make him think it necessary to escape at all hazards
for the safety of his life, and thus make a two hours'
work of a ten minutes' job ; and this would be all your
fault, and entirely unnecessary; for he will not run
unless you run after him, and that would not be good
policy, unless you knew that you could outrun him ;
for you will have to let him stop of his oWn accord af-
ter all. But he will not try to break away, unless you
attempt to force him mto measures. If he does not
see the way at once, and is a little fretful about going
in, do not undertake to drive him, but give him a little
less room outside, by gently closing in around him.
Do not raise your arms, but let them hang at 3^our
side ; for you might as well raise a club. If he at-
tempts to turn back, walk before him, but do not run ;
and if he gets past you, encircle him again in the same
quiet manner, and he will soon find that you are not
going to hurt him ; and then you can walk so close
around him that he will go into the stable for more
room, and to get farther from you. As soon as he is
in, remove the quiet horse and shut the door. This
will be his first notion of confinement — not knowing
how he got in such a place, nor how he got out of it.
That he may take it as quietly as possible, see that the
stable is entirely free from dogs, chickens, or anything
that would annoy him ; then give him a few ears of
corn, and let hun remain alone fifteen or twenty min-
utes, until he has examined his apartment, and has be-
come reconciled to his confinement.

54 The Horse Farrier,

the kind of halter.

Always use a leather halter, and be sure to have it
made so that it will not draw tight around his nose,
if he pulls on it. It should be of the right size to fit
his head easily and nicely, so that the nose-band will
not be too tight or too low. Never put a rope halter
on an unbroken colt, under any circumstances what-
ever. They have caused more horses to hurt or kill
themselves, than would pay for 'twice the cost of all
leather halters that ever have been needed for the pur-
pose of haltering colts. It is almost impossible to
break a colt that is very wild with a rope halter, with-
out having him pull, rear, and throw himself, and thus
endanger his life ; and I will tell you why. It is just
as natural for a horse to try to get his head out of
anything that hurts it, or feels unpleasant, as it would
be for you to try to get your hand out of a fire. The
cords of the rope are hard and cutting ; this makes
liitn raise his head and draw on it, a sKp-noose, (the
way the halters are always made,) tightens, and pinches
his nose, and then he will struggle for life, until, per-
chance, he throws himself; and Avho w^ould have his
horse throw himself, and run the risk of breaking his
neck, rather than pay the price of a leather halter ?
But this is not the worst. A horse that has once
pulled on his halter, can never be as well broken as
one that has never pulled at all.

REMARKS ON THE HORSE.

But before we attempt to do anything more with the
colt, I will give you some of the characteristics of his
nature, that you may better understand his motions.

Experiments with the Hobe. 55

Every one that has ever paid any attention to the
horse, has noticed his natui-al inclination to smell of
everything which to him looks new and frightful. This
is their strange mode of examinmg everything. And,
when they are frightened at anythmg, though they
look at it sharply, they seem to have no confidence in
this optical examination alone, but must touch it with
the nose before they are entirely satisfied ; and as soon
as this is done, all is right.

EXPEKIMEXT WITH THE KOBE,

If you want to satisfy yourself of this characteristic
of the horse, and learn something of importance con-
cerning the peculiarities of his nature, etc., turn him
into the barnyard, or a large stable will do. And then
gather up something that you knov>' will frighten him ;
a red blanket, buffalo robe, or something of that kmd.
Hold it up so that he can see it, he will stick up his
head and snort. Then throw it down somewhere in
the centre of the yard or barn, and walk off to oae side.
Watch his motions, and study his nature. If he is
frightened at the object, he will not rest until he has
touched it with his nose. You will see him begin to
walk around the robe and snort, all the time gettmg a
little closer, as if drawn up by some magic spell, until
be finally gets within reach of it. He will then very
cautiously stretch out his neck as far as he can reach,
nearly touching it vdih his nose, as though he thought
it was ready to fly at him. But after he has repeated
these touches a few times, for the first, (though he has
been looking at it all the time,) he seems to have an
idea of what it is. But now he has found, by the sense
i

66 The Horse Fa^riee.

of feeling, that it is nothing that will do Mm any harm,
and he is ready to play with it.

Yet the horse is never so well satisfied when he is
about anything that has frightened him, as when he is
standing with his nose to it. And in nine cases out of
ten, you will see some of that wild look about him
again, as he turns to walk ii'om it. And you will
probably see ^him looking back very suspiciously as he
walks away, as though he thought it might come after
him yet. And in all probability, he wiR have to go
back and make another examination before he is satis-
fied. But he will familiarize himself with it, and if he
should run ia that yard a few days, the robe that fright-
ened him so at first, will be no more to him than a
familiar stump.

SUPPOSITIONS ON THE SENSE OF SMELLING.

We might very naturally suppose, from the fact of
the horse's applying his nose to everything new to
him, that he always does so for the i^urpose of smelling
these objects. But I beHeve that it is as much or more
for the.purjDose of feeling, and that he makes use of
his nose, or muzzle, (as it is sometimes called,) as we
would our hands ; because it is the only organ by which
he can touch or feel anything with much susceptibility.

I believe he invariably makes use of the four senses,
seeing, hearing, smelling and feeling, in all of his ex-
aminations, of which the sense of feeling is, perhaps,
the most important. And we know from experience,
that if a horse sees and smells a robe a short distance
from him, he is very much frightened,, (miless he is
used to it,) until he touches or feels it with his nose ;
which is a positive proof that feeling is the controlling
sense in this case.

Powel's System. 67

POWEL'S SYSTEil OF APPEOACHIN^G THE COLT.

But before we go further, I will give you Willis J.
Powel's system of approaching a wild colt, as given by
him in a work published in Europe, about the year
1814, on the "Art of taming wild horses." He says,
" A horse is gentled by my secret in from two to six-
teen hours. The time I have most commonly em-
ployed has been from four to six hours." He goes on
to say : " Cause your horse to be put in a small yard,
stable, or room. If in a stable or room, it ought to be
large, in order to give him some exercise with the hal-
ter before you lead him out. If the horse belongs to
that class which appears only to fear man, you must
introduce yourself gently into the stable, room, or
yard, where the horse is ; he will naturally run from
you, and frequently turn his head from you ; but you
must walk about extremely slow and softly, so that he
can see you whenever he turns his head towards you,
which he never fails to do in a short time, say in a
quarter or half an hour. I never knew one to be much
longer without turning towards me.

" At the very moment he turns his head, hold out
your left hand towards him, and stand perfectly stiU,
keeping your eyes upon the horse, watching his mo-
tions, if he makes any. If the horse does not stir for
ten or fifteen minutes, advance as slowly as possible,
and without making the least noise, always holding out
your left hand, without any other ingredient in it than
what nature put in it." He says, " I have made use of
certain ingredients before people, such as the sweat
under my arm, etc., to disguise the real secret, and
many beheved that the docility, to which the horse ar-
rived in so short a time, was owing to these ingredients;

58 The Horse Farrier.

but you see from this explanation that they were of
no use whatever. The impUcit faith placed in these
ingredients, though innocent of themselves, becomes
" faith without works." And thus men remahied al-
ways in doubt concerning the secret. If the horse
makes the least motion when you advance towards
him, stop, and remain perfectly still until he is quiet.
Remain a few moments in this condition, and then ad-
vance again in the same slow and almost imperceptible
manner. Take notice ; if the horse stirs, stop, without
changing your position. It is very uncommon for the
horse to stir more than once after you begin to advance,
yet there are exceptions. He generally kee2:)s his eyes
steadfast on you, until you get near enough to touch
him on the forehead. When you are thus near to him,
raise, slowly, and by degrees, your hand, and let it
come in contact with that part just above the nostrils
as lightly as possible. If the horse flinches, (as many
will,) repeat with great rapidity these light strokes
upon the forehead, going a little further up towards
his ears by degrees, and descending with the same ra-
pidity until he Avill let you handle his forehead all over.
Now let the strokes be repeated with more force over
all his forehead, until you can handle that part with
equal facility. Then touch in the same light manner,
making your hands and lingers play around the lower
part of the horse's ears, coming down now and then
to his forehead, which may be looked upon as the
helm that governs all the rest.

"Having succeeded in handling his ears, advance
towards the neck, with the same precautions, and in
the same manner ; observing always to augment the

Handling the Colt. 59

force of the strokes whenever the horse will permit it.
Perform the same on both sides of the neck, mitil he
lets you take it in your arms without flinching.

"Proceed in the same progressive manner to the
sides, and then to the back of the horse. Every time
the horse shows any nervousness, return immediately
to the forehead as the true standard, patting him with
your hands, and from thence rapidly to where you had
already arrived, always gainmg ground a considerable
distance farther on, every time this happens. The
head, ears, neck, and body being thus gentled, proceed
from the neck to the root of the tail.

" This must be managed ^vith dexterity, as a horse
is never to be depended on that is skittish about the
tail. Let your hand fall lightly and rapidly on that
part next to the body a minute or two, and then you
will begin to give it a slight pull upwards every quar-
ter of a minute. At the same time you continue this
handling of him, augment the force of the strokes as
well as the raismg of the tail, until you can raise it
and handle it with the greatest ease, which commonly
happens in a quarter of an hour in most horses, in oth-
ers almost immediately, and in some much longer. It
now remains to handle all his legs ; fi-om the tail come
back again to the head, handle it well, as likewise the
ears, breast, neck, etc., speaking now and then to the
horse. Begin by degrees to descend to the legs, al-
ways ascending and descending, gaining ground every
time you descend, until you get to his feet.

" Talk to the horse ; let him hear the sound of your
voice, which at the beginning of the operation is not
quite so necessary, but which I have always done hi

30 The Hoese Farkiee.

making him lift up his foot. 'Hold up your foot' — at
the same time lift his foot with your left hand. He
soon becomes familiar with the sounds, and will hold
up his foot at command. Then proceed to the hind
feet, and go on in the same manner ; and in a short
time the horse will let you lift them and even take
them in your arms.

" All this operation is no magnetism, no galvanism ;
it is merely taking away the fear a horse generally has
of a man, and familiarizing the animal with his master ;
as the horse doubtless experiences a certain pleasure
from this handhng, he will soon become gentle under
it, and show a very marked attachment to his keeper."

KEMARKS ON POWEL'S TREATMEXT HOW TO GOVERN

HORSES OF ANT KIND.

These instructions are very good, but not quite suf-
ficient for horses of all kinds, and for haltering and
leading the colt; but I have inserted it here because
it gives some of the true j^hilosophy of approachmg
the horse, and of establishing confidence between man
and horse. He speaks only of the kind that fear man.

To those who understand the philosophy of horse-
manship, these are the easiest trained ; for when we
have a horse that is wild and lively, we can train him
to our will in a very short time ; for they are generally
quick to learn, and always ready to obey. But there
is another kind that are of a stubborn or vicious dis-
position, and although they are not wild, and do not
require tamuig, in the sense it is generally understood,
they are just as ignorant as a wild horse, if not more
60, and need to be learned just as much ; and in order
to have them obey quickly, it is very necessary that

Governing the Horse. 61

they should be made to fear their master ; for, in order
to obtam perfect obedience from any horse, we must
first have him fear us, for our motto is, Mar, love, and
obey ; -and we must have the fulfillment of the first
two, before we can expect the latter, and it is by our
philosophy of creating fear, love and confidence, that
we govern to our will every kmd of horse whatever.

Then, in order to take horses as we find them, of all
kinds, and to ti-am them to our likmg, we wiU alwasy
take with us when we go into a stable to tram a colt,
a long switch whip, (whalebone buggy whips are the
best, (with a good silk cracker, so as to cut keen and
make a sharp report, which, if handled with dexterity,
and rightly applied, accompanied with a sharp, fierce
word, will be sufficient to enhven the spirits of any horse.
With this whip in your right hand, with the lash
opinting backward, " enter the stable alone. It is a
great disadvantage in traming a horse, to have any
one in the stable with you ; you should be entirely
alone, so as to have nothing but yourself to attract his
attention. If he is wild, you will soon see hun in the
opposite side of the stable from you; and now is the
time to use a Httle judgment. I would not want, for
myself, more than half or three-quarters of an hour
ta handle any kmd of a colt, and have him runnuig
about in the stable after me ; though I would advise a
new beginner to take more time, and not be in too
much of a hurry. If you have but one colt to gentle,
and are not particular about the length of time you
spend, and have not had any experience in handling
colts, I would advise you to take Mr. Powel's method at
first, till you gentle him, which, he says, takes from two
to six hours.

62 The Hokse Fakrier.

But as I want to accomplish the same, and what is
much more, learn the horse to lead in less than one
hour, I shall give }- ou a much quicker process of ac-
complishing the same end. Accordingly, when you
have entered the stable, stand still and let your horse
look at you a minute or two ; and as soon as he is set-
tled m one place, approach him slowly, with both
arms stationary, your right hanging by your side, hold-
ing the whip as directed, and the left bent at the elbow,
with your right hand j^rojecting. As you approach
him, go not too much towards his head or croup, so as
not to make him move, either forward or backward,
thus keeping your horse stationary ; if he does move
a little, forward or backward, step a little to the right
or left very cautiously ; this ^ill keep him in one place.
As you get very near him, draw a little to his shoulder,
and stop a few seconds. If you are in his reach he
-svill turn his head and smell of your hand, not that he
has any preference for your hand, but because that is
projecting, and is the nearest portion of your body to
the horse. This all colts mil do ; and they will smell
of your naked hand just as quick as of anythmg that
you can put in it, and with just as good an effect, how-
ever much some men may have preached the doctrine
of taming horses by giving them the scent of articles
from the hand. I have already proved that to be a
mistake. As soon as he touches his nose to your hand,
caress him as before directed, always using a very light,
soft hand, merely touching the horse, always rubbing
the way the hair lies, so that your hand will pass along
as smoothly as possible. As you stand by his side you
may find it more convenient to rub his neck, or the

Learning the Horse to Lead, 63

side of his head, which will answer the same purpose
as rubbing his forehead. Favor every inclination of
the horse to smell or touch you with his nose. Always
follow each touch or communication of this kind with
the most tender and aifectionate caresses, accompanied
with a kind look, and pleasant word of some sort, such
as, " Ho ! my little boy, ho ■! my little boy, pretty boy,
nice lady ! " or something of that kind, constantly re-
peating the same words, with the same kind, steady
tone of voice ; for the horse soon learns to read the
expression of the face and voice, and will know as well
when fear, love or anger prevails, as you know your
own feelings ; two of which, fear and anger ^ a good
horseman should never feel.

HOW TO PROCEED IF YOUR HORSE IS OF A STUBBORN
DISPOSITION.

If your horse, instead of being wild, seems to be of
a stubborn or mulish disposition ; if he lays back his
ears as you approach him, or turns his heels to kick
you, he has not that regard or fear of man that he
should have, to enable you to handle him quickly and
easily ; and it might be well to give him a few sharp
cuts with the whip, about his legs, pretty close to the
body. It will crack keen as it phes around his legs,
and the crack of the whip will affect him as much as
the stroke ; besides, one sharp cut about his legs will
affect him more than two or three over his back, the
skin on the inner part of his legs or about his flank be-
ing thinner, more tender than on his back. But do
not whip him much, just enough to scare him, it is not
because we want to hurt the horse that we whip him,

64 The Hoese Farrier.

we only do it to scare that bad disposition out of him.
But whatever you do, do quickly, sharply, and with
a good deal of fire, but always without anger. If you
are going to scare him at all, you must do it at once.
Never go into a pitch battle with your horse, and
whip him until he is mad, and will fight you ; you had
better not touch him at all, for you will establish in-
stead of fear and regard, feelings of resentment, ill-
^vill and hatred. It will do him no good, but an injury,
to strike a blow, unless you can scare him ; but if you
succeed in scaring him, you can whip him without
making him. mad ; for fear and anger never exist to-
gether in the horse, and as soon as one is visible, you
will find that the other has disappeared. As soon as
you have frightened him so that he will stand up
straight, and pay some attention to you, approach
him again, and caress him a good deal more than you
whipped him, then you will excite the two controlling
passions of his nature, love and fear, and then he wiR
love and fear you too, and as soon as he learns what
to do, will obey quickly.

HOW TO HALTER AND LEAD A COLT.

As soon as you have gentled the colt a little, take
the halter in your left hand and api^roach him as be-
fore, and on the same side that you have gentled him.
If he is very timid about your approaching closely to
him, you can get up to him quicker by making the
whip a part of your arm, and reaching out very gent-
ly with the butt end of it ; rubbing him lightly on the
neck, all the time getting a little closer, shortening the
whip by taking it up in your hand, until you finally
get close enough to put your hands on him. If he is

Stubborn Disposition. 65

inclined to hold his head from you, put the end of the
halter strap around his neck, drop your whip, and draw
very gently ; he will let his neck give, and you can pull
his head to you. Then take hold of that part of the
halter which buckles over the top of his head, and pass
the long side, or that part which goes into the buckle,
under his neck, grasping it on the opjDosite side with
your right hand, letting the first strap loose — the lat-
ter will be sufficient to hold his head to you. Lower
the halter a little, just enough to get his nose into that
part which goes around it, then raise it somewhat, and
fasten the top buckle, and you will have it all right.
The first time you halter a colt you should stand on
the left side, pretty well back to his shoulder, only
taking hold of that part of the halter which goes
around his neck, then with your two hands about his
neck you can hold his head to you, and raise the hal-
ter on it without making him dodge by putting your
hands about his nose. You should have a long rope
or strap ready, and as soon as you have the halter on,
attach this to it, so that you can let him walk the
length of the stable without letting go of the strap,
or without making him pull on the halter, for if you
only let him feel the weight of your hand on the hal-
ter, and give him rope when he runs from you, he will
never rear, pull, or throw himself, yet you will be hold-
in o- him all the time, and doLag more towards gentling
him than if you had the power to snub him right up,
and hold him to one spot ; because he does not know
anything about his strength, and if you don't do any-
thing to make him pull, he will never know that he
can. In a few minutes you can begin to control him

66 The Horse Farrier.

with the halter, then shorten the distance between
yourself and the horse, by taking up the strap in your
hand.

As soon as he will allow you to hold him by a toler-
ably short strap, and step up to him without flying
back, you can begin to give him some idea about lead-
ing. But to do this, do not go before and attempt to
pull him after you, but commence by pulling him very
quietly to one side. He has nothing to brace either
side of his neck, and will soon yield to a steady, grad-
ual pull of the halter ; and as soon as you have pulled
him a step or two to one side, step up to him and ca-
ress him, and then pull him again, repeating this oper-
ation until you can pull him around in every direction,
and walk about the stable with him, which you can do
in a few minutes, for he will soon think when you have
made him step to the right or left a few times, that he
is compelled to follow the pull of the halter, not know-
ing that he has the power to resist your pulling ; be-
sides you have handled him so gently that he is not
afraid of you, and you always caress him when he
comes up to you, and he likes that, and would just as
leave follow you as not. And after he has had a few
lessons of that kind, if you turn him out in a lot he
will come up to you every opportunity he gets. You
should lead him about in the stable some time before
you take him out, opening the door, so that he can
see out, leading him up to it and back again, and past
it. See that there is nothing on the outside to make
him jump when you take him out, and as you go out
with him, try to make him go very slowly, catching hold
of the halter close to the jaw with your left hand,

Leading Colts. 67

while the right is resting on the top of liis neck, liold-
ing to his mane. After you are out with him a little
while, you can lead him about as you please. Don't
let any second person come up to you Avhen you first
take him out ; a stranger taking hold of the halter
would frighten hun, and make him run. There should
not even be any one standmg near him to attract his
attention, or scare him. If you are alone, and manage
him right, it will not require any more force to lead
or hold him than it would to manage a broke horse.

HOW TO LEAD A COLT BY THE SIDE OF A BEOKJE
HORSE.

If you should want to lead your colt by the side of
another horse, as is often the case, I would advise you
to take your horse into the stable, attach a second
strap to the colt's halter, and lead up your horse along
side of him. Then get on the broke horse and take
one strap around his breast, under his martingale, (if
he has one on,) holding it in your left hand. This will
prevent the colt from getting back too far ; besides,
you will have more power to hold hun, with the strap
pulling against the horse's breast. The other strap
take up in your right hand, to prevent him from run-
ning ahead ; then turn him about a few times in the
stable, and if the door is wide enough, ride out with
him in that position ; if not, take the broke horse out
first, and stand his breast up against the door, then
lead the colt to the same spot, and take the strains as
before directed, one on each side of his neck, then let
some one start the colt out, and as he comes out, turn
your horse to the left, and you will have them all
right. This is the best way to lead a colt ; you can

68 The Horse Farrier.

manage any kind of a colt in this way "without any
trouble, for, if he tries to run ahead, or pull back, the
two straps will bring the horses facing each other, so
that you can very easily follow up his movements with-
out domg much holding, and as soon as he stops run-
ning backward, you are right with him, and ready to
go ahead. And if he gets stubborn, and does not
want to go, you can remove all his stubbornness by
riding your horse against his neck, thus compelling
him to turn to the right, and as soon as you have
turned him about a few times, he will be willing to go
along. The next thing, after you are through leading
him, will be to take him into a stable, and hitch him in
such a way as not to have him pull on the halter, and
as they are often very troublesome to get into a stable
the first few times, I will give you some instructions
about getting him in.

HOW TO LEAD A COLT INTO THE STABLE AND HITCH
HIM WITHOUT HAVING HIil PULL ON THE HALTER.

You should lead the broke horse into the stable first,
and get the colt, if you can, to follow in after him. If
he refuses to go, step up to him, taking a little stick
or switch in your right hand ; then take hold of the
halter close to his head with your left hand, at the
same time reaching over his back with your right arm,
so that you can tap him on the opposite side with your
switch ; bring him up facing the door, tap liim lightly
with your switch, reaching as far back as you can.
This tapping, by being pretty well back, and on the
opposite side, will drive him ahead, and keep him close
to you, then by giving him the right direction with
your left hand you can walk into the stable with him.

Pulling on the PIalter. 69

I have walked colts into the stable this way, m less
than a minute, after men had worked at them half an
hour trying to pull them. If you cannot walk with
him at once in this way, turn him about and walk him
around in every direction, until you can get him uj) to
the door without pulling at him. Then let him stand
a few mmutes, keeping his head in the right direction
with the halter, and he will walk in, in less than ten
minutes. Never attempt to pull the colt into the stable ;
that would make him think at once that it was a dan-
gerous -place, and if he was not afraid of it before, he
would be then. Besides we don't want him to know
anything about pulhng on the halter. Colts are often
hurt, and sometimes killed, by trying to force them
into the stable ; and those who attempt to do it in that
way, go into an up-hill business, when a plain, smooth
road is before them.

If you want to hitch your colt, put him m a tolera-
bly wide stall, which should not be too long, and should
be connected by a bar or something of that kind to
the partition behind it ; so that after the colt is in, he
cannot get far enough back to take a straight back-
ward pull on the halter ; then by hitching him in the
centre of the stall, it would be impossible for him to
pull on the halter, the partition behind preventing him
from going back, and the halter m the centre checking
him every time he turns to the right or left. In a stall
of this kind you can break every horse to stand hitched
by a hght strap, any where, without his knowing any-
thmg about pulling. But if you have broke your
horse to lead, and have learned him to use the halter,
(which you should always do before you hitch him to

70 The Horse Farrier.

anything,) you can hitch him in any kind of a stall and
give him something to eat to keep him up to his place
for a few minutes at first, and there is not one colt out
of fifty that will pull on his halter.

THE KIND OF BIT, AIS^D HOW TO ACCUSTOM A HORSE
TO IT.

You should use a large, smooth, snaffle bit, so as
not to hurt his mouth, with a bar on each side to pre-
vent the bit from pulhng through either way. This
you should attach to the head-stall of your bridle and
put it on your colt without any rems to it, and let him
run loose in a large stable or shed some time, until he
becomes a Httle used to the bit, and will bear it with-
out trying to get it out of his mouth. It would be
well, if convenient, to repeat this several times before
you do anything more with the colt ; as soon as he
will bear the bit, attach a single rem to it, without any
martingale. You should also have a halter on your
colt, or a bridle made after the fashion of a halter,
with a strap to it, so that you can hold or lead him
about without pulling on the bit much. He is now
ready for the saddle.

HOW TO SADDLE A COLT.

Any one man, who has this theory, can put a saddle
on the wildest colt that ever grew, without any help,
and without scaring him. The first thing will be to
tie each stirrup strap into a loose knot to make them
short, and prevent the stirrups from flying about and
hitting him. Then double up the skirts and take the
saddle under your right arm, so as not to frighten him
with it as you approach. When you get to him, rub

Stabi.tng Colts. 71

him gently a few times with your hand, and then raise
the saddle very slowly, mitil he can see it, and smell, and
feel it with his nose. Then let the skuts loose, and rub
it very gently agamst the neck the way the hair lays, let-
ting him hear the rattle of the skirts as he feels them
against him, each time getting a Httle farther backward,
and finally slip it over his shoulders on his back. Shake
it a little with your hand, and in less than five minutes
you can rattle it over his back as much as you please, and
pull it off and throw it on agam, without his paying
much attention to it.

As soon as you have accustomed him to the saddle,
fasten the girth. Be careful how you do this. It often
frightens the colt when he feels the girth binding him,
and making the saddle fit tight on his back. You
should bring up the girth very gently, and not draw it
too tight at first, just enough to hold the saddle on.
Move him a little, and then girth it as tight as you
choose, and he will not mind it.

You should see that the pad of your saddle is all
right before you put it on, and that there is nothing to
make it hurt him, or feel unpleasant to his back. It
should not have any loose straps on the back part of
it, to flap about and scare him. After you have sad-
dled him in this way, take a switch in your right hand,
to tap him up with, and walk about in the stable a few
times with your right arm over your saddle, taking
hold of the reins on each side of his neck, with your
right and left hands ; thus marching him about in the
stable until you learn him the use of the bridle, and
can turn him about in any direction, and stop him by a
gentle pull of the rem. Always caress him, and loose
the reins a Uttle every time you stop him.
5

72 The Hokse Farrier.

You should always be alone, and have your colt in
some tight stable or shed, the first time you ride him ;
the loft should be high, so that you can sit on his back
without endangering your head. You can learn him
more in two hours' time m a stable of this kind, than
you could in two weeks in the common way of break-
ing colts, out in an open place. If you follow my
course of treatment, you need not run any risk, or have
any trouble in riding the worst kind of a horse. You
must take him a step at a time, until you get up a mutual
confidence and trust between yourself and horse. First
learn to be lead and stand hitched ; next, acquaint him
with the saddle and the use of the bit, and then all
that remams is to get on without scarmg him, and you
can ride him as well as any horse.

HOW TO MOUNT THE COLT.

First, gentle him well on both sides, about the sad-
dle, and all over, until he will stand still w^ithout hold-
ing, and is not afraid to see you anywhere about him.

As soon as you have him thus gentled, get a small
block, about one foot or eighteen inches in height, and
set it down by the side of him, about where you want
to stand to mount him ; step up on this, raising your-
self very gently ; horses notice every change of position
very closely, and, if you were to step suddenly on the
block, it would be very apt to scare him ; but, by
raising yourself gradually on it, he will see you with-
out being frightened, in a position very near the same
as when you are on his back.

As soon as he will bear this without alarm, untie the
stirrup-strap next to you, and put your left foot into
the stirrup, and stand square over it, holding your knee

How TO Mount a Colt. 73

against the horse, and your toe out, so as not to touch
him under the shoulder Tvith the toe of your boot.
Place your right hand on the front of the saddle, and
on the opposite side of you, taking hold of a portion
of the mane and reins, as they hang loosely over the
neck, with your left hand ; then gradually bear your
weight on the stirrup, and on your right hand, until
the horse feels your whole weight on the saddle. Re-
peat this several times, each time raising yourself a Ut-
tle higher from the block, until he will allow you to
raise your leg over his croup and place yourself in the

saddle.

There are three great advantages in having a block
to mount from. First, a sudden change of position is
verv apt to frighten a young horse who has never been
handled. He will allo'w you to walk up to him and
stand by his side without scaring at you, because you
have gentled him to that position, but if you get down
on your hands and knees and crawl towards him, he
will be very much frightened; and upon the same
principle, he would frighten at your new position if you
had the power to hold yourself over his back without
touching hun. Then, the first great advantage of the
block is°to gradually gentle him to that new position
m which he will see you when you ride him.

Secondly, by the process of leaning your weight in
the stirrups, and on your hand, you can gradually ac-
custom him to your weight, so as not to frighten hun
by having him feel it all at once. And, in the third
place, the block elevates you so that you will not have
to make a spring in order to get on the horse's back,
but from it you can graduaUy raise yourself into the

74 The Horse Farrier.

saddle. When you take these precautions, there is no
horse so wild but you can mount him without making
him jump. I have tried it on the worst horses that
could be found, and have never failed in any case.
When mouuthig, your horse should always stand with-
out being held. A horse is never well broke when he
has to be held with a tight rein when mounting ; and
a colt is never so safe to mount, as when you see that
assurance of confidence and absence of fear which
causes him to stand without holding.

HOW TO KIDE A COLT.

When you want him to start, do not touch him on
the side with your heel, or do anything to frighten
him and make him jump ; but speak to him kindly, and
if he does not start, pull him a little to the left until
he starts, and then let him walk off slowly with the
reins loose. Walk him around in the stable a few
times until he gets used to the bit, and you can turn
him about in every direction and stop him as you please.
It would be well to get on and off a good many times,
until he gets perfectly used to it, before you take him
out of the stable.

After you have trained him in this way, which should
not take more than one or two hours, you can ride him
anywhere you choose without ever having him jump or
make an effort to throw you.

When you first take him out of the stable, be very
gentle with him, as he will feel a little more at liberty
to jump or run, and be a Uttle easier frightened than
he was while m the stable. But after handling him so
much in the stable, he will be pretty well broke, and

How TO Ride A Colt. 75

you will be able to manage him without trouble or
danger.

When you first mount him, take a little the shortest
hold of the left rein, so that if anything frightens him,
you can prevent him from jumping by pulling his head
around to you. This operation of pulling a horse's
head around against his side, will prevent any horse
from jumping ahead, rearing up, or running away. If
he is stubborn and will not go, you can make him
move by pulling his head around to one side, when
whipping would have no effect. And turning around
a few times will make him dizzy, and then by letting
him have his head straight, and giving him a little
touch with the whip, he will go along ^dthout any
trouble.

Never use martingales on a colt when you first ride
him ; every movement of the hand should go right to
the bit, in the direction in which it is applied to the
reins, without a martingale to change the direction of
the force applied. You can guide the colt much bet-
ter without them, and learn him the use of the bit in
much less time. Besides, martingales w^ould prevent
you from pulling his head around if he should try to
jump.

After the colt has been rode until he is gentle and
well accustomed to the bit, you may find it an advan-
tage if he carries his head too high, or his nose too far
out, to put martingales on him.

You should be careful not to ride your colt so far at
first as to heat, worry or tire him. Get off as soon as
you see he is a little fatigued ; gentle him and let him
rest ; this will make him khid to you, and prevent him
from gettmg stubborn or mad.

7G The Horse Farrier.

THE PROPER WAT TO BIT A COLT.

Farmers often j^ut a bitting harness on a colt the
first thing they do with him, buckling np the bitting
as tight as they can draw it, to make him carry his
head high, and then turn him out in a lot to run a half
day at a time. This is one of the worst punishments
that they could inflict on a colt, and very injurious to
a young horse that has been used to running in pasture
with his head down. I have seen colts so injured in
this way that they never got over it.

A horse should be well accustomed to the bit before
you put on the bitting harness, and when you first bit
him you should only rein his head up that point where
he naturally holds it, let that be high or low ; he will
soon learn that he cannot lower his head, and that
raising it a little Avill loosen the bit in his mouth. This
will give him the idea of raising his head to loosen the
bit, and then you can draw the bitting a little tighter
every time you put it on, and he will still raise his head
to loosen it; by this means you will gradually get his
head and neck in the position you want him to carry
it, and give him a nice graceful carriage without hurt-
ing him, making him mad, or causing his mouth to get
sore.

If you put the bitting on very tight the first time,
he cannot raise his head enough to loosen it, but will
bear on it all the time, and paw, sweat, and throw
himself. Many horses have been killed by falling back-
ward with the bitting on ; their heads being dra^vn up,
strike the ground mth the whole weight of the bo^dy.
Horses that have their heads drawn up tightly should
not have the bitting on more than fifteen or twenty
minutes at a time.

Vicious Habits. 77

how to drive a horse that is very wild and
has any vicious habits.

Take up one fore foot and bend his knee till his hoof
is bottom upwards, and nearly touching his body, then
slip a loop over his knee, and up until it comes above
the pastern joint to keep it u]^, being careful to draw
the loop together between the hoof and pastern joint
■wdth a second strap of some kind, to prevent the loop
from slipping down and coming off. This wiU leave the
horse standing on three legs ; you can now handle him
as you wish, for it is utterly impossible for him to kick
in this position. There is something in this operation
of taking up one foot that conquers a horse quicker
and better than anytliing else you can do to him. There
is no process in the world equal, to break a kicking
horse, for several reasons. First, there is a principle
of this kind in the nature of the horse, that by con-
quering one member you conquer, to a great extent,
the whole horse.

You have, perhaps, seen men operate upon this prin-
ciple by sewing a horse's ears together to prevent him
from kicking. I once saw a j^lan given in a newsj^aper
to make a bad horse stand to be shod, which was to
fasten down one ear. There was no reason given why
you should do so ; but I tried it several times, and
thought it had a good effect — though I would not
recommend its use, especially stitching his ears togeth-
er. The only benefit arising from this process is, that
by disarranging his ears we draw his attention to them,
and he is not so apt to resist the shoeing. By tying
up one foot we operate on the same principle, to a
much better effect. When you first fasten up a horse's

78 The Hokse Fakriek.

T

foot, he will sometimes get very mad, and strike with
his knee, and try every possible way to get it down ;
but he cannot do that, and will soon give up.

This will conquer him better than anything you coulil
do, and mthout any possible danger of hurting himself,
or you either, for you can tie up his foot and sit down
and look at him until he gets up. When you find that
he is conquered, go to him, let down his foot, rub his
leg with your hand, and let him rest a little, then put
it up again. Rej^eat this a few times, always putting
up the same foot, and he T\ill soon learn to travel on
three legs so that you can drive him some distance.
As soon as he gets a httle used to this way of travel-
ling, put on yom- harness, and hitch him to a sulky.
If he is the worst kicking horse that ever raised a foot
you need not be fearful of his doing any damage while
he has one foot up, for he cannot kick, neither can he
run fast enough to do any harm. And if he is the
wildest horse that ever had harness on, and has run
away every time he has been hitched, you can now
hitch him in a sulky and drive him as you please. And
if he wants to run, you can let him have the lines, and
whip too, with perfect safety, for he can go but a slow
gait on three legs, and will soon be tired and wiUing to
stop ; only hold him enough to guide him in the right
direction, and he will soon be tired, and wiUing to stop
at the word. Thus you will effectually cure him at
once of any further notion of rimning off. Kicking
horses have always been the dread of everybody ; you
always hear men say, when they speak about a bad
horse, " I don't care what he does, so he don't kick."
This new method is an effective cure for this worst of

Kicking Horses. 79

all habits. There are plenty of ways by which you
can hitch a kicking horse, and force him to go, though
he kicks all the time ; but this don^t have any good "
effect towards breaking him, for we know that horses
kick because they are afraid of what is behind them,
and when they kick agamst it and it hurts them, they
A\ill only kick the harder, and this will hurt them still
more, and make them remember the scrape much longer,
and make it still more difficult to persuade them to
have any confidence m anythmg dragging behmd them
ever after.

By this new method you can hitch them to a rattling
sulky, plow, wagon, or anything else in its worst shape.
They may be frightened at first, but cannot Idck, or
do anythmg to hurt themselves, and will soon find that
you do not intend to hurt them, and then they will not
care anything more about it. You can then let down
the leg, and drive along gently without any further
trouble. By this new process a bad kicking horse can
be learned to go gentle in harness in a few hours time.

ox BALKING.

Horses know nothmg about balking, only as they are
brought into it by improper management ; and when a
horse balks in harness, it is generally from some mis-
management, excitement, confusion, or from not know-
ing how to pull, but seldom from any unwillingness to
perform aU that he understands. High spirited, free-
going horses, are the most subject to balking, and only
so because drivers do not properly understand how to
manage this kind. A free horse in a team may be so
anxious to go, that when he hears the word he will

80 The Horse Farrier.

start with a jump, which will not move the load, but
give him such a severe jerk on the shoulders, that he
will fly back and stop the other horse ; the teamster
will continue his driving ^^ithout any cessation, and by
the time he has the slow horse started again, he will
find the free horse has made another jump, and again
flew back ; and now he has them both badly balked,
and so confused that leither of them knows what is the
matter, or how to start the load. Next will come the
slashing and crashing of the whip, and hallooing of the
driver till something is broken, or he is through with
his course of treatment. But what a mistake the
driver commits by whipping his horse for this act !
Reason and common sense should teach him that the
horse was willing and anxious to go, but did not now
now to start the load. And should he whip him for
that ? If so, he should whip him again for not know-
ing how to talk. A man that wants to act with any
rationality or reason, should not fly into a passion, but
should always think before he strikes. It takes a steady
pressure against the collar to move a load, and you can-
not expect him to act with a steady, determined pur-
pose while you are whipping him. There is hardly one
balkmg horse in five hundred that will pull true from
whipping ; it is only adding fuel to fire, and will make
them more liable to balk another tune. You always
see horses that have been balked a few times, turn their
heads and look back, as soon as they are a little frus-
trated. This is because they have been whipped, and
are afraid of what is behind them. This is an invari-
able rule with balked liorses, just as much as it is for

Balkino. 81

them to look around at their sides when they have the
bots. In either case, they are deserving of the same
sympathy, and the same kind, rational treatment.

When your horse balks, or is a little excited, if he
wants to start quickly, or looks around, and don't want
to go, there is something wrong, and he needs kind
treatment immediately. Caress him kindly, and if he
don't understand at once what you want him to do,
he will not be so much excited as to jump and break
things, and do every thing wrong through fear. —
As long as you are calm, and can keep down the ex-
citement of the horse, there are ten chances to have
him understand you, where there would not be one un-
der hai"sh treatment, and then the little flare-^p would
not carry with it any unfavorable recollections, and he
would soon forget all about it, and learn to pull true.
Almost every wrong act the horse commits, is from
mismanagement, fear or excitment : one harsh word
will so excite a nervous horse as to increase -his pulse
ten beats in a minute.*

♦Remarks. — In the first place, never teach your horse to balk, by giving him a
greater load than he can carry, or requiring him to go up too steep a hill without
permitting him to stop. If you tell him to stop, iu going up a steep hill, it is
better than to allow him to do it of his own accord. If he finds he can stop of
his own will, and start when he pleases, he will soon learn to do it when ho
ought not to. If at any time he stops without your stopping him, give him a
sharp cut, and make him go on, even if you think he ought to stop at that very
place ; but soon yourself give him an opportunity to stop. This will teach him
that he is to stop only at your will, and that you are not unreasonable in your
demands. I believe that all balky horses are in the first instance taugbt to
balk by their careless and inconsiderate owners, who overload them, and allow
them to stop or go according to their own will. Once a horse finds he can stop
at will without reproof, he will stop, perhaps, on a smooth road, or in the mid-
dle of a village, or on the street of a city, whore you will be mortified as well as
discommoded.

82 The Hoese Fakkier.

When we remember that we are dealhig with dumb
brutes, and reflect how difficult it must be for them to
understand our motions, signs and language, we should
never get out of patience with them, because they
don't understand us, or wonder at their doino: thins^s
wrong. With all our intellect, if we were placed in
the horse's situation, it would be difficult for us to un-
derstand the driving of some foreigner, of foreign ways
and foreign language. We should always recollect
that our ways and language are unknown to the horse,
and should try to practice what we could understand,
were we the horse, endeavoring by some smij^le means
to work on his understanding rather than on the dif-
ferent parts of his body. All balked horses can be
started true and steady in a few minutes' time : they
are willing to pull as soon as they know how, and I
never yet found a balked horse that I could not teach
to start his load in fifteen, and often less than three
minutes' time.

Almost any team, when first balked, will start kind-

Before resorting to severe means the cause should be ascertained. The horse
may be overtaxed, his withers may be wrung, or he may be insupportably galled
or pained by the harness. These things should be examined into, and, if possible,
rectified; for, under such circumstances, cruelty may produce obstinacy and vice,
but not willing obedience. A horse whose shoulders are raw, or have frequently
been so, will not start with a cold collar. When the collar has acquired the
warmth of the parts on which it presses, the animal will go without reluctance.
Some determined balkers have been reformed by constantly wearing a false col-
lar, or strip of cloth round the shoulders, so that the coldness of the usual collar
should never be felt ; and others have been cured of balking by keeping the col-
lar on night and day, for the animal is not able to lie down completely at full
length, which the tired horse is always glad to do. When a horse balks, not at
starting, but while doing his work, it has sometimes been useful to line the collar
with cloth instead of leather; the perspiration is readily absorbed, the substance
which presses on the shoulder is softer, and it may be far more accurately eased
off at a tender place.

Balky Horses. 83

ly, if you let them stand five or ten minutes, as though
there was nothing wrong, and then speak to them with
a steady voice, and turn them a Uttle to the right or
left, so as to get them both in motion before they feel
the pinch of the load. But if you want to start a team
that you are not driving yourself, that has been balked,
fooled, and whipped for some time, go to them and
hang the lines on their hames, or fasten them to the
wagon, so that they will be perfectly loose : make the
driver and spectators, (if there are any,) stand off
some distance to one side, so as not to attract the at-
tention of the horses ; loosen their check-reins, so that
they can get their heads down, if they choose ; let
them stand a few minutes in this condition, until you
see that they are a little composed. While they are
standing, you should be about their heads, gentling
them : it will make them a little more kuid. When
you are ready to start, stand before them, and as you
seldom have but one balky horse in a team, get as
near in front of him as you can, and if he is too fast for

But what shall we do with a horse who ha? thoroughly learned to balk, and
whom whipping only hardens? Desperate remedies should sometimes he used
for desperate caoes, and you may in such cases eitiicr kill your liorsc as not be-
ing worthy the oats you give him, or you may fasten iiim to a strong carriage,
put on a strong harness and reins, and if he balks, set Are to a bunch of shavings
or a newspaper at his heels, or a bunch of Are crackers ; or exciting his spirits by
the application of spirits of turpentine under his tail ; he is bound to go in such
case— perhaps too fast for you— but of this you must run your risk. It is a des-
perate remedy, but when kindness and good treatment do not succeed, such a
remedy will succeed better, and is more humane than beating, unmerciful whip-
ping, «fec., which seldom succeed at all.

In India when a horse can and will not draw, instead of whipping, spurring
or burning him, they quietly get a rope and attaching it to one of the fore feet,
one or two men take hold of it, and advancing a few paces ahead of the horse ,
pull their best. No matter how stubborn the animal may be, a few doses of such
treatment eflfeots a perfect cure.

84 The Horse Farrier.

the other horse let liis nose come against your breast :
this will keep him steady, for he will go slow rather
than run on you ; turn them gently to the right, with-
out letting them pull on the traces, as far as the tongue
will let them go ; stop them with a kind word, gentle
them a little, and then turn them back to the left, by
the same process. You will have them under your
control by this time, and as you turn them again to
the right, steady them in the collar, and you can take
them where you please.

There is a quicker process that will start a balky
horse, but not so sure. Stand him a little ahead, so
that his shoulders wiU be against the collar, and then
take up one of his fore feet in your hand, and let the
driver start them, and wlien the weight comes against
his shoulders, he will try to step : then let him have his
foot, and he will go right along. If you want to break
a horse from balking, that has long been in that habit,
you ought to set apart a half a day for that purpose. —
Put him by the side of some steady horse ; have check-
lines on them ; tie up all the traces and straps, so that
there wiU be nothing to excite them ; do not rein them
up, but let them have their heads loose. Walk J^hem
about together for some thne as slowly and lazily as
possible ; stop often and go to your balky horse and
gentle him. Do not take any whip about him, but
keep him just as quiet as you can. He will soon learn
to start off at the word, and stop whenever you tell
him.

As soon as he performs right, hitch him in an empty
wagon ; have it stand in a favorable position for start-
ing. It would be well to shorten the stay-chain be-

Breaking. 85

hind the steady horse, so that, if it is necessary, he
can take the weight of the wagon the first time yon
start them. Do not drive but a few rods at first :
watch your balky horse closely, and if you see that he
is getting excited, stop him before he stops with his
own accord ; caress him a little, and start again. As
soon as they go well, drive them over a small hill a
few times, and then over a large one, occasionally ad-
ding a little load. This process will make any horse
true to pull.

TO BREAK A HORSE TO HARNESS.

Take him in a tight stable, as you did to ride him ;
take the harness and go through the same process that
you did with the saddle, until you get him familiar
with them, so that you can put them on and rattle
them about without his carmg for them. As soon as
he will bear this, put on the lines, caress him as you
draw them over him, and drive him about in the stable
till he will bear them over his hips. The Imes are a
great aggravation to some colts, and often frighten
them as much as if you were to raise a wliip over them.
As soon as he is famihar with the harness and lines,
take him out and put him by the side of a gentle horse,
and go through the same j^rocess that you did with the
balking horse. Always use a bridle without blmds,
wlien you are breaking a horse to harness.

HOW TO HITCH A HORSE IN A SULKY.

Lead him to and around it ; let him look at it, touch
it with his nose, and stand by it till he does not care
for it ; then pull the shafts a little to the left, and stand
your horse in front of the off wheel. Let some ont

86 The Horse Farrier.

stand on the right side of the horse, and hold him by
the bit, while you stand on the left side, facing the
sulky. This will keep him straight. Run your left
hand back, and let it rest on his hip, and lay hold of
the shafts with your right, bringing them up very
gently to the left hand, which still remams stationary.
Do not let anything but your arm touch his back, and
as soon as you have the shafts square over him, let the
person on the opposite side take hold of one of them,
and lower them very gently to the shaft-bearers. Be
very slow and deliberate about hitching ; the longer
time you take, the better, as a general thing. When
you have the shafts placed, shake them slightly, so that
he will feel them against each side. As soon as he will
bear them without scaring, fasten your braces, etc.,
and start him along very slowly. Let one man lead
the horse, to keep him gentle, while the other grad-
ually works back with the lines till he can get behind
and drive him. After you have driven him in this way
a short distance, you can get mto the sulky and all
Will go right. It is very important to have your horse
go gently, when you first hitch him. After you have
walked him awhile, there is not half so much danger
of his scaring. Men do very wrong to jump behind a
horse to drive him as soon as they have him hitched.
There are too many things for him to comprehend all
at once. The shafts, the lines, the harness and the
rattling of the sulky, all tend to scare him, and he must
be made familiar with them by degrees. If your horse
is very wild, I would advise you to put up one foot the
first time you drive him.

Stand Without Holding. 87

HOW TO TEACH A HORSE TO FOLLOW YOU.

Place liim in a large barn with a bridle on, gentle him a
little. Take hold of the bridle, turn him towards you,
at the same time touch liim lightly with a long whip over
tthe shoulders. Lead him the length of the barn, cares
ing him, at the same time come along — calling him by
name in a gentle tone of voice. Each time he turns,
touch him with the whip to keep him up close to you.
He will soon learn to keep close to you to escaj^e the
whip and to be caressed, and he will follow without tak-
ing hold of the bridle. If he should stop, give him a
isliarp cut about the Mnd legs ; he will soon turn towards
you, when he should be caressed. After a few lessons of
this kind, he will run after you when he sees the motion
of the whip. He may then be taken into a yard, and
then in the road or anywhere else.

HOW TO TEACH A HOESE TO STAND WITHOUT HOLDING.

After he has learned to follow you, f)lace him in the cen-
tre of the stable, begin at his neck to caress him, gradu-
ally working backwards, until you can get around him
without making him m.ove, then gradually enlarge your
circle. If he moves, give him a sharp cut with a wliip,
and place him back in his place. If he stands, approach
him occasionally and caress him. Make him come to
jou occasionally and follow you ; not keeping him in one
position too long — half an hour is long enough to train
a horse at a time,

HOW TO TEACH A HOESE TO PACE AND INCREASE HIS STRIDE,

If you wish to learn yom- horse to pace, buckle a six
pound weight around each ankle of his liind legs ; ride
him briskly . with these weights attached, at the same time
alternately twitch each rein of the bridle ; this will throw
him into a pace ; repeat the lessons every day for a short
time, and then decrease the weights gradually for twelve
days, when they may be entirely removed. If you de-
sire to increase the stride of either a trotting or pacing
iiorsej buckle a strap around the arm of each fore-leg.
&

88 The Horse Farrier.

how to teach a horse to make a bow,
Take the horse by the bits, and take hold of the top of
his head, pinch it as you draw it down ^ in a short time
you can draw it down by pulling his main, using some
word that he will get familiar Tsdth ; after a Httle practice
he will make a bow by pulling his mane or using the fa-
miliar word. This is the way showmen train horses to use
in the ring. By patience and perseverance you can learn a
horse as many pranks as Dan Rice learns his.

BREAKING COLTS,

As thi ssubject is one of vital importance, wo veture a
few remarks in addition to Mr Rarey's method. The
breaking of colts may commence at an early age
As tney aavance towards maturity they become more
fixed in their habits, are more resolute in their temper^
less able to be taught, and are able to offer greater
resistance, and there is less danger of their injuring
themselves or their trainer, by their efforts to free
themselves from restraint. The training of a colt may
commence before they are a month old, by handling,
caressing, ciirrying, and making a pet of them, tak-
ing care to touch them only in such places as are
agreeable to them, such as the back, jowls, and the un-
der side of the neck, taking care to avoid the ears.
A halter may be put on when three months old, one
that wiU be impossible for them to break. Fasten it to
the collar of the mare, and teach them to follow the
mare thus early, being careful that they do not hang
back on the halter. The habit once confirmed, it will
be difficult to break them of it. Let perfect kindness
characterise all your first efforts — reward every act of
obedience, and bring them under perfect subjection.

Breaking of Colts.

89

Of all the vicious habits which are fomid in horses,
we believe nine-tenths are owing to unkind treatment,
harsh usage, and improper management.

A colt may be broken to do very light work in har-
ness at two years old, but should not be backed, ex-
cept by a small boy, until three, and a light man until
four years old. When he becomes accustomed to the
reins, a person may take hold of the traces and occas-
ionally puU on them, teaching the colt to keep steadily
along, whether he feels any draught •bn his shoulders
or not.

EXTERNAL PARTS OF THE HORSE.

Muzzle.
Race.
Forehead.
Poll
Crest.
Jowl.
Gullet.
Windpipe.
Point of Shoulder.
, Breast or Bosom.

11, Arm.

12, Elbow.

13, Girth.

14, Flank.
16, Sheath.

16, Stifles.

17, Withers.

18, Back.

19, Loins.

20, Hip.

21, Croup.

22, Dock.

23, Quarter.

24, Thigh or Gaskin.

25, Hamstring.

26, Joint of Hock.

27, Ham or Hock.
23, Common.

29, Fetlock.

8U, Large Pastern.

31, Small Pastern.
82, Coronet.
3;3, Hoo£

34, Knee.

35, Common.

36, Fetlock.

37, Heel.

38, Large.

39, Small Pastern

40, Hoof Pastern.

CHAPTER IV.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT, ETC., OF THE HORSE.

STABLING.

This matter has not received the attention that its
importance demands. A situation should be selected
which will admit of draining, sheltered from the coldest
winds, and easy of access. In damp, unventilated
stables, you will be the most likely to find such dis-
eases as mange, coughs, bad eyes, greasy heels, swelled-
legs, glanders, farcy, and rough, dry, staring coat. —
Stables should be about sixteen to eighteen feet in
width, and have six feet for each stall. It is well to
have a door at each end when convenient, for the
purpose of ventilation, when necessary. It should be
about eight by five feet. Accidents often occur from
having it too narrow ; it may be double. It should
be so hung as to swing back of its own accord.
The edges of the posts should be rounded ; the ceiling
should be at least nine feet in height.

The stable should be so contrived that the urine
shall quickly run ofi", and the oftensive and injurious
vapor from decomposing fluid and the litter will thus

Am AND Litter. 91

be materially lessened ; but if this is effected by means
of gutters and a descending floor, the descent must be
barely sufficient to cause the fluid to escape, as, if the
toes are kept higher than the heels, it will lead to
lameness, and is also a frequent cause of contraction of
the foot. Stalls of this kind certainly do best for
mares ; but for horses we much prefer those with a
gratmg in the centre, and a slight inclination of the
floor on every side towards the middle. A short
branch may communicate with a larger drain, by
means of which the urine may be carried off to a
reservoir outside the stable. Traps are now contrived,
and may be procured at little expense, by means of
which neither any offensive smell nor current of air
can pass through the grating.

AIR AND LITTER.

The breathing of pure air is necessary to the ex-
istence and the health of man and beast. It is com-
paratively lately that this has been admitted even in
the management of our best stables.

If the stable is close, the air will not only be hot, but
foul. The breathing of every animal contaminates it ;
and when, in the course of the night, with every
aperture stoj^ped, it passes again and again through
the lungs, the blood cannot undergo its proper and
healthy change ; digestion will not be so perfectly per-
formed, and all the functions of life are injured.

Every stable should possess within itself a certain
degree of ventilation. The cost of this would be
trifling, and its saving in the preservation of valuable
animals will be immense. The appertures need not

92 The Horse Farrier.

be large, and the whole may be so contrived that no
direct current of air will fall on the horse.

The temperature of a stable should seldom exceed
70*^ in the summer or sink below 40° or 50° in the
winter.

Litter should be frequently removed. The early ex-
trication of gas shows the rapid putrefaction of the
urine ; and the consequence of which will be the rapid
putrefaction of the Utter that has been moistened by it.
Everything hastening to decomposition should be care-
fully removed where life and health are to be pre-
served. The Utter that has been much wetted or at
aU softened by the urine, and is beginnmg to decay,
should be swept away every morning ; the greater
part of the remainder may then be piled away under
the manger ; a little being left to prevent the painful
and injurious pressure of the feet on the hard pave-
ment during the day. The soiled and soaked portion
of that which was left should be removed at night.
In the better kind of stables, however, the staUs should
be completely emptied every morning.

No heap of fermenting dung should be suffered to
remain during the day in the corner or in any part of
the stable.

GKOOMES-G.

Of this, much need not be said to the agriculturist,
since custom, and apparently without ill effect, has al-
lotted so little of the comb and brush to the farmer's
horse. The animal that is worked all day, and turned
out at night, requires little more to be done to him
than to have the dirt brushed off Ms Umbs. Regular
groommg, by rendering his skin more sensible to the

Grooming. 93

alternation of temperature, and the inclemency of the
weather, would be prejudicial. The horse that is alto-
gether turned out, needs no grooming. The dandruff,
or scurf, which accumulates at the roots of the hair, is
a provision of nature to defend him from the wind and
the cold.

The stable horse, however, should be dressed regular-
ly every day, in addition to the grooming that is neces-
sary after work.

Whoever would be convinced of the benefit of
friction to the horse's skin, and to the horse generally,
needs only to observe the effects produced by well
hand-rubbing the legs of a tired horse. While every
enlargement subsides, and the painful stiffness disap-
pears, and the legs attain their natural warmth, and
become fine, the animal is evidently and rapidly re-
viving ; he attacks his food with appetite, and then
quietly lies down to rest.

When, however, the horse is changing his coat, both
the curry-comb and the brush should be used as light-
ly as possible.

Boiled barley, boiled or raw linseed, raw carrots, and
boiled turnips, are among the articles of food that lay
the hair, and soften the skin.

Grooming should be conducted out of the stable,
whenever practicable. Mud should never be allowed
to dry on the legs or feet. They should be got cool,
dry and clean, by washing, scraping, rubbing and walk-
ing a heated horse ; and they should never be left in a
cold draft, when warm. Cleanliness is indispensable to
the health of a horse.

94 The Hokse Farrier.

dressing vicious horses.

Many horses are rendered vicious to clean, by the
awkwardness, timidity, and folly of the keeper. An
awkward man gives the horse more pain than ought to
attend the op®i'ation. A timid man allows the horse
to master him, and a mischievous fellow is always learn-
ing him tricks.

Biting may be prevented by putting on a muzzle, or
by tying the head to the rack, or to the ring outside
of the stable. When reversed in the stall, the head
may be secured by the pillar-reins. A muzzle often
deters a horse from attempting to bite, but some will
strike a man to the ground, though they cannot seize
him. These must be tied up. Many harness-horses
are perfectly quiet while they are bridled, and it is suf-
ficient to let the bridle remain on, or to put it on, till
they be dressed. Others, again, are quite safe when
blindfolded. Kicking horses are more dangerous than
biters. A great many strike out, and are apt to injure
an awkward groom ; yet they are not so bad but an
expert fellow may manage them, without using any
restraint, A switch held always in the hand, in view
of the horse, and lightly applied, or threatened when
he attempts to strike, will render others comparatively
docile. A few permit their hind quarters to be cleaned
while their clothes are on. Some there are, however,
that cannot be managed so easily. They strike out ;
those especially that lead idle lives, so quickly and so
maliciously, that the groom is m great danger, and
cannot get his work properly performed. There are
two remedies— the arm-strap and the twitch.* Where

* See page 78,

D ?'-;s.^TNG Vicioa.s Horses. 95

anotlicr ni;ui cannot be spared to assist, one of the fore
legs is tied up; the knee is bent till the foot almost
touclies the elbow, and a broad buckling-strap is ap-
plied over the fore-arm and the pastern. The horse
then stands upon three legs, and the groom is in no
danger of a kick. Until the horse is accustomed to
stand in this way, he is apt to throw himself down ;
For the first two or three times, the leg should be held
up by a man, rather than tied with a strap. The horse
should stand on a thick bed of litter, so that he may
not be injured, should he fall. In course of time, he
may perhaps become quieter, and the arm-strap may
be thrown aside. It should not be applied always to
the same leg, for it produces a tendency to knuckling
over of the pastern, which, in a great measure, is
avoided by tying up each leg alternately. Even the
arm-strap will not prevent some horses from kicking.
Some can stand on two legs, and some will throw them-
selves doAvn. The man must just coax the horse, and
get over the operation with as little irritation as pos-
sible. Upon extraordinary occasions, the twitch may
be employed, but it must not be applied every day,
otherwise the lip upon which it is placed becomes in-
flamed or palsied. When restraint must be resorted
to, the man should be doubly active in getting through
his work, that the horse may not be kept for a need-
less length of time in pain. He may, in some cases,
give the horse a very complete dressing when he is
fatigued, and not disposed to offer much resistance.

EXERCISE.

Our observations on this important branch of sta-
ble-management must have only a slight reference to

96 The Hokse Farrier.

the agricultural horse. His work is usually regular,
and not exhausting. He is neither predisposed to dis-
ease by idleness, nor worn out by excessive exertion.
He, like his master, has enough to do to keep him in
health, and not enough to distress or injure him : on
the contrary, the regularity of his work prolongs hfe
to an extent rarely witnessed in the stable. Our re-
marks on exercise, then, must have a general bearing.
The first rule we would lay down is, that every horse
should have daily exercise. The animal that, with the
usual stable-feeding, stands idle for three or four days,
as is the case in many establishments, must suffer. He
is predisposed to fever, or to grease, or most of all,
diseases of the foot ; and if, after three or four days of
inactivity, he is ridden far and fast, he is almost sure
to have inflammation of the lungs or of the feet.

A stable-fed horse should have two hours' exercise
every day, if he is to be kept free from disease. Noth-
ing of extraordinary, or even of ordinary labor, can be
effected on the road or in the field, without sufiicient
and regular exercise. It is this alone which can give
energy to the system, or develope the powers of any
animal.

Exercise should be somewhat proportioned to the
age of the horse. A young horse requires more than
an old one. Nature has given to young animals of
every kind a disposition to activity ; but the exercise
must not be violent. A great deal depends upon the
manner in which it is given. To preserve the temper,
and to promote health, it should be moderate, at least
at the beginning and the termination. The rapid trot,
or even the galloj^, may be resorted to m the middle
of the exercise, but the horse should be brought in cool.

Feeding. 97

FOOD.

The system of manger-feeding is becoming general
among farmers. There are few horses that do not
habitually waste a portion of their hay ; and by some
the greater part is pulled doA^n and trampled under
foot, in order first to cull the sweetest and best locks,
and which could not be done while the hay was en-
closed in the rack. A good feeder will afterwards pick
up much of that which was thrown down ; but some
of it must be soiled and rendered disgusting, and, in
many cases, one-third of this division of their food is
wasted. Some of the oats and feed are imperfectly
chewed by all horses, and scarcely at all by hungry and
greedy ones. The appearance of the dung will suffi-
ciently evince this.

The observation of this induced the adoption of
manger-feeding, or of mixing a portion of cut feed with
the grain. By this means the animal is compelled to
chew his food. He cannot, to any great degree, waste
the straw or hay ; the feed is too hard and too sharp
to be swallowed without sufficient mastication, and,
while he is forced to grind that down, the oats are
ground with it, and yield more nourishment ; the
stomach is more slowly filled, and therefore acts better
on its contents, and is not so likely to be overloaded ;
and the increased quantity of saliva throAvn out in the
lengthened maceration of the food, softens it, and
makes it more fit for digestion.

Many farmers very properly grind the oats or corn.
The whole oat is apt to slip out of the feed and be lost ;
but when it is bruised, and especially if the feed is a
little wetted, it will not readily separate ; or, should a

98 The Horse Fareiee.

portion of it escape the grinders, it will be partly pre-
pared for digestion by the act of bruismg. Horses of
quicker draught, except they are naturally disposed to
scour, will thrive better with bruised than with whole
oats ; for a greater quantity of nutriment will be ex-
tracted ii*om the food.

For the agricultural and cart-horse, eight pounds of
oats should be added to every twenty pounds of cut
feed. Thu'ty-four or tMrty-six pounds of the mixture
will be sufficient for any moderate-sized horse, with
fair, or even hard work. The dray and wagon-horse
may require forty pounds. Hay in the rack at night
is, in this case, supposed to be omitted altogether.
The rack, however, may remain, as occasionally useful
for the sick horse, or to contain tares or other green
feed.

Horses are very fond of this provender. The major-
ity of them, after having been accustomed to it, will
leave the best oats given to them alone, for the sake
of the mingled cut feed and grain. We would, how-
ever, caution the farmer not to set apart too much
damaged hay for the manufacture of the feed. The
horse may thus be induced to eat that which he would
otherwise refuse ; but if the nourishing property of the
hay has been impaired, or it has acquired an injurious
princij^le, the animal will either lose condition, or be-
come diseased. For old horses, and for those with de-
fective teeth, cut feed is peculiarly useful, and for them
should be broken down as well as the fodder.

While the mixture of chaff with the grain prevents
it from being too rapidly devoured, and a portion of
it swallowed whole, and therefore the stomach is not

CcT Feed. 99

too loaded with that on which, as containing the most
nutriment, its chief digestive power should be exerted,
yet, on the whole, a great deal of time is gained by
this mode of feeding, and more is left for rest. When
a horse comes in wearied at the close of the day, it oc-
cuj)ies, after he has eaten his grain, two or three hours
to clear his rack. On the system of manger-feeding,
the feed being already cut into small pieces, and the
corn and oats ground, he is able fully to satisfy his
appetite in an hour and a half. Two additional hours
are therefore devoted to rest. This is a circumstance
deserving of much consideration, even in the farmer's
stable, and of immense consequence to stage-coach
proprietors, and the owner of every hard-worked horse.

Manger-food will be the usual support of the farmer's
horse during the winter, and while at constant or oc-
casional hard work ; but from the middle of April to
the end of July, he may be fed with this mixture in the
day, and turned out at night, or he may remain out
during every rest day. A team m constant employ
should not, however, be suftered to be out at night after
the end of July.

The farmer should take care that the pasture is thick
and good.

Every barn should be suppUed with a feed-cutter,
and it should be kept in daily use ; and experience has
proved that eight ears of corn crushed, is better feed,
and will keep a horse in a better condition than twelve
fed to him without crushing. Thirty or forty per cent.
is saved by grinding the grain and mixing it with cut
feed. They should be fed at regular intervals, their
diet often changed, and no more given at a time than
they will eat.

100 The Horse Faekier.

Carrots. — The virtues of this root are not sufficient-
ly known, whether as contributing to the strength and
endurance of the sound horse, or the rapid recovery of
the sick one. To the healthy horse, they should be
given sliced in his feed. Half a bushel will be a fair
daily allowance. There is little provender of which
the horse is fonder. The following account of the val-
ue of the carrot is not exaggerated. " This root is held
in much esteem. There is none better, nor perhaj^s so
good. When first given, it is slightly diuretic and
laxative ; but as the horse becomes accustomed to it,
these effects cease to be produced. They also improve
the state of the skin. They form a good substitute for
grass, and an excellent alterative for horses out of con-
dition. To sick and idle horses, they render grain un-
necessary. They are beneficial in all chronic diseases
connected with breathing, and liave a marked influence
upon chronic cough and broken wind. They are ser-
viceable in diseases of the skin, and in combination with
oats they restore a worn horse much sooner than oats
alone.

Potatoes have been given, and with advantage, in
their raw state, shced with the chaff"; but, where it
has been convenient to boil or steam them, the benefit
has been far more evident. Purging has then rarely
ensued. Some have given boiled potatoes, alone, and
horses, instead of rejecting them, have soon preferred
them even to oats ; but it is better to mix them with
the usual manger-feed, in the proportion of one pound
of potatoes to two and a half pounds of the other in-
gredients. The use of the potatoe must de]3end on its
cheapness, and the facility for boifing it. Half a dozen
horses would soon repay the expense of a steaming-

Watee. 101

boiler, in the saving of provender, without taking into
the account their improved condition and capability
for work. A horse fed on potatoes should have his
quantity of water materially curtailed.

Prof. Low says that fifteen pounds of potatoes yield
as much nourishment as four pounds and a half of oats.
Yon Thayer asserts that three bushels are equal to 112
pounds of hay ; and Curwen, who tried potatoes ex-
tensively in the feeding of horses, says that an acre
goes as far as four acres of hay.

Water. — This is a part of stable management little
regarded by the farmer. He lets his horses loose
mornmg and night, and they go to the nearest pond or
brook, and drink their fill, and no harm results, for
they obtain that kind of water which nature designed
them to have, in a manner prepared for them by some
unknown influence of the atmosphere, as well as by
the deposition of many saline admixtures. The differ-
ence between hard and soft water is known to every
one. In soft water, soap will curdle, vegetables will
not boil soft, and the saccharine matter of the malt can-
not be fully obtained in the process of brewing. There
is nothmg in which the different effect of hard and soft
water is so evident as in the stomach and digestive or-
gans of the horse. Hard water, drawn fresh from the
well, will assuredly make the coat of a horse unaccus-
tomed to it stare, and it will not unfrequently gripe
and otherwise injure him. Instmct or experience has
made even the horse himself conscious of this, for he
will never drink hard water if he has access to soft ;
and he will leave the most transparent and pure water
of the well for a river, although the stream may be

102 The Horse Farbiee.

turbid, and even for the muddiest pool. He is injured,
however, not so much by the hardness of the well-wa-
ter, as by its coldness — particularly by its coldness in
summer, and when it is in many degrees below the
temperature of the atmosphere. The water in the
brook and the pond being warmed by long exposure
to the air, as well as having become soft, the horse
drinks freely of it without danger.

If the horse were watered three times a day, and es-
pecially in summer, he would often be saved from the
sad torture of thirst, and from many a disease.

AGE.

To be able to ascertain the age of a horse, with tol-
erable certainty, is a subject of considerable importance
to every person who may have occasion to purchase.

The following rules will enable any man to ascertain
with tolerable certainty the age of any horse. Every
horse has six teeth above and below : before he arrives
at the age of three, he sheds his two middle teeth, by
the young teeth rising and shoving the old ones out
of their place. When he arrives at the age of three,
he sheds one more on each side of the middle teeth ;
when four years old, he sheds two corner and the last of
his fore teeth ; between four and five, he cuts his imder
tusks, and when five, will cut his upper tusks, and have
a mouth full and complete; his teeth appearing to have
their full growth, except the tusks, and will be even,
regularly placed, and pretty much grooved on the in-
side, Avith hollows of a very dark brown color. There
is also a very plain difi*erence between colt's and horse's
teeth ; the colt's being without grooves and hollows,
and never so large and strong. Some l)orses are with-

Age of Horses. 103

out upper tusks, even to the end of their lives ; but
this is not common. The appearance of the lower tusks,
and them fully grown, is the most certain proof that
the horse is five years old, even if one of his colt's teeth
remains unshed. At six years old, the grooves and
hollows in a horse's mouth begin to fill up a little, and
their tusks have their full growth, with their points
sharp, and a little concave, or hollow on the inside.
At seven years old, the grooves and hollows will be
pretty well filled below, except the corner teeth, leav-
ing, where the dark brown hollows formerly were, lit-
tle brown spots. At eight, the whole of the hollows
and grooves are fiUed up, and you see the appearance
of what is termed smooth below. At nine years old
there very often appears a small bill to the outside
corner teeth ; the point of the tusk is worn ofi", and
the part that was concave begins to fill up and become
rounding ; the squares of the middle teeth begin to
disappear, and the gums leave them small and narrow
at the toj). Dealers in horses sometimes drill or hol-
low the teeth with a graver, and black the hoUows by
using a hot iron, for the purpose of passing an old horse
for a young one, upon those who have but little or no
experience uj^on the subject. But a discerning eye
will readily discover the cheat, by the unnatural shape
and blackness of the hollows, the duUness and round
ness of the tusks, together T^ith the want of squares to
the front, and by many other \isible marks, which de-
note the advanced age of a horse.

Between nine and ten years of age, a horse general-
ly loses the marks of the mouth, though there are a
ievf exceptions; as some horses retain good mouths un-

104 The IIoksk Farrier.

til they are fourteen or fifteen years old, with their
teeth white, even, and regular, and many other marks
of freshness and vigor. But when a horse grows old,
it may be discovered by these indications, which com-
monly attend old age, viz : The gums wear away and
leave the roots of the teeth long and slender; the
roots grow yellow, and often brownish ; the bars of
the mouth (which are always fleshy, plump, and dry, in
a young horse, and form so many distinct, firm ridges,)
in an old horse are lean, smooth, and are covered with
saliva, with few or no ridges. The eyes of a young horse
appear plump, full, and lively ; the lids with fcAV wrink-
les, the hollows above the ball small, and no gray hairs
upon the brow, unless they proceed from the color or
marks of the horse. The eyes of an old horse appear
sleepy, dim and sunk, and the lids loose and very much
shriveled, with large hollows, and the brow gray. The
countenance of a yoimg horse is bold, gay, and lively ;
while that of an old one is sad, dejected, and melan-
choly, unless mounted, and artificial means used to give
him spirit.

The age can be ascertained by a wrinkle over the
eye after they are nine years old. A wrinkle comes on
the eyelid at the upper corner of the lower lid, and
every year thereafter he has one well-defined wrinkle
for each year over nine. If, for instance, a horse has
three wrinkles, he is twelve ; if four, he is thirteen.
And add the number of wi'inkles to nine, and you will
always get it.

TO SAVE HORSES FROM FIRE.

The difficulty of getting horses from burning stables
is well known. The remedy is to blind-fold them per-
fectly, and by gentle usage, they may easily be led out.

Scalded Shorts. 105

method of administering medicines.
We know of no improvement to the common custom
of administering medicine in the form of a drench, using
a common champagne bottle, and stand a little elevated
on the right side of the horse, your back turned towards
his body ; then take a firm hold of the lower jaw with
the left hand, at the same time moderately elevating the
head, (not too high,) while with the right introduce the
bottle between the canine teeth and grinders, keep it in
that position, and gradually pour down the contents of
the bottle. Time should be taken. If it is poured doAvn
in small quantities, so much the better ; the horse will
be more likely to swallow it, especially if it shall be
made i>alatable by the addition of a few caraway seeds
or a little honey. Medicine given in the fluid form is
readily taken up by the lacteals, and operates, for good
or evil, in much less time than balls. Horses, like chil-
dren, must be handled in the most gentle manner. They
will generally refuse to drink even a little gruel, when
any unnecessary severity is resorted to in its administra-
tion. They may be coaxed, but not forced.

SCALDED SHORTS.

Shorts, as they are familiarly termed, when scalded
make an excellent diet for sick animals. The usual
method of preparation is, to turn two or three quarts of
shorts into a bucket, to which add boiling water, so that the
mixture, when stirred, shall be about the consistence of
a soft poultice ; it is then to be covered with a cloth, and
not given to the horse until sufficiently cool. When a
horse has taken cold, and labors under a discharge from
the nostrils, the mash may be put into the manger while
hot, with a view of steaming the nasal passages, and fa-

106 The Horse Farrier.

voring the discharge of morbid accumulations. This is
good for all acute diseases; in fever and all inflamma-
tory complaints; it is useful also as a j)i*eparatiye to
physic, serving to remove ajiy indurated foeces there may
be in the bowels, whereby the operation of the medicine
is rendered more safe and aifectual. When a horse has
been fed high for some time, a change to a diet of mash-
es for two or three days will often do a great deal of
good.

During the active stage of acute diseases of the alimenta-
ry canal — inflammation of the bowels for example — food of
this description is inadmissible, and such articles as are
mucilaginous, or lubricatmg, are used. The best we know
of, are flaxseed, marshmallows, and slippery elm. It is
customary in England, in large stables, to set a boiler, in
which hot water is continually kept for the purposes of
the stable, and more particularly for making bran mashes^
and at night, if any of the horses look dumpish, (fatigued,)
a bran mash and a good warm bed of straw generally re-
store them.

JUDGING THE CHARACTER OF HORSES BY THEIR COLOR.

The following conclusions are the result of long exper-
ience and observation :

Sorrel or chestnut with white feet and head are marks
of kindness, if broad and full between the eyes, can be
depended on as a horse of good sense, and capable of be-
mg trained to anything ; they will not stand the whip, if
well fed.

A dish-faced horse indicates too much go-head, and is
not safe for every body.

A deep bay, without a white hair, indicates one of great
bottom, but rather tricky and unsafe, or what some would

Wakkantees. 107

call a fool of a horse. If you want one that will never
give out, never try a large, overgrown horse.

A black horse cannot stand heat, nor a white one cold.
White about the head — the more the better — indicates
docility. Some suppose the parti-colored horses belong-
ing to circuses, shows, &c., were selected for their oddi-
ty, but the selection is made on account of theii' great
docility and gentleness.

WARRANTEES.

A few remarks on this subject may be serviceable often
to the farmers, and we cannot do the subject better jus-
tice than to insert the following, taken from the Modern
Horse-Doctor, by Dr. Dadd :

" Warrantees, by which is meant an idemnity against
any imsoundness, or a pledge given — commonly in wri-
ting— by the vender to the purchaser, that the horse i-s
sound and quiet, and possesses such and such qualifica-
tions. Without such idemnification or pledge, the law
says. Caveat emptor — let the purchaser take the conse-
quences ; the rule at law being, that every body w^ho
purchases a horse takes him at his own judgment, and has
no remedy against the seller, supposing the horse to turn
out, upon a future trial, or a more considerate inspection
after the purchase, to be worth less than the sum given ;
unless lie (the purchaser,) can prove he was induced to
purchase by ror rosentations false within the knowledge
of the seller ; lo tiisten a fraud of which nature upon an
experienced dealer in horses is, however, a difificult mat-
ter. Warrantees are of different kinds — expressed or im-
plied^ general or special. An express warranty speaks for
itself. And as for an implied warranty, such a thing is
hardly known, or at least, rarely taken advantage of in
horse dealing^ the price paid, however high, not being
legally held to be any guaranty of the soundness of the
animal ; and any thing that might transpire between sel-
ler and buyer, implying warranty, being worth nothing

108 The Horse Farriek.

, without proofs which, heing procured, would render the
transaction, in law, tantamount to an express warranty.
A general warranty extends to all defects and faults
known and unknown to the seller ; but a special warran-
ty is confined in its operation to the parts or particulars
sjDecifically pointed out. A horse may be warranted of
such an age ; or, having some defect visible upon his
limbs, such as a spavin, or a curb, or a fired leg, of which
he does not go lame at the time, that defect may be spe-
cified, and the horse warranted not (within any reasona-
ble or prescribed period) to become lame in consequence
of it. A general warranty, however, affords no protec-
tion against such defects as are ' plain and obvious' to
every body, and, consequently, to the purchaser; no
more than a special warranty does against any which are
not included or named in the specification. ' But if, on
the sale of a horse, the seller agree to deliver it sound
and free from blemish at the expiration of a specified
'period^ the warranty is broken by a fault in the horse
when delivered, although such defect was obvious at the
time of sale ; and as some splints cause lameness and
others do not, a splint is not one of those plain defects
against which a warranty will not idemnify ; and when a
seller warrants a horse soimd at the time of sale, and the
horse afterwards becomes lame from the effects of a spHnt,
visible when the horse was bought, it is certain that war-
ranty is broken.' This rule will apply to spavin, or to
curb, or to windgall, or, in fact, to any other defect ' visi-
ble at the time of sale.' For all warrantees can only un-
dertake for the animal's qualifications at the time of sale ;
none can extend to any subsequent period unless there
be a special clause * to deliver the horse free from blemish,'
and that deUvery be by mutual agreement delayed.

"The form in which a receipt mcluding warranty is
generally written : —

"'Received, the 1st of January, 1858, of J. P., the
sum of two hundred dollars for a bay mare, warranted
sound and quiet to ride and drive.'

" Or, ' Warranted free fi'om vice and blemish, except — ,'
" Or, ' Warranted in every respect, except .' *

"W ARRANTEES. 109

" Or, ' Warranted to have been constantly driven both
in single and double harness, to have carried a lady, to
have been regularly hunted, to be a good hunter or hack-
ney, &c., &c.'

" Following the word ' except' there being opportunity
afforded the (honest) vender of stating what he may
know invalidating the warranty, and thereby saving his
reputation as well as screening himself from the proba-
bility of litigation afterwards.

'"With respect to what (oral) declarations of the seller
will amount to a warranty," the primary rule for the inter-
pretation of contracts in general is applicable. It depends
upon the intention of the parties. A simple affirmation
of the goodness of an article is a warranty, provided it
(a warranty) appear to have teen intended ; w^hereas the
sublimest epithets that a seller ever employed to recom-
mend his goods to a credulous buyer will be regarded as
the idle phraseology of the market, unless an intendedj to
warranty actually appear.' In line, ' it is from the intenr
tion of the parties, as collected from the whole transac-
tion, and from the meaning they appear to have attached
to particular expressions, that the existence or non-exis-
tence of a warranty is to be inferred.'

" ' Let us now consider how the rights of parties are
affected by the horse being unsound at the time of the
w^arranty. The contract being thus broken on the part
of the seller, \0 is at the buyer's option either to treat it
as a nullity, and return the horse, or to retain him, not-
withstanding, and brmg an action on the warranty. In
the former case, the price paid is the measure of the
damages he will be entitled to recover in an action ; m
the latter, the difference between that price and his real
value. If he offer to rescind the contract and return the
horse, he may also recover the expenses of his keep ; but
in order to do this, a positive tender is said to be neces-
sary. No notice of the unsoundness need be given to
the vender to entitle the vendee to maintain the action ;
nor is it necessary to bring the action immediately on
discovering the unsoundness.' — ' But although such a no-
tice be not essential, yet it is always advisable to give it,

110 The Horse Farriee.

as the omitting to do so will furnish at the trial strong
presumption that the horse, at the time of sale, was free
from the defect complained of; thus rendering the proof
of a breach of warranty more difficult. Common justice
and honesty require that the commodity should be re-
turned at the earliest period, and before it has been so
changed by lapse of time as to make it imposvsible to as-
certain, by proper tests, Avhat were its original proper-
ties.' "

SNOW BELLS ON HORSES' FEET.

Clean the hoofs and feet and rub them well with soft
soap ; on a journey, to soap them tAvdce a day may be
best in some cases, but once a day, in ordinary time, will
be found sufficient.

TO MANAGE A HORSE WHEN FALLEN DOWN.

If the horse is in harness, it is seldom that he can rise
until he is freed from the shafts and traces. The first.
thing is to secure the head, and to keep it down, that he
may not beat himself against the ground. Kext, the
parts of the harness connected with the carriage must be
tmbuckled — ^the carriage must then be backed a little
way, so that he may have room to rise. If necessary^
the traces must be taken off; and after the horse gets up,
he must be steadied a little, until he collects himself.

GETTING THE CHEEK OF THE BIT INTO THE MOUTH.

Harsh treatment is here completely out of the question.
All that can be done, is, by some mechanical contrivance,
to render the thing difficult or impossible, and this may
be managed by fastening a round piece of leather on the
inside of the cheek of the bit.

COLTS CHEWING HALTERS.

Take scab from the wort on the inside of the leg, rub
the halter thoroughly with 'hat, and they will not be
found chewing their halters ver} soon.

CHAPTER y.

THE VICES AND DISAGREEABLE OR DANGEROUS HABITS
OF THE HORSE*

The horse has many excellent qualities, but he has, like-
wise, defects, and these often amount to vices. Some are
attributable to natural disposition, but the majority are
attributable to bad education and wrong management.

BITIXG.

This is either the consequence of natural ferocity, or a
habit acquired from the foolish and teasing play of grooms
and stable-boys. Prevention, however, is in the power
of every proprietor of horses. While he insists on gentle
and humane treatment of cattle, he should systematically
forbid this horse- play.

It is seldom that anything can be done in the way of
cure. Kindness will aggravate the evil, and no degree
of severity will correct it. " I have seen," says Professor
Stewart, "biters punished until they tremble in every
joint, and were ready to drop, but have never in any
case known them cured by this treatment, or by any other.

* "We would refer the reader to the third chapter of this book, as exceptions are
taken to some of the statements in this chapter connected with the vicious habits
of horses.

112 The Horse Farrier.

The lash is forgotten in an hour, and the horse is as ready
and determined to repeat the offence as before. He ap-
pears unable to resist the temptation, and in its worst
form, biting is a species of insanity."

Constant and laborious work is often beneficial. Some
horses may be over-awed by being very bold. He may
be warned by speaking to him. On approaching the
horse, hold a whip in his view, ready to let it fall. If you
can get hold of his head, you are safe ; he may then be
muzzled, or his head tied to the manger, a long rope may
be fastened to the halter and run through a ring at the
head of the stall, and proceed backward to the heel post ;
this enables a man to draw the head close up to the ring,
and keep it there till the grain or water is delivered, and
till the horse can be bridled, muzzled, harnessed or dressed
as the case may be. He is, of course, to be released af-
ter you leave the stall, but the rope remains in place ready
for use.

If you can obtain something that is exceedingly disa-
greeable to the taste of a horse — some bitter herb — sat-
urate a piece of cloth, and wind it around a stick for him
to bite ; it will often, in connection with kind treatment,
have a tendency to break him. A single short cut across
the mouth on the instant will sometimes do good.

KICKING.

This, as a vice, is another consequence of the culpable
habit of teasing the horse. There is no cure for this vice
when it is inveterately established, and he cannot be jus-
tified who keeps a kicking horse in his stable. He is
never safe, or relied on as being safe. It is foremost in
the point of danger, and no treatment will always con-
quer. An awkward man is always sure to receive injury

Kicking. 113

from a confirmed kicker, and a timid man is never safe.
Before the habit is established, a thorn-bush fastened
against the partition or post will sometimes effect a cure.

A chain about 20 inches long, strapped in the centre to
the horse's foot, is the most effectual remedy known to us.

Kicking in harness is a serious vice. Some horses by
the least annoyance about the rump or quarters, or if the
reins get under their tail they will kick at a most violent
rate, endangering everything within their reach. This
may be cured by looj)ing up his fore-leg, and teaching
him, by several lessons, to draw and walk on three legs ;
m this position he cannot kick, and in a short time his leg
can be taken down, and his propensity for kicking w^ill be
found to have subsided; if not, repeat until he is entirely
cured ; do not put him in harness the first time his leg is
looped up, but first teach him to walk on three legs,
without support out of the harness. Or put on a head-
stall or bridle, with twisted TV, or twisted straight bitts
in the mouth of the horse to be cured ; then put on a
common back-saddle, with thill lugs, or any strap or girth
with loops on either side of the horse, is equally good ;
then buckle a pair of long reins, open in the middle, into
the bitts, and pass them through the thill lugs or loops ;
one to each hind leg, above the fetlock joint ; there make
each rein fast to the leg, allowing sufficient length of rein
for your horse to walk or trot, as the operator may think
proper. Everything complete, you will have the animal
commence the operation of kicking ; the first will be a
smart kick, and the second fighter, and so on till your
horse cannot be made to kick any more.

Or the following : Take a forked stick, about two feet
long, varying a Httle according to the size of the horses,
tie the ends of the fork firmly to each end of the bridle

114 The Hoese Faekier.

bit, and the other end of the stick to the lower end of
the collar so as to keep the head up. A few days work-
ing in this manner will commonly suffice for a cure. The
man, however, who must come within reach of a kicker
should come as close to him as possible. The blow may
thus become a push, and seldom is injurious.

RUNNING AWAY.

The only method which affords any probability of success
is to have him always firmly in hand ; and, if he will run
away, and the place will admit of it, to give him (sparing
neither curb, whip, nor spur,) a great deal more running
than he likes. If you wish to stop the horse, if on horse-
back throw your bridle reins around his neck, if possi-
ble, to choke him, or choke him with your arm. If in
a wagon, and running away is feared, provide a strong
cord with a slipping-noose placed around his neck, if he
runs, draw the cord forcibly. -

CRIB-BITING.

The causes of crib-biting are various, it is often the re-
sult of imitation, idleness, and sometimes by partial star-
vation. The high fed and spirited horse must be mis-
chievous, if not usefully employed. The crib-biting horse
is more subject to colic than other horses, and to a species
difficult of treatment and frequently dangerous. This is
a bad habit, and very annoying to the owner of a horse.
Various remedies have been tried, such as ironing the
manger, petitions, etc. I know of no certain cure but an
iron muzzle, with bars just wide enough apart to allow
the horse to pick up his gram and draw out his hay with
his tongue, but not to get hold of any thing with his
teeth. Common bar soap is a preventive, which is to be
rubbed on the edge and outside of the crib, and renewed

Wind-Sucking. 115

as often as necessary. If this habit is not broken, it will
soon be imitated by every horse in the stable.

WIND-SUCKING.

This bears a close analogy to crib-biting. It arises
from the same causes ; the same purpose is accomplished ;
and the same results follow. The horse stands with his
neck bent ; his lips alternately a little opened and then
closed, and a noise is heard as if he were sucking. If
we may judge from the same comparative want of condi-
tion and the flatulence which we have described under
the last head, either some portion of wind enters the
stomach, or there is an injurious loss of saliva. This di-
minishes the value of the horse almost as much as crib-
biting ; it is as contagious, and it is as inveterate. The
only remedies, and they will seldom avail, are tying the
head up, except when the horse is feeding, or putting on
a muzzle with sharp spikes towards the neck, and which
will prick hun whenever he attempts to rein his head in
for the purpose of wind-sucking. — Yoiiatt.

CUTTING.

There are some defects in the natural form of the horse,
which are the causes of cutting, and which no contrivance
will remedy ; as when the legs are placed too near to each
other, or when the feet are turned inward or outward.
Some horses will cut only when they are fatigued or lame,
and old ; many colts will cut before they arrive at their
full strength. The inside of the fetlock is often bruised
by the shoe or the hoof of the opposite foot. Many ex-
pedients used to be tried to remove this ; the inside heel
has been raised and lowered, and the outside raised and
lowered; and sometimes one operation has succeeded,
and sometimes the contrary ; and there was no point so

116 The Horse Farrier.

involved in obscurity, or so destitute of principles to guide
the practitioner. The most successful remedy, and that
which in the great majority of cases supersedes all others,
is a shoe of equal thickness from heel to toe, and having
but one nail, and that near the toe on the inside of the
shoe ; care being taken that the shoe shall not extend be-
yond the edge of the crust, and that the crust shall be
rasped a little at the quarters.

NOT LYING DOWN.

It not uncommonly happens that a horse will seldom
or never lie down in the stable. He sometimes continues
in apparent good health, and feeds and works well ; but
generally his legs swell, or he becomes fatigued sooner
than another horse. They perhaps are afraid of being
caught by the halter, or they have already been cast in
the night, and do not like to try it again. Such horses
should be let loose in a stable at night, or in a large stall
without being tied, and furnished with a tempting bed,
until the habit of lying down is acquired.

TO PREVENT ROLLING IN THE STALL.

This is a very dangerous habit, and can be prevented
only by tying the horse so tliat he can lie down, but not
touch his head to the floor. This is very tiresome to the
horse, and hence, if you care enough for his comfort and
health, build a narrow platform, eighteen to twenty-four
inches in width, slanting at an angle of thirty to forty
degrees, so that it will form a pillow for his head and
neck; then adjust a rope so that as he hes down his head
will naturally rest on the platform, or pillow. He will
not roll unless he can get his head as low as the floor of
the stable.

Onerreaching or Clinking. 117

overreaching or clinking.

An over-reach is a tread upon the heel of the coronet
of the fore foot bj the shoe of the correspondmg hind
foot, and is either inflicted by the toe, or by the inner edge
of the inside of the shoe.

A writer in the N. E. Farmer, who is a blacksmith,
cures overreaching horses, and incseases their trotting
speed fifteen or twenty seconds per mile, by the follow-
ing mode of shoeing, which increases the motion of the
forward feet, and retards the motion of the hind ones.
He makes the toe-caulks very low, standing a very little
under, and the shoes set as far backward as convenient
on the forward feet, with high heel-caulks, so as to let
them roll over as soon as possible. On the hind feet,
the heel-caulk is low and the toe-caulk high and project
ing forward. Horses shod thus, travel clean, with no
click.

PAWING.

Some hot and iritatible horses are restless, even in the
stable, and paw frequently and violently ; shackles are
the only remedy, with a chain sufficiently long to enable
the horse to shift his position, but they must be taken off
at night to enable the horse to lie down. — Youatt.

SLIPPING THE HALTER.

This is a trick at which many horses are so clever, that
scarcely a night passes without their getting loose. It
is a very serious habit, for it enables the horse some-
times to gorge himself with food, to the imminent dan-
ger of staggers ; or it exposes him, as he wanders about,
to be kicked and injured by the other horses, while his
restlesness will often keep the whole team awake. If

^^^ The Horse Farrier.

the web of the halter, being first accurately fitted to his
reck, is suffered to slip only one way, or a strap is at-
tached to the halter and buckled round the neck, but not
sufficiently tight to be of serious inconvenience, the pow-
er of slipping the halter will be taken away. — Youatt.

TRIPPING.

He must be a skillful practitioner or a mere pretender
who promises to remedy this habit. If it arises from a
heavy fore-hand, and the fore-legs being too much under
the liorse, no one can alter the natural frame of the ani-
mal ; if it proceeds from tenderness of the foot, groggi-
ness, or old lameness, these ailments are seldom cured.
Also if it is to be traced to habitual carelessness and idle-
ness, no whipping will rouse the drone. A known stum-
bler should never be ridden, or driven by any one who
values his safety or his life. A tight hand or a strong-
bearing rein are precautions that should not be neglected.

If the stumbler has the foot kept as short, and the toe
pared as close as safety will permit, and the shoe is round-
ed at the toe, or has that shape given to it which it nat-
urally acquires in a fortnight, from the peculiar action of
sucli a horse, the animal may not stumble quite so much ;
or if the disease which produced the habit can be allevia-
ted, some trifling good may be done, but in almost every
case a stumbler should be got rid of, or put to slow and
heavy work — Youatt,

HORSES JUMPING FENCES.

Pass a small and strong cord around his body, just be-
hind his shoulders, and tie the halter to this cord between
his fore-legs so as to leave the distance about two feet
from the cord to his head, if then he attempt to jumn,
he is compelled to throw his head forward, which draws
hard on the cord and causes it to cut hito his back and
he instantly desists. The cord should not be more than
a quarter of an inch in diameter.

Pulling the Halter.

119

TO BREAK A HORSE FROM PULLING AT THE HALTER*

The accompany-
ing cut will illus-
trate an effectual
metliod of prevent-
ng and curing a
horse from pulling
at the halter. It
should not be ap-
plied in a stable
unless the animal
is watched, as there
is danger that he
may throw himself
and receive injury-
Put & strong strap or rope around the neck, and another
strap with a ring in it around the pastern of one of the hind
feet, and attach a strong rope to the ring, and pass it under
a firm strap or cirsingle. buckled loosely around the girth,
just back of the shoulder. Continue the rope between the
fore legs and through a hole or ring in the manger, or post,
where the horse will pull, and then tie it to the strap around
the neck— then let him puli -Ho his heart's content."''' A few
such trials will most likely subdue him. The harder he pulls
back, the harder his hind foot is pulled forward, and the exper-
imenter will be surprised to see how little the horse can do —
he will not be likely to even get his hind foot off the
ground.

HOW TO TAME WILD HORSES-

The person of whom I obtained this receipt, paid
Perry Planeher, the Arabian Horse tamer, |20 for it,
and has been selling it through the country for $1,00.
We have no faith in it. Take the warts from the legs
dry and powder them, blow up his nose, then take a
few drops of the oil of urodium on jour hand, and rub
on his nose. ^

CHAPTER VI

OPERATIONS, Eia, ETC.

SETONS,

Setons are iisefiil in various cases in abscesses, sncli as
occur in poll evil ; in deep fistulous wounds they are in-
dispensable. They promote discbarge in the neighbor-
hood of an inflammation. They ai'e made of tow and
horse hair^ braided together, or a small cord or a strap
of leather may be used ; they are inserted by means of
an instrument resembling a large needle, either through
abscesses, or the base of ulcers with de&p sinuses, or be-
tween the skin and the muscular or other substances be-
neath. They are retained there by the ends being tied
together, or by a knot at each end. The tape is movec
in the wound twice or thrice in the day, and occasionally
wetted with spirits of turpentine, or some acrid fluid, in
order to increase the inflammation which it produces, or
the discharge which is intended to be established

In inflammation of the chest or intestines, a rowel is
preferable to a seton, where the inflammation has long
continued, but not intense. Rowels will be serviceable
by producing an irritation and discharge. The action of
rowels is slower than setons or blistering.

CASTE ATI ON.

Youatt says'* For the common agricultural
horse the age of four or five months will be the most
proper time, or, at least, before he is weaned. Few
horses are lost when cut at that age.

Castration. 121

" If the horse is designed either for the carriage, oi
for heavy draught, the farmer should not think of cas-
trating him until he is at least a twelvemonth old ; and,
even then, the colt should be carefully examined. If
he is thin and spare about the neck and shoulders, and
low in the withers, he "wdU materially improve by re-
maining uncut another six months; but if his fore-
quarters are fairly developed at the age of twelve
months, the operation should not be delayed, lest he
become heavy and gross before, and perhaps has be-
gun too decidedly to have a will of his o^\'ii.

" No ^preparation is necessary for the sucking colt,
but it may be prudent to bleed and to physic one of
more advanced age. In temperate weather, he will do
much better running in the field, than nursed in a close
and hot stable. The moderate exercise that he ^vill
take in grazing will be preferable to perfect inaction.

"The old method of opening the scrotum (testicle bag)
on either side, and cutting off the testicles, and pre-
venting bleeduig by a temporary compression of the
vessels, while they are seared with a hot iron, must
not, perhaps, be abandoned ;

" Another method of castration is by Torsion. An
incision is made into the scrotum, and the vas diferens
is exposed and divided. The artery is then seized by
a pair of forceps, contrived for the pui-pose, and twisted
six or seven times round. It retracts without untwist-
ing the v/oils, and bleeding ceases. The most painful
part of the operation — the operation of the firing-iron
or the clams — is avoided, and the wound readily heals."

122 The Horse Faeriee. ;

bleeding.

This operation is performed with a fleam or a lancet.
The first is the common instrument, except in skillful
hands. The lancet, however, has a more surgical appear-
ance, and Will be adopted by the veterinary practitioner.
A bloodstick is used to strike the fleam into the vein.
This is sometimes done with too great violence, and the
opposite side of the coat of the vein is wounded. Bad
cases of inflammation have resulted from this. If the
fist is doubled, and the fleam is sharp and is struck with
sufficient force with the lower part of the hand, the blood-
stick may be dispensed with.

For general bleeding the jugular vein is selected. The
horse is blindfolded on the side on which he is to be bled,
or his head turned well away. The hair is smoothed
along the course of the vein with the moistened finger ;
then, with the third and little finger of the left hand,
which holds the fleam, pressm-e is made on the vem suf-
ficient to bring it fairly into view, but not to swell it too
much, for then presenting a rounded surface, it would
be apt to roll or slip under the blow. The point to be
selected is about two inches below the union of the two
portions of the jugular at the angle of the jaw. The
fleam is to be placed in a direct line with the course of
the vein, and over the precise centre of the vein, as close
to it as possible, but its point not absolutely touchmg
the vein. A sharp rap with the hand on that part of the
back of the fleam immediately over the blade, will cut
through the vein, and the blood will flow. A fleam with
a large blade should always be preferred. A quantity of
blood drawn speedily will also have far more eflect on
the system than double the weight slowly taken, while

Bleeding. 123

the wound will heal just as readily as if made by a smaller
instrument. A slight pressure, if the incision has been
large enough and straight, and in the middle of the vein,
will cause the blood to flow sufficiently fast ; or, the fin-
ger being introduced into the mouth between the tushes
and the grinders, and gently moved about, will keep the
mouth in motion, and hasten the rapidity of the stream
by the action and pressure of the neighboring muscles.

When sufficient blood has been taken, the edges of the
wound should be brought closely and exactly together,
and, kept together by a small sharp pin being passed
through them. Round this a little tow should be wrap-
ped, so as to cover the whole of the incision ; and the head
of the horse should be tied up for several hours to pre-
vent his rubbing the part against the manger. In bring-
ing the edges of the wound together, and mtroducing
the pin, care should be taken not to draw the skm too much
from the neck, otherwise blood will insinuate itself between
it and the muscles beneath, and cause an unsightly and
sometimes troublesome swelling.

The blood should be received into a vessel, the dimen-
sions of which are exactly known, so that the operator
may be able to calculate at every period of the bleeding
the quantity that is subtracted. Care likewise should be
taken that the blood flows in a regular stream into the
centre of the vessel, for if it is sufiered to trickle down
the sides, it will not afterwards undergo those changes
by which we partially judge of the extent of inflamma-
tion. The pulse, however, and the symptoms of the
case collectively, will form a better criterion than any
change in the blood. Twenty-four hours after the oper-
ation, the edges of the wound will have united, and the

124 The Horse Faeeier.

pin should be withdrawn. When the bleeding is to be
repeated, if more than three or four hours have elapsed,
it will be better to make a fresh incision rather than to
open the old wound.

In local inflammation, blood may be taken from any of
the superficial veins. In supposed afi'ection of the shoul-
der, or of the fore-leg or foot, the plate vein, which comes
from the inside of the arm, and runs upwards directly in
front of it towards the jugular, may be opened. In af-
fections of the hind extremity, blood is sometimes ex-
tracted from the saphoena^ or thigh-vein, w^hich runs
across the inside of the thigh. In foot cases it may be
taken from the coronet, or, much more safely, from the
toe ; not by cutting out a piece of the sole at the toe of
the frog, which somtimes causes a wound difficult to heal,
and followed by festering, and even by canker ; but cut-
ting down with a fine drawing-knife, called a searcher, at
the union between the crust and the sole at the very toe
until the blood flows, and, if necessary, encouraging its
discharge by dipping the foot in warm water. The mesh-
work of both arteries and veins will be here divided, and
blood is generally obtained in any quantity that may be
needed. The bleeding may be stopped with the greatest
ease, by placing a bit of tow in the little groove that has
been cut, and tacking the shoe over it.* — Yoiiatt.

* A great improvement has lately been introduced in the method of arresting
arterial hemorrhage. The operation is vfry simple, and, with common care
successful. The instrument is a pair of artery forceps, with rather sharper teeth,
than the common forceps, and the blades held close by a slide. The vessel is laid
bare, detached from the cellular substance around It, and the artery then grasp-
ed by the forci-ps, the instrument deviating a very little from the line of the artery.
The vessel Is now divided close to the forceps, and behind them, and the forceps are
twisted four or five times round. The forceps are then loosened, and, generally
speaking, not more than a drop or two of blood will have been lost. This method

TiiK Pulse. 125

THB PULSE.

The pulse is a very useful assistant to tlie veterinary
surgeon, whose patients cannot describe either the seat
or degree of ailment or pain. In a state of health, the
heart beat^s in a horse about thirty-six times a minute.
This is said to be the standard pulse — the pulse of health.
Where it beats naturally, there can be little materially
wrong. The most convenient place to feel the pulse, is
at the lower jaw, a little behind the spot where the sub-
maxillary artery and vein, and the parotid duct, come
from under the jaw. There the number of pulsations
will be easily counted, and the character of the pulse, a
matter of fully equal importance, will be clearly ascer-
tained.

When the pulse reaches fifty or fifty-five, some degree
of fever may be apprehended, and proper precaution
should be taken. Seventy or seventy-five will indicate a
dangerous state, and put the owner and the surgeon
a little on the alert. Few horses long survive a pulse of
one himdred, for, by this excessive action the energies of
nature are speedily worn out.

Some things should be taken into account in forming
our conclusion of the pulse. Exercise, a warm stable,
and fear, will wonderfuly increase the number of pulsa-
tions.

If a quick pulse indicate irritation and fever, a slow

of arresting bleeding has been applied by several scientific and benevolent men with
almost constant success. It has been readily and eflfectually practised in docking.,
and patients have escaped much torture, and tetanus lost many a victim. The for
ceps have been introduced, and with much success, in castration, and thus the prin-
cipal danger of that operation, as well as the most painful part of it, is removed.
The colt will be a fair subject for this experiment. On the sheep and the calf it may
be readily performed, and the operator will have the pleasing consciousness of res-
cuing many a poor animal from the unnecessary infliction of torture. — Spooner.

126 The Hokse Fakrier.

pulse will likewise characterize diseases of an opposite
description. It accompanies the sleepy stage of staggers,
and every malady connected with deficiency of nervous
energy.

The heart may be excited to more frequent and more
violent action. It may contract more powerfully upon
the blood, which will be driven with greater force through
the arteries, and the expansion of the vessels will be
greater and more sudden. Then we have the hard pulse
— the sure indicator of considerable fever, and callmg for
the immediate and free use of the lancet.

Sometimes the pulse may be hard and jerking, and yet
small. The stream though forcible is not great. The
practitioner knows that this indicates a dangerous state
of disease. It is an almost invariable accompaniment of
inflammation of the bowels,

A weak pulse, when the arterial stream flows slowly, is
caused by the feeble action of the heart. It is the re-
verse of fever, and expressive of debility.

The oppressed pulse is when the arteries seem to be
fully distended with blood. There is obstruction some-
where, and the action of the heart can hardly force the
stream along, or communicate pulsation to the current.

The state of the pulse should be carefully regarded
during bleeding. The most experienced practitioner can-
not tell what quantity of blood must be abstracted in or-
der to produce the desired effect. The change of the
pulse can alone indicate when the object is accomplished ;
therefore, the operator should have his finger on the ar-
tery during the act of bleeding, and, comparatively re-
gardless of the quantity, continue to take blood, until,
in inflammation of the lungs, the oppressed pulse, becomes

Clysters. 127

fuller and more distinct, or the strong pulse of considera-
ble fever is evidently softer, or the animal exhibits symp-
toms of faintness.

It is important to distinguish between the pulse of fe-
ver and that of inflammation. We may have a pulse of
the greatest rapidity, as in influenza, and yet no one part
of the body much inflamed. We have known the pulse
of the horse more than tripled, and the animal still re-
cover ; and, on the other hand, in cases of inflammation, a
pulse of 60 has betokened great danger, and, in some ca-
ses, has been succeeded by death.

CLYSTERS.

The principal art of administering a clyster consists in
not frightening the horse. The pipe, well oiled, should
be very gently introduced, and the fluid not too hastily
thrown into the intestine; its heat being as nearly as
possible that of the intestine, or about 96*^ of Fahren-
heit's thermometer.

These are useful in hastening the evacuation of the
bowels when the disease requires their speedy action.

Two ounces of soft or yellow soap, dissolved in a gal-
lon of warm water, wiU form a useful aperient clyster.
For a more active aperient, half a pound of Epsom salts,
or even of common salt, may be dissolved in the same quan
ty of water. A stronger injection, but not to be used if
much purgative medicine has been previously given, ma}r
be composed of an ounce of Barbadoes aloes, dissolved
in two or three quarts of warm water. If nothing else
can be procured, warm water may be employed.

In cases of over-purging or inflammation of the bowels,
the injection must be of a soothing nature. It may con-
sist of gruel alone, or, if the purging is considerable, and

128 The Hoese Farrier.

difficult to stop, the gruel must be thicker, and four oun-
ces of prepared or powdered chalk, well mixed with or
suspended in it, with two scruples or a drachm of pow-
dered opium.

No oil should enter into the composition of a clyster,
except that linseed oil may be used for the expulsion of
the ascarides, or needle-worms.

In epidemic catarrh, when the horse sometimes obsti-
nately refuses to eat or to drink, his strengh may be sup-
ported by nourishing clysters ; but they should consist of
thick gruel only, and not more than a quart should be
administered at once,

TRACHEOTOMY.

"This operation consists in making an opening into
the windpipe to admit air to the lungs, when the natural
passage is obstructed by foreign bodies, or when its cali-
bre is lessened by tumefaction occasioned by disease. In
severe cases of laryngitis, strangles, and their kindred
diseases, when the patient seems almost suflbcated, trach-
eotomy should be immediately performed. In perfoi-m-
ing the operation, we select a spot about six inches be-
low the throat, in front of the neck, and over the region
of the windpipe ; an incision is to be made with a com-
mon penknife, (in lieu of a better instrument,) to the ex-
tent of two or three inches, in a downward direction, so
as to lay bare the trachea ; having exposed space suffi-
cient, a cii'cular piece between two rings, corresponding
to the size of the tube, is to be cut out, and a short tube
inserted, which can be confined m position by means of
tape passed around the neck. When the obstruction is
removed, or the fances restored to their natural state,
remove the tube, bring the edges of the integuments to-
gether, and sew them up." — Br. Dacld*

Physicing. 129

physicing.

This is often necessary— but it has injured the consti-
tution and destroyed thousands of animals, when unneces-
sarily or improperly resorted to. When the horse comes
from grass to dry feed, or from the open air to the heat-
ed stable, and is becommg too fat, or has surfeit, or grease,
or mange, or is out of condition from inactivity of the
digestive organs, a dose of physic is serviceable ; but the
physicing of all horses, and the too frequent method of
exercising the animal when under the operation of physic,
cannot be too strongly condemned.

A horse should be carefully prepared for the action of
physic. Mashes should be given until the dung becomes
softened. Five drachms of aloes, given when the dung
has thus been softened, will act much more effectually
and much more safely than seven drachms, when the
lower intestines are obstructed by hardened dung.

On the day on which the physic is given, the horse
should have exercise, but after the physic begms to work,
he should not be moved from his stall.

A little hay may be put mto the rack. As much mash
should be given as the horse will eat, and as much water,
with the coldness of it taken off, as he will di-ink. If he
refuses to drink warm water, it is better that he should
have it cold, than to continue without taking any fluid ;
but in such case he should not be suffered to take more
than a quart at a time, with an interval of at least an horn-
between each draught. The cleansing powder will be
found an excellent physic. The Barbadoes aloes, although
sometimes very dear, should alone be used. The dose,
with a horse properly prepared, will vary from four to
seven drachms.

130 The Horse Farrier.

DOCKING.

The horse's tail is regarded by some as a useless appen-
dage, and fashion requires it should be shortened. The
tail was given to the horse to fight the blood-sucking
flies. There can be no question of its utility to the horse.
To dock it, deprives him of a portion of his strength, and
he has no protection from flies, which for two months of
the year are exceedingly annoying.

The animal should be cast, the point of amputation having
been selected, the operator feels for a joint or articula-
tion, just posterior to which he commences a circular in-
cision, carrying the knife right round the tail to the point
of commencement, cutting down to the fascia. The in-
teguments are then to be forcibly drawn upwards, while
the operator disarticulates the joint by making an incis-
ion right through it. The coccygeal arteries are to be
secured by ligature.

The integuments, instead of being . retracted > above
the lower end of the bone, are now below it, and thus
can be made to protect it from injuries. Two or three
stitches are now needed to approximate the edges of the
wound, and the operation is finished, without much loss
of blood, and with little if any pain to the subject. The
after treatment is very simple ; cold water, or some tinc-
ture of aloes, will complete the cure. If they should
not, owing to profuse suppuration, use pyroligneous acid,
and give a dose of medicine."

NICKING.

Nicking is another fashionable barbarism that very few
horses escape. The world of horsemen have decided, no

Blaze or Star. 131

tail no horse / and if an animal does not describe an an-
gle of forty-five with his tail, he is said to carri/ none.

The usual mode of operating, is to make a sub-cuta-
neous section of the muscles, the use of which is to de-
press the tail. The knife is introduced as near to the an-
us as possible on one side of the tail, between the bone
and muscle ; then, with a sort of sawing motion — the
back of the knife being towards the bones — the muscle
is divided, which may be known by the edge of the knife
coming in contact with the integuments. This is repeat-
ed on the other side, and the operation is finished. The
horse is generally fettered by a rope from the neck, se-
cured to each hind leg ; he has also a twitch on the nose.
It not unfrequently happens that horses lose an enor-
mous quantity of blood after the operation ; but that re-
sults from want of anatomical knowledge. The coccy-
geal arteries are severed, which the surgeon knows how
to avoid. Amateur operators often find that the subject
of their experiment is seized with locked-jaw ; and in
other cases the tail curves laterally towards the body.
In the former, some unnecessary mangling has been per-
formed, and in the latter case, one of the curvatores coc-
cygis has been partly or wholly severed, which allows the
associate muscle on the other side to draw the tail that
way. Hence the necessity for skillful operators.

BI^ZE OR STAR.

When we have a pair of horses that match well in every
respect, except that one has a blaze or star in the face, it
becomes very interesting and important to know how to
make their faces match.

Take a piece of leather the size you want the blaze
or star : spread it with warm pith and apply it to the

132 The Horse Faeriee.

horse's face : let it remain two or three days, by which
time it will bring off the hair clean, and make the part a
little tender ; then take of elixir vitriol a small quantity ;
then anoint the part two or three times ; or, of a very
common weed called smart weed a small handful, bruise it
and add to it about a gill of water, use it as a wash until
the face gets well, when the hair will grow out entirely
white.

TO SPOT A WHITE HORSE WITH BLACK SPOTS.

Take litharage, three ounces ; quick lime, six ounces ;
beat it fine and mix it together ; j)ut it into a pan and
pour a sharp ley over it ; then boil it and you will have
a fat substance swim on top, with which anomt the horse
in such places as you design to have black, and it will
turn to the color immediately.

DESCRIPTION OF A SKELETON OF A HORSE.
A The Head.

a The posterior maxillary or under jaw.

h The superior maxillary or upper jaw. A little lower down than the letter is a
foramen, through which pass the nerves and blood-vessels which chiefly sup-
ply the lower part of the face.

c The orbit, or cavity containing the eye.

d The nasal bones, or bones of the nose.

e The suture dividing the parietal bones below from the occipital bones above.

/ The inferior maxillary bone, containing the upper incisior teeth.

B The Seven Cervical Vertebra?, or bones of the neck.

C The Eighteen Dorsal Vertebrae, or bones of the back.

D The Six Liimbar Vertebrie, or bones of the loins.

E The Five Sacral Vertebrase, or bones of the haunch.

F The Caudal Vertebrte, or bones of the tail, generally about fifteen.

G The Scapula, or Shoulder-Blade.

H The Sternum, or fore part of the chest.

I The Costse, or ribs, seven or eight articulating with the sternum, and called the
trxie ribs, and ten or eleven united together by cartilage, called the/alse ribs.

J The Humerus, or upper bone of the arm.

K The Radius, or upper bone of the arm.

L The Ulna, or elbow. The point of the elbow is called the Olecranon.

M. The Carpus, or knee, consisting of seven bones.

N The Metacarpal bones. The larger metacarpal, or cannon, or shank in front, and
the smaller metacarpal, or splint bone beliind.

Skeleton.

133

g The fore pastern and foot, consisting of the Os Snffraginis, or the upper and
largerpastern bone, with the sesamoid bones behind, articulating with the
cannon and greater pastern; the Os Coronse, or lesser pastern; the Os Pedis,
or coffin bone ; and the Os Naviculare, or Navicular, or shuttle-bone, not seen,
and articulating with the smaller pastern and coffin bones.

h The corresponding bones of the hind feet.

O The Haunch, consisting of three portions, the Ilium, the Ischium, and the Pubis.

P The Femur, or Thigh.

Q The Stifle-joint with the Patella.

E The Tibia, or proper leg bone — behind is a small bone called the fibula.

8 The Tarsus, or Hock, composed of six bones. The prominent part is the Oa
Calcis, or point of the hock.

T The Metatarsals of the hind ^eg.

CHAPTER VII

DISEASES OF THE BBAIN, RESPIRATOBY 0B6ANS AND
AIB PASSAGES.

STAGGEES AND APOPLEXY.

A want of balance in the circulation of the blood,
an unnatural quantity going to the brain, so overcomes
its energies that the diseases mentioned at the head of
this chapter follow. They differ only in degree, and may
arise from different conditions. Where the animal is vig-
orous, well fed, and full of fluids, active congestion will
be present, but when poorly fed, and reduced in flesh; a
loss of energy of the brain may be followed by passive
congestion.

Violent exercise, such as heavy loads and hard drives,
tight collars, too tight curb reins, any cause that forces
too much blood to the head or prevents its return by the
viens, may be causes of this disease, also after long fasting;
loo much food unnaturally distending the stomach, sym-
pathetically affecting the brain, will produce it.

STAGGERS.

Megrims is the mildest of these affections.

Symptoms. — When the horse is drawn quickly, he will
stop suddenly, shake the head and show symptoms of

Apoplexy. 135

giddiness. This may soon pass over and he may go on as
if* nothing had occurred. If more serious, he may fall to
the ground or suddenly turn several times around first;
he may lie quiet, or struggle violently. If it be a horse
of full habit, well fed, three or four quarts of blood better
be drawn at once.

Treatment — Cease using him for a time, give mild
physic, such as physic ball, powdered aloes, 6 drachms, a
little honey to make the powder tenacious enough to ad-
minister, physic or drench pulverized aloes, 6 drachms,
syrup of bucthorn, 1 omice, tincture gmger, 1 ounce, or cro-
ton oil from 20 to 30 drops. Give an occasional laxitive
ball, powdered aloes, 3 drachms, powdered sulphur, 1 do.,
powdered mandrake 2 do.

To be formed into a bolus with honey or mucilage.
Stop hearty and dry feed, and let mashes and green feed
be substituted. If not cured at first, the animal will be
useless, as the diseased action will become fixed. Severe
cold Aveather in winter, by determining the blood to the
brain, jjredisjiO-ses to this disease.

APOPLEXY.

Apoplexy is a serious form of the diseases we have
mentioned.

The Symptoms which mark its approach are loss of
appetite, dullness, stupidity, a somewhat staggering gait,
he stands with his head down, or rests it on his manger
and seems balancing and ready as often he does to sud-
denly fall, he is sleepy, eye dull, he chews his lock of
hay for a moment and relapses iiito a stupor; as the dis-
ease advances his breathing becomes slow, loud and
labored, the pulse is slow, the veins in the neck full, the
mouth cold, and death closes the scene.

Post mortem examination of the brain reveals a highly
congested condition of the blood vessels of the brain.

The Treatment. — Bleed very copiously, if the
horse be strong and vigorous, followed by active purging,
with such articles as we have indicated in megrims or
staggers, together with rest and light food. If the ani-

136 The Hokse Farriek.

mal be naturally feeble, if bled it had better be sparingly
and be content with physic and laxatives. One grain of
strychnine, 3 times a day, might give tone to the nervous
system combined with 12 grains of flowers of zinc. The
animal probably will never be fit for hard service.

PHRENTIS OR INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN.

By Phrentis we imderstand inflammation of the sub-
stance of the brain and its investing membranes.

Symptoms. — Hanging of the head, dullness, watery
eyes, and sleepiness ; he is letharic, droops his head ; if
aroused, he stares around and then slumbers again. This
state does not ordinarily last but a few hours, or at most
a few days. A new train of symptoms manifest themselves.
He is wide awake, to sound his ears are up and his eyes
glare, he is restless, paws and moves about, whinners,
dashes, plunges, bites and kicks; thus he continues until
water compresses the brain or its substance suffers lesion,
when exhaustion, stupor and sleep, show a tendency to a
fatal issue.

Treatment. — Bleed freely, purge freely. There is no
disease that will bear copious purging with so much
benefit as the one of which we are treating,

HYDROPHOBIA OR MADNESS.

This alarming and fatal disease results from the bite
of a rabid animal, as the dog, cat, or wolf.

Symptoms. — ^The horse stops, looks round, staggers
and falls. He rises soon again, staggers and falls, soon
he becomes furious, stamping and biting, and endeav-
oring to demohsh everything around him. Like the
human being, the horse has a dread of water — the dread
seems to arise from the severe sj)asms of the muscles
called into action in the act of diglutition, and not from
any dread of the water by itself considered. When fully
established, this disease is considered incurable.

When it is known that the animal has been bitten,
cauterize the wound freely and deeply with nitrate of
silver, wash it out with chloride of soda.

Influenza or Horse-Ail. 137

The disease may remain latent for weeks or months
before showing itself, hence the necessity of closely
watching the animal, if bitten or supposed to be bitten,
for some time.

INELUENZA OR HORSE-AIL.

This disease is most prevalent in cold, ungenial weath-
er, and is most frequent in the spring — a cold, wet
spring — and especially among young horses, and those
in high condition, or made up for sale, or that have been
kept in hot stables; more generally in cities where a
large number are kept. If a horse can pass through this
disease and come out right side up, he can be safely
recommended as one having been through the mill. ' It
is, beyond doubt, contagious — sometimes raging over
large districts, so that scarcely a stable escapes, and at
others, being confined to a neighborhood.

Symptoms. — Of these there is a great variety at its
commencement. The first symptom is, debility. The
horse appears dumpish, refuses to eat, mouth hot, pulse
quick ; in the course of six or twelve hours, the pulse in-
creases, appetite diminishes, legs and eye-hds swell, (usu-
ally increase to about the third day.) This disease may
end in distemper, chronic cough, a bad discharge from
the nose, and inveterate cases in glanders.

Treatment. — Give the animal the benefit of a pure at-
mosphere. If the limbs are cold, give them a good rub-
bing. If the pulse is full and strong, (not otherwise,)
bleed with care. In some cases, it would be advisable
to bleed from the eye, or mouth. Strict attention should
be paid to the diet. No grain but mashes, gruel substi-
tuted for water; scalded shorts, green grass, and carrots,
if they can be procured, if not, hay, oflered with the hand,
dipped m water salted. In some cases, it is necessary
to force them to eat, or give them an injection of gruel.

138 The Horse Farrier.

A plethoric horse should be half starved. If the throat
is sore, rub it with warm vinegar and salt, or blister ;
steam the nostrils, to encourage the discharge ; walk the
horse a little, for exercise ; administer the following :
Oil of Croton, five drops ; Nitrate of potassa, 4 to 6
drachms ; Potassio-tartrate of antimony, 1 drachm ; spir-
it of nitric ether, 4 drachms to 1 ounce ; solution of
acetate of ammonia, 2 to 4 ounces ; warm water suf-
ficient to make a draught.

Sometimes four drachms of bi-tartrate of potassa may
be added to the above ; and, when the head appeared
much afiected, a drachm of camj^hor. This draught may
generally be administered once, but sometimes twice a
day, the croton oil being omitted after the first dose :
after the first day, two drachms of powdered gentian may
be added ; and after the second or third day, a ball may
be substituted for the draught, consisting of : nitrate of
potassa, 3 drachms ; potassio-tartrate of antimony, 1
drachm ; powdered gentian root, 2 drachms ; powdered
pimento berries, 1 drachm ; treacle sufiicient to form a
ball.

SPASMS OF THE LARYNX AXD LARYNGITIS.

The larynx is an u-regular cartilaginous tube, fonningthe
upper extremity of the wmd pipe, and is the organ
which produces that pecuHar sound called neighing. It
affords free passage in its normal state for respiration,
and also attachment for numerous muscles. Its internal
cavities are protected by the common membrane termed
mucous^ which at times become the seat of a disease
known as laryngitis.

The disease appears to be analogous to croup (in the
human family.) Spasm of the larynx may result from a
mucous affection, induced by mdigestion.

Symtoms of Spasm of the Larnyx. — Sometimes the
disease manifests itself in a moment, as it were, with a
most terrible severity ; the animal begins to gasp for

Spasms of the Larynx and Laryngitis. 139

breath ; the eyeballs protrude, and the neck is carried
in a line with the back ; the flanks heave with most
excessive violence, and every time the poor beast mspii-es
air, a somid is emitted, which will vary in its character
and intensity according to the vigor of the spasm. As
the disease proceeds, the general symptoms become more
yiolent — the mucous membrane of the mouth assumes
a purple color ; the animal becomes partially unconscious ;
he rushes wildly from place to place, as though seeking
in vain for aid ; the body becomes suffused with streamy
perspiration. Youatt says, in acute laryngitis the blood
must be abstracted, from the jugular vein, copiously,
depending on the degree of inflammation, and not for-
getting that he has to do with inflammation of the mu-
cous membrane, and that what he does he must do
quickly ; bleed, until the pulse flutters or the constitution
is evidently affected.

Next must be given the fever medicine, the digitalis,
nitre, and emetic tartar, with aloes. Aloes may here be
safely given, because the chest is not yet imDUcated. To
this must be added, and immediately, a blister, and a
sharp one. The surgeon is sure of the part, and he can
bring his counter-irritant almost into contact with it.

Tkeativient. — Nauseants, counter-irritants And trach-
eotomy are the principal agents, in view of imm:>diate
reUef. When the patient is attacked suddenly, and
shows all the worst features of the disease, he can oulv
be reUeved by a sui-gical operation called tracheotomy.
The operation is not considered a dangerous one, yet the
services of a qualified person are indispensable; as also
in cases which result from the presence of morbid
growths in the vicuiity of the larynx, surgical skill must
be sought. Lobelia is considered a very good relaxant ;
it is extoUed very highly by some physicians for the cure
of asthmatical complaints, and for relaxing rigid parts ;
it has been used for a number of years on all classes of do-
mestic animals, and we consider it a valuable anti-spasmodic.
A strong infusion of lobeha can be brought in contact
with the horse's nostrils by means of a sponge, and perhaps

140 The Hoese Faerier.

prove as beneficial as ether. Counter irritants, applied
externally in the region of the throat and chest, are gen-
erally recommended; the common hartshorn liniment,
essence of mustard, or a mixture composed of equal parts
of olive oil, tincture of capsicum, and lobelia, are among
the most efficient remedies for this purpose. The rectum
must be kept empty, by stimulating clysters ; all food to
be withheld until the worst symptoms are past, when
some thin gruel, sweetened with honey, may be allowed,
cold or warm, as the season permits, very good for re-
lieving laryngitis, applied by means of sponges to the
throat.

In chronic cases, when the glandular organs around
the throat are swollen, a stimulating liniment will be in-
dicated, which should be rubbed in, night and morning,
the animal to have a nutritious diet, and to be drenched
as follows : Balsam of fir, 1 ounce, sweet spirits of
nitre, 2 ounces, syrup of garlic, 4 ounces, mix.

Dose. — One sixth part to be given every night in a
pint of thin gruel.

PNEUMOISriA OR INFLAMMATION OF THE LTJNGS.

In this disease ther,e are three well marked stages.

1st. That of congestion.

2d. When inflammation is fully developed.

3d. That of suppuration or formation of matter.

In the 1st stage the vessels are merely engorged with
blood and the air-cells partly filled with a sero-mucus
bloody effusion.

In the 2d stage the disease in the lungs has advanced
and a plastic extravasation has taken place in the air-
cells, and the tissue connecting them are filled with a
bloody concrete lymph.

In the 3d stage the place of the plastic secretion has
been supplied by a purulent fluid.

The disease may afiect one lung or both, being much
more grave in the latter case.

PNEUHOmA OR INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 14:1

The causes of pneumonia, are sudden transitions from
heat to cold, a change from a warm stable to a colder one;
the most frequent is leaving the horse to- stand in a brisk
wind, after hard driving, or being in a free perspiration.
This sudden check to perspiration causes the blood to
recede from the surface and crowds it hurtfully on inter-
nal parts, producing bronchitis, pneumonia or pleurisy.

Symptoms. — It is usually ushered in by a shivering fit,
the horse is cold all over, reaction after a time takes
place and the body becomes warmer than natural, but
the extremities remain intensely cold ; this condition
pecuUarly marks the disease; it is an early symptom com-
mencing in its incii^ient or forming stage. The pulse
at first is often oppressed and obscure, without much
acceleration in its motion. The breathing is quick ; he
feels the need of pure aii*, for the air cells being more
or less obstructed, the atmospheric air is not brought in
contact with the blood, to effect in the latter that
change so essential to life ; the animal refuses to lie down
because every muscle that aids in respiration is called
into action, and those of the spine and shoulders can
be used more advantageously as he stands.

If when wearied out he lies down, it is but for a mo-
ment.

It may be regarded as a favorable symptom to find
in the morning that the horse was down during the
night.

It may not be an easy matter to distinguish pneu-
monia from pleurisy, and in fact they are often united.

Pleurisy is a more acutely j^ainful disease ; auscultation
here would be valuable.

In pneumonia healthy murmm- is changed to a crepita-
ting or crackling sound, and wherever heard will indicate
the extent of the disease.

As the disease advances and lympth is poured out, the
lung becomes hepatized or hard like liver, and over such
points no respiratory murmur will be heard, for no air
permeates such portions. By a careftil comparison of res-

14:2 The Hokse Farriee.

piration on each side of the horse, you may know very sat-
isfactorily whether one or both hmgs are diseased.

If the disease still progresses, those inflamed and heap-
atized portions sappurate, an abscess forms, and matter
may be discharged by coughing.

In pleurisy, the air cells are not implicated, and the res-
piratory murmur will be heard at first over the whole of
the lungs. (The reader will bear in mind that the thin
membrane which covers the lungs and lines the in-
side of the chest is called the pleura, and that in-
flammation of this membrane is pleurisy.) A dry friction
sound will be heard in the commencement of i^leurisy.
Plastic lympth may exude from the inflamed surface, or
the vessels may relieve themselves by pouring out water
between the lung and side, the respiratory murmur disap-
pearing in proportion as the water accumulates.

Treatment. — This may be commenced by a good
bleeding, but to be of much service it should be done at
the commencement of the disease, followed by emetic
tartar and nitre. A drachm of the former and three of the
latter every eight hours, equalize the circulation, by rub-
bing the extremities, giving light laxitive food, as bran
mashes ; throw warm blankets over the animal, hanging
down to the floor, and place vessels of hot water in whicli
put hot stones or bricks, and sweat freely, also opium and
calomel, one scruple of the former and two of the latter
twice a day. The sides of the chest may be thoroughly
bhstered, the irritation on the surface diverting the in-
flammation from the lungs.

There is another article very efiicient in this disease in
the human subject, and I think it must operate equally
favorable on animals. I refer to the Veratrum Virid*?.
The tincture, as prepared by Dr. W. C. Norwood, or the
extract, as prepared by Tilclen & Co., N. Y.

This medicine may confidently be relied on to control
the actions of the heart and arteries, reducing the pulse
in the human subject from 120 beats in a minute to 60
or even 40.

In giving this remedy, the pulse should be closely

Pleurisy. 143

watched, and when down to the natural standard, discon-
tinued until it begins to rise again ; probably from twenty
to sixty drops every four hours, until it produces slow-
ness of pulse, would be an appropriate dose ; should much
weakness follow an over dose, a dose or two of spirits
would overcome the prostration.

It must be observed here that cathartic medicine in
this disease must be used with great caution, and a com-
mon fault is to do too much ; the restoring powers of na-
ture are ignored, dose follows dose in unjustifiable rapid-
ity ; blood is shed with fearful profusion, and the suffeiing
animal sinks under the combined attack of disease and
injudicious treatment.

In regard to blood letting, as we said at the commence-
ment, one judicious abstraction of blood would be advi-
sable ; its repetition would depend upon the strength of
the pulse and appearance of the blood first drawn ; if this
is free from a sizy thick buffy coat, its repetition is
uncalled for, neither will the opposite condition always war-
rant it. Rowels and setons are too slow in their opera-
tion to meet the urgent symptoms, and are only beneficial
when the disease becomes chronic.

PLEURISY.

The treatment proper for pneumonia, as a general rule,
will be applicable to pleurisy. Bleeding is called for more
urgently in the latter disease, and will be better borne
than in pure inflammation of the lungs ; if water accumu-
late in the chest, the case is not hopeless ; a powder, com-
posed of squill, calomel, and nitre, repeated three or four
times a day, ^viU accelerate the absorption of the fluid ;
blisters also to the chest will be appropriate.

After recovery from either of these diseases, the patient
should be treated with care and great tenderness for some
time ; all hard exercises, fast drives and exposures to wet
or cold, should be sedulously guarded against, by giving
the parts diseased time to heal and become sound;

14:4: The Hokse Farrier.

chronic irritations indicated by short breathing and
troublesome coughs, will be avoided.

CONSUMPTION.

This malady extends aUke to horses as to human sub-
jects. It is not hereditary, but the conformations which
lead to this disease are, and thus far the disease.

If a narrow-chested, flat-sided horse is attacked by in-
flammation of the lungs, or severe catarrhal fever, ex-
perience tells us that we shall have more difficulty in sub-
duing the disease in him, than in one deeper in the girth
or rounder in the chest.

If such animals, however, are used in the country where
they have the advantage of pure air, simple yet nutri-
tious food, and judicious management, they may live to
the average age of horses generally. There are locations
that are favorable to the development of consumption,
such as low, wet lands, where the humid atmosphere pre-
vents a full and free evaporation of the insensible per-
spiration ; such an atmosphere is no less injurious than
that of a crowded, unventilated stable.

The principal cause of this disease will be found in the
evils of domestication. Numerous instances have been
known where the horse and cattle that have been subject
to these and kindred diseases have entirely recovered by
their removal from low, damp stables to dry, warm and
airy ones.

Symptoms. — The horse is sadly emaciated — he long
continues so — his coat stares — his skin clings to his ribs
— his belly is tucked up, notwithstanding that he may
have plenty of mashes, and carrots, and green meat, and
medicine — his former gaiety and spirit do not return, or
if he is willing to work, he is easily tired, sweating on
the least exertion, and the sweat most profuse about the
chest and sides — his appetite is not restored, or, perhaps,

Strangles or Horse Distemper. 145

never has been good, and the slightest exertion puts him
completely off his feet. The flanks heave a httle more
laboriously — heaving is pamfully quickened when sudden
exertion is required — he coughs sorely, and discharges
from the nose a mucus tinged with blood, or a fluid de-
cidedly purulent — the breath becomes offensive — the
pulse is always above 40, and strangely increased by the
slightest exertion.

Treatme^st. — K in the spring of the year, a run of
grass may be tried — invigorate the system by good nu-
tritious food — gentle exercise, pure air, and if the weath-
er be cold, warm clothing, with the addition of oat-meal,
pea-meal, linseed-meal, wheat flour, mixed with a liberal
quantity of salt — this will aid digestion, and abstract fluids
from the body. Should the excrements be voided with
difficulty or knotty, an injection of soap and water will
be advisable. Milk should be given about one quart per
day. In case of great prostration, milk should be given
with care. The digestive apparatus may be involved in
the deterioration of the system, and be unable to digest
the fatty constituent, (butter ;) hence, m the exhibition
of a daily allowance of milk, attention must be paid to
the nutritive function, or such a simple article as milk
may prove a barrier to affecting a cure. In such a case,
to one pint of milk add two ounces of lime water — give
twice a day.

For the medical treatment of this disease use phosphate
of lime — powdered bloodroot — powdered pleurisy root —
powdered Indian turnip — powdered goldenseal, 2 ounces
of each — powdered slippery elm, 1 pound — mix, and di-
vide the mass into twenty-four powders ; one to be given
in the food every night.

STRANGLES OR HORSE DISTEMPER.

This disease is principally incident to young horses —
usually appearing between the fourth and fifth year, and
oftenerinthe spring than at any other time — ^it occasionally
attacks old animals. Few horses escape its attack ; but,
the disease having passed over, the animal is fi*ee from it

146 The Horse Farrier.

for the remainder of his life. This disease is usually con-
sidered contagious, but we are not clear on this point, but
it will be well to separate the patient from healthy ani-
mals. This we would recommend in aH cases of catarrhal
affection.

SYMPTOifs.— It is is generally preceded by cough with
a discharge from the nostrils of a yellowish color, mixed
with pus, generally without smell, the membrane of the
nose intensely red, a swelling under the throat which in-
creases, accompanied by a fever — a disinclination to eat
— a considerable thu'st, but after a gulp or two the horse
ceases to drink. In attempting to swallow, a convulsive
cough comes on, which threatens to suffocate the animal,
mouth hot ; tongue coated with white fur. The tumor
under the jaw and about the centre of the channel soon
fills the whole space, and is evidently one uniform body,
and may thus be distinguished from glanders, or the en-
larg.ed glands of catarrh. In a few days it becomes more
prominent and soft, and evidently contains a fluid. This
rapidly increases ; the tumor bursts, and a great quan-
tity of pus is discharged. As soon as the tumor has bro-
ken, the cough subsides, and the horse speedily mends, .
although some degree of weakness may hang about him
for considerable time.

Teeatmeist:. — ^As soon as the tumor under the jaw is
decidedly apparent, the part should be actively blistered.
It should be washed off as soon as it rises, and if repeated in
a day or two, this will abate the internal inflammation
and soreness of the throat aud promote the suppurative
process ; (when the glands remain hard and do not suppu-
rate, it may lead to glanders, in which case the use of
Iodine Ointment as an outward aj^phcationandhydriodate
of potash in daily doses of ten to forty grains, combined
with tonics wiU be found useful as an internal appHcation.)

As soon as the swelhng is soft on its summit, and evi-
dently coutams matter, it should be freely and deei)ly
lanced, after Avhich apply a linseed poultice. If the in-
cision is deep and large enough, no second collection of

Bbonohitis. 147

matter will be formed : and that which is already there
may be suffered to run out slowly, all pressui'e with the
fingers being avoided. The part should be kept clean.
The appetite will return with the opening of ths abscess.
Bran-mashes, or fi-esh cut grass should be liberally sup-
phed, which will not only afford sufficient nourishment to
recruit the strength of the animal, but keep the bowels
gently open. If the weakness is not great, no farther
medicine will be wanted, except a dose of mild physic, in
order to prevent the swellings or eruptions which some-
times succeed to strangles. In cases of debility, a smaU
quantity of tonic medicine, as camomile, gentian, or
ginger may be administered.

No. 2 Homoepathic treatment. Fever symptoms,
Aconite, 10 to 15 drops, once an hour, when allayed,
arsenicum, 12 to 15 drops.

CUTANEOUS ERUPTION AND ITCHIMG.

Change of diet, will often cure a simple case without
any medicin. If it does not yield to this, sponge the ani-
mal daily with a weak ley of saleratus water, into which
throw a little sulpher ; and give a few doses of sulpher and
sassafras, equal parts. Dose, one ounce daily. The cov.
erihg of the body, which may be needed in consequence
of sdonging, should be hnen, instead of flannel.

BEONCHITIS.

Veterinarians recognize this disease under three as-
pects, viz :

1. Acute, as when the horse is suddenly attacked with
an irritable cough and sore throat ; a quick, wiry pulse ;
membranes of the nose and mouth redder than usual ;
accelerated respiration ; great anxiety of countenance,
&c., &c.

2. Chronic bronchitis, which sets in after the acute
has subsided ; this stage is marked by a discharge, of
watery and sometimes mucous fluid from the nose ; the
act of respiration is performed with a sort of wheezing
noise, of which they are somewhat relieved in the act
of coughing.

148 The Horse Farriee.

3. The third variety has been named epidemie bron-
chitis. This variety is remarkable for the emission of
copious discharges from the nose, at one time tui'ning
yellow, at another green, and then again white. In this
form the disorder is exceedingly apt to assume the
chronic type, and, after continumg for a length of time,
to leave the animal reduced in flesh, and much debilitated.
Heaves may be the result of bronchitis, which leaves
the upper air passages in a contracted state, or else thick
ens their lining membrane. The natural termination of
this disease, if unchecked, is in pneumonia.

Treatment, in the active stage, may be the same as in
pneumonia or drachm doses of powdered lobelia seeds
twice a day, with warmth and moisture to the external
surface until we know that it has taken effect fi-om the soft-
ness of the pulse, by demulcent, such as shppery elm.
Counter irritants applied in the vicinity of the throat or
chest will afford relief; when a relaxing effect is desired,
use one pint of vinegar to 2 ounces of powdered lobelia ;
let it warm over a slow fire, and apply to the throat two
or three times a day ; encircle the throat with a piece of
soft flannel. Keep the bowels loose by sloppy diet, sea-
soned with salt. Fine feed scalded and given to the animal
while warm, is beneficial, or instead of the above a blis-
ter applied over the brisket and sides, and up the trached
to the larynx, will afford relief.

CATARRH.

Catarrh frequently arises from exposures, or changes
so trifling, that they would not be supposed of the least
importance by one unaccustomed to horses. Some sup-
pose that cold and exposure are the sole causes of catarrh ;
yet it is a well-known fact, that many horses take cold,
even though they have not, within several days, some

Nasal Gleet. 149

times weeks, been in a situation where cold could be
taken after this fashion ; in short, have not left their warm,
comfortable stables. But we must remember that a
high temperature is just as likely to brmg on a cold as
any other cause, especially when the subject has been
liberally fed ; catarrh, in general, oftener arises from heat
than cold. But an insalubrious atmosphere may be set
down as the chief cause of common colds.

SYifPTOMS. — A discharge from the nostrils, increased
redness of the membrane, lining the nostrils ; oozing of
tears from the corners of the eyes ; swellings underneath
the jaws; snorting; cough, with or without febrile
disorder.

Teeatsient. — If the patient is in good flesh and the
weather is favorable, he may be turned out on green food
in the day time, and taken up at night, and a brand mash
given. If the weather be cold, let the patient have com-
fortable quarters, a good bed blanket, legs rubbed and
then bandaged with flannel ; for diet, scalded shorts. The
soreness of the throat may be removed by the following :
Olive oil, 8 ounces, oil of cedar, 1 ounce, applied twice a
day, a blistering, a fever ball or two, with a drachm of
aloes in each, and a httle antimony, will generally, set
right ; keep the rectum open by an injection of warm
water and soap ; physic should not be given without con-
sideration ; blood letting in some cases may be resorted to
with success.

NASAL GLEET.

Symptoms. — A discharge of thick, yellow naucus ; if at
grass, it assumes a green color. At times it becomes
purulent, tinged with blood, and if not arrested at this
stage, it may end in glanders. The discharge fluctuates
with the weather : in dry, it sometimes subsides, and in-
creases in wet and cold weather. If confined to the left
nostril, it becomes tenacious, elastic, and accumulates

150 TiiK Hoi?sr. Pa^rrier.

around the edges of the nasal cavities, and is accompa-
nied by enlargement of the gland, and drooping of the ear,
we may be prepared for the worst ; for ten chances to one,
if it does not terminate in glanders.

Teeatment.^No 1. Take of alum, one pound, rosin,
one half pound, one half blue vitriol, grind and mix with
one half of ginger. Give one large spoonful every night
and morning

ROARING.

Symptoms. — An unnatural, loud, grunting sound made
by the animal in breathing, after a short gallop, pro-
duced in the act of inspiration, caused by obstructions
in the respiratory canal. Thickening of the membrane
sometimes is the result of strangles, chronic cough, ca-
tarrh, but more frequently is the result of tight reining,
by keeping the windpipe in one position, or in the absorp-
tion and paralyzation of the muscles, on one side, which
assist in opening and enlarging the entrance to the larynx,
by pulling back the arytenoid cartilages, as they are
termed. The consequence of-this is, that an obstruction
takes place ; and, although the air can enter with suffi-
cient rapidity when the animal is at rest, yet when
respiration is hurried by exertion, a great noise is occa-
sioned by the air passing through the narrow aperture
with great rapidity.

Treatment. — Remember that, in every chronic case
like this, the only hope of success depends on perseve-
rance. "Whatever means is adopted, give it a fair trial.
Confirmed cases may be incurable. Those of recent date
may be cured where the obstruction can be detected. It
will be well to bleed, purge, and bUster over the affected
parts ; when the physic acts, commence a course of fever
medicine ; if no relief is afforded, in two or three weeks,
change the treatment. If it arise from atrophy of the mus-
cles, let them be stimulated daily with hartshorn liniment,
or some such application, and frequent hard rubbing. If
from tumors, let them be removed. If the thyroid glands
are enlarged, they should be rubbed daily with stimula-

Common Cough. 151

ting liniment, or ointment of iodine. The horse should
at all times have the free use of his head and neck, or the
best treatment might fail. Should the cause of roaring
evidently exist (below the fauces) either in the bronchii,
trachea, or lungs, the operation of trachetomy may be
preferred, which consists in making an opening into the
trachea, and through it inserting a tube, which may be
worn for any length of time, by taking the precaution to
Cicause it occasionally. See Tracheotomy.

COMMON COUGH,

Cough is present, and often causes annoyance, in ca-
tarrh, laryngitis,, bronchitis, strangles, horse ail, &c. Is
present also in cases of deranged digestive organs, and
when a quantity of worms are present in the digestive
organs. A common cough may attend various forms of
disease. In cases of a catarrhal character, when a quan-
tity of mucus accumulates in the respiratory passages,
the act of coughing ejects it, and thus relieves the ani-
mal ; therefore, a cough of this kind may be salutary
rather than otherwise, and in that event needs no treat-
ment.

A sympathetic cough can only be cured by directing
our remedies to the seat of the malady ; that cured, the
cough ceases.

It does not interfere with the treatment of any disease
to use simple remedies to mitigate a cough, if it cause the
patient some annoyance ; in this view I use jjowdered
slippery elm, Indian turnip, j^owdered skunk cabbage,
caraway seeds, of each 4 ounces. Dose, one half ounce
twice a day in gruel.

If the cough continues after the disappearance of pul-
monary diseases, dissolve 1 ounce of balsam of fir in
2 ounces of the sweet spirits of nitre, add 4 ounces of
the syrup of garlic. Dose, one ounce, night and morn-
ing, given in gruel.

CHRONIC COTJGH.

Chronic cough is generally caused by long continued
or neglected catarrh, or sore throat. j q

152 'i'HK IIuiiSK Fakuiek.

THICK WIND.

Thick or broken wind is sometimes connected with
worms and glanders. 152

If a harsh hollow cough is accompanied by a staring
coat, and the appearance of worms, — a few worm-balls
may expel the worms, and remove the irritation of the
intestinal canal. If it proceeds from irritability of the
air passages, which will be discovered by the horse
coughing after drinking, or when he first goes out of
the stable in the morning, or by his occasionally snort-
ing out thick mucus from the nose, medicines may be
given, and sometimes with advantage, to diminish irrita-
tion generally. Small doses of digitalis, emetic tartar,
and nitre, administered every night, frequently have a
beneficial effect, especially when mixed mth tar. These
balls should be regularly given for a considerable time.
A blister, extending from the root of one ear to that ol
the other, and reaching six or eight inches down the
windpipe, has been tried, and often with good effect, on
the supposition that the irritation may exist at the roots
of the tongue. Feedmg has much infiuence. Too much
dry feed, and especially chaff, increases it. It is aggra-
vated when the horse is suffered to eat his litter. One
of the best remedies for an obstinate cough that bids fair
to become chronic, is a seton under the throat, which
should be kept seven or eight weeks. Carrots afiord
decided relief.

When chronic cough chiefly occurs after eating, the
seat of the disease is evidently in the substance of the
lungs. In the violent effort of the lungs to discharge
their functions, when laboring under congestion, irrita-
tion is produced, and the act of coughmg is the conse-
quence.

HEAVES OR BROKEN WIND.

A troublesome cough, and sometimes of long contin-
uance, is the foundation of the disease, or indicates ihat
irritable state of the ^^ronchial membrane with which

IIeavks oR Broken Wind. 153

broken wind is almost necessarily associated. Horses
that are greedy feeders, or devour large quantities of
slightly nutritious food, or are worked with a stomach
distended by this food, are very subject to broken wind.
The agricultural horse is too often fed on the very re-
fuse of the fann, and his hours of feeding, and his hours
of work, are frequently irregular. A rapid galloi? on a
full stomach has often produced broken wind. Flatulence,
and a depraved appetite, is the consequence as well as the
cause of broken-T\ind ; and there is no pathological fact
of more frequent occurrence than the co-existence of in-
digestion and flatulence with broken wind.

Treatment. — Confirmed cases are incurable, but the
disease may in some degree be palliated. We must res-
tore digestion in order to cure indigestion. Attend
carefullv to the feeding. The food should lie in very small
compass, plenty of oats, soaked 4 hours, with one pint of
flax seed, and little hay, and this of the best quality ;
if moistened with fresh chamberley, it improves it. Musty
hay should never be given to a horse that has the heaves,
and water should be given in moderate quantities. The
horse should not be suftered to drink as much as he likes
until the day's work is over. Green feed will always be
serviceable. Carrots are particularly useful. They are
readily digested, and appear to have a peculiarly benefi-
cial eflect on the respiratory system. A broken-winded
horse should always be watered from a bucket, regularly,
three times a day ; and if he be a foul feeder, arm him
with a muzzle, and only remove it at meal time. We oc-
casionally allow a small quantity of garlic, say a couple
of heads every other day, chopped fine, and mixed in the
food. One drachm of tincture of aromatic sulphuric
acid in a pint of water, night and morning, will be at-
tended with good results. In the mean time we put the

154 TiiK \hni>^-. Y.wnuvR.

animal on a course of tlie following alterative medicine
Powdered ginger, gentian, sulphur, salt, cream of tartar
charcoal, licorice, elecampane, caraway seeds, and balm
of Gilead buds, (chopped tine,) equal parts. Dose, one
ounce every night in the food.

No. 2. Take the young shoots .or buds of white
pine, say in May or June, boil them, wlien the liquor is
cold, give the horse one pint a day for 10 days.

No. 3. Take 180 grains of tartar emetic and divide
into 3 equal doses, mix in wet brand, give once in two
days ; this will alleviate.

No. 4. To 20 gallons of water, add one half pint of
unslacked lime, give the horse no other drink ; to his
grain, add 1 gill of vinegar, or one spoonful of ginger ;
apples are excellent for a horse that has the heaves ;
good cured corn stalk will generally relieve the disease.

No. 5. Take 1 pint of alcohol and put in all the tar
it will cut, give two table spoonsfull, every morning-
one hour before feeding, for 10 or 11 days.

BLISTERING.

The principle on which they act is, that two intense in-
flammations cannot exist in neighboring parts, at the same
time ; they also increase the action of contiguous vessels.
Inflammations should be met promptly, with blistering.
Old enlargements and swellings can be removed by mild-
er stimulants, such as siceatinff down the part to be blis-
tered. The hair should be shaved, and the ointment
thoroughly rubbed in. Care should be taken that the
horse cannot hurt himself. After twenty-four hours, a
little olive or neat's foot oil should be applied over the
blister. Apply the oil, morning and night, until the scab
peels off. Where there is a tendency to grease, blister-
ing is dangerous. In the whiter, care should be used
that the horse does not take cold m the part blistered.

CHAPTER YIII

DISEASES OF THE UHINAKY ORGANS, AND DIGESTIVE CAVITY,

INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS.

SYMPro^^rs. — A constant desire to void urine, although
only passed in small quantities, highly colored, and some-
tinies tinged with blood, though more generally quite
natural. There is usually a peculiar stiflfness in the hind
extremities, especially when the horse is made to describe
a circle. Pressure on the loins elicit symptoms of pain,
and the pulse and respirations denote febrile symptoms.
The Treatment will only vary from that of inflamma-
tion of other parts by a consideration of the peculiarity
of the organ affected. Bleeding may be promptly re-
sorted to. An active purge should next be administered,
and a counter-inflammation excited as nearly as possible
to the s jat of disease. For this purpose, the loms should
be fomented n it'i liot water, or covered with a mustard-
poultice — the horse should be warmly clothed ; no di-
uretic should be given internally. One of the best ap-
plications to the lohis is a fresh sheep skin, the skin side
inwards. This will very soon cause and keep up a con-
siderable persi:»iration, which may be contmued by means
of a fresh skin in the course of twelve hours. With re-
gard to internal medicines, one of the best sedatives is
the white hellebore, in doses of a scruple twice a day.
The bowels should be opened by means of an aperient

156 The Horse Farkier.

draught, and abundance of linseed tea should be given,
so as to sheath the irritated parts. The patient should
be warmly clothed ; his legs well bandaged, and plenty
of water oifered to him. The food should be carefully
examined, and anything that could have excited, or that
may prolong the irritation, carefully removed.

INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER.

This is a very rare but exceedingly dangerous disease.
There are two varieties of this disease, inflammation of
the body of the bladder, and of its neck. The symptoms
are nearly the same with those of inflammation of the
kidney, except that there is rarely a total suppression of
urine, and there is heat felt in the rectum over the situa-
tion of the bladder. The causes are, the presence of some
acrid or irritant matter in the urine, or of calculus or
stone in the bladder. In inflammation of the neck of the
bladder, there is the same frequent voiding of urine in
small quantities, generally appearing in an advanced stage
of the disease, and often ending in almost total suppres-
sion. There is this circumstance which can never be mis-
taken : the bladder is distended with urine, and can be
distinctly felt under the rectum. It is spasm of the part,
closing the neck of the bladder so powerfully that the
contraction of the bladder and the pressure of the mus-
cles are unable to force out the urine.

The Treatment in this case will be the same as in in-
flammation of the kidneys, except that it is of more con-
sequence that the animal should drink freely of water or
thin gruel.

The irritation being great, it is almost impossible to
keep any soothing application in the bladder, the contents
of which are being continually ejected. Recourse, there-
fore, must be had to very copious bleeding, so as to en-
deavor to check the inflammation which exists, as
well as to assuage the irritation, which forbids local
measures. It will assist, to administer calomel, combined
with opium and tartarized antimony, two scru^^les of each
being given three times a day. The same means may be

InFLAMMATI N OF StO^TACII AND BoWELS. 157

adopted when inflammation attacks the neck of the blad-
der, and the spasm prevents its evacuation. The bladder
of a mare may be readily evacuated by means of a cath-
eter ; and, by. the aid of the elastic and flexible catheter,
the bladder of the gelding can also be discharged, though
the operation requires some tact and skill.

rNTLAilMATION OP THE ST03IACH AXD BOWELS.

There are two varieties of this malady. The first is
inflammation of the external coats of the intestines, called
peritonitis accompanied by considerable fever, and usually
costiveness. The second is that of the internal or mu-
cous coat, called enteritis.

The muscular coat is that which is oftenest affected.
Inflammation of the external coats of the stomach, whether
the peritoneal or muscular, or both, is a very frequent
and fatal disease. It speedily runs its course, and it is of
great consequence that its early symptoms should be
known.

The causes of;:>er^7o?l^^^5 are both numerous and various.
We have seen that colic may give rise to it. Constipa-
tion may be viewed in the light, both of cause and effect,
in Its relation to it. Collected hardened fa)ces must nat-
urally not only of themselves be irritative, but obstruct-
tive and subversive of the functions of the bowels, and in
either one or the other way may lay the foundation for
an attack of inflammation. Certain kinds of indigestible
food, calculous bodies, irritating matter of any sort, with-
in the bowels, may cause an inflammation of them. Ob-
struction of any of their passages — whether it be from
the lodgment and immovableness of the matters they con-
tain, or from entanglement of the intestines, or intus-sus-
ception — must in the end occasion inflammation. Over-fa-
tigue, and consequent excessive irritation in the bowels,
will bring it on.

SYMPTOiis. — There is some analogy between the symp-
toms of this disease and coUc ; there is, however, one
marked feature of the case which enables us to diagnose

158 TuK I[oI:B^:

the disease with some degree of certainty, for when in-
flammation has fairly set in, there is little, if any, remission
of pain ; whereas, in colic, the pains are of a spasmodic
character, so that the animal at times is qnite easy. The
pulse, in inflammation of the bowels, is small, firm, and
quick increasing in beat as the disease increases in in-
tensity.

" The next stage borders on delirium. The eye acquires
a T^^ld, haggard, mmatural stare — the pupil dilates — his
heedless and dreadful throes render approach to him quite
perilous. He is an object not only of compassion but of
apprehension, and seems fast hurrying to his end ; when,
all at once, in the midst of agonizing torments, he stands
quiet, as though every pain had left him, and he were go-
ing to recover. His breathing becomes tranquilized —
his pulse sunk beyond all j^erception — his body bedewed
with a cold, clammy sweat — ^he is in a tremor from head
to foot, and about the legs and ears has even a death-like
feel. The mouth feels deadly chill ; the lips drop pendu-
lous ; and the eye seems unconscious of objects. In line,
death, not recovery, is at hand; Mortification has seized
the inflamed bowel — pain can no longer be felt in that
which, a few minutes ago, was the seat of exquisite sui-
fering. He again becomes convulsed, and in a few more
struggles, less violent than the former, he expires.

Treatment. — The treatment should be prompt and
energetic. The first and most powerful means of cure
w^ill be bleeding. From six to eight quarts of blood
should be abstracted as soon as possible ; and the bleed-
hig repeated, if the pain is not relieved and the pulse has
not become rounder and fuller. Weakiness is the conse-
quence of violent inflammation of these parts; and if that
iniiammation is subdued by the loss of blood, the weakness
will disappear. The bleeding should be effected on the
first appearance of the disease.

A strong solution of aloes should immediately follow
the bleeding, but guarded by opium. This should be
quickly folloA\'ed by back-raking, and injections consisting
of warm w^ater, or very thin gruel, in which Epsom salts

BoTs. 159

or aloes have been dissolved ; and too much fluid can
scarcely be thrown up. If the common ox-bladder and
pipe is used, it should be frequently replenished. The
horse should likewise be encouraged to drink plentifully
of warm water or thin gruel ; and draughts, each con
taining a couple of drachms of dissolved aloes, with a
little opium, should be given every six hours, until the
bowels are freely opened.

Dr. Dadd recommends a method of treatment quite
different from the above. He is very much opposed to
blood-letting in all cases. That bleeding is efficacious in this
and other diseases, is certain, but we are not certain that
the same results cannot be attained by other and mild-
er remedies. There has been a reform, of late years,
in the human practice with good results, and why can-
not the same ends be accomplished in the veterinary prac-
tice ? We would recommend a careful perusal of Dr.
Dadd, in " Modern Horse Doctor," on this disease.

BOTS.

This disease is frequently confounded with choUc, or
other diseases. Generally speaking, bots are not so trouble-
some to horses as people seem to suppose ; for it is very
rare, in making a post mortem examination, that we do not
find more or less in the stomach. This history is curious
and is as follows :

A species of gad-fly is in the latter part of the summer
exceedingly busy about the horse. It is observed to be
darting with great rapidity towards the knees and sides
of the animal. The females are depositing their eggs on
the hair, and which adhere to it by means of a glutinous
fluid ^\dth which they are surrounded. In a few days the
eggs are ready to be hatched, and the slightest applica-
tion of warmth and moisture will liberate the little ani-
mals which they contain. The horse in licking himself
touches the egg ; it bursts, and a small worm escapes,

160 The Horse Farrier.

wliich adheres to the tongue, and is conveyed with the
food into the stomach. There it clings to the cuticular
portion of the stomach, by means of a hook on either
side of its mouth ; and its* hold is so firm and so obsti-
nate, that it most be broken before it can be detached.
It remains there feeding on the mucus of the stomach
during the whole of the winter, and until the end of the
ensuing spring ; when, having attained a considerable
size, and being destined to undergo a certain transforma-
tion, it disengages itself from the cuticular coat, is car-
ried into the villous portion of the stomach with the food,
passes out of it with the chyme, and is evacuated with
the dung.

Treatment. — In most cases, if the horse be allowed
to^ run for a short time at grass, when the bots have at-
tained their full growth, and exercise an independent life,
they will pass off with the excrement. The compound
for the expulsion of the bots will be found useful, when
they are found at neck of the throat :

No. 2. Drench freely with sweet milk and molasses,
(sugar or honey will do,) well shaken together. Contin-
ue it, a bottle full every fifteen or twenty minutes, accord-
ing to the severity of the attack, until the animal becomes
easy ; then give a quart bottle full of strong salt and wa-
ter, folloAved soon after with a quart bottle of Castor Oil.
It is worse than idle to give anything with the view of
killing the bots in a horse. The only plan is to coax them
off.

No. 3. Make a tea of sage, sweeten it well, when about
milk warm drench your horse with it. If it turns out to
be colic and not bots, the sage will be good for that.

No. 4. As soon as it is discovered that a horse has
symptoms of bots, give a half pint of warm, sweet milk,
just drawn from a cow, and a half pint of molasses. In
15 minutes after, give a strong tea made of elder bark,
and sage, to which add a half an ounce of alum. This is
given as a drench. In half an hour after, give the horse
a portion of physic.

Colic. 161

We have but little faith in medicine expelling bots ; we
can get the medicine into the horse's stomach, but we
cannot get it down the throat of the worm when the food
does not suit him.

The nit or egg can easily be got rid of by greasing the
horse's hair, and then rubbing it with a coarse cloth, or
by applying warm water, which loosens their hold on the
hair.

COLIC.

In nine cases out of ten, coUc is the result of impaired di
gestive organs. The drinking of cold water when the
horse is heated, is a very sure origin of violent spasm
in the horse. Hard water is very apt to produce this
effect. Colic will sometimes follow the exposure of a
horse to the cold air or a cold wind, after strong exercise.
Green feed, although, generally speaking, most beneficial
to the horse, yet, given in too large a quantity, or when
he is hot, will frequently produce gripes. Doses of aloes,
both large and small, are not unfrequent causes of coUc.

Symptoms. — It is of much importance to distinguish
between spasmodic colic and inflammation of the bowels,
for the symptoms have considerable resemblance, although
the mode of treatment should be very different.

The attack of coHc is usually very sudden. The horse
begins to shift his posture, look around at his flanks, paw
violently, strike his belly with his feet, and crouch in a
peculiar manner, advancing his hind limbs under him ; he
will then suddenly he, or rather fall down, and balance
himself upon his back, with his feet resting on his belly.
The pain now seems to cease for a little while, and he gets
up, and shakes himself, and begins to feed ; the respite,
however, is but short — the spasm returns more violently
— every indication of pain is increased — he heaves at the
flanks, breaks out into a profuse perspiration, and throws

162 The Hoksf. FAPainR.

himself more recklessly about. In the space of an hour
or two, either the spasms begin to relax, and the remis-
sions are of longer duration, or the torture is augmented
at every paroxysm ; the intervals of ease are fewer and
less marked, and inflammation and death supervene. The
pulse is but Uttle affected at the commencement, but it
soon becomes frequent and contracted, and at length is
scarcely perceptable.

Treatment. — Take powdered grams of paradise, 1 tea^
spoonful; powdered caraway, 1-2 tea-spoonful; oil of
peppermint, 20 drops ; powdered slippery elm, 1 table-
spoonful ; hot water, 1 pint ; mixed together and given
from a bottle. An injection of common soap suds thrown
into the rectum. Peppermint tea alone will sometimes af-
ford relief and a perfect cure. Saleratus is a favorite
remedy with many, but it should not be mixed with milk
or molasses, as is often done.

If the animal labors under pyloric obstruction, the fol-
lowing is a good preparation ; — Carbonate ammonia, 1
drachm ; tincture of gmger, 1 ounce ; water, 1 pint.
Mix, and drench the horse.

SCOURS AND CONSTIPATION IN YOUNG COLTS.

The principal cause of this disease is the want of prop-
er management of the mother. It is a law of nature that
whatever effects the bowels of the mother, will also ef-
fect the colt through the milk it derives, though more
seriously. For the colt must now, and, until it be able
to masticate food, depend altogether on the parent's milk,
and the latter cannot furnish it in sufficient quantities, un-
less kept on generous food.

Treatment. — Our first duty is to attend to the wants
of the mother — estabhsh her health if it be impaired.

Stock raisers might learn a lesson from nurses who 'at-
tend human parturients ; they give the old-fashioned dose

Scours and Constipation in Colts. 168

of castor oil understandingly, knowing from long experi-
ence that it operates both on the mother and child.

The milk of the mother, immediately after parturition,
is the best kind of medicine to regulate the secretions and
excretions of the offspring, and it generally has the de-
sired effect. There may, howeyer, be cases where, in
Consequence of exposure, the foal may haye diarrhoea ; if
So, he must be placed in a warm situation. Perhaps all
that will now be needed for the cure is some warm o-jn-
ger, or caraway tea ; and a httle of either of these ^inij^le
articles, pulyerized, may, with adyantage, be given to the
mother in her food. If the mother is fat, and has not had
sufficient exercise previous to parturition, we are not to
be in a hurry to stop the discharge, but merely to hold it
in check. If, in poor condition, and still losing flesh,
then, in addition, give of tonic, and give freely of gruel
made of w^heat flour, and as long, the foal should not de-
pend altogether on its dam for sustenance, but might have
a daily allowance of boiled cow's milk, cooled to about the
temperature of milk when drawn. Ilay tea, to which a
small quantity of cow's milk may be added, is an excel-
lent drink for the young foal in the absence of its mother's
milk. Try it, reader, on your calves, also, if you have
occasion.

The folloT\dng astringent drink for colts is efficacious,
viz : Angelica root, one ounce ; Cranesbill, 2 ounces ;
bayberry bark, 1-4 ounce ; African ginger, 1-2 ounce.
Pour on the above ingredients two quarts of boiling wa-
ter ; set them aside for a few hours. Dose — Half a pint
every four hours until the disease is checked. If the dis-
charges are fetid, add to each dose half a table-spoonful
of flnely-pulverized charcoal, and if the foal be weak and
in poor condition, allow it hay tea, thickened with oat-
meal.

As regards costiveness, green food and scalded shorts
are the antidotes^ and the mother will partake of either
with relish ; some of the former, if the season permits,
should be cut and placed before her soon after labor. If
the articles fail to have the desired effect, a dose of ap-
erient medicine — castor oil, or salts — should be given.

164 The Horse Farrikr.

diarrh(ea.

This is qnite a common disease among horses. There
is a kind, however, among grass eaters, that is beneficial
rather than other \\ase, if it does not continue for any
length of time. Diarrhoea is the effect of an irritable or
congested state of the mucous membrane of the intes-
tines, often produced by improper articles, or over doses
of physic, by over exertion and perspiration, suddenly
checked by exposure to cold winds, &c.

Symptoms. — The symptoms are, he frequently looks
round at his flanks ; his breathing is laborious, and the
pulse is quick and small — the mouth is hot and the legs
and ears are warm.

Treatment. — If it proceeds from the feed, change of
diet will generally be sufficient. Unless the purging is
excessive, and the pain and distress great, the surgeon
should hesitate at giving any astringent medicine at first ;
but administer gruel or thin starch, or arrow-root, by the
mouth and by clyster, removing all hay and corn, and par-
ticularly green feed. Itj however, twelve hours have
passed, and the purging and the pain are undiminished,
continue the gruel, adding to it chalk, catechu, and opium,
repeated every six hours. As soon as the purging begins
to subside the astringent medicine should be lessened in
quantity, and gradually discontinued. The horse should
be warmly clothed, and placed in a comfortable stable,
and his legs should be hand-rubbed and bandaged. Bay-
berry bark and charcoal are powerful astringents.

If the disease depends on deranged digestive function,
the liver included, give a few doses of the following;
Powdered goldenseal, 2 ounces; powdered ginger, 1
Dunce ; salt, 1 ounce. Dose, half an ounce twice a day.

IXDIGESTIOX.

The causes of indigestion are numerous : too little or
too much of food, water, or work ; bad ventilation ; ex-
posure; poisons; damaged or highly nutritious food;
working the animal on a full stomach — are all operative
in producing indigestion in acute or chronic forms.

iNFLAiVrMATION OF THE EyE. 165

Symptoms. — The excrement is very variable in color
and consistence, often hard and covered with slime ; at
other times soft, when the presence of intestinal parasites
can be detected. The nrine is scanty, and either colored
or thickened with foreign material. The animal is gen-
erally cross and irritable, and leaves the stable, at work-
ing time, very unwillingly ; he requires considerable urg-
ing while travelling, and, of course, is incapacitated to
perform his usual work.

Treatment. — First, if possible, remove the cause.
If the animal has been fed on dry food, let him have a
mixture of boiled oats, shorts, and carrots, well seasoned
with salt, to which add daily half a table-spoonful of
v>^hite mustard seed; |- pint of pale brandy to four
ounces of fine salt ; dose, a wine glass, in oatmeal gruel,
night and morning, just before meals. The animal must
not be permitted to spend half his time eating. Atten-
tion must also be paid to the water which the animal
drinks : throw a handful of pulverized charcoal, daily,
into the water trough. This will improve the very worst
kind.

INFLAMMATIOX OF THE EYE.

This disease is so familiar to every one, that a descri}>
tion of it seems unnecessary. Its seat is in the membrane
which lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the white of
the eye ; when treated in the early stage, it generally yields
to very simple treatment. From this primary form of
disease others of a more alarming nature supervene.

As prevention is much cheaper than cure, it is of great
importance to practice that system of management, with
respect to feeding, exercise, cleanliness and ventilation,
which is most likely to prevent it. It may be considered
under two forms — the common and manageable, and the
specific and fatal. The common inflammation is gener-
ally sudden in its attack.

Symptoms. — The lids will be found swelled and the
eyes partially closed, and some weeping. The inside of
the Ud will be red, some red streaks visible on the white

166 TiiK lIoRyi-: Fauimkk.

of the eve, and the cornea slightly dmi. This is occasion-
ally connected with, some degree of catarrh or cold ; but
it is as often unaccompanied by this, and depends on ex-
ternal irritation, as a blow, or the presence of a bit of
hay-seed or oat-husk within the hd, towards the outer
corner where the haw cannot reach it ; therefore the hds
should always be carefully examined as to this possible
source of the complaint.

Treatmext. — Coohng applications to the eye, as the
eye lotion or tincture of opium, with gentle physic, will
usually abate the evil ; or the inflammation will subside
without medical treatment. A cool shed, rather darken-
ed, will be the most desirable place ; a very light diet of
scalded shorts, or gruel, wiR be all the patient needs, for
inflammation.

LOCKED JAWED OE TETAXUS.

Locked jaw or tetanus is one of the most dreadful
and fatal diseases to which the horse is subject. It is
called locked jaw, because the muscles of the jaw are
earliest affected, and the mouth is obstinately and im-
movably closed. It is a constant spasm of all the volun-
tary muscles, and particularly of the neck, the spine, and
the head. It is generally slow and treacherous in its at-
tack. The horse, for a day or two, does not appear to
Lu quite well ; he does not feed as usual ; he partly chews
li.s food, and drops it ; and he gulps his water. The
owner at length tinds that the motion of the jaws is con-
siderably limited, and some saliva is driveling from the
mouth. If he tries, he can only open the mouth a very
little way, or the jaws are perfectly and rigidly closed.

Tetaims most usually occurs from injuries to some
nervous flbre of the foot — sometimes Irom a prick in shoe-
ing. It is also connected with docking, nicking and cas
tration, over exertion, and sudden exposure.

SYMPTo:srs. — A protrusion of the muzzle, and stiffness
of the neck ; the muscles singularly prominent, distinct,
Lard, knotty, and unyielding. There is difficulty in bring-
ing the head round, and still greater difficulty in bending
it. The eye is drawn deep within the socket.

L'CKKL) Javw 167

The ears are erect, pointed forward, and immovable ;
if the horse is spoken to, or threatened to be struck, they
change not their position. The nostril is expanded to the
utmost. The respiration is usually accelerated, yet not
always so ; but it is uniformly laborious. The pulse gives
little indication of the severity of the disease. It is some-
times scarcely affected. After a while, however, the heart
begins to sympathize with the general excitation of the
system, and the pulse increases in frequency and force un-
til the animal l>ecomes debilitated, when it beats yet quick-
er and quicker, but dimmishes in power, and gradually
11 utters and dies away.

The countenance is eager, anxious, haggard, and tells
y/lainly enough what the animal suffers.

The stiffness gradually extends to the back. If the
horse is in a narrow stall, it is impossible to turn him ;
and, even with room and scope enough, he turns alto-
gether ]ike a deal-board.

The extremities begin to participate in the spasm — hind-
er ones generally first. The horse stands with his hind-
legs straddling apart in a singular way. The fore-limbs
have a singular appearance; they are as stiff as they can
possibly be, but stretched forward and straddling.

There is a degree of " hide-bound" appearance, and of
tuckhig np of the belly, which is seen under no other
complaint. The tail becomes in constant motion.

Constipation, and to an almost insurmountable degree,
now appears. The abdomuial muscles are so powerfully
contracted, that no portion of the contents of the abdo-
men can pass on and be discharged.

i>y degrees the spasm extends and becomes everywhere
more violent. The motion of the whole frame is lost, and
the horse stands fixed in the unnatural posture which he
has assumed. The countenance becomes wilder and more
haggard — its expression can never be affaced from the
memory of him who cares about the feelings of a brute.

Teeatment. — The obj ect is to abate the spasm. For this
purpose, opium will be the most efficient remedy. It will
be borne in doses of from half a drachm to two drachms

168 The Hoii3E Fahrieb.

every tour or five hours. Large injectious of Epsoin or Glau-
ber salts in solution may be used to advantage. The horse
should be well rubbed and blanketed, and a strong liniment
rubbed along the spine.

If the disease terminates fatally, it is usually from the
sixth to the eighth day. There are occasionally slight
remissions in the spasm, but not sufficiently to enable the
animal to eat or to drink. If these remissions return and
increase in length, and particularly if there is more relax-
ation of the lower jaw, there is yet hope. If the horse
recovers, it will be slowly, and he will be left sadly weak,
and a mere walking skeleton.

FEVER.

Fever is general increased arterial action, either with-
out any local aifection, or in consequence of the sympa-
thy of the system with inflammation in some particular
part.

The first is pure fever. Owing to bad stable manage-
ment and general treatment, and the susceptibility of va-
rious parts of the horse to take on inflammation, iiiirf
usually degenerates into inflammation. But pure fever
is sometimes seen, and runs its course regularly.

It frequently begins with a cold and shivering flt,
although this is not essential to fever. The horse is dull,
unwillins: to move, has a staring^ coat, and cold les^s and
feet. This is succeeded by warmth of the body ; une-
qual distribution of warmth to the legs ; one hot, and the
other three cold, or one or more unnaturally warm, and
the others unusually cold, but not the deathlike coldness
of inflammation of the lungs ; the pulse quick, soft, and
often indistinct ; the breathing somewhat laborious ; but
no cough or pawing, or looking at the flanks. The ani-
mal will scarcely eat, and is very costive. While the
state of pure fever lasts, the shivering fit returns at
nearly the sai le liour every day, and is succeeded by the
warm one, and that often by a slight degree of perspira-
tion ; and these alternate during several days until local

Putrid Feveb. 169

inflammation appears, or the fever gradually subsides.
Ko horse ever died of pure fever. If he is not destroyed
by inflammation of the lungs, or feet, or bowels, succeed-
ing to the fever, he gradually recovers.

Fever is general mcreased action of the heart and ar-
teries, and therefore evidently appears the necessity for
bleeding, regulating the quantity of blood by the degree
of fever, and usually keeping the iinger on the artery
until some evident and considerable impression is made
upon the system. The bowels should be gently opened ;
but the danger of inflammation of the lungs, and the
uniformly injurious consequence of purgation in that dis-
ease, will prevent the administration of an active purga-
tive. A small quantity of aloes may be given, morning
and night, with the proper fever medicine, until the
bowels are slightly relaxed, after which nothing more of
an aperient quality should be administered. Digitalis,
emetic tartar, and nitre should be given morning and
night, in proportions regulated by the circumstances of
the case. The horse should be warmly clothed, and
placed in a cool and well-ventilated stable.

PUTRID FEVER.

The cause of this disease may be attributed to the at-
mospheric influence and debility, however induced.

Symptoms. — Great debility, difiiculty in swallowing,
and thirsty, pulse weak, gets down and is not able to rise,
lies on his side paws, not able to rise, rattles in the wind-
pipe.

Treatment. — In attacks where the prostration of
strength is not great, give a drachm of camphor, and half
an ounce of nitre, pulverized and dissolved in half a pint
of warm water ; and give as a drench every two hours
two doses; then omit one dose, and give half an ounce of
capsicum, pulverised and dissolved in a pint of warm
water; in six hours after, commence with the camphor and
nitre as before, and give it every six hours, till it has con-
siderable of a diuretic efiect, or till the horse shows symp-

170 The Horse Farrier.

toms of rotuminrr liealth, when three doses m twenty-
four hours will be snffici'ut. But if the horse should be
losmg streniTth, the nitre must be left out, and from two
to four draehms of capsicum added to the camplior in
its place, and give every four or six hours.

If still losing strength, ho must have added to tlieiu
night and mornino;, iVoni three to four di-ac-ii'iis uf linely
])0\vdered cas;'ari.la. Injections must be use 1 twice a
day whilst the bowels are costive, composed of half an
ounce of castile soap, t) a quart of water, and four
ounces of e])Som salts dissolved in a quart of warm wa-
ter, alternately. The throat gargled every two hours,
with a tea made by pouring half a gallon of boiling water
on six drachms of capsicum, and when cool, add a pint ot
good vinegar. The throat externally must be well rubbed
with the following mixture, three or four times a day :
half a pint spirits of hartshorn, ditto of turpentine, ditto
of camphor, all mixed and kept well corked. If the
horse is down and unable to get up, he must be helped

WARTS.

These excrescences, arising from the cuticular covering*
of the skin, are sometimes very annoying to horses, es-
pecially when occurring about the eye, sheath, penis, or
on parts which come in contact w ith the harness.

Treatment. — A wart havmg a broad base shoidd be
treated in the following manner : Take a common suture
needle, and arm it with a double hgature; each ligature is
to be composed ot three threads of saddler's twine, well
waxed; pass the needle through the centre of the wart,
close down to the skin; tie each half separately; with a
sitr(/eo)i's knotyHS tight as possible; cut the end otf prctt}'
close to the knot, and in the course ot a short time the
wiiole will drop otf. A wart having a small circumscribed
pedicle may be removed in the same vvMy, by tying a sin

Slobbering . 171

gl.e ligature roimd it? Laso. 1 f the exposed surface should
not heal readily, moisten them occa/ioLally with tincture
of aloes and myrrh ; and if they show a disposition to ul-
cerate, sprinkle them with powdered charcoal and blood-
root, equal parts. Warts about the sheath or penis
should be removed by incision ; to do this, we often have
to cast the animal, the consequent hemorage to be arres-
ted with tincture of muriate of iron, or styptic.
CRACKED HEELS.
This is a very common affection in the country, and
is often attended with lameness. If long neglected, an of-
fensive discharge sets up, the skin becomes tender, the
limb temefied, the animal loses his appetite and fails in flesh.
Crack (d beels may be treated on the same principle as
scracl •<. To releave pain, apply a tent moistened witl
sulj^huric ether.

SLOBBERING.

This complaint is quite common in rural districts, where
clover is used as a pasture. LobeUa or tobacco will pro-
duce the same results. This is caused by irritation, the
article coming in direct contact with highly sensitive se-
cretary surfaces, which always pour out their fluids on the
apphcation of an irritant, so long as it remains an irri-
tant, and provided the parts retain their normal sensi-
bility, or through the medium of absorbents ; thus, calo-
mel ynW cause the s.divatory gland to secrete and pour
forth an amount of fluid almost incredible. A horse will
secrete mux e liuta one and a half gallons of fluid per hour.
The sharp edges of a worn-down tooth, or a tooth in a
state of ulceration, may give rise to profuse salivation ;
then again, a rough bit, and a hard master may be set
do\\m among the direct causes of this complaint. In-
different fodder of any kind and impaired digestive or-
gans, are apt to produce augmented salivary secretion.

Treatment. — The causes should be sought for, and if
practicable, removed. This may, of itself, produce relief.

172 The Hors?: Farrier.

If the trouble can be traced to a carous tooth, let it be
extracted, or should the edges of a tooth irritate the in-
side of the check, apply the tooth rasp, and make ah
smooth. If any irritation exists about the glands of the
throat ar * mouth, apply a stimulating appUcation to
them, Cumposed of hartshorn and olive oil. If some-
thing noxious in the food, give the following:

Powdered bayberry bark, powdered myrrh, powdered
goldenseal, powdered ginger, powdered sulphur, of each
1 ounce. Mix ; divide the mass into eight parts, and mix
one in fine feed, gargles, composed of decoction of witch
hasel, bayberry bark, tincture gum catechu, and a solu-
tion of alum, either of which is good, when an astrin-
gent is indicated.

No. 2. Mix a table spoonful of sulphur in salt, give
once or twice a week.

No. 3. Burdock leaves are said to effect a cure.
Horses will not eat them only when they are troubled
with slobbers, and thus eradicate two evUs at one time.

SPAVIN.

This is a very common and formidable disease of the
hock, and we have but little to offer by w^ay of cure, and
the majority of cases may be pronounced incurable ; the
lameness may be in part or entirely cured, but the spavin
cannot be radically removed. The principal cause of the
disease may be found in breeding from old b roken down
spavin mares and worthless studs, but the exciting or
immediate cause, is strain, injury, over-work, &q.

The weight and concussion being thrown principally
on the inner splent-bone, produce inflammation of the
cartilagenous substance that unites it to the shank-bone.
In consequence of it, the cartilage is absorbed, and bone
deposited ; the union between the splent bone and the
shank becomes bony, instead of cartilagenous ; the de-
gree of elastic action between them is destroyed, and
there is formed a splent of the hind leg. The disposition
to form bony matter having commenced, bone continues
to be deposited, and it generally appears in the form of

Spavin. 173

a tumor, where the head of the splent-bone is united
with the shank, and in front of that union. This is called
bone spavin. Inflammation of the ligaments of any of
the small bones of the hock, proceeding to bony tumor,
would equally class under the name of spavin ; but com-
monly, the disease commences on the precise spot that
has been described.

Symptoms, — While spavin is forming there is generally
lameness and sometimes very great but not entirely to unfit
him for work ; the lameness sometimes abates and entirely
disappears, by a little exercise, but when the membrane
of the bone has accommodated itself to the tumor that
extended it, lameness subsides or disappears, or depends
upon the degree which the bony deposit interfered with
the motion of the joint. Sometimes there is no tumor ;
then if a sort of regular lameness has existed for some
months, referable to no other joint than the hock, and the
difficulty has of late gradually increased, so that the joint
appears stiff, the critter is there, after which Ave may
expect to observe a tumor on the inside of the hock.
A tumor once formed in the region already referred to
needs no v)ise man to point it out ; it can be both seen
and felt ; and this, accompanied with hock lameness and
ligamentary tumefaction, is the symptom of spavin in its
exostotic stage.

Treatment. — The remedy iu the early stage, cold water
and refrigerated lotions; in the latter stages, strong iafusioD
of bay berry bark; and lastly, brandy and salt, perse vcringly
applied. Congestion may be treated in the same manner,
aided by friction.

The horse, as soon as the lameness or dry signs of di*
ease are perceptible, should have rest, and cooling appli-
cations should be applied. Dr. Dadd says : Our usual
remedy in the early stage is muriatic acid, 4 ounces, water,
2 quarts, tincture of bioodroot, 6 ounces. Applied daily
by means of a sponge, as follows : Take a piece of sponge,

174 ■ The HoKaE Farkier.

slightly concave, corresponding as nearly as possible to the
form and size of the hock ; by means of a few stitches,
affix two pieces of tape or linen, so as to form^ an X ;
each piece must be long enough to encircle the joint tw-o
or three times ; after dipping the sponge in the mixture,
it must be applied to the inside of the hock, and there
secured, and afterwards kept constantly moist. Dr.
Spooner says : If any external inflammation is pieseiit,
we cannot do better than commence by abstracting blood
from the vein above, and use cooUng appHcations to the
hock ; after which we may resort to the bUster, or seton.

WTNDGALLS.

The bursal capsules, located just above the fetlock, as
well as in the vicmity of the hock, secrete a synovial fluid,
corresponding to what some persons tenn ^^ joint oil.,''''
the use of which is to ficilitate motion. In cases of this
the use of which is to facilitate motion. Counter irritants, bau-
dage, friction, and regular exercise are good remedys.

Or drive a piece of leather, about two by six inches, full of
tacks one fourth of an inch apart, fasten this to a piece of
wood, place the points of the tacks against the wingall, give
it two or three taps, then sponge out the fluid. Bandage it
with linen, and saturate it with camphor twice a day. 1 7-4

raxGBOis^E.

Ringbone is a deposit of bony matter in one of the
pasterns, and usually near the joint. It rapidly spreads,
and involves not only the pastern bones, but the cartila-
ges of the foot, and spreading aromid the pasterns and
cartilages, thus derives its name. Ringbone is sometimes
hereditary ; though it is usually occasioned by a strain
taken in curvettmg, bounding turns, and violent gallop-
ing or racing. A coarse or half-bred, fleshy, or bony-
legged horse, with short and upright pasterns is the ordi-
nary subject of this disease.

Tlie treatment will be similar to spavin, in reaUty there
is no cure, but the lameness may be in a great measure
removed by cooHng apphcations, cold water bandage, lin-
iments, and above all, give the horse rest.

Prof. Spooner says : The best treatment for ringbones
after the inflammation lias been in great measure removed

FODNDEK. 175

by cooling applications, is to well rub in the iodine of mer-
cury ointment, washing off the effects on the following
day, and thus repeating it again and again. We have by
such means succeeded in removing the lameness, dimin-
ishing the enlargement, and restoring the animal, in many
cases, to a state of usefulness.

FOUNDER OR ACUTE RHEUMATISM.

This is a very common disease among horses. Foun-
der is produced by driving a horse, when in a state of
perspiration, into a pond, exposing him to cold wind or
rain, or tying him up in the stable yard while the hos-
tler washes his legs or thighs, and sometimes his body ;
but excessive exertion alone will, and often does, produce
every kind of founder.

Symptoms. — The earliest symptoms of fever m the feet
are fidgetyness, frequent shifting of the fore-legs. The
pulse is quickened, the flanks heavmg, the nostrils red,
and the horse, by his anxious countenance, and possibly
moaning, indicates great pain. He looks about as if
preparing to lie down ; he contmues to shift his weight
from foot to foot ; he is afraid to draw his feet sufficiently
under him for the purpose of lying down ; but at length
he drops. His quietness when down will distmguish it
from colic or inflammation of the bowels, in both of
which the horse is up and down, and frequently rolling
and kicking when down. When the grievance is in the
feet, the horse experiences so much relief, from getting
rid of the weight, that he is glad to lie as long as he can.
He will Ukewise, as clearly as in inflammation of the lungs
or bowels, point out the seat of disease, by looking at the
part. His muzzle will often rest on the feet or the affec-
ted foot.

The feet will be found hot, the patient mil express
pam if they are slightly rapped with a hammer, and the
artery at the pastern will throb violently. If the dis-
ease is sufiered to pursue its course, he will be perfectly
unable to rise ; or, if he is forced to get up, and one foot
is lifted, he will stand with difficulty on the others, or
perhaps drop at once, from intensity of pain.

176 The Hoese Farrier.

Treatment. — ^Youatt sa^^s, bleeding is indispensable.

If the disease is confined to the fore-feet, four quarts of
blood should be taken as soon as possible from the toe of
each ; care being taken to open the artery as well as the
vein. The feet may likewise be put into warm water, to
quicken the flow of the blood, and increase the quantity
abstracted. Poultices of linseed meal, made very soft,
should cover the whole of the foot and pastern, and be
frequently renewed. The shoe should be removed, the
sole pared as thin as possible, and the crust, and particu-
larly the quarters, well rasped. This must be done
gently, and with a great deal of patience. Sedative and
/ooling medicines should be diligently administered, con-
sisting of digitalis, nitre, and emetic tartar. About
the third day a blister may be tried, taking in the whole
of the pastern and the coronet, and washed ofi' the fol-
lov/ing day, and repeated several times. The horse
should be kept on mash diet, unless green meat can bo
procured ; and that should not be given too liberally.
Linseed tea, and water acidulated with cream of tartar,
Ibrm the best drink for patients. Yf hen the season will
permit, two months' run at grass will be serviceable.

CHRONIC FOUNDER.

The principal difference between this and the acute
disease lies in the less activity of the attack and inflam-
matory fever, and the indeiinite duration of the symp-^
toms ; the lameness is not persistent, but goes ofl' atWr"
exercise, and returns again while the animal is at rest»-

The treatment should be similar to that recommended
for the acute disease — blood-letting, poultices, fomenta-
tions, and blisters, and the last much sooner and much
more frequently than in the former disease.

CRAMP.

This is a sudden, involuntary, and painful spasm of a
particular muscle. It occasionally attacks the muscles of
organic life, but in its most common form only aflects the
hind extremities, where it is observed by the temporary
lameness and stiffness it produces, in the hardly worked

Sl'LKNT. 177

horse, as he is first led out of the stable in the morning.
If any lameness remains, Avhich can be ascertained by
pressing the parts, it should be removed by hard rubbing,
or by giving the horse a wider or more comfortable stall,
if that should appear to be the origin of the difficulty.

SPLEXT.

This is a callous or osseous tumor — growing upon one,
or contiguous to one, of the splent bones.

A splent seldom occasions lameness, except in the pri-
mary stage. When the membrane has accommodated it-
self to the tumor, the lameness subsides, and altogether
disappears, unless the splent be in a situation in which it
interferes with the action of some tendon or ligament, or
in the immediate neighborhood of a joint.

Treatment. — The hair should be closely shaved off
round the tumor; a little strong mercurial ointment
rubbed in for two days ; and this followed by an active
blister. If the splent is of recent formation, it will gen-
erally yield to this, or to a second bUster.

LAMENESS.

Lameness of whatever kind should have prompt atten-
tion. However trivial it may appear, it may end in a chronic
lameness and perhaps in spavin or ringbone. If the
cause is not clear to the owner, he had better consult one
that is skilled, though it may cost a little trouble and
money. There are various causes and kinds of lameness.
It frequently arises from shoeing, or by picking up some
foreign bodies. Removing the cause, will generally be sufl
ficient to effect a cure, but if the incision is deep, dress
with fir balsam, or mixed soap and sugar. In stifle joint
lameness, the symptoms are heat and tenderness, and
the limb is advanced with, difficulty ; rest, fomentations
with infusion of poppy heads, cold water, and sometimes
physic, will be the most proper means of cure. For chronic
stifle lameness, originating m adhesions, or infiltrations
of the surrounding tissues, a few apphcations of the ace-
tate of cantharides will jjrobably efiect a cure. Lame-
ness in the hock, from strain, over-work, or blow, is evi-

178 . TiiK HoKSK Fakrier.

dent from the heat, pain, and tumefaction about tlie part •
the animal will flinch when the part is handled, and some-
times catch the leg up. The parts should be kept cool by
sponge, and the horse should have rest. If he is worked, a
it may prove a spavin. In lameness of the shoulder, the
symptoms are, the horse moves the leg in a circular form
instead of advances forward, and the action of one shoul-
der is quite diiferent from the other ; the animal throws
the weight of the body as much on the sound side as
possible.

Treatment. — If caused by heavy drawing, violent
tugging, or galloping on roads, rest, fomentations, and a
light dose of medicine are indicated. Should the animal
still be lame after the inflammatory symptoms, have sub-
sided, use the following liniment : Linseed oil, one pint,
^chloric ether, 1 ounce, oil of cedar, half an ounce.
Mix ; and apply to the shoulder, night and morning.
If the disease is confined to the joint, blister, or stimu-
lating Hniments may answer.

elbjW joint lameness.

The symptoms are tenderness, pain, swelling, heat,
and tumefaction around the joint, with inability of free
motion, &c. A dose of cathartic medicine, if high heat
prevails in the surface of the lame region, — vinegar and
water — are indicated. Very little benefit can be derived
from any treatment, unless the animal be kept at rest,
and on a light diet. In the greater number of cases of
fracture, it w^ill be necessary to place the horse under
considerable restraint, or even to suspend or sling him.
A broad piece of sail-cloth, furnished with two breecii-
ings, and two breast-girths, is placed under the animal's
belly, and, by means of ropes and pulleys attached to a
cross beam above, he is elevated or lowered as circum-
stances may require. It Avill seldom be necessary to lift
the patient quite off the ground, and the horse will be
quietest, and most at his ease, when his feet are suifered
just to touch it. The head is confined by two collar ropes,
and the head-stall well padded. Many horses may plunge
about and be diflicult to manage at first, but geneially

^.

Lameness.

179

e -eaking, it is not long ere they become perfectly pas
sive.

The use of the different buckles and straps which are
attached to the sail-cloth will be evident on inspection,
ir the horse exhibits more than usual uneasiness, other
rapes may be attached to tne corners of the sail-clotli.
This will aiford considerable relief to th? pr^tient, as wei'
as add to the security of tne baiidi:ges.

TOE ^P.AOF,

The practice is first, to poohice. ti.e looi, (supposing
tlie shoe to have been reraovedj with t\ view of sollenintr
the hoof and removing any extraneous matter that mav
have insinuated itself mto the crack. Av'hen ihe hoot is
sufficiently softened, it should be cleansed, examined,
and dressed with tincture of myrrh. 6eject a sput
about an inch below the coronet, and with a small gini.tt
bore a hole through tiie two edges of the cracky arid an-

180 The Horse Farrier.

other one inch above the toe. A straight needle, armed
with a strong hgature, is to be passed through the upper
noles, brought over and through a second time ; thus clo-
sing the two edges of the fissure by what the sailors term a
" round turn." The same thing is to be repeated at the
toe. The assistant, by the aid of pincers or otherwise,
shuts the crack as close as j^ossible ; the ligatures are each
drawn tight, and tied with a surgeon's knot. A small
quantity of blister ointment is to be smeared over the
crack, and bar shoe applied. A quarter crack may be
treated in a similar manner, omitting, however, the
sutures.

After the edges have firmly united, cut the ligatures,
and pare the uneven edges of the cicatrix level with the
surrounding parts, and the cure is completed.

SWELLED LEGS.

If it occurs in young horses, and from those that are
over-fed and little exercised, sometimes diuretics or
purgatives, with proper management, will attbrd relief,
if there is a great degree of stiffness and pain, somtimes
abscesses appear. Physic or diuretics, or both, must be had
recourse to, if not connected with diseases and gen-
eral debility. Mingle cordial with diuretics. Hay ban-
dages dipped in water have a good effect for the agricul-
tural horse.

SCRATCHES.

Swelled legs, although distinct from grease, is a disease
that is apt to degenerate into it. Scratches is a specific
inflammation of the skin and heels, sometunes of the fore-
feet, but oftener of the hinder ones. The principal cause
of the disease is, neglected grooming and care, want of
exercise, high feeding, washing the feet and leaving them
to dry. The prevention will be proper ventilation, good
stabling, grooming, and proper care. It is more likely to
affect horses with white feet than others. Some consider
the disease contagious.

Symptoms. — The first is heat and tenderness. On ap-
plying the hand to the heel and fetlock, the parts will be
found hot, and under pressure, the animal will evince

ScR ACHES. 181

signs of pain. As the disease progresses, the parts be-
come swollen, — infiltrated with serum, — thus inereasing
the inflammatory symptoms, and causing the animal much
pam, which he usually evinces by occasionally catching
up the foot ^ the hairs stand out horizontally. When
the disease attacks both hind legs, the pain is somethnes
intense, especially if the horse be plethoric, or his system
is charged with morbid humors. In the latter case, the
greasy discharge is very profuse ; for the pent-up waste
matters have now found an outlet, which admit of a free
discharge of the fluids of the body.

Treatment. — Attention must first be paid to diet, ven-
tilation and cleanhness. The heels should be gently
washed with castile soap and water, and ointment ap-
plied in more advanced cases. Poultice with linseed meal
or carrots, boiled and mashed, may be applied, adding a
little astringent lotions to renew the irritation, and check
the discharge — give the cleansing powder. The follow-
ing will also be found beneficial which has been highly
recommended, by Prof. Norton, and others : Pyrolig-
neous acid. Unseed oil, turpentine, of each equal parts.
Mix ; first wash with water and castile soap ; alter wiping
them dry, apply the mixture. Repeat night and morn-
ing. In order to keep down "proud flesh," the parts
may be sprinkled daily with burnt alum. Put on a good
coating; cover the sore with dry lint, and apply a ban-
dage over all. Bandages should always be dispensed with,
if possible.

POULTRY LOUSINESS.

Horses frequently become infected with lice from poul-
try, having the roosting place adjoining the stalls. When
this is discovered, the preventive mil be to remove the
roosting place, and scald and w^hitewash the stable.

Symptom. — The horse is seized with violent itching,
shows a disposition to rub and bite himself, strike his
belly, is not easy for a moment, at night his torment in-
creases, after this his skhi loosens, his hah- and main some-
times break out with eruptions.

Treatment. — In order to destroy the vermin, and at

182 Thk Horse Fakrier.

the same time to cure the cutaneous eruptions, and res-
tore the hair, take linseed oil, one ounce, pyroligneous
acid, 3 ounces, spirits of turpentine, 1 ounce. Two or
thi-ee applications of this compound will generally suffice.
The parts to which the application has been made must
be washed with soap and water. The vermin can also be
destroyed by sponging the body with an infusion of
lobeUa.

HIDE BOUND.

Tliis term is applied to horses whose coat are stariiig^
and skin tight on the ribs and otherwise out of condition.
It is not so much of a disease as a symptom of a disease,
particularly of the digestive organs. Every disease that
can effect the general system may produce this. Glan-
ders, scratches, chronic cough, farcy Ibunder, are accom-
panied by hide bound. Diet too sparing, or w^ant of change
in diet, is an unfailing source of it ; if the cause is removed,
the effect will follow.

Treatment. — If no disease appears about the horse,
change the diet, clothe the body warmly, give a few
mashes, and a mild physic, or-give alteratives, and there
is none better than thnt which is in common use, pulver-
ized antimony, nitre and sulphur. Should the horse not
f-ed weii, and there is no fever, a slight tonic mav be
g:venof ginger. Friction may be used to advantage.

GLANDERS.

This is the most formidable of all the diseases to v.hich
tlie horse is subject. This disease is spontanous with
the horse only. In other animals, it is the result of con-
tagion. In the horse, it is the result of injuries of some
kind, acting upon and weakening the vital energies of
tiie lining membrane of the nose. It is often the conse-
quence of catarrh, influenza, distemper, and long-continu-
ed discharge from the nose.

They have been produced by the mjection of stimula-
ting and acrid substance up the nostiil. No disease will
run on tu glanders which has not, to a considerable and
pi.^iaO.j tiogree, impaired and broken down the constitu

Glanders. 183

tion ; and every disease that does this will run on to glan-

ders.

Glanders are highly contagious. If the discharge from
the nostrils of a. glandered horse is rubbed on a wound,
or on a mucus surface, like the nostrils, it will produce a
similar disease.

If some persons underrate the danger, it is because the
disease mav remain unrecognized in the infected horse for
some months, or even years, and therefore, when it ap-
pears, it is attributed to other causes. No glandered
horse should be employed on any farm, nor should a glan-
dered horse be permitted to work on any road, or even
to pasture on any field. He should be destroyed.

It is capable of being communicated to the human be-
ing, and, indeed, there have been very many deaths from
this cause, and most horrible deaths they are. It is gen-
erally by means of some cut or abrasion, which comes in
contact with the glandered matter, that the infection is
communicated. The utmost caution should, therefore, be
exercised by the attendants.

The stair and fences may receive the glanderous mat-
ter ; and hardening on them, it may months afterwards
communicate the disease to horses, sheep and cattle.

The earUest symptom of glanders is an mcreased dis-
charge from the nostril, smaU in quantity, constantly flow-
ing, of a watery character, and a httle mucus mmgling
with it.

It is a common and very mischievous error to suppose
that this discharge is sticky, when it first makes its ap-
pearance. It is mucus, but small and constant discharge,
and is thus distinguished from catarrh, or nasal gleet, or
any other discharge from the nostril.

The peculiar stickiness and gluiness supposed to dis-
tmguish the discharge of glanders from all other mucus
and prevalent secretions belongs to the second stage of
the disease, and, for many months before this, glanders
may have existed m an insidious and highly contagious
form. It must be acknowledged, however, that, in the
majority of cases, some degree of stickiness does charac-
12

184 The Horse Farrieb.

terize the discharge of glanders from a very early pe-
riod.

It is a singular circumstance, that when one nostril
alone is attacked, it is, in a great majority of cases, the left.

This discharge may continue in so slight a degree as to
be scarcely perceptible, for many months, or even two oi
three years, unattended by any other disease, even ul-
ceration of the nostril, and yet the horse being decided-
ly glandered from the beginning, and capable of propa-
gating the malady. In process of time, however, it ming-
les with the discharge, and then another and a charac-
teristic symptom appears. Some of this is absorbed, and
the neighboring glands become affected. If there is
discharge from both nostrils, the glands within the imder
jaw will be on both sides enlarged. If the discharge is
from one nostril only, the swelled gland will be found on
that side alone. Glanders, however, will frequently ex-
ist at an early stage, without these swelled glands, and
some other diseases, as catarrh, will produce them. Then
we must look out for some peculiarity about these
glands, and we shall readily find it. The swelling may
be at first somewhat large and diffused, but the surround-
ing enlargement soon goes off, and one or two small, dis-
tinct glands remain ; and they are not in the centre of
the channel, but adhere closely to the jaw on the affected
side.

The membrane of the nose should now be examined,
and will materially guide our opinion. It will either be
of a dark purplish hue, or almost of a leaden color, or of
any shade between the tvro ; or if there is some redness
of inflammation, it will have a purple tinge. Spots of ul-
ceration will probably appear on the membrane cover-
the cartilage of the nose — small ulcers, usually approach-
ing to a circular form, deep, and Tvdth the edges abrupt
and prominent. When these appearances are observed,
there can be no doubt about the matter.

When ulcers begin to appear on the membrane of the
nose, the constitution of the horse is soon evidently af-
fected. The patient loses flesh — his belly is tucked up,
his coat unthrifty, and readily coming off — the appetite

Farcy. 185

is impaired— the strength fails— cough, more or less iir-
gent, may be heard — the discharge from the nose will m-
crease in'quantity ; it will be discolored, bloody, offensive
to the smell— the ulcers in the nose will become larger
and more numerous, and the air-passages being obstruct-
ed, a grating, choking noise will be heard at every act of
breathing. "There is" now a pecuhar tenderness about the
forehead. Farcy is now superadded to glanders, or glan-
ders has degenerated into farcy, and more of the absorb-
ents are involved.

At or before this time Httle tumors appear about the
muscles, and face, and neck, followmg the course of the
veins and the absorbents, for they run side by side ; and
these tumors soon ulcerate. Tumors or buds, still pur-
suing the path of the absorbents, soon appear on the
mside of the thighs. They are connected together by a
corded substance, and ulceration quickly follows the ap-
pearance of these buds. The deeper seated absorbents
are next affected; and one or both of the hind-legs swell
to a great size, and become stiff', and hot, and tender.
The loss of flesh and strength is more marked every day.
The membrane of the nose becomes of a dirty livid col-
or. The membrane of the mouth is strangely palhd.
The eye is infiltrated with a yellow fluid ; and the dis-
charge from the nose becomes more profuse, and insuflera-
bly offensive. The animal presents one mass of putre-
faction, and at last dies, exhausted.

Treatment. — In well settled cases of this disease and
farcy, it is not w^orth while to attempt any remedies.
The chances of cure are too remote, and the danger of
infection too great. The horse should be dispatched at
once.

If, how^ever, remedial measures are resorted to, a pure
atmosphere should be tried ; and if practicable, keep on
green food. If this cannot be had, substitute it by boiled
carrots, beets, and turnips, thickened with shorts or fine
feed. Give all the salt the horse will eat. See receipts.

EAKCT.

Authorities define farcy to be a disease of the lym-

186 The Horse Farrier.

phatic vessels, making its appearance in the forai of
circular spellings, termed farcy buds^ which terminate in
a discharge and ulceration.

The causes of farcy exist in any thing that deranges
the lymj^hatie system; and probably the same causes
that operate, either by contagion or otherAvise, to pro-
duce glanders, will produce farcy. " By inoculation,
tarcy has been produced by the matter of glanders, and
glanders by the matter of farcy; and, consequently,
there is every reason to infer a similarity, or rather an
identity, in the virus of the two diseases ; one disease,
or form of disease, almost invariably temiinates in the
other, prior to dissolution. There can be no question
but that the same contaminated atmosphere of the stable
or elsewhere, which produces glanders, may occasion far-
cy, and vice versa. ''^

Syynptoms. — The horse is not in his usual spirits, ap-
pears dull and does not partake of food with his accus-
tomed relish. Some horse's pulse will be quicker than
natural, mouth hot, urine high-colored, &c. ; others are
suddenly attacked with a swollen leg. So sudden, sharj),
and severe are attacks of farcy in some instances, that in
the course of one night, the horse's limb will be swollen
to a frightful size, so as to incapacitate him almost from
turning in his stall and walking out of the stable.

" Viewing the aftected limb from behind, we perceive
a fulness on the inside of the thigh, along the course of
the femoral vem ; and the application of our finger to
this will immediately detect a corded, nodous swelling,
which has been happily enough, m the sensation it con-
veys to our feel, compared to a ''cord vnth so many knots
tied in it. ' This is at once evidence of the presence of
farcy.

'• Tracing the cord upward from its place of origin,
v>iiich commonly is above the hock, the hand is carried
into the groin, and there discovers a lobulated tumor, a
swelling of the ingumal glands, called a bubo; some-
times, however, the bubo does not make its appearance
untU after the full developement of the cord."

Poll Evil. 187

The first stage of farcy is tumification of the lym-
phatics—" development of the farcy bud."

The second stage is commonly a suppurative one, ter-
minating m a farcy ulcer. After passing through these
two stages, the disease may, and frequently does, termi-
nate in glanders. When it attacks horses in good condi-
tion, some hopes may be entertained of a cure. " No
swelling of a hind limb (or any other part) constitutes
a case of farcy apart from the unequivocal signs of lym-
phatic disease ; there must be present corded, nodulated
swelHngs, — huds in some form or other, — together with
actual or approaching tumefacation of the lymphatic
glands, or the case is not farcy."

poll evil and fistula withers.

Poll evil generally makes its appearance about the nape
of the neck in the form of a swelling, and if not arrested,
ends m abscess and fistula. It generally proceeds from
blows and bruises, strikuig the poll agamst the ceiling or
beams, jerking the head upwards, and commg in contact
with the head-stalls. Excessive friction, the bungling and
cruel manner of putting on small collars, &c., are the
principal causes of this complaint. It results either from
neglect or abuse.

Poll e\il is first noticed in the form of an oval tumor,
hot and tender, situated directly in the region of the
nape, mostly inclining to one side ; in the suppurative stage,
and when the matter is deep-seated, scarcely any fluctua-
tion can be felt ; when, however, the matter lies directly
beneath the skin, or in the cellular tissues, the reverse is
the case. The suppurative finally runs into the ulcerative
stage; we then observe chasms and sinuses, similar to
those observed in fistula of the withers, and finally the
bones become involved in the disease.

Fistula of the withers does not difier from poll evil-
except in location, but is more frequent. It arises in con.
sequence of the withers being more exposed to injury-
Fistula is the more formidable ; for the sinuses often bur-
row deep between the shoulder blade and spinous pro-
cesses, in various directions, so that it becomes both dif-
ficult and dangerous to search for them. For the treat-
ment of fistula and poll evil, see receiptg.

188

Medicines.

A LIST OF THE MEDICINES AND RECIPES USED IN THE TREAT-
MENT OF THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE.

Vinegar is a very useful ap-
plication for sprains and bruises.
Equal parts of boiling water and
cold vinegar will form a good
fomentation.

Spirit of Salt. — This acid is
formed by the action of sulphu
ric acid on common salt. It is
decidedly the best liquid caustic
we have. For corns, canker, in-
disposition in the sole to secrete
good horn, wounds in the foot
not attended by healtliy action.

Nitric Acid. — This is a valua-
ble external application. It is
both a caustic and an anti-septic.
It destroys fungous excrescences.

Sulphuric Acid, or Oil of Vit-
riol.— When mixed with tar, an
ounce to the pound, it is a good
application for the thrush and
canker : a smaller quantity-, mix-
ed with olive oil, makes a good
stimulating liniment.

Aloks. — There are two kinds
used in horse practice, the Bar-
badoes and the Cape. The Bar-
badoes aloes have a greater pur-
gative power than the Cape, ex-
clusive of griping less and being
safer, and the action of the bow-
els is kept up longer.

Alum, — is used internally in
cases of over-purging, in the form
of alum-whey, two drachms of
the powder being added to a pint
of hot milk. Its principal use is
external. A solution of two
drachms to a pint of water forms
alone, or with the addition of a
small quantity of white vitriol,
a very useful wash for cracked
heels, and for grease generally ;
and also for those forms of swel-
led legs attended with exudation
of moisture through the skin.

Anodtnes.^ — Opium is the only
drug that will lull pain. It may
be given as an anodyne, but it
will also be an astringent in
doses of 1, 2, or 3 drachms.

Camphor. — It diminishes the
frequency of the pulse, and sof-
tens its tone. When long ex-
hibited, it acts on the kidneys.
Externally applied, it is said to
be a discutient and an anodyne
for chronic sprains, bruises and
tumors.

Spanish Flies, — are the basis
of the most approved and useful
veterinary blisters. An infusion
of two ounces of the flies in a
pint of oil of turpentine, for sev-
eral days, IS occasionally used
as a liquid blister; and, when
sufficiently lowered with com-
mon oil, it is called a sweating
oil. They have been recom-
mended for the cure of glanders.
The dose is from five to eight
grains given daily, but withheld
for a day or two when diuresis
supervenes.

Guinea Pepper. — Thej'' are val-
uable as stimulants. Their bene-
ficial effect in cases of cold has
seldom been properly estimated.
The dose is from a scruple to
half a drachm.

Caraway Seeds. — These and
ginger, alone or combined, are
the best stimulants used in horse
practice.

Castor Oil — is an expensive
medicine. It must be given in
large doses.

Japan Earth — is a very useful
astringent. It is given in over-
purging, in doses of one or two
drachms, with opium.

Charcoal — is occasionally used

Mediciin^es.

189

Rs an antiseptic, being made into
a poultice with linseed meal, and
applied to foul and offensive ul-
cers, and to cracked heels.

Yeudigris i3 usefully applied
externally as a mild caustic.
Either alone, in the form of fine
powder, or mixed with an equal
quantity of the su2:ar of lead, it
eats down proud fiesh, or stimu-
lates old ulcers to healthy action.
When boiled with honey and
vinegar, it constitutes the far-
rier's Egyptiacimi, certainly of
benefit in cankered or ulcerated
mouth, and no bad application
for thrushes.

Blue Vitriol. — It is a favorite
tonic with many practitioners.
It is principally valuable as an
external application, dissolved in
water in the proportion of two
drachms to a pint, and acting as
a gentle stimulant. If an ounce
is dissolved in the same quanti-
ty of water, it becomes a mild
caustic. In the former propor-
tion, it rouses old ulcers to a
healthy action, and disposes even
recent wounds to heal more
quickly than they otherwise
would do; and in the latter it
removes fungous granulations or
proud flesh. It is also a good
application for canker in the foot.

Creosote — is much valued on
account of its antiseptic proper-
ties and 8toi)ping hemorrhages.
It is both a stimulant and a ton-
ic. In an undiluted state, it acts
as a caustic. In the form of a
lotion, a liniment, or an ointment,
it has been useful in farcy and
glanders, also in foot-rot, canker
and thrush. As a caustic, it acts
as a powerful stimulant

Digitalis — Fox-Gtlove. — The
leaves of the common fox-glove,

gathered about the flowering
time, dried carefully in a dark
place, and powdered, and kept
in a close black bottle, form one
of the most valuable medicines
in veterinary practice. It is a
direct and powerful sedative, di-
minishing the frequency of the
pulse, and the general irritabil-
ty of the system, and acting also
as a mild diuretic : it is, there-
fore, useful in every inflamma-
tory and febrile complaint, and
particularly in inflammation of
the chest. It is usually given in
combination with emetic tartar
and nitre. The average dose is
one drachm of digitalis, one and
a half of emetic tartar, and three
of nitre, repeated twice or thrice
in a day.

Diuretics — constitute a useful
class of medicines. They stimu-
late the kidneys to secrete more
than the usual quantity of urine,
or to separate a greater than or-
dinar}^ proportion of the watery
parts of the blood.

In swelled legs, cracks, grease,
or accumulation of fluid in any
part, and in those superficial erup-
tions and inflammations which
are said to be produced by hu-
mors floating in the blood, diuret
ics are evidently beneficial ; but
tliey should be as mild as possi-
ble, and not oftener given or con-
tinued longer than the case re-
quires.

Gentian stands at the head of
the vegetable tonics, and is a
stomachic, as well as a tonic —
Four drachms of gentian, two of
chamomile, one of carbonate of
iron, and one of ginger, will
make an excellent tonic ball. An
infusion of gentian is one of the
best applications to putrid ulcers.

190

Medicines.

GixGER — is as valuable as a
cordial, as gentian is as a tonic.
It is the basis of the cordial ball,
and it is indispensable in the
tonic ball.

Helebore, black. — This is used
mostly as a local application, and
as such it is a very powerful
stimulant.

Injections. — See Clysters.
Iodine. — This is one of the
most valuable drugs used in the
veterinary practice. It is used
in reducing every species of tu-
mors. It is used in various forms.
Iodine of potassium is best ad-
ministered internally, as a pro-
moter of absorption. Combined
with the sulphate of copper, it
forms a powerful and useful ton-
ic ; whilst in the form of iodine
of mercury, and combined with
lard or palm oil, it becomes a
powerful blister, and a useful
promoter of absorption.

Chloride of Lime is exceeding-
ly valuable. Diluted with twen-
ty times its quantity of water,
it helps to form the poultice ap-
plied to offensive discharges. —
The foetid smell of fistulous with-
ers, poll-evil, canker, and ill-
conditioned wounds, is imme-
diately removed, and the ulcers
are more disposed to heal.

Linseed is often used instead
of water, for the drink of the
horse with sore throat or catarrh,
or disease of the urinary organs,
or of the bowels.

Mashes, — constitute a very im-
portant part of horse-provender,
w4iether in sickness or health.

Mustard Sinapis. — This will be

found useful, if, in inflammation

of the chest or bowels, it is well

rubbed on the cliest or abdomen.

Nitrous Ether, Spirit of, — is

a very useful medicine in the ad
vanced stages of fever.

Opium, — However underrated
by some, is a valuable drug ; but
it is a powerful antispasmodic,
sedative and astringent.

Palm Oil,— is the very best
substance that can be used for
making masses and balls.

Pitch. — The best plaster for
sand-crack consists of one pound
of pitch and an ounce of yellow
beeswax melted together.

Kitrate of Potash (Nitre) is a
valuable cooling medicine and a
mild diuretic, and therefore it
should enter into the composition
of every fever-ball. Dose is from
two to four drachms.

Poultices. — Few horsemen are
aware of the value of these sim-
ple applications in abating inflam-
mation, relieving pain, cleansing
wounds, and disposing them to
to heal. Linseed meal forms the
best general poultice, because it
longest retains the moisture.

Sedatives, — are medicines that
subdue irritation, repress spas-
modic action, or deaden pain. —
Digitalis, hellebore, opium, tur-
pentine, are medicines of this
kind.

Sugar of Lead, — See under
Lead .

Sulphur. — It is an excellent
alterative, combined usually with
antimony and nitre, and particu-
larly for mange, surfeit, grease,
hide-bound, or want of condition;
and it is a useful ingredient in
the cough and fever ball.

Tar, — melted with an equal
quantity of grease, forms a good
stopping of the farrier. But its
principal virtue seems to consist
in preventing the penetration of
dirt and water to the wounded

Receipts.

191

part ; and is used with the usual
cough medicine, and in doses of
two or three drachms for chronic
cough.

Turpentine — is one of the best
diuretics, in doses of half an
ounce, and made into a ball with
linseed meal and powdered gin-
ger. The oil of turpentine is an
excellent antispasmodic. For the
removal of colic, it stands unri-
valled.

Zinc — Calamine Powder. — Five
parts of lard and one of resin are
melted together, and when these
begin to get cool, two parts of
the calamine, reduced to an im-
palpable powder, are stirred in.
If the wound is not healthy, a
small quantity of common tur-
pentine may be added. This
salve justly deserves the name
which it has gained, "The Heal-
ing Ointment." The calamine
is sometimes sprinkled with ad-
vantage on cracked heels and su-
perficial sores.

BEOEIPTS.

Wonderful Liniment. — 2 oun-
ces oil of spike, 2 do organum, 2
do hemlock, 2 do wormwood, 4 do
sweet oil, 2 do spts. ammonia, 2
do gum camphor, 2 do spts. tur-
pentine, and one quart of proof
spts, 95 per cent, mix well to-
gether, and bottle tight.

For sprains, bruises, lameness,
&c., &c., the above liniment can-
not be equalled, and is actually
worth $100 to any person keep-
ing valuable horses. Omit the
turpentine and you have the best
liniment ever made for human
ails, such as rheumatism, sprains ;

and whenever an outward ap.
plication is required, try it and
prove its virtues. It acts like
magic.

Rheumatic Liniment. — Take
alcohol^ pt., oil of origanum ^ oz.,
cayenne \ oz., gum myrrh ^ oz., 1
tea spoonful lobelia., and let all
stand one day, then bathe the part
affected. I paid $5 for this recipe.

Relief Liniment. — Take ^ pt.
linseed oil, add .^ pt. spts. turpen-
tine, 1 ounce origanum, and one
ounce oil of vitriol ; an excellent
liniment for rheumatism, sprains,
bruises, (fcc, try and prove it.

Chloroform Liniment. — For re-
lieving suffering in case of burns,
(fee, mix chloroform and cod-
liver oil.

Soap Liniment. — Take 1 oz.
organum, 1 oz. casteel soap, 1 pt.
alcohol, for swellings, &.c.

General Liniment. — Turpen-
tine one-half pint, linseed oil one
half pint, aquamonia 4 oz., tr. of
iodine 1 — shake it all well. This
is used for different things spoken
of in the different receipts, sores
or swellings, sprains, <fec.

Black Liniment.. — This is good
to apply on poll evil — fistula. —
Take of linseed oil half pint, tr.
of iodine 3 oz., turpentine 4 oz.,
oil of origanum 1 oz. — shake all
well and apply it every day. —
Rub it in well with your hand —
wash the part clean with soap
and water before applying it. —
This is good on anj- swelling.

Johnston's Liniment — Take oil
of origanum one oz., alcohol one
half-pint, oil of cedar one half-
ounce, oil of cloves one half-ounce,
turpentine one half-ounce, olive
oil 8 oz. — shake all well. This
is used for almost all complaints
of the muscles.

192

Receipts.

Opoi>eldoc. — Take alcohol half
a gallon, 2 pounds of castile soap,
4 oz. gum camphor, 2 oz. oil of
ambre ; place the alcohol into a
pot in hot water,shave up thewap
and keep it hot until all dissolves,
and you have the old original
opodeldoc.

Greex Ointment. — Take 6 lbs.
lard, put into ten gallon kettle,
add 2 gallons of water, cut jimp-
son weedSj and fill them in and
cook them four to six hours, slow,
and cook all the water out, then
put into jars, add to each pound
of ointment one ounce of turpen-
tine. This is a good and cheap
stable ointment — good for galls,
cuts, scratches, (fee.

Sloan's Ointment — Take mut-
ton tallow 4 lbs., beeswax one
half pound, rosin one half pound,
turpentine 3 oz., — melt over a
slow fire, and, when partly cold,
add the turpentine, and you have
the same ointment. Sloan sells to
cure everything; try it and pi'ove
its value.

Iodine Ointment.— Get 1 oz. of
the grease iodine, 1 pint of alcohol,
let this stand in the sun two days,
and this is the tincture of iodine.
Take 2 oz. of tincture and one-
half pound of lard ; mix well, and
you have the iodine ointment. —
This is used wherever the receipts
refer to the ointment.

White Ointment. — For rheu-
matism, sprains, burns, swellings,
bruises, or any inflammation on
man or beast, chapped hands or
lips, black eyes, or any kind of
bruise. Take fresh butter 2 lbs.,
tr. of iodine half oz., oil of ori-
ganum 2 oz — mix this well for
fifteen minutes and it is fit for
use— apply it every night ; rub
it in well with your hand. If

for human flesh, lay on warm
flannel.

Blue Ointment. — Take the
ointment of losin 4 oz., half oz.
of finely ground verdigris, 2 oz.
of turpentine, mutton tallow 2
lbs., half oz. oil of origanum, half
oz. tr. of iodine— mix all well. — •
This is one of the best medicines
that can be made, for scratches,
hoof-evil, cuts, and is good to ap-
ply on fistula, after the rowels
have been taken out.
•^---HooF Ointment. — Take rosin 4
oz., beeswax 6 oz., lard 2 lbs. ;
melt together, pour it into a pot,
and 3 oz. of turpentine, 2 oz,;
of finely powdered verdigris 1 (y^
lb tallow — stir all until it gets
cool. This is one of the best
medicines for the hoof ever used-
It is good for corks or bruises of
the feet.

Hoof Liquid. — For tender feet,
hoof-bound, (fee. Linseed or neats
foot oil, half a pint of either, tur-
pentine 4 oz., oil of tar 6 oz., ori-
ganum 3 oz., shake this well and
apply it as the directions for the
ointment. This is tlie best, if the
horse has been lame long — it pen-
etrates the hoof sooner than tha
ointment — both of them should
be applied at night.

Hoof Evil, or Thrush, Grease
Heels. — Bleed, and physic, and
poultice the foot with boiled tur-
nips and some fine ground char-
coal— this must be done at night,
for two or three nights, then
wash the foot clean with castile
soap and soft water, and apply
the blue ointment every day — •
keep the horse on a floor floor,
and he will be well in twelve
days.

HooF-BouND OR Tender Feet
— Never have the feet spread at

Receipts.

193

the heels nor rasped above the
nail holes, for it will do the foot
an injury. Follow the directions
given here. Use either the hoof
ointment or the hoof liquid ; ap-
ply it according to directions. —
For hoof bound or tender feet,
apply it all around the top of the
hoof down one inch every third
day. If for split hoof, apply it
every day. First, have a stiflf
shoe on the foot, and cleanse the
cut or crack. Never cut or burn
for it.

Hoof Ail. — Apply blue vitriol
and put on a tarred rag to keep
out the dirt.

No. 2. Wash well with warm
soap suds — wipe dry with a cloth,
then take two spoonfuls of com-
mon table salt, two spoonfuls of
copperas, pulverize, four spoon-
fuls of soft soap, mix well; spread
it upon a thick cloth, apply to the
foot, then confine it with a ban-
dage. Let it remain twelve hours,
then wash as before.

Hoof-Bound. — Pare the heel
df the hoof till it is as flat and
natural as a colt's; then take
equal parts pitch pine and butter
simmered together and annoint
the heel.

Heaves. — Take 1 lb. of rosin,
1 lb. of salt-petre, 8 oz., alum, 1
oz. of asafatidy, 4 oz. of snlpher,
pulverised and mixed, give one
teaspoon full once a day in his
feed. This is also a good medicin
for puting a horse in condition.

Prepeuation For Gelding Hro-
sEs. — Take 2 oz. corrosive supli-
mate, 1 oz. gum kino, 1 oz. red
parsipitate.

Sprain in the Stifle, — Symp-
toms— the horse holds up his foot,
moans when moved, swells in the
stifle- This is what is called

stifling. There la no such thing
as this joint getting out of place.

Cure — Bleed two gallons, fo-
ment the stifle with hot water,
rub it dry, then bathe it well with
the general liniment every morn-
ing and night; give him a mash
and he will be well. Never al-
low any stifl-eshoe or cord on the
foot or leg.

How TO CURE Corns. — Take off
the shoe, cut out the corns and
drop in a few drops of muriatic
acid, then make the shoes so as
they will not bear on the part af-
fected. Apply the hoof liquid
to the hoof to remove the fever.
This is a sure treatment. I nev-
er knew it to fail.

Corns. — Take the shoe ofi*
and give the horse a free run at
grass for a few weeks. This will
frequently cure.

Founder in the First Stages. —
Bleed from the neck vein 2 or 3
gallons, or until he falls, then give
the following : Half oz. of aloes,
4 drachms gamboge, half oz. of
oil of sassafras, make this into a
pill, give it, and give him all the
sassafras tea he will drink : turn
up his feet and fill them full of
boiling hot lard, bathe his legs in
hot water, and rub them well. —
This will never fail to cure in 48
hours.

No 2. Physic, and poultice the
feet.

No 3. Mix one pint of sun-
flower seed in his food. "

Spavin or Ring-Bone. — Take 1
pt, of spts, turpentine 1 pt., of
oil spike, 4 oz. of salt-petre, 4 oz.
of alum, 2 oz, oil viturel. Bath
the part affected thoroughly
every other day for one week,
and if this does not effect a cure
continue it longer. This has cured

194

Eeceipts.

sp.ivins of nine years standing.
This receipt Las been used witli
great success.

Spavin and Rtxg-Bone Medi-
cine.— Take of cantharides 2 oz.,
mercurial ointment 4 oz., tr. of
iodine 3 oz., turpentine -i oz., cor-
rosive sublimate 3 drachms — mix
all well with 2 pounds of lard —
color it if you like. Follow the
directions here given.

If for ring-bone or bone-spavin,
cut off the iiair from the part af-
fected, and merely grease the
lump with the ointment. Rub
it in well with the naked hand.
In two days, grease the part with
lard, and in four days wash it otf
with soap and water, and apply
the ointment again. So repeat
it every four days. If for wind-
gals, or bog-spavin, or curb, ap-
ply the ointment every six days.
This recipe has been sold for
$300.

Spavin. — Camphor dissolved in
spts. of turpentine, applied until
the hair starts.

No. 2. Oil vitriol, origanum,
cedar oil, Spanish fiies, equal
parts ; 3 oz. turpentine.

To Cure Ring-Bone when first
ooMiNG. — Dissolve one quarter-
pound of salt-petre in one quart
of soft water, and wash with it
twice a day. This will stop the
growth and lameness, and not
remove the hair.

RiNG-Bo.NE. — Take of spts. of
turpentine, oil of spike, of each
1 ounce ; bottle and mix well ;
tlien add 1 ounce oi oil vitriol,
bath the diseased part well for
three days, and drive it in by the
application of a hot iron ; then
suspend it for three da^'s, to pre-
vent the part becoming too sore ;
then appl}^ tie .-emed}^ again.
The sore should be created with
lard, or ointment ; this will cure

the disease if not of too long
standing.

Poll Evil. — Cure before it
breaks ; run a rowel or seton
from the lower part of the swel-
ling to the top through the cen-
tre of the enlargement, then make
the following lotion. Take of
salamoniae 2 oz., and turpentine
spirits lialf pint, 4 oz. linseed oil,
and 4 oz. of spirits of tar; shake
all well, and apply it all over the
swelling every other day; let
the seton stay in until all the
swelling is gone down — move it
every day, and when all is gone
draw it out. Bleed when you
first open it; keep the part clean.

Poll Evil after it breaks. — If
you find by probing it that the
pipes run down towards the sur-
face, run down a seton through
the bottom of the pipe, and anoint
it with the following ointment.
Take of mercurial ointment 4 oz.,
and of cantharides half an ounce ;
anoint the seton evei'y day until
it runs a bloody matter, then^
draw it out, if the pipes run down
to the centre of the shoulders;
then run down a piece of the ni-
tre of silver to the bottom, and
use the liquid in the next follow-
ing receipt; apply it on the
sore every day; keep the part
clean with soap and water.

Liquid for Poix Evil. — Take
olive oil 6 ounces, turpentine half
oz., oil of origanum half oz.,
American or seneka oil 3 oz. —
Mix well and apply it to the part
affected, after the nitre of silver
has been used. Apply this every
few days, until it heals up. The
cleaner you keep the part th^
better.

Poll Etil and Fistula. — Clean
the sore throughout with soap-
suds ; sound the pipe or pipes •
find their direction and depth

.Receipts.

195

then take stiff paper, roll it in a
horn shape about the size of a
goose quil ; fill with arsenic or
potash ; double over the ends ;
insert the pipe and push or drive
it to the bottom, Serve all the
pipes in the same manner, it
■will break loose in 3 to 6 vreeks.
Cleanse it one day with soap
suds, and next with a wash com-
posed of one teaspoonful of white
vitriol, and 1 do. burnt copperas,
one do. burnt alum, one of gun-
powder, in one pint of rain wa-
ter. Oil the sore well after
washing.

Fistula. — Take one pint of al-
cohol, ^ pt. turpentine, 1 oz. in-
digo, apply once a day.

To Drive off Poll Evil before
IT BREAKS. — Take 4 oz. oil of
spike, 1 of British oil, one-eighth
of white vitriol, 1 of extract of
mullen hearts,; apply twice a
day. Shake well before you ap-
ply. Give the cleansing-powder
to cleanse the blood.

Thrush r Spavik. — Tako 2
07.. oil of St. John. 1 oz. of oil of
viterol, 1 oz, oil turpentine, 3 oz.
of whiskey. For spavin or ring-
bone add 2 oz. of mercurial oint-
ment, This is a valuable receipt.
CovDiTiON Powders. — Take 2
J lb. of rosin, 1 lb. ginger, 1 Ib.cas-
sar, ^ lb. salt-petra, pulverise
fine and mix togetner. Give one
table-spoon full every other day.
Water Farcy. — This is a swel-
ling along under the chest, and
forward to the breast. Bleed,
rowel in the breast and all along
the swelling, six inches apart, ap-
ply the general liniment to the
swelling, move the rowels every
day ; let them stay in until the
swelling goes down. Give soft
food — mashes, with the cleansing-
»owder in it— this is dropsy.

Too Free Discharge of Urine.
Give one half oz. of the tr. of oan-
tharides every morning for ten
or twelve days, and if not entire-
ly well, repeat it again, and bleed
one gallon from the neck — cjive
clean food. The cause is rotten
or musty grain, or too free use of
turpentine. Keep him open with
mashes and green food.

Disease of the Liver, or Yel-
low Water. - Give the following
ball every morning until it op-
erates upon the bowels. Take
7 drachms of aloes, and 1 drachm
of calomel, 4 drachms of ginger,
and molasses enough to make it
into a ball, wrap it in paper and
give it; give scalded bran and
oats, grass if it can be got ; when
his bowels have moved, stop the
physic, and give 1 oz. spirits of
camphor in a half pint of water
every morning for twelve days;
rowel in the breast, and give a
few doses of cleansing powder. —
Turn him out.

Fresh AVounds. — First, stop the
wound by tying the arteries, or
by applying the following wash :
4 gr. of nitre of silver, 1 oz, of
soft water, wet the wound with
this and then draw the edges to-
gether by stitches one inch apart,
then wash clean, and if any swel-
ling in tAventy-four hours, bleed,
and apply the blue ointment, or
any of the liniments spoken of.
Keep the bowels open.

Bruises. — Take Arnica blos-
soms steeped in whiskey.

Cure for Biles on Horses. —
Permit the patient to have a run
for 5 or 0 weeks in a good pas-
ture, and give a Httle physic in
shorts or meal.

Cure for Cramp. — Give a dose
of catfaartkj medicines and hot
fomentations to the limbs, and a
little rest.

196

Receipts.

(jrv

Balls for Worms. — Barnadoes
Aloes 6 dra., powdered ginger 1^
oz., oil of wormwood 20 drops,
powdered natron, 2 dra. ; molas-
ses to form a ball.

Ball for Hide Bound. — Bar-
nadoes Aloes, 1 oz, castile soap,
9 dra., ginger 6 dra.

Physic-Ball. — One half ounce
of aloes, 3 drachms of gamboge,
20 drops of the oil of "juniper;
make it into a pill with a few
drops of molasses ; wrap it up in
thin paper and grease it; draw
out the tongue with the left hand;
place the gag in the mouth, and
run the pill back with the right
hand until it drops off, let the
head down and give a sup of
of water, p'irst, prepare the horse
bj giving one or tv/o mashes.

Liquid Blisterer. — Take alco-
hol 1 pint, turpentine one half-
pint, aquamonia 4 oz., oil of ori-
ganum 1 oz.; apply this as spoken
of every three hours until it blis-
ters. ^ Do not repeat oftener than
once in eight days, or seven at
least, or it will kill the hair.

Healixg Ointment. — Take five
parts of lard, one of rosin, melt
together ; when they begin to
get cool add two parts of calo-
mine powder, If the wound is
unhealthy add a little turpen-
tine.

Galls on Horses. — Bath the
parts affected with spirits satura-
ted with alum.

Grubs in Horses. — Take a tea
spoonful of red precipitate, form
into a ball, repeat, if necessary,
in 30 minutes.

Worms. — Give one quart of
strong tea made of worm-wood at
night, the next day give? drachms
of aloes, 2 drachms of calomel,
make it into a ball and give it;
give no cold water for 48 hours ;

make it milk-warm ; give him 2
or 3 bran mashes, and some of
the cleansing-powder; if he shows
any more symptoms, repeat the
dose in three weeks. This will
never fail.

Warts. — Cut them out by the
roots — take the tenackulum or
hook, run it through the warts,
and draw and cut round it, and
draw it out ; if it should bleed
too much, take 5 grains of nitre of
silver, and 1 oz. of water; wet a
sponge, and merely touch the part
with this wash, and it will stop
them ; treat it as any fresh wound
— still, every time you wash it,
scratch the scab off, so the scar
will be small. This is the only
sure way to treat them.

Groggt Knees. — This can be
cured in the first stages, but if
of long standing, there is no cure.
Have shoes made thick at the toe
and thin at the heels ; take lin-
seed oil, half pint, alcohol 4 oz., 1
oz. camphor spirits, 2 oz. lauda-
num— shake and apply to back
part of legs, rub it in well every
4 days; still increase the thick-
ness of the shoes at the toe.

Sore Mouth or Tongue, — Take
of borax 3 drachms,and 2 drachms
of sugar of lead, half oz. of alum,
one pint of sage tea — shake all
well together, and wash the
mouth out every morning. Give
no hay for twelve days.

Cleansing Powder — This is to
be used when the blood is out of
order — good to restore lost appe-
tite— yellow water; and wherev-
er it is to be used, it is spoken of.
Take 1 pound of good ginger, 4
oz. powdered gentian, 1 oz. nitre,
half oz. crude antimony — mix all
well. Give one large spoonful
every day, in wet food. This ia
perfectly safe.

Receipts.

197

Sick Stomach, — Bleed half a
fTallon, then if he will eat a mash
cive him one ; give no hay ; then
give him half oz. rhubarb every
night until it moves his bowels;
then take of gentian root 4 oz.,
feni-greak 2 oz., nitre one-half
oz. — mix and give a large spoon-
ful every day ; do not give him
too much to eat when his appe-
tite returns,
• Horse Powder. — For Distem-
per, Hidebounde, Farcy, Colts,
and all lingering diseases which
arise from impurity of the blood
or lungs. Take i lb, comfrey
root, ^ lb, antimony, .^ lb sulpher,
3 oz, saltpetre, ^ lb, laurel berries,
^ lb juni{)er berries, ^ lb anise-
seed, ^ lb rosin, 3 oz, alum, 5 oz,
copperas, ^ lb, mastcrworth, ^ lb,
gum powder. Mix to a powder,
and give one teaspoouful in his
food once a day, till cui-ed; keep
the horse dry, and from water for
six hours after using it,

ToNic DuEXcu. — For weakness
and debility. Take port wine,
3 oz, tincture of cinnamon, ^ oz,
powdered goldenseal 4 drachms.

Lung Fever. — Bleed four gal-
lons from the neck vein, and take
one oz. of aconite, add to it half
gallon of cold water ; drench him
with one gill of it every 3 hours,
blister him over the lungs, then
give him water to drink that hay
has been boiled in, and to each
gallon of it one oz. of gum arable,
and half an ounce of ipirits of ni-
tre— give this every four hoirrs,
rub well, foment and rub the legs
with alcohol and camphor, until
they get warm — do not move him.
Keep him in open stall, if hot
weather.

Eye Lotiox. — Take of linseed
oil one pint, add to it two oz. of
Bpirits of ether, gum camphor
lialf an oz, Let it stand in some

warm place until the oil cuts the
gum, and it is fit for use.

Sting OF Bees, Take olive oil,
and lime water, equal parts.
Applied externally.

Eye- Wash. — Take of sugar of
lead 2 drachms, white vitriol 1
drachm, add to this 1 quart of
soft water ; let it stand for 6 or
9 hours, and it is fit for use. — >
"Wash the eyes out well every
morning, after first washing the
eyes well with cold water ; fol-
low this up for 3 or four weeks,
and then if the eyes are not much
better, bleed and give a mild
physic. The horse should be
kept on low diet, and not over
heated or worked too hard ;
scalded shorts and oats are good.

Mange and Surfeit. — Bleed
and physic, then take sulphur
one-half pound, 2 pounds lard;
mix well, grease the part affected
every three or four days, stand
the horse in the sun until all dries
in, give him a few doses of the
cleansing-powder.

Contraction of the Neck, — If
it is taken in the first stages,
bleed from the neck two gallons,
then ferment or bathe the part
well with hot water, rub it dry
and take the general liniment
and apply it every day, two or
three times ; this will cure, if it
is of long standing. Then blister
all along the part affected, with
the liquid blister. Do this every
three weeks until he is well, and
rub with the white ointment.

Drops to make old Horses
Young. — Take the tr. of asafoeti-
da 1 oz., tr. of cantharides 1 oz.,
oil of cloves 1 oz., oil of cinnamon
one oz., antimony 2 oz., fenegreak
one oz., fourth proof brandy half
gallon ; let it stand ten or twelve
days, and give ten drops in a paii
of water — or one gallon.

MEDICINES FOR THE HORSE-THEIR ACTION AND DOSES.

Muriatic Acid,

Kitric Acid,

Sulphuric Acid.

Gentian,

Peruvian Bark,

Sulphate of Iron,

Myrrh,

Sulphate of Zinc,

Oxide of Zinc,

Strychnine,

Iodide of Iron,

Alum,

Nut galls,

Sugar of Lead,

Iodine,

Corrosive Sublimate,

Hydriodate of Potash,

Calomel,

Epsom Salts,

Glauber Salts,

Aloes,

Calomel,

Croton Oil,

Nitrate of Potash,

Carbonate of Potash,

Tincture Digitalis,

Tincture Colchicum,

Cream of Tartar,

Spirits of Nitre,

Resin,

Spirits of Turpentine,

Emetic Tartar,

Opium,

Laudanum,

Extract Hyoscyamus,

Caraway Seeds,

Sulphur,

Camphor,

Tine, Veratrum Yiride,

Belladona.

Tonic,

Tonic,

Tonic,

Tonic,

Tonic,

Tonic,

Tonic,

Tonic Astringent,

Tonic, I

Tonic for Nerves,

Alterative and Tonic,

Astringent,

Astringent,

Astringent,

Alterative,

Alterative,

Alterative,

Alterative,

Purgative,

Purgative,

Purgative,

Purgative, .

Purgative,

Diuretic,

Diuretic and Sedative,

Diuretic and Narcotic,

Diuretic and Laxative,

Diuretic,

D uretic,

Diuretic,

Diuretic,

Nauseant and Diaphoretic,

Narcotic,

Narcotic,

Narcotic,

Carminitiye,

Laxative and Alterative.

Narcotic,

Sedative,

Sedative and Narcotic.

1 to 2 drachms,
1 to 2 drachms,

1 to 2 drachms,

2 to 4 drachms.
2 to 4 drachms,
2 to 4 drachms,
2 to 4 drachms,
1 to 2 drachms,
1 to 2 drachms,

1 to 3 grains,
i to 1 drachm,

2 to 4 drachms,
2 to 4 drachms,
^ to 1 drachm,
5 to 10 grains,
4 to 6 grains,

^ drachm,
10 to 20 grains,
k lb. to 1 lb.
I lb. to 1 lb.

1 to 2 drachms,
^ to 2 drachms,
20 to 30 drops,

2 to 4 drachms,
2 to 4 drachms,
1 to 2 drachms,
1 to 2 drachms,
1 to 2 ounces,

1 to 2 ounces,
^ to one ounce,
^ to one ounce,
I to one drachm
1 to 2 drachms,
^ to 2 ounces,
1 to 2 drachms,
i to 1 ounce,
1 to 2 ounces,
1 to 2 drachms,
20 to 30 drops,
1 to 2 drachms.

Used externally, muriatic acid, nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and
corrosive sublimate are caustic ; iodine is alterative ; and sugar of
lead is sedative.

rtSMiM&

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