Author: Barnum, H. L. Title: The American farrier Place of Publication: Philadelphia Copyright Date: 1832 Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg084.8 .^-C-.. LAN: eng <2081 165> *OCLC* Form:mono 2 lnput:^MD 008 ENT: 980325 TYP: s DT1: 1832 DT2: 035 (OCoLC)38823305 037 PSt SNPaAg084.8 $bPreservation Office, The Pennsylvania State University, Pattee Library, University Park, PA 16802-1805 090 20 Microfilm D344 reel 84.8 $cmc+(service copy, print master, archival master) 100 1 Barnum, H. L. 245 14 The American farrier $bcontaining a minute account of the formation of every part of the horse, with a desription of all the diseases to which each part is liable; the best remedies to be applied, and the most approved mode of treatment for preventing disorders : acompanied with a list of medicines $ccompiled chiefly from the "Library of useful knowledge," just pulished by a committee of one hundred and fifty eminent agriculturists ; illustrated by engravings and arranged on a new plan. By H. L. Barnum. 2bU Mhiiaaeipnia $du. Muni $c lo.:^/. 300 286 p. $bill. $c19cm. 533 Microfilm $bUniversity Park, Pa. : $cPennsylvania State University $d1998. $e1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. $f(USAIN state and local literature preservation project. Pennsylvania) $f(Pennsylvania agricultural literature on microfilm). 590 Archival master stored at National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD : phnt master stored at remote facility. 590 This item is temporarily out of the library during the filming process. If you wish to be notified when it returns, please fill out a Personal Reserve slip. The slips are available in the Rare Books Room, in the Microforms Room, and at the Circulation desk. 650 0 Horses $xDiseases. 650 0 Horses $xAnatomy. 830 0 USAIN state and local literature presen/ation project. $pPennsylvania. 830 0 Pennsylvania agricultural literature on microfilm. FILMED WHOLE OR IN PART FROM A COPY RORROWED FROM: New York State Library THE AMERICAN FAlilllER 'y. CONTAINING A MINUTE ACCOUNT OF 'HIE FORMA I'lON OF EVERY PART OF rn rilE HORSE, FROM THE EXTREMII V OF THE HEAD TO THE HOOF. With A nKscRii'TioN of allthk diskases to which each part is liable; the BEST REMEDIES TO BE APPLIED IN EFFECTING A CURE*, AND THE MOST ArPKOVED MOr)E OF TKEATMENT FOR PREVENTING DISORDERS: Accomiwiniecf with A COPIOUS ALPIIAHirrK JAL I.IST OF MEDICINES, »£SCR1BING THEIR QUALITIES AND EFFECTS WHEN APPLIED IN DIFFERENT CASES; ANl/" ▲ COMPLETE TREATISE ON REARING AND MANAGING THT. ITOR8E FROM THB FOAL TO THE FULL GROWN ACTIVE LABORLU, rompiled chiefly from the celebrated "Library of Useful Knovvledge^'^ just puhlrspM-r? by a committee of one hoiidred and fifty eminent Agriculturists^ who have used every means in their power,, in investigating this useful bmnch of agriculture. The '*Anieri(an I'arritr" contains the result of their experiments and Rse arches, with inaiiy additions, adapting the wlitWe to the present state of Furrier)- m the Unit^dStatea. l^LlTSTRATEn BY KNr.RAVlNOS, AITP ARRANGED ON A NEW J'LAlf. BY H. E. BARNUM. ildtlor of ihr " Farmrr's' Hrportrr." PUII.ADJ.JTIIIA: URIAH irUIVT, IVO. 101 MAIJKET STREET; H. L. BARNUM, AT THE FARMER'S REPORTER OFFICE, CINCINNATI, And boi)k»clUrs geimrnil y thr on ghoul the United Slates.. jitiinfiiiiwi'miiwin 1B32L • • • • •: • • ^ • u H BitTSBED accorcttrg to (he Act of Congress, in the year tSSS, hf Vnna HuKT, in the Clerk's Office of the Distriel Court of the Eastern District of PeniM)lvu»ta INTRODUCTION. ' In addition to the information already known relating to the Ilor-e, it i'^ believed tliis work contains many important facts, tlie knowledge of which, will prove permanently benehcia m his proper care and treatment, both under disease and m health- "Many dilfiise and elaborate works on this subject have been published at different periods; some of them, indeed, contain- InLS amidst the massive bulkiness of their forms, a considerable V .)ortion of matter of lasting utility; l)ut the irreater part ot them, t-ndint^ rather to puzzle the reader ])y multiplying useless words and medicines, or by enumerating diseases that exist no where but in the imagination of authors, than to ]>ring the practice ol physic, with respect to horses, into so narrow a compass as to LL the readers much time and trouble, which, in this concrri' ' trating and time-pressing age, is a mauer oi no buiciu tun^iucic- ■^ tion." This work is compiled chiefly from the c(dehi ated " Library s. of Useful KnovMdge;' conducted by an association of one hun- ^ ^ dred and tifty of the most eminent agriculturists in Europe. Such diseases as are common here, and do not exist in that country, are described in this treatise. The mechanical arrange- ment is such, that the reader can turn to any given topic upon which lie may recpiire information, and find all the particulars relating to it under one head, in connexion. Thus, when a disease^'is described, the construction of the i)art aifected is ex- plained, and the remedy for the sickne-s giv^the most valuable works." ^ The Table of (V)ntents at the commencement, sliows the ar- ^ rangement of m.itter under each division, or chapter; and the ^ Index at the end of the volume, affords a convenient reference -^ to any article in the Treatise, beini: alphalx'tieally arrang(Hl. t:, The marijinal references point out the contents of the para- ' graphs to which they are affixed. cn> More than one hundred different kinds of medicine (such as f nniers can easily proeur(\) are described, giving their qualities, imd th<' <'ifLus — A aoi'i mass of any tliiu-; niedicinal. Cuticle— Skin. Catatlasm — Poultice. CHVMt: — The mo(hfication vviiich food assumes after it has undergone the action of tlie stomach. Cellular — Consisting of cells. Chaff — Cut Straw. Diuretic — Having the power to discluirge urine. E.\ciTANT8 — Stimulant, or that which pioduces uicreased action. Kmbrocation — The an of moistening. Excoriation — Wearing off tlie skin. Flap — ^This word is sometimes used instead of trap-door. Fungus — Spungy excrescence, or "proud flesh." Groom — A man who has the charge of horses. Iri« — The coloured circle around the pupil of the eye. Ileum — Insertion of one part of an intestine into another, liEViOATED— Ground or made fine. I-uBRiCATE — 'f'o make smooth. Ligature — Bandage. Meat — This when used in farriery means grass or fodder. Mash — See list of medicines. Macerated — Made lean. AIucous — Slimy. Pi s — The matter collected in ulcerated sores. I'bKiLKN r — Consisting of pus. I*i.kik;kt — A sn>a!l hunch of tow or lint. Trkpuce — The foiv skin. Koi.LKR — lJ;iiiilage- Iwif. — IJluiikft. Saliva — Licpiid of the mouth. (See page 57.) FoNic — A medicine that gives vigour and action to the system. Tumefied — Swelled. Unguent — Ointment. VoiniVG — Throwing off, Vjscj!) — Sticky, (•lutinons. V'tTERiNARV Surgeon — This appellatioti is sometimes given to the fariier or horso- doctor. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. CirArTKU I. STRUCTURE OF THE HORSE. External form, with an engraving: tcfrns used to denote the external parts: dehnition of the terms itsed ni the anatomy: d(iscrij>tion of the skeleton, illuslrattxl by an engraving. CltAPTKR II. THE HEAD. Diseases of the brain and eye: pressure on the brain: megrims, apoplexy: stomarli-staggers, arising usually from mismanagement: mad staggers: IcK-ked jaw, or tetanus: epilt'psy, or iits: palsy: dis- eases of the eye: wouuds: warts: eidar^emont of tht- haw: inliamma- tion of the eve: oj)aeities of the cornea: cataract: gotta serena, or i^dass eye : big head : the nose and mouth, and their diseases : anatomy of the nose: Roman noses: cartilage of the nose: turbinated bones: wideness of nostril, advantage of: importance of observing the color of the membrane of the nose: discharge from tlie nose. Glanders, symptoms of, how (listiii;i;iiishLMi from strangles or cold: primarily a disease of the memlnaue of the nose: connected with farcy; they are (litferent forms of the same disease; causes of contagion: hot and f)nl stables: debilitating disease: highly contagious: prevention: treatment. Farcy, a disease of the absorbents: tarcy buds: symptoms: treat- ment. Th(.' li{)s,tln; organs of touch : lips, how tormed : Ik aring n-in, necessitv for: bones of the mouth: tlie palate, melbtHl of bleeding fnmi: lainpas: the lower jaw, curious mechanism of the joint of, contrived to grind the tmHl. Teeth, their growth and changt^, as indicative of the age, with cuts: wolves te(?th: di.seases of the teeth. J>?s(riptiofT of the tofjgue: vesicles tmder the tongue: the salivary glands: the parotid: the submaxillary and sublingual: strangles: canker in the mouth: wounds in the mouth: description of the pharynx. Chapter HI. THE \i:rK. 'f Description of the neck: poll-evil: proper form of the neek: the R})lenius muscle: neck should be muscular at the bottom: the com- plexus major: ewe-necked: the muscles of the neck generally : arteries and veins of the neck: inflammation of the vein after bleeding: the wind-pipe: the larynx: roaring: the eesophagus, or gullet. y;',i- '/■••jS'i I I CX)NTENT«. CuAPTER IV. THE CHEST— ITS CONTENTS AND THEIR The proper form of the chest: form of as much importance as capa- city: depth of chest, importance of: ribbed home. The bones of the spine connected by In^lily elastic sabstaiice: consequent ease in rid- ing: contrivances for strength: broken-ljacked: comparison between the iont' and short-backed horse: saddle-backed: weak-backed. The loins: shovdd be broad and muscular. The withers: advantage of hi'^h withers. Fistulous withers: warbles: sitfasts: saddle- galls. The nbs. The breast. Chest-f(junder: dropsical swellings between the tore-legs. Inside of the chest, diaphragm. The heart and its action: intlaunnation of the heart. The arteries. The pulse: its standard number: when quick, bard, small, weak, or oppressed : necessity of atteniiog to the pulse. The rapiilaries. Infiammation, an increased flow of blood to auavin. Bleeding; directions for: the fleam and lancet, bleeding places. The lungs: description of: change of bloixi in pass ia*"^ through them: capacious chesi, advantage ot*. lallammation of thti lungs: symptoms: causes: treatment: consequences. Pleurisy. Cd,< tarrh, or common cold. Bronchilis. Catarrhal fever. The malig nant epidemic. Chronic cough. Thick-wind: broken-wind: the piper wheezer: whistler: highblower: grunter, Chai'tkr V. THE STOMACH AND IXTRSTIXES— TIIKIR DISEASES. The stomach: stomach staggers: inflammation: poisons: hots. The intestines: sj)asmodic colic: calculi, or stone in the intestines: intus susception: entanglement: inflammation of the b(>wels: over-purging washv horses: worms: j)hy sic king: (he b(^st jxirgatives: rupture The liver: inflammation of the liver: jaundice. The spleen. The pancreas. The onientuin. Tlu' kidneys: diuretic medicines, use andi ai>us5e of: inflammation of the kidiiev: profuse stalinjj. The bladder inflammation of the bladder: stt>ne in the bladder. CicvrTER VI. THE FORE-LEGS, AND THEIR DISEASES. The shoulder: sprain of the shoulder: slanting direction of the phoulder, importance of: how applicable to horses of heavy draught* muscle of the outside of the shoulder: the lower bono of the shoulder the arm: tho elbow: the arm should be long: the knee: broken knees, the leg: splent: speedy-cut: tied in below the knee: sprain of the back sinews; necessity of attention to any thickening on theuu wind-galls '» CONTENTS. Ihe pasterns: obliquity of the pastern: rupture of the suspensory ligament: the fetlock: grogginess: cutting: bones ot the pasterns sprain of the coflln-j )int: ring-bone: position of the legs. Chapter VII. THE HINDER LIMBS, AND THEIR DISEASES. q^he haunch: being ragged-hipped: width of haunch: the thigh, sprainof the round bone: the slitk: thi»rough-pin: the h(K!k: cnlargi:- mentof the h(x-k: curb: bog-spavin: bone-spavin: other lameness ot the hock: the point of the hock: capped luK-k: urallenders and sallen- ders: cow-lKx-ks: springhalt: swelled legs: grease, cause and treat- ment of: washing the heels: danger of cutting the hair trum the heels Chaitkk Vlll. THE FOOT. The anatomy of the fcK)t: the crust or wall of the foot: the inner heel should not be too much cut away: the frog-band: the crust: color of: the bars: folly of destroying them: the fn>g: the «^^!*>- the coflin-lK)ne: the sensible sole: the sensible frog: the navicular Inme the cartilages of the foot. Diseases of the foot: inflannnation of the f )Ot, or acute founder: ptimiced feet: chronic founder: contiactiim the'navicular-joint disease: sand-crack: tread, or over-reach: false- quarter: quittor: prick, or wound in the foot: corns: thrush: canker ossification of the cartilages: weakness of the foot. Chapter IX. ^^ THE SKIN. Hidebound: the hair: pores of the skin : moulting: clipping: coloi of the horse: surfeit: mange: warts. Chapter X. SOUNDNESS. The ^rand principle of: svipposed causes of unsoundness: broken knees: capped hocks: contraction: corns: cough: roariog: wheezing: whistlint^: high-l)lowing: grunting: broken wind: crili-liling: curb: cuttinal: wiien she has f)aled: vv aning foal: treatment of foal: importance of good feeding: process of hn-aking in l)e«nm from the pericxl of weaning: actual breaking in: dilferent steps'^of necessity of implicit obedience, yet not enforced by cruelty : breaking in for the road or chase: bitting the colt: saddling: castration. Chaptkr XITI. ON 8HOE1JNG. The concave seated shoe: prei)aralion of the foot: putting on of the shoe: calkins: chps: the hind-shoe: the bar-shoe* tips: the expand- ing shoe: felt or leather soles. Chapter XIV. THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSF. Air: litter: light: grooming: exercise: food: manger-feeding: oatsv larley: grains: wheat: beans: peas: grass: hay: tares: rye-grass: clover: lucern: saintfoin: Swedis-h turnij): carrots: potat(X)s: furze piitritive matter in the different articles of food: the times of feedin.^ should be equally divided: water: management of the feet. "^ Chapter XV. MEDICINES USED IN VETERINARY PRACTICE. Aloes : alteratives : alum : hartshorn : sal-a f ninoniac : anodynes : black antimony: emetic tartar: antim .nial p.nvdcr: biitvr of antiuKmy : anti- spasmoihrs: ars^^nic: astringt'fits : balls: blisters: bole-Armenian : bur- gundy pilch: calamine: calonrl: camphor: cantharides: carraways • castor oil: catechu: caustics: chalk: (hainomilc: charcoal : charo-er* clysters: verdigris: blue vitriol: cordials: corrosive sublimate: cream of tartar: croton: dia[)hon'tics: digestives: digitalis: diuretics: drinks: elder: epsom-salts: f )m;ntations: gentian: ginger: Goulard's extract- hellebore: hemlock: infusions: iodine: green vitriol: od (►f juniper' ard: sugar of lead: white lead: chloride of lime: liniments: linseed- lotions: mashes: mercurial ointment: ^Ethiop's mineral : mint: myrrh* nitre: spirit of nitrous aether: oil of olives: opium: jialm oil- pitch- physic: poultices: powders: raking : resin : rowels: salt : sedatives- lunar caustic: chloride of soda: soap: starch: stoppings: sulphur: tar- tinc- tures: tobacco: tonics- turpentine : vinegar: wax: white vitriol and zi'M- 4 ■mK»iimtShff»'mmT'k-mtimmmmpmMikiimi 'C "'Y>ji^ jfnoHmmmmm' ntuii m . ^ugsf^s ■■ ^»^wisw«^j*?fl 10 AMERICAN FARRIER. EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. Terms used to denote the external parts. SKELETON OF TtlE HORSE. 11 Fig. 1. Miizzle. 14. Ham strinnf. 28. Heel. 2. Race. 15. Poiiit of the 29. Hoof of the fore 3. Forehead and Hock. leg. Feather, 16, Cannon. 30. Sm. Pastern do. 4, Poll, 17. Fetlock. :n. Larf tht? structure of this animal, and the p>»ints vvhi<'h guide the opinion of real judges of Inni, we shall, as bricllv and as simply as we are able, explain those f inJamcnta! piinr-iples f him more interesting; while many a hint of practical utility will be gained. If we treat of this at considerable IcTvgth, let H be remembered, that the horse is our noblest servaFvt, and that, in describinL^ the structure and economy of his frame, we are, in a great measure, describing that of other doincstic quadrni>eds. And further, let it be remembered that it is only by being well acquainted with the structure of the fmrse that we carrappreciate his shape anil uses, or understand the diflerent diseases to which he is liable. We trust the reader who niay fancy us rather prolix on this head will, before the work is finished, feel the f 11 value of what we purpose to explain. It is from want of know- ledge of the structure of the horse, that much of the mass of ignorance and prejudice which exists, a^ to the diseases, &c. to which the horse is subject, is to be referred; and we deem it one of the most important objects of this treatise to retorm this ignorance, and remove these pre judices. I ;«» -t m-mmimhwmm AMERICAN FARRIER. SKELETON OF THE UOUSE. Explanation of the Cut, A The head. a The posterior niaxillary, or under jaw. b The superior maxillary, or upper jaw. Opposite to the letter is a foramen through which pass the nerves and blood vessels which chiefly s.ipply the lower part of the face. c The orbit, or cavity containing the eye. d The nasal Ix^nes, or bones of the nose. e The suture dividing the parietal bones below, fmm the occipital bones above. f The inferior maxillary bone containing the upper incisor teeth. B The Seven Cervical Vertebra", or bomjs of the neck. C Tht; J'iighteen Dorsal Vertebra', or bones of the back D The Six Lninl)ar VertebrfP, or bones of the loins. E The Five Sacral Vertebra^, or bones of the haunch. SKELETON OF THE HORSE. 13 vk F The Caudal Vertebrsc, or bones of the tail, generally about fifteen. ' G The Scapula, or shoulderblade. H The Steinuin, or fore-part of the chest. I The Costae, or ribs, seven or eight articulating with the sternum, and called tlie true ribs, and ten or eleven united together by cartilage, called i\ni false ribs. J The Humerus, or bone of the arm. K The Radius, or bone of the fore-arm. L The Ulna, or elbow. The point of the elbow is called the Ole- cranon. M Tlie 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 s[>lent bone l)ehind. g The fore pastern and foot, consisting of the Os Suffraginis, or the upper and larj^er j)astern l)one, witti the sessamoid bones behind, articidating with the cainion and greater pastern; the (Js Coro- nx', or lesser pastern; the Os Pedis, or cotbn-bone; and the Os Naviculare, or navicular, or shuttle-bone, not seen, and articu- lating wilh the smaller pastern and Cuiliii ix>ncs. h The corresponding bones of the hind-feet. O The Haunch, consisting of three portions, the Ilium, the Ischium, and the Piibis. P The Femur, or thigh. Q The stifie joint wilh the Patella. R The Til ia, or proper leg bone — I ehind is a small bone called the fibula. S The Tarsus, or hock, composed of six bones. The prominent part is the Os Calcis, or point of the hock. r The Metatarsals of the hind leg. « It will l)e proper here, once fjr all, to caution the reader, who has nifherto been unaccustomed to reading books of science, against being deterred by the sight of a few of what are termed Itard names'. The fact is, that science must have, to a certain extent, a n(;w language tt^ express minutely and accurately the particular parts or things to be described; and this is the case with every trade, and every art. A carpenter could n!)t wilh :)ut this describe with precision and clearness thcdilTerent tools in use, nor could he describe the different operations to be performed, without inventing a |)articular language adapted to bis purpose, and whereby he is enableil to express in one word what would otherwise only be accomplished by a long sentence. It is the name with anatomy, except that the names and signs have principally been adopted from the Latin and Greek, inasmuch as those languages ire usually known to scientific men in all countries. This new lan- guage becomes one common to all men pursuing the same science. ' We shall as w(; go on explain the meaning of the words so adopted, arvl a very li'tle attention will enable the reader to master them, and B i BiliifWi>n"ir|i|i'i -^ AMERICAN FARRIER. it will require little thought to be convinced of the advantage, in re- spect of clearness and certainty,- derived from their use. DEFINITION OP ANATOMICAL TERMS'. We here ffive a short description of the most prominent and most im- norta^it parts exhibited in the anaton,y of the horse They are expla.n- Kre fully under their respective divisions ui the bord great assistance to the practitioner in Ideeding. L7>^/mc/*/ is a strong, compact substance, which serves to bind one bone to another. , . , .i i «^ ♦ Tendons are hard, insensible cords,, by which the muscles are at- tached to the bones. iwu^^;r Glands may be considered as secrfefory bodies, composed of all the dif- ferent vessels inclosed in a membrane; their ofiice appears to be to se- crete or f .rm some fluid,-as the liver secretes bile, and the kidney urine. The appendages to bone are cartilage or gristle, periosteum, mcdvlln. or marrow, ligaments and synovia, or joint oil. A^.sor/;c/jle fmilkv fluid) frail the intestines to the common reservatory. The nervous system of the horse is composed of white medullnry fmarrow-like) cords, springing from the brain and spinal marrow whence they are generally distinguished into the cerebral and spinal nerves. . . . . r * i r ^ The cerebral or cercbruic nerves, arise m pairs nnmcdiatvly Irum liie brain. . . • ^■ . t r n i Tlie spinal nerves are those \vhi<:h arise nnmediately horn tnc spmal nrtrrow The internal structure of these b(K]ies is fibnn.s, and their ramificatKUis extend to every part of the Ixnly; it is sui)posed that the brain is the seat of sensation, and that the nerves are only the messen^ ^'^The arteries are long membranous canals or conductors of the bloody cK>mposed of three strata, which are called tuniriP or coats as an ex- ternal, elast ic, a middle muscular, and an internal cuticular. Eacfv of these coats is the cause of some important plieno.nena, as well nv disease as in health. The elastic power enables them to admit a larger (lunntitv of blood at one time than another, and thus they are turgi(i under mflammation: by tliis also they can adapt themselves to a SKELETON OF THE HORSE. 15 smaller quantity than usual; otherwise a small hiemorrhage would nrove fatal. The muscular tunic appears to exist in niuch greater proportion in the horso than in man, and this accounts t.r his greater Tendency to inflammation, and also why inflammatory affections run to their te/minations so much sooner in the horse than m -lan. The arteries gradually decrease in their diameter as they proceed from the ^%^he veins are vessels whi( h return 'ho ])lood of the body that has been distributed to it. They have less s ,lidity, and possess two tunic^ or coats. They usially accompany the arteiies m their course but are more numerous, being wisely divided into a superficial and a deep seated set, to avoid the dangerous effects of mterr;.p(j(m To prevent the return of the blood they are furmshed with valves. We begin with the head, containing the brain and the most impor- tant organs of sense. i .i r The head may be divided into two parts, the skull and the face. The bones which compose the skull or cranium, and which Formation Contain and protect the brain are nine in number; two oftLeiicad. ^^.^^^^^^j _^^y^ parietal,— two temooraU— the occipital.— the ethmoid, and the' sphenoid. The two latter lie principally at tfie base of tiie skull These nine bones are separate m tlie toal at an early period of its existence; but soon after the birth they are tirudy united l-.eotherbv what auatomists call sutures, and so firm is the union, that a fracture will occur in any other part more readily than over a ^"^ There is an evide«t intention in this division of the head into so manv hofxcs. When the fcet.is— the unborn foal-^first begins to have life that which afterwards become bone, is a mere jelly-like sil stance; this is gradually changed into a harder materia!— cartilage; and, Im?- fore the birth of the animal, much of the cartilage is taken away by vessels called absorbents, and bone deposited in its stead In fiat booes, like those of the head, this deposit tiikes place m the centre, and ravs or radiations of bone extend thence in every direction, 1 hen, by havin.- so manv bones, th.-re are so many centres of radiation ; and, ^onsequeTitlv, the'foruiatiou of bone is carried on so much the m<. re rapidlv, and perfected at the timt^ when the necesities of the animal require it. At tiie period of l>ntlu l^.wever, llns process is not com- plctesof the l;ones. remain somewhat s.tl and pliant, aod therefore, in" parturition, they yield a little and overlap each other, anre e»sy, they ^ave the mother much pam/and nmtnbute to the safety of the foal. W ihjnnt a chancre in the form of the head, from a compression and yielding of the bone of which it is composed, the animal could not be born. The first of these bones, or the first pair of them, occupying the broad expanse of the forehead, are called ihe frontal bones. Ihey are united t(»gelher by a most curious and intricate dove-taiing, to defend from injury the'brain whi( h lies beneath the upper part of them. Lower down, and wlx're the cavity of the nose is to be defended, their iiTiiHTiiiiiMiiPWiiin-i; 16 AMERICAN FARRIER. MEGRIMS. 17 •<\ \) 1 ii union is sufficient, but Hir less complicated. The mechanism is here, as in every part of the frame, and every part of the universe, wisely adjusted to the necessities and wants of the animal. Few things more clearly indicate the breed or blood of the horse than the form of the frontal bones. Who has not remarked Fhai>e imii- the broad ani]^ular forehead of the blood horse, giving him breed . ° that bcaulifiil e\|)rcssi()n of intelli<^cnce and fire, and the face gradiially tapering from the f )rehead to the muzzle; and then C(>m})ared it with the large face of the cart or dray horse, uiid the forehead scarcely wider than the face? 'J'hore is placed at the back of the eye, a considerable quantity of fatty substance, on which the eye may revolve easily and without friction. In aged horsc3S, and in diseases attended with general k)ss of condition, much of this fat disappears; the eye becomes sunken, and the pit above the eye deepens. Chapter II. DISEASES OF THE SKUIJ.— THE BRAIN— THE EARS- AND THE EYES. We now proceed to the diseases of the head, and the first of these is PRESSURE ON THE BRAIN. This may be proiluced by some fluid thrown out between the mem- branes, or occujjying aii'l diskMiding the ventricles of the brain. la the grown h(>rs(' tliis rarely occurs, but it is well known to breeders as an occasional (hseasc of the foal, under the name of "water in the head." The head is either very much enlarged, or strang(dy de- formed, or both; and the animal dies either in the act of f>aling, or a few days after the birth. We cannot ap[)ly any efiectual remedy. me(;rims. There is another kind of pressure on the brain, resulting from an unusual di'teiminatian or flow of blixxl to it. This organ dSI^a^o"*^ rcipiires a large supply of bliMxl to enable it to discharge its important fmctions. It is supposed that ti^n tiiiF.^s more blood tlows through the brain than through any other part of the frame of equal bulk. Nature, in the horse more than in many other animals, has made some admirable jirovisions to cai!sc this great quantity of blood to flow into the brain without nmch velocity, and thereby to lessen the risk of suddenly overloading it or rupturing its vessels. The arteries pursue their course to the brain in a strangely windinjjand circuitous manner; and they enter the skull through bony holes wiiirli will admit of the enlargement of the vessels only to a very limited extent: yet, from various causes, of which the most common 18 violent exercise in a hot day, and the horse being fat and full of blood, more than the us jal quantity will be sent to the head: — or from gome negligence about the harness, as thj collar being too small, or the curb-rein too tight, the blood will be prevented from returning from the head : and thus the larger vessels of the brain will be too long and injuriously distended, and, what is of more consequence, the small vessels wbirh run through the substance of the brain will be enlarged, and the bulk of the brain will be increas.Ml, and it will press upon the ori<»ins of the nerves, and produce, almost without warning, loss ol powcn- and consciousness. The mildest affection of this kind is known by the name of Mf.guims. It comparatively rarely happens wlu;u lh(3 horse is ridden, Syinptoms. ^^^^^ should he Wt (hivcn, aiid, perhaps, rather quickly, he may perform a part of his journey with his usual cheerfulness and ease, when all at once he will stoj), sbiiko his hciul, be evidently giddy, und half un<"<)nscious. In a minute or two this will pass over, and he will g'> ^>n again as if nothing bad hai)pcned. ^ • Fretpiently, however, the attack will be of a more seriv)us nature. He will fill without the slightest warning, or suddenly rtm round once itv twice, and then tall, lie will eitner he in a srate of complete in Bensibilitv, or struggle with the utmost violence. In five or ten minutes he will begin gradually to come to himseif; h.) will get up ftud pi\>ceed on his journey, yet somewhat dull, and evidently affected and exhausted by what had happened, although not seriously or per- inanently ill. This is a very dangerous disease — :langerous to the horse, which will occasionally die on the spot, and peculiarly dangerous to those who drive him, for there will fretiuently be no warning or opportumty to escape, It likewise haj)pens, that whether the vessels iiave been weakened by this violent distension, and afterwards offer less resist- ance to the flow of bl(M>d, or, whatever be the cause, a horse that has once been attacked by megrims is very subject to a return of the com- j)lai!it. No prudent man will drive a horse that has had a second attack, especially if, in the intermediate time, he has taken pmpor m ans lo prevent a recurrence of the fit. At the ni'iiiiMit (►f attack, a person who is able to bleed should take three or four (piarts of blood iVoni the neck; or any one can Jlc'infc4y. ^,^j^ ^1^^, i^.^j.^ ^.j- ^jj^^ j)alate, whence a considerable and sufli- ci 'ut (piantitN of blood may be readily obtained. The driver should j>ai and s >otlu> tlu.' animal, and carefully examiii!^ the harness, and pur- sue his journey as gently as circumstances will permit. When he gets h jme, a dose of physic* should be administered if the horse can be spared, and the quantity of dry food lessoned, and mashes given, or green meat, or the horse should bo turned out at night, or turiHjd out altogether for two or three months, •" By physic, whenever the word occurs in this Treatise, we menn purgative medicine 9 b2 mtmamimmfm i I I ]* IS AMERICAN FARRIER. i Treatoicnt. ArOPLEXY. The attack sometimes assumes a still more violent form. The horse falls and dies at once. It then rather resembles, or is the ympoofiB. g^j^^ ^-jj^ apoplexy in the human being. To this more se- rious form of the disease lie is s ibject in the stJible, and even at pasture; i)ut there is "cncrallv some warning. He will be seen with the head lowj extended almost to the ground, and supj)orted against ihe manger. He staggers as he stands. If moved, he appears as if he would fall. His ?ight and hearing are evidently affected. This is not mad-siag gers, for no intiammation of the brain is I'oiind; nor stomach-staggers, for there is no distension of the stomach. 'J'he horse will continue in this way from one hour to twelve. He then falls; — -tj^rinds his teeth; — his eyes are open, protruded, and tixed — the pn|)il is dilated; — there are twitchings about the frame; — the muzzle is cold; — the vein of the neck is evidently swelled; — he is unable to swallow; — the; drink is returned by the nostril or the mouth, and the dung often voided invol- untarily;— the twitchings increase to strong convidsions, and death speedily closes liie scene. If there be time for medical treatment the course to be pursued is plain enout»h. IJkied copiously:* — take at once ei^jht or ten quarts. Bleed fi*om a vein in preference to an artery, f^)r an artery which supplies the brain cannot be got at. Bleed tVom the jugular or common neck vein, for that returns the blood from the brain, and a large quantity rapidly drawn from this vein may possibly give relief. Next back-rake, or remove the dung from the lower in- testine with the hand, and give a strong dose of physic: but the case is usually hopeless, and the m )st decisive and skilful treatment alone can avail. We decidedly object to two mothcxls of cure adopter (and Cay- enne pepper if they can get it) up the nostrils of the horse. The vio- lent sneezing that will be produced if the animal is not too insensible must probably, or almost certainly, rupture some of the vessels already over-ark to rouso the animal. 'I'he ctK'ct of these would l)e to cpiicken the circulation, nnd to s- ^ cine is concerned, except that as it is almost or quite impos- Treainient. -^ i r .\ , i.i .i--i sible tor the person most accustomed to horses to distinguish between the early stage of stomach auvl mad-sta^gors, (distension of the Stomach, and inflammation of the brain) we should be most diligent anil minute in our inquiry into the history of the horse for the preced ing twenty-four hours — whether he could have got an undue quantity of food, or had been worked hard, and kept long fasting. Some say that thjre is a yellowness of the eye, and twitchings about the breast in the early stage of sleepy or stomach-staggers. We have seen a great many cases of stomach-staggers without this yellowness, or these catchings, and we believe that no one can certainly distinguish be- tween the two, and tl:at we must be guided entirely by the history of the case. Bleed very largely; — that cannot do harm, and in mad staggers is indispensable. Give a good dose of physic — tJiut a'so cannot do harm, although in stomach-staggers it cannot do nuch good, for it caa scarcely fmd its way into the over-disLcnied stomach, and it certainly cannot find its way through it. Keeping the; horse from all li>od will l>e a very proper proceeding, whichever be the disease. Some good judges have allirnit'd that a horse was iiever cured of sl'anach-staggers. It was lormerly a very diihcult thing, but tlje slo- iniich-pump has done wonders in cases of pois ming in the hurajui being, an 1, by means of a larger and s )mewhat altered pomp, .(\n hich everv veterinary surgeon, and^ we thiidi^ every large proprietor of horses, should have on his premises,) this enorujous mass of food may, with out difficulty, be washe n\ « 120 ^lERICAN FARRIER. worked, or thai have been worke.l for many hours without food. Let fto farmer delude himself with the idea that it is contagious. If his horses have occdsionally slight tits of the staggers, or if the disease carries off several of them, he may be assured that there is something wroncr in his management. Oae horse may get at the corn-bin, and cram°himself to bursting; but if several are attacked, it is time tor him to look about him. The cause will generally be found to be too voracious feeding; — too much iood given at once, and perhaps without water, after hard work and long fasting. Nothing is lost by the ha- bitual use of the nose-bag, and a more ecpial division of the hours ot lalK>ur and the timus of tbeding. Some careless and thoughtless |)eo- ple sutler their horses to go from morning to night without being ((idf and then they wonder if sometimes the horses hang their heads, and droop, and cannot work. No horse should be worked more than four or five hmirs without being baited. There is one consequence of this iniproper treatment, of which per- sons do not appear to be aware, although they sutler severely from it. A horse that has frequent half-atta'-ks of ^t^ggors very ofr mitritive or digestible, and thus the stomach may be weakened. The farn^r Nvill weigh all thege tljings in his mind, and act accordingly, MAD-STAGGERS, Mad-Staooers (inflanunatifai of the brain, brain fever) can, as we hive said, be at first with dilFiculty distinguished from the ■ "'*' ' sleepy, or stomach-staggers, but, after a while, the horso suddenly begins to heave at the tlanks: — his nostrils expand, — his MAD-STAGGERS.— TETANUS, OR LOCKED-JAW. 21 cv^s unclose; — he has a wild a n-l vacant s^are, and deHrium comes rai)idlv on. He dashes himself furiouslv about; there is no disposi- tion to do mischief, but his motions are sudden and violent, and accom- panied bv perfect unconsciousness; and he becomes a terrifying and (langero is animal. This continues either until his former stupor rorams, or he has literally worn himself out in frightful struggles. There are o:dy two diseases with which it can be confounded, an 1 from both of them it is very rea lily distinguished, t^iz. colic DbimiruJshcit m^j madncss. In colic the horse rises and tails, but not with froincuiic,4-c.^^ much violciicc; he sometimc^s plunges, but he more often rolls himself about; he looks frecjuently at his Hanks with an expres- sion of pain, a?id he is conscious. in jiiudnc.is there may be more or less violence; there is sometimes a determinati.Mi to do mischief; and there is always consciousness. Over-exertion, when the horse is too fat or full of blood, or especially during liot weather, is a frequent cause of inflammation of '^'''** the brain; but whatever will produce general fever, may be the cause of mad-staggers. The treatment adopted by the best practitioners is tr»o often nn<=!iie^ I cessfuL The horse should be bled until he faints or drops; ! Trotttim;nt. ^^ -^ j^^ ^^^ dowii, until he is evidently faint and weak. Both I the neck-veins should be opened at once, and the fulness of the stream, or the quickness with which it is taken, is almost as important as the quantity. Physic should then be given. The purge that Prcacription. ^^^^ ^^^ quickly is the best, and that is the croton nut, powdered at the time, and given in a drink, in the dose of a half drachm, and fallowed by smaller doses of ten grains each, every six hours, wiih plenty of injections of warm soap and water, until the bowels are well oj)ened. If the croton is not at hand, aloes may i>e given, but dissolved in hot water — an ounce of aloes at the first dose, and, afterwards, a quarter of an ounce every four hours, until purging is produced. This being effected, those medicines should be given which have a tendency to lessen the force of the circulation, and con- sequenilv, the determination of bl(X)d to the head. The most power- f d of these are the foxglove, and tartar emetic, in doses of a drachm each, three or four times in the day. Hellebore should not l)e given on account of the previously too great det;3rnunation of bhxxl to the brain. The head should he blistered, but rowels and setons give use- less pain, for the horse is either cured or dead before they perceptibly begin to act. TETANUS, or LOCKED-JAW. The nerves proceed from the brain and sj)inal marrow, and con- . 1 vey the power of feeling and motion to the whole frame. kT^^ **« This power may be best conceived by considering it as an i.illuence |)roceeding from tin; brain to every part. In a state of health, it is regularly and uniformly distrii)uted ; but it is much affected bv disease? Il may rush on violently and without interruption, and we have cramp, and tetanus, or lockcd-jaw : or the stream may be I TIGHT BINDING ■K^M-'A^i: « «2 AMERie.VX FVIIRIER. i rapid, but with considerable suspensions, and we have fits; or it may be quite suspended, and we have palsy. , • , i Tetanus is one of the most dreaelly are also aflfect- cd by spasm%nd he is tucked vp (his belly contracted and drawn up) io a strange degree. The tail is erect, and constantly quivering. The extremitie's are'' singularly fixed; — the hind-legs straddling;— the lore- legs projecting forward and outward (as some one has aptly described itflike the legs of a st.)ol, The pulse at first not much aileeted, but fivX)n becoming quick, snrall, and irregular; the breathing moi-e laborious ills the disease proceeds; and the countenance wild and hagganl, and expressive of extreme agony. The pain whicli attends the cramp of ^>ne limb wid enable us to j idge of that whi( h must accompany univer- sal spasm. If a person goes near the horse, or touches him in the elightest way, although \vi may Ix? uaalile to move, yet the sudden quTckening of th^' pulse will tell what the animal feels and fears. So the disease goes o.i lor nine or ten days, until the animal is exhausted by tho oxpi^nditure of nervous eiiergy, and the continuance of torture. If, from strength of ((Hij^titution or nu'di.-al treatm Mit, he should i*e- Gover, the first favourable .symptom is a slight and short ivmission of the spasm; tho time of the remission gradually lengthening, and the jaws a little ralaxing; but the progress o^ cure is exceedingly slow, ^nd the horse is left very weak. Tetanus is evidently an aflT^ction of the nerves. A small fibre pf §ome nerve has been injured, and the eflTect of that injury has jjjireiid to the origin of the nerve; the brain has become alFected, and Causes of universal diseased action speedily follows. Locked-jaw ^idtaue. generally arises from a wound, and oftencst a wound of ^ TETANUS, OR LOCKED-JlW. 2* I tendinous or ligamentous part; but denending not either upon the extenC of the wound, or the degree of iiiflamnmtion which may be excited. The time of the attack is uncertain, and may be postponed until t.-ie wound « nearly or quite healed. It occasionally follows nickmg, dockings crwpin<^, whether well or ill perfonned-whether propeWy attended to> afterwards, or neglected. It has been traced to worms, and pirticOlarly to bots; but we do not tinnk that there is any proof ol tins. Exposure to cold is a frcpicnt cause; wat<;r dropping upon the back through the decavcd roof ol'a stable; or the storm pelting n|.«n the uncovered aiuf shivering animal, while the thoughtless owner has sheltered himself. The rational method of cure would seem to be, hrst to remove thor local cause;— but this will seldom avail much. The irrita-' Remedy. y^^^^ j^ l)ecomc general, and tho spasmodic actipor- tunitv to do anoiher thi.g in order to reduce and q.iitt the disturbehtjr and assafuetida may be given by those who please; — we are not aware that ihey will do in- jury, but ()j)iuni is tlie slieet anchor ot^ tl>e veterinary practitioner. Great caution and patioiK'e are requisite in adniinisterin, although lie shouid ouiy ciicw it aiid diMj> u from the mouth; for this action of the mus<-le9 of tlie jaws mav delay jr prevent their total closure. Little medicine will l»e wanted as Ikj gets better; nourisiiing food, not too liberally administered, will c"ns are considerable, and this is the theory of Fits, or Ki'iLKi'sv. Fortimatcly the horse is not ot'ten atHicted with this disease, although it is not unknown to the bret^er. The attack is sudden. The animal stops;— tr(Mid)lcs:— looks vacantly aroumi him, and tails. Occasmnally the convulsions which follow are sli.rht- at other times they are terrible. The huad and fore part of tlu? horse are most affected, and the contortions are most singular. In a few minutes the convulsions cease; he gets up; looks around him with a kmri of stupid astonishment; shakes his ears; urines; and eats or rl/mks as it nothing had happened. The only hope of cure consists in discovering the cause of the fits ^•. and an experienced practitioner must be consulted, Jif th^ PAI^y.— DISEASES OF TIlE EYE. 25 i animal be valuable; generally speaking, however, the cause Is so dif- ficult t J discover, and the hal)it of fits is sj soon formed, and they will so frequently return, even at a great distance of time, that he who values his own safety, or the lives of his family, will cease to use an epileptic horse. PALSY. The stream of nervous inlluence is somtitimes stopped, and thence results Palsv. The power of the muscle is uniinpaired, but tlie ner- vous energy is deficient. Palsy in the horse is usually confined to the hinder Timbs. When purging has been too suddenly sto|)[>ed, he becomes paralytic. It is sometimes the consequence of violent inflam- mation of the bowels. It is produced by falls, blows on the loins^ injury in casting, and turning in a narrow stall. In these latter cases the spine has been evidently injured. Old carriage horses, and horses of draught of every kind, although not absolutely paralyzed, have often great stitfiiess in their gait, and difficulty of turning. Possibly they can turn one way and not the other. They are unwilling to he down^ from experience of the difficulty they would have in rising nfrnin. These are evident injtiries of the spine, and a loss of some of the joints of the loins or back, and are without remedy; and so often is palsy. Bleeding, physicking^ antimonial medicines, and stimalating embroca- tions, are the most likely means of cure. DISE.VSES OF THE EYE, The disMises of the eye constitute a very important, but a most un- satisfactory division of our work; fjr the maladies of this organ^ although few in number, are frequent in their appearance; they are sadly obstinate, and bailie all skill. The eye of the horse appears to be naturally more disjjoscd to disease than that of any other animal with \»lu( h we are acquainted; and most assuredly there is no domes tic animal, the treatment of whese disjases is so much at variance with common sense. The eye itself is rarely injured. It is placed on a mass of (lit, ana it turns most readiU , and the prong of the fork glances off; ficinttty. j^^j^ ^1^^ snl slaiKM) around the eye may l>e deeply wounded, and very considerable inflamuiation may ensue, 'i'his should be abated by poultices, and bleeding, and physic; but no probe should be used, under the fo<.>lisl! idea of ascertaining the depth of the wound, tor, from the constant motion of the eye, it is almost impossible to pass the probe into the original wound, and* ihe eff)it to accoini)lish il will give a greal deal of pain, and increase the inllammation. The horse has occasionally a scaly eruption on the edges of the eye /ids, attended wiih great itching, in the effort to allay which, by rub oirig the part, the eye may be blemished. The nitrated ointment of ^piicksilver, mixed with an equal quantity of lard, ma\ be slightly rubbed on the edges of the lids wilh consirms — the common and n^uuigeablc, and the 9|>ecific and fatal. The Common Inflammation is generally sudden in its attack. The lids will be f>uiKl swelled, the eyes partially closed, with some weeping. The inside of the lid will be red, some red streaks visible on the white of the eye, and the cornea slightly dim. This is usually connected with some degree of catarrh or cold; but it is as often unaccompanied by this, and depends on external irritation, as a blow, or the presence of a bit of hay -seed or oat-husk within the lid, and towards the outer corner where the haw cannot reach it: therefore the lids should always be carefully examined as to this possible source of the complaint. The health of the animal is generally not at all affected; \\e feeds well, and performs his work with his usual spirit. Cooling ap- plications to the eye, as the Goulard's extract in tlie j)ropor- tion of a drachm, or half an ounce of the tincture of opium, to a pint of water, with mash-diet, and gentle physic, will usually get rid of thiif: or the inflammation will subside without medical treatment. SPECIFIC OPirrilALMIA, OK MOON-HLINDNTESS. Should three or four days pass, and the inflammation not be aluited, we may l)egin to suspect that it is the true OphtJuthma^ especially if the eye be very impatient of light, u)d the cornea be considerab^y cJouded: the aqueous humour then often loses its transparency, even the iris changes its colour, and the pupil is exceedingly contracted. We have now an obstinate disease to comliat, and one which will generally maintain its ground in spite of all our eftorts. For three, or * An excrescence resembling a gristle, jyow ing under Uie liethci eyelkl. Cure. 1 SPECIFIC OPHTHALMIA, OR MOON-BLINDNESS. 27 f)ur, or five weeks, the inflammation will remain undimmished, or if it appears to yield on one day, it will return with redoubled violence on the next. At length, and often unconnected with any of the means we have been using, "the eye begins to bear the light, the redness on the membrane of the lid and the white of the eye somewhat suddenly dis- aj)pcars, the cornea clears up, and the only vestige of disease which remains is a slight thickening of the lids, and ai)parent uneasiness when exposL'd to a very strong light. If we imagine* that we have got rid of the disease, we shall be sadly disappointed^f >r in the course of six weeks or two m.nths, either the same eye undergoes a second and similar atUick, or the other eye be- comes affected. All again seems to pass over, except that the eye is not so perfectly restored, and a slight, dc^eply-seatcd cloudiness l)egins to ap|)ear; and after repeated attacks, and alternations of disease from eye to eye, the affair terminat(^s in oi)acity of the lens or its capsule, ;attended' with perfect blindness eitlu^r of one eye or botli. This affe<> tion was formerly known by the name of 7noo/t-^Z///r//ic.v5, from its pe- riodical return, and some supposed influence of the moom That planet, iiowever, has not, and cannui iiavc uu^ thing to do \v;th ;t. What is the practitioner doing all this while f He is an anxious and busy, but aim -St powerles.^ spectator. lie foments the eyes To abate in- y,\[\^ warm Water, or applies cold lotions with the extract of flainnmtion. j^^^ ^^^ opium, or poultices to w hich these drugs may l)e add- ed; he bleeds, not from the temporal artery, for that does not supply the orbit of the eye, but from the angular vein at the inner corner of the eye, or by scarifying the lining of the lid, or by subtracting a con- sideral)l(' ipiantity of bl(H>il from the jugular. The scarifying of the lids, which may'be easdy accomplished without a twitch, by exp(»sing the inside of the lids, and drawing a keen lancet slightly over it, is the most effectual of all ways to abate inilamuiation, for we are then im- uKMliately unloading the distended vessels. He places his setons in the ch(^ek, or his rowels under the jaw; and he keeps the aniuud low, and l>hysics, or gives fever medicine (digitalis, nitre, and emetic tartar); or, as some have done, considering,^ it as a coiistitiiti(*nal disease, admi- nisters the corn sive sublimate daily in doses ()f a scruple. The disease, however, ebbs and fl(»ws, retreats "^aud attacks, until it reaches its na- tural termination, blindness of one or both eyes. ' ^ ^ Thj horse is more subject to this disease from the age of f(»ur to six years than at any other jieri )d. He has then completed his growth: he is full of blood, and liable to inflamnuitory complaints, and the eye is the organ attacked from a peculiar [)redispt.siti n in it to inflamma- tion, the'^nature or cause of which cannot be explained. Every affec^ ti.Jtt of the eye appearing about this age must be regarded with much ^»»«^i"n. it is a common opinion that black horses are more subject toUndness tlwn others. We have considerable doubt about this, or rather we believe that colour has no influence cither in producing or aggravating the disease. WafWfc*lM.MWi*flHWIMI ii»St^i&&- 28 AMERICAN FAflRIl^JI. III!' I ' Causes of in ftainiimtioa. As this malady so frequently clostroys the sight, and thore are certain! periods when the inflammation has seemingly subsided, and the inc^w- perienced person would be deceived into the belief that all danger is al an end, the eye should be m >Ht carof dly examined at the time of pur- chase, and the examiner should 1 e fidly aware of all the minute indi- r.aticns of previous or approaching disoasa. They are a slight thickeninfij of the lids, or puckering towards the mner corner of the eye; a dillL'rence in the apjiaront si/e of the eye; a cloudiness, although perha{)8 scarcely perceptible, of tho surface of the cornea, or more deeply seated, or a h;izy circle round its Q:<\g^Q'^ a gl ominrss of the eve generally, and dulness;'f the iris; or a minute, f.iint, duskv spot in the centre, with or without little fibres or lincjs diverging from it. The cause of this inllanmintion is und(»ul)tedly a strong prcdispositi .n to it in tlie eye of the horse, l-ut assisted by tiie heated and poisoned air of many stables. Some of our read(;i"s wh;;so stables are not too air-tight, see frequently a great deal of this disease; but if they knew its ravages where several h-rses are crowd- od together, and scarcely a breath of air admitted, they would deem tliOiiiSelves conipiuuuvely fortunate. The healed air iias much tt> tio' with the production of the disease; — the poisoned air a great deal more; for every one must bave observed, on entering a close stable early in the morning, strong fumes of hartshorn, which were painful to his eyes and caused them to watter. What must be the constant action of this on the eyes of the horse? The dung of the horse, and the litter of the' stables, wlien becoming putrid, give out fumes of volatile alkali or hartshorn; but besides this, the urine of the horse, for some purpose unknown to us, |K;ssibly to teach us to take better care of this useful servant, begins very soon after it is voided to give out an immense quantity of this pungent gas. If we are scarcely able to bear it when we stand in the stable fir only a few minutes, we need not wonder at llie prevalence of inflammation in the eye of the stabled horse, nor at the difficulty of abating inflammation while the eye continues to be exposed to such painful excitement. Stables are now much better vc^ntilated than they used to be, and this disease is not so prevalent as it was lilly years ago. The larm--r may not be aware of anotlun- cause of tiiis disease, to wbirh bis horse is m )re particularly exposed, viz.conlinenuMit in a dark stable. Many stablrs in the country have no glazed wind(.ws, bu. tliero is a flap which is ofn^i i^'n- a tow hoiu's in the day, (a- wliile the carter isemployt^l in tb- stabl«<,an(l when that is shut down ahu' st total dark- ness prevails. L-t nor roador consider what are his sensations wh(tn he suddenly emerges from, a dark room into the full glare of light; he IS dazzled and bewildered, and s m? time passes bef)re his v^sicJaJH distinct. Let this be repeated several times in the day, and whalflll be the consequencc^? The sinrht will be disordered, and the eye irilfln- rably mjured. Then lot him think of his poor horse, who often stumblrs and starts through no fault if liis own, although he is corrected for so domg, but 1 ecaiisc his eyes are necessarily weakened by these sudden SPECIFIC OPHTHALMIA, OR MOON-BLINDNESS. 29 transitions, and disposed to take on this sad inflammation with all its fatal results. The propagation of various diseases, and this possibly more than any ^. other, from the sire to his progeny, has not been sufficiently ' considered by breeders. Let a stallion that is blind, or whose sight is defective, possess every other point and quality that can be wished, yet he is worse than useless; fcjr a very considerable propor- tion of his offspring will mr»st assuredly inherit his weak eyes, or be- come totally blind. There is no fact better established than this. The most frequent consequences of this disease are cloudiness of the eye, and cataract- The cloudiness is singular in its nature. It will ciiange in twenty-four hours from the tliinnest film to the thickest ojwicity; and as suddenly the eye will nearly regain its perfect tran sparency, but only to lose it, and as rapidly, a second time. The mosJ barbarous methods have l)cen resorted to for the purpose of removing this cloudiness. Chalk, and salt, and sugar, and even pounded glass, luive Ix^eii introduc(;d into the eye mcchanicjilly to rub off the film. It was forgotten that the cloudim^iiHi wa^ the effect of inflammation, and mat means so narsfi and cruel were very likely to recall the intlamma- tionj that these rough and sharp sid)Suancos must of necessity inflict excruciating pain; and that, after all, it generally is not a film on the surface of the cornea, but a dinniess pervading its substance, and even sinking deep within it, and therefore not capable of being rubbed oflT. Where the cloudiness can be removed, it will be best eflfected by first abating inflammation; and then exciting the aljsorbents to take up the grey deposit, by washing the eye with a very weak solution of corro- sive su))limate, containing not more than a grain of the sublinrate to an ounce of water. Opacit) of the lens is another consequence of inflammation. A white speck appears on the centre of the lens, which gradually ^umaiion" ^P^^^^ ^^'^^ ^^ ^^^ Completely covers it. It is generally so white and pearly as not to be mistaken: at other times more hazy, deceiving the inexperienced, and occasioning doubt in the mind of the proft^ssional man. We have seen many instances in which the sight has been evidently affected or almost lost, and yet a different opinion has been given by very fair judg(\s. The eye must be exposed to the light, and yet under the kind of sbelttn* to which we havQ pre- viously referred, in order ti) discover the defect. The [>upil of the horse is seldom black, like that of the human being, and it^ gpeyish hue coih ceals the recent or thin film whieh may be spreading over Uie lens. Cataract in the eye of the horse admits of no remedy, for twoobvious rtiasons; the retractor muscle draws the eve back so powerfully and so dea||y into the socket, that it would be almost irnpossible to perform ariyTJN^ratjon; and, could an oj)eration be performed, and the opaque lens tSemoved, the sight would be so imperfect, from thi^ rays of light not being suffM'iently converged, that the horse would be worse to us than a blind one. The man who has undergone tb<^ openitirity of cases, the pn^ssure would have lona^ ceased, although tlie mischief which it had etlected remained. iVs to iucul treatment, the soal of Jiscasj is out of our reach. BIG head. This appears to be a disease peculiar to horsos in the western states. The symptoms and remedies, as far as can be accurately ascertained, may be found in the following pages, imder the head of Soundness, and the Purchase and Sale of Horses. (For a reference to that chapter see the Index.) DISEASF.S OF THE NOSE AND MOl'Tlf. We now proceed to the description of theyc/ccof the horse, so called in contradistinction from the upper part of the hc^ad, containing the brain. The nasal hones, or bones of the nose, are connected with the frontal bones above, and with the lacrymal,and the bones of the iq)per jaw, on either side; they are united together by a plain suture, which is a coiitinuatii)n of th<^ frontal, and they terminate in a point at the nostril, 'i'iieyare rounded and arched above, because they are exposed to occasional vi.>lence ;tnd injury, \\hi(h the arch-f )rm will cnah.hMhem l>est to resist; and at the 1 ase of th.e arch, where the main stren^rth should be, they are overlapjxul by the upper jawbone, as we have de- scribed the tenip.)ral bon(^ overlapping the base of the pari(;tal. These l>onc6 (orni a principal part of the fr.ce; and the length, or shortness, and the character of the face, depend uj)on (hem. 'llie largeness and length of these bones constitute the striking ditierence between the head of the cart horse and of the blcKKl horse. In some horses, this arch is more than usually developed, and ^re is, besides, a jjrominence or increased archness al)out half-way (fown the nasal bones. These horses are said to have Roman noses, because this arch of the nose distinguishes the profile of some of the most ce1e brated of llie ancient Romans. We cannot say that the breeil of honses in which the llv>man nosj us lally occurs, possesses superi^)r sagacity^ or courage; they are generally easy, good-tempered horses, excellent feeders, and hardy consiitutioned, but possessing liutle blood. Many thorough-bred horses have a peculiarity the reverse of the Roman nose. There is a depression or hollow about the middle of the nasal bones. Although this be a characteristic of breeding, it often accompanies an uncontrollable and vicious tem[)cr. These bones form the roof of an important cavity. The sidi^s are c msiituted above by the nasal b( n >s, and, 1oW(t dov.n, b-y the upp(^r j:iw-l)ones, wlule platens fr)m these latter bones pr.;j:3Ct and compose the palate, which is l)oth the floor of tlu^ n')se and the nxf of {\\g m.nith. Abf»ve is a bone calLul the paUtl'uir, alth )uu,h it contrihutes very little to the f )rmation of th ' palate. It is the terminativ>n of the palate, oi the border of an optniinfr where the cavitiosof the mouth and n >s meet. This cavity is (livid.'d into twoi)arts by a thick cartilai^e. When we open the nostril, we see the mamlu-ane by which the cartilage, and the whole of tlij cavity of the nose is lined, and by the cdour of which, m ich more than by that of the lining of the eyelids, we judge of the degree of fever, and particularly of inliannnati ,n of the lungs, or any C)f the air passages. By the s >r3 places or ulcerations discv)vered on this miinTaii^, we likewise determine on the existence of glanders This cavity is, on either side, occupied by two bones, which, from their being rolled up somewhat in the form of a turban, are called the tvr- ^ hinated or turhan-shapcd bones, part of the cartilage is cut away to display them. They are as tliin as gauze, and perforated, like gauze, with a thousand holes. Between them are left s ifhcient passages f >r the air. If they were unrolled they wou'd [)rcsjnt a very considerable surface; and on every part of them is spread the subs'ance or pulp (,f the olfac- tory, or first pair of nerves. Thes3 bones, lined with delicate mem- branes, an 1 covered by the olfactory nerves, are the seat of smdl: and they are thus expanded, because the sense of smell in the horse must, i) a very onsilerable degree, supply the place of the sense of touch and the lessons of experience in the human being. By this alone is ho enabled to select, am ngst the nutritive and pois )nous herbage of tho mca.low, that which would s ipp-rt and n t destroy him. The troopg of wild h,)isjs are siid to smell the approach of an enemv at a very c jnsid.Tabie distance. In his domes'.ie s^ate, the horse doi^s not exa- mine the different f > >d whirh is placed before him, with his ese, but wiih his nose; and if the smell displeases bini, no coaxing will induce him to eat it. He examines a stranger by the smell, and, bv very in- telligent signs, expresses the o})inion which he forms of him bv this inquisition. The horse will evidently recognise his favourite groom when he has nodiing else to indicate his approach but the sense of smell. These cavities are likewise organs of voice. The sound revei berates through th(Mn, and increases in loudness, as throuiih the wind- mgs of a French horn. The extensi ai of the nostril at the lower part of these cavities is an unportant part of the face, and intimattdy connected with breeding, 1 83 AMERICAN FARRIER. H 1 1 conrage, and speed. The horse can breathe only through the nose. All the air which goes to and returns from the lungs must pass of^wt^ndcd ^^^^"e^^^ ^^^^ nostrils. In the common act of breathing, these nojitriia. arc Sufficiently large; but, when the animal is put on his speed, and the res[)iration is quickened, these passages must dilate, or he will be mncii distressed. The expanded nostril is a strik- ing feature in the blcxH] horse, esj)ecidlly when he has been excited and not over-blow n. The sporting man will not forget the sudden effect which is given to the countenance of the hunter, when his ears become erect, and his nostrils dilate as he first hears the cry of the hounds, and snorts, and scents them afar otf; and the painfid and spasmed stretch- ing of this part, in the ps shoidd be free and open. Tiie UviStril should not only be large, l)ut the skin and su])stance which cover the entnmce into the no«e should he tliin and ehistic, that thev may more readily yield, when the necessity of the animal recHjire.s a greatersupply of air, and afterwards nituni to their natural dimeuiiions. Theref)re, nature, which adapts the animal to liiii gituation and n^^v 1..-.*^ given lo me cart-u>>rss that i» seldom t)lown, a eontined nostril, and sjrrouniled by much cellular substance, and a (hick skin; and to the horse of more brccdin^r^ whose use consists iii his speed and his con- tinuance, a wider nostril, and much more llexible. The inhabitants of some countries were accustomed to slit the nog- trili of their horses, that they might be the less digtressed in the severe and long-continued exertion of their speed. The Icelanders do so t^ the pregent day. There is no necessity for this, for nature has made ample provision f >r all the ordinary and even extraordinary exertion Muscles. ^^ ^^" HMpiire from the horse. Some very pc.werful muscles proceed from ditlerent parts of the face, to' the neighl)ourhoe guides to his o[)inion and treatment, wliich every one, who has studied tiiem, will high'y appi-eciate. NASAL Gl.KET, OK DISCHARGE FROM TIIE NOSE. The most frequent disease of this cavity is an increased and tliicker discharge of fluid iVom the nose. It may be properly called nwM-ription ^ Nasal Gleet. There is a constant secretion of fluid to lubricate and m(^>isten the membrane that hues the cavity of the nose, which, imder catarrh or cold, is increased in quantity, and altered in appearance and consistence. This will properly belong to our account of catarrh or cold; but thattowhi(h we immediately refer is a continued and oft- iitimes profuse discharge when every symptom of catarrh and fever has passed away; an almost incredii le (piantity of thickened muciis, of diffeirent colours: — if the horse is at grass, al- most as green as the food on which he lives; — or, if he be stabled, white, straw-coloured, br<>wn,or even bloody, and sometimes evidently mingled with matter or pus; and either constantly running, or snorted out in masses manv times in the dav; tcasini^ the horse, and a perfect nuisance in th^' stable, and to the rider. We have known this continue several m )nth>, and eventually destroy the horse. If the (!is{diarir(i i)e n')t otl^msive to the sniel!, n(ir nii\ed widi anv matter, it is probably merely an increu.-ed and someu hat vitiatcul secretion from the cavities of the nose; and, all fever 'avinnr disiiooeared, will frecjuently yield to small doses of blue vitriol, from one to two drachms, and given twice in the day. If fever or cough remain, the cough medicine which will hereafter be descril>ed must be combined with the tonic. If the discharge be mingled with pus, and very offensive, the vegetable tonics, gentian and ginger, may be added to the copper in doses of two drachms of the f )rmer, and one of the latter; but tliere is then reason to aj)prehend that the discharge will not be Controlled, and will terminate in glanders. Turning into ih Cure. ij 34 AMEUtCAN FARRIER. GLANDERS. 35 1 is salt marsh will occasionally effect a cure, when both the mineral a;«d the vegetable tonics have failed. GLANDKRS. The next and most formidable of all the diseases to which the horse is subject, is Glanders. It was described by writers fifteeen hundred vears ai^o, and it was then, and is now, not only a loatiisome, but an incurable (lis ;ase; we shall therefore principally confine ourselves to the consideration of its symptoms, nature, and causes, and prevention, and dej^rce of contagion, and these will afford much matter of interest to the farmer. If we co'dd obtain an authentic history of the glandered horse, we should find that, in the majority of instances, if the disease Byinptoins, ^vHTc bred in him, he had been dull, off his fecdj losing flesb, * and his coat staring; and that these appearances had for se- veral weeks pn^ceded tlie characteristic symptoms of glanders. These symptoms, however, may lead to, or be the causes of other diseases, oi they may pass away, and the horse may return to perfect health. That whicli would be considered as the earliest, and an unquestionable symptomof glanders, would be an increased discharge from one or both nostrils,- dilforent from the discharge of catarrh, because it is usually lighter and clearer in its colour, and more glutinous or sticky. When rublHid between the fingers it has, even in an early stage, a peculiar, clammy, bird-limy feel. It is not discharged occasionally and in large quantities, like the mucus of catarrh, but it is constantly ninnmg from the nostril. It is a singular circumstance, for which no satisfactory account has yet Iw^en given, iliat when one nostril alone is attacked, it is in a great majj>ritv of cases the near or lef\. M. Uupuy, the director of the vete- rinary schi^M)! at Tfudouse, gives a most singidar account of this. He says that out of eiiiht hundred cases of glanders that came under his notice, only one was affected in th'3 right nostril. This discharge, in cases of infection, may continue, and in so slight a degree as to be scarcely perceptible, tor many weeks or months In^fore tlie liealtli and capabihtics of the horse seem to be 'njiired. It will n^ main f>r a long time almost transparent, yet gluey; and then it will b«»gin {(} be minglee f >und on that side alone. Glanders, however, will frcMpu^itlv exist at an early stage without these swelled glands, and some other diseases, as catarrh, w ill |>roducc them. Then we njust look out foi K)me peculiarity about these glands, and we shall leadily find it. The swelling may be at first somewhat large and diffused, but the surround- tng enlargement soon goes off, and one or two small distinct glands remain; and they are not in the centre of the channel, but adhere closely to the jaw on the affected s^ide. The membrane of the nose may now be examined, and will mate- rially guide our opinion. It will eitlw^r be of a dark purplish jron.tiW hue, or almost of a leaden colour, or of any shade between !ho"n(^"^ **^ ^^^^ two^ or, if t}K3re be some of the redness of inflammation, it will have a purple tinge; but there will never be the faint pink blush of health, or the intense and vivid red of usual inflammation. Spots of ulceration will probably appear on the membrane covering the cartilage of the nose — not simple sore places, or streaks of abrasion, and quite superficial, but small ulcers usually approaching to a circu- lar form, deep, with the e(lg(?s abrupt and prominent. Wfien these ?\ppearances are ohserved, there can be no doubt about the matter. Care sboidd be taken, however, to ascertain that these ulcers do actually c\ist, for spots of mucus adhering to the membrane have been more tonn once taken for them. The fniger should, if possible, be passed over the supj)oscd ulcer, to determine whether it can be wiped away- iim\ k J^liould be recollected, as wt; have already hinted when describ- nig tf»e duct that conveys the tears to the nose, that the orifice of that duct, just within the nostril, and on the inner side of it, has Un^n mis- taken for a cancerous ulcer. This orifice is on the continuatfori of tlie common skin of the muzzle which runs a little way up the nostrfl while the ulcer of glanders is on the proper membrane of the nose above; and the line of separation botween the two is evident on the slightest inspect it >n. It is proper to state tliat this discharge has continued imattended by any other disease, or even by ulceration of tin.' nostril fJ)r two or three years, and yet the horse was decidedly glandered iVoiu tlie iK^ginnin"-, and capable of propagating the malady. When ulcers on the m'uihran'' (»f the nose have a[>pearctr, the con- stitution will be evidently aff ctf^l. The horse will lose flesh f hrs belly will be tucked up; his coat will hv, unthrifty, and readily come off- CO igh will be heard; the aj)pntit(i will be im^)airedf the strength will fail; the discharge from the nose will grow more purulent, discolowred, MfHKly, stinking; the ulcers in the nose will l>e larger and more mime- rou<; and, the air-passages l)eing obstructeil, a grating, choking noise will he hoard at every act of breathing, llie lungs are now diseased; they are filled with tubercles or ulcerations; and the horse at length dies, an emaciated and loathsome oliiect. Ihe symptoms frequently vary, and to a most puzzling degree. TThe discharge will be so slight as scarcely to be p<3rceivedy and Sympum.H'^ ^"'>^^'" <»"'>' by its stirkiucss; and the glands will not be in the least degree enlarged. At other times a very small er>- Iargeugli, or at least frequent wheezin;;; and when the en- largement ap{)ears beneath the jaw, it is not a single small gland, but a swelling of the whole of the sid stance Ix'tween the jaws; growing hardier towards the mi Idle; and after a while appearing to contain a lluid, and Ijreaking. in strangles the meml.rane of die nose will le in tensely red, and the discharge from t\v^ nose pn»f is •, and pundent, oi mixed with matter aim )St from the first; and wben the tumour has burst, the fever will abate, and the h')rse will speedily get well. Should the discharge fr an the n .se continue tor a considerable time after the horse hns roc wered from strangles, as it sometimes docs, there is no cause for fear. Simple stran;iles need never deirenerate into glanders. G.Kjd keep, and small doses of the blue vitriol given inter- nally, will gradually make all right. Glanders have been confjunded with catarrh or cold, but the disti»ic tion between them is plain enough. Fever accompanies cold, and loss of appetite, and s>re throat (die q lidding of the f«>od,and gulping of the water are sufhcient in lieations of the latter of these); the discharge from the nose is |)r >fase, and perhai)s purulent; and the glands un ler the jaw, if swelled, are moveable, and there is a thickening around them, and they are tender and hot. With proper treatment the fevei abates; the cough disappears; the swellings under the throat subside^ and the discharge from the n jse gradually ceases, or, if it remain, it is usually very ditierent from that w hi' h characterizes glanders. In glan- ders, there is seldom cough of any conse(iuenec, and, generally, no cough at all. A running t>om the nt-so, sm.ill in quantity, and from the smailness of its quantity drying abuMt the edges oi' the n )Stril, and so prrscntiinr some apj)earanre of sti< kiness, will, in a few cases, remain after severe catarrh, and especially after \hr, indoenza of Sj)ring; and these have gradually assumed the character of glanders, and nijre particularly when they have been ac(ear in the inoculated animal in the course of a few days. The history we have given of the symf)toms of glanders will pretty clearly point out its nature. It is an aflection of the mem- Tubercles, ^^j-j^jj^," ^^c iIj^, ,j^3^,g Some say that it is the production of tubercles, or minute tumours in the upper cells of the nose, which may long exist undetected, and liard to be detected except by a scarcely perceptible running from the nostril, caused by the slight irritation which they occasion. These tubercles gradually become more nume- rous; they cluster tog(;ther, supperate, and break; and small ulcera- tions are formed. The ulcers discharge a poisonous nwitter, w hich is absorbed and taken up by the neighbourinir jrh»nH«. nnd whirh. with greater or less rapidity, vitiates the constitution of the pniuial, and is capable of communicating the disease to others. Other surgeons con- tent themselves with saying that it is an inflammation of tlie membrane of the nose, which may assume an acute or chronic form, or in a very fhort time, or exceeding slowly, run on to ulceration. The malady pnx^eeds as we have already described it, but, before its lermination, becomes connected with farcy. Few horses die of glan- ders without exhibiting some appearance of farcy; and farcy, in its latter stages, is almost invariably accompanied by glanders :— //try are dijferent forms or stages of the same disease. There can be no doubt that the membrane of tlK3 nose is the original seat of glanders; that the disease is for a time purely local; that the inflammation of the tubercles must proceed to suppei'ation before that matter is formed on which the poisoning of the constitution depends; that the whole circulation does at length become empoisoned ; and that the horse is destroyed by the general irritation and disease prcMJuced. Glanders may be either bred in the horse, or communicated by con- tagion. What we have further to remark on this malady will be ar- ranged under these two heads. Improper stable managemt^nt we believe to ])e a far more frequent caus(^ of glanders than contagion. The air which is neces- Cj>"Jra<^tinff sary to respiration is changed and empoisontul in its passage through the lungs, and a fresh supply is necessary for the support of life. That sup{)ly may be sufhcient, barely to support life, but not to prevent the vitiated air from again and again passing to the lungs, and producing irritation and disease, llie membrane of the nose, j)osscssed of extreme sensibility for the purj>oses of smell, is easily irritated by this poison, and close and ill-ventilated stables often- est witness the ravages of glanders. Professor Coleman relates a case D mmmttmsammgm *mmtm\^ r & 3§ 4. I AMERICAN FARiriER. which proves lo demonstration the rapid and fatal agency of this cause. "In the expedition to Quiberon, the horses had not been long on board the transports, before it became necessary to shut down the hatchways (we believe fjr a few hours only); the consequence of this^ was, that some of them were suifocated, and that all the rest were disembarked either glandered or farcied."* In a close stable, the air is not only prm(iple of economy, which begrudges the labour of the man, and the cleanliness and comfort of the animal •>—thc'^e will be the very hot-beds of the disease, and in many of these establish- ments It is an almost constant resident. When speaking of inllammation of thc^ eye, and the effect of ill-ven- tilated stables in pnxlucing it, we remarked that the urine of the horse contained an unusually large quantity of hartshorn; that the litter wetted by it was disposed piost rapidly to ferment, and that the gases extrica ed must be extremely prejudicial to so delicate an organ It may, then, be easily imagined that the constant presence of th.»-u « See Percivars exccllcm Lectures on the Veterinary Art, vol. iii. p. 455, GLANDERS. 39 f pimgent fumes, and the irritation which they would cause on that membrane which is the very seat of smell, must predispose for, and oi\en generate a disease which is primarily an aflfection of this mem- brane. Glanders may be produced by any thing that injures, or for a length if time acts upon, and weakens the vital energy of this membrane They have been known to follow a fracture of the bones of the nose. They have been the consequence of violent catarrh, and particular!}' the long conJiniied discharge from (he nostrils, of which we have spoken. They have been [.roduced by the injection of stimulating and acrid substances up the nostril; ajid everything that weakens the constitution generall} , will lead to glanders, it is not only from bad stable-management, lv.it from the hardships which they endure and the exhausted state of their constitution, that post and machine horses are so subject to glanders; and there is scarcely an hifiamma- tory disease to which the horse is subject, that is not occasionally wound u{) and terminated by the a]>peardnce of glanders. Glanders, however, are highly contagious. The larmcr cannot be too well aware of this: and. con*^idfM*in(T tb^ Hofrrpp *^ ,..k;^u *u^,, often prevail, the legislature would be justified inlnterfering by some severe enactments, as they have done in the case of the small-pox in Contagion ^^'^^^ I'uinan subject. The early and marked s^ niptom of ghmders is a discharge from the nostrils of a peculiar char- acter; and if that, even before it becomes purulent, be rubbed on a wound, or on a mucous surface, as the nostrils, it will produce a simi- lar disease. Glanders are not communicated by the air or breath. If the division between two horses were sufliciently high to prevent all smelling and snorting at each other, and contact of every kind, and they drunk not out of the same pail, a sound horse might live for years, uninfected, by the side of a glandered one. The^'matter of glanders has been mixed up into a ball^ and given to a healthy horse, without efiL'ct; yet in another experiment of the same kind, the poor animal died. The mouth or gullet had pr.jbably some small wounds or ulcers in it. Some horses have eaten the hay left by those that were glandered, and no bad consequence has followed;' but others have been speedily infected. The glanderous matter must come in contact with a \vr»und, nr t;,ll on some mem! rane, thin and delicate hke that of the nose, and tlin.egh wliirh it inav be al)sorb(u]. It is easy, (hen, accust' mcd as horses are to sme!I Jach other, and to re- cogm7.e each other bv the smell; eating out of the same manger, and drinkmg from the same pail, to imagine that the disease mayle very rc:u!iiy conununicated. One horse has passed another when he was in the act of snorting, and has become glandered. Some fillies have received the infection, from the matter blown by the wind across a lane, when a glandered horse, in the opposite field, has claimed ac- quaintance by neighing or snorting. It is almost impossible for an infected horse to remain long in a stable with others, without irrepa- rible j/iischief. TiiiifMWiinMMTMfigiiriiniitiinnniiririiBTiiir *H M AMERICAN FARRIER. GLANDERS. li ♦ If some persons underrate the danger, it is because the disease may remain unrecognized in the infected horse for some months, or even years ; and therefore when it appears, it is attributed to other causes, or to after inoculation. We would deeply impress it on the mind of the farmer, that no glandered horse should be employed on his flirm in any kind of work, or permitted to remain for a day on his pre- mises: nor should a glandered horse he permitted to work on any road, or even to pasture on any field, lie may be capable of work for years after the disease has beromo undoubted, but mischief may so easily and extensively l)e etibcted, that the public interest demands that every infected animal siiould be summaiily destroyed, or given over for experiment to a veterinary surgeon, or recognized veterinar} establishment. Our ojnui«)n of tlie treatment of glanders is implied in what we have just stated. There are a few instances of the spontaneous *"^*^ ^* cure of chronic glanders, or glanders long established and slow in their progress. The discbarge has existed for a considerable time; at length it has gradually diminished, and has ceased without medirnl treatuiont b.nt in tbo niaioritv of these supposed cases, the matter was only pent up for a while, and then, bursting from its con- finement, ilowed again in double quantity: or if glanders have not f eappeared, the horse, in eighteen or twenty-four months, has become farcied, or consumptive, and died. We view these cures with nmch suspicion: but even allowing that some have occurred, they are so few and far between, that our expressed opinion of the incurable na- ture of the disease, in the present state of veterinary knowledge, is scarcely affected. As for medicine, there is scarcely a drug to which a fair trial has not been given, and many of them have had a tempo- rary reputation; but they have passed away, one after the other, and are no longer used. The blue vitriol and the Spanish-fly have held out longest, and in a few cases, either nature, or these medicines, have done wonders; but, in the majority of instances, they have pal- pably failed. Where the life of a valuable animal is it stake, and the owner takes every precaution to j)revent infection, he may sid)- ject the horse to medical treatment; but we indignantly object to the slitting of the nostril, and scra|)iug of the cartilage, and searing of tlnj gland, and bring the f'ronfal and nasal bones, and to those injection' ol pepper and mustard, corrosive siililiniite and vitriol, by which the horse has been tortured, and the j)ractiti«)ner disgraced. At the ve- terinary school, iind by veterinary siirgfM>ns, it wdl be most desiral^Io that every expcMMinent should be tried to disi-over a rcin(>dy for this pest; but, in ordinary instances, he is not faithful to his own interest or that of his neighbours, who does rot remove the possibility of dan- ger in the most summary way. Supposing that glanders have made their appearance in the stables of a farmer, is there any danger after he has removed or tnfhe'iuilie^ destroyed the infected horse?— eertairdy there is, but not to the extent that is commonly supposed. There is no necessity ^1 I' for pulling down the racks and mangers, or even the stable itself, as some have done. The poison resides not in the breath of the ani- mal, but in the nasal discharge, and that can only reach certain parts of the stable ; and if the mangers, and racks, and bales, and parti- tions, are first well scraped, and next scoured with soap and water, and then thoroughly washed with a solution of the chloride of lime, (one pint of the chloride to a pailful of water,) and the walls are lime- washed, and the head-gear burned, and the clothing baked and washed, and the pails new painted, and the iron-work exposed to a red heat, nil danger will cease. The tricks which some dealers resort to at fairs and markets, in or- der to conceal the existence of glanders, are most infamous, and should be visited with the severest penalty of the law. Having given the horse a brushing gallop, that he may thoroughly clear the nose, some i)f them blow powdered abun uj) the nostrils a little while before he is shewn; others use white vitriol; and although the horse may be sadly tortured, about which they care nothing, the discharge is"^ for some hours stayed. Others roll up a pledget of tow, and intnxluce it into the nostril, sufbcjpntly higli to escape common observation. Botii these tricks may be discovered by the uneasiness of the animal, and his repeated efforts to sneeze, as well as by his general appearance, and if the disease be far advanced, most assuredly by the red or raw appearance of the nose, and by the stinking breath. Happy should we be, if we could say any thing satisfactory of the I'revention P^^^,^^^^^^ ^^ glanders. The danger from exposure to in- fection can scarcely be avoided by those who travel much, and whose horses must stand in stables the inmates of which are so promiscuous, and so frequently changed. Although we cannot pre- vent contagion, we have more power in preventing the disease from occurring without contagion, and that is a point of importance, at least if the opinion of Prof cssor Coleman be correct, that not one horse in a thousand receives the disease from contagion. To this, however, we cannot subscribe, for not only the history of cavalry regiments, but the experience of every breeder and proprietor of horses will prove the infectious nature of the complaint. No fict is more certain, than that he who will keep a glandered horse in his stable, or work him in his team, will sooner or later lose the greater part of bis stud. However, the generation of the disease niay certainly l>e much preven!ed, and the first and most cffectimi mode of prevention will lie to keep the stables cool and well ventila- ted, for th(^ hot and and poisoncnl air of low and confined stables is one of the most prevalent causes of glanders. Next to ventilation stands cleanliness; for the fotd air from the fer- menting litter, and urine and dung, must not only be highly injurious to health generally, but irritate and j)redispose to inflammation that delicate membrane, which is the primary seat of the disease. If to this l>c added regular exercise, and occasional green meat during the summer, and carrots in the wmter. we shall have stated all tbaFcan 6 P2 mmmmmm m\ \ nt H\ ii mammmimmit m m vi p ..^t hi '! I > 42 AMERICAN FARUIKR. 1 FARCY. f 43 be dono in the way of prevention. The farmer's horse in his cool nr cold stable, and during the greater part of the year running loose when not at work, would be exempt from glanders, if, at the market and the fair, he were not so much exposed to contagion. In truth, glanders may be considered as the consequence of the stabling of the horse In South America and in Arabia they are unknown ; but wherever the European plan of stabling has been introduced, glanders have follow ed in its train: and therefore if any means are resorted to for the cure oi* glanders, the first, and perhaps the only eflectual one would be to remove every exciting cause of the disease; to restore the horse al- most to a state of narure; to turn him out for a long time, or at least to throw open his stable as much as the season and the weather will permit. Ex})erience, however, tells us, that, although the sym{)toms have disappeare«dis- tore either arrives at jts ratal termination its associate wil» ^^^- almost invariably appear. An animal inoculated with the matter of farcy will often he atilicted with glanders, while the mattei' of glanders will frequently produce farcy. They are different iypea or stages of the same disease. There is, however, a very material difference in their symptoms and progress, and this most important of all, that while glanders are generally incurable, farcy, in its early stage and mild f )rm, may be successfully treated. Veterinary writers tell us that it is a disease of the absorbents in the skin. The small arteries are employed in building up and nour- ishing the various parts of the body; and another set of vessels are busied in taking up and carrying away that which is worn out and useless. There is no part of the body on which thousands of these little tubes do not o{)en. Those of th(? skin are not only employed in removing useless materials, lint in t; liinir ^>p ^^'l^ious substances, and principally fluids which may be in << ntact wilh the skin. The little vessels wl:i<^h are ihiis occiipi(Ml, <-olicct toi^cther and f)rm larger branches, wliich run in c'>in[>any with the superficial veins, and there- fore farcy was once supposed to be a disease of the veins, and the tumours by which it is characterized acconi()anv the course of the veins. The poison v.hic^h they take up produces inflammation in them, which gradually spreads along the absorbent, and causes it to swell. . These vessels, small as they are, contain valves, like those in the Anpoarance ^^"^"^^n pump, wliich permit the fhud to pass one way, but »)f Farcy prevent its return. The inflammation, which })ursues the ^^ natural course of the lluid through these tubes, that *s, to- wards the reservoir into which it is thrown before it enters the heart, Feems to be arrested by these valves, and they inflame and swell; and therefore the first indication of this disease, even before any drooping, or loss of condition, or of appetite, is generally the appearance of little tumours — -farcy buds — close to some of the veins, following the course of the veins, and connected together by a kind of cord, which farriers call corded inins. When they are few and small they may possibly exist for several weeks \\ith<»ut being observed; but at length they increase in number and in size, and become j)ainful and hot, and some of them begin to ulcerate. They appear usually about the face or neck, or inside of the thigh, and in the latter case there is some general enlargement of the limb, and lameness. In some cases, however, the horse will drooj) f )r many days before the aj)pearance of the htittona or farri/ buds- — his aj)petite will be im- paired;— his coat will stare; — he will lose flesh. The poison is evi- dently at work, but has not gained sufbcient power to cause the absorbents to swell. In a few instances these buds do not ulcerate, but become hard and diflicidt to disperse. The progress of the disease i'i thpn suspended, anr] possibly for mnnv months the liorse will appear to be restored to health; btit he bears the seeds of the malady about him, and, all at once, the farcy assumes a virulent form, and hurries nim off. These buds have sometimes been confounded with the little tumours or lumps of surfeit. They are generally higher than these tumours; — not so broad; — have a more knotty feeling, and are princi- pally found on the inside of the limbs, instead of the outside. The increase of these buds marks the progress of the disease, and Permin lio ^^^^ progress is retarded by the resistance of these valves. ■ The ulcers spread around, and are cured with considerable difficulty. Larger tumours appear in the groin and between the fore- leg, and ulcerate and spread, and the holiows and burrow ings run deep in every direction, and the horse becomes a miserable and loathsome object. Glanders speedily appear, and death ensues. Few things are more unlike, or more perplexing, than the diifereni DifTorent f^^ns which farcy assumes at difierent times. One of the vorn.sofiiie legs, and particularly one of the hinder-legs, will suddenly swell to an enormous size. At night the horse will appear to be perfectly well, and, in the mornina, one lele, anc' others in the neighboinhood, who ha\e l;een exposed to the same pre- disposing causes. The practitioner is always afaid of seeing Uk) much of tins disease when hc^ meets wiih one case of firc\, where' there has been gross inattention to the horses. Some have' denied that it is a contagious disease. They must have had little experience. It is true tliat the matter of farcy mist c anu in cntact with a wound, or sore, in order to communicate the disease; but accustomed as horses are to nibble and play with earh other, and sore as the corners of the mouth lire trequently rendered by thj Lit, it is casv to imagine that *his may oiten be effected; and expei'ience tells us, that a horse havin^r fircv- ulcers cannot be suffered to remain with others without extreme ri^k We recollect an instance in which virulent and flital farcy was com- numicated by a scratch from ihe currvcomb, which had been previously used on a glandered horse. " ^ The treatment of farcy varies with the f >nTi it assumes. In the button Treatment. ''\ l^^'^^^/'^^'cy, a mild dose of ph) sic should be first administer, ed. I he buds should be then carefully examined, and if anv of them have broken, the budding iron, of a dull red heat, should be applied to them; or if matter should le ^i^M in them, showing that they are disposed to break, they should L'C penetrated with the iron. T'he^e wounds should be daily inspected, and if, when the slough of the cau- tery comes off, they h>ok pale, and foul, and spongy, and discharge a thin matter, they should be frecp.ently washed v. ith a lotion, compo.c.^l ot a drachm ox corrosive suMiniate diss ,lved in an ounce of rectified ^nxiV, the other buds should likewise be examined, and opened wi;h tJie iron as s,X)n as they evidently contain uiatter. Wh<>n the wo'uuis begin to look red, and the hottou) of them is even and firm, and thev discharge a thick u lute or yellow matter,the fnar^s balsam vill spc^ed- ily heal them As however, the cons'itutinu is now tamted, local ap- plications w,!l not be sufficient, and the disease must he attacked bv internal medicines, as soon as the physic has ceased to operate The Kemedy. ^^^''''osive Sublimate will be the best alterative, and may 1 e w.-fh fw. P'^T '" r""^""' ""^ ^^'' ^'''^"'' gradually increased to a scruple, with two drachms of gentian and one of giuger,and repeated morn n- and night until the ulcers disappear, unless the horse is violently purged, or the mouth becomes sore, when a drachm of blue ; itriol may be substituted for the corrosive sublimate. During this, the animal should be placed in a large box, with a free circulation of air; and green meat, or carrots, the latter more particularly, should be given him, with a fair allowance of corn. If he could be turned out duriii"^ the day, it would be advantageous; but at all events he should be daily exercised. It is related by Mr. Blaine, that a horse so reduced as not * ) be able to stand, was drawn into a field of tares, and suffered to take his chance: the coiiseipumce was, that when be had eaten all within his reach, he was able to rise and search for more, and eventually re- covered. In an early stage of the disease, and if glanders have not appeared, this treatment will fretjuently succeed. It", after the wounds have. I ealed, the absorluuits should continue to be corded, a blister, or light firing, ^\ill ])rol)ably be serviceable. It should be remembered, that a horse which has experienced one aitack of tarcy will be very subject to a relapse, and, theretore, should be regarded with a watchful eye, and occasional alteratives of ^^thiop's mineral, with tui{)entiue, in the proportions of one drachm of the tur- mer and f )ur of the latter, made into a bail with linseed meal, should be pivpn. and (rreon moat or carrots, whon circumstances will permit. In the species of farcy attended with enormous swelling, it will be prudent to bleed moderately as well as to physic. The iron will net be necessary, but tlie same alterative medicine will be useful, and the leg should be frecpiently fomented with warm water. In both cases, although the air should be fresh and cool, the horse should be warml} clothed. The Water Farcy, confounded by name with the common farcy, and by which much confusion has been caused and a great deal of^ mischief done, is a dropsical affection of the skin, either of the chest or of the limbs generally, and belongs to another part of our subject A tumour termed a Polypus sometimes occupies one of the nostrils. It will grow to a very large size, obstructing the breathing, and sadly annoying the horse. As this can only be removed by an operation, which a veterinary surgeon alone is competent to perform, we do not describe it particularly. THE LIPS. The Z//).'? of the horse are far more iniportant organs than many puppose. They are, in a maimer, the hands of ihi' horse; and if any one will take the trouble to observe the manner in which he gathers up his corn \\'\\\\ tluun, and collects tngeiher the grass l)efore he di- vides it with his nippers, he will be satistic^d that the horse would be no more able to convey the food to his mouth without them, than the human being could without his hands. The lips are composed of muscles for the sake of strength, and of a multitude of small glands, which secrete a fluid that covers Compositjon. ^j^^^ in^jfle of the lips and the gums, in order to prevent fric- tion, and likewise furnishes a portion of the moisture so necessary f)r the pr.'pcr chewing of the fxxl. The skin covering the lips is very #» 46 AMERICAN FAURIER. LAMPAS. 47 >M- i i thill, because, if these are the hands of the horse, they should possess considerable feeling; and for the same purpose likewise, Proper form ^j^^^ ^^^ scantily coveiKid with hair, and that hair is fine and short; and long hairs or feelers, culled the beard, are superadded for the same purpose. The horse is guided and governed principally by the mouth, and therefore the lips are endowed with extraordinary sensibility, so that the animal feels the slightest motion of the hand of the rider or driver, and, as it were, anticipates his very thoughts. The fineness or goodness of the mouth consists in its exqiiisile feeling, nnd depends on the thinness of this membrane. We shall say mure of this, when we have des ribcd tiie lower jaw and ()aia{e. Tlie lips of the horse should be thin, if the beauty of the head be regarded, for if they are loaded with fat they cannot be so sensible as tliey ought to be: yet, although tliin, they should evidently j)ossess power, and be strongly and regularly closed. A firm, compressed mouth, gives a favourable and no deceptive idea of the muscular power of the animal. laps a{)art from each other, and hanging down, indi- cate weakness or old age, or dulness and sluggishness. The depth of the mouth, or the distance from the fore part to the angle of tlu^ lips, should be considerable, for the sake of beauty. A short protuberant mouth would he a bad finish to the tapering face of the blood horse; — more room is likewise given for the opening of the nostril, which we have seen to be an important consideration. The bridle will not be carried well, and the horse will hang heavy on hand, if there be not considerable depth of mouth. The angles of the lips are frequently made sore or wounded by the smallness or shortness of the snaffle, and by the unnecessary rse of the j^^d crucl tightness of the bearing rein. This rein not only bearing run. ^.^^^ ^^^ j^^^^^^ ^ grander appearance in hnrness, and place:? the head in that position in which the bit most powerfully presses upon tlie jaw, but there is no possibility of driving without it, unless the arm of the driver were as strong as that of Hercules; and most cer Uiinlv there is no safety if it be not used. There are few horses who will not hear uj)on somethhig, and it is better to let them bear upon themselves than up'ii (he arm of the driver. Without this control, luaiiy of lluMu would hang tlieir heads low and he disposed every mo mcntto stumble, and would defy all puhing, if ihey tried to run away. There is, and can l^e no necessity, however, for using a bearing reiu so tight as to cnunp the muscles of the head, and which is iudicritcd by the animaPs coutinuiiUy tossing up Ins head: — tfiey may indeed he cramj)ed to such a degree, that the horse is scarcely able to bring his head to the ground, when turned to grass. The tight rein injures the angles of the lips, and frequently brings on poll-evil. We saw a pwjr horse at work, unroughed, during a severe frost. He was continually sliding about, and in danger of falling. The stupid driver buckled the bearing-rein as tight as he could, to keep him up; and the conse- quence vv^as, that by the sudden and forcible pressing upon \\ui iron, iR the slips which would still every momcut occur, the corners of thu n7f»uth were absolutely cut through to a considerable depth. Except it be a restive or determined horse, there should be little more bear- ing on the mouth than is generally used in riding. This the horse likes to feel, and it is necessary for him in the swift gallop. We must have the bearing-rein, whatever some men of humanity may say against it} but we need not use it cruelly. THE no^ES of the mouth. The bones in and gi^ing f)rm to the mouth, nrc the superior inax- llnry, or uj)per jaw, containing the grinders, the anterior mixrllarv, )r lower part of the up[)er jaw, eontainiug the upper-nippers or ;utting-teeth; the [)alatine hone, and the post(^rior maxillary or under jaw containing all the under teeth. (See Skeleton.) tue palate. Adhering to a portion of the bones just described, and being the lining of the roof of the mouth, is the hard palate, composed of a firm dense substance divided into sevenil ridges called bars. Precisely in a line between the middle and second cutting teeth, nn;l a little m';re than an in<'h within the m mlh, the artery and vein rrnke a curve. They may thare 1 e cut down upon with a sharp knife, {uid a plentiful stre:'m of blo;xl will l:e obtained, which will usually sf )p of itself when two or three quarts of blood have been obtained. The artery 1 eing cut acros-- will shrink, and so-jn cease to bleed, and tlie apj)licati.>n of a sponge filled with cold water will generally stop the hleedinnj of the vein. No injury will result from the divisijn of i!io nerve, tor it is a mere nerve of feeling, distributed over those parts. ► >ome ol the I )weT bars occasionally swell, and il^e to a level wi'th, and e\c*n beyond the edge of the teeth, and they are very ^.w^cofthc ^ore, and the horse feeds badly on account of tlie pain he sutlers from the pressure of the f(X)d on the bars. 'J'hin is cJiHed the Lami'as; and it may arise from intlanimation of tne gumr*, propagated to the bars, when the horse is shedding his teeth; (aud young horses are more suhjc.t to it tli'»n others;) or fnjm some 'flight febrile tendency in the consiitution generallv,as when a youn<^ horse has lately been taken up from grass^ and has been over-fed, or Mot sut]i(uently exercised. In the majority of the cases the swelling ui!l sof>,. ^nb.-idf without J ^. medical treatment; or a few mashes, and genilt- ai{erative?«, >vill relieve the animal. A few slight cuts across the bars ■A-ith a lancet or penknife, and taking eare to avoid the principal ar- tery and vein of the palate, will relieve the inflammation, aixl cause the swelling to subside; indeed, this scarification of the bars will sel- dom do h.irm, allhough it is far from being so necessary as is supposoose. The term nipper is familiar to th«j horseman and tlie farrier, and I Enamel. much better expresses the action of these teeth than the word incisor or cutter which is adopted by anatomists. Whoever has Tiipvf' observed a horse in the act of browsing, and the twitch of of the head which accompanies the separation of each portion of grass, will perceive that it is nipped or torn rather than cut off. These teeth are covered w ith a p(»lished and exceedingly hard sub- stance, called the enamel; indeed, it is so hard that it almost bids defiance to the action of a file. It spreads over that portion of the teeth which appears above the gum, and not only so but as they are to be so much employed in ni|)ping tlie grass, and gathering up the animalV food, and in siicli emj)loyinent even this hard substance must be gradually worn away, a portion of it, as it passes over the upper surface (>f the teeth, is rent inward, and sunk into the boIliug;jnd soreness of the gums, and frequently wounding the cheeks. These would be gradu ally quite absorbed, but the process might be slow and the amioyance would be great; and therefore it is proper to get rid of these diminu- tive teeth, either by punching tliem out, or drawing them as soon a» they are perceived. This change of teeth commences in those which earliest appeared^ and, therefore, the front or first grinder gives way at the age of two years, and is succeeded by a larger and pcmianrnt tooth. Now, like- wise, seriously commences, in too many cases, the roguery of horse- dealers and breeders. A colt rapidly increases in value, as his age and growth increase. A three-year-old colt is worth twenty-five per cent, more than a two-ycmr-old one; and if a dealer has a strong and /ikely colt, that was dn>pped early in the year, and whose form and points nught deceive the unwary, he is anxious to pass him if he can for a three-year-old. To accomplish this, he must give him a three- year-old mouth; and between two years and a half and three years, tl.'c two middle nippers are displaced, and succeeded by two perma- nent teeth. During the period between the falling out of the central milk nip- pers, and the coming up of the pcnnanent ones, the colt, having a broken mouth, may have some difficulty in grazing. If he should fall away considerably in condition, he should be fed with corn, or cut meat. This cut will represent a three year-old mouth. The central teeth Three are larger than the others, with two grooves in the outer ycHr-oid. convcx surfacc, and the mark is long, narrow, deep and ^lack; and not having yet attained their full growth, they are not so 4 / ^ AGE OF THE ANIMAL. 51 ■I high as the others. The mark in the two nex t nip- pers is nearly worn out, and it is wearing away in the corner nippers. Is it possible to give this mouth to an early two-year-old? The ages of all horses are reckoned from May, but some are foaled even so early as January, and being actually four months over the two years, if they have been well nursed and fin], and are strong and large, they may with the inexjierienced, have an acklitional year put upon them. The central nippers are punched or drawn out, and the others appear three or four months earlier than they otherwise would. Jn a natural process they could only rise l)y long pressing u])on, and causing the al)sorption of the first set. The first set me- chanically oppose their rising, and that opj)osition being removed, it ia reasonable to imagine that their pr* (gross will be more raj)id. Three or four months will be gained, and these three or f )ur months may enal)le the breeder to term him a late colt of a preceding year. To him, however, who is accustomed to horses, (although it is long prac- tice plone wincli ronlH give this faeilitv of ju(l<''nient.'\ the general form of the animal, the little developemcntof tlie forehand, the contin- uance of the mark on the next pair of nippers, its more evident existence in the corner ones, some enlargement or irregularity about the gums from the violence used in forcing out the teeth, the small growth of the first and fifth grinders, and the non-appearance of the sixth grinder, which if it is not through the gum at three years old, is swelling under it, and preparing to get through, any or all of these circumstances, cjirefully attended to, will be a suflicicnt security against deception. It is so unusual to look at the teeth in the upper jaw of a young horse, that the dealer who wishes to give a false appeanince of age, freipiently confines his operation to the lower jaw, and, m consequence of this, when the teeth of the lower jaw are thus made to push out, they are still below the gum in the upper jaw, alth(»ugh, in the natu- ral process, they are cut a little scxmer in the upper than in the lower jaw. It may, therefore, be gcxnl policy always to examine l>oth jaws. A horse then at three >ears old ought to have the central perma- nent nippers growing — tlie other two pairs wasting — six grinders in each jaw, above and below — the first and fifth molars level with the others, and the sixth protruding. Tlie shar|) edge of the new incisors, although it could not be well expressed in our cut, will be very evi dent when compared with the neighbouring teeth. As the permanent ni})i)ers grow, and press upon the teeth at thcii sirle, those teeth will begin gradually to diminish. Not only w ill the mark be wearing out, but the crowns of the teeth w ill be considerably fimaller. At three years and a half, or between that and four, the next pair Ti)ree and a t)f »ii[>pers will be changed, and the mouth at that time can- Jiaif years, not be mistaken. The central nippers will have attained '»i iWiUir— BWHIiiiH ' . 'i?^H m ■nn ' ' 5^«S^ ^1 ^^^^1 tafim ^ ■ HH 52 AMERICAN FARRIER. nearly their full growth; a vacuity will be left where the second stood, or they will begin to peep above the gum, — and the corner ones will be diminished in hreadth — worn down — and tho mark becoming small and faint. At this peri- (k1, likewise, the second pair of grinders will be shed, and, previous to this, will be the at- tempt of the dealer to give to lus three-year-old an additional year, hut the fiaiid may be detected by an examimi- tion similar to that whi<'h we have already (leseiii)ed. At four years, the central nippers will be fully developed; the sharp edge somewhat woiii oil"; the mark shorter, wider and faint Fouryears. ^^, the ncxt j)air will be up, but they will he small, with the mark deep, and extending (piile across them; and the corner nijw pers larger than the inside onc.'S, yet smaller than they were. Hat, and the mark nearly effaced; the sixth grmder will have risen to a level with the others, and the tushes will begin to a})pear. The tushes are four in number, two in each jaw, situated between tlie nippers and th^ grinders, much nearer to the former than the lat- ter, and nearer in the lower jaw than in the upper, l)ut this distance increasing in both jaws with the age of the animal. In shape it somewhat resembles a cone; it protrudes about an inch from the gun, and has its extremity sharp-pointed and curved. At the age of which we are now speaking, the tushes are almost peculiar to the horse, and castration does not appear to prevent or retard their developement. All mares, however, have the beginnings of them in the chambers of the jaw, and they appear externally in the majority of old mares. Their use is not evident : — perhaps in the wild state of the aninuil they are weapons of offence; so as that he can more firmly seize, and more deeply wound his enemy. At four years and a half, or between that and five, the last impor tant change takes place in the mouth of the horse. The cornei nippers are shed, and the permanent ones begin to appear; the cen- tral nippers are considerably worn, and the next pair are beginning to show marks of usage. The tush has now protruded, and is gene- rally a full half iucli iu hei^^rJit; externally it has a rounded prominence, with a groove on either side, and vvilhin if is evidently hollowed. Our readers need not be told that tVom the rising of the corner nippcT the luu- mal changes its name — the c<»lt becomes a horse, and the filly a mnrc. ^^ At five years the horse\s month is almost perfect. The corner nippers are quite up, wi h the long deep mark irregular on the inside; and the other nip- pers bearinix evident tokens of increapinj; wear- ing. Tiie tusk is much gro\\n; — the groc>ve8 have almost, or quite disappeared; and the outer surface is regularly convex: — it is ►*ping in of the enamel w ill present a l)rowner hue than tfie other part of tiie tooth, and it will be evidently surrounded by an edge of enamel, and there will even remain a little depression in the centre, and also a depression round this case of enamel; but the deep hole in the centre of the teeth, with the blackened surface which it presents, and the elevated edge of enamel, will have disappeared. Persons not much accustomed to hordes Iihvp ]uu^i) sndiv pnz/.led here, 'lliev expected to find n obnn surface of an uniluini colour, and knew not what conclusion to draw when there was both discolouration and irregularity. In the next incisors the mark is shorter, broader, and fainter; and in the corner teeth the edges of the enamel are more regular, and ilie sur- face is evidently worn. The tush has attained its full growth, being nearly or quite an inch in length, convex outward, concave within, tending to a point, and the extremity somewhat curved. The third grinder is fairly up, and all the grinders are level. Now, or perliaps at a period of six months before, the horse may be said to have a perfect mouth. All the teeth are prcKluced, fully grow n, iind have hilherto sustained no material injury. During these im[)or- tant chanws of the teeth the animal has suffered less than could be supposed possible. With children, the period of teething is fraught v^ ith dang(M'. Dogs are subject to convulsions, and hundreds of them die, from the irritation caused by the cutting or shedciing of their teeth; but the horse appears to feel little inconvenience. 'I'he «rums and palate are d of the horse must be well ground douii, or the nu- triment cannot be extracted from it. At seven years, the mark, in the way in which we have described it, is worn out iu ' *^^^" ^^^"' the four central nippers, and fast wear- ing away in the corner teeth; and the tush is beginning to be altered. It is rounded at ()\e point; rounded at the edges; still round withou*,^ and beginning to get round inside e2 wiurmwmim»»iiihfiA 'S^sn^ 64 AMERICAN FARRIER. AGE OF THE ANIMAL. 55 At eight years old, tlie mark is gone from all the bottom nippers; tlm tush is rounder in every way; and the mark is now said to Eight years. ^ ^^^ ^^ ^j^^ mouth. There is nothing remaining in the bot- tom nippers which can afterwards clearly show the age of the horse, or justify the most experienced examiner in giving a positive opinion. Dishonest dealers have been said to report to a methrKl of prolonging the mark in the lower nippers. It is calletl hisliopinii)iia inanilrst change: it is blunter, shorter, and rounder. In what degree this takes place in the dilfereiit peritxls, long and most favourable opportunities tor observation can alone enable tlie horsemnn to decide, or rather we believe that the tush alone will not ennble us to form a very accurate judgment. The tushes are exposed to but little tear and wear. The friction against them must be slight, proceeding only from the passage of the food by them, and from the motion of the tongue, or from the bit; and feheir alteration of form, although generally as we have described them;, is frequently uncertain. The tush will sometimes be blunt at eight, and remain pointed at eighteen : and occasionally, according to the direc- tion which they take, or degree in which tlicy rub against each other, Ihc tushes on the different sides will present an apparent variation of one or two years. The upper tush, although the latest in appearing i is soonest worn away. i • »> rr.u Are there any circumstances to guide our judgment after this ? There are those which will prepare us to guess at the age of the horse, or to approach within a few years of it, until he becomes very old: but there are none which will enable us accurately to determine; and the indica- tions of age must now be taken from the shape of the upper surface of the nipi)ers. At eight, they are all oval, the length (-f the oval running across from tooth to tooth: but as the horse gets older, the teeth dimi- nish in size, and they at lirst diminish in width, and nut in thickness. They become a little apart from each other, and their surfaces are rounded. At \\\\v\ the centre nippers are evidently so, — at ten, the others begin to have the oval shortened. At eleven, the in^an'advai? sccond pair of nippers are quite rounded, and at thirte(>n, the ceaa-o. corner ones have that appearance. At fourteen, the faces of the central nippers become somewhat triangular. At seventeen, they are all so. At nineteen, the angles begin to wear off, and the central teeth are again oval, but in a reversed direction, viz, from out- ward, inward; and at twenty-one, they all wear this form. i nis is the opinion of some veterinary surgeons. We believe the statement is correct to a very considerable extent, but we leave our readers to fjrm their own judgment. It would be fully indeed to expect accuracy at this advanced age of the horse, when we are bound to confess, that the rules we have laid down for determining this matter at an earlier period, although they are recognized by horsemen generally, and referred to in courts of justice, will not guide us in every case. Stabled horses have the mark sooner worn out than those that are at grass, and a crib-biter may deceive the best judge by one or two years. The age of the horse, likewise, being uniformly calculated from the 1st of May, it is sometimes exceedingly diihcult, or almost impossible, about that time, to determine whether the animal be a late foal of one year, or an early one of the next. At nine or ten, the bars of the mouth become less prominent, and their regular diminution will designate increasing age. At eleven or twelve, the lower nip})ers change their original upright direction, and pn;ject forward or horizontalK ; and they become yel- low and covered with tartar. They are yellow, because the teeth must grow to answer to the wear and tear of them; but the enamel which covered their surface when they were first pr8, and Mr. Percival gives an account of a barge horse that died in his sixty- second year. DISE.\SES OF TIIK TKKTII. Of the diseases of the teeth in the horse, we know little. Carious or hollow teeth have occasionally, but not otten, been seen; but Cause of ^^^^ ^.^\,r^J^ of the orjnders from the wearing oil ot the enamel, "''""■ or the irre-Tular growth o( the teeth, become rough, and wound the inside of the cheek; it is then necessary to adopt a snmma- rv but ettectual meincHi of cure, namely, to rasp them smooth. Many bad ulcers have l>een produced in the mouth, by the neg ect of this. The teeth sometunes grow irregidarly in length, and this is particu- larly the case with the grinders, fn.m not being in exact opposit, m to each other, when the mouth is shut. The growth of the teeth stil coiner on, and there being no mechanical opposition to it, one ot the back teeth, or a portion of one of them, shoots up half an inch or more above the others. Sometimes it penetrates the bars above, and causes sore nessand ulceration; at other times, it interferes partially, or altogether, with the grinding motion of the jaws, and the animal pines away with-^ out the cause being suspected. Here the saw should be "^^^^ ^V/"^ the projecting portion reduced to a level with the other teeth. I he horse which has once been subjected to this operation should after- wards be frequently examined, and especially it lie lose condition; and, indeed, every horse that gets thm or out of condition, without fever, or any other apparent cause, should liave his teeth and mouth earebilly examined, and especiullv if he (piids (partl> chewing and then drop- ping) his fiKKl, without any indication of sore throat, or if he holds his head somewhat on one side, while he eats, in order to get the food be- tween the outer edges of the teeth. A horse that has tmce had very irregular teeth is materially lessened in value, fir, although they may be sawn down as carefully as possible, they will project again at no great distance of time. THE TONGUE. The tongue is the organ of taste, and employed in disposing the food for grinding between the teeth, and afterwards collecting it to- gether, and conveying it to the back part of the mouth, in order to be swallowed. It is also the main instrument in drinking, «and the canal through which the water passes in the act of drinking. The root of it I THE TONGL'E. 81 1 <'1 ,, firmly ftxcd at the bottom of the mouth, by a variety of muscles ; he Le part is loose in the mouth. It is covered by a contmuat.on of the embnme vvhicli Imcs the mouth, and which doublmg beneath, and Smng the motions of the tongue, is called .Is /m«««. or br.dle, O." the back of the tongue, this meuibrane .s th.ckened and roughened, and is covered with nmnerous conical paj,ilke, or l.ttle eminences on X'h (bo Hbres of a branch of the fifth ,,air of nerves cNpand, and on w Kb the sense of taste de,>ends. The various motions ot H"; '.ngue are accou,i)lisbed by means of the nmlh pair ..1 nerves. The sub- stTnce of the tonj^uc is composed of muscuh.r fibres, «,th a great deal of fitly matter mlerpnsed between them, and wbicli gives lo tbis organ its peculiar softness. DISEASES OF THE TONGUE. The tongue is sometimes exposed to injury, from carelessness oi violence in the act of drenching, or administering a ba ''^'"fl P';^«^;ed Lainst, and cut by the edges of the grtnders. A little diluted tinc- mre of mvnh, or alum, dissolved in water, or even nature unassisted, will speedily heal the wound. The horse will bite his touguo,-most frequentlv in his sleep. If the injury be trifling, it requires l.ttic care but in some instances, a portion of the tongue will be lorn or nearly bitten off, and tlio assistance of a veterinary practitioner will be """Bladders will sometimes appear along the under side of the tongue, which will increase to a considerable size, and the tongue itsell will be much enlarged, and the animal will be unable to swallow and a great quantity^of 'ropy saliva will drivel from the mouth. This d^- ease often exists without the nature of it being suspected. It resem- bles what is called the Warn in the cow, whirl, is a very serious complaint in that animal, frecpiently connected with much fever and teni imUin. in suffocation. If the mouth of the horse be opened, one a™ bladder, or a succession of bladders of a purple hue, will be seen o extend along the whole of the under side of the tongue. If they be lanced freely and deeply, frotn end to end, the swel ing " H very ra.n.llv abate, and nnv little fever that remains may be subdued by . ol.lu^r medicine. Tl,e cause of .bis disease is lu.t clearly known. It usually proceeds, perhaps, from indigestion, connected with a gen- eral tendency to inliainiualiun. THE SALIVARY GLAXDS. In order that the food may be propi'il.v gromid down to prepare it f„- ,!...estion, it is necessary that it should be previously mu.st..ned. The food of the stabled horse, however, is dry, and as meal is gener- ally concluded without anyfiuid being oftered to h.in. ^atui-e has made a provision for this. It has placed in the neighbourhood of the mouth, various glands, to secrete, and that plentihdiy, a luup.d fbnd s,.mewhat salt to the taste: this llnid is conveyed trom the glands into the mouth, by varicus ducts in the act ot chewing, and being mi.xcd 8 58 AMERICAN FARRIER, THE STRANGLES. 59 1 1 with the food, renders it more easily ground, more easily passed after- wards into the stomach, and better fitted for digestion. The principal of these is the parotid gland. It is placed in the hol- low which extends from the root of tlie tar to the angle of the lower The parotid gland sympathizes with every inflaminatory attection of the upper part uf the throat, and thfrefon' it is found swelled, hot, and tender, in almost every catarrh or cold. The cold is to be attacked by the u^nal means; and a stimulating application, almost amounting to a blister, well rubbed over the gland, will best subdue tlie iniianmia- tion of that body. In bad strangles, and sometimes in violent cold, this gland will swell to a great size and ulcerate, or an ol)^tructi(>n will rise in ^icerated g^^j^^^, ^.^j-t of the (luct, and the accumulating fluid will burst ^*" the vessel, and a fistulous ulcer will be formed, very dillicult to heal. A veterinary surgeon alone will be competent to the treat- ment of either case ; and the principle by which he will be guided, will be to heal the abscess in the gland as speedily as he can; or, if^ the ulcer be in the duct, either to ro^toro tbo nu^9iiMTp throntrb tbo (Uirt^ or to form a new one, or to cut off the flow of the saliva by the des- truction of the gland The second source of the saliva is from the suhmaxillnry glands, or the glands under the jaw. The submaxillary glands occupy the space underneath, and between the sides of the lower jaw, and consist of numerous small glands, each with its proper duct, which unite together, and form on each side a common duct or vessel, that pierces through the muscles at the root of the tongue, and opens in little projections or heads, upon the frccnvm or bridle of the tongue, about an inch and a half from the front teeth. When the horse has catarrh or cold, these glands, like the parotid gland, enlarge. This often takes place after strangles, and several distinct kernels are to be felt under the jaw. We have already stated, that they may be distingiiished from thr»se swellings which accompany or indicate glanders, by their being lar- ger, generally not so distiuct, more in the centre of the channel or Fpace between the jaws, and never adhering to the jaw-bones. The farriers call them vrvi-x, and often adopt cruel and absurd meth(Kfs ic disperse them, as burning th-Mn with a lighted candle, or hot iron, oi even cutting them out. They will, in the majority of instances, grad ually disperse, as the disease which prcKluccd them subsides; or they wil! yield to slightly stimulating ernhnn-ations; or, if they are obstinate in their continuance, tbev are of no further cunsecpience, than as in dicating that tiie horse has lalK)ured under severe cold or strangles. During catarrh or iutlanniiMtinii of the mouth, the little projections marking the opening of tliese ducts on either side of the bridle of the tongue are apt to enlarge, and the mouth under the tongue is a little red, and hot and tender, "^he furriers call these fiw^ellings bari« or pai's, and as soon as they discover them, mistaking the effect of disease f jr the cause of it, set to work to cut them cloto „ff The bleeJing which follows this operation «>mewhat abates the f al inflammation, and affords temporary relief: hut the wounds w.U L^t sDeedily heal; the saliva continues to flow from the orifice of the duc.?rnd runn>ng into the irregularities «f'he wound cause .t to Sad and deepen; and even when rt hea s, the mouth of the duct be rfreM-.ently closed, and the saliva contuunng to be secreted by fhe «.d.maxillarv cla...l, it a.-cMrnMlates m the duct, until that vessel iLtand abscesses ar'e ror.uci, which cat deep y umler the roo tcf elonLn.c. and lonji ,„rnK.nt the poor anitnal and when closed, after a great deal of trouble, are very apt to break out agam for months and years afterwards. . ■ • , u„.„ Ail that is necessary with regard to these paps or barbs is to '.bate the inflammation or cold wliich caused them to swell, and Remedy. j|^^,y ^jn yg^y soon and perfectly subside, lie who ever talks of .uttins Hicm ou"t is not fit to be tn-.-^ted with a horse. A third source of saliva is fn.in glands under the tongue (the suh- linsval elands,) which open by many little orifices under the tongue, resembling little f. Ids of the skin of the mouth, bangmg Irom the lower surface of the tongue, or fxmd on the bottom of the mot.th. 1 hose likewise sometimes enlarge, during col.l or mtlammai.on .„ mc .,■„„.,,, and then thev are called gigs, and IMus in its progress, and aecomi)anied by much debility, some foreign veterinary surgeons have endeavoured to pro- duce a milder disorder by iiKXiulating, either with the matter from the tuniiur, or the discharge from the nose; and it is said that a disease, with all the characters of strargles, but shorter and milder in its cc»ur.se, has supervened. CA^•KKR AND WOUNDS IN THE MOUTH. The mxith is injured much ofiener than the careless owner sus- pects, by the pressure of a sharp bit. Not only are the riuwof bm-s wounded and deeply ulcerated, but the lower jaw disca*. between the tush and the grinders is sometimes torn even to the bone, and the bone itself affected, and portions of it come away. ft may be necessary to have a sharp bit for thi^ headstrong riiid obsti- nate beast, yet if that be severely and unjustifiably called into exercise, the animal may rear, and endanger himself and his rider; but there can be no occasion for a thousandth part of the torment which the trappings of the mouth often intlict on a willing and docile servant, and which either render the mouth hard, and destroy all the T)leasure of riding, or cause tiie horse to become fretful or vicious. Small ulcers are sometimes found in various parts of the mouth, said to be prcxluced by rusty bits, but oftener arising from ^'""- contusions inflicted by the bit, or from inflammation of the mouth. If the curb-bit is in fault, a snaffle or Pelham bit should be used; if there be intlammation of the mouth, a little cooling medicine may be administered; and to the ulcers themselves, tincture of myrrh, F iTr miiBBlpwiBlii»«^ai - "Si-is 62 AMERICAN FARRIER- THE POLL-EVIL. 63 !f.1 diluted with an equal quantity of water, or an ounce of alum dissolved ill twenty times the weight of water, may be applied with advantage. THE THARVNX. Proceeding to the back of the mouth, we fmd the ptiarynx, (carry inff or conveyincr the fc><>d towards the stomach.) It be^nns at the root ot the tonwise, except rn extreme cases, the act ot vomiting in the horse. Whatever is relurr.cd fn.m the stomach of the horse, passes through tbe nose. . Tiie sides ot the pharynx are lined with muscles which now begin powerfullv to contract, and h\ tliat contractinu the bolus is forced m until it reaches the gullet, wiu.h is the ternunation of the pli^irynx. Before, however, the food reaches the gullet, it has to pass over the entrance into the windpipe, and should any portion of it enter mto that tube, much inconvenience and danger might resuU; therefore, this opening is not only lined by muscles by which it may be closed at the pleasure of the animal, but it is likewise covered by a heart-like elastic cartilage, the epiglottis, with its back towards tbe pharynx, and its hollow towards the aperture. The epiglottis yields to the pressure of the bolus passing over it, and lies Hat on \\m eniranci; mt.> the windpipe, and prevents the possibility of any thing entering into it; and no sooner has the food passed over it, than it rises again by its own elasticity, and leaves the upper part of the wmdpii»e once more open for the purpose of bn^athinir. The voice of annuals is ?ow p^o-*'' produced by the passage of air through this aperture, com- duced. niimicatinntTv extensive tnoti.n to this .mportatU part ol the li To itne nearest to .he scdl .s called the atla., becanse he human beit.g, it supports the lu.ad. In .he horse the bead .s susLle from it. It is'a n.ere ri„-s!>aped bone, w.th broa.l J.ro- tXn s.dewav; but w.hout the .harp an.l ..repdur processes d^^ch are fotmd on all the others. The ,rked inimecliat(>ly afU'rwanl, and the collar pressing the ])lood against the orifice; or the reins or the bridle rubbing against it; or having several blows clumsily given, and a large and nigged wound made; or from some disposition to inllainniation about the horse, for the bleeder is not always in fmlt if the wound does not heal. The edges of it se})arate, and are swelled and red; a discharge ympoms. ^^ ^^^.^^ bloody fluid proceeds from the cut, followed perhaps in a few days by matter; the neck swells, and is hot and tender; the vein, particularly above the wound, is hard and cordy ; the cordiness of the vein increases more and more upward; and little abscesses be- gin to form about the original wound. This is sometimes a very serious case, for the inflammation continues to spread uj)war(ls, anc' destroys tlie horse. It is easy to imagine why it spreads upward. THE WINDPIPE. (T. m hpcause the blood has run off below the wound, and nothing remains there to irritate; but the vein becoming thickened m its coats, and di- Sished in its capacity, and at length quite closed by the mflamma- Ton the blood descending from the head, and pressmg upon the closed oart' will coagulate; and that clot of blood will gradually increase and fhe obstruction, and the inflammation produced by that obstruction, will increase, and tiiat necessarily upward. iuman surgeons say that intlamnnition of a vein spreads towards the heart. In the horse, and we will venture to say in every animal it spreads in the direction in which the coagulation is tormed, and that in the iugular must be upward, although /rom the heart In the veins !!f the arm and leg it will likewise spread upward, and then toward, the heart, because the coagulation takes place m that direction. The application of the hot iron tothe orilice of the wound will some- times stimulate it, and cause its edges to unite When this '^•"*^^^- fails, and the swelling is large, and abseesscs have tormed, it is for tlH3 veterinary surgeon to decide how far he will introduce setons into them, or inject a caustic liquid, or dissect out the diseased Dortion of the vein. . ui • Should the vein be destroyed, the iiorse nviII not be irreparably in- iiircd: and perhaps, at no great distance of time, scarcely injured at all; for nature is ingenious in making provision to carry on the circu- lation of the bkxxi. All the vessels conveying the blood from the heart to the different parts of the frame, or bringing it back again to the heart, communicate with each other by so many channels, and m such various ways, that it is impossible by the closure or loss of any one of them materially to impede the flow of the vital cuiTent. It the jugular be destroyed, the blood will circulate Uirough other vessels almost as freely as before. THE WINDPIPE. In the fore part of the throat is placed a curiously constructed tube, extendincT from the back part of the mouth to the lungs, and designed for the conveyance of air to and from these organs. The windpipe oi the iiorse is composed of nearly sixty rings of cartilage, connected to- gether bv strouir and elastic ligaments. The rings are broad in Iront, narrowin the oth;T parts. Its bulk and strength are apparent on the slighU/st handling. Imm 'diately below ;he thyroid, nnd with its broad part l^ehind, is the cricoid, rini:j-!ik(* cartiliL^'. This is likewise for the purpose of strength \i\ a })art so exposed t-) injury, but not so strong as the thvroid because so much danger cannot threaten from behind. KOAKIXO. " The larynx and upper part of the windpipe are subject to various diseases. The first we shall mention is Roaring so called Sjtajynx! ^^^"^ ^ peculiar sound uttered by the horse when briskly trotted or galloped, particularly up hill. \n nuHlerate exer- cise it is f^carcely, or not at all pen^eived, but when the animal is in brisk exercise it may be heard at the distance of several yards. It ROARING. 69 « i iu> P^silv detected by striking the horse suddenly, or even thrcat- p,ay l«.«f '^> f^*^"^? "4en he will utter a singular grunt or groan. "'ruS; expired as" the eonsequenee of inflamnvation of the A fl ll raoidlv chan-Tin.^ into a tough viscid substance, is thrown ^llf-^nd 2res o L sl"s d' the larynx and upper part of the w.nd- n ,'c ieriallv obstructing the passage, and sometimes runnmg across n'bamis When the horse is blown, or hisbrcathmg much burned ,c .U " hisllcs tluougb those obstructions. We bel.eve tins to be the Lt"cncrul cause of the disease, and a n.arcr is evulently unsound. f!I. he^is incapable of ti.e exertion which >nay not only be occasionally, iiiif ordinarily required of him. , r*u-^ Mu. .-1. , bow.nor, has lately been thrown on other causes ot this ^ con.plaint. Many roarers have been examined after death '^'""'- and no vestige of tlicse bands lias been lound ; but some Have l,ul the shape of the larvn^ a.ul upinr |.art of the wmdp.pc n.atenally ' ormcd, .'rookcl, and-.on.pressed; andn.bcrs have l--.^e^ •'-;.?; nearance of disease. Then we have been compelled to look out lor other causes of roaring, ...d some very probable ones have been read- 1 found. The parts'n^y have been subject to '"""— -"^^^^^ Bome parts of the air-tub* may have become thickened and inelastic, hi hi way the indamtnuion of strangles may have been commumca- tcd to tlie iarvnx or windpipe, tollowedby some alteration <,1 structure. Roaring is no unusual consequence of strangles. , . . , , . . „ A more frequent cause, and previously unsuspected, is tight reining. There can be no doubt that many more carriage-horses become roarers, than those that are u.^ed for the saddle alone; and the explanation of this at once presents itself in the continued and pamf.il pressure on these parts, caused by reining in the carriage-horse, ati.l toacnu.g nun to bear himself well. We have seen the larynx, and that I><"- '-'" ot the windpipe immediately beneath it, llattencd and bent and twisted in the strangest way, whicii could not have been pnxluced by disease, but by mechanical -injury alone. The mischiet is usually done with young horses. The arched neck and elevated head of the carnage- horse is an unnatural position, from which the animal, most habituated to it, is eager to be relieved Ilorsc-brcakers, atid coachmen, and curtcrs, should be made to understand, that wl.cn the horse's head is first conlined bv the bearing rein, great gentleness, and care, Dir,.rii„n8to .,,jj1 p,i„(„,n, iire necessary. Injury must be done it the ' throat lie violently pressed upon, and especially when it is exposed to additional danger, from llu^ impatience of the anima, un- nsed to controul, anoor carriage-horse isconhned by a rein Ihat never slackens, and his nose is bent in at the expense of he larynx and wiudpi|>e, and the injury is materially increased, if Uie head be not naturally well set on, or if the neck bo thick, or the jaws narrow. \ fcgl AMWIWHiMm*-^! aw Wifi Iril 70 AMERICAN FARRIER. f- The shape of the larynx and wind-pipe will occasionally be altered if they be thus squeezed between the jaws, and the bones of the neck or the muscles which expand the opening into the windpipe for the purpose of natural breathing, and especially of quick and hurried breathing, will be so compressed, that they will be incapable of full action, and by degrees will lose the power of action, even when nol pressed upon, and, in fact, become palsied; and therefore, the opening not being suilicicntly cnlariM^d during; the rnpid bre;ithing of the animal, moving with speed, th(3 air v, ill rush violently through tlni diuunished apertui^^ and th(.' sound termed roaring will lie pnKluced it is a common opinion thnt cril -Jjiting frequently termifiates in roaring. There is noflung in cril)-l)itiiig that cnn possibly lead to roarin*^; but there is a method adopted to cure crib-biting, than which nothing'cnn be more likely to produce it: wc mean the straps which are soTio-htly buckled roniK*! the upper j)art of tlie neck, and which mus' compress, and sometimes distort or paralyse the lar\nx. The habit o^ cougfdng a horse, to ascertain the state of his wind, ii' an occasional cause of roaring. The larynx or trachea is yiolentiv and painfully squeezed in this operation; and the violence being often repeated, inilammation and injury may ensue. The treatment of roaring is very unsatisfactorv'. If we have been correct in our account of the nature and cause of the disease, a cure seems to be perfectly out of the question. If it arise from a distorted larynx, there is no mechanical contrivance that can restore th3 natural and perfect structure; if from a band or ring of lymph di- minishing the size of the passage, we know not by what means that can be removed; or if the muscles of the larynx be palsied, we knov not the stimulus that can rouse them again to action, or the manne? in which that stimulus is to be applied. In the early stage of the disease, whether it proceed from violent pressure on the part by improper curbing, or be connecte'l To cure with, or consequent on catarrh or strangles, or the enlarge- roariug. ^^j^^ ^^f some neighbouring part, inilammation will be present, and wo shall be justified in having recourse to those mea surcs which will abate inllwnuuation. Bleeding will not be impropei if roarinfy is the conse([i'eu' e of previous disease; it will be indis pensable, if it he c(»nnected \\'\\\\ present disease of the chest. Tl'.( decrree to which the bleeding should be carried, will depend on the degree of general or local inilammation. To bleeding sboiJd succeed purging, and to this, medic^ines that will lessen the f >rce f»f the circulation, — as nitre, emetic-tartar, and digitalis. These should \i\ followed by blisters, to remove the inHammati'.n, if possible, from an internal and important part to the skin. The blisters may at first he confined to the upper part of the throat, but, if unsuccessful there, they should extend over the whole length of the wind-pipe. In extreme cases, and where the obstruction seems to threaten sufFx^a- tion, we may be justified in cutting into the wind-pi})e, and either introducing^ a tube into the opening, or cutting out a porti(»n of one oi THE CE80FHAGUS, OR GUU.ET. 71 f / .hP rinas. This operation, however, the agriculturist will scarcely rreo perform, although it is simple enough to h.m who understands fhe anatomy of the neck. It is called fcro,W.otomi,. By means of it, h^ animal will be enabled to breathe through an aperture below the leit of inflammation, or the distorted and obstructed part; ami time w 1^ given for the adoption of other modes of relief or cure Some !n -.ilioncrs have talked of cutting into the win.lp.i.c, to extract the C.d or rin.' of coagidatc! .natter that obstructs the ,>assage; we can ^W .av, that if they happen to hi. upon the precise situation of this ",n^ or I an,l, they will be more fortunate than their toly deserves. Another ciVcu.nstancc .houUI be mentioned, and the breeder should sot for^ret it, that the roarer, whether horse or mare, will ollen entail li. disease \>n its progeny. This entailment of disease by the parent n. the oir.|.ring is a su-bjcct whirl, has not sulliciently engaged the ittentkm, or enleroi«a««. Jjj.^;^ .^^,, ^^.„,, ^ (liiiieullv. If the stncturo be near the entrance intothe s.oi.ia.h, .bore is no rcn.e.ly, fur the P^^ -;-;;;""l ''« «ot at. If it iH,- high.T up, a vet..ri,>a.y s.j.geon alone <="" '•^'^ '" "« how far relief is practicable. Substances have somctunes stuck m the Set Bran and chaff swallowed greedily, or too large or hard a ^a M ave r;...a .ue.l ... some part of the gullet and caused very alarm.ng ,v,n .toms. The tube used for the hove m cattle, v. .11 s.m.e ....esdi l.^gs i^is fo,e,gn substa.ice ; but should .h.s be nupiacti.able the f^^--^ bo.opened, which a scieulilic pract.i.o..er ul,M.e is competent to pc.luuu. WWBlinri iF-'i 701 AMERICAN FARRIER Chapter IV. TIIE SPINE AND BACK. 78 THE CHEST AND ITS CONTENTS— TIIE HEART AND TIIE LUNGS. The form of the chest is of the orrcatest importance. It contains the lieart and the hnios;— the one employed in circuKitmii tlie Formation, ^^j^^^^^^^ .^j^^j ^j,^. ^,|},^.j. ^^^ restorine very Uttle increased when exertron causes the flow and the change of blo.Kl to be considerably more rapid. The tWtcr chest may be readily expanded as the cir- Tmstances of the animal may require. A judge of the horse never Xs to see a chest too high from the ground, and legs t.K, long. The ' umal mav be free and s^.eody, but there is not sufiicient capacity ot . 0? o^ender him a good feeder, or to give hnn much endurance. The next point of consc,,uence reganling the o.paotv of the chest, iB the len<'th or shortness of the carcase ; or the extent of tlK> n bs fro... he elbow" backward. Some horses are what is cal ed r,W.«/ horn,; h.re .rbut hale space between the last "b and th.^ luHx-ne 1,» others the stance is considerably greater, which 13 evident hytho S Imt in'.f the Hank. The .p.estion here is, what service is required r md. 1 orse? If he have to ...rry a heavy weight ami much work odo l^t hhn be ribbed hoine,-let the last nb, a..,l the b.p-lKme be cose to ea "other. There is more capacity of chest an.l Lelly; here is less distance between the points of support; there is more strength is less O'Stance u.„i.nev can scarcely be too well ribbed home. "1f?pt" howevl be ie. oirTd, there mLt be room for the full action of the InmW limbs; and ibis can only exist when there is suft.cient ;Ln::1h;s:ould 'reqmrell'se differences of conforniat.on which can- not possibly exist in the same annual. rilK sriXE ANO BACK. three bones from the neck to the ''^"'"7' ' "f^,^;,,^^, .x^c.ipying the "«• In ther are two i>rinci;.al things to be considered easiness and then arc iw ^ere composed of unyielding m*- of carnage, and strength. It the ''-'"Y" ;,. „ ,L. :„r or i Iting, in iho terials, if it rrscmbl<>d a bar ./ wo.k1 "■•. ' ;^"' '''^Xr J T„ av.-id this, nipid Motion of the ani.nal, could not Pf f !f ^f J ^ „,;n.,rous bones as'lell as to assist m turmng the bac^^^ - - ^^^^ ^ ..artilagmou, .and between each pi.ir ..I ''''•^:'! 7;'*^,,'-^,-,j 'j „ivc way to every 8ubstar.ce, most highly elastic, which « ill > leld ano „i J 10 ^ TiiOiw ai^w ^ 14 AMEiaCA>r rARRIKIt. THE SPINE AND NECK.^THE LOINS. 75 iar, not so much as to occasion insecurity between the bones, or to permit considerable motion between any one pair; yet formmg alto- cether an aggregate mass of elasticity, so springy that the rider sits almost undisturbed, however high may be the action, or however rapid Strength is as important as ease; therefore these bones are united tocrether with peculiar firmness. Tlie rcxmd head of one is exactly fitted to the cup or cavity of that immediately before it; and between them is placed the elastic ligamentous substance we have just de- scribed, so strong, that in endeavouriiv^^ to separate the bones of the back, the lK)nes will break sooner than this substance will give way. Beside this tl^re are ligaments running along the broad under surface of these bones; ligaments between each of the transverse processes, ur side pro>5ction« of tlie bones ^ and ligaments between the spinons pro- cesses or upright projections^ and a continuation of the strong ligii- mentof the neck running al(»n^ the whole course of the back and loins above these, lengtliening and contractirig, as in the neck, with the mo- tions of the aninial,anJ f>rming a powerful bond of union between the By these means those shocks and jars are avoided which wr>uld 1 e annoying to the rider, and injurious and s()eedily fatal to the horse. These^ provisions, liowever, although adecjuate to common or even severe exertion, will not protect the animal from the consequences of brutal usage; and, therefore, if the horse l)e much overweighted, or violently exercised, or too suddenly pulled upon his haunches, these ligaments are stmined: — iiiflamn^tion follows; — and the ligament be- comes changed to bone, and the j^»ints of the back lose their elasticity and ease of"motion; or rather in i)oint of fact cease to exist. On ac- count of the too hard service re(piired from them, and r?|iecially before tliey have gainer spper him to bring his hindej legs more under lum in the act of galP'fiii^, and thus more powcrluily nronel or drive forward the body : but, on the other hand, a long-backed horse will be weak in the back, and easily overweighted. A long snrin- may be easily bent and broken. The weight ol the rider, like- wise "placed further from the extremities, will act with mechanical disadvantage upon them, and be more likely to strain them. A short backed horse may be a good hackney, and be able to carry the heaviest wci^^ht, and possess great endurance; but his paces will not be so easy, norliis ^peed so great, and he may be apt to overreach himself The comparative advantage of a long or short carcase depends en tirelv on the use for which the horse is intended. For gen- S!;.;"" erafpurposes the horse with a short carcase is very properly r^.ri>«ses. preterred He will possess liealth and strength; for horses of thi« make are proverbially hardy. He will have sufficient ease not to lati-ue the rider, and speed for every ordinary purpose. Length of back will alwavs be desirable when there is more than usual sub- stance generally,' and particularly when the loins are wide, and the muscles of the loins large and swelling. The two requisites, strength and speed, will then probably be unitecL ,,,.,,, -,, The back should be depre^«*^d n httic immediately belund the witliers, and then continue in an almost straight line to the loins 'Ihis^is me form most consistent with beauty and strength. Sinne horses have a very considerable hollow Wiind the withers. They are said o be saddle-harked. It seems as if a depression were purposely made for the saddle. Such horses are evidently easy goers, for this curve inward must necessarily increase the play of the joints of the back; bu in the same proportion they must be weak and liable to sprain. To the ge- neral appearance of the horse, this defect is not m any great degree inj.nious; for the hollow of the back is uniformly accomi)anied by a beautifidlv arched crest. • i . i r A few horses have the curve outward. They are said to be roarh^ hacked, from the supposed resemblance to the arched back The union of the back a..d loins should be carefully remarked. There k ISnes a depression between them; a Kind ot hne is drawn across Xrr>ws im,rerfect.on in .he construction of the sp.ne, and >s re- garded as an indication ot weakness. TttE WITHERS. The spinous or upryu processes of the dorsal vertebne, or bones of the lS4 above tho^^- part of th. s|..uUlcr, are - .;ornarkaMe f >r their len-th as are the transverse or side processes ot ho bones ot tlie n fhcy are ilatteued and t.rnunatcd by nn.ol, Idunted extrenn- ies' * The Elevated ridire which they f .rm is called the nithers. 1 be spine of the first bone of the l>ack has but little [^^p'^;;'>"':;"^\;;;: ;;"|. and upri.l action, and generally with speed. ::;;.;;;:': The r.a.ua .. plam enough :-thcy aff>rd larger surface for uriceof. ^t^^3 attachment of the muscles of the back; and in proportion to the elevation of the withers, these muscles act with greater advan- tafic The rising of the fore parts of the horse, even in the trot and more especially in the galloj), depends not merely on the action ot the muscles of the legs and shoulders, but on those oi the loins, inserted into the spinous processes of these bones of the back, and acting with creater ixjwer in pn>portion as these processes, constituting the withers, arc lencrthened. The arm of the lever to which the power is apijhed will U^longer; and we well knnw that in proportion to the length ot this arm will b*- the ease with which a weight is raised. 1 heretore good and hi'di action will dv\H^ni\ inurh on elevated withers. It is not chllicult to understand how speed will likewise be promote* by the same confirmation. Tlie power of the horse is in his hinder quarters. In them lies the main spring of the frame, and the ton quarters are onh elevated and thrown forward to receive the weight forced on them by the action of the binder (piarters. In proportion, however, as the fore- stride of the horse be len^Tlhened: thev are elevated and thrown forward in proportion to the elevation of the' wilhers, and therefore in this point of view the torm of the withers is verv much c(uuu;cted with si)eed. lkf(»re we quite leave the nK>f of the chest, we will speak of some accidents or diseases to which it is exposed. The first is of a very serious nature. FISTULOUS WITHERS. When the saddle has been suffered to press long upon the withers, a tumotir will be tornu^d, lu»t and exceedingly tender. It may 5]'^'^?^n.i sometimes Im^ dispers(Ml by the cooling applications recom- rcmedy for. ^j^^j^^^^d jn the treatment (»f poll-evil; lait if, in despite of these, the swelling should remain stationary, and more especially if it should become larger and more tender, warm fomentations and poulti- ces and stimulating embrocations should be applied dihgently-^to it, ..1 as to the tumour of poll-evil, in order to hasten the formation of ma t- ter As soon as the matter can be fairly detected, a seton should be passed from the top to the bottom of the tumour, so that the whole ol he matter may run out, and continue to run out as it is afterwards formed. The lifter treatment must be precisely that which we have recommended for a similar disease in the poll. In neolected fistulous withers the ulcer may be larger and deeper, and more destructive than in poll-evil. It may burrow beneath the shoulder-blade, and the matter may appear at the point of the shoulder or the ell>ow; or the bf>nes of the withers may become carious. WARBLES, SITFASTS, AND SADDLE GALLS. On Other narts of the back, tumours and very troublesome ulcers may be produced by the same cause. The little tumours resulting from the pressure of the saddle are called irarbUs, and when they ul- cerate they frequently become sitfasts. The ulcer h- « ---♦-" '^ callous skin in the centre of it, resembling leather m its appearance, and so closely adhering as not to be separated without great force or absolute dissection; and hence the name given to tins peculiar ulcx3n Warbles are too of\en l>ut little regarded. 1 hey will frequently dis- appear without medical treatment, but they will, at other times, del^enerate into sitfasts. If it be practicable, the horse should have rest, or at all events, the stuflmg of the saddle should be so contrived that every degree of pressure be removed from the part; then gou lard and vinegar or brine ^\vnM be frequently applied for the purpose qf dispelling the enlargement. Should this prove ineffect^e, and the gitfkst aifpear, let it by no means be torn out, but apply a mild blister which will cause it speedily to separate; and then let the wound b^ dressed with Friar^s balsam, or Turner's cerate, or both, ¥i>r saddle {rails there is no better application than strong salt and water, mixed with a fourth-part of tincture of myrrh, ^ommon sense and common humanity would suggest the necessity of chambering the saddle and the collar, and not suffering the animal with sore places as broad as the hand, to be unnecessarily tortured by the rubbing ot the rough and hardened stuffing. THE RinS. The ribs constitute the si.ios of Uie chest. They are usually eigh- teen on cither side, and, in a few instances, nineteen or twenty. They are crooked or twisted in their tiguro, but so united to the sp.ne bv a true joint, the head of each rib being reco.ived between the bo- dies of two of the iKines of the back, that they form so many arches, differins in roundness in diflerent horses. , . .. , Between the ribs, and mainly contributmg to their motion, are two layers of muscles, thf intcrco,taU. According as the ribs are brought c2 78 AMERICAN FARRIER. THE HEART. 70 m li nearer to or recede from each other, the cavity of the chest will be rnTreasedordSshed. These two layers a-"? <=""«"«»y/^°"'"!!j IfX fibres ran «tnught across from rib to rib, they would be exceed- Lt short a%hort muscle could have but l.ttle contractK.n, and a v?rv chcht change of form or dimension could be l>'-;-d"««'- J'^^ very .ligni ^"*i' - . , ^ ,^„re than double the :Sc 'on is doubled, and the nhs are n.oved thn>ugh a g-ate-pace More nerfecUy to produce this effect, the muscular fibres ot ihe outer faver run oneWav and those of the inner layer a contrary, crossing L^c^ Xr in the Vonn of an X. When these "^-^ - ;;-^^^^^ they act from the fore nbs upon the hinder ones, al hov,<.h tlve r s are^brought n^.arer to each other, they are thrown <^^f;.^^.^ real effect is to expand, and not to contract the cavity ot the (best. This is, perhaps, somewhat di'bcult to inm^^ine, but it is ^i^); l^^^j^^^^^^ planation of the matter. The ribs are drawn forward, and vvhen so, Uiey must be tlirown outward, and the chest is necessarily expanded. MUSCLES OF THE BREAST. Tliere are some important muscles attached to tbe breast and therefore, every horse should have a breast tolerably expanded A horse thin and 'narrow m the breast, must be dehcient in important muscular power. i «« ;„ Between the legs and along the breast-bone is the proper place in which to insert rowels, in cases of inflamed lungs. CliEST— FOT'NDER. The muscle*^ in the chest are occasionally the seat of a singular und somewhat mysteri.ms disease. The old farriers used to call it anticor and chest-foumhr. The horse has considerable stillness m movincr, evidently not referable to the feet. There is tenderness about the muscles of the breast, and occasionally swelling, and after a while, the muscles of the chest waste considerably. We believe it to be nothin<^ more than rheumatism, produced by suffering the horse to remain to^ long tied up, and exposed to tlie cold, or nding lum against a very bleak wind. S..nie!imes a considerable degree oi fever accom- pimes this; but bk^eding, physic, a rowel in ihe chest, wiirm embro- cattotis over the parts affecied, warm stabling, and warm clothing, with <\(«os of a drachm or two of antiuioniul po\uier, will soon subdue the complaint. DROPSV OF THE SKIN OF THE CHF.ST. Dropsical swellings often appeal between the fore-legs, and on the clic?t They are effusions of fluid underneath the skin. They accom- pany various diseases, particularly when the animal is weakened by them, and sometimes appear when there is no other disease than the debility, which, in the spring and fall of the year, accompanies the fhaii'ung of the coat. The treatment will vary with the cause of the affection, or the accompanying disease. Small punctures with the lancet will seldom do harm; — friction of the part, if it can be borne, will be serviceable;— mild exercise shou d be used;— diuretics given, mixed with some cordial, with liberal fove menti med. When the pericardium or the heart itself Ixicomes inilamed, this secretion is much increased ; and so much lluid accumulates as to obstruct the beating of the heart. This disease is called dropsy of the heart. It is not easily distinguished from inflam- mation of the lungs; but this is a matter of little consequence, for the treatment would be nearly the same in both. The heart is the engine by which the blood is circulated through the frame. It is composed of four cavities, two above calleed, without previous affection of any other part. This is not a f~.t but a most dangerous disease, and is characterised by a pulse qu k nd str.,n.r, and a bounding action of the heart that may .K-,ca- r, al be seen at the side, and even heard at the distance o. se^^nd yards There is also a peculiar alertness and quickness in every m^'tion of the animal; and an energy of expression ,n the countenance Exceedingly remarkable. Speedy and copious bl.KKl-lettmg will alone avaif to save the horse; for the heart, over excted and called on to perform this d;«ible work, must soon be exhausted. THE ARTEUIES. The vessels which carrv the I.I.hkI from the hearl are called arteries (kcepinfr air, the ancientsthought that thcv contamod air.) 1 bey arc comfose,l of three coats; the outer or elastic .s that b> wuich they are enabled to yield to the gush of bl.xxl, and enlarge their dimensions as it is forced along them, and by which also they contract agam ,is soon as the gush of blood has passed; the middle coat is the muscular, hv which this contraction is more powerfully perlormed, and the blood urged on in its course; the inner or mcunbranous coat is the mere lininorof(he tube. , . , . ■ t .i This yielding of the artery to the gush of blood, forced into it by tlio contraction of the heart, constitutes THE FVIST.. The pulse is a verv useful as.'^istant to the practitioner of human medicine, and much m'ore so to iho veterinary sur^roon, whoso patienM cannot describe cither the seat or dc^crrce ot ailment or pnin 1 Im number of pulsations in any artery will -ive the number of the beat- iiKrn of the heart, and so express the irritation ot that or^an, and ot the frame jrenerallv. In a state of health, the heart beats in the fir- iner^s horse about tjiirtv-six times in a minute. In the smaller, am m the thorough-bred horse, the pulsations are 40 or 42. This is said to be the .stamiard pulse,— the pulse of health. It vanes sm-nlarly little in horses of the same si/e ane ^^^r^^^^^ Se^r;^S^hfii^ twH^ough it, and the quantity that "'when the pulse reaches fifty or fifty-five, some degree of fever mt.y . nrphendcd and proper precauti^m should be taken. Seventy oi ^ve^ic-"' -li'l^u'e a'somewhat dangerous s.ite, and put the !r,^ am the sur.^oon n.t a little on the alert. Few horses long sur- vive a pulse of on.^buudrc.1, f.r by this excessive action the energies (•...^♦iir<^ MTP sDcedily worn out. , ^ . cmt^-Iu fr7.u. the frequency of the pulse. Kxcxise a warm stable, r, fear will w.-nderfuUv Increase the number of pulsati-ns. VW a careless, bruta'l fellow goes up to a horse, and speaks hast - Iv toluu and handles him roughly, be adds ten beats l-r.n.nuteto L nul" ■ and will often be misle.l in the opuuou he may I -rm ot the r?ti of he a inal. A judicious person will approach ibe patieu gcnt- V and P^.l 1 o,.the'biu., and' even then the circulation, probably ill be Hl-bs,urbed: and he sluml-l lake the additional precaution of notrng the number and quality oi me pulse, a second tune, before ''^l-a'il-mle'iudicate irrit.a.,.u and fever, a .lo. pulse will like- ;^ wife characterise diseases of an opposite character. I ac- r^fof du"- companies the sleepy stage of staggers, and every malady '^ connected with deficiency of nervous energy. The helrt may not only be excited to more frequent, but also to mJe violent a^ion. It .nay contract more powerfully upon the blood wh ch 11 be driven with greater force tluougb the ^'-'cnes and U,e e pa sion of the vessels will be greater and more sud.lem 1 ben u e have the hard pulse,-the sure m.hcator of considerable fcNer,and r .llincr f„r the immediate and free use of the lancet. Se me the pulse may be hard and jerking, and yet W?. The bometimes 11 p : ^^ ^ irritable, that it irc s S. . e v^n'i^ properly filled. The practitione. S" that ,1 I shews a dangerous state of disease. t is an almost V r^, ,1c iccomi.ai.iinenf of inllanuualion of the l)owels. ' T^ i/iX V .cu the arterid stream flows slouly, is caused ^ l\Mo. a-ti.,n of the heart. It is the reverse oi fever, and e.xpies- '' Tl'.; tS'vvc-/ pulse is when the arteries seem to be fully -lisUnd- ed wid id - t .. re is obstruction somewhere, and the action of the JorLiiTing removentlv act with too much i)ower, wfammat'wn is pnKluccd. If lliis disturbed actiim be confined to a small space, or a single ergan, it is said to be loiaU as inflaujuiation of Ihe eye, or of the lungs; when this inordiuate action si)reads from its original seat, and embraces the whole of the arterial system, fcrer is said to be present, and which usually increases in pr()porti(m as the local disturl an( e increases, and subsides with it. INFLAMMATION. Local inflammation is characterised by redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Tiie redness proceeds from the increased quantity of blood flowing through the part, occasioned by the increased action of thg vessels. The swelling arises from the same cause, and from the deposit of fluid in the neighbouring substance The natural heat of the body is produced by the gradual change which takes place m I'e W.^«d, in passing from an arterial to a venous state. If more blood be driven hrou-h the capillaries of an inflamed part, and .n which this change "effected, more heat will necessarily be produced there; and the pain is easily accounted for, by the distention and pressure which must be pr,Khu.e.l, and the parli.Mpation of the nerves in the disturbance ot the surrounding parts. . . ^ .• i ^u n We have spoken of some of these local inflammaticms, and shall ,ncak of others when describing the structure of the parts that are f)C- casionally attacked by them. The treatment will in some degree vary with the 'part attacke;i, and the degree of the inflainmiition ; but it will jiecessarily include the following particulars. If inflammation consist of inc-rcased flow <»f bkKxl to and through tl^ part, the ready way to abate the inflammation is to ^^'""^'y- lessen the quantity of l>lood. If we take away the fuel, the fire will go out. All otiier means are comparatively ununportant, oumared with hlndimr. KI.kkI may be taken from the jugular and so the general quantity may be lessened; but if H cari l>e t.l.on trom the neudihouHiood of the part, it Avill be productive of tenfold beneht. One liug th(Mn to contract, and, iji that contraction, to ac(inire ti>ne and power to resist future distention, will di) more good than five quarts Uiken from the general circulation. An ounce of blood obtained by scarifying the swelled vessels ot the inflamed eve, will give as much relief as a copious bleeding trom the iu.ridar. It is a principle in the aniuial frame which should never be los'tsiirht of by the veterinary surgeon, or the horseman, tliat it by bleedin^ the pi-ocess of inflammation can once be checked, — if it can be suspended but f >r a little while,— although it may return, it never returns with the same degree of violence, and in many cases it is got rid of at once. Hence the necessity of Ideedmg eariy, and bleeding lanrelv, in iiiilanimatiun of the lungs, or of the bowels, or of the brain, or Sf any import^mt organ. Many horses are lost for want of bleed- in'r, or from insuiiicient bleediiiir, l,ut we never knew one materially iinured by the mt>st copious abstraction of blood in the early stage of acute inliammation. ^Flie horse will bear, and with advantage, the loss of an almost incredible quantity of bl(Hxl. Four quarts taken from him, will be comparatively little more than one pouml taken tr<»m the human l;eing. We can scarcely conceive a considerable inflam- mation of any part of the horse, either proceechng from sprains contusions, or\any other cause, in which bleeding, loy dinunishc.!, and the crc.cral exritcnicnt lessened. 1 he tanner wi I, therefore, see the importr.nre of physic in every case ol considerable external nit^a.nination. If the horse is laid by for a few days from in- jury of the fiot, or sprain, or poll-evil, or wound, or almost any cause of inHamniation, a phvsic ball sliould be ^nvcn. In cases of internal intlanaiiation, much pidfrment is required to determine when a purir-ative may be beneiirml or injurious, in in- Ikmmation of the lun-s or bowels it should never le pven. Ihere is so stronrr a sn mpathy between the various contents of the cavity ot the chest, That no one of them can be inflamed to any ^reat extent, without all the-jthersbein- disposed to become inflamed; ann, tiiere- f )re, a dose of physic in mllarncd luu<:s would be frequently as fatal as a dose of pois.)n. * The excitement pnxluced on the bowels by the pur- gative will soon run on to inflammati* n, which no medical skill can stop. The means of abatinf? external inflammation are various and seem- inMy contradictorv. The heat of the part very naturally and pro|>erly led to the application of cold embrocations and lotions. Heat has a strcnff tendency to equalize itself, or to leave that substance which has a too great\piantity of it, or little capacity to retain it, for another which has less of it, or more capacity to retain it. Hence the advan- tage of cold applicati(»ns, by which a great deal of unnatural heat is speedily taken awav from the inHamed part. The fcx>t labouring under infiamuiation is put into cold water; or the horse is made to sUind in water or wet clay, and various cold applications are used to sprains. The part is wetted with diluted vinegar or goulard, or salt and water. We believe that when benefit is derived fnm these ap- plications, it is to be attributed to their coldness alone, and that water, and when especially C(x>led below the natural temperature, is quite as gfxKl as any thing else. An ounce o{' nitre dissolved in a pint of wa- ter, will lower the temjierature of the fluid many degrees; but the l.,tion must l)e apj)lied immediately after the salt has been dissolved, and It should be applied in such a way that the inflamed part may be f.dly exposed to the process of evap<»ration. While the fluid is con- verted into vapour, by the heat of the skin, a considerable di^^rree of cold is produced. Let the limb or the part have the full benefit of this, by being uncovered. A bandage may be afterwards applied to strengthen the limb, b.ut during the continuance of active inflMmma- tion it will only confine the heat of the part, or prevent the jKirt from benefiting by the salutary inlluence of the cold producca by the evaporation of the water. XM^'LAiVlMATlON. 6(} '-I ;^ Sometimes, however, we resort to warm fom.nuti..ns, and if beneht be derived from their use, il is to te traced to tiie warmth of the fluid, and not to any n.edicinal property in i!; and warm water will do as much g.ml to the iiorse who has so thick a skin, as a decoction of chamomile, or marsh-mallow, or e, en of poppy heads, or any nostrum tha the tarricr may recommend. Fomentations increase he warmth If he skin, and open the pores of it, and promote perspiralK.n, and so t on the ension and swelling of the part, assuage pu.n, and relieve iumnalion. i\.„entat.ons, to he u.ef.l, shoaM be long and Ire- e, employed, and a. as i^reat a degree cf heat as can be used d out .ivM./th,' annual pain. Poabices are nothing hut more , er- e ;.r longer-cnlmaed f .n.enlatioos. The part is exposed to the 1 en.'e of wm-nth and moistare f r n.any hours or days wnhout u - mission, and perspirati.-n being so lon^ kept up, the dis!end..l vessels ill be v^r. n.a.e,'iallv relieved. The advantage deri.ed I rem. a poultice is attributed t- the heat an 1 a, .slur,., which, by means ol i^ ., n be long applied to the ska,, and it should be composed ol ma enals «h.cbwiir best aff,.rd this heat and m isture 1 he bran l-f^^t the farrier will therefre be ol.jec i nablc. It is never ,>erleelly m contact wi(h the surface of the skin, and it becomes nearly dry ii. a a l" w hours, and then is injari. us. Lmseed-meal is a much better m^ri 1 frapoubice; it will rea.aui m.ist for twenty-fmr hours. The poultice is easily made by pourmg hot water on the meal a litlle at a time, and mouidin;. it wed wi.h ihe hand until the cataplasm at- tains its proper CJiisislence. .. .• ^„ • It is often vorv dilficult to decide when a cold or hot a w .cation is to le used, and no general rule can be laid .lown, exeep 'hat in cases of superfiJial innanunati m, and in the early stage, cold '"< >"''-"''« preferable; but when the iniiamnuition is deeper seated, or fully es- tablished, warm f, mentations may be most serviceable. Stimulating appl..a>i..ns are frequently used in local mflauu ,at...n W lave shewn the action of a blister in hastening the suppuration of the t nnour of strangles. Wlien the inllammation is deeply seated, a i^^n iTtiag appii.-atl.n to the skin will cause some irritation ami m- S uaa....M .llere,and Icsseu or some.hnes -m-^ the .. -gu.^ one ben.e (he use of rowels ami b.listers in mllammalion ol the < best. In , mtwn to a lu.d, .le.nve cannot exist in parts so near to each :" «: 0X0,;.. m"..e. w.. .hall abate it m the other ami also lly the discharge whi.h we establish from (he one, we shall lessen tho de'enniuation of Ido.Kl to 'l"','"'".;';- ^ ^„, j.^,., „i,„„|„t Willi one cauimn we will (Msraiss this pari Ol oir .111.1- , 7b ;,:'!. We shall' not put out a lire by '-!';"« ■";-;;,l'tXm 1 Hence the mischief which the farrier often ''-^^ ^^ r^^'bhing lus aW^^^ :;:;;::;;:; r =f =m:^ ^^irt-iuSu^^^^^e 1 , eue bv Ihe use of cold lot.ons or fomentations and he leg or sprained part remains enlarged, or even bony matter threa.e.^ to b« H \'UwmrffammmtiViti.€!mmpiT» ir^tw n&^ M AMERICAN FARUIEU. deposited, we may be justified in exciting inflammation of the skin by a blister, in order to rouse the deeper seated absorbents to action, and enable them to take up this deposit; but we would agiiin state it as a principle that, except to hasten the natural prtx-ess and eflfects of m flammation, a blister, or stimulating jipphcation, should in the treat- ment of the horse, never be iipplicd to a part already inflamed. FEVER. Fever is general increased arterial action, either without^ny local affection, or'^in conseipience of the sym})atby of the system with niflam- mation in some particular [)art. The first is pure fever. Some have denied that it exists in the horse, ])ut thev must have been strangely careless observers of the dj.-eases ot that ammal. The truth of the matter is, tliat the usual stable manage- ment and general treatment of the horse are so absurd, tbat various parts of him are rendered so liable to take on inflanjniation, tbat i)ure fever will exist but a very little time without degenerating into inllam- mation of these parts. The lungs are so weakened by thti heated and iu\\\ air ot the iii-venniaieeing kept on the artery) until some impression is made u(K)n tiie svstei.^. The l.owrls should be gently opened, but the danger of inflannnation of the lungs, and the uniformly injunouif < n S I FEVER.^THE VEINS. 87 c ♦• « ;r. tl»nt rb«jpase will nrevent the administration of an active puidii medicine, until the bowels are r r:ri"KxeTa tor t^i ch Sfn- mo e of an aperient quality should .;:;, e'r The".'-'^ should-bo' warmly clothed, but be placed m a cool ^t^^t^^^^ i.— d anenal action, proceeding bvmpiomaiK icvt, ^ j conse(iuence can be bmg disor- "Zr^m^^^ t 'S:.i",S ,Lts l-ein, d.tur,>ed and e whole system }ri-a "--,' -'' ^';;^J "/ '. ent secretions, for the multiOirious [mm pose, of lite; but the usual tcr miimlion of arteries is in veins. These vessels carry back to the heart .he blofnl which had been con- ve r. Il^^differentV- >^y the --.es e ave , tw. co.^^^ ;-::;:t::;;"'n::r::'r\:;:m;;;Ls ;:::,■ much .arger t,j. ti. tnelv weaK. n Ip^^oned in quantity bv the va- If.;;,::! on part'lyby the hrs, impulse -^-^^^^^1:^ h.-.rt- ivu-th in Ihe extremiliis and external portm.is ot the ramf , ny i;;es «:.!»■ muscUs; an.l in the cavity of the chest, its ....>..... a ste or nrincipallv caused by the sud.len openu,.' of the vcnticl s ;frtart,aVrtLy have closed up., and J^^^^^^^^^^^ and t'-.-'^y <^-Ts"ir,r:eirS^^^^^^ ^^^ f-- ^-""- are curious valves in tne vems wuicn y^^ backward. • ^' % mmmmmmi^mm i til tft !i ■\'' Bi< 88 AMERICAN FARRIER. BOO AND BLOOD SPAVIN. The veins of the horse, aUhough their coats are thin coniparecl with those of the arteries, are not subject to the enlargements (varicose veins) which are so frequent, and often so painful, in the legs of the human being. The legs of ihe horse may exhibit many of the injurious con- sequences of bard work, but ibe veins will, with one excc|)ti(^n, be un- altered in stiMict'ire. Attached to the e\trenuti(^s of most of tlu; tendons, and between the tendons and other j)arts, arc little bags containing a mucous substance to enable the tendons to slide over each other with- out friction, and to move easily on the neigblxniring parts. From vio- lent exercise these little bags are liable to enlarge. Windgalls and thoroughpins are instances of this. There is oneof thein on the inside of the hock at its bending: this sometimes becomes considerably in- creased in size, and tlu^ mlargi incnt is called a hog'Sjyavin. A vein passes over this bag, \s bich is pressed between the enlargement and the skin, and the passage of the bloiwl through it is impeded; the vein is consequently distended by the accuniulated blood, and the distension U J reaches from lins iMig as low ui>vvn as iiie iie\l vaive. '1 mr^ i.-> ^ant-i a hlood-.spavin. Blood-spavin then is the consequence of bog-spavin. It very rarcdv (X^curs, and is, in the majority of instances, confounded with bog-spavin. Blo(xl-spavin does not always cause lameness, except the horse is very hard worked, and tlien it is doubtful whether the lameness should not be attributed to the enlarged mucous bag rather than to the dis- tended vein. Both of these diseases, however, render a horse unsound, and materiallv lessen bis value Old farriers used to tie the vein, and so cut off altogether the flow of the blo(xJ. S;)me of them, a little more rational, used to dissect out the bag which caused the distension of the vein: but the UKMlern and more prudent way is to endeavour to promote the absorption of the contents of the bag. This may be attemj)ted by pressure long applied. A bandage may be contrived to tak(i in the ^^ bole of the hock except its point; and a compress made of folded linen being placed on the bog- spavin, may C(?ntine tbe piincipMl j)ressure to that part. Jt is, how- ever, very ditiicult to adapt a bandage to a joint ubich admits of such extensive motion; tbercdbre most practitioners appiv two or ibree suc- cessive blisters over the enl;»rixeinent, when it usuallv disappears; but tnilortunalely it returns again if any extraordmary exertion is retiuired from the horse. BLEEDING. The veins are selected in preference to the arteries for the purpose of bleeding, because they are more superficial and larger, and blood can be more easily and certainly procured from them, and the flow of the blood can be more easily stop|)ed. This operation is performed with a fleam or a lancet. The first is the commrm instrument, and the safest, exce])t in skilful hands. Tha BLEEDING. 89 lancet, however, has a more surgical appearance, and will be adopted by the veterinary practitioner. A bloodstick, a piece of hard wood loaded at one end with lead, is used to strike the fleam into the vein. This is sometimes done with too great violence, and the opposite side of the coiit of the vein is wounded. Bad cases of inflammation have resulted from this. If the fist be doubled, and the fleam is sharp and is struck wilh sutbcient force with the lower part of the hand, the bloodstick may be dispensed with. . , i mu u For general bleedmg the Ju^ular vein is selected The horse ,s blindfolded on the side on which he is to be bled, or his head M.xieof turned well away; the hair is smoothed along tne course ot ''"'^'""' the vein with the moistened finger; then with the third and litil ^ fin.rers of tbe left hand, which holds the fleam, pressure is made on the vein sufficient to bring it fairly into view, but not to swell it too much, f>r then, presentimr a rounded surfvce, it would be apt to roll or slip under the blow. The point to be selected is aljout two inches below the uni'.ii (d' tlie two portions of the jugular at the angle of the ixw The ileum is to be placed in a direct line with the course of the vein, and over the orecise centre of the vein, as close to ,t as possible, but its point not absolutely toucmng the vein. A >iiaip lap wilU tne bloodstick or the hand on that part of the back of the flearn iminediatelv over the blade, will cut through the vein, and tiu^ bl(MKi will How. A fleam with a larcre blade should always be preferred, for the operation will be materially shortened, which will be a matter of some conse- quence with a fidgety or restive horse; and a quantity of ble tied up for several hi>urs to prevent his rubldng the part against the manger. In briu-iucr th(^ edges of the wound together, and intnKlucmg the pin, care should be taken not to draw the skin too much from the neck, otherwise blood will insinuate itself between the skin and the muscles beneath, and cause an unsightly and sometimes troubles(>mc swelling. The 1)1(Kk1 should be received into a vessel the dimensions of whicli are exactlv known, so that the operator may be able to calculate at every period of the bleeding the quantity that is subtracted. Care 12 » '^ • ,*' i< ' f 'A 90 AMERICAN FARRIER. likewise should be taken that the blood flow in a regular stream into the centre of the vessel, for if it be suffered to trickle down the sides, it will not afterwards undergo those changes by which we partially judge of the extent of inflammation. The pulse, however, and the symptoms of the case collectively, will form a better criterion than any change in the blocxl. Twenty-four hours after the operation, the edges of the wound will have unitiMJ, and the pin should l,e withdrawn. When the bleeding is to be repeated, if uiore than three or four hours have elapsed, it will be more prud^'ut to make a fresh incision rather than to open the old wound. Few directions are necessary f )r the use of the lancet. They who are competent to operate with it, will scarce! v retiuire any. for using IC the poiut 1)0 siiliici(Mii 1 v sharp the lancet can scarcely be the lancet. ^^^^ hroad sliouldcn (1 ; and an al scess lancet will generally make a freer in( ision than that in counuijn use. A spring lancet has lately been invented by Mr. Weiss in the Strand, by which any one may bleed from the jugular, or from a smaller vein safely and certain- ly. Whatever insfnuu'Mit i)e adapted, too much care cannot be taken to have it perfectly clean, and very t>harp. It should always be most carefully wi})ed and dried immediately after the operatidy,and contributmg ^^^- to tiie "^lourishment of the frame, and furni.-liiug all the se- cretions, becomes, as we have described, changed. It is no longer able to sup})ort life : it is possessed of a poison )us [)rinciple, ane got rid of bef >re the blood can again be usefully employed. There is an in- greuicut in the atmosplieric air calljd oxrjgcn.whiiih has a strong attmc- li m for this carbon, and whicli will unite wih it wherever it finds it. The chest enlarges by the action of the diaphragm, and the intercostal and other muscles, as we have narrated; and the lungs expanding with the chest, in order to fill up the vacuum which would otherwise exist between them and the sides of the chest, these cells enlarge, and a kind of vacuum is f Mined in each of them, and the air rushes down and fills them, and being divided from the venous and poisoned blood by these membranes alone, it is enabled to act upon the blood, and attracts from it this carbon, and thus purifies it, and renders it arterial blcKxl, and fit for the purposes of lite. This being accomplish- ed, the chest contracts, and the lungs are pressed into smaller compass, and a portion of the air, impregnated with the carbon, and rendered poisonous in its turn, is squeezed out. Presently the chest expands again, and the bmgs exj)and with it, and fresh pure air is admitted, wdiich is sh!>rtly pressed out again, emp(us(;ned by the caruon of the bloxl; and these alternate expansions and contractions constitute the act of breathing. Wluu the animal powerfully exerts himself, a more ample supply of pure blood is required to sustain the energies of life, and the acti >n of the muscles forces the bl(R)d m »re rapidly through the veins; hence the quick and deep breathing of a horse at speed; hence the necessity of a capacious chest, in order to yield an adetpiate suppl\ , and the con- nexion of this capacity of the chest with the speed and the endurance of the horse; hence the wonderful relief which the mere loosening of the girths affbrds to a horse i)lown and distressed, enabling the chest to expand and to contract to a greater extent, in order to yield more purified blood; and hence the relief afforded by even a short period 13 MWWKJlglnliiJIli mm l>WWMW>.WlBiiw*M t 92 AMERICAN FARRIER. INFLAMMATION OF THE LlNCS. 9^ of rest, during which this expenditure is not required, and the almoRl exhausted energies of these organs have time to recover. Hence, likewise, appears the necessity of an ample chest for the accumula- tion of much flesh and fat; for, if a considerable portion of the blood be employed in the growth of the animal, and it be thus rapidly changed, there must be provision for its raj)id purifi( ation, and that can only be effected by the increased bulk of the lungs, and the cor- responding largeness of the cliL'st to contain them. The diseases of these organs are among the most serious to which tlie horse is exposed, and interfere most with his usefulness. ^^^^*^" A glandered horse may be, and often is too long employeo in onr serviee; a blind horse, under the guidame of the driver, may enifdov iMjth his strength anIM ATION OF THE LUNGS. There is no animal among all those whom we have subdued that previous to his breaking in, is so free from disease as the horse; therf is no animal which, after he has been enlisted in our service, is sc liable to disease, and especially of the lungs. How do we account foi this? Few things can be more injurious to the delicate membrane thai lines the cells of the lungs, than the sudden change from heat to cold to which, under the usual stable management, the horse is subject In the spring and autumn, the temperature or heat of most stables i< several degrees higher than that of the open air; in winter it is fre quenlly more than thirty degrees. The necessary effect of this mus< be to weaken and e.vhaust the energies of the parts most exposed tc the inliuence of these changes, and they are the lungs. It is, how ever, not only heated but emp(»isonc\l air that the horse respires; — composed of his own contaminated breath, and of vapours from his dung, and particularly from his urine, strongly imjiregnated with hartshorn, painfui to the eyes and irritating to the chest. There is likewise an intimate connexion between the lungs and th« functions of the skin. When the msensible perspiration is suddenly stopped, cold and cough are the first consequences. What must inev itably happen to the horse that stands, twenty hours out of the four and twenty, in a heated atmos|)here, and stands there warmly cloth ed, and every pore of his skin opened, and the insensible pers|)iration, aud the sensible too, profusely pouring out, and then, with his coat stripped from his back, is turned shivering into a nipping wintei''s aii'^ I The di-charore frcm the skin is at once arrested, and the revulsion, or uemicious effect of the sadden stoppage of a natural evacuation, tails on the lungs, too much weakened, and disposed to iiiliarnnmtion by heated air and poisonous fumes. ^ • , These simple observations are pregnant with interest and instruc ticn to ail connected with horses. He who would have his stud tree from disease, and especially disease of the lungs, must pursue two ob- jects coolness and cleanliness. In the gentleman's s'able, the tu'st ot ,lu>-c is studiously avoided, from the prejudice or the idleness of the irrKHu, and from these stalles proceed most of the cases of milamcd lun'.s- especially when this heat is comi ined with that tempr-rary but ,nichanieal obstruction. The membrane ot the nose is of an inlenselv florid red— more vivid in the mside corners of the nostrils, and ivnuumng coiiciMitrated there if at times it should seem to fade awav higher up. 'I'he countenance is singularly anx ious, and in licative of sutfering, an.l many a ni<.urnf.d l(K)k is dire<-ted at the flanks. The horse stands in a singular nnimer, stiff, with Ins forelegs abroad, that the chest mav be expanded as much as possible and he is unwilling to move, lest for a moment he should lose the assistance of the muscles of the arms and shoulders, in producing that expansion; and, for the same reason, he obstinately staiuls up day after day, and night after night; or if he lies down from absolute fatigue, it is but f )r a moment. ■5*3 INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 95 94 AMERICAN FARRIER. '\'' /" In many instances, however, the approach of the disease is very treacherous, and the most careful practitioner may be deceived. The groom may perceive that the horse is somewhat off his feed, and dull, but he pays little attention to it; or if it arrests his notice, he only finds that the coat stares a little, that the legs are colder than usual, and the brcathin<; in a slight degree quickened and shortened. In other cases, the symptonis are those of common fever, catarrh, or dis- temper; and the cliaracteristics i)f true inllainniatiwn of the lungs iip|)ear late and unexpectedly. The; cold leg and ear, the qui('kened, nut deepened inspiration, the disincliuation to lie dow n, and the anxious counteiiiince, will always alarm the experienced ol server. Whatever may be the state of the j>ulse at first, it s(X)n becomcM Oj)pressed, irregular, indistinct, and at length almost imperceptible The heart is labouring in vain U) push on the column of blcMxl witb which the vessels are distended, and the How (jf which is obstructed by the clogged-up passages of tlic lungs. The legs and ears, which were cold before, become more intensely so — it is a clayey, deathy coldness. The nujuth s(M)n participates in it, and the breath tcH). The briglit red ot tne nostril fades away, or darkens to a nvm purpie. The animal grinds his teeth. He still persists in standing, although he often .staggers and almost falls; at length lie dro])S, and after a few struggles dies. The duration of the disease is singularly uncertain. It will occa sionally destroy in less than twenty -four hours, and then the lungs present one confused and disorganised mass of blackness, and would lead the inexperienced person to imagine that Jong intlannnation bad gradually so completely broken down the sub- stance of the lungs. Such a horse is said to die rotien, and many attempts have I een made to prove that he must have been unsound for a great while, and probably before he came into his last owner's possession, and some expensive law-suits have been instituted on this ground Let our readers, however, be assured, that this black, decom- posed appearance of the lungs proves no disease of long standing, ))ut inflammation intense in its nature, and that hns very speedily run its course. The horse has died from sufl' cation, every portion of tlie lungs being choked uj) wilb tliis black I loonmg of the part long remains, so a deposit oi ....: coacrulable portion of the blcKxl may be left in the su])stance of the hmSs, occupNing the place of many of the air-cells, and prevcntmg the'contraction and closing of others. This produces the peculiarity of breathing, almost incompatible with speed or continuance, called thick wind; and frequently precedes broken wind, >^hen, trom the violent action of the lungs, and that action thus impeded by the ob- struction we have described, some of the air-cells become ruptured. Too frequentlv, considerable irrita! ility remains in the membrane lining the air-cells, and in other portions of the air-passages, and a cou.rh is established, which, from its continuance, and the dilliculty o its removal, is called chronic cough. We have alre-.idy considered inflammation of the lungs, as one of the causes ot roaring The treatment of inflammation of the lungs must evidently be ot the most decisive kind. We have to struggle with a disease Treatment. 1^^^^,,^^^ '^^ j^g character, and we must attempt radically to cure, and mA merely to palliate it. We must l(K>k to the future use- fulness of the horse,^lnd not to the possibility of his being (gabled to draenibi*ane cf the note as red, the bleeding should le repeated, until the same effect again follows. In the majority of cases ihe inflammation will be now subdued. A third bleeding may, however, sonrietimes be necessary, but must not be carried to the same extent, for it is possi ble, by too great evacuation of blocxi, to subdue not merely the disease, but the powers of nature. If, after this, the legs become cold, and the heaving returns, and the membrane of the nose reddens, and the horse persists in standing, bleedings to the extent of two or three (quarts will be advisable, to prevent the re-establishment of the disease. In all these bleedings, let not the necessity of a l)n)a(l shoiddered fleam or lancet, and a full streaui of blood be f )rgotten. Tliese are circum- stances of far more imj>(»rtancc than is gefierally imagined. The appearance of the bbxxl will be some guide in our treatment of the case. 'J1h^ tlii( kness of the adhesive butiX , yellow-coloured coat, which in a few hours will appear on it, will mark with s(ime degree of accuracy the extent of the inHammation. Not regardless of the appearance of the blood, but not putting too much futh in it, we must look to the horse to determine how far that iniianuuation may have been diminished, or a repetition of the blee<^ling be necessary. When the bleeding has evidently taken effect, we must consider by what means we ma) further abate, or prevent the return cf the inflani- niation. AVe should blister the w hole of the brisket, and the sides, as liigh up as the elbows. Blkters are fir preferable to ronels. They act on a more extensive surface; they produce a great deal more inflammation; and they are speedier in their action. To ensure the full oueration of the blister, ihe hair must be closely shaved, and an ointment composed of cne pari of powdcicd Spanish flies, and four of lard and one of resin, well rubbed in. The lard and the resin should to melted together, and the powdered flies aficrwards added. To form a rowel, the skin is raised between the finger and thumb, and, wilh a lancet, or with scissors contrived for the purpose, rowc*K"^^ a slit is cut an inch in length. Into this a piece of tow is inserted, sufllcient to fill it, and previously smeared wiih blister ointment. This causes considerable inflanunation and dis- charge. \[' a lilth; ot' \\\v. tow be left sticking out (»f ihe incision, the discharge will cuuxenicntly dribljle down it. The tow should l)e changed every day, with or wilhout tlie ointment, according to tiie action of the mwel, or the urgcnc-y of the case. The large piece of stiff leather, whh a hole in ils centre, used by the farrier, is ob- jectionable, as not being easily changed, and freciucntly, in the ex- traction of it tearing the skin so as to cause a lasting blcmisii. The blister sometimes N\ill not rise. It will not when the inflam- mation of the chest is at its greatest intensity : too much action is going .)n there, for any to be excited elsewhere. The blister occasionally will not act in the later stages of the disease, because the }>owers of nature are exhausted. It is always a most unfavourable symptom when the blisters or the rowels do not take etfect. The best time for INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. Ot './* h flie application of the blister, is when the inflammation is somewhat sul)dued by the bleeding; and then by the irritation which it excites, and in a part so near the original seat of disease, the inflammation of the chest is either abated or transferred to the skin; for, as we have before observed, it is an important law of nature, that no two violent actions of different kinds can take place in the frame at the same tiuie. ,^ , . , , . Next comes the aid of medicine. If the patient was a human being the surgeon would immediately purge him. We must not App!i."ition ^|(, jj^i^. f(3i. tv^)„i svmpathv between the bowels and the lun2;s *^f"'"'""'^ in the horse, we should either produce a fatal extension of i.Milanuuation, or a transferring (if it in a more violent form, and the horse would assuredly die. We must back-rake, adinhiister clysters, or perhaps give cightOunces of K[)som salts, dissolved in warm gruel. No castor-oil must be given. It may be a mild and a safe aperient lor the human being: it is a very dangerous one for the horse. Having a little relaxed the bowels, we eagerly turn to cwlmg or sedative Tnedicines. The farrier gives his cordial to support the ani- mal, and prevent rottenness. He add*= \^\\r^\ to the fire, and no wonder that the edifice is frequently destroyed. Nitre, digitalis, and emetic tartar, should be given in tlie doses already recommended, and per- sisted in until an intermittent state of the pulse is |)roduced. Many |)ractitijners give hellebore in doses of half a drachm, or two scruples, e>ery six or eight hours, and they say with considerable advantage. It is continued until the horse hangs his head, and saliva drivels from his mouth, and he becomes half stupid, and half delirious. These symptoms pass over in a few hours, and the intlammation of the chest is found to be abated. Jf it be so, it is on the principle of thi^ l)lis}er: the determination of bb>od to the head, and the temporary excitement of the brain or its membranes, divert the inflammation or a portion of it, from its original seat, and give time for the parts somewhat to re- cover their ton°e. We confess that we prefer the digitalis, enietic tar- tar, and nitre: they considerably lower the pulse, and are safe. It is of importance that we determine the bl(Kxl, or a portion of it, from the intiamed and over-distended part to some other region. On this principle we warmlv cloth(^ the h>rse labouring under this disease, that we may cause the Idood to circulate freely through the vessels of the skin, and that we may keep up th(i insensible pers})iration, and perhaps produce some sweating. Hut do we |)ut the horse in a warm p!a!'e? No; f .r then we should bring the heated and poisoned air in contact wiiii the intiamed lungs, and increase the excitement, already too great. It is an absurd practire to shut up every door and window, and exchide, if jmssible, every breath of air;— rather let every door and window be thrown open, and let pure and cold air find access to these heated parts. It is interesting to see how eagerly the horse avails himself of the relief which this affords him. If no direct draft blows upon him, he can scarcely be |>laced in too cool a box (stall.) Now and then the w hole skill of the horse may be rubbed with the 13 I t ;l 'J* 99 AMERK'AN FARRIER. PLEURISY.-^ATARRII, OR COMMON COLD. 99 if brush, if ft does not tease and hurry him; but it is indispensable that the legs should be frequenllv and well hand-rubbed to restore the cir- culation in them, and they should be covered with thick flannel bandages. As to food, we do not want him to take any at tirst, and most certainly the horse should not be coaxed to eat. A very small quantity of hay may be given to amuse him, or a cold mashy or green meat (food,) but not a particle of corn. In oitrht-and^ortv hours the fate of the patient wdl generally ir decided? If there be no remission of sym[)toms, the inflammation will run OP to congestion of the lungs, and consequent sutfocatton, or to o-anixrene. We n»nst, in this case, give the medicines more fre- quently; repeat the blister; bleed, if the stale of the animal will bear It J ami rub the legs or even scald them. If the strength now rapidly declines, the horse may be drenched with gruel, and tonic medicine may be tried, as ch.iuiomile at first, and, this not recalling or increas- ing the fever, a little ginger and gentian may be ax^lded. °^^ho\dd the heaving gradually subside, aud the legs get warm^ and the liorse lie down, and the iutlamuiation be apparently subsiding, let not the owner or the praciiiioncr be in loo grual haste to get tr,c ;;.';;- mal well. Nature will slowly^ but surely and safely, restore the appetite and sin ngtb^ and it is very easy to bring back the nmlady in all its violence by altempiin^' to hurry her. The food should be the same^ cold mashes, green meat, or a lifttle hay, if green meat cannot be procured, aixl tl.in gfuel drunk from the pail — not given as a drench. Should the horse be very weaky or scarcely e^t^ tonics nuiy be tried. The way should be felt very cautiously vvi:h the chamomile^ and the sedative incling medicines. Any change from heat to cold^ or from cold to heat, will pnxluce it with almost equa^ certainty; the re- moval from a waru> stiible to a cold one, or from a coid one to a warmer; from grass to the stable, and from the stable to grass will equaWy give rise to disease of the lungs, it is generally the elFect of our errroneA)us system of management.. We shall presently state the symptoms by which infld'mimition of Howdistin- the lungs may be distinguished from catarrhal fever. It guished. nnay be divStinguished from inflamuKition of the lK)wels by the pulse, u huh, in the latter disease, is small and wiry; — by the membrane of the nose, whicli is not then so much reddened ;---by the hidications of pain, as kicking at the belly, stamping, and rolling; by liis eager scraping of the litter, and by the belly being painful to the louchj'and also hot, when the bowels are inflamed. PLEURISY. llith-rto we have spoken of inflammation of the substance of the lun-rs- but mllauuiKaiou may attack the membrane covering tlicm and liain.r'the sideof tiie chest (the phura), and be prinei[)ally or entirely confined to that membrane. This is termed pleuhisv. The causes are the same as in inflammation of the substance of the lungs, and the fivmptoms are not very dissimilar. The guiding distmctr.m wdl be the puWe As the blood 'in this disease still traverses the lungs without obstruction, we have not the oppressed pulse, but rather the hard, tail pulse, characteristic of inflammation; the extrenuties are cold, but not luuch'so; the membrane of the nose intensely red in the former disease, l)ecause it is a continuation of the inflamed lining of the air cells ot the lungs, is here but little reddened, because there is no connexion be- ' *» . :♦." ti,,. .;.L.o o».<» T>rf»Geed iinon in ttleurisv. nain will be felt, which the horse will express by a kind of grunt, and which is easily explained by the pressure being applied so close to the seat ot disease. The manner of standing, however, will remain the same, and the obstinacy of standing the same, and the extension of the neck, and the protrusion of the nostril. After death the pleura of the ribs and the lungs will exhibit stripes or patches of inflammation, and the chest will be generally filled with seroue fluid. Copious bleeding is indicated here, as in inflammation (.f the sub- etance of flie lungs. Blisters and sedative medicines must hkewise be resorted to. The only important diflbrence is, that aperients may be administered with more safety than in the former disease. Puncturing of the ciiest to give escape to the fluid that is thrown out in it may be attempted. It cannot do harm, but it has very seldom saved or much prolon^red the life of the animal. If the operation be attempted, it should"be as soon as the presence of the fluid is suspected, and the means by which this mav be ascertained we have already dcsxribed. The opening should be effected with the common tnK'har used for tap- pincT in dropsy in tlie human being, and should be made between the eighth and niiith ribs, and close to the cartilages. DiurcUc medicines combined with tonics should be administered. CATAKRH, OR COMMON (OLD. This is a compbiint of frequent occurrence, generally subdued with- out much dirticuhv, but often beconuu^ of serious consequence it necrlected. It is accompanied by a little increase of pulse; a slight dischmc enlarged, and the ujcm- brancsof th(; nostril and tlie throjit are inflamed and tender, and tlicre- f(>re the f)od is " (piiddcd,*" and tht^'c is difliculty even in s\\a!!o\^ in^i; water, particularly if it he cold, 'i'lui horse sips and slavers in the pail, and repeatedly coughs as he drinks. Th(3 cough is sometimes frequent and painful; so much so, that the horse rep(nite(ll\ stamps with his feet, and shows signs of impatience and suftering in the act of coughing. To these symptoms rapidly succeeds very great weak- ness. The horse staggers, and sometimes almost falls as he moves about his box; or he supports himself by leaning his sides or his qiiar- tere against tiie stall. To the inexperienced observer this early and excessive weakness \\ ill he very alarming, and he will give up the horse as lost. The legs generally swell, and enlargements appeal on CATARRHAL FEVER. 101 ;.. the chest and belly. These, however, are generally favourable. The pulse is quickened. It rise« to sixty or seventy, but the number of its beatings, and the character of the pulse, which is seldom ver>^ hard, depend much on the degree of fever which accompanies the disease. After a few days the cough becomes less frequent and painful; the glands of the throat diminished; the horse begins to eat a little green meat, and is more cheerfid. In some cases, however, the memlrane of the nose reddens, or streaks of red run through the livi-lness; and the legs become cold, and the countenance haggard, and inflannnatii.n of the'' lungs is at hand. At other times the breath is oflensive; the discharge from the nose l)logs, and in the same ({uaFitity; but as soon as the fever heirins to reuiil, two drachms of the spirit of nitrous ether sliouhl be afl(lc(i to eacli dose; and, the weakness increasing, and the fever still more sul)si(bng, tlie chamomile may \v \ entured on, but with caution. Warm clotliing is necessary, and particularlv about the head; and altliough tlic box slionld still be airy, it should not be so cool as ill iuihuuuation of the bings. If the throat be so sore that the animal will not eat, either the parotid or the subniaxillarv glands, or both, siiould be blistered, it will be fir better to blister them at once, than to lose time by the use of weaker and in( Ifective applications. The discharge from the nose should be promoted, and the natural pro- gress of the inllammation of the meini)i*ane of the nose antoms are rapid loss of strength, stinking breath, Artid dis- charge from the nostrils, all the evacuations becoming highly offensive, the pulse rapid, small and weak, and the animal obstinately refusing to eat. It soon runs its course. Gangrene soon succeeds to inflam- mation, and rapidly spreads from the part first inflamed through the whole of the cellular substance, and over every portion of the trame When veterinary science was in its infincy,this j>est used peri(xhcally to appear, and carry off hundreds of horses; and tliat breeder is fortu nate, who does not now sometimes suffer from its ravages. The treat- ment of it is very unsatisfactory. The prevention may be a little more in our power, by endeavouring to get rid of the previous disease by one bleeding, when, in some seasons, catarrhal fever appears under a form more flian usually violent; and by bleeding with extreme cau- tion, or not bleeding at all, when debility begins to appear. A mild purgative may be first administ(«red to carry otf a portion of the offen- sive" matter contained in the bowels; after which, chalk, and ginger, and opium, and gentian, and columbo, wi'h port-wine, may be plenti- tully given, with green meat, or thick gruel; but except the horse be valuable, the chance of saving him is so slight, and probably the cian- gcr of spreading the pest so great, that prudence will prompt hii destruction. ^ , . Most frequ(Mit in occurrence among the consequence ot catarrhal fever, and inflammation of the lungs, is CHRONIC COUGH. It would occupy more spare than we can devote to this part of our subject, to speak of ail the causes of obstinate cough. The irriubility ■tiinwwn' ■ lafa* i-iigiii- .1. .' f Reined^. 104 AMERICAN FARRIER. of so great a portion of the air-passages, occasioned by previous and violent inflammation of them, is the most frequent. It is with other Sometimes connected with worms. There is much sympathy diseases. between the lungs and the intestines, and the one very readily participates in the irritation produced in the other. That it is caused by glanders, can be easily imagined, because that disease is, in its early stage, seated in or near the principal air-passages, and little time passes before the ' ings become affected. It is the neces- sary attendant of thick wind and broken wind, for these pi'oceed from alterations of the structure of the lunjrs. Notsvithstanding the clearness of the cause, the cure is not so evi- deut. If a harsh hollow cou^h be accompanied bv a starins coat, and the appearance of worms,--r-a few worni-l)alls may expel these parasites, and remove the irritation of the intestinal canal. If it proceed from irritalility of the air-passages, which v.ill be discov- ered by the horse coughing after drinking, or when he first goes out of the stable in the niornin^r, or by his occasional throwing (►ut thick mucous from the nose, medicines may be given, and S(»nielinms with advantage, to dinuiusn irritation g(>neraliy. llalt-doses ot Itie digitalis, emetic tartar, and nitre, given every night, have had a very beneficial effect, especially when made up with tar, which seems to have a power- ful influence in allaying these irritations. These balls should be regularly given for a considerable time. They are sufficiently power- ful to quiet slight excitement of this kind, but not to nauseate the horse, or interfere in the slightest degree with his food or his work. A blis- ter, extending from the root of one ear to that of the other, taking in the whole of the chaiine!, and reaching six or eight inches down the windpipe, has been tried, and not without good etiect, on the supposi- tion that the irritation may exist in the fauces or the larynx; and the blister has sometimes been extended through the whole course of the *vindpipe, until it enters the chest. Feeding has much influence on this complaint. Too much dry meat, and especially chati', increases it. It is aggravated when the horse is suffered to eat his litter. Carrots aiford decided relief. The seat of the disease, however, is so uncertain, and all our means and applications so inotfu-acious, and the cough itself so little interfer- ing, cind sometime^ interfiling not at ail with (he health of the animal, that it io scarcely vvoriii while to persevere in any mode of treatment that is not evidently atiendeid wiih speedy benefit. The principal consideration to induce us to meddle at allwiih chronic cough is the knowledge that horses afilicted with it are more liable than others to bo affected by changes of temperature, and that inflammation of the lungs, or of the respiratory passages, often assumes in them a very alarming character; to which, perhaps, we may add, that a horse with chronic cough cannot legally or properly be warranted sound. When chronic cough chiefly occnrs ofter eating, the seat of the dis- ease IS evidently in tlie substance of the lungs. Tlie stomach distended mill food presses upon the dinphragm, tlie diaphragm upon the lungs- THICK- WIND. 105 (». .nd the luntrs, already lal)ouring under some congestion, are lesscapa- Mo of truns'tnitting the air. In the violent effort to discharge the^ Suction, irritation is produced; and the act of coughing .s the conse quence of that irritation. This is allied with, cr soon runs mto THICK-WIND. Thick-wind consists in short, frequent, and laborious breathings, and especially wlioii Ihe anuuul is in exercise; the uispirations nc«ripiion and expirations often succeeding each other so rapidly as "'■ evidently to express distress, and occiisionally ahnost to ,l,r,.a(cn suII-k.ui,,!.. Son.e deforce of it fre>iucnlly exists m round- ' u4d and fat horses, that have little or no brccdmg 1 he reason of Is is suliUicntIv plain. TI,o circular chest atl.nls sufl,..cn r(«m f„r theexpausiou-of the lunj^s when the atunial is at rest, and suhc.en In for 'the accu.ntdat.on of a great deal of tat and flesh; hut when U e horse is strongly exercised, the circulation of the I.Uk.I is hurried an'l its change from arterial to venous, or from vital to empoisoned blood, is more rapi.l. The circular chest cannot then enlarge to any !;|.^'1^»». vet ilu. 1,I,«h1 must he i-urifud in greater quantity, and fhorefore what cannot te ';-■■>;'■'• ;''-n- tt rfor ,;7.i--" '>-''''-' numher and contracted in size, i leii ' ' ' 1 . u- il.o -lofiripncv ,1,0 rapid and laborious action of the lungs '"'f /'ll'l'^J,^^.^^""^ aad especially when the animal is put iu that stale in which he requires •\ rtniii (•han«''(* <»t bO'Xi. , • i i i_, X ox mi.w:e,>. nf tht.k-winded horses has thrown considerable li.lt on tl^ nature of tl.- disease. In the maj -ritv ot instances some f 1 e " ' M "i -cells have teen found tille.l up with a dense substance : a b or darker colour. In others the ---'e l"--?- ea mg t the cells have been diminished, and almost obliterated, the Imings oi tese paisS.^ unnaturaliv thickened, or covered with hardened mese passa«,eh ot m^ nnnearnnces cou d l>e observed, mucous; and where neither of these "PP'^f'^""'. ,. • ^^.^^.^^.i^n 80 the hnincr of th<'. cells has exhibited evident marks ot mtldmmation, 80 14 tsmm^mmmmmuk^m* » 100 AMERICAN FARRIER. that absolute pain prevented tlie full expan?i.n or ct nlractii n (>f tho lungs. Thick-wind is often the forerunner of broken-wind. It is easy to understand this: for if so much labour is necessary to contract the air cells, and to force out tlie wiiui, and the lungs work so ra})idly and si, violently in effecting this, some of the cells, weakened by disease, will probably be rujHured. Of the treatment of thick-wiud we have Utile to say. Attention to diet, and the prevention of the overloading of the st«)macb, and the avoidance of exercise stK)n after a meal, may in some degree pailiatt* the di^tease, and so may constant exercise, carried to tlie extent of ths all tbe diirerence between a horse that has been well and one that has been badly trained. imoKKx-wr.\n. This is easily distinguished from thick'Wrnd. In thick-wind the breathing is rapid and laborious, but the inspiratif>n and expiration are equally so, and occupy precisely the same time. In broken-wind the ins{)iration is performed by one effort; the expii^ation by two, Description which is plainly to be distinguished by observing the flanks, and which occupies double the time. The reason of this may easily be stated. Broken-wind is the rupture or running together pf sorne of the air-cells. When the lungs are expanded, the air will rush in easily enough, ami one effjrt of the muscles of respiration is sufficient for tho purimse; but when these cells have nin into each other, the cavity is so irregular, and contains so many corners and blind pouches tliat it is exceedingly difficult to force it out again, and two efforts are scarcely competent fidly to efi'ect it. This disease is also accompanied by a dry and husky cough of a peculiar sound, which cannot easily be descrilx'd, but is recognised by every one accustomed to horses. It is the conscfpience of thick-wind, and of those alterations of structure consequent on inflammation. W a portion of the lung be lost to tbe animal, and the same quantity of pure blood must be supplied, while there is not the same surface to supply it, it is easy to suppose tbat, in the violent effv)rts which such a Jiorse is compelled to mike, some of the cells may be brokiin. Broken wind may, however, ocrur without much previous disease, Suppose a horse to be :i gro.^s feeder, and to have tilled his stomarh with straw and hay, and provender that occuj)ies a great bulk, and pontajns little nourislimenf, the lungs are squeezed into a less than the natural compass. Let the horse be now suddenly and smartly exer- cised; more blood must be purified, and in the violent effort to accom- plish this, some of the cells give way. Therefore we do not find hroken-winded horses on the race-course, for although every exertion vf speed is required from them, their fx)d lies in small compass, and 6ROKfc^-VVl5?t)\ lOT !•,.> !y^ M the stomach is not distended, and the lungs have room to play, and , ,are s taken that their exertion shall be required when the stomach i ^.nearly empty. Carriage and coach horses are seldom broken* wmded unLss 'they brmg^the disease to their work, for they too hve rnncmally on corn and their work is regular, and care is taken that C shall not be fed iuimediately before the.r work The major^ fv of horses thus affected come from the stables of those for whose 1 these pavhich had broken-wiiKl has aln,,st mvanably I'^<^7"'^ ''^'^,2 „atu air-cells, one of which occupy the space ot a great many ot tlieir nam '" xte^currof a broken-.vinded horse no one ever witnessed; y^^ much Iv L done m the way .^^ palliation. 'Hie f.Kjd <^ the an,- <«„«ly. i ^,„,„,,, f „„,,i,, „f m.ch nutriment condensed into a s.na | | x,mpass; the q.mntity of oats shouW be increased, and that ol hay f mamtmamimiimmmnimmrmnmun ia-i|i «> J > tef V ri 108 AMERICAN FAUUIER. tJROKEN-WlND. io6 proportionably diminifc^het! ; the bowels should be gently rela.xed by the frequent use of mashes ; the water should be given sparingly through the day, although at night the thirst of the animal should be fully sat- isfied; and exercise should never be taken when the stomach is full. It will scarcely be believed how much relief these simple measures will afford to the broken-winded h(jrse, and of how much exertion he may he gradually rendered capable. Some treated on tbis plan have even been hunted, and have ac<{uitted tbcnisclves well in the field. Carrots are very usef»d to the broken-wnided horse, not only as conlaiiun^ much nutriment and considerable moisture, so that less water may le re(piired, but from some property which they possess Hindering them beneficial in every chest aHection. A broken-winded h(»rse turned out to grass will neser improve, on account of the almost constant disten- sion of the stomach; but be may be led on more succulent substances, as turnips and mangel-wurzel, with evidiint advantage. 'I'hey are easy of digestion, and soon pass out of the stomach. Me^iicai treatment is of little avail, except that organs so violently excited as the lungs of bn>ken-winded horses fre(piently are, must L-e subject to infiammativm, and the difliculty of broalhing in these horses is sometimes sadly increased. A little blood may then be subtracted, and other means taken which have been reconnnended for inflanima- tory affections of tbe chest. In case of frequent or periodical returns of difficulty of breathing, to which these horses are very suit ject, a course of mild aperients, united with mercury, have been given wi.h decided advantage. Two drachms of aloes, and one of calomel, may be given twice in the week. The barbarous practice of some farriers of making holes near the anus, and sometimes in other parts, to let out the broken-wind, cannot be too strongly reprobated. Thick-wind an»l broken-wind exist in various degrees, and many shades of difference. Dealers and horsemen generally have charac- terized them by names tbat can boast no eiegjuice, but are considera- bly expressive of the state of the animal. 6nr readers should not be ignorant of them. Some hi>rses make a shrill noise when in (uiick action — they are said to be Pipkks. 'I'iiis is a species of Roaring. There is usually a rinir of coagulated matter round tb«» inside of the windpipe, by which \\iv cavity is materiaiiy diminished, and the sound pnHluced in quick bri^athing nnist evidently l)e shriller. Sometimes the piping is [inHhiced by a contraclion of the small passages of the lun^s. The Whee/er utters a sound not unlike that of an asthmatic person when a little hurried. This is a kind of thick-wind, and is caused by the lodi^rnient of some mucous thud in the small passages of the lungs. It frequently accomj/anies bronckiti,s. Wheezing can Ixi heaixl at all times, even when the horse is at rest in the stable; roaring is confined to the increased breathing of considerable exertion. The Whistler utters a shriller sound (ban the wheezer, but only when in exercise, and that of some cow inuance. A sudden motion will not always produce it. It seems to Le leferable to some contraction in the windpipe or the larynx. The sound is a great nuisance ta the rider, and the whisfler very speedily becomes distressed. A sharp ^llop up hill will speedily detect the whistler. When the obstruction seems to be principally m the nose, the l>ors^ loudly puffs and blows, and the nostrils are dilated to the utmost, while the flanks are comparatively quiet. This animal is said to be a High- i^LOWEK With all his apparent distress, he often possesses great speed and endurance. The sound is unpleasant, but the lungs may be perfectly sound. Every horse violently exercised on a full st^^macb, or when ovei- loaded with fat, will grunt very much like a hog. The pressure ot the stomach on the hmgs, or that of the fat accumulated about the heart, will so much impede the breathmg, that the act of forcil)le cxpira- uon will be accompanied by tbis kind of sound; but there are somo hordes who will at all times utter this sound, if suddenly touched with .he whip or spur. They are called (Ikfnters, and should be avoided. There is some altered stnicture of the lung<, which prevents thenl from suddcnlv accommcxlating themselves to an unexpected demand r^j. p^^j.(ior. * !t i« thp oonse(uience of previous disease, and is ire" quenily followed by thick^ or broken-wmd^ or roaring. Chapter V. THE STOxMACH AND INTESTINES— THEIR DISEASES* THE DIAPHRAGM. Tub chost IS separatod fnmi tl.o alKlomcn or belly, by the diaphragm or midriff; wh.ch extends oblup.cly IVon. the loins to the brca^f.^'ono tn its natural state it is convex, or projecting forward toward te luneoweis, niui u-nu. n. } • i i* i«a of "he dung and urine, and ,n the b.rth o the y^-'^hrm nib Le most concerned in coughing, yawning, sighin,', &-c The mon.l.rane t umjtwjhmm^^i I , 4 ?i M . (. '^^i >\\] >;,, no AMERICAN FARRIER. THE STOMACH. Ill which covers the diaphragm is very subject to inflammation. Whether the original seat of disease be in tlie hmgs or the bowels, the dia- phragm soon becomes inflamed and irritable, which accounts for the breathing of the horse being so much affected under every inflamma- tion of the chest or belly. The diaphragm is likewise occasionally ruptured, principally from violent exertion. It has so much to do in the act of breathing, tliat it is not to be wondered if, when the respi- ration is cxcee(hngly hurried, this muscle should give way. The svm{)toms of ruptured diaj)hragm are very obscure. There are lujue on which we can perfectly depend. This, however, is a matter of lit-tle consequence, for it is uniformly fital. If the ruj)ture be small, some portion of the int(^stines insinuates itself, and l)ecomes entangled, and the passage is incurably obstructed; anvill eat a great deal more than the stomach will hi^ld, and room can only be made for the reception of the fresh f(x>d by that which had been previously received being discharged through the py- loric ontice. ,. • * i Of one disease of the stomach, arising from over distension, ^fomac/i- Mdir.rcrs, we have already spoken, in the second chapter, page 18. In a few instances the stomach has been known to be distended with air, but there are no characteristic symptoms by which this may be distinguished from distension by food, and the treatment would be the same. /. Of inllauHiiation of the stomach in the horse, except from poisonous herbs or drugs, we know little. It very rarely occurs, and then can with dilliculty be distinguished from inflammation of the bowels. Few horses are destroyed by poisonous plants. Natural instinct teaches them to avoid those which would be injurious. Of the mineral poisons we will mention only two. Arsemc was formerly celebrated as a tonic and a destroyer of worms in the horse; and doses suihcient to kill three or four men used to be daily adminis- lered and generally with impnnitv; the dose has, however, m some ca-es been tOi) strong, and the animal has died. There are better tonics and vermifuges, and the drug will probably srn.n be discarded from veterinary practice. Corrosive suhlimate is given internally, and often with ^advantage in farcy. It is used external y to destroy vermin, to cure mange, and to dispose deep and flstulous ulcers to heal. The symptoms of an over-dose of either are loss of appetite, discharge of saliva from the mouth, pawing, looking eagerly at the flanks, roll- ing, profuse perspiration, thready pulse, rapid weakness, violent Dirri^inj: and straining, convulsions, and death. flue stomach will be found intensely inflamed, with patches of yet greater inllamination. The whole course of the intestine will be in- flamed, with particular i)arts l)lack vnd gangrenous. , , , ^ Th(> antid >tc, if it be not too lato to administer it, would be, tor Mi msmmismammmmmwmatim'im^m'mmt jt- i I '1 t '*lii> 112 AMERICAN FAUiaER. arsenic, lime water, or chalk and water, or soap and water, given in great quantities with the stornach-punnpj and for corrosive sublimate, the white of eggs mixed with water, or thick starch, or arrow-root. If the poisoning be malicious, arsenic may he most readily detected by mixing a little of the fluid taken from the intestines with a weak solu- tion of blue vitriol, to which a little hartshorn has been added — the mixture will gradually become green; or, if a little of the nujre solid contents of the stonjach or small intestines be thrown on a rcd-iiot iron, a Bmell of garlic will be perceived. For corrosive sublimate there is a simpler test. Place a drop (»f the suspected fluid on a pu'ce <>f gold, kt the stein of a sn»ali key touch the gold while the liu}idle is brought into contact with the drop, and the gold will immediately be stained; or mix a little of the sus[>e(;led fluid with lime water, and the corrosive sublimate, if there be any, will be thrown to the bottom, of an orange colour; or if hartshorn be used, the precipitate will be white. BOTS. In the spring and early part of the summer, horses a-r mwch troubled by a grub or caterpillar, which crawls out of the anus, fastens itself under the tail, and seems to cause a great deal of itching or un- easiness. Grooms are sometimes alarmed at the appearance of these insects. Their history is curious, and will dispel every fear with re- gard to them. A species of gad-fly, is in the latter part of the summer exceedingly busy about the horse. They are observed to be darting with great rapidity towards the knees and sides of the anin)al. The females are depositing their eggs on the hair, and whicli adhere to it by means of a glutinous fluid with which they are surrounded. In a few days the eggs are ready to be liatehed, and the slightest apjjlication of warmth and moisture will liberate the little animals which they contain. The Jiorse in licking himself touches the egg, it bursts, and a small worm escapes, which adheres to the tongue, and is conveyed with the food into the stomach; there it clinics, by means of a hookon either side of its mouth, to the cuiicular ;M)rtion of the stomach, and its hold is so firm and so obstinate, that it will be broken beft.re it will Ik? detached. It remains feeding there on the mucous of the stomach during the whole of the winter, and to the end of the ensuing spring; when, ha ving attained a considerable size, and being destined to undergo a certain transformalion, it disengtJtics itself from the cuticular coat, is carried into the villous j)ortion <,r tlu" stomach with the food, passes put of it with the chyme, and is at lene injurious to the hor'^e for he enjovs the most perfect health when the cuticular part of his stomach isYiUed with them, and their presence is not even sus- pected until thev appear at the anus. They cannot be removed by Inedicme, because they are not in that part of the stomach to which medicine is usually conveyed; and if they were, their mouths are too dee|)lv buried in the mucous for any medicine, that can safely be ad- ministered, to affect them; and, last of all, in due course of time they detach themselves, and come away. Therefore, the wise man wiU leave them to themselves, or content himself with picking them oU when they colleuL uuder the tail and annoy the ammaL INTESTIM.S. The food having been partially digested m the stomach, and con- verted into chyme, passes through the pyloric orifice into the intestines. The intestines of a full grown horse are not less than ninety feet m lenirth. The length of the intestines in different animals depends on the nature of the food. The nutritive matter is with much more diffi- culty extracted from vegetable than animal substances, therefore the alinieniary canal is large, long, and complicated in those winch like the horse, are fed ir proper situations; and, this meinbrane being smooth and moist, all friction and con<:ussion are avoided. Did the bowels floa l(K)selv in the belly they would be sul;j^ct to c(^istant entanglement and injury amid the rapid and violent m^.tjons of the horse. The middle coat, like that of the stouiarh, is muscular, and conripo- sed of two layers of fibres, one ruimijig longitudinally, and the other drcularly; and by means of these nmscles, which are continually contracting and relaxing from the upper part downward, the fo^ is forced alomr the bowels. The inner coat is the mucous or villous,— mucou because it abounds with small glands which pour out a mu- cou?fluid to lubricate the passage and defend it i-- -^^-|,- acrimonious substances; and villous from its sof velvet feel. T h s c'm IS crowded with innumerable little mouths, which are the cl'nmencement of minute vessels, by which the "^^t.- I..rt of the food is taken up; and these vessels, uniting and P^^ '"g J^^^ the mesentery, carry this nutritive matter to a recepta( le for it, 15 i^2 H' ■■hr^MflfPtiii J'\ U4 AMERICAN FARRIER. CALCULI. nr» ? whence it is conveyed into the circulation and distributed to every part. The intestines are more particularly retained in their places by the mesentery, (middle of the intestines,) which is a doubling of the peri- toneum, including the intestine in its bottom, and likewise inclosing between its folds the arteries and veins, and nerves, and the vessels which convey the nutriment from the intestines to the circulation. DISEASES or THE INTESTINES. Tiiese form a very important part of horse surgery, and many er- roneous notions are prevalent respecting them. The tirst disease we w^ll consider is SPASMODIC COLIO, We have said, that the passage of the food through the intestinal canal is elfccted by the alternate contraction and relaxation of the muscular coat of the intestines. When that action is simply increased throu-ih the whole of the canal, tlie f hxI tv^^^-oc more r.ipidlv, and purging is produced; but the muscles of every part of the frame are liable to irregular and spasmodic action, and the muscular coat of some portion of the intestines may be thus affected. A species of cramp may attack a portion of the intestines. The spasm niay be confined to a very small part of the canal, The gut has been found, after death, strangely contracted in various places, contraction not extending above five or six inches in any of them. In the horse, the ileum is the usual seat of this disease. It is of much importance to distinguish between spasmodic colic and indannnation of the lx)wels, for the symptoms have considerable resemblance, although the mode of treatment should be very different. The attack of colic is usually \ery sudden. There is often not the slightest warning. The horse Logins to shift his posture, ymptoiris. j^^|^ round at his flanks, paw violently, strike his belly with his feet, lie down, roll, and that frequently on his back. In a few minutes the pain seems to cease, the horj-e shakes himself, and begins to feed; but, on a sudden, tlie spasm rctin'us more vivdently, every in- dication of pain i.^- increased, he heaves at the Hanks, breaks out into a profuse j)(M\«pirati«*n, and throws himself more violently about. In the space of an hour or two, oiiher the spasms begin to relax, and the remissions are of longer duration, (»r tlie torture is augmented at every paroxysm, the intervals of ease are fewer and less marked, and in- flammation and death su{»(Tvene. Of the symptons by which it may best be distinguished from inflam- mation of the bowels, we shall speak when we treat of that disease. Among the causes of colic are, the drinking of cold water when tno horse is heated. There is not a surer cause of violent s[)asm than this. Colic will sometimes f )Ilow the exposure of a horse to the cold air, or a cold wind after violent exercise. Green food, although, generally speaking, most beneficial to the horse, yet given in too large a quantity, or when the horse is hot, will frequently produce gripes. In some horses there seems to I e a constitutional nredir^posTtion to colic. They cannot be hardly worked, or exposed to un- usual cold, without a fit of it. In many cases, w hen these horses have died, stones have been found in some part of the alimentary canal. Fortunately, we are acquainted with several medicines that allay these spasms; and the disease often ceases almost as sud- ^"'^^' denly as it a[)peared. Turpentine is one of the most pow erful remedies, especially if given in union with opium. Three ounces of spirit or oil of turpentine, with an ounce of laudanum, given in a pint of warm ale, will lVeractiti<»n(Ms bleed at first, and it is fir from had practice; for although the majority of cases will yield lo turpentine, opium, and aloes, an early bleeding may occasionally prevent the re- currence of iutlaiuur.ition, or at least mitigate it. If it be clearly a case of colic, half of the first dose may be repeated, with a full ounce of Barhadoes aloes dissolved in warm water. The siimuius produced on the inner surface of the bowels by the purgative may counteract the initation whic.h caused the spasm. The lu^lly should be well rubl;ed with a brush or warmed cloth. The horse should be walked about, or trotted moderately. The motion thus produced in the bowels, and the friction of one intestine over the other, may relax the spasm, but the hasty gallop may speedily cause inflammation to sue ceed to colic. Clysters of warm water, or containing a solution of aloes, will be injected. When relief has been o])taine(l, the clothing of the horse, saturated with perspiration, should be removed, and fresh, dry clothing sul)stitu- ted. He should be well littered down in a warm stable or box, and have bran mashes for the next two or three days, and drink only iuke warm water. Some persons give gin, and even gin and pepper, m cases of gripes. This, however, is a practice to which we strongly object; it may be useful, or even suflicient, in ordinary cases of colic, but if there be any inllammation or tendency to inflammation, it cannot fail to be highly injurious. CALCULI, OR STONES IX THE INTESTINES. We have mentinned these as a cause of colic in horses that are sub- ject to frequent attacks of it. Some indigestible subsUmce kxlges in the ccecum or colon: earthy, or half-digested vegetable matter gra- dually accumulates around this, and a ball, weighing many pounds, is sometimes formed. This will prrnluce colic, or obstruci the passage of the gut, or, by its pressure, pnxluce inflammation; but as there are few or no symptoms by which the presence of these stones is clearly indicated, and few, or rather, no certain means, by which they mav be rrntoved, we will pass on to an occasional consequence of colic. ft mkmmmix'mmi. If , iJ ■ ( ^^i !| 116 AMERICAN FARRIER. INTUSUSCEPTION OF THE FXTESTINES. The spasmodic action of the ih^im long continued, maybe succeed- ed by an inverted action from the ccecum towards the stomach, more powerful than the natural aclion; and the contracted portion of the intestine is thus forced into a portion above it that retains its natural calibre; and tlu; irritation caused by this increases the action, until more is forced in, and an obstruction is tbrmed which no power can overcome. Kven the natural motion of the bowels will l)e suiiicienl to protluce intususception, when the contraction of a portion of the ileum is ver\ great. There are no symptoms to indicate the presence of this, except continiuid and increasing pain; or if there were, all our means of relief would here fail. KXTA^GLEMEXT OF THE nOWEI5. This is anothei and more sini^ular consequence of colic. Althnigh the ileum is enveloped in the mesentery, and its motion to a consider- able decree confined v^t inw1*»r tho spasm <^^ lip, «i-irl Hiirinle fever and costiveness. The second is that of the internal or mucous coat, usually the consequence of an over-dose of physic, and accom- panied by violent purging. We will here speak of the first of these affections. It has been divided into inflammation of the peritoneal coat, and that of the muscular: but the causes, symptoms, and treat- ment of both are so much alike, that it would be raising uimeeessary ditliculties to endeavour to difttinifuish between them. Inflammation of the external coats of the stomach, whether the peritoneal or muscu- lar, or both, is a very frecpient and fatal disease. It speedily runs its course, and it is of great cousefiuence that its early symptoms should be known. If the horse has been carefully observed, restlessness and fever will hav(^ bee-n seen to j)re'jede the attack ; in many cases a direct shivering fit will be observed; the mouth ^\ill be hot, and the nose red. The horse will so >n express the m. st dreadful pain by pawing, striking at his belly, looking wildly at his flanks, groaning and rolling. The pulse will be quickened and small; the ears and legs cold; the belly tender and sometimes hot; the breathing quickened; the bowels cos- tive; and the horse becoming raj)idly and fearfully weak. It may be useful to give a short table of tije distinguishing symptoms of colic and inflammation of the bowels, because the treatment recom- mended for the former would often be fatal to tlie latter. ^.1 INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. in COLIC. Sudden in its attack. Pulse rarely much quickened in the early period of the (hsease, and during the inter- vals of ease : but evidently fuller. Lc^s and ears of the natural temperature. Relief obtained from rubbing the belly. Relief obtained from motion. Intervals of rest. Strength scarcely affected. INFLAMMA HON OF THE BOWELS. Gradual in its approach, with pr^viouf indications of fever. Pulse very much quickened, but small, and often scarcely to be felt. Legs and ears c(»ld. Belly exceedingly tender and painful to the touch. Motion evidently increasing the pain. C'onstanl piiin. Rapid and great weakness. The causes of this disease are, first of all, and most frequently, sud- den exposure to cold. If a horse tbat has been highly i'cd, carefully groomed, and kei)t in a warm stable, be heated with exercise, and have been for some hours without food; and in this state of exbauslion be suflfered to drink freely of cold water, or be drenched with rain, or have his legs and belly washed with cold water, an attack of inflammation of the'^bowels will often follow. An overfed horse subjected to severe and lonii-continued exertion, if his lungs were previously weak, will probably he attacked by mnainmaiion oi tiieinj but it the imi^.^ were sound, the bowels will on the following day be the seat of disease Stones in the iulestiues are an occasional cause of iuflarujiiation, and colic neglected, or wrongly treated, will terminate in it. The treatment of inflammation of the bowels, like that of the lungs, should be prompt and energetic. The first and most powerful means of cure will be bleeding. From six to eight or ten quarts of blood should be taken as soon as possible, and the bleeding repeated to the ey*ent of four or five cpiarls more if the pain be not relieved, and the pu v3 have not beeomo rounder and fuller. 'J'be speedy weakness that accom})auies this disease should not deter from bleeding largely. It is the weakness that is the consequence of violent inflammation of these parts, and if that inflammation be subdued by the loss of bl(X)d, the weakness will disappear. The bleeding should be effected on the first appearance of the disease, for there is no malady that so quickly runs its course. Next to bleeding will follow clysters. Although the bowels are usually confined, we can ot administer a strong })urgative; the intes- tines are already in far too irritable a state. The clyster mav consist of warni water, or very thin gruel, in whi h half a pound of Epsom salts, or half an ounce of aloes has been dissolved, and too much fluid can scarcely be throv.n up. If the conunon ox-bladder and ()ipe be used, it should be frequently replenished. The horse may likewise be encouraged to drink plentifully of warm water or thin gruel; and draughts, each containing a couple of dracnms of dissolved aloes, may be given every six hours, until the bowels are freely opened. Next, it will be priident to endeavour to excite considerable external inflammation, as near as possible to the seat of internal disease, and therefore the whole of the belly should be blistered, In a w ell-marked I'W * 118 AMERICAN FARRIKR. case of this inflammation, no time should be lust in applying fomenta- tions, hut the bhsler should be at once resorted to. The tincture of Spanish flies, whether made with s})irit of wine or turpentine, shoulo be well rubbed in. The legs should be well bandaged, to restore the circulation to them, and thus lessen the flow of bl(X)d to the inflamed part, and for the same reason the horse should be warmly clothed, but the air of the stable should be cool. No corn or hav should be given during the disease, but bran-niashes, and green food if it can be procured. The latter will be the best of all f KKl,\nd m;iy be given witiunit the slightest apprehension of duuger. When the horse begins to recover, he may get a handful of corn two or three times in the day, and, if the weather be warm, may be turned into r. small enclosure for a few hours in the middle of the day. Clys- ters of gruel should be continut d f )r three or four days after the in- flammation is begiiming to subside, and good hand-rubbing applied to the legs. The second variety of inflammation of the bowels aflfects the internal or mucous coat, and' is generall\ the consequence of physic given m too great mianiuy, ur u( an n,i^>^^>i>cT kind. The purging is more viu- lert, and contiimes longer than was intended; the animal shows that he is suffering great pain; he frequently led and bandaged. Violent purging, and attended w ilh much inflammation and fever, will sometimes (x^cur from other causes, (ireen fxxl will sometimes purge. A horse worked hard upon green food w ill scour. The remedy is change of diet, or less labour. Young horses will scour, and some- times without anv apparent cause. Astringents should be used with much cauti.n here. It is probaldy an elTort of nature to get rid of something that oflends. A few doses of gruel will assist in effcctin ^..^1 I WORMS. 119 D this purpose, and the purging will cease without the use of astringeni Some horses that are not well ribbed home, (having too great space between the last rib and the hip-bone,) are subject to purging if more than usual exertion is required from them. They are recognised by the term of washy horses. They are often free and fleet, but destitute of continuance. Thev should have more than the usual allowance of corn, with beans, when at work; and a cordial ball, with one dr.iclnu of catechu, and ten grains of opium will often be serviceable either before or after a journey, WORMS. Worms of ditferent kinds inhabit the intestines; but except when they exist in very great numbers, tlu^v are not so hurtful as is generally supposed, although the gr.K)m may tnice to them hidelK)und, and cough, and loss of appetite, and gripes, and megrims, and a variety of other aihnents. Of ♦he oriirin or mode of propagation of these parasitical auiui.ils we will say nothing; neither writers on medicine, nor even on natural historv, hive jiiven '!« anv «;»tief;)rtorv nrconnf of thp inntler. The long white worm {lurnhricu.s teres) much re>(Mubling the com- mon earth-worm, and, being from six to ten inches long, inhabits the small intestines. It is a formidiible locking animal, and if there are many of ihem they may consume nijre than can be spared of the nu- tritive part of the food or the mucous of the bowels; and we think that we have seen a tight skin, and rough coat, and tucked up belly, con- nected with their presence. They have then, however, been voided in large quantities, and wdien they are not thus voided we should be disposed to trace these appeanmccs to other causes. A dose of physic will sometimes bnng away almost incredible quantities of them. Calo- mel is fr(vpjently given as a vermifuge. Tlie less frecpumtly this dr'jg is aduiinistered to the horse the better. It is the princi[)al ingre- dient in s line cpiack medicines f »r the expulsion of worms in the human sui ject, and thence, perhaps, it came to be used for the horse, but in hiui we believe it to be inert as a vermifuge, or only usefid as quick- enimr the operation of the aloes. When the horse can be spared, a ^trtng dose of phvsic is an exeellent vermifuge, so far as the long round worm is concerned; but perhaps a I otter medicine, and not in- terfering with either the feeding or work of the horse, is two drachms of emetic tartar, w ith a scruple of ginger, made into a ball, with lin- s(\'d meal and molasses, and given every morning half an hour before tlie horse is fed. A smaller, darker coloured worm, called the needle worm, or ascarU^ inhabits the large intestines. Hundreds of them sometimes descend into the rectum, and immense quantities have been found in the coecum. These are a more serious nuisance than the former, for they cause a very troublesome irritation about the fundament, which sometimes sadly annovs the horse. Their existence can generally be discovered, by a small portion of mucous, which hanlening, is converted into a uj' I J20 AMKRICAJJ FAlililKIt. „owdcr and is found about the anu.. Physic will sometimes bring rwaygre" numbers of these worms, but when there ™ch 'rn^ tion about the tail, and much of th.s mucous '""fj^' ^^^^^^^^^ descended into the rectun>, an mject.on of a quar of Unseed oi^ or ot an ounce of aloes dissolved in warm water, w.ll be a more eflectual romedv- , - , • .1 i . „ Tl.J tape worm is seldom found m the horse. I'UVSItKlNG. Tliis would seem to be the most convenient place to speak of phv- s,rk - horses, a mode of treatment necessary un.ler var.ous diseases bu hich has i..iurod the constituli.n of n.ore horses, and n, H-ot hLlHet .Ltroyid n.orc of then, than any ;>"- "^l ^ ^'^ ,„ i,,,,„.l When a horse coinos trom f;rass to hay, or Irom inc c(hii oZ a r to a h calod stable, a dose of phys.c or even two d,.ses may be nef. I to prevent the tendencv to inll.nm.at.on winch must be the ne- eslry conse.,uence of so sudden and great a change. I <> a horse h;;17bec„nuu. too fa., ..r has surfeit, or grease, or n.ange, o, that >s « ,t of condition from mactivity ol the o.;;. .ave organs, a uo=c v. ,.,.r sicisXn moHt serviceable; but we do enter our pro est ngamst the ncri^icU physicking of all liorscs in the spring anught to be rssS'totiSi tlnni;'w:rkra':::i ti:;rurd me,,., of treating Two or three bran-mashes given on .hat or the P--f'"g J^^^^^^^ f'; from suflicient, when a horse is about to be I'''^-i,, g v ( n whc n r^un^. hal thas been softened, will act much more eftectuaUy, and much ™.re safelv than seven drachms, when the lower in.es.mes aie "X^nifl^s'l'thih'thr physic is given, .he horse should have .an"nrexci4ise,or mav be ge"'ly trotted for a quarter of an hou uAce n theclaV but aller the ph>sic begins to work, he should . .., be mo d"-, ■, stall. Exercise tlien would province gnpes, irrif,,^ , ,n 1 I o-"blv .k.ngr the horse, generally abandon- ed Culto'n hxs assig,ied the form of a ball to phys.c, but good sense im in duoTiine introd,.ce the solution of aloes, as acting more .peedi- '^'Vfronr'' ^:tC'p::S''-e on whid. dependence can be ,daced is the CHOTON ^ he tar na or meal of the nut is used ; but rom is acrimonv U si mid L given iu the form of ball, with hnseed meal, (flaxseed flou The aose varies from a scruple to half a drachm. It acts Sr,re spec ily than the aloes, wilhout the nausea which they produce; but it causesm -re watery st^Iols, and consequently more deb.hty. irsKEP OIL is a certain and safe purga.ive, m doses ^om a pm mc^o a pound and .1 half. Olivk oil isM.iore uncertain In.t safe and castoh OIL, that mild aperient in the human bemg, is bod. unc, rtain and ""tS" horse, and particularly the perfect horse, is ocearfonally sulv ject to HERNIA OR RUPTURE. A portion of the intestines protrudes out of the •^^i'yjj^f'^^^f f, oifU.^r tliroiKTh ^niiif iia unil orjirtiiKiai o >« mno. *" n n 1 ut back, but from .be impossibility of applying a tn.ss or to CMst. 1 lie .cai , ,. -j., ^,,„^eg are viok'nt struggling horse, or the groin of the gel.ang. 1 ..< a _ , The assis- when under operations, over-exerlion, k. ks, or accu.ems. tance of a veterinary surgeon is here indispensable. THE LIVER. Between .he stomnch nn.l the diaphragm, its r.gb. ''.''-;[ '';;;f^";" colct wi.l, .he diaphragm, .he duohragm and the lungs might not le injuriously pressed upon, when we require his utmost speed; and that we might use him with little danger compared with that which would nttichlo other animals, even when his stomach is distended with Ibcxl. Then the stomach, so small, and so speedily emptied, must be of ener replenished; the horse must Le ofiener eating, and food must be often or passing out of his stomach; and, consequently, there is no necessity f >r this reservoir. The ox occupies a long time in filling his paunch,- and it is only during rumination that the fx>d passes iiito the true stomach to be digested. The meal of the dog is speedily swallowed.. They need a gall-bladder to contain the bile which continues to le secreted when it cannot be used : but to the horse, so frequently eatings it would l^ useless. INI LA:>IMAriON OF Tin: LIVER Is a disease of rare occurrence in the h(»rse. He is not exposed io the causes whiuld be warmly clothed, and the stable well ventilated, but not cold, CaiTvjts or green food will be very beneficial. Should ihc purging, wIk u once excited, prove violent, we should be in no haste to stop'"it, unless inflanunation is begiimiug to be connected wi:h U, or the horse is very weak. The medicine recommended under diarrhu a m IV tlien be exhibiied. A lev/ slight tonics should be given when the' horse is recovering from au attack of strangles. Two drac iuns each of gentian and chamomile, with one of ginger, w ill i^rm a u.-eiul ball. THE SPLEEN. This organ, known commonly by the name of the melt, is a long, bluish-lrown sul stance, brv)ad and thick at one end and tapering at the other, lying along the left side of the stomach, and between it and the short ribs." It is°of a spcngy nature, divided into numerous little •^>,1 xi \i\ \ ' 124 AMERICAN FARRIER. DIURETICS. 125 ■4 I* cells not unlike a honey comb, and over wh.ch l»'ou.«ands of nunute ^sels are thickly spread. The particular use of th.s body has never txien clearly ascertained; f.r in some cruel experiments it has been removed without apparent injury to digestion, or any other function. I. is, however, uscfiil, at least occasionally, or it would not have been gisen. It is perhaps a reservoir or receptacle fjr any fliud that may be conveyed into the stomach more than =3 sufl.cient for the purposes Tne ^lAvcn is sometimes verv e.xtraonluianly enlarged, and h;,s been nmturecl; but we are nut aware of any symptoms by whieh thi. can be discovered. THE PANCKKAS. In the domestic animals which are used f )r f kkI, this (>rgan is calhMl the sinrthrnuf. It lies between the stomach and leit kidney. It much resembles in structure the salivary glands in the nei-hburhood of the mouth, and the fluid which it secretes is like conmion saliva The nancreatic fluid is carried into the intestines by a duct which en ters at the same aperture with that from the liver. ItP usp, wb.rbor to dilute the bile, or the chyme, or to assist in the separation of chyme from the feculent matter, has never been ascertained, but it is clearly employed in aidinir tlu^ process of digestion. r .u u We know not of any disease to which the pancreas of the horse is *^As soon as the bellv of most of our domestic animals is opened, a membrane is perceived spreadhig over all the contents of this cavity; it is denominated Tin: OMENTUM, Or cawl It is a doubling of the peritoneum, or rather consists of four layers of it. It has been supposed to be placed between the intes- tines and the walls of the bellv, to prevent concussion v.n(\ injury durm=T the rapid movement of the animal. That, however, cannot be its prin- cipal u^e in the h >rse, from whom the mr^st rapid movements are renoired- f ►r in Idui it is unusuallv short, extending only to the pan- creas and a Muall portir>n of the colon. ]5eing, however, thus short, the horse is exempt from a verv tr>uMesome and, occasionally, fa tn I gpecies of niptnrc, whrn a portion of ll'..' <^mcntum pcnrtratc.^ throuni, some accid(Mitiil opcniii;! i!i thu covering of tbe belly. The bl.xKl contains a ^^n-at (piantitv (»f watery fluid iinnecessarv t r the nutriment or repair of the frame. There likewise nnnirle wiih it matters which would be noxious if sutTdred to accumulate trjo nui. h. THE KIDNEYS Are actively employed in separatini^ this water, and likewise car- rying off a substance whirh constitutes the peculiar ingredient in urine, ealle'd the 7/m7,and consists principally of that which would be poison ous to the animal. The kidneys arc two larg^ glandular bodies, pbiced under the loins, very much of the shape of a kidney bean. The right kidney is most forward, lying under the liver; the left is pushed more backward by the stomach and spleen. A large artery runs to each, carrying no- less than a sixth part of the whole of the blood that circu- lates through the frame. The artery divides into innuniCrable little branches must curiously complicated and ceiled upon each other; and the blood, traversing these convolutions, has its watery parts and others tlic rctaininiz; of which woidd be injurious, se})arated fnin it. The fluid tlnis ?e})arated varies materially both in quantity and composition, even dming he;ilth There is no animal in which it va- ries so much as in the horse. There is no oriian in that animal so much under our cuinmnnd as the ki(i»^c v > and no nicdiciiu s are sn the fluid which had been effuged in tjie legs. The legs (;f many horses cannot be rendered fhic, or kept »(), without the use of diuretics; nor can grease, often C( nnected with these swellings, produc iug them or caused by them, be otherwise sub- dued. \Vc tin refore rank diuretics anujiig the most useful of the veterinary medicines. In lujudi ions han !s, however, thc.-c medicines are sadly abused. .\mong the absurdities of stable management there is nothing so iiiju- rious as the frejpient use of diuretics, i\ot only are the kidneys, so often over-excited, weakened, disposed to d'isease, but the whole frame becomes debilitated, f^jr the absorbents have carried away a great part of that which was necessary to the health and condition of the horse, in order to supply the deficiency of blood occasioned by the in^ ordinate discharge of urine. There is likewise one important fact of which the groom or the horseman seldom thinks; that when he is re- moving these humours by the imprudent use of diuretics, he is only L 2 hi i ^iiiwaiWiililll WiUi**ii» I t ' .'M5 k hi* I it H ir <■ •11 126 AMERICAN FARRIER. PROFUSE STALING. 127 attacking a svmptom or consequence of disease, and not the disease itself. The legs will fill again, and the grease will return. While the cause remains, the effect will be produced. We shall say more of this when we treat particularly of these diseases of the extreniities. In the administration of diuretics there are two things to be chiefly attended to. The first is that which seems to be contradictory, but the cood etVect of which the testiumnv of every inh^Ui^ronl man will conhrm ^let the horsi' have pUnty to drink. Not only will inflammation bo prevented, but the operation of the medicine will le much promoted, if more water than usual be dr;-mk, a great deal more will be evacua^ ted The next cauti m is, that dunn;:; tlu^ adnnmstration ot a diuretic neither the clotlung n>)r tbe stal)le sh :)u!d be too warm, otberwine that which was intended to stimulate tlu^ kidney will pass oil by perspira^ titm- for it seems to be a law of the frame, that what increases the dis- charge from the skin proporli )nably lessens the action ot the kidneys. The best diuretic, and wbi h given simply to promote an increased secretion from the kidneys, sujicrsedes every otbcr, is turpentine; cither the comm-^n li'piid tnrpenine in doses of halt an ounce, and made into a ball with linseed meal, and half a drachm of ginger; or, what is better, the same quantity of powdered resin, nmiIi two drachmn of linseed meal, and half a drachm of ginger, f>rmed into a mass wiih palm-oil. In cases of inllammalion or fever, nitre or digitalis should be used. The spirit of nitrous ether, cream of tartar, and balsam of capivi have some diuretic cfi*ect. INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEY Is no uncommon disease in the horse, and is more unskilfully and fatally treated than almost any other. The early symptoms Symptoiua. ^^^ ^j:^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ generally, but th3 seat of the disease sfKm becomes evident. The horse l(K>ks anxiously round at his flanks; stands with his hinder legs wide apart; straddles as he walks; ex- presses pain in turning; shrinks when the loins are pressed, and some degree of heat is felt there. The urine is voided in small quantities, and frequently it is high-coloured, and sometimes bloody. The at- tempt to urinate becomes more freqtirnt, and the quantity voided smaller; un-il tbe animal strains painfidly and violently, but tbe dis- charf^e is nearly or (piite suj)prcssed. The pulse is quick and hard; full in the earlv stage of the disease, but rapidly becominierred to the kidneys, wUh which they lie in contact. ^ Exposure to cold i'^ another frequent ori-in of this malady, especially it the horse be drenched with rain, or the wet drips upon his loins; and more parUcu- iHrlv if he were previously disposed to iullainuiaiion, or these organs jlad''been previously weakened. For this reason, hackney-coach 1i>rses and others, exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather, and A>f.en fed oii uuwho'.esom3 provender, have, or should have, their loins ])rotected by a leather or a cloth. Tbe treatment will only varv from that of inflammation ot othei pans, by the consideration of tbe peculiarity of the orgi.n T.eaunent. ^^^^^.^^j Blccdin^ must be promptly resorted to, and car ried to its full extent. An a^ctive purge should next be adndnisteredj and a counter-inflammation excited as near as possible to the seat ot disease. For this purpose, the loins should be fomented with hot water, or covered with a mustard poultice; but no canthandes or tur- pentine must be used, and, most of all, must no diuretic be given iuternallv. When the groom finds this ditllculty or supi)ression o sta- liacr, he immediately has recourse to a diuretic ball, to force on the urine; and by thus" farther irriUating a part already too much excueJ, he adds fuerto fire, and frequently destroys the horse When the action of the purgative begins a little to cease, white hellebore may be i is eS,'in doses of a scruple three times a day with or without ...netic tarta'r. The horse should be warndy clothed; bis le^^^ bandaL'cd, and plenty of water ofl-cnMl to bun. I be fooo should le .aS exainined, and any thing that could have exceed, or that may prolong'the irritation, carelully removed. DIARETES, OK PROFUSE STALING, Is a comparatively rare disease. It is the consequence, generally, of min nlTtion of the kidney, by bad f>od or strong diuretics; and l^ttes follows inilanunation ot^ the ];^^^^ }^^ ^^^J^^ traced in the horse to any disease of the digestive organs. 1 he treat mtnt is obsc^^^ and the result often uncertain. It is, evident y, in- c easerac LTof t^^ kidney, and therefore the most rational plan of treatnienr to endeavour to abate that action; and nearly the same S stuld be pursued in the early stage ot diabetes, as in actual m 128 AMERICAN FARRIER. THE BLADDER. 129 r'l 1 pi •II ■nt H inflammation; but the lowering system should not be carried to so great an extent. To blcedmir, purging, and counter-irritation, medi- cines of an astringent quality should succeed, as catechu, the pow- dered leaf of the whortle-l erry, and opi.im, in doses uC two drachms each of the two first, and half a drachm of the last. Very careful attention should be paid to the food. Tlie hay and oats should be of the best cpiality; and green fxxl, especially carrots, will be very serviceable. Tin; IJLADDEK. The urine separated by ihe blood is discharged by the minute ves- sels, of wliich we have spi.Jvcn, into soni(' lar;^<'r cnnals, wh'uh ternuuate in a cavity or reservoir iu ihe body of ihc kidney, called its pelvis; and thence is conveyed by a duct, called the ureter, to a larger reservoir, the bladder. It is constantly flowing from the kilt unc er the rertum. It is spasm of the part, ck^mg the ne<;k ot the bladder so puwerfullv,tiiat the contraction of the bladder, and the pressure ot the muscles, are unal)le to force out the unne. Here the o]>iect to be attempted is sufliciently plain. Ihis spasm nuist be relaxed. The most lik.ly means to effect this is to bleed larc^ely, and even to f li.iting. This will sometimes succeed, and there win be at once an end to the disease. To the exhaustion aiu oss of muscular power occasioned by copious bleeding, shou d be added the nausea consequent on physic. Should not this speedily have efiect, ...^fUer modo of Hhntin^r spasm must be tried. A drachm ot the pow- dered opium, made into a ball or drmk, may be given every two or three hours; while an active blister is applied externally. In the rnaie the bladder may be easily evacuated by means of a catheter m skil ul hands; but owing to the curved direction ot the penis, a catheter can- not be introduced into the bladder of a horse, without an operation to which a veterinary surgeon alone is competent. STONE IN THE BLADDER. The urino is a very compound fluid; in a state of health it contains a .^reat many acids and aliialies variously combmed, winch under dis'ease are increased both in number and -luantUy. It .s very easy o conceive that some of these shall be occasionally sepamted fro.n. he rest, an.l assume a solid f.rm both in the pclv.s of the \"'"7' ^ ';> ' the bladler. This is known to be the case b.>th m the hun.an be and in the brute. These calculi or stones are m the horse l..und oflener in .he kidney .Iku, in the bladder, contrary to the expenenre .,rth,. b-Mu:,,, surgeon. The explanation, o( tins, '>-«'=7'-; '^ r* ,l„r,.-ult. lu .he h.Tm.n iria.^ the Uiduey .s situated above he b a,K , anl these .-oncrof ..>s descend from the kidney to the l''^"''''^'- !'> ;'" '^ w..i.d,t. The belly of the horse is horizontal, and the lorce ..1 fi.av.lv .-anln no wav affect the passage of the calculus, th.rclore .t rcMU^>us in the pelvis ."f the kidney, until it increases so much m «'^c as oU n to fill t. We know not of any sym|.t,>ms which won d ^'i^'-ff^^l;^ ^ indicate the presence of a stone in the kidney ; a..d .t the d'^e»sc c uld be ascertained, we arc unable to say what ren.ed.al measures could be '"^Thf symptoms of stone in the bladder much ■^e^«™':'<^. ^J^^f "f^ spasnH-liV colic, except that on careful H.qmry .t w.U be fi.und tla^ there has been much irrcgulari'y in the discharge of urme, and 17 130 AMERICAN FARRIER. THE SHOULDER. 131 M in r h I? 9 f occasional suppression of it. When fits of apparent colic frequently return, and are accompanied by any peculiarity in the discharge ot urine, the horse should be carefully examined. He should be thrown. If there be stone in the bladder, it will, while the horse lies on its back, press on the rectum, and may be distinctly felt if the hand be introduced into the rectum. Several cases have lately occurred of successful extraction of the calculus; but here it will be necessary to have recourse to the aid of a voterinary practitioner. Many horses occasii)n:il!y voitl a considcrablo quantity of gravel, sometimes without iii'-ouvtiiicnce, at others wiih evident spasm or pain. A diuretic nii«,rht here be useful, as iucretisiuj^ the flow of urine, and possibly washing out the concretions i)cfore they become too numerous or bulky. The urine ha\ ing passed the neck of the bladder, flows al(»ng the urethra, and is disrharjjfod. Tlie sheath of the penis is sometimes considerably enlarged. When at the close of acute diseases, there are swellings and etfu'^sions of fluid, under the chest and belly, this part seldom escapes. Diuretics, mixed with a small p(»rlion of cordial medicine, will be beneficial, although in some extreme cases slight scarifications may be necessary. The inside of the sheath is oflen the seat of disease; the mucous matter natinally secreted there to defend the part from the acrimony of the uriue, accumulates and becomes exceedingly offensive, and produces swelling, tenderness, and even excoriation, and sometimes considerable discharge. A little fomentation with warm water, and the cleansing of the part with soap and water, aided perhaps by a diuretic ball, will speedily remove every inconvenience. Carters are much too apt to neglect clean iiness in this respect. Chapter VT, THE FORE LEGS, We arrive now at those parts of th'; frame most essentially c onnec ted with the action and value of tho horsey and oflenest, and most an- noyih' ly, the subjects of disease. The c\tremi;ies contain the whole anj)aratus of motion, and it is wi'li liie action, and speed, and strength of the horse that we are most concerned. We begin with the fv>re extremity, and with its upper part, THE SHOULDER. The scapula, or shoulder-blade, situated forward on the side of the chest, is 4 bone of a somewhat triangtdar shape, wi.h its apex or point downward, and its base or broad part u[)ward. The j)i3iiit lies be- tween theVirst and second ribs; the hinder part of the base reaches as far back as the seventh rib; it therefore extends obli- mense strength (the scrratus major, greater saw-shaped muscle), at- tached to the chest, and to the extensive smooth internal surface ot til.' shoulder-blade, and by which, assisted, or rather strengthened, by the muscles of the breas^ the weight of the boily is supported, and Uyc sh'3ck ot tne widest ieap, or the nhjst rapid motion, sustained. Had there been a bony uiii jii between the shoubler and the body, the vi- tal parts contained in the chest could not have endured the dreadful chock which they would eccasionally have experienced; nor could any bone have long remained whole if exposed to such violence. 1 he mus- cles within the shoul ler-blade act as powerful and safe springs Ihev yield, as fir as necessary, to the f )rre impressed upon them; by their gradual yielding they destroy the violence of the shock, and then, by their elastic power, immediately regain their former situation. SPRAIN OF THE SHOULDER. In some violent and unexpected shock these muscles are occa- sionally injured. Although we do not believe that, in one case m twenty, the farrier is right when he talks of his shoulder-lameness, ' vet it'cannot be denied, that the muscles of the shoulder, are occasion- klly sprained. This is effected oftener by a slip or side-fall, than by fair, allhou-h violent exertion. It is of considerable nnportance to be able todi^tueniish this shiralder-lameness trom injuries of other parts of the fore extrcnntv. We shall look m vain r>r much tenderness, or heat or swelling: it is a sprain (.f muscles deei>ly seated, and where these symptoms of injury cannot possibly exist. 11, on standing h>- fore the horse, and l.K>king at the size of the two shoulders, or rather their points, one should appear evidently larger than the other, ^^e must not consider this as indicative of sprain of the "^^^^^cles ^^,j''^ ' shoulder. It probably arises from bruise of the point of the shoulder, which a slight examina'Ton will determine; or the whole of the limb, this portion of which is enlarged, may be sound, while the other may be shrunk from want of equal exertion, arising from injury ot long standin'^ The beat and tenderness, if there be any, will be t ouiid 133 AMERICAxN FARRIER. POSITION OF THE SHOULDER. 133 i w :f within Uie arm, close to the chest; and will belong more to the mus- cles of the breast than to those under the shoulder. The symptoms, however, of shoulder-lameness can scarcely be mis- taken- and, when we relate them, the farmer will recollect, that they very iildom occuried when the village-smith pointed to the shoulder as the seat of disease, and punished the animal for no purpose. In sprain of the shoulder the horse will evidently suffer extreme pmn while moviu'^ and Ihe muscle underneath bein»r mllamcd and tender, he will extend it as little as j)()ssil)le. Ih irill drag his toe along the ground It i-^ in the lifting of the foot that the shoulder is principally moved: if die foot be lifted hi-h, let the horse be ever so lame, the shoulder is little, if at all atlhcted. The lame limb is sulfered to bear the wei injury is too deeply seated for external stmiulants to have very great edict, yet a blister will very properly be resorted to, if the lameness is not speedily r(>moved. The .sin 77? /n?/?^ of the horse is an inhunran prac tice; it tortures the animal, and increases the in- flammation. The prgging of the shoulder (puncturing the skin, and blowing into the cellular structuie beneath, until it is ccnsiderably puffed up), is another relic of ignorance and barbarity. SLANTING DIRKCTION OF THE SHOULDER. It will l>e observed, that the shoulder-blade and the lower bone of the shoulder are not connected together in a straight line, but form a very considerable angle with each other. that the stride in the gallop, or the space passed over m the trot, < be extensive, it is necessary that the fore part of the animal should be considerably elevated. The shoulder, by means of the muscles which extend from it to the inferior part of the limb, is the grand agent in effecting this. Just in proportion as the point of the shoulder is brought forward and elevated, will be the forward action and elevation of the limb, or the space passed over at every effort. At each con- traction of tlie muscles which extend from the shoulder-blade to the bone of the arm, will the point of the shoulder he projected and eleva- ted. A slanting shoulder is indisp(Misab{e in a horse from which good a<"tion and considerable speed are reipured. The slanting shoulder accomplishes another very useful object. The muscles extending from the shoulder-blade to the lower bone of the shoulder are the powers by which motion is given to the whole of the limb. The extent and energy of that moticm depend much on the force exerted or the strength oi" the muscle; but there are circum- stances in the relative situations of the different bones which have far greater influence. In the upright sh;>ulder, the shoulder-blade and the bone of the arm are almost in a straiirht hue. and lhthingto do but to throw as much weight as possible into the c<»llar. To them M 'Wi I iiiwsime^tmni 134 AMERICAN FARRIER. THE KNEE. 135 i i !■' ■J i II I an upright shoulder is an advantage, because its additional thicknes* gives them additional weight to throw into the collar, which the power of their hinder quarters is fully sudicienl to accomplish ; and because the upright position of the shoulder gives that direction to the collar which enables the horse to act upon every part of it; and that inclina- tion of the traces which will enable his weight or power to be most advantageously employ eil. MUSCLK O^ THE or TSrDK OF THE SlIOULnEfl. The (trapezim,) quadrangular muscle rises from the l«)ngor bones of the withers, broadly and strongly, and from the ligamt-nt ot the nei k, and narrowing' below, and tenninating almost in a point, is inserted into a pn.iniiRnit part (.f the spine or ridge of the shoulder-blade. It occupies the space between the wilhers and the upper part ol the shoulder-blade, and is large and stn.ng in proportK)n to the height ot the withers, and the slanting of the shoulder, lis use is evidently to support the shoulder, to raise it, and likewise to draw it backward; therefore, constituting one of the most important muscles connected with the action of the hur.c, aiA illustrating the advantage of high withers and a slanting shoulder. THK unv^:R hoae or hie snoi loer. Forming a joint with the shoulder-blade at the point of the shoulder IS the humerus, or lower bunc of the shoulder. It is a short strong bone, slanging backwanl in an opposite direction to the shoulder-l lade. At the upper part it has a large round head, received into the shallow cavity of the shou!der-l)lade. It has several protul erances for the insertion of mnsrlcs, and is terminated below by two condyles or heads, which in front receive the principal bone of the arm Lelween them as in a groove, thus adding to Jhe security and strength of the ) mt, and linutin;,r the action of this j jnt, and of ihn lin^b 1 clow, to mere bending and exten^itm, without any side uK.tion, Fartiier behind, these heads receive the elbow deep lutween them, to give more extensive action to the arm. In a wcll-f >rmed horse this bone can scarcely I e too short, in order tliat the fore-legs may be as f »rwanl as possible, t r reasons at which we hiive already glanced; and because, when the lower bone of the shoulder is long, the shoulder must be too upright. Dislocation can scarcely occur in cither of tlie attachments of the bone, ami fracture of it is alnu)st impossible. Tlie lower bone of the shi)ulder, and the shoulder-blade, are by horsemen conf lunded together, and included uiuler the appellation of the .v/iow/^Z/r, and in convpliance with general usage we have described them as combining to torm the bhouloer. Among the muscles arising from tlie lower Imne of tlie shoulder, are two short and very stnuig ones, the tirst pn^ceeding from the upper part of this Uine to the elbow, and the second from the internal part, and likewise going to the elbow, both of them being powerful agents in extending the leg. 1 In front, is one of the muscles of the lower bone of the shoulder, the external one, employed in bending the arm; arising from the inner and back part of the neck and body of the lower bone of the shoulder, turning obliquely round that bone, and inserted into the inner and upper part of the bone of the arm. THE AKM. The arm extending from tlie elV>ow to thci knee, consists, in the voung horse, of two distinct bones. The long and front bone, called ihe radius, is nearly straight, receiving into its upper end the lower heads of the lower bone of the shoulder; and the lower end correspon- ding' with the upper layer of the bones of the knee. The short and hinder bone is called the ulna. It has a very long and pcnverful pro- iection, received between the heads of the lower bone of the shoulder, and is called the elbow; it then stretches down, narrowing by degrees to below the middle of the front iK.ne, where it terminates in a point. The two bones are muted together by cartilage and h;zanicnt, but these are by degrees alsorbed and changed to bone, and before the u.j«,p KO..OOW.C i<\i\ thp whole of the arm consists of one Ixaie only. "'a full and swelling f >re-arm is the characteristic ol every tnonnigii- bred horse, and for speed and continuance he is unequalled. What- ever other g.KKl points a horse nrav possess, if the arm be narrow m front and near the shoulder Jlat on the side, and altogether p(K)r m appearance, that horse is radically defective: he can neither niiee his knee for rapid action, nor throw his legs sufliciently forward The arm should likewise be long. In proportion to the length ot the muscle is the degree of contraction of which it is capable; and in proportion to the degree of contraction in the muscle will be the extent of Tnotr)n m the part of the limb beneath. A nicer, with a short arm, would be sadly deficient in stride; a hunter, with the same detect, would not be able to double his legs well under lum in the leap. There is, however, a medium in this, and the advantage of length in th3 arm will depend on the use to which the horse is applied, I he lady's horse, the cavalry horse, every horse in which pninemg action is esteemed a beauty, and in which utility is, to a certain degree, sacrificed to appearance, must not be tm long m the arm 1 he le lon^Mhere, he will be proportionably short in the leg; and althuugh thi° is an undoubted excellence, whether speed or continuance be re- crarded, the short leg will not give the grand and imposing action which fashion may require: and, in addition to this, a horse with short legs may not have (juite m easy action as another whoso length is in the shank ratlicr than in the arm. THE KNEE. The Knee constitutes the joint or joints between the arm and the glmnk or leg; and it is far m )re complicated than any joint we have vet considered. Beside the lower head of the bone of the arm, and the upper heads of the three bones of the leg, Uiere are no less than *. FijywMifwiiiM'WWwniWBiiagBiwrgnTitiir.iTt t: ■I\ /■* M i; )! I ^: Hi 136 AMERICAN FARRIER. FIX other bones interposed, arranged in two rows, three in each row, and the seventh placed bc^hind the other, to which an eighth is some- times added. a • • What was the intention of this compUcated structure? A jomt between the elbow and the fetlock was absolutely necessary to the action of the horse. An inflexible pillar of that length could scarcely have been lifted from the ground, and certainly could not have been lifted far enough for rapid or safe motion. It was likewise necessary, that the interposing j >int should be so constituted as to preserve this part of the liuil» in a straight direction, and should possess sufficient strength to resist all common work and accidents. Being in a straight direction, the shock or jar l)et\\ een the ends of the Ikhics of the arm and the leg would he dreadful, and would speedily inflict irreparable injury. The heads of all hones are covered with elastic cartilage, to protect them from injurv by coneussion, but this would be altogether insufficient here. Six distinct bones, then, are placed here, each covered above and below by a thick coatmg of cartilage, connected together by strong ligaments, but separated by fluids and membranes interposed, i lu! eoiit u^t^^tul is thus spread over liie whole uf ihtiin — shared by the whole of them; and, by the peculiarity of their connex- ion, deadened and rendered harmless. These six distinct bones, united to each otlier by numerous and pow- erful ligaments, will also afford afar stronger joint than the opposition of any two bones, however perfect and strong might be the capsular ligament, or by whatever other ligaments it could be strengthened In addition to the connexion between the individual bones, there is a perfect capsular ligament here, extending from the bene of the arm to those of the leg; and the result of the whole is, that, although the centre of such a column must be the weakest part, and most liable to bow out and give wav, the hardest work and the severest accidents produce ittle deformity, and no dislocation in the knee: nor do the shocks and jars ot many'a year cause inllannnation or disease. Jt is an uudema ble fact, that such is the perfect construction of this ji»int, and to so great a degree does it lessen concussion, that the injuries resultmg from hard work^are, almost without an exception, found helow the knee. Tiie knee should be broad. It should present a ver> striking width, compared with the arm above, or the shank below. The broader the knee is, the more space there is for the attacluinnt of muscles, and for the accumulation oi' liiramentous expansions and bjuids. In })roportion to the breadth of the knee there will he more strength; and likewise the direction of some muscles will be less oblique, and those of others will be more removed from the centre of motion; and, in either case, much power will be gained. BROKEN KNEES. The treatment of broken knees is a subject of considerable impor- tance, for many horses are sadly blemished, and others are destn^yed, by wounds in' the knee-joint. The horse, when iixihn^^y naturally I . BROKEN KNEE. 137 throws his knees forward; they receive all his weight, and are some- times very extensively lacerated. The first thing to Le done is, by very careful washing with warm water, to cleanse the wound from all gravel and dirt. It must then be ascertained w'nether the joint is penetrated. The grating of the probe on one of the bones uf the knee, on the depth to which the probe enters the wound, will often too plainly indicate that the joint has been opened. Should any doubt exist, let a linseed-meal poultice be ap[)lied. This wiU at least act as a fomentation to the wound, and will prevent or abate inflammation; and when, twelve hours afterwards, it is taken off, the synovia, or joint-oil, in the form of a glairy, yellowish, transparent fluid, will be seen, if the capsular ligament has been penetrated. Should doubt remain after the first poultice, a[)ply a second. The opening of the joint being ascertained, the first and immediate care is to close the orifice; for the fluid which st^parated and lul.Ti- cated the bones of the knee being suflered to fk>w out, thev will be brought into actual contact with each other; they will rub upon each other; the delicate membrane with which they are covered will be highly inflamed; the constitution wi!! be speedily affected, and a decree of fever will ensue that will destroy the horse: and. in the mean lime, of all the tortures that can be inflicted on the poor animal, n >ne can espial that which accompanies inliammalii n (>f the mem- branes lining the joints. The manner of closing the orifice must be left to the judgment of the veterinary surgeon, who alone is capable of properly treating such a case. It may be affected by a compress enclosing the whole of the wcnind, and not to be removed f)r many days; or it may be atlem[)ted bv the old and generally successful method of appl s ing the hot iron over the wound, and particidarly over the sj>ot w here the ligament appears to be lacerated. A poultice may then be placed on the part, and the case treated as a common wound. Should the joint-oil con- tinue to flow the iron may be applied a second, or even a third time By tlic application of the iron, so much swelling is produced on the immediate ()uncture, and in the neighbouring parts, as mechanicallv to close and plug up the orifice. If, however, the opening into the joint be extensive, and the joint oil c ntiuLics to fk)W, and the horse is evidently suffering much pain, humanity will dictate that he sliould be destroyed. The case i* h')pelcss, A high degree of fever will ere h^ng carry the animal off, or the inflammati -n will cause a deposit of matter in the cavity of the joint which will prmluc e incurable lanw^'ness. The pain caused by the iron is doubtless great; it is, however, necessary: but let no reader of *The Horse' permit the torturing experiments of the farrier to be tried, who will frequently inject stimulating fluids, and even oil of vitriol, into one of the most sensible aiijd irritable cavities in the whole frame. A person well acid)v nu'i thieklv round the scar, niid oMrtl- cularly hair of the natural colour; and by contracting the skin it will lessen the scar itself Many persons have great fiilh in ointments, which are said to promote the growth of the hair. If they have that property, it must be from stimulating the skin, in w Inch the ro<.)ts of the hair are embedded. These ointments must contain a small portifjn of blistering matter, in the f.rm of turpentine, or the Spanis!i-lly. The common application of gunpow der and lard may, by blackening the part, conceal the blemish, but can have no possible effect in quick- ening the growth of the hair. In examining a horse for j)urchase, the knees are very strictly scru tinized. A blcnnsh on tlu^m should not induce us at once to condemn the animal ; for a bad rider, or the merest accident, may throw the safest horse. A broken knee, however, is a suspicious circumstance, and calls for the most careful observation of the make and action of the horse. If it be accompanied by a thick and upright shoulder, and legs far under the horse, and low slovenly action, he is unwise who does not take the hint: this faulty conf »rm!ition has pnxluced its natu- ral consetpience. But if the slioulder he oblique, and the wilhersf high, and the tore-arm strong, the good judge will not reject tl»c ani mal, because he may have been accidentally tluown. THE LKG. The part of the limb between the knee and the fetlock consists of three bones — a large one before called the cannon or shank^ and two smaller or splint bones behind. The shank-bone is rounded in front, and flattened, or even concave behind. It is the straightest of the long bones, as well as the most superli; ially situated, f)r in some parts it is covered only by the skin. The upper head is Hat, with slight dej)res- sions corresponding with the lower row of the bones of the knee. The lower head is difforontly and curiously formed. It resembles a djulde SPLINT. 139 pulley. There are three elevations, the principal one in the centre, and one on each side; and between them are two slight grooves; and these so precisely correspond with deep depressions and slight promi- nencies in the upper head of the larger pastern, and are so enclosed and guarded, by the elevated edges of that bone, that when the shank- bone and the pastern are fitted to each other, they form a perfect hin^e: they admit of the bending and extension of the limb, but of no hitcM-al or side motion; winch is a circumstance of very great impor- tance in a joint so situated, and having the whole weight of the horse thrown upon it. The smaller bones are placed behind the larger on either side; a sliont. The heads of these bones are enlarged, and receive part of the weight conveyed by the lower row of the bones of the knee. They are united to the larger bone by the same kind of substance which is found in the colt l)etween the bone of the elbow and the main bone of the arm; and wdnch is designed, like that, by its great elasticity, to lessen the C(5ncussion or jar when the weight of the animal is thrown on them, Thev reacli truin one-half to two-lhirds of tiie length of the sua.uk~bc'iie , nn I, through their whole extent, are united to it by this substance, l)ut,'as in tlie ell)ow, from the animal being worked too soon, or too vio lently, inllammation ensues, and bony matter is deposited in the roon of the ligamentous; and a bony union takes place instead of the natural one. There is no doubt that the ease of motion is somewhat lessened by this substitution of bone, but other elastic principles are probably called into more powerful action, and the value of the horse is not per ceptibly impaired; although it is hard to say what secret injury may be done to the neighboring joints, and the cause of which, lameness appearing at a distant peri(xl, is not suspected. In this^process, however, mischief does often immediately extend to the neighlK>ring parts. Tlie disposition to deposit bone reaches beyond the circumscribed space between the larger and smaller bones of the le^; and a tumour, first callous and afterwards bony, is found with pa^rt of its base resting on tlie line of union between these bones, 'i'his is called a SlUJNT. The splint is invariablv f )und on th.3 outside of the small bone, and generally on the inside of the \c\i. Why it should appear on the out- side of the small hemes it is ditVieult to explain, except that the space between these Ixmes is (X^cupied by an important mechanism, which will be presently described; and, as in the case of abscess, a natural tendency was given to them to determine outward, that vital parts may not be injured. The cause of their almost exclusive appearance on the inside of the leg admits of easier explanation. The inner splint-!>one is placed nearer the centre of the weight ot the body than the other, and, from the nature of its connexion with the U^m^s ot the knee, actually receives more of the weight than d^cs Uic outor bone, \ ■'. it ♦ f II m 140 AMERICAN FARRIER. and therefore is more liable to injury, and inflammation, and this con- sequent deposit of bone. Tlie inner bone receives the whole of the weight transmitted to one of the small bones of the knee. It is the only support of that bone. A portion only of one of the bones rests on the outer splint bone, and the weight is shared between it and the shank. In addition to this, it is the absurd practice of ii^my smiths to raise the outer heel of the shoe to an extravairant degree, winch throws still invjre of the weight of the horse on the inner splint-bone. These tumours occasionally appear on other parts of the shank-bone, being the consequence of violent blows, or other external injuries. When the splint is forming, the horse is freciuently lame. Th« periosteum or membrane covering the bone is [)ainHjlly stretched; bu» when this membrane has accomnuxlated itself to the tumour that extended it, the lami.ness subsides and altogether disappears, unless the splmt be in a situation in which it interferes with the actinu of some tendon or ligament, or in the imnicdiate neighborh«xKl of a joint. Pressing upon a ligament or tendon, it may cause inlianuuation of those substances; or, beimr close to a joint, it may interfere with its action. Spliii s, then, do nut necessarily cause unsoundness, and may not lessen in the slightest degree the action or value of the horse. The treatment of splints, if it be woi^th while to meddle w'vU them, is exceedingly simple. The hair should be closely shaved oft' roun'j the tumour; a little strong mercurial ointment rubbed in for two days; and this should be followed by an active blister. If the splint be of recent formation, it will usually yield to this, or to a second blister. Should it resist these applications, it can rarely be advisable to cau- terize the part, unless the tumour interferes materially with the action of the suspensory lig.unent; for it not unfrequently happeiis, that, although the splint may have apparently resisted this treatment, it will afterwards, and at no great distance of time, begin rapidly to les sen, and quite disappear. There is also a natuml pr«.>cess by which the greater part of splints disappear when the horse gets old. As for the old remeilies, many of them brutal enoughy — bruising the splint with a hummer, i>orir]g it wiih a gimlet, * hipping it off with a mallet, sawing it off, slit; ing down tlie iikiii and periosteum over it, sweating it down wiih hot oi's, and passing setons over il, — the voice of huuhuiii}', and the progress of science, will consign them to speedy oblivion. The inside of the leg, immcdiaudy uniler the knee, and extending to the head of the inner splint-bone, is su! ject to injury from what is termed the specdi/ cut. A horse with high action, and in the fast trot, violently strikes this part either with his hoof or the edge of the shoe. Sometimes bony enlargement is the result, at others great heat and tenderness; and the pain from the blow seems occasionally to be so great that the horse drops as if he were shot. The only remedy is to take care that no part of the shoe projects beyond the fn, although violent, is but of short duration. The race is decided m a few minutes; and, during that little period, the spirit and energy of the animal mav successfully struggle with the disadvantages of torm; but where great and long-continued cx(>rtion is reipiired, as in the hackney, no strength can long contend against this palpably disad- vantaizeous misapphcation of muscular power. As they descend the back part of the leg, the tendons of the perto- rated and perf>rating flexor muscle should be ^'^^^^"^ /'^'^^'"I'^'-y ^l"^;' from the shank-bone. There should be space free <;<>"^/^^»^-'^7J^ for the fin-er and thumb on either side to be introduced be ween them and the Inme, and that extending from the knee to the fetlc^k^ In a perfect leg-and towards its Imvcr part, there should be three distinct l.nd perfect projections visible to the eye, as well as r^/^^f";^'^ ^^fj^y the finger, the sides of the shank-bone, the most for^^ard ot he th ee, next, the suspensory ligament; and bindermost of all, the flexor ten- I '.I I 142 AMEmCAN FARRIER. SPRAIN OF THE BACK-SINEWS. 143 dons When these are not to be distinctly seen or felt, or there ij considerable thickening about them and between them, and the leg ig round instead of flat and deep, there has been what is commonly, bu* improperly, called, SPRAIN OF THE BACK-SINEWS. These tendons areenclosi.d m a sheath of dense cellular substance, to confine iluni in their situation, and to defend them from injury. Between the tendon and the ^^heath tliere is a mucous iluid, to prevent friction- but when the Imrse has been overworked, or put to sudden and violent exertion, the tend^.u presses up.n the delicate membrano hnin<- tJie nlieath, and ifiHaunu:iti..n is pr.)duced, and a different tluid is thmwu out, whicii co.//r///r//^.v, r.nd aJiicHons arc f.rmed between the tendon and the slieath, and the motion ( f tlic limb is more dilbcidl and painful. At other times, from vi(»!ent or long-continued exertion, gome of the fibres which tie the tenoLltice. Tlie first object wh^h the surgeon has in view, is to aba e he inflammation of the part, and no means are so likely as these to effect that purpose. Bvery stimulating application will infallibly ag- rrravate the mischier i ^ i * t ^ ^ The horse beginning to put his r)ot better to the ground, and to bear pressure on the part, and the heat having disappeared, the olject ta U accomplished is changed; recurrence ot the mfianmuition must be nrevented, the enlargeuu'Ut must be got rid of, and the parts must be ?treiiiithened. The two latter purposes cannot be better ctlecteri than bv usin^^ an clastic bandagc-^one of tluu flannel will be the best, rii,. wi7l sustain and sui)port the limb, while by few means are the .u.r.rhpnrs sooner induced to take; up the eff'used coagulable matter ot which the swelling is composed, tnan by moderate pre^^ui^. It tho bandage be kept wet with vinegar, to each pint of which a quarter of i pint of spirit of wine has been added, the skm will be slightly stun- 'aiated and contracted, aiui the cold pr^xluced by the constant evapora- tion will tend to subdue the remaining and deep-seated mflammation. This bandage should be daily tightened in proportion as the parts aro capable of bearmg increased pressure, and the treatment should be persisted in for a fortnight: if, at the expiration of that period, there be no swelling, tenderness, or heat, the horse may gradually, and very rautiouslv, be put to his usual work. Shouhl there, however, remain the slightest lameness or considera- ble enlargement, the leg must be blistered; and, indeed, »t woul^ .eldom be bad practice to blister afier a case of severe sprain: for the infla nmation lies deep in the sheath of the tendons, and the part once sprained long remains weak, and subject to renewed injury, not only fL unusual, but even ordinary exertion. If the blister be resor ed to, time should be given f .r it to produce ^^^ g^'^^^^^^^ ^^"^ J^^^^^f and the horse should b« turned out tor one or two months, ami here we must be permitted to repeat, that a blister should never be ased while any heat or tenderness remains about the part, otberu se the sfightest injury may be, and often .s, diverted into incurable ■ lameness. ^ in * .^ .♦^,"a-f'"i';;;f '' J,;'; n«tion the structure of tUe part is matcrmllv altered, if the s^^ell.ng rbeconung cullo,i.s, or the skm is thickened and prevcr^t. the f.ee Ltiou of the linih. m, ..i.nulant short of the heated 'ron -1 he .uffi- rient to rousrt! one, w hich are (leiiiiiiiinalod iiiiitl-!^'(ill.i. IJclwcen the tijiddiis and olhcr |>arl>, and whorevrr tlic tcndi'iis are exposed to pressure or I'rietion, and particularly about tlieir extremities, little saeks or l)a<^s are placed, conlainin;; and suH'erinj; to ooze slowly Inmi Ihcin a nivieoiis fluid. l''roni un(hio pTssiire, and that most tVecpiently caused hy violent action and straming of the tendon?, these little l)ags become injured; they get inflamed, and grow large and hard. The tendons are mostly inserted into the neighbourhood of joints, and there is most motion and pressure, and eonseejiienlly these enlarged mucous hags are of fenest foimd, about the joints. 'I'here ^tc few horses pert'ecily tree from them. When thev first appear, au I lui'il the inllnTnuintion sub- sides, they may be acconipuiued by s..nic degree of lanieiiessj but .*herwise, except when they attain an enormous size, they do not iih fferTwilh the action of the animator cause unsoundness. The Trners used to suppose that they contained wind-hence their name, w n 1 ™ ! an.l helice the practice of opening them, by which dread- nd "iJanunalioii has often been produced, and many a valuable horsa ''ITt wind-gall wdl scarcely be subjected to treatment ; but if ,h,ieun ours are numerous an.1 large, and seem to m.pode the mo- n »f the 1 nib, thev may be attacked first by bandage. J he roller Tul be of flallanLoft pa.ls should be placed on c.ch ^^ ho enlarsremcnts, and bound down tightly upon hem. Ihe baidago nr V b^w^ ed with the lotion reco.nmende.l lor s|.ra.n of the back- "icw^ The vind-gall will .,f.en diminish or disappear by this eatm;nt, but will t... f>c our having recourse to measures so severe. In bad cases the 1 te V is the only cure, for il will not only effect the immediate ab- '■'""' „r.u„ H..;-.i I .l.oredMcilon of Iheswelliu-, but, by contract- 3c skin, will act as a permane.il bandage, and tl.ere.o.e p.eveul t)ie reappearance of the tumour. THE pasti:kns. At the back of the shank just below the knee, and in the space be- tween the two splint-bones, are found two extraordinary and important r^rments extraordinary as being elastic, and imporUint as being ad- Sv ad inU^l to obviate concussion. They have their origin from I . h ul ot tt h nk-bonc, and also from the heads of the sp ,u,-bone. 1 cu descending down the leg, thev fill the groove between the spl lit tie , but not atUiched tC either of them; a little lower down they "uand n e.tli..r side, and, approaching the pasterns, they .hvide, and a inserted into two'litde bones found at the back of tj- u.-pe pas^ tern one on each side, called the ,essamo,d b.mes. ihey lo.ni a id of Lilt l..tli with the lower hea.l of the shank-bone, and the - " pa.stin.-U.ne,.o both of which they are united by '^'-,;',; "7 ' much more eloselv lied to the pastern than to the shauk. I be f.cxor eSn pass down between .heiii through a large mucous lag ... re- ieve the 1. fn.m the friction to which, m so .•outine.l a s.tua.ua,, 1 ey would be ex,K>scd. This ligament is continued over ' - f-- - ^J and afterwards oblKluelv forward over the pastern to unto «ih Iha ong exteiiL tendoi'i, aii.i downward to the vf^^^^'^^^^;:;^^^^^^ surrounds and fixes in its place, and also to die ^'"■' ' '■'^, ^' ,;'"^:^: Theiwstern mu.st be long in proportion to its obli.pit) , or tlic lei 'Xk would bctcKrcU.se to the ground, and, m rapid action '"""•• would ..ome ^i..lcnlly upon it. It is necessary-^ that the f.tk^k should be elevated a ceil.in distance fi-<.ni the S-""""'''' ^"'^ i.s roav be effectwl cither by a short and up.ig hi. or a long ml sUntmg , astern, la i,.oiK,rlwu as the pastern is obliHue or slaiuiug, tvvo con 19 N I >'" -^i "j^^. 145 AMERICAN FARRIfTR. sequences will follow: less weight will be thrown on the pastern, afttl more on the sessamoid, and, in that proportion, jar or concussion will be prevented ; and the jar of the weight which is thrown on the pas- tern will be lessened by the very obliquity of the bones, agreeably to what we have already stated of the angular construction of the limbs. Every advantage has, however, to a certain extent, its correspond- inor disadvantuires. In })r()p()rti()n to the oi)Ii(p!ity or slanting of tho pastern, will be the stress on the tetlock-joint, and, theref >re, the lia- bility of that joint to injury and strain; and also the liability to 'sprain of the back-sinews,' from the increased action and play of the flexor tendons; and likewise to injuries of the pastern-joints, for the liga- ments will be weak in {)roportion to tlu^ir length. The long and slanting pastern is an excellency in the race-horse, from the springi- ness of action and gn;ater extent of stride by which it if? accompa- nied. Experience among horses will alone j>oint out the most r.dvan- tageous direction of the pastern, for the purpose reipiireil; but the Fli'rbtest observation will prove the necessity of considerable varietv in the structure of this fmrt. Let the reader imagine the heavy dray- horse wiin his short au'i upright pasT<.;rns, contentinig m nie race; or the race-horse with his long and weak pasterns, endeavouring to dig his toe into the oroimd to move some heavy weight. The concussion is little in a cart-horse because his movements are slow, and there- fore the upright and strong pastern is given to him, which he can force into the ground, and on which he can throw the whole of his immense weight. The oblique pastern is given to the race-horse be cause that alone is compatible with extent of striile and great speed Except a horr4e for general purj)oses, and particularly ft)r riding, be very hardly used, a litfle too much oblicpiity is a far less evil than a pastern too upright. The upright pastern is unsafe. The very cir- cumstance which enables the di*ay-horse to throw himscdf into his collar, throws the riding-horse down; and while the jolting of the ui>- right pastern is an insulTerable nuisjince to the rider, it is injurious to the horse, and pnKJuces many diseases in the feet and le^s. A ri- ding-horse with uprighi pasierns, will s(M)n begin to knuekle over, even with ordinary work; and this will 1x3 followed by ringbone, ossi- fication of the cartilages, and contractcHl feet. llUPTinu: or THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT. The suspensory ligament is sometimes ruptured by extraordinary exertion. The sessamoids ar<^ then let down, and the f(?tlock almost touches the ground. This is g(Mierally mistuken fur rupture; of the flexor tendon; but one circumstance will sufficiently demonstrate that it is the suspensory ligamcMit w liich is concerned, viz. that the liorse is able to bend his f(M)t. Rupture of this ligament is a bad, and al most desperate case. The horse is frequently lame for life, and never becomes perfectly sound. Keeping him altogether quiet, ban- daging the leg, and putting on a high heeled shoe, will atiord the must probable ineans of relief ' CUTTING. THE FETLOCK, 147 The fetlock-joint is a very complicated one, and from the stress which is laid on it, and its being the principal seat ol motion below the knee, it is particularly subject to injury. There are not many rases of sprain of the back-sinew which are not accompanied by in- iTmunation of the ligaments of this joint; and many supposed cases ot .prain hi-her up are simple atfections of the fetkx'k. It requires a urcat deal of can^, and some experience^, to distinguish the one trom The other. The heat about the part, and the point at which the horse i,.ast tmdures the i»ressure of the linger, will be the principal guides^ An affection of the fetlcx'k-joint demands l>listering more promptly and severely than one of the sheaths of the tendons. GIUKJGIMSS. The peculiar knuckling over of the fetlock-joint, and tottering of the whole of the fore-leg, known by the name of grog^rincss, and which is so often seen in old and over-worked horses, is seldom an allection ol either the fetlcK^k or the pastern-joints simply, although the.se have meir luii siiciic lu the mischief luai has been produced by ta^^.cmg t..e poor animal beyond his strength. Sometimes it is difficult to tix on any particular joint; at others, it seems to be traced to a joint deep in the foot, where the flexor tendon runs over the navicular bone. It seems oftenest to l)e a want of power in the ligaments of the joints eenerallv, produced by frequent and severe sprains, or by ill-judged and cruel exertion ; and, in the majority of cases, admits of no remedy j especially as dissection often discovers ulceration within the joints, and e.f the membrane, which lines the cartilage, and even of the cartilage itsclt; which It was impossible to reach or to remove. CUTTING The inside of the fetlock is often bruised by the shoe or the hoof of the opposite foot. Many expedients have been 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 sometmies the contrary; and there was no point so involved in obscurity, or so destitute ot' principles to guide the practitioner. The most successfu remedy, and that 'whieli m the great majority of cases supersedes all otiiers; is to put on a shoe, of even thickness from heel to toe; to let the bearing be perfectly level; and thc^n to drive but one nan, and that near the to^'e, in the inside of the shoe, which is placed on the foot by which the injury is done; care being taken that the shoe shall not extend beyond the edge of the crest, and the crest being rasped a little at the quarters. There are some defects, however, in the natural form of the horse, which are the causes of cutting, and which no con- trivance will remedy; as when the legs are plnced too near each other, or when the feet are turned inward or outward. A horse with these det\>cts sh(»uld be carefully examined at the inside of the fetlock, and if there be any sore or callous places from cutting, there will be sutti- 'nMnr"T '!"■ lii-iifiiiinBitiaryt irnrw^iT » -0. >.ll 148 AMERICAN FARRIER. cient reason for rejecting the animal. Some horses will cut when they are latigued, and many colts will cut before they arrive at their full strength. i, ii i j r t The upper pastern bone receives the lower puliey-like head ol th? shank-bone, and forms a hinge-joint admitting only of Lending and extension, but not of side motion; it likewise articulates with tlie se«- samoid-bones. Its lower bead has two rounded protub.erances, whirh are received into corresponding depressions in the lower pastern. On cither side, above the pastern-joint, are roughened projections for tiie attachinent of verv strong ligauients, both the capsular ligaments, and many cross ligaments, w bicii render the joint between the two pastern:' suflicientiv secure. The lower pastern is a short and tbiek bone, with its larger heaf* downwartl. Its u|)i)er head has two depressions to receive the protu- berancesonthe lower head oftbe u{)p(?r bone, i;earing some resemblance to a pulley, but not so decidedly as the low er head of the shank boue. Its lower head resembles the lower head of the other pastern, and has two prominences, likewise somewhat resembling a pulley, and b) which it arucuiaies with the euiim-L»«jii<.; , niiu a. »iopreiiswn in ironi, corresponding with a projc^ction in the coibn-bone; and also two slight depressions bebiud, receiving eminences in the navicular bone, ISei- ther of these joints admit of any lateral motion. The ligaments of thi:^ joint, which is called the cotbn-joint, are, like those of the pastern joint, exceedingly strong, both the capsular and the cross ones. The tendon of the extensor muscle is inserted into the fore part, both of the upper and lower pastern-bones, as well as into the upper part of the coffin-bone; and at the back of these bones the suspensory ligament is expanded and inserted, wliile a |)ortion of it goes over the fore part of the upper pastern to reach the extensor tendon. And now, ha\ ing arrived at the foot, w Inch is one of the most com- plicated and important parts in the frame of a horse, we shall defei the consideration of the cotiin and navicular bones until we have des cribed the hinder extremities. We may, however, observe that boti tliese joints are subject to sprain, and particularly the cotbn-joint. SPHAIN OF TTIF COFFIN-JOIXT. The pnK>f of tliis is when the lameness is sudden, and the heat and tenderness are principally felt round the coronet. Bleeding at the toe, physic, fomentation, and blisters are the usual means adopted. 'J'lus laiiH n<3ss is not eat-ily nMUoved, even by a blister; and if re- moved, like sprains of tbe fetkn^k and of the back-sinews, it is a|)t to return, and, finally, j)roduce a great deal of disoigani/-iti(jn and mis- chief in the foot. This wrick, or sprain of the coilin-juint, sometimes becomes a very serious affair, not being always attended by any exter- nal swelling, and being detected only by heat rountl the coronet, tbe seat of the lameness is often overlooked by the grtM)m and the firrier,* and the disease is suffered to become confirmed l)efore its nature is dis- covered, There is no species of lauicuess imxa confounded \\'\i\i \ RINGBONE. 149 affections of the shoulder than this, because it is the custom of these ignorant and prejudiced persons to trace every lameness to the shoulder which is not palpably referable to another part.' From violent or repeated sprains of the pastern or coffm-joints, or extension of the ligaments attached to other parts of the pastern-bones, inflammation takes place in the periosteum, and bony matter is formed, which often rapidly increases, and is recognised by the name of RINGBONE, AND POSITION OF THE LEGS. Ringbone commences in one of the pasterns, and usually about the pastern-joint, but it rapidly spreads, and involves not only the pastern- bones, but the cartilages of the foot. When the first deposit is on the lower pastern, and on both sides of it, and produced by violent inflam- mation of the ligaments of the joints, it is recognised by a slight enlargement, or iKHiy tumour on each side of the ftK>t, and just alwve tiie coronet. This is more frequent in the hind foot than the fore, because, from tbe violent action of the hind legs in propelling the horse forward, the pasterns are more subject to ligam^ntary injury behind iK „ U^C^^.^ . 1*1 I I M • ,.^f ♦U^ Iorrw^»>ocQ ia nnf co frro;>t lu>PnnSP the diseaSO IS confined principally to the ligaments, and the bones have not been injured by concussion; wiule from tbe jXKsition of tiic fore limbs and their exposure to concussion, there w ill generally be m theun injury of the bones to be added to that of the ligaments. In its early .stage, and when recognised only by a bony enlargement on both sides of the pastern-joint, or in some few cases on one side only, the lameness is not very considenible, and it is not impossible to remove the disease by active blistering, or by the applicaticm of the cautery: but there is so much wear and tear in this part of the animal, that the inflamma- tion and the disposition to the formation of bone rapidly spread. The pasterns first liecome connected together by bone instead of ligament, and thence results what is called an anchylosed or fixed joint. Its motion is lost. From this joint the disease proceeds to the cartdages of tlie fH>t^ and to the union between the lower pastern, ancl t'.m cotfm and navicular bones; and the motion of these parts likewise is impeded or lost, and the whole of this part of the f(K)t becomes one mass of spont'y bone. From this disposition to spread, (and at first round the pastern-joint, which is situated just above the coronet,) this diseaj^e has acquired the name of ringbone. llingl)one is one of the most serious lamt^ncsses with which the horse can be alHicted. Itis unsoundness w hen existing in the slightest degree, for the lateral enlargement may speedily extend; and when the bonv deposit begins to spread, tbe disease is incural)le. The fore-legs, when viewed in front, should be widest at the cheet^ and should gradually approach to each other as we descend Position of towards the fetlock. Tiie degree of width must depend on '""*'^'' the purpose for which the horse is wanted. The legs of a heavy draught-horse can scarcely be too far apart. His rounded chest enables him to throw more' weight into the collar; and being M *> ^ I It \ 150 AMERICAN FAliRlER. gelUom, if ever required for speed, he wants not that occasionally increased expansion of chest which the circular form is not calculated to LHve. A hackney, and a coach-horse, should have suthcient expan- Bion of the chest, or the legs sufficiently wide apart, to leave rooni for the play of the lungs; but doplh more than roundness of chest is here required, because the deep chest adnuls of most expansion, when the horse, in rapid action, and the circulation proportionally quickened, needs more room to breathe: yet if tlie breast be too wide, there wdl be consideral)le w(>ight thrown before, and the horse will be heavy in the hand, and unsafe. Wlieihcr llie let^s are near to each other or wide apart, they should be strai.dit. The elbow should not have the slightest mcliimtion inward or outward. If it inclines towards tlie nbs, its action will be conliiicd, an(1 the Icir will be thrown outward when in motion, and des- cribe a curious and auk ward curve; and this will give a prcnbar rolling motion, unpleasant to the rider and unsafe to the animal. 1 he toe will likewise be turned outward, which \m11 not only prevent the toot from coming Hat on the ground m its descent, but be usually accom- panied by cutting, even inure cerlnmiy than when the toe turns mward If the elbow is turned outward, the toes will necessarily be turned inward, which is a gn^at uuM;;htliness, and to a certain degree injuri- ous. The weight cannot be perfectly distributed over the toot; the bearing cannot'^be true; there will be undue pressure on the inner quarter, a tendency to unsafeness, and a disposition to splint and corn The legs should come down perpendicularly from the elbow, It they incline^backward and under the horse, there is undue stress on the extensor muscles; and the legs l^eing brought iu:arer the centre of gravitv, undue weight is thrown f >rward, and the horse is liable to knuckle over and become unsafe; if the legs have a direction forward, the flexor muscles are strained, and the action (»f the horse is awkward and confined. The toe sh)n, or accident, could disunite them. There is even something more added to make the attachment doubly sure. Besides the usual capsular and other ligaments, a singularly strong one rises from the base of the cup, and is inserted into the head of the upper bone of the thigh, and would seem to render separation or dislocation altogether impossible: and yet such is the amazing powc^r of the mus- cles of the lund limb, that with all these attachments, sprain of the ligaments of tlui haunch joint, or the round-hone, as h<;rsemcM call it j' and even dislocation of the head of the thigh bone, are occasion- ally found. The uj)per bono of the thigh we should expect to be, from the pow- erful muscles that are attached to it, a very strong bone, and it is both tlie largest and strongosi m mo irame. li is siiori aiiu liiick, and ex- hibits the most singular prominences, and roughnesses, and hollows, for the insertion of the immense muscles which belong to it. Four pro- minences, in particular, called by anatomists trochanters^ two on the outside, one on the inside, and one near the head of the bone, afford attachment to several importiint muscles. The head of the bone is placed at right angles with its body, by which this important advan- tage is gained, that the motion of the thigh-joint is principally limited to that of l>ending and extending, althou<_dj it })ossesses some slight lateral, and even some rotatory or round at tion. The lower head of the upper bone of the thigh is complicated in its form. It consists of two prominences, which are received into corresponding dcj)res- sions in the next bone, and a hollow in front, in which the bone of the knee plays as over a perfect pully. STRAIN OF THE KOUNO HONE. The joint of the upper Ikmio of the thigh with the haunch is com- monly called the whirl or round bon(\ It has been stated, that it has, m some rare instances, been dislocated and fractured: it is, how- ever, much ot'toner sprained, but not so often as the groom or farrier imagine. There is nothing peculinr in the lameness to detect injiiry of this part, except that freint, and alters the line of direction in which the muscles act: it increases the angle, and thus very mate- teriallv increases the power of the muscles. The lower bone of the thigh is double : the larger portion, m front, extending from the stifle to the hock, is called the tibia. The smaller bone, or ''fibula, behind, reaches not more than a third of the way d »wn. It is united to the shank-bone, like the splint-bone, by a car- tilaginous substance, which soon is changed for bone. Of the use of these little bones we cannot speak. The lower bone of the thigh forms an angle with the upper, the reverse of that wiiich exists between the upper bone and the pelvis. The object of this is two f )ld,— to obviate concussion, and to give a (hKiction to the muscles favorable to their powerful action; and m proportion to the acuteness of the angle, or the degree m which the stiMe IS brouuht under the horse, will these purposes be accomi)lished. There is a «rreat deal of difference m this in ditVerent horses, and the construction" of this part of the frame is a matter worthy of more regard than is «i;enerallv l)ai(l to it. r • i This part of the thigh should likewise be Vnvx. In proportion to the lencrth of the muscle is the degree of contraction of which it is capa- ble'i and in proportion to the contraction of the muscle is the extent of motion in the limb: but it is still more necessary that this part of the thit, and the extensor of the luK-k. As from its situ ation it must necessarily project on both sides of the hock, in the t(»nn of a round swelling, it'is called a thirrou^h-iyin. It is an indication of considerable work, but except it be of very great size, it is rarely attended by lameness. The mode of treatment must resemble that ...:.. 1 ^„Tir- i^^^^^'^nirh fh(>ro<««TV»-nin rnnnot hc nrfv- reCOinilR'IHiCU lui *> in«i-f^«ti»c5. ^xiniOUgli tiivjiuv^p,.- ,^11* " 4 nounced to be unsoundness, yet it behoves the buyer to examine well a horse with thorough-pin, and to ascertain whether undue work ma} not have injured him in other respects. THE nOCK. We now arrive at a very important joint, often the evident, and much oftener the unsuspected seat of lameness, and the proper forma tion of which is essentially connected with the excellence and vaiuf of the horse. The inferior head of the tibia is formed into two deep grmves, witl. three sharpened ridges, one separating the grooves, and tin- other twc forming the sides of them. It rests upon a very singular bone, called the astragalus (shaped like the die or dice used by the ancients), which has two circular risings or projections, and with a depression hetween them, answering exa'-tly to the irregularities of the tibia, and these are received and morticed into each other. At the posterior part its convex surface is received into a concavity near the base of an(»th("r bone, and with which it is united by very strong ligaments. 'Hiis hone is called the os calcis, or honci of the heel, and it prcjecis upwards, llattened at its sides, and receives, strongly implanted mlo It, the tendons of powerful muscles. 'J'hese bones rest on two others, the OS nihoidcs' (euhe-forme ) behind, and the larger cuneiform or wedge-sliaped bone, in fn.nt. The hirger wedge-shaped bone is su}>- ported by two smaller ones, and tlu se two smaller ones and the cube- bone by the upper heads of the shank-bone, and the splint-bones The cube-bone is placed on the external splint-bone, and the cannon- bone; the small wedge-bone principally on the inner splint-bone; ane trace>iuu , uv>m ciicvk tit spticd; or tVom over-weight, and attended with enlargement of the VN hole joint, and great t«'iulerness or lameness. I'his, however, like other diffused intiamuiati )ns, is rut so untractable as intense inflam- mations of a more circumscril)ed nature; and by rest and fomentation, or perchance firing, the limb recovers its action, and the horse becomes fit for ordinary work The swelling, however, does not always subside. J:]nlargement, spread over the whole of the hock-joint, remains. A horse wiih an enlarged hock must always be re<;arded with suspi- cion, and is in trntli unsound. The parts, altered in stnicture, are to a certain degree weakened. The horse may discharge his usual worl; through life, without return of lameness, but if one of those emergen- cies should occur when all his energies recpiire to be exerted, the disorganised and weakened part will fail. The purchase, therefore, of a horse with enlarged hock w ill depend on circumstances. If he has other excellencies, he w i!l u<»t be uniformly rejected; for he may be rivld(Mi or driven iiKKlerately f )r many a year without inconveni- ence, yet one extra hard tlayV work may lame him forever. CURH. There are oftener injuries of particular parts of the hock-joint. We have had occasion fr(Mju(>n(ly to describe the ring-like ligaments, ^\ hich, in the neighborhocHl of joints, so usetully tie down the tendcms. r'rom sudden or over exertion these ligaments may be extended, and nillanimation, swelling, and lameness may ensue; or the sheaths of the tendons in the neighborhood of joints, from their extent of motion in these situations, may be susceptible of injury. Ci^rh is an aflcc- tion of this kind, ft is an enlarg(;m(u»t at the back of tlie hock, alH)nt lire(^ or f >ur inches Im^Iow iIk^ point of th(^ hle when we stand bebiud the horse, and bodi the horseman and tl»e ve- terinary surgeon have overkj^jked it. It is best detected by observing the leg sideway. . , • n .• i T\u-. first object in attemptiiiL^ the cure is to abate intlammati;*n, and this will be most readilv accompiisiied by coiu rvtipuiuiin^ ^"'®' lMfi()Us,fre(pHaitK applied to the part. Ivpial portions of spirit of wine, water, and vinegar, will aibad an excellent applicatmn. It will be almost impossible to keep a bandage on. U^ the heat and iameness are considerable, it will be prudent to ph\sic the horse, ami to bleed from the subcutaneous vein. Whether the inj;iry he ol the annular ligjiment,or the sheath of the tendon, more active means will be necessary to perfect the cure. Eiiher a liquid blister sh^nild be rubbed on tlie part, con>i.Miug of a vin ms or turpenline tincture (f cantharides, and this daily ai^plied until some considerable swelling takes place, whi h shonldbe allowed to sidiside, and then the liniment again resorted to; or, what is the preferable plan, the hair should be cut off, and the part blistered as soon as the heat has been subdued The blister should be rci>'3ated until the horse goes sound, and the swelling has disappeared h\ severe cases it nuiy be necessary to fire but* we caiuu>t reeomnend the indiscriminate recourse to the bot iron in every case of cuM), and we wiudd uniformly give a fair trud to milder measures. If '.he iron bo used, the strokes should be in str.iight lines. There are few c<»mp'i\ints in which absolute and long-continued rest is nK>re requisite tl m in curb. An injury so serious leaves the narls very niateriiiliy v «jakened, and, if the horse be soon put to work a"^ain, the lameness' v dl frequently return. No horse that has had curbs sliould be p»*t wen to ordinary work, in less than a month after the appareot cur*», /ad even then he should very gradually resume I) is former hahit.< A horse with p. curb is manifestly unsound. A horse with the ves- tige of curb we should regard with much suspicion, or generally condemn as unsound; for althou-h the nei«,dil)oiiring parts may have accomuK^dated themselves to the blight enlargement that rcma' js, BOG-SPAVIN. 157 they arc not in their natural situation, and have lost a portion of their natural strength: some latent disposition to relapse may continue, which extraordinary exertion may rouse to action; and, besides this, it should be remembered, that curb is an hereditary complaint, and that there may be some constitutional weakness of these parts. BOG-SPji VIN. Tlic h(x*k is plentifully furnished \Nith mucous bags, to lubricate the different portions of this com{)licated joint. Some of these are found on the inside of tbe joint. Fi*om over-exertion of the joint they become inflamed, and considerably enlirged. They are wind- galls of the hock. The suixMitaneous vein passes over the inside of the luK'k, and over some of these enlarged bags, and is compressed lietwecn the skin and the enlarged liag; and, consequently, the pas- saj^e of the blood through it is |);irlially stopp(Ml. The bkuxi, howev- er, continues to be returned from the leg and foot, nnd being thus arrested in its course, a portion of the vein below the impediment, and I ctween it and the next valve, is distended, and causes the soft tumour f>n ihc inside of ihe hock, called ihc bog or blood spavin. Thib is a very serious disease, attended wilh no great, but often permanent lameness, and a disease too apt to return, when the enlargement has Kul>sirmed a splint of the Idn.l-lear. This is uniformly on'the inside of the hind-leg, because the greater weight and con- cussion are thrown on the iuner sj)lint-bones. As in the fore-leg, the disposition to form bony matter having commenced, and the cause which produced it continu'ing to act, bone continues to be d-posited, and it appears generally in the form of a tumour, where the head of the splint-bone is united w ith the shank, and in front of that union. This is called bone-spavin. Inflammation of the ligaments of any of the small b(mcs of the hock, [)rocec(ling to Imny tumour, would equal- ly class under tho nama of spavin, but, willi very few exceptions, the disease commences on the precise sjxjt we have described. When spavin is forming there is always lameness, and that fre- quently to a very great degree; but when ibe membrane of the bone has accommodated itself to the tumour that extended it, the lameness subsides, or disappears, or depends upon the degree in which the bony deposit interferes with the motion of the joint. We often see horses with exceedingly large spavins, that are only slight Iv lame, or that merelv bave a stitlness in their i:ait at fii-st starting, and that gradu- ally goes off afier a little motion; and we meet with others with the bony tumour comi)aratively small, yet the lameness so great as to destroy the usefulness of tlie horse. There is always this peculiarity in the' lameness of spavin, that it abates, and sometimes disappears, on exercise; and therefore, a horse, with rc;zard to which tlu^re is any suspicion of spavin, should be examinenl, w hen he is first taken from the stable. If the spavin continues to increase, the bony deposit first spreads over the lower wedge bones, for these are nearest to its original seat. They are capable of slight motion, and share in every action of the joint, hut their principal design was to obviate concussion. Tbc chief motion of the joint, and that compared with which the motion BONE-SPAVIN. 159 i ■ of the others is scarcely to be regarded, is confined to the tibia, and the astragulus, and therefore, stiffness rather than lameness may accompany spavin, even when it is beginning to affect the small bones of the joint. Hence, too, we see the advantage of these bones having each its separate ligaments and membranes, and constituting so many joints, since injury may happen to some of them, without the effect being propagated to the rest. Wlieii the bony deposit con- tinues to enlarge, and takes in the second layt^r of bones, the larger wed<'^e-bones, and even spreads to the cube-bones on the other side, even then the lameness may not be excessive, because these two are joints, or parts of the joint, in which the motion is small; but when it extends to the union of the til ia, and the astragalus; when the joint, in which is the chief motion of the hock, is attacked, the lameness is indeed formidable, and the hi\ either the absorption of the bony deposit, or the abatement or removal of the inflanuuation of the ligaments. As a last resort, however, the hot in»n m;iy be applied. We have thus presented our readers w ith a fearful list of diseases belonging to the hock, but our catalogue is not completed. It is well known that the horse is frequently subject to lameness behind, when no ostensible cause for it can be f mnd, and there is no external beat or enlargement to indicate its seat. Farriers and grooms pronounce these to be affections of the stifle, or round-bone; or if the gait of the horse and peculiar stiffness of motion point out the hock as the affected part, yet the joint may be of its natural size, and neither beat nor lopJerness can be discovered. Tac groom bas hero a method of 160 AMERICAN FARRIER. unravelling the mystery: he says that it is the beginning of spavin; but months and years pass away, and the spavin does nut appear, and the horse is at length destroyed as incurably lame. Two layers of small bones are on the inside of the hock; the lar- ger wedge-like bone above; and the middle, and the smaller one below, and it will be seen that alm(»st the whole of the weight of the horse, communicated by the tilia, is thrown upon these bones. The cube- bone does little more than support tlie point of the hock. It is then easy to suppose, that iu the concussion of hard work or rapid travel- lin\ hen, after the lemoval of the shoe, and the most patient search, we have failed in discovering a cause of lameness elsewhere, we shall be justified in considering this as the afiected part, and treating it accordingly : and as the injury is deep, and in the very centre of the j'int, we must adopt severe measures m order to reach it. We must blister immeui- ately, and repeat the blister, and enjoin perfect quietude and rest; but here, as in the bone-spa^in, and ofcner than in that disease, all our appliances and means may be fruitless. Our only h^pe lies in an early attempt to coml at the evil; and in all these ol scure cases, be j^ nrjjust to hnusL'lf wiio does not sj)ee(iily h«i\e recourse to their advi- e, to whom science ami [)ra('ti(e have given a f icility in detecJing latent disease. Tui: rorxT of the hock, If the reader has not forgotten what wc have said concerning the projection of the elbow, he will be convinced that the form of the hock is materially connected with the value of the horse. The m )St pow- erful of the flexor or bending muscles are inserted into the point of the hock, or the extremity of the os calcis; and in proportion to the project tion of the hock, or, in other words, the lengtli of this bone, will two purposes be efl^ected. The line of direction will lo more udvanta* CAPPED HOCK. IGl geous, for it will be nearer to a perpendicular; and the arm of the lever to which the power is applied will be lengthened, and mechani- cal advantage will be gained to an almost incredible extent. Suppose this bone of the hock to be three inches in length; the joint formed by the tibia and the astragalus is evidently the centre of motion; and the weight, concentered about the middle of the shank, is the obstacle to be overcome. If the weight be four times as far from the centre of mo ion as the power, a f>rce e(pial to four times the weight would raise it. It is, however, here to be rememl ered, that it is not merely the weight of the leg wiiieh is to be raised, but the weiglit of the horse, f >r the time resting upon the leg, and that weight to be propelled or driven f award. At what shall we calculate this? We may fairly su[)pose that the muscles whose tendons are inserted into the point ot the hock exert an energy etpial to 400()ll)s. Let us further suj)pose, that an inch is added to the point of the hock, whit h will be an addi- tion of one-third to its length; a muscular power of less than liOOOlls. will now' effect the same purpose. The slightest lengthening, there- fore, of the point of the hock will make an exceedingly great difference in the muscular energy by which the joint is moved; nnd a diflference that will wonderfully tell in a lon^ day's work. On this account, the dej)th of the h oek, or the length of the bone of which we are speaking, is a point of the greatest importance. There is, however, a limit to this. In proportion to the length of this bone must be the space which it passes over in order sufficiently to bend the limb; and in that proportion must be the contraction of the muscle; and consequently the length of the muscle, that it may be ena])led thus to contract; and, therefore, if this bone were inordinately lengthened, there would require a depth of (piarter which would amount to deformity. A hr>ck of this disadvantageous length is, how- ever, rarely or never met with, and it is received among the golden rules in judging of the horse, that this bone of the hock cannot be too long. CAPPED HOCK. The point of the hock is sometimes swelled. A soft fluctuating tumour aj)pears on it. Tliis is an enlargement of one of those mucous bags of which \s(\ have sj)oken, and which surrounds the insertion of the tendons into the point of the hock. It is seldom accompanied by lameness, but yet it is a serious business. It is usually produced l)y blows, and, in the majority of instances, by the injury which the horse iiillicts up(jn himself by kicking: theref>re a horse with a cap[)ed hock is properly regarded with a very suspicious eye. The whole of the hock should be most carefully examined, in order to discover whether there are other marks of violence, and the previous history of the ani- mal should, if possible, be obtained. Generally the kicking is in harness, but some horses have the habit of kicking in the stall: it is possihle, however, that lying on a thin bed, or on no bed, may bruise the hock and produce the swellinfj, or it may even result from sprain 21 o 2 rfMWwr tw«:-'i»wiiiirtftWMiiMw^iniiWi*i m^ -wm 162 AMERICAN FAllUIER. SWELLED LEGS. im of the hock; but we repeat that it is far oftener the consequence of external violence. Here again it is exceedingly difficult to apply a bandage; and punc» turing the tumour, or passing a set on through it, Avould he a most injudicious and dangerous practice. Blisters, repeated as long as may be necessiry, are the proper means to be eni[)l<)yed. Sometimes the tumour will disappear of itself, hut at others it will attain a very largo size, or will assume a callous structure that will bid dctiance to all the means we can employ. m\lli;ni)i:ks and sallknders. lu the inside of the hock, or a little below it, as will as at the lend of the knee, there is sometimes a scurfy erupli )n called MALLKADKu.i in the fore leg, and sallenders in the hind leg. They seldom j>r(>r duce lameness, but if no means are taken to get rid of them, a dis-: charge proceeds from them which it is afterwards diflicult to stop; and certainly they have an unsightly apj)eanince, and generally argue bad stable management. A diuretic ball should be occasionally given, and an ointment, composed of one part of sugai- of lead, two ol' Uir, and six of lard, rubbed over the part. Should this fail, the weak mercurial ointment should be used. COW-HOl KS. The line of direction of the legs beneath the hocks should not Iq disregarded. The leg should descend perpendicularly to the fetlock. The weight and stress will thus be equally diffused, not only over the whole of the hock, but also the paslerns and the fw)t. Some horses, however, have their ho<^ks closer than na.tural to each other, and the legs take a divergent direction outward, and the toes likewise are turned outward. These hoi-ses are said to be cat or cow-h(Kked, They are generally supposed to possess considerable speed, and we believe tliat they do; and we thus account for it. The cow-hocked horse has his legs not only turned more outward, but bent more under him, and this increases the distance between the point of the hock and the tendons of the perforating muscle. Tt increases the space whieh IS usually occupied by th()rough-i)in. Then the j)<>int of the hock, moved by the acti»)n of the muscles, is enal^led to describe a greater portion of a circle ; and in i)roporti .n to the increased space passed over by the point of the hock, will the s|,a(e passed over by the imb beneath be increase^!, and so the stride of the horse may be lengthened, and thus fir his speed mav be increased, iiut this advan- tage IS more than counterbalanecd bv many evils. This increased contraction of the muscles is an expenditure of animal power, and, as we have already stated, the weight and the concussion bein^r so une- qually distributed by this formation of the limbs, some part'must be overstrained and overworked, and injury must ensue. On this account It is, that the cow-lKxked horse is more subject than others to thorou/dj- pin and spavm; and is so disposed to curbs, that these hocks aro denominated by horsemen curhy hocks. The mischief extends even further than this. Such a horse is peculiarly liable to wind-gall, sprain of the fetlock, cutting, and knuckling. A slight inclination to this form in a strong powerful horse may not be very objectionable, but a horse decidedly cow-hocked should never be selected. sria\o-HALT. Before we quit the hock, we must notice a peculiar involuntary •tu idling of the liiiul Icir, or convulsive actim of the muscles by which it IS bent, and whirii is termed si'ki\(;-iialt. This is evidently an afiection of some of the nerves which commimicate motion to these niHScles. It is an irregular action of nervous energy; but what par- ticular fil)ril is aifec(ed, or what muscle is cliielly spasmed, has never been ascertained. I( is puincipally observed u ben the horse first -comes from the stable, and gradually ceases after he has been exer- cised a while. It is uni>leasant to the rider, but it cannot be denomi- n ited unsoundness; on the contrary, common oi)inion has civen to the horse w ith s[)ring-hait a more tfian usual share of strength and endu- rance; and if it be an excess of nervous energy, although irregularly exerted, we shall find no dilficulty in associating it with general pinver- lul muscular action. However this may be, the precise nature ot the de- fect has never been determined, nor has any cure for it been discovered. THE HIND LEG. The construction of the hind leg, and the injuries to which it is sub- ject, are so similar to those of the fore leg, that we shall content our- selves with referring to our description of them ^^iven in the last ublesome diseases. The first is SWELLED LEGS. The f )re legs are som(MiiiH\s subject to considerable enlargement, but much ofteiH^r the hind ones. Occasionally when the horse does not seem to labour under any other disease, and someiim<\s from an ap- parent shifting of intlammalion from other parts, (intlanunation of tho luniTs or the eye not unfrecpiently thus changes its scat.) the hind legs suddenly s\v(dl to an enormous degree from the h(x'k, and almost from tile stifle to the I'etlock, attended by heat, and extreme tcmderness of the skin, and excessive and very peculiar lameness. The [)ulse like- wise becomes quick and hard, and the horse evidently labours under MHiMBMMIWiVHW HM 164 AMERICAN FARRIER. considerable fever. It is acute inflammation of the cellular substance of the legs, and that most sudden in its attack, most violent m its degree, and therefore attended by the pouring out of a great deal of fluid, in this cellular substance. It occurs m young horses, and m those which are over-fed and little exercised, without previous inflam- mation in any other part. Fomentation, diuretics, or physic or il there be nu.ch fever, ;t moderate blcclmg, will often relieve the dis tension almost as suddt'nly as it ai)p('ared. The kind of swelled legs, most freciucnt of occurrence, and most troublesome, is of a diflbrent nature, or rather it is so van(,us m its kind and causes, and conse(iuen<-es and mode oi treatment that it deserves attentive considerali. n. One pxinciplo, however, will guide us to a right opinion an.l trratUHM.t of it,-that it is prcHJuced either b> actual or comparativrdrhiUty or loss of pou'crm the part uttM Horses seemmglv m perfect health, and Nvi:h a full allowaiice ol t(KKl if sufi-ered to renmm several days without exercise, will have swelled leers. The arterial capillary vessels have conveyed a great deal ot fl°id to the extremities;— from over-feedin-, and want of muscular exertion and the perspiration connected witli it, the llmds nave accu- mulated, and are lodgin- in the extremities, because the vessels have not power to return them. The heart is acting upon an additiona quantity of lluid, while, hy the want of exercise, the limhsare depriv ed of the principal power bv which the fluids are returned; tor the blood is materially assisted in 'its return through the veins by the action ot the muscles, and the absorbents are roused to action by the exercise and motion of the ditTerent parts. The cure, therefore, is sufliciently plain: by physic or diuretics, the quantity of the flmd is lessened, and by exertion increasing die perspiration it is likewise dnnmished, and, what is more important, both the veins and the absorbents arc assisted in their action. Horses Uiken from grass and brought into close stables very speedily have swelled legs, because the ditference cf food, and increase of nu- triment, rapidly increase the quantity of the circulating tliud ; w hile the want of exercise takes away the means by which it might be got rid of The remedy here needs not to be stated. Swelled h'gs, however, may pnx^eed from general debility; they may be the c(.nse(pience (,t starvation, or disease that has considerably weakened the animal; and these pctrts, being farthest iVoiii the centre of circulation, are the first to shew the loss of power by the accumulation of fluid in them. Here the means of cure would be to increase the general strength, with which the extremities would s)mpathise, and mild diuretics and tonics are evidently indicated. Horses in the spring and fall are subject to swelled legs. The powers of the constitution are principally employed in providing a new coat for the animal, and the extremities have not their share ut vital influence. Mingled cordials and diuretics are indicated here — the diuretic to lessen the quantity of the circulating floore, in the healthy state of the part, the skin of the heel has a peculiar greasy feel. Under inflammation, the secreti.n of this greasy matter is slopped — the hjels become red, dry, and scurfy; and being almost constanlly in luolion, [xMillice the heel. A poultirc of linseed meal w ill be the most etleclual, unless the dis'-harge is ihin and oflrnsivt^, w Ik n aji ounce of tinely p'>w(lere(l charc()nl should he niixtMl wiih the,' liii- Fced meal, or a poultic*' inav be made of carrots boiled soff. and mashed. The ellicacy of a carrot pouliice is seldom sulliciently ap- preciat(Ml in cases like these. When the inflannnaiion and pain have evidentiv subsided, and the cracks discharge g(M)d matter, they nuiy be dressed w i?h an ointment composed of one part of resin, and three of lard melted together, and one part of calamine powder added, when these begin to get cool. The healing will be quickened if the cracks are occasionally washed with either the vitriol or alum solution. A mild diuretic may here be given every third day, but a mild dose of physic will firm the bes. medicine that can be admiui-terf^d. After the chaps or cracks have healed, the legs will sometimes con- tinue gorged and swelled. A flannel bandage evenly applied over the whole of the swelled part will be very serviceable; or, should the season admit of it, a run at grass, particularly spring grass, should be allowed. A blister is inadmissible, from the danger of bringing back the inflammation of the skin, and discharge from it; but the actual cautery, taking especial care not to penetrate the skin, must occasion- ally be resorted to. c \ \ i In some cases the cracks are not confimHl to the centre ot the heels, l)ut spread over them, and extend on the fetlock, and even up the leg, while the legs are exceedingly swelled, and there is a watery dis- charge from the cracks, and ap[)arently oozing through the skin at other places. The parts are exceedingly Umdvr, and sometimes hot, and there is an appearance which the farrier thinks very decisive as to the state of the disease, and which the better informed man should not o\crhuAi,—the heels sviokc;— the skin is so hot, that the watery fluid partly evaporates as it runs from the cracks, or oozes through the skin. . There will be great danger in suddenly stopping this discharge, In!iammauo!i oi a more unponaul pari has rapi»iij succecGCCi to Jie injudicious attempt. Tlie local aj)plicalion should be directed to the abatement of the mflammation. The poultices just referred to should be diligently used night and day, and especially the carrot poulticcf and, when the heat and tenderness and stiff'ness of motion have dimi- nished, astringent lotions may be applied; either the alum lotion, or a strong decoction of oak bark, changed, or used alternately, but not mixed. The cracks should likewise be dressed with the ointment above meulioued; and the mouu nt flie horse can bear it, a flannel ban- dage should 1)(; put on, reaching from the coronet, to three or tour inches above the swelling. The medicine should be confinetl to mild diuretics, mixed with one third part of cordial mass, or, if the horse be gross, and the mflam- mation run high, a dose of physic may be given. From the account we have given, it will easily be distinguished in what cases physic is indicated, and in what states of the constitution or disease we may \Hi content with diuretics. If the horse be strong, and full of flesh and fat, physic should always pn^cede, and sometimes supersede the diuretic's; in cases of much debility, diuretics with aromatics or tonics will be preferable. The feeding will likewise vary with the case, but with these niies \v\nch admit of no exception, that green meat should be ^''^^'"^'^■'■- given, and more espec mlly carrots, when they are not too expensive, and mashes, if the horse will eat them, and never the full allowance of corn. » i • vi Walking exercise should be resorted to as soon as the horse is able X) bear it,"and this bv degrees may be increased to a gentle trot. From bad stable* management at first, and neglect during the hseasc, a worse kind of grease is occasionally found. The ulcere Hon ti lA lOS AMERICAN FARRIER. extends over the skin of the heel and the fetlock, and a fungus springs from the surface of hoth, highly sensihle, bleeding at the slightest touch, and interspersed with scabs. By degrees, portions of the fungus begin to be covered with a horny substance, protruding in the form of knobs, and collected together in bunches. These are known by the name of grapes. A stinking and very peculiar discharge proceeds from nearly the whole of the unnatural su])stance. The horse evi- dent'- sufters much and is grudualiy worn down l)y the disea^-e. The assis ance of a veterinary surgeon is here indispensable. Some horses are more sul jcct to grease than others, particukirly draught horses, both heavy and light, but particularly the *"^' former, and if tlicy have no degree of blo(Kl in then). It was the experience of this whirh partly contributed to the gradual change of coach and other draught horses to those of a lighter 1 reed. It may, however, be alVirnied, witiiout danger of error, that in the great majv»rity of cases, grease arises from mismanagement and neglect; and the farmer and tlic horse-propriet(>r would not be unjust to their ser- vants, and would materially promote their own interest, if they exacted a fine for evcv case of irrease that occured in their stable. Every thing that has a tendtmcy to excite nitlaiuiiiatinii in the skir? of the hee' is a cause of grease. Therefore, want of exercise, for the reasons 'vtjich we have stated when treating o{ swelled legs, is a fre- quent caUse; the fluid which accuuudates about the extremities, and is unable to return, is a source of irritation by its continued pressure. When high feeding is added to irregular or deficient exercise, this disease is evidently still more likely to be produced. Want of clean- liness in the stable is a fruitful source of this comi)laint. When the heels are embedded in tilth they are \\eakened by the constant m:;is- ture surrounding them, and irritated by the acrimony of the dung and the urine, and little prepared to endure the evaporation and cold to which they are exposed when the horse is taken out of the stable. We believe, however, that the absurd [iractice of washing the feet and legs of horses when they come from their work, and either carelessly sponging them dow n afterwards, or leaving them to dry as they may^ is by far the mobt common orii^in of grease. When the horse is warnu^d by his work, and the heels share in the warmth, the momentary cold of \\ashing may not be injurious if the aniuial be immediatelv rubbed drv ; \ et (;ven this would be better » • ' • avoided; but to wash out the heels, and tiicn leave them partiiilly dry, or j)crfectl}' W(;t, and sutl'ering from the extreme cold which i*^ priKhicL'd bv evaporation from a wetted surface, is the most absurd, dangerous^ and injurious practice that can be imagined. It is worse wlu n the stage-horse or the plough-horse is plunged up to his belly in the river or pond, immediately after his work. The owner is little aware ho\r . many cases of inflammation of the lungs, and bowels, and feet, and heels, follow, it would, therefore, be an excellent rule never to wash the heels of these horses. After they have been sulfered to ^tand fur twenty minute^: in the sUible, during which time the horsc- TIIE FOOT. 169 keeper or the carter may be employed in taking care of the harness, or carriage, or beginning to dress the horse, the greater part of the dirt which had collected about the heels may be got rid of with a dry brush; and the rest will disappear a quarter of an hour afterwards under the operation of a second brushing. The trouble will not be orreater, and the heels will not be chilled and sul)ject to inflammation. There has been some dis()ute as to the propriety of cutting the hair from the heels of firiu-horses. Custom has very properly retained the hair on them. Nature would n')t have given it had it not been useful. It guards the heel from being injured by the inequalities of the ploughed field; it prevents the dirt in which the heels are con- stantly enveloped, from reaching and caking on and irritating the skin; it hinders the usual moisture \s hich is mixed with the clay and mould from reaching the skin, and it preserves an eipial temperature in the parts. If, however, the hair be suflered to remain on the heels of our farm-horses, there is greater necessity for brusliing and hand-rub- bing the heels, and never washing them; for the water used in washing Will readily j)enetrate through the hair, and it will be absolutely imnospildc to get rid of it again. Indeed, we would neglect the heels altogether, or let, as many careless carters do, the dirt accumulale fnim m n;li to in uith, rather than wash them. This would, indeed, be idle and injurious treatment, but it would be by far the lesser evil. Fashion and uLilitv have removed the hair from the heels of our hackneys and carriage-horses. The hand-rubl>ing or dry brushing will be an easy process; or if the heels must be washed, let them be carefully and thoroughly dried. We close this part of our treatise by repeatinii that grease is the child of negligence and mismanagement It will be the fault of the gentlenum and tlie fanner if it be not tjpeedily banished from every stable. Chapter VIII. Tin-: FOOT. TiiK fH>t is composed of the horny box whi<'h covers the extremities of the horse, and the contents of that box. We will first consider th© hoof, «jr box, which is composed of the crust o/ wall, the bars, the sole, and the horny frog. THE CRUST OK WALL OF THE HOOF. The crust, or wall, is that portion which is seen when the fo(»t is placed on the ground, and reaches from the termination of the hair to the ground. It is deepest in front, where it is called the toe ; shallower at the sides, which are denominate the quarters; and of least extent behind, where it is termed the heel. It is placed flat on the ground, but ascends obliquely backward, and possesses difl^erent degrees of ob- Lnuitv in dift'erent feet. In a soutid h(K)f, the proper degree of slanting 22 P •^w*, ^r, -'dm < hii no AMKRICAxN FARRIER. is calculated at forty-five degrees, or the fourth part of a semicircle. Form When it is more ohhciue, or the crust is said to have "fallen in," it indicates undue llatness of the sole, or, if the obliquity le very much increased, pumiced, or convex sole. If it be more upright than the angle we have mentioned, it shews a contracted fle to le weak and Hat and bruised, and tlRre is likewise more tendency to that frequent but obscure lameness of which we shall have occasion to treat, termed the "navicular-joiut disease.'' The iUd has spread out t(M) mu'^h at the side, insi«id oi growm^ u[)wardy and llpjictoi-e k is too iiiiicii exposed. The crust in front is rather more than half an inch in thickness, and becomes gradually thinner towards the quarters aiwl heels. h\ there- fore, there be but half an in< li for nail-hold at the toe^and not so much at the quarters,, we need not wonder if horses arc occasionally wound- ed in shoeing, and especially when some of them arc so unmanageable while undergoing that process. While the crust gets thinner towards both quarters,, it is thinner at the inner quarter iban it is .it the outer, because more weight is thrown upon it than the outer. It is more under the horse; it is under the inner splint-bone, on which so much more of the weight rests than on the outer, and, being thinner, it is able to expand more; its elasticity is called more into play, and concussion and injury are avoided. When the expansi-n of the cpiartcrs is prevented by their being nailed to an imbending shoe, the inner quarter suffers most. Corns are oftenest found there; contraction begins there; sand-crack is seated there. Nature meant that this should be the UKJSt yielding pjirt, in onler to obviate concussion, because^ on il the weight was prin- cipally thrown, and thercdorc when its power of yielding is taken away it must be the first to suffer. A carefid observer will likewise percei\e that thr heel, for it is aln^ady removed by the wtrar of tlie f )ot. If he forgets this, as he too often seems to do, and takes off with his WAIJ. OF THE nOOF. 171 knife or his buttress an equal portion all round, he leaves the inner and weaker quarter lower than the outer; he throws an uneven bearing upon it; and produces corns and sand-cracks and splints, which a little care and common sense might have avoided. The crust does not vary much in thickness, uniil near the top, at the coronet^ or union of the horn of the f(x>t with the skin of the pasterns where it rapidly gets thin. It is in a manner scooped and hollowed out. It likewise changes its colour and its consistence, and seems almost like a con- tinuation of the skin, but easily separabh* froju it 1 y maceration, «jr disease. This thin part is called the voromirif rin^; and il recei\ es within it, or covers, a thickened and bulbous {irolojiiration of the skin, called the corondry li^a/iunt. This r(Mpures a letter name, f >r it has not a portion of ligamentous structure in it. This prolongation of the skin is thickly sujiplied with blood-vessels. It is almost a mesh iS blot>d-vessels connected together by fibrous texture, and man\ of these vessels are emplo\ed in secretin" or f)rminir the crust or wall of the foot. Nature has enabled the sensible laniiuie of the cojlin-!)one, which will be described presently, to secrete some horn, in order to afford an immediate defence for itself when the crust is wounded or taken away. Ot this we have proof, when in sand-crack, or cpiittor, we are compelled to remove a portion of the crust. A [)elli( le of liorn or of firm hard substance resembling it, soon covers the wound; but the crust is principally formed from this coronary ligament. Hence it is, that in sand crack, quitter, and other diseases in which strips of the crust are destroyed, it is so long in being renewed, or growing down. It must proceed from the coronary ligament, and so gradually creep down the foot with the natural grcjwlh or lengthening of the horn, of which, as in the human n;iil, a supply is slowly given to answer to the wear and tear of the part. Below the coronary ligament is a thin strip of horny matter, which has been traced from the frog, and has been supposed by some to be connected with the support or action of the frog, but which is evi- dently intended to add to the security of the jxirt on which it is found, and to bind together th(jse various substances which are collected at the coronet- It resembles, more than au\ thing else, the strip of skin s\hich surrounds tlui root of the human nail, and which is placed tlicre to stnMigthen the union of the nail with the substance from which it proceeds. The crust is com[)osed of numerous fibres ruiuung at the t(»e in a straight direction from the coronet to the ground, but at tho quarters, taking an obliipie direction from the heel forwards. This construc- tion is best calculated to enable the foot to expand when it comes in contact, with the ground, and by that expansion, permit iing the grad- ual descent of the bones of the foot, and obviatijig much concussion. The crust is thinner at the quarters and towards the heels, because those are the parts at whi(di the principal expansion must take place. These fibres are held together by a glutinous substance, but in such a manner as to j>ernnt a slight degree of separation, or to bestow the 172 AMERICAN FARRIER. power of expansion on the f(jot; and when recently separated from the foot, it is an exceeclin<;ly ehistic substance, and very tough, that it may not chip and break with the violence to which it is often ex- posed. In the absurd metlud of stable management, to which we shall have occasion again and again to refer, it sometimes loses much of tliis toughness, and bcc )mes brittle and liable to chip and break, iutlam- rnatiun of the internal part of the f>ot, by the increased heat which is j)rr the nails. A mixture of one part of oil of Uir, and two of conniion iish oil, well rubljcd into the crust and the hoof, will restore the natural pliancy and toughness of the horn, and very much contribute to the cpjickness of its growth. The wall of the hoof should be smooth and level: protuberances or rings round the crust indicate that the horse has had fever in the feet: and that to such a den the bars, and accuratelv filling it, is the fro(5 It is a tria!)gidar portion of ti orn, projecting from the sole, alm(*st on a level with thi; crust, and coxcrinj; and delending a soft and elasti*. substance called the ,scujiiblc fro^. The frog being placed at, and filling the binder part of the fr tho THE SOLE. \ 173 expansion of the foot, when a portion of the weight of the body is thrown on it? How easily will these irregular surfaces yield, and epread out, and how readily return again to their natural state? In this view, therefore, the horny frog is a powerful agent in opcnino- the foot; and the diminution of the substance of the frog, and its elesation above the ground, are both the cause and the consequence of contrac- tion; the cause, as being able no longer powerfidly to act in expandinf^ the heels; and the consequence as obeying a la w\)f nature, by which that which no longer discharges its 'natural fiuMion is gradually removed. It is, howev er, the cover and defence of the internal and sensible frog, at which we are not vet arrived, and therefore we are at present unable to develope its full use; but we have said enouoh to shew the absurdity of the common practice of unsparin.rjy vnVhu^ it awav. in. o The rough and detached parts should be cut off at each shoeino- anc the substance of the frog itself, so as to bring it just above or witlnn the level of the shoe. It will then, in the descent of the sole, when the ueiglit ot the horse is thrown upen it in the puttino- down oi the f(K)t, descend likewise, and pressing upon the ground, do its dutv; wluie it wdl be defended from the wear, and bruise, and mjury wmch It w<.uld receive if it came upon the ground with the first and full shoc-k of the weight. This will be the proper guide to the smith in operating, and t.. the proprietor in the directions which he o-ive^ and the latter should often look to this, for it is a point of very\rrcat moment. A few smiths carry the notion of /n>^ pressure to an absurd extent, and leave the frog beyond the level of the sole,— a practice which i.s dangerous in the horse of slow draught, and destructive to the hackney; but the majority of them err in a contrary way, and cutting ofl too much of the frog, lift it above the gro.u.d, and destroy Its prmcipal use. It should be left just above, or within the level of toe shoe. *' THE SOLE. This is the under concave and elastic surface of the foot, extendinrr rom the crust to the bars and frog. It is not so thick as the crust! because, nc^twithstanding its situation, it has not so n.uch wei^rht or stress thrown on it as there is on the crust; and because it waslnten- dcd to ex])and, in order to prevent concu.ssion, when, by the descent of the bone of the foot, the weight was thrown upon it. It is not so brittle as the crust, and it is nmre elastic. It is thickest at the t(H^ because the first and prmci|)al stress is thrown on that {)ai1. The coftin bone is driven forward and downward in that direction. It is likewise thicker where it unlt(>s^vith the crust than it is towards the centre, for a similar and evident reason, because there the weight is first and principally thrown. In a state of nature, it is, to a certain degree, hollow. The reason ot this IS plain. It IS intended to descend or yiehl with the wei^dit of the horse, and by that gradual descent or yielding, most materially p2 friHihaiMi*iones to press ujion the sole. The sole then descends, and, in descending, expands; and so, by an admi- rable mechanism, the violent shiK'k which would be [)rodnced by the pressure of such a weight as that of tlie horse, and the ve/ocity with which it descends, is lessened or destroyed, and the complicated apparatus of the foot remains uninjured.* When the fiiot is again lifted, and the weight which pressed upon it is removed, the principle of elasticity is called into exercise, and by it the sole resumes its con- cavity, and the horny frog its folded state; — the quarters return to their lurmer situation, — the little leaves regain their former length, md every thii:g iti prepared for a repetition of action. THE SEXSIIJLE SOLE. Between the coffin-bone and the horny sole is situated tlie sensible sole, formed aUwe of a substance of a ligamentous or tendinous nature, and below of a cuticular or skin-like substance, plentifully supplied with blood-vessels. It was placed between the coffin-bone and tlie sole, by its yielding nature to assist in preventing concussion, and also to form a supply of horn for the sole. It extends beyond the coflin-ljone, but not at all under the frog; leaving a space f »r the frog, it proceeds over the bars. It is here likewise thicker, and more elastic, and by its elasticity is evidently assisting in obviating concussion It is supplied w.th nervous fibres, and is highly sensible, as the slightest experience in horses will evince. The lameness which ensues from the pressure of a stone or of the shoe on the sole is caused by inflammation of the sensible sole. Corns result from bruise and inflamniation of the sensi- ble sole, between the crust and the bar. THE SEXSinLE FROG. The coflin-bone does not occui)y more than one half of the hoof The posterior part is filled by a soft mass, partly ligamentous, and partly tendinous. Its shape below corresponds with the cavities of th« horny frog; in tVont it is attached to the inferior j)art of the coflin-bone; and farther back it adheres to the lower part of the cartilages of the heels, where they begin to form the rounded protuberances which constitute tfie heel of the f^xit. It occupies the whole of the hack part of the i'(X)i, above the horny frog, and between the cartilages. Run ning immediately above the frog, and along the greater part of it, we 17^ AMERICAN FARRIER. find the perforans flexor tendon, which passes over the navicular bone and is inserted into the heel of the coffin-bone. ' THE NAVICULAR-BONE. This navicular bone is placed behind and l>el()w the lower pastern- bone and behind and above the heel of the coffin-bone, so that it forms a joint with both bones, and answers a very iinporf^int office in strengthening the union between these parts; in receiving a portion of the weight which is (hn.wn on the lower piLstern; and in enabhng Ihe flexor tendon to act with more advantage. Supposing that this tendon were inserted into t!ie coflin-hone, without the intervention of the navicular-lx)ne, it would act in a very disadvantageous way, in beri(hng the pastern, for it is inserted near^iie end of the coffin-bone, and the weight, concentrated about the middle of the bone, is far off' and requires a power to raise it proj)ortionate to the (hstiiiiee between the weiglit and the power, from tlie centre of motion, which is here the place where the teml.n passes over the end of the cotlin-bone- but when the navicular bone is interposed, the centre of motion becomes the posterior edge of that bone, where it is in contact with ti.e t(>ndon and then it will be seen that the distance of the nower fnm, fh^ mntr^' ot inotiun 18 nearly or quite the same as the weiirht, and very great expenditure of muscidar p(»u< ,• will be saved. In the one case, the power must be at least doul,le the weight, in the other they will be nearly equal; and also the angle at which the tendon is inserted, is. like the angle produced by the introduction of the knee-bone, consid- erably more advantageous. We are inclined to believe that this is the principal use of the navicular-bone; but at the same time we are aware of the benefit which accrues from a portion of the weight bein- taken from the coflin-bone, and thrown on the navicular-bone^and from It on the tendon, and the tendon re.sang on the elastic frog under neath. Ihe navicular bone is sometimes, but inaccurately, said to vhcn the pastern is extended, the navicuar bone is placod n. that situation ulnch enables the flexor tendor to act with greatest advantage, in agam bending tlie foot. THE (;artila(;rs of the foot. «nJ*!.r '-7 ^'T^ extending along the upper part of the coffin-bone, and on either side, except at the protuberance which receive, the ex ensor tendon, occupied by cartilage, winch, like the crust, i con ve^ outwards, and concave inwards and which extends to the very^te INFLAMMATION OF THE FOOT. 177 rior part of the foot; rising about the quarters, half an inch or moro above the hoof, and diminishing in height forward and backward. As the descent of the sole inv^reases the width of the lower part of the foot, so the elevation of the frog, a portion of it being pressed upward and outward by the action of the navicular-bone and tendon, causes the expansion of its upper parL It is this expansion upward, which contributes j)rincipally to the preservation of the usefuhiess of the horse, when our destructive nietliixis of shoeing are so calculated to destroy the expansion beneath- In draught h )rses, from the long continued as well as violent pressure on the frog, and from the frog on the cartilage, inllammation is occa- sionally prodiiced, which terminates in the curtilages behig changed into bony matter. INFLAMMATION OF THF FOOT, OR ACUTE FOUNDER. The sensible lamella', or fleshy plates on the front and sides of tli» coflin-bone, l)eing replete with blood-vessels, are, like every other vascular part, liable to inflannnation, from its usual causes, and par- ticularly trom the violence with which, in rapid and lonix-con tinned action, they are lengtnened and strained- When in a severely con- tested race they have been stretched to the utmost; while, at the fullest stride of the horse, liis weight was thrown on them with des- tructive force; or, when the feet have been battered and bruised in a hard day's journey, no one will wonder if inflammation of the over- worked parts should ensue, and the occurence of it may probably be produced and the disease aggravated by the too prevalent absurd mode of treating the i nimal. If a horse that has been ridden or driven hard be sufliered to si ind in the cold, or if his feet be washed and not speedily dried, he is "ery likely to have "fever in the feet." There is no more fruitful so n*ce of inflammation in the human being, or the brute, than these su jden changes of temperature. This has been exj)lained as it regai ds grease, but it bears more immediately on the \Kni\t now under con iideration. The danger is not confined to change from hea^ *o cold; a sudden transition from cold to heat is as injurious, and therefore it is ( lat so many horses, after having been ridden far in the frost jind sr>ow, and placed jnuui'diatcly in a hot stable, and littered uj) to the knees, an^ attacked by Ibis com[)laint. The feet and the lungs arr the organs oiUMiest attacked, because they have previously sutfere* most by our mismanagement, and are most dis- posed to take on d sease. Whatever would cause slight inflammation of other parts, or tritling general derangement, will produce all its mischief on these rgans. Sometimes then is a sudden change of intlammation from one organ to another. A ho^se shall have laboured for several days under evi* dent inflammatiop of the lungs; — all at once that will subside, and the inflammati m will appear in the feet, or inflammation of the feet may lollow similar airections in the bowels or the eves. To the attentive observer the sympt(jnis are clearly marked, and 23 T^i>.f|MII"ilMi BWiiWMMiiitaJMWWWMfcil 178 AMERICAN FARUIER. yet there is no disease so often overlooked hy the groom and tlie carter, eymptoiM. ^"^ ^^*^" ^y f*^^ veterinary surgeon. The eariiest symp- toms of fever in the feet are fitlcretiness, frequent shifting of the fore-legs, but no pawing, much less any attempts to reach the belly with the hind-feet. The pulse will soon be quickened, the flanks heaving, the nostrils red, and the horse, by his anxious countenance, and perhaps by moaninfj, indicating great' pain. Presently, he will look alM>ut bis litter, as if preparing to lie down, bul 1h^ docs not do it imme(liatr the piir|H;se (»f King down: hut at leiiirtb be drops. 'J'be ciivumstancc of ids hiuu' down at an rarlv period of the disease will sijlliri«'ntly liorse experiences so mu( h relief, from gcttinjr rid of the weight painfully distending the inflamed and hiizhlv sensible little plates, that hr is irhu\ to he as itnig as ne can. He will likewise, as clearly as in inflamma- tion of the lungs or bowels, point out the seat of disease bv looking at the part: his muzzle will sometimes rest on the feet or the aflkicted foot He must be inattentive who is not aware \Nhat all this indicates. If the feet be now examined, they will be evidently hot; the horse will express pain if they are slightly rapped with a hammer, and the artery at the pastern will thn^b violently. No great time will now pass, if the disease be suffered to pursue its course, before he will be perfectly unable to rise; or, if he is forced to get up, and one f(x>t be lifted, he will stand wiih difficulty on the other, or perhaps drop at once from intensity of pam. The treatment will resemble that of other inflammations, with such Remedy. differences as the situation of the disease may suggest. Bleeding is indispensable; and that to its fullest extent. If the disease be confined to the f, re-feet, f)ur quarts of blood should be taken as soon as possible from the toe of each, at the situation pointed out, and in the manner already described; — p3mmimm'm mmmm \ r I 180 AMERlCAxX FARRIER. pumiced, the crust at the front of the hoof will '''fuU in^'^ leaving a kind of hollow about the middle of it. Pumiced feet, especially in horses with laro^e wide feet, are pro- duced not unfrequently without this acute inllaniiuation. Undue work,arKl especiall)^' much hattering of the feet on the pavement, will extend and sprain these little plates so much, that they will not have the power to contract, and thus the collin-hone will ha thrown hack- ward on the sole. A very importnnt law of nature will iinf )rt(uiatcly 8oon be active here, when ()r('ssnre is applied to any pnrt, the al sor hents become busy in remov in^jj that part; so, when the coliin-lione begins to press upon the sole, the sole becomes thin from the inrrens- ed wear and tear to which it is suhiecied from contact with the t, were turned out in a dry place, or put into a box for two (.r three months, sutlicient stress would not be thrown on the leaves to increase the evil, and thne might be given for the growth of \\.)ti\ enough in the sole to support the cofhn-bone; yet we much doubt whether these horses would evei be useful even f >r ordinary purposes. The slowest work required ^ them would drive the coffin-bone on the sole, and gradually the projection would rea}>pear, for nr) power and no length of tmie can agam unite the separated leaves of the cotbn-bone and the hoof All that can be done in the way of palliation is by shoeing. Nothino mufcjt press on the projecting and pumiced part. If the project i^.n be not great, a thick bar shoe, is the best thnig (hat can be ap[>lie(l, but should the sole have much descended, a sh<»e with a vcrv^ wide web bevelled off so as not to press on the part, may be ust^. Tiiese means of relief, however, are only tetnporary, the disease will proceed; and at no great distance of time, the horse will be useless. CTIROXIC FOrNDER. This is a name convenitMitly contrived to express those alterations of the foot, and the gradual lameness which either shoeing or misman agement occasions. It is often a mere cloak for our ignorance of (hese subjects. The diseases of the foot and their remedies are very imperfectly understood even by the most skilful practitioners. We may, perhajis, most conveniently divide the slow and fatal pro- gress from soundness to incurable lameness into two classes that which is accompanied by contraction, r.nd ihnt which exhibits little or BO alteration in the external appearance oi* the foot. Contraction. CONTRACTION. 181 The foot increases in length, and narrows in the quarters, and par- ticularly at the heel, and the frog is diminished in width, and Byinptoms. ^^^^ ^^j^ becomcs more concave, and the heels higher, and lameness, or at least a shortened and feeling action, ensues. Here we must premise that there is a great deal more horror of con-* tracted heels than there is any occasion for. Mnny j)ersons reject a horse at once if the quarters are wiring in; but the fact is, tiiat al- though this is an unnatural form of the hoof, it is slow of growth, and nature kindly makes that provision f )r the slowly altered tbrm of the hoof, which she does in similar cases: she accomuKMlates the parts to the change of form. As the hoof draws in, the j)arts beneath, and [)ar- ticularly the coHin-bone an;l the heels of the cotlin-bone, dinunish; or, after all, as it is more a change of f >rm than of capacity, as the foot lengthens in proportion as it narrows, so the cotrm-bone lengthens, and is as perfectly adjusted as before to the box in which it is placed; and its little leaves are in as intimate and perfect union with those of the crust as bef u-e the hoof had hegnn to change. On this account It is mai many iiorses wiiii vei)' conlraeLed iuel are pum < on sound, and no horse should be rejected merely because he has contracted (wA. ^ . We are not aware of any thing in the appearance of the feet which would enable us to decide when contraction is or is not destructive to the usefulness of the animal ; his manner of going and his capability f >r work, must be our guides. Lameness usually accompanies the Ik ginning of contraction; it is the invariable attendant on rapid con- traction, but it does not always exist when the wiring in is slow or of long standing. The cause of contraction is the want of natural moisture. The" unsliod colt has seldom contracted feet, nor does the horse at grass accpiire them, because the h(X)f is kept cool and damp by occasional rain and by the regular dew. It is thus rendered suj)j)le, and its elasticity is preserved, and the expansive power ot the f(K)t is uninjured. The hoof of the stabled horse sometini(\s has not one drop of moisture on it f)r several days. The effect of this, in causing the horn to shrink, is sutlicient ly evident. Hence, the pro- priety of stoppnig the feet, as described below. The intelligent and careful gnHun will not omit it a single night. Cow-dun<:, with a small i>ortion of clay to give it consisteu'-e, is a common and very g(KKl stopping: a better one is a j)iece of thick felt cut to the shape of the sole and soakid in water; this may be procured, ready prepared for use, at any saddler'^s. The (onimm stopping of tar and grease is peculiarly objectionable, closing the pores of the feet, and ultimate- ly increasing the dryness and brittleness which it was designed to remedy. The usual management of the f:irmer\s horse, wliich is often turneo out afler his dailv task is exacted, or at least whose work returns with Q f^auBC, )'. *ili i'l '1 I "M * f 182 AMERICAN FARRIER. the day, and is generally performed where the feet are exposed to moisture, is an excellent preventive against contraction. Some intelligent persons have complained much of the influence of Jitter. If the horse stand many hours in the day with his foot embed- ded in straw, it is supposed tliat the hcxjf must be unnaturally heated and It IS said thiit tl^c horn will cuH and contract under the intlneuce ot heat It IS selckMn, however, that the foot is so surrounded by the litter th.'it Its hem will he suflicieutlv in(TeasetJ to pnxiuce this eiYvri oil the thii:k liorn. The heels, sometinies embedded in straw and then receivmg thi. curreHt <>f cold air which blows in from the dew may suffer, ami gre<,se may result, but the foot is not sufficiently long- er deeply covcre.1 by the litter to produce a temperature high enoui^i to warp the^hoof, Wc coufess, therof >re, that wl are not the drscipfes ot those who would, dunn- flu; day, remove all litter from umier the i}Z'l;}T T ^'^"'^'' naked .nui unrondi.rlable apppearance <,f the stable; and we cannot torgot the ditference m our own feelin.r. whether ^.-e stand lor an liour or two on the hard stones, or a sof[ oZr ' W '''^'''''''^^y '^^''''^'^' ''^ ^^'^^ o^^r feet upon the one or the other. We are disposed to say that hun.anitv and a proper care of t^ie foot of the horse should induce us to keep so..- JJZ^^l during the day; but his feet need not sh.k so dr.ply ui it tJt tl teniperaturc should be much atfected. If Uic action of ihe horse be not materially impaired it is belter Treatment. \^ ^^^ "^^ Contraction alone, be it as great as it will If it has evidently produced considerable lameness, then the owner of the horse will calculate between his value if cured, the ®^P^se of the cure, and the probability of failure. The raedical treatment can only be luulcrtakcu hv a sk^Hul vctcri nnruin,and .( will pnnnpally consist m gctl.rv- rid of any mllainnmtion that mayiheti ex.st, by local bleeding and physic; next, pann.r the sole to the utmost extent Ihat it will bear;^ra:spmg the quarters a^ deeply as may be, so that they shall not be too much weakei J or and perhaps scoring at the toe. The horse is afterwards made to sand (luring the day m wet clay, placed in one of the stalls of hi^ Stat, e, and he is moved at night into ai^.tluT stall, and his feet Ixmnd M> tliH'kly m wet elo(hs; or he is turned out into wet pastuni-e, with lips, or 1 possible, wiihoui them, and his feet are fre(p.entlv pared on ami the cpiarters li^ditly rasped. In five or six months (he horn Mil luivegn^wn tairly down, when he may be t.akcn up, and sIi.kI wilh THE NAVICT LAR-JGliVT DISEASE. Many horses with well-formed and open feet become sadly and permanently lame, and veterinary surgeons have been much puzzled to find out why. The larner 1ms h.a\ his convenient explanation NAVICULAR-JOINT DISEASE. 183 "the shoulder;'^ but the scientific practitioner has not been able to discover an ostensible cause of lameness in the whole limb. Behind and beneath the lower pastern-bone, and behind and above the heel of the coffin-bone, is a small bone called the navicular or shuttle-bone. 1* is so placed as to strengthen the union l)etween the lower pastern and the cotlin bone, and to enable the llexor tendon, which passes over it, in order to Ik? inserted into the bottom of the coHin-bone, to act with more abvantage; it forms a kind of joint with that U'n(k)n. There is a great deal of weight thrown on the navi- cular-bone, and from it on the tenckm; and there is a great deal of motion or play between them in the bending and extension of the pas- tiirns. Now it is very easy to concei\ e that from sudden concussion, or from rapid and overstrained motion, and that perhaps after the animal has been some time at rest, and the parts have not ada])ted tliemselves for motion, that there may be too much play between the boni; and the tendon; that the delicate mt^mbrane which covers the l>one, or the cartilage of the bone, may be bruised, and inflamed, and destroyed; and that all the painful effects of an inflamed and opened joint may ensue, and the horse may be dreadfiillv lame: Nniooron«a mssections nave shewn lliat tins joint, formed l)y the tendon and the t)one, has been the frequent, and, we believe it to l>e, the almost inva- riable seat of these obscure lamenesses. The meml)rdne covering the cartilage of the bone has been found in an ulcerated state; the carti- lage itself has been ulcerated and eaten away; and the bone has become carious or decayed, and bony adhesions have often taken place between the navicular and the pastern and the coflin bones, and this part of the foot has become completely disorganized and useless. This joint is probably the seat of lameness, not only in flat and f)erfect teet, but in th(jse which become lame (fficr contraction; for in ])rop(jr- tion as the inner frog is compressed by the contraction of the heels, and the frog is ab6orl)ed by that pressure, and the sole is become con- cave, and the horny frog, and the coffin-bone too, thereby elevated, will there be less room for the action of this joint, and more danger of the tendon and the delicate membrane of the navicular-bone 1)eing crushed between that bone and the hornv frog. Stable management has little to do" wilh the production of this disease, any further than if a h(»rse stands idle in the stable several days, and the structure of the f >ot, and all tin; apparatus connected with motion, become unused to exerhon, and indisposed for it, and he be then suddenly and violently exercised, this membrane is very liable to be bruised and injured. Irregular and undue exercise are the causes in all feet; but the contracted foot, from its alteration of form, is most in danger. The cure is extremely uncertain. The first object is to abate the inflammation in this very suscepiible membrane. Local bleeding, poullieing, and physic will be our principal resources If there be contraction, this must, if possible, bo removed by the means alread> pointed out, Jl" there be not contraction, it will be prudent to remove M i wiitmmiHtmr ' ♦! -fc jl (d '^•' J^ AMERICAN FARRIER. all surroumling pressure by paring the sole and rasping the quarters, and using the shf)e without nails on the inner quarter, it* attacked on its earliest appearance, and befT)re ulceration of the membrane of the joint has taken place, it may be radically cured, but ulceration of the membrane will be with diificuhy healed, and cnrias of the bone will for ever remain. Blistering the coronet will often assist in pro- moting a cure by diverting the inflammation to another part, and it will materially qtu'ken the growth of the horn; and a seton passtxl through the frog b) a skilfiil operator, and approachiiig as nearly as possible to the scat of dis'jase, has i)een serviceable. In cases of old ("ontracti »n, attcnlcd by a short and //vZm^ step, neurotomy^ <*r the cutting out (jf a pt>rtion of the nerve, may be resorted to with dc<-i(lcd advantage. Not only will the lameness be removed, but, by the f(x)t being again brought fully and firmly upon the ground, |he inner side of the shoe being unfettered by nails, a portion of the contraction may be removed by the sole being allowed to descend and the fjpo of aiievia- ting the sufferings of the animal, and thus removing a portion of the lameness; but if the lameness be extreme, either with or without con- traction, and especially if there be heat about trie IIm^, the o|>eration is dangerous. There is, probably, ulceration of the membrane — pos fiibly, decay of the bone ; and the additional friction to which the parts would be subjected, by the freer action of the horse, the sense of j)aii) Ixiing removed, would cause that ulceration or decay to proceed more rapidly until the f(K)t would be completely disorganiz(;d, or the tendon would be gradually worn tiirough by rubbing against the roughened surface of the bone. SAND-CRACK. This, as its name imports, is a crack or division of the hoof from above downward, and into which sand nnd dirt are too apt to insinuate themselves; or, as some sav, because it most frequt iitly occurs in sandy districts, the beat of the sitnd applied to the feet, giving them a disposition to crack. They occur both in the fore and lie lund feet. In the f)re feet they are usinlly f am;! in the inner (jMarter, l)ut ix^ca- sionally in the outer cpiarler, because at the (piarter is the principal stress or (^tf^rt towards expansion in the f K)t, and the inner (piarter is weaker than the outer. In the hin.l feet the craek is almost invaria- bly found in the front, because in the digging of the toe into the gnMuid in the act of drawing, the princii)al stress is in front. This is a most serious defect. It indicates a brittleness of the crust, sometimes natural, but oftener the consequence of mismanagement or disease, which, in spite of every means adopted, will probably be the pource of future annoyance On a ho.»f that has once beVn thus SAND-CRACK. 185 divided no dependence can be placed, unless, by great care, the natural suppleness of the horn has been restored and is retained. ' The crack sometimes does not penetrate through the horn: it then causes no lameness; nevertheless, it must not be neglected. It shews that brittleness which should make the purchaser pause; and, if proper means are not taken, it will generally .soon reach to the quick. It should be pared or rasped fairly out; and if the paring or rasping has Ixien deep, the foot should l>e strengthened by a coating of pitch, with coai-so tape l)ound over it, and covered by another coating of pitch, and which may be moulded and polished so as to be scarcely distin- guishable from the natural horn. Every crack should be pared or rasped to ascertain its depth. If it penetrates through the crust, and no lameness exii?ts, and is situated low down on the foot, a firing iron, red-hot, f^hould be run pretty deeply above and below it to prevent its lengthening; the edges should be a little thinned to remove any pain- ful or injurious pressure; and it should be Ixjund up in the manner directed, taking care that the shoe does not press upon the crus^ immediatelv iirub^r tho nrunh a the crack has penetrated through the crust, and lameness has ensued, the case is more serious. It must l>e carefully examined to asc<>rtam that no dirt or sand has got into it; the edges inust be consid- cral)ly thinned; and if any fungus is beginning to sprout through the crack, and is imprisoned and pinched there, it must l>e destroyed by the application of the butyr (chloride) of antimony This is far pre- ferable to the cautery, because the edges of the horn will not be thick- ened or roughened, and thus become a source of after irritation. The iron must then be run deeply above and below tlie crack, as in the other case; a pledget of dry tow must be pkced in the crack, witli another over it, and the whole bound down as tightly as possible. On tln^ third day the part should be examined, and (lie caustic again ap phed \( necessary; but if the crack be dry, and defended by a hara horny crust, the sooner the pitch plaster is put on the better. The most serious case is when, from tread, or neglect, the coronet is divided. The growth of horn proll 5'j i I I'M m im AMERICAN FARRIER. upon the hoof immediately under the crack, and that shoe l)eing taken off, the sole pared out, and any buil)ous projection of the new horn l>eing removed once in every three weeks. TREAD, OR OVER-REACH. Under this term arc comj)ris(;d bruises and woimds )f the coronet, pnxluccd usually in thn liind-fc(t, by the awkward hal-it of sotting one foot upon another, and in the fore-foot by the hinder (jnc ovcr-re aching it, and wounding tbo other near tbe heel. When properly treated, a Xuvm\ is seldom pnMluetive of mucb injury. If the (hrt be well washed out of it, and a pb^loet of low dipped in iViar's baLsam be b(»und over the wound, it will, iu the majority of cases, speedily heal. Should the bruise be extensive or tbe wound deej), a poultice may be applied for one or two days, and (hen tlu^ I'riar's balsam, or di»r('stive ointment. Sometimes a soft tiuuour will f nin on tbe piirt, which will be quickly brought to su[)])uration by a poultice, and when the matter has run oi'it the ulcer will heal by the application of the Friar's balsam, or a weak solution of blue vitriol. A tread, ur wound of the coronet, should never be neglected, lest gravel shoidd insinuate itself into the wound, and form dee)) uletTations called sinuses or pipvs^ and wliieh constitute quittor; and more par- ticularly the caustic, too frequently used by farriers, should be care- fully avoided, not only lest quittor should be formed, but lest the coronary ligament should be so injured as to be afterwards incapable of throwing out perfect horn. This defect is called FALSE QUARTER. If the coronary ligament by w bich the horn of the crust is secreted is either divided by the original cut or bruise, or eaten through by the caustic, there will be a division in the horn as it grows down, either in the form of a permanent sand-crack, or one portion of the horn overlapping the other. Tbis is not only a very serious defect, and a frequent cause of lameness, but it is exceedingK dillieult to remedy The coronary ligament must he restored to its perfect state, or at least to the discharge of its perfect function. Much danger would attend the applicatiijii of the caustic in order to effect this. A blister is rarely sufficiently active, and tbe application, not Um severely, of a beated flat or rounded iron to the coronet at tbe injured part riffords tin; best chance of success; the edges of tbe born on eitber side of the crack being thinned, the hoof supported, and tlu.- sej)arated parts held togetb- er by a firm encasement of pifcb, as described when speaking (J tho treatment of srind-inick. Tbe coronet must be examined at least onco in every fortmgbt in order to ascertain whether the desired univ»n lias tliere taken place; and, as a palliative, during the treatment of the ca^e, or if the treatment should be unsuccessful, a bar shoe may bo used, and care taken tbat there be no bearing at or immiHliately under the separati<»n of the born. Tbis will be l)est effected, if the crust be thick and the quiirters strong, by paring off a little of the bottom of th« QIITTOR. 187 crust at the part, so that it shall not touch the shoe; but if "the foot be weak, an indentatitm, or hollow, should be made in the shoe. Strain or concussion on the immediate part will thus be avoided, and in sud- den or violent exertion the crack will not be so likely to extend upward again to the coronet, when whole and sound horn has begun to be formed there. In some cases false (piarter assumes a less injurious character. The born grows down whole, but tbe ligament is unable to secrete that uliich is perfectly hcallby, and tluM-eforo tbc^re is a narrow slip of horn of a dilfe'r(Mit and liglit(M' colour. This is sometimes the l>cst result that can be pnx'ured when the sur;i,eon has been able to oblite- rate the absolute crack or separation, ll is, however, to be regarded as a defect, not sulllcient to comleuni the horse, but indicating that be has had sand-crack, and that a disposition to sand-crack may possibly remain. There will also, in tb.e generality of cases, be some degree of tenderness in thai (piarler, which may produce slight lameness when luuisual exertiim is required from tlic horse, or tho shoe is sufibred long to press on the part. * aUITTOR. This has been described as being the result of neglected or bad tread or over-reach; but it may be tlie conse([uence of any wound in the foot, and in any part of the f«.K>t. In the natural process of ulcer- ation, matter is thrown out from the wound. This precedes the actual healing ij^ the part. The matter which is thrown out in wounds of the fx>t is usually pent up there, and, increasing in quantity, and thus urging its way in every direction, it forces the lleshy little plates of the c<)fKn-bone, tVom the horny ones of tho crust, or the horny sole from tiu^ ileshy sole, or even eats deeply into the internal parts of the f(>ot. 'i'hcse pipes or sinuses run in every direction, and constitute the essence of quittor. If it arise from a wound in the bottom of the foot, the matter which is rapidly formed is pent up there, the nail of the shoe or the stub I'lnains in the wound, or the small ap'Crture which w.is made is im- mediately closed again. Tbis matter, ln»wcver, continues to be thrown out, and it separates the h 'rny sole from the lleshy one to a considera- ble extent, and at length forces its way upward, and appears at the Coronet, aUil usially at the quarter, and there slowly (K)7a;s out ; but the aperture and the (piantity discharged arc so small that the inex- j)eiienced pers tn would form no idea of tbe extent of the mischief within, and the difliculty of repairmg it. The opening may scari'ely admit a probe into it, yet over tiie greater part of the (juarter and the Sv>Ie tlie horn may have separated from the foot, and the matter may have penetrated under the cartihiges and ligaments, and into the cofhn j »int; and not only so, but two mischievous results have been pnxluced, • — the pressure of the matter wherever it has gone has formed ulcera- tions that are indisposed to heal, and that retjuire the application of strong and painfd stimulants to induce them to heal; and, worse than .11 ,1. \d 'm ..t K ! m 188 AMERICAN FARRIER. this, the horn, once separated from the sensible parts beneath, will never again unite with them. ' It will be sutliciently plain that the aid of a skilful practitioner is here requisite, and also the full exercise of the patience of the propri- etor ot the horse It may be necessary to remove murh of the horny sole, which will be speedily ropnKluced when the fleshy surface be neath can be brought f, a healthv condition; but if muJh of the horn a the (,uartcrs must be taken away, five or six months may probably elapse before it will be sutliciently grown down again to Vender the '•orsc useiui. Measures .,f considerable severity are indispensable. The opDli cat.„n ,, «o.nc caustic will alon<. pnnlu.-e a healthy action on the ulcerated m.rlaces; but on the -round of interest and "of humanity we (.rolest a-ainst that brutii practice, or at least the extent to which it is carried ol coring out, „r deeply destroviiii; the healthy as well as the diseased parts, and par's which no pnxese will agaii'i restore, which IS pursued b> many ignorant smiths. The unhealthy surface must ho removed, but the cartilasres and li.r„n,c,:„s, and even portions of the bone, iieeii not Do sacrilic(!d. When the joints are exposed the case is hopeless: vef, in a crcat •u.d"Lt 'hvT''. "" ''""T""f "'^ joints are exposed by 'the reiLjy and not hv the disease. One hint may not be necessary t.. the i.rac f wkJ; ."i! " T^.g"''''^ the determination and hopes of the owner e. ,h» -t .?"' ^r'l'"""-"^'"^''*^ '"'" '^^ "^'"'"^"^ orifice on the core probS.dkvlh r "^ '^^ f""""-' »' ?">* i« backwartl, there is much the sinuses te forward, the ..ure is at best doubtful. In the tir-^l instance, there is neither bone nor joint to be injured; in the other the more important parts of the llK>t are in danger, an. the nrin ird action and concussion are found. e> . «< " ""o priii. ip.il auS''^m '"?r'r "*" "". '"'*' •''O'ne'imes lay the foundation fo, ho^^?s r n r '^^ '' '''■''' " '' ^^"y "''*'''« '° be bruised if the horse IS rid.len fast over a n.ugh and stony road; or a small -^U,J msiiuiatmg it.sdf between the shoe and the sole, 'or clipped and „' fined by the curvature of the shoe, will frcp.e^tly la.ni the hoV e .T'J,?^ It '^'^r*' ot puncture, will clearly mark the brui.se. The sole must then I.e thmned,and particularly over the bruised part, and am whether the uiflmnnuition has nm on to suppunitmn. Bleedm.' at afhrve'e he'r f ""'{ ""'.'-'-'-l-l'ices,-',nd such other metn as have either been described und.'r '•Inllainmation of the Feet " or bruises of the f.«t are leaving the sole too much exposed by means of a narnjw web^K;d shoe, or the smith paring out the sole too closely or U.e j^essure of the shoe on the sole, ir ,he''in.roduction of gi^vel ; Bt"iies between the shoe and the .sole. ^ PRICK OR WOUND IN THE SOLE OR CRUST. 189 PRICK OR WOUND IN THE SOLE OR CRUST. This IS the most frequent cause of quittor. It is evident that the sole is very liai)le to be wounded by nails, pieces of glass, or even sharp Hints, but much more frequentb, the fleshy plates ore wounded by the nail in shoeing; or if the nail docs not penetnite through the internal surface of the crust, it is dri\ en so close to it that it presses upon the fleshy parts beneath, and causes irritation and iiiliuniuuilion, and at length ulceration. When a horse becomes suddenly lunie, after the Icjis have been carefully exanuiicd and no cause of lameness appears in tboui, the shoe should be taken (;if. In many cases the oileiiding substance will Ih' irumediateiy tietected, or the additional heat felt in some part of the foot will point out the seat of injury; or, if the crust be ra})ped wiih the hauuiier ail round, the Hiiuhing of the horse will discover it; or pressure wiih the pincers will render it evident. Wiien the shoe is removed fur this e.vamination the smith should never be permitted to wrencii it olf, but each nail shouid be drawn sej)aratel} , and (;\amin(Hl as it is drawn, when some moisture appear- in^i upon it will not uidVequently reveal the spot at which matter has been inrown out. lu ilie lurc-t<-K)t the injury will generally t)e tound on the inner quarter, and on the hind-feet near the toe, tliese being the tliiuuest parts of the fore and hind-feet. Sudden lameness occurring within two or three days after the horse has been shod will lead us to suspect that the smith has been in fault; yet no one who considers the thinness of the crust, and the difficulty of shoeing many {cot, will blame him for sometimes pricking the horse. When the seat of mischief is ascertained, the sole should be thin- ned round it, and, especially at the nail-hole, or the puncture, it should be pared to the quick. The escape of some matter will now probably tell the nature of the injury, and remove its consequences, it" it l)e puncture of tiie sole by some nail, or any similar thing, all that will be necessary is a little to enlarge the opening, and then to place on it a pledget of tow dipped in Friar's balsam, and over that a little com- mon stopj)ing; or, if there be much heat and lameness, a |)oultice should be applied. li the f>ot lias lieen woundid by tlie u rong direction of a nail in shoeing, and the sole be well pared out over the part on the lirst ap[)earanee of lameness, little niore will he necessary to be done, 'file opening must be somewhat enlarged, (he Friar\s balsam aj)plied, and the >h >e tacked on, with or v\ i;h,)ut a j)oulliee, according to the degree of lameness or heat, and on the following day all will otlen be well. It may, however, be prudent to keep the f >ot stopped for a few days. If the accident has been neglected, and matter begins to be formed, and to be pent up and to press on the neighbouring parts, and the horse evidently. suffers extreme pain, and is sometimes scarcely able to put us f )ot to the ground, and much matter is i)oured out when the opening is enlarged, further precautions must be adopted. The fart must e recollected that tin? living and utvAii horn will nevei i >(* '•'A "V' ,' ' ' 1 . i'; mmaathmgmmm 4 & \*, 190 AMERICAN FARRIER. unite, and every portion of the horny sole that has separated from the fleshy sole above must be removed. The separation must he followed as far as it reaches. Much of the success of the treatment depends on tliis. No small strip or edge of separated horn must be suffered to press upon any part of the wound. The exposed fleshy sole must tJien be touched, but not too severely, with the butyr (chloride) of antimony, some soft and dry tow placed over the part, and the fu)t stopped, and a poultice placed over all if the inflammation seems to require it. On the following day a thin pellicle of horn will frequent- ly be found over a part or the whole of the wound. This should be, yet very shghtly, touched again with the caustic; but if there be an appearance of fungus sprouting from the exposed surface, the applica- tion of the butyr must be more severe, and the tow again placed over it, so as to aff^)rd considerable yet unif(jrm [)ressure. Many days do not often elapse before the new horn covers the whole of the wound. In these extensive openings the Friar\s balsam wil! not often be success- ful, but the cure must he. effected by the judicious and never too severe use of the caustic. Bleeding at the toe, and physic, w ill be resorted VV/ •.•.v^.i.atiu.t av.cn .>11 tlilStJS. In searching the foot to ascertain the existence of prick, tliere is often something very censurable in {\w carelessness witli wiiich the horn is cut away between the tM)ttom of the crust and the sole, so as to leave little or no hold tor the nails, while some months must elapse before the horn will grow down sufficiently far for the shoe to be se- curely fastened. When a free opening has been made below, and matter has nof broken out at the coronet, it will rarely be necessary to remove any portion of the horn at the cpiarters, although we may l)e able to as- certain by the use of the probe that the separation of the crust extendi for a considerable space above the sole. CORNS. In the angle between the bars and the quarters, the horn of tli« sole has sometimes a red appearance, and is more spongy and softei than at any other part. The horse flinches when this porti<»n of tho horn is pressed upon, and there is occasional or permanent lameness. This disease of tlie foot is termed corns: bearing this resemblance to the corn of the human being, that it is prcxhiced by pressure, and is a cause of lameness, but difrcriug from it by the horn, answering to the skin of the human f(M)t, which is thin and weak, instead of being thickened and hardened. When it is neglected, so much inflamma- tion is j)roduced in that part of the sensil)le sole, that suppuration follows, and to that, quittor, and the matter either undermines tho horny sole, or is discharged at the coronet. The cause is pressure on the sole at that part, by the irritation of which a small quantity of bloiKJ is evtravasated. The horn is secreted in a less cpiantity, and of a more spongy nature, and this extravasated olood becomes enclosed in it. CORNS. 191 This pressure is produced in various ways. When the foot be- cause comes contracted, the part of the sole inclosed between the external crust which is wiring in, and the bars which are opposing that contraction, is squeezed as it were in a vice, and be- comes inflamed; hence it is rare to see a contracted foot without corns. When the shoe is sufl^ered to remain on too long, it becomes imbedded in the heel of the fK>t: the external crust grows down on the outside of it, and the bearing is thrown on this angular portion of the jsole. No part of the sole can bear continual pressure, inflammation and corns would be the result. From the length of wear the shoe sometimes becomes lo frequently cut away, and then tlie heel of the sh(>e must be bevelled inward in order to answer to this ab- surd and injurious shaping of the f(K)t; and by this slanting direction of the heel of the shoe inward, an unmitural ([is|M)sition to contraction is given, and the sole must suIKt in two ways, in l)eing presses! upon by the shoe, and being squeezed between the outer crust and the exter- nal portion of the bar. The shoo is often made unnecess:irilv narrow at the heels, by wluch this angle, seemingly less disposed to bear pressure than any other part of the fn^t, is exposed to accidental hnuses. ff, in the paring out of the foot, the smith should leave the bars prominent, he to^) frequently neglects to ])are away the horn in Ihe angle between the bars and the external crust; or if he cots away Ihc bars, he scarcely touches the horn at this point; and thus, before the horse has been shot! a fortnight, the shoe rests on this angle, and proiJuces corns. The use of a slwe f >r the fore feet, thjckcnetl at the heels, is, and especially Hi weak feet, a source of corns, from tlie undue bciring there is on the heels, and the concussion to which ther\' are sulject. The unsh(Kl colt rarely has corns. The heels have their natm-al power of expansion, and the sensible sole at this part can scarcely be imprisoned, while the projection of the heel of the crust and the bar IS a sutiirient defence fn>m external injury. Corns seem to be, to a cei-tam degree, the almost inevital)le consequence of sh(K>ing, which, by limiting, or in a manner destroying, the expansibility of "the foot| must, when the sole attempts to descend, or the coflin-lMm'e has a back- ward and downward dirccticm, imprison and injure this [>ortion of tho sole; and this evil consecpience is increased when the shoe is badly formed or kept on too long, or when the paring is omitted or injudicious- ly extended to the bars. By this unnatural pressure of the sole, blood IS thrown out, and enters mto the pores of the soft and dise.ased horn whirh is then secreted: therefore we judge of the existence and the extent of the corn by the colour and softness of the horn at this place. The cure is diflicult; for as all shoeing 1ms some tendency to pro- duce pressure here, it is diflkult to get rid of the halnt of throwing out this diseased horn when it is once contracted. The first thing to be done is well to pare out the angle between the v. l^ AMERICAN FAUUIER. crust and the bars. Two o!)jerts are answered by this; the extent of the disease will be ascertained, and one cause of it removed. Treaimeiu. ^ ^^^^,^ ^j^.^jj (i^awing kiiifj must be used for this pur- pose The corn must he pared out to the very bottom, takmg care not to wound the sole. It will then I e discovered whether there he any effusion of bl(X)d or matter nnderne;ith. If this be suspected, an opening must be made through the lv.)rn, the matter evacuated, the separated horn taken awav, the course and extent of the sinuses ex- plored, and the treatment recoFninrnded tor (piittor adopted. Should Uu-re be no collecti .n offluid, the Imtvr nf autiiiiony should he app!i«>.l over the whole; exteut of the corn, r the horn has been thinned as closely as possible. Th.- object of this is to stimuhile tlie sole to throw out more healthy horn. In bad cases a bar-shoe may be put on, so cliunhered, tliat there shall be ik) pressure on tiie diseased part. This mav be worn for one or two shoeiugs, but n »t constant Iv, for there are few frogs that would hear the constant pressure of the bar-shoe; and the want of the pressure on the heel, generally orcasi »ned bv their use, would proiiuce a softened and bulbous state of the heel^, whi.h would of itself he an inevi'ai^le source ot lameness. In the great m jj 'rity of cases the corn is either confined to tlie inner (piarter of the f >ot, or cnist. That this should be the case may be easily imagined, f.'-.m what we have said of contraction being m<.st fre(pient in the inner cpuirter. The .sh<»e, unfettered on the inner sic'e, inav, in corn on that side, be applied wi h great benefit if the country l)e n »t trM) heavy, or the pace required from the horse too great. Next is to hi considered the cause of the corn, which a careful ex- aminati »n of the foot and the shoe will easily discover. The cause being ascertainerl, the effect may, to a great extent, I e af'crwards removed. Turning out to grass, after the horn is a little grown, first with a bar-shoe, and afterwards with the shoe fettered on one side, or with tips, will often be serviceable. A horse that hus once had corns to any c<.nsiderabie extent should, at every shoeing, have the seat ot c^rn well pared out, and the butyr of antimony ap[)lied. The seated shoe (hereafter to be described) should be used, with a web suflicienl- ly thick to cover the place of corn, and extending as far back as it can be made to do without injury to the frog. Low weak heels should he rarely touched with the kiufe, or any thing more he done than lightly to rasp them, to give a level surface. The inner heel should be particularly spared. Corns are seldom found ill the lund feet, hccause the heels are stronger arul the feet are not expoiiod to so much concussion; and when they are found there, they are rarely or never productive of lameness. THRUSH Is a discharge of ofTensive matter f'-om the cleft of the frog. It is inflammation of the lower surfiice of the sensible frog, and during which pus is secreted together with, or instead of horn. When the frog is in its sound state the cleft sinks hut a little way into it; but whcp it THRUSH. I9S becomes contracted or otherwise diseased, the cleft extends in length, and penetrates even to the sensible horn within, and through this un naturally deepened fissure the thrushy discharge proceeds. It is caused by any thing that interferes with the healthy structure and action of the frog. We find it in the hinder feet oftener and worse than in the fore, because in our stable management the hinder feet are t(K) much exposed to the pernicious effect of the dung and the urine, inotstening, or as it were maccratinnf, and at the same time irritating them. The distance of the hiiuler feet from the centre of the circula- tion would, as in the case of grease, more expose tliem to accumula- tions of fluid and discharjrcs of this kind. In the fore feet thrushes are usually connected with contraction. We have stated that they are l)oth the cause and the effeci of contraction. The pressure on the frog from the wiring in of the heels will j)rotly thus diseased. ITirushes are not always accompanied by lameness. In a great many cases mr ;ip[)earanct; of the bR»l is scarcely, or not at aii aliered, and the disease can only he detected by close examination, or the peculiar smell of the disc-harge. The frog may not a|)pear to be ren- dered in the slightest degree tendc by it, and therefore the horse may nt)t be considered by many as unsound. Every disease, how- ever, should be considered as legal unsoundness, and especially a disease which, although not attended with present detriment, must not be neglected, for it would eventually injure and lame the horse. All other things being right, ;i horse should not be rejected because he ha» a slii^ht thrush, for if the shape of the hrM)f be not altered, experience tells'^iis that tlw^ thrush is easily removed; yet if it be not scnm removed, it will alter the shape of the foot and the action of the horse, and l>e- come manifest unsoundness The progress of a neglected thrush, although sometimes slow, is sure. The frog begins to contract in size, it l)e(M>mes niugh, ragged, brittle, and tender. The discharge is more? copious and more oflTensive — the horn graduallv disappears — amass of hardfMied mucous usurps its place — this easily peels off, and the sensible frog remains exposed — the horse cannot hear it to be touched fungous granulations spring Worn it — they spread around— the sole becoines underrun, and canker steals over the greater i)art of the f(X)t. There are few errors more common or mon; dangerous, than that the existence of thrush is a matter of little conseipience, or even, as some suppose, a benefit to thi' horse, — a discharge for superabundant humours, — and that it should not be dried up tfX) (piirkly,and in some cases not dried up at all. If a young colt, tat and full of blood, has a had thrush, with much discharge, it may be prudent to accompany the attem|>t at cure by a dose of physic or a course of diuretics; a few diuretics nwiy not' be injurious when we are endeavouring to dry up thrush m older horses: but disease can scarcely be attacked Ux) soon 25 R • * I 'I .5' H i •! I • V I- ^j !«',/, .)t "i-I'lif*^ y 194 AMERICAN FARRIER. or subdued too rapidly, and especially a disease which steals on so insidiously, and has such fatal consequences in its train. If the heels once begin to contract through the baneful effect of thrush, it will with difficulty, if at all, be afterwards removed. There are many recipes to stop a running thruvsh. Almost every application of an astringent but not too caustic nature will have the eifect. The common ^gyptiucum (vinegar boiled with honey and verdigris) is a very go )d liiiiuiont; but ilu) most effectual and the safest, drying up the dischurge speediiy, but not suddenly, is a paste composed of two ounces of blue and one of white vitriol powdered as finely as possible, and rul)l)ei! I hi i m 196 AMERICAN FARTHER, result of that inflammation, is, that the cartilages arc absorbed, and bone is substituted in their stead. I'his ossification frequently accom- panies ringbone, but it may exist without any affection of the pastern joint. It is oftcnest found in horses of heavy draught. It arises not so much from concussion, as from a species of sprain, for the pace of the horse is slow. The cause, indeed, is not well understood, but of the effect we have too numerous instances. Very few heavy draught horses arrive at old aj^e witlu)ut this chanj^e of structure. In the healthy static of the fnjt, ihese cartila«;cs will readily yield to the pressure of the fwigf is on the coronet over the ((uarters, but, by de«rrees, the resistance becomes greater, and at length l)one is formed, and the j)arls yield no mv>re. No evident iutlamuiation of the f(K)t, or great, or perhaps even j)erceptiblo lameness accom[)ani s this change- a mere slight degree of stillness may have been ol)served, which, in a horse of more rapid pace, would have been lameness. Even when the change is completed, there is not in many cases any thing more than a sFight increase of stiffness, liltU; or not at all interfering with the usefulness of the horse. When tliis altered structure apj)ears in the lif^hter hor«e, the lameness is morn derided, and monns should be taken to arrest the progress of the change: these are blisters or firmg; but, after these parts have become bony, no operation will restore the cartilage. Connected with rmgbone the lameness may be very great. (See ringbone chapter vi.) WEAKNESS OP THE FOOT. This is more accurately a bad formation, than a disease; often, indeed, the result of disease, but in many instances the natural con- struction of the ft)ot. The term ^rcak foot is familiar to every horse- nuin, and the consequence is too severely felt by all who have any thing to do with horses. In the slanang of the crust from the coronet to the toe, a less angle is almost invarialdy formed, amounting proba- bly to not m')re than forty instead of forty -five degrees; and after 'he horse has been worked for one or two years the line is not straight^ but a little indented or hollow, midway between the coronet and the t»:>e. We have described this as the accompaniment (T pumiced feet, but it is often seen in w(Mk fet>t, which, although they nught become pumiced bv severity ot"u«»rk, do not otherwise lia\e the sole convex. The crust is not only les.s t hlnpu; than it ought to be, ])ut it has not the smooth, even ap})(;aran 'e of the goinl i\n>\. The surf ice is sometimes irretnjlarls roti^ihened, l-ut it is mu<"h oficner r»»i!'diened in circles or rmiis. The f »nu ot' the crust liki'wise presents too much the appear- ance of ac(»ne; the bottom of the f)ot is unnaturally \n ide in pr(laee(!. We find thu skin tijiht alonfj the museles of tiie baek arid l(»ins, and down the vet more p :)\verfid muscles of the cpiarters; but in other j)laces it seems to be destineil only to protect the parts beneath, and thc^re it is lo;>sely attached, that it may not interfere \\ ith the motions of the animal. About the brisket, and wilhin the arms and at the thinks, it hangs even in folds, to allow for the extraordinary distension of those parts hi rapid action. Of i^s strenifth we have abundant pr<^)of, l>oth in the living and ripnd animal. Its fii)res are interlaced in a most curious and intricate man* ner, so as, when living, Vj be scarcely lacerable. It offers consider- able resistance even to the knife, and is converted into leather aftei death. It is, while the animal is alive, one of the most elastic bodies with which we are acquainted. It not only perfectly adapts itself to the slow growth or decrease of the body, and appears equally to fit, whether the horse is in the plumpest condition or reduced to a skele- ton, but when a portion of it is distended to an extraordinary degree in the most powerful action of the muscles, it in a moment again con- tracts to its usual dimensions. It is principally indebted for thi? elasticity to aim jst innumerable little glands which pour out an oily fluid that softens and supples it. When the horse is in health, and every organ discharges its proper Indications f'lnctions, a Certain quantity of this imctuous matter is spread of health, ovcr the surface of the skin, and is contained in all the pores that penetrate its substance, and the skin is pliable, easily raised from the texture beneath, easily doubU^d between the fuver and thumb, and presenting that peculiar yielciing sot'tness and elasticity which experience has j)roved are the best prcw/s of the condition, that is, tlie general health of the animal. Then, tw), fr(»m the oiliness and softness of the skin, the hair lies in its natural and proper direction, and IS smooth and glossy, — another pnxjf of the conditio n of the horse. When the system is deranged, and especially the digestive system, and the vessels concerned in the nourishment of the animal cease to act, or act feebly, the vessels of the skin immediately, and to a very mar- ked degree, sympathize; and this oily secretion is no more thrown out, and the skin loses its pliancy, and it is ditbcult or almost impos- sible to take it up between the finger and thumh, and, losing its HIDE-BOUND. 199 pllanc}^ it seems to cling to the animal, and we have that peculiar feeling which we call HIDE-BOUND. Hide-bound is not so much a diminution of the cellular or fatty sub- stance between the skin and the muscles and bones beneath, as it is an alteration in the skin itselt. It is a hardness and unyieldiu«»ness of the skin tVom the want of the oily matter on its surface, and in its sjl>stan'e which lias just been mentioned. It is precisely tlie differ- ence which is presented to the feeling by well curried and supjile leiiher, and that which has become drv and un\ ieldinj;. The surface of the skin becoming dry and hard, the scales of the cuticle no longer yield to the hair, but, separating themseves in every direction, tiu-n the hair various ways, and give that staring coat or irregidar direction of the hair which accompnnies want of condilicdi. This state of the skin, by proving the ifni)aire!i functions (>f the vessels of the skin, shows the impaired function of the vessels every where, an 1 particularly those of the stomach and bowels. The h(>rseman ^h )uld remember that hide-bound is not so much a disease, as a s\ mp- tom of disease, and particuiariy of the digestive organs; and our remedies must be applied n )t so m ich to the skin, (akh nigh we have, in fricti >n and in warmth, most valuable agents in producing a healtliy condition of the integuments,) as to the caiuic of the hiiuhng of the coat and the state of the constitution generally. Every disease that can affect the general system is likely to produce this derangement of the functions of the skin. Glanders, when become constitutional, is strongly characterized by the luithrif'ty appearance of the coat. Chro- nic cough, grease, farcy, and f)Mnder, are accompanied by hide- bound; and diet t(X) sparing, and not adequate to the work exacted, is an unladmg source of it. If tho cause be removed, the effect will cease. Should the cause be obscure, as it frequently is — should the horse wear an unthrifty coat, and his hide cling to his ribs, without any ap- parent disease, we shall be warranted in tracing it to sympathy with the actual, although not demonstrable suspension of some imjiortant secretion, generally in the alimr physic, alteratives may be administered. There is no bettiT aherative foi beiui; hide-bound and havin«i an unthrifty coat than that whi should bv no means be used — ewAi the brush should not be applied t(H» hard or too long. The old hair must n >t be forced otf iulure th(^ vounji hair is ready to take its plat e. The exercise shoiild be nxxlerate — the clothing rather warmer than usual, and the water chilled. Nature adapts tiie coat to the climate and to the season. The Sheltie has one as long and as thick as that of a l>ear; and as the summer is short and cold too in those nor- thern islands, the coat is rough an«4 shaggy during the whole of the year. In the deserts of Arabia, where the winter is rarely cold, the C(xit remains short and glossy ihrjughout the year. In our climate, 2(\ M, n^tummmmMmmtimtBiimJ''* H 202 AMERICAN FARRIER. SUUraiT.— MANGE. 203 the short covering of summer is succeeded in autumn by one of con- siderably greater length and thickness; and tliat in its turn yields in the spring to the lighter clothing which summer requires. As a thin and glossy coat adds to the beauty of the horse, and is identified, to a great degree improperly, with liis condition, an artificial system has been adopted, by which the coat shall remain of nearly the same length, and that a short <»ne, durint4 the year. Nature cluuiges it Nvith the change of season, man prevents a change of season in the stable. It is always siniiiiier there — always sidlieiently hot to make a long coat useless, an.l tlierefore nature, who acconinKxlates herself to circumstances, does not give it. The expot^ure to cold during the few hours of exercise may roughen the coat for a little while, but the hot clothing and the hot air of more than twenty hours out of the twenty-four, give tlie character to the covering w Inch nature be^-^tows on such an animal. This system is not now carried to the injurious extent that it used to be, but it \vA j)artakes too much of absurdity and danger. Th(^ iullaiMiuatory complaints' to which these hot-house animals are subject, and the average shortness of their lives, are suf ficient proofs of the error of the practice. The farmer has, or should have, little to do with this artiticial man- agement of the coat, and he may be assured that his liackney will, with his winter hair upon him, be to all intents and purposes in'as full condition, and as strong and as stout, as the glos^iest-coutcd horse, if he has been sufficiently and properly fed. CLIITING. As to the newly invented practice of clipping, in some ])arts of the United States, we doubt whether such deviations from nature rare- ly come to any g(X)d. While the animal is in action, a sullicient supply of heat is obtained by the action on the capillaries, and the increased developement of temj)erature; but when the acti )n is suspended, some clothing, natural or artificial, something through which the animal heat shall not es- cape, is absolutely necessary to prevent the ehilling of the fnime, the exhaustion of vital power, and the dangerous re-action of fever. COLOrR. The colour of the hair, like that (.fihe >k\i\, is indueiiced hv. or depends on, tli;it of the mucous njcsh-work luuler the culiele. There is an (»id saying, that a go.nl horse caimot he of a bad colour; and it is far more necessary to attend to the conformati..n and points of the horse than to lus colour. These observations, however, al- though they admit of many excej)tions, may be useful in guidin«r to the judicious purchase of the horse. "^ SUKFKIT. Large pimples or lumps often suddenly appear on the sKin of the horse, and especially in t\u^ spring; and occasionally they disappear I I nf^ quickly as they came. Sometimes they seem to be attended with great itching, but at others they appear not in the least to annoy the animal. When they have remained a few days, the cuticle frequently peels olf, and a small scaly spot, though rarely a sore, is left* This is called a surfeit, from its resemblance to some eruptions on the skin of the huuKin being, when indigestible or unwholesome fxxl has been taken. These lum[)s arc, in some cases, confined to the neck; but thev oftener spread over the sides, back, loins, and (piarters. The cause is enveloped in some obscurity. The disease most frequently appears when the skin is irritable during or after the [)rocess of moul- tin«'f and when it sympathises most with any disorder of \\w stomach; therefore, some veterinary surgeons have attributed it to indigestion. It has l>een known to follow the eating of poisonous herbs or mow- hurnt hay, but much oftener it is to he traced to exposure to cokl when the skin was previously irritnlth^ and the horse heated by exercise; it has also been attril)uted to the ijuui. (derate drinking of cold water when the animal was hot. It is obstruction of s»ime of the pores of the skin and swelliuii of the; surrounding substance, either from primary atfec- lion (»f the skin, or from its sympathy with the dig(\stivc organs. lileeding will always t)e beneficial — from liiree to live quruing, because the w.inuth of the stable will caufn sympathises, and we can imagine tliat mange may otjcasionally I e produced instead (»f surfeit and hide-bound. Every farmer has pnnif enough of this 1 ci ng the case. If a horse is turned on a common, where there is scarcely sullicieut herbage to satisfy his a[)pe'ite, or if he is placed in one of those straw-yards w Inch, under tht^ management of mercenary and unfcxding men,, are the very abodes of misery, the animal comes up a skeleton, and he comes up mangy Ux). Poverty and starvation are fruitbil sources of mange, but it (k>es not appear that filth has much to do with it, although poverty and filth generally go hand in haiuk The propriety oi" bheding in cases of mange must depend on the condition of the patient. If mange be the result of poverty, and the animal is much debilitated, bleeding will be adding [Kiwertothe cause of the disease. Thysic, however, is indispensable. It is the first step t I in the progress towards cure. A mercurial ball will be preferable to a common aloetic one, as more certain and effectual in its operation, and the mercury having p/obably some influence in mitigating the disease. In this, however, mange in the horse resembles the itch in the human being — that medicine alone will never effect a cure There must be some local application. There is this further similarity, that that which is most effectual in curing this disgraceful complaint in man, must f >rm the basis of every local application as it regards the horse. Sul- phur is indispensable in every ung.ent fur mange; it is the sheet- anchor of the veterinary surgeon. In an early, and not very acute state of mange, one ounce of the flowers of sulphur should I e well rubbed down with an etpial rougni> urieii, me oinMiu'iit shoibl be well rubied in w ith tlie nakc^d h;ind, or witii a i)ieintinent I cing well rul)l ed in, than by a great deal being merely smeared over the part. The rubbing should be daily repeated. The sulphur seems to have a direct inlluence on ihe disease — the turpentine has an indi- rect one, by exciting some irritation ( n the skin of a different nature to that pr.xluced by the mange, and under the influence of which the irritation of mani^e will be diminished, and tlie disease nK>re easily combated. During the application of the ointment, and as scx)n as the physic has set, an alterative ball or powder similar to those recom- mended for the other affections of (he skin, should be daily given. If, lifter some days have passed, no progress should appear to have been made, half a pound of sulphur may be well mixed with a pint of oil of tar, or if that is n.)t to be o!)taine I, a pint of Barbadoes tar, and the affected parts rubbed as before. On every fifth or sixth Hay the oint- ment should be washed off'wiih wiirm soap and water. The progress towards cure will be ascertained, the skin will be clctmsed, and its P'sres opened, for the more effectual application of the ointment. Th" horse should be well supplied with nourishing, but not stimula- ting f(M)d. As much g«oen meat as he will eat should be given him, or, what is fjr better, he should be turned out if the weather is not too cold. It may be useful to add, that, after the horse has been ( nee well dressed with either of these liniments, the danger of contagion ceases. It is necessary, however, to be assured that every mangy place has been anointed. It will be prudent to give two or three dressings after the horse has been cured apparently, and to continue the alt(;ratives for ten days or a fortnight. The cure being completed, the clothing of the horse t'l 200 AMERICAN FAUiilER. should he well snaked in water, to whkh a f irliolh part of the saturated solution of the chloride of lime has heen added; after which, it should be washed with soap and water, and again washed and soaked in a solution of the chloride of lime, as before. Every part of the harness should undergo a similar purification. — The eurrycoinl» may he scoured, but the brush should l,e burnt, 'J'Ik; rack and rir,!n ibey have been thoroughly in- fected wiih luaii^ic This is bring nnneeessariU cautious. The efllcacy of the chloride (f lime was not then known: and if it is care^ fully and sulljcit utK a[)p!»e(i to every part ui' the stable and its furni- ture, there cannot afu^-wards I e dan^^er. Every case <^f itchiness of the skin shoidd be reirankifl with suspi- ci;;n. When a horse is seen to rub tbe nwit of his tail, or his bend or neck, atranist the IHMllo-fT, tlu' tiMrf*; t;h«»i!lil I #» mrornlh' ov?ir»ii»»o/t Sjme of the hair may have been rub! cd or torn otf, but if the r<^Kjt» remiin firmly adh rent, aixl there be only redness and not scurtiness of the skin^ it probably is not mange^ but (»nly inflammation of the skin, from too gre-at fulness of blped asunder with a pair of S( issors, close to the skrn^ and the nM)t toucdied with tbe lunar caustic. If tbe pedicle or stem be some- wl^at larger, a hgature of waxed silk may le passed firmly round it, and fii:bleiv«d every day, T\w source of niitrinjcnt being thus cut off, ♦ he tnuHMir will, in a few days, die and drop off. If tbey are large, or in considenible clusters, it will be necessary to cast the horse^ to cut them oft* close to the skin, and sear the root w ith n red-hot irron. Unless the**e precautions are used^tlic warts will speedily sprout again. UNSOUNDNESS. Chapter X. 207 I ON SOUNDNESS, AND THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF HORSES. 'i'uKRE are few sources of greater annoyance hotli to the buyer and the seller of the horse, than disputes w ith regard to the soundness of the animal. Although, in describing the various parts of tbe horse, we liave glanced at the connexion of certain natural conf )rmations and some alt(;rations of structure, and accidents, and diseases, with tbe question of soundness and unsoundness, it ma\ not be iinintcrest jug to di<»se for whom our work was designed, if we now bring into tune point of view the substance of that w liicli has been scattered ove; many pages. That horse is sound in whom there is no disease, nor any alteration of structure in any [)art which impairs, or is likely to impair his na- tural u.^'fulness- That horse is unsound tbat labours imder disease, or (bat has some alteration of stna ture tbat does interfere, or is likely to interfere with his natural usetulncss. Tbe term Cultural v.stful- 7UJf»H. but IS sof>n disabled; another will wi>rk all .v have fallen from mere accir(»ken-knees un'il he had thorouirhly tried him, and satisfied himself as to his form and acti«>n. Cappkd H(K?k« may he produced by lying on an unevenly paved stable witli a scanty supply of litter, or by kicking; in neither of whi' h cases would they constitute unsoundness, though in the latter they would be an indication of vice: but m the majority of instances, they are either the consequence of sprain of the h(K'k, and accompanied by enlargement of it, when they would be unsoundness. Co\TRAcriox is a considerable (Uniation from the natural f>rm of the foot but not necessarily consiiiutiug unsoundness; it rcipurcs, jtaWWiw^Bi ecause his feet are contracted, for many horses with stranijrelv contracted feet, are never lame^ a snc- cial vvarrantVj however, should lie required where the leet are at all contracted. Corns munifestlv constitute unsoundness. The poriion of the f(K>t in which thev are situated will not bear the ordinary pressure (»f the shoe; and any accidonlal additional pressure from the growing down of the horn, or the intrtKlucti on of dirt or gravel, will cause serious lameness. They render it necessary to wear a thick and heavy shoe, or a bar-shoe, to protect the weakened and diseased part; and corns are very seldom radically cured. Cough. — This is a disease, and conseq\icntly unsoundness. How ever slight r- -• hp, its drcrrcr, and of v.hntcvcr phnrt '^♦r^rdir*'* }* ?«?. although it may sometimes seem scarcely to interfere with the use- fulness of the horse, a change of stiibling, or slight exposure to wet and cold, or the least over-<;xertion, may at other times cause it to degenerate into many dangerous complaints. A horse, therefore, should never be purchased with a cough upon him without a special warranty; or if, the cough not being observed, he is purchased under a general warranty, he may be returned as soon as it is discovered. Roaring, Wueezing, Whistling, ITiGii-nLowiNG, and Grunting, beinix the result of alteration of structure, or disease in some of tin; air passages, and interfering with the perfect freedom of breathing, and especially when the horse is put on his speed, without doubt con- stitute unsoundness. BuoKr.N-wiNDis still more decidedly unsoundness. Crib-riting. — Although there is some difference of (»pinion nmong farriers on this point, crib-liting must be regarded as unsoundness. This unnatural sucking in of the air must be to a certain degree inju- rious to digestion, must dispose to colic, and so interfere with the strength, usefulness, and health (f the horse. Some crib-biters are gotwl goers, but they probablv would h;i\ e possessed more endurnnre had they not ac(piire(l this habit; and it is a fact well established, th:it as soon as a horse begins to become a crib-ldter he, in more than nine coses out often, begins to lose condition. IL.* is not, to the exptTienced eve, the horse hi? was betore. It mav not lead on to absolute dis- ease, or it may rarely do so to any considerable degree; but a hors<* that is deficient in condition, must, to that extent, have his capability for extraordinary work diminished, although not so as otlen to be apparent in ordinary work, and so far, the horse is unsound. Were there no other consideration, the wear of the front teelh, and even the frequent br(\iking of them, make a horse old before his time, and sometimes render it ditlicult or almost impossible for him to graze, when tlie state of the animal or the convenience of the owner re- quire that he should be turned out. Curb constitutes unsoundness while it lasts, and perhaps while the swelling remains, allluMigh the inllammation may have subsided; for a horse that has once thrown out a curb, is, tor a while at least, very liable to do so again on the slightest extra exertion. Cutting, as rendering a horse liable to seriiMis injury of the Ic^-s and indicatmg that he is either weak, f)r has an awkwardness <»f gait inconsistent with safety, should be consideied as unsoundness. Many lioi-ses go lame for a considerable period after cutting themselves severely; and others have dropped from the sudden agon"', and endan- gered themselves and their riders. As some doubt, however, exists on this subject, and as it is a very material ohjection to a horse, cutting, when evident, should have its serious conseipienees provided against by a spepe>aring for a lime, once or twice, or thrice, bef )re it fully runs its course. The eye, after an attack of mflammition, regains so nearly its former natural brilliancy, that a man well accpiainled with horses will not always rec(»gnize the traces of f >rmer disease. After a time, however, the' inflammation retuqis, and the result is unav(»idable. A horse fri>m four to six years of a'^e that has had one attack of this complaint, is long afterwards unsoumi, however perfect the eye may seem to be, because he carries about with him a disease that will again break out, and eventually destroy the sight. Whether, therefore, he may be returned or not, depends on the possibility of proving an attack of inllammation of the eye, prior to the purchase. Next to direct evidences of this are appeanmces about the eye, of which the flirrier at least ought not to be ignonint. They have been described. They consist chielly of a puckeTiin-r of ■WMmMMrMHMBI A \ m 210 AMERICAN FARRIER. UNSOUNDNESS. 211 < It the lids towards the inner corner of one or both eyes — a difference, although perhaps only a slight one, and not discovered except it be looked for, in the size of the eyes; a gloominess of the eye, a dulness of the irisj a little dulness of the tiansparent part of the eye generally, — a minute, faint, dusky spot, deep in the eye, and generally with little radiations of white lines proceeding from it: if these symptoms, or the majority of thctn, were observed at the time of purchase, the animal had assuredly been diseased before, and is unsound. Startin^j is an equivocal proof. It is usuj.lly an indic^itioii (»f defective sight, but it is occasionally a trick. Connected, however, with the appearant es just dcscriJKid, it is a very strone. A UHI1V5 ii»»tnt; in lof tiie UiHid ail uii.^iuiiii one. Nei'kotomv. — A question has arisen bow far a horse that has undergone the operation of the di\ isi(;n of the nerve of the leg, and has recovered from the lameness \\i\\\ which he was before afiected, and stands his work well, may be considered to le sound. In oui opinion there cannot be a doubt about the matter. Does the operation of neurotomy render a horse as capable of work as he was before he became affected with the disease on account of whi' h, and to relieve him from the torture of w hirb, the nerve was divii'ed? Is the ope- ration of neurotomy soinvariabl\ followed by capability, and continued capability of ordinary and even extraordinary work, that they may regularly be considered as cause and effect? The most strenuous defenders of the nerve operation cannot adhm this. They can only say that they partially succeed in almost every fair case, — that they perfectly succeed in the majority of cases; but they cannot deny that the horse will batter and bruise that f(M)t, when he has lost sensatiiU in it, which should have been tenderly used; that even the hoof will sometimes be lost, after openitions perlorined with the greatc^st judg- ment; that the lameness will sometiuH\*i return, after the animal has gone sound, one, two, or three years; and that, after all, there is a little unpleasantn<'ss, and even unsafeness in the action of the horse, from the peculiar manner in which the font meets the ground when its feeling is destroyed; and that the horse is more liable to accidents, f >r he will travel on without warning his rider of the evil, after a piece of glass has penetrated his f M)t, or a stone has insinuated itself between the sole and the shppe(l its growth, and the horses recovered. The fi)l lowing letter from a high source ui Kentucky, contains a remedy which is said to be much approved of at the present time. We extract it from the Sporting Magazine. "In reply to your correspondent in relation to the cure of the hig" head in horses, I would inform him that the cure is simple, easy, and certain, and is effected by simply touching the parts most enlarged, with aquaf )rtis, and letting it remain long enough to produce inflam- mation. If too much is applied, and the burning causes too severe pain, and is likely to go too deep, it may be stopped by applying a little soft oil or hogslard. In obstinate cases, a second or third appli- cation may be necessary; but not until the first has healed, and showed evident signs of not effecting a cure. ''In eiiiht or ten instances I have seen it tried; I have not known a j^ecou'l apj>lication necessary more than once or twice. ''The big-head is a disease of frequent occurrence in Kentucky, anrl 1 have known the above remedy used for seven or eight years, without a single failure to pnxluce a cure. The aquafortis is usually 4;iut on with a feather or sponge, and applied on each side of the jaw, and on each side of the face, between the eyes and nostrils." A. J. C . "PuMicEO-rooT. — Wlu^n the union between the b«.rny and sensible lamella^, or little plates of the foot is weakened, and the colbn-bone is let down, and presses upon the sole, which yields to this unnatural weight, and becomes rounded, bniisc^d and injured, that horse must bo unsound f(>r ever, because there ;irc no means \>\ which we can lift up the coffni-lK>ne again into its place. QuiDDiNG. — If the masticati(>n of the f xkI gives [)ain to the animal, in consequence of soreness of the mouth or throat, he will drop if before it is perfectly chewed. This, as an indication of disease, constitutes unsoundness. Quiddnig sometimes arises from irregularity in tbo teeth, which wound the cheek with their sharp edges; or a protruding tooth renders it impossible for the horse to close his jaws so as to chew bis food thoroughly. Quidding is unsoundness for the time; but it ■■iMWiiW'il JTMi Willi i ^1 212 AMERICAN FARUIER. UNSOUNDNESS. 213 m I will cease when the teeth are properly filed, or the catarrh relieved, or the cause of this imperfect chewing removed. QuiTTOR is unsoundness. Ring-bone. — Although wiien the bony tumour is small, and on one side only, there is little or no lameness, and there are a few instances in which a horse with ring-bone has worked for niany years without lameness; yet, from the action of the f(H>t, and the stress upon the part, the inflammation and the formation of bone have such a ten- dency ra[)itlly to sj)read, that we must pronounce the slightest eiil.ugemoiit of the pasterns or around the coronet, to be a cause of unsouiiihiess. Samm"hv( K is manifestly unsoundness; but it may cKcur without the slightest warning. Its usual cause is too great brittleness of the crust of die hoof; but there is no iiifallil)le metliod of detecting this, or tb(i degree in whi( h it must exist to constitute unsoundness. When the horn round the bottom of tiie f )ot has chipped olf so much tiiat only a skilful smith can fasten the shoe without pricking tiie horse, or even when there is a tendency in the horn to chip and break otf in a much less degiY^e than this, the horse may j)rohably br rclurncd as unsound, for ttiis brittleness of the crust is a disease of the part, or it is such an altered structure of it as to interfere materially with the usefulness of the animal. Spavin is unsoundness, whether the bony or the blocxl-spavin. In the first, lameness is produced, at least at starting, in ninety-nine casea out of a hundred, and there is enlargement of the hony enlargement is too near a very imporUmt and com{>licate(l joint, and on the leasl injury or sprain of that joint would sjiread over it, and matcriallv interfere with its motion. Blood-spavin is unsoundness, because, although it may not be productive of lameness at slow work, the rapid and powerful action of the hock, in (piicker motion will pnjdiice permanent, although n<.t considenable liuneness, and which can scarcely ever be with cer- tainty removed. Splent.— It depends entirely on the situation of the Iwaiy tumour on the inside of the shank-bone, whether it is to be considered as unsoundness. If it is not in the neighUjurlKKxl of any joint, so as to interfere with its action, and if it does not press upon any ligament or tendon, it can be no cause of unsoundness, although it is often very unsightly. It does not lessen the capabihty and value of the animal. Sprino-halt. — This singular and very unplea.«iant action of the hind leg cannot be termed unsoundness. It is an irregular communi- cation of nervous energy to some muscle of the thigh, observable when the horse first comes from the stable, and gradually ceasing on exercise, and has usually l>een found in those horses tliat have a more than common degree ol' strength and endurance. Thickening of the Back Sinews. — SuHiciont attention is not always paid to the fineness of the legs of die horse. If the flexor tendons have been sprained so as to produce considera\)le thickening of the cellular substance in which their sheaths are enveloped, they will long afterwards, or perhaps ever after, be liable to sprain from causes by which they would otherwise be scarcely affected. The coutiiuiance of any considerable thickness around the sheaths of the teuil lis indicates previous and \iolcnt sprain. This very thickening wi.l f'lt(;r the action of the tendons, and atlor much (puck work will, from the very friction, (x-casioually renew tl\c inllammation and the lameness; therefore, such a h )rse cannot be sound. It re;Mo/l f^y^^ thorp «honld be a special warrantv atrahist it. Thrush.— Tlirush has not been considered by legal men as un- soundness- It seemed to be necessary to prove lameness, or probable injury to the foot. We confess, however, that we are inclined to con- sider thrush as unsoundness. We are compelled to consider it so according to our definition, that every disease is unsoundness. It is inflammation of the lower surface of the inner or sensible frog, and the secretion or throwing out of pus, almost invariably accompanied bv a slight deirrce of tenderness of the frog itself, or of the heel a little above it%nd if neglected, leading to diminution of the substance of the fro(T, and separation of the horn from the parts beneath, and under- nnnin sand the pnxluction of fungus, canker, and uUimately a diseased state of the fx)t, destructive of the present, and dangerous to the future usefulness of the h^rse. ^ r in WiND-(;ALLs.--There are few horses perfectly free from wind-galls, but they do not interfere with the action of the fetlock, or cause lame- ness, except wIkmi thev are numerous or large. They constitute unsoundness only when th(>y cause lameness, or are so large and nu- merous as to render it likelv that they will soon cause it. In the punhase of a horse the buyer usually receives, embodied in the receipt, what is termed a warrantv. It should be thu3 cxuressetl * ■ - 'Received of A. B. one hundred t the a!!(V'{\i unsoundness, the annual shall be as perfect and valuable as when bougliL The punhaser, possibly, may lik(^ the horse notwithstandinn. if the defect was evident to every eye, the purchnser has no remedv— he should Iiave taken more care; but if a warrantv was given, it extendn to all uns(>undness, palpable or C(,n;-ealed. Althouirh a person shoiild irr„o. rantly or carelessly buy a blind horse, warninted sound, he may reUnn )t-^Mie warranty is his guard, and prevents him from so' eloselv examuuMg the horse as he otherwise would have deue; but if he buvN ft bhnd horse, thinkin- him to be s,>,md, an.l with Mit a warrantv, he lias n ) remedy, i^he law supposes every one to exercise common circumspection and common sense. A man should have a more perfect knowledge of horses than fills to the lot of most men, and a perfect knowledge of the vendor too, who ventures to buy a horse without a warranty. Exchanges, whether of on.> horse absolutely for another, or a sum of money being paid m addition by one of the parties, stand on the Fame ground as simple sales. If there is a warranty on either side, and that is broken, the exchange is vitiated : if there l)e no warranty, deceit must be proved. The subject of trial is a very intricate one, and we are inclined ta tliiuk that the dealer is often very ill-used. It is well known that a 1^4 .nse from a dealer's stable is seldonj or never fit for liard work until he has undt^rgoiie some preparation and training. It is ri<:bt that the imrelmser should have a trial of him, but he sboidd try him in a fair '^jjy ill Jl way consistent with the stale in which th(i animal is. if a horse from a dealer's stable is galloped far and fast, it is {)robable that he will srse, and places him in sullk-ient subjection for the oj)erations of docking, nicking, aiwi slight firing. The long line of the hobbles^ or a common cartrope with a nwse at the end, is fastened on the pastern of one hind-leg. The rope is then brought over the neck and round the withers, and there tied to the portion that comes from the leg- The leg may thus be drawn so far i<>rward, that while the horse e\ise passed through a hole at the end of a strong stick, and in which the muzzle is inclosed. The stick l;eing turned, the muzzle is securely retained while the horse suffers gre-it pain from the pressure — sufl".- ciently great to render him comparatively inattentive to that which is produced by the operation; at the same time, he is afraid to struggle, for every motion increases the agony caused by the tvNieh, or th(^ assistant has power to increase it b)' giving an additi* n;il turn to the stick. The barnacles are the handles of the pinchers placed over and in- closing the muzzle, and which, being comj)ressed by the assistant give pain almost eipial t > th;!t of tin? twitch. TIk^sc niay appear to be barbarous m xles (tf entorcing submission, but they are absolutely indispensable. In a few instances, tiie blindfolding of the horse terri- fies him into su])inission; but this is not to be de()cndcd upon, 'i'he twitch should l>e resorted to when tiie least resistance is oflered; and when that, as it occasionally does, rend(TS the horse more violent, recourse must be had to tb.e side-line or the hobbles. In painful exanunation »^f the f >re-lei»; or bnjt whih; on the uround, the other foot shoidd he held up by an assistant; or, if his aid be re- quired in an operation, the knee may be fully bent, and the pastern tied up to the arm. When the hind-leg is to be examined in the same Way, the f ;re-Icg on that side should be held or fastened up. f i i BLEEDING .—BLISTERING. BLEEDING. 217 The operation of Bleeding has been already described (p. 88,) but we would remind our readers of the necessity, in every case of acute inflammation, of making a large orifice, and abstracting the bkxKl as» rapidly as possible, for the constitution will thus be the more speedily aiul beneficially affected; and also, of the propriety of never determin ing t() take a precise quantity of blo(Kl, l)ut of keeping the finger on the artery until the pulse begins to change; — until the strong pulse of liner becomes softer, or the animal is taint, or the op[)rcsse(l pulso of intlarnniatiiin ot'the buigs is rountltu* and tulhu'. In cases of inllainiuation, and in the hands of a skilt'ul j)ractitioner bleeding is the sheet-anuld be the chief objects of regard. lUJSTKRINfi. Of TRUSTERS we have often spoken when treating of the various diseases to which they are applicable. The principle on which they act, is that no two intense inflammati »ns can exist in neighbourmg parts, or perhaps in the system, at the same time. Hence we a])ply some stimulating acrir^ionious sid>stance to the skin, to excile external inflammation, and to lessen or draw awav inflammation in some deeper 28 'l^ I 218 AMERICAN FARRIER. ]■' ^ I seated and generally not far distant part. Thus we blister the sides in inflammation of the lungs — the belly in that of the bowels — the legs in that of the cellular substance surrounding the sheaths of the ten- dons, or the sheaths themselves, and the coronet or the heel in inflain- mation of the navicular joint. Blisters have likewise the property of increasing the activity of the neighbouring vessels: thus we blister to bring th(3 tumour of strangles niore speedily to a head — we blister to rouse the absorbents to more energetic action^ and take away tumours, and callous and even bony substances. The judgment of the practitioner will decide wlien the desired effect will be best produced by a sudden and violent action, or by the con- tinuaiKc of one of a milder nature. Irdiammation should be met by active blisters,- old enlargements and swellings will be nK)st certainly removed by milder stnnulants — by tbe proc-ess which farriers call ST r rating down. There is no better blister ointment or active Idister than the Spani>h rty, mixed with the proportions of lard and resin already mentioned. The best lirpiid or sweating blister is an infusion of the llv in turpen- tine, and that lowered wim neat's foot oil according to the degree ot activity required. In preparing tbe horse for blistering, the hair should ])e clipped or Fhaved as closely as possible, and the ointment thcrougblv rubbed in. Much fault is often found with the ointment if the blister does not rise, when the real blame should be attributed to the idleness of the operator. The head of the horse must be tied up for the first two days; except that, when the sides are blistered, the body clotlx-s may be so con- trived as to prevent the horse from nibbling and bh nusbing the part, or blistering his muzzle. At the expiration of twentv-foiTr hours, a little olive or neat's foot oil may be applied over the blister, which will considerably lessen the pain and supple the part, and prevent cracks in the skin that may be difficult to heal. The oil should be applied morning and night, until the scabs peel off. When they begin to loosen, a lather of soap and water applied with a sponge may hasten tlnar renioval, but no violence must be used. Every particle of litter should be carefully removed from the sUdI, for the sharp ends of the straw eonnng in "contact with a part ren- dered so tender and irntable by the blister, will cause very L'reat annoyance to tbe animal. Alt(>r the second day the horse inay be s.ifTercd to lie down; but still tbe possibility of blenusbing himself shouhl be prownted by a cradlr or wo extensive. In inflammation of the lungs it should reach over the whole of the sides, and the greater part of the brisket; for, should a portion of the fly be absorbed, and produce 5^ra//^wr^ (inflam- mation, or spasmodic affection of the neck of the bladder,) even this new irritation may assist in subduing the first and more dangerous (;ne; l)ut m blistering for injuries or diseaises of the legs or fe^t some caution is necessary. When speaking ol" the treatment of sj>rain of the bac^k sinews, we stated, that *a blister shoulil never be used while any heat or tenderness remains about the part,' for we should tlien add to llie superficial inflammation, instead of abating the deeper sealed one: and enlargements of the limbaud ulcerations mi^ht. follow, which would render the horse perfectly unserviceable. When there is a tendency to grease, a blister is a dangerous thing, and has often aggravated the disease. In winter, tbe inllanimation of the skin pro- dm.ed by blistering is apt to degenerate into grease; therefore, if it should be necessary to blister the horse during that season, great care must be taken that he is not exposed to cold, and, particularly, ♦ i.of .. r>,,rrAres not come upon the legs. The inhuman practice of blistering all round^ and perhaps high on the le«i; at the same time, cannot be too strongly reprobated. Many a valuable horse has been lost through the excessive general irritation which this has produced, or its violent eflfect on the urinary organs; and this has been particularly the case, when corrosive sublimate has entered into the composition of the blister. If strangury should appear, the horse should be plentifully supplied with linseed tea, which is thus best prepared — a gallon of boiling wa- ter is poured on half a pound of linseed; the infusion suffered to stand til! nearly cold, and the clean mucilaginous fluid then poured oiW Three-quarters of a pound of Epsom salts should also be given, dis- solved in a quart of water, and, after that, a ball every six hours, composed of a scruple of opium, and a drachm of camphor, with linseed meal and treacle. Haifa pound or a pound of good mustjird powder, made into a {)aste with boiling water, and applied hot, will often produce as giMnl a blister as canthandes, with far more swelling. It is a preferable one, where, as in inflammation of the kidneys, the cffi.'ct of canthari- des on the urinary organs is feared. ILirtsbitru is n(>t so ctlectual. Tincture of croton makes an active li(piid blister. FIRINC. Whatever seeming cruelty may attend this operation, it is in many cases indispensable. The principle on which we have recourse to it is similar to that which justifies the use of a blister; by producing superficial inflammation we maybe enabled to remove a deeper seated o/ie, or we may excite the absorbents to take away any unnatural bony or other tumour: it has also this additional advantage, that, irittfiKarTTmut n 220 AMERICAN FAUrJEH. 1^ 11 while it raises intenser cxtcnidl inllanrirntion than we can produce by other means, it is the most powerful agent tliat we have at our disposal. Humanity, however, will dictate, tliat on account of the inflammation which it excites, and the pain which it inflicts, it should only be had recourse to when milder means have failed, except in those cases in which experience has taught us that milder means rarely succeed. The part which is to he submitted to the operation is shaved, or the hair is cut from it as closely as possibh^ wiih (lie trijiuning scissors. This is necessary to brin;.^ the iron into immediate conlnr'^t wilh iIh* skin, and likewise to prevent the sm»ke that will aris(; frnm Jh, burned hair from oi soiring the vi jw of the operator. 'J'he horse must then be thrown. Tliis is absolutely necessary for the safotv Ix.th of the operator and th(^ animd. Tim side line *is apjilied ift a shoilrr time, and so many hands are not wanted to cast the horse; hut no per- son can fire accurately, or \\ ith the ( ertainty of not penetrating the skin, except the horse is elfectuaily secured hv the hobhles^ and although accidents have occurred in^ the act of throwing, yet manv more have resulted to the operator, the assistants, or the horse, in a protracted operation like this, when the side-line only has been'used. The details of the operation belong to the veterinary surgeon. The grand points to l)e attendcnl to are to liave the edge of the iron round and smwth— the iron itself at, or rather helow a read heat— to pass it more or less rapidly over the skin, and with slighter or greater pressure according to the degree of heat— to burn into the skin until the lino produced by the iron is of a brown colour, rather light than dark, and, by all means, to avoid penetrating the skin. Leaving the additional cruelty of dee{> firing out of the cpiestion, we may depend on it that if the skm is burned through, inli:iuimation, and ulceration, and slomdun- wdl ensue, which will he with much dilhcultv comhatted- which will unavoidably leave uimecessar>- blemish, and whioh have destroyed many valuable horses. It may happen, nevertheless, that by a sud'den plunge of the animal the skin will he unavoidahly cut through. The act of firing re(piires nruch skiil and tact, and the i)ractitir.ner*c.-nnot be always on his guard ag;inst the struggles of the tortured hea-l It will also, and not unfrequently occur, that the skin, parti;dlv divided, wdl separate in two or three days afier the operation. Thj. must not he jittrihuted to any neglect or unskilfulness of the sur<»e.ai and the uleeratr^n thus produced will 1 e slight and easily trJ^ited' compared widi th:it caused by the actual burning through of' the skin' Some practitioners blister immediately after lirin^r. A^ a o-enerd usage It IS highly to be reprobate I. It is wanton and useless cTueky • but It may be recpured in bony tumours of considerable extent, and long standing, and interfering materially with the action of the neigh- bouring joint. Spavin accompanied l-y much lameness, and rinff-bone spreading round the coronet, and involving the side cartilages, or the pastern joml, may justify it. The iidlammation is rendered mor(> intense, and of considerably longer duratim. [n old affections of the 1 FIRING. 221 roimd-bone it may be admitted, but no excuse can be made for it in slighter cases of sprain or weakness, or staleness. On the day afler the operation, it will be prudent gently to rub some neat's foot oil, or lard over the lines. This will soften the skin, and render it less likely to separate or ulcerate; a bandage would add to the irritation of the part. Any cracks of the skin, or uleeiations that may ensue, must be treated with the calamine ointment already recommended. It will be evident that there is an advantage^ derived from firing to which a blister can have no pretension. The skin, partially destroyed by the iron, is reinstated and healed, not merely by the formation of some new matter filling up the vacuity, but by the gradual drawing together and closing of the separated edges. The skin, therefore, is lessened iw surface; it is tightened over the part, and it acts as a salutary and permanent bandage. Of the ellect of pressure in remo- ving enlargements of every kind, as well as giving strength to tiie I>art to which it is applied, we have repeatedly spoken; and it is far from being the least valuable etlect of the operation of firiiiL^ that, hv coniracimg me sKin, u aUoros C salutary, eijualjle, and permanent pressure. It was on this jirinciple, bu! the pnictice cannot be defended, that colts which were not very strong on the legs, used to be fired round the fetliK-k, and along the back sinew, or over the hock, to brace and strengthen the parts. It is on the same principle that a racer, that has become stale and stiff, is sometimes fired a.id turned out. For whatever reason the horse is fired, he should, if practicable, be turned out, or soiled in a loose box, for three or four montlis at least. The full effecl inteiwled to result tVom the external irritatioi; > not soon pro- duced, and the benefit derived from pressure pnx'ceds still more slowly. In the thickened and tender state of the skin, and the substance beneath, for some weeks after firing, a return to hard work would be likely to excite a new inflammation, and cause ever worse mischief than that which before existed. Some weeks pass before the ti'!T>ified parts begin to lessen, and they only who have had experience in tliese cases would in)agine bow long, with gentle voluntary exercise, the process of absorption is carried on. He, therefore, who would expect that much g(M)d should accrue from the operation of firing, njusl l)e content to give up his horse for three or four months; but if he will use him soonr'r, and a worse lamene^^^s should follow, l(;t him l)larne his own impatience, and not the inefliciency of the means, or the want of skill in the surgeon. The firing in every case should be either in longitudinal or parallel lines. On the back sinews, the fetloc-k, and the coronet, this is pecu- liarly recpiisite, for tlius only will the skin contract so as to form the greatest and most equable pressure. The practitioner may pride himself in the accuracy of his diamonds, lozenges and feathers, but plain straight lines, about half an inch iVom each other, will form the most advantageous mode of firing. The destroying deeply seated inflammation, by exciting violent inflam- t2 i 222 AMERICAN FAURIER. BREEDING. 223 ir If i\ mation on the skin, is as well obtained; and common sense will determine, that in no way can the pressure wliich results from the contraction of the skin be so advantageously employed, to which we may add, that it often leaves not the slightest blemish. SETONS Are pieces of tape or cord, passed by means of an instrument resembling a large needle eitlicr through abscesses, or the ba: e of ulcers with dcfp sinuses, or between the skin and the muscular or other substances beneath. They are n'tainiMJ there by the ends being tied together, or by a kn )t at each end. The tape is moved in the wound twice or thrice iurilie day, and occasionally wetted with spirit of turpentine, or some acrid li piid, in order to increase the inliam- mation which it produces, or the discharge which is intended to be established. In abscesses, such as timvours in the withers or the poll, and when passed from the summit to the very bottom of the swelling, setons are highly useful, as discharging the fluid and siifTering any fresh quantity of it that may be secreted to How out; and, l^^ tlie degree of inflammation which they excite on the inside of the tum'jur, stimulating it to throw out healthy granulations which gradually occupy and fill the hollow. In deep fistulous wounds they are indispensable, for except some orifice be made for the matter to flow from the bottom of the wound, it will continue to eat deeper into it, and tlie healing process can never be accomplished. On these accounts, a seton passed through the bottom of the ulcer in poll-evil and fistulous withers is of much benefit. Setons are sometimes useful by promoting a discharge in the neigh- bourhood of an inflnnied part, and thus diverting and carrying away a portion of the fluids which overload, or would otherwise more distend the vessels of that part: thus a seaton is placed in the cheek with considerable advantage, when the eyes are inflamed; we confess, however, that we far prefer a rowel under the jaw. With this view, and to excite a new and diflTerent mtlaniraation in the neighbourhood of a part already inflamed, and especially so deeply seated and so diflicidt to he got at as the navicidar>joint, a seton has occasionally been used with manifest i)enclit, but we must peremptorily object to the indiscriminate use of the frog-seton for almost every disease of the frog or the fiK>t. ^ ^ In inflammations of extensive organs, setons atf )nl oulv feeble aid. Their action is too circumscribed. In inflammation of the Vhest or the mtestines a rowel is preferable to a seton; and a bhster is far better than either of them. On the principle of exciting the absorbents to action for the removal of tumours, as spavin or splent, a blister is quicker in its acti >n, and far more eflfectual than any seton ; and tiring is stdl more energetic. Many horses have been blenushed for life by the seton being torn out, ^nd ulcerations, diflicult to heal, having been produced; wiiLj week I after week has often passed on, and the owner has been deprived of the use of the animal, without the tumour, or the lameness which it caused, being in the least degree diminished. ClIArTER XII. PlUXCli'LES OF iiiU^KDiMi, CASTRATION, c^-^ Our ol)servations must be of a general nature, and w ill be very simple; and the first axiom we would lay down is, that '•lil;e will pro- dace like,*' th'.t t\u) progenv will iniierit the qualities, or the mingled (iiialitics, of the parents. We would refer to the sulject of diseases, and again state our perfe t c^.nviction, that there is scarcely ( ne by winch either of the parents is affected that the f al will not inherit, or, at least, the predisposition to it: even the consequences of ill usage or bar 1 work will descend to the progeny. We have had pro^f upi n proof, that blindness, roaring, thick-wind, brok(;n-win I, spavins, curl s, ring-bones, and founder, have been bequeathed, both by the sire and the dam, to the otTspring. It should likewise be recollected, that althoUiih these blemishes may not aj)pear in the innnediate progcn- , they frequently will in the next generation. Hence the necessity of some knowledge of the parentage both of the sire and dam. Peculiarity of f )rm and constitution will al^o be inherited. This is a m'St importjint, but neglected consideration; for however desirable, or even perfect, may have been the confirmation of the sire, every giM)d j)oint may be neutmlized or k)St by the defective f)rm, or want of blood, of the inare. There are niceties in this, of which some breeders used to be aware, and they employed their knowledge to great advantage. When they were careful that the essential points should be good in both parents, and that some minor defect in either should be met, and got rid of, b.y excellence in that particular, point in ihe other, the result was creditable to their judgment, and highly profitable. The unskilful or careless breeder will often so badly p'.ir the animals, that the good points of each will be, in a manner, Iwsl : die detects of both will be increased, and the produce ^\ ill be lar inferior to both sire and dam. VV'e would wish to impress it on the minds of breeders, that pecu- liarity of form and constitution are inherited from both j)arents; that the excellence of the mare is a point of quite as much ini[)ortance as that of ihe horse; and that out of an imperfect mare, let die h. rse be as perfect as he may, a good foal will rarely be produced. All this is recognised, alfliough poverty or carelessness have made the gene- ral breeder neglect or forget it. It is strange that in our saddle-horses, and, to a great degree, our carriage-horses, this should be left to chance. The breeder seems to care little about the quality of the mare, and the progeny is compara- tively ol'litde worth. Experience, it is said, will make fools wise, but ■"•>!■ irnii-wiinnnnj 224 AMERICAN FARRIER. t ,' experience will here be bought at a very dear rate, both as it regani, the breeder and the community. 'cgaro! That the constitution and endurance of the horse are inherited no farner ever doubted. The qualities of the sire or the dam descend f:om generatK,n to generation, and the excellencies or defects of cer la.n horses are traced, and justly so, to some peculiarity in a fa^ distant ancestor. • ''"^ It may, perha|)s, he justly ailinued, that there is more difficulty in selec >ng a g,K,d .nare to breed fron., than a good horse, because she should possess soincwhat opp„site .p.ali.i.s. Ilor carcass should I ' lo..g, o give r.«Mu l,.r the gru» li, .,f ,hc futus, and yet with this then; shoidd be compa.'-tness <.( lorni and siiortness of leg As to the shape of l!.e s.aliion, l,„l Httle can he said. Il n.ust dcno,,,! on that of .he mare, and the kmd of horse wished to be bred- b u there be one point which we should say is absolutely esscntu.l, i, ,. this, cou.pacliiess" as much g,KKli,ess and strength as po,.s,l,le con- densed m a httle space. If we are describing the reverse of the co - mon raec of «..!„„» for co=.ch-horses, the fault lies vviiii the bad tusie and judgment of the majority of breeders. Next to compactness, the inclinati<,n of the shoulder will be rc tinu^ of others has been extended six weeks beyond the elovon in )Mth.'^. Wo iniy, Iiowcvlt, take eleven nv.mths as tlic averii^^e lime. In r;innin^-h;;rfeF, that are hnai^i^ht so early to the start irinal nutriment which nature designed for them. For other breeds, the begiiming of May is the u>ost convenient period. The mare would then foal in the early part of April, when there would begiu to he suilicient food for iier and iier colt, without confining them to the stable. I'rom the time of covering to that of foaling, the mare may le kept at moderate work, and that not only without injury, but with decided advantage. The work may be continued up to the very time when she is expected to foal; and of which she will give at least a day's n )tice, by the adhesive matter that will appear about the teats. When this is seen, it will be prudent to release her from work, and keep lier li' ar home, and under the frequent inspection of some careful person. Wiien nearly half the time of pregnancy has elapsed, the mare should have a little better f )od. She should be allowed one or two feeds of corn in lie day. This is about the periixl when thev are accustomed to slink their foals, or when aborti. n occurs: at this time, therefore, the eye of the owner should be frequently np( n them Good feeding and moderate exercise will be the best preventive against this. The mare that has once slinked her foal is ever liable to the same accident, an 1 therefore should never be suffered to be wilh other niircs al.oiii the time tb.at this usually occurs, vJh( h is between the l"»'irlhanl fiidi ui udi> ; i'-r such is the power of iiu iginali<{n or of syujpathx in ihc mare, that if one of them suflcrs ai»oraon, the greater number of those in iiio same pasture will share the same fate. Far- mers wash, j)iin% auii 1 u- tli( ir stables to prevent some suj)|>osed infection: — the infecticji lies in the imagination. if a mare has been regularly exercised, and apparently in health while she was in foal, little danger will attend the act of parturition. If there he false presentation of the fcrtus, or dilliculty in j)roducing it, it will be better to have recourse to a well-informed practitioner, rather than injure the mother by the violent, and injurious attempts which are often made to relieve the animal. #nilIWiTil6WBIHIS fc'*fe-S'-»i."Sy-*,ij 4' \S 226 AMERICAN FARRIER. BREAKING-IN. 227 As soon as the mare has foaled, she should be turned into some well-sheltered pasture, with a hovel or shed to run into when she pleases: and as, supposing she has foaled in April, the grass is scanty, she should have a couple of feeds of corn daily. The breeder may depend upon it, that nothing is gained by starving the mother and stin- ting the foal at this time. It is the most important time in the life of the horse; and if, from false economy, his growth be arrested now his puny form and want of euduninre will ever afterwards testily the error that has been committed. The corn should be iriven in a trough on the ground, that the foal may partake of it with the mother. Wlicn the new grass is Hush and plenty, the corn may be gradually discontinued. Our work is intended, princij)ally, for farmers: they well know that the mare may be j)ut to nuxlerate work again a month after (he toal- ing. The foal is at first shut in the stable during the hours of work; but as soon cis it acquires sullicient strength to tcKJdle alier the mare, and especially when she is at slow work, it will be better for the foal and the dam that ihey should be together. The work will contribute to the health of the mother; the foal will more frequently draw the milk, and thrive better; and will be hardy and tractable, and gradu- ally familiarized with the objects among which it is afterwards to live. While the mnther, however, is thus worked, she and the foal should be well fed; and two feeds of corn, at least, should be added to tbe green food which they get when turned out after their work, and at night. The mare will usually be found at heat at or before the expiration of a month from the time of foaling, when, if she be kept principally for ])rceding purposes, she may be put again to the horse. In five or six months, according to the growth of the foal, it mav be weaned. It should tbcu be housed for three weeks or a month, oi turned into some distant rick-yard. There can be no better place foi the foal than the latter, as affording, and that witnout trouble, l)oth f(xxi and shelter. The mother should be put to harder work, and have drier meat. A urine or a physic ball, will be useful if the milk should be troublesome, or if she should pine after her foal. There is no principle of greater importance than the liberal feedintr of the foal diiriiif^ the whole of his growth, and at this time in particu- lar. ]5nused oats and bran should form a considerable part of his daily provuld merely have a square rick, under the leeward side of which he may shelter himself, or a hovel, into which he may run at night. The process of breaking in should commence from the very pericxi of weaning. The foal should be daily handled, partially dressed, accustomed to the halter, led alxMit, and even tied up. The tractability, and gixnl temper, and value of tjio horse, depend a great deal more upon ihiis tiian breeders are aware : this should be done as much as possible by the man by whom they are fed, and whose management of them should be always kind and gentle. There is no fault for which a breeder should so invariably discharge his servant as cruelty, or even harshness, towards the rising stock ; for the principle on which their after use- fulness is founded, is early attachment to, and confidence in man, and obedience, implicit obedience, resulting principally from these. After the second w inter, the work of breukiu'i-in mjiy comuicnce in gplied as to excite the animal to resistance, but to convince him that we have the power to enforce submission. Few, we woidd almost say, no horses, are natunJly vicious. It is cruel u.sage which has first provo- ked resistance; that resistance has been followed by greater severity, and the stubb.cwriness of the animal has increased; open warfare has ensued, in which the man seldom gained an advantage, and the horse II 228 AMERICAN FARRIER. m A was frequently rendered unservicea];Ie. Correction may, or must he used, to enforce implicit o!;edieiice after the education has proceeded to a certain extent, but the early lessons should be inculcated with kindness alone. Young colts are sometimes very perverse; many days will occasionally pass before they will permit the bridle to be put on, or the saddle to b^e worn; one act vS harshness wi 1 double or treble this time. Patience and kindness will, after a while, prevail. On some mr>rninni|)liance bein<]^ followed by kindness and so!tiJiin!' the breaker, anrm and natural acti.n of the horse. A headstall is put on the colt, and a cavcssun (t)r apparatus to confine and pinch the nose) affixed to it, with long reins. lie is first accustomed to the rein, then led round a ring on sjf: groiind, and at length mounted and taught his paces. Next to preserving the temper and docility of the horse, there is n olhing of so much imp )rtance as to teach biin every pace, and every part of his duty, distinctly and thoroughly. Each mu\ f)llowini; behind, by occasional threatcniniid BREAKING-IN. 229 becomes tractable in this his first lessons, towards the conclusion of which, crupper-straps, or something similar, may be attached to the clothing. These, playing about the sides and flanks, accustom him to the flapping of the coat of the rider. The annoyance which they occasion will pass over in a day or two; for when the animal finds that no harm comes to him on account of these straps, he will cease to regard them. Next comers the bitting. The bit should be large and smootb, and the reins should be buckled to a ring on either side of the pad. There are many curious and expensive maohines f )r this j)urpose, but the simple rein will be (]uit(; sullicient. The reins should at first be slack, and very gradually tightened. This will prepare f >r the more perfect nianner in wbi( h the head will be afterwards got into its proper posi- tion, when the colt is accustomed to the saddle. Occasionally the breaker should stand in front of the colt, and take hokl of each side rein near to the mouth, and press upon it, and thus begin to teac'h bun to stop and to back at the pressure of the rein, rewarding every {ict of dcK'ility, and not being too eager to punish occasional care- lessness or waywardness. The colt may now be taken into the road or street to be gmdually lerustomed to the objects among \n hich his services will be reqidred. Here, from fear ( / playf ilness, a considerable degree of starting and ?hyin«' may be exhil.dted. As little notice as possible should be taken of it. Tlic same or a similar object should be soon passed again, but fit a greater distance. If the colt still shies, let the distance be farther increased, until he takes no notice of the object; then he may be gratluallv brought nearer to it, and this will be usually effected without the shizhtest diilieultv : whereas, had there been an attempt to force the animal f lose to it in the first instance, the remeud)rance of the contest would have been associated with the object, and the habit of shying Would have been established. Hitherto, with a co^)l and patient breaker, the whip may have been ehown, but will scarcely have been used; the colt must now, however, be accustomed to this necessary instrument of authority. Let the breaker walk by the side of the aniiual, and throw bis right arm over his baek, holding the reins in his left; and (K-casionally (piieken bin pace, and, at the monient of ck.ing tbis, tap the horse with the whip in his right hand, and at first very gently. 1Mie tap of th(.' whip and the (piickening of the paep will soon become asscMoated together in the mind of the animal. If necessary, the taps may gradually fall a little heavier, and the feeling of j)aui be th(^ monitor of the necessity of increased exertion. The lessons of reining in and stoppmg, and backing on the pressure of the bit, may continue to be practised at the same time. He may now he taught to bear the saddle. Some little caution \\ ill be necessary at the first putting of it on. The breaker shoiild stand at the head of the colt, patting him, and engaging his attention, whdo ono assistant, on the otf side, gently places the saddle on the back ot u li^ I !' ;1 230 AMERICAN FARRIER. the animal; and another, on tlie near side, slowly tightens the girths If he submits quietly to this, as he generally will, when the previous process of breaking-in has been properly conducted, the ceremony of mounting may be attempted on ihe following or on the third day. The breaker will need two assistants to accomplish this operation. He will remain at the head of the colt, patting and making much of him. The rider will put his ft into tbc stirrup, and bear a little weigjit upon it, while the man on the off-side j)resses e(piallv on the otlicr stirrup-leather; and, according to the docility of the animal, he will gradually incrcnise the weight, until he l)alau('es liiniself on the stirrup. Jt" tbe colt be uneasy or fearfid, he should be spoken kindly to and patted, or a mouthful of corn l)e given to him: but if he offers serious resistance, the lessons must tenuiuate for that day; he may probuhlv be in better humour on the morrow. When the rider has balanced himself for a minute or two, lie may gently throw his leg over, and quietly seat himself in the saddle. 'J'he breaker will then lead the animal roiuid the rinff, the rider siftinj^ perfectly slill. After a few minutes he will take the reins, and handle them as gently as possilde, and guide the horse by the pressure of them; patliu'^ him frequently, and especially when he thinks of dis- mounting,— and after having dismounted, offering him a little corn or green meat. The use of the rein in checking him, i nd of the pressure of the leg, and the touch of the heel in quickening his pace, will soon be taught, and the education will be nearly completed. The horse having thus far submitted himself to the breaker, these patiings anl rewards must be gradually diminished, and implicit obedi- ence mildly but firmly enforced. Severity will not often be necessary; in the great majority of cases it will be altogether uncalled for: but should the animal, in a moment of waywardness, dispute the commaiKJ of the breaker, he must at once be taught that he is the slave of man, and that we have the power, by other means, than those of kindness, to bend him to our will. The education of the hoise is that of the child. Pleasure is, as much as possible, associated with the early lessons; but fniuness, or, if need be, coercion, must confirm the habit of obedience. Tyranny and cruelty will, more speedily in the horse than even in the cluld, provoke the wish to disobey ; and, on every pnic- ticahle occasion, the resistance to command. The restive ami viciinis horse is, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, made so bv ill-usage, and not by nature. None but those who will take the trouble to try the experiment are aware how absolute a conuuand the due admixture of firnmess and kindness will soon give us over any horse. CASTRATION. The period at which this important operation will be best performed depends much on the breed and form of the colt, and the purpose for which he is destined. For the common aoricultural horse, the age of at least, before he The four or five m(»nths wdl be the most advijiMble, or, ia; wganed. Very ^-w horses are lost ivKciii cwX * i that age. CASTRATION. 231 weather, however, should not be too hot, nor the flies too numerous. We enter our decided protest against the recommendation of some valua- ble, but incautious agricultural writers, that ^colts should be cut in the months of June or July, when flies pester the horses, and cause them to be continually moving about, and thereby prevent swelling.' One moment's reflection will convince the reader that nothing can be more likely to produce iufhniunation, and conse(|uent swelling and (lander, than the torture of the flies hovering around and stinging the sore part. If the horse is designed either Cov the carriage or for heavy draught, the farmer should not tliiuk of castrating him until he be at least twelve months old; and, even then, the colt should be carefully exa- mined. If he is thin and spare about the neck and shoulders, and low in the withers, he will materially improve by remaining uncut another six months; but if his fore-quarters are fairly developed at the age of a twelve month, the operation should not be delayed, lest he become heavy and gr»)ss Ix^fore, and perhaps have begun too deci- dedly to have a will of his own. No specific age, then, can be fixed; hut fhp CJmtration «hoiilrl bo porformed rnthor Info ill ihf* cinrinrp of early in the autumn, when the air is temperate, and particularly when the weather is dry. No preparation is necessary for the sucking colt, but it may be prudent to bleed and to physic one of more advanced age. In the majority of cases, no after treatment will be necessary, except that the animal should be sheltered from intense heat, and more particularly from wet. In temperate weather he will do much better running in the field than nursed in a close and hot stable. The mo- derate exercise which he will take in grazing will be preferable to perfect inacti(m. Th<* manni.T in which tlu^ operation is performed will be properly l<;ft to the veterinary surgecm; although we must confess that we are disposed to adhere to the old way of opening the bag on either side, cutting off the testicle, and preventing bleeding by searing the vessels with a hot inm. There is at least an appearance of brutality, and, we believe, much unnecessary j)ain inflicted, when the spermatic cord (die vessels and the nerve) is tightU conipn'sscd between two |)iece3 of wo(kI, as in a powerful vice, and left tlu^re either until the testicle drops off, or is removed on the f dlowing dav by the operator. To the practice of s mie farmers, of tu'itrhinvering of the col}Jn-l;onc, the whole weight of the horse is supported. Towards tli.' Ik (I this liattcned part^is wider and occupies th(^ whf.le breadth of the web, to support the heel of the crust and its rellt>ctod part the l;ar: tlius while it (l(d"('nds tht; horn included wi;hin this angle from injury, it gives that equal pres- sure upon the bar and the crust, which is the best preventive against corn, and a powerfid ol>stacle to contraction. It is flis ened to the f )ot by nine nails, five on the outside, and f Mir on the inner side of the sh.e; those on the outside extending a little^ farther down towards the heel, because the outside heel is thicker and THE PREPARATION OF THE FOOT. 233 stronger, and there is more nail-hold; the last nail on the inner quar- ter being farther from the heel on account of the weakness of that quarter. For feet not too large, and w here moderate work only is required from the horse, four nails on the outside, and three on the inside, will be sufficient; and the last nail being far from the heels, w ill allow more expansion there. The inside part of the web is bevelled otT, or rendered concave, that it may not press upon the sole, 'i'he concave; shoe prevents the possibility of injury, hecausc the sole can never descend in the degree in which the shoe is bev(dled. A slioe bevelled still further is neces- sary to protect the projoctinir or pumiced foot. While the horse is travelling, dirt and gravel arc apt to insinuate themselves between the web of the shoe and the sole. If the shoe were Hat they would be easily retained there, and w.)uld bruise the sole and he productive of injury; but when the shoe is thus bevelled eff, it is scarcely j)ossible for them to remain, 'i'hey nuist be shaken out every time the f(X)t comes in contact w ith the ground. The web of the shoe is likew ise of that thickness, that when the I ft. 'i'he horse generally showa by his llinchinfj that he sutlers by the violence with w bieh this preli- niinarv operation is performed. The clenches should always be raised 30 u 2 niPiirWi»ifw>i'Bira«Hffiii«iiiyii 234 AMERICAN FARRIER. or filed off; and where the foot is tender, or the horso is to Le examined for lameness, each nail should be partly punched out. Many a stub IS left in the crust, the source of future annoyance, when this unne- cessary violence is used. The shoe having been removed, the smith proceeds to rasp the edges of the crust. Let not the stander-l,y object to the apparent vio- Icnce which he use?, or fear that the foot will suIIIt. It is the only means he has, with safety to his instruments, to detect whether any stubs remam in the n ,i!-ho!es; and it is the most covenient method of removmg that portmn of the crust into which dirt and gravel have insinuated themselves. Next comes the important process of paring out, with rcgani U. which It IS almost impossible to lay down anv specifics rules. Thi«. however, we can say with confidence, that more injury has been dono by the neglect of paring, than by carrying it to t..o great an extent 1 he act ot paring is a work of much more labour than the proprietor ot the horse otten imagines; the smiih, except he be overlooked, will give himself as httle trouble about it as he can; and that, whirh in the unshed foot, would be worn away bv contact ^^nn the gn.und, ls suHered to accumulate month after monib, until the elasticity of the sole IS destroyed, and it can no longer descend, and the functions of the foot are impeded, and foundaliun is laid for corn, contraction, navi- cular disease, and mllammation. That portion of horn should be lefl on the sole which wiil defend the internal parts from being bruised and yet suffer the external sole to descend. If the foot has been previously neglected, and the horn is become very hard, the owner must not object if the smith resorts to somo means to soften it a little; and if he takes one of his flat irons, and having heated it, draws it over the sole, and keeps it a little while in contact with it. When the sole is thick, this rude and apparently barbarous method can do no harm, but it should never be permitted with the sole that is regularly pared out. The quantity of horn to be removed in order to leave the proper ^egree of thickness u ,11 vary wilh different feet. From the stron- root a grea deal nu.st be taken. From the concave foot the horn mav the flat fK,t httle need be pared; while the pumiced foot will spare nothmg but the ragged parts. ^ The paring being nearly completed, the knife and the rasp of the smi h must be a little watched, or he will reduce the crust to^a level nro on'rh \' cT ""^^^"^^^^ '^'^' ^"*"i-^"»^^ ^^^ the sole bv its pres- :llr^l % f ''^ ti;e seating. Th^ crust should be reduced^) a perfect level, all round, but left a little higher than the sole. w hich' ttZl '"'^T '''^' ^T'^r^l^i^ attention. From the stress ou«rfPr thl 7 n^'^ '""^' ^^^'' ^^"^^ -''•^"' the weakness of the quar er there, i usually wears considerably faster tlian the outer one- and, If an equal portion of horn were pared from it, it would beTef\ lower than the outer heel. Tiie smith should, therefore, acco nmcVate THE PUTTING ON OF THE SHOE. 235 hiri paring to the comparative wear of the heels, and be very careful to leave them precisely level. He should be checked in his almost universal fondness for opening the heels, or, more truly, removing that which is the main impediment to contraction. That portion of the heels between the inflection of the bar and the tVog should scarcely be touched, at least notliing l)ut the ragged and detached parts should be cut away. The fUjl^may not look so pretty, but it will last longer without contraction. The bar likewise should be left ftdly prominent, not only at its first inllecfion, but as it runs down the side of the frog. The heel of our siioe is designed to rest j)artly on the heel of the foot, and partly on the l)ar, for reasons that have been already stated. If the bar is weak, the growth of it siiould be encourat than on the construc- tion of the shoe; that few shoes, except they press upon the sole, or are made outra^reously bad, will lame the horse; but that he may be very easily lamed from ignorant and improper paring out of the R)ot. TUE PUTTIXG ON OF THE SIIOE. The foot being thus prepared, the smith looks ai)out for a shoe. He should select one that as nearly as possible fits the ^iK)t, or may be altered to the foot. He will sometimes care little about this, for he < an easily alter the foot to the shoe. The toe-knife is a very conven- ient instrument for him, and plenty of horn can be struck off with it, nr removed by the rasp, to make the foot as small as the shoe; while he cares little, although by this destructive method the crust is mate- iialiy thinned where it should receive the nail, and the danger of rnitmmmmmwm i [' 4 •f 1 I.- iM AMERICAN FARRIER. puncture is increased, and the danger of pressure upon the sole is increased, and a fot and ground surface of the shoe should be most accurately level, but that the crust should be exactly smofjthed and fitfed to the shoe. Much skill and time are neressarV to do this perfectly with the drawing knife. The smith has adopted a method of more cpuekiy and more accurately adapting the shoe to the foot. He pares the crust as level as he can, and then he takes the shoe, at a heat something below a red heat, and applies it to the foot and detects any little eievalions by the deeper colour ot the buriu .1 horn. This practice has been much inveighed against; but it is the abuse and not the use of the thing which is to be condemned. Lf th« shoe be not t^jo hot, nor held Uh) long on the foot, an accuracy of adjust- ment is thus obtained, which the knife would be long in producin^r oi would not produce at all. If, however, the shoe is made to burn' its way to Its seat with little or no previous preparation of the foot, lh« heat must be injurious both to the sensible and insensible parts ot the toot. ^ Nothing is more certain, than that in the horse for work, the hecN and particularly the seat of corn, can scarcely be too well covered' l^artof the shoe projecting outward can be of* no possible ffot raised considerably above tiie other, will painfully convince us of what the horse must suflTer tVom this too common method of shoeing. If the horse be ridden far to cover, or galloped over much hard and flinty ground, he will inevita bly suffer from this unecpial distribution of the weight. If the calkin be put on the outer heel to prevent the horse from slipping, eitlier the horn of that heel should be lowered to a corresponding degree, or the other heel of the shoe should be raised to the same level by a gradual thickening. Of the use of calkins in the hinder fcM)t, we shall ])resently speak. CLIPS. These are portions of the upper edge of tlie shoe, hammered out, and turned up so as to embrace the lower part of the crust, ami \vV)ich is ii«$iinliv purprl r>nt n little to rocpive th<^ <^^if» Th^x^ «ro vo»-y useful, as more securely attaching the shoe to the i'ixit, and relieving the crust from that stress upon the nails which would otherwise be injurious. A clip at tlie toe is almost necessary in every dniught horse, and absolutely so in the horse of heavy draught, to prevent the shoe from being loosened or torn oflf by the stress which is thrown upon the toe in the act of drawing. A clip on the outside of each shoe at the beginning of the quarters will give security to it. Clips are likewise necessary on the shoes of all heavy horses, and of all others wh oare disposed to stamp, or violently j)aw with their feet, and tinis incur the danger of displacing the shoe; but they are evils, in tliat they press upon the crust as it grows down, and should only be used when circumstances absolutely require them. THE HINDER SHOE. In f >rining the hinder shoes it should be remembered that the hind limbs are the principal instruments in progression, and that in every act of progression, except the walk, the t<)c is the point on which the whole frame of the animal turns, and from which it is propelled. — This part, then, should be streii'^thened as much as })ossil)le; and, tberef )re, the hinder shoes are made broader at the toe than the fore ones, and the toe of the f )ot, which is naturally broader than that of tiie fore-f )ot, is still further widened by rasping. Another giMnl effect is i)r(Kluced by this, that tln^ hinder foot being sh(»rfene(l, there is less danger oi' overreach i?)^^ or for^iuir^ and especially if the shoe be ^^lder on the f(X)t surface than on the ground one; and thus the shoe is made to slope inward, and is a little within the toe of the crust. The shape of the hinder foot is somewhat (litlei(Mit from that of the f )re f(K)t; it is straighter in the (piarters, and thi; shoe must have the same shape. For carriage and drauglit horses generally, calkins nuiy 1 1 1 1 nfiMrih inr>»w i .1 > 1 fe^vA^'jic^^^l 238 AMERICAN FARRIER. be put on the heels, because the animal will be thus enabled to di» his toe more firmly uito the ground, and urge himself forward, and throw his weight into the collar with greater advantage. But the calkins must not be too high, and they must be of an equal height on each heel; otherwise, as has been stated with regard to the fore feet the weight will not be fairly distributed over the fo<.t, and some part ot the foot or of the leg will materially suffer. Tlic nails in ihe imdcr shoe may l)e placed nearer to the heel ih^.n m ihe fore «h(.e becau.se, from the conipaiative little woioln ,„ul coucus.'^ion thrown on tlie liiuder leet, there is not so much danger of contraction. DIIFKRK.N-l' Klxns OK SIIOJS. The shoe will vary in substance and wci;.dit wiih the kind of finit and the nature ..f the work. A weak f,M,t .-hould never wear a lieavv shoe, nor any f,M a shoe that will last longer than a month Here perhap.s, we may be permitted to caution the horse-pn.prietor aot- the con traction and swc^lling of the felt or leather from the ctfect of moisture or drync s will soim render the atta« hment of the slu.e less firm- there will be K) mu( h play upon the naiLsj the nail holes will enh.nr'o and the crust will be broken away. After wounds or extensive bruises of the sole, .^r where the sole Ts thin and flat and tc^nder, it is sometimes covered with a piece of leather htted to the sole, and nailed on witli the shoe. This may be allowed' as a temporary defence of the foot; but there is the same objection to Its permanent use from the insecurity of fastening, the strain on the crust, and the frequent chipping of it: and there are these additional inconveniences, that if the hollow between the sole and the leather be tilled with stopping and tow, it is exceedingly difficult to introduce them so evenly and accurately as not to produce some partial or inju- nous pressure-~that a few days' work will almost in^a^al,ly^o derange the padding as to produce partial pressure-that the lon^: contact of the sole with stopping of almost every kind, will produce not a healthy elastic horn, but horn of a scaly,^pongy nature-u'l hat If the hollow be not thus filled, gravel and dirPwill i !nn e hemse Ives, and cause unequal pressure, and eat into and mj re GENERAL MANAGEMENT. 241 WEAVING. Chapter XIV. THE GENERAT. MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSE. This is a most important subject, even as it reganls the farmer, nithough th(»re are com[)aratively few glaring errors in the treatment of the agricultural horse: but it comes more especially Ikmhc to the Lieiith^man, who is too often and too imi)licitly under the guidiincc of an idle, ignorant, and designini^r hosth^r. VV'e will arrange the most important points of general manage'inenl under the foliuwiuir heads: air. A supply of pure air is necessary to the existence and health of man and beast. In some stables, the supply, if not too great, is care- lessly and injudiciously admitted; for the wind blows in from every (piarter, and beats directly upon the animal. When he has been well seasoned to this, it seems to do him little harm, except that he has an unthrifty coat, and is out of condition, 'i'he common error, h >wever, is to excLide as much as possible every breath of air, and to have the atmosphere of the stable, hot, contaminated, and unwh(jle- sume. The etfect of several horses being shut up in the same stable is to render the air unj>leasantly h.)t. A person coming from without cannot breathe it m uiy minutes wi.hout profuse perspiration. The h )rse stands hour after hour in it, and sometimes clothed; and then his covering is suddenly stripped off, and he is led into the open air, the temperature of which is tiiirty or f >rty degrees below that of the Ftal)le. Putting the humanity of the thing for a moment out of the question, we ask, must not the animal, thus unnaturally and absurdly treated, be subject to rheumatism, catarrh, and inHammation of the lungs? It has been replied, that the h<»rse keeps himself warm by exercise while he is thus exposed, and tliat a man, u^iwjr stronir e\er- I'll !•'• tii)n, cares little about the (piantity ot clothing upon him. Is the horse Constantly in motion aft(T his blanket has been strij)p(Ml from him, and he his bv^en turned out naktnl, when the mercury in th»' thermonu^ter is he! )w \\w fi\!e/ing poini? Does he not often stand, hour after hour, in the road or the street, while his owner is warnung himself within, and this [)erh;ips after every pore iias been opened by a brushing gallop; and his susceptibility to the painful and the injurious inllamce of cold has been excited to the utmost? It is not so generally known as it ought to be, that the return to a hot stable is quite as dangerous as the change from a healed jitmos- phere to a cold and biting air. Many a horse, that has travelled -vithout harm over a bleak counlrv, fias been suddenly seized wUh 31 X ■'ilMMriiioiiimnPi'^ mi i^ 212 AMERICAN FAUUIER, inflamrmti m and fever when he has, immediately at the end of his J!)urney, been surrounded with heated and fuul air. It is tiie sudden chancre of temperature, whether from heat to cold, or from cold to heat that does the mischief, and yearly destroys a multitude of horses, ' The stable should be as large, comparer! m ith the number of horses which it IS destined to contain, as circumstances will allow. If there i» a loft above the stable, the ceiiiuL^'^lHMdd be rendered tight ni order to prevent tlie f )ul aii- from penetraling t.> the hay alx^ve, aii.l iryuriug both its taste ami its wholes .^nenessf and no openin^rs' sh.Mild be allowed above the racks, through which the hay may bo tiirown inio them, Cn- they also will permit the f>ul air to asceiul to the proven ler, niu\, m the, act of filliiig the rack,, and while tlie h(.rse is eagerly gazing upward for iiis tood, m:iny a grass-seed has fallen into his eye, and pr.Hbi.ed considerable iuilainniatton. A hot stable has, in the mind of the groom, beeii long connected wi'h a glossy coat. The latter, it is thought, cannot l)e attained with- out the f )rmcr. To this we sh )uld rej)ly that, in winter, a thin, glossy coat IS not desirable. Nature gives to every animal a warmer clothiii'r when the cold weather approaches. The horse acquires a thicker and a lengthened coaty in order to defend hhn from the surrounding cold. Man puts on an additional and a warmer covering, and his coinfort is increased ar^l his Ivealth preserveil by it. He who knows any thinoib and glossy to satisfy the m >st fasiidi o.is, Tlw. over-heated air of a close stable saves much ot this groominir, and therefore the idle attendant unscrupu- lously sacrifices the health and safety of the horse. If the stable is close, the air will m^t only be hot, hut foul. The breathing of every animal contaminates it; and when, in the course of tlie n>ght, with every aperture, even the kev-liole, stopped, it passes agnrn and again through the lungs, the l)lood ca-nnot undergo its proper and healthy change; digestion cannot be so perfectly performed, and all the functions of lile are injured, Let the owner of the valuable horse think of his passing twenty or twenty-iwo out of the twentA-fmr hours m this debiliijitmg atinosphere. Nature does worvlcMs in ena- blmg everv nniuiaj U> accommodate itself to the situalion hi whjt only by the heat of the confined air, but by a pungent smell, LITTER, 243 resembling hartshorn ; and can he wonder at the inflammation of the eves, and the chronic cough, and the inflanunation of the lungs, with which the animal, who has been shut up in this vitiated atmosphere all night, is often attacked or if glanders and farcy should occasion- ally break out in such stables? II has been ascertained by chemical experiment, that the urine of tiie horse contains in it an exceedingly large quantity of hartshorn; and not only so, but thai, inlliienced by the heat of a crowded stable, and possibly l)y other dtvompositions that are going ft)rvvard at the sam;^ lime, this ammonical vapour bc'dns to be rapidly given out almost immediately after the urine is voided. When disease begins to ap|)ear among the inhal)itantf: of these ill- ventilated places, is it wondertul that it should rapidly sj)read among them, and that the plague-spot should be, as it were, placed on the door of such a stable? When distemper appears in spring or in autumn, it is in very many cases to be traced first of all to such a pest- house. It is peculiarly fatal there. The horses belonging to a small establishment, and rationally treated, have it comparatively seldom, or ha\u ii li;;mly, but, among the inmates of a crowded stable, it is sure to display itself, and there it is most of all fatal. The experience of every veterinary surgeon, and of every large proprietor of horses, will corrolK)rate this statement. Agriculturists should bring to their stables the common sense which directs them in the usual concerns of life; and should begin, when their pleasures and their property are go much at Btake^ to a^urne that authority, and to enforce that obe- dience, to the lack of which is to be attributed tiie greater part of bad stable-management and horse-disease. Of nothing are we more certain, than that the majority of the maladies of the horse, and those of the wornt and most fatal character, are directly or indirectly to be attributed to the unnatural heat of the stable, and the sudden ( hange ot the animal from a high to a low, or from a low to a high teiuperaturo. LITTKR. Having s[)oken of the vapour of hartshorn, which is so rapidly and so pleutitnlly given out from the urine of a hors(^ in a healtMl stable, we take next into consideration the subject of litter. The first caution is frecpicntly to remove it. The early e\tricati(;n of gas shews the rapid putrefaction of the urine; and the consecpicnce of which will be the rapid j)utn'faction of the litler that has b,een moistened by it. Every thing hastening to decomposition shoidd be carefully removed where life and health are to be preserved. Every portion of tlic litter that has been much wetted, or at all softened by the urine, and is beginning to decay, should be swept away every morning, the greater part of the remainder may tnen be piled under the manger, a little being left to prevent th^' painful and injurious pressure of the feet duririT tlu- dav. The soiled and macerated portion of that vvljicli was left should be removed at night. i i^^^,^' J'^ -.* f Pfii. 4uaiiiiiv LKJiir. Thi.s neglected branch of staMe-ninna-rmont i.s of far m(>re ron^o- r ^r"at r*\r '^t'''' '"^^'•"'- ^^^^ ^^'^^^^^ »---^ -^^> ^-' "> , injurious than a foul aufl heated one. To ili.istrate this, reference Zl r.^"" ? the unpleasant feelin. and the utter impokSty of into the full blaze of day. The sensation of mingled pain and giddi ness ,s not soon forgotten; and .ome minutes pass before the ex ec in accomimxlate itself to the increased l.^hf. If tins were to hamM every day, or several times in the day, th. e^'.bt ^^Jlu'ilJ^^^^^^^^^ LIGHT.-^ROOMING. 245 injured; or, possibly, blindness would ensue. Can we wonder, then, tliat the horse taken from a dark stable into a glare of light, and feelin"^' probably, as we should do under similar circumstances, and unabfe for a considerable time to see any thing around him distinctly, should become a starter, or that the frequently repeated violent effect of sudden light should induce inflammation of the eye, so intense as to terminate m blindness? Tliere is, indeed, no doubt that horses kept m a dark stable are frequently notorious starters, and that stalling has *jecn evidently traced to this cause. Farmers know, and should profit by the knowledge, that the dark- ness of the stable is not unfreipiently a cover for great uncleanliness. A glazed window, would not cost much, and W(jul(l admit a degree of light somewhat more approaching to that of day; and, at the same time, would render the concealment of gross inattention and want of cleanliness impos.<^ii)le. If plenty of light be admitted, the walls of the stable, and especially tliat ()ortion of them which is before the horse's head, must not be of loo glaring a colour. Tlie constant reflection from a white wall, and especially if the sun shines; into (ho stable, will be as injurious to the eye as the sud(h>n changes from darkness to light. The perpetual slight e.xcess of stimulus will do as much mischief as the occasional but more violent one, when the animal is taken from a kind ot* tuihght to the blaze of day. The colour of (he sfible, therefore, should depend on the quantity of light. Where much can be admitted the walls should be of a grey hue. Where darkness would otherwise prevail, frequent whitewashing may in some degree dissipate the gloom tor another reason it will be evident that the stabh.' should not possess too glaring a light. It is the renting place of the horse. The work of the farnicr's horse, indeed, is confined print ipally to the day, but tlie labours of others are demanded at all periods. The hour of exertion having passed, the animal returns to his stable to feed and to repose, and the latter is as necessary as the former, in order to prepare h!m for renewed work. Something approaching to tlie dimness of iwiiight IS requisite, to induce the animal to compose himself to sleep Ihis half-hght more particularly suits horses of heavy work, and who draw almost as much by the weight of carcass which they can throw into the collar, as by the degree of muscular energy of 'which they are capable. In the (piietness of a dindv-lighted stable they obtain repose, and accumulate flesh and fat. The circumstances, then, under which a stable somewhat darkened mav be allowed, will be ea'^ily determmed by the owner of the horse; but, as a general rule, dark Htahles are untnendly to cleanliness, and the tVefpient cause of the vice ol starting, and of the most serious diseases of tlie eyes. GROOMING, Of this much neixl not be said, since custom, and, apparently with- mi ill e^Mt, has allotted so little of the comb and the brush to ihc farmer s horse. J'he animal that is worked all day, and turned out at X 2 h'J I '] 246 AMERICAN FARRIER. night, requires little more to be done to him than to have the dirt brushed off his limbs Regular grooming, by rendering his skin more sensible to the a teration of temperature, and the inclemency ofT" weather would be prejudicial. The horse that is altogether turned out needs no grooming. The dandriff or scurf which accumulates at the r,>ots of the hair is a provision of nature to defend him from the wind and the cold. ^ it is to the stabled horse, hi;r},l y [^i], and little or irrt-ularly worked hatgroommg is of so much consc'iue/ice. Good niblmn; with tbe brush or the c.irrycomb oprns the pore, of the sidn, and circulates the bloxJ to the extremities ui tjio Ix.ly arid tlirou^rh the minute vessels of the skin, and produces tree and licaltny perspiration, and stands in the room of exercise. ^<> horse will carry a line coat without c ither heat or dressing. They both eilect the same purpose; thev both increase the insensilde perspirati.., : but the first does it at the expense of health and strength, while the second, at the same time that it produces a glow on the skin, and a determination of blood to it, rouses all the energies of the frame. It would he well for the proi>rietor of the horse if he were to insist upon it, and to see tiiat his orders r^rf^ vp.)|,. obeyeu, that the line coat in win -h he and his groom so much deli-ht IS imxluced by honest rubbin<;, and not by a healed stable and thick clothing, and most of all, not by stimulatin- or injurious spices VViieri the weat^her will permit the horse to be taken out, he should never be groomed in the stable. Without dwelling on the want of clcanlmess, when the scurf and dust that are brushed from the horse ifaHf ?b ?r"^'''. r^ """^^\^'^^*^ ^"^ ^^^' experience teaches, that If the cold IS not oo great, the animal is braced and invicroratcnl n the stable. Inere is no necessity, however, for half the punish- ment which many a groom inliicts upon the horse in the act of dres- sing; and particularly on one whose skin is thin and sensible. The currycomb should at all times be lightly applied. With many hordes Its use may be almost dispensed with; and even the brush need notl)e so liard nor the points of the bristles so irregular as thev often are A soft brush withalillle more weight of the hand, wilfbe enuallv et^ectual, and a great deal more pleasant to the horse. A hair Vh.th while It w.l seldom irritate and tease, will he almost sun'icient with' iiorses that have tlun hair, and that have not been ne^rlected VNhoever would be convinced of the benefit of friction to the horse's skin, and to the horse generally, need onlv observe the effect pnKluced by well hand-ruobmg the legs of a tired horse. While every enlanre- inenl subsides, and the painful stiffness disappears, and the Icirs attain their natural warmtii, and become fine, tlie animal is evidently and rapidly revivmg; he attacks his food with appetite, and then quietly GROOMING. EXERCISE. 24f Our observations on this important branch of stable-management must have only slight reference to the agricultural horse. His work is usually regular and not exhausting. He is neither predisposed to disease by idleness, nor worn out by eycessive exertion. He, like his nifister, has enough to do to keep him in health, and not enough to distress or injure him: on the contrary, the regularity of his "^vork prolongs life to an extent rarely witnessed in the stable of the gentle- man. Our remarks on exercise, then, must have a general hearing, or have prineij)al reference to those persons who are in th<^ middle stati{;ns of life, who contrive to keep a horse f )r business or pleasure, but cannot atlbrd to maintain a servant f )r the express purpose of looking ;ifler it. Tlie first rule we would la} down is, that every horse should have daily exercise. The horse that, with the usual stable feeding, stands idle for three or four days, as is the case in many establishments, must suffer. He is disposed to fever, or to grease, or, most of all, to diseases of the f >ot; and if, after th^se three or four days of inactivity, he is ridden fast and far, is almost sure to have niiiammation ot tlie lungs or of tiie feet. A gentleman or tradesman's horse suffers a great deal more from idleness than he does from work. A stable-fed horse should have two hours' exercise every day, if he is to [je kept free from disease. — Nothing of extraordinary oi even of ordinary lal)our can be effected on the road or in the field without sufficient and regular exercise. It is this alone which can give energy to the system, or develope the powers of any animal. How then is this exercise to be given? As mueli a.s ])ossible by, or under the superintendence of, the owner. The exercise given by the groom is rarely to be depended upon. It is inefficient, or it is ex- treme. It is in many cases b 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 heahh, it should be moderate, at least at the beginning and the termination. The rapid trot, or even the gallop, may be resorted to in the middle of the exer- cise, but the horse must be brought in cool. If the owner would sel- dom intrust his horse to boys, and would insist on the exercise bein^r taken within sight, or in the neighborh(K)d of his residence, many an accident and irreparable iiijuryvvoultl he avoided. It should be the owner's pleasure, and is his interest, personally to attend to all these thmgs. He ninn.jnres every other pari of his concerns, and he rnriv depend on it, that he sutiors when he neot, m order first to cull the sweetest and best locks, and which couM not be done while the hay was inclosed in the rack. A good feeder will afterwards pick up much of that which was thrown down; but Bome of it must be soiled and rcMidered dL^gusiing, and, in manv cases one third of tliis division of their food is wasted. Some of the oats are imperfectly chewed by all horses, and scarcely at all by hun- gry and greedy ones. The appearance of the dung will sufficiently evince this, -^ The observation of this induced the adoption of manger-feeding, oi of mixing a portion of chaff (cut straw) with the gniin. \U this meaua the animal is compelled to ehew his f )od; he cannot, to nny great de- gree, bolt the straw or hay; and while he is forced to grindthat down, the oats, or Indian corn are ground u ith it, and yields more nourish' ment; the gtomach is more eT«)wly filled, and therefore acts better on Its contents, and is not so likely to be overloaded; and the increased quantity of saliva thrown out in the lengthened grinding of the food softens it, and renders it more fit for digestion. ° ' If, when considerable provender was wasted, the horse maintained his condition, and was ablr t<. do Ins work, if was evident that much might he saved to the firmer, when he adopted a system by which the horse ate all tiiat was set heforr him; and hv degreos it was found out that even I'-od somewhat less mitniious, hiit'a great deal cheaper, and winch the h(»rse either would not eat, or would not [)roperlv grind down, in its natural state, might be added, while the animal would bo m quite as good plight, and always ready for work. Chaff may be composed of equal quantities of hay, and whcaten, oaten, or barley straw, cut into pieces of a quarter or half an inch in length, and mingled well together; the allowance of oats or Indian corn IS afterwards added, and mixed \Mih the ehaff. Many farmers very propcrl) bruue the grain. The whole oat is apt to slip out of FOOD. 249 the chaff and be lost; but when it is bruised, and especially if the chatf is a little wetted, it will not readily separate; or, should a por- tion of it escape the grinders, it will be partly prepared for dicrestion by the act of bruising. The prejudice against bruising the oats is, so f ir as the farmer's horse, and the wagon horse, and every horse of si >w draught IS concerned, altogedier unfoiinded. The quantity of straw in the chaff will ahvavs counteract any supposed purgaeive (pialily in the bruised oats. Horses of quicker draught, except'' they are naturally disposed to scour, will thrive better with bruised than With whole oats, for a greater (piantity of nutriment will be extracted from the food, and it will always be easy to apportii^u {\w, cpiantity of straw to the effect of the mixture on the bowels of the horse. The j)rincipal alteration that should be made in the horse of harder and more rapid work, such as the stage-horse, is to increase the quantity oi hay, and dimmish that o( straw. Horses arc very fond of this provender. The majority of them, after having been accustomed to it, will leave the best oats given to them alone, for the sake of the mingled chaff and grain. We would, however, caution the flirmcr not to set apart too much damaged hay for the manufacture of the chaff. The horse may be thus induced to eat that which he would otherwise refuse; but if the nourishing pro- perty of the hay has been impaired, or it has acquired an injurious principle, the horse will either lose condition, or become diseased. More injury is done by the eating of damaged hay or musty oats than IS generally imagined. There will be sufficient saving in the dimi- nished cost of the provender by the introduction of the straw, and in the improved condition of the horse, without poisoning him with the refuse of the farm. ^ While the mixture of chaff with the corn prevents the corn from being too rapidly devoured, and a portion of it swallowed whole, and therefore the stomach is not too loaded with that on which, as contain- ing the most nutriment, its chief digestive power should be exerted, yet, on the whole, a grcr^t deal of time is gained by this mode of feeding, and more is left f )r rest. When a horse comes in wearied at the close of the day, it occupies, after he has eaten his corn, two or three h Mirs to clear his raek. Ou the system of manger-feedmg, the chaff hemg already cut into small pieces, and the oats bruised," he is able tiilly to satisty his appetite iu jiu hour an.l a half. Two adl horse. The farmer's hjrse is sometimes fed on hay or grass alone, and the animal, although he rarely gets a rca] of corn, maintains himself in tolerable condition, and does the work that is required of him; but hay and grass alone, however good in quality, or in whatever quantity administered, will not support the horse under hard work; and there- tore other substances, containing a larger proportion of nutriment in 32 mm^mtrwrnBta 250 AMERICAN FARRIER. a smaller compass, have been added. We will briefly enumerate them, and consider their comparative vahie. The Oat has been selected as that portion of the fixxl which is to afford the princip-il nourishment. It contains seven hundred and forty-three parts out of a thousand of nutritive matter. The oat should be old, heavy, dry, and sweet. The new oat will weigh ten or fifteen per cent, mere than tli.* old oat; but the (hil.-reuce consists principally in watcrv niattor which IS gradually evaporated. The new oat is not so readily ground do^vnhy the teeth as the old one, and forms a more glutinous mass dillicult to digest, and, when eaten in cousidorahle quantilios, is apt to occasion colic and even staggers. Tiie old oat forms, \s\wn chewed asmo()thand unif)rrn mass, which readily dissolves in the stomach' and yields llie n..urishment which it contains, and perhaps some chemical change may have been slowly effected in the old oat, di^po- fmg It to be more readily assimilated. Oats should be pinnm, bn'dit in color, and free from unplea«ant smell or taste. Tlie musty 5ineil ot wetted or damaged corn is caused by a fungus which grows upon the seed, and which has an injurious effect on the urinary organs and often on the intestines, pnxlucing profuse .laling, iniiammalion of the Kidney or colic^ and inflammation of the bowels. This musty smell is removed by kdn-(h'ving the oat, but care h here requisite that t(X) great a degree of heat ,s not employed. It should be snfhcient to destroy the fungus without injuring the life of the seed. The kiln-burnt oat, however, is not so gratet^ul to the ani- mal: it acquires a heating quality— causes increased discharrre of urine, and not unfrequently produces inflammation of the ever, and mangy affections of the skin. ^ ' Oats in Uie chaff have been recommended. An improvement would be effected by cutting the unthreshed oat straw into chaff Ihe expense of threshing would be saved. Oat straw is better than barley straw, but does not cxmtain so much nourishment as that uf wheat. When the horse is fed on hay and oats, the quantity of the oats must vary with his size and the work to be performed. In winter tour feeds, or nine or ten pc.unds of oats a dav, will be a fair allow- ance for a horse. o|' tiffccn hands one <,r two inVhcs high, and that has moderate woik. In summer, half the (p.antity, wiih green fo^xJ, will De sutticient. ' Oatmeal in ihe f»rm of gruel constitutes one of the most important articles of diet for the sick horse-^-n-,l mdeed lon-ed up.n bun but a pail contaimng it he ing slung m bis box, and of which he will soon begin to drink when water is denied. In cases of poisoning, or of over purging, it is useful whether administered by the mouth, or as ttn injection. "^ j * aa White-water, made by stirring a pint of oatmeal into a pail of water, the chill being taken from it, is an excellent beverage for the lliirsty and tired horse. ^ ro6v. SSI Barley is a coitnnon fch)d of the horse in various parts of England, and, until the introduction of the oat, seems to have constituted almost his only food. It is more nutritious than oats, containing nine hun- dred and twenty parts of nutritive matter in every thousand. There seems, however, to be something necessary besides a great proportion of nutritive matter, in order to render any sul)stance wholesome, strengtiiening, or fattening. Except where horses are very hardly worked, barley does not seem in our countrs to agree with them scr well as oats. They are more subject to inflammatory comj)laints, and [)articularly to surfeit and mange. When barley is given, the quan- tity should not exceed a p(;ck dailv. It should be always bruised, and the chaff should consist of eipial «piantiti(!s of hay aiu! barley straw, aixl not cut too short. W the lanncM- has a ipiantity of sj)otted or un- saleai)le barley which Uv. wishes thus to get rid of, he must very gra- dually accustom his horses to it, or he will probably produce serious illness among them. For horses that are recovering from illness, barley, in the form of malt, is often serviceable, as tempting the appetite and recruiling the strenglh. It is best given in mashes; Water, Con»iderabiy btriow Liie boiimg iieat, being poured upon it, and the vessel or pail kept covered f »r half an hour. Grains, frt^sh from the; mash-tub, either alone, or mixed with oats or chafl^, or both, may be occasionally given to horses of slow work; they would, however, afford very insufficient nourishment for horses of quicker or harder work. Wheat is more rarely given than barley. It contains nine hundred and fifty-five parts of nutritive matter. When farmers have a dama- ged or unmarketai)le sample of wheat, they sonK^tiuH's give it to their horses, and, being at first used in small (juantitiifs, tlw' horse becomes accustomed to it, and thrives and works well. It must, however, always be bruised and given in chaff. Wheat contains a greater pro- portion oi' glnUn, or sticky adhesive matter, than any other kind of grain J it is dilficult of digestion, and apt to cake and form ol)structions in the bowels. This will oftener be the case if the horse is suflfered to drink much water soon after feeding upon wheat; for the water passing ra})i(lly through the stonuuh and small intestines, in its way to the CQ'cum, carries otl" with it all the starch, which is the most nourishing, and leaves this sticky urass l)ehiiMl, which accumulates and hardens, and obstruct?* the intestines, and often des;ro\s the horse. A horse that is fed on wheat should have very little bay. Wheaten tlour, boiled m water to the thickness of starch, is i^iven wilh l^o(k1 ellr.'ct in over purgmg,. and espectilly if combiiMHl with ckilk ;ind opium. Beans. — These form a striking illustration. of the principle, that the nourishing or strengthening effects of the difTerem articles of f(K)d de(>eiul nv)re upon sonu; peculiar property which they have, or some cwnbiiwdion which th(;v form, than on the actual rm, they are apt to escape from the teeth, and many are swallowed whole. Exposed to warmlh and mund to have been burst by their swelling. If a small pnal IS filled with peas, and warm water poured on thlm, and the bottle tightly corked, it will burst in a few hours. Herbage, green and dry, constitutes a principal part of the f(Kxl of the horse. I here are few things with regard to which the firmer is so careless as the mixture of grasses on both his upland and meadow pasture. Hence we find, in the same field, the ray grass, comin- to perfection only in a loamy soil, not fit to cut until themiddle or laWer part of July, and yielding little aftermath; the meadow fox-tail, hr^t cultivated m a clayey s )il, fit f ,r the scythe in the beginning of June aiidyiddmga pl.nifd '.f'vnnniU; the glaucous fescue grass; ready a[ the middle of June, and rapidly deteriorating in value as its seeds ripen; an- the fertile meadow grass, increasing in value until the end ot July, i liese are circumstances the importance of which u ill at no distant period, be recognised. In the mean time, Sinclair's account of the different grasses or the condensation of the most iniport.uit part of his work in ^ir Inmphry Davy's Agricultural Chemistry, are well deserving of the diligent perusal of the farmer. Were there not too many proofs that the very refuse of the farm is oOen given to the agricultural horse, it would \>e needless to repeat that the animal that works constantly and hard should have the best fo^Kl, and plenty of it. Old hay, as havin^r longer undergone that slow process of fermentation by win< h the su-ar that it contains is developed. FOOD. 25^ is far more nutritive and wholesome than new hay. Mowhumt haV is more injurious to horses than to any otlier of the domestic animals, und is a fruitful source of disease. Where the manger system of feeding is not adopted, or where hay is still given at night, and corn in the day, there is no error into which the farmer is so apt to fail as to give an undue quantity of hay, and that generally of the worst kind. If the manger system is gocwl, there can be no necessity for hay, or only for a small quantity of it; l)ut if the rack is overloaded, the greedy horse will be eating all nighty instead of taking his rest ; and when the time for th(^ morning fecil arrives, his stomach will be already fillf^l, and he w ill be less capable of work, from the want of sleep, and from the long-continued disten- sion of the stomach rendering it impossible for the food to be pro-- perly digested. It is a good practice to spriidde \\\(i hay with water In which salf has been dissolved. It is evidcnll\ more palatable to the animal, who will leave the best unsalted hay f )r that of an inferior quality that has^ been moistened with brine; and there can be no doubt that the salt very maierially assists the proiler in the saving of provender, witbout taking into tlie account iheir improved conui'i'm and capaDiiity tor xork. A horse fed on potatoes should have his (juantity of water ma- terially curtailed. FuRZK has sometimes been given during the winter months, in Eng- land, but is not used in this country. It may not be uninteresting to conclude this catalogue of the different articles of horse fxxl with a list of the quantities of nutritive matter contained in each of them; fl)r although these quantities cannot be considered as expressing tl>e actual value of each, because other cir- cumstances besides the ?im()le quantity of nutriment seem to influence their effect in supporting the strength and condition of the horse, vet many a useful hint may be derived when the farmer looks over the produce of his s »il, and incpiires what other grasses or vegetiibles might suit his soil. The list is partly taken from Sir Humjdiry Davy's Agri- cultural Chemistry : — U)(K) |)arts of whnat contain 1)55 parts of nutrjfne matter; barley, 920; oats, 74:}; peas,.^^71; beans, 570; potatoes, 230; red beet, 148; parsnips, 99; carrots, OS. Of the grasses, 1000 oarts of the meadow cat's tail contain at the time of seeding ON parts of nutritive matter; narrow-l-javcd inoudow grass in seed, and sweet- scented soft grass in flower, 95; narrow-leaved and flat-staikfd mea- dow grass in Howrr, fertile me :dow grass in seed, and tal! fescue, in flower, 9;i; fertile meadow grass, meadow fescue, reed-like fescue, and creeping s,»ft grass in li( er, 78; sweet-scented soft grass in flower, and the atlermath, 77; tall fescue, in the aftermatii, and mea- dow soft grass in flower, 74; cabl)age, 73; crested dog's tail and brome flowering, 71; yellow oat, in flower, 66; Swedish turnips, 64; narrow-leaved meadow grass, creeping b(xM, round-headed cocksfoot, and spiked fescue, 59; roughish and fertile meadow grass, flowering, 56: florin, in summer, 54; common turnips, 42; samt-fom, broad leaved and long-rooted clover, 39; white clover, 32; and lucern, ^J The times of feeding should be as equally divided as convenience will permit. The small stomach of the horse is emptied m a few hours: and if he is suffered to remain hungry much beyond his accus tomed time, he will afterwards devour his fo(xl so voraciously as to distend the stomach and endanger an attack of staggers. When this disease appears in the tarmer^s stable he may attribute it to various causes; the true one, in the majority of instances, is irregjlarity in feedin""- When extra work is required from the animal, the system of man- at^ement is often injudicious; for a (k)uble feed is put before him, and as soon as he has swallowed it, he is started. It would be tar better to give him a double teed on the previous evening, which will be di- gested before he is wanted, and then he may set out in the mormng after a very small [)ortion of corn has been given to him, or perhaps only a little hay. One of the most successful methods ^f enabling a horse to get well through a long journey is, to give him only a little nt a time while on the road, and at night *o give him a double feed of grain. W.vrKR.—This is a part of stable mai-agement little regarded by the farmer. He lets his horses loose morning and night, and they go to the nearest pond or hnx^k and drink their All, and no harm results, for they obtain that kind of water whicl" nature designed them to have, in a manner prepared for them by s me unknown influence of the atmf>sphere, as well as by the deposit on of many saline admix- tures. The difference between hard and 5C t water is known to every one. Tu hard water soap will curdle, some vegetables will not boil soft, and the saccharine matter of the malt cannot be fully obtained in the process of brt wing. There is nothing in which the different effect of hard and soft water is so evident as in the stomach and diges- tive organs of the horse. Hard water, drawn fresh from the well, will assuredly make the coat of a horse unaccustomed to it stiire, and it will not unfrequently gripe and otherwise injure him. Instinct or experif the sole, or corn, may be the result; and, the horse having stood so long in the stable, every little increase of heat in the f)ot, or lameness, will be more readily detec- ted, and serious disease may prol>ably be prevented. ^ When the horse comes in at night, and after the harness has been taken off and stowed away, the heels should I e w<-ll hrushed out. Ilan.l-rubl'ing will bo preferable to washiu;!. especially in llie agri- cultural horse, wh(»se heels, covered with long hair, can scarcely be dried again. If ll-.' diri be suffered to accumulate m that \mir hair, the heels will become sore, and grease will follow; and if tiie heels are wjished, and particularly during the winter, j^roase will result froni the coldness occasioned by the slow evaporation of the nvisture. MEDICINES. Chapter XV 257 s A LIST OF THE MEDICINES USED IN THE TREATMENT OF THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE. He will rarely consult his own interest, who, not having had the advantage of veterinary knowledge, undertakes the treatment of any of the serious diseases of his horses. Many of the maladies of the horse so nearly resemble each other — and are so continually varying their character, and require, in their different stages, so different a treat- mwdcr them himself, and then, by attending to this account of the diffe- rence of the three, he can scarcely be imposed upon. Aloes [)urchased in powder are too often sadly adulterated. The Ca{)e may be pow- dered at all times, and the Barbadoes in fr.jsty we.ither, when enough may be prepared, to be k(»pt in clo^-ed botiles, for the year's consump- tion. They may also be powderc^d when th(^y havi? been taken from the gourd, and exposed to a gentie heat f ,r two or three hours before they are put into the mortar, r'it'tcen ounces of the powder, mixed with one ounce of powdered ginger, and beaten up uiih eight oiuices of palm oil, and afterwards divided into the proper doses, will fnrm a purging mags more effectual, and much less likely to gripe, tlian any that can be procured by melting the drug. If the physic is given in the shape of' ball, it more readily dissolves in the stomach, and more certainly and safdv acts on the l)oweLs when made up with some oily matter, hke that jui>t recommcnued, than when combined with syrup 33 y2 «f .>^" M 258 AMERICAN FAUUIER. MEDICINES. 259 or honey, which are apt to ferment, nnd be tlicmsch es the causes of gripes. It is also worse tlian useless to add any diuretic to the mass, as soap or carbonate of soda. The action of these on one set of organs will weaken the action of the aloes on another. A physic dose should never be kept more than two or three months, for after that time it rapidly loses its purgative property. Directions for physicking will be found at p, 120. We will only add that, as a promoter of condilinn, liic dose should always be mild. A few fluid stools will be sutiicicnt for every good j)urposc. Violent disease will alone juslify violent purging. l^hree drachms of Barbadocs aloes will have as much j)urgati\e power as four of the Cape, exclusive of griping loss and I eing safer. If the horse is well mashed, and carefully exercised, and vmU drink plenty of warm water, the Cape may be ventured on, or at least mixed with equal (piaiilitics of the Barbadoes; but if tbere be any neglect of preparation ii*r |)hysic, or during the usual operali(jn of the physic, the Capp are not to be depended upon, and may be dangerous. Some persons are fvjnd of what are called half-doses of physic. Tliree or four dracimis are given in one day, and liiree or four on the following, and perhaps, if the medicine has not operated, as in this divided slate it will not always, two or three additional drachms are given on the third day. The consequence is, that the l^jwels having been rendered irritable by the former doses, the horse is over-purged, and inflammation and death not unfrequently ensue, when the effect of the three becomes combined. In physicking a horse, whatever is to be done should be done at once. Whatever quantity is intended to be given, should be given in one dose. The system of giving small doses of aK>es as alteratives is nol good. These repeated small doses bnlging m s«.me of the folds of the intestines, and at lenglh uniting, often pnHluce more eflect than is desirable; and it is never safe to ride a horse far or fast, w ilh even a small dosQ of aloes w iihin him. Most of all objectionable is the custom of giving small doses of aloes as a nauseant, in inflammation <.f tbe lungs. Tbere is so much sym- pathy between die conlents of tbe chest and tbe belly of the horse, and inflimmation red in the form of ball, but in a state of solution their eiiect is more speedy, effectual, and safe. Two ounces of aloes, and one ounce of gum (to sik^pend the ini])erfcctly dissolved portion of the aloes), are put into a pint of boiling water, and the mixture frequently stirred. When it is cold, two ounces of tincture is added, as an aromatic, to prevent the griping of the aloes, and also to keep tbe mixture from fermenting. The aloes must nvjt be boiled in tbe water j even five minutes' boiling would tidvc away much of the purgative cflcct of the drug. The dose of the solution should vary from six to ei2:ht ounces. Aloes are useful in the form of tincture. Eight ounces of powdered aloes, and one ounce of powdered myrrh, should be put into two quarts of rectified spirit, diluted w ilh an equal quantity of water. Tbe mix- ture should be daily w ell shaken for a fortnight, and then suflTered to stand, that tbe undissolved portion may fall to the bottom. Tbis will constitute a very excellent application for wounds, w bother recent or of long standing, and indisposed to heal, ll is not only a gentle stim- ulant, but it foruis a thin crust over the wound, and shields it from tiio action of the air. The principal adulieration of aloes is by means of resin, and tbe alteration of colour is concealed by the addition of charcoal, or lamp- black. Tbis adulteration is easily enough detected, by dissolvino- tbe aloes m bot water. All aloes contain some resinrms matter, wbicli the water will not dissolve, and wbi( b has very slight purgative eflect. — The excess of this resin at the bottom of the solution will mark tbe degree of adulteration. Altkkativi:s are a class of medicines the nature and eflTect of w hich are inucdi misunderstood, and which are liable to much abuse, it is a very convenient name to excuse that propensity to dose the horso with medicines, which is the disgrace of the groom, and the lane of the stalde. By alteratives we understand those drugs which eftc( t some slow change in the diseased action of certain parts without inter- fering with the food or work; but by common C(;nscnt the term seems to be confined to medicines for the diseases of the circulation, or of the digestive organs, or of the skin. If a horse is heavy and incapa- ble of work from too good keeping, or if he is ofl^ his food from somo temporary indigestion — or if be has mange or grease, or cracked heels, or swelled legs, a few alteratives are prescribed, and the complaint is gradually and im})erceptibly removed. For all skin aflections there is no better alterative than that consisting of black antimony, nitre and sulpbur. If there is any tendency to grease, two drachms of resin may be ad«led to each ball. If the complaint be accom[)anied by weakness, a litlle gentian and ginger may be furtber added, but we enter our protest against ihv. ignorant use, and almost against the use in the most skilfi! bands, of miM'cury in any form, or anv of tbe min- eral acids or mineral tonics, or heating spices, as alttTatives. We indeed should he pleased if we could baiiisb tbe term alterative alto- gether. Tbe me(ling wbicb reason and science would tlictate is to ascertain tbe nature and degree of the disease, and then the medicine which is calculated to restore the healthy action of the part, or, of the frame generally. Alum is occasionally used internally in cases of super-purgation in the form of alum-whey, two drachms of the powder being added to a pint of hot nuik; but tliere are much better astringents, although tbis may succeed wben others fail. If alum is added to a vegetable as- Uungent, as oak bark, the power of both is diminiiLaied. lis principal #■ 260 AMERICAN FARRIER. MEDICINES. 20 1 use is external. A solution of two drachms to a pint of water forms alone, or with a scruple of white vitrial, a very useful wash for cracked heels, and for grease generally; and also for those forms of swelled legs attended with exudation of moisture througii the skin. Some add (he Goulard lotion, forgetting the chemical decomposition that takej place; the result of which is, that the alumine, possessing little astriri- gency, is detached, and two salts with no astringency at all, tho sul})hate of lead and the sulphate of potash, are formed. The BiRNT Alum is inferior n. the common alum for the purposes mentioned, and we have better stimulants or caustics, to apply l\ Wounds. Ammonia, is, to the annoyance of the horse, and the injury of hi. eyes and his hm<^s, plcntifuily extricated from the putrefying dung and urine of the stable; but, wlien combined witji water in the common form of hartshorn, it is seldom ui^ed in veterinary practice. It haa been given, and with decided benetil, and wlien other things liave failed, in flatulent colic; and is best administered in the form of the aromatic spirit of ammv^nia, and in doses of one or two ounces in warm water. Chloride of Ammoxia, or sal ammoniac is scarcely deserving of a place in our list. It is not now used internally; and as an astringent embrocation, it must yield to several that are more effectual, and less likely to blemish. AyoDY^Ks. — Of these there is but one in horse practice. Opium i^ the only drug that will lull pain. It may be given as an anodyne, bul it will also l;ean astringent in doses of one, two, or three dnichms. Antimonv. — There are several valuable preparations of this metal The Black SuLi'iiruET of Antimony, (a compound of sulphur an(* antimony) is a good altt;rative. It is given wich more sulphur anc with nitre, in varying doses, according to the disease and the slow oi rapid effect intended to be produced. The maximum dose, and espe cially if it is to be continued, should not exceed four drachms. It should never be bought in powder, for it is often grossly adulterated with lead manganese, forge-dust, and arsenic. Tiie adulteration may be detectea by placinga little of the powder on a red-hot iron plate. The pure sul- phuret will evaporate witiiout the slighh;st residiu? — so will the arsenic, but there will lie an evident smell of garlic; a portion of the lead and the m;uiganose will be left behind. Emktic TARTAii, the tartrate of potash and antimony, or a comhi- nuion of supcr-tartrate of potash and oxides of antimony, is a very usetul nauseant, and lias considerable etll-cl on the skin. It is partic- ularly valuable in inllammation of the lungs, and in every catarrhal affection. It is given in doses of one dnichni, or one drachm and a half, and combined with nitre and digitalis. It is also beneficial in the expulsion of worms. Here it must be given in doses of two drachms, and with some mechanical vermifuge, as tin-filings, or ground glass, and adirunistered on an empty stomach, and for several suc- cessive days. Although it may sometimes fail to expel the worm, it materially improves the condition of the horse, and produces sleekness of the coat. To a slight degree the emetic tartar is decomposed by the action of light, and should be kept in a jar, or green bottle. It is sometimes adulterated with arsenic, which is detected by the garlic smell when it is placed on hot iron, and also by its not gi\ ing a beau- tiful gold-coloured precipitate when sulphuret of amm>nia is added to a solution of it. Antimonial Powder, powder of oxi 1e of antimony, v,i!h phosphate of linie. This, too, is adulterated wi:h chalk, and plaster of Paris, burnt kmes, and other vv liite p«jvvders, ;iud that to so shanieful a degree, that little dependence can be placed on the antinioiuiil j)owder usually sold by druggists. Muriatic or sulphuric acid will detect most of those adulterations. Chloride of antimony is formed by distilling corrosive sublimate with antimony. The butter-like matter which is produced (whence the common name, Butyr of Antiinouy) lias a strong aifinity for water, which it attracts from the atmosphere, and thus becomes converted into a fluid. The less water it is suffered to attract to itself, the more powerful it remains, and therefore it should be kept in stopped bottles; and tiie prcx)f of its goodness is its weight. It is decidedly the best li(pu(I caustic we have; it is most manageable, and its eliect can most readily be ascertained. As soon as it touches any muscular or living part, a change of colour is perceived on the part; and the effect of the caustic can be fairly judged of by the degree of change. For corns, canker, indisposition in the sole to secrete good horn, wounds in the foot not attended by healthy action, and for every case where the superficial application of a caustic is needed, the chloride of antimony is unrivalled. Anti-spasmodics. — Of these our list is scanty, for the horse is sub- ject only to few spasm otlic diseases, and there are fewer medicines which have an ani-spasmodic eflect. Opium stands first f *r its gen- eral power, and that exerted particularly in locked jaw; and oil of turpentine as almost a specific for spasm of the bowels: camphor, assafcetida, and various others, used on the human subject, have very doubtful effect in the horse, or mav be considered as almost inert. AusKNJc. — ^Vere il not ihat some j)ractitioners continue to use it as a tonie, in doses of iVoni ten to twcuitv ii'mins diiily, and otheis to core out old ulcers, we \\(»ul(l not iu'-hide il iu our lis:, lor wo h;i\e hide faidi ni il. Tiicre are belter and saler tojucs, and tar l;et(.er and safer causlies. Astringents are medicines ihat roniract the liviuii; fii-n^s, and (bus close the mouths of small vessels, and restrain iiiordin;ite and dange- rous discharges. Oj)ium, alum, and catechu are powerful astrmgents in arresting intestinal and urinary evacuations; and alum and the superacetiite of lead are astringents applied externally. Balls. — The usual and the most convenient mode of administering many medicines is in the form of balls, compounded with oil. Balls should never weigli more than an ounce and a half, or two ounces. uLherw.se they will Ix? so large as to pass with diiiicidty down the mmma0i>Mi»smmf m* > i* fl t 202 AMERICAN FARRIER. MEDICINES. 203 gullet. They should not be more than an inch in diameter and three inches in length. The mode of delivering balls is not difficult to acquire; and the balling iron, while it often wounds and permanently mjures the bars, occasions the horse to struggle more than he other- wise would against the administration of the ball. The horse should be backed in the stall; — the tongue should be drawn gently out willi the left hand on t!ie off-side of the mouth, and there fixed, not by con- tinuing to pull at it, but by pressing the fingers against the side of tlie lower jaw. The ball, being now taken between the tips of the fingers of the right hand, is j)assed nipidly up the mouth, as near to the palare as possible, until it n^aches the root of the tongue; it is then delivered with a slight j(3ik, and the ha?i(i hrinix imuiediately withdrawn and the tongue liberated, the ball is forced through the j)harynx into the cpso- phagus. Its passage should U' watched down the left side of tlie throat; and if it is nnt seen going down, a slight tap or blow under the chin will generally cause the horse to swallow, or a few gulps of water will carry it down. Blisters are applications to the skin which separate the cuticle in the form of vesicles containing a serous fluid. They excite increased action in the vessels of the skin, by means of vvhi( h this fluid is thrown out. The part or neighboring parts are somewhat relieved by this discharge, but more by tlie iidlaiiiinatioii and pain vv Inch are j)r(xluce(l, and which lessen the inflammalion and pain previously existing in some contiguous part. On this principle we account for the decided relief often obtained by blisters in inflammation of the lungs; their effi- cacy in abating deeply-seated inflammation, as that of sprain of the tendons, ligaments, or joints; and the necessity of removing first, in these latter cases, the superficial inllanimati.»n caused by the sprain, that inflammation of a diffcTent kind may be excited instead of ii, to which the deeply-seated intlauunation of the part will be more likely to yield. The blisters used in horse-practice are composed only of cantharides or the oil of turpentine, to which some have added a tine ture of the Ooton-nut. Tlie method of forming the best blister ha- been flescribed. Hoi,i; Ak.mkm.w is an argillaceous earth combined with iron, and is supposed to p(.ssess some astrinixent property. TIk; propriety of itu being best aduunistered inwardly is doubtful; for it ni;iy remain iii the intestinal canal, and become the nut of a stone. On account of *ts supposed astring(!ncy, it is employed external iy to give consistencij to ointments for grease. Even the bole Armenian has not escaped the process of adulteratirm, and is largely uu\yn\ wilh inferior earths. 'i'he fraud may be suspected, but not satisfactorilv detected, by the colour of the powder, which should be a bright red! Burgundy Pitch. — See Resin. Calamine. — See Zmc. Calomel. — See Mercury. Camphor is the produce of one of the laurus species, a native of Japan, and is imitated by passing a stream of chlorine throuirh oil nf turpentine. The efficacy of this drug when used internally is very doubtful. The camphor ball is a favourite with the groom, and occa- sionally administered by the farrier, but, seemingly, with no definite object, for it has not been yet determined whether it is to be considered as a sedative, anti-spasmfxlic, or stimulant. It is, however, a stimulant, when applied externally. In the form of camphorated oil, it promotes the absor})tion of lluids thrown out beneath the skir;, the removal of old callus, and the suj)pleiug of joints stiff from labour. Combined with oil of turpentine it is more effective, but in that combination it occasionally blemishes. Cantharides are the basis of the most approved and uset^id veteri- niry ])listers. The cantharis is a fly, the native of Italy and the south of France, destroyed by sulphur, dried and powdered and mixed with palm oil and resin, in the pro|K)r(ions already directed. Itsacti(;n is intense, and yet superficial; it plentifully raises the cuticle, but never injures the true skin, and therefore never blemishes. The a|>- plication of other acrid substances is occasionally followed by deep- seated ulcerations; nut a blister, composed of the Spanish fly alone, wliile it does its duty, leaves, after a few weeks have passed, scarcely a trace behind. The art of blistering consists in cutting, or rather shaving the hair perfectly close — then well rubbing in the ointment, f >r at least ten minutes — afterwards, and what is of the greatest con- secjuence of all, }>lastering a little more of the ointment lightly over the part, and leaving it. As soon as the vesicles have perfectly risen, which will be in twenty or twenty-four hours, the torture of the ani- mal niay be somewhat relieved by the applicatit nil, or any emolient ointment. When too extensive a blister has been employed, or, from the intensity of the original inflammation, the blister has not risen, (for no two intense inflammations can exist in neighbouring parts at tlK3 same time,) strangury, or great diflictdty in passing urine, or even suppres- sion of it, has occurred. The' careful washing off of the blister, and the administration of plenty of warm water, with opium, and bleeding if the symptons run high, will generally remove this un- pleasant effect. An infusion of two ounces of the flies in a pint of oil of turpentine, f^)r several days, is wcasionally used as a li(}iiid blister; and when suf- ficiently lowered with common oil, it is called a sircutirig oil, for it maintains a certain degree of irritation and inflammalion on the skin, bi)t not suflicient to blister, and thus gradu;illy abates or reiiioves some 3ld or dee}) iutlammtttion, or cause of lameness. Cantharides have lately been recommended to be given internally, »n doses, daily, or twice in the day, <.f five grains, and increasing the lose to fifteen grains, for the cure of glanders. The experiments are vet too few and indecisive to admit of any satisfactory conclusion. In these doses the fiy has not been injurious, and the cxpenmcnta are well worth jirosecuting. 204 americ:an farrier. MEDICINES. 2G5 Caruaways. — These and ginger are retained as the only cordials requisite tor tlie horse. Castor Oil, if it is a purgative in the horse, it must be given in the enormous and expensive doses of a pound or a pound and a half. Cate(^hu, Japan earth, yet no earth, but extracted from the wood of one of the accacia trees, is a very useful astringent. It is given in superpurgation, in doses of one or two drachms, with one or one and a h'llf drachm of opium, as a yet more powerful astringent; four drachms of chalk, to neutrahze any acid in the stomach or bowels, and two drachms of powdered gum being also added, to sheath the over-irritated mucous coat of the intestines, it is not often achiltenited in our coun- try, but grossly so al)r<>a(l — hue sand and aluminous earth being mixed witli the extract. It should not be given with any alkali, yet the i)rc- scriplion just recommended contains chalk. But although the chalk, being an alkali, weakens the astrin^^tMicy of the catechu, it pnibahly neutralizes some acid in tin.* stomach or l)owels, which would have diminished the power of the catechu to a greater degree. It must not be given in conjunction with any metallic salt, for the tannin or gailic acid, on which its power chipfly or entirely depends, has an afbnitv for all metals, and will unite with them, and form a gallate of them, possessing little astringent energy. Common ink is the union of tins tannin principle with iron. A tincture of catechu is sometimes made by macerating three oun- ces of the powder in a quart of spirit for a fortnight. It is very excellent for woun«ls; and, with the aloes, constitutes all that we want of a balsamic nature for the purpose of hastening the healing pro- cess u^ wounds- Caustics. — T!iese are Sv)mctimes necessary to destroy fungous excrescences, or stimulate indolent ulcers, or remove portions of cel- lular substance or muscle infected by any poison. They are the butyr of antimon\ — blue vitriol — verdigris— corrosive sublimate — lu- nar caustic, and sulphuric acid. See these different substances. Chalk is used only in combination with catechu for superpurga- tion, and in the |)roportions directed under the article Catechu. The prepared or levigated chalk is generally preferred. CiiAMOMiLi:. — 'I'lu^ powder of the tlower is a useful vegetable tonic and the mildest in our I st. It is givcMi in doses of one or two drachms, and is exhiliite;! in tb • early stajf(3 of convalescence to ascertain whether the fel>rile stage of the disease is passed, and to prepare the way for a- more powerful tonic, the gcMitian. if no acccderationof pulse, or heat of mouth, or indicatictn of return of fever, accompanie;^ the cautious use of the chamomile, the gentian, wilh carbonate of iron, may be safely ventured on; but if the gentian had been useoultice, readily removes the foetid smell of uidiealthy ulcers, or cracked heels. Charges are thick adhesive plasters spread over parts that have been strained or weakened, and, being applied to the skin warm, ad here for a considerable lime. The following mixture makes a good charge — Burgundy or common pitch, five ounces; tar, six ounces; yellow wax, one ounce, melted together, and when they are becoming cool, half a drachm of powdered canlharides well stirred in. 'I'bis must be partially melted afresh when applied, and put on the part with a large spatula, as hot as it can be without giving tli(; animal too much pain."^ Flocks of tow should be scattered over it while it is warm, and thus a thick and adhesive covering Avill be formed, which cannot be se{)arated from the skin for many months. This is applied for old sprains of the loins, and also stranis of the back sinews. The charge acts in three ways — ])y the slight stimulant power which it possesses it gradually removes all deep-seated intlammation — by its stimulus and by its pressure it promotes the ahsorpticm of any callus or thickening beneath; and, acting as a constant bandage, it gives tone aiKl strength to the parL Clysters. — These arc useful and too often neglected means of has- \en\nrr the evaen;ifi..n of the bowels, when the disease requires their ppcedy action. The ox-l)ladder and wooden pipe may still l)e em- ployed, and a considerable quantity of fluid may be thrown into the' intestine. Two ounces of sof\ or yellow soap, dissolved in a gallon of warm water, will f)rm a useful aperient clyster; it will detach or dissolve many irritating substances that may have adhered to the mucous coat of the bowels. For a more active aperient, eight ounces of Epsom salts, or even of common salt, m-iv be dissolved in the same quantity of water; a more active injection, 'but not to be used if much purgative medicine has been previously given, may 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; it will act as a fomentation to the inflamed and irritable surface of the bowels, and will have no inconsiderable eflfect even as an aperient. Incases of over-purging or inflammation of the bowels, the injecti<»n must be of a soothing nature: it may consist of jiruel alone; or if the purging 1x3 great, and diflicult to stop, the gruel must be thicker, fjur ounces of pn^j);ired or powdered chalk being well mixed with or sus- pended in it, with two scruj)ies or a dnichm of powdered (>j)iuin. No oil should enter into the comp(»sition of a clyster, except that linseed oil may be used for the expulsion of the ascarides, or nee- dle-worms. In epidemic caUirrh, when the horse sometimes obstinately refuses to cat or to drink, his strength may be supported by nourishing clysters; but they should consist of thick gruel only, and not more than a quart should be administered at once, f )r a greater quantity would bo returned soon after the pipe is withdrawn. Strong broths, and more particularly ale and wine, are dangerous ingredients; they may ra[)idly 31 Z vTBiiiinwBWWiWNBaimwMLiM^tiiir-iiiriiifBiitBi.1 i hi' jh 266 AMERlCx\N FARRIER. MEDICINES. 267 aggravate the fever, and should never be administered^ but under thd superintendence, or by the directi.)n of an experienced farrier- The principal art of aihninistering a clyster consists in not frighten- ing the horse. The pipe, well oiled, should be very gently introduced, and the fluid not too hastily thrown up; and its heat should be as nearly as possible tliat of the intestine, or about blood-heat. Copper. — There are two combinations of this metal used in vc- fterinarv practice: the verdigris or subacetate, and the blue vitriol or suljiluitc. Verdigris is the common ruj^t of copper, produced by vinegar, or any tiling sour, or even common salt. It is given internally by some f)ra('titioners, in doses of two or three drachms daily, as a tonic, and parti(;ularly for the cure of farcy. It is, however, an uncertain and dangerous medicine. The corrosive sublimate, with vegetable tonics, is preferable. Verdigris is, however, usefully applied exter- nally as a mild caustic. Either alone, in the form of fine powder, or mixed with an e(iual rpiantity of the sugar (superacetate) of lead, it eats down j)roud H(3sli, or stimulates old ulcers to healthy action; when bis. — ThL' leaves of the conwuon f>x-glove, gathered about the llowering time, dried carefully in the dark, powdered, and kept in a close black bottle, form one of tli(i most valuable medicines in veterinary practice, it is a direct and powerful sedative, dimin- ishing the frecpjency of the pulse, and the general irritability ot the system, and acting also as a mild diuretic; it is therefore useful in every inllauimatory and febrile comjilaint, and particularly in in- Hammation of the chest. It is usually given in conil)inati(/n with emetic tartar and nitre. The avenige dose would be one drachm of digitalis, one and a half of emetic tartar, and three of nitre, and repeated twice or thrice in the day. Digitalis seems to have an imme- diate effect on the heart, lessening the numb'er of its pulsations: but lessening them in a singular manner, not by causing it to beat more slowly, but by producing certain intermissions or pauses in its action. When these become marked ; when at every sixth or seventh beat, the pulsations are suspended, while two or three couKl be slowly counted, this is precisely the elfect which is intended to be produced; and however ill the horse may appear to be, or however alarming this intermittent pulse may seem to the by-standers, from that moment the animal will begin to amend. The dose must then be diminished one half, and in a few days it may be omitted altogether; but the emetic tjirtar and the nitre should be continued, even for some days after the practitioner deems it prudent to try the etiect of mild vegetable tonics. There is no danger in the intermittent pulse thus produced; but there is much danger when the digitalis fails to pnxluce any effect on the circulation. The disease is then Ux) powerful to be arrested by medi- cine. Digitalis recpiires watching; but the only consequence to bo apprehended from an over-dose, js, that the patient may be reduced a little too low, and his convalesrence retarded for a day or two. In the t^'orni of iufiisi^u or tincture, diaitnlis is verv useful in in- nau.!ii:ition of the exes. It is almost oiii.-ij in power to opium, and it may with great advaut;iouring a (piart of boiTin^^ water on an ounce of the powder. A portion of the liquid should l>p iufPHluced into the eye. Of the tincture one or two drops should be intnxluccd. To form the tincture, three ounces of the digitalis should be added to a quart of spirit. The infusion has been serviceable in mange; but there are bettei Applications. DiUHKTU's constitute a useful, but much abused class of medi- cines. They stimulate the kidneys to secrete more than the usual quantity of urine, or to separate a greater than ordinary proportion of the watery parts of the blood ; but the deficiency of water in the blood thus occasioned must be speedily supplied, or the healthy circu- lation could not be carried on, and it is generally supplied by t'.'c absorbents taking up the watery fluid in some part of the frame, lv.o carrying it into circulation. Ilence the evident use of diuretics v« every dro{)sical affiction, in swelled legs, and also in inflammatKvi and fever, by lessening the (piantity of the circulating fluid, and there- fore the quantity which is sent to inflamed parts. All this, however, is j)ro{luced by the kidneys bein^ stimulated to increased action, and if this stimulus is too often or te swallowed. A portion of it however will often be obstinately held in the mouth for a long time, and the head must be kept up until the whole is swal- lowed, which a quick but not violent slap in tbe muzzle will generally compel the horse to do. Tbe art of giving a drink consists in not putting Um much into tbe horn at once; introducing the horn f;ir enougb into tbe moutii, and quickly turning and withdrawing it, wifbout bruising or wounding tbe mouth, tbt; tongue being liK^scned at tbe same moment A bottle is a disii;raccful and dane given in the mash, it should be scalded with the bran, to soften it aiui render it more digestil>le. Bran mashes are very useful preparatives for physic, and they are necessary duruig the operation of the ph\ sic. 'l^hey very s()on become sour and the manger of the horse of wli(l lorm is somctunes necessary fir the cure of iualicn ders and s:illiMid(Ts; and in very obstinate cases of manure, Calomel, the sul muriate or protochb.ride of mercury, ma\ be irivcn combined wilh aloes, in mange, surfeit, or \vonus;^yet better alto' ratives and luore etlicient venuif.jges have been described II is adimssible in some cares of chronic couirh, in farcv, and in jaundice, but IS not a medicme that seems to agree with the horse. Aim e i( has httle purgative effect, but it assists the action of other aperients It is given in doses from a scruple to a drachm, but must not be too otten or too long repeated. As soon as the gums become red, or the anjmal becrins to quid or drop his hay, it must be discontinued Corrosive Sublimate., the oxymuriate or bichloride of mercury, combined with chlorine in a double proportion, is a useful tonic in farcy, and perhaps the most to be depended upon. It should be given in doses of ten grains daily, and gradually increased to a scruple^ until the horse is purged, or the mouth becomes sore^ when it may be omitted for a few days, and resumed. Some have recommended it as a diuretic, but it is too dangerous a medicine for this purpose. It is used externally in solution; and in substance in (piittor, as a stimulant to f)ul ulcers; and in the proportion of five grains to an ounce of rec- tified spirit in obstinate mange or to destroy vermin on the skin. It is, however, loo uncertain and too dangerous a medicine for the horse-proprietor to venture on its use without the sanction of a veterinary surgeon. JFlthiop\s' Minfral,ihc black sulphurct of mercury, is not often used in horse practice, but it is a gcxxi alterative for obstinate surfeit or foulness of the skin, in doses of three drachms daily^ Four drachms of cream of tartar may be advantageously added to each dose. Mint, — If the use of an infusion or decoction of this plant, or of Ihe oil that is extracted from it, can be at anv tiino admitted, it i« a vehicle in which the oil of turpentine and laudanum may be adminis- tered in cases of colic/ Myrrh may be used in the form of tincture, or it may l)e united to the tincture of aloes as a stimulating and digestive application to wounds. Diluted with an equal quantity of water, it is a good appli- cation for canker in the mouth, but as an internal medicine it seenvs to be inert. NiTRK. — See Potash. Nitrous ^Etiier, Spirit of, is a very useful modirinc in the ad- vanced stages of fever, for while it to a certain degree rouses the ftxhaused powers of the animal, and may be denominated a stimulant, it never brings back the dangerous febrile action which was subsiding. It is given in doses of three or four drachma. Oils. — The firrier's list contains many of them, but the scientific practitioner has discarded the greater part; those that are worth retaining will be f)und under the names of the vegetables from which they are extracted. Ointments, — These have been fully described under tlie accidents and diseases in which their use is reipiired. Olives, Oil of.— 'rUis is sometimes given as a purgative when aliK^s or other apiu'icMits cannot be obtained. It is useless to give it in a less quantity than a pint, and tlven it is uncertain in its operation, although harmless. In all liniments and ointments, spermaceti', or even linseed oil, may be substituted without detrnnent, and the peculiar smell of the latter may be subdued by oil of aniseed or origanum. Oi»iuM. — However urKlerrated by some, there is not a more valuable drug on our list. It dcxis not often act as a narcotic except in enor- mous doses; but it is a powerful antispnsmodii*, sedative, and astringent. As an antispasmodic, it enters into the colic drink, a'.d it is the shee* fymwfumaimaimvsiiM mfmyimamtuf: 276 AMERICAN FARRIER. MEDICINES. 277 anchor of the veterinarian in the treatment of tetanus or li)eked jaw As a seilative, it relaxes that universal spasm of the muscular system, which is the characteristic of tetanus; and perhaps it is only as a seda- tive that it has such admirable effect as an astringent; for when the irritation about the mouths of the vessels of the intestines and kidneys is allayed by the opium, undue purging and profuse staling are neces- sarily arrested. It should, however, be given with caution. It is its secondary eifect which is sedative, and, if given in cases of fever, its primary eliect in increasing the excitation of the tVame is marked and injurious. In the early and acute stage of lever, it would be l)ad prac- tice to give it in the smallest (piantity ; but wlien the fever iias passed, or is passing, there is notiiiug which >o rapidly subdues the irritability that accompanies extreme weakness; and it becc-mes an excellent tonic,, l)ecause it is a sedative. if the blue or green vitriol, or cantharides, have been pushed too far, opium soonest quiets the disorder they have occasioned. It is given in doses of one or two drachms; either the powdered opium being made mto a ball, or the crude opium dissolved in hot water, and given with its sedimcuit. Other medicines are usually combined witU it^ accorumg to me circumstances ot the case. Externally, it is useful in opthalmia. In the form of dec(x^tion of the popj)y head it may constitute the basis of an anoflvne poultice- but it must not be given in union with any alkali, with the excejition of chalk, in over-purging; nor with the superacetate of lead, by which its powers are materially impaired, nor with sulphate of zinc, or copper, or iron. From its high price it is much adulterated, and it is rare to meet with it in a state of purity. The best tests are its smell, its taste, its toui!;hness and j>liancy, its fawn or brown colour, and its weight, for it is the heaviest of all the vegetable extracts, except gum arabic; yet its weight is often fraudulently increased by stones and bits of lead being concealed in it. The English opium'is almost as good as tlie Turkish, and fre(pjently sold for it; but it is distinguii>hable by its blackness and softness. Palm Oil, when genuine, is the very best substance that can l>e used for making masses and balls, it has a pleasant smell, and it never becomes ranc^id, ViTcu is used to give adhesiveness and firmness to charges and plasters. The conuuun pilch is (piite as gcxxl as the more expensive iJiirgundy pitch. The best plaster for sand-crack consists of one pound oi pitch and an ounce of yellow bees-wax melted together. rnvsic—The cases which re(iuire i)hysic, the composition of the most effectual and safest physic ball, and the mode of treatment under physic, have been already described. Potash. — Two compounds of potash are used in veterinary practice. The Nitrate of Potash, Nitre, li^ a valuable cof)ling medicine, and a aiild diuretic, and, therefore, it should enter into the comjmsit'ion uf svery fever bull. Its dose is from two to four draclwns. Grooms often dissolve it in the water. There are two objections to this: either the horse is nauseated and will not drink so much water as he ought • or the salt taste of the water causes considerable thirst, and disinclination to solid food. Nitre, while dissolving, materially lowers the tempera- ture of water, and furnishes a very cold and useful lotion for sprain of the back sinews, and other local innanunations. The lotion, however should be used as soon as the salt is dissolved, for it quickly becomes as warm as the surrounding air. The Supertartrate of Potash, Cream of Tartar, is a mild diuretic, and, combined with iEthio])V mineral, is a useful alterative in obstinate mange or grease. Poultices. — Few horsemen are aware of the value of these simple applications in abating inflammation, relieving pain, cleansing wounds and disposing them to heal. They are fomentatjions of the best kind' continued much longer than a simple fomentation can be. In all in- flammations of the foot they are very beneficial, softening the horn, hardened by the heat of the foot, and contracted and pressing on the' internal and highly sensible parts. The moisture and warmth are the useful parts of the poultice; and that poultice is the best for gene- ral purposes in which moisture and warmth are lontrpsf rot'.*int^± rerspiratK^n is most abundantly prouKjted in tlie part, the pores are opened, swellings are relieved, and discharges of a healthy nature pro- cured from wounds. Linseed meal forms the best general poultice, because it longest retains the moisture. Bran, although frequently used for poultices, is objectionable, because it so soon becomes dry. To abate considerable inflammation, and especially in a wounded part, Goulard may be added, or the linseed meal may be made into a paste with a decoction of poppy heads. To promote a healthy discharg(^ from an old or foul ulcer; or sepanition of the dead from the living parts, in the process of what is called coring out; or to hasten the ripening of a tumour that must be opened; or to cleanse it when it is opened, two ounces of common turpentine may be added to a pound of linseed nieal : but nothing can be so absurd, or is so injurious, as the addition of turpentine to a'^KMil- tice that is designed to be an emollient. The drawing [>oultices and stoppings of farriers are often highly injurious, instead of abating mflammatiun. If the ulcer smells oflensively, two ounces of powdered charcoal may be added to the linseed meal, or the poultice may be made of water, to which a solution of the chloride (»f lime has been added in the proportion of half an ounce to a pound. As an emollient poul- tice for grease and cracked heels, and especially if accompanied by much unpleasant smell, there is nothing preferable to a poultice of mashed carrots wilh ( harcoal. For old grease seme slight stimulant nmst l)e added, as a little yeast or the grounds of table beer. There are two errors in the ap|)lication of a poultice, and particu- larly as It regards the legs. It is often put on too tight, by which the return of Uie blood from tlie foot is prevented, and the disease is 2A I liirflrlti^Wi'riMiiM k i 278 AMERICAN FARRIER. MEDICINES. 27i) increased instead of lessened ; or it is too hot, and unnecessary paiil h given, and the inflammation aggravated. Powders. — Some horses are very difficult to ball or drench, and the violent struggle that would accompany the attempt to conquer them may heighten the fever or inflammation. To such horses powders must be given in mashes. Emetic tartar and digitalis may be gene- rally used in cases of inflaintnation or fever; or emetic tartar for worms; or calomel and even the farina of tlie Croton nut for physic: but powders are Ux) often an excuse for the laziness or awkwardness of the caller or groom. The horse frequently refuses them, espe- cially if his appetite has otherwise begim to fail; the powder and the mash are waited, and the animal is urmecessarilv nauseated. Ail medicine should l)e given in tlii^ form of ball or drink. llvKiNd. — This consists in intrtiniulating power, it is an inirredient in mange ointments. The oil of turpentine is an excellent iiiiiispasiiKKMe. For the removal of colic it stands unrivalled. Funn- ing a tincture with cantharides, it is the basis of the ^sweating Idister,' used for old strains and swellinixs. As a blister it is far inferior to the commtm ointment; as a stimulant frequently applied it must be suffi- ciently lowered, or it may blemish. Vinegar is a very useful application for sprains and bruises. Equal parts of boiling water and cold vinegar will form a good f )mentation. JExtract of lead, or bay salt, may be added with some slight advantage. As an internal remedy, vinegar is rarely given, nor has it, except in very large doses, any medicinal power. The d(»ctor and the horse- owner should manufacture their own vinegar. That which they buy may contain sulphuric acid, and pungent spices, and irritate the in- flamed part to which it is applied. Wax. — The yellow wax is used in charges and some plasters to fender them less brittle. Zi-v (. INDEX. Apoplexy, - - . - ig Age of the horse, how ascertained, 49 Arteries, - - - . . gQ Arm, - - - - . 135 AMaiU>iuical tenus, - - - 14 Botjes of the «K)uth, - - 47 hog aiid Blood Sf^avin, - - 88 Big-head, - - » , 311 Bleeding, - - . _ g|^ Bronchitis, - - - - igy t UiOKkCii-vviiiu, - « • « mxy Bladder, - - _ _ 1^8 Broken knees, - - - - 136 Bone-Spaviit, - - . I5g Iiar-SlK)€, ... - 23^ liots^ - - - « . \\'2 Bri'H«iing, principles o£^ - - ±i3 Common inffammation of the eye^ Sf) Chest founder, - - - . yg ( 'atarrh, or common cold, - 93 C'hronic cough, - . . . 103 ('atarrhal (&\eT^ - • . lOQ Calculi, or stone in tlie intcslincg, 115 Cutting, 147 ( 'otfin joint, sprain 01^ - - 148 ^•"'N 155 Capp'i'd-hock, - - ■* 161 (^'ow-hockn, - « . - 16iJ (/rust, or waH of ttte hoof, - 169 C^fiHi-boi>e, - - - - 174 CarOla^^es of tke loot, - - 176 (>hrattac foimdec^ - - » IQQ Comracttou, - - • - 181 Conw, - ... - 1^ Canker, .... 194 Clipping, 20^2 Colour, .... 202 Castration, - - - - 230 ( 'Oncave-seated shoe, ^ * 232 Calkins, - „ , . , 2:^ Clips, . - , - - 237 Chest and its contents, • « 72 Dropsy of the skin of the cJiest, 78 Dia] hragrn, * - - ' 109 283 Diabetes, or profuse staling. External fonn of the liorse. Entanglement of the bowels. Expanding shoe. Eye, diseases of. Fits, or Ej)ilepsy, Farry, - . . Fistulous withers. Fever. - . _ l'etl()<:k, - - . Frog, False quarter, - - . Felt, or leather soles. Feet, weakness of, Glanders, • • • Gutta Serena, Gnjgginess, ... Grease, - - . Heart, - - - . Hernia, or rupture. Haunch, - - . Hock, eulargt'n>€ntof, - HLnd leg, . • • Hide-bound, Hair, - - - . Hinder-slioe, Inflammation, • • . of the lungs, •• • of the neck-vein, of the liver, of the kidn^s, of the lK>rt'elfi, of tl»e bladdfj:, of the foGSi, or acute foander, Dite<»tines, - , . . liUa&suscf-ption (->f, i( u u u u u Jaundice, Kidneys, Knee, m 9 116 239 25 24 42 76 etc 147 172 186 240 196 34 30 147 165 79 121 150 155 163 199 200 237 82 92 66 122 1^ 116 177 113 116 133 124 135 i>,)i(ll|Ki.ft, « « - - Lower-jaw, • - - Loins, • - - - Lungs, • - • - Liver, . - - • Leg, .... Lips, . - - . Lock-jaw, - - - Larynx, . - , . Megrims, - - - - Mad-staggers, - - - Mouth, wounds and canker in. Muscles of the breast. Malignant epidemic, Mailenders, . - - MouUiug» <^r changing the hair, Mange, - - - - Management of the horse, ♦' Air, Litter, - - - Light, - Exercise, INDEX. (I 47 4.S 75 90 121 138 45 21 68 16 20 61 78 103 162 201 203 241 241 243 244 5^18 Mt'dicine?^— ■ Medicines used in the treatment of the diseases of horses, described, 257 Aloes, 4( 4i u u u (I li u u u Alteratives, Alun), - - - Annnonia, Ancxijmes, Antimony, . Bkick sulphate of Antimonial powtler, Anti-spasinodicii, ^ Arsenic, - » Asuiugeiits. Balii, - - - Bhsteis, - - , Bole Armenian, Bui^gundy pilch, - iJHvie Vilnol, 259 260 V ■ - - 2in f •• Calamine, Calomel, Camj)hor, Camharides, Car. I ways, Castor oil. Catechu, Caustics, Chalk, Chamomile, diarc^>*]. 262 2C3 2HI u u it u u u a a (4 u it *^ i( u (i Charges, • Clysters, Copper, Cordials, Corrosive Sublimate, Oeani of Tartar, Croton Tiglij, 266 267 " Diaphoretics, " Digestives, Digitalis, Diuretics, Drinks, 268 26i> u Elder, - 270 u ii Epsom Salts, Emetic Tartar, 260 it ^lentations. S70 i( M. orge-rwuter, - 972 n Centian, . - - 270 it Cinger, Goulard's Extract, 271 " Ilellebor*, White, ** Hemlock, » i ** Infusions, ^* Io**ad, Sugar of, White, TfifMf, mnnents. 273 I#in?eod, I/otions, Oil of, Magnesia, r r Mashes, , - - Mercury, - - r ~ • Calomf*!, ■ ■ •■■ ■ ( 'orrosn e Subrnnftte, —iEthiop's Miw^rai, Miirt, • - ^ Myrrh, . . , t74 275 Medicines « Nitre, '' Nitrous iEther, spirit of. i( Oils, . (t Ointments, (( Olives, oil of. (4 Opium, t* Palm oil, tl Pitch, tt Physic, Potash, m U Poultices, - u Powders, Raking, Resin, - u Rowels, - (( Salt, - (( u Sedatives, tl Silver, m tt Soda, it tt Soap, Starch, m t( Stoppings, Sulphur, (( Tar, • tt Tinctures, ti 'I'obacco, - tt Tonics, 4t TuriH-Mitine, - tt Vinegar, tt Wax, u Whue vitriol, a Zinc, _ u Sulphate of, 975 INDEX, 085 Ossification of the cartilages, • 195 Operations, - - - <- 215 " Blistering, - - §17 '' Bleeding, « - • « Firing, - - . 219 " Inserting seatons, - - 222 Pleurisy, , - - . 99 Pressure on the brain, - - 16 Palsy, - - - - 25 Palate, ----- 47 Pharynx, - - - - 62 Poll-evil, . - . . 63 Pulse, - - . - 80 Physicking, - - - - 120 Pancreas, - - - - 124 Pasterns, » „ - - 145 Position of the legs, - - 149 Point of the htx:k, - - - 160 Pumiced feet, - - - 179 Prick, or wound of the sole or crust, 189 l*ores of the skin, _ - - 200 teparatiou of the foot for shoeing, 233 276 277 278 27J) 279 r> 280 281 Nose and mouth, diseases of, Nasasmodic-Colic Spleen, - - - Stone in the bladder. Shoulder, - - - " Sprain of, '' Slanting direction of, " Muscle of, " Lower bone of, Splent, - - - - Sprain of the back sinews, Suspensory ligament, rupture Stide, - - - - Sallenders, - - - Spring-halt, - - - Swelled legs. Sensible sole - ,. - 187 68 77 149 152 10 12 18 blindness, 26 57 59 73 77 110 114 123 129 130 131 132 134 of. 139 142 146 153 162 163 175 miihM\§imuimimmmimmmmmkwii,mviimmmmmH>i f«l fNDKK. .^risible frog, - . - 175 iband-crack, - - - - 184 Slua and its diseases, - - 197 Surfeit, - « - - - 202 Soundness, and the purciia^e and s^le of horses, Six>eing, directions for, IRhoes, different kiuds of, JSolej „ _ - "nack-wind, T«cth, diseases of, Tcwigue, ** Diseases of, 173 105 56 57 Thomugh-pin, Thrush, - Tips, - - - Thigh, Teiauus, or lockjaw, Veins, - • - Windpipe, Withers, Warbles, Worms, Wind -galls, ^WarlM, 192 239 21 ^7 e^^ 16 11 119 144 2()6 ' J .{ THE END. ■■ f\rk,:.^pk^M\ '*. ht5