Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/b2147168x CONVERSATIONS ON CONDITIONING. THE GROOMS' ORACLE, AND POCKET STABLE-DIRECTORY : IN WHICH THE MANAGEMENT OF HORSES GENERALLY, AS TO HEALTH, DIETING, AND EXERCISE, ARE CONSIDERED, IN A SERIES OF FAMILIAR DIALOGUES, BETWEEN TWO GROOMS ENGAGED IN draining l^orse^ to tfteir ffiSlorft. WITH NOTES, AND AN APPENDIX, INCLUDING EXTRACTS FROM THE RECEIPT BOOK OF JOHN HINDS, V. S. AUTHOR OF "THE VETERINARY SURGEON." LONDON : PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, FOR SHERWOOD, GILBERT, AND PIPER, 23, PATERNOSTER- ROW; AND HURST, CHANCE, AND CO. 65, ST. PAUL'S- CHURCH-YARD. 1829. 1 PREFACE. " The Grooms' Oracle" was an epithet bestowed, about twenty years ago, in derision, upon one of the best books that had hitherto appeared, in this or any other country, on the Veterinary Art. The best, because the easiest to be comprehended by the generaUty of persons engaged in that pur- suit ; and, therefore, likely to become more exten- sively useful than any of its cotemporaries, not- withstanding its extra-learned detractor meant thereby to abash its author, since he discovered that his attempts to smother both author and book in the bud had signally failed. The same particle of information was alluded to, in the Preface to " The Veterinary Surgeon," published eighteen months ago, and is now again adduced principally as an apology for the present title, as well as to cast a triumphant rebuke in the teeth of those who would smug the curative art within a circumscribed space. What they have done in the like spirit, regarding the book just cited, as it was equally unjust, so has it proved quite as unavailing with the public: inapplicable criticisms, that are founded on misrepresentations, grounded on garbled quo- tations, can do no service to the falsifying parties, only in the same manner as the rod which truants at school are compelled to gather for their own backs. Yet the bare appearance of assuming oracular a2 vi PREFACE. wisdom would have been abandoned after the first impulse, as inconsistent with the characters who support the dialogue, and quite at variance with the progress of common-sense knowledge, that is derived from patient observation, but for the cheering approbation of some half a score prying friends, who had perused the manuscript at the time of the first July Meeting, last year, and would hear of no other title than " an oracle," which should dictate to the whole groom genus who had been, from time immemorial, " every man his own oracle." No matter whether pad -groom or train- ing-groom, my lady's groom or hunting-stud groom, each was formerly the Sir-Positive of his own circle, and each a stickler for his particular opinions as to the practical management of his horses, though these varied from each other as the poles asunder; whilst not one among them condescended to give reasons for his opinions or practice, were it in bis power. They could not, of course, be all in the right, if even one among them were so at the period in question; therefore might the author first spoken of (James White) be justified in his frequent rebukes of the grooms of that day ; who, in return, decried him as " no friend to grooms;" and they threw aside his book, or scouted his tuition, until the new lights, which the last thirty years has. spread abroad so wonderfully, began to shine upon the stable also. They had the grace, notwithstanding those rebukes, numerous as they PREFACE. vii were, to benefit by them ; or tbey felt sufficiently indignant to rise superior to future castigation from forthcoming Veterinarians ; so that we are enabled to derive great pleasure from acknow- ledging, that the present race of grooms, of every gradation, have rescued their character (collectively) from a repetition of the like attack. At this day, THEY READ, and that is sufficient guarantee that THEY STUDY: may they digest and practise the intellectual treat to which we know so many are invited by their employers. Grooms of to-day, then, are not the grooms of thirty to twenty years ago ! They possess as much intellect as other persons of the same standing- ia society, it is presumed ; whence we are emboldened to ask, without fear of giving offence to a large class of meritorious persons, how it comes to pass that so many horses die under their hands whilst training for the course or the chase? For, the solution of this question is the foundation of all the inquiries set a foot, and resolved in the present volume. This also constitutes our apology, if any be necessary, and is the reason for printing another volume on Horsemanship, so soon after having given to the world a somewhat elaborate treatise on the physiology and pathology of the Horse ■ which might seem to have exhausted the subject of his ailments. But, there are other and more remote causes of disease than the immediate and recent ones therein described, which are brought VIU PREFACE. on by the neglect or the inadvertence that consti- tutes mismanagement of man ; whilst he who thinks he can never do enough, in anxious mood, will for ever be doing something, until he commits the mistake of overmanagement. Among the latter (will it be believed out of school?) must be rec- koned overfeeding, warm clothing, and hot stabling; whilst the contraries, poor feed or irregular, ex- posure, and uncomfortable stables, belong to the first series of blunders. Both errors fall, unhap- pily, on the better description of horses, (see page 114,) upon the welfare and fitness whereof immense fortunes are annually staked, 1st. in the prime cost, or breeding ; 2d. in bringing up pro- perly to go through their ivork; 3d. at the post, in performance, &c. &c. Whence results an aggre- gate sum, equalling, almost, the capital employed in the staple manufacture of the kingdom. On the second, or intermediate point, what care do we not bestow, what expenses lavish, in irainhig our first-rate cattle to win ! How we sometimes fail, after all our care, is worth all the pains we may bestow in the inquiry. We may even save time, and trouble, and expense, and immense anxiety, by investigating in the parlour, what ought to be done in the stable, according to the test of experience of others ; for this is really the age of improvement in the arts of life, and of veterinary knowledge as much as any; though the communicativeness that marks the spirit of libe- PREFACE.' ix rality in almost every other, hath not extended itself to the art of training. So truly is this the case, and so great the dissonance of opinion as to what is right or what wrong in the process, that every horse which dies in training (and they have been lately estimated at three in eleven) may safely be said to die of training ; and as purga- tives and cordials are the most active materials by which the people employed in this business hope to accomplish their object, and they use both un- reasonably, such horses may be considered as being " purged to death," or morbifically cordialled, until phrensy or visceral inflammation relieves the sufferer of existence ; or else, haply falling short of this acute species of attack, a comparatively short time reduces a valuable animal in the scale of beings to which it belongs, \* Regarding theVeterinary Surgem, to which I have taken frequent occasion to refer for more minute details than seemed befitting the present volume, I may here aptly enough say a word or two. We never made a secret of the share my friend, Mr. Badcock, had in the composition of that book ; the fact might be known to a hundred or two of persons several years past, and, lest this should not prove satisfactory to the prurient eyes of those critics who pretended to make a dis- covery, a full statement thereof was made, Axirly enough, in the Annals of Sporting, for May, 1828, PREFACE. pages 344-6. What is more, we have been daily making additions to that volume, particularly during the last winter, of all the improvements and new lights that are daily thrown upon this novel and interesting study ; we are more than ever convinced that " two heads are better than one," though one of them be that of " a blacksmith's son," as they aver ; nor could I have acted more wisely, I am told, than rely upon the pen which had been mainly instrumental in producing, twenty-five years ago, " the best book which had hitherto appeared, in this or any other country, on the Veterinary Art," as I observed on setting out. See, also, my expository Preface to my former volume. And now, to end all dispussion upon the subject, as to wliich of the two, or what part each has taken, or any other surmise in which the quidnunc part of the Press love to indulge— as happened in the cG\ehxdiieA Bampton-lecture discussion, in which Samuel Badcock bore so honourable and very similar a part— I now declare my intention to be, regarding the forthcoming enlarged edition of my Veterinary Surgeon, to append thereto, in some way or other, the name of my friend, John Badcock, as a mark of respect, to prove its authenticity, and to add his avowal of the interest he has taken in the complete performance of our engagements with the Public. J- H. Bridport-Place, Hoxton, Feb. 28, 1829. CONTENTS. CoNVEnsATioN I.— Introductory : general Health ; Prog- nostics of Disease : the Pulse, how available. Inbred Disorders : Young Animals and fresh ones. Groom's first Duties Conversation II.— The Foot: Lameness in general; how produced; and of particular Accidents. Racers; con- tracted Hoof; internal Causes ; Founder; Foot-Fever; bleeding Hunters ; run at Grass ; stopping Conversation III. — Condition: Cordials, use and abuse of ; Effects ; Recovery from severe "Work ; natural Cordials Conversation IV. — Condition: soiling, necessity of; Ad- vantages and Disadvantages; physicking; turning-out; the Humours,; in-door Mistreatment. Of Green Food. Clothing Conversation V.— General Health — Feeding and Exer- cise; indoor Treatment. Wind. Costiveness; Speed, Physic. Of blank Days, Rest. Distress. Watering: qualities. Stone. Temper, ravenous Horses and tender ones.' Gross Food. Stretch and Length. Foreign Horses doNVERSATioN VI.— Gross Habit. Grooming, its Be- nefits : Litter ; Blear Eyes xii CONTENTS. Conversation VII.— The Stable : Ventilation— draining. Properties of Air, Gas 83 Conversation VIII. — Of preserving Health: Work, Tonics. Legs. Misusage. Powers of going — Phy- sicking, its use and abuse ; Preparatives ; mode of giving Balls .° 93 Conversation IX. — Of Appetite. The Stomach ; how affected, by bad Mouth, and how affecting Condition. Of Lampas; Paps; Quidders; Bad Provender ; Worms ; the Straw- Yard 114 Conversation X.— Inflammatory Complaints. 1. Of the Stomach and Bowels : influence the Kidneys and Liver. Colic and inflammatory Complaints — Jaundice, retention of Urine, Bladder — Adhesion 134 Conversation XI. — Internal Inflammation, continued : Diseases of the Urinary Organs ; the Kidneys and Liver — the Bladder, incontinence of Urine and suppression thereof: Stone 154 Conversation XII.— The Lungs ;— Wind-Pipe and Mid- riff: a Cold, Catarrhal Inflammation; Broken Wind, Roaring; Law Suits 163 Conversation XIII.— Cough ITO Conversation XIV.— Inflammation of the Lungs, how incurred. Pulmonary Consumption. Adhesion of the Parts: Symptoms. Crisis, how denoted : Effusion.... 18" Conversation XV.— The Liver, its Complaints. Func- tion impeded : Adhesion Conversation XVI.— Of some necessary Operations; and chiefly on Shoeing refractory Horses 207 221 Appendix THE GROOMS^ ORACLE CONVERSATION I. Introductory: general Health; Prognostics of Disease; the Pulse, how available, hibred Disorders: Young Animals and fresh ones. Groom's first Duties. •' It is better to prevent than to cure ; to reclaim than to punish." A FEW cursory remarks, only ; No apolo- gies, I apprehend, will be required? A. None are necessary: proceed, freely; and with as much order as you can conveniently. Q. What is the first duty of every good groom ? A. To ascertain the state of health the horses, at any time placed under his care, may be in ; to preserve them in that state, at least, and to find out the seat of any ailment, and the cause thereof, so that it may be removed as soon as possible, or, at any rate, alleviated ; for yon cannot reasonably hope to keep a horse in working condition whilst he suffers pain. B 2 FATNESS DEPRECATED : MODE OF FEEDING. Q. Or inconvenience, we may add ? A. Yes ; when speaking of high-bred cattle. Q. Be he never so fat, the least pain of long continuance throws him out of condition, I observe ? A. Fatness ! fatness is not necessary to condi- tion, though 'tis proof of it, unless for slow draught-horses, for your London merchants, who love to make a show of their teams. Hunters, stagers, and roadsters, that require the powers of going to be combined with strength, should not be fat — racers least of all. Do we not hand-riib and otherwise dress them, till our arms ache, for the very purpose of circulating the blood and thereby reducing the size of the muscles, and the fat above all. Never talk of fat again for fast-working animals, as 'tis an impediment to their speed. Q. I know, I know; strong exercise and regular physic will alone keep your running-horse up to his paces. But how do you proceed with a fresh horse, now, generally speaking ?. A. By watching his mode of feeding ; by ascer- taining whether he be craving for water, a rave- nous eater, fretful, or otherwise ; judging by the quality of his dungings, as to colour, consistence, and frequency, whether he has been MADE UP; and, by his urine and perspiration at exercise and in the stable, also whether he suffers any obstruc- tion internally, to say nothing here of his appear- ance upon the view, which may have previously deceived the purchaser himself, or 'tis to be pre- sumed it would not have been bought at all. EXCITEMENT, ITS EFFECTS. 3 Q. Made up on purpose for sale, possibly, by- such treatment as will assuredly prove the ruin of the animal in a short time after he comes to the . stable. A. Its whole system excited, and its health undermined to such a degree by cordials, and fig- ging, and " things for his wind," and those " good for his eyes," that it never fully recovers the effects of so much excitement. Q. But looking fine, brisk and sleek, neverthe- less ? A. Yet being actually very tender, in conse- quence of the means employed to make him look so. Such new purchases usually acquire diseases of the lungs, or of the skin, the first day of taking them home, or 'tis much else. Q. Unless you continue the same treatment; the decoction of linseed, for example, can do no harm for a little while. A. Nor any good, except with a view tore-sale; an event the real gentleman does not look to, you know. But some stand in immediate need of physic, their bellies being so drawn up at the flanks by the fiery things given them by the dealers, to inspire a short-lived vigour, that inflammation of the intestines is to be apprehended, Q. Or the solids so much aff"ected from a con- tinuance of the same excitement, that, upon press- ing your finger upon any fleshy part of the carcase, the indentation remains awhile. A. Whereas, the flesh of horses in full health, b2 4 NEW PURCHASES : TREATMENTJonfi and young ones, obliterates such a pressure instant- ly. Yes, yes, at all events, give to newly-pur" chased horses plenty of bran-mashes or dilute water-gruel in the first instance, to neutralise the offensive contents of the stomach, &c. and procure the three evacuations. Should these not come on regularly, or the urine and dunging be of a bad kind, hide-bound, and other diseases of the skin, follow ; as they do the disuse of habitual diaphoretics, as sweating poivders and the linseed decoction you just now mentioned. We should study the defects of our new acquaintance, however ungracious the task, especially if it be one we would make free use of, as we do of the horse. i Q. He may have been originally ill-formed, and so the inheritor and possessor of some family disease, as narrow-chested (bad lungs), hollow- backed (injured kidneys), and the like. A. True ; but I would also desire to discover his acquired disorders, that lie concealed from the sight and the touch, that are brought on by accident or by misapplication of bis powers. Q. Of what nature is the principal of the less evident disorders of horses 1 A. Heat.* Inordinate heat, occasioned by the » A very grave gentleman suggested, that physic was the principal ailment of the horse, not so much on account of ignorance in the compounders, as of the motives to prescribing; which would superinduce giving too soon and continuing too long, the very best remedies,— or what the interested party would call " regular treatment." BODILY HEALTH, HOW ASCERTAINED. 5 great Exertions the animal is compelled to make; and, when excessive, the bad effects thereof de- scending to the feet and legs, we invariably find these affected with some defect or other, which every act of progression does but exacerbate, especially if the pace be quick : the pain then endured at the extremities re-acts upon the carcase, or some vital part within it, and though it may produce no marked disease, irritates the stomach and intestines, and prevents the food from doing good, or 'tis rejected altogether, whereby the horse goes out of condition. Q. But you would not extend this observation to mere accidents, and the wear and waste of going ? A. Yes, I would, in great measure ; the aggra- vation wc sometimes find to attend the most trivial prick of the foot, or touch of one leg by the foot of another in training, being wholly attributable to the bad state of his blood at the time of its oc- curring; for, do we not know ♦that such injuries sometimes happen and go away again without any medical treatment whatever, or any imaginable reason than comparative rest and good bodily health prevailing at the time ? Q, How would you come at a knowledge of this bodily health, as you call it ? A. By the practice of feeling the pulse frequent- ly, whereby we ascertain the degree of heat, and other interesting information of what is passing 6 THE PULSE INDICATIVE OF HEALTH, •wlthinside. I can go through this part of my duty with our stables full of horses, in half an hour daily, including the time necessary for making my remarks upon such as require it. Owing to the thickness of the skin, however, I find you must regulate the pressure of your finger point, so as neither to stop the pulsation entirely, by pressing too hard, nor by the direct contrary allow yourself to be deceived on the score of indistinctness in the beats. Q. On what artery is the thinnest skin found? A, Near the eye, at about an inch and a half from its corner; but a larger artery may be consulted more instructively, underneath the edge of the jaw- bone. The heat and dryness of the mouth is also a sure indication of fever. Q. Well ; and if the pulse beat quicker than or- dinary, what opinion should you form upon it? What if slower than common ? A. In the first case, I should conclude the patient had an access of fever, which is always the case, tem- porarily, whenthe^nimal has been put on his mettle, and the more so, when he goes in pain ; so, on the contrary, if he feed badly, or has some languishing disorder of the liver, as obstruction thereof, jaundice, or low fever, his pulse would be slower than usual. Q. What, then, do you consider the common medium of pulsation, or healthy state? A. It varies a little, according to circumstances, and the breed of the animal, from thirty-six to forty beats in a minute, the pulsation of large heavy horses OF DISEASE, AND OF TEMPER. *7 being slower than that of the smaller breeds, and that of young horses quicker than old ones of their own kinds respectively.* Q. Are there no other indications given by the pulse of the animal's health? A. Undoubtedly: unsteadiness of beating is a sure sign of something being amiss with the nervous part of the system : fluctuation in the beating of the pulse tells us, as plainly as words can, when the animal has been flurried in any manner ; if by ill- usage, the beats increase in quickness, a few strokes hard, followed by a fewer still very low; if the agitation has been caused by pleasurable sensations, as the sound of horn or hounds, or the near ap- proach to home, then the number of low indistinct ucttis exceeu lae nara ones. Animais or oaa icm- per, those with defective eyes, or skittish ones, that are apt to shy, and mares in heat, all evince this irregularity of pulsation; whereby I first learned to come at a knowledge of each individual's disposition, and I take care to treat him accordingly, Q. That is an excellent distinction of yours; I have an idea it may be pushed much farther, to the benefit of the noble animal we are now discussing. A. Undoubtedly, the placid horse which is kindly and docile in his nature, will be found with an equal • So is the blood of all young thinner, paler, and quicker in the circulation than that of old animals; age increasing its colour, its thickness or viscidity ; and its resistance to the contraction of the containing vessels is consequently greater, therefore slower in motion. 8 REGISTER OF HEALTH. moderate pulse ; whilst that of the voracious, tear- away, craving horse, which is never still, never satis- fied even when foremost, and his pulse shall be from four to six beats a minute quicker than the first- mentioned, and not regular. Q. We will enter more fully into the distinctive attributes of the several classes of prime horses at some future opportunity. [^Conversation ix.] Meantime, have you aught further to say con- cerning the pulse ? A. Not at present. I shall reserve somewhat I have further to observe, until we come to talk of inflammatory fever and of bleeding ; in both which respects, my plan of daily ascertaining the state of my horses' pulse in health has been found of critical as sometimes happens, to consult over a patient, [See Appendix, Pulse.} Q. Do you, then, keep a register of the state of your horses' pulse 1 A. Yes; of valuable ones, regularly, throughout the year, along with my Stud-book, Racing Calendar, Trial-book, and accounts. You form a library of the same materials, do you mind me, with a couple of books on Farriery, and read them with attention ; you'll ride none the heavier for it. As to ordinary or working cattle, they are not so readily afiected, nor so dangerously, as horses with some breeding in them, and require less care. Q. Neither do they require routine physicking, like the thorough-bred horse,/es/t being no incum- THE TEMPER OP HORSES, HOW SPOILED. 9 brance to them ; and nature, with the casual relish of green food, doing for such animals all that is necessary. A. Yet, notwithstanding I can recollect tolerably well what state of health every horse is in by a hasty touch, I like to put down my remarks on the book, when any alteration takes place, to look it over at ray leisure, that I may compare one season with ano- ther, and the state of one animal with that of another, and all with any change of circumstances. I once had an employer who called the pulse " the index of health ; " and at one time he observed that it " resembled the thermometer," or weather-glass, which hangs up in the stable. Q. Very like, indeed. By these means, I per- ceive how persons may also obtain a good insight of each animal's temper; for every one has its peculiar disposition, like mankind, and each requires a different treatment. A. To be sure they have ; all different, according to the breed, the gestation and rearing,* the * Inconsiderate persons about every farm, almost, who ad- mire the gambolling of foals, too frequently set them off, for their amusement ; and when they are taken in, the boys will often play tricks with the younkers, and teach them pranks the animals never forget: the habit of shying is thus engendered, and leaves us in doubt whether defective vision may not have been caused by this evil habit, as well as causing it. The optic nerve, by being constantly employed and excessively strained at every bugaboo sight, is thus disposed to occasion an access of humours at the part, more than is required naturally to supply the aquous humours thereof. B 3 10 MISUSAGE IN BREEDING, MOUNTING, manner in which the mounting and breaking, the shoeing, grooming, and exercising, have been con- ducted, with other misusage ; to say nothing of |Some inward disorders with which certain horses ^ are afflicted from the time of foaling, or shortly after, which shews itself in a vicious disposition that nought can cure, though we may alleviate such, by gentle means, — and by these only, in our approaches to the afflicted creature. Q. Stop. Misusage is a very undefined expres- sion. What one person would consider so, another might look upon as quite necessary ; — chastisement, for example, of a hard-mouthed, country-bred, headstrong horse ; — it must be rendered tractable, you know, cost what pain it may. A. And never fails to become so under my management, nor when employed in its proper work from the beginning, and not pushed onwards, flogged and constrained to exertions beyond its powers, particularly whilst young ; nor at any age, while suffering under any well-suspected malady. Q, Shoeing particularly disobliges some horses, every fresh shoe being the signal for a fresh battle between smith and horse, the man attacking the animal, as 'twere, in the determination of perform- ing that operation by force of arms, which a little coaxing would have effected equally well — if not better. A. Horses so treated must, I think, be consi- dered as misused creatures, without taking into account the capricious tempers of certain proprie- AND SHOEING. MARES AND FOALS. 11 tors, and keeping quite out of view those occasions when some of them get into jolly company, and thereupon become careless of their own health as of the valuable animals committed to their charge. You may have observed that an ill-tempered breed- ing farmer generally rears vicious horses ; the evil, in such cases, usually beginning with the mares in foal, whom he scares, or keeps uncomfortably, or - works the mother up to the eleventh month. Q. This she commanicates to her offspring. I'll give you a case in point, as to this fact, of a half- bred mare, belonging to a Cambridgeshire farmer, which produced five or six times, and every foal grew up as fretful and ill-tempered as it was finely shaped and full of fire ; and all sold at high prices, too, though all committed some mischief or other. One three-year old colt nearly killed the farmer himself; and, being sold to a neighbour, Gazzam by name, his new master reclaimed him by gentle treatment and steady usage, taking especial care, however, not to over-feed him at any one time, nor too much upon the whole : this he did on the prin- ciple that distension of the stomach of young animals always engenders evil disposition, and fills them full of humours— which appear in the form of tumours, of strangles, lampas, and similar luxuriance. A. That is to say, the stomach governs the tem- per. In this lies the secret of all aiiimal manage- ment, and that of the temper as much as any thino- smce you thereby act upon their hopes and expec- tations of gratifying the appetite as much as on 12 SUPERIOR groom's STABLE-MANAGEMENT. their fears of the lash ; in lieu of which the groom can substitute his voice in the correction of any vice he may discover, whereas hasty, petulant cor- rection does but confirm it the more. With this end in view, I always attend to the feeding and rubbing down every new purchase, of whatever kind, my employer sends into the stables, the better to ascertain its temper, to notice its manner of feeding, to watch the state of its blood, which marks the distinctive character of most horses, as much as its quantity, and to make such other close observations as may enable me to perform my duty as I ought, and which points of intelligence are only to be acquired by those means. Q. You are a man of acute perception, I see, and well deserve the confidence placed in you ; may you meet your reward. A. I have that already, in the health that pre- vails in our stables, one and all, and the commen- dations bestowed upon my management by the noble and distinguished visiters to them : as to money-rewards, they come as matter of course ; I am made quite easy on that score, as we scarcely win a race but I find myself remembered in some shape or other ; not so much (I observe) in pro- portion to the amount of the stakes, but, as ap- pears to me, according to the exertions made, and the goodness of the cattle we may have been op- posed to. I like that vastly. Q. Then, a *' walk-over" is not to your taste? A. Not a bit of it : give me a neck-and-neck fVIEWS OF THE PARTIES : OCCUPATION. 13 win against the best bred cattle in Christendom I I don't care where they come from. How the thoughts of such a race make my old heart to mantle ! But your inquiries do not so much tend to inves- tigate the particular economy of a racing stud, I perceive ; unless in that general way wherein this agrees with the management of half-hreds (as we call the main class of horses) and labouring cattle, not forgetting your well-formed hunter, which, if it be not three-quarter bred, should at least be strong built, well upon the haunches, and of robust constitution. Come, come, I begin to discover that you desire to worm out of me not only all I know, but whatever I may think upon the subject ; but, in saying this, I mean not to object, for I am no undelightful churl, and shall answer freely all your questions. Let us confine our talk to the jjre- liminary at first, or that mistaken course of treat- ment which superinduceth disorders, as well as the means of avoidance : it is better to prevent than to cure, — more humane to I'eclaim than to punish. This sentiment is not new : our countrymen have long learnt that the necessary operations — as dress- ing, shoeing, and exercising, are as well accom- phshed, if not bettei*, by coaxing and watching the temper of horses, as by that constant coercion, force, and brutal language, which formerly dis- figured our stable-management. 1 14 CONVERSATION 11, The Foot : Lameness in general ; how produced ; and of jiarlicular A ccidents. Racers ; contracted Hoof; internal Causes; Founder; Foot-Fever; bleeding Hunters ; run at Grass ; stopping. A. True ; lameness may proceed from several causes that may not reside in the foot at all, or, at any rate, not originate there. The inquiry as to which of these exists at any time, and how it has been brought about, is of primary importance towards its removal. Q. With what anxiety every one examines the feet of his horse, or one he is about to purchase ! And not without reason ; however good in every other respect, if he fail in this he is good for nothing. A. Less than nothing ; he is an encumbrance. Lameness frequently comes on in the fore legs without other cause than brisk ivork ; it goes off after having puzzled us in searching for the seat of pain, and returns again on a repetition of the same fast-going— until, at length, 'tis found incurable. Q, Therefore is it extremely desirable to pro- vide an early remedy, when we have discovered whereabout to apply it : but sometimes 'tis a long while invisible. Strain of the shoulder, probably; by some persons termed " shoulder shook?" A. Never, from such a cause ; nor unless the SEAT OF LAMENESS— HOW ASCERTAINED. 15 horse has sustained an accidental blow there, or has been thrown down, or he has sustained a twisted tread upon uneven ground, which the rider must have noticed at the time of its happening ; in all which cases the person in charge of the sufferer should be invited to declare the fact. Similar ac- cidents happen behind, at the stifle, or the whirl- hone, but are seldom acknowledged by ordinary drivers, with whom they mostly occur, in driving carelessly through the crowded road, or upon en- tering the narrow stable-doors with which an ill- judged parsimony has unblest a certain description of proprietors. Q. When a better description of horse falls lame under the like circumstances, we are no better off. A. We try every art to find out the place af- fected ; so, to make sure of the shoulder first, lift up the head of your patient high, compare the size of his two shoulders, let go his head abruptly, and he will drop it towards the side his pain lies, when the shoulder will be found swollen either towards the breast or near the withers, and he evinces pain upon its being rubbed down hard. Q. With us, they rattle some corn in a sieve behind the horse, now on this side, now on that, and you shall discover whether he flinches when turning his neck this way or that, as he will do if the ail- ment be in his shoulder. A. According to the extent of the injury and the state of the patient's bodily health will be the amount of inflammation and swelling, although 16 LAMENESS IN TRAINING, hoW INGURRED. both are absent on some occasions, and no other symptom remain in common but lameness, and the flinching you speak of: -when heat and swelling supervene, rub the part well with camplioretted spirits. No. 2 ; when no swelling is perceivable, employ the cold lotion, with the roller-binding. [See Appendix for these.] Q. Well, and suppose the lame horse does not flinch, nor drag his toe on the ground, nor any of those other symptoms you speak of? A. Then does the lameness lie in the foot, or in the leff, just above it, but seldom in the latter when the lameness is before — except, indeed, with blood horses in training — which are very liable to " fall lame," as the people about them say, unaccoun- tably. Q. But can you tell me how this falling lame occurs so often with racers in training, notwithstand- ing the indescribable care that is taken to bring for- ward this description of horse in the very best pos- sible state to the post ? The expense— — A. Too much anxiety often defeats its own pur- pose : the very best things may be overdone ; so is hand-rubbing, carried to an extreme, upon the legs of those horses until they become susceptible of the least injury, as may be inferred from the lowering of the pastern bone, its inclination downwards in- creasing as this operation is more assiduously per- formed. This appears to me to be one of those things in stable management which, being good and beneficial up to a certain point, when pushed aSflJl RACERS " FALL LAAIE," HOW. 17 to excess becomes prejudicial. I have always maintained this doctrine, and acted upon it. The part having lost its defence in consequence of the muscle being absorbed by the friction — the bared sinews are exposed to blows — the which, however trivial, are felt in their degree ; and as they occur (I believe) about the time of going to exercise, i.^* at clothing, putting up the boy in the stall, and partly turning, instead of backing quite out — the gallop renders a most insignificant touch matter of importance ; for the horse comes home lame. Q. We frequently notice that high-bred cattle, young ones in particular, are given to cross the fore- legs in turning; this is one of their habits, which is more observable when in training, and tells us Luu snarp at any time. In the actual race, I have noticed several instances of falling lame while running, and of breaking down, that these occurred at, or soon after passing some turn in the land. A. 'Twere better, if the accident could be dis- covered hefore going out, when a walk of two or three hours might probably restore the leg ; but it is the pace that has brought the accident to ma- turity, which is only to be got over by comparative rest. [See Camphorelted Spirits, in Appen- dix.] Q. Ah! Rest is incompatible with training; it puts on jlesh. A. Which must then be got rid of by physic; purging-balls and sweating-powders must take place 18 TREATMENT OF LEG-LAMENESS. of sweating over the hills and downs, and the na- tural evacuations. We apply the cold lotion or camphoretted spirits, according to the nature of the accident, and restore the Hmb to its former state by those means ; but much valuable time is thus lost in the process, whilst we still look upon the leg with suspicion, and the proprietor acts under a doubt with his engagements. Q. What further happens, even in the slightest cases, but that every day the work is suspended, the animal loses temper, much to the disadvantage of his form of going. A. He becomes choleric in consequence of his blood thickening, and must be bled, to the amount of two quarts at the least. Indeed, if the accident has been greaicv tnan wHat l nave miuenu contem- plated, the cure would be accelerated by bleeding in the first instance, to the amount of four quarts, or rather more, if the subject be one of the strong, hearty kind, and consequently full of blood, and of irritable disposition. When lameness is inflicted on such an one, bleeding is no longer optional, nor should its quantity be tiifling. Q. Walking exercise (gently does it) on a pad- dock completes the cure ; I have worked at it my- self. A. And I, too, ofttimes. Whilst dressing, the last-mentioned description of horses will strike a foot against its corresponding leg, unless you take the precaution to guard against this accident by putting on the boots. hunters' knock-up, lame. 19 Q. I also remember a fine horse being kicked by a lad, in the act of dressing him, as he said, "in his own defence," the horse having rammed him against the stall in its agony at the curry-comb. A. This is an offence seldom happening iu the present day ; but whoever put that barbarous in- strument into the poor fellow's hands was the pri- mary offender, though only to use it for cleansing the brush, which is itself too generally coarse and unfit to apply to the coat of a thorough-bred horse. Q. They make brushes of ivlialehone hair now- a-day, which should be rejected for thin-skinned horses, as a few hairs always retain the original hardness of the whalebone. causes; and also by hard work over an uneven country; as they do by leaping, without exactly clearing the object they go at. A. Then it is that a little strain, or rather sprain, of the back sinews and ligaments, which, although they be larcfe in the hunter, contract lameness after a hard day's work is over, when the whole of the shank-bone loses its shape, and becomes round, large, and hot. This more certainly happens, if the horse is neglected, " left behind," perhaps, at some stray farm-house, near where he may have knocked up, and no opportunity offers of bandaging the legs, as ought to be done after every day's sport — provided there has been sport. Q. At our stables, we previously bathe the fet- locks with warm water, and the knees too, giving 20 STRAINS AND KICKS, DISTINCTION. FOOT; the flannels a twist round each joint, and supplying every one with three or four turns of the water, a little warmer each time, but no lotion ox embroca- tion. A. Of course, you take care to wipe quite dry, and that before the application is suffered to cool. You will find that horses with legs too fleshy have the most tendency to contract inflammation of the parts, as may be easily felt on grasping the leg be- fore applying the boater, which also dries up sooner the more heat you may find on either foot respec- tively, as it also is an indication of that beat, if not otherwise noticed by the touch. Q. If the hardness remains, whether of the asn tne leg-m salt water, in the same manner, after walking out the horse, and give him the same exercise imme- diately after the cold bathing.* Descending to the foot; — have you not ob- served that the majority of horses leave the shoeing smith with a different gait from the one with which they entered his shop, for 'tis ill advised to shoe the best description of horses in sight of their own stable. * The whole subject of strains has received enlarged notice elsewhere. " Veterinary Surgeon," page 462. A deposite of lymph underneath the skin is the consequence of a blow, the which forms the groundwork of disease, either immediate or remote ; whilst the strain causes exhaustion of the same means of lubricating the tendons, and they become arid and lose their flexibility. Warm bathing, however, corrects the tendency to either extreme, and walking exercise completes the cure. OEING. NAVICULAR DISEASES. A. It is SO. Better lead such in company of a pad-horse or hackney, along the stable front, to a shed or shop at the further end ; where, let us sup- pose in fairness, he is shod in the best manner; yet, if the smith pare the sole in large slivers, though altogether no more than is needful and proper, the horse will go away in a crippling gait ; a measure that is ill-advised, even as regards the cart-horse. Then, if the work of either description of horse be carried on to its utmost powers, the lameness increases, or goes and returns, until it fixes itself somewhere, and the disorder receives in due time one or other of those pretty sounding names which tickle the ears, but which I am assured from good authority have no foundation in fact, in reason, or in analogy.* Q. Here they are, two of them — " navicular diseases," " strain of the coffin joint" — both those bones lie in the internal of the hoof. A. So nobody can know when either the one or the other alBicts the animal, until after death. • No one has yet shown, upon paper, what symptoms of dis- order have subsequently turned out to be " affections of the navicula," or shuttle-bone. In another place, I have given a minute and, I hope, a clear anatomical description of the inter- nal parts of the horse's foot ; whereby vre arrive at the certainty that no one can pronounce the drying up of the juices by heat or disease, a " navicular disorder," nor " disease of the lamina ;" for these juices pervade the whole internal foot, interposing between the coflSn-bone and the wall, where the lamina is si- tuated ; but previously the juice lubricates the navicula, and as- cends to the coronet. — Vide Hinds' " Veterinary Surgeon," page 431. 22 CONTRACTION: THE DISPUTE RECONCILED. Q. Much too late to do any good, I think. Pray, who gave them those names? A. I profess not to know ; but apprehend that they mean nothing else but the founder, when the horse, from his manner of walking, is also termed groggy. Many other causes of lameness are much better defined ; contraction for example. Q. Not allowed, I understand ; one of the mis- taken notions. A. No ; not wholly so. The advocates for the doctrine of contracted hoof asked for too much credence ; their opponents deny that contraction causes lameness, because they could adduce marked cases of contraction without any lameness. Q. Were they not then satisfied with this closer? A. I was not for one, nor ought you. The dis- pute is thus solved: — when contraction comes on slowly, as it does with ordinary draught cattle, no lameness afflicts them, even though the pommiced sole be as convex as a bowl; but when the higher orders, as saddle-horses, stagers, hunters, experience contraction, it makes rapid strides in proportion to the quick pace at which the sufferers may be ridden or driven. Comparative rest alleviates the pain and heat, and the contracted hoofs that can be so laid up awhile, never become absolutely lame. Q. Our modern stage-proprietors seem to have found this out by experience, for many of their sets consist of five horses, leaving one idle at the tail of the journey ; or, at least, they keep a spare wheeler and leader to three or four sets. STAGERS; PACE AND LENGTH. FLAT FOOT, 23 A. The consequence is that we scarcely ever see a lame horse in a stage-coach now as formerly. But the sudden contraction, arising from a harsh, compulsory, unrelenting, unrelaxing, performance of its duties, is that which brings on lameness of both fore-feet, if it does not extend to the whole set, and the horse is rendered useless awhile, or ruined for the remainder of its days. Q, This, then, is lameness from contraction ; the former is contraction without the immediate production of lameness. A. But still very liable to become so, if the horse so affected be pushed in his work, in pace or length, beyond his usual performance. Both degrees are affected alike ; that is to say, the hoof contracts upon its contents, the coffin and shuttle- bones, and the vessels around them that secrete the horny material; when the contraction is gradual these contents adapt themselves to the new state of things by degrees, the secretion then going on with increased feverish activity, throws out horn superabundantly, and what the wall is deficient in shaj)e it acquires in substance. Most horsemen like a strong foot, and this circumstance blinds them as to defective shape, for such, most un- doubtedly it is, when the heels become low and the front of the hoof sinks or becomes more and more inclined. Q. But many thousand horses — carriage and cur- ricle— have those flat feet you allude to, yet never fall lame of a sudden. 24 SOFT FOOT, NOT FLAKEY : DRAWING IT. A. Don't say never, for when they do, they no longer g-o out as such ; they are allowed rest and recover ; rest, physic, and walking exercise is the panacea for all recent, unaccountable lameness, whether of leg or foot. The feet of this de- scription are soft ; they are mostly high-goers, and instead of contracting (growing less) in the uian-v ner that your hard feet do, these spread out, ex- pand, flatten ; by which species of distortion un- natural heat is engendered, as in the preceding in- stance, much horn is furnished to the wall so as to give it the appearance of strength, and, perhaps, the reality. But then the heels contract, the frog loses its shape, and requires frequent paring off of its rotten surface, as does the sole, every ten days or a fortnight, when in full work on hard roads. Q. These large-footed horses seem inspirited by every fresh shoeing, as if conscious of the benefits derived from the butteris and drawing knife ; but their soles are seldom flakey. A. Never, I should think, owing to the softness of the hoof, which seems to direct that such soles should be used tenderly, whilst the rotten frog demands reduction and the bars require opening freely. Q. We have been all along thinking of the fore- leg only. A. With its foot. Lameness frequently depends upon some internal disorder — that is to say, is caused by it, and may be removed by restoring the body to good order. FORE AND HIND LEG, HOW AFFECTED. 25 Unfavourable growth of the lungs, for instance, affect the iore-feet ; of the liver, kidneys, stomach, the hind-Ze ; the want of sufficient vigour failing to keep up the due circulation of the blood, the animal functions droop. Good. Thus have I found the work has been so severe at times, that the horse can neither walk or feed : and at other times so excessive that bleeding the bars was found insufficient to make him take his corn— what then ? A. In that case, bleed him in the neck-vein at once, a quart or three pints, from a large orifice ; for, when he is in that state, you will find his pulse quickened and full, though occasionally indistinct, as if its power of flowing were obstructed at inter- vals. The black state of the blood at the bottom of the receiving vessel will tell how necessai-y the operation has been : * give a mild purgative after- wards (see Aloes, § 10, and Physic, § 3, in Ap- pendix), and plenty of water-gruel or bran-mashes next day. Give the cordial ball No. 1, in the first falling into disease by a kind of sympathy with these, or commu- nicating it to the two first, on suffering greatly from anguish of the feet. The treatment for this apparently complex attack is, however, very simple : the disorder at the feet being reduced (according to its nature), restoring the stomach to its proper tone usually eflects all the rest. [Consult for this purpose Tonics, in the Appendix.] * The muscle or fleshy part of all over-driven or hunted ani- mals approach towards mortification by the finer blood vessels being driven full, and detaining their contents until putrescence comes on; at the head atrophy and sudden death ensues. Meat of the chased stag is purple, so is that of hunted hares : if shot dead it is red ; but if after being stricken the fallow deer runs (as he is wont) to a ditch and lingers, the meat is paler than usual. BLEED FOR A " KNOCK-UP." FLEAM, ETC. 35 instance, unless it be an old horse which has been inured to cordials, when No. 2 will be found not over strong. Q. " A stitch in time saves nine," according to the old adage. A. But neglect your horse awhile under those circumstances, and low feverish symptoms ensue, as certain as does the more acute attack, whose origin I have just touched upon [in the last page] ; in this event it consists of increasing excitement of the whole system, in the preceding the animal droops, and the disorder falls into his feet; for, you will remember, there is always a determination of the blood to the feet going on, which tendency is further accelerated by the great exertions the animal is compelled to take usually over hot roads. Unusual heat of the feet is then prevalent, and is kept up after that of the body has resumed the natural, which may well be considered, " fever of the feet," and as the harbinger of a more defined disorder, with twenty names, but having only one origin,— viz. drying up of the moisture that should have supplied new healthy horn, after lubricating the internal parts of the foot. Q. Seeing the benefit of promptness, better carry ^ fleam about one, then ? or a lancet, perhaps ? I once saw a sporting doctor, in the north, pull out a lancet and bleed his hunter, and that of another gentleman, in the middle of a ploughed field, where they had knocked up after a severe chase ; where. 36 BLEEDING AT THE FEET: upon both went away much recovered ; and a cordial, which he carried in his pocket, did the rest. The lancet is the best instrument, is it not ? A. Not for every purpose, nor in every one's hands: use does a good deal, as in the case you mention ; but 'tis an uncertain instrument, when large quantities of blood are required to be drawn off, not making an orifice sufficiently large, besides being liable to abuse in the hands of ignorant per- sons. On those occasions, when bleeding in the mouth, the feet, or at the temple, may be deemed requisite, however, it may be employed with reason. Q. Would you bleed at the foot for an undefined lameness? A. Not always. If fever of the part continued, whilst that of the body was nearly natural, I should think the cause defined enough for my purpose, and be inclined to bleed at the pastern, more especially if I had already bled at the neck-vein, and the lameness were no better for it. It is now perfectly local, and has been occasioned by the rider or driver constantly making this the leading foot at setting out. Q. Tiyii slopping, if persisted in, effects amend- ment. A. If you also change the leading foot in going, the cure may be completed ; 'tis long continued work and the infliction of the beating on the in- jured foot that fixes the lameness. COOLING THE HOOF: THE BOOT. 37 Q. Ill-built horses, those with the legs badly set on, have always a leading foot ; what is to be done at them I A. Reject them in toto. Q. Few of our stable people are adroit at stop- ping heels, so as it may remain secure during the night. A. Nor at bandaging either, for fistula, wounds, quittor, &c. Splents of wood, resembling matches, inserted under the inner rim of the shoe, retains the mass tolerably well, or a tin slider, entering at the heel. Then there is the boot, and a patent sponge-boot, forsooth, which any of our harness- makers can contrive and adjust to circumstances, according to order ; these are well adapted for re- taining moisture or any application deemed neces- sary to the foot, the only objection I can see being in cases of fever of the foot, when we so much desire coolness for the patient, which the boot counteracts after being on the foot three or four hours. Q. For which purpose some persons wash fre- quently the stable-floor, or contrive to give the horse a standing on sodden or clayey ground, when they cannot turn it out to the homestead, unpaved yard, or loose in a linhay or shed. A. For working horses that are wanted in turn, either is a good substitute, but nothing like so effi- cacious as sending such ailing horses to field by night in summer, and during the brightest hours of 88 HARDY HUNTERS KEPT TOO TENDERLY. the day in the colder seasons : -with these we find no lasting complaints of the feet, besides accidents. All hunters are too tenderly kept; to my mind none but hearty, robust horses, half-bred and three- quarter bred, should take the field after fox or stag. Q. The advantages of turning out to such cattle is inestimable. A. Lungs and hoofs admirable ! Though coats roughish and legs a little fleshy to be sure, requiring occasional physic, and much manual labour: it has been practised on a large scale with regard to hunters, also, in mild countries. At ChnmleigJi, as fine a stud as ever followed fox, lived in the open air during the hunting season ; what their coats suf- fered in appearance was fully compensated by the super-excellent manner in which they finished the day's sport. No piping, tior any distress that a slight cordial or warm ale could not banish. Q. They could never be in condition, according to the present accepted phrase, with a sleek and fat exterior. Gentlemen, now-a-day, require some- thing handsome to look at ; you know as well as I do, that a queer-looking set-out would excite jeers in a crack hunt, any where about Melton for example. A. Gentlemen must follow their own fancies, but the constitution of a horse 'tis impossible to control by fashion : every one is aware, that 'tis very sel- dom the sleekest or most spirited horse at the EFFECTS OP SOILING : DRY FOOD. 39 corert-side in the morning, returns in the best state to the stable at night; never, if he owe his apparent condilion to cordiuls, and woollen clothing in a hot stable. Q. Belter to reserve these until the return home, you say. Pray did they cordial the hunters at Chumleigh auy? A. Only on emergencies — they would be too ten- der for the open air else. I speak, of 1824-5. No coughs, no foot fever, no affections of the stomach, always ready for their corn, nor any blear eyes as some might expect ; nor indeed any days of rest, they took as much exercise on blank days as they chose and went the better for it. " Grass !" I do not think they took any. What made you think so ? You dispute like a Nivirod. Q. You agreed with me, that he was right in keeping up his cattle alwaijs in condition. A. Always fit for sale, you mean; and herein lies the germ of the dispute between that^^enocZicaZ writer and his opponents, who maintain the lasting benefits of soiling the hunter, unless like him they can attend throughout the summer to a scrupulous regulation of the animal's digestive organs, which must otherwise sufi'er by the constant stimulation dry food keeps up. Look at His Majesty's hunters, for example, which are annually sent to the neigh- bourhood of Maidenhead to disport in the natural soil; then look at them when they return to Wink- field again ! The thing speaks for itself. Give me 40 STOPPING, PRECAUTIONS; good feet and good wind, the back-sinews large and well-covered, before all the fine coats and full- fed carcases in the world ; health and vigour and lastingness to the end of the chase are sure to follow a summer run at grass, if well conducted, and the feet looked after, so that little accidents be repaired at once. Such animals return home, laughing as 'twere, at the fatigues of the day. Then turn up their heels and thumb their soles ; no flinching there. Q. Very fond of thunibing , I perceive. A. To be sure I am : at coming home and going out, and whenever danger is to be apprehended, that is my habit. You may not have observed, that after stopping his heels a few days, the sole will feel soft, or the appHcation would fail in its effect ; but clean it out, give your horse a few hours stand- ing, and the hardness returns naturally. Observe always to renew the stopping afresh at each re- moval ; and also that, although coolness be benefi- cial to the frog and bars, yet constant wel is not so, therefore, previous to stopping let these parts be payed with tar, to defend them from soaking too much : whenever the sole bends to the pressure, discontinue the stopping. Q. Of which fresh cow-dung is the basis, with an admixture of soft clay — ? A. With the addition of a strong solution of nitre, when greater coolness is required; but this is not necessary for the sound foot or feet, THE KINDS PROPER; MOIST SOLE. 41 nor do these want renewal so often as the lame one. Q. What ! Stop three sound feet when one only is affected { A. Yes ; after much fatigue, and the corres- ponding foot in every case. For this reason — the lameness owing its origin to the previous general ill state of the body, might as readily attack one foot as another, if the same immediate cause exist;?^ ed; but as the lameness we have now under consisfji deration is not denoted by any other symptom ex- cept greater heat, has been brought on simply by the horse beating with it, or making it the leading foot in going, we should probably, by stopping one foot only perform a cure as reg-ards that onp, loaviug the others open to the same influence of his bodily ill-health, to say nothing of the sympathy that ex- ists through the medium of the limgs between one foot and another before, as it does in a less de gree behind, through the medium of the kid- neys and stomach. I can account for it in no other way. Q. Nor I, I am sure. The soles of each foot would differ in the degree of hardness, if treated differently, that is evident. A. And then by affording more moisture inter- nally to one foot only we might bring on another kind of lameness, akin to founder. So we should also a disposition to incur others, if the stopping be continued long after the cure has been effected, as would be known by the pulse showing reduction 42 STRAINS. MOUNTING COLTS. of heat for a "while. So much for counteracting incipient lameness and its train of evils. Q. Concerniag the more marked and distinct disorders of the feet arising' from the same cause we will say a few words hereafter. iConversation xii.] A. Next to these, the whole class of strains are most frequently recurring; some being original disorders of misconstruction of the limbs, or of these being badly placed on the body, but the far greater number is attributable to the crime (let me say) of mounling too early, and the vanity of running horses too young. Q. Tbat is a point in horse economy beyond our conltol. A. Reject all such as are so misconstructed, or worked too early in life, ye who would make a living by the animal, or receive pleasure by its exertions. Q. Good again. A. Bad enough, I should think for those who get hold of such things. 43 CONVERSATION III. Condition: Cordials, use and abuse of ; Effects; Recovery fro7n severe Work ; natural Cordials. Q. Your plan of reducing the quantity of blood when the animal is knocked up by his exertion, seems to me at total variance with the general practice of giving cordials on such occasions, and your own admissions. A. Not at all irreconcilable are those means of restoration: bleediog has the effect of relieving tne rigidity of the blood vessels, and with it that of the whole frame, whereby the blood finds free circula- tion whilst the cordials sLimulate to the same end — namely, acceleralion of the pulse. Q. The adoption of the latter means of restoring the animal powers in the first instance, appears to be putting the cart before the horse ; though many persons have recourse to stimulants upon every little occasion, and sorae sportsmen carry with them cordial balls for the purpose, administering these in ale, wine, b;c. [Appendix, Cordials.'] A. So they may, very properly, upon small oc- casions of knock up, and these only, provided the pulse beat regularly, though low ; but not when quick and slow alternately, as if the animal already laboured under too much excitement. Another 44 CORDIALS, WHEN MECESSARY; AND means of judging when stimulants would not be improper, is found in the circumstance of the jaded horse having been recently bled and purged, when we may reasonably conclude that his system is not then overcharged with ill-humours, and therefore that exhausted nature may now receive a fillip ad- vantageously : in this case also his pulse will be regular, however low. Under such circiimstances I have known a cordial remove lameness that had been brought on by excessively severe work, and the consequent want of vigour in the circulation of the blood ; but your hunters, to which my attention has been mostly directed for this half-hour past, are bled too frequently, without other cause as- signed than custom, or fashion — this is one of the mistakes of superfine management. Q. This practice of bleeding at stated intervals, you have shewn is — A. A mere J0&, you know, of certain parties; so is the boasted " regular physicking" of hunters ; and then the heavy doses usually administered is really destructive of the passages : aloes lose their effi- cacy, and do harm by frequent use. Q, Is there no mode of alleviating the ill-eftects of this very prevalent error I Horses in quick work and on high feed require physic, you know I A. Less might serve. We will recur to the subject of " physicking" at some future day. [Conversation viii. and see Appendix.] Q. But the bare mention brings us back to the pulse again : when this " index" is low, and the BAD EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH : DRAMS. 45 horse dejected, and heavy in hand, should we always give cordials, whether or no ? A. Perhaps I might say yes with propriety, but you, I fear, would be apt to carry the admission to extremes, and give them upon trifling occasions. But, remember always that cordials given to horses operate like drams taken by mankind ; the short- lived vigour thus infused causes the spirits subse- quently to flag below par, until the fresh dram and another cordial bring the iaker up to his former pitch, and both ultimately become as necessary as food, especially in advanced age. Q. Thorough dram-drinkers are not long-lived. A. So do cordials wear out the horse. For the tendency of all stimulants is to destroy the digestive powers, on which all the other functions of life mainly depend; so that the desire for food daily lessens, the stomach loses its proper tone, and what the horse does eat is taken capriciously ; that is to say, either without a relish, or voraciously swallowed, without due mastication. Q. What a train of ills is hereby engendered ! A. Flatulency, cholic, alTections of the wind, worms, inflammation of the intestines, staggers. Q. I conclude that the habit of giving cordials is a bad one : at intervals, then ? A. Whenever sufficient occasion demands it, no better restorative can be employed than cordials ; wantonly used, nothing is so replete with mischief. The drunkard's " short life and a merry one" is strictly applicable ; the cordials used by him are 46 NATURAL CORDIALS, HOW CLASSED. well said to " wear out the constitution of a horse," as if the speaker had our present topic in view. Q. We might safely administer them at the lowest pitch at which they would do good ; never give more or stronger than will just restore the animal to his wonted vigour, nor that oftener than is absolutely necessary. A. Then return to the usual mode of feeding gradually, whenever the cordial-giving has been abused. Q. Step by step, eh ? A. Good oats, barley, beans — all broken ; a little malt, as a mash ; these are steps by which we resume the healthy aUment after the animal has been pampered too much with cordials. Those substances have themselves the effect of cordials in various degrees — oats being the lowest, though giving to the horse which masticates them well an invigoration that is truly surprising ; sodden barley being next in order, and in this state adapted for agricultural horses ; beans are the strongest ; and all the class, when given to excess, predisposing the animal to contract imflammatory disorders or fever of the whole system, which ultimately fall into the feet, if the complaint do not commence there ; of these latter, grease is the most speedy in its appear- ance ; if the other, or immediate cause, a chiU, also conduce thereto. Q. Unless counteracted by physic, as the urine- balls,-— CONTROVERSY ON CONDITION. 47 A. Or green food : a turn-out is the best physic, provided we can spare our faithful servant to take a holiday, and ruralise a little " among the green- fields." CONVERSATION IV. Condition : soiling, necessity of; Advantages and Disadvantages ; physicking ; turning-out ; the Humours ; in-door Mistreatment. Of Green Food. Clothing. Q. "What an immense variety of opinion has been recently broached on this subject alone, that is described in one word, and that one mis- understood as to what is meant by it — " condition." Each party seems to have the best of the argument, for both refer to facts and to experience for their assertions; but how vast the dissonance that exists. A. Yet is no contrariety sooner reconciled, if we place ourselves in a situation for forming a right judgement of the point in dispute. If horses re- mained in a state of nature, they would require natural food only, but they could not thrive during the inclement months for want of proper nourishment, and man provides for them dried provender and shelter, which improves their breed 48 DRY FOOD, ITS EFFECTS: WATERING. in every other respect tban wind ; he likewise de- mands their services to the utmost extent, and would keep them in a condition to perform those services all the year round, by stable management. He fails, however, in accomplishing this to the extent of his wishes. Q. How he fails is worth knowing. A. Dry food, as oats and hay, forms their main support in-doors, keeps up their strength, and with it the fullness of the juices ; irregularity in the secretions, and a iJiickening or stagnation of the natural secretions we then call " the humours" follow, whereby disease is engendered. Q. Which man endeavours to amend by me- dicine— A. Instead of preventing by an assimilation of the natural mode of living with the forced or domes- tic manner of yeffZi/t^/ ; an abundance of hay, for instance, impedes the action of the lungs, if the horse is permitted to stand to his hay all his leisure time, whilst oats given freely dispose the intestines to costiveness and consequent inflam- mation ; and, though both those evil consequences may be assuaged by frequent waterings, yet man has the arrogance to deny his animals this cheap and simple boon, because it affects their external appearance forsooth. Q. Close and crowded stabling augments the long catalogue of evils that surround the mere do- mestic horse ; — A. By raising effluvia that Ijecomes more and MYSTERY OF TRAINING, NONE. 49 more noxious as the food may be heating, gross, and tending to thicken the blood, and in time pro- ducing similar diseases to those enumerated by me at our last talk, [page 45.] As the heat and acrid stench augments itself, it soon affects the eyesight, inflames the lungs, and causes diseases of the skin^ through excessive perspiration. Ouly see how a healthful horse will sometimes refuse to enter the door of an already crowded stable, as if prescient of the danger to be encountered within ! 'Tis scan- dalous man does not receive lessons from his horse. Q. Don't be warm about it; but let me hear your sentiments " on condition," as I have seen it titled up half a hundred times lately : is there any mystery in the process of training a horse into con- dition 1 A. None whatever, with me ; though some training grooms do make a mighty secret of their mode of treatment. Q. Quit the controversy, then, with its subtle doubts and flat contradictions, and favour me with a few words of good common sense on the subject. A. Common sense never entered into the consi- deration of what condition really meant, or it would have marked the great difference that exists between bringing a horse from grass into condition, and keeping him in that state after being once trained up to the right pitch for doing his work. Q. A hunter cannot go through a hard day's D 50 GREEN FOOD; PURGATIVES. work with green food in him; I believe that is allowed. A. No ; nor a dray-liorse either, unless it be a casual mouthful, or an armful of vetches in the spring ; certainly, not these or any others after a run at grass, the better bred ones being most readily affected in the bowels by green food. Q. In this case they give three doses of strong physic, and then — A. In nine cases out of ten, horses from grass do not stand in need of any such physicking, Q. Well, I'm sure, now you do cap me to a fright ! Why, every body gives physic after a run at grass ; ahvays, I may say. A. I don't care for that ; though that practice is not now so generally followed as formerly. Has he not for months been taking the physic of nature, in the shape of succulent herbs and grasses of twenty different flavours, some of which are positively pur- gative? [See Hay, in Appendix.] And is he not thereby reduced in strength and flesh sufficiently, without the farther aid of the doctor? Hearken a bit : after your horse has been taken in and put on full allowance of dry food, say 121bs. of hay and three feeds of oats per day, stinted in his allow- ance of water, and his exercises scandalously ne- glected, to be sure his blood-vessels fill rapidly with the humours ;* his perspiration is trivial and clammy, * Humours. Taking for granted that this word is vulgar, and often wrongly applied, as represented by the doctors, yet THE " HUMOURS." OVER PHYSICKING. 51 though incessant, his urine scanty and turbid, and even his dunging is impeded and hard— and all this within the first week— then, indeed, brisk physic becomes necessary ; I might say indispensable. Q. Oh, I thought you'd allow it right. A. Not I, upon my word : your party give phy- sic without observing any such cause for it as I have just now mentioned; they also give three doses when one might serve, and those so very strong as to shake the animal's constitution to the foundation. Never give physic or bleed without cause ascertained before-hand ; but sure I am, that these condition-balls do not effect a benefit by " getting rid of the grass," which rids itself fast enough, but by carrying ofi" the load of dung which begins to accumulate and to harden from the very first hour of his return to full feed ; 'tis the oats that have effected this change in his body, Q. But they always return from soil full of fogg, with thick legs and loose flesh all over, which the medicine sends away. A. True, so far, and the reason I'll tell you pre- sently ; but with it there goes also a good deal of the animals' fine bracing strength they had acquired at I think it an allowable one in the mouths of much higher edu- cated persons than grooms pretend to be, if for humours they will understand secretions as meant to be implied ; that is to say, a depravation of the usual secretions having occasioned these to disperse over the body, where they do not belong, and commit harm, instead of coming off in the usual manner, as they ought and do when health prevails, by the alvine, the cutane- ous, and the urinary evacuations. D 2 ^2 EFFECTS OP STRONG PHYSIC. grass. Perhaps you don't know that 'tis a point gained in favour of longevity and sound stamina when we can do that without employing medicine which others only accomplish with it— if they do succeed. Q. Really! Why, most people employ physic upon every occasion, and some upon no occasion at all, as if it were a fashion ; what is the effect of all this management ? A. Effect ! Why, of many kinds : it wears out thie animals' organic functions, and prepares them to receive other disorders than those it cures, like the tinker and his holey kettle: the stomach is compelled to a feverish secretion of its gastric juices, the hoxvels exhaust their mucous lining, whereby the former lies open to inflammation, the latter to molten grease or to scou7-ing; whilst the liver, although stimulated by some medicines, yet retains its bile as supernecessary by the action of others ; and the kidneys being under the direct influence of the stomach, secrete urine by hasty instalments, until they cease to act at all. Q. I perceive that no other function goes on regularly while the main canal is thrown into a rude commotion. A. How diflficult is it after a fever, for example, to bring back the bowels to their former regular state, in consequence of the strong physic employed to " kill the fever," as we say, having thrown them into disorder So much are they then affect- , ed, that the old farriers in our grandfathers' time called it " excoriation of the guts;" and they were BOWELS, APPEARANCE OF THE. not SO far from the fact as they were from elegance of expression ; for, upon noticing the intestines of several such dead subjects that were cut up at our kennel, I remarked that the bowels were quite of a livid red, as was the lower part of the stomach, also, when turned inside out. Q. Ecod ! that is the way to examine into the truth of the matter, in its recesses ! A. Who, then, in their senses would think of giving three doses of terrible strong physic, or three of any thing that art should devise, so soon after the animal's system had been similarly exhausted by natural 7neans. Probably, as often happens, he may have had a scouring whilst he was out. Q. In consequence of cold wet weather, or wet lying, perhaps? A. That is a different case altogether, and seldom occurs, unless through carelessness in the first turning out ; when spirited horses that enjoy their freedom overmuch usually contract slight affections of the lungs, by wallowing in damp spots to cool the overheated carcase: I contemplated only the consequence of taking too much grass for the weak bowels to bear of such harshly-physicked horses as I before alluded to. Q. When the scouring so brought on has ceased, such animals get fat and puffy on grass. A. This proves the beneficial effects of a run at grass, even for horses with tender insides: the jaded and relaxed bowels require the cooling re- gimen ; an effort of nature to relieve itself of 54 TENDER HORSES— TURNING OUT, AND something offensive takes place, and the old cru- dities, or undigested particles, being thus thrown off, improvement takes place immediately after. Q. A process of nature that tells us plainly what estimable advantages would accrue from giving green food partially in the stable, or in a barn, to horses slowly recovering from illnesses that are ascribable to the harsh remedies which have been given to subdue injlammatory complaints. [See Conversations xi. xii.] A. Just so. They ought rather to be emptied previous to turning out, as well as the more hardy horses, or at least their dunging should be brought into regular order, lest they acquire a cough ; and at taking up from grass those tender ones which have thrived upon grass to fat and puffiness also require a mild purgative after a few days of dry feeding. [No. 1 of that class in the Appendix.] This constitutes the single case out of ten I had in my mind's eye when I allowed lately that that pro- portion might stand in need of physic upon coming from grass ; whihst a single dose is now sufficient, and an alterative laxative is preferable to a purgative in every such case. Horses so afflicted with weak lungs and disordered bowels, which is known by the irregularity of their dungings and a disposition to habitual costiveness, should neither be put out to grass nor brought in abruptly, but both changes be effected by degrees. They also require light body clothing for the first few days of being out. Q. Subtract from their allowance of corn pre- TAKING UP — TREATMENT. TRAIN ING; WIND. 55 vious to the turning- out, and give small feeds upon first coming in, with a continuance of grass, cut and put in a prickle. A. So, of all other horses, however hardy : neither bring them into the close stable at once, but confine them under a shed or outhouse, with at least one side closed by a pole only. Give a small quantity of green food in-doors, or new hay, and, in a few days, if there is a necessity for bringing them into good-looking condition out of hand, clothe them, but not too warm : a coat that resumes its smooth- ness gradually being worth twenty that are forced by diaphoretics ; for these do not stand adversities of weather, nor long exposure at the covert-side, the horse being rendered very tender by the medicine. Q. Still harping upon the hunter, I observe. A. Or any other valuable horse that is worth the trouble, the hunter being the medium: thus, the condition that would be considered very fair for a road horse would not pass muster for a hunter, whilst the racer requires to be brought out in a much finer state than either. This latter is termed " training," because of the additional care we bestow in bringing up the animal to exert its best strength and powers of performing his courses, which he cannot accomplish unless the lungs have been trained to their full inflation by gradual means —weight, distance, and speed well regulated, of which more anon. As to the quantity and kind of clothing proper to be put on, the state of his 56 LYING OUT, ITS EFFECTS. COUGH,,^ skin will best direct how these should be regulated, as this will be hotter ia comparison with the pulse than was usual with the same animal before he was turned out, and for this good reason among others — namely, one effect of lying out being to close the pores of the skin by the constant refrigeration thereof by the air, and this ceasing altogether in the stable, the heat causes the skin to relax, the pores to open, the perspiration issues, and the loose redundant fat being thus reduced, he loses the fogg he had acquired at grass ; hereupon the flowing of the perspiration freely, in conjunction with the dressing he receives from curry-comb and brush, from the hair-cloth and towelling, and hand- rubbing, brings him to that condition which enables the horse to perform his work satisfactorily. But here lies the point for your consideration : as the pores do not always open readily, with aged animals in particular, they must be induced to do so by the use 'AiaM diapliorelic [as No.l, in Appendix] not rudely forced ; in the mean time an excessive heat of the skin takes place that is truly disagreeable to the touch, whilst the pulse increases. At this period, carefully exclude a current of air, defer tlie use of woollen clothing, adopt the linen or hempen at first, and remember, now and for ever, to reject the use of cotton cloth for any purpose. Q. Why is this? They make some that is very stout and of hard fabric in my country. A. Not to its texture, but to its physical pro- perties, is raised the objection to the use of cofio/f CONDITIONING THE HUNTER — PACE. 57 it is found detrimental' to the growth of hair, and is consequently harmful to the appearance of the coat, besides having the effect of enervating the wearer. Q. Many horses cannot bear turning out at all, whilst those large bodied hunters, which benefit most in constitutional strength by getting rid of their staleness, generally come up with a cough; and, although stronger, are ever found slower and heavy in hand after soiling. A. Part of the duty of conditioning the hunter is to bring him to his paces again by daily strong- work, opposed to others of his own class ; by im- proving his stretch, and, with it, his wind, by increasing the lengths he has to go ; all which is only to be accomplished by regulating his body and the hours of his exercise. Q. Very few sweatings do for the hunter, I believe? A. He need no extra clothing beyond a hood and quarter-piece, but if he be not sweated by strong exercise, and the loose fat kept down that always accrues after he is taken up from grass, he steps short, as if tied at the legs, and is disposed to to tire and shut up with any little extra work. Q. It is essential to his future services that he should be brought out of those evil ways by the means you prescribe. A. Gently does it best : the time is past when violence and coarseness would endeavour to manage the most docile of animals : if his instructors do D 3 58 APPETITE ; ANIMAL PROPENSITIES. but once study his attributes aright, and govern him by dint of his appetite and his emulative dis- position, they will find how wofully their laboured force has been hitherto thrown away. Q. We shall have to return to the discussion of the various appetites of horses at some future opportunity, [^Conversation ix.] as we have several times touched upon that topic without entering into it so fully as it deserves. A. " Deserves!" why 'tis the all-in-all of animal management ; there is nothing but his animal pro- pensities that we can govern a horse by ; we have nothing else to talk about but keeping these in the right trim. CONVERSATION V. General Health — Feeding and Exercise ; in- door Treatment, Wind. Costiveness : Speed, Physic. Of blank Days, Rest. Distress. Wa- tering : qualities. Stone. Temper, ravenous Horses and tender ones. Gross Food. Stretch and Length. Foreign Horses. Q. Besides those persons who keep their horses up all the summer long, from principle, there are many who are precluded from sending them to grass by imperious circumstances ; would you then FEET BENEFIT BY TURNING OUT. 59 recommend bringing^ the green fodder to them in- doors ? A. This, although doing something by way of alterative, will not effect all the benefits to be de- rived from a complete turning out ,• the feet, more than any other part of the horse, require the cooling so necessary for promoting the renovation of fresh healthy horn, and the bracing which is only to be attained by running bare foot on the green sod. Indeed, the whole frame of the horse is refreshed by it: all his sinews, ligaments, and joints, acquire the springiness of youth,-— old age seems forgotten, and a wanton coltishness returns. Q. The relaxation of the back sinews, which we call " low in the pastern," increases with horses that are kept up all summer long, for want of this bracing at the sinews, &c. A. Let a substitute be found, then, as near as may be, in exercising the horse upon some undress- ed slip of land, and turn him loose or tether him while taking his green food, for a few hours daily, on a soft spot, patch, or straw-yard, which almost every establishment offers; if not, let him run loose about the stable, out-house, or linhay, and receive any other indulgence in his natural habits that is similarly calculated to renovate his powers. Give green food of various sorts — but very little oats, if any— as clover, grass, saintfoin, lucerne, vetches, &c. fresh cut; let them be served out alternately or together, until the body is relaxed, and he produces what may be considered a natural stool— better still if it amount to a complete purga- 60 GREEN FODDER; CARROTS, POTATOES. tion. Chopped carrots are also a very useful addi- tion to those greens. [See, also, in Appendix, Mangel-wurzel, Lettuce, Hay.'\ Country people give their horses potatoes that have been boiled, for food, and where they can be procured while sum- mering your saddle-horse at home, may be profita- bly adopted in moderate quantities for another of those changes in diet which are found so desirable ou the alterative plan. Q. For stagers and post-horses, also, potatoes would prove a very acceptable provender, instead of hag, I should think, during a busy time of it, but never saw it tried on a large scale. A. Nearly half an hour is consumed in eating each pound of the latter, that is to say, three hours for a stomach full of hay, whereas the same animal may devour a suflScient meal of potatoes in a quarter the time ; he would, of course, gain five hours a day for lying down, as such horses are wont to do, in the intervals of their ten or twelve mile stages forward and backward daily. When their labour is much required, more time would also be saved by giving their oats broken, or oatmeal along with the potatoes. Q. You have said very little about exercise, nought concerning dressing or water. A. While your horse is upon green food the craving for water exists no longer. It may be allowed him at will ; to which end a shallow vessel may be placed in a come-at-able situation, and be oft replenished, upon the sly, so that we may ascer- tain what is going on in this respect. If he now 1/. RETURN TO DRY FOOD. 61 require as much water as ever, 'tis the effect of his exercise, which is thus proved too strong for his present mode of living, and must be abridged ; or 'tis the effect of a bad habit, and it must be restrain- ed. As to dressing down your horse, he will re- quire very little whilst on green food, especially if he can be accommodated with being out-doors, as I before suggested; whilst your physicked horse in-doors does better for dressing. Q. You would adapt every part of his treatment as near as might be to the out-door system : the open air, I understand from you, is refrigerant of the skin, and serves instead of rubbing down 1 A. As far as health is concerned, it is so. Q, But the supply of green food sometimes falls short, not to be had through some devilry or other; would you in that case return to hay and oats awhile? A. If you do, you must increase the amount of exercise, or you will soon have good occasion for physic-giving — which is always to be avoided, and strong doses ever. But better diet him at such intervals on less nutritious substances, though as much in hulk ; as oats and chopped hay, or bran with the oats, which some also give on the same days with green food; whilst others sprinkle these with water, which secures the certainty of mastica- tion— a very important feature in horse-keeping, whether as regards health, economy, or work, which would not, of course, be very hard under those circumstances. ■ : Q. Must we then withhold the horse's food 62 ADAPTATION OF EXERCISE TO FEEDING, when he lies idle, and increase it when he is worked, that is to say, in strong exercise, and so " the more work the more food?" A. Not exactly so ; you go too fast for me : 'tis the reproach of youth that they always run into ex- tremes ; though I really don't know, my fine fellow, whether an over-fed horse would not derive as much benefit as man does, from being compelled to observe a maigre day, occasionally — only this must not be tried on whilst he is training into con- dition and wanted. My objection is to the excess of either food or exercise; the constipation pro- duced in this way upon racers in strong exercise, is ever extremely obstinate ; and the quantity of aloes must be then increased to a harmful amount, or gTOSsness appears on the skin — like farcy. AYhen the hunter is brought back from grass to oats and hay, the willing exercise he recently took while at large should not be relaxed in the least, but aug- mented by httle and little, as you increase his daily quantity of oats, until these are given to the full allowance ; his exercises should then amount nearly to a sweat, on alternate days, in the morning, and a short gallop every afternoon — if he be cut out for speed ; but if calculated for a lasting one over a deep countrv, to go after heavy hounds, two or three long breathings a day does better. In the case of a thorough-bred in training for the race, which has not been to soil, the effect of dry feeding and strong exercise is to cause constipation ; this begets the necessity of purging this class of horses whilst so training, as the costiveness is daily becom- IMPROVING THE WIND: SPEED, 63 ing more obstinate when neglected, and he de- clines in the extent of his stretch. But whatever your horse is designed for, let him begin at short exercises, and do each day a little more than the preceding, until you have " brought him to his wind," or the best length he can do without distress, (which includes also a trial or two of his greatest strength and best speed united,) doing at last nearly as much as he will have to perform in the actual chase, race, or journey, according to what he may be cut out for. Q. Aye, thus it is you find out the bottom of your hunter, and improve his tvind, if the horse be not taken out for strong work too soon after feed- ing, nor absolutely empty of a morning. A. No hay on his stomach, at any rate, though you do not feed; and if the going out be very early, no occasion for feeding; if not early, then a small feed betimes will be proper; he will perform his day's work the more easily with it than without it, and this ought to possess recommendation suffi- cient. Q. Speed will be impeded by its adoption, be assured ; moreover, after the corn the horse would crave for drink, which would ruin all. A. Not after so small a quantity as a quart or less of corn, or a handful of crushed beans to an old hunter. But neither on this or any other occa- sion give your horse to drink immediately after feeding, nor just before it; for by the latter method you fill the large gut, and by the former distend 64 STRONG WORK ON EMPTY STOMACH: the stomach. And as to sjyeed, I have yet to'tearn"' in what way that of a hearty, ravenous horse, full grown let us suppose, which is entered to run heats, or over a Craven or King's plate course, can be retarded, when the main tug of the race — its ter- mination, rather tries its strength than its fleetness, which is then pretty well taken out of him. Q. For three-year olds, I perceive, you think the case is different. A. Much depends upon the ground itself; if heavy, and strength is requisite to bring the young ones over a long mile and three quarters course, racing all the way, a lastvig quality is indispensable to winning, more than mere speed. On such occa- sions the best trainers give something more than bread and butter for breakfast — seven or eight hours before running. The old plan of running horses quite " empty" is not worth a straw. Q. Your mode of gradually increasing the exer- cise of the unconditioned horse, inures the lungs by degrees to fill to their utmost capacity, which pro- motes his lasting qualities. A. It promotes the expansion of his ribs, and of the muscle that joins them together, braces the membranous lining of his windpipe, (which in aged horses is Hable to collapse,) and promotes the due action of the diajjhragvi, or rather the skirt thereof. Be sure you go on gradually, step by step ; for if you distress your cattle, or cause a cough to come on at the end of a gallop, as would be the case if you proceed abruptly, or if you have LUNGS, MIDRIFF; DISTRESS, COUGH. 65-. previously given dry hay, or the stomach is near full , of corn, you must then desist and abridge the,.- length of your gallops, beginning again on a future . day at the lowest length. Avast heaving! ere you rupture the cells of your horse's lungs into each other, and cause a minor description of broken wind, that time and a repeti-tion of the same speed confirms. Q. Distress is known by facility of perspiration, by a certain uneasiness of manner, by faltering in his paces, by — ^ A. It may further be known by the pulse conti- nuing irregular as well as quick long after the gal- lop, and by a kind of catch in the breathing, ' wherein the inspirations are tardy and defective, though each expiration be as right as a trivet s chi-onic cough is superinduced by repeatedly over- marking your horse thus, in pace and length. Q. Though many horses also become broken- winded by being worked on a full stomach, I apprehend that moderate work, especially if that be slow, upon a middling feed of corn never affects the lungs. A. Though, if much dry hay occupy the stomach, with a denial of water, the lining of the throat is affected, which occasions a wheezing cough in his endeavours to get rid of the particles that tickle and irritate the passage. Oh, never fear working a hunter well with a moderate feed in him, pro- vided he have taken it early — say at six o'clock; when the appointment is ten or later, according to 66 WORK AND CORN EQUALISED: REST. the fashion of " these degenerate days." If " little work less corn" be worth aught as a maxim, then the reverse, " much corn much work" must be a wiser, — and a much better than either is " the more corn the more work." The opinion of our forefathers on these points appears, from some old sayings, to have tallied pretty even with my own. Here is one of them : — " THE HORSE TO HIS MASTER. Take care of me a mile out and a mile in ; Up the hill, spur me not, Down the hill, push me not. On the plain, spare me not. In the stable, forget me not. Q. Tint you would not withhold his regular feed on the days of rest, I think you said ? A . There are no days of rest in nature : when man domesticated the horse with high keep, he had no right to deny it the exercise that was designed by the great Author of all for digesting his food — it was a cruel proceeding. Q. It might be given to him prepared, partly digested, i. e. cooked. A. So be it ; but being carried to its extreme, this course would alter the power of digestion in a horse so treated ; bad blood would accumulate, or it would become too rich, lose its fluidity, cease to flow naturally, and disease would spring out of this slothful mode of life. Q. The humours would become visible on the sea-voyages: remedy for stiff joint. 67 skin : I now perceive that I did not examine the affair close enough to form a safe opinion. A. No ! You looked no farther than your nose ; as usual with all those of your age and standing in society. Q. I'll owe you one for that. But I have seen horses on board ship take so much rest, that when set on shore they have staggered as if groggy. I doubt much whether some of them ever recovered the perfect use of their limbs. A. I have the like doubt. This must have hap- pened during one of your sea-voyages, I guess ; but why did you not prevent this stiffness of the joint by artificial action? Though the horses be slung up, the means of giving motion and a tem- porary resting place lo me noor, contrived. Do you know, that the Arab horses brought to this country by the Mediterranean^ never turn out so good as those which formerly came to us through France ? And this I take to be one reason why, — but we begin to deviate. Q. Would you take out a hunter on the blank days 1 Would you not at least give him complete rest the day before an appointment? A. No ! Nor the day after, either ; I would give him a breathing rather, though not a sioeat, to pre- pare him for the coming day; and the day follow- ing a bard run he should also go out, at any rate a little farther than to loater. The fresh air revives the spirits. I would carry the principle to every gradation of cattle ; and were I in charge of such, 68 DAILY EXERCISE : DRAY-HORSES' SLEEP. even the dray-horse should be walked forth on Sundays. Q. A pretty sight, truly; Messrs. Whitbread's thirty greys, for example, taking an airing on the Sabbath-day, would sound well over the stones! A. They would be the better for it, notwith- standing, and then be less disposed at any time to st^nd and sleep, as is usual with old ones of that breed, which I have seen fall in the streets. One of their teams did not lie down for seve- ral years, I find ; and Mr. Shore, the miller of Nottington (Somerset), had a horse which did not lie down for sixteen years, to 1828, when he fell and broke a leg. Q. A log hung at his tail would have prevented uuv/idcui, I sliould think { A. So should I ; as I have observed such horses ever tumble forward ; the log would act as a coun- terpoise. Q. Well then, out every day, am I to under- stand ? A. Every horse of the better sort every day ex- ercised, from eight to twelve miles. Meantime, all the litter out, the stables emptied and well cleansed ; racks cleared out and re-filled, gutters washed and drain-holes opened, — in warm weather, employ a profusion of water. All which operations, if per- formed while the cattle are in-doors, aSbrd cause of much discomfort, especially to the high bred and the irritable. Then, also, all windows and doors open, at all seasons, except during sharp srvrcOLD water: CHILL, COLIC. 69 frosts and fogs. The practice of watering horses at a distant stream is a good one, inasmuch as it insures a two or three mile airing each time ; it pos- sesses no other advantage, however, the same water being commonly found nearer home, ex- cepting the pleasure the animal derives from going to take it, being more natural to him than swal- lowing half a pail full all at once, and standing still with it cold in his inside. Q. Which makes him sweat unnaturally, I have observed, by the hair becoming roughish, in a short time, if it do not turn and begin to stare imme- diately. A. By checking the action of the stomach and intestines, I believe, and causing those spasmodic affections thereof, which we next day detect and term colic or gripes, and give the cordials ; though when the cold water has done its utmost mischief, colic is not then the disorder the animal has in- curred, but another much more virulent, namely, inflammation of the intestines — when the exhibi- tion of those same cordials would kill the patient outright. Q. Concerning which two disorders I mean to tax your patience a little more in the sequel. [Con- versations X. xiv.] At present, food, air, and ex- ercise claim our undivided attention. I am now- aware how much the continuance of health de- pends on regularity, in the quantity of feeding and watering, likewise on airing and grooming, as affording the horse pleasurable sensations, all 70 TEMPER; RAVENOUS HORSES. ARABS. which combined, conduce as much to his condi- tion almost as the meat be takes. A. Much also depends upon the manner of doing the same thing by two differently tempered men — one being of an indifferent turn in that respect.* His treatment, likewise, should not be capricious as to hours of feeding and watering ; the same amount of corn at three times doing more good than if given at twice, and whatever the al- lowance of water per day, it should be divided into four services at least. Q. At our first interview (p. 2) you observed that some horses were characterised by a craving for water ; now, I have met with many that care little about water, and refuse it, or but just dip their noses in the pail or the stream. A. The first are, also, ravenous eaters, have large stomachs, and a craving appetite that is never satisfied, but of strong constitution notwithstanding. Q. Their manner of going is likewise anxious, impatient of control, and irritable ; when runnei'S, they perform this pace with the head down. A. Because wide-made at the haunches ; and, although deep-chested, are usually narrow before, yet not coming up to my notion of disease or mal- • Well bred horses are cognizant of kind words and mellow voice: the Arab and Tartar nations, from whom we derive the stock, are even said to converse with their steeds. When a horse is kept alone he appears to congratulate the return of his keeper ; as an antidote to loneliness, some persons keep a goat in the stable— in other respects such a guest is unserviceable. LARGK STOMACH: SMALL ONES DISTENDED. 71 conformation of the parts. We should carefully qvoid distending the stomach of such horses by giving large drinks of water at any one time, but rather divide them into five, six, or seven services a day, provided the value of the animals so addicted warrant as much care. Neither should these drink soon after feeding, as this swells the corn. Q. The example operates beneficially upon the fourth description of horses, those which care little about water, which are also, invariably, poor feed- ers, and tender of constitution. These require coaxing to drink, which ever begets an appetite for their meat. [See Conversation ix.] A. Always ; as it cools the blood and supplies the several secretions on which health and vigour so much depend. After you have extended the capacity of the stomach of such a horse, with aug- mented services of water on his corn, you may in- spire him to increased exertions by means of a handful of split beans occasionally, previous to his gallop, and then work into him better pace and greater lengths in consequence. Q. Why, the management of the watering is of equal moment, in a conditioning point of view, to the regulation of his feeds. A. Every bit. And should the horse's appetite outstrip the intentions of his trainer, in his endea- vours to keep down^e«7t, by strong exercise, then he has recourse to physic for his auxiliary. Q. Horses training for speed evidently improve their stretch after physic. 72 LONG BODIED ; CRAVING WATER. j A. Those kinds I have been speaking of parti- * cnlarly so ; in truth, horses we would train to strong and rapid exertion perspire so much that they de- mand a greater quantity of fluid to keep up the supply. Your long-lodiecl, reedy horses, do not form an exception ; but they are the most uncertain animals going in this respect, some of them being ' light-built, fast-goers over short courses, and mode- rate in appetite ; others, again, are strong-consti- I tutioued, robust, and hearty feeders ; they live to | the end of the chase or race, be it never so long, ! and do the thing respectably, if not toppingly. These last are also disposed to crave for water, but eat still more voraciously, and should be stinted in I their appetites, and watered often, in small quan- j tities, while in training. ' Q. Then, again, there is the great bulk of horses i that belong to neither extreme, they do not crave I overmuch, nor refuse food or water ; qualities these that reside in the square-built horse, one I mean that you can see the light square under him — that is to say, neither high-mounted or long-backed. A. Such horses are ever good goers, always playful at exercise, and seem to enjoy the race : — , thus closely connected is our best breed of horses with the disposition to crave for water inordinately, or, on the other hand, to put up with a moderate \ quantity of this indispensable lubricator of their parched animal system. ' Q. The admixture of oatmeal, bran, or sugar, is found to entice those delicate horses to drink, of I WATER, BAD QUALITIES CORRECTED. 73 which we were first talking. Salt, given in corn or Lay to the horses " suspected of small stomach," [Conversation ix.] induces them to take more water, so as to distend the stomach to a : desirable capacity. [See Appendix, Salt.'] A. These articles are likewise goodly correctives of water, to which we may have well-founded ob- jections. Q. The qualities of water vary much, and ought to undergo examination : it carries off horses of great value— if very cold at the spring or draw- well. A. As it does if impregnated witli minerals; or with rotting vegetable substances, as the falling leaves, &c. of autumn. Q. Thorough-breds in training have very suscep- tible insides, which such waters either irritate or relax according to circumstances. A. We may divide all water into the hard and the soft kinds ; the first mentioned, rising from a stone or gravel substrata, is commonly drawn from the well and drank upon the spot ; it is the prolific harbinger of internal inflammatory complaints and of tubercles on the mesentery, the liver, &c. Q. We can detect this water by making a lather with soap in it, which curdles if the water is hard, i. e, impregnated with stone, whereas if not so the soap dissolves equally, and impregnates alike the whole of the water. Indeed, all water is thus im- pregnated with some foreign substance or other, R I 74 CHALKY WATER AND TURBID. A. Let it be procured a long- time before re- quired for use, and kept in a tank or cistern, ex- posed to the sun. Give less at a time and oftener, when the obnoxious kinds cannot be avoided. I am convinced that many a horse has lost his race in a distant part of the country, through not being- inured to a certain kind of water that is inoffensive enough in itself. The chalky water of Kent, in parts of Gloucestershire, below Bath, and along by Basingstoke to Winchester, is that which most com- pletely belies its first disgusting appearance. I am not certain but it may possess a salutary effect on the constitution of some horses, upon the same prin- ciple as that ascribed to lime-water, of the nature whereof it partakes : solvent of stone, destructive of worms, absorbent of bile, I apprehend a better corrector of hard water than chalk or whitening cannot be employed artificially. The experiment would be worth trying ; but more appalling is the turbid water of stagnant brooks, and those outlets from factories and house- drains that, under a glassy surface, leave a foul resi- duum below. A. The latter are positively deleterious in sum- mer time, and the harbingers of fever, tumours, and those other indications of depravation in the secre- tions, which we will term " the humours," let the doctors say what they like. Q. Charcoal, pounded in water, and stirred up with such putrid waters, is said to carry down the EARTH BALLS AND STONE HOW FORMED. 75 obnoxious animal matter, and leave a good Whole- some and drinkable water above. A. 'Tis good to know, though we desire not to put in practice, the means of discovering and amending this all-important beverage. Q. Boiling does it, I believe, in all cases, except that of i7'on spring-vfater, which may be detected by the rusty colour of the stones, &c. over which it runs, or by soaking a linen rag well in the water, and, after drying it, pour a little tea on the same, and it will assume a buff colour on being again dried. A. From unsettled field-waters, and those flowing from the hills after rains, we may expect a more latent enemy : the earthy particles of these subside in the (cfEcum ox) blind gut and form concretions, that the heat of the body converts into stone ; as happens more facilely with water from a cold spring, which contains the principle of stone in abundance ; passing from that gut into the kidneys generally, such a stone will there stick fast, and assume the most hideous cell-like shapes, displacing one entire gland, nearly, so that the whole function of sepa- rating the urine from the blood is then performed by one kidney only, Q. How provident are the ways of Nature ! I observe, by some stones I have seen severed in two, that a little pebble which must have been taken with the food, formed the nucleus or central begin- ning of such a stone in the bladder, whilst others are found in the passages leading to it.* • Though sharp pebbles miss their way, occasionally. A E 2 CORN-MILLS— STONY PARTICLES. A. An accident that happens most frequently to the gross feeders and ravenous ones just alluded to; but, whenever high bred horses incur this disorder, their sufferings are more acute in consequence of the superior irritation of which they are susceptible. Oatmeal and heans bruised for horses are thus charged with stone-dust occasionally, by millers reserving their coarser mill-stones to be employed in such services, as also when their stones have been newly chipped or roughed. Q. Your iron mill is preferable, all to nothing. A. Always sweet and clean ; never clogs like the old hand-mill. Ours was made by Stockdale, in High Holborn, I observe ; but his charge is much too high for general use. Q. Such particles of stone as we have been speaking of often subside in the hinn,\ find, by rowing about the meal, and will be found at the bottom. A. Or, more certainly, on mixing oatmeal gruel, when the rough bottoms or sediment may be pro- fitably thrown away ; indeed, you may feel it grit between the pestle and mortar, when gruel is made according to my directions. [See Appen- dix, White Water, No. 4.] Q. You order water gruel to be given fre- quently, I observe, and in large quantities. ' i' A. Always to the ailing animal, as well as to any that may have performed a hard day's work, young peculiar case of one such making its appearance at the point of the yard is detailed in the Veterinary Surgeon, page 141. I could ^ • not reckon this among the cakidi spoken of above. FOREIGN HORSES; HOW FED, 77 or old, with the addition of crushed beans to the latter. Indeed, I would give no beans unless crushed : young horses do not stand in need of them, and the teeth of old ones are past grinding them as they ought, so bruise them by ail means ; bruise all beans. Q. In Flanders they give their working horses all kinds of sloppy food, as grains, wash, &c. and every green thing that grows, nearly. A. Which gives them those washy carcases we so little admire. I never saw them at such work ; but all we get from there have large flat hoofs, and are of the heavy kind. Q. They bring the best from the county of Munster and other parts of Lower Germany, which more resembles our Craven country : all the Netherlands are swampy, save a few spots, as T may. call them. In some parts they give their stage- horses a food of — what do you think 1 A. 'Don't know any thing about them. Not tnilk, surely, as the Arabs do their horses ; when grass is not to be found, they give nothing else. 'Tis said, they drink the mares' milk themselves, and give camels' milk to their colts; whilst their filly foals are allowed to suck their mothers, — at least, so a late French traveller tells us, after living among them two or three years. Well, as to the Germans? Q. The driver carries a bag of dark bread, made of buck-wheat, which he slices off and gives on the road, much after the fashion of our stage-waggoners 78 OATS, PINE HEART. TRAINING-BREAD. with a wisp of hay; and this food they call lumper- nike ; whilst in Normandy, they grow a plant, with a yellow flower, in abundance, for their horses of every description. A. No heart in either, as oats have. Let them contrive whatsoever they may, nothing gives to horses vigour and strength like unto all-congenial oats. Fed on these, an ass may be brought into condition fit to drag a load at ten to twelve miles an hour. Even the iraining-hread, formerly made in race-horse studs, and composed of oatmeal, wheat- flour, and bean-flour, equal quantities, mixed up with ale and eggs, and baked in cakes, is now ge- nerally disused, though good for old horses. I wonder what our old ancestors did before oats were brought over? Q. Much the same as the Germans, I suppose; as well as they could. But they had no racers in those days, though they bred many horses, and ex- ported them and all other kinds of cattle to those very parts. A. But now we import their heavy, unwieldy, draught-horses, that are known by the immense crest, long body, and large flat hoof; with some coach-horses, too; but few for the saddle, I believe. I never saw one that I should call a tight, well- built,, firm horse ; none to be compared to the Cleveland-bred ones, not in a day's march. Q. You bear a little prejudice against the fo- reigners. We do get a few good chariot-horses from them, occasionally. 79 I CONVERSATION VI. Gross Habit. Grooming, its Benefits: Litter; Blear Eyes. Q. Those large foreign horses we were speaking about yesterday, do not seem to carry themselves well, with their bellies full of our hard meat, with which they are stuffed to repletion by the emu- lative pride of their London owners. A. Everlastingly uneasy, snorting, and casting off the superabundant secretion from the throat — both windpipe and gullet, I should think. Q. They seem hke pampered christians, bursting with choler. A. Whether narrow or flat chested, these, nor any other breed, are difficult to keep in condition, if that be your fat condition. We often hear it said that such a horse " never thrives unless he have plenty of corn ;" of another that it is always " found at the rack," to denote its ravenous dispo- sition ; this is as much as to say that his circum^ scribed chest, and consequently bad respiration, prevents his coming up to working condition, but that much gormandising clothes that defect with fatness, though it evidently hinders the due action of the lungs. Hence the uneasy, burly manner of the French and German horses. They always appear to me as if their skins 80 FATNESS BEGJJTS D.ISJIASE. were too large for their bones, and these not tightly strung together; and then their new mode of living fills up all the intervals with M; an incommodious, enervating, and gross habit of body, alike opposed to exertion and to health, unassisted by purgatives. I once saw the carcase of one of those heavy ones, which had been slain in full health, in London- streets, When the skin was removed, the whole external surface, down to the hocks and knees, was completely covered with fat, utterly obnoxious fai ! What service could all this fattening answer? For labouring cattle I abhor the thought, whilst for pigSi indeed, for bean-fed deer, and oil-caked oxen, the thing may be suffered, nay is delightful! Q. Cart-horses in town are always feeding; the nose-bag goes on at every rest, though I believe 'tis mostly chaff. A. Who's to blame ? Fill them with gross hu- mours first, and then physic off the ills you your- selves have created ; or prepare to expect disor- dered intestines, staggers, molten grease, inflam- matory complaints, tumours, and so forth. This species of mistake is not confined to the owners of the lower description of horses. Q. Many of those evils are augmented by the practice of standing this class of cattle upon their litter of several days' accumulation. The feet in- variably suflPer; and although not everi/ species of disease, yet enough to cripple the gait. What horrors do not such feet present, augmented by the heavy pulls they are compelled to perform, with LITTERING— STALING, REST. the boof brittle, thin, low-crusted, and pommiced, often with great fissures too. Q. The London art of shoeing such horses, the filling up cracks, and adapting their shoes to awk- imrcl tread, you must allow is very ingenious. Those horses seldom lie dov/n, I presume, because they always stale on getting into their stalls. A. So do some other kinds; they wait for the straw, as it prevents splashing against their greasy heels, &c. which tells how necessary 'tis to leave some of the old litter for them outside, as an enticement to stale. No, they have less occasion to renew their strength by lying down, than your stagers, post-horses, mail-horses, and those others which are constrained to quick action ; for, being once down, the former find a difficulty in regaining their legs, whereas, the quick goers no sooner feel their fatigue gone otf, than up they get, fresh as the daisy, ready to feed, and fit to start. Q. At our coach-horse stables, we do not clear out the best of the litter in Avinter, but shake it out and get it up, after allowing the stall to dry, against the partition. If there be a disposition to lie down after work or exercise, we encourage it by making up again. A. The additional expense is well repaid, even for the most ordinary cattle. You may observe horses that have been unused to the practice, when suffered to stand on their foul litter during the day, do so in a shifting uneasy posture, long previous to the swelling of the heels, that inevitably takes place E 3 :8g BLEAR EYES. GROOMING, ITS EFFECTS. if persisted in ; also, that on the days when they are not taken out, as on Sundays, the best eyes of healthy horses dose partly up, owing to the vapour and heat of urine and dung, and of rotten straw, that is incessantly ascending. But if those animals are at any such time removed to a clean stable, those symptoms pass away, the eyes invariably ex- pand to their natural size, whilst the manner of standing is restored to the healthy and vigorous style of an animal quite at his ease. Q.I will try the experiment on Sunday. Crih- biters, and those suffering under internal galling pains, as the ivorms, or long-standing affections of the lungs, are also induced to eat their litter, under the circumstances described, and thus increase the evil. A. Physic then again becomes necessary, to restore the depraved appetite, instead of that ne- cessity being obviated by proper precautions, and ventilation is among the chiefest of these. Q. This and some other topics (and, among the rest, physic itself) I reserve to a future opportuni- ty. Neither have we said aught of actual grooming, variously termed dressing, rubbing down and clean- ing, of its beneficial effects, and how restorative a strict application of the brush, and, perhaps, the curry-comb in some cases, is to the preservation of that health which is so deservedly matter of boast with you. A. By exciting the nervous system, exhilirating the spirits, by increasing the action of the blood- VENTILATION — THE STABLE. 83 vessels, and thus compelling the heart to quicker vibration, and affording to the animal pleasurable sensations : these are the immediate effects of rub- bing down the animal in any way whatever, to say nought of the fat and humours which are thereby dispersed and finally absorbed and sent off by the proper evacuations. Q. This duty is too well known, however, to need my troubling you with further questions ; and, as to the stable itself, its construction and fitness for the inhabitants thereof, these are topics quite beyond the groom's situation in life. CONVERSATION VII. The Stable: Ventilation — draining. ProjJerties of Air, Gas. A. What did I hear! " the groom's situation." — By no means ; I crave your mercy awhile : no- thing that pertains to a horse lies beyond his ken. I say beyond, too ! No subject whatsoever is above the reach of a man of common sense, es- pecially when so closely connected with his avo- cations in life as a stable is with a horse, and a horse with a groom. Neither should the head man of a stud hesitate to bend himself to the meaner ofiBces, when the welfare of his horses demands groom's duties. manual assistance that is not otherwise at hand effi ciently. t or example, he should know how to put on a thrown shoe, though that be with a stone on the road, he will then know when this service is properly done ; give all physic with his own hands ; fasten bandages expertly ; and, though he have plenty of helpers, lads, and junior grooms about him, never flinch from administering a clyster, or back-raking, or any other of the less agreeable ope- rations ; because the cheerful acquiescence in such offices tends to infuse into those about him an active sense of their duty, and to inspire the young and inexperienced, who look up to him as a practical monitor, with a due respect for his assiduity, if they do not reverence bis talents. Q. Your remarks are very just. I did not re- flect, that your experience and constant anxiety to discharge the duties of your situation with credit to yourself and to the advantage of your employer, must have furnished you with much sound practical knov/ledge on this as well as every other topic con- nected with the horse. As to the construction oi' stables — you must have put up with some that were very unfit for their intended purposes, and others that were built with every convenience— expressly to your taste, perhaps. A. People do not rebuild premises simply to adopt some new invention, aowever demonstrably beneficial ; so I will not occupy time in describing how stables should be constructed for this or that particular purpose. The object should be for us to VAPOURS OF THE STABLE — PROPERTIES OP. 85 render such ancient bnildings as healfbful as possi- ble, by contrivances adapted to remedy tbe defects we may find at them. Q. The principle being, to admit atmospheric azV equal to the quantity consumed, but not a current of it, in order to expel the vapours, saline exha- lations, and gas, that constantly arise from the several evacuations and heat of the inmates. A. Rather say, " to permit those gassy vapours to escape ;" for the tendency of all such bodies is to ascend upon the atmospheric or healthy air, un- less, heing confined together in a given space, (a room or stable,) the two airs mix, and pervade the whole area so circumscribed, when further stimu- lating the animals' lungs and skins, it reproduces itself over and over again. Q. Aye ; it has the same buoyancy, or disposition to ascend, ..s the gas that impels our balloons up- ward ; havitig the like quality of being ignited^ loo, as the same gas that is burnt in our street- laroi s. It mast, therefore, contain some quality that is tot&Uy di^Tere-jt from tlie pure air, and inso- much uafit for mortal xmn or beast to breathe and live healthfallj. ".^^hoever advised the lighting a stable with gas wn not good judge then, unless a shareholder in some g?.5-3'impauy : a mephitic odour always icsae?. f-oni the b urner, the light greatly destroys the p.^ra air, at,-"! %q gas is fre- quently found to escape from the ti : oo, nrd even to rise up through the pavement, cocasion^.Uy, $6 GAS OP STABLES — EXPERIMENT. ^ A. The action of the horse's lungs being- twice that of man, besides the multiple of these -with his greater bulk and heat of carcase, accounts for the Buperior destructiveness of stable air, or rather gas ; a fact any one can put to the test if he will con- descend to rest a whole night with his horses, as I have done, and, partially, several times in full stables, to say nothing of my boyhood, when I literally slept with my horses. Q. You found the air oppressive, no doubt, in the full stable. A. After the first hour and a half excessively so, for it was during the races, formerly, where I suspected a fellow of some foul intentions towards my horses in the adjoining stables, as then hap- pened too frequently ; so I did not sleep, nor in- tended it. After the second and third hours had passed away, during which I suifered great op- pression at the chest, not to mention the stench, the /JO"* wore away, and I felt comparatively restored, but still perspiring copiously, with a shght discharge at the eyes and nose. Q. Some change had taken place, I conclude, in the state of the A. In me, and no where else : my lungs, I ap- prehend, having been saturated throughout with the noxious gas, the cells at length lost part of their resistance and elasticity, when the feeling of oppression ceased and the gaseous poison had com- plete possession of the pulmonary function. What LOFTY STABLE, AND LOW ONES. 87 a very pretty state I should shortly have been in, if the full glare of morning had not relieved me from my watch. Q. The remedy is evident : a ventilator would cure this. A. A very lofty stable, say twelve or fourteen feet high, would contain as much of this noxious gas above the animals' heads as they would produce in one night, probably ; a benefit incalculable in severe weather, when we might safely close all the apertures, those at the doors being ever the most detrimental. One less elevated would effect the same salutary eud, partially; but we most frequently find the stables of middling proprietors built in a corner, narrow and confined, and very few that you may not reach the ceiling' of with your whip. What is then to he done, where the means of im- provement, or the disposition to undertake it, are equally beyond control. Q. In the midst of a town, or populous neigh- bourhood, for example. A. If you find not that the first piece of parsi- mony, or of ill-design, has been partially corrected by another, whereby the gas is permitted to ascend as it is formed, through certain improvident open- ings, to the loft above, or by way of the racks, &c. whence it escapes by some crazy lattice or im- , perfect boarded work, then a rustic contrivance, that shall effect the same service, may be applied to the window of such a building as admits of ndj aperture in the roof. 88 VENTILATOiR FOR LARGE' STABLK. Q. Or, a more finished piece of carpe^i fry to the stables of the wealthy. What is the nature of your contrivance ? A. A cell, or box, placed at the highest window of the stable inside, having a door, or doors, that open outwards only, and always stand open, unless blown fast by the wind, or fastened pjirposely. If you have the opening to make, avoid a north- eastern aspect, as you should also for the entrance of your stable. Its depth inward should be one- half the breadth of the aperture, which its frame should fit exactly, the lower part slanting outwards, to carrv off the rain. On the inner side, the fold- ing doors, of slight materials, are to be hung on hinges, with a pulley and cord that descend to the ground, whereby the doors may be kept open, or closed at will. At night, this cord being cast loose, it is apparent that the springing up of a blast of wind would close the doors, and, upon this ceasing, the weight of the cord, or of something fastened to it, would again open the doors. Q. A. very simple contrivance, truly, and which may be applied to a more elaborate aperture in the ceiling, if deemed necessary, like the top of a malt-honse. A. And if the ventilation be considered at any time too much for the inhabitant animals, one of the doors may be closed, or both retained by pegs, or, by passing over another pulley a contrary piiU of cord, and raak"ng all fast, the same object may be attained. STABLE FLOOR; SLOPES. 89.; Q. As in case of sickness, the higher state of iuteroal inflammations, or in fevers. A. In the latter series of disorders, the uir would refresh^and conduce to the cure, after the patient has been reduced by bleeding and purgatives. In affections of the lungs, sharp gusts of wind can be prevented from entering rudely, by stretching a few yards of canvas, or an old sack unsewed, across the window, within a foot or two of it inside. Q. The flooring has also divided the opinions of the knowing ones, both as to shape and material ; those of brick had many advocates, who since abandoned their prejudice. A. As being Uable to get out of repair, being generally too soft burnt, and so likely to retain the urine and to form small channels. No ; good hard large pebbles are your only material for the body of the stable and gutters, however they may choose to lay the inner standing of the stalls with " firer brick ;" having a slight fall towards the middle, but no other visible slope in the stall. , ^ ., Q. In the Netherlands they lay the inner part of the stall with Dutch tiles, as they do the bottom of the manger. A. Dry, cool, and cleanly, and worthy of imi- tation. • I- Q. A gutter or channel to carry off the urine is indispensable. A. But the slope this form of floor occasions is evidently calculated to strain the back sinews of the hind legs, besides being further objectionable on 90 CREASE. STABLE DRAINS: URINE account of the constant wet state of these chan- nels, by the flowing of the urine from the adjacent stalls, in large crowded stables, which occasions to the horses in the lower part much discomfort at all times, and a proneness to acquire grease, espe- cially when further aided by a chilly night coming on, which nips the heels whilst in this state. Q. Some channels are so constructed that the urine of one horse cannot incommode another, either as to dampness or smell. - A. By means of an under-drain, into which gratings, or perforated iron sinks, permit the urine to drop as soon as 'tis passed. Some persons lay these gratings within the stalls, on a small scale, the whole communicating with the main sewer, which terminates outside the building.* Q. Objectionable, on account of the cold and damp of winter, thus liable to be admitted — to say nothing of rats coming up, and so forth. A. Both which may be prevented by making a return, or sharp bend at the outlet; by fitting on a trap-door grating, making the end of the kennel take a dip in the water outside. Much water and filth always descend the stable-kennel, and this kind of drain is easily laid open by lifting up the gratings. I have heard of some nobleman whose • And tlie urine afterwards profitably employed, where the stables have been erected on a convenient eminence, in irriga- ting the land, by being pumped from the receiving pit At Stean, near Banbury, I have seen this contrivance applied to bullock-houses, upon a large scale. STENCH; heat: THE THERMOMETER. 91 stables were supplied with a constant stream of water running through them : how grateful in summer ! Q. Every body, almost, now understands tolerably well the great importance of keeping down the stench necessarily arising from so many huge hard- working animals crowded together, using up the fresh air as fast as it enters. A. But how few, among those who do know, adopt the commonest precautions to admit the re- quisite supply of fresh wholesome air ; and fewer still those who employ that sure guide the thermo- meter, whereby the temperature of the stable may be ascertained and regulated to a nicety at any time — say a due mean of 60 degrees ; and if the attendant found the quicksilver approaoLingr tO 70 degrees, or a still more deleterious heat, he might be taught to throw open every door and window, still excluding the sun, by means of long canvas curtains, with a make-fast or weight hanging at the bottom, capable of being hitched to a nail or staple. Q. Since our first conversation, in which some allusion was made to the instrument, I bought a thermometer for our stable, at very little less than a sovereign in price ; but, for the convenience of your pocket, I now inform you the same thing may be bought for half the price at Taroni and Lourighi's, next the City-road turnpike; of Copini, 217, High-street, Shoreditch ; of Tournerelli, Greville- street, Hatton-garden ; and a dozen other makers. 92 GROUND CURRENT: PIRED STABLE. J- A. I. knew as much; and, what is more, if you are content to put up with a glass mounted on plain box, you may get four or five for a guinea, equally good for use in every respect, at the same places, Q. All horses like warm lodging in winter, though long usage inures them to bear much cold : thorough-breds require more warmth than working xjattle all the year round ; 'tis the nature of the countries whence we derive the breed. A. They do not thrive else ; but you may over- do the most desirable service : and, do you mind me, be the stable never so warm, there is always u current of air running along the ground from 10 to 15 inches lygh. The warmer the stable is, the Bovcro ia.this current Of air, and the keener its rush ; which is usually supplied, in the common run of stables, from a faulty door-way, a worn-out step, or some rotten board, time-worn -window- shutter, or disused key-holes. Q. All which appear like illegitimate means of admission to aid the ventilation. By the way, 1 once saw an exemplification of this truth in the case of a stable being on fire in London. None could look in at the door for smoke, though all were eager to withdraw the horses ; when a fireman r/ent down on his knees, crept to a stall, and having fastened his jacket over the eyes of one of them, Jed him forth safe ; whilst two others that remained immoveably fixed to the spot were dreadfully burnt, and one so much so that it went to the slaughterer's THEORY OF FOOT LAMENESS. ^3 next morning-. Greasy Jieels is the consequence of cold air making its way along the ground. A. Indeed, all disorders of the hind legs that arise from chill or other functional derangement, are thus originated : whilst the hody is warm, tired, relaxed with heat, and the blood circulating fast, cold seizes the heels and prevents the finer blood- vessels of the foot from returning their contents into the system, agreeably to the dictates of nature ; the blood thus detained loses its quality, is diseased already with fever, and only waits to show its acrimonious nature by the inflammatoi'y destruction of the juices that supply new horny matter ; whence rigidity of the coffin-joint ensues, and ring-hone and brittle hoof, the wal^l of which is ever thin and unretentive of the iron defence^ perhaps stringhalt, and undoubtedly grease; any or either of which evils are further promoted by the prevalence of diseases of the urinary organs that usually concur to afflict the large fleshy animals T have now mostly in view. Q. In this latter case you give diuretics ; what in the others J A. Do nothing but keep the evacuations steady: for those disorders do not soon show their precise nature, farther than increased heat comes to, when, perhaps, you may Meed; but as to grease, though always to be alleviated by superinducing more urine, it is not always that the kidneys, which form the urine, are capable of carrying on their -feretory function to a sufficient extent. 94 DEPTH OF STALLS; THE LOOSE STALL. Q. Stimulated to rottenness, perhaps? How this is effected T will take a more leisurable opportunity of inquiring. A. Better prevent those evils altogether, I should think, by making the stalls deep enough to contain the whole animal, say ten feet, so that he can neither kick his next neighbour, nor catch a chill that is replete with such bad consequences. Try the experiment of giving a horse the loose stall ; and, if he be not an old one, swayed by habit, he will not lie with his legs outwards, but the contrary. Q. The value of a loose stall, or single horse stable, is very great; for the ailing animal, on his recovery from sickness, or after much physicking, its benefit is incalculable. In some parts of Ger- many, they heat the stables, during seasons of great inclemency, by means of stoves, constructed outside the wall. A. Very good, but not a little dangerous ; and, furthermore, is liable to make the hearty animals artificially tender. Horses in strong work and corn-fed, of whatever description, stand in no need of such an auxiliary in this country. 95 CONVERSATION VIII. Of preserving Health: Work, Tonics. Legs. Misusage. Powers of going — Physicking, its use and abuse ; Preparatives ; mode of giving Balls. Q. The obstacles to keeping a horse in a healthy state are numerous : besides feeding and exercise, grooming and ventilation, and soiHng, many im- portant points remain for discussion ; the principal of which is, arresting the progress of disease upon its frst ajjpearance. A. If watching its progress, and enabling our- selves to distinguish between any two or more dis- orders which may be somewhat similar, be not equally important. Q. How shall we proceed with this inquiry, think you ? A. Any how suits me, so you observe a little order in arranging the topics, and stick to one at a time, as nearly as you can. Thus, follow up what has been said as to the bringing a horse from green food into condition, with an investigation of the means of preserving him in that state without 2)hysic, if possible ; but in cases where " regular physic" is rendered indispensable, as with horses training for the race-course, we must apply our- selves to the means of achieving our object o^ HEALTH: WORKING CONDITION. chanshiy out the , animals, by using the lowest quantity of drastic medicine capable of performing- that service ; thus, by combining it with milder substances, palliatives and preparatives may be found in abundance. Q. This, I take it, is the true art of preserving health, or keeping your cattle in proper working condition; which, you justly observed, does not always imply /a^ condition. A. Most assuredly not — unless for waggon horses. The due consideration of this subject in- cludes sober and liberal reflections regarding the keep, or manner and amount of feeding and sta- bling, airing and exercising, the qualities of food and water — on all which topics we were recently talking, together with other subordinate matters worthy of being known to all ; though many grooms, however adroit in the details of training, are pre- cluded from carrying into practice, owing to supe- rior orders. Every proprietor will have his own way.— Q. None will be deaf to reason, where interest is so materially concerned. A. Provided it be reason and not tivatile. Every groom, within the years of maturity, should think twice before he speaks once ; he should study his subject a few years at least before he presumes to give advice, as is often done, upon the information of others. Q. Very material to him is the knowledge — GLUT. CAUSE OF DISEASE. 97 1. As to what quantity of food and water is need- ful for each individual horse. 2. As to what course of feeding engenders disease. A. They termed it " Glut"" formerly ; no doubt, from the word " gluttony," or indulgence of the appetite, which occasioned it. No less worthy his attention are the symptoms that precede any and every disease, that he may take preventive mea- sures in time, or call in the aid of the veterinary surgeon. Q. The groom, I think, is placed in a much better situation for curing, or alleviating a first attack than the doctor himself, according to your maxim at the beginning of our third conversa- tion,— (p. 43); as he must necessarily know the cause of the disorder. Hereupon he has but to surcease the course of proceeding which brought it on, and the cure effects itself, without the aid of medicine, or very little of it. A. A cause that is so readily ascertained, ought never in common prudence to have existed at all ; and I may add, of that which mostly escapes your notice, that the cause of diseases generally, with you young fellows of the hunt, is mostly referable to gross feeding with inadequate exercise. The mistaken notion of " giving much rest," to horses in health (whereby you rest yourselves ) coupled with neglect of the proper evacuations— which none of ye watch after as you ought, is the prolific harbinger of all disorders of the horse, that are not fairly ascribable to hard work, a cold, and pure ac- F 98 COMPARATIVE DEFECTS OF KEEP, cidents : the pest of a rich man's stable is high feed- ing, idle days, warm clothing, and closed windows. In these latter respects the poor man's cattle have the advantage of yours ; whilst he is wofully cir- cumstanced in all others ; the diseases of his team are consequently of a totally different nature to the rich man's. Q. Look at our butchers' nags, in which their owners invariably discover some latent power of going, mostly the trot: their exercise is brisk and unflinching; the keep full, but not redundant; their stabling scarcely second best. Would you draw a distinction between the ailments of the needy proprietor and those of the rich man's stables ? A. I would go farther, and divide all acquired diseases of horses into, 1st. Those of the rich, and 2d. those of the poor, as to cause ; — thus, those of one entire class I would attribute to repletion, those of the other to starvation; the one kind being brought on by comparative inactivity and pamper- ing, the other by hard work and hard usage ; whilst neglect, proceeding from motives equally opposite, fosters both until some confirmed disorder ensues, and fastens on the animal till death, in one descrip- tion of property ; arid in the other, until physic and cordials have rendered death desirable. Q. Like unto many other affairs in life, the wisest course, I perceive, lies in the middle. A. As you rightly observed at our first conversa- tion, there are diseases hi-horn with some horses, ILL USAGE, ACCIDENTS. 99 being the defect of parentage, of race, or of certain obnoxious breeding countries; besides these and the acquired before spoken of, let us reckon up diseases of accident, as broken knees, bad shoeing, excessive labour, bad roads, the owner's cudgel, and above all, his physic, his cordiah, and his oyls. Q. Why, some of these latter proceed out of, and as it seems to me, are occasioned by the former. By mentioning a " cudgel," I perceive you have an eye to the lower order of these created beings, and presume you allude to a hit upon the kidneys. A. Or any other very sensible part, as the head, legs, and most dependent part of the belly ; but a simple kick of the toe on the latter, or a trivial slap of the hand upon the kidney, when in a state of excitement, are replete with mischiefs of very serious import. Q. No man can expect a horse to keep in con- dition under any of those several circumstances, unless he attend to each peculiarity of formation, adapt himself to every departure of nature, and as to any harm so inflicted, he must first effect a cure thereof, and then recommence his conditioning afresh: of the ailments so produced, I will seize a future opportunity to take your opinion. ' A. So be it. The preservation of health is so closely connected with the restoration of strength, after the animal has been brought out of an illness, by dmt of physic, that you had better consider both at the same time. F 2 100 HEALTH; RESTORATION OP STRENGTH. Q. Great weakness and lassitude always remain after a fever has been cured; especially with ani- mals originally of tender constitution, and those of every degree which may have been abused at racing, hunting, staging, or otherwise. Old horses of the first mentioned class suffer more from mis- usage than ordinary cattle; one season of over- work degrades them from their caste — one day of raal-treatment may consign such to the errand-cart or hackney-coach. A. The unfavourable symptoms all reduced, let us suppose, yet the horse still unfit for work. The same drooping debility attends the removal of in- flammation in all cases, whether of the lungs, the stomach, the intestines, the liver, or the kidneys; but only when m,uch medicine has been required to subdue the disorder, — though, when a small quan- tity achieves the same end, those symptoms of weakness do not last long, especially with robust animals of high breed, having youth on their side. Q. Appetite bad in every such case of much physic taking: it must be restored, and that by tonics. - A. Else no good can be expected for a long period ; though nature does a great deal — nay all. Q. Our proper ofiice is but to aid her. A. Gently as we can; though she sometimes throws down the ill calculated efforts of the veteri- nary art, and performs cures in her own way, spite of its professors and their boasted skill. Tonics, the species of remedy just recommended TONICS, beneficial: how failing. 101 for the convalescent horses, are of tioo sorts, if not three; though the writers on veterinary matters teach us to rely too securely on the use of the medical class alone. The proper tone or tension of the stomach, for example, may be restored, as much by relaxation, or by stimulating that ore/an, as by the bracing tonics, according to the circum- stances that attend the particular case. If the stomach has been disordered through inflammation of the kidneys, as always happens, the tone is already too high, and the exhibition of bark, arse- nical preparations, cinchona, and other medical tonics, would but increase this species of derange- ment. If the disorder has originated in the stomach, then indeed will the bark prove itself a valuable bracing tonic, after the disease has been reduced. Q. Ha! I perceive how it happens that in human ailments, also, hark is so uncertain in effect- ing any good,— and often the contrary; always causing to the patient great dismay at its failure. A. When the heart also may be said to lose its tone, and the reasoning patient droops. But to return : the stomach, in the first case T have sug- gested, would be best restored to its proper tone by the cooling regimen— i. e. green food, carrots, and mashes ; for this it is which corrects the long ex- cited kidneys. [See Appendix, Tonics.^ Q. This regimen I take to be the second class of tonics. A. As it is the most natural one, and best ; un- 102 EEGIMEN. REGULAR PHYSIC, less the Jhird class be its equal — I mean fresh air, taken with exercise — that is to say, walking exer- cise, and a good deal of it, when at length the convalescent animal recovers strength sufficient. Whenever the horse's appetite fails, without any as- signable cause is discoverable, no febrile heat, no inflammation of any organ, pulse not high, the stomach must be considered as having lost its tone, by the presence of some ill-digested food, or sim- ply relaxed, and aloes, exhibited as an alterative laxative to the amount of a drachm and a half a day, for a weet, or until purging takes place ; this purgative restores the tone thereof, and is then really a tonic. Q. Great reliance is placed on regular physic, in preserving the health of our horses, by Mr. B . A. Regular physic, or "routine physic," as he calls it, can never be requisite or desirable " upon a large scale." I would have you recollect, that the more physic any animal takes, the more he must take to produce similar effects ; and then, see to -what dangerous extremes this leads, in the frequent us'e of strong purgative medicines ! If phy- sic bring about any change whatever, is not this indiscriminate purging of a whole stable of horses, or an entire stud, at certain intervals, very liable to find some of the inmates in good health? Then, what is the alteration thus brought about, but a retrocession from sound health to that which is at least a step below it, besides begetting the neces- NOT JIEQUISITE, ALWAYS. 103 sity of following it up with repetition, and im- posing upon us the destructive alternative of in- creasing the quantity to a frightful amount, or of seeing our expectations baffled ? Q. But, when the dunging is hard as pellets, as you will see in many hunting establishments, ac- cording to your own axiom, the horse must be emptied ; as he must, if putting on flesh, or fat, so much despised by you. A. You sadly disorder all the points at issue between us : I do not dislike fat for the mouth, but I am not a going to eat my horses, in whom I would as soon see a thick head, or large hoof, as a large belly and fleshy shoulders. Again, as to horses dunging, doubtless you quote me aright, but what I object to is, the indiscriminate use of physic upon a number of horses at once, at given periods, whether in that state or not which war- rants a purgative. " Regular bleeding," upon which we passed sentence awhile ago, (page 44,) is of a piece with " regular physic;" both in my opinion are exceedingly irregular, and contrary to the nature of things animate, which cannot possi- bly stand in need of this subtraction of the vital fluid, or denial of its material, in shoals, as you seem to advocate. Q. I stand corrected; A. Or you lie open to the reproach of being an indiscriminate purgator ; which you will find a poor recommendation to any rational sporting gentleman now-a-days. 104 ALOES INDISPENSABLE; ANOr.,-, Q. When hunters get thick about the legs, as they do after a hard run, you cannot recover the original shape of them without the use of aloes? A. That depends upon what they owe the mis- shapen legs to ; and we inquire, 1st. Whether it be owing to straining every sinew in going? when hand-rubbing anA. rest (^i. g. walking, and a loose stall) will restore a slight attack in a day or two ; but, if not, we must blister. 2d. Whether this is accompanied by swelling of the fleshy particles, and the skin, occasioned by the animal's languor of system, debility, or being spirit-broken. Q. When you allow that cordials may be given with profit. A. Yes ; but you must also procure healthy dungings, or the mildest cordial may do harm, if repeated beyond the day following the run, Q. Both objects may be accomphshed by giving the scouring water the morning after a hard chase ; although you were pleased to designate it as '* a mere cordial," it never failed to cheer up the horse, and to procure a purge on such occasions — owing to the fatigue, perhaps, that yet remained in the animal, more than to the small quantity of purga- tive medicine contained in each dose. Here is the receipt {oY making it. [See Appendix, F7"7fi Water, No. 5.] A. This " receipt," as you ver^ properly term it, might prove a receipt in full, like many other cordials, if given to a horse with inflammation of any internal organ, or fever of the whole system. CORDIALS — WHEN NOT DESIRABLE. 105 Q. I do not perceive the difference. A. Nor is there any — so far as your famous i " receipt " is concerned ; since it be would be ■ equally dangerous in either inflammation of kidneys, stomach and intestines, liver or lungs ; as such an affection at any of these parts, occa- ^ sions an accession of unnatural heat of the skin, without persjiiration ; this is fever, though fever of the whole system may supervene without any of those internal parts being particularhj affected, which fever any cordial would but increase. Let us see — " aniseeds, grains of Paradise, cummin seeds," all highly stimulant, but the second wisely kept down to one-fifth of a drachm for one dose or service. Half-a-pint of sherry, too, to each ; no bad Latin, alone ; but the water, the quantity of water, the diluent renders all sober again. Sulphur, a laxative ; olive oil, slightly j ditto ; honey, to help it all down ; and fenugreek, ' I presume, to keep it down, for no other earthly purpose can it answer. Here's a celebrated scour- j ing mixture ! j Q. Really, I am quite surprised at your satirical analysis, especially as you must know it effects its purpose, though we do not seem to know how; for i I have seen you give it under the directions of your late worthy father, from whom I had this re- ceipt. A. True ; all true ; but the latter no recommen- dation ; for, notwithstanding my father could < " cure," and did succeed with many extraordi- f3 1 106 OLD SCHOOL; OBSOLETE: nary cases, that is no reason why we should not examine the value of every prescription in his much vaunted " Book of Receipts." Q. "Which he valued at " a thousand pounds." A. But which I value so little, that I never will look into it more. Poor man ! his only answer to all my representations, however, dumb foundered me : *• I can cure, I tell you," he replied ever and anon, dividing the verb into two syllables, in proof that nature has done more for the horse than the wisdom of man can possibly effect, or his igno- rance of nature and art can counteract ! Yet, as he said, he did cure ; at which I have not ceased to wonder ever since I first was allowed to look into his " Book of Receipts," now above a dozen years since. Q. Some horses become so difficult to purge at times, that our best grooms cannot get the fat out of them by this means alone, without sweating first and gallopping immediately after giving physic. A. Those are your strong constitutioned horses, required for hard-and-fast work, but which put up flesh when lying idle, or the " getting into going order" is relaxed, even for a day; the racer, for example, which is wanted by a certain day, and cannot be waited for, nor can another supply his place, like the mail-horse. My objection to strong exercise for horses in physic is valid, nevertheless ; because, when the spiral contraction of the in- testines, which the aloes accelerates, is at its greatest pitch, gallopping adds to the action of the I MODE OF OPERATING, DISCRIMINATED. 107 physic, and may be said to inflict further friction on the bowels and stomach alike. Hence, if we do not say " the horse is worn out" by these means, 'tis very much like it. Q. I never saw any harm arising from the prac- tice, however. A. Possibly you may not ; the visible effects are slow, I allow, but not less certainly injurious. Q. And is very commonly resorted to in all the stables I have seen. The method with us was to clothe and sweat at his usual paces the horse in- tended to be physicked that morning, and whilst sweating in the stable, after dressing and clothing afresh, his physic is given, and he is taken out for his ordinary afternoon gallop, so that no time is lost. A. This last measure is what I object to entirely; all horses show debility after the physic is worked off, and although the strong-constitutioned animals soon recover its effects, the more lender ones suffer longer, and, after all, much time is not saved by the method you advocate so warmly. Q. " Warmly !" Not I ; I merely described what I believe is the prevailing practice in all our racing-studs when the horse is wanted for an early engagement ; and by some persons generally so. What plan of proceeding would you recommend ? A. Give two or three warm mashes of white water [Appendix, No. 2,] the day preceding the physic ; at night keep the horse short of hay, and in the morning give a small mash early, fol- 1 108 BRISK MEDICINE, PREPARATIVES FOR; lowed by tolerably strong exercise, according to his nature, so that he bring down the contents of his stomach, evacuate, and perspire. Being re- turned home, rub him down, and quickly give the physic. You will find five or six drachms of the aloes in general do as much service as seven, eight, or nine. [Prescribed in Appendix and else- where]. I say this, who am not an advocate for strong medicine, even to such horses as absolutely stand in need of purging physic, and cannot from circumstances be taken out for the strong exercise proposed. Q. I understand you ; we were conversing now of the better sort, that by their value deserve superior care, and require reduction of superfluous flesh. A. The brisk purge, that is accompanied hy jyersjnraiion effects this reduction excellently well, by reason of the heat of his body dissolving the aloes. Not only is the general health bettered, but the mis-shapen legs become fine and strong immediately ; therefore, do not neglect to promote this discharge by the skin, which further mashes, hand-rubbing the legs, and rubbing down, eff'ects completely. Q. Most people keep their physicked horses clothed all the day after it begins to work. A. To be sure ; of the tender ones particularly. But I should remove each piece of the clothing, ^ind having scraped, dressed, and dry rubbed the part uncovered, replace dry clothing, piece by NONE, WITHOUT CAUSE FOR IT. 109 piece — that is, if the horse required this sort of reduction, and is of tender constitution. Q. The legs, of course, would come in for their share of attention. A. Of course ; the whole of the muscular system feels the effect of the absorption thus superinduced ; the animal is stronger also, and can stride greater stretches in all his paces in con- sequence. Q. By brisk physic and much physic I discover you mean two different modes of giving it, or, rather, preparing the animal that is to receive it. A. This is the more necessary, as these better sort of horses in strong exercise are more difficult to purge than your ordinary cattle ; whilst country working horses never require it, they having fre^ quent opportunities of taking nature's purgative — the grasses, require no physic. Q. We should then purge all our high-bred horses, I presume, before we commence the con.- ditioning of hunters or training the race-horse? A. Psha ! As to those terms I see no distinc- tion. But even your thorough-breds, if delicate- constitutioned horses, with tender insides, do not stand in need of this " regular physicking" without evident cause, and, when necessary, very small doses effect their object best; and even then the mildest, and therefore preferable mode of ad- ministering any prescribed quantity of aloes is to divide it into two, or three, or four doses, giving one daily until the desired effect is produced. 110 ALTERATIVE PHYSIC, PREFERABLE. Q. When one can spare the time it requires, this method of proceeding by alteratives, I have heard you say, agrees better with animal nature than harsh physic — A. That sometimes makes great ravages, by violent and long purgation ; which, however, may be stopped, or much alleviated, by coaxing the animal to take large quantities of thick water-gruel, or stout wheat flour-gruel. [See Appendix, Wliite Water, No. 4, 6.] Take this exception with you, however : when you adopt the system of purging by this alterative plan, there needs no preparation by mashes, nor cessation from strong exercise, until the physic operates ; on the contrary, exercise promotes the action of physic so given in a mild and therefore not injurious manner. Q- But why should we keep the horse to he physicked short of hay the night preceding? not for the saving it effects A. Surely not. If you do not prepare the bowels with mashes, no occasion for stopping the allowance of hay ; but if, after the horse has been mashed in the day, you suffer him to blow out his stomach and intestines with hay, the ordinary dose of seven or eight drachms of aloes will defeat your hopes: you stare, and wonder how this comes to pass, encrease the dose, and thus add to the evils strong purgatives produce in the course of time — if they do not come on immediately. Inflammation of those parts is the most frequently recurring, though it also affects the kidneys or the liver, if either be previously ailing. MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS IN PHYSIC. Ill Q. True ; and how often do we hear it said of an ailing horse, that " he has not been well ever since physicking ! " and " caught a cold upon his physic !" When, perhaps, no more than the ordi- nary dose has been given. Sometimes the physic fails entirely, though a full dose ; — A. A failure very common in aloetic purges ; of which we may say, generally, that the more fre- quently these are given, the greater is the quantity required to effect the desired end; the coats of the stomach and intestines having become paralysed, and refuse to be agitated, Q. Until several days have passed away, or we give a second dose upon the first ; A. And thereby commit ruin by excessive pur- gation. Mind what you are about: under my ma- nagement near a week has elapsed with a regular dose of aloes, before it came off. Q. Besides the preparation by bran-mashes, I have known calomel, a moderate dose, soften the dung. [See Appendix, Physic, Aloes, and MercuryJ] A. The blue-pill effects the same purpose of solving the indurated fceces ; and in either case a smaller dose of aloes operates as much as a large one. [Purgatives.'] As to " Epsom salts!" I have never used this saline mixture, but apprehend it would do well to be given the day after either of the foregoing preparations of mercury ; but would in that case require to be exhibited to the amount 112 MATERIALS OF PURGES. BALLING, of six to eight ounces — an immensely inconvenient drench ! Q, Purging salts do not agree -with aloes : I once saw a violent purgation, from an over-dose of aloes, stopped by giving salts in gruel made of boiled wheat-flour. [Appendix, White Water, No. 6.] A. The cure might be indebted to the wheat flour probably, as much as to the salts, which is not an eligible purgative alone, as the case you have just adduced seems to prove. Q. No, Sir; nothing like whipping into your horse in training every eight or ten days, one of your casted balls of aloes. [Appendix, Aloes, sec- tion 7.] Leastwise, if you find he does not dung tolerably regular, and his carcase is distended. A. Really, this is very odd " stable talk " of yours ! This whipping in, I am decidedly of opi- nion, deserves a whipping out of you.. . Flippant — Q. Spare me, I pray you ! 'Tis but the language they use — ■ A. Which, by its flippancy, shews how little theg reflect on the importance of the act, who employ such a phrase to denote j^^^y sick-giving. Besides this, you accompany it with pointing a finger at one, as they do, to denote your supposed cleverness, but which really proclaims great vulgarity : know better. Q. I see my error and acknowledge it. Yet you will allow, that the most expert mode of hailing is to let go the tongue at three or four moments ERRORS amended: ACCIDENTS. 113 after delivering the ball: more, if he be an old and crafty horse, who would detain the ball in his mouth, and afterwards cough it up again. A. Surely ; but no less expertness is shewn in the manner of taking hold of the tongue, which many of you practise, like sailors catching hold of a cable, whereby many a good horse gets its tongue lacerated, or torn out by the roots, should he throw up his head.* If neither accident happens, the least harm we expect is, that the animal will prove confounded shy the next time we find oc- casion to give a ball. Q. The strong, fractious horse is always shy, and you cannot succeed without employing the halling- iron; else how are we to avoid pulling hard at the tongue, unless we submit to have the hand bitten I A. Take hold of the tongue with the three first fingers of the left hand, pressing the little finger on the lower jaw, inside ; whereby you have good hold of the jaw, and as the horse moves its head, your hand moves after it, without any chance of pulling the tongue amiss. Deliver the ball from the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand, and then quit hold of the tongue, without which the horse cannot possibly get down the ball by ingulphing it, but is nearly choked by the passage being stopped up. • While we are going to press, an extreme case occurs to a horse of Mr. Verrall, brewer, near Brighton, whose drayman detained the tongue so long and so forcibly, that the tortured animal literally bit oft" four inches of its tongue, and it was killed. 114 CONVERSATION IX. Of Appetite. The Stomach; how affected, by had Mouth, and how affecting Condition. Of Lampas; Paps; Quidders ; Bad Provender; Worms ; the Straw- Yard. A. Conditioning never can proceed a single step unless the stomach be in good order. If the appetite fail, we must restore it. You would do ■well to study closely the function of digestion. Q. Appetite, as was remarked by you at our very first conversation (page 11), governs the animal dis- position generally, as you had already allowed (page 2) that his mode of gratifying the first calls of nature, shows the temper of every individual horse, in the performance of his work, whether that be fast or slow. A. I would now go further, and say, that each description of horse — as, 1st. Racer ; 2d. Hunter; 3d. Stager or Coach-horse; 4th. Saddle-horse or Hack ; 5th. Waggon-horse,' — may be divided into classes, according to temper; and that this may be ascertained by the mode of feeding, and craving for water observable in each individual. In fact, I would test every horse by his appetite or stomach, and the size of it; one kind having an over-large stomach, requiring to be filled with food or water ; another kind having a stomach too small for sup- CLASSIFICATION OF HORSES. 115 plying the other organs and muscles with invigo- rating juices sufficient ; v/hWst ihe medium, or duly proportioned stomach, is blest with fair appetite and good digestion, being that kind of horse wherein resides the best disposition and means of going — shape and make answering thereto, as ge- nerally happens. Now, considering that the sto- mach is the central organ of the body, having many and varied functions to perform, receiving and imparting sympathies with every other organ and function, from the head to the posteriors ; that those functions are cherished or disordered by the substances sent into it, as food or as medicine, or taken through vice or depravation thus occa- sioned; I do not expect too much when I desire you to beUeve, that not only the poiversliut the tem- per, feeling, disposition, jnind, manner, call it what we may, is also influenced by the stomach. Hence, I should be led to say, that each of my five descriptions of horse included the following classes, viz. — 1st. The ravenous eater (always craving for food, impatient, robust, speedy). 2d. The hot constitiitioned horse (craving for water, long-bodied, fretful, brittle hoof, anxious manner). 3d. Moderate horse (of fair appetite, goodly car- case and constitution, lasting). 4th. The tender horse (suspected of small stomach, a poor eater, or capricious one, incapable of great exertion, good only at short distances or slow work, given to vice). Whilst the first two classes are known to have large 116 TEMPER, HEALTH, AND STRENGTH, stomachs, and, although making way admirably at the commencement of a race, not to be trusted at the long pull, wherein strength requires the support of bottom. Of those several classes, the first two owe much of their evil disposition to disparity of size be- tween the stomach and the lower intestines ; inas- much as the latter being small in comparison, (the second class particularly so,) occasions a constant tendency to heat, which influences the temper, and is readily raised to inflammatory symptoms. This happens when the body at any time becomes costive, and physic is neglected, or fails to come off, the disorder ascends to the stomach, and thence to the head, causing delirium, staggers, megrim, in ordinary horses, in the higher bred sudden death, of which more anon. [See page 106, hottom.^ The fourth class, on the contrary, do not take food enough to satisfy the strong digestive powers of their guts ( ileum and colon ). This kind of disparity, however, is mostly observable in the lower order of horses, whose owners fill such bellies with large quantities of hay ; for higher bred cattle, we take some trouble to distend the stomach and blind gut mechanically, by coaxing such horses to take liquids often, and in large quantities ; sugar, cordials, and example, are the means of doing this. Q. By this mode of reckoning, I should con- clude that, independent of individual powers, shape, or make, there must be at least twenty differently DEPEND ON STOMACH : SYMPATHIES. 117 1 I disposed kinds of horse, all requiring separate and distinct consideration, to keep them in health, by means of regimen or appetite, and each demand- ing peculiar treatment when indisposed; for, take whatever precautions we may, disorder will creep | in, in spite of our teeth. A. Staring coat being the earliest indication, if depraved appetite do not precede it, though not previously observable; for the siowiacA always feels [ the effect of every ailment, and soon shows its evil j state on the skin, between which two there exists I great intimacy. I Q. Our governor calls it " sympathy," and says | that this same sympathy, or fellow feeling, exists between the stomach and kidneys,* as it does' also between the kidneys and the bladder. A. Of course these latter organs being so near together, and both closely engaged in the same office of creating urine, the design of the Creator would not be complete without it. Q. " Creating" was it you said? That is not the exact word, I think ? A. To be sure not. Secreting is the properest * term, though I perceive you knew what I meant ; { to secrete, to separate or divide from the other parts 1 of the animal's system, this urine or any other liquid | or solid, being the means of continuing life ; and when performed aright, that is to say without ob- struction, health prevails : but if the secretions do i I • By means of certain inlets of the veins, spoken of elsewhere. ! 1 118 PIUMOURS, DEPRAVED SECRETIONS : not go on properly, illness ensues : * the stomach supplies the means of all the secretions. Then it is we say a horse has " the humours." A. The humours, " diverted to a wrong course," you might add ; or call it ' depravation of the hu- mours.' When the urine or the perspiration, for in- stance, do not come off by the proper outlets, what ought we to expect but grease, farcy, fistula, hide- bound, those most evident effects of all misdirected humours ? Some of the secretions bear the name of " humours" even before they are depraved, and occasion disease. Thus we have the vitreous hu- mour, in the chamber of the eye, the humour that moistens the nose, throat, &c. an sequous humour which is secreted to lubricate the coats of the intestines, &c. But I will refrain from further remarks on those disorders until a future day; meantime the stomach and bowels require our attention ; Q. And the principle by which diseases act upon this main organ of the digestive powers. A. When the perspiration (which is the secretion • "When the membranous part of the animal system, which performs the office of secreting liquid particles for its defence, is affected with a febrile thickening of its substance, its office or function is then performed amiss, and the secretion is now fit only to supply the matter of tumour or abscess ; but, failing to appear thus critically it ranges through the circulation, infects the mass, and fever or heat of the whole system rages to its ut- most ; this terminates favourably in critical tumour, or else in dea ordinary, I should then pronounce the pain evinced to be genuine colic to all intents and purposes, and give a cordial drench, No. 1 or 2, [See Appen- dix,] or the white water. No. 5, of a strength suitable to the urgency of the case, and throw up a clyster. Thus, if the animal were already purged, warm water might suffice; if extraordi- narily so, I should add to it camphor three drachms, and insert at the anus what would not readily dissolve ; though thin water-gruel would do better the country before they began to build : the awe and reverence thus inspired, the wily rulers afterwards kept up by a repetition of the sacrifices from time to time, and demonstrated the anger of their gods by the animals dying in that disease which they termed tr\fer, whilst freedom from such adhesion received the name of coc/ier, or good. THE DEGREES OF INFLAMMATION. 153 in either case, save the time expended in making this according to my receipt, [See Appendix,] and suffering it to nearly cool again. Give drenches of the white waters, warm, as much as the patient will take freely. Q. Purging comes on naturally, in some cases, but this happens mostly with ordinary cattle. A. Which may then be considered, an effort of nature to relieve the body of some offensive matter, and nought more is requisite than giving thick oat- meal-gruel in abundance. On the contrary, you will but deceive yourself if you expect your horse to put up flesh sufficient to strengthen his muscular action whilst he fails to dung in form ; and you may ascertain when this desirable object has been completely attained by the firmness of his fleshy parts, the springiness and re-action of any pressure upon the buttocks, shoulders, flanks, &c. Q. At the mane we employ the same test : when this is firm, and not readily loosened by a shake of one's hand, we need not doubt of the horse being in health, and of strength suSicient for his work, be that what it may. h3 154 CONVERSATION XI. Internal Inflammation, continued: Diseases of the Urinary Organs; the Kidneys and Liver — the Bladder, incontinence of Urine and sup- pression thereof: Stone. Q. The same change from warm to cold legs and ears we lately spoke of takes place in all in- ternal inflammation, I believe? A. And of the kidneys and liver as much as any other organ ; these being engaged in the func- tion of separating from the blood those humours that are known to us as the principle of urea, and the principle of hile, without which process the blood would be unfit for further circulation. Q. But it follows, when these organs do not perform their functions by reason of torpor or in- action, that the blood cannot be so cleared of those offensive humours, and circulates injuriously, A. Then may we pronounce that the horse " has the humours," as I observed to you upon a former occasion (page 74). You state the thing correctly as to the injurious nature of the blood, the vital fluid, when unrefined ; but what must be its state when the kidneys or the liver, being excited to over-action, or, on the other hand, obstructed, im- parts this evil feeling to the blood, in addition to its own previous foulness? THE HUMOURS. 155 Q. The bare reflection on this subject is appalling. A. The existence of inflammation at the kidneys | is further known by the urine coming off" high- j coloured and small. Symptoms very similar to I inflammatory colic pains likewise attend an afi'ection of the kidneys, from the contiguity of these with the bowels, principally ; but the real seat of the j disorder may be ascertained, with sufficient ac- I curacy, by passing the hand over the region of the kidneys, when the animal will evince signs of ten- derness there, which becomes extremely acute, if not checked in time. In this and all cases of inflammation, bleed to an amount commensurate to the disease : if the pain be acute, the pulse quick, sharp, and irregular, let the bleeding be promptly performed^ in quantity three or four quarts, at least. If the pain and the pulse do not decline their irritation, the bleeding must be repeated. [See Appendix, Pulse.] Q. "Whatever ails the kidneys, they cease to secrete the urine regularly, at times without being sore; should we not then give diuretics, or p o- \ balls, as they are called 1 A. Don't be vulgar; nor lead people astray. When the kidneys are not sore (as you term it), or inflamed, the ears being also of their usual warmth, the urine will come off' of its natural colour, and the obstruction to staling then lies at the neck of the bladder only. This has been occa- sioned by the gut being distended with hard dung, atid in this state pressing upon the ureters and neck i I 156 GREASE, DROPSY, TUMOURS, of the bladder, the water cannot pass, but is taken up or absorbed into the system again, and thus becomes the harbinger of grease, of dropsy, of tumours, and other disorders that depend on a depravation of the blood. If the retention has lasted long, and the danger thus become immi- nent, give a laxative clyster, or a dose of castor oil (12 ounces), and conclude with a brisk purgative- ball that will empty the great gut. [See Appen- dix, Physic, No. 3.] Q. Inflammation of the intestines extends its influence to the liver, does it not? A. It does, notwithstanding some attempts to deny that this organ is susceptible of inflammatiop ; leaving there, also, some of its baleful effects, after the bowels may be pronounced completely cured; for the blood, which has been accelerated by the heat, in its passage through the liver to be refined, leaves a portion of its heat behind, each time more and more ; this increases the viscidity of the bile, until the vessel ( duct ) that conveys it to the bowels is choked up — an obstruction that is not always removed along with the original disorder. The consequence whereof is constipa- tion, and the return of the bile into the circulation : if the attack be a slight one, jaundice ensues ; if severe, then inflammation of this very delicate organ takes place. But, with a view to prevent the fixing a tedious and troublesome disorder on the animal, we should ascertain the fact hefore the yellows appear at the eyes or in the dung ; and, as FROM URINARY DEPRAVATION. 157 enlargement of the liver always attends such an accession of heat there, this scrutiny cannot deceive us. By the way, hot stables produce the same symptom of enlargement, as may be ascertained any morning, by passing the hand over the region of the Uver, and it will be found most palpable on the ofF-side, at the last rib. Q. On finding the liver so diseased, you bleed? A. Not for the minor attack ; because this proves that the poverty of the blood is already the cause of derangement. But for inflammation of the liver, we do bleed (as in all other cases of inflammation), according to the degree of pain and sharpness of the pulse, as I observed yesterday ; taking the precautive to give bran-mashes to soften the con- tents of the inside, as costiveness always attends denial of bile to the bowels ; or give a pint of castor oil, instead, if more readily procured. After the operation the patient must have physic: but instead of a purgative, as usual, give now an alterative laxative. No. 2, of that class of medicines in Ap- pendix, because calomel addresses itself to the liver. If the enlargement do not subside with the bleeding, rub the sides of the patient extensively with the blistering ointment. [See Appendix for this.] Q. The liver is liable to adhesion and other dis- orders, I think you said before? A. To schirrous tumour also ; when we come to talk of the organs of respiration, I shall take occa- sion to shew how the liver adheres to the midriff. 158 URINARY ORGANS; VULGAR ERROR Q. The urine is an important evacuation, re- garded as one means of bringing the horse into condition. The bladder is the chief of these organs, is it not ? Nay, do not shake your venerable locks at me : it is, at any rate, the most obvious — A. Not until an after-death examination takes place. As for " the most obvious," to the sight, this is the orifice of expulsion ; to the touch, the kidneys are the most obvious of those organs ; they are likewise the most active ; but the ureters, two longish tubes, which take their origin at the centre of each kidney respectively, and communicate from these to the bladder, are no less important, whilst the bladder is little better than the depository of the urine. Q. Yet several disorders, as retention of urine, bloody urine, excessive staHng, &c. &c. are as- cribable to the Madder, of course. A. Not of course. Quite a vulgar error, be assured, and one not the less to be deprecated, because so generally believed ; but much better informed persons than you are every day falling into the same mistake.* Q. What, then, are the disorders of the bladder ? A. None, that we know offer a certainty, or could * Since the text was written, it becomes me to observe, that the admired periodicalist, Nimrod, in copying a passage from my volume, " the Veterinary Surgeon," falls into the like error prepense ; instead of my phrase " urinary organs," having sub- stituted the yulgo— bladder, to the utter derangement of the sense. This is one of the passages he fails to acknowledge. Aug. 2, 1828. J. Hinds. CONCERNING. THE BLADDER; STONE. 159 divine upon dissection ; palsy of the bladder (inac- tion, torpor, insensibility) being of doubtful exis- tence ; the grand disorder and final one, a rupture of the fundus, and immediate death, being the fault of the neck becoming suddenly collapsed, while the kidneys continue their healthy action of sending down a full quantity of urine, and the animal is worked on, without being allowed to stale, until at length it is incapable of straitening the neck of the bladder by the usual natural efforts, and the bladder bursts. Q. On such occasions you set the neck to rights by introducing a small hand at the rectum, and smoothing it forwards with the balls of the fingers. A. An operation that is more easily performed on the mare than the horse. At times we meet with an obstruction at the neck, of quite another nature than collapsion amounts to ; a choking up, by the coming down there of some concretion of earthy or stony particles, and consequent " suppression of the urine." But even the presence of stone within it must not be wholly ascribed to the bladder, as all such concretions commence higher up, namely, in the cacum, and the kidneys ; and are oftener found there, and in one of the ureters, than in the bladder itself ; to which they descend by the united powers of gravitation and efforts at expulsion, and get entangled in the membranous processes of the inner coat of the bladder. Q. Although speaking so lately pretty much at large respecting abdominal inflammation, I must 160 SUPPRKSSION OF URINE. return to that topic once more to observe that, although not originally affected, the urinary pas- sages seem to retain the influence of such disorders long after these appear to have been cured. A. " Imperfectly cured," you mean ; or the cu- rative process carried on with so much injudicious violence as to leave weakness, and dregs of the dis- order, that seek to pass off by urine ; but the kid- neys (you mistake) having been already compelled to accelerated action by the contiguity of inflamma- tion, and quite neglected at its termination, now perform their function of secreting urine defectively, or with so much labour as to wear out that function. The evil thus begun, goes on with various fluctua- tions and changes, from one extreme to another, that are commonly exacerbated by the ill-judged practice of giving diuretic medicines, which stimu- late to exertion but to destroy ; whereas, the disease already consists of a disposition to secrete too muck water; the " retention of urine" being no defect in quantity, though it certainly is in the coming off. Q- You lately described this species of ailment and its remedy, as " suppression of urine." A. I see no difference in the distinction you at- tempt to draw; though I am free to allow that suppression of the power to secrete any, is one thing; it is quite another when the urine is secreted and retained until it be absorbed in the system, or else rupture the bottom of the bladder. Q. I am quite content with myself, when I can cope with you in any way, however trivial. ROTTEN KIDNEYS: COOLING REGIM EN. 161 A. Pray note, that the kidneys suflFer a long while before they refuse to perform their office of secreting the urine — even for years ; and then their incapacity is denoted by blood coming off with the water. This is " bloody urine" in the veterinary practice. Q. The kidneys are then said to be " rotten." A. And are so, in reality ; but the immediate cause is hard work. When the region of the kidneys being strained, at the heavy drag, for example, parts with small portions of the blood that it is their office to refine from the principle of urea, as before described ; but which office having ceased, you will perceive the utter ridiculousness of giving diuretic medicines in such a case, and thereby sti- mulating these delicate organs to an accelerated performance of a health-giving office whilst in a disordered state. Q. Rest and a cooling regimen, do all that can be hoped for, in this, as in all other ill-cured 'm-» flammatory cases. A. For this reason, among others : as green food and soft food cool the kidneys, these secrete urine by a very different kind of action from what they are called on to perform, when this evacua- tion has been caused by the stimulation of medical diuretics. Whereas the green food (grasses, vet- ches, carrots) may be considered natural diuretics, such as the horse would take if allowed to run at large. [See Cooling Regimen, in Appendix.] Q. Excessive staling, I take to arise from weak- 162 DIURETICS ; COLOUR OP URINE. ness of the bladder, and consequent inability to retain the urine, which is thereby called for in greater quantity. A. Occasioned by the absence of its mucous defence; which has been exhausted by the action of great quantities of stimulating diuretic medicines,^ employed in curing some recent inflammatory disorder, added to the poverty of the blood. " Incontinence of urine" is the same disorder, with a less discharge of urine, but often, and affect- ing the neck of the bladder, chiefly. Q. These appear to be diseases of the poor mans stable. I take the remedy to consist of letter living ; more oats, green fodder, sodden corn, malt-mashes, oat-gruel, and gentle exercise. A. Should the pulse increase, when either of those disorders may come on, (as happens with higher fed cattle,) give the fever-powders ; and after this symptom is reduced to the natural beats, give tonics. [Vide Appendix.] If the feverish state of the pulse does not subside, continue the fever- powder : give also the cooling decoction, and ad- minister clysters of water-gruel two or three times in the day. When costiveness comes on, as will fre- * In making hia remarks on the variance in colour of the urine expelled after giving medicinal diuretics, and that which comes off after the natural diuretics, the close observer may dravr a tolerably safe conclusion as to the mode in which either acts upon the same organ ; the first or medicinal being high coloured, the effect of over action, the natural is low coloured : the modtis operandi of those resinous and alkaline substances upon tlie kidneys is explained elsewhere. [See Index, Kidneys.} ORGANS OF RESPIRATION. 163 quently happen on this change of living, do not give purgatives, nor diuretics— nor soapy or re- sinous substances ; but cease to administer all other medicines, and give a drachm or a drachm and a half of the unmixed aloes per day, until the horse has a soft stool, which will take place when the patient has taken the quantity that usually ope- rates as a purge. For the mode of casting aloes, see Appendix, under " Aloes, sections 7 — 9." CONVERSATION XII. The Lungs Wind- Pipe and Midriff: a Cold, Catai^rhal Inflammation ; Broken Wind, Roar- ing ; Law Suits. Q. To this moment, neither of us has said a word about the organs of respiration, although we know how indispensable the well-being of these are to bringing a horse into going condition : unless these be in the best possible state, he cannot run any, and is often beat at a pinch for want of " a little more command of wind," to bring him through. A. I beg your pardon there: we may not have mentioned those organs hy name ; but how often have we not brought them on the carpet, in one respect or another, as " the lungs," and sometimes by inference. 1st. As depending for goodness on 164 IMPORTANCE OF LUNGS the conformation, or shape of the chest, (page 4.) 2d. As suffering from weakly nature or tender rear- (page 32.) 3d. As requiring much care upon the turn out to grass, as well as attention upon taking up, (page 54.) 4th. As to obstruction by much feeding (page 79) impeding the respiration ; and lastly, the injuries of which they are suscep- tible in training, (page 63,) their great action, (page 86,) and the galling pains of which they are the victims, (pages 25 and 146)— all these have not been forgotten, nor mentioned out of place. Q. True, true. We did well to postpone more particular inquiry hereon, to this moment, per- haps. The windpipe and the midriff should also enter into our consideration of the organs of respi- ration I now observe, of which they form an efl5- cient and very material part. A. The distance to which the two extend beins: above two-thirds the length of the whole animal, though the two lobes of the lungs occupy a very great lateral space between them — whilst they are in- flated ; whence it is that this term (lungs) is so generally used for the collective organs of resinra- tion : a function, by the way, that is composed of two actions — viz. inspiration and expiration, and that horse which performs this double function by the longest and strongest action is the greatest laster and surest goer, though he may not, at the same time, possess so much of the go-away quality. Q. Fine in the wind, depends greatly upon the re-action of the muscles between the ribs, you TO GOING AWAY. 165 say, (page 63) : the racer appears to tax his lungs to the utmost when these muscles of the ribs are well braced. A. That is to say, nervous, vigorous, elastic, strong — these are your qualities for going away. Then it is that " his wind brings him through the piece in style," if you please ; and with good rea- son— the lungs being composed of fine cell-like membrane, as is also every muscular fibre of his flesh, however minute, an intimate and instanta- neous communication exists by these means be- tween the lungs and all other parts throughout the whole frame ; so that health or ailment of the lungs will influence the entire body to such an extent,,! that these being suddenly " touched" or broken, in a manner or in fact, the horse then declines his pace, or trips, falls or breaks down, according to the amount of injury and the kind of attack his lungs sustains. Q. Something much to the purpose was men- tioned by you, two days ago, and at our second meeting, concerning this companionship— of the feet with the internal parts of the animal, behind as well as before. A. Faulty pace frequently depends upon faulty lungs; founder always upon injlammation of those very communicative organs ; by which we learn that this communication between the fore-feet and lungs is reciprocal, each influencing the other, both partaking the ailments of the other. Q. A horse that snorts and wheezes, and coughs 166 THEORY OF BROKEN-WIND. only with great exertion — as if the lining of his pijje were hanging loose within side it, appears to fill his skin out at each effort. Animals unfur- nished with lungs, as birds, are reported, by ' the great Naturalist,' to supply this defect by retaining air in certain other receptacles — the quills of their feathers being apparently the cavities into which it passes incontinently. A. This drives it within the cellular membrane I spoke of just now ; the wind being hereby forced from the lungs all over the body ; and as it makes its way underneath the thin membrane that lines the throat (of either pipe), it there lies con- cealed, or sinks back towards the lungs, liable to renewal — we know not whether ; until some uncommon exertion of the sufferer again drives the wind the same way to the upper part of the throat, and there narrowing the passage by dis- tending the membrane, the horse then becomes a roarer * notwithstanding the dealer's arts some- times effect a temporary cure, and he sells or foists off his beast as a sound one. Q. Horses so affected slightly, can perform a given distance per day for years, or go a certain * After awhile a fluid matter is secreted in the cavity thus formed, -which hardens, and the horse is then said to be " a confirmed roarer ;" but when the enlargement of the membrane is more extended, the sound issued upon his being put upon his bestpaces is shriller, and he is then termed "a whistler;" but, when the air has been driven higher up, to the membrane that lines the nose, (where is also the secretory seat of glanderous matter,) he acquires the title of " a trumpeter, or high blower." ROARERS ; REMEDY.— LAW-SUITS. 167 pace — say eight miles an hour, and perform it tole- rably well ; but if you put them out beyond their pace, a mile or two, " it soon finds them out" for confirmed roarers, that scarcely any thing can alle- viate, nothing cure. A. In this remark you develope the ground- work of many an action at law concerning alleged unsound horses. Q. And reconcile some apparently contradictory oaths of persons whose characters may not be otherwise impugned with sinfulness — of this par- ticular cast. " Drive that horse no more than seven miles an hour, for he can't bear no more," says an owner to his " boys;" and he knows by the symptoms of distress at coming home when his commands have been exceeded, and by 7ww much, too, pretty nigh. Then, in the event of " finding a customer," he himself prepares a temporary re- medy in a feed of oats steeped in charaber-lye,* and sells the afflicted horse at a price that, by its largeness, implies warranty. Hence arises good cause of action at law ; his pockets get properly squeezed by the attorney, and all his yard get buffetted by the counsel, admonished by the judge, and disbelieved by the jury. A. Ha ! ha ! ha ! Good ; curst good ; very * How the grinding of this medley is performed I can only guess, never having ministered to such a nauseating practice ; but apprehend that the saline quality of it drains off much saliva, and the swallowing takes placehj gulphs, as all animals swallow sophisticated food, or the doubtfully agreeable prescription. 168 SORE THROAT; BLISTERING. good, for you, my fine fellow ; why, this " open- ing up of a horse-cause" is admirable, and no sophistry either. Q. Some doctors talk of making an incision in the wind-pipe, where the seat of disorder lies, and thus apply the remedy. A. Calling it ironchoiomy ; and I once saw the operation performed with success, in a case of an obstinately ulcered sore throat ; though this might have been cured at an earlier stage of the disorder by the application of camphoretted spirits to the throat. Q. Blistering the throats of roarers is efii- cacious, is it not ? A. You have but to make sure of the spot, of which there is little difficulty, on which it has fixed, and you cannot fail. This fact may be known by passing the hand down over the throat repeatedly, where the point of obstruction may be ascertained —usually at throat-apple, by the animal then flinching a little, though he does so with signs of more acute pain when it is ulceration that has taken place. Q. Sore throat is one of the early symptoms of catarrh, which we this day set out with investiga- ting; roaring proceeds of an old neglected cough, I think you said? A. Nearly always. Much depends upon the state of relaxation in which the membrane of the pipe may be at the time of a hard fit of coughing, and the obstruction in this case usually becomes SWELLED GLANDS; TREATMENT. 169 an induration of the lymph which has been secreted within the membrane, as I before de- scribed, as being brought about by heat. Q. Which, if recent, you can relieve by blistering. A. If at all. But the further signs of malig- nant sore throat, besides flinching from the touch, are sluggishness, ears and legs cold, appetite gone, shivering, with unequal breathing, and cough suppressed. Those symptoms come on rapidly with horses in good keep ; slower with those out of condition; ordinary cattle, or husbandry horses, seldom contract the ulcered throat. Q. 'Tis not, I perceive, a disease of the poor man's stable. Sometimes the soreness, instead of being at the throat, is felt at the glands under the jaw. A. Which swell. If tardy in coming forward, let these be speedily treated with the camphoretted spirits, and kept warm, but not too hot, as fre- quently is done ; but if this, with physic, does not reduce them readily, change your plan ; apply a bran poultice to bring them forward, and, in the event of matter forming, continue this plan until the swelling breaks and discharges the matter, an event you may accelerate by touching the point of the swelling with a lancet, to about one-third of its extent, downwards. Express the matter com- pletely, and dress with digestive ointment. Q. As in the former case, the patient loses his cough when the glands swell. I 170 SEAT OF BROKEN WIND. A. Because the inflammatioD having fixed itself on a certain circumscribed space, the effect is less diffused, and, not further titillating the membrane, the cough ceases. Q. Bran poultice to the neck is very difficult to retain, although they employ the bandage of eight corners, each having a tape fastening to pass over the forehead, the neck, and at the girth. A. Steam the head, then, over a bran-mash, placing the pail in a larger vessel, capable of re- ceiving fresh supplies of hot water. The cooling regimen, with gr^en food, will complete the cure. CONVERSATION XIII. Cough. Q. Broken ivind is of several other kinds, you said ; which be they ? A. Scarcely worth our inquiry, because we can- not tell with precision till 'tis too late, whether the particular misfortune has been occasioned by the cellular conformation of the lungs having burst into each other by excessive exertion, in which case the expirations of the wind are quicker than the inspi- rations ; or whether the two branches, into which the wind-pipe divides at its lower extremity, are afTected at their conjunction (producing thick wind). COUGH, DISCRIMINATION NECESSARY. 171 or at their entering the right and left lobe of the lungs ; when the respiration is difficult both ways, the sound hollow, sepulchral, long in coming, and in- distinct, the chest never being properly filled out, nor the flanks working in unison. In all these cases the wind also partially enters the cellular membrane of the solids ; as we find, upon any such animals being- hunted to death, or slain soon after great exertions, the cellular construction much more apparent than in those others which die quietly, and at once. Q. Exceedingly curious, and very instructive ; but, for my part, I should rather know how to arrest the progress of a cough or catarrh at its first coming on, than learn in what precise manner it had fixed itself on any given part of those organs, unless some practical good would accrue to me out of that knowledge. A. The most we can expect from it would be, to know when to alleviate the pain, by employing the sufferer in some less trying and ignoble labour— which you will tell me is beneath our notice. Q. At present, at present. The cough first, then the more acute inflammation of those organs wherever it may fix itself ; the causes, means of prevention, and mode of cure, will be more desirable information to me, because more practically ser- viceable in my present pursuits. A. All cough differs in its tone, length, and force, according as the disorder may be seated lower down or otherwise, but the remedies differ nought, only inasmuch as it may have lasted long, I 2 172 CATARRHAL INFLAMMATION; or be of greater or less amount; which should give cause for apprehending it might end in inflamma- tion, or consumption. Q. Or, it seems, that the animal will at least contract broken wind, by its continuance. ^ A. Cough, and inflammation of the lungs, are but two degrees of the same species of attack, both being the effect of a cold, chill or check, given to the chest externally or by inhalation, or else arriving by means of the feet, when either the one or the other has been laid open to that kind of infliction by being exposed to cold winds, cold water, or severe weather, at a time of great bodily excite- ment. Q. Brought on by excessive work and stimula- ting keep. A. As well as recent illness of any sort, with strength scarcely recovered ; also a certain tender- ness superinduced by hot stabling, warm clothing, and long use of warmed water during any inflamma- tory complaint. Q. We may safely conclude the patient's illness to have been inflammatory, or at the least of a feverish nature, as according to your doctoring his complaints all hinge upon excessive heat. A. "Which includes, of course, its converse — excess of cold whilst the animal is in a high state of excitement, whether of work, or mode of living. A horse long kept up, with full feed, is little adapt- ed to a five mile burst of a cold sleety damp morn- ing, though that were down the wind ; and less so HOW aggravated: hot stables. 173 when shortly afterwards it happens that the patience of the three parties to a chase is pretty well tested in finding a fresh fox in the wind's eye, with the glass at Zero. Q. Or a couple of mail leaders, worth a brace of hundreds, after a ten-mile full-tilt stage, standing still to set down passengers, with wind and w«ather ditto : then it is the lungs go to wreck. A. Rather say, " the organs of respiration," for it needs no witch to tell us, that the diaphragm is now mainly engaged in " recovering second wind." Q. And when your hunter, stager, or roadster, does come hi under those circumstances — pop ! he goes into a stable already robbed of its air by too many inmates ; unless, as you remarked the other day, he draws back at the doorway, " as if pre- scient of the ills that await him within." It was finely said, and justly too, according to my way of thinking. A. Another of the mistaken notions, that lay open the horse , to catch cold, is the practice of keeping it clothed constantly, and that in woollen, whereby the insensible perspiration, the most subtle of all the evacuations, is kept in and taken up again by absorption into the system, to fill it with the hu- mours which ought to have flown off and mixed with the atmosphere: costiveness also ensues, that enemy to prime action ! This course of proceeding oc- casions the complete relaxation of one portion of the internal organs before another, whether those of 174 RUNNING AT THE NOSE. r^espiraiion or of digestion, that part being soonest affected which suffers under the highest state of excitement — which in this case is generally the lungs. Thus the membranous lining of the nos- tfils, windpipe and branches, first in order, then the lobes of the lungs partially, leaving the midriff to recover its tone as it may : a " cold in the head," and consequent running at the nostrils, is never brought on in any other way than this leading the animal into an already warm, hot stable. Next day after the attack, if an inveterate inflammation does not take place, nor the nostrils run, a scat- tered, diffused cough comes on, that is commonly slighted. Q. Now, as the latter being neglected produces the former, whilst an ill-cured inflammation leaves behind it a tedious hectic, we thence term " chronic cough," which is itself the harbinger of future inflammatory affections, and so on—1 should like to know the earliest remedy I ought to employ, that prompt measures may be taken to stop the evil, upon the principle of a " stitch in time," &c. A. All cough is inflammatory, a little ; or, it may be severe, and yet confined to a small space, as at the Iar7jnx or throat apple, where certain brutes " cough the horse," upon making their purchase. Q. And thus injure the part, so as to render the horse liable to contract future disorder there, A. Permanently. I have examined the throat of a dead horse which retained the mark of the finger OP *' COUGHING THE HORSE." 175 and thumb of one of those coughers, quite plain : it had been a horse of good price at one time of day, and was a prepense roarer * The audible symptoms of a sharp but circumscribed attack on this upper part of the wind pipe is frequent short coughing, with a trivial discharge of the secretion each time ; both which increase as the disorder is allowed to linger unattended to whilst the horse is still worked on, from day to day, until it has crept down towards the lungs and appears to have ex- hausted the secretion — for none comes forth. Q. But the cough becomes worse if nothing be done, and that in proportion as the subject of attack may be pretty well conditioned, fleshy, or tolerably full of blood. A. When also the pulse, which may not hitherto have materially changed, is found exceedingly ir- regular and full, which further increases, as well as its quickness, as the inflammation lays hold of the vitals, which they term the pulmonary action. If the patient should have failed in the necessary evacuations, these are to be attended to, assidu- ously, and ' the main one opened by the purgative- ball No. 1 ; which is frequently found to reduce the symptoms of a mild attack with very little further treatment. • At Tattersall's sales this practice is disallowed, to the great chagria of some newcomers ; but we have seen a horse " coughed" by half a dozen of those coughers at other Reposi- tories, without rebuke. 176 THE COUGH OF DIFFERENT BREEDS, Q. Still keeping in view well-conditioned horses, would you not bleed in the first instance ; for this, I understood, was your practice in all inflammatory complaints whatever? A. Assuredly ; only taking care that inflammation be well marked ere I resolve upon that step, on the former principle laid down by me, of not resorting to extreme remedies until the evil to be removed is an extreme one. Vulgar horses, that are too well fed for their breed, cough through mere repletion, when their work is easy ; a half bred, upon being exercised too abruptly, does the same; the first require bleeding, the second does not ; unless he he too fat for his work, whereby one point of his "conditioning" has outstripped another: as they have neglected to keep pace in food and exercise, he, too, requires bleeding in the first instance, as you justly say. Q. Then, sir, as to the thorough-breds? , A. As they never cough through fullness of the system, like the foregoing, some injury must have been sustained in the organs of respiration, when such a horse, in training, coughs any whatever. If it come on after ordinary exercise, or none at all, catarrhal inflammation has commenced ; which may more certainly be relied upon when the pulse is found to have been affected by increased action, or disordered action, or both united. Q. Then must you not bleed ? A. Then you must inevitably bleed, as in the AND OF YOUNG HORSES. 177 former cases, to the amount of two or three quarts, with a repetition, if the first bleeding effect no marked alteration within twelve hours. Q. But it frequently happens that colts in training, when put to their best speed, and, for the first time, to the full length of their powers, say a mile and a half for three-year olds, cough upon coming in, repeatedly and violently, in the most alarming manner. A. Occasioned by the virgin distension of the organs of respiration, now newly brought into play.* The circumstance ought to give n.o uneasiness to the training-groom, however, the parts which have been so strained by the trial soon recover their soundness, by moderating the exercises. Q, When this cough comes over a young horse in training, does it not prove he has been put to too high a test of his powers ; that is to say, more than he could achieve for his time of life? A. Right! His capability of going, or his strength, have been estimated too highly — overmarked. Q. And ought not to have been tried to their utmost for a year or two more, say four or five years old. Our best racers of the old time, upon whose performances we look back with admiration bordering on astonishment, never made their ap- pearance on the Turf until full-grown, though they are not reported to us as being bigger * How this takes place may be learnt, with instructive mi- nuteness, by the curious reader turning to my " Veterinary Surgeon," pages 84-99.— J. Hinds. I 3 178 TRAINING FOALS BY ARABS. than our modern cattle ; all which proves that we of the present day do not fail so much through deficiency of strength of limb as for want of due maturation in the organs of respiration ; which being thus prematurely taxed to their utmost, lose their elasticity, or further acquire some one or other of those evils mentioned in our Conversation of yesterday. A. As to this question of running horses too young, we may justify it by the custom of the Arabs, who gallop their foals at the mother's side, from the very , earliest age, in their predatory movements from one place of encampment to another, without injury, if not with advantage to the younkers. Q. True; but they travel in hand until full- grown — a consummation that arrives earlier than in this country. Might we not deduce from this fact the inestimable advantages of rearing racers to run their utmost speed after their mothers, whilst they are yet suckers, and continuing the exercise (in- creasing it) up .to the hour of taking them into training for the course. A. Training them hy the stomach, as 'twere, or natural desire. The mares might also be super- induced to run for each feed of corn daily, as fast as her love of kind would permit her to leave the foal behind her. What think you of the scheme ? Q. Well ; but the cough, the cough, and the Heeding, with a repetition of this primal remedji, about which we were talking ? BLEEDING FOR COUGH : EFFUSION. 179 A. Seldom required, if the first operation has been duly performed. That is to say, apportioning the quantity to the irregularity of the pulse ; and, according to the height of the pulse, so let the bigness of the orifice be. Q, Hereupon the horse parts with his cough, all at once, sometimes ; at least, as soon as the physic which follows the bleeding begins to operate. A. By reason of the efi"usion of water in the cfaest> which then seems to have soothed the parts affected, and lowered the inflammatory tone of the whole system. y We know when this efi'usion has taken place, by a visible remission of the symptoms ; the ears, which are always cold in inflammation of every kind, resume their warmth ; the cough subsides ; and the patient, though hitherto languid, looks about him as if for a feed, which he may now be indulged in, moderately, of bruised oats. Then continue the cooling regimen awhile [see Appen- dix], until the cure is complete, and bring- round the patient to his original food and exercise by gentle means, similar to those employed when he came fresh to your hands. Q. A " cold in the head" sometimes begins the complaint by a running at the nose, very much resembling glanders, preceding the cough. A. But with this special distinction, viz. that the running in this case comes from both nostrils, whereas one only, and that the left nostril, is 180 REMEDIES FOR CATARRH: POINTS found to run in the true glanders— when the gland also adheres to the left jaw. Q. A distinction this that is worth a hundred — yiiA.. Horses' lives, you meant to say. Q. Rheum from the eyes accompanies a cold in the head. A. Which leaves as the disorder creeps down- ward, as 'tis wont to do. Q. So, when the cough has continued a long time, the discharge by the nostrils also ceases. A. That is to say, in other words, the inflam- mation having increased, and with it the consump- tion of the watery particles in that region, the heat thickens the membrane that lines alike the nostrils and wind-pipe, and its power of secretion ceases. As the disorder proceeds down towards the lungs, the demand for the watery particles is still further augmented, until no discharge whatever comes off. Q. Then I observe the cough becomes more troublesome than before : 'tis a pity the discharge should cease in this manner. A. It may be restored, in some measure, by the use of the expectorants [see Appendix], which lower the inflammation, and enables the disorder to run itself off. Keep down the system by pur- gatives that operate on the water also [see Appen- dix, No. 1 and 2,] together with sweating-powders [see Appendix], as the patient may seem to stand in need of either the one or the other. Q. But animals in fat condition, or which were fleshy previous to the bleeding and physicking. TO BE OBSERVED ; AFFECTS THE BOWELS. 181 I frequently make efforts to bring off the mucous secretion that they cannot accomplish without great fatigue, and then imperfectly. A. In this event, soften the agglutination by giving the acetous drench No. 1 and 2 [see Ap- pendix], still look to his dungings and urine, and give alterative laxatives to meet any cessation in either way. ' Q. Mercy on us ! "What a number of prescrip- tions. This practice is at variance quite with your usual doctrine. Surely they would not all be requisite ? » A. Not for the same animal, except under different circumstances. But " disorders of the lungs" are of so variable a nature, that seldom are two animals, though of the same class and descrip- tion—nay, even making part of the same «ef, attacked in the same manner, whilst the symptoms change about most unaccountably in the same individual at times ; so that we do well to face about, not only in conformity with that change, but with the hope that one remedy may aid another. Q. Still I do not see how you reconcile the seeming contrariety. A. Thus. As to the last point, for example, the dunging, be it remembered that the strong efforts at expulsing the wind, which the cough oc- casions the animal to make, always affect the state of the bowels; besides that, when the disorder continues obstinately to bafiBe our endeavours, the patient devolves into a crib-biter, gnaws the wall I 182 CONSTITUTIONAL COUCH, or eats his litter, with other evil propensities, the effects of the pain he endures. Hence the defective produce of saliva, and the consequent ill state of the stomach and its dependencies, (seep. 114, 128,) which induce the horse to swallow his corn whole, or quid his hay. Either vice being replete with danger to the intestines, as I dilated upon in our tenth Conversation, p. 134, 153. Q. Constitutional cough. — Is this notion well founded, or is it one of the fancies ? A. Well or ill, of this we may be sure, that some animals cough only upon high feeding, without other cause, notwithstanding the three evacuations may be in proper trim ; or at least when the exer- cise may not be commensurate with the feeding, as before observed, (page 61.) A certain looseness of the membranous lining of the windpipe, some assert to be hereditary ; the secretion of fatty sub- stances therein, or a disposition to plethora, or fulness of habit, causes the blood to stagnate in the finer vessels that line the throat, and there produces that titillation which ends in a queer kind of cough they call " constitutional," in consequent heat, and a disposition to inflammation of these fine organs, as before described. Q. Unless we stop the cause, as much as in us lies, by stinting the food to less nutritious substances, by a meagre day, occasionally, by purgatives, and by exercise : Am I not right now? A. Either will suffice in slight cases to reduce the troublesomeness of the cough, though the whole TEST FOR DETECTING. 183 being put in reqWsition may not cure it. You did right not to commence your proposed remedies ■with " exercise," as most people, conscious of their primary neglect, would have done. This is the same kind of cough as that noticed before, as being the plethoric cough of the foreign draught horses, imported here to enjoy hearty food and a life of comparative laziness in their younger years. Q. A certain " very ingenious gentleman," who occasionally " rides the tall horse/' swears himself to the fact, that none so cough upon high feeding but such as are touched with latent chronic affec- tion of the lungs. A. His objection is not worth a straw, though it chance to be better founded than mannerly. I will tell you a fact, however, which he has seen me practise with success. When I suspect a horse I am about to buy is touched in the wind, and has been treated with the saline feed of oats you spake of, ■ or has been shotted, I take him out for a trial, order him a full feed of oats, (but no water,) and, in the drive home, keep a strict look out for any indication of " badness in the wind." Q. This soon'finds them out : a full stomach is a sad tell-tale. A. Whencesoever the hectic may arise I care not, I simply do not purchase. Q. On driving a horse sharp, after such a feed, there is a catch in the wind observable sometimes. A. Occasioned by the full stomach pressing upon the midrifiP, and not allowing of sufficient room for 1^ LUNGS AND FEET, SYMPATHIZE. the tender lungs to play— at least not to their ordi- nary extent, Q. It soon goes off again, however, and nothing more is seen of it. A. Oh, yes; but "something more is seen of it," though not by you, my friend. The feet falter when the lungs are so touched for any length of time ; whilst, by the same sort of sympathy, com- panionship, or fellow-feelinff between them, the pace of the horse punisheth the feet, and commu- nicates their baleful sufferings to the lungs ; hence is it reasonable to conclude, although I did not know the fact from experience, that the communi- cation of such ills is reciprocal. Can you have forgot, already, how strenuously I insisted upon the same indication of incipient founder in a former Conversation we had, when talking about foot lame- ness 1 page 26. Q. I do recollect it well; and hope I shall never forget that important advice, or aught else I have heard from you, with as much pleasure as attention, and I expect of eventual profit : what is more, I have made a memorandum of all that passed between us daily. A. And if you dare to print it, the doctors will nothankye for your pains. Q. What is more, they will say you do not speak in language sufficiently scientific, for them. A. I care not: my wish is to be useful to the majority, not agreeable to a secluded few. Q. By the way, being myself tolerably well up -f^^.p,^EPIDEMIC COUGH. 185 to the medicated corn I hinted at just now, as being given by a certain description of dealers, I have tried the effect of filling the stomach of the horse, so treated, with unadulterated corn after- wards, and, although defective wind was percep- tible, the going was true enough ; no faltering or tripping occurred. A. In that case I conclude the horse was an exception to the general rule, not so bad as he might have been, or you did not try him far and fast enough to find him out. Q. Going eighteen miles within an hour and three quarters, with a heavy gig and two persons behind him, is no child's play. A. If so well after such work, hopes might rea- sonably be entertained of the lungs recovering, by giving the attenuating powders in his corn, when- ever such a cough makes its appearance, or we have reason . to expect its return. If the horse refuse the corn thus prepared, give the same in a drench ; but, should you desire to aid the secretion of urine, do not increase the dose of nitre, but add to it camphor one drachm, dissolved in the gruel. [Turn to Appendix.] Q. Some horses contract a cough periodically, either at the season of turning out to grass, or at the moulting season. A. Either description is likely to become chronic, or lasting, without due care ; if a good number of horses are attacked at the same time, they consider the disorder as an epidemic, and infectious. 186 VARIABLE TREATMENT FOR Q. Epizootic is the new French name, and the most proper, I am given to understand. A. Nay, nay, stow away your fine learning in as small a compass as you can afford, if you please; your friends, the French, don't know above a quarter about horses that we English do, notwith- standing their boasted ' discoveries,' though they pursue the labour of dissection more assiduously than we do, generally speaking. The epidemy is attributable to the wet season, I tell you; we al- luded to these matters in Conversation iv. when talking about soiling, (p. 53.) Such horses as are of tender constitution, as all are which have under- gone catarrhal disorder, should be exposed as little as possible to sudden changes in the air; though that be from cold to hot, from humid to arid, or as some would think from a worse to a better state ! They suffer most, or benefit in no trivial degree, by a run at grass, according as the season may be cold and damp, or hot and dry. Q. To conclude — Whichever way the symptoms tend, they should be met by an ever-varying treat- ment ? A. It follows, from all that has been said, that he who undertakes the cure of any afifection of the lungs— all of which are of an inflammatory ten- dency, and every one of them preceded, accom- panied, or followed by cough— vaxi&i have recourse to expedients of several kinds: he must, in all cases, assiduously guard against relapse, and distin- guish between fresh attacks by needless exposure AFFECTIONS OF THE LUNGS. to iuclemeucies, and the aggravation of any old complaint by overwork. Q. Any other course would but confirm some one or other of those hateful symptoms we have been talking about these two days. A. That incurable malady, a chronic cough, being the main one to be dreaded ; though, when the incipient catarrhal cough we set out with this day, becomes, by neglect, confirmed inflammation of the lungs, and this is partially cured, the thing is not rendered a whit better ; nor indeed altered one way or the other, as regards the future disposition of the organs of respiration to acquire fresh inflam- matory disease of one kind or the other. CONVERSATION XIV. Inflammation of the Lungs, how incurred. Pul- monary Consumption. Adhesion of the Parts: Symptoms. Crisis, how denoted: Effusion. A. Not at all necessary is it to inflammation that the patient should contract the minor disorder of these parts, (a cough,) at first, and we permit it to creep on unchecked until it extend its virulence to the central and more vital parts ; and there pur- suing its ravages, obstruct the busy action of the pulmonary arteries in their function of reanimating J,38 INFLAMMATION : THICK IN THE the blood by the health-imparting influence of at- mospheric air. Inflammation of the lungs as often commences the attack in its most appalling form ; and also affects the horse's going, instantaneously, as 'twere, when the cold caught has been very acute, or to a great extent. Q. I contended for no other, and merely meant to say, that the cough we usually find prevail on shedding the coat, might be prevented from running to a height by attending carefully to two or three points of our grooming duties at the time. A. To be sure : let him lay aside the curry- comb, and dress with brushes only, nor that too much, and let him clothe lightly his less hardy horses. [See Brush, in Appendix.] Let him also look to the dungings, which he will find assume an obstinately costive appearance, when the indivi- dual patient may be full of hard meat, and altoge- ther so replete with blood as to render such an at- tack dangerous in the extreme. Q. AH other causes of inflammation of the lungs, properly speaking, may be referred, I imagine, to those already stated as producing " a cold" of any other description, as catarrh, &c. only with greater aggravation, sj'mptoms more virulent, greater danger, and leaving behind more tenderness, and increased liability to contract anew a similar series of inflammatory disorders at a future period. A. Any of which, by neglect, mistakes in the treatment, or of frequent recurrence, leave behind a cruel and incurable disorder they term consump- WIND, HEREDITARY. 189 Hon in human medicine whilst they of the vete- rinary practice, as well as those of the stable, reckon it wasting away, debility, done up, &c. Q. Yes ; consumption they call j^ulmonary. A. Because of the arteries, so termed, that perform their part of the important function of blood-refining in the centre of the two lobes of lungs ; which are liable to an original disease, (as well as this acquired one,) believed to be hereditary, and consists of want of action and consequent ob- struction in the parts, occasioning adhesion of the parts together, and eventually consumption or de- cay. Q. Some gets prove thick in the wind, or roar- ers, from parent to foal, with such remarkable trueness as ought to teach breeders a lesson. A. Adhesion of the pleura, or thin covering of the lungs, to the ribs, as also of the lungs to the. midriff, on its upper side, and of the liver to the same membrane on its lower side— as these aflBic- tions cause greater labour, pain, and heat, upon the animal being put to his paces, so does this in- flammatory tendency further dispose the parts to augment a dangerous disorder of which it is itself but an effect. In what manner this evil is first brought about ■ has already been dilated upon when speaking o/ the same description of adhesion afilicting the mo- tions of the intestines, (page 146); but how much more oppressively the lungs must feel its efl-ects re-' 190 ADHESION, OF SEVERAL PARTS. j tard their motion, may be judged of from the more extended action these are subjected to by every effort at progression, when compared to the mere corkscrew-motion of the howeh and stomach, al- luded to Conversation ix. page 128, &c. Q. Which lie in comparative quietness during the greatest speed, while the lungs are taxed to their utmost inflation and efflation at an ordinary canter long kept up. But' why should we look about for distinctions when those frightful adhesions we speak of communicate their baleful effects from one internal part to another so readily ? A. For this reason alone. As adhesion of the organs of respiration, and even of the heart (or | its appendages) to the surrounding parts (the ribs,) and to each other — the induration of some (the pulmonary), and the thickening of others (the pleura) — admit of alleviation, if not of cure, upon being detected in early life, though utterly incura- ble when lasting to full age ; whilst in all cases of adhesion of the bowels, the stomach, the liver, &c. to each other, and to their surrounding parts, admit of no alleviation but of that which time effects and nature herself performs. -The latter may therefore be permitted t6 take its course ; man acting simply as the handicraft of nature, ad- ministers only such remedies as address their efforts to these parts. Whereas, whatever aid he pre- sumes to afford the lungs must be given promptly, or not at all ; relaxation from severe labour, the DISTINCTION; LUNGS OR INTESTINES? 191 cooling regimen, and regulating the evacuations, being nearly all the treatment that is common to both kinds of attack. Q. A horse may get fat, puffy fat, with a sleek coat, although suflferiug from a partial attack of this nature in the hinder part of his intestines ; and he may go tolerably, even when the adhesion has extended itself; but he is incapable of quick action, or of long continued work, when the organs of respiration are the objects of attack in any degree. It would be highly desirable to know how to dis- tinguish between the attack upon one part and that upon the other; distress, and defective going, I take it, indicate this disorder generally — but how shall we know whether the one or the other kind is then present ? A. Thus : by dint of close observation you will be able to judge when any horse under your care is otherwise than well, though standing in the stall or hitched up outside the stable, and the healthy pulsation not materially affected ; chiefly by the state of his mouth, which will be dry, if not hot, and shortly the whole muzzle becomes hot, the legs and ears rather cold, and the eyes dull. When going, this becomes more apparent in his defective paces ; tripping, relaxing m his speed, clicking a hind toe on the ground, being considered new de- fects so acquired. If he be put out on his best pace awhile, those indications become the worse for it ; unless the disorder be so virulent as to stop some vital function, and the animal drops down. 192 SYMPTOMS OP ADHESION ? BEFORE; By continuance of labour the pulse increases: wlien the pain lies at the lungs, 'tis more acute than when the seat of disorder is behind ; and as the beats increase in number, greater sharpness also becomes sensible, if before ; not so if it lies behind, when the pulse, though it rises in propor- tion to the mischief going on, is dull and scanty until the inflammation reach its height. Q. Perspiring freely at less than ordinary exer- cise is one sure sign of " something amiss with him," as our lads of the stable express themselves, quaintly enough. A. If this takes place without any other assign- able reason, the disorder, whatever it be, lies in the hinder pari — the bowels, liver, kidneys, or stomach ; if his ordinary exercise affects the wind ■* first, the perspiration following it, proves that the animal is pained in the fore part — i.e. the lungs, the heart, or the midriff. Q. This being ascertained, you take your mea- sures accordingly. A. Cessation from labour being self-evidently the first. For, should the disorder be owing to adhesion of the parts, continuance of hard labour will be sure to end in inflammation of them ; if inflammation have already come on, stop it, or you kill your beast, as sure as fate, if a good one : walk him. Q. He totters and stumbles about ere this final stroke takes place. A. The fore-legs being mostly affected when these AND BEHIND. SYMPTOMS, ALARMING. 193 latter — the organs of respiration are attacked, his hind-legs when those of digestion are the seat of disorder. Q. All four at his coming down. A. Don't attempt wit^: 'tis misplaced on such a topic. From whichever cause proceeding, when inflammation of the lungs has struck the animal, the symptoms rapidly follow each other in fearful succession ; of which, shortness of breathing, though at rest, is the earliest and surest indication, accom- panied by drooping of the heart, parched muzzle, cold ears, and, shortly after, sliivering. Refusal of food and a sharp, agitated pulse, from the first, with subsequent quickness, prove with what facility the disorder extends. If, in the course of the at- tack, shivering recurs several times without the intervention of a corresponding fit of sweating, the danger is imminent indeed. Horses in your " fat condition" decline from the healthy state more rapidly than, those which may have been in my " working condition," those out of condition slower than either. Q. I see ; I see my error, as to fatness not being the genuine state for doing quick work. By the way, with what anxiety, after a hard day's journey, does the commercial traveller inquire, (if trade press so heavily that he cares not to go and see, as he ought,) " Ostler, does ray horse take his corn?" conscious, from long experience, that the concern at home must lag if his horse does K traveller's horse: LUNGS; n6t proceed. How very liable are the horses of such tradesmen to acquire disease of the lungs — usually in its milder forms ! A. But always with the^ disposition to wax worse ; owing to the very long stages they occa- sionally take, each followed by very long rests; their journeys being performed more in conformity to the demands of their commercial views than to the preservation of their horse. They quite lose sight of the due subdivision of labour and rest into minor portions, as well as rightly apportioning these to the kind of feed — such as you and I agree upon in the main. [See pages 132, 3.] Q. Then again, a fresh stable and a change of water, ten or twenty times a month ; A. With each time, a change of ostlers, an(^ of treatment, as regards the mode of watering, and the variety — nay, contrariety, of commands, all equally imperious and distracting, as to much and little, often and seldom, cold or tepid, before set- ting out (alas) or at coming in. Q. Those disputed and debateable points upon which we discoursed in our Fifth Conversation, (pages 61, 65, 70-74,) and which might well divide the opinions of persons more exclusively attentive to liorse-flesh than the vendors of 5/«op-goods can reasonably be expected to bestow time upon. A. Are they not, like the industrious Bee, " here this hour, gone the next?" Yet they should study with care, indeed should they, the earliest SYMPTOMS. EFFUSION AT THE CHEST. 195 indications of afFections of the lungs, just men- tioned. A. Cold ears and legs, as in other inflammatory complaints, come on with these first symptoms, and last until the turn of the disease, which we watch for with sedulous care, and of which they are the true thermometer. :? Q. The jmlse is no less so. A. After the first day of a mild attack on the lungs, most assuredly, when it may not exceed forty-two to forty-six beats a minute ; but in twenty-four hours it mounts up to sixty or seventy, becoming still more quick (though not fuller) and irregular, sharp, and indistinct by turns, as the pain may be more or less acute. ,^ For remedy, bleed as directed for colic (page 140), and three or four quarts will not now avail, but must extend to five or six quarts ; and the repeti- tion as there directed, if needful, should now amount to a state of tottering, particularly if the pulse have increased since the first bleeding. Q. Will nothing less suffice? A. Not an atom ; for, unless you procure that " turn in the blood," which shall cause the happy efftision of water at the chest, we spoke of four days ago, you have achieved nothing. It sometimes takes place while the operation is going on, and is the signal to desist: but more frequently it is found to come on after the first motion consequent on the phxj&ic that is invariably to attend upon the bleeding. (See page 140.) K 2 196 BLEEDING; MISTAKEN PRACTICE, IN . ,Q. " Desist," was it you said ! Wbat! wiien a great good is being brought about by bleeding, or any other means, would you give over, desist, just then? This requires — A. Requires! It requires nothing — but common sense. When you have accomplished all you want, when you have attained your end, what necessity for pressing a remedy at a time that nought remains to he remedied? Would you keep on asking the governor for your salary, for example, after he had paid you, because asking turned out so beneficial ? Would you continue gallopping about, like a cock- ney, after the fox is killed ? Would'st eat more after thy stomach is filled, thou precious admirer of fat — cattle l Q. Nay, nay; I'm sure a thousand people, taken,, from all the studs of England, including Ireland and Scotland, would have asked the same question, whether fat or lean. A. As weak argument as 'tis poor geography: the number of persons that support an eri-or does not sanctify it into truth. Moreover, by reducing the system too much by bleeding, by purging, diu- retics, or other attenuants, we cause this salutary effusion of " water in the chest," until it becomes a disease, bearing that very name ; for although the membranous part of the system constantly requires this kind of lubrication to prevent the ills of adhe- sion and inflammation, yet a superabundance thereof getting into the cellular passages, dropsy ensues ; which although never appearing in that general INFLAMMATION; PRECAUTIONS. 197' manner they term anasarca, yet is evidently the cause of those numerous tumours underneath the skin, they term oedematous swellings. Q. You blister the chest extensively, I observe, for inflammation of the lungs. A. And would likewise put in a rowel, or a couple of setons, if I had your heavy, fleshy cattle to deal with. But for the better bred horses, — goers, the blistering effects all we can hope for, as to diverting the disease from the vital parts to the superficial. Q. The bleeding you advise appears to me ex- cessive 1 A. It must be proportioned to the danger: and if this be imminent, one large bleeding — say five 'or six quarts, is better far than two moderate ones of four quarts each. For patients that may be costive at the commence- ment of the attack, the good to be expected from the Jirst operation will be mainly assisted by giving a bran-mash previous to the bleeding; or a dose of castor-oil (one pint), and a clyster, consisting of a solution of Epsom salts, or common salt, in warm water ; and in case of the costiveness being at its worst state, let the dung be drawn forth with the hand. Never bleed in the open air for inflammation of the lungs, nor give a very strong purgative after it, but prefer dividing the apportioned dose into two parts (one for morning, one for afternoon), lest you otherwise transfer the disorder from the '198 RESTORATIVES: TONICS, AIR, EXERCISE; lungs to the howels, which inevitably carries off the patient. Q. Inflammation of the lungs, as you observed before, in symptoms and cure, resembles very much the like kind of attack on the bowels — in all but the locality. A. They tally in other respects, also : and so do the relative minor diseases of colic and catarrh bear the same affinity to the two major attacks on the like organs ; both devolve into the more dan- gerous state by neglect, both influence one other organ, viz. as the stomach does the kidneys, so do the lungs the liver, whilst your labour is but half completed when the inflammation is subdued. Q. Then commences the ceaseless duty of re- storing health, in all such inflammatory cases, by getting the stomach into good humour, the bowels in good trim, and keeping the body cool. A. Give tonics [Appendix] for the first; for the second, give alterative laxatives; but, for the last, do not apply cold water any where, nor per- mit a stream of air, nor clothe with woollen by day, unless the weather be cold. Walk the con- valescent animal to breathe the fresh air, by day — shaded in summer; give him a roomy stall and lofty stable, with plenty of grooming, so as to keep ^own the thick legs that now make their appearance; and so continue until the faculty of perspiration returns, at which period the extreme heat of his skin goes off. Hereupon his exercises are to re-commence with the most gentle walk, daily RELAPSE FROM INFLAMMATION. Lifif i 381 J increasing as his strength returns, and hard meat and full feeding take place of the green food, mashes, and gruel, I before recommended, when speaking of the twin affliction, inflainmation of the intestines, page 161. Q. The animal's recovery is only half com- pleted when the disorder is gone, or, as we say, " is killed," coarsely enough ; when the inflammatory symptoms have given way to those of weakness and langour, enough remains for us to do in restorins: its wonted powers and taking care that this be done without endangermg a relapse. ' - A. We have already discussed this topic in 6tn- Tenth Conversation. [See pages 100, 149, 160.] CONVERSATION XV. 27ie Liver; its Complaints. Function impeded: Adhesion. A. Liver complaints, as all affections of this v(!ry delicate organ are obscurely termed, were spoken of lately, as causing some of those de- rangements we were then talking about, as, 1st, inflammation of the intestines, — 2dly, inflammation of the lungs. Yet are there some persons who deny that the liver is subject to inflammation at all ; many more ( writers and others) treat this point with indifference, with frigid silence. 200 LIVER: INFLAMMATION, FUNCTION w Q. They had merely to ascertain whether this organ had ever been found attached either to the intestines or to the midriff, to have been convinced, •■though they might not acknowledge, that neither could take place without inflammation. Do they study practically the anatomy of diseased subjects I A. None other, I understand, what little dis- sections they do labour at; and some of them would have ua believe, that that is the healthy/orr/i or function which is produced only by disease.* Now, I have reason for thinking, that some very trivial attacks indeed, which would have gone off with the minor complaints, colic in one in- stance, and catarrh in another, terminated in the more serious ailments, viz. inflammation of the one and the other viscus, by the aggravation of the liver's adhesion to the particular organ so affected, in consequence of its great heat, which would be inflammation of the liver to all intents and pur- poses. Q. Thereupon, its function of separating the bile, being impeded, its action would become more laboured, the biliary duct would vitiate its contents, and return it into the system as jaundice, or retain it and cause inflammation. A. The same vitiation of the bile, its reten- tion in the duct, or re-dispersion over the whole • In the form of the cnffin-hone, Mr. B. Clark (the stereo- pleatist) is proved to have mistaken the diseased for the healthy shape, and to have fashioned his shoe accordingly. (See Hinds's Veterinary Surgeon, page 433, note.) VfOlTOKlMPEDED. ADHESION. -i^*^ system, might be occasioned by the general ill state of the blood, when the depraved secretion rang-ed about and committed those ravages we call"" the humours." But for the liver, the blood would circulate in a state unfit for giving health; when it comes hither iu a state incapable of being refined, inflammation ensues. Q. Whence its several " complaints," and the communication of these to the contiguous parts. A. How could the effect be otherwise ? The f/rowing (which we term adhesionj of the upper part of the liver to the midriff, would cause diffi- culty of breathing, proved by a certain catch in the wind occasionally, which the sellers of such things pass over by the slight term of " only toucht in the wind, but no harm ;" a touch, how- ever, that is likeiy to turn out incurable, notwith- standing, as described by me yesterday, [page 198.] Q. As to the other description of adhesion, when the lower end of the lobe becomes attached, how comes it to pass that a slight attack on the bowels, which, under other circumstances, might have terminated in spasmodic colic only, and so passed off quietly, is, by this species of aggravation, made to assume the most alarming symptoms of obstinate inflammation? In fact, it soon kills — A. Prime horses in a day or two ; ordinary ones resistits direful effects much longer. I thought I had touched upon this topic before ; but thus it is, — when the vitiation of the bile or the general ill-state of the blood, just spoken of,has thrown the liver into disorder, k3 202 ULCERATtdN. SYMPTOMS, DISTINGUISHED heat and inflammation ensue, and ulcerated surface, towards its lower extremity, is one of the baleful effects thereof ; as is known when languor is a leading symptom ; but when the ulcer attaches itself to the bowels, occasioning a species of colic pains, the pulse quickens a little, and the horse parts with languor for worse symptoms. Or, the ulcer attaches itself to the membrane that keeps the whole intestines in position, as may be ascer- tained upon the touch externally ; whence some medical people are led to conclude, that all colic and inflammation is no other than aff*ections of this membrane — they term peritoneum, and its disorder " peritoneal inflammation." This, however, is an error, as to the extent of the disorder : for, some- times both peritoneum and great gut adhere to the liver, in the manner described ; but a natural remedy is at hand: the ulcered liver destroys the gut, so far as the adhesion extends, suppuration takes place, the offensive matter sloughs off, in- wardly, and is carried away with the dung. Q. How are we to distinguish between this species of attack and inflammation, or colic pains ? A. There lies the difficulty. When the symp- toms vary between these two disorders, and the close observer is puzzled in deciding which of them afflicts the horse [See pages 145, 191] ; the pulse being loio, though the pain be acute, and the lower part of the belly evidently tender, thereby affording a flat contradiction of the rules laid down here and elsewhere for discriminating between colic and PROM COLIC. TREATMENT. 203 inflavimation, we run no risk in deciding that the disorder is this one of adhesion. Q, At the time this painful process of nature is going on, it is evident we should not work the patient, nor give drastic medicine, nor cordials. A. Nor bleed; the state of the pulse will not waiTant this operation ; its indistinctness and lan- guor forfends the use of fleam or lancet. Neither should the horse lie in the stable, day after day, or any day ; nor wear warm woollen clothing ; both of which do but increase the capacity of the liver. But he should be walked out, with a thin body covering of linen girthed over the belly and flanks. If the dung be at all in form he must have the laxative hall [No. 1] ; if he droop, as he will upon the ulcer sloughing off, give a cordial drink [ White Water, No. 5], not too strong. The process to cure will be visible in the state of the dung. Q. Whereupon health resumes its wonted ap- pearance in the manner of the animal. Pray how long may this particular species of adhesion last, under the most favourable circumstances ? And is it of frequent recurrence 1 A. Much oftener than our observation is directed towards the part ; but the duration of palpable dis- order seldom exceeds a week. This will depend upon the treatment of the patient, as to medicine and work : if either be violent, inflammation in its worst form supervenes, and death ensues, if the animal be one of high temper, or good breeding, as usually is the case. Neglect, or inattention. 204 NEGLECT OF MEDICINE, BENEFICIAL. however, assure to the afflicted animal at least this chance of escape from medicine; in addition to this, we generally have too much grace (derived from interest) to push an animal of great value when he faulters in his paces. Q. 1 have found, more than once or twice, a horse of known good qualities obstinately to refuse his usual gallop, and return home in a sweat not- withstanding. Those were aged ones, or nearly so. A. Always happening to such, provided they have been misused and knocked about at races or steeple-hunt, or in the extreme long chase, although receiving every care the stable can afford, after- wards. In fact, I am not certain, but this very care to wrap up the jaded animal in hot clothing, with a hot stable, and absolute rest — not a walk ! have brought about the disease ; enlargevient of the liver being the never failing attendant upon the application of so much unnatural heat, with the con- sequent heat of this organ, and the dangerous disease we are now talking of. Further, let me add, if young horses are ever afflicted with this kind of adhesion, it goes off again by gentle exercise and the vigour of the animal system. Q. But I have yet to learn how this adhesion of the Uver to the bowels can affect the vcind t A. Not this but another mode of attack, viz. on the iliick part of the liver, both never being pre- sent at the same time. When the liver is in full pos- session of its functions^ and any derangement of it, or the contiguous organs, takes place through ,JAtrADHESIONS OF THE LIVER. ' -i chill,cold, or inflammation— as before insisted upon, in several of our conversations, (consult Index,) then the superior part of the liver adheres to the midriff'; a misfortune this which happens, also, when this part of the organs of respiration is itself the sub- ject of disease, arising from great speed long kept up. You may be assured, also, that adhesion is one of the relics of ill-cured inflammation, either of lungs or bowels ; and, that this attachment of the parts to each other, continues long after the original disorder has given way to the remedies. Q. Wait a bit, if you please. Although the glance you have taken of the matter is somewhat too rapid, I begin to be convinced of the important nature of the functions the liver has to perform ; for, I remember well, that the whole blood of the animal system passes through the liver to be refined of its bitter principle (bile) many times a day. A. This is all the knowledge I could hope to in- fuse you with at present. Your next care should be to bring it into use, by close observation, and thereby learn how to obviate the evils arising from this complaint, which mostly consist of overrphy- sicking upon hard work. Q. Duly apportioning the water in frequent small quantities, being one of the means A. Of prevention, after the subsidence of in- flammatory fever, and at all times. As observed before, this affection occurs often and goes off again by proper exercise, though certainly not so 206 SWEATS, THROUGH pain: WORMS? by strong work, but the contrary. Do you not per- ceive, that a horse fails in his performance some- times, and sweats inordinately, (as you remember,) but his power of going returns again after awhile, in good form 1 None have told us the reason why. Q. He halts in his paces, too, which also goes off; unless being pushed in his work, severely, the lameness is confirmed, with aggravation, and after- wards appears at his feet. A. Whenever lameness comes on, the cause of which we cannot otherwise satisfactorily account for, and this is followed by a partially staring coat, the cause is internal, and whether of the fore part of the animal, or the hinder part, is indicated by the roughness appearing on the chest or on the belly, and shows the ailment to be of the lungs, or behind the midriff'* When we have ascertained, by means of the pulse, &c. that inflammation exists in • When such partial roughness comes on, most people cry out " worms !" White, and R.Lawrence, and Clark prescribe medi- cines that will inevitably kill them, and a thousand Botts to boot ; but the best prescriptions fail to produce them in any number, though the globe has been ransacked for remedies. Hence I conclude, that worms do not prevail so often as is asserted, but that the real disorder, in nine cases out of ten, is no other than adhesion. White had an accurate presentiment of this disorder, but wanted industry to push the hints he received home to a complete developement, in his time. He never went further than admitting, that adhesion of the liver and midriff might be mistaken for worms (his favourite disease) ; and, on the con- trary, that the presence of worms might be mistaken for " a defect in the organs of respiration, which also produces weakness and emaciation, similar to the worms." THE LIVER, NO ACUTE PAIN. 207 neither, that is to say, no where acutely, we may safely conclude that the liver, which is not subject to an acute disorder, is then affected, and that by adhesion, in the manner described. After all, I believe we must allow that this ad- hesion of the superior part of the liver to the midriff is caused by an original disorder of the latter, arising from the heat occasioned by the quick pace, and great lengths with which most free-going horses are abused ; which is further enhanced by the re- petition thereof, followed by absolute rest, and the exhibition of cordials, with high keep. CONVERSATION XVI. Of some necessary Operations; and chiefly on Shoeing refractory Horses. Q. A few more heads of information remain for discussion, if you please, all contributing to the preceding views we have taken of the means of preserving the horse's condition; and, among others, nothing mars our endeavours more than the " battles between smith and horse," alluded to by you at our frst day's conversation, (pages 10, 13,) whenever the animal is taken to be shod. The foreigners have the advantage of us English in this respect. A. "Us English" comes with a bad grace from you, my lad, who never take notice of any varia- 208 PACE EVERYTHING: FOREIGN ATTEMPTS tion in the practice of this and other countries, but you give the preference " sans pu coniredire," as you phrase it, to foreigners, and even prefer those foreigners' horses to our own, -whatever class or description we may bestow our thoughts upon. Q. Except the racer — say? A. Except all, then ; for, of what use are the other descriptions of horses, unless they have the gift of going in them, slow though it be I Mere wooden horses, " say." Do they not come here and buy up our prime goers to improve their breeds in this respect. Q. They only purchase the second best, Or tliird for the Legers, Derby, &c. A. T infer, that they can only hope to infuse se- cond-rate speed (or going) into their breeds from such stock, down to the third and fourth genera- tion ; and even less when this arrives at the fourth and fifth description of horses ; if their brood mares of the working classes ever do receive the least tincture of the prime English stallions they seek after with so much assiduity, and procure at so great an expense. Q. Good reasoning this ; for I observed that their breeding farmers fall very short of ours in that ne- cessary article to a good get — capital. But, turning short to the left-about, we are accused, I think justly, of treating our horses with too much " brutal force," in performing the necessanj offices about them, shoeing in particular, and that we perform many operations unnecessarily, and some of doubt- ST^J'TO IMPROVE; SUCCESS. SHOEING. 209 ful eQjcacy. Among- the latter they reckon rowel- ling and setons, and firing of the second kind ; lurning out the hairy lining of the ears, cropjnng, and docking, and clipping the coat, and pulling the mane and tail, are execrated almost univer- sally in France. The violent manner in which mounting, and breaking, and training, and phy- sicking-are performed, you yourself have already allowed wrong ; next let me draw your attention to the economy of shoeing, not exactly the practice, but the manner of going about it. A. What you say regarding our shoeing-smiths may be tolerably accurate, if you speak generally; but none ever exercised their trade under my directions who employed the " brutal force" you charge them with: it is our duty to prevent this, should such characters turn up ; but I believe never does happen in the stables of trainers of any degree, nor in hunting studs. Those who reproach the English nation with this crime, have drawn their conclusion from the lower order of smiths of former times. Q. Truly ; but here and there, the better de- scriptions of horses you allude to are constrained and forced to undergo operations, not in them- selves altogether disagreeable, which might have been as well performed by gentle usage, by coaxing, and the voice. You and I have frequently spoken to these points, to the temper of the horse, and how it gets spoiled, in the course of these Con- versations, (seeIndex—i?ispo«? which the English are accused of disregarding. Now this gentleman (Lieutenant Balassa ) does no more than awe bis horses during the operations of shoeing, &c. by the voice, his looks, and gestures ; and conciliates them by stroking with the hand, aslant the face, whilst holding the head rather short and steady with the cavesson. A. Such is our every-day practice, when the better-bred horses are taken to he shod; not less than three or four of us employing each his best offices in allaying the fears of the irritable animal. This stroking the face is the only new feature in his boasted " art," that I can yet discover. Q. His translator imagines that we employ but one person in shoeing horses here, which is only the case with common working cattle ; whereas, in France, they have two door-men and one fire-man to every tenpenny shoe they put on a five pound nag. [See Hinds' "Veterinary Surgeon," p. 472.] A. More frequently they go without shoes, I think you told me. Read on, 5ne/Zy. " ' 212 THE GROOM CONDUCTS THE SHOEING: Q. At the same time that I call sharply to a | horse, says the Lieutenant, I look sternly at him, ' and every one must be aware that the stedfast look of the human eye has an irresistible effect on the horse : kind looks and words encourage and reward him ; the object being to divert his attention from the man who is putting on the shoe to the groom \ who has hold of the bridle (a snafQe) and cavesson, \ and to nought beside. Meantime, stroking cross- ; wise with the hand over the forehead and eyes of j the horse, renders the most vicious and shy so gentle l and quiet, that if no objects near him divert his j attention, he will hang down his head quite low, and seem to be almost lulled to sleep. A dark, or at least a shaded place, is most con- | ducive to quietness ; where the horse may be j placed with its head inwards — the light entering from behind. Any disposition to restiveness may be anticipated by observing the motions of the horse's ears and eijes, both of which it then turns ' towards the smith. This is to be corrected by shaking the reins from side to side, by shortening and lengthening alternately the cavesson, by in- creasing the sharpness of the voice and threatening aspect, and making the stubborn or vicious animal comprehend that something is required of him. Order being somewhat restored, the caresses are ' to begin, as before said, placing the cavesson in j the left hand, short, along with the bridle, or even | taking hold of the ring of the former, patting the j i I I { MANNER OF TREATING THE HORSE. 213 shoulder and smoothing it down on that side the smith may be required to work ; stroking the face and soothing accents are the final means of ac- complishing the job— as regards one foot. i, A. Yes, yes ; and so on for the whole set. I see nought very extraordinary fine in these instruc- tions, that -you vaunt so much; nor does he speak to the annoyance such high-bred horses experience from the noise of the smithy and number of people about him, or the presence of the boy who rides him to exercise. Go on. Q. Here, read it yourself, page 23,* good sir. * To make the horse comprehend you is a point of essential importance on every occasion. Thus, if the groom pays constant attention to the eyes of the horse, he will easily perceive when it is about to bite, to rear and strike out, or kick behind. He must immediately signify his displeasure by shouting, threaten- ing, with the right hand elevated, by shaking the reins, not lashing, but gently ; frequently he will have occasion to employ all these means of overawing the refractory animal at one and the same time, as exemplified in the annexed cut. For ex- ample, when the smith is about to lift up the foot of the horse, and the latter is disposed to resist, this will be manifested by its turning towards the smith its ears and eyes, the latter show- ing much white to the groom who has the horse in charge. Hereupon you should make the horse comprehend that it is not to withdraw its foot from the smith, and proceed to employ all tie means just described of overawing such a disposition. As the animal may show a more placid disposition, so must the groom relax his coercion and his threats ; when those unto- ward symptoms return, these means must be resumed. But the the horse, however vicious, which has been treated in this manner steadily, never fails to show obedience to words of command or of encouragement. During this process the groom must never take off his eyes 214 OF RAISING THE LEGS, BY EXCITING A. But you do not adhere to the book, I perceive ; though I allow you render the thing taught more ifttelligible to me. So much for the operative part of the transaction. Q. In England, we all know, they perform most of the offices about horses by force, or by dint of strength ; and indeed when encamped in the Bois deBolo(j7ie, near Paris, many of the army smiths car- ried abroad with them this unamiable nationality — preferring it to the employment of cunnmg. They seize the foot at arms' length nearly, dragging it towards them outwards, instead of backwards, a from the horse's, that the attention of the latter may become more firmly fixed on him. For hereby only will he learn to lead, as it were, in the looks of the animal, the purpose of i(s mind, know how to frustrate any evil design it may conceive, and to direct the smith and his helper how to avoid danger or proceed with the shoeing. In fine, these persons will know from his tone of rutivg over the horse, or his commendations, when to take care of themselves. They ought to know also when the leg has been kept in one position too long, when the horse will require to rest it awhile, as well as when the par- ing way is carried on too roughly ; i. e. in slivers too large (eis noticed in a preceding page 21), a mode of proceeding that is highly injudicious, and the cause of much just resentment on the part of the sufferer. Heavy horses receive more annoyance from standing long on three legs than the lighter description of horse, for the pretended counter-lever which the smith thinks to afford the animal by bringing his hip against the superior part of the lifted leg, is as nothing compared to the great bulk that is thus thrown its whole weight upon the standing limbs, whilst the leg that is undergoing the operation is bent unnaturally, is strained out of its proper position, and the cir- culation of blood impeded, if not stopped. THE FRACTIOUS HORSE'S ATTENTION. 215 position no horse could long preserve, be it of ever so ffeutle a nature : in the course of two or three minutes under the drawing knife, the horse, feeling uneasy, seeks to relieve itself from pain ; if a low- bred animal, he grunts discontent, and gets a blow, or abuse ; if better bred, he kicks or plunges, and is with difficulty restrained from perpetrating some signal mischief. Lieutenant Balassa takes great merit to himself for having discovei'ed the manner of placing the assistant smith in such a situation as not to get kicked or bitten ; and experience has proved his plan good and practical ; furthermore, it is reasonable, and, I must allow, much in con- formance with our own management in the better description of stables. The position of the smith for taking up the off fo7-e foot of a vicious horse, for example, is to place his own left shoulder next the horse's right — look- ing forward at its eyes and ears, watching for any change therein. All being quiet, he proceeds to touch the shoulder with the open left hand, to take hold of a lock of its mane, and to familiarize with the horse by stroking the shoulder and the leg downwards. But, as the horse will not rest quietly under this treatment, the smith must place himself beside the groom, permit the horse to smell him ; then advance gently, touching the mane and shoulder, and bring himself round to the rigJit- ahout-face, looking again towards the horse's eyes and ears, and at the groom. This proceeding he will have to repeat with a vicious horse more than 216 VICIOUS HORSE— shoeing: charge two or three times, at the first shoeing ; and when at last he has got hold of the fetlock with the finger and thumb of the right hand, the thumb only is to be compressed, and that gently, against the coronet, in taking up the foot ; thus carrying it forwards a little first, and turning both it and himself a half movement round to the left, he brings the heel of the horse up nearly to its elbow with both hands. A. All reasonable enough. Q. Not at the first essay, however, nor until several times lifting up, and setting down again all the feet of the horse, is the shoeing to commence. The position and manner of taking up the hind foot is shown in the annexed figure, being nearly the same, reversed, as the instructions just read regarding the fore-foot. A. Yes, yes ; I perceive, that, upon the horse attempting to turn and kick the smith, the latter : ' OF BARBARITY, REPELLED. ^17 would be thrown off a suQicient distance to be out ' of the way of the heels. I like this manner of placing- the feet close together, most of our smiths straddling at it, as if they meant to " stand a tussle" with the horse. Q. The lieutenant also discommends the practice of taking up the feet of vicious young horses in the stable, assigning no reason whatever for this dis-f.^ suasive. He also advises that the assistant smith be himself drilled at thus taking up the foot, upon horses of a mild disposition, before he is employed in shoeing the refractory ones. - A. This is all very well, and ought to be put upon paper; but I do not altogether like the at-, tempt of your friends to brand our countrymen with the charge of inhumanity by a side wind , particularly the inuendo respecting the conduct pursued towards a horse (and by inference every horse) in His Majesty's stables.* In all our Con- versations you will find, upon turning to your notes, neither of us can accuse the other of having neg- lected the cause of humanity. We agreed on this, • The facts are these: — the Russian general Platoff, having presented his horse to His present Majesty, then Regent, it was sent to Carlton-house stables, and fed as the other horses. AVhat followed, but that he put up flesh too much for his nature, became restive, and, like every other created being, spurned his parasites, and punished one of them— appropriately enough ! As to " the animal resenting the ill usage" he received, we are disposed to believe that he v.'as only affected in the head by the heat of the stomach, occasioned by indurated faaces and J fulness of blood — an everj -day occurrence. i L I 218 THE COSSACK HORSIi, PAMPERED; though wrangling occasionally on other topics. In- deed, the ceruse of this fractiousness in the Cos- sack general's horse has been already accounted for hy us ; and is wholly attributable to the high feeding at those stately stables, and constant in- door dry meat, that he became so vicious as to " kick tlie barbarous groom," as we are told; whose misconduct, I aver, consisted in nothing else than the error just mentioned, and which you and I shall never cease to denounce. My own anathemas to the same purpose were put upon record six years ago,* and had been verbally promulged five times as long before that. Q. Doubtless, they followed the mistaken notion of keeping their horses always in-doors, on dry food — at Carlton-house. You certainly anticipated my lieutenant and his translator by all those years, so they gain nought as regards priority. A. The Cossack wanted to range the hills and en- joy lying out, as was his nature, instead of the stately stable and two-year-old corn. Why, our worst grass-fields would have proved too rich for his un- commonly hearty constitution. In addition, they gave too little water, at that time of day, so the rough foreigner kicked one of the lads into better manners, it seems. Q. And succeeded ! Ha, ha, ha; my "friends," * In the Annals of Sporting, 1822, passim : " I never see a horse bolt out of the course, throw or kick the groom, but I imagine it an act of retribution for his mistakes in feeding, de- nial of water, tight girthing, &c." MISREPRESENTATION CONCERNING HIM. 219 then, as you call them, have beat " us English," after all. Good. A. To be serious — there is no want of humanity in this country, though uneducated persons about stables may make a mistake in thinking they do not swerve from the line of their duty when they out- strip it. The two volumes by John Lawrence, " a Philosophical Treatise on Horses," had for object principally to advocate a more humaqe treatment than hitherto prevailed; and I have reason for believing that he did not wholly fail in his en- deavours. White and Hinds followed in the same track. Q. Something occurs to me, on turning once more to this book of the Austrian Lieutenant's, that the slur meant to be cast upon the conduct of the king's servants, in this respect, is the language of disappointment : discarded persons usually think ill of their former employers, and if these do no- thing to merit censure, any little incident is fastened upon to justify that adverse opinion. A. Eh! Oh, I see,— " revised by the late Ve- terinary Surgeon to his Britannic Majesty." That cannot be true, — the word revised is wrong ; for, had Mr. Goodwin really *' revised" the page where this unfounded calumny occurs, (page 27,) he would have amended the sense, by adding, that, '* since the accident, (which is one of frequent re- currence,) the Cossask horse has been sent to Hampton-court, and there turned out in one of the paddocks ; and being thus restored to compara- 220 OF SHIFTING THE SHOES. tive freedom, upon green food, shows no further disposition to kick, or otherwise molest the people that come near him." Q. Egad ! he must have known the fact to be as you have stated it; for I have seen him at Hampton-court, and the Cossack horse too— a lit- tle grey one. A. A little grey — nothing very remarkable, only as i-egards his celebrated master. I would not give the two we exercised this morning, (see Frontis- piece,) for a whole 2mlk of Cossacks. Q. Apulk, a horde of two or three brigades. Why, I would not find them. Apropos, as to shoeing horses whose tread is affected by the posi- tion of the limb, and its attachment to the body, — What remedy would you adopt ? •. A. Merely making the shoe thicker and harder on the side the wear is most visible, and changing the shoes, when these are worn thin on one side, which effects a temporary remedy. Q. But nothing can cure the original defect of bad built or malconformation of the limb. ■'''A. As is fully set forth in the first Chapter of '-'i the Veterinary Surgeon," section 5th, APPENDIX; Including Extracte from the " BOOK OF RECEIPTS" OF JOHN HINDS, V.S. Author of " The Veterinary Surgeon ; or. Farriery taught on improved Principles." Antimony is a mineral of very great importance to •our purposes. In medicine, it is prepared and sold under several names, receiving different appellations ac- cording to the means used in the different preparations, which changes its manner of operating; wliilst its virtues remain the same, whether reduced by pounding, by heat, by alkali, or by acids. In the form of powder, given in oats (after being damped), antimony has the effect of making the coat sleek, and is, therefore, a powerful adjunctive in curing all cutaneous affections ; but when indigestion has filled the stomach with sour- ness, and the bowels with flatulency, antimony acts with extreme violence, and then should be combined with potass, calcined magnesia, or soap. In its most eligible forcible form it is called sulphuret of antimony, is a bright yellow powder, without smell ; but is often adul- terated with chalk, which reduces its bright colour. From the extreme brightness of its colour, it acquired the vulgar title of goldeii sulphur of antimony. To be pure, it should not evaporate ^Tith the addition of vinegar or lemon juice, but will then turn white ; and if put over the fire, the antimony will fly off, leaving the adulteration behind it. Kf'Have a care, while making these tests, not to inhale the evaporation, for 'tis dele- terious in a high degree. In fact, it is in this pene- 222 APPENDIX : trating quality that its virtues reside; for, when submitted to the heat of the body, which, in the horse, is very g-reat, it seeks to escape by the skin, and brings along with it, by effusion, the watery secretions of the mem- branous part of the system. [See Index, Secretions, Ef- fusion?^ According as the dose may be increased, it acts upon the stomach, so as to produce nausea, or, farther still, upon the bowels, as a brisk purgative. Df Tartar Emetic ( Tartaris Antimonii of the shops) prepared, or oxydised, by the action of acids, and therefore white, we have heard it said that * were every other manner of preparing antimony (and there are several) discarded from our practice, nothing would be lost, whilst we possessed emetic tartar ; for it is decidedly the most manageable and least uncertain of all the antimonial preparations.' This was said, as regards the human practice ; but, though the action of antimony is very similar in both cases, yet the cruder sulphui-et is frequently required to act more strongly upon the horse than the tartarized will do. In doses of half a drachm, if the animal be well clothed, a perspiration, generally profuse, will come away ; one di'achm (the usual dose with farriers) will procure a stool or two, and this will be folio wed by sweating; two drachms, the quantity prescribed in the books, agitates the stomach, then purges, and both are succeeded by sweating. This substance is ever found adulterated in powder, so as to render its operation uncertain ; therefore, let it be bought in the crystalline form, and be powdered afterwards. By solution in water, the acid being set free, a copious gold coloured precipitate ought to be furnished ; upon pouring off the water, the adulteration mil be found lying upon the antimony. Aloes. This being the chiefest ingredient of all the purgative medicines given to the horse, demands more lengthened notice than we shall find occasion to bestow upon any other substance employed in removing the diseases or presei-ving the health of this animal; and the more so, as the danger incurred by the abuse of an invaluable purgative, by over-dosing, is further in- ANTIMONY, ALOES. 223 creased by the variety, the uncertain quality, and the adulterated state in which this excellent material is found in the shops. As to its manner of operating, and the means of keeping down the dose to moderate quantities, according- to the several kinds, and agreeable to the class of horse to be purged by them, the reader will ^ find more information under the head, of " Physicking," to which it more appropriately belongs. Aloes is an ex- tract from varieties of a plant of the same name, growing in several distant and distinct parts of the world. Im- porters of the ai-ticle divide aloes into four classes— among themselves, but endeavour to pass ofif the inferior for the better sorts, to the shops, as often as the former may have been extracted with care and assume a better appearance and smell, and consequently bear greater intrinsic value : in this mode of viewing the matter there remain, in reality, but two distinct sorts. 1. The So- eotrine, or sweet scented. 2. The Barbadoes, or strong aloes, — as we shall see presently. With the Jirst is assimilated the best of the Cape aloes, or third description; the fourth being the " Aloe Caballina," or horse aloes ; so called by certain vendors, from being the refuse of the others, though always made to appear bright, and therefore good enough in their opinions for the animal after whom they have named it in derision, as if any rank, stinking, drastic substance, were befitting the horse ! These are to be rejected, as totally unfit, and dangerous to be given to horses with tender insides ; whilst, by frequent use, they render the most robust horses tender, and thus work ruin on either description. Let us prefer the best, or at least, stick to one kind, of which we know the strength by expe- rience. 2. Such aloes as dissolve the readiest in hot water, in proof-spirit, or weak vinegar, leaving the least of sedir ment at the bottom; such as possess, at the same time, a fine aromatic flavour, is hardest, with a smooth, dark, reddish coloured and shining surface, and having the least dirty residue or gourd on solution — may ever be 224 APPENDIX : deemed the best and purest, whether coming from the Cctpe of Good Hope, from Socotra, or elsewhere. Compared together the Barbadoes kind has less depth of colour than the Socotrine, and comes to us in larger lumps than the latter,- it has also a ranker smell without the redeeming aromatic flavour of the Soco- trine, or those of the Qape. But this aromatic smell, and facility of solution, just spoken of, upon which mainly depend the mildness of operation, may be both destroyed by joining the aloes with other substances— deemed incompatible in the horse's body, because the odour flies off upon mixing. Nor do they avoid this kind of disaster, when they adopt the alkaline salts, which reside in soap of every kind; and this latter material is employed extensively aa the chief vehicle of all description of aloes. Hereby, in time, the abundant bitterness of some kinds is corrected, and the operation rendered milder, but the great gut (colon) is not always emptied alike completely, on ac- count of the best aloes, when thus combined, losing their aromatic odour on mixing and dissolving in the , stomach too soon, thereby combining with the food before its purgative effects reach the lower intestine, if it do not take a contrary turn entirely. Therefore, it was that I set myself to obviate the e%'il of giving a purge on a full stomach, after the manner described in the article titled Physicking ; and to employ this vehicle only when aloes is given as ordinary physic, when the stomach is presumed to be in a healthy state and little liable to be affected by the action of the aloes ; whilst in those cases where this central organ of the whole system might be presumed to be already in a state of excitement, I have adopted treacle as the vehicle, and recommended it generally, when the horses training into condition require to be purged, have been prepared according to my direc- tions. See Index for Physic. 3. Thus, whichever way we turn ourselves, our ex- pectations are liable to be frustrated by combining the aloes with sub$tances that do not always agree with all ALOES, THE BARBADOES. the kinds of aloes alike ; for the alkali also differs in quality and quantity in each description of soap, if not in every parcel, and when taken is likely to be aftected ^ in one way or other by the actual state of the stomach and bowels ; which is such, at times, as to digest the , whole of the dose, to retard its operation, or td turn aside a large proportion thereof. 1st.' To the kidneys ; 2d. To the skin ; and, 3d. into the circulation of the ■ blood, by absorption ;* all which aberrations are known to take place, as we shall have to prove, under the head j just referred to. 4. Barbadoes aloes, though spoken of as rough and . heating in its operation, is only so in consequence of its | resisting solution until the major part of the ball has •descended to the colon, whereby this and the last gut (the rectum ) are so much excited as to cause a new disorder of the parts — which require sedatives to allay the protru- sion that ensues. Employing an extra quantity of the soap, when a speedy operation is required, gets rid of this objection to the use of Barbadoes aloes ; and as we cannot spoil its odour, seeing it has little or none to lose, ! we attain another end, by the use of soap in large doses, that of exciting the kidneys to produce an abundance of urine, which is ever desirable when we do not thereby weaken the required purgative effect. Tnie it is, that the Socotrine aloes without the aid of soap ( i. e. of the Aali it contains) produces urine, yet this is only effected by sacrificing the purgative quality of the aloes; and, therefore it is that a larger quantity of the Socotrine is I required than of the Barbadoes kind, in the propor- tion that three bears to two, to produce the same effect. See Index for Stomach and Kidneys, to show how this communication is brought about. This allows for about one third of the Socotrine to be " turned aside," as just observed in the last page; a defection that does not happen to the Barbadoes aloes, either on account of • Undigested particles, as bits of chaff, have come forth on bleeding in the neck. Vide Veferinanj Surgeon. l3 I 226 APPENDIX : their containing less resin and more gum than the Soco- irine, or that the purgative quality resides in the bitter principle which distinguishes the Barhadoes. At least, thus we conclude ; for, the question as to those propor- tions, and in which of them the purgative quality resides, is not yet settled by the experimental chemists ; nor is the adjustment of such a dispute of much importance to the practice of Veterinary Medicine, in which we look mainly to effect. 5. Barbadoes aZoes, then, possesses this triple recom- mendation , — viz. 1 . That it affords a safe and certain purgative ; 2. That we may rely upon its quality being always the same, except as respects freedom from dirt ; 3. That a less quantity sei-ves our turn. And this last is adduced, not so much for the pence which may be saved by price or quantity, as for the fact (which has already been discussed, in Conversation xi.) that the excessive use of this stimulating purgative wears out the horse, if it do not superinduce inflanmiation of the intestines in four such cases out of five. Neither is the case altered, when the poorer animals, that are kejit without the means of incurring inflammation, die of torpor of the same part, called by us debility, or locked jaw ; or, being better sustained, as to hay and corn, with a constantly-perverted stomach, they go off in vertigo, megrim, or staggers. 6. Adulteration of this article, as of all other drugs, is mostly prevalent when scarce and dear, and the Socotrine being higher priced than other aloes, Ave found that kind during the war deteriorated vidth com- mon resin, thereby rendering the use of this particular kind extremely precarious. 7. Aloe-balls. No one is at a loss to make a ball from the ingredients prescribed, and this is almost the only tbrm in which aloes can be conveniently administered. A mode of casting the balls in moulds, however, as now practised, deserves to be generally known, as being more convenient, and withal retaining the virtues of the more priceable kind of aloes at the same time. By melting, also, the offensive substances that come to us in the ALOES, ADULTERATIONS. 227 crude aloes, are got rid of, the mass remains ductile and subtle for a long time, when kept in bladder, and may be cut into doses with a greased knife as the balls may be required. For this pui-pose prepare a tin boiling saucepan, having an inner tin pot, resembling a joiner's glue-pot, with a cover. Chemists term this contrivance Balnea Maria, or Mary-bath ; which possesses the ad- vantage of melting any substance steadily, and keeping it in that state awhile, without the chance of its coming in contact with the fire; as would happen were the boiler to become red hot, and no water intervening in the outer pot, as in this sort of contrivance. The inner fot has a spout, resembling that of an ale- house pot, with a strainer inside, and a lid of its own size, hanging by a hinge to the lid of the inner pot, which in like manner hangs by a hinge to the pot itself, that there may be no delay in shutting out the atmospheric air, whenever it may be deemed necessary to ascertain the complete liquefaction of the contents. Into this pot put the aloes to be melted, with about a sixth of its own weight of treacle ; or a larger proportion, if the aloes be of the Barbadoes kind, and then set on the boiler. After half an hour's boiling, most of the aloes will be found in a fluid state; when the whole may be stirred down, and the boihng of the outer pot continue until all is fluid. No delay should take place in pouring oft" the aloes, into moulds made of paper, or into a long tin mould, which opens at the side, after being disengaged of the fastening that keeps it together. This part of the process is to be performed in a close room, and whilst the water boils intensely, lest the aloes set, and require being cut out, or be sacrificed to careless- ness. The spout must be of good width, as the straiiier will otherwise choke up with the filth and gourd, that is thus disengaged from the aloes. Should it be deemed needful to introduce the usual aromatic helps — as ani- seed, carraway-seed, cummin-seed, &c. the seeds may be introduced powdered, as soon as the liquefaction has commenced; so of jrmsrer in powder ; but the essential oils of the three first mentioned, so often prescribed in ®28 .r.ijiq ai appendix: ajijija this book for the cold preparations, would be tbxowa away in the present mode of making up aloetic purges hy heat. The medium dose of aloes prepared in this way is, of the Socotrine, for a hxinter, 7 or 8 drachma ; for a race horse at strong work, and full grown, 2 drachms more than the hunter : of the Barbadoes kind, 5 drachms for the hunter in full work ; for the race horse, 6 drachms, whilst at strong work, and consequently at full feed. I am aware that much larger doses are given, and these combined with substances that accele- rate the purgation, or determine the medicine to certain organs of the body. The previous indiscretion of the givers may have rendered sucli doses necessary ; but I know that less will suffice under proper n^anagement ; tmd I feel the truth of the maxims eUcited in various conversations, that the more physic we give the more we must give, to produce the same results, but I knew also that we thereby wear out the animal. Alteratives ; medicines which being given in small doses effect the object intended by slow means, as just now adduced in the article aloes. Tonics are ever employed in this manner, diuretics seldom, and purga- tives only when the subject is tender, or is just come out of a fit of illness ; they are then termed laxatives. Many grasses act alteratively upon the system, and it is in this respect that the turning out to soil is found beneficial to the horse's constitutional vigour. Bran mashes and weak gruel also effect all the good they do by gently disposing the digestive functions — on which all others depend, to resume their healthy action. See Laxatives, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, and Tonic Pre- scriptions, • Attenuants. Medicines are so called that thin the blood, and induce the humours to run off; in which man- ner of acting the diluents maybe considered as attenuants also. Water is a good natural attenuant ; it follows, of course, that denial of water must occasion the blood to thicken. Nitre powdered, and given with the corn, cools the kidneys and produces urine by a directly different ALTERATIVES^BILIOUS PILLS. 2^ mode of bpe'rating than aloes and soap— the one irrita- tin£^, the other allaying the disordered action of those organs, ^^eedmf/ also attenuates. No. 1. Nitre « 4 drachms, \ Camphor i' .^•ifiiifcifl .£ 1 drachm, Aniseed 10 drops, with meal and mucilage to form the ball for one dose : give two or three days, successively. No. 2. Nitre 2 drachms, Honey 2 oz. mix in white water, and give twice or three times a-day. Good for a trouhlesome cough. No. 3. Sea-onion, fresh 5 oz. Vinegar 3 lb. Simmer these a day and night in a warm corner in a close vessel ; press out the liquor, and after it becomes clear of faeculencies, add of Rectified spirits 6 oz. Excellent in all affections of the lungs, and diuretic also. Apis. The vulgar pronunciation of Oi/ls, a favourite remedy, as they chose to think it, among the old farriers ; but which, in nine cases out of ten, destroyed the parts to which the mixture was applied, without raising a blister. It was composed of nearly equal quantities of oil of vitriol, oil of turpentine, and linseed oil. Bilious pills for the groom, to cleanse his stomach, &c. after feeding too much. Extract of Colocynth 1 drachm. Hard soap .j. 4;.,. . , scruple, Jalap r.. i . . 1 scruple, Gum-guiacum 4 scruples, Tartarized antimony 4 grains. Oil of carraway 10 drops, mixed with surrup of buckthorn, to make thirty pills ; two are a dose. Balls. The favourite mode of giving physic of any kind to the horse, and should be made up as they are wanted, as their virtues decay by long keeping, and the aromatics and spices, with which the nauseous part of 230 Ap'pETsrbix the prescription is disguised, lose tlieir scent. We employ bullocks' bladder to obviate this deterioration, and may mention three or four days to ten days or a fortnight, as the extent at which we may safely reckon upon their virtues. Under the article aloes I have described the manner of casting purging balls of that material. Bark. All the barks of trees are found to possess a tonic quality, the peruvian being the finest, the best got, and in most general use. But cascarilla is found to have stronger powers, and therefore preferable in horse medicine. Although some affect to question the eifect of bark on the horse, no doubt remains tbat these and all bitter vegetable productions have a tonic quality, and are to be preferred before the preparations from mine- ral substances. The dose varies from | of an ounce to double that quantity, requires perseverance, is chiefly desirable after fever or internal inflammation, and should be given in a drencb, if it be required to operate upon the stomach. But they obviate this by making the ball of easily solvent materials. [See Tonics.] Bleeding has been often spoken of, as being fre- quently undertaken unnecessarily. Refer to Index, under this word, and Pulse, and recollect never to bleed unless you can assign some satisfactory reason for the operation. The heat under the tongue is a good indica- tion of its propriety ; as is, also, fulness of blood, when the artery can scarcely be felt by reason of the patient being thick-skinned, as is the case with the lower descriptions of horses — which seldom require bleeding. Most heavy animals also evince the necessity of bleeding by the anxious manner of the eyes; the conjunctiva being swollen, and feels rigid on the touch. Blistering. As an application for drawing off internal inflammation to the surface, this remedy has been spoken of, at various times, in the foregoing pages, as much superior to rowelling, or setons, the efficacy whereof have been justly doubted: as regards the better bred horse, these methods are totally inapplicable. Blistering has never been employed in the form of plaster, that BARK— BLISTERING. 231 T have heard of, though I see no reason why, unless it be the difficulty of devising effectual bandages, in which service the people of the stables are usually so inexpert. Therefore should the operator guard the hand in the vigorous application of any of the following — Blister Ointments. The mildest receives the term " embrocation" from the effects being apparently less severe, viz. No. 1 . Flour of mustard 6 oz. Water to mix to the consistency of paste ; that is to say, the mustard of the culinary art. This may Ije converted into a mild blister by adding Oil of turpentine 2 oz. Water of pure ammonia 1 oz. ; mix, and apply to the sides, the chest, or to the region of the kidneys, as either may be affected ; always performing this part of the office with much assiduity. No. 2, Lyttae, powdered, 4 drachms, Venice turpentine 1 oz. Hog's lard 4 oz. ; mix for one application. No. 3. Oil of turpentine • • 1 oz. Vitriolic acid 2 drachms, to be poured care- fully on the turpentine, in an open place, then add Lyttae, powdered, • • 6 drachms. Hog's lard 4 oz. ; mix. As it sometimes is thought adviseable, after rubbing on the ointment, to plaster on a portion with the knife, melt wax 2 oz. then mix it with the tui-pentine first, and add the other ingredients subsequently, as they stand in order, and reducing the quantity of lard to 2 oz. The next form, which is still stronger, may also be rendered more consistent, by the addition of tuax. No. 4. Barbadoes tar 1 oz. Oil of bay 2 oz. Mercurial ointment 1 oz. Lyttae, powdered- • 1 oz.; mix. Either of the foregoing are adapted for reducing swel- lings of the back sinews and other lameness occasioned 232 APPENDIX : by hard work, strains, and bruises, after the inflamma- tion at the part has a little subsided. Repetition will be necessary, in general, for spavin, windgall, and curb; and for these, as Avell as every other part, the hair should be clipped close. Rememuer that the flies flyttcB of the three last formulae) be very well powdered, and sifted, as much depends on the intimate admixture of this main principle of blistering. When the pimples rise, the horse will endeavour to bite the parts, Avhich, if permitted, would raise an indelible blemish, besides blis- tering the lips : let him be tied up short, or wear a cradle ; with the two following, this precaution is impe- ratively necessary, by reason of the exceedingly great irritability of the ingredients, without which quality they would ill perform the object sought by the application — namely, to remove ringbone, splent, bone spavin, or other enlai-gement of bones. No. 5. Mercurial ointment 3 oz. Oil of origanum 3 drachms, Euphorbium, powdered • 3 drachms, Lyttae, powdered 4 drachms; mix. No. 6. Mercurial ointment (old and strong) 3 oz. Corrosive sublimate, levigated 2 oz. Oil of origanum 2 drachms, Lyttse, powdered 6 drachms; mix, and use with caution. Both these last have the effect of destroying the hair permanently; an unsightly blemish we must submit to, if we would preserve the sei-vices of the horse. No. 7. Take of the preceding, and dissolve the subli- mate in Nitric acid 2 oz. ; then add the other ingredients, and you have as sti-ong a blister-ointment as can be required for reducing the en- largement of bones just spoken of. , • u * * All these prescriptions should be prepared with .rreat care, the flies requiring to be very finely powdered and well incorporated; whilst the effervescence of the acids must be guarded against by the compounder. 1 he BLISTER— CAMPHOR. 233 patient's bed must be shook out, and covered afresh, m order to guard agamst the small portions of blister-omt- ment which may fall upon it, and raise a bhstei- on the body where it may not be required. ^'Blue Pill (The). [See Mercury.] Bran-mash. [See White Water, No. 2.] Broken knees. Whenever this accident occui-s, or whatever the quantity of damage inflicted, a great con- tusion has taken place, although the skin be scarcely abraded. Therefore is it very desirable that remedies be applied as soon as possible, and that the horse is laid up at rest immediately, for some of the reasons adduced in Conversation ii. ; where we discussed the trivial cause of permanent lameness in the higher breed of horses, to whom every act of progression is then exceedingly detrimental. Brushes and the curry-comb have been spoken of (pages 19 and 188), and to which let me add the follow- ing account of a newly-invented one, for the utility whereof I cannot vouch at present. Horse-bricsh. A pamphlet, published at Paris, by M. Goetz, recommends a substitute, of his invention, for the twist of straw commonly used in dressing horses. The brush, which the inventer dignifies with the title of brosse hygi^nique, is an imitation of the kaffah, or brush of the Arabs. [Qy if kaffah is not a horse ?] It is composed of a tissue of horse-hair, enfolding a pad of the same material, banked by thin iron plates, and covered with varnished leather. It is, moreover^ furnished mth a strap across, the width of the back, like an ordinary brush. The web which covers the pad, which is equally flexible and strong, it is averred, pene- trates the hair and to the hide of the animal better than any other instrument, and removes all foreign substances, however minute. The size is the same as the usual horse-brush, covers an equal portion of the surface at a time, clears out all the cavities, in passing over them, and, on this account, accelerates the process of dressing. Calomel. [See Mercury.] Camphor. This gum is one of the best articles 234 APPENDIX : employed in veterinaiy medicine, on account, chiefly, of its anti-spasmodic quality, which it effects by allayinxj the heat and irritation of which the horse is remar- kably susceptible, wherefore it is employed in arresting the progress of excessive purgation. It acts upon the skin, also ; and, in the form of a tincture, given in gruel, is antiseptic ; a quality it must derive as much from the warmth of the spirit as to the complete solution it thus undergoes ; for, be it knoAvn that (notwithstanding the brief eulogy just pronounced) scarcely any medecine turns so completely round upon the slovenly compounder, who should administer the camphor before it be fully dissolved, and thereby farther excite the already inflamed stomach and bowels, instead of alleviating the pain. But the spirits of wine, which it is necessary to use in all preparations of camphor, for its solution, being for the most part incompatible with the purposes for which it is administered, must be used sparingly; and particularly in cases of inflamed rectum and excessive purging, in which I have employed it as a sedative addition to the clysters that then become needful, a few drops of the spirit must suffice, and then pounded in a mucilage of accacia. If over-dosed, the patient will be thereby submitted to great danger ; the weak inside and tender horses being least benefited by the exhibition of this excellent medicine ; as will, also, such as have been much reduced by disease, by misusage, or by old age. To this latter circumstance let us in charity attribute the failure of camphor reported to us by Bracy Clark ; the stomach of an animal that awaits the knacker's axe being ill calculated to make a fair experiment upon. A herb, serving the purpose of camphor, is obscurely mentioned for its opiate virtues by some writers, and which the sagacious animal would, no doubt, select while in a state of nature. This, however, I apprehend is no other than the lettuce, mentioned below under that head. Camphoretted Spirits, for strains, bruises, and swellings. When applied immediately, the solution of camphor, in spirits of wine, will be found sufficient to CAMPHORETTED SPIRITS— CASTOR OIL. 235 repel a slight accident, which, if neglected and the horse worked on, renders strong bhstering necessary. I have reason to think that when horses in training fall lame on the downs, the instant application of carnphoretted spirits would alleviate, if not effectually remove, the lameness in a short time. No. 1. Camphor 1 oz. 'Spirits of wine 2 oz. dissolves at once. But the employment of soap, as it adds to the con- sistency of this embrocation, enables the operator to employ much mbbing, which is itself a good aid in reducing the swelling, the heat, and the pain ; there- fore, to No. 2. Carnphoretted spirit as above, add Soft soap 2 oz. Solution of ammonia • • 1 oz. ; mix, or increase its power by the addition of Oil of turpentine • • • • 1 oz. Cover the part, usually the leg, and oftenest of the back sinew, walk him to stable, or, being there, let him rest awhile. See to his evacuations ; give a purging ball; and, if a bad case, recourse must be had to the fleam. When the patient is found somewhat recovered, give him a loose stable ; vary his diet, if you do not adopt the cooling regimen. Walking exercise, in hand, is highly serviceable as the lameness goes off. 2. A very small variation of the above materials produces that very useful domestic application, opodeldoc, which may be employed instead of either of the fore- going, with advantage, on high-bred cattle of thin skin and very sensitive. Camphor 1 oz. Hard soap 4 oz. Oil of rosemary i oz. Rectified spirit 8 oz. ; porjid the soap, and mix Avith the spirit ; dissolve the camphor therein, and mix. Apply extensively twice or thi'ee times the day of the accident. Castor oil. Recommended in cases of dangerous constipation, to precede bleeding; as, also, in severe in-. 236 APPENDIX : flammation of the inside, to follow bleeding, when the exhibition of aloes would perpetrate farther mischief. In other respects castor oil is not an eligible medicine. The dose is from one pint to two pints. When delay would endanger the horse's life, as happens when he tumbles down through hardness of the dung, causing staggers, olive oil, i. e. salad oil, may be substituted in larger quantity by one-half. Clyster. These are either laxative, or sedative, or simply emollient, and the basis of all is thin water- gruel, milk warm ; though, for the latter purpose, when the rectum requires only to be softened and soothed, warm water may suffice ; as it must, also, when the danger to be apprehended from hardened faces is immi- nent, and delay would be ruinous. Laxative clysters are rendered so by the addition of table salt, or Epsom Baits, to thin water-gruel, or any purgative — as aloes in solution. The sedative clyster acquires that quality by adding to Thin water gruel • • • • 3 quarts, ■ ' Camphor 4 drachms: inject. 'The camphor will give out its anodyne quality by the heat of the gruel alone ; but where spirits of wine is at hand, a few drops readily procure complete solution, and when any of the lump remains, in either case, the animal may be figged with it. If the camphor offend the gnat, it will be expulsed in a few seconds and need not be lost. See Camphor. A bullock's bladder and pipe is the usual mean of injecting clysters ; but I hear of an instrument being offered for sale in the form of a syringe. Colic may be relieved by employing a clyster, as fol- lows : — Oil of turpentine 4 oz. The yolk of two eggs, beat up -mix, and add to. Thin water-gruel 3 quarts: inject. Colt's foot decoction, for curing cough, cold in the lungs, hoarseness, and other affections of the throat and chest. The colt's foot leaves, gathered in May and CLYSTER— dORDIA-LS. 237 ,,1 •,,{• /Vrirnit.nfTTfriBB dried, wall be found to remove any such affection, to which the people about stables are very liable in the winter season. Let the leaves be made in a pot, in the same manner as tea, and kept simmering- a few hours ; sweeten with coarse sugar, and sip it, cold or warm, ten or a dozen times a day. If ten drops of paregoric elixir, i. e. Opium, be added to a table-spoonful of the decoction, the most troublesome cough is removed by it. I have not attended to the administering of this safe and admirable simple to the horse; but in a case of catarrhal inflammation, I rely upon the report made to me of its complete success. Cooling decoction, called also the linseed decoction. Linseed • • • • 3 pints, Water, boiling hot, 6 quarts, poured on the seeds, and let it simmer five or six hours ; then pour off, and add honey 10 ounces, or brown sugar double that weight, and give at three or four drenches in the course of the day. Repeat, if need be. But if the patient droops, and is off his feed, evidently from the effects of this cooling lotion, add thereto, of bitter extractive — as much as he .will take freely, i. e. without refusing the linseed ; or, more readily, the Extract from hops, 2 oz. or morCj^-, mix the hops with the linseed before adding the water. Cooling regimen. [See Regimen.] Cordials. Enough has been already said of this class of medicines ; one day having been devoted to a conversation on the abuses of cordials, as well as their proper application. In the form of balls is the ordinary manner of giving cordials ; but, as they are given inr variably almost with the intention of restoring the tone of the stomach, (i. e. its appetite,) and to invigorate the animal, this would not seem the most eligible, were it not for the facility with which the materials dissolve. No. 1 . Carraway seeds, ") Aniseeds, > powdered, each, 3 oz. Cummin seeds, } Ginger 2 oz. 238 APPENDIX : Oil of cloves • 20 drops; mix, with syrup enough to form into four balls. No. 2. Ginger, powdered 2 oz Car raway seeds, powdered 4 oz. Oil of carraway 1 drachm, Oil of aniseed 1 drachm. Liquorice powder 4 oz. ; mix, with honey Or treacle enough to form into five balls. No. 3. Liquorice powder 1 oz. Gum ammoniac 6 drachms. Balsam of tolu 3 drachms. Powdered squills 2 drachms ; mix with balsam of sulphur for two balls. 2. Cordial drenches, medicinally compounded, would prove extremely inconvenient to carry about, as most travellers and thorough good fox-hunters do the cordial ball ; nor are they so elegant a form for administering as the latter : but whoever is at a loss for this class of medicines when his horse knocks up, or is worked off his food, will always find it in a quart of strong ale or beer, a bottle of sherry, or any article of that kind, made warm, with an ounce of powdered ginger in it. Another of those " always ready" tilings is the White Water, No. 5; aball or quantity in mass being supposed to be always at hand. It is, in truth, one of the best remains of the old school, judiciously used. [See, also, Daffy s Elixir; and Cordials, in Index.] Daffy's Elixir. Given to the horse as a cordial, but sometimes very improperly so, though drowned in a large potion of oatmeal gruel. But for ma?i — the groom himself, Avho may have been exposed to the rough elements, to cold, or is griped after such exposm-e, or after taking green vegetables ; or if he become costive in luinter time, then Daffxjs Elixir is to him a veritable cordial and purgative, that has a thousand recommenda- tions. If he be aged, habituated to dram-drinking, or shiver after being out, (and no prospect of a stool that day,) let him take a table spoonful of the following: Infusion of senna 3 oz. Tincture of senna • • 3 drachms, daffy's elixir— diuretics. 239 Tincture of jalap • • • • • • 8 ; gradual, improves wind, ib. ; on physic, 106-110 • over- marked, ill eflects of, 65. i- J , , over Eyes, affected by hot stable, 82 ; nerve strained, 9; blear, 133 180; of irritated horses at shoeing, 212 ; the groom's eyes awe the fractious horse, 215. Fatness deprecated, 79, 103 ; engenders humours, 80 ; and the cough, 176, 180 ; pufly fatness, 191 ; fat horses suffer most from inflammation, 193. Feeding, of various kinds, 46, 75 ; full feeding injudicious, 48 61, 79, 96,133, 176, 183 ; of regular feeding, 46, 09, 96 - mode of, characteristic, 2, 12 ; dry, affects the wind, 48 79 ■ food and exercise, due adaptation of, 62, 65, 96, 182- the extremes of, undesirable, 98. ' Feet, determination of blood towards, 32; chill of, 30; fever of, 35, 37 ; fore, sympathy with lungs, 25, 41 , 184 ; and hind ones with kidneys, 41 ; how affected generally, 5, 25, 33 ; all important, 14; treatment of, 33; of a leading foot, 25, 36, 41 ; benefits of soiling to sole, 40, 59 ; soft foot, 24 ; con- traction, 22 ; large foot, 24 ; bleeding at, 36. See Hoof. Fire, never to be applied to horses, 124; firing the legs, ib. 209. Fired stable, manner of extrication from, 92. Fever and inflammation, distinction, 105 ; how created, 118, note; its remains difficult of cure, 52, 100, 149, 160 : of low, 120, and high, 139. Foreign horses, imported, 77 ; kinds, and manner of keeping, 77, 79 ; change of diet, ib. ; improvement in pace sought, 208 ; inferior to English, 78, 79. Foreigners' horse knowledge, estimate of, 186, 207; short of breeding means, 208 ; a teacher introduced, 211. Food, kinds of, proper, 131 ; bad, how corrected, 128-133 ; re- jected in disease, 45, 139 ; antidotes to bad, 131 ; properties of, 46, 48. Founder, new names for, 21, 22 ; same with chest founder, 27,105. Fret (the) arises in the brain, 29, note ; fretfulness from adhe- sion, 144. Frog, pressure proved beneficial, 28 ; wetness detrimental, 40. Frush, or Thrush and Canker, how engendered, 28. Gas of stables, properties of, 85 ; experiments on, 86. German horses, how fed, 77 ; imported, ib.; manner of, 79-94. Glanders, how engendered and discriminated, 134, 179. Glut, what? 97; must be ridded, fft. Goat (a) not desirable in stables, 70, note. Grass, a run at, its benefits, 50 ; scouring, 63 ; a partial one good, 69. See Green Food, INDEX. 269 GTease, how incurred, 46 ; by shallow stalls, 90 ; by l»tter,^81 ; bv currents of air, 93 ; derived from urinary organs, 93, 156. Green food, what? 59. 101; beneficial, 9, 50, 162; weakens, ' 49 ; scours, 53 ; in-doors, 54, 59 ; a substitute for, 132 ; pur- gative, 50, 109 ; diuretic, 161. See Carrots, Mangel Wurzel, Hay, Potatoes, Cnoling regimen, in AppEnmx. Grooms' duty, 1, 83,181, 188,212; his qualifications, 12,49, 96 ; and example, 84 ; capacity, 83, 97 ; library, 8 ; temper . of, 70 ; mannerism of, 112, 167. Grooming, what? 82; its effects— absorption, 83; a restora- ' tive, 198. , ^ , . Gruel for ailing animals reeommended, 76. Mode of making, see ArPENDix. Guts, excoriation of, what? 52— the colon is meant. Hand-rubbing beneficial to legs, 107 ; when not so, 16. Hay-feeding improper, 107 ; fills the stomach, 116 ; affects the breathing-, 79; rick-burnt injurious, 129; when not so, 130, note; induces diabetes, ib.; qualities of, 145— Appendix. Health, duty of ascertaining, 1 ; how done, 5 ; what it is, 96 ; proof of, 151 ; preservation of, 58, by turning out, 59, 95 ; by rubbing down, 61 ; by physic, 80 ; a proof of, 153. Heat, the primary cause of disease, 4 ; tends to inflammation, 116 ; of the body affects the feet, 29 ; of stables, how regu- lated, 91. High-bred horses, sensitive, 2; irritability of, 75, 116; de- stroys them, 201 ; sweat inordinately, 204; of shoeing, 209. Hoof, brittle, 29, 33, 81, 93; soft, 24; contracted — dispute solved, '22; strong, 23; hot applications injure, 31; horn how supplied, 35. See Feet. Horses, importation and exportation of, 67, 77, 78 ; hearty and tender ones convalescent, compared, 100. Humanity, the cause of, pleaded, 210, 216. Humours (the) what? 50, note; the sequousand vitreous, 118 ; are but depraved secretions, 50, 118; thickened, cause disease, 48, 66 ; how brought on, 80, 123, 154. Hunters, the medium description of horse, 55, 114 ; half- breds, 13 ; costive, 103 ; always out, 68 ; the King's, 39 ; a knock-up, 33, 142 ; and bled, 35, 44 ; lungs affected, 176 ; training to their work, 57, 62 ; no blank days, 67 ; lamed, 19 ; too tenderly kept, 38 ; over-physicked, 44 ; work on full stomach, 65. Jaundice, how produced, 156 ; becomes inflammation, 157, 200. See Liver. Inflammatory complaints, tendency to, 29, note, 31 ; how in- duced, 3, 32, 46, 80, 116 ; by bad water, 70 ; how arrested, 138 ; danger of cordials, 105 ; of particular organs — the lungs, 186 ; bowels, 45, 148, 156 ; liver, 154, 199 ; kidneys, 154 ; legs, 20 ; bleeding for, rule to be observed, 196 ; rapid effects of, 193 ; turn of symptoms, 195 ; subdued, but not N 2 270 INDEX. cured, 198; mode of discriminating from colic, 145; diffi- culty of recovery from, 149 ; of peritonaeal, 202. Intestines, disorders of, 52, 80, 123, 139, 146, 149; adhesions of, self-cured, 190; aggravate to inflammation, 201. Kick on the leg, 19; under the belly, effects of, 99, 129. Kidneys, afi'ected by hollow back, 4 ; by concretions, 75 • whence over-excited, 155, 1C6 ; wear out, 93, 100; rotten' 94, 161 ; a blow on, 99 ; sympathize with hind feet, 33, note '; with the stomach, 52, 101 ; and with the bladder, 117. Knock-up, treatment for a,, 33-35 ; objection answered, 43. Lameness, seat of, how ascertained, 14 ; general cause of, 16 19, 206; before, 14, 36; behind, 27, 33; preventives, 42- cure of lame leg, 18, 101 ; stopping for, 40. Lampas, obstructs conditioning, 123; best mode of cure, 124. Leg and foot, disorders of, 28; how induced, 30; of fore and hind leg, 25, 193 ; thick, 51 ; how reduced, 108, 198 ; turn cold, in inflammation, 152, 195 ; hand-rubbing, too much, injudicious, 16 ; good, 107 ; bandaging, 19. Lengths, how improved, 63, 71 ; causes internal disorder, 207. Litter, standing on, effects of, 80; economy of, 68 ; affects the eyes, 82 ; eating litter, 182. Liver, how affected, 52,154, 157, 207 ; by chill, 120; adhesion to the diaphragm, 147, 7iote, 201, 205 ; to the bowels, 200; enlargement of, 202 ; ulcered, 202 ; inflammation of, 154, 156, 199. Lungs, inflammation of, 188, how transferred to bowels, 197 ; depend on shape, 4; great extent of, 164; importance of, to pace, 26, 55 ; of tender horses suffer, 3, 33, 119 ; how injured, 31, 48,65 ; by hot stables, 90 ; by fatness, 79 ; adhe- sion of, 146, 149, 189; action of, 64, 86, 164, 190; functions of, explained, 86, 128, 166, 170 ; obstructed by over-feeding, 65, 79, 176; affect the fore-feet, 25, 33, 165, 184 ; gradual expansion improves, 64; the contrary, 177 ; of crib-biters, 82, 128 ; inflammation, 187, 197 ; treatment variable, 181. Mastication, due, how promoted, 61. See Wind. Mares in heat, pulse affected, 7 ; in foal, mistreatment of, 11. Making up, what? 2; its consequences, 3. Medicine, mode of operating, 106, 137, 139, 157, 162 ; when needless, 102 ; mistakes in practice, 196, 203 ; much, harm- ful, 100, 150 ; palliatives for, 96, 107, 111 ; alteratives pre- ferable, 109 ; form of, 137. See Physic, Appendix. Mercury recommended, 157. See Appendix. Mill for grinding, recommended, 76 ; mill-stones, roughed, harmful, 75. Misusage, its evil effects, 10, 98, 100 ; a charge of, repulsed, 209. Mounting too early, effects of, 10, 42 ; in the stall, 17 ; manner of, 209. Mouth (sore), of several kinds, affects appetite, 122; symptoms, 123 ; dry in fever, 140 ; and hot in cases of adhesion, 191. INDEX. 271 Navicular diseases, indescribable, 21, note. f'f .Kit!':; Neglect, in various instances, effects of, 19, ^5, 189, 198 ; good, 203. Nervous system, affects the pulse, 7. Nimrod's reasoning, 39; mistakes the urinary organs, 158, note. Operations : needless severity used, 208. Oats, stimulant, 46 ; no feed like it, 73 ; effects of much, 51 ; corrective of bad hay, 131 ; musty, injurious, 129, 145. Oatmeal, of gi-inding, 75. See White-Water, in Appendix. Pastern, low in the, how brought on, 59. Pace, how affecting the feet, 5, 23,26; produces lameness, 17,26; in time, 186; depends on the lungs, 56, 165, 191 ; how to improve, 67, 71; how lost, 142; affected by adhe- sions, 191, 206 ; and occasions it, 207 ; all horses worthless without it, 208. Perspiration, how secreted, 119 ; ceases in fever, 140 ; immo- derate, 146; the test of adhesion, 147, 192, 202; a subtle evacuation, 173. See Clothing. Physic, when proper, 17, 64, 82, 95, 125, 195 ; indispensable, 3, 51, 102, 116 ; frequency of, ruinous, 4, 48, 63, 98, 138, 205; the question argued, 50, 52, 102, 106; mode of ope- rating, 106, 162 ; regular physic, a job, 44 ; not necessary, 102, 109; horses that need it, 8, 80 ; (See Medicine.) sti'ong, to be avoided, 61, 108, 110, 119, 150 ; improves the stretch, 71 ; failure of. 111, 144 ; remedy for, 110. See Appendix. Potatoes good for agricultural horses, 60; saving of time by, 131. Practice of Farriery (the old), sketch of, 105. Preserving health, the true art of, 58, 99. Professor (the), not surpassing in wisdom, 21, 20. Pulse, the index of health, 5, 9 ; and of disease, 43, 163 ; lioW available, 41, 152, 195 ; when it denotes distress, 65, 202; slow, and low, 44, 120, 202, 207 ; sharpness, in acute dis- eases, 152, 192 ; under the tongue, 140 ; number of beats, 7, 195 ; denoting fever, 140. See Appundjx; and Bleeding. Pulmonaiy action, 187, 189. Purgation, violent, how stopped, 110; ruinous, 111; how commencing too high-up, 137 ; when necessary, 143, 156 ■ natural, 50, 109, 153. Racer, its peculiarities, 2 ; is of the first description of horse, 114; tender insides, 73; fall lame, how, 17; disposed to constipation, 62 ; of running, quite empty, 64 ; bad water affects running, 74 ; how degraded, 100, 142, 177 ; stud« economy of 13, 165. See Arab, High-bred, Thorough-bred. ' prp?r:i01,\^49,'Sfl7a '-''-^ Respiration, organs of. See Lungs. so' R^.T'^if 17, 30, 192 ; discriminated, • rnmnnt' M^'''-<'^''/' -^^ ' ^^^^^ '^^^^ dcsirable, 66; in- compatible with trainmg, 17, 97 ; stiff joints from much 67. 272 INDEX, Ring-bone, how disclosing itself, 28. Roaring, how engendered, 160, 182 ; alleviated, ib. : the cause of law suits, 167 ; pace does it, 188, hereditary, 189 Road-horse (the), address to his master, 66. bahva, its office, 135 ; cessation of, restored, 124 120 bait, a corrective of bad hay, 131 ; in clysters, 197. Sea-voyages, artificial exercise for slung horses 67. Seats of diseases, necessary to be ascertained, 136-7 Secretions (the), important to health, 71, 117 ; depraved, cause the humours, 50, 7iote ; in the stomach, 135 ; of horn, goes on harmfully, 29 ; of urine, 117. " Shoeing, the knowledge of, necessary, 84 ; in the stable, im- proper, 21; forcible manner of, wrong, 10, 13, 207 : causes lameness, 20; how, 21, 28, 124; refreshens soft hoof 24; London smiths ingenious, 81; smiths, the English, 209- • and the foreign, 211 ; mode of conducting, 212. ' Shoulder strain, 14 ; how to ascertain, 15; treatment of, 16. Shotted coughers, how found out, 183. Skin (the), indicates internal diseases, 4, 69; how affected, 49; by turning out, 56 ; heat without perspiration, 105. Sleeping standing, instanced, 68. Soiling, considered, 39, 53 ; affects the lungs, 186 ; advantages of, to the feet, 38, 40, 59. 8e.e Grass— Turning-out. Sore throat, how incurred, and remedy, 168-9. Spavin, a cause of lameness, 28. Speed, how improved, 57 ; qualities for, 165 ; long kept up, occasions inflammation, 205, &c. See Pace. Stable (the), worthy every one's notice, 83 ; ill-constructed, 84, 87 ; economy of, 80-83 ; a remedy for, 88 ; ventilation, 85 ; cell-window, ib.; flooring, 89 ; and drains, 90; warm, neces- sary to blood horse, 92 ; stench of, 49, 91 ; close, unhealthy, 48, 157 ; current of air, 92 ; faulty doorway, ib. Stable-management, over-much, 16 ; on coming in, 33, 68, 167, 173 ; on talcing up from grass, 50, 52, 57, 62 ; violent, not proper, 58, 210. Stagers, feeding, 131 ; resting of, 22, 81 ; are of the third de- scription of horse, 114. Staggers, how brought on, 80, 116, 142. Staling, promoted by litter, 80 ; excessive, &c. See Urine. Stall, the loose, renovates health, 59, 94; deep prevent grease, i94. Stimulants impair the vitals, 29, 45 ; when proper, 44. Stomach, its office, 115; depraved, 117, 121, 127, 134; sym- pathy with kidneys, 52, 117 ; with the livei-, 120 ; with the skin, 117; with the lungs, 119, 183; connection with bow- els, 111, 118, 123', 134 ; large, 70, 114 ; and disproportioued, 116 ; how affected by excessive work, 6; distended, 133; affects temper, 11, 116,127; and going, 65, 70 ; of small stomach and tender, how enlarged, 71, 73, 115; inflamma- tion of, 140 ; torpor and excitability of, 121 ; by eating litter, 126; influenced by other organs, 139. INDEX. 273 stones, how formed, 75 ; effects of, in the urinary passages, 159 ; occasioned by chipped mill-stones, 76. Stopping, when requisite, 33, 36 ; its composition, 31, '40 ;• method of, 37, 40 ; not desirable, 30. Strains, or sprains, how caused, 19, note, 42 ; seat of, ascer- tained, 15 ; of the stifle, 27, and cure, ih. Stretch, improved, 57, 71 ; how affected, 62, 142. See Pace. Straw- yard, impolicy of, 132. Sympathy of parts with each other, 24, 33, note; 41, 115. See Stomach. Sweating powders, when necessai-y, 66 ; sweating, see Hu- mours, Perspiration, and Secretions. Taking up, precautions on, 56 ; economy of, 132. Tooth-ache, or not ? 125 ; of two sorts, cure for, 126. Temper of several classes of horse, 70, 72 ; management of, 10, 57 ; affects the pulse, 7 ; governed by stomach, 2, 11, 58 ; by rest, 18 ; spoiled in shoeing, 209 ; by over feeding and constipation, 217. Tender insides, inherent to the blood horse, 130, 148 ; liable to costiveness, 54, 109; how rendered so, 3, 115 ; suffers from chill, 32, 186 ; difficult to restore to health, 100. Tests for ascertaining diseases, 3, 7, 145, 148, 156 ; of bad water, 73 J of temper, 114; of enlarged liver, 157 ; of bad wind, 183 ; of adhesion, 191, 202. Thermometer, its uses in stable management, 91. Thorough-bred horses fall lame, 16 ; how incurred, 17 ; have tender insides, 73 ; back-raking for constipation, 143 ; do not cough through plethora, 176. See High-bred, Racer. Tongue, case of laceration, in balling, 112, note. Tonics, when proper, 100; of various kinds, 101, 125,132, 198. Traininfr, what so termed, 55 [see Condition] ; distinction not worth contention, 109 ; how commenced, 63 ; how ob- structed, 72, 97 ; of stretch and length, 63, 71 ; to going order, 106, 163 ; lasting qualities, 163 ; of too high, 138. Treatment of horses, should not be capricious, 70, 209. Tread, a twisted, its effects, 15 ; amended by shoeing, 81, 220. Tumours, how caused, 11, 60 ; by humours, 66, 118, nofe, 156, 197 ; schirrhous, 157. Turning out, advantages of, 47, 95 ; to feet, 37 ; and lungs, 38; and legs, 59; causes cough, 57, 185 ; how managed, 53, 54. See Grass, Soiling. Veins (the) absorb resinous and alkaline substances, 117, 137 ; and particles of food, 122. See Gas. Vice^ how best corrected, 12, 58, 211 ; a disposition to, 115, Virulence of disease, its chief characteristic, 136. Urine, its secretion, 117 ; how affected, 93 ; turbid, 123, 142- by diabetes, 130 ; retention of, 160 ; and suppression, I54' ISi); bloody urine, 130, 161 ; incontinence of, 162 ; of the' 274 INDEX. stables, how profitably employed, 90, note ; excessive sta- ling, 161; of high coloured, 102, vote. Urinary passages, their office, and diseases, 154, 157 ; occa- sion grease, 93, 156 ; and abdominal inflammation, 160. Waggon-horse (and cart) pampered, 68 ; drop, 148; too fleshy, 2, 78; stand and sleep, 68; anecdote of one, 68; of the log, ib.; is the fifth description of horse, 114 ; those im- ported, characterised, 78. Water, qualities of, 73, 145 ; bad, how corrected, 73 ; tests of, 74 ; of running streams i)referable, 7 ; large drinks afi"ect the stomach, 61, 70, 116 ; frequency of desirable, 48, 71, 74, 129, 139; denial of, begets disease, 65,147,205 ; notrequired with green food, 60 ; the desire for, characteristic of a large class, 72 ; watering-place, distance desirable, 69. Whirl-bone, strain of, treatment, 27. Wind, how to improve, 63 ; efforts at expulsion, 181 ; toucht in the, 201 ; expansion of ribs, 64 ; bad, how brought on, 48; how ascertained, 183; good, necessary to speed and lastingness, 63 ; broken, 27, 65, 170 ; thick, hereditary, 189. Working-horses not readily aflected,8, 169 ; management of, 37. Work : strong work and high feeding, 172 ;• hard, mischiefs of, 34, 98, 149,192, 205-6 ; extra, its effects, 146, 172. Worms, how engendered, 45, 82, 129 ; mistakes concerning,206. Writers on Farriery, estimate of, 136 ; jealous, 184 ; on liver complaints, 200. Young horses, how spoiled, 9, 11 ; mounting early, 10, 42; racers ruined, 42, 177. THE END. I ! i \ I 1 I 1 I • i • 1 •i