V A TREATISE ON THE INOCULATION of HORSES, FOR. THE STRANGLES; IN WHICH 15 CLEARLY LAID DOWN, THE MANNER AND TIME OF THE OPERATIONj THE PREPARATION NECESSARY PREVIOUS THERETO ; AND THE MODE OF TREATMENT DURING THE CONTINUANCE OF THE DISORDER; THE WHOLE BEING THE Refult of long and repeated Experience. By RICHARD FORD, OF BIRMINGHAM; WHO HAS MADE THE COMPLAINTS OF HORSES HIS STUDV FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS PAST. BIRMINGHAM: PRINTED BY E. PIERCV, IN BULI, STRBET, AND SOLD BY J. JOHNSON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, LONDON. {Entered at Stationer's Hall.] SUBSCRIBERS 'N A'M'ES. A A. •DAMS, Mr. Worcettcr ' Adams, Mr. Daventry Ainge, Mr. Yarmouth Allen, Mr. Hockley Allen, Mr. Samuel, -Banbury Oxfordfliirc Allen, Mr, Northamptonftiire Allen, Mr. Jofeph, ditto Aliens, John Efq. Worcefter Alfton, Mr. Winfon-greeni : AOiford, Mr. SulFolk-ftreet Bateman, Right Honourable Lord Vifcount Beache, Dr. Birmingham Barrs, Mr. Thomas ditto Barker, Mr. John, Cherry-ftreet ditto Barlow, Mr. Edgbaiton Bay ley, Mr. Surgeon, Shifnal Baxter, Mr. James Moor-ftreet, Birmingham Barr, Mr, Surgeon, - ditto Baldwin, Mr Sen. Shirley Barton, Mr. John Cokniill Barber, James, Efq. Tipton Bentley, Mr. Birmingham Bedford, Mr. Samuel Birlingham Bennet, Mr, Saltley Benbow, Mr. "Worcefter two copies Bernecker, Mr. Birmingham B. Bedford, Mr, I. Pcrfliore b Birch, X SUBSCRIBERS NAMES, Birch, George Efq. Hampftead two copies Bingley, Mr. Five-ways Bingham, Mr. John Birmingham two copies Bingham, Mr. James ditto Blakefley, Mr at Brunton, Forbes & Co. ditto Blount, Mr. Surgeon, Birmingham Blunt, Mr. ditto Bolton, Matthew Efq. Soho two copies Bonney, Rev. Mr. Tanzer, Northamptonfhire Bradburn, Samuel Efq. Birmingham Brooke, Mr. Attorney ditto Brothers, Mr. G. ditto Brown, Mr. T. ditto Brand, Mr. John Gainfborough Burrows, Mr. Walfall Bullock, Mr. John-ftreet Birmingham Burgefs, Mr. John Great Wigftone Liecefterfliirc Butler, Mr. Whitaker Bullflrode, G. G. Efq. Worcefterniirc Buchanan, Mr. Birmingham Burley, Mr. James ditto Buck, Mr. Joseph Northamptonfliire Budd, Mr. J. D. Birmingham c. Carles, Jofeph Efq. Handfworth fine paper Capper, Peter Efq. Birmingham Carver, Edward Efq. ditto Capper, Mr. Bull-ftreet aitto Cappe, Mr. Hockley Cattle, Mr. Sen. Knowl-hall Cave, Mr. Northamptonfliire Cappe, Rev. Nevvcomc York Cannop, Mr. Worcefter Chancer, SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. xi Chancer, Henry Efq. Jun. Vernon's Oak Chace, Mr. Bull-ftrect Birmingham Chambers, Mr. Yardley Chance, Mr. New-hall-ftreet Birmingham Chevafe, Mr. Surgeon Walfall Chamberlain, Mr. at Hotel Birmingham Chew, Mr. Thomas Northamptonftiire Chew, Mr. Jofeph ditto Chambers, R. Efq. Whitburme Clay, Henry Efq. Birmingham Clutton, Thomas Efq. Kinnerfley Clarke, Rev. Mr. Worcefter Cockett, Mr. New-ftreet Birmingham Cope, Mr. John druggift ditto Cope, Mr. chymift ditto Conqueft, Mr. Ne iv-hall-ftreet ditto Cottrill, Mr. Samuel Deritend ditto Cottrill, Mr. John Smallbrook-ftreet ditto Cope, Mr. John Liquor-merchant ditto Cooke, Captain Birminghani heath Cooper, Mr Handfworth Corbett, Mr. Cooke, Mr. T. "Worcefter Collins, Mr. William London, i fine & i courfe Cottrill, Mr. Walfall Croft.s, Mr. William Livery-ftreet Birmingham Crooke, Mr. Thomas Haddington five copies Crediull, Mr. Square Birmingham Crockett, Mr. Hanfworch Curtis, Rev. Mr. Birmingham D. Davis, David Efq. Pipe-hall Dadley, Mr. London zii SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. Davis, Mr. Barr Davis, Mr. 'E'dgbaflon-ftreet Birmingham Darwall, Rev. Mr. ditto Danks, Mr. Oldbury Darby, Mr. Daniel Birmingham two copies Deykin, Mr. Bell Woo d-ftrect London Dearman, Mr. John Pet_^ty Dixon, Mr. Dudley Dixon, Mr. Barr Dobbs, Mr. T. King's Norton Dolphin, Mr, Surgeon Birmingham Dolphin, Mr. Sen. New-flreet Birmingham Dowler, Mr. Great-charles-fcreet ditto Button, Mr. Hagley-row, E Ed-yards,>Mr. C^ftle Inn, Birmingham Edwards, Mr. Jolm Egginton, .Mr. Jun. Handfworth Egginton, Mr. Francis Handfworth Ellis, Mr. Thomas Oundle, Northamptonflairc Ellis, Major Worcefter Everton, Mr. John BirmiHgham F Fletcher, Mr. Hedgford Forbes, Mrr Alexander, Birmingham Forbes, Mr. John, Birmingham Ford, Mr. Colefliill-ftreet, ditto Forreft, Mr. St. .Paul's fquare, ditto Freer, Mr. John jun. furgeon, ditto Freer, Mr. John fen., ditto Fi'eer, Mr. Thomas, druggift ditto Francis, Mr. William Moat ditto Frecmcj Mr. William Worcefter Garbct.-, SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. xiij G Garbett, Francis Efq. Herefordfliirc Gavil, Mr. Garnet Geaft, Richard Efq. Handfworth Gill, Mr. Thomas Birmingham Giiby, Dr Birmingham Gibbs, Mr. Birmingham Gimblett, Mr. John Birmingham Glaze, Mr. Eriday-flreet, Birmingham Goodbehere, Mr. Birmingham Godwaltz, Mr. Birmingham Gorge, Mr. Worcefter Green, Jofeph Efq. Birmingham Gregg, Mr. Samuel Birmingham Gray, Mr. William, New-ftreet, Birmingham Griffiths, Mr. Birmingham-heath Greaves, Mr. New-hall-ftreet, Birmi-ngham Green, Mr. John, New-ftreet, Birmingham H Hanfon, Mr. Smethwiek • Halford, Mr. H. ;Weft-bromwich Hawkins, Mr. Wm; Edmund-ftreet, Birmingham Hand, Mr. Heycock Green Hammerfley, Rev, Mr. Birmingham Hackett, Andrew Efq- Moxall Haynes, Mr. Worcefter 2 copies Hardware, Mr. BuU's-hcad, Weftbromwich Haynes^>Mr. Northamptonfliire Hart,. Mr. Edward Swan Inn, Birmingham Hands, Mr. Samuel Birmingham Handley, Mr. William Kenilworth n Hall, Mr. Market-Harborough Heilor, Mr. Birmingham Htrbert,. xlv SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. Herbert, Mr. 'William, Birmingham Hewett, Rev. Mr, Northamptonlhire Hewfon, Mr. John Oundic, Northamptonfiiire Hicks, Mr. Digbeth, Birmingham Higginfon, Mr Paradile-row, ditto Hinchley Mr. jun. ditto Hodgkinfon, Mr, Northampton Hooper, Mr. Afton Homer, Mr. New-hall-ftreet, Birmingham HufTey, IMr. John ditto Hufley, P. Efq. Little Wyrley near Lichfield Hunt, Mr. T. Corn-faaor Hunt, Thomas Efq. Humphries, George Efq. Birmingham Hyatt, Mr. New Caftle-under-Line I Javins, Mr. B. Iddins, Mr. Birmingham-heath Ingram, Thomas Efq. Johnftone, Dr. Birmingham Johnfon, Mr. C. Bull-ftreet, ditto Johnfon. Mr. C. at Mifs Robins's Nevvftreet, ditto Jones, Mr. E Livery-ftables, ditto Jones, Mr. James Birmingham K Keir, James Efq. Tipton Keay, Mr. Beekes, Smethwick Kennedy, Mr. Surgeon, Birmingham Kettle, John, Efq. ditto Kilfby, Mr. James Birmingham. King, Mr. Colmore-row, ditto Kinder, Mr. Willam Stafford Landel. SUBSCRIBERS NAMES L Landel, Mr. Edmund-ftreet, Birmingham Lane, Rev. Mr Handfworth Lawrence, Mr. Charles London Lawrence, S. Bull llreet, Birmingham Lake, Sir JamesWinter Bart. Edmonton, Middlefex Lewin, Mr. Furrier Market-havborough Lord, Mr. Edward Birmingham Lowdell, Joieph Coventry, Efq. London Lowdell, Ifaac Efq ditto Lloyd, Mr. Hen and Chickens Inn. Birmingham M ■ ■ Montagu, his Grace the Duke of i6 copies Marfton, Mr. Paradife-row, Birmingham Malkin, Mr St. Paul's-fquare ditto March, "W. M, D. Coventry Marindan, Mr. Cannon-ftreet, Birmingham Mainwairing, Mr. A. Attorney, ditto 2 copies Male, Mr. Mafon, Mr. Temple-dreet, Birmingham 2 copies Martin, Mr. Thomas Northamptonftiire • Male, Mr. J, Handfworth Mardin, Mr. F. London Mander, Mr J. R.Birmingham Mailers. Mr. Stafford, Mead, Mr, Wm. head groom to Lord Dartmouth Meadows, Mr. Lionel-ftreet, Birmingham Merry, Mr, Temple row, ditto Moore, Samuel Efq. London Mofs, Mr. Birmingham Montague, James Efq. Equery to his Majefty Mynors. Mr- Surgeon, Birmingham Mynd, Mr. riiomas ditto New^Tiam xvl SUBSCRIBERS NAMES N Newnham, Counfellor Newbold, Mr. William Birmlnghsfm Nevil, JMr. Charles, ditto o Orton Mr. Birmingham Ofborne, Mr. G. Barkfwell P Palmer, Mr- Maxftock Palmer, Mr. C. Attorney, Colefliill Parrott, Francis, M. D. Birriiingham Parker, Mr. B. Attorney, ditto Parker, Mr. Jofeph Coventry Parkes, Mr. R. Brickiln-lane, Birmingham Parkcs, Mr. E. Birmingham Parkes, Mr. Exeter-row, ditto Parrock, Mr. Worcefter Pemberton, Mr Snow-hill, Birmingliam Perry, Mr. M. Upper-priory, ditto Perrott, G- Efq. Pcrfliore Piercy, Mr- E. Bull-ftreet, Birmingham Pickering, Mr. Winfon-green Plafters, M J. Worcefter Power, Mr. C. Colmore-row. Birmingham Powell, Mr. Gofty-green, ditto Powell, Rev. Mr. Reftor of Church Lawford Pritchard, Mr General Hofpital Price, Mr. Theodore l3irmingham Prieftley, Rev. Dr. ditto Price, Mr. Lichfield-ftreet, ditto Price, Mr. John ditto Purton, Mr. Attorney, Sutton Pywell, Mr, T. Northamptonfhirc Richards S U B S C -R I B E R S NAMES, xvu R RicTiards, Mr. T. Birminglinm Richards, Mr. Theophilus ditto 2 copi'-' ; Richards, Mr. Wm. New ftreet, ditto Richards, Mr. Sheldon , " Robinfon, Mr. Eafy- row, Birmingham Rofe, Mr. Great Charles-ftreet, 'ditto Roberts, Major Dragoon Guards , Rokeby, Rev. Mr. Biddlefden-park, near Brackley- Robins, Mr. King's-norton Robbins, Mr. Attorney, Stourbf|'^g^ Roe, Mr. Frankley ^ ' ' : ' Rowe, Rev. Mr; Shrew fbury Rufton, Mr. Jofeph- RiifF, Mr. John Oundlc, NorthaniptoAfe ne Rutter, Mr. Love-lane, Londoff '4 Copies Ryland, Mr. S. Jan. Birmingliam- ■ Ryland, Mr.'S- Sen. New-ftreet, ditto Ryland, Mr. Jun. High-ftreet, ditto S Sanders, Mr, Northamptonfliire. Shenftone, Mr. Oldbury Shaw, Counfellor Sherratt, Mr. Birmingham Sharp, Mr. John ditto Simms, Mr, Gun-maker, ditto Simpfon, Mr. Green-lanes Sketchley, Mr. Moor-ftrect, ditto ^ Smart, Mr. Wolverhampton, (5 copies Smith, Mr. John Coach Maker, Birmingham Smith Mr. Wm. Colmore-rdw, ditto Smith, Mr. New-hall-ftreet, ditto Smith, Mr. Temple-ftreet, ditto Sniallbroke I xviii SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. Smallbroke, The Worfhipful Richard. L. L.D. Chancellor of the Diocefe of Lichfield and Coventry Smith, Mr. G. Northaniptonfliire Snape, Mr. Moxall iStanley, Mr. Boughton-hall Story, Mr. D. Birmingham Stretton, Mr. Warfton-lane, ditto Startin, Mr. New-rhnll-ftrcet dittq Startin, Mr. jun. Snow-hili, ditto Startin, Mr. Charles ditto Summers, Mr. Bull-ftreet ditto Spooner, Mr. Horfe Infirmary, ditto T. Taylor, John Efq. Taylor, Mr. General Hofpital Taylor, Mr, James New-hall-ftreet Birmingham Taylor, Rev. Mr. John Park-ftreet ditto Tabberner, Mr. Shirley Tebbat, Mr. Sander Thomafon, Mr. Colemjore-ro\v Birruingham Tibbats, Ambrofe Efq. Sterlirigft^rfe Timmins, Mr. James Tomlinfon, Mr. Surgeon Birmingham Tonks, Mr. Peter Stonatl Tv/amley, Mr. Sutton V. Vaughton, Roger Efq. r Vaux, Mr. Surgeon Mpor-flreetBjf rnihgham Vickers.Mr. ditto .', ; • ' -""ditto Villers, J. Eiq. Handfworth u. Undrill, Mr. Newton-ftreet Birmingham SUBSCRIBERS NAMES, xix W. Walcott, ■William Efq. Oundle, NortKamptonfu'ire Walcott, Dr. ditto' Waldron, Mr John Attorney Frankly Ward, Mr. Bull ring Birmingham Ward, Mr. John Jun. ditto Ward, Mr. John Sen. ditto Walker, Mr. William Sand-ftreet ditto Weftwood,. Mr. John ditto Welch, Mr. Wihiam Jun. Colmore-row Webb.Mr. Bell-ftreet ditto Webaer, Mr. Richard ditto Wells, Mr. Shirley Wheeley, Mr. Worcefter Whately, Mr. Henry Whateley, Mr. John Whateley, Mr, John Birmingham Wheeley, Mr. Francis ditto Whitaker, Mr. Worcefter Withering, William M- D. Birmingham Wilkin, Mr. Worcefter ; *■ Willmore. Mr. Surgeon ditto Wilbon, Mr. Farrier Williams. Mr, Surgeon Rugby Willetts, Mr. Thomas Birmingham Wright, Mr. Weft-bromwich Wyatt, Mr. John ^ Yates, Richard Efq. London l^''^^. York Mr. John Surgeon, Oundle Vorthampton- Young, Rev Mr. St. Paul's Square, Birmingham TO HIS GRACE THE MOST KOBLE The duke of MONTAGUE, MASTER OF THE HORSE TO HIS MAJESTY; THIS SMALL TREATISE, WHICH HIS GRACE, WITH A CONDESCENSION, AND PUBLIC SPIRIT, BECOMING HIS ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY AND EXALTED STATION, HAS BEEN PLEASED TO HONOUR WITH HIS GENEROUS COUNTENANCE AND SUPPORT, ISDEDICATED, WITH ALL POSSIBLE HUMILITY, AND THE SINCEREST GRATITUDE, BY HIS grace's most DEVOTED, AUD MOST OBLIGED HUMBLE SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. VERY endeavour to become ufeful to fociety, to whatever branch of thofe arts which confti- tute its chiefefl comforts and happl- nefs, our purfuits have been du'e6led, flioukl, if it does not raife us to any public teftimony of approbation, at Jeaft fecure us from uncandid and iU-natured criticifm. The great utility of the -pvaQicc recommended in the following pages, and the advantages which may be de- rived from it, is the beft, and i hope, will be deemed a fufficient apology, for my offering them to the atten- tion of the public. No wifli to ac- quire credit for originality, or no- velty of thought, could have deter- mined me, independent of the above; confideration vi. PREFACE. confideration, to have commenced author. A little refle61:ion will be fuffi- cient to make us fenfible, how many and great blefiings wq derive from that moft ferviceable of all brute animals, the Horfe : and at the fame time will, I hope, perfuade to a juft valuation of them: for in whatever view we confider his fervices, whe- ther in time of war or of peace, as fecuring to us thofe two effentials to all human felicity, Liberty and Health, they are equally apparent, and demand in return our fupport and care, and a humane attention to all his fufFerings. It is much to be lamented, that the pra6lice of Farriery has fo gene- rally been hitherto confined to the moft 0 PREFACE. vH. moft ignorant and illiterate part of mankind; yet cuftom has thrown a ftambling-block in the way of re- moving it from fuch profefTors, by annexing fomething degrading to the ftudy of it. In England this is '^particularly the cafe: nor is the encouragement here given to it, fuch as is likely to make it become a fubjeft of attention to perfons better adapted by educa- tion to encreafe its advantages. This neglect and contempt of a ftudy fo highly beneficial to tlie com- munity at large, and to every indi- vidual belonging to it, appears the more flrange in being fhewn by the inhabitants of that foil and climate which produce horfes of more real value and excellence, than that of any yiii. PREFACE. any other in the world. And this pre-eminence which nature has given us to boaft of, would, one might ima- gine, make us the more anxious to preferve and cherifli the indulgence. Our neighbours, the French, arc far from treating the art of Farriery with difregard. They have ere6ted public fchools, for the purpofe of inftru6ling pupils in this art, to which lecturers are appointed by government to attend j where diffec- tions are frequently made, and the difeafes of horfes, with their methods of cure, properly taught. If fuch encouragement was given to it in England, it is not to be doubted but it would turn to good account, as- well on the fcore of humanity, as of national interefl. A TREATISE, &c. 'J^HE Strangles is a diforder too weil known to need any very particu- lar defcription. It is marked by an in- flammation and fuppuration of the fub- maxillary " glands, attended with more or lefs general fever, cough, running at the nofe, kc. It is highly contagious, and communicable by the fame means as other infecflious diftempers. Mr. Soleyfell has fuppofed it ana- lagous to the fmall pox in the hu- man fpecies, by obferving, that no horfe A is I 2 1 is fubjedl to take the infedion more than once. The power of tranfmitting it by inoculation, which I have invaria- bly experienced, draws a ftill nearer pa- rallel between the two diforders; yet the very diflimilar appearances they make in the two fpecies, the conftant locality of the one, and the general difFufion of the other, will not allow us to think them dif- ferent modifications of the fame difeafe. The Strangles has for its caufe, a fpecific poifon, which feems either to enter into the original conftitution of ail horfes, or which they are piedifpofed to generate, when expofed to certain fitu- ations and treatment, favourable to its formation. Whichever is the cafe, the poifon is certainly deflroyed, or the dif- pofition to generate it is removed by the appearahce of the diforder ; Tmce no horfe can [ 3 ] can be affecled twice by it. It is a dii- teinper that all hoiTes are difpofed lo, and there are few that efcape it. The common, as well as moft dangerous time for their having it, is during the breaking of them ; and it always proves moft obfti- nate when it happens at this time, or to horfes of an advanced age, than in younger horfes, efpecially fuch as have not been broke. This I think may be eafily accounted for, by confidering the treatment they are then fubjedled to; the excelTive heats and fatigue they are made to fuffer; their being allowed to become cool fuddenly; the unnatural poiition in which the head is confined (efpecially of colts on the bit) by affedl- ing the mafs of humours in general, and the glands of the head and neck in parti- cular, are fufficient to explain the caufe of the different degrees of danger attend- ing this diforder before,, and during, or A 2 after [ 4 ] after breaking. It cannot be doubted but that horfes fuffer much injury by the violent treatment offered them during this procefs, fince many difeafes are the vifible and inimediate confequences of it ; fuch as the farcin, ^reafe, Sec. In no cafe can it ever be ueceffary ; and in general, encouragement will do more than feverity. Nor are their tempers lefs affedted by this treatment than their natural coiiftitutions ; and both may be truly faid to be broke, many being ren- dered dull and difpirited by it, -that would otherwife have made adlive and valuable horfes. The mod defirable time, therefore, at which horfes can have the Strangles, is, whilfl they are young, and before the ' breaking of them ; and this confideratiou induced me to endeavour to find out fome [ 5 J fome fafe and effeclual method ■ of com- municating the diftefnper to them at this time. There were alfo other mo- tives I had for wifhing to accomplifh it» independent of the lefs degree of dan- ger attending this diforder in young, coits ; which were, to prevent the great inconvenience of having horles attacked by it whilft on a journey (which I have more than once experienced) from confidering likewife that no time is lofi;, nor any expence incurred, by colts hav- ing it at an age when they are of no ufe to us. And again, that fhould it ever prove fatal, it is better to happen- before the expence of three or four yeais ufelefs keep is beftowed upon them. I am happy in. having it in my pow- er' to fay, that I have been fuccefsful- beyond my expecJlation ; for as well a& A 3 being t [ 6 1 being able to communicate the diforder whenever I have wifhed, the means which I have ufed for doing it, liave conftantly produced it in a much flightcr degree, than when it is caught in the natural way ; and this I have effedled by InoGulation. All horfes in health are proper fub- jeils for Inoculation ; but foals or colts are the moll f o ; and many advantages will attend the performing the operation at an early age, as well as the important one of fecuring them from taking infec- tion by the natural means. I have inoculated horfes at all ages ; from two days old, to feven years, and have always obferved that the younger the fubjed was (provided it was healthy) the t 7 1 tiie more favourable every fymptom of the aiforder appeared. Out of two hundred colts on which I have perform- ed this operation, not one has died ; and I am encouraged by this to hope, that the pradice which I here recommend, will, when known, be generally adopted. For the reafons before given, I would advife the operation to be done at an early age, ajid would prefer inoculating the foal whilft it fu.cks of the mare, to any other time ;. and in this cafe, tiic earlier the infedion is. given the better ; which may be fafely done at a. month ov fix weeks old- For towards the latter end of the year, the quantity of the mare's milk is leffened, and during this diforder the foal may not take to graz ing ; or if it fhould, the grafs does not afford that nourilhment at this fea- A-4 i'c^w [ 8 ] , foil which it does in the fpring and fummer. It frequently happens too, that foals, efpecially thofe which thrive apace, grow lean about the time they leave the mare and take to grazing, when inoculation would not be advifeable, and had better be deferred till the following fpring. Another reafon why I would recommend the operation to be performed at an ear- ly age, is, the thinnefs of the fkin ; for as the' diforder is more naturally and ef- fedlually carried off by the formation and breaking oi an abfcefs, lefs difficulty is likely to occuf at this time, than when the fkin by becoming thicker, is capa- ble of giving greater refiftance to the mat- ter to be evacuated : by which the cure may be protradled. The [ 9 ] The higher in health the colt is, the fooner matter is formed, and the difor- der terminated ; as a certain degree of in- flammation is neceffary for that purpofe, which fickly and- weak colts are not dif- pofed to. Foals and colts which are healthy and at grafs, require no prepara- tion previous to giving them the infedli- on ; but horfes which have been long kept in the flable, and are intended to remain there during their having the diforder, it may be neceffary to prepare, and this will chiefly confift in emptying the fto- mach and inteftines of any foulnefs which may have been generated there. To anfwer this purpofe, I have ufu- ally given half a drachm of calomel well levigated with double the quantity of prepared chalk, and made up into a ball, with conferve of hipps in the evening ; and [ 10 ] and a folution of a pound of Epfom falts on the following morning. This is the ufual dofe, but muft be varied according to the ftrength and habit of body of the horfe it is intended for. It fliould be repeated three times within the fortnight preceding inoculation, and the laft dofe given on the fame day the operation is performed. Having determined the moft proper and advantageous time for inoculating, and the preparatory treatment of fuch horfes as may require it, the -next thing to be confidered, is, the place and me- thod of performing the operation. Thefe I have frequently varied, and harve found none fo convenient and fuccefsful, as the following, which I now conftantly pra<5life.. I make I make an incifion on the infide of the upper lip, about an inch from its jun6tion with the lower one, and at equal diftances from its outer edge, and where' it attaches itfeif to the gum. This incifion is beft made with a lan- cet, fuch as is generally ufed in bleed- ing of ' horfes, which is to be intro- duced at the place before direded, im- mediately under the fkin, and which may be eafily done by inverting the lip» and holding it tightly turned with the left thumb and finger over the under part of the fame hand. When the lancet is introduced to about the depth of half or three quarters of an inch, the point of it is to be moved on each fide, in fuch a manner as to- make the bottom of the wound wider than its orifice, which latter needs not be larger than the lan- cet requires for its infertion. When the incifion is thus made, I take a fmall piece of [ 12 ] of lint, or fine tow, impregnated with the infedio us matter, and with a probe introduce it into the wound beyond its edges, fo that no part of it be fuffered" to hang out, otherwife it may be thrown out again immediately, by the adion of the lip againft the teeth and gum. The lint I fuffer' to remain in the wound till it is difcharged either by accident or by fuppuration. I have preferred the up- per lip to the lower one for making the incifion in, on account of the dependant fituation of the wound, thereby prevent- ing any future mifchiefs which might arife from a lodgment of the lint or matter. In one of the colts which I inocu- lated in the under lip, an abfcefs was formed, which difcharged itfelf exterior- ly, leaving a hole quite through the lip; but no accident of this kind has happened [ 13 ] happened when the incifion was made in the upper one. The right fide of the lip will be found more convenient (.han the left. There are many methods of apply- ing the infedlious matter. It may, be done by charging a lan- cet with it, and fimply puncturing th? infide of the lip; or the matter may be inferted into the wound (in the man- ner before direded for the lint) in a concentrated ftate ; and is procured by catching it' from the glands of a diftem- pered horfe, in a glazed bafon or glafs veffel, and fuffering it to infpiflate with- out heat into a gluey or horney confift- ence, in which ftate -it will remain ac- tive, if v;ell fecured from .the air, many months, [ '4 ] moiiths. But the way I would recom- mend, as being the moft fure and effec- tual, is by means of prepared lint, as I have before direded. The matter that is made ufe of for charging this lint, Ihould be taken from the Strangles of forue young horfe, in which the diforder has not been of Ions "{landing; for it is to be obferved, that the matter is efficacious in proportion to the early ftate of fuppuration in the abfcefs from which it is taken. In this matter the lint is to be dipped, and fhould be kept for ufe in a well corked phial in a damp place, where it will remain good a long time. After fome time keeping it will loofe its moifture, and become dry, when, if occafion of- fers for ufin;g it, it may be held over the fteam of warm water for about a minute before I "5 - before it is applied ; yet this is not ab- folutely neceffariy to be obferved, as the warm blood from the wound will anfwer the intent of the (team in fetting at li- berty the adive particles of the matter. In two or three days after inocula- tion, the lip will begin to inflame and fwell ; and in feven or eight days more., the glands under the jaw will be zSeSied in like manner. Thefe will continue fwelling for about a week, and will ge- nerally be attended with fever, cough, and a difficulty of fwallowing. In about three weeks from the operation, matter will begin to be formed under the lower jaw, and rnoli frequently on the fame fide as the lip inoculated. In lefs than a week more, fuppuration will have fully taken place, as will be evident by the loofenefs of the hair covering the fwel- ling. [ >6 ] ling, the oozing of matter through the fkin, and the fludluation to be felt on touching it. In this {late it may be fuffered to remain for two or three days, but if a difpofition to break fhould not be ob- ferved, and the fkin covering it fhould flill remain thick, it will be proper to open it. This opening fhould be made lengthways with a fmall knife, or lan- cet, the whole extent of the abfcefs; the contents of which are to be preffed out, and the wound is to be dreffed with yellow bafilican, or a digeftive compofed of equal parts of olive oil, horfe turpen- tine, bees-wax, and honey, boiled toge- ther, fpread, upon foft tow, and infert- ed down to the bottom of the wound, which is to be kept open, by this man- ner of dreffing till the difcharge begins to t 17 J to abate ; for if it is lufFered to heal too foon, other abfcefles will be formed in the adjacent glands, and fometimes in different parts of the body. A running at the nofe too, which is a difagreeabJe, and frequently a dangerous lympiom, may be prevented by this treatment. Though I have recommended an open- ing of the abfcefs to be made, yet care is to be taken that this is not done before the matter is compleatly formed in it, otherwife the Hps of the wound, as well as the glands tbemfelves wil) become hard and callous, and require perhaps a fecond operation before it can be heal- ed. On the other hand, the matter fliould not be fuffered to remain' too long confined, for in this cafe, by infinuating itfelf among the glands, and between the interllices of the raufcles, it will form B Cnufles [ i8 ] finufles which may afterwards prove tedi- ous and troublefome to cure, or by mak- ing its way down to the bone may render that foul and carious. If any very great degree of fvvelling fhould occur, attended with much diffi- culty in breathing or f\Vallowing, yet no difpofition to fuppurate fhould appear, a poultice made of a ftrong deco6lion of linfeed and marQi-mallows, boiled up with oatmeal, to a proper confiftenqe, to which a little ointment of elder is added, may be applied to the throat every night and morning, will in general procure relief, by haftening the formation of the abfcefs, and when that breaks, the diffi- culty of breathing, Sec. will be removed, and nothing more will be required than good feeding and a dry fituation. Horfes [ '9 ] Horfes which are fuffered to remain in the field after Inoculation, and dur- ing the progrefs of infedlion, do much better than thofe which are confined in the ftable; and here they require very feldom either medicine or affiftance. Nothing is in ore likely to procure a favourable termination of the diforder, than the preferving the temperament of the body during the inflammatory ftage, in as near a ftate to that of health as may be. And nothing conduces more to this, than gtafs, and a conilant ex- pofure to the air : nor do I know any diforder in which their good effedis are more vifible than in the Strangles; fo that I would wifh particularly to re- commend their being always allowed to remain in the field, except the extreme B 2. coldnefs [ ao ] coldnefs or inclemency of the weather Ihould forbid it. Bleeding, in any ftage of this diforder^ fliould be always if poffible, avoided. I have had many occafions of witnefling the danger attending it ; and it will certainly be found that whereever it is pra($lifed, the recovery will at leaft always prove tedious. It fliould therefore never be thought of, but when there is fear , of fufPocation ; which is an accident not likely to hap- pen to thofe horfes which are kept out of door£. The fever which is raifed_ by the in- troduction of the virulent matter, if it fliould be too immoderate, . is beft re- trained by fmall and repeated dofes of James's [ 2' ] James's antimonial powder; to which if there fhould be much cough, an opi- ate may occafionally be added. After the abfcefs is healed, two or three dofes of purging phyfic will be advifable. The diredions before given, will be found fufficient for inoculated horfes in general, and will be all that are necef- fary in moft cafes. There are, however, fome other fymp- toms befides thofe I have mentioned, that may appear; but as they do not fpecifically belong to the Strangles, but to many other diforders in common with it, I have not thought it worth while to encreafe thefe few pages by an enu- meration of them; efpecially as the treatment of them may be learned bet- B 3 ter [. " ] ter from a ftudy of difeafes in gene- ral, than of any one in particular. My chief plan has been to afcertain the un- doubted fafety of inoculating colts, and to put it into the power of every per- fon to perform that operation himfelf. When I firft thought of giving an account of the experiments which I had made, with my fentiments of the dif- order, I did not forefee the many caufes of delay and difappointment, that have attended it. An almoft conftant engage- ment in bufinefs, has precluded me the power of paying all that attention which the fubjedl fo well merits. At fome future day, I hope to have it in . my power to add much to it; but ftiould any thing occur to pre- vent [ 23 ] vent this, I fhall neverthelefs be hap- py in thinking, that I may have been , the means of procuring it the atten- tion of men of more leifure and greater capacity. The defire I have for not withhold- ing ' longer a fecret of fuch importance from the public, and the hafte which this prompts me to, will I hope, apo- logize for my brevity, but had time per- mitted me to fwell this pamphlet out to what fome men would call a reafon- able number of pages, it might per- haps, at laft, have not proved of more real value or utility. FINIS.