eG Lats A he Pt an oD et = be are ed cw et ee ae e ro eee Glee Spm Pe fhe aia Dat Saas pe eer to i Pea ER SRE Pm te BC each ae ead a Pee BO St R. B. HINMAN COLLECTION PROFESSOR OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 1921-1943 New York State College of Agriculture At Cornell University Ithaca, N. Y. Youatt on the structure and the diseases YOUATT ON THE STRUCTURE AND THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE WITH THEIR REMEDIES. ALEO, PRACTICAL RULES TO BUYERS, BREEDERS, BREAKERS, SMITHS, FTC. BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE ENGLISH EDITION UF “ \OUATT ON THE HORSE,” SOMEWHAT SIMPLIFIED. BROUGHT DOWN BY W. C. SPOONER,M. R.C.V.S., AUTHOR OF SEVERAL VETERINARIAN WOEKA, TO WUICH IS PREFIXED, AN ACCOUNT OF THE BREEDS IN THE UNITED STATES. COMPILED BY HENRY S. RANDALL. WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS, NEW-YORK: ORANGE JUDD, 41 PARK ROW. AGRICULTURAL BOOK PUBLISHER. 1865. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by DERBY & MILLER, In the Clerk's Offico for the Northern District of New York. ALVORD, PRINTER, INTRODUCTORY. —_-_~-@ oe. — Tue universa: popularity and pre-eminence in the pub. lic favor, both in this country and England, of Mr. Youatt’s work on the Horse, is well known. It has had a far wider circulation in the United States than any other veterinary work, and but for one or two circumstances, it is believed, had prevented it from attaining a still vastly wider circulation,—from becoming the common hand-book of nearly every farmer in the land who breeds or owns horses, who is willing to read anything on a sub- ject in which he is so much interested. The first of these circumstances is the size of Mr. Youatt’s entire work. This renders it too expensive for general circulation. And it is too minute and voluminous in its details for ordinary readers. This elaborateness, so far from aiding, confuses the common reader; the precise facts which he seeks—the symptoms and remedies of dis- eases, ézc.,—are too often so scattered through the glow- ing amplifications of the accomplished author, that it is difficult to clearly distinguish, collect, and apply them. And many are repelled not only from the work itself, but from reading the author’s discussion of a disease, a point in breeding, or the like, from impatience of its mere "arth Tn » work of this kind, more perhaps than any- where else, applies the often quoted remark of Dr. Johnson: “ Books that you may carry to the fire, and hold reading in your hand, are most useful after all, A man will often look at them, and be tempted to go on, when he would have been frightened at books of a larger seze, and of @ more erudite appearance.” iv INTRODUCTORY. The following abridgment is intended to obviate the above objections. While it is believed, that every thought or fact in the original, of any importance to the general reader, is preserved entire, much that tended to swell un- necessarily the limits of the work for such a reader, has been omitted. The omissions have been merely anec- dotes, historical narrations, accounts of particular cases, and, in some instances, the less necessary parts of those long anatomical descriptions which could be understood only by the surgeon. The symptoms and remedies of dis- eases—all that tends to the full understanding of the horse and his ailments, is given entire, and almost invari- ably in the precise language of Mr. Youatt. The aim of this work has not been to re-write Youatt,—but simply to strike out what is superfluous in him. The second circumstance prejudicial to a wide, popular virculation of Mr. Youatt’s work, has been, according to the common phrase, the ‘“‘learnedness of its language.” The work, as again and again avowed in it, was not so much written to instruct the horse-owner or breeder, as the veterinary surgeon—at least in relation to important diseases, operations, &c, Mr. Youatt is therefore often at little pains to make himself intelligible to uninstructed readers. His language is always learned—frequently highly technical. So far as it could be conveniently and properly done, an attempt has been made in the following pages, to translate his language into that better adapted to ordinary comprehension. A common word is often substituted for the more learned one of Mr. Youatt, or an explanatory one put after it in brackets. The former is all the liberty taken in this way with the text,—and this is only done where the meaning could be accurately preserved. But every thinking man will readily see from the very nature of the subject, that the improvement to be made on the text in the above particulars is limited. When speaking of anatomical details, diseases, particular pro- cesses, &c., no language ts fixed and definite but that of science. And it frequently obviates the necessity of very tedious and often repeated circumlocution. Take for ex- ample the word “ auscultation,” which signifies distin INTRODUCTORY. v guishing disease by observing the sounds in the part, by means of the ear, with or without a tube, applied to the surface. Is it necessary to repeat all this every time this process is adverted to? Clearly not. The word “ Thorax” signifies the cavity of the body above or forward of the diaphragin or midriff,—the word “‘ Abdomen” the cavity of the body below or behind the diaphragm. Can any common words—any of the terms of vulgar quackery — be given which will definitely express the above ideas, and which can be any way more easily remembered than these? There cannot. In all such cases, therefore, no change of language is attempted. And Webster’s Dic- tionary will help the reader out of every difficulty of this kind. We have here a remark to submit to all readers, and especially the young reader, in relation to the PRoPEF MANNER OF READING Youart—where the aim is to fully understand him, or the subject which he treats. This never can be done by dipping into the book here and there, in search of information now on one topic, and now on another, as the occasion seems to demand it. The work should be read consecutively and carefully from be- ginning to end. If this is.done, and the reader fixes in his mind anatomical names and details, as he advances, he will have no difficulty in fully understanding every part, and he will be infinitely better prepared to forma correct judgment in any case where he is called upon to make a practical application of his knowledge. The horse-owner who takes this course will find Youatt’s work an invaluable advantage to him—worth a thousand of the common empirical recipe books on farriery. The one who does not, will find it, or any other work, of little avail. W. C. Spooner, Esq., one of the most distinguished veterinary writers and practitioners of England, wrote, in 1849, a Supplement to Mr. Youatt’s work, designed to “advance it to the present state of veterinary science.” All that is of any importance in this supplement—in fact, most. of Mr. Spooner’s additional remarks entire, have been added to the present work in the convenient form of notes, S~veral of them will be found valuable. And vi INTRODUCTORY. we conceive this gives the work a decided advantage over any previous American edition. We are enabled to point with much pleasure to the illustrations in our volame. They are much more com- plete in execution than those of any othersimilar Amer- ican publications, and are decidedly superior to those af the late English editions of Youatt. They are fully equal to the original English cuts. The present abridgment has been carefully prepared by a distinguished and well-known American agricul- turist, whose writings have been extensively read throughout the United States, for years. The pelimi- nary chapter in relation to the breeds now in the United States, was complied by Henry 8. Randall, Esq., it be- ing thought that this would be much more valuable to the American reader, than Mr. Youatt’s first chapter. We believe that the author has been fortunate in the execution of his task, and we present the work to the public in the confident belief that we are rendering a valuable service to an important department of Ames'- ean Agriculture. Tue Pop.isHers CUNTENTS INTRODUCTION BY THE PUBLISHERS. CHAPTER I. Faoa Brreps or Horses in tHE Unitep Startes......... snheuaia weirs org JLT The English Race Horse... .. 0... cece cece ween cere ees aoe TT The: ARADIAD sise-wcsc-ss ack, Gagan d einer Gee eos ns Pisienalegeislie Sia dere 8 » 25 The Canadian gies yates arse gen aidls Gis alee a siowem ae gue deste as 29 Whee Norman 6 cic 5 e/ccdis's is Sie ado si bis asta NeG eee Ba ae 29 The: MOngan eae ia o's Rawawe Gn e 6 ae ols Seg hee as Hee Fe aN . 86 The Cleveland Bay ...... cc. cece cence ccee ener everes sisseacws BE The Dray ..... Pe Oe ee 39 The Trotting Horse........... seosses Mreeraaie peice scsi cereee 46 CHAPTER IL. Tue ZooLocicaL CLass(FICATION OF THE Horst. .....ceeeeee caeaae 44 The Sensorial Function........... ooh dediceucessaesessumases Av CHAPTER III. Guvrres anp Disrases oF tHe Sxvit—run Bram—rue Ears—anr THEE VES ic.0 ascsrweee ce AV rte ve Spin ures rare aiaa Selec Soe leew ee a aeaetepeNs 68 PEACtUIE foeH 65 iors d GSS Rltace se Res ate iat Satan a ialsteplanaees 68 EXOStOS18 aces ease prea ainircung a ov so remade ieee as Be wires 68 Caries ieee cses seewemary ox sees s ming Mogiedae dds wet 5 ease euee 68 Compression of the Brain... ........... 006 ee cerereareesces. 69 Pressure on the Brain... 0.0... ccc cere ecto eee eees yeaeawuns (69 ERTS secs je. nigh Minin ea Roale aig terns 9.0, a9 8: acre erpuntee esac Snare nae seers 69 Apoplexy ...... cere eee sfeiategsuss8 P duayreteatanisee Vere asia el ongieaieses 70 Phrenitis......... piaeietansciubnan raieetale wre huraae bis ipcatere sian cleaned 14 Rabies, or Madness........ ee peice areas 46 Tetanus, or Locked Jaw... .....eececeeeee Se 2 19 Cramp: « ssiesicw cow eee j.ate elnwlantecad’s Sa ue wisurcteion Ba wesee atycoie SZ Stringhalties 5 cs eaarcasws acess sie seeasteees cco vicesieeews 89 Choreal =,5 4524524 esameaie sees se slteeed aes es sememnayeun 8S Fits, or Epilepsy......... $s MOSWASeTe sew adorn wae Sd vill CONTEN [s. FaAua Palsy....... .....- . 84 Rheumatism ..........606. Saag dare Seayeperma scare Bab Sin St HeitGoncerons 85 Neurotomy an 86 Insanity........... 90 Diseases of the Eye : 91 Common Inflammation of the By@y. 00's se ove dude Sentai orgie ie Srna renee 93 Specific Ophthalmia, or Moon-Blindness..... big epee arigve ge oia'g €or . 94 Gutta Serena......... sis mie sais araterer Siviara g Sisia'aeain arate Sane eae. Ss 97 Diseases of the Ear, ..........020eeeeeee deaneaigieeensie eG ares 5's . 98 Deafness .......2..0006 atiipte ONG FEA a NES sewalveceeseeessevin “OS CHAPTER IV. Tae Anatomy anp Diseases or THE Nose anp Mowurn........-.--. 99 Nasal Polypus.........ceeeeeseeeeeeeeee age winde Searels ara Se 104 Nasal Gleet, or Discharge a the: NUSCkas sas verse neenenuade¥ 104 OZCDE aicsss 54 mei iai awe wabiiet ners Sta es es See einag sae oY S 4 105 Glanders. . Farey . The Lips. . The Bones of the Mouth.......s.cccsccceceseseuee si devant e FE DG: PALALG cov ie a averecs.cocsuesausee: w deatsuanie denier d sie: svv elo vecaustauaCone' svat fatener'e 118 Lampas...... S fora fa aiasa save sl ay'ilorg diiotinndiduy sistas bvese'e: tga. ole'ebe auaverauaelSesne 119 The LOWER a) AN a8 5 :5:6,3:5 2:6 a. averetyaversauatassaue Mia agave reig\e apataeeeaao dais © 120 Diseases of the Teeth. ..........ceecereeeeteeeeeenes pe kee ae 130 TDG, TOMLUC, og ass: cieveie gnaceiersreinsew ners eeis Sede ies see eees beeen 131 Diseases of the Tongue ships dia ureiacS lo icecaal'e ofaeVale i Sia akaseieaiwae teres 132 The Salivary Glands. ............. 00s Nehigie ecueuecers Kcaiai ates 132 Strangles..... aisisiaeenceaida nage se seis oe ois Geis eishiatereduseee he ates ole 133 The Pharynx..........eecee eee eeeeee ote aves iietesr ns deceesees 185 * CHAPTER V. Tur Anatomy anp Disrases or tue Neck anp Netensorinc Pants 136 POL ER, Vila sistas anne wie erie yond(atic aca dtavein eng icpa veaha kre Sanelele Soanats 136 The Muscles and proper form of the Neck. ..........0-.eee0 eee 138 The Blood- Vessels of the Neck...............05 Sie tae eee 140 he: Veins: of the Neck 2c guns sas Gasnculin @ Haeees eee acaseaeS Inflammation of the Vein. 0... ce ccc cece cece ene e ee esene The: Palates.< jas seasvauienee verses iewae Thet Larynx. sos was, sacediseves’ The Trachea or Windpipe Trachevtomy ......... cece cece eeees The Bronchial Tubes............. CHAPTER VI (ae CHEst.............., alia batgna oie ai a Bee Sale’ sere aiectvren, 145 The Spine and Back............. wee e cet eeeeerseceencesaee 149 Tne Loins............ ; CONTENTS. 1x PaoER The Withers. .............00- soa AAW araheesenigpara Suaaiara oie eve aiaereva LOU Fistulous Withers............66. a's aleharee San guaiceee sv eleeecos LOT Warbles, Sitfasts, and Saddle Glee ce es ye 151 Chest-Founder .... safenss wisi Glek daixewinesien eeWines oad emaneee, 102 CHAPTER VII. Tae ConTents OF THE CHEST. .... ccc cc cesssecsecnesecceccesses 153 The Thymus Gland. ............ 0 cece eee Geiser. sidavarse LDS The Diaphragms. si. .dcseud ie. dev erenecces avalos wees wavecare 153 Rupture of the ee ado moun $26) O oxy apa Svanaseiae disoune sine Oates LOF Phe. Pleura.es cress saav sis avese. secees 154 The Lungs............. vevcesecee 155 Die: Heaitti ick sown shins ghln cerreadides « aueeeqauneed Se Evasereee «. 156 Diseases of the Heart... 02.2.2... cee ee eee eee info ge's/etsis tei -o. 156 Whe ;Artevies sss ccipaveousie ee vals yess e's Sigdlinie Vaiss Sig 00% tee stew LEB Whe Pulséis..’s soc/ssesicwiargte sie tate 34 aise Seieciers ewGe sie daw davscates 58 160 163 164 Bog and Blood Spavin............... sie 164 Bleeding sc 'scss:e tse wcartcisne eutarsisicas. de sataersisteerd wieatburse Ve esse nace LOO CHAPTER VII. Tas MEMBRANE OF THE NOSE .........0006 seen eeeeecnecscesenes 169 Catarrhyor Cold soccciate cael y eddiiaemen ek iscterd' she 169 Inflammation of the Larynx........ ais aces eal Keseieves enews, FIO Inflammation of the Trachea............. ipeneieneid ie Sof bs aie ~. 172 Roarmey .oi55 aeexwaiys dee tens sas anaaiiomeonls ae Fags sae soe TT2 Bronchocele. ss 04 os seeds caw ces sa sa csesewws aaah ed sect wt Epidemic Catarrh. ........ 0c. c eee e eee ee ene SRR Rae o. 176 The Malignant Epidemic..................... d beieiew Sere Mis ee 181 Peene ro yen Gcesceond Gonaceseeanaceeute $018 acc LBA Pneumonia— Inflammation of the Longs........... seeee 186 Chronic Cough. .....ssccccccsccnssrcesccccsccssessssessacs 193 Thick. Wind j-s:ses sesaeecw cesses se sees sees, Uelis Ve c'hslay wares 04 Broken Wind. ..........0.ceeseeeeeeenee sisi ia: Savers a S's Neat - 196 Phthisis Pulmonalis, or Consumption. ..........-seeeeeeecseee 199 Pleurisy 3.6.6 555.005 seiean eves ore eeee sions eee nee weencccrees 200 CHAPTER IX. 206 206 . 208 5 210 The Liver............. ci6 sib. lp eral olaieiwoiiecarow ve aie siesrassionwee, 219 The Pancreas. ..........06+ si ollaraanaleiwranees fees Maas etewccee s LIB The Spleen. ....... 20. ce eee cece sees eens asia a sae eeu voee 218 Tlie: Omenttm * is. es.-¥ 5 ec < eats Mpa ie < cos): aide cuss oabien > . 218 x CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. PAG? Tue Diskases or THE INTESTINES....... jeavcoraeera pies 8 B28 «. 215 The Duodenum...... shat sates NOSES WS © Ero! aheiieretaitetsheus die shan eceyetee « 215 Spasmodic Colic. ..........ce ec ee ences prvi aparesece eSaee dg eae’ » 215 Flatulent: Colie. ¢ sesciescueicie ee ec eigce sie eae enw a oe Se aloes . 218 Inflammation of the Bowels...... 00. c cece cece cence ee eenes .. 220 Enteritis ........... A Riese euiewaee eel eSAas omens ook aes ws 220 PHYSICHING oss vies Heewmesneae oss eeaawalsis Sig tre tee SestsS vaiede coed Calculi, or Stones, in the Intestines........ aichayaiee reis Goe'e's Ste ers 226 Introsusception of the Intestines...........0.e eee weeude a ew Coe eee of the Bowels...........+-eee Giese oes Wve as 226 WOT se Sis cd sd SR a eer nine oe a nee SG OS MR SS 227 Hernia, or RU Ptuvies:« caine sotuacestandsiecs igi ee aie teyeraiecstentiend BESS TARR 227 Diseases of the Liver. ...... 0. cee cece tec ee ce nr en neerenees 228 WAUINCICE iis sg biccsaieis eisitearomwtte te dala oeeiaye <1 Sista txareriudietaiw eleva code a . 229 The Kidneys... 66-4 sveaiainetiese ee titers nit oe wee saaron eae ad tgs 230 Inflammation of the Kidneys. dhcdea stor dave screed ahaa sens easege te mieres . 231 Diabetes, or Profuse Staling..............- ini sbigebhin ga:ow sotés'g ove whgiiars 233 Bloody Urine—Hamaturia. ..... +... {dere bos sa hasteaner sousseaise 283 Albuminous Urine...... 2... cece eee eee wage Dialaenepeper Siete wale Wiegacs 234 The: Bladder’ s:0:s 05 aesasaay toes: lal seiedearnene aati he o. 234 Inflammation of the Bladdersicves veces eaes irasnewe eee eee . 234 Stone in the Bladder....... 0. cece eee e eee c ee cere cence eeee +. 235 CHAPTER XI. Brunpina, CASTRATION, &C........0 2 cece cece rece ese seroceseeessee 297 OastratiOns sci ecccs ee'e'e 8a cet Sites See ee oben winew vases ey 244 CHAPTER XI. Tam Port) nGsiiiie ij sii oagaad aioe en 4e88% sete Aeduubedaoess saat DAT Sprain of the Shoulder............. basaso eerccccccccescees 246 Slanting direction of the Shoulder..... avavaigyscets Sisieebice-sawerel gee: GET The Humerus, or Lower Bone of the Shoulder...............+. 252 The Arm...........0.. (irsindfanrnsey ae ete. e, Shai avetgiigiai ait fale vate: ola’ ocgieislansiare) -2 OP, Whe: Kneis sis.dsiacivie vebiecyaal ee a'e a atee ie eelolssere sisi ofe eie/siaiates (De Broken Knees...........-...- sireislocns prbpatieshiss aablacstese seis ears - 254 RELL’ grass sisighes aad iat vii eae 6s oe pisisibieis. sinis's\es ea abs o. 256 Splints... sec deatersadaselecuiy se Laces = as AGigeca bile wreve e 48 sates LOO Sprain of the Back-Sinews...... bene ee cece e eres esenerenece 258 Wind-Gallsisicceusdeses ae ve eee svar dereporiawese sess sae tease (261 The Pasterns.............eeeee 54 MOM REAR TRE SOs aloes! LOB Injuries to the see pie Ligament... ee eneccercccces 265 "Te: HOt O Gk esses, aceipiahiesk: dic tors Gisele Sislargiele, pense Ota Gre Wwe avacays “Sr ale's e -2OD Grogginess ...........+... aueated Sais Seo Aisioxeieeahs errccereseses 265 Cutting ..... 00... ese e ceca eeeee eee e ewes en sevacceceneceee 268 Sprain of the Coffin-Joint. . abl aka \ar OaleVepehinsete a Gelein teteicwlaerer LOU Ringboneyi.sc decease cwsete = geegies xe CONTENTR, xi CHAPTER XIII. » PAUB Tsk} Hind: Lees’ saiswscaveae ca reruecteies sa 00s taerwawnow ees . 271 The Haunch. . 271 és 272 The Stifle.............. 275 he: Hock: omvegeeste ten seis Sonace a AGN aia NG Sree MiRloal ate syacs SS 217 Enlargement of the Hock........... iG: a ee aisiae wiles iaeglaiens . 279 Carbs. oadcsecens See ore Ee ero sexvee 280 bog Spavilvassecsww wevecxe cdocawace es mise acer aa < weak te 281 Bone Spavin....... cee cece eee ee Sielareae OS Siserermond Sobees 283 Capped Huck. ...........2 2000 a bite Bais Dovelenereee wma sae ceeE EOD Mallenders and Sallenders..........0005 Sind pavdis Gia coh apeiss wieterare 8 gy BO Swelled Legs........... cece eee eeee bb erase 64:0 Ghovnaielenae gvesure way OU GRAS Cis gosta ti sissies ecuk 5b Sew saat dasa aa arota eae old Wiehe sroeusienees Sv dia 9 OO CHAPTER XIY. THE: FOOT :sesis isin vara ocacaieceieus sia 6 o's bie ates sbiaceieree ee Soe Malssesipieiau ese seen 298 The Crust or Wall of the Hoof WineGsebierg 2 sig o/alsta -a7eve Sesoieawre ew acer LOS The Coronary Ring ........0. cee eee ee as wa Rs gaearNTe nee egy . 296 The. Bars s. ivsccswewd ss isa ccneetwae sass Gob nadine ewe eaters . 296 The Horny Laminz.......... as GRATE TES Ted ak Herat 297 The Sole....... ssacbttrere Geey ones sr dareeataveses Se dsaSaheweas . 297 THO: BOG: 05.5.0 Getiauia ahsccist aceveiee Searbiteare sGie a FB dary Si tiheress sees 298 The Coffin-Bone... declanaiaaayed ace Si oka aveceracausia ial insaelesese sue ivasan ern tants +. 299 The Sensible Sule............0506- osallan eat sitegevdual's Se Bib! auenavers wee. 800 The Sensible Frog. .............eceeeeeeee Suier galore emacs a BOO The Navicular Bone se . 800 The Cartilages of the Foot 801 CHAPTER XV. Tae Diseases OF THE FOOT. cc... scenes scececeenascsscccncescsce OUY Inflammation of the Foot, or Acute Founder...........222+-00- 802 Chronic Founder ......cccessccccccccccvccssccvesscces- sees B00 Pumiced Feets.: ssccadiesseasens scavesinns sesaccnconsensss, 806 Contraction. ..-......eeeeeees a6 S85 HAAR REO ee a eneans COT The Navicular-Joint Disease. . acd dpececcre pioiiacd it's BalncbrareOeteeee- Blk Sand-Crack.........45 sbiele OUeiee Rinisainihs BR Aandi a's aiietarsdiena OLE Tread and Over-reach............ si WiwiigydratwleiOece e:dia favo wieteieds ieee OL. False Quarter ........e0-eeeeeee oalgtetiuiie eile fein eso 'sieie esielsrscounowxeuy O20 Quittor ...... ee eee eee eee eee et eieieas ites sve geiseisewciss O21 Prick or Wound in the Sole or Crust........c0seccesesecceses O24 CONN i eale dei ceraien aw easat aes Rw Rew Fee nee WREST Eee BLO ST BTUISH, sea: oi5 ro aesies busin eae versio 4b Ate Seba imaviae BOS Can Gt sc e5.3:5 ape iaseiavagd. 8 bovis eunisganeceancees - 830 Ossification of the coma M csi avaetyaieusieice i Sselaviye 0: BeateacSe oan Gis 8 . 831 Waalrnasa nf tha Tut $31 ai CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVI. Paos PRACTURES .........0005 SO delele ee seta sib ae aee ee ee eS sew eee tens: O98 CHAPTER XVII. ON SHORING 5, je s.030/3, soe ude auacdee ahd need Habosvedereie Shee ene Hemera, BLS The putting on the Shoe. easraN Avevncev Sasse CALKINS seca te tl oases a ate hr pyar eetedayoe aeeua ceases She eine anes Clip Siig Seine chairs Cav ale eee hs Rae iameanediny Ok wend he ereaieares The. binder Sh0@iio:4:4 5 sida g sdeceiaage wierd Goede’ eee egakcea Bueia ave ts 347 Different kinds of Shoes.......... 0c. c cece eee ee ee acne aeeees . 847 The Concave-seated Shoe....... Se aigdd tard ase eRe es wise sedi voreragaiens 348 The Unilateral, or one side nailed Shoe. ........ cc cece ween eens 849 The Hunting: Shoe) o's sc.¢ sir sussise aohegiag ie sh. 0'c a Feb sieve kieigi eis 3651 The Bar Shoes voids ews sade ire asweees- cae oe e-e 4 a5 ate iaesayenee 852 MUPSioswiiswid seis 8 es vs bs 9 a GS. So aRES RSG OER MEG eee ea eee seeeee 852 The Expanding Shoe........ ses eeees dard ewe ewes s a cieentresls « 853 Felt or Leather Soles........... Se aeS we RM Ot os be ¥ sie Soe . 858 oPene the! Feetsijsss decieotnoge vee Sass dhe dé We Sateen . 855 andaly sessscsaasawes SUISSE Nee Seats ea see Rees . 556 To Manage a Fallen Horse...... i dubia Se BAUS FW Gas Gre EES - 368 CHAPTER XVIII. SUPER ATIONE 5 ‘gs aisysfa’s Q 8 Figaro 2 a q G Curiosity | Waxy Mare ( Haphazard [ Sorcerer | Houghton Lass (Cervantes | { Matchem by Cade by Godolphin araoian. f Conductor : Snap Mare by Snap by Snip by Childers. by Darley Arabian Trumpator Squirrel { Brunette ‘ Dove by Matchless, by G. Arabian. Diomed by Florizel by Herod, &c, Young Giantess Giantess by Matchem by Cade by G. Arabian. ene by Herod, &c. Papillon by Snap by Snip by Flying Childers. Sir Peter Alexina by King Fergus by Eclipse. Don Quixotte by Eclipse. Evelina by Highflyer. Sally by Sir Peter by Highflyer. Selim Mare Bizzarre wey { Sir Peter Miss Hervey by Eclipse. Selim by Bajazet by G. Arabian, f Woodpecker by Herod. (Camilla by l'rentham by Sweepstakes by.Gower Stallion by G. Arabian. Pot-8-eos by Eclipse. Young Camilla Maria by Herod, her dam by Snap out of Miss Windsor by G. Arabtau. Peruvian by Sir Peter by Highflyer, John Bull by Fortitude by Herod. Violante Highflyer. Sister to Skyscraper ; Everlasting by Eclipse. 24 CONSTERNATION a compact, and, for a thorough-bred, very bony horse, like his immediate ancestors, Confederate, Curiosity, Figaro, &c. In- deed, his sire, Confederate, after being withdrawn from the turf, was kept by his breeder, Earl Fitzwilliam, to breed hunters and carriage-horses from, owing to Lis size, bone, and symmetry,— properties which eminently marked his progeny. His dam, Cu- riosity, was a large, strong mare; and her sire, Figaro, possessed the same characteristics. The size and bone of Consternation are not, therefore, accidental, or merely individual traits; they belong to his family, and are, consequently, far more likely tc be transmitted to his descendants; and experience has shown, that he almost invariably transmits these properties to his de- scendants.* 5 Consternation is beautifully symmetrical in all his proportions, with a plumpness and roundness of outline unusual in the thorough-bred ; more like a perfect hunter, or exceedingly stylish carriage-horse, but without a particle of coarseness, cloddiness, or deviation from a true hlood-like look. He is a horse of extr.ordinary mettle and activity, rapid in all his paces, singularly elastic and graceful in his movements. He walks nearly five miles an hour, and is a beautiful and rapid trotter. We believe he might be made a fleet, if not a “ crack” trotter, under the training of Woodruff or Wheelan. He ran but one race in England, beating Phenician, at York. (See Johnson’s Racing Calendar, 1845.) He was entered for the St. Leger, but, owing to an accident, which injured his off fore-leg, he was disqualified temporarily, and perhaps permanently, from running. Before this point was decided, Mr. Albot purchased and imported him to America for a breeding stallion. He was selected with more especial reference to the improvement of our common stock of horses. Consternation arriyed in the United States in the latter part of June, 1845, and was shown in the September following, while still suffering from the effects of his voyage, at the N. Y. State Fair at Utica. He received the first premium in the class of blood horses, beating Mr. Hungerford’s Sir Henry, Mr. Crosby’s Florizelle, Mr. Thompson’s Sir Charles—the viewing committee consisting of Col. J. M. Sherwood, Hon. John A. King, and Col. Edward Long. He was not again shown at a State Fair until 1849, at Syracuse. He here received the certificate of superior- * The writer of this has seen perhaps fifty colts, from one to three years old, the get of Consternation, from common dams, and those possessing dif ferent proportions of blood. Every one of these has shown good size, and quite as much bone as it is common to see in the get of the common coarse stallions of the country. THE ARABIAN HORSE. 25 ity,* beating Lance, Waxy Pope (imported), Young Alexander Sir Henry (by the horse of the same name, exhibited at Jtica) Waxy (by Waxy Pope), and several others. We have been thus full in speaking of Consternation, be- cause we believe that it is by a judicious cross with the thor- ough-bred horse, that the greatest improvement is to be made with a class of our common mares, in breeding animals with style, speed, and, above all, bottom, for the carriage, the buggy, and the saddle; and because we believe on the principle that like produces like, Oonsternation promises better for such a cross than any other blood stallion of which we have any knowledge. His pedigree includes a host of winners, and the most cele- brated horses of England. It is given on the preceding page. It may interest some who wish to breed common mares to Consternation, and who, very properly, consider color an im- portant consideration in carriage and saddle horses, to know that of his ancestors above given thirty-five were bay—twelve, brown —ten, chestnut—and two, black. .THE ARABIAN HORSE. Mr. Youatt says:—‘ Although in the seventh century the Arabs had no horses of value, yet the Cappadocian and other horses which they had derived from their neighbors, were pre- served with so much care, and propagated so uniformly and strictly from the finest of the breed, that in the 13th century the Arabian horse began to assume a just and unrivalled celebrity. There are said to be three breeds or varieties of Arabian horses: the Attechi, or inferior breed, on which they set little value, and which are found wild on some parts of the deserts ; the Kadischi, literally horses of an unknown race, answerirg to our half-bred horses—a mixed breed; and the Kochlanz, b wses whose genealogy, according to the Arab account, is known for two thousand years. Many of them have written and attested pedigrees extending more than four hundred years, and, with true Eastern exaggeration, traced by oral tradition from the stud of Solomon. A more careful account is kept of these genealogies than belongs to the most ancient family of the proudest Arab chief, and very singular precautions are taken ta * His having once drawn the first premium in the same class, by the regulations of the Society, disqualified him from again receiving it. But in such cases, the former winner, if adjulged best, receives a certificate to that affect. nr 26 PECULIARITIES OF THE ARABIAN HORSE. prevent the possibility of fraud, so far as the written pedigree extends. The Kochlani are principally reared by the Bedouin Arabs, in the remoter deserts. A stallion may be procured without much difficulty, although at a great price. A mare is rarely to be obtained, except by fraud and excessive bribery. The Arabs have found out that which the English breeder should never forget, that the female is more concerned than the male in the excellence and value of the produce; and the genealogies of their horses are always reckoned from the mothers. The Arabian horse would not be acknowledged by every Judge to possess a perfect form : his head, however, is inimitable. The broadness and squareness of the forehead, the shortness and fineness of the muzzle, the prominence and brilliancy of the eye, the smallness of the ears, and the beautiful course of the veins, will always characterize the head of the Arabian horse. His body may be considered as too light, and his chest as too narrow; but behind the arms the barrel generally swells out, and leaves sufficient room for the play of the lungs. In the formation of the shoulder, next to that of the head, the Arab is superior to any other breed. The withers are high, and the shoulder-blade inclined backward, and so nicely adjusted, that in descending a hill the point or edge of the ham never ruffles the skin. He may not be thought sufficiently high; he seldom stands more than fourtcen hands two inches. The fineness of his legs, and the oblique position of his pasterns, may be supposed to lessen his apparent strength ; but the leg, although small, is flat and wiry; anatomists know that the bone has no common density, and the startling muscles of the fore-arm and the thigh indicate that he is fully capable of accomplishing many of the feats which are recorded of him. The Barb alone excels him in noble and spirited action; and if there be defects about him, he is perfect for that for which he was designed. He presents the true combination of speed and bottom—strength enough to carry more than a light weight, and courage that would cause him tv die rather than to give up. We may not, perhaps, believe all that is told us of the Arabian. It has been remarked, that there are on the deserts which this horse traverses no mile-stones to mark the distance, or watches to calculate the time; and the Bedouin is naturally given to exaggeration, and, most of all, when relating the prowess of the animal, which he loves as dearly as his children : yet it cannot be denied that, at the introduction of the Arabian. into the European stables, there was no othcr horse comparable to him. The Arch heres is as celebrated for his dorility and good KIN) TREATMENT OF HIS HORSE BY THE ARAB. 27 temper as for his speed and courage. In that delightful book, ‘Bishop Heber’s Narrative of a Journey through the Upper Provinces of India,’ the following interest'ag character is given of him, “My morning rides are very pleasant. My horse is a nice, quiet, good-tempered little Arab, who is so fearless, that he goes without starting close to an elephant, and so gentle and docile that he eats bread out of my hand, and has almost as much attachment and coaxing ways as a dog. This seems the general character of the Arab horses, to judge from what I have seen in this country. It is not the fiery dashing animal I had supposed, but with more rationality about him, and more ap- parent confidence in his rider, than the majority of English horses.” The kindness with which he is treated from a foal, gives him an affection for his master, a wish to please, a pride in exerting every energy in obedience to his commands, and, consequently, an apparent sagacity which is seldom seen in other breeds. The mare and her foal inhabit the same tent with the Bedouin and his children. The neck of the mare is often the pillow of the rider, and, more frequently, of the children, who are rolling about upon her and the foal: yet no accident ever occurs, and the animal acquires that friendship and love for man which occasional ill-treatment will not cause him for a moment to forget. ’ When the Arab falls from his mare, and is unable to rise, she will immediately stand still, and neigh until assistance arrives. If he lies down to sleep, as fatigue sometimes compels him, in the midst of the desert, she stands watchful over him, and neighs and rouses him if either man or beast approaches. An old Arab had a valuable mare that had carried him for fifteen years in many a hard-fought battle, and many a rapid weary march; at length, eighty years old, aud unable longer to ride her, he gave her, and a scimiter that had been his father’s, to his eldest son and told him to appreciate their value, and never lie down to rest until he had rubbed them both as bright as a looking-glass. In the first skirmish in which the young man was engaged he was killed, and the mare fell into the hands of the enemy. When the news reached the old man, he exclaimed that “life -_ was no longer worth preserving, for he had lost both his son and his mare and he grieved for one as much as the other ;” and h immediately sickened and died. Man, however, 1s an inconsistent being. The Arab who thus lives with and loves his horses, regarding them as his most valuable treasure, sometimes treats them with a cruelty scarcely to be believed, and not at all to be justified. The severest treat- ment which the English race-horse endures is gentleness compared 28 aNECDOTE. with the trial of the young Arabian. Probably the filly haa never before been mounted; she is led out; her owner springs on ber pack, and goads her over the sand and rocks of the desert at ful: speed for fifty or sixty miles without one moment’s respite. She is then forced, steaming and panting, into water deep enough for her to swim. If, immediately after this, she will eat as if nothing had occurred, her character is established, and she is acknowledged to be a genuine descendant of the Kochlant breed. The Arab is not conscious of the cruelty which he thus inflicts. It is an invariable custom, and custom will induce us to inflict many a pang on those whom, after all, we love. The following anecdote of the attachment of an Arab to his mare has olten been told, but it comes home to the bosom of every one possessed of common feeling. ‘The whole stock of an Arab of the desert consisted of a mare. The French consul offered to purchase her in order to send her to his sovereign, Louis XIV. The Arab would have rejected the proposal at once with indignation and scorn; but he was miserably poor. He had no means of supplying his most urgent wants, or procuring the barest necessaries of life. Still he hesitated ;—-he had scarcely a rag to cover him—and his wife and children were starving. The sum offered was great,—it would provide him and his family with food for life. At length, and reluctantly, he consented. He brought the mare to the dwelling of the consul,— he dismounted,—he stood leaning upon her ;—he looked now at the gold, and then at his favorite; he sighed—he wept. ‘To whom is it,’ said-he, ‘I am going to yield thee up? To Europeans, who will tie thee close,—who will beat thee,—who will render thee miserable. Return with me, my beauty, my jewel, and rejoice the hearts of my children.’ As he pronounced the last words, he sprung: upon her back, and was out of sight in a mo- ment.” Our horses would fare badly on the scanty nourishment afforded the Arabian. The mare usually has but one or two meals in twenty-four hours. During the day she is tied to the door of the tent, ready for the Bedouin to spring, at a moment’s warning, into the saddle; or she is turned out before the tent ready sad- dled, the bridle merely taken off, and so trained that she gallops up immediately at her master’s call. At night she receives a little water ; and with her scanty provender of five or six pounds of barley or beans, and sometimes a little straw, she lies down content, in the midst of her master’s family. She can, however, endure great fatigue; she will travel fifty miles without stopping ; she has been pushed, on emergency; one hundred and twenty miles, and occasionally, neither she nor her rider has tasted food for three whole days. THE CANADIAN AND TIIE NORMAN HORSE. 29 To the Arabian, principally, England is indebted for her im- proved and now unrivalled breed of horses for the turf, the field, and the road.” : As already said, when speaking of the English race-horse, the Arabian is not equal to his English descendant. This has alse been incontestably proved in the United States. Pure blood Arabians of the highest pretensions have at various times been mported into our country; but they have never compared in either speed or bottom, with the English race-horse and his descendants THE CANADIAN HORSE, Found in the Canadian Provinces, and somewhat in the Northern United States, is too well known to require any partic- ular description. He is mainly of French descent—though many so called, and doubtless some of the fleetest ones, are the produce of a cross between the Canadian and the English thorough-bred stal- lion. They are a long-lived, easily kept, and exceedingly hardy race, making good farm and draft horses, when sufficiently large. In form, many of them display in a marked manner the charac- teristics of the Norman—so too in their general qualities—but they are usually considerably smaller. Stallions of this breed have in various instances, of late, been introduced into New York and other northern States, to cross with our common mares. The result has been decidedly satisfactory, particularly in giving compactness and vigor of constitution, where the dam does not excel in those particulars. A black stallion imported from Canada, a few years since, by Mr. John Legg, of Skaneateles, N. Y., has got several hundred colts, which, when broken, have averaged about one hundred dollars a piece in value; a sum considerably above the average prices of horses in the country. They are almost invariably fair roadsters, and excellent farm-horses. This cross is more and more finding favor among our farmers. THE NORMAN HORSE. In connection with the Canadian—though not so old a varietv in the United States, as some of which we have presently to speak—we will advert to the French or Norman horse, froin which the Canadian is descended. We cannot do this more satisfactorily to ourselves, or more usefully to the reader, than to publish entire the following interestmg and admirably candid 30 LETTER FROM MR. ILARRIS. ‘etter from Edward Harris, Esq., of Moorestown, Burlington Co, New Jersey, who introduced this breed into the United States. . a te aN LOUIS PHILLIPE#,* Moorestown, April 4, 1850. My pzar Sim:—Your kind favor of the last of March has been duly received. IJ regret that, in consequence of. the decease of a near relative, it has been out of my power to prepare my answer as soon as you desired. I thank you, my dear sir, for the order you have suggested to be observed in my communication. You will soon perceive that I am by no means a practised writer, therefore your suggestions are the more acceptable in aiding me to draw up my “ plain, unvarnished tale.” These horses first came under my observation on w journey through France in the year 1831. I was struck with the immense power displayed by them in drawing the heavy diligences of that country, at a pace which, although not as rapid as the stage-coach travelling of England, yet such a pace, say from five to nine miles per hour, the lowest rate of which I do not hesitate to say, would, in a short time, kill the English horse if placed before the same load. In confirmation of this opinion I will give you an extract from an article on the Norman horse in the British Quarterly Jour- nal of Agriculture, which I quoted in my communication to the Farmer's Cabinet of Philadelphia, in 1842, as follows :— * Bred by Edward Harris, Esq., of Moorestown, New Jersey (in 1843), from his pure imported Norman stock. (See Mr. Harris’s letter which follows.) Louis Phillipe is an excellent characteristic specimen of the Norman horse, is a dapple gray, fifteen hands one and one half inches high and weighs twelve hundred pounds, in good condition. He is owned by R B. Howland, Esq., of Umon Springs. Caynea County. N.Y. QUALITIES OF THE NORMAN, 3) “The writer, in giving an account of the origin of the horse, which agiees in tracing it to the Spanish horse (of Arabian ancestry), with the account which [ have given above, which I procured from French sources, says, ‘The horses of Normandy are a capital race for hard work and scanty fare. Ihave never seen such horses at the collar, under the diligence, the post-carriage, the cumbrous and heavy voiture or cabriolet for one or two horses, or the farm-cart. They are enduring and energetic beyond descrip- ton; with their necks cut to the bone, they flinch not; they put forth all their efforts at the voice of the brutal driver, or at the dreaded sound of his never-ceasing whip; they keep their condition when other horses would die of neglect and hurd treatment. A better cross for some of our horses can not be imagined than those of Normandy, provided they have not the ordi nary failing, of too much length from the hock downwards, and a heavy head’ [ think that all who have paid attention to this particular breed of Norman horses (the Percheron, which stands A No.1), will bear me out in the assertion that the latter part of this quotation will not apply to them, and that, on the contrary, they are short from the hock downwards; that their heads are short, with the true Arabian face, and not thicker than they should be to correspond with the stoutness of their bodies. At all events you can witness that Diligence has not these failines, which, when absent, an Englishman (evidently, from his article a good horseman) thinks, constitutes the Norman horse the best imaginable horse for a cross upon the English horse of a certain description. Again he says, ‘They are very gentle and docile; a kicking or vicious horse is almost unknown there; any person may pass in security at a fair at the heels of hundreds.” My own impressions being fortified by such authority from such a source (where we look for little praise of anything French), and numerous others, verbal and written, I made up my mind to return to France at an early day and select a stallion at least, as an ex~eriment in crossing upon the light mares of New Jersey. My intention was unavoidably delayed until the year 1839, when I went seriously to work to purchase two stallions and two mares with the aid of a veterinary surgeon of Havre, Monsieur St. Mare, to whose knowledge of the various distinct breeds which exist in France, and his untiring zeal in aiding my enterprise, I take great pleasure in making acknowledgments. The animals in due time were procured, but the last which was brought for my decision, although a fine stallion, showed such evident signs of a cross of the English blood (afterwards acknowledged oy the owner). that I rejected him, and the packet being about to sail, and ee being made for the shipment, I was obliged to put the stal- ion and two mares on board, no time being left to look up another stal lion, Here another difficulty arose—I could find no competent groom in Havre to take charge of them on the voyage, and deliver them in New York. Iwas obliged to make an arrangement with one of the steerage passengers, a German, who had never been to sea before, to attend to them to the best of his ability. As you may suppose, I did not feel very well satisfied with this arrangement. I therefore wrote to M. Meurice of Paris, to take charge of my baggage which I had left at his hotel, and the next morning I was on my way to New York on the packet ship Iowa, pr be Peck. where I lived in the round-house on deck, with himself and officers, It was the lowa’s first voyage, and her cabin had not been finished, so great was the fear of the owners, at that time, that their “occupation was gone" of carrying cabin passengers, in consequence of the recent success of the English sea-steamers. We had three hundred steerage, and I was the unly cabin passenger. The horses were also on deck. The first night, so great was the change in the temperature, on the occurrence of a slight stcrm, that all the horses took violent colds, and. unfortunately, with the best use 32 THE FERCHERON. I could make of M. St. Marc’s medicine-chest, and his very judicious uuree tions for the treatment of the horses under this anticipated state of affairs, T could not prevent the death of the stallion from inflammation of the lungs, before reaching New York. The mares were landed safely, but too much stiffened by the voyage and their sickness, to make the journey at once across the Jerseys on foot. I procured a trusty man to accompany them, ard sent them by railroad for Burlington. The next morning I had the mortifica- tion to see my man returned with the sad news that the finest mare had broken through the bottom of the car, and fractured one of her hind legs Thus left with one horse out of four selected, the only alternative was to give up, or go back for more. I did not hesitate about the latter, and in three weeks I was steaming it on board the Great Western. My next pur- chase was “ Diligence,” another stallion, and two mares, This time I was more fortunate, and procured an excellent groom to accompany them, who succeeded in getting them safely to New York and to Moorestown, carefully shunning the railroad. I have, since that time, lost one of the mares, and the other stallion went blind after making one season, Not wishing to run the risk of perpetuating a race of horses with weak eyes, I have not since ermitted him to cover mares; though I must say for him that his colts ate all good eyes, and siand high in public favor. Those who are acquainted with the thorough-bred Canadian horse, wil) see in him a perfect model, on a small scale, of the Percueron horse. Thi 13 the peculiar breed of Normandy which are used so extensively through out the northern half of France for diligence and post-horses, and from the best French authorities I could command (I cannot now quote the precise authorities), I learned that they were produced by the cross of the Andalu sian horse upon the old heavy Norman horse, whose portrait may still be seen as a war-horse on the painted windows of the cathedral of Rouen, sev- eral centuries old. At the time of the occupation of the Netherlands by the Spaniards, the Andalusian was the favorite stallion of the north of Eu rope, and thus a stamp of the true Barb was implanted, which remains to the present day. If you will allow me to digress « moment, I will give you a short description of the old Norman draught-horse on which the cross was made. They average full sixteen hands in height, with head short, thick, wide and hollow between the eyes; jaws heavy; ears short and pointed well forwards; neck very short and thick; mane heavy; shoulder well inclined backwards; back extremely short; rump steep; quarters very broad; chest deep and wide; tendons Jarge; muscles excessively de- veloped; legs very short, particularly from the knee and hock to the fet- lock, and thence to the coronet, which is covered with long hair, hiding half the hoof; much hair on the legs. The bone and muscle, and much of the form of the Percheron is derived from this horse, and he gets his spiritand action from the Andalusian. Do- cility comes from both sides. On the expulsion of the Spaniards from the north, the supply of Andalusian stallions was cut off, and since that time in the Perche district in Normandy, their progeny has doubtless been bred in-and-in ; hence the remarkable uniformity of the breed, and the disposi- tion to impart their form to their progeny beyond any breed of domestic animals within my knowledge. Another circumstance which I think has tended to perpetuate the good qualities of these horses, is the fact of all their males being kept entire; a gelding is, I believe, unknown among the rural horses of Krance. You may be startled at this notion of mine, but if you reflect a moment, you must perceive that in such a state of things (so contrary to our practice and that of the English) the farmer will always breed from the best horse, and he will have an opportunity of judging, be- sause the horse has been broken to harness and his qualities known before DILIGENCE. 33 he could command business ns a stallion. Hence, too, their indifference to pedigree. If the success of Diligence as a stallion is any evidence of the value of the breed, I can state, that he has averaged eighty mares per season fur the ten seasons he has made in this country, and as he is a very sure fual-getter, ne must have produced at least four hundred colts; and as I have never yet heard of a colt of his that would not readily bring one hundred. dollars, and many of them much higher prices, you can judge of the benefit which tas accrued from his services. Ihave yet to learn that he has produced one worthless colt, nor have I heard of one that is spavined, curbed. ring- boned, or has any of those defects which render utterly useless so large a number of the fine-bred colts of the present day. The opinion of good jee here is, that we have never had, in this part of the country at least, so valuable a stock of horses for farming purposes; and further, that no horse that ever stood in this section of the country has produced the same number of colts whose aggregate value has been equal to that of the colts of Diligence; for the reason that, although there may have been indi- viduals among them which would command a much higher price than any of those of Diligence, yet the number of blemished and indifferent colts has been so great, as quite to turn the scale in his favor. In reply to your queries, I would say to the first, that Diligence has not been crossed at all with thorough-bred mares—-such a thing is almost un- known here at the present day; but those mares the nearest approaching to it have produced the cleanest, neatest, and handsomest colts, though bardly large enough to command the best prices. Those I know of that cross are excellent performers. 2. The style of mares with which Diligence breeds best, appears to me to be the mare which you would choose to breed carriage-horses from, with a good length of neck, and tail coming out on a line with the back, to cor- rect the two prominent faults in form of the breed, the short neck and steep rump. 8. What is the result of the cross with different styles (as regards size and shape)? This may be answered in a general way by stating, the size will depend somewhat upon the size of the mare,-with due allowance for casting after back stock, which will be well understood by breeders. As regards shape, you'may depend upon the predominance of the form of the horse in nine cases out of ten; indeed, I have only seen one of his colts that I could not instantly recognize from the form. The reason will occur to you from what I have said of the extreme purity of the breed: such as they are they have been for centuries; and could you find another race of horses of entirely different form in the same catefory as regards their pedigree, my belief is, that when you should see the first colt from them, you would see the model of all that were to follow. 4, Can you breed carriage-horses sufficiently fashionable for the city mar- kets? Ido not hesitate to say that it cannot be done with the first cross, There is too much coarseness about them, which must be worn down by judicious crossing; and I think a stallion got by Diligence upon a large- sized thorough-bred mare, would go very far towards producing the desired result. Should this fail, I feel very confident that another cross from these colts on the thorough-bred mare, will give you the Morgan-horse on a larger scale. I still hold to the opinion I expressed to you years ago, that tte action of our common horses would be improved by this cross. His ce Its have higher action than their dams, and generally keep their feet vet ter under them; in other words, they pick them up quicker, not suffering them to rest so long upon the ground, 3 b 34 TIIE COLTS OF DILIGENCE. Your firth and sixth questions will be answered by what I have furthor to “ay in regard to the progeny of Diligence. . I may safely say they are universally docile and kind, at the same time spirited and lively. They break-in without any difficulty. As regards their speed, I do not know of any that can be called fast horses, though many smart ones among ordinary road horses. Diligence, as I have said elsewhere, was chosen (for obvious reasons) as a full-sized specimen of the breed. As for speed in trotting, we cannot doubt its being in the breed, when we look at the instances among the thorough-bred Canadian ponies. Could I have made my selection from the stallions which I rode behind in the diligences, I could have satisfied the most fastidious on this point, but, unfortunately, these horses all belonged to the government, and are never sold until past service. My main object was to produce a valuable farm horse. The chance of fast colts is not very great; because those persons having fast mares to breed from, naturally look for a fast stallion, and fail- ing to find him, take one of the best English blood they can find; and should they occur, they will be mares, or, ten to one, horses, gelded before their good qualities are discovered. Perhaps some part of what I say above will he more clear to you if I say, that I hold to the opinion that the Percheron blood still exists in Canada in all its purity. You will think, perhaps, that I have said quite enough about my humble hobby, and you will have found out too, that I have no idea, contrary to your good-natured warning, of making “swans of my geese.” What J should like to see would be further importations of these horses, thereby multiplying the chances for a happy hit in crossing, and to draw public atten- tion to them, which would do more for them than writing till doomsday. So far from considering these horses as capable by any crossing of producing the very best of horses for all purposes, that is to say, the best horse-of-all- work, I believe that if 1 had my time to live over again, had a very large , landed estate, an unlimited supply of “the dust,” I could produce that horse by breeding from the thorough-bred English racer. It would not be difficult now to select, to start from, stallions and mares possessing all the requisites of size, form, temper, &c.; but each of these individuals is such a compound of all kinds of ‘ancestors, good, bad, and indifferent, that vou would be obliged from their progeny to select and reject so often, for faults of size and form, and for blemishes and vices, that your allotted days would be near a close before you produced anything like uniformity in the breed. Still, we see what has been done by Bakewell and others in breed- ing stock, therefore I contend, 4 la Sam Patch, that what has been done may be done again. ; I therefore am de€idedly of opinion, that we cannot do better, if we wish to produce in any reasonable time a most invaluable race of horses for the oe and the road, than to breed form the full-sized Norman or Percheron 1orse, 3 Mr. Howland’s horse (the portrait of which is given at the beginning of this article) is of the true breed, having been raised by me from one of my imported mares, put to Diligence, and I consider him a remarkably fine specimen of the breed. T remain, yours very sincerely, EDWARD HARRIS. Mr Youatt in speaking of the French horses, says: “The best French horses are bred in Limousin and Normandy. From the former district come excellent saddle-horses and hunters; and from the latter a stronger snecies for the road, the cavalry, THE MORGAN. 32 or the vainaye. The Norman horses are now much crossed by our hunters, and occasionally by the thorough-bred ; and the Eng lish roadster and light draft horse has not suffered by a mixture with the Norman.” In his remarks on the Coach Horse, Mr. Y. says:—‘‘The Normandy carriers travel with a team of four horses, and from fourteen to twenty-two -miles in a day, with a load of ninety hundred weight.” THE MORGAN HORSE WorR: Se GENERAL GIFFORD.* Of this celebrated American variety or family of horses, the writer of this possesses little knowledge derived from personal experience. That they have obtained much celebrity as light buggy and saddle horses,—attracted much notice and admira- tion at the New York State Fairs from their remarkably spirited action and evident docility—sold for high prices not only for the * “General Gifford” was got by Gifford Morgan, he by Burbank, he by the original “Morgan Horse.” The dam of General Gifford was got b Sherman Morgan. He is 154 hands high, of a dark chestnut color, excee ingly compact; remarkable for his muscular development, and is said by a correspondent in the Genessee Farmer, in “only decent working condition” to have wéighed 1040 pounds. The same correspondent states on the an- thority of Mr. Mason (who has owned the horse), that he has trotted a mile inside of three minutes. He is a horse of great action, and is considered a very characteristic and favorable specimen of the breed in all particulars He is now owned by Charles W Ingersoll Esq., of Lodi. Seneca Co., N. ¥ 36 ORIGIN OF THE MORGAN. saddie and buggy, but as stallions to extend the breed,—is 2e1 tain. They have many warm admirers, and find ready pur- chasers. Others, on the contrary, are disposed to concede to them no uncommon value as a family, as will be scen by some quotations which we shall presently make. The origin of the Morgans is thus stated in a letter to us from a highly intelligent and, as we believe, perfectly responsible source :— Burlington, March 8th, 1850. My prar Sm,—The conflicting reports concerning the origin of the “Morgan” horse are so numerous, and come in “such questionable shapes,” that no one can be satisfied beyond a doubt of the truth of any one story. The pedigree given by the descendants of Mr. Justin Morgan, is, in my estimation, the one entitled to the most credit. They have made oath to certain statements in regard to the pedigree of the “ Morgan” horse. But these statements, so far as I can learn, depend upon the reminiscences of early childhood, and consequently are not entitled to implicit confidence, Adopting the pedigree, as given by a son of Mr. Justin Morgan, as the most reliable pedigree, I will proceed. The original “Morgan” horse, the founder of the family of horses known by that name, was brought, at two years old, in 1795, from Springfield, Mass, to Randolph, Vt. by Justin Morgan, of the latter place. He was got by “True Britton,” he by More- ton's “Traveller” (imported), among whose ancestors are found “ English Eclipse,” “Childers,” and the “Godolphin Arabian.” ‘True Britton” (not the horse of same name mentioned in the Stud Book, and got by imported “ Othello”), was stolen from Gen. Delancey, of New York, while with a band of refugee troops on Long Island. Gen. Delancey was the importer of the horses * Wild-air” and “ Lath,” both thorough-bred horses—the for- mer of such superiority that he was sent back to England, in 1772. Judging from Gen. Delancey’s taste in horses, it is but right to infer that “True Britton” was thorough-bred. Thus much for the sire of the “Morgan” horse. Concerning his dam, Mr. F. A. Weir, of Walpole, N. H., writes as follows (Cultivator, January, 1840, p. 19.): “The dam is described by Mr. John Morgan, who knew her, as of the ‘Wild-air’ breed, of middling size, with a heavy chest, of a very light bay color, with a pushy mane and tail, the hair on the legs rather long, and a smooth, hand- some traveller. She was got by ‘Diamond,’ a thick heavy horse, of about the middling size, with a thick heavy mane and tail, hairy legs, and a smooth traveller.” “Diamond,” Mr. Weir further says, was got by “ Wild-air,” out of the “noted imported mare ‘ Wild-air”” I can find no account of any such importation, and deem it improbable that a mare and horse should have been imported about the same time, and allowed to retain one and the same name. However, I may be wrong, and Mr. Weir right. “ Wild- air,” sire of “Diamond,” was got by imported “ Wild-air.” The reasonable conclusion from this statement is, that the dam of the old “ Morgan” had some good blood in her veins, but was not thorouyh- bred. This, it is believed, is as correct and reliable an account of the pedi- gree of the “ Morgan” horse as can be obtained. From the appearance of chose horses now living, nearest related to the original “ Morgan,” it is evident that the old horse was possessed of no small share of pure blood. There can be no good reason to doubt the above pedigree, if we judge from the character of the immediate descendants of the old horse. There were but four colts of the original “ Morgan” kept aa stallions and concerning the blood of their dams nothing is known. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE MORGAN. 3? I, “ Revenge’ was foaled in Claremont, N. H., out of a “middle-sized. white mare, of no particular blood.” Il, “Sherman Morgan,” raised in Lyndon, Vt. was from a “chestnut colored mare, of rather light bone, and said to be of English blood.” III. “ Bulrush,” bred by Mr. Gifford, of Tunbridge, Vt, was out of ‘thick, heavy, dark bay and rather lazy mare.” IV. “ Woodbury,” or “ Burbank,” was also foaled in Tunbridge, Vt., and ie out of a “bay mare, said to weigh about 1000 pounds, a smart, good iver,” 7 “ Burbank” was doubtless the best colt from the loins of the old horse, kept asa stallion. He was the sire of the “Gifford Morgan. now owned by F. A. Weir, of Walpole, N. H.,” [and grandsire of “ General Gifford," given in our cut—£d.] The Committee of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society, “on stock owned out of the State,’ at the State Fair at Auburn, in 1846, thus spoke of the Morgans, and of the horse (General Gifford) represented in the cut, and of his sire Gifford Morgan :— “Gifford Morgan, a dark chestnut stallion, fourteen hands and three inches high, aged twenty years, was exhibited by F. A. Weir, of Walpole, N.H. It.is claimed on the part of his owner, that this horse possesses the celebrated “Morgan” blood in greater purity than any other now living. “General Gifford,” got by the above-named horse, was exhibited by Mr. C. Blodget, of Chelsea, Vt. In his size, figure, action, and color, he closely resembles his sire. Both are exceedingly compact horses, deep-chested, strong-backed, with fore-legs set wide apart, and carrying their heads (which are small, with fine, well set eyes) high and gracefully, without a bearing-rein. Their action attracted the marked admiration of all. This breed are reputed to possess great bottom and hardiness, and everything about the two presented, goes to prove that their reputation, in this par- ticular, is well founded. For light carriage or bugyy horses, it would be difficult to equal them, and if by crossing with prime large mares, of any breed, size could be obtained in the progeny, without losing the fire and action of the Morgan, the result of the cross would be a carriage of very superior quality. Your committee are not aware of the extent or result of such crosses, in the region where the Morgans originated. Unless expe- rience has already demonstrated their inutility, we could recommend to our horse-breeders, some well-considered experiments, limited at first, to test the feasibility of engrafting the Morgan characteristics on a larger horse.” A distinguished judge of horses in Vermont, writes us :— “The original Morgan ought not to be pronounced a thorough-bred horse, not having been bred from a full blood mare. Yet it is evident that the rich, high blood from which he sprung, though slightly diluted, is the cause of the reputation to which his stock has attained. But when we trace down his stock, we find, in the very first generation, an admixture of cold, worth- less blood, to the full measure of one -half. The result, usual in similar cases, is found here. Many of the colts related more or less nearly to the old horse, exhibit the characteristics of the “ Morgan” form, but lack com. pactness—not of general form, but of muscle, and they lack bottom. The general characteristics of the Morgan family, are small size, weighing from seven hundred to one thousand pounds—a long but strong back—plunp. 38 THE CLEVELAND Bay. ness of general contour, like a Berkshire pig—short, strong, hairy legs—a brusque air—a bustling gait, with more pucker and gather than freedom and elasticity of step——long, coarse hair—heavy mane and tail—and a sur- prising predisposition to accumulate fat, instead of muscle—and a remark- ably docile and tractable temper. As a general thing, the “ Morgans” have not length of stride enough to be good roadsters. They take too many steps ina mile. It is but very rarely one can be found that proves to be a good “all-day horse.” It often occurs that one can be driven ten miles within the hour, and perhaps at the same rate for the second hour, without apparent distress or injury. But for a high rate of speed throughout the day, search must be made among other families than the “ Morgan.” There is a place for them, however. They are good for an hour’s drive—for short stages. They are good to run around town with. They are good in the light pleasure-wagon—prompt, lively (not spirited) and “ trappy.” There is no question among those who have had fair 0 ee of com- paring the “Morgans” with horses of purer blood, and descended from dif- ferent stocks, in regard to the relative position of the “Morgan.” He is, ar he exists at the present day, inferior in size, speed, and bottom, in fact, ir all those qualities necessary for the performance of “great deeds” on the road or the farm, to the descendants of Messenger, Duroc, imp. Magnur. Bonum, and of many other horses of deserved celebrity. The Gifford Mor- gan embodies the characteristics of the “Morgan” form, or did embody them, better, and in more prominent and pleasant relief than any other horse I am acquainted with, of this family.” * * * The above is mot, as already stated, the popular estimate of this family. Having stated both sides of the question, we leave it to the judgment of the public. THE CLEVELAND BAY. According to Mr. Youatt, the true Cleveland Bay is nearly ex- tinct in England. They were formerly employed as a heavy, slow coach-horse. Mr. Y. says: ‘The origin of the better kind of coach-horse is the Cleveland Bay, confined principally to Yorkshire and Durham. with, perhaps, Lincolnshire on one side, and Northumberland on the other, but difficult to meet with pure in either county. The Cleveland mare is crossed by a three-fourths, or thorough-bred horse of sufficient substance and height, and the produce is the coach-horse most in repute, with his arched crest and high action. From the thorough-bred of sufficient height, but not of so much substance, we obtain the four-in-hand, and superior curricle-horse. From less height and more substance we have the hunter and better sort of hackney; and. from the half-bred, we derive the machineer, the poster, and the common carriage-horse: indeed, Cleveland, and the Vale of Pickering, in ‘the East Riding of Yorkshire, may be considered as the most decided breeding coun- ‘zy in England for coach-horses, hunters, and hackneys.”’ Again, in his article on the Farmer’s Horse, Mr. Y. says: “Tf THE DRAY HORSE. 39 he (the farmer) has a superior mare, one of the old Cleveland breed, and puts her to a bony, three-fourths-bred horse, or, if he can find one stout and compact enough, a seven-eighths, or a thorough-bred one. he will have a fair chance to rear a colt that will amply repay him as a hunter or carriage-horse.” In his article on Heavy Draught Horses, Mr. Y. says: “ The Cleveland horses have been known to carry more than seven hundred pounds sixty miles in twenty-four hours, and to perform this journey four times in a week.” Cleveland Bays were imported into western New York, a few years since, where they have spread considerably. They have often been exhibited at our State Fairs. They are monstrously large, and, for their size, are symmetrical horses, and possess very respectable action. Whether they would endure on the road, at any but a moderate pace, we are not informed, and have some doubts. Whether they spring from the genuine and unmixed Cleveland stock, now so scarce in England, we have no means of knowing. The half-bloods, the produce of a cross with our com- mon mares, are liked by many of our farmers. They are said to make strong, serviceable farm beasts—though rather prone to sullenness of temper. THE DRAY HORSE. Of the Heavy Black Dray Horses, but few have been umported into this country, and they do not seem likely to become favorites here. Mr. Youatt says of them: “The Heavy Black Horse is the last variety it may be necessary to notice. It is bred chiefly in the midland counties from Lin- colnshire to Staffordshire. Many are bought up by the Surrey and Berkshire farmers at two years old,—and being worked mod- erately until they are four, earning their keep all the while, they are then sent to the London market, and sold at a profit of ten or twelve per cent. It would not answer the breeder’s purpose to keep them until they are fit for town-work. He has plenty of fillies and mares on his farm for every purpose that he can require; he therefore sells them to a person nearer the metropolis, by whom they are eradually trained and prepared. The traveller has probahly wondered to see four of these enormous animals in a line before a plough, on no very heavy soil, and where two lighter horses would have been quite sufficient. The farmer is training them for their future destiny ; and he does right in not requiring the exertion of all their strength, for their bones are not yet perfectly formed, nor their joints knit; and were he to urge them too se- verely, he would probably injure and deform them. By the gen 40 THE AMERICAN TROTTING-HORSE, tle and constant exercise of the plough, he is preparing them for that continued and equable pull at the collar, which is after- wards so necessary. These horses are adapted more for parade and show, and to gratify the ambition which one brewer has to outvie his neighbor, than for any peculiar utility. They are cer- tainly noble-looking animals, with their round fat carcases, and their sleek coats, and the evident pride which they take in them- selves; but they eat a great deal of hay and corn, and at hard and long-continued work they would be completely beaten by a team of active muscular horses an inch and a half lower. The only plea which can be urged in their favor, beside their fine appearance, is, that as shaft-horses over the badly-paved streets of the metropolis, and with the immense loads they often have behind them, great bulk and weight are necessary to stand the unavoidable shaking and battering. Weight must be opposed to weight, or the horse would sometimes be quite thiown off his legs. A large heavy horse must be in the shafts, and then little ones before him would not look well. Certainly no one has walked the streets of London without pitying the poor thill-horse, jolted from side to side, and exposed to many a bruise, unless, with admirable cleverness, he accom- modates himself to every motion; but, at the same time, it must be evident, that bulk and fat do not always constitute strength, and that a compact muscular horse, approaching to sixteen hands high, would acquit himself far better in such a situation. The dray-horse, in the mere act of ascending from the wharf, may display a powerful effort, but he afterwards makes little exertion, much of his force being expended in transporting his own over- grown mass.” THE AMERICAN TROTTING-HORSE. Before leaving the consideration of our present topic—the con- sideration of the principal breeds and varieties of horses now in the United States—we cannot refrain from calling attention to our trotting-horses, though in reality they do not, at least as a whole, constitute a breed, or even a distinct variety or family. There zs a family of superior trotters, including several the best our country has ever produced, the descendants of Abdallah and Messenger, and running back through their sire Mambrino, to the thorough-bred horse, old Messenger. But many of our best trot- ters, including the extraordinary animal of which we have given a cut, have no known pedigrees, and some of them, without doubt, are entirely destitute of the blood of the race-horse. Lady Suffolk is by Eugineer, but the blood of Engineer is unknown {she is a gray mare, fifteen hands and two inches hich). Dutch SUPERIORITY °f AMERICAN TROTTERS. 4i ay PFS Gs SS ———— ae TT re SS SS" Noman. LADY SUFFOLK. man has no known pedigree. Other celebrated trotters stand in the same category,—though we are inclined to think that a de- cided majority of the best, especially at long distances, have a greater or less infusion of the blood of the race-horse. The United States has undoubtedly produced more superior aotters than any other country in the world, and in no other country has the speed of the best American trotters been equalled. The New York “ Spirit of the Times’’—the best authonty in our courtry on this and all kindred topics—thus compares the Eng- lish and American trotters :— + Nimrod, in admitting the superiority of our trotting-horses to the ‘English, claims that the English ‘approach very near to the Americans, even in this breed of cattle. Possibly the characteristic national vanity would not allow him to make a further concession. But there is no com arison whatever between the trotting-horses of the two countries, Mr Wieelan, who took Rarrter to England last season, and doubly distancec with ease every horse that ventured to start against him, as the record shows, informs us that there are twenty or more roadsters in common.use in thie city, that-could compete successfully with the fastest trotters on the Eng lish turf. They neither understand the art of training, driving, or riding, there, For example: some few years since, ALEXANDER was purchased by Messrs. C. and B. of this city, for a friend or acquaintance, in Englan Alexander was a well-known roadster here, and was purchased to order at alow rate. The horse was sent out and trials made of him; but so unsuc 42 CAUSES OF THE SUPERIORITY OF AMERICAN TROTTERS. cessful were they, that the English importers considered him an imposition. Thus the matter stood for a year or more. When Wheelan arrived in Eng land, he recognized the horse, and learned the uae of his purchase and subsequent trials there. By his advice the horse was nominated in a stake at Manchester (we believe) with four or five of the best trotters in England, he (Wheelan) engaging to train and ride him. When the horses came upon the ground, the odds were 4 and 5 to 1 against Alexander, who won by nearly a quarter of a mile! Wheelan says he took the track at starting, and widened the gap at his ease—that near the finish, being sur- prised that no horse was anywhere near him, as his own had not yet made a stroke, he got frightened, thinking some one might outbrush him—that he Pe Alexander up to his work, and finally won by an immense way, no orse, literally, getting to the head of the quarter stretch, as he came out at the winning stand! The importers of Alexander, at any rate, were so surprised aud delighted at his performance, that they presented Wheelan with a magnificent gold timing-watch, and other valuable presents, and sent Messrs. C. and B. a superb service of plate, which may be seen at any time at their establishment in Maiden Lane.” From whence does this superiority of the American trotters spring? Is it from dlood ? This would seem to be disproved from the facts already shown. The American trotter belongs to no particular breed or blood. Many of our celebrated trotters have partaken more or less deeply of the blood of the English race-horse. The Abdallah and Messenger family are consider- ably more than half-bloods—the dams of these horses being also of Messenger blood. Unless it is shown that the unknown or common blood which they possess, has been the source of their superiority as trotters, then it is certain that England possesses as good materials as ourselves, so far as blood is con- cerned, for breeding trotters. The former has never, so far as we are aware, been claimed, and there is not a reasonable doubt that England does possess all the requisite materials to equal us. The dirference has been occasioned by management, training. and attention to this definite object. On this subject, we quote the following just and highly spirited remarks from a disser- tation on American Trotting Horses* by that talented but dil. rewarded veteran agricultural writer, Hon. J. S. Skinner :-— “ According to the theory here maintained, the great number of trotters in America that can go, as before said, their mile under three minutes, and there are many who do it under 2m. 40s., and even in some cases under 2m. 30s.,—as for instance in the case of Ripton and Confidence, whose per- formances have given so much gratification to sportsmen, is to be explained in the same way that we account for the great number of superb hunters that are admitted to abound in England above all countries, not excepting our own. There, in every county in the Kingdom, there are organized “ Hunts,” with their whippers-in, and huntsmen, and earth-stoppers, and * See prefatory chapter to the American edition of Youatt on tha Horse. Lea & Blanchard: Philadelphia, 1849. ENGLISH HUNTERS AND AMERICAN TROTTERS. 43 costly appointments of every kind to accommodate some fifty or an hun- dred couple of high-bred hounds, whose pedigrees are as well preserved as those of Priam or Longwaist; and a wide district of country is reserved and assigned exclusively to each hunt. Fox-hunting is there termed par excellence, a princely amusement, and gentlemen of the most exalted rank and largest fortune, take pride in the office of “Master of the hounds,” and assuredly in all the wide field of manly exercises, none can compare with an English fox or steeple-chase, for union of athletic vigor and daring skill, and magnificence of equitation; unless perhaps i were some splendid charge de cavalrie, like those we used to real of, wade by the gallant Murat at a critical moment of the battle, when he as wont, in his gor- geous uniform and towering plumes, to fall with his cavalry like an ava- lanche upon his adversary, confounding and crushing him at a blow! Truly, it would well be worth a trip across the Atlantic, to see a single “turn out” of an English hunt, all in their fair tops, buckskin smalls, and scarlet coats, mounted on hunters that under Tattersall’s hammer would command from one to two hundred guineas! Imagine such a field with thirty couple of staunch hounds, heads up and sterns down, all in full cry, and well away with their fox!! «________ Now, my brave youths, Flourish the whip, por spare the galling spur ; But in the madness of delight, forget Your fears. Far v’er the rocky hills we range, And dangerous our course; but in the brave True courage never fails,” To indicate more strongly the prevalence of this partiality for trottmg- horses, and emulation to own the fastest goer, and the number and extent of associations and arrangements for this sort of trial and amusement, it need only be mentioned that the “Spirit of the Times,” published in New York, contains lists of matches and purses, and of thousands on thousands of dollars in small purses, won and lost on these performances on trotting courses! These performances show that the excellence which is conceded to American trotters, is not founded on a solitary achievement or very rare cases, nor to be ascribed to the possession of any distinct and peculiar breed of horses; but is the natural and common fruit of that union of blood and bone, which forms proverbially the desideratum in a good hunter, with the superaddition of skilful training, much practice, and artful jockeying, for the trotting course. Who can doubt that if Hiram Woodruff were to go to England, having the run of their hunting-stables, he might select nags enough which could soon be made, under his training and consummate jockeyship, to go along with Edwin Forrest and Lady Suffolk, Ripton, Rattler, Confidence, and the Dutchman ?” CHAPTER II. THE ZOOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE LORSE. [Before commencing the perusal of the following chapters, the reader, and particularly the young reader, is earnestly requested to turn back and read the Inrropucrioy. It is believed that he will there find some highly useful and important hints in regard to the manner of acquiring a full knowledge of the contents of the work,—much of which, comparatively speaking, will be but imperfectly understood by him, without attention to the rules there laid down.— Am. Ed.}* In his zoological classification, the Horse ranks under the divi- sion vertebrata—the class maimmalia—the tribe ungulata—the order pachydermata—and the family solipeda. The solipeda consist of several speczes, as the horse, the ass, the raule, and the quagga. First stands the Equus Canatuus, or Common Horse. The horse has six 2zctsors or cutting teeth in the front of each jaw; and one canine tooth or tusk. On each side, above and below—at some distance from the incisors, and behind the canines, and with some intervening space—are six molar teeth, or grinders; and these molar teeth have flat crowns, with ridges of enamel, and that enamel pene- trating into the substance of the tooth. The whole is thus represented by natural historians :— 6 aoe Hors+.—Inecisors —=, canines ——, molar : eeth. 6 i—l ot Total, forts * The work should be read through in course, ealier being frequently necessary to explain later portions of it: and he who would derive the full advantage of it, should never pass over a word without understanding its signification. Many of the scientific terms admit of no substitutes—at least without much and frequently recurring cireumlocution—and their definitions will usually be found in Webster’s dictionary. These should be committed to memory; and especially the names of the different parts and tissues, Much less trouble of this kind is necessary, than would be supposed, to & full understanding of the work. Smo mma, caf take et it SKELETON OF THE HORSE, 45 SKELETON OF THE Horse. Fig. L The Head. The posterior mamillary or under jaw. The superior maxillary or upper jaw. A little lower down than the letter is a foramen, through which pass the nerves and blood vessels which chiefly supply the lower part of the face. The orbit, or cavity containing the eye. The nasal bones, or bones of the nose. The suture dividing the parietal bones below from the occipital bones above. The inferior maxillary bone, containing the upper incisor teeth. The Seven Cervical Vertebree, or bones of the neck. The Eighteen Dorsal Vertebrz, or bones of the back. The Six Lumbar Vertebre, or bones of the loins. The Five Sacral Vertebrae, or bones of the haunch, The Caudal Vertebre, or bones of the tail, generally about fifteen. The Scapula, or shoulder-blade. ‘The Sternum, or fore-part of the chest. " The Coste, or ribs, seven or eight articulating with the sternum, and called the true ribs, and ten or eleven united together by cartilage, called the Salse ribs. The Humerus, or upper bone of the arm. The Radius, or upper bone of the arm. The Ulna, or elbow. The point of the elbow is called the Olecranon. The Carpus, or knee, consisting of seven bones. . The Metacarpal bones. The larger metacarpal or cannon or skank in front, and the smaller metacarpal or splint bone behind. 416 THE SENSORIAL FUNCTION. g The fore pastern and foot, consisting of the Os Suttraginis, or the upper ané larger pastern bone, with the sesamoid bones behind, articulating with the cannon and greater pastern; the Os Corona, or lesser pastern; the Os Pedis, or coffin bone; and the Os Naviculare, or navicular, or shuttle- bone, not seen, and articulating with the smaller pastern and coffin bones. h The corresponding bones of the hind-feet. O Vhe Haunch, consisting of three portions, the Ilium, the Ischium, and tha Pubis. P The Femur, or thigh. Q fhe stifle joint with the Patella. R. The Tibia, or proper leg bone—behind is a small bone called the fibula. S The Tarsus, or hock, composed of six bones. The prominent part is the Os Calcis, or point of the hock. T The Metatarsals of the hind leg. THE SENSORIAL FUNCTION An accurate knowledge of what constitutes the just structure of the horse—the form and connection of parts on which strength, or fleetness, or stoutness, must necessarily depend, is claimed by nearly all who have had anything to do with this noble animal ; but in reality it is possessed by very few. In speaking of the structure of this animal, and the points which guide the opinion of real judges of him, we shall, as briefly and as simply as we are able, explain those fundamental prince: ples on which his usefulness and beauty must depend. We re- quire one kind of horse for slow and heavy draught, aud another for lighter and quicker work ; one as a pleasant and safe readster —another, with more speed and equal continuance, as a hunter— and another still is wanted for the race-course. What is the pe- culiarity of structure—what are the particular points that will fit each for his proper business, and, to a certain degree, unfit him for everything else? The farmer will require a horse of all-work, that can carry him to market and take him round his farm—on which he can occasionally ride for pleasure, and which he must sometimes degrade to the dung-cart or the harrow. What com- bination of powers will enable the animal to discharge most of these duties well, and all of them to a certain extent profitally ? Much time spent among horses, an acquired love of them, and a little, sometimes possibly too dearly-bought experience, may give the agriculturist some insight into these matters. And we shall try to render him some useful assistance in this affair—to teach him why certain points must be good or bad—and to induce him to discard many common but dangerous errors and prejudices. It is only by being well acquainted with the structure and anatomy of the horse, that we can appreciate his shape and uses, or under- stand the different diseases to which he is liable. The nervous system will first pass in review, for it is the mov img power of the whole machine. It consists of the érain, to THE HEAD. 47 whicl all sensation is referred or carried, aid from which all voluntary motion is derived—the spinal cord, a prolongatioa of the brain, and thus connected with sensation and voluntary mo- tion, governing all the involuntary motions of the frame, and by power from which the heart beats, and the lungs heave, and the stomach digests; and one other system of nerves—the ganglionic —presiding over the functions of secretion and of nutrition, ard the repair and the welfare of the frame generally. Ture Heap.—The following cut represents the head of the horse divided into the numerous bones of which it is compused, and the boundaries of each bone clearly marked by the sutures which connect it with those around. It is composed of nine bones. aa The frontal bones, or bones of the forehead. 66 The supra-orbital foramina or holes above the orvit, through which the nerves and blood- vessels supplying the forehead pass out. The small hole beneath receives the vessels which dip into and supply the bone. ec The parietal bones, or walls of the skull. dd The temporal bones, or bones of the temples. ee The zygomatic, or yoke-shaped arch. Sf The temporal fossa, or pit above the eye. gg The occipital bone, or bone of the hinder part of the head. hh The orbits containing and defending the eye. tt The lachrymal bones belonging to the convey- ance of the tears from the eyes. i j The nasal bones, or bones of the nose. k The malar, or cheek-bones. 11 The suptrior maxillary, or that portion of the upper jaw containing the molar teeth or grinders. mm The infra-orbital foramen—a hole below the or- bit, through which pass branches of nerves and blood-vessels to supply the lower part of the face. un The inferior maxillary, the lower part of the upper jaw-bone—a separate bone in quadra- peds, containing the incisor or cutting teeth, and the upper tushes at the point of union between the superior and inferior maxillaries. o The upper incisor or cutting teeth. p The openings into the nose, with the bones forming the palate. The ethmoid and sphenoid bones will be better seen ir che ew: Fig. 3. There is an evident intention in this division of the head into so many bones. When the fetus—the unborn foal—first begins to have life, that which afterwards becomes bone, is a mere jelly- like substance. This is gradually changed into a harder material —cartilage ; and, before the birth of the animal, much of the cartilage is taken away by vessels called absorbunts, and bone 48 THE IWEAD. deposited in its stead. In flat bones, like those of the head, this deposit tak:s place in the centre, and rays or radiations of bone extend thence in every direction. Then, by having so many bones, there are so many centres of radiation; and, consequently, the formation of bone is carried on so much the more rapidly, and perfected at the time when the necessities of the animal require it, At the period of birth, however, this process is not completed, out the edges of the bones remain somewhat soft and pliant, and therefore, in parturition, they yield a little and overlap each other, and thus, by rendering the birth more easy, they save the mother much pain, and contribute to the safety of the foal. The frontal bones are united by a curious and intricate dove- tailing to defend from injury the brain which lies beneath the upper part of them. Lower down, and where the cavity of the nose is only to be defended, their union is sufficient, but far less complicated. Here we have a proof of wise design. Few things more clearly indicate the breed or blood of the horse than the form of the frontal bones. Who has not remarked the broaa angular forehead of the blood horse, giving him a beautiful expression of intelligence and fire, and the face gradu- .lly tapering from the forehead to the muzzle, contrasted with the large face of the cart or dray-horse, and the forehead scarcely wider than the face ? At f, between the frontal bones, is the pit or cavity above the eye, and by the depth of which we form some idea of the age of the horse. There is placed at the back of the eye, a consider- able quantity of fatty substance, on which it may revolve easily and without friction. In aged horses, and in diseases attended with general loss of condition, much of this disappears ; the eye pecumes sunken, and the pit above it deepens. The sinuses on the different sides of the forehead do not commu- 4cate with each other, but with other sinuses in the ethmoid, and sphenoid, and upper jaw-bones, and also with the cavities of ‘he nose on their respective sides. These sinuses afford a some- what increased protection to the brain beneath; and by the con- tinuous and slightly projecting line which they form, they give beauty to the forehead ; but their principal use probably is, like the windings of the French horn, to increase the clearness and loudness of the neighing. It will be remarked that they are very irregular in depth, which at one place is an inch or more. Tn the sheep, and occasionally in the ox—rarely in the horse — the larvee of maggots, produced by certain species of flies, crawk ap the nose, lodge themselves in these sinuses, and produce intol- erable pain. Veterinary surgeons have availed themselves of these smuses to detect the existerce of elardere in danhtfil eaces. If tha THE HEAD. 4y horse is glandered, there will probably be a consideranle ulcera- ‘ion m the upper part of the cavity of the nose. and a collection of matter there. This is ascertained by making an op2ning into the sinuses, which may be done with perfect safety. [See Glanders. ] SecTION oF THE Heap. ; Fig. 8. a The nasal bone, or bone of the nose. & The frontal bone. The cavities or cells beneath are called the frontal sinuses. e The crest or ridge of the parietal bones. j d@ The tentorium or bony separation between the cerebrum and cerebellum. é The occipital bone. Ff The ligament of the neck, or pack-waz, by which the head is ch'efly supported. The atlas, sustaining or carrying : the first bone of the neck. £ The dentata, tooth-like. or second e of the neck. a The cuneiform, or wedge-shaped process, or base of the occipital bone. Be- tween it and the other portion of the occipital bone, e, lies the great foramen or aperture through which the prolongation of the brain— the spinal marrow—issues from the skull. - & The sphenoid, wedge-like, bone, with its cavities. Z The ethmoid, sieve-like, bone, with its cells. m The cerebrum, or brain, with the appearance of its cortical and medullary substance. ‘ n The cerebellum, or little brain, with its beautiful arborescent appearance. o A portion of the central medullary, marrow-like, substance of the brain, and the prolongation of it under the name of the crus cerebri. leg of the brain, and from which many of the nerves take their origin. e p The medulla oblongata—the prolongation of the brain after the medullary substance of ‘the cerebrum and cerebellum have united, and forming the commencement of the spinal marrow. The columnar appearance 4 2 60 THE HEAD. of this portion of the brain is represented, and the origins of the respi ratory nerves. ; r g The spinal marrow extending through a canal in the centre of the bones of the neck, back, and loins, to the extremities of the tail, and from which the nerves of feeling and of motion, that supply every part of the frame except the head, arise. r The septum narium, or cartilaginous division between the nostrils. s The same cut off at the lower part, to show the spongy turbinated, turban shaped, bones, filling the cavity of the nostril. { The palate. u The molar-teeth, or grinders. ’ r The inferior maxillary bone, containing the incisor teeth, or nippers. The canine tooth, or tush, is concealed by the tongue. w The posterior maxillary, or lower jaw with its incisors. a The lips. y The tongue. i z A portion of the os hyoides, or bone of the tongue, like a Greek u, v. 1 The thyroid, helmet-shaped, cartilage, enclosing and shielding the neighboring parts. 2 The epizlottis, or covering of the glottis, or aperture of the wind-pipe. 3 The artyenoid, funnel-shaped, cartilages, having between them the aperture leading into the trachea or wind-pipe. 4 One of the chorde vocales, curds or ligaments concerned in the formation of the voice. ‘ : 5 The sacculus laryngis, sac or ventricle of the larynx, ¢ throat, to modulate the voice. 6 The trachea, or wind-pipe, with its different rings. 7 The soft palate at the back of the mouth, so constru ted as almost to prevent the possibility of vomiting. : & The opening from the back part of the mouth into the nostril. 9 The cartilage covering the entrance into the eustachiai tube, or communication __, between the mouth and internal part of the ear. 10 The cesophagus, or gullet. 1. The cricoid, ring-like, cartilage, below and behind th thyroid 12 Muscle of the neck, covered by the membrane of the back part of the mouth. As the frontal sinuses are lined by a continuation of the mem- brane of the nose, they will sympathize with many of the affec- lions of that cavity; but the membrane of the sinuses is susceptible of an inflammation peculiar to itself. The disease is rare, and the cause of it has not been fully ascertained. It is oftenest metastasis of inflammation of the brain,—shifting of in- flammation from the brain to the membrane of the sinus, or sommunication of inflammation from the brain by proximity of situation. : INFLAMMATION OF THE MEMBRANE OF THE FRONTAL SINUSES. —The attack is usually sudden—the horse is dull, lethargic, and almost as comatose as in stomach-staggers. The first thing that excites suspicion of the actual character of the disease, is heat in the situation of the frontal sinus, when the hand is placed on the forehead. The lethargy soon passes over, and a state of the high- ast excitation succeeds. The conjunctiva and -the membrane of the nose are injected—the pulse is quick and hard—the horse vecomes violent and dangerous; he kicks, plunges, and, half coa- scious and half unconsvious, he endeavors to do all the mischief that he can. The disease is now evidently sombined witb. or is THE HEAD. 5; essentially, inflammation of the brain. It is distinzuisned from madness by this half-consciousness, and also by his being more disposed to bite than he is in pure phrenitis. The disease is usually fatal. It rarely lasts more than eight- and-forty hours. The post-mortem appearances are, great inflammation uf the brain, with frequent effusions of blood. The sinuses are some- times filled with coagulated blood. The brain seems to be affected just in proportion to the violence which the animai hae exhibited. The treatment should consist of copious bleeding, application of ice to the head, blistering the head, and physic. The trephine is scarcely admissible, from the danger of producing greater imitation. Sometimes the disease assumes a more chronic form. There is ulceration of the membrane, but not cerebral affection. A pur- ulent discharge then appears from the nose, evidently not of a glanderous character, and none of the submaxillary glands are enlarged. In both the acute and chronic form, it is usually con- fined to one sinus. The inner plate of the frontal bone covers a considerable por- tion of the anterior part of the brain, and it is studded with de- pressions corresponding with irregularities on the surface of the brain. Immediately above the frontal, and extending from the frontal to the poll, are the partetal bones. They are two, united together by a suture when the animal is young, but that suture soon becoming obliterated. They are of a closer and harder texture than the frontals, because they are more exposed to injury, and more concerned in defending the brain. A very small portion only of the parietals is naked, and that is composed of bone even harder than the other part, and with an additional layer of bone rising in the form of a crest or ridge externally. Every other part of these bones is covered by a thick mass of muscle, the temporal muscle, which is principally concerned in chewing the food, but which, likewise, by its yield- ing resistance, speedily and effectually breaks the force of the most violent blow. On the side of the head, and under the parietals (d d, Fig. 3), are the temporal bones, one on each side, f f. These again are divided into two parts, or consist of two distinct bones ; the petrous portion, so called from its great or stony hardness, and containing the wonderful mechanism of the ear, and the squamous portion, from the appearance of its union with the parietal, overlapping it like a great scale. From the latter there projects a portion of bone, e which 2 THE HEAD. unites with the frontal, and forms a strong arch—the zygomatic— distinctly to be felt at the side of the head, immediately above the eye. This arch is designed to protect the upper part of the lower jaw, the motion of which may very plainly be seen be- neath it when the horse is feeding. At the base of the arch is an important cavity not visible in the cut, receiving into it, and forming a joint with, the head of the lower jaw—it will be presently described. Having reached the base of the temporal bone, it is found united to the parietal, not by a simple suture, as the lower part of the frontals, or the bones of the nose (see fig. a@ and 7, Fig. 2), nor by a dove-tailed suture, as the upper part of the frontals (see the same cut), but it is spread over the parietal in the form of a large scale, and hence, as before observed, called the squamous portion of the temporal bone. In fact, there are two plates of bone instead of one. Was there design in this? Yes, evidently so. In the first place, to increase the strength of the base of the zygo- matic arch. This extensive union between the temporal and parie- tal bones, resembles the buttress or mass of masonry attached to the base of every arch, in order to counteract its lateral pressure. The concussion, likewise, which might be communicated by a blow on the top of the arch, is thus spread over a large surface, and consequently weakened and rendered comparatively harmless ; and that surface is composed of the union of two bones of dissimi- lar construction. The hard stony structure of the parietal is very different from the tougher material of the temporal ; and thus, as a finger acts on a sounding-glass, the vibration commu- nicated to the temporal is at once stopped, and the brain receives no injury. There is another proof of admirable design. Where is this squamous portion of the temporal bone situated? On the side of the head. And what is the figure of the cranium or skull, and principally that part of it which contains the cerebrum or brain? It is an elliptical or oval arch (see fig. m, », 0, Fig. 3). If pressure is made on the crown of that arch—if .a blow is re- ceived on the suture between the parietals sufficient to cause the elastic materials of which the skull is composed to yield— the seat of danger and injury is at the side. If a man receives a violent blow on the crown or back part of the head, the frac- ture, if there is any, is generally about the temple, and the ex- travasation of blood is oftenest found there. The following figure will explain this :— . Let. the line A BC represent an elliptical arch, composed of elastic materials. Some force shall be applied at B, sufficient to cause it to yield. We cannot compress it into smaller compass; but just in proportion as it vields at B, will it spur or bulge out at THE HEAab. fe)s D, and give way sometimes as represented at E. In a dome the weight of the materials constantly acting may be considered as Fig. 4. representing the force applied at : B; and so great is the lateral B pressure, or tendency to bulge out (vide D and E), that it is \ necessary either to dove-tail the a materials into one another, or to Ks, pass strong iron chains round 4 \e them. For want of sufficient ip \ attention to this, “the dome of i St. Sophia in Constantinople, Cc built in the time of the emperor Justinian, fell three times during its erection; and the dome of the cathedral of Florence stood unfinished an hundred and twenty years, for want of an architect.” Nature, in the construction of the horse’s head, has taken away the pressure, or removed the probability of injury, by giv- ing an additional layer of bone, or a mass of muscle, where alone there was danger, and has dove-tailed all the materials. Farther than this, in order to make assurance doubly sure, she has placed this effectual girder at the base, in the overlapping of the squamous portion of the temporal bone. Above the parietals, and separated from them by a suture (fig. g, Fig. 2, and fig. e, Fig. 3), is the occipital bone. Supe- tiorly it covers and protects the smaller portion of the brain, the cerebellum ; and as it there constitutes the summit or crest of the head, and is particularly exposed to danger, and not pro- tected by muscles, it is interesting to see what thickness it assumes. The head of the horse does not, like that of the hu- man being, ride upright on the neck, with all its weight sup- ported by the spinal column ; but it hangs in a slanting position from the extremity of the neck, and the neck itself projects a considerable distance from the chest. and thus the whole weight of the head and neck is suspended from the chest, and require very great power in order to support them. How is this weight tc be supported? From the back of the occipital bone (fig. f, Fig. 3), and im- mediately below the crest, proceeds a round cord of considerable bulk, and composed of a ligamentous substance, which reaches down and is securely attached to the spines of the vertebre, or bones of the back; and by this ligament—the ligamentum colli, ligament of the neck—the head is supported. There are, however, some admirable contrivances connected with this ligament. As it proceeds from the head, it is in the form of a round cord. It passes over the aélas, or first bone of 54 THE HEAD. the neck, without touching it, and then, attaching itself strongly to the second bone, principally supports the head by its union with this bone. The mechanical disadvantage is increased ; but the head is turned more freely on the first and second bones The principal stress is on the dentata or second bone, so much so, that in poll-evil, this ligament may be divided without sori- ous inconvenience to the horse. It then suddenly sinks deeper, and communicates with all the other vertebre. Each of these communications becomes a separate point of support, and as they approach nearer to the base, the mechanical disadvantage, or the force with which the weight of the head and neck presses and acts, is materially lessened. The head, then, while the animal is in a state of rest, is sup- ported by this ligament, without any aid from muscular energy. It differs from the other ligaments of the body, in the fact that it is elastic. It stretches full two inches longer when the horse is browsing, and resumes its natural dimensions when the head is held erect. The ligament of the neck is inserted into the centre of the back part of the occipital bone, and immediately below the vertex or crest of that bone; and therefore the bone is so thick at this part (see fig. e, Fig 3). Many large and powerful muscles are necessary to turn the head in various directions, as well as to assist in raising it when depressed. The occipital bone, as will be seen in the cut, pre- sents a spine running down the centre, B, and a large roughened surface for the attachment of these muscles, C C. Fig. 5. Lower down, and still at the back of the occipital bone, are two rounded protuberances D D, by which the head is connected with the atlas, or upper or first vertebra, or bone of the neck; and these are called the condy- loid, cup-shaped, processes of the occipital bone. All the motions of the head are partly, and many of them wholly, performed ° by this joint. Between them is a large hole, the foramen magnum, or great aperture, E, through which the continuation of the brain, termed the spinal cord or marrow, passes out of the skull. As an additional contrivance to support the enormous weight of the head, are two other projections of the occipital bone, pe- culiar to aniinals whose heads are set on in a slantine direction. THE HEAD 55 and into which powerful muscles are inserted. They ure called the coracoid, beak-like, processes or prolongations, F F, of the occipital bone. Running forward, and forming outwardly a part of the base, and inwardly a portion of the floor of the skull, is what, from its wedge-like shape, is called the cuneiform process of the occipital bone (fig. 7, Fig. 3). It is thick, strong, and solid, and placed at the bottom of the skull, not only to be a proper foun- dation for, and to give additional strength to, the arch on either side, but speedily to stop all vibration and concussion. At the base of the skull, and anterior to or below the oc- cipital, lies the sphenoid, wedge-like bone (fig. k, Fig. 3). Its body, likewise called the cuneiform or wedge-shaped process, is a continuation of the same process of the occipital, and, like it, is thick and solid, and for the same important purpose. This - bone branches out into four irregular bodies or plates, two of which are called the wings, and two running to the palate, the legs. They could not be represented in the cut, and there is nothing important belonging to them, so far as this work is con- cemed. Internally (fig. &), the sphenoid forms a portion of the cavity of the skull. Of the ethmoid, sieve-like, bone, little can be seen outwardly. A small portion is found in the back- part of the orbit, and in the cavity of the cranium; but the most important part of it is that which is composed of a great number-of thin plates, form- ing numerous cavities or cells (fig. 1, Fig. 3), lmed with the membrane of the nose, and entering into its cavity. The upper portion is called the cribriform or sieve-shaped plate, from its being perforated by a multitude of little holes, through which the nerve connected with smelling. passes and spreads over the nose. Altogether these bones form a cavity of an irregular oval shape, but the tentorium penetrating into it, gives it the appear- ance of being divided into two (d, Fig. 3). The cavity of the skull may be said to be arched all round. The builder knows the strength which is connected with the form of an arch. If properly constructed, it is equal to a solid mass of masonry. The arch of a horse’s skull has not much weight to support, but it is exposed to many injuries from the brutality of those by whom he should be protected,and from ac- cidental causes. On raising any part of the skull of the horse, the dense and strong membrane which is at once the lining of the cranium and the covering of the brain—the dura mater—presents itself. It is united to the membranes below by numerous little cords or prolongations of its substance, conveying blood and communi- 56 THE BRAIN cating stréxgth to the parts beneath. Between this membrane common to the cranium and the brain, and the proper investing tunic of that organ, is found that delicate gossamer’s web, appro- priately called the arachnoid—the spider’s membrane—and which is seen in other animals, designed either to secrete the fluid which is interposed, for the purpose of obviating injurious concussion, or perhaps, to prevent the brain from readily sym- pathizing with any inflammatory action produced by injury of the skull. Beneath is the proper investing membrane of the brain—the pia mater—which not only covers the external surface of the brain, but penetrates into every depression, lines every ventricle, and clothes every irregularity.and part and portion of the brain. Tur Brain.—We now arrive at the brain itself. The brain * of the horse corresponds with the cavity in which it is placed (m, Fig. 3). It is a flattened oval. It is divided into two parts, one much larger than the other—the cerebrum or brain, and the cerebellum or little brain (”, Fig. 3). The brain of a horse is only about half the size and weight of that of a man. When the brain is cut, it is found to be composed of two sub- stances very unlike in appearance (m, Fig. 3); one, principally on the outside, gray, or ash-colored, and therefore called the cortical (bark-like) from its situation, and cineritious (ashen) from its color; and the other, lying deeper in the brain, and from its. pulpy nature called the medullary substance. Although placed in apposition with each other, and seemingly mingling, they never run into the same mass, or change by dégrees into one another, but are essentially distinct in construction as well as in function. The medullary portion is connected with the nervous system. The nerves are prolongations of it, and are concerned in the dis- charge of all the offices of life. They give motion and energy to the limbs, the heart, the lungs, the stomach, and every part connected with life. They are the medium through which sen- sation is conveyed ; and they supply the mind with materials to think and work upon. The cinerttious part has a different appearance, and is differ- ently constituted. Some have supposed, and with much appear- ance of truth, that it is the residence of the mind—receiving the impressions that are conveyed to the brain by the sensitive nerves, and directing the operation and action of those which give motion to the limbs. From the medullary substance—as already stated—proceed certain cords or prolongations, termed nerves, by which the ani- mal is enabled to receive impressions from surrounding objects, and to connect himself with them; and also to possess many THE BRAN. 57 pleasurable or painful sensations. One of them is spread over the membrane of the nose, and gives the sense of smell; another expands on the back of the eye, and the faculty of sight is gained ; and a third goes to the internal structure of the ear, and the ani- mal is conscious of sound. Other nerves, proceeding to different parts, give the faculty of motion, while an equally important one bestows the power of feeling. One division of nerves (h, Fig. 3), springing from a prolonga- tion of the brain, and yet within the skull, wanders to different parts of the frame, for important purposes connected with respira- tion or breathing. The act of breathing is essential to life, and were it to cease, the animal would die. These are nerves of zn- voluntary motion ; so that, whether he is awake or asleep, con- scious of it or not, the lungs heave and life is supported. Lastly, irom the spinal cord g—a farther prolongation of the brain, and running through a cavity in the bones of:the neck, back, and loins, and extending to the very tip of the tail—other nerves are given off at certaim intervals. The cut below delineates a pair of them. The spinal cord a, is combined of six distinct coluinns or rods, running through its whole length—three on either side. The two upper columns—the portion of spinal marrow represent ed in our cut, is supposed to be placed with its inner or lower surface towards us—-proceed from those tracks of the brain devotec| to sensation. Numerous distinct fibres spring abruptly from the column, and which collect together, and, passing through a little ganglion or enlargement, d—an enlargement of a nervous cord is called a ganglion=become a nerve of sensation. From the lower or inner side,—a prolongation of the track devoted to motion,-—-proceed other fibres, which also collect gradually: to- gether, and form a nervous cord, c, giving the power of motion. Beyond the ganglion the two unite, and form a perfect spinal e 533 THE EAR. nerve, 5, possessing the power both of sensation and motion ; and the fibres of the two columns proceed to their destination, enveloped in the same sheath, and apparently one nerve. Our cut, closely examined, will give at 6 some idea of the man- aer in which these distinct fibres are continued ;—each covered py its own membrane, but all enveloped in a common en- velope. All these nerves are organs of sensation and motion alone ; but there are others whose origin seems to be outside of and below the brain. These are the sympathetic, so called from their union and sympathy with all the others, and identified with life itself. They proceed from a small ganglion or enlarge- ment in the upper part of the neck, or from a collection of little ganglia in the abdomen. They go to the heart, and it beats, and to the stomach, and it digests. They form a net-work round each blood-vessel, and the current flows on. They surround the very minutest vessels, and the frame is nourished and built up. They are destitute of sensation, and they are perfectly beyond the control of the will. The reader, we trust, will now comprehend this wonderful, yet simple machinery, and be able, by and by, to refer to it the explanation of several diseases, and particularly of the operation to which we have referred. Two of the senses have their residence in the cavity of the cranium—those of hearing and sight. Tue Ear.—They who know anything of the horse, pay much attention to the size, setting on, and motion of the ear. Ears rather small than large—placed not too far apart—erect and quick in motion, indicate both breeding and spirit ; and if a horse is frequently in the habit of carrying one ear forward, and the other backward, and especially if he does so on a journey, he will generally possess both spirit and continuance. The ear of the horse is more intelligible even than the eye, mn indicating his temper and intentions. His hearing is remarkabiy acute. The cartilage of the ear is attached to the head by liga- ments and sustained by muscles, on which its action depends. The ear is covered by skin thinner than in most other parts of the body, and is destitute of other tissues unnecessarily increasing ite bulk and weight. Under the skin are glands that secrete and throw out a white greasy matter, destined to keep the parts sup- ple and smooth. Below this are other glands which deposit the waz, which is supposed to be necessary to deter insects from crawling into the ear, by its offensiveness to them, or by mechan- ically arresting their progress. Long hair standing across the inner passage of the ear in ev ry direction, keeps out insects, cold, and properly breaks sounds striking on the membrane cover. THE EYE. 59 ing the drum of the ear. It should not therefore be cut out, as is sometimes customary. The sound, collected by the outer ear, is conveyed through the external auditory passage to the membrana tympant—the mem- brane of the drum, stretching across and closing the external passage. Between this and another membrane still deeper in the ear, are four little bones, highly elastic, and covered with a highly elastic cartilage, by means of which the vibrations of sound are conveyed more perfectly than they would be through the mere air of the cavity. It is conveyed to a strangely irregular cavity, filled with an aqueous fluid, and the substance or pulp of the portio mollis or soft portion of the seventh pair of nerves, the auditory nerve, expands on the membrane that lines the walls of this cavity. Sound is propagated far more intensely through water than through air; and therefore it is that an aqueous fluid occupies those chambers of the ear on the walls of which the auditory nerve is expanded. Tue Eve —The Eye is a most important organ, and comes next under consideration, as enclosed in the bones of the skull. The eye of the horse should be large, somewhat but not too prominent, and the eyelid fine and thin. If the eye is sunk. in the head, and apparently little—for there is actually a very tri- fling difference in the size of the eye in animals of the same spe- cies and bulk, and that seeming difference arises from the larger or smaller opening between the lids—and the lid is thick, and especially if there is any puckering towards the inner corner of the lids, that eye either is diseased, or has lately been subject tc inflammation ; and, particularly, if one eye is smaller than the other, it has, at no great distance of time, been inflamed. The eye of the horse enables us with tolerable accuracy tc guess at his temper. If much of the white is sven, the buyer should pause ere he completes his bargain ; for horses exhibiting this characteristic are usually found vicious-tempered. The eyes are placed at the side of the head, but the direction of the conoid cavity which they occupy, and of the sheath by which they are surrounded within the orbit, gives them a pre- vailing directign forwards, so that the animal has a very extended field of vision. ‘ The eye-ball is placed in the anterior and most capacious part of the orbit, nearer to the frontal than the temporal side, with a degree of prominence varying with different individuals, and the will of the animal. It is protected by a bony socket beneath and on the inside, but_is partially exposed on the roof and on the out- side. It is, however, covered and secured by thick and powerfu! muscles—by a mass of adipose matter which is distributed to va 6U THE EYE. rious parts of the orbit, upon which the eye may be readily moved without friction and by a sheath of considerable density anid firmness, and especially where it is most needed, on the external aud superior portions. In front, the eye is supported and covered by the lids, which closing rapidly, protect it from many an injury that threatens and supply it with that moisture which is necessary to preserve its transparency. Extending round both lids, and, it may be almost said, having neither origin nor insertion, is a muscle called the orbicularis, or circular muscle. Its office is to close the lids in the act of wink- ing or otherwise, but only while the animal is awake. When he sleeps, this is effected by another and very ingenious mechanism. The natural state of the eyelids is that of being closed ; and they are kept open by the energy of the muscles whose office it™is to raise the upper lid. As sleep steals upon the animal, these mus- cles cease to act, and the lids close by the inherent elasticity of the membrane of which they are composed. , The skin of the lid is, like that of the ear, exceedingly fine, in order to prevent unnecessary weight and pressure on such a part, and to give more easy and extensive motion. The horse has no eye-brows, and the eye-lashes are peculiarly arranged to guard against the ingress of too much light, or of in- sects, and therefore should never: be clipped, as is the custom with some senseless grooms in England. There is a beautiful contrivance about the horse’s eye, to cleas it of dust, insects, and other foreign matters. Concealed within its inner corner, or only the margin of it, black or pied, visible, is a triangular-shaped cartilage, the haw, with its broad part for- wards, It is concave within, exactly to suit the globe of the eye: it is convex without, acurately to adapt itself tc the membrane lining the lid; and the base of it is reduced to a thin-or almost sharp edge. At the will of the animal this is suddenly protruded from its hiding-place. It passes rapidly over the eye, and shovels up every nuisance mixed with the tears, and then, being speedily drawn back, the dust’ or insect is wiped away as the cartilage again passes under the corner of the eye. The haw has no muscle attached to it to thrust it forward or draw it dack, When that powerful muscle which the horse possesses in common with other quadrupeds, for the purpose of drawing back the eye, or causing it to recede into its socket, when threatened with danger, is brought into ‘action, the eye presses upon the fatty matter below it, and as a portion ofthat fatty matter is peculiarly accumulated about the inner corner of the eye, it is foreed outward in that direction and drives the haw be- ‘we it. Being pressed 1 tween the eye and a polished bone, it THE EYE. 6} shoots oat with the velocity of lightning, and guided by the lids, projects over the eye, and clears it of offending matter. When the muscle which draws in the eye ceases to act, the eye resumes its natural situation in the orbit. There is room for the fatty matter to return to its place, and it immediately returns by the elasticity of the membrane by which it is covered, and draws after it this cartilage with which it is connected, and whose return is as rapid as was the projection. The old farriers strangely misunderstood the nature and design of the haw, and many at the present day do not seem to be much better informed. When, from sympathy with other parts of the eye laboring under inflammation, and becoming itself inflamed and increased in bulk, and the neighboring parts likewise thick- ened, it is either forced out of its place, or voluntarily protruded to defend the eye from the action of light and cannot return, they mistake it for some injurious excrescence or tumor, and proceed to cut itout. The “aw in the eye” is a disease well known to the majority of grooms, and this sad remedy for it is deemed the only cure. It is a barbarous practice, and if they were compelled to walk half a dozen miles in a thick dust, without being per: mitted to wipe or to cleanse the eye, they would feel the torture to which they doom this noble animal. A little patience having been exercised, and a few cooling applications made to the eye while the inflammation lasted, and afterwards some mild astrm- gent ones, and other proper means being employed, the tumor would have disappeared, the haw would have returned to its place, and the animal would have discharged the duties required of him without inconvenience to himself, mstead of the agony to which an unguarded and unprotected eye must now expose him. The loss of blood occasioned by the excision of the haw may frequently relieve the inflammation of the eye; and the evident amendment which follows induces these wise men to believe that they have performed an excellent operation ; but the same loss of blood by scarification of the overloaded vessels of the con junctiva would be equally beneficial, and the animal would not be deprived of an instrument of admirable use to him. The eye is of a globular figure, yet not a perfect globe. It is rather composed of parts of two globes; the half of one of them smaller and transparent in front, and of the other larger and the coat of it opaque, behind. We shall most convemently begin with the coats of the eye. ; The conjunctiva, f (Fig. '7), ic that membrane which lines the ‘ids, and covers the fore-part of the eye. It spreads over all that we can see or feel of the eye, and even the transparent part. It is itself transparent, and transmits the color of the parts beneath It is very susceptible of inflammation. 62 THE EYE. pa Sa oP SSS A B a supposed object viewed by the animal, and an inverted image of which, u 6, is thrown on the retina at the back of the eye. ; ec The points where the rays, having passed the cornea and lens, converge by the refractive power of the lens. de The rays proceeding from the extremities of the object to the eye. f The cornea, or horny and transparent part of the eye, covered by the con- junctiva, uniting different parts together. g The crystalline (crystal or glassy) lens, behind the pupil, and in front of the vitreous humor. hh Muscles of the eye. t The optic nerve, or nerve of sight. k ~The sclerotica (hard firm coat) covering the whole of the eye except the por- tion occupied by the cornea, and being a seeming prolongation of the covering of the optic nerve. 1 The choroides (receptacle or covering), or choroid coat, covered with a black secretion or paint. mm The iris or rainbow-colored circular membrane under the cornea, in front of the eye, and on which the color of the eye depends. The duplica-. ture behind is the wvea, from being colored like a grape. The opening in the centre is the pupil. nn The ciliary Uloeabees I processes. o The retina, or net-like expansion of the optic nerve, spread over the whole of the choroides as far as the lens. p _ The vitreous (glass-like) humor filling the whole of the cavity of the eye behind the lens. gq The aqueous (water-like) humor filling the space between the cornea and the lens. Covering the back part of the eye, and indeed four fifths of the globe of it, is the sclerotica, k. The cornea is, or we would wish it to be, the only visible part of the horse’s eye. It fills up the vacuity which is left by the sclerotica in the fore-part of the eye, and, although closely united to the sclerotica, may be separated from it, and will drop out like a watch-glass. Its convexity or projection is a point of considerable importance, as we shall hereafter have occasion to see It should be perfectly transparent. Any cloudiness or opacity is the consequence of disease. There is nothing that deserves attention from the purchaser of a horse more than its perfect transparency over the whole of its surface. The eye should be examined for this purpose both in front, and with the face af TUE EYE. 63 the examiner close to the cheek of the horse, under and behind the eye. The latter method of looking through the cornea is the most satisfactory, so far as the transparency of that part of the eye is concerned. During this examination the horse should not be in the open air, but in the stable standing in the door- way and a little within the door. If any small, faint, whitish lines appear to cross the cornea, or spread over any part of it, they are assuredly the remains of previous inflammation ; or, although the centre and bulk of the cornea should be perfectly clear, yet if around the edge of it, where it unites with the sclerotica, there should be a narrow ring or circle of haziness, the conclusion is equally true, that the inflammation occurred at a more distant périod. Whether however the inflammation has lately existed, or several weeks or months have elapsed since it was subdued, it is too likely to recur. There is one caution to be added. The cormea in its natural state is not only a beautiful transparent structure, but it reflects, even in proportion to its transparency, many of the rays which fall upon it; and if there is a white object immediately before the eye, as a light waistcoat, or much display of a white neck- cloth, the reflection may puzzle an experienced observer, and has misled many a careless one. The coat should be buttoned up, and the white cravat carefully concealed. Within the sclerotica, and connected with it by innumerable minute fibres and vessels, is the choroid coat, 1. It is a very delicate membrane, and extends over the whole of the internal part of the eye, from the optic nerve to the cornea. It secretes a dark-colored substance or paint, by which it is covered; the intention of which, like the inside of our telescopes and micro- scopes, is probably to absorb any wandering rays of light which might dazzle and confuse the vision. The different manner in which this colored matter is distributed in the horse’s eye from that of the human being, and its different color, render the sight of the former less strong during the day, but much more acute in the night. Perfectly white and cream-colored horses have a peculiar ap- pearance of the eyes. The pupil is red instead of black. It is the choroid coat itself which we see in them; and the red ap- pearance is caused by the numerous blood-vessels which are sound on every part of that coat. Tracing the choroides towards the fore-part of the eye, we perceive that it is reflected from the side to the edge of the lens, n, and has the appearance of several plaits or folds. . They are actually foldings of the membrane. They prevent the passage of any rays of light on the outside of the lens, and which, pro- ceeding forward in various directions, and uncondensed by the 64 THE EYE. power of the lens, would render vision confused cr imperfect These folds of the choroides are called the ciltary processes. Within the cornea, and occupying the fore-part of the eye, is the aqueous humor, p, so termed from its resemblance to pure water. It is that by which the cornea is preserved in its protu- berant and rounded form. It extends to the crystalline lens gq, and therefore a portion of it, although a very small one, is be- hind the iris (m, Fig. 7). Floating in this fluid is a membrane, with an oblong aperture, called the Iris. It is that which gives color to the eye. The color varies little in the horse, except that it always bears some analogy to that of the skin. We rarely see it lighter than a hazel, or darker than a brown. Horses perfectly white, or cream-colored, have the iris white and the pupil red. When horses of other colors, and that are usually pied, have a white iris and a black pupil, they are said to be wadll-eyed. Vulgar opinion has decided that a wall-eyed horse is never subject to blindness, but this is altogether erroneous. The aperture in the iris is termed the pupil, and through it light passes to the inner chamber of the eye. The pupil is ob- long, and variable in size. It differs with the intensity or de- gree of light that falls upon the eye. This alteration of form in the pupil is effected by the muscu- lar fibres that enter into the composition of the iris. When these fibres are relaxed, the pupil must proportionably diminish. This dilatation or contraction of the pupil gives a useful method of ascertaining the existence of blindness in one eye or in both. The cornea and crystalline lens remain perfectly transparent, but the retina is palsied, and is not affected by light; and many persons have been deceived when blindness of this description has been confined to one eye. A horse blind in both eyes will usually have his ears in constant and rapid motion, directing them in quick succession to every quarter. He will likewise hang back in his halter in a peculiar way, and will lift his feet high as if he were stepping over some obstacle, when there is actually nothing ‘to obstruct his passage, and there will be an evident uncertainty in the putting down of his feet. In blind- ness of one eye, little or nothing of this characteristic gait and manner can be perceived. Although a one-eyed horse may not be absolutely condemned for the common business of the car- riage or the road, he is generally deteriorated as a hunter, for he cannot measure his distance, and will run into his leaps. Let the size of both pupils be carefully noticed before the ‘worse is removed from the stable, and; as he is led to the door, observe whether they both contract, and equally so, with the increase of light. If the horse should be first seen in the open air, let it be observed whether the pupils are precisely of the same THE EYE. 65 size; then let the hand be placed over each eye alternately and held there for a little while, and let it be observed whether the pupil dilates with the abstraction of light, and equally in each eye. Ta our cut, m gives a duplicature of the iris, or the back sur- face of it. This is called the uvea, and it is covered with a thick coat of black mucus, to arrest the rays of light, and to prevent them from entering the eye in any other way than through the pupil. The color of the iris is, in some unknown way, connected with this black paint behind. Wall-eyed horses, whose iris is white, have no uvea. We now arrive at a body on which all the important uses of the eye mainly depend, the crystalline lens, g, so called from its resemblance to a piece of crystal, or transparent glass. It is of a yielding jelly-like consistence, thicker and firmer towards the centre, and convex on each side, but more convex on the inner than the outer side. It is enclosed in a delicate transparent bag or capsule, and is placed between the aqueous and the vitreous humors, and recetved into a hollow in the vitreous humor, with which it exactly corresponds. It has, from its density and its double convexity, the chief concern in converging the rays of light which pass into the pupil. The lens.is very apt to be affected from long or violent inflam- mation of the conjunctiva, and either its capsule becomes cloudy, and imperfectly transmits the light, or the substance of the lens becomes opaque. The examination of the horse, with a view to detect this, must either be in the shade, or at a stable door, where the light shall fall on the animal from above and in front ; and in conducting this examination, we would once more cau- tion the intended purchaser against a superfluity of white about his neck. Holding the head of the animal a little up, and the light coming in the direction that has been described, the con- dition of the lens will at once be evident. The confirmed cata- ract, or the opaque lens of long standing, will exhibit a pearly appearance, that cannot be mistaken, and#will fréquently be attended with a change of form—a portion of the lens being forced forwards into the pupil. Although the disease may not have proceeded so far as this, yet if there is the slightest cloudi- ness of the lens, either generally, or in the form of a minute spot in the centre, and with or without lines radiating from that spot, the horse is to be condemned ; for, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the disease will proceed, and cataract, or complete opacity of the lens, and absolute blindness, will be the result. Behind the lens, and occupying four fifths of the cavity of the eye, is the vitreous humor (glassy, or resembling glass). It seems, when first on from the eye, to be of the consistence of 66 THE EYE. a jelly, and of beautiful transparency ; but if it is punctured a fluid escapes from it as limpid and as thin as water, and when this has been suffered completely to ooze out, a mass of membra- neous bags or cells remains. : Last of all, between the vitreous humor and the choroid coat, is the retina, 0, or net-like membrane. It is an expansion of the substance, g, of the optic nerve. On this expansion of nervous pulp, the rays of light from sur rounding objects, condensed by the lens and the humors, fall, and, producing a certain image corresponding with these objects, the animal is conscious of their existence and presence. : It may, however, so happen that from the too great or too little convexity of the eye or a portion of it, the place of most distinct vision may not be immediately on the retina, but a little before or behind it. In proportion as this is the case, the sight will be indistinct and impertect ; nor shall we be able to offer any remedy for this defect of sight. It is this chat occasions shyzng in the horse, ‘and as he grows older and the eye becomes less convex, the habit of shying will increase. Nature has given seven muscles to the horse to enable him to tum his eye, so that he can command the whole of that extended field of view which the position of the organ enables it to take in. And that they may act with sufficient power and quickness, no fewer than six nerves are directed to the muscles of the eye generally, or ta particular ones—while the eye rests on a mass of fat, that it may be turned with little exertion of power, and without. friction. Muscies oF THE EYE There are four straight muscles, three of which, d, e, and f, are represented in our cut, rising from the _ back of the orbit, and U inserted into the ball of the eye, opposite to, and at equal distances from, each other. One. d, runs to the upper . part of the eye, just hehind the transparent and visible portion of it, and its office is clearly to raise the eye. When it contracts, the eye must be drawn upwards. Another, f, is inserted exactly opposite, at the bottom of the eye; and its office is as clearly to depress the eye. THE EYE. 67 or enable the animal to look downwards. A third, e, is inserted at the outer corner, and by means of it the eye is turned outward, and, from the situation of the eye of the horse, considerably back- ward ; and the fourth is inserted at the inner corner, turning the eye inward. They can thus rotate or tum the eye in any direc- tion the animal wishes, and by the action of one, or the combined power of any two of them, the eye can be immediately and ac- surately directed to every point. These muscles also assist to support the eye in its place. They are aided in this, especially when the head is depressed, by the retractor (drawer back) muscle, g, which has already been al- luded to. The power of this muscle is very great, and it renders some operations on the eye almost impossible. It is an admirable substitute for hands to defend the eye from many things that would injure it. Being partially separated into four divisions, it assists the straight muscles in tuming the eye. The muscles we have described, perform another important office. By drawing back the eye, and slightly flattening it, they bring the lens nearer the retina, and adapt the eye to the obser vation of more distant objects. There are two other muscles, used solely in turning the eye, called oblique muscles, because their course is obliquely across the eye. The upper one, a, J, is raost curiously constructed. It comes from the back part of the orbit, and takes a direction upwards and towards the inner side, and there, just under the ridge of the orbit, it passes through a perfect mechanical pulley, and, turning round, proceeds across the eye, and is inserted rather beyond the middle of the eye, towards the outer side. Thus the globe of the eye is evidently directed irward and upward. Something more, however, is accomplished by this singular mechanism. When it is necessary to bring the eye forward in its socket, to enlarge the field of vision, the object is readily effected by this singular pulley, 4, c. By the power of this muscle—the trochlearis, or pulley-muscle—and the straight muscles at the same time not opposing it, or only regulating the direction of the eye, it is really brought somewhat forward. The lower oblique muscle rises just within the lachrymal bone (2, Fig. 2), and, proceeding across the eye, is fixed mto the part of the sclerotica opposite to the other oblique muscle, and it turns the eye in a contrary direction, assisting, however, the upper oblique w bringing the eye forward from its socket. CHAPTER III. INJURIES AND DISEASES OF THE SKULL——IHE BRAIN-~—THE EARS-——AND THE EYES. We have now arrived at a convenient resting-place in our somewhat dry but necessary description of the structure of the horse, and we willingly turn to more practical matter. We will consider the injuries and diseases of the parts we have surveyed. FRACTURE. The skull of the horse is so strongly and admirably con- structed, that a fracture of it is almost impossible. A blow of sufficient violence to break these bones, must likewise irrepara- bly injure the brain, and remedies are out of the question. The upper part of the orbit of the eye is sometimes fractured by falling, or by violent blows. The slightest examination will detect the loosened pieces; but a professional man alone can render effectual assistance. EXOSTOSIS. Bony enlargements of the orbital arch sometimes arise from natural predisposition or local injury. They should be attacked m the earliest stage, for they are too apt rapidly to increase. Some preparation of iodine, as described in the account of medi- cines, will be useful in this case. CARIES. Inflammation and enlargement of the injured bones, followed by abscess and the production of certain bony growths, are of occasional occurrence. A skilful practitioner can alone decide whether a cure should be attempted, or the sufferings of the ani- mal terminated by death DISEASES OF THE BRAIN. 69 COMPRESSION OF THE BRAIN. Cysts containing a serous or viscid fluid, are occasionally found within the cranial cavity, and lying upon or imbedded in the brain. The following is a history of a case of this kind :—A horse exhibited symptoms of vertigo, or staggers, which disap- peared after copious bleeding and purgatives. About twelve months afterwards the same complaint was evident. He carried his head low and inclined to the right side. He staggered as he walked, and the motion of his limbs was marked by a peculiar convulsive action, confined to the four extremities. He moved by a succession of spasmodic boundings. He was completely deaf; and-rapidly lost flesh, though he ate and drank voraciously. He remained in this state, to the shame of the owner and the practitioner, several months, and then he had a fresh attack of vertigo, and died suddenly. On examination of .the brain, its membranes were found to be completely reddened ; and, between the two lobes of the brain, was a round cyst as large as a pullet’s ege. The pressure of this was the manifest cause of the mis- chief. PRESSURE ON THE BRAIN. This may be produced by some fluid thrown out between the membranes, or occupying and distending the ventricles of the brain. In the full-grown horse it rarely occurs; but it is well known to breeders as an occasional disease of the foal, under the name of “water in the head.” The head is either much en- larged, or stangely deformed, or both ; and the auimal dies, either in the birth, or a few days after it. MEGRIMS. This is another kind of pressure on the brain, resulting from an unusual determination or flow of blood to it. From various causes, of which the most common is violent exercise on a hot day, and the horse being fat and full of blood, more than the usual quantity is sent to the head; or, from some negligence about the harness—as the collar being too small, or the curb- rein too tight—the blood is prevented from returning from the head. The larger vessels of the brain will then be too long and injuriously distended; and, what is of more consequence, the small vessels that permeate the substance of the brain will be enlarged, and the bulk of the brain -increased, so that it will press upon the origins of the nerves, and produce, Buns without warning, loss of power and consciousness 70 MEGRIMS——APOPLEXY. The mildest affection of this kind is known as Megrums When the horse is driven rather quickly, he will, without arty premonitory symptoms, suddenly stop, shake his head, and exhibit evident giddiness and half-unconsciousness. This will soon pass over, and he will go on as if nothing had happened. When the attack is more serious, he will fall without the slightest warning, or suddenly run round once or twice and then fall. He will he insensible, or struggle with the utmost vio lence. In five or ten minutes he will begin gradually to come to himself; he will get up and proceed on his journey, yet some- what dull, and evidently affected and exhausted by what had happened, although not seriously or permanently ill. At the moment of attack, three or four quarts of blood should be taken from the neck-vein, or the bars of the palate should ba cut, in the manner hereafter described. The driver should treat him soothingly, loosen the curb-rein, ease the collar if practicable and drive slowly the rest of his journey. When he gets home, a dose of physic should be administered if the horse can be spared, the quantity of dry food lessened, and mashes given or green food, or he should have a run at grass. A predisposition to a second attack almost always remains, and it is a long time before the blood-vessels recover their former tone. Experience has shown that a horse that has had a second attack of the megrims is never to be trusted.* APOPLEXY. Mecrms is APopLEXY under its mildest form. In the latter affection, the determination of blood, if not so sudden, is greater, or differently directed, or more lasting. It is seldom, however, that there are not timely warnings of its approach, if the carter or the groom had wit enough to observe them. The horse is a uttle off his feed—he is more than usually dull—there is a * Note by Mr. Spooner.—Mr. Spooner speaks of a species of the disease the symptoms of which border ou epilepsy, and appear to arise from dis- ordered functions of the brain. He says:— We have known some horses more liable to this disease in very cold frosty weather; in such instances the symptoms have been those of giddi- ness, without the severity of ordinary megrims; the animal has reeled, however, like a drunken man, and been extremely dangerous both to ride and drive. We have known an old horse thus continue almost useless throughout the winter, and gradually shake off the disease as warm weather came on. Now, it must be evident that the exciting causes » such instances must be altogether different from that of ordinary megrims; and, whilst the bleeding and purging are very proper, as recommended in the text for ordinary megrims, arising from plethora, it is not to be advised for that variety of disease to which we have called attention, and which is rather to be benefited by warmth, good grooming, and tonic medicine. APOPLEXY 71 degree of stupidity about him, and, generally, a somewhat stag- gering gait. This goes off when he has been out a little while, but it soon returns under a more decided character, until, at length, it forces itself on the attention of the most careless. The aetual illness is perhaps first recognized by the horse standing with his head depressed. It bears upon, or is forced against the manger or the wall, and a considerable part of the weight of the animal is evidently supported by this pressure of the head. As he thus stands, he is balancing himself from one side to the other as if he were ready to fall; and it is often dan- gerous to stand near to him, or to move him, for he falls without warning. If he can get his muzzle into a corner, he will some- times continue there motionless for a considerable time, and then drop as if he were shot; but, the next moment, he is up again, with his feet almost in the rack. He sleeps or seems to do so as he stands, or at least he is nearly or quite unconscious of sur- rounding objects. When he is roused, he looks vacantly around him. Perhaps he will take a lock of hay if it is offered to him, but ere it is half masticated, the eye closes, and he sleeps again with the food in his mouth. Soon afterwards he is, perhaps, roused once more. The eye opens, but it has an unmeaning glare. The hand is moved before him, but the eye closes not, he is spoken to, but he hears not. The last act of voluntary mo- tion which he will attempt is usually to drink ; but he has little power over the muscles of deglutition (swallowing), and the fluid returns through the nostrils. He now begins to foam at the mouth. His breathing is labo- rious and loud. It is performed by the influence of the organic nerves,and those of animal life no longer lend their aid. The pulse is slow and oppressed—the jugular vein is distended almost to bursting—the muzzle is cold, and the discharge of the feces involuntary. He grinds his teeth—twitchings steal over his face and attack his limbs—they sometimes proceed to convul- sions, and dreadful ones, too, in which the horse beats himself about in a terrible manner; but there is rarely disposition to da mischief. In the greater number of cases these convulsions last not long. All the powers of life are oppressed, and death speed tly closes the scene. Post-mortem examination usually shows the whole venous sys- tem in a state of congestion, and the vessels of the brain, par- ticularly, turgid with black blood. Occasionally, however, there is no inflammation of the brain or its membranes; but either the stomach contains a more than usual quantity of food, or the larger intestines are loaded with foul matter. Apoplexy is a determination of blood to the head, and the gause is the over-condition of the animal. and too great fulness 72 APOPLEXY. of blood. It used to be much more common, when it was cus- tomary to keep horses exceedingly fat, overwork them, and then suffer them to eat voraciously until their stomachs were preter- naturally distended. The farmer used to keep his horses at the plough six or eight hours, then suffer them to overgorge them- selves at will. The consequence was, that the farmer’s horse was notoriously subject to fits of heaviness and sleepiness—to staggers, or half-attacks of staggers. And from the frequent pressure on the optic nerve and other parts, caused by oppres- sion of the brain, they frequently became blind. A better divi- sion of labor, with properly distributed intervals for rest and ieeding, have, comparatively speaking, banished sleepy staggers. Old horses are more subject to staggers than young ones, their stomachs and digestive functions having been weakened by re- peated abuses. Hard-worked, and half-starved animals on being turned into rich pastures, are sometimes attacked. If the weather is hot, the sympathy of the brain with the undue labor of the stomach is more easily excited, and a determination of blood to the brain more readily effected. There is nothing in the appearance of the horse which will lead to a discovery of the cause of staggers—no yellowness nor twitchings of the skin, no local swellings, as some have de- scribed ; but the practitioner: or owner must get at the truth of the matter as well as he can, and proceed accordingly. As to the TREATMENT of staggers, whatever be the cause of the disease, bleeding is the first measure indicated—the over loaded vessels of the brain must be relieved. The jugular vein should be immediately opened. It is-easily got at—it is large— the blood may be drawn from it in a full stream, and, being also the vessel through which the blood is returned from the head, the greater part of the quantity obtained will be taken immedi- ately from the overloaded organ, and therefore will be most likely to produce the desired effect. No definite quantity of blood should be ordered to be abstracted. The effect produced must be the guide, and the bleeding must be continued until the horse falters, or begins to blow—or, perhaps, with more assured ‘success, until he falls. Some persons select the temporal artery. This is very unscientific practice. It is difficult, or impossible, to obtain from this vesse] a stream that promises any decisive success. It is likewise difficult to stop the bleeding from this artery ; and, after all, the blood is not drawn from the aetual seat of the disease—the brain. The second step is to ascertain what is the cause of the.apo- plexy. If produced by over-distention of the stomach, cathar tics are of little avail. Recourse should be had to the stemachi APOPLEXY. 3 pump (one of the most valuable discoveries of modern times), and mjections of warm water. The latter may be continued not only until the contents of the stomach are so far diluted as to escape by the anus, but until the obstruction to vomiting offered by the contracted entrance of the stomach is overcome, and a portion of the food is returned through the nostrils or mouth. This being effected, or it having been ascertained that there was no extreme distention of the stomach, recourse should be had to aloes, and from eight to twelve drachms of it may be ad- minisiered. It will be proper to add some stimulating medicine so the aloes, with a view of -restoring the tone of the stomach, and inducing it to contract on its contents. Gentian and ginger are most likely to effect this purpose. The after-treatment must be regulated by circumstances. For some time the horse should be put on a restricted diet; mashes should be given; green food in no great quantity ; a moderate allowance of hay, and very little grain. When sufficiently re- covered, he may be turned out with advantage on rather bare pasture. One circumstance, however, should never be forgotten —that the horse who has once been attacked with staggers is liable to a return of the complaint from causes that otherwise would not affect him. The distended vessels are weakened— the constitution is weakened, and prudence would dictate that such an animal cannot be too soon disposed of. Let no one delude himself with the idea that apoplexy is con- tagzious. It is so under no circumstances, though the same kind of mismanagement may produce repeated cases of it nearly at the same time, and in the same establishment.* * Note by Mr. Spooner—With regard to those diseases which come under the denomination of staggers, we have, certainly, three varieties, though neither of them are so prevalent as they were formerly. Mad staggers is undoubtedly inflammation of the brain, and is charac- terized by those symptoms of extreme violence spoken of in the text. These symptoms may be preceded by the sleepy stage, or may occur with- out it. In sleepy staggers, as it used to be called, one of the miost striking symptoms is a disposition to thrust the head forwards, and it is surprising with-what force and determination this will be done. hus resting his head, the horse will doze for hours. Now, there are certainly two diseases pre- senting these symptoms. One, which has been denominated stomach stag- gers, arises from distention of the viscus with food. Such is the sympathy between the stomach and the brain, that distention of the former will pro- duce very similar symptoms to that when the brain is primarily diseased. We are, however, very much in the dark as to whether distention of the stomach with food is a cause or an effect; that is, whether it is caused by indigestion arising from a want of tone in the nervous system, or whether distention of the stomach with food is at once the cause of all the other symp- toms, Stomach staggers used formerly to be very prevalent, owing to the causes bpamed in the text. In this chen there is a very great disposition to 74 PHRENITIS, PHRENITIS. Primary inflammation of the brain or its membranes, or both, sometimes occurs, and of the membranes oftenest when both are not involved. The early. symptoms are almost precisely those of apoplexy, except that the phrenetic horse is not quite so lethargic. He sees a little better, will shrink more from the whip, and the dis- ease runs its course more rapidly. In apoplexy, from distention of the stomach, twenty-four or thirty-six hours will elapse before cure, rupture of the stomach, or the destruction of the horse. If it proceeds merely from an oppression of the digestive organs and the sympathy which subsists between the stomach and brain, it may run on for two or three days. But the apoplexy of the phrenetic horse will often run its course in a few hours. ‘Ina case of evident phrenitis, blood-letting and physic must be early. carried to their full extent. The horse will often be materially relieved, and, perhaps, cured by this decisive treat- ment; but, if the golden hour has been suffered to pass, or if remedial measures have become ineffectual, the scene all at once changes, and the .most violent reaction succeeds. The eye brightens—strangely so; the membrane of the eye becomes suddenly reddened, and forms a frightful contrast with the transparency of the cornea; the pupil is dilated to the utmost ; the nostril, before scarcely moving, expands and quivers, and labors; the respiration becomes short and quick; the ears are force the head forwards, the pulse is slow and oppressed, and the abdomen generally distended, the bowels costive, and the dung usually slimy. This distention of the stomach is the principal distinction between this affection of the stomach, and the sleepy staggers, as it is called, which is primarily a disease of the brain. In this latter complaint, however, there is less dis- ae to thrust forward the head, and the abdomen is by no means dis- tended. : Sleepy staggers is sometimes suddenly succeeded by mad staggers or inflammation of the brain; the symptoms of which are sufficiently detailed in the text. It is important to distinguish between these different diseases, as the treatment requires considerable modification. Mad staggers, the symptoms of which are so extremely violent, must be met bv the active bleedings and purgatives qdennmeided: in the text. I would not, however, recommend the same active blood-letting for the stomach or the sleepy staggers, as in these diseases there appears a want of that nervous energy and excitation which abounds so much in the mad staggers, and which blood-letting is calculated to depress. In the stomach disease, oily purgatives and clysters, assisted by-plenty of diluents, are called for; and,..in those cases where lethargy and debility are present, tonics and mild stimulants are to be recommended. I have never observed any connection to exist between staggers and amaurosis ; the latter, it is true, may be caused by indigestion, but 1 have ever m2t with an instance of its being produced by staggers. PHRENITIS. 75 erect, or bent forward to catch the slightest sound; and the horse, becoming more irritable every instant, trembles at the slightest motion. The irritability of the patient increases—it may be said to change to ferocity—but the animal has no aim or object in what he does. He dashes himself violently about, plunges in every direction, rears on his hind-legs, whirls round and round, and then falls backward with dreadful force. He lies for a while exhausted—there is a remission of the symptoms, but perhaps only for a minute or two, or possibly for a quarter of an hour. In the intervals between the paroxysms, one or both jugulars should be opened ; and all the blood abstracted that can be ob- tained. It is better not even to pin up the vein atall. The patient will never thus be lost, and it is indispensable tc promptly relieve the brain and reduce the inflammation. Physic should be administered, and that which will most speedily act. The farina of the Croton nut will, perhaps, have the prefer- ence. Half a drachm or two scruples of it may be fearlessly administered. This medicine can be administered in the form of a little ball, or in drink, by means of the probang, or a stick, or the horn. Sometimes the phrenetic horse will drink with avidity, and thus repeated doses of purgative medicine may be given, and they should be continued until the bowels respond The forehead should be blistered, if it can in any way be ac- complished ; yet but little service is to be expected from this manipulation. Thé bowels having been well opened, digitalis should be administered. Its first and most powerful action is on the heart, diminishing both the number and strength of its pulsations. To this may be added emetic tartar and nitre, but not a particle of hellebore ; for that drug, if it acts at all. pro- duces an increased determination of blood to the brain. The second paroxysm is more dreadful than the first. Again the animal whirls round and round, and plunges and falls. He seizes his clothing and-rends it in pieces; perhaps, destitute of . feesing and of consciousness, he bites and tears himself. He darts furiously at everything within his reach; but no mind, no design, seems to mingle with or govern his fury. These attacks and remissions follow for an uncertain period, until he becomes unable to rise. He pants—he foams—at length, completely exhausted, he dies. While the disease continues, no attempt must be made to induce the horse to feed; and even when appetite returns with the abatement of inflammation, great caution must be exercised both with regard to the quantity and quality of the food. The post-mortem appearances are altogether uucertain, There is usually very great injection and inflammation of the mem. 76 RABIES, branes of the brain, and even of portions of the substance of the brain; but in other cases there is scarcely any trace of inflammation, or even of increased vascularity. Phrenitis may be confounded with cholic and rabies. In cholic, the horse rises, falls, and kicks at his belly, but there is no in. voluntary spasm of any of the limbs, and he is perfectly sensible He looks piteously at his flanks, and the expression of his anxious countenance is altogether different from the fearfully excited one of the phrenetic horse. His pulse is also comparatively quiet, and his struggles and violence are tame in comparison with those of the other. In rabies, there is even more violence than in phrenitis, but the horse is perfectly conscious, recognizes those about him, and seemingly exhibits more than his ordinary intelligence in his attempts to do mischief. RABIES, OR MADNESS. This is another and fearful disease of the nervous system. It results from the bite of a rabid animal, and, most commonly, of the companion and friend of the horse—the coach-dog. The early symptoms of rabies in the horse have not been carefully observed or well recorded; but, in the majority of cases, so far as our records go, there will not often be premoni- tory symptoms sufficiently decisive to be noticed by the groom. The horse goes out to his usual work, and, for a certain time and distance, performs it as well as he had been accustomed to do; then he stops all at once—trembles, heaves, paws, staggers, and falls. Almost immediately he mises, drags his load a little farther, and again stops, looks about him, backs, staggers, and falls once more. This is not a fit of megrims—it is not a sudden determination of blood to the brain, for the horse is not for a single moment insensible. The sooner he is led home the better, for the progress of the disease is as rapid as the first attack is sudden ; and, possibly, he will fall twice or thrice before he reaches his stable. In the great majority of cases—or rather, with very few ex- ceptions—a state of excitation ensues, which is not exceeded by that of the dog under the most fearful form of the malady; but there are intervals when, if he had been naturally good-tem- pered and had been attached to his rider or his groom, he will recognize his former friend and seek his caresses, and bend on him one of those piteous, searching looks which, once observed. will never be forgotten: but there is danger about this. Pres ently succeeds another varoxvem. without warming and witnout. RABIES. 77 vontrol; and there is no safety for him who had previously the most complete mastery over the animal. I attended a rabid horse which the cwner refused to have destroyed, and to which attendance I only consented on condi- tion of the animal being slung. He had been bitten in the near hind-leg. When I approached him on that side, he did not attempt to bite me, and he could not otherwise injure me; but he was agitated and trembled, and struggled as well as he could; and if I merely touched him with my finger, the pulsa- tions were quickened full ten beats in a minute. When, how- ever, I went round to the off side, he permitted me to pat him, and I had to encounter his imploring gaze, and his head was pressed against me—and then presently would come the par- oxysm; but it came on almost before I could touch him, when I approached him on the other side. These mild cases, however, are-exceptions to a general rule The: symptoms of the malady of Mr. Moneyment’s pony rapidly increased—he bit everything within his reach, even different parts of his own body—he breathed laboriously—his tail erect—screaming dreadfully at short intervals, stnking the ground with his fore-feet, and perspiring most profusely. At length he broke the top of his manger, and rushed out of the stall with it hanging to his halter. He made immediately towards the medical attendant, and the spectators who were standing by. -They fortunately succeeded in getting out of his way, and he tumed in the next stall, and dropped and died. A young veterinary friend of mine in fool-hardily attempting to administer a ball to a rabid horse, was seized by the hand, ified from the ground, shaken as a terrier would shake a rat, and the ferocious animal was only compelled to relinquish his hold when attacked with pitchforks, and not before he had completely torn the flesh from the hand. In the Museum of the Veterinary School at Alfort, is the lower jaw of a rabid horse, which was fractured in the violent efforts of the animal to do mischief. There is also in the horse, whose attachment to his owner is often comparatively small, a degree of treachery which we rarely teet with in the nobler.and more intellectual dog. I have had occasion more than once to witness the evident pain of the bitten part, and the manner in which the horse in the in- tervals of his paroxysms employs himself in licking or gnawing the cicatrix. One animal had been bitten in the chest, and he, not in the intervals between the exacerbation, but when the par- oxysm was most violent, would bite and tear himself until his breast was shockingly mangled, and the blood flowed from it in a stream. 78 RAB'ES, The most interesting and satisfactory symptom is the evident dread of water which exists in the decided majority of cases, and the im possibility of swallowing any considerable quantity. As the disease progresses, not only is the animal rapidly debili- tated, but there is the peculiar staggering gait which is observable in the dog—referable to evident loss of power in the muscles of he lumbar region. Although this symptom is not often observed n the dog, it is a satisfactory identification of the disease, when itis so frequently seen in the horse, and so invariably in the hu- man being. The earliest and perhaps the most decisive symptom of the near approach of rabies in the horse, is a spasmodic movement of. the upper lip, particularly of the angles of the lip. -Close follow- ing on this, or contemporaneous with it, is the depressed and anx- ious countenance, and inquiring gaze, suddenly however lighted up and becoming fierce and menacing, from some unknown cause, or at the approach of a stranger. From time to time different parts of the frame—the eyes—the jaws—particular limbs—will be convulsed. The eye will occasionally wander after some im- aginary object, and the horse will snap again and again at that which has no real existence. Then will come the irrepressible desire to bite the attendants or the animals within its reach. To this will succeed the demolition of the rack, the manger, and the whole furniture of the stable, accompanied by the peculiar dread of water which has been already alluded to. Towards the close of the disease there is generally paralysis, usually confined to the loins and the hinder extremities, or involv- ing those organs which derive their nervous influence from this portion of the spinal cord ;—hence the distressing tenesmus (ineffectual attempt to stool) which is occasionally seen. The disease rarely extends beyond the third day. After death, there is uniformly found inflammation at the back part of the mouth, and at the top of the windpipe, and likewise in the stomach, and on the membrane covering the lungs, and where the spinal. marrow first issues from the brain. When the disease can be clearly connected with a previous bite, the sooner the animal is destroyed the better, for there is no cure. If the symptoms bear considerable resemblance to rabies, although no bite is suspected, the horse should at least be slung, and the medicine, if any is administered, given in the form of a drink, and with the hand well protected; for if it should be scratched in balling the horse, or the skin should have been pre- viously broken, the saliva of the animal is capable of commun cating the disease. Several farriers have lost their lives from being bitten or scratched in the act of administering medicine to a rabid horse. LOCKED JAW. 79 If a horse is bitten by a dog under suspicious circumstances, he should be carefully examined, and every wound, and even the slightest scratch, well burned with the lunar caustic (nitrate of silver). The scab should be removed and the operation repeated on the third day. The hot iron does not answer so well, and other caustics are not so manageable. In the spring of 1827, four horses were bitten near Hyde Park, by a mad dog. To one of them the lunar caustic was twice severely applied—he lived. The red-hot iron was unsparingly used on the others, and they died. The caustic must reach every part of the wound. At the a of the fourth month, the horse may be considered to be safe. TETANUS, OR LOCKED JAW. Tetanus is one of the most dreadful and fatal diseases to which the horse is subject. It is called Lockep saw, because the mus- cles of the jaw are earliest affected, and the mouth is obstinately and immovably closed. It is a constant spasm of all the volun- tary muscles, and particularly of those ofthe neck, the spine, and the head. It is generally slow and treacherous in its attack. The horse, for a day or two, does not appear to be quite well; he does not feed as usual; he partly chews his food, and drops it; and ‘he gulps his water. The owner at length finds that the mo- tion of the jaws is considerably limited, and some saliva is driv- elling from the mouth. If he tries he can only open the mouth a very little way, or the jaws are perfectly and rigidly closed ; and thus the only period at which the disease could have been successfully combated is lost. A cut of a horse laboring under this disease is here given, which the reader will do well to oxam- ine carefully. Fig. 9. 80 LOCKED JAW. The first thing that strikes the observer is a protrusion of the muzzle, and stiffness of the neck ; and, on passing the hand down it, the muscles will be found singularly prominent, distinct, hard, knotty, and unyielding. There is difficulty in bringing the head round, and still greater difficulty in bending it. The eye is drawn deep within the socket, and, in consequence of this, the fatty matter behind the eye is pressed forward; the haw is also protruded, and there is an appearance of strabismus, or squinting, in an outward direction. The ears are erect, pointed forward, and immovable ; if the horse is spoken to, or threatened to be struck, they change not their position. Considering the beautiful play of the ear of the horse when in health, and the kind of conversation which he maintains by the motion of it, there is not a more characteristic symptom of tetanus than this immobility of the ear. The nostril is expanded to the utmost, and there is little or no play of it, as in hurried or even natural breathing. The respiration is usually accelerated, yet not always so; but it is uniformly laborious. The pulse gives little indication of the severity of the disease. It is sometimes scarcely affected. It will be rapidly accelerated when any one approaches the animal and offers to touch him, but it presently quiets down again almost to its natural standard. After a while, however, the heart begins to sympathize with the general excitation of the system, and the pulse increases in fre- quency and force until the animal becomes debilitated, when it beats yet quicker and quicker, but diminishes in power, and gradually flutters and dies away. The countenance is eager, anxious, haggard, and tells plainly enough what the animal suffers. The stiffness gradually extends to the back. If the horse is in a narrow stall, it is impossible to turn him; and, even with room and scope enough, he turns altogether like a deal-board. The extremities begin to participate in the spasm—the hinder ones generally first, but never to the extent to which it exists in the neck and back. The horse stands with his hind-legs strad- dling apart in a singular way. The whole of the limb moves, or rather is dragged on, together, and anxious care is taken that no joint shall be flexed more than can possibly be helped. The fore limbs have a singular appearance ; they are as'stiff as they can possibly be, but stretched forward and straddling. They have not unaptly been compared to the legs of a form., The abdominal muscles gradually become involved. They seem to contract with all the power they possess, and there is a degree of ‘“hide-bound” appearance, and of tucking up of the belly, which is seen under no other complaint. The tail becomes LOCKED JAW. 81 in constant motion from the alternate and violent action of the muscles that elevate and depress it. Constipation. and to an almost insurmountable degree, now ap- pears. The abdominal muscles are so powerfully contracted, that no portion of the contents of the abdomen can pass on and be discharged. By degrees the spasm extends and becomes everywhere more violent. The motion of the whole frame is lost, and the horse stands fixed in the unnatural posture which he has assumed The countenance becomes wilder and more hageard—its expres- sion can never be effaced from the memory of him who cares about the feelings of a brute. The violent cramp of a siugle muscle, or set of muscles, makes the stoutest heart quail, and draws forth the most piteous cries—what, then, must it be for this torture to pervade the whole frame, and to continue, with little respite, from day to day, and from week to week! When his attendant approaches and touches him, he scarcely moves, but the despairing gaze, and the sudden acceleration of the pulse, indicate what he feels and fears Tetanus is evidently an affection of the nerves, caused by an injury to. some one of them, and the effect of that injury has spread to the origin of the nerve—the brain—and universal dis eased action has followed. If the disease terminates fatally, it is usually from the sixth to the eighth day. There are occasionally 'slight remissions in the spasm, but not sufficiently to enable the animal to eat or to drink. If these remissions return and increase in length, and particularly if there is more relaxation of the lower jaw, there is yet hope. If the horse recovers, it will be slowly, and he will be left sadly weak, and a mere walking skeleton. On post-mortem examination the muscular fibre will exhibit sufficient proof of the labor which has been exacted from it. The muscles will appear as if they had been macerated—their texture will be softened, and they will be torn with the greatest ease. The lungs will, in the majority of cases, be highly in- flamed, for they have been laboring long and painfu ly, to fur- nish arterial blood in sufficient quantity to support this great expenditure of animal power. The stomach will contain patches of inflammation, but the intestines, in most cases, will not ex- hibit much departure from the hue of health. The examination of the brain will be altogether unsatisfactory. There may be slight injection of some of the membranes, but, in the majority of cases, there will not be any morbid change worthy of record. Tetanus most usually occurs from injuries to some nervous fibre of the foot—sometimes from a prick in shoeing. It is also connected et docking, nicking and castration (q. v.) d 82 LOCKED JAW-——CRAMP. Severe over-exertion, or sudden exposure to cold after being heated by exercise, has also brought it on. The treatment of tetanus is simple—the system must be tran- quillized. The grand agent in accomplishing this is copious bleeding. The animal should be bled until he falls, or the pulse evidently falters. Twenty pounds of blood have been safely taken in such cases. The profuse blceding will generally relax the muscles of the jaw, so that a dose of physic can be administered. Eight or ten drachms of aloes should be given. If the remission of the spasm is slight, there is another purgative—not so certain in its action, but more powerful when it does act—the farina of the Croton nut. Clysters will be useful in assisting the action of the purgative A solution of Epsom salts will constitute the safest and best in- jection. As to medicine, opium is not only a valuable drug, but it is that on which alone dependence can be placed in this disease. It will be borne in doses, from half a drachm to two drachms. The application of sheep-skins warm from the animal, and applied along the whole course of the spine, may somewhat un- load the congested vessels of the part, and diminish the sufferings of the animal. They should be renewed as soon as they become offensive, and the patient should be covered from the poll to the tail with double or treble clothing. Gentle friction with the hand along the course of the spine, and the application of an opiate liniment, is highly useful. Gruel should be placed within the reach of the horse, and he should also have thoroughly wet mashes placed before him. By means of a small horn, or bottle, gruel can sometimes be intro- duced in the stomach. This can be readily accomplished by means of the flexible tube: accompanying Read’s patent pump. ‘A little food should be placed in the manger, and occasionally unserted between his grinders. The effort to eat w'll assist in breaking the chain of spasmodic action. Turn out the horse for a few hours in the middle of the day, in fine weather.* CRAMP. This is a sudden, involuntary, and painful spasm of a par- ticular muscle. It occasionally attacks the muscles of organic * Note by Ir. Spooner—Successful treatment is principally confined to. those cases in which the spasm is not universal, but outned to one part, as the neck or jaw, when it is denominated trismus. Purgatives, opiates, and antimonials, form, with blood-letting, the principal curative measures; but it should be borne in mind that, beyond all these, perfect quietude, and the absence of all excitement, is most essential. The animal should therefore be left alone as much as possible, without being harassed by frequent visita and the exhibition of medicines, . STRINGHALT—CHOREA, 83 life, but in its tnost common form only affects the hind extrem1- ties, where it is observed by the temporary lameness and stiff: ness it produces, in the hardly worked horse, as he is first led out of the stable in the morning. If any lameness remains, which can be ascertained by pressing the parts, it should be removed by hard rubbing, or by giving the horse a wider and more com- fortable stall, if that should appear to be the origin of the difficulty. : STRINGHALT. This is a sudden and spasmodic action of some of the muscles of the thigh when the horse is first led from the stable. One or both legs are caught up at every step with great rapidity and violence, so that the fetlock sometimes touches the belly ; but, after the horse has been out a little while, this usually goes off and the natural action of the animal returns. In a few cases it does not perfectly disappear after exercise, but the horse continues to be slightly lame. Stringhalt is not a perfectly involuntary action ‘of a certain muscle, or a certain set of muscles. The limb is flexed at the command of the will, but it acts to a greater extent and with more violence than the will had prompted. Professor Spooner is of opinion that this peculiar affection is not referable to any diseased state of the brain or spinal cord, nor to any local affection of the muscles of the limbs, but simply to a morbid affection of the sciatic nerve. He has not dissected a single case of stringhalt in which he has not found disease of this nerve, which mainly contributes to supply the hind extremities with sensation and the power of voluntary motion. Stringhalt is decided unsoundness ; but generally speaking, it so little interferes with the services of the animal, that although an unsoundness, it would not weigh a great deal against other manifest valuable qualities. CHOREA. This is a convulsive, involuntary twitching of some muscie or set of muscles. A few, and very few, cases of it in the horse are recorded. Professor Gohier relates one in which it attacked both fore-legs, and especially the left, but the affection was not con- stant. During five or six minutes the spasms were most vio- lent, so that the horse was scarcely able to stand. The convul- sions then became weaker, the interval between them increased, and at length they disappeared, leaving a slight but temporary lameness. All means of cure were fruitlessly tried, and the dis- ease continued until the horse died of some other complaint. In 84 FITS—PALSY. another case it followed sudden suppression of the discharge of glanders and disappearance of the enlarged glands. This also was intermittent during the life of the animal. FITS, OR EPILEPSY, The stream of nervous influence is sometimes rapid, or the Suspensions are considerable. This is the theory of Firs, or Ep- iLEPsy. Fortunately the horse is not often afflicted with this disease, although it is not unknown to the breeder. The attack not sudden. The animal stops—trembles—looks vacantly around him, and falls. Ocgasionally the convulsions that follow are slight ; at other times they are terrible. The head and fore- part of the horse are most affected, and the contortions are very singular. In a few minutes the convulsions cease ; he gets up; looks around him with a kind of stupid astonishment; shakes his ears; urines; and eats or drinks as if nothing had happened. The only hope of cure consists in discovering the cause of the fits; and ay experienced practitioner must be consulted, if the auimal is valuable. Generally speaking, however, the cause is so difficult to discover, and the habit of having fits is so soon formed, and these fits will so frequently return, even-at a great distance of time, that he who values his own safety, or the lives of his family, will cease to use an epileptic horse. PALSY. The stream of nervous influence is sometimes stopped, and thence results palsy. The power of the muscle is unimpaired, but the nervous energy is deficient. In the horse, palsy is usually general, and not confined to one side as commonly happens in the human subject. It generally attacks the hind extremities. The loins and the back oftenest exhibit the effects of palsy, be- cause there are some of the most violent muscular efforts, and there is the greatest movement and the least support. It may consequently be taken as an axiom to guide the judgment of the practitioner that palsy in the horse almost invariably proceeds from disease or injury of the spine.. On inquiry it is almost invariably found that the horse had lately fallen, or had been worked exceedingly hard, or that covered with perspiration, he had been left exposed to cold and wet. It commences generally in one hind-leg, or perhaps both are equally affected. The animal can scarcely walk—he walks on his fetlocks instead of his soles—he staggers at every motion. At length he falls. He is raised with difficulty, or’ he never rises again The sensibility of the part seems for a while to be 4 HEUMATISM. 85 dreadfully increasml ; but, in general, this gradually suvsides—it sinks below the usual standard—it ceases altogether. If he is examined after death, there will usually, about the region of the loins, be inflammation of the membranes of. the spinal cord, or of the cord itself. The medullary matter will be found of a yellow color, or injected with spots of blood, or it will be softened, and have become semifluid. The treatment is simple. It should commence with bleeding until the pulse begins to falter or the horse to-reel. To this should follow a strong cathartic. The lois should be covered with a mustard: poultice frequently renewed. The horse should be warmly clothed, supplied plentifully with mashes, but with- out a kernel of grain in them; and frequent injections administer- ed. If favorable symptoms appear, the horse must not be in the slightest degree neglected, nor the medical treatment suspended, for in no disease is there a greater liability of relapse, and in none is a relapse more fatal. Palsy of the horse is an inflamma- tory complaint, and under no circumstances should grain or any tonic medicine be given. If the heat and tenderness abate, and the animal regains a freer use of his limbs, or if it is becoming a case of chronic palsy, an extensive and stimulating charge over the loins should be immediately applied. It will accomplish three purposes: there will be the principle of counter-irritation—a defence against the cold—and a useful support of the limbs. RHEUMATISM. It is only of late years that this has been admitted into the list of the diseases of the horse, although it is in truth a very common affection. It is frequent in old horses that have been early abused, and among younger ones whose powers have been severely taxed. The lameness is frequently excessive, and the pain is evidently excruciating. The animal dares not to rest the slightest portion of its weight on the limb, or even to touch the ground with his toe. He is heaving at the flanks, sweating pro- fusely, his countenance plainly indicative of the agony he feels ; but there is at first no heat, or swelling, or tenderness. With proper treatment, the pain and the lameness gradually disappear ; but in other instances the. fascia of the muscles become thick- ened—the ligaments are also thickened and rigid—the capsules of the joint are loaded with a glairy fluid, and the joint is evi- dently enlarged. This is simply rheumatism; but if it is neg- lected, palsy soon associates itself with, or succeeds to, the com- plaint; and the loss of nervous power follows the difficulty o1 pain of moving. 86 NEUROTOMY. Every horseman will recollect cases in which the animal that seemed on the preceding day to be perfectly sound becomes decidedly lame, ad limps as though he had lost’ the use of his limbs; yet there is no thickening of the tendons, nor any external inflammatory action to show the seat of the complaint. The attack is most common in winter, and in wet, cola weather. Good bleeding and sharp purging, the former aided if necessary by injections—and warm fomentations to the affected parts—constitute the proper treatment. NEUROTOMY. From the faulty construction of the shoe, the premature and cruel exaction of labor, and various other causes, the horse ic subject to a variety of diseases of the foot—all of them accom- panied with a greater or less degree of pain, often of a very in- tense character, and ceasing only with the life of the animal. The division of the nerve as a remedy for intense pain in any part of the frame, was systematically practiced’ more than a century ago. Mr. Moorecroft has the honor of introducing this operation—neurotomy—into veterinary practice. He laid bare one of the metacarpal nerves, and divided it. It always immediately reduced the lameness, and, sometimes, the horse rose perfectly sound. This result was not always permanent, however, for the lameness returned in a few weeks, or on much active exertion. He next cut out a small piece of the nerve. The freedom from lameness was of longer duration, but eventu- ally returned. He then tried a bolder experiment—the excision of a portion of the nerves going both to the inner and outer metacarpals, and found. that the sensihility of the foot was thus destroyed. Fig. 10 gives a view of the nerve on the inside of the leg, as it approaches the fetlock. It will be seen that branches are given off above the fetlock, which go to the fore-part of the foot and supply it with feeling. The continuation of the nerve below the fetlock is given principally to the quarters and hinder part of the foot. The grand consideration, then, with tlie oper- ator is—does he wish to deprive the whole of the foot of sensa- tion, or is the cause of lameness principally in the hinder part of the foot, so that he can leave some degree of feeling in the fore-part, and prevent that alteration in the tread and going of the horse, which the horseman so much dislikes ? The horse must be cast and secured, and the limb to be sperated on removed: from the hobbles and extended—the hair having been previously shaved from the part. The operator then feels for the throbbing of the artery, or the round firm NEUROTOMY. 87 pody of the nerve itself, on the side of the shank bone or the larger pastern. The vein, artery, and nerve here run close together, the vein nearest to the front of the lez, then the artery, and the nerve behind. He cautiously cuts through -the skin for an inch and a half in length. The vessels will then be brought into view, and the nerve will be distinguished from them by its lying behind the others, and by its whiteness. A crooked needle, armed with silk, is then passed under it, in order to raise it a little. It is dissected from the cellular substance beneath, and about three quarters of an inch of it cut out,—the first incision being made at the upper part, in which case the second incision will not be felt. The horse must then be tumed, and the operation performed on the other side; for there is a nervous trunk on both sides. The wounds are now closed with strips of adhesive plaster, a bandage placed over them, the head tied up for a couple of days, and the animal kept rather low, and as quiet as possible. The incisions will generally rapidly heal; and in three weeks or a month, and sometimes earlier, the horse will be fit for work. 2 A The metacarpal nerve on the inside of the off leg: at the edge of the shank bone, and behind the vein and artery. B The continuation of the same nerve on the past- ern, and proceeding downward to supply the back part of the foot with feeling. C The division of the nerve on the fetlock joint. D The branch which supplies with feeling the fore-part of the foot. E The artery between the vein and nerve. ¥ The continuation of the artery on the pastern, close to, and before the nerve. G The vein before the artery and nerve. H The same vein spreading over the pastern I One of the flexor tendons, the perforatus (per- forated). : J The deeper flexor tendon, the perforans (per- forating, contained within the other). K The tendinous band in which the flexors work. L One of the extensors of the foot. M The internal or sensible frog. N The posterior lateral ligament. O The fleshy or sensible lamina covering the coffin bone, the horny crust being removed. P The horny crust. Q The sole. For ring-bone—the side cartilages becoming bony, and there being partial stiffness of the pastern and coffin joints——the 8 NEUROTOMY. operation of nerving will probably be beneficial. The sense of pain being taken away, the animal will use these parts more, and they will gradually recover their natural action and motion. For the same reason, in old contraction cf the feet, it is highly beneficial. The torture occasioned by the pressure of the horny crust on the sensible parts within being no lenger felt, and the foot coming fully and firmly in contact with the ground, not only is lameness relieved, but the’ elasticity and form of the foot par- tially restored. Where lameness has long existed, unattended with heat of the foot or alteration of shape, and the seat of which could not be ascertained, although probably existing be- tween the navicular bone and the back tendon that plays over it, neurotomy may be resorted to with decided advantage. Mischief, however, will result from the operation if the pastern or coffin joints are perfectly stiff, because the concussion occa- sioned by the forcible contact of the foot with the ground, and unbroken by the play of the joints, must necessarily still more injure the bone.. When the sole of the foot is convex or pum- iced, the effect of neurotomy will be most destructive. The sole scarcely able to bear the pressure of the coffin-bone, even when pain induces the animal to put his foot as gently as possible on the ground, being forced below its natural situation, would be speedily worn turough and destroyed. So if inflammation existed, although its pain might be removed, yet its progress would be quickened by the bruising to which the parts might be subjected; and more especially would this be the case, if there was, any ulceration of the ligaments or cartilages. The unfettered shoe of Mr. Turner being adopted, at least so far as we can have it unfettered—attached to the foot on one side alone, and the inner quarter being left free—the foot gradually regains its original healthy form, and when, in pro- cess of time, a new portion of nerve is produced, and the sensi bility of the foot re-established, the horse continues to be sound. To some extent, immediate good effect is produced as it regards the actual disease. We remove that general constitutional ir- ritability which long-continued pain occasions, and which height- ens and perpetuates local disease. We obtain for the patient an interval of repose, and every local ailment soon subsides or disappears, and the whole constitution becomes invigorated. . My. Percival relates the case of a mare with contracted feet, that was never subject to periodical estrum, and would not breed-—and an incompetent stallion, with some disease of the feet—both of which procreated freely after being subjected to the operation of neurotomy. Neurotomy having been performed, the veterinary surgeon wil] attempt to remove the original cause of the pain, and re NEUROTOMY. 89 store the foot, except so far as feeling is concerned, to its natu- ral condition. In doing this, he is now permitted to use appli- ances which humanity would have prevented him from resorting to, before the sensibility of the part was destroyed. Some of these will be hereafter adverted to. The principle of neurotomy is plain and simple—ét is the re- moval of pain. In this light, it is a noble operation, and one m which every humane person will rejoice. But it may be abused. . If no contemporaneous means are adopted to cure the disease of the foot—if in canker, or quittor, or inflammation of the lamin, for example, no means are used to lessen the con- cussion and pressure—the destruction of the part, and the utter tuin of the horse, are the inevitable consequences. The primary result is the removal of pain. It is for the operator to calculate the bearing of this on the actual disease, and the future useful- ness of the animal. The excised portion of the nerve is again reproduced, but the time in which this is effected has not been tested by any definite experiments. With the restoration of the nerve, the lameness and pain return, unless the cause is removed. Can the horse that has undergone the operation of neurotomy be afterwards passed as sound? Most certainly not.* [See Un- soundness. | ! * Note by Mr. Spooner —The operation has sometimes fallen into disrepute from having been performed on improper cases, or from the horse having afterwards been unduly worked. It should never be performed on a weak flat, or convex foot, as the danger from concussion, pricks from shoeing, and other injuries, is great, and is still further increased by the operation in question. It also should not be Poe for diseases of the fetlock joint, nor when the feet are exceedingly contracted; for, in the former case, the inflammation of the fetlock will soon extend above the seat of operation on the renewal of work; and, in the latter case, the disposition to expansion will be so great from the horse treading boldly on his heels that inflammation will result from the pressure of the soft parts against the horny crust, and enlargement and disorganization will be likely to fol- low. The best cases for the operation are those where the foot is strong and but little contracted. The horse should be worked moderately and steadily afterwards, either at a foot pace or a steady trot. He should not be used for hunting; as, in alighting from a leap, the diseased sinew, in passing over the navicular bone, to which it often becomes morbidly united, sometimes snaps or ruptures, and the horse is rendered useless. For the same reason, the horse shouJd not be turned out to grass, as the same re- sult may happen from playfulness. A result which sometimes attends this operation is, that when the horse has been previously disposed to overreach or clack his hind shoes against his fore ones, this disposition is afterwards greatly increased, from the leg operated on not being moved out of the way of the hind-leg so rapidly as it should be. : By Neurotomy is usually performed a few inches above the fetlock joint, Some novices have performed it midway between the fetlock joint and the knee, and been much surprised to find that the lameness still continued, 90 INSANITY INSANITY. There is no doubt that the animals which we have subjugated possess many of the same mental faculties as the human being —volition, memory, attachment, gratitude, resentment, fear, and hatred. Who has not witnessed the plain and manifest display of these principles and feelings in our quadruped dependants ’ The simple possession of these faculties implies that they may be used for purposes good or bad, and that, as in the human being, they may be deranged or destroyed by a multitude of causes which it is not necessary to particularize. The conduct of the horse laboring under insanity, is highly analogous to certain acts of insanity in man. * Professor Rodet, of Toulouse, gives an account of a horse re- markable for an habitual air of stupidity, and for a wandering ex- pression of countenance, that when he saw or heard any sudden or unusual noise, or even when his grain was thrown into his manger without speaking to him or patting him, was frightened to an incredible degree ; he recoiled precipitately, every limb trembled, and he struggled violently to escape. If unable to do so, he became so enraged that it was dangerous to approach him. This was followed by dreadful convulsions, which did not cease until he got free. He then would become calm, and suffer him- self to be led back to his stall. Professor Rodet also speaks of a mare belonging to a soldier, that had not the slightest fear of the sights and sounds of a field of battle, but had an insane aversion to paper! She distin- guished it at once from all other objects, and even in the dark, which was owing to the fact that the outer metacarpal nerve sends off a - branch which passes obliquely over the back sinews, and joins the other several inches lower down; so that the section is made on one side below the place where the branch nerve leaves, and on the other above the spot where it joins the nerve; thus feeling is readily kept up by means of this branch nerve, Sometimes the operation is performed below, or immedi- ately upon the fetlock joint; the effect of which is, that feeling is preserved to the front of the foot by means of two small branch nerves which are given off above the fetlock joint, whilst the navicular joint is deprived of all feeling. This would be a very desirable mode of performing the operation, were it always successful; but it often happens that, after some time, lame- ness again follows from the mischief extendipg itself within the sphere of the nerves that remain. In some instances, however, where -the disease is entirely confined within the navicular joint, the horse has continued sound, and still preserved a certain degree of feeling. Another mode of operating 1s, to excise the nerve on the inside above the fetlock, and, on the outside, upon it; by which means a slight degree of feeling is preserved on the o1t- side and front of the foot, and there is no danger of injury from cutting which is the case when the operation is performed immediately on the fet lock joint on both sides of the leg, : DISEASES OF THE EYE. 91 if two leaves were rubbed together—and her fright caused her several times to unhorse her rider. Another mare, quiet in other respects, would invariably sata at another white or gray horse, and attempt to destroy it. These instances are selected from various others, because they approach so nearly to what would be termed insanity in man. It is a species of monomania, and as decided insanity as ever the biped discovered. One of these horses, the second, was by long and kind attention divested of this insane terror, and be- came perfectly quiet and useful; but the others bid defiance to all means of cure, and to coercion among the rest. DISEASES OF THE EYE. The diseases of the eye constitute a very important, but a most unsatisfactory division of our work, for the maladies of this organ, although few in number, are frequent in their appear- ance. They are sadly obstinate, and often baffle all skill. We have spoken of Fracture of the orbit, and its treatment Occasionally the substance round the eye is wounded by a fork or other sharp instrument, and inflammation ensues. This should be abated by poultices, and bleeding, and physic; but no probe should be used in such a place. The eyelids are subject to occasional inflammation from blows or other injuries. Fomentation with warm water will be ser- viceable here. The horse has occasionally a scaly eruption on the edges of the eyelids, attended with great itching, in the effort to allay which, by rubbing the part, the eye may be blemished. The nitrated ointment of quicksilver, mixed with an equal quantity of lard, may be slightly rubbed on the edges of the lids with considerable good effect. The eyelids will sometimes become edematous (puffed up with a serous humor). Horses fed in low wet pastures, old. carriage- horses, &c., are subject toit. It is sometimes the result of badly treated inflammation. The lids should be well bathed with warm water mingled with an aromatic tincture. Weakness and dropping of the upper lid is caused by diminu- tion or loss of power in its muscles. Dry frictions and aromatic lotions will frequently restore the tone of the parts. The eyelids are subject to occasional injury from their situation and office. In small incised (cut) wounds of them great care should be taken that the divided edges unite by the first intention. This will hasten the cure, and prevent deformity. If any of the muscles are divided, it is usually the ciliary or orbicularis palpe- crarum. This lesion must be healed, if possible, by the first in- $2 DISEASES OF THE EYE. tention, and either by means of adhesive plaster or the suture (sewing). The suture is probably the preferable agent. Suppurating wounds in the eyelids may be the consequence of the necessary abstraction of a considerable surface of the skin, in the removal of. warts or tumors.. The principal thing to be at- tended to is the frequent removal of the matter ky means of tow or cotton wool. The rest may generally be left to nature. Inversion of the lids is of very rare occurrence in the horse. Warts are sometimes attached to the edges of the lids, and are a source of great irritation. When rubbed they bleed, and the 2ommon opinion is true—that they are propagated by the blood. They should be taken off with a sharp pair of scissors, and their roots touched with the lunar caustic. The membrane which covers the Haw is subject to inflamma- .tion. It is, indeed, a continuation of the conjunctiva, the inflam- mation of which constitutes ophthalmia. An account of this inflammation will be better postponed until the nature and treat- ment of ophthalmia come under particular notice. The Haw; or Membrana Nictitans, is subject to inflammation peculiar to itself, arising from the introduction of foreign bodies, or from blows or other accidents. The entire substance of the haw becomes inflamed. It swells and protrudes from the innex angle of the eye. The heat and redness gradually disappear, but the membrane often continues to protrude. The inflammation of this organ often assumes a chronic character in a very short time, on account of the structure of the parts, which are m gen- eral little susceptible of reaction. The ordinary causes of this disease in the horse are repeated and periodical attacks of ophthalmia, and blows on the part. Young and old horses are most subject to it. Emollient applications, bleeding, and restricted diet will be proper at the commencement of the disease, and, the inflamma- iion being abated, slight astringents will be useful in preventing the engorgement of the part. Rose-water with subacetate of lead will form a proper eye-wash. If the protruding body does not diminish after proper means have been tried, and for a suffi- cient period, it must be removed with a curved pair of scissors. No danger will attend this operation if it is performed in time ; but if it is neglected, ulceration of the part and the growth of fungous vegetations will give a serious character to the affair. A second operation may also be necessary, and even a third, and fungus hematodes will probably be established. Ulceration and caries (decay) of the cartilage will sometimes be accompanied by ulceration of the conjunctiva. This will fre- quently prove a very serious affair, demanding, at least, the te- moval of the haw. INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE. | 93 The Caruncula Lacrymalis, or Tubergle, by means of which the tears are directed into the canal through which they are to escape from the nostril, is sometimes enlarged in consequence of inflammation, and the Puncta Lacrymalia, or conduits into which the tears pass from the eye, are partially or completely closed. The application of warm and emollient lotions will generally re- move the collected mucus or the inflammation of the parts; but if the passage of a stylet or other more complicated means are required, the assistance of a veterinary surgeon should be imme- diately obtained. The lacrymal sac into which the tears pass from the puncta has occasionally participated in the inflammatica, and been distended and ruptured by the tears and mucus. This lesion is termed Fistula Lacrymalis. It has occasionally existed m colts, and will require immediate and peculiar treatment. COMMON INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE. The conjunctiva is occasionally the seat of great disease, and that which is too often destructive to the eye. Inflammation of the eye may be considered under two forms—the common and manageable, and the specific and fatal. The Common Inflam- mation is generally sudden in its attack. The lids will be found swelled and the eyes partially closed, and some weeping. The inside of the lid will be red, some red streaks visible on the white of the eye, and the cornea.slightly dim. This is occasionally connected with some degree of catarrh or cold; but it is as often unaccompanied by this, and depends on external irritation, as a blow, or the presence of a bit of hay-seed or oat-husk within the lid, and towards the outer corner where the haw cannot reach it: therefore the lids should always be carefully examined as to this possible source of the complaint. The health of the animal is generally unaffected—he feeds well, and performs his work with his usual spirit. Cooling applications to the eye, as the Goulard’s extract or tincture of opium, with mash-diet, and gentle physic, will usually abate the evil; or the inflammation will subside without medical treatment.* * Note by Mr. Spooner-—Unless this disease is connected with influenza, or some other malady affecting the whole system, it is usually produced by external violence, and in nine cases out of ten, may be distinguished from specific ophthalmia. When caused by a blow, there is in addition to swelling of the lids, and a large effusion of tears, a considerable dimness or opacity on the surface of the eye, whilst at the same time the interior is compara- tively free from disease. In specific ophthalmia, there is a greater amount of disease in the interior of the eye, and little if any opacity of the cornea. When connected with influenza there is much swelling of the lids, and a great flow of tears, while the eye itself is tolerably free from injury; and when it proceeds from a cold, there is usually a thick matter, or mucus, dis- 94 OPHTHALMIA. SPECIFIC OPHTHALMIA, OR MOON-BLINDNESS. Should three or four days pass, and the inflammation not be abated, we may begin to suspect that it is Ophthalmaa, especially if the eye is very impatient of light, and the cornea is considerably louded The aqueous humor then often loses its transparency— even the iris changes its color, and the pupil is exceedingly con- tracted. The veterinary surgeon has now an obstinate disease to combat, and one that will generally maintain its ground in spite of all his efforts. For three, or four, or five weeks, the inflam- mation will remain undiminished ; or if it appears to yield on one day, it will return with redoubled violence on the next. At length, and often unconnected with any of the means that have been used, the eye begins to bear the light, the redness of the membrane of the lid disappears, the cornea clears up, and the only vestige of disease which remains is a slight thickening of the lids and apparent uneasiness when exposed to a very strong light. "if the owner imagines that he has got rid of the disease, he will be sadly disappointed, for, in the course of six weeks, or two months, either the same eye undergoes a second and. similar attack, or the other one becomes affected. All again seems to pass over, except that the eye is not so perfectly restored, and a slight, deeply-seated cloudiness begins.to appear; and after repeated attacks, and alternations of disease from eye to eye, the affair terminates in opacity of the lens or its capsule, at- tended with perfect blindness either of one eye or both. This affection was formerly known by tbe name of moon-blindness, from its periodical return, and some supposed influence of the moon. That body, however, has not, and cannot have, anything to do with it. What is the practitioner doing all this while? He is an anxious and busy, but almest powerless spectator. He foments the eyes with warm water, or applies cold lotions, with the ex- tract of lead or opium, or poultices to which these drugs may be. added ; he bleeds, not from the temporal artery, for that does not supply the orbit of the eye, but from the angular vein at the inner corner of the eye, or he scarifies the lining of the lid, or subtracts a considerable quantity of blood from the jugular vein. The scarifying of the conjunctiva, which may be easily accomplished without a twitch, by exposing the inside of the charged from the corner of the eye after the first day or two. A cut from a. whip generally leaves a streak on the surface of the eye (unless the in- jury is sufficient to involve the whole surface), and this streak sometimes ecomes permanent. OPHTHALMIA. 95 ids, and drawing a keen lancet slightly over them, is the most effectual of all ways to abate inflammation, for we are then im- mediately unloading the distended vessels. He places his setons in the cheek, or his rowels under the jaw; and he keeps the anunal low, and gives physic or fever medicine (digitalis, nitre and emetic tartar). The disease, however, ebbs and flows, re treats and attacks, until it reaches its natural termination, blind ness of one or both eyes. The horse is more subject to this disease from the age of four to six years. Every affection of the eye appearing about this age, should be regarded with suspicion. The eye should be most carefully observed at the time of purchase, and the ex- aminer should be fully aware of the minute indications of dis- ease. They are a slight thickening of the lids, or puckering tow- ards the inner corner of the eye; a difference in the apparent size of the eyes; a cloudiness, although perhaps scarcely per- ceptible, of the surface of the cornea, or more deeply seated, or a hazy circle round its edge; a gloominess of eye generally, and dulness of the iris; or a minute, faint, dusky spot in the centre, with or without minute fibres or lines diverging from it. There is undoubtedly a strong predisposition to this inflamma tion in the eye of the horse, but it is assisted by the heated and empoisoned air of many stables. The dung and urine of the horse, and the litter when becoming putrid, emit fumes of vola- tile alkali, or hartshorn. We need not wonder at the prevalence of inflammation in the eye of the stable horse, nor at the diffi- culty in abating it, while this organ continues much exposed to the effect of this pungent gas. Dark stables are another cause of ophthalmia. Let the horse be led several times a day from a dark room into a full glare of light, and the sight will become disordered, the eyes weak, and disposed to take on sudden inflammation, with all its fatal results. The disease is also in a high degree hereditary. A stallion with defective sight should never be employed. The most: frequent consequences of this disease are cloudiness of the eye, and cataract. The cloudiness is singular in its nature. It will change in twenty-four hours from the thinnest film to the thickest opacity, and, as suddenly, the eye will nearly regain its perfect transparency, but only to lose it, and as 1apidly, a second time. ; Chalk, salt, sugar, and even pounded glass have been intro- duced into the eye to remove the film, but we need not say that the effect of such remedies would be to recall the inflammation, and that they are utterly barbarous. Where the cloudiness can be removed, it will be best effected by first abating inflamma 96 OPHTHALMIA. tion, and then exviting the absorbents to take up the gray de posit, by washing the eye with a very weak solution of corrosive sublimate. Opacity of the lens is another consequence of inflammation. A white speck appears on the centre of the lens, which gradually spreads over it, and completely covers it. It is generally so white and pearly as not to be mistaken—at other times it is more hazy, deceiving the inexperienced, and occasioning doubt in the mind of professional men. We have seen many instances in which the sight has been considerably affected or almost lost, and yet the horse has been pronounced sound by very fair judges. The eye must be exposed to the light, and yet under the kind of shelter which has been already described, in order to discover the defect. The pupil of the horse is seldom black, like that of the human being, and its grayish hue conceals the recent or thin film that may be spreading over the lens. Confirmed cataract in the eye of the horse admits of no remedy. But slight cataracts come and go, sometimes without sny pre- vious inflammation, and without leading to blindness. Still it is a serious thing at all times, and, although existing in the minut- est degree, it is wnsowndness, and very materially lessens the value of the horse. ‘ . Mr. Percival says the best way of ‘distinguishing between this transient cataract, and that which is the consequence of ophthal- mia, is the general appearance of the eye. If perfectly clear and healthy, we should infer it was the former, but the slightest trace of prior or present inflammation would lead us to suspect the latter.* * Note by Mr. Spooner—With regard to the causes of these diseases, we agree with the author in ascribing much to the ammoniacal fumes which escape from the urine, to which we would add high stimulating food and great exertion in harness. We believe, also, that improved stabling and better ventilation has lessened the frequency of these ocular cases. Horses with small pig eyes are much more liable to ophthalmia than those with large prominent eyes; and thus, as the former are. more frequently found with horses deficient in breeding, it may account for the opinion which is popularly entertained, that black horses are more liable to blindness than others, these horses being generally deficient in breeding. With regard to the treatment of these diseases, we have little to add to that detailed in the text. Inflammation is the leading feature in all, and therefore should be met by active antiphlogistic treatment. An active dose of he should be given, as soon as the horse is prepared, by mashes and, in the meantime, three or four quarts of blood should. be taken from the neck, on the same side as the affected eye. The eyelids should also be scarified, then well fomented with warm water; after which we have de: rived great assistance from putting linseed poultices, in linen bags, on the eyes, by means of leather blinds. These should be continued during the day, and may serve as the vehicle for the application of opiate or Goulard lotions, which, applied in the usual way, are brat of little service. By this GUTTA SERENA. 97 GUTTA SERENA. Another species of blindness, and of which mention was made when describing the retina, is Gutta Serena, commonly called glass eye. The pupil is more than usually dilated: 4 is im- movable, and bright, and glassy. This is*palsy of the optic nerve, or its expansion, the retina; and is usually produced by determination of blood to the head. It is the kind of blindness which we have described, as sometimes resulting from the pres- sure on the base of the brain, and the consequent injury to the function of the nerve, in staggers. The treatment of Gutta Serena is quite as difficult as that of cataract. We have heard of successful cases, but we never saw one; not should we be disposed to incur much expense in en- deavoring to accomplish impossibilities, Reasoning from the cause of the disease, we should bleed and physic, and administer the strychnine in doses, commencing at half a grain, and not exceeding two grains, morning and night—very carefully watch- ing it. If we succeed, it must be by constitutional treatment. As to local treatment, the seat of the disease is out of our reach,* prompt and active treatment a great deal of good can be accomplished, and the loss of sight may be greatly postponed. It is useless to attempt half measures; we should either treat actively or not at all, After the vio- lence of the inflammation has subsided, much benefit may be obtained by putting a few drops of the wine of opium into the eye twice a day. CaraRact. Cataract may be either partial or complete; and again, it may either succeed the violent disease before spoken of, or it may gradually come on with very little previous inflammation. It admits also of another impor- tant division. It may be either a cataract of the lens itself, or merely of the membrane which covers it. The latter may come on without any noticeable inflammation ; appearing as one or two small specks in the ven- tre of the eye, about the size of a pin’s head. It is very important to distinguish between these different kinds of cataracts, inasmuch as, whilst the former is irremovable, the latter is very frequently absorbed without any external treatment. Whilst the former is often pearly white, and com- pletely opaque, so far as it exists, the latter is gray and less opaque. It requires a considerable amount of tact, as well as experience, to discover these small incipient cataracts, and to discriminate between the one kind and the other. , * Note by Mr. Spooner—This disease is sometimes connected with diseased liver, particularly a rupture of its conts, when the blindness may shift from one eye to the other. Although this disease is generally but little under the influence of treatment, we have met with successful cases in young animals. The treatment should principally be directed to the removal of the cause which produces the disease. 7 98 DISEASES OF THE EAR—-DEAFNESS. DISEASES OF THE EAR, Wounds of the ear are usually the consequence of careless 07 brutal treatment—often of the application of the twitch or the pliers. These bruises or wounds will generally speedily heal ; but sinuses and abscesses are sometimes the result. A simple laceration of the cartilage is easily remedied. The divided edges are brought together, the head tied up closely a few days, and all is well; but where ulceration of the skin and subja- cent parts, and caries of the cartilage take place, deep sinuses will be formed, and the wound will bid defiance to medical treatment. I had a case of this kind under my care for more than two months, and finally had to cut off the ear. The lunar caustic, or the muriate of antimony, or the heated iron, must be early employed, or all labor will be in vain. I have seen two cases where the auditory passage was closed, and the hearing destroyed—the result of violent blows. When there is swelling about the root of the ear and the fluctuation of a fluid within can be detected, it should be opened with a lancet, and the purulent fluid liberated. The incision should be of considerable length, or the opening will soon close. It should not be permitted to close until the abscess is obliterated. The size and carrying of the ear may be changed. The first is done by clipping them to the requisite size. If they hang down too much, a fold of the skin is pinched up and cut away, on either side of the occipital bone, and in a straight line for ward and backward. The divided edges are then brought to- gether, confined by two or three stitches, and they presently unite. If the ears are too close together, this fault may be cor- rected by another piece of cruelty. Similar slips of skin are cut away on the outside base of the ear, and in the same direc- tion. The edges of the wound are then brought together, con- fir ed by stitches, and the ears are drawn further apart from each other, and have different directions given to them. A very slight examination of either of the horses will readily detect the imposition. DEAFNESS. Of the occasional existence of this in the horse, there is no doubt. The beautiful play of the ears has ceased, and the horse hears not the voice of his master, or the sound of the whip. Much of the apparent stupidity of a few horses is at- tributable to their imperfect hearing. It is the result of certain diseases, blows, and, as in other domesticated animals, i is the certain accompaniment of old age. It is incurable. CHAPTER IV. THE ANATOMY OF THE DISEASES OF THE NOSE AND MOUTH We now proceed to a description of the face, or lower part of the head of the horse. The zasal bones, or bones of the nose (7 7, Fig. 2, and a, Fig. 3), are connected with the frontal bones above, and with the lacrymal, 77, and the bones of the upper jaw, //, on either side. They are united together by a plain suture, which is a continuation of the frontal, and they ter- minate in a point at the nostril (p, Fig. 2). They are rounded and arched above, because they are exposed to occasional violence and injury, which the arch-form will enable them best to resist ; and at the base of the arch, where the main strength should be, they are overlapped by the upper jaw-bone, as the temporal bone overlaps the base of the parietal. These bones form a prin- cipal part of the face; and the length, or shortness, and the character of the face, depend upon them. Sometimes there is an appearance of two little arches, with a depression between them along the sutures. This is often found in the blood-horse, with his comparatively broad head and face. The single ele- vated arch is found in the long and narrow face of the heavy draught-horse. The profile of the horse has been supposed by many, and probably with some truth, to be indicative of his temper. The straight profile may be accompanied with a good or bad temper, but not often either in any great excess. The one with a prominent Roman nose, is usually an easy, good-tempered, hardy beast, ready enough to feed, not always, perhaps, so ready to work, but may be made to do his duty without any cruel urging, and having no extraordinary pretension to speed or blood. On the other hand, a depression across the centre of the nose generally indicates some breeding, especially if the head is small, but occa sionally accompanied by a vicious, uncontrollable disposition. There is another way, however, in which the nasal bones do more certainly indicate the breed, viz., by their comparative length or shortness. There is. no surer criterion of a well-bred horse, 100 ANATOMY AND DISEASES OF than a broad angular forehead, prominent features, and a short face ; nor of a horse with little breeding, than a narrow forehead small features; and lengthened nose. The comparative develop ment of the head and face indicates, with little error, the pre ponderance of the animal or intellectual principle. Fracture of the nasal bones of the horse will sometimes occu from falling, or a kick from the companion, or the brutality of the attendant. It is generally followed by laceration of the lin ing membrane of the nostrils, and by hemorrhage. The bleed ing may usually be arrested by the application of cold wate externally. In spontaneous hemorrhage, this does not often succeed until a considerable quantity of blood is lost. In cases of fracture of the nasal bones, the assistance of a veterinary surgeon is indispensable. He alone knows the precise anatomy of the parts, and will have recourse to the elevator or the trephine, as circumstances may require. Ozena sometimes follows these wounds, or foundation may be laid for the appearance of glanders. . Spontaneous bleeding from the nose must be carefully attended to. It may proceed from an over fulness of the blood vessels of the membrane of the nose, consequent on very high condition, or from the lungs. If from the nostril alone, it will usually be con- fined to one side; if from the lungs, the discharge is from both nostrils, and generally mingled with mucus or froth; and there is also a quickened respiration, and more or less cough. If it is apparently connected with some slight cause, a dose of physic and quietness for a day or two will be sufficient, and, if necessary, a slight solution of alum may be injected up the nos- stril. If the bleeding is apparently from the lungs, a more se- rious evacuation will be required. These bones form the roof of an important cavity (see a, Fig. 3). The sides are constituted above by the nasal bones, and, lower down, by the upper jaw-bones (superior maxillaries), while plates from these latter bones project and compose the pal- ate, which is both the floor of the nose and the roof of the mouth (¢, Fig. 3.) Above (near 8), not visible in our cut, is a bone called the palatine, although it contributes very little ts the formation of the palate. It is the termination of the palate, or the border of the opening where the cavities of the mouth and nose meet (8). The frontal sinuses, 6, and large vacuities in the upper jaw-bone, and in the ethmoid, /, and sphenoid bones, k, communicate with and enlarge the cavity of the nose. This cavity is divided into two parts by a cartilage called the Septum (see 7, Fig. 3.) It is of considerable thickness. and strength, and divides the cavity of the nose into two equal parts. It is placed in the centre for the purpose of strength, and it is THE NOSE AND MOUTH. 1b, Fig. 11. VL Cy Se, SSS AOE SS 2S SSE — SSL SSS SF SSS —<—S—> TITEL = Chk formed of cartilage, in order that, by its gradual yielding resist ance, it may neutralize almost any force that may be applied to it. When we open the nostril, we see the membrane lining the whole cavity of the nose, by the color of which, much more than by that of the lining of the eye-lids, we judge of the degree of fever, and particularly of inflammation of the lungs, or of any of the air passages. The cut above shows the ramification of the arterial and venous blood-vessels on this membrane. Certain ulcerations on it also betray the existence of glanders. The nasal cavity is, on either side, occupied by.two bones, which, from their being rolled up somewhat in the form of a turban, are called the turbinated or turban-shaped bones, (s s, Fig. 3.) ; part of the cartilage is cut away in our cut in order to display them. They are as thin as gauze, and perforated, like gauze, with a thousand holes. Between them are left sufficient passages for the air. Spread out, they would occupy a consider- able surface. Over them is spread the substance or pulp of the olfactory nerves, which makes them the seat of smell ; and they are thus expanded, because by the sense of smell, the horse must in a great degree supply the want of that of towch. They also enable him to distinguish his proper herbage, detect distant dan- ger; and they, like the windings of a horn, give loudness to his voice. The extension of the nostril at the lower part of these cavi- ties is an important part of the face, and intimately connected with breeding, courage, and speed. The horse can breathe only through the nose. All the air which goes to and returns from the lungs, must pass through the nostrils. In.the common act of breathing, these are sufficiently large ; but when the animal] is put on his speed, and the respiration is quickened, these pas- 102 MUSCLES, ETC., OF THE HEAD. sages must dilate, or he will be much distressed. The expanded nostril is a striking feature in the blood-horse, especially when he has been excited and not over-blown. The nostril should be proportioned to the kind of labor we require from the animal— larger in proportion to the activity of the labor, and the conse- quent liability of being blown. Some very powerful muscles proceed from different parts of the face to the neighborhood of the nostrils, in order to draw them back and dilate them. Four of these are given in the following cut, which is inserted to complete our present subject, and which will-be often referred to in the course of our work ; 1, m, 0, and p, are muscles employed for this purpose. THE MUSCLES, NERVES, AND BLOOD-VESSELS OF THE HEAD AND UPPER PART OF THE NECK. Fig. 12. a The upper part of the ligament of the neck. : . 6 The levator humeri (elevator of the shoulder), arising from the tubercle of the occiput, the mastoid (nipple-shaped) process of the temporal bone, and the transverse processes (cross projections) of the four first bones of the neck, and the ligament of the neck, and going to the muscles of the shoulders, and the upper bone of the arm; to draw forward the shoulder and arm; or turn the head and neck; and, when the two levators act, to depress the. head. e The tendon common to the complexus major (larger eye and splenius (splint-like): to the mastoid process of the temporal bone, to hold up the head, or, the muscles on one side alone acting, to turn it. ‘ @ The slerno-macxillaris (belonging to the Siroust bone) and upper jaw, from the cartilage in front of the chest to the angle of the lower jaw: to bend the head, or, if one only acts, to bend it on one side. ¢ The stylo-mazullaris, from the styloid (pencil-shaped) or coracoid (beak-shaped] process of the occiput, to the angle of the jaw: to pull the jaw backward an open it. MUSCLES, ETC., OF THE HEAD. 103 Jf The subscapulo hyoideus, from under the shoulder-blade, to the body of the os hyotdes (the bone at the root of the tongue formed like a Greek u, v): to draw back that bone. g The masseter (chewing) ; a most powerful muscle, constituting the cheek of the horse :—from the upper jaw bone into the rough surface round the angle of the lower: in conjunction with the temporal muscle to close the mouth and chew the food. h The orbicularis (circular) surrounding the eye and closing the lids. i The zygomaticus, from the zygomatic arch and masseter to the corner of the mouth, to draw back the angle of the mouth. & The buccinator (trumpeter), from the inside of the mouth and cheeks, to the angle of the mouth, to draw it back. l The vasalis labii superioris (belonging to the nose and upper lip), from a depres- sion at the junction of the superior maxillary and malar bones, to the angle of the nostril: to raise the lip, and dilate the nostrils. m Dilator naris lateralis (side dilator of the nostril), reversed to show the vessels and nerves which it covers, going from the covering of the nasal and frontal bones, to the angle of the mouth, and side of the nostril: to retract the upper lip and dilate the nostrils. n Dilator magnus (great einer assisting in the same office. o Depressor labii inferioris (puller down of the under lip), to the sides of the un- der lip: to pull it down. ee p Orbicularis oris ce muscle of the mouth), surrounding the mouth: to close the lips and dilate the nostrils. q The upper portion of the parotid gland (gland near the ear) reversed, to show the blood-vessels and nerves beneath it. r The parotid duct piercing the cheek, to discharge the saliva into.the mouth. s The maxillary gland (gland of the lower jaw) with its duct. ¢ The jugular (neck) vein, after the two branches have united. u At this letter, the submaxillary artery, a branch of the jugular, and the parotid duct, pass under and within the angle of the lower jaw ; they come out again at w, and climb up the cheek to be distributed over the face. w The vein and artery, passing under the zygomatic arch. c A branch of the fifth pair, the sensitive nerve of the face, emerging from under the parotid gland. ~ g The main branch of the portio dura (hard pereen) at the seventh pair, the motor (moving) nerve of the face coming out from beneath the parotid gland, to spread over the face. z Branches of both nerves, with small blood-vessels, There are also four distinct cartilages attached to the nostrils, which, by their elasticity, bring back the nostrils to their former dimensions, as soon as the muscles cease to act. The bones of the nose (a a, Fig. 2, and Fig. 3), are also sharpened off to a point, to give wider range for the action of the muscles; while the cartilages are so contrived, as not only to discharge the office we have mentioned, but to protect this projection of bone from injury. , The membrane of the nose, as already stated, is an excellent guide to the degree and character of many diseases. In health, and uninfluenced by exercise, that portion of the membrane seen in the nostrils is a pale uniform pink. An increased blush of red betokens some excitement of the system—a streaked appear- ance, inflammation commenced—intense redness, acute inflam- mation—pale ground with patches of vivid red, half-subdued but still existing fever—uniform color, but somewhat redder than natural, a return to healthy circulation—paleness approaching 104 NASAL POLYPUS—NASAL DISCHARGE. to white, debility—and dark livid color, approaching stagnatiou of the vital current. NASAL POLYPUS. By the polypus, is meant an excrescence or tumor, varying in size, structure, and consistence, and attached by a pedicle to 2 mucous surface. — The nasal polypus usually adheres to some portion of the superior turbinated bone, or it has come from some of the sin- uses connected with that cavity. As it increases in weight, it elongates that sac of the schnide- rian membrane which invests it, and it descends in the nose. It is of a pear form, and differs in weight from a few drachms to three or four pounds. : When it descends so that it can fairly be got at with the fin- gers, the forceps, or (for it possesses little sensibility) the tenta- culum, it must be carefully and gently drawn out, and a liga- ment passed tightly round the neck or pedicle of it, as high up as convenient, and then if practicable, it should be returned into the nostril. It will slough off in a few days, with very little inconvenience to the horse. If it cannot be returned, it should be cut off below the ligature. If the ligature is drawn suffi- ciently tightly, not much hemorrhage will often ensue. Cau tery may be resorted to to stop bleeding, as a last resort, in case of obstinate hemorrhage, but it is objectionable on account of the degree of irritation it produces, and the difficulty of safely resorting to it in such a situation. In very bad cases, where the tumor cannot be drawn out, it may be necessary to slit up the side of the nostril, but in that case the false nostril should not be cut through, as from its thinness it is difficult to confine the edges securely together until they unite. The incision should be made along the lateral edge of the nasal bone, beginning at its point. The flap will then conveniently turn down, sos to expose the cavity, and there will be sufficient muscular sub- stance to secure an almost certain union by the first intention, when stitched properly together.* NASAL GLEET, OR DISCHARGE FROM THE NOSE. There is a constant secretion of fluid to lubricate and moisten the membrane that lines the cavity of the nose, and which, un- * Note by Mr. Spooner.—Still more rarely we find a bory tumor forming in the nostrils, nearly obstructing all passage, and -ausing a discharge some- what resembling that of glanders. This, like the former, should be removed if possible by an operation. OZENA. 108 der catarrh or cold, is increased in quantity, and altered im ap- pearance and consistence. This will properly belong to the ac- count of catarrh or cold; but that which is immediately under consideration, is a continued and oftentimes profuse discharge of thickened mucus, when every symptom of catarrh and fever has passed away. If the horse is at grass, the discharge is almost as green as the food. on which he lives ;—or if he is stabled, it is white, or straw-coloured, or brown, or even bloody, and some- times purulent. It is either constantly running, or snorted out im masses many times a day.; teazing the horse, and becoming a perfect nuisance in the stable, and to the rider. This has been known to continue several months, and eventually to destroy the horse. If the discharge is not offensive to the smell, nor mixed wtih purulent matter, it is probably merely an increased and some- what vitiated secretion from the cavities of the nose; and, all fever having disappeared, will frequently yield to small doses of blue vitriol, given twice in the day. If fever or cough remains, the cough medicine that will hereafter be described must be combined with the:tonic.. If the discharge is mingled with pus, and very offensive, the vegetable tonics, gentian.and ginger, may be added to the copper ;. but there is now reason to apprehend that the discharge will not be controlled, and will terminate in glanders. Turning into a salt marsh will occasionally effect a cure, when both the mineral and the vegetable tonics have failed.* OZENA. , Ozena is ulceration of the membrane of the nose, not always or often visible, but recognised by the discharge of muco-purulent matter, and the peculiar stench from which the disease derives its name. It resembles glanders, in being. confined, in most in- stances, to one nostril, and the submaxillary gland on the same side being enlarged; but differs from it in the gland not being adherent, and the discharge, from its earliest stage, being puru- lent and stinking. There is sometimes a ftetid discharge from the nostril, in con- sequence of inflammation of the lungs, or produced by some of the sequele of pheumonia; distinguished, however, from ozena, * Note by Mr. Spooner—lIt is exceedingly rare that the nasal discharge 8 ever so profuse as that described in the text, unless produced by strangles, or severe catarrh, or glanders: nor is it brown or bloody, unless connected with other active disease. It is, indecd, very rare, and is usually of a gray color and free from smell, and seems to arise from a relaxation of the secret- ing membrane of the nostrils. It should be treated by tonics internally, as- sisted by good feeding and grooming e 106 OZENA. by its usually flowing irregularly, being coughed up in great quantities, more decidedly purulent, and the gland or glands sel- dom affected. The discharge from ozena is constant, muco- purulent, and attended by enlargement of the glands. It is of immense consequence that we should be enabled to distinguish the one from the other; for while ozena may, sometimes at least, be manageable, the other is too frequently the precursor of death. The cause of ozena cannot always be discovered. Chronic in- flammation of the membrane may assume another and malignant character. In severe catarrh, the membrane may become abraded, and the abrasions may degenerate into foul and fetid ulcers, It is not an unfrequent consequence of epidemic catarrh. It has been produced by caustic applications to the lining mem- brane of the nose. It has followed hemorrhage, spontaneous, or the consequence of injury. In some cases, and those as obstinate as any, it cannot perhaps be traced to any probable cause, and the health of the animal has not appeared to be in the slightest degree affected. The steam of a bran-mash, scalding hot, could, by means of a nose-bag, be made to penetrate the cavities of the nose, and would cleanse the part. By means of the nose-bag and warm mash, chloride of lime might be introduced into the cavities, removing the stench and arresting the tendency to decomposition. The vapor of turpentine, or of resinous pine shavings, can by the same means be brought in contact with all parts of the membrane, and it has been found serviceable. A run at spring grass promises still better. It is the finest alterative, depurative, and restora- tive in the whole list of remedies; and if it is acceptable in the form of a salt-marsh, there is no better chance of doing good.* * Note by Mr. Spooner.—When a nasal gleet is attended by much offen sive smell, we may rest assured that it is not glanders, but that it either arises from external injury, or may be justly included under the designation ozena. This is a rare disease in a horse, and is generally produced by catarrh, particularly that of the epidemic kind. The discharge is usually thick, considerable, and very offensive. The treatment should consist of tonics, internally and externally, fumigations of chlorine gas by means of Read’s inhaler, or with the common nose bag; or, if this does not succeed a solution of the chloride of lime may be syringed up the nostrils every day, - or may be alternated with a weak solution of the sulphates of zinc and cop- per, and applied in the same manner. Nasal gleet, attended with fetid smell, and proceeding from one nostril only, is usually produced by some blow, or external injury. This much resembles glanders, and has often been confounded with it. GLANDERS. 107 GLANDERS. The most formidable of all the diseases to which the horse is subject, is Glanders. It has been known from the earliest an- tiquity. The earliest symptom of Glanders is an increased discharge from the nostril, small in quantity, constantly flowing, of an aque- ous (watery) character, and a little mucus mingling with it. It is a common and very mischievous error to suppose that this discharge is stzcky, when it first makes its appearance. It is an aqueous or mucous, but small and constant discharge, and is thus distinguished from catarrh, or nasal gleet, or any other defluxion (discharge) from the nostril. If a horse is in the highest condi- tion, yet has this small watery constant discharge, and especially from one nostril, no time should be lost in separating him from his companions. No harm will be done by this, although the defluxion should not ultimately betray lurking mischief of a worse character. The peculiar stickiness and gluiness which is generally supposed to distinguish the discharge of glanders from all other mucous and prevalent secretions belongs to the second stage of the dis- ease, and, for many months before this, glanders may have ex- isted in an insidious and highly contagious form. It must be ac- knowledged, however, that, in the majority of cases, some degree of stickiness does characterise the discharge of glanders from a very early period. It is a singular circumstance, for which no satisfactory account has yet been given, that when one nostril alone is attacked, it is, in a great majority of cases, the near, or left. This discharge, in cases of infection, may continue, and in sc slight a degree as to be scarcely perceptible, for many months, or even two or three years, unattended by any other disease, even ulceration of the nostril, and yet the horse being decidedly glan- dered from the beginning, and capable of propagating the mala- dy. In process of time, however, pus (matter) mingles with the discharge, and then another and a characteristic symptom ap- pears. Some of this is absorbed, and the neighbouring glands be- come affected. If there is discharge from both nostrils, the glands within the under jaw will be on both sides enlarged. If the discharge is from one nostril only, the swelled gland will be found on that side alone. Glanders, however, will frequently exist at an early stage without these swelled glands, and some other dis- eases, as catarrh, will produce them. Then we must look out for some peculiarity about these glands, and we shall readily find it, The swelling may be at first somewhat large and duffused, 108 GLANDERS. put the surrounding enlargement soon goes off, and one or two small distinct glands remain; and they are not in the centr: of the channel, but adhere closely to the aw on the affected side. The membrane of the nose should now be examined, and will materially guide our opinion. It will either be of a dark purplish hue, or almost of a leaden colour, or of any shade between the wo; or if there is some of the redness of inflammation, it will have a purple tinge: but there will never be the faint pink blush of health, or the intense and vivid red of usual inflammation, Spots of ulceration will probably appear on the membrane cover- ing the cartilage of the nose—not mere sore places, or streaks of abrasion, and quite superficial, but small ulcers, unusually ap- proaching to a circular form, deep, and with the edges abrupt and prominent. When these appearances are observed, there can be no doubt about the matter. Care should be taken, how- ever, to ascertain that these ulcers do actually exist, for spots of mucus adhering to the membrane have been more than once taken for them The finger should, if possible, be passed over the supposed ulcer, in order to determine whether it can be wiped away; and it should be recollected, as was hinted when describ- ing the duct that conveys the tears to the nose, that the orifice of that duct, just within the nostril, and on the inner side of it, has been mistaken for a chancrous ulcer. This orifice is on the con- tinuation of the common skin of the muzzle which runs a little way up the nostril, while the ulcer of glanders is on the proper membrane of the nose above. The line of separation between the two is evident on the slightest inspection. When ulcers begin to appear on the membrane of the nose, the constitution of the horse is soon evidently affected. The patient loses flesh—his belly is tucked up—his coat unthrifty,.and readily coming off—the appetite is impaired—the strength fails—cough, more or less urgent, may be heard—the discharge from the nose will increase in quantity ; it will be discoloured, bloody, offensive to the smell—the ulcers in the nose will become larger and more numerous, and the air-passages being obstructed, a grating, chok- ing noise will be heard at every act of breathing. There is now a peculiar tenderness about the forehead. The membrane lining the frontal sinuses is inflamed and ulcerated, and the integument of the forehead becomes thickened and somewhat swelled. Farcy is now superadded to glanders, or glanders has degenerated into farcy, and morc of the absorbents are involved. At or before this time little tumours appear about the muscles, and face, and neck, following the course of the veins and the ab- sorbents, for they run side by side; and these the tumours soon ulcerate. Tumours or buds, still pursuing the path of the ab- sorbents, soon appear on the inside of the thighs. They are con- GLANDERS. 109 nected together by a corded substance. This is the inflamed and enlarged lymphatic; and ulceration quickly follows the appear- ance of these buds. The deeper seated absorbents are next affected ; and one or both of the hind-legs swell to a great size, and become stiff, and hot, and tender. The loss of flesh and strength is more marked every day. The membrane of the nose becomes of a dirty livid color. The membrane of the mouth is strangely pallid. The eye is infiltrated with a yellow fluid ; and the discharge from the nose becomes more profuse, and insuffera- bly offensive. The animal presents one mass of putrefaction, and at.last dies, exhausted. There are peculiarities about the enlargement of the submax- illary glands, already referred to, which deserve particular atten- tion. They are rarely large, except at first, or hot, or tender ; but they are characterised by a singular hardness, a proximity to the jaw-bone, and, frequently, actual adhesion to it. The adhe- sion is produced by the inflammatory action going forward in the gland, and the effusion of coagulable lymph. This hardness and adhesion accompanying discharge from the nostril, and being on the same side with the nostril whence the discharge proceeds, afford proof not to be controverted that the horse is glandered. But there are cases of glanders in which the glands are neither adherent nor much enlarged. Glanders have often been confounded with strangles, and by those who ought to have known better. Strangles are peculiar to young horses. The early stage resembles common cold, with some degree of fever and sore throat—generally with distressing cough, or at least frequent wheezing ; and when the enlargement appears beneath the jaw, it is-not a single small gland, but a swelling of the whole of the substance between the jaws, grow- ing harder towards the centre, and, after a while, appearing to contain a fluid, and breaking. In strangles, the membrane of the nose will be intensely red, and the discharge from the nose profuse and purulent, or mixed with matter almost from the first. When the tumor has burst, the fever will abate, and the horse will speedily get well. Should the discharge from the nose continue, as it sometimes does, for a considerable time after the horse has recovered from strangles, there is no cause for fear. Simple strangles need never degenerate into glanders. Good keep, and small doses of tonic medicine, will gradually perfect the cure. Glanders have been confounded with catarrh or cold; but the distinction between them is plain enough. Fever, and loss of appetite and sore throat, accompany cold—the quidding of the food and gulping of the water are sufficient indications of the letter of these ; the discharge from the nose is profuse, and per- i10 GLANDERS. haps purulent ; the glands under the jaw, if swelled, are move- able, there is a thickening around them, and they are tender and hot. With proper treatment the fever abates; the cough disap- pears; the swellings under the throat subside ; and the discharge from the nose gradually ceases, or, if it remains it is usually very different from that which characterises glanders. In glanders, there is seldom cough of any consequence, and generally no cough at all. A running from the nose, small in quantity, and, from the smallness of its quantity, drying about the edges of the nostril, and presenting some appearance of stickiness, will, in a few cases, remain after severe catarrh, and especially after the influenza of spring ; and these have gradually assumed the character of glan- ders, and more particularly when they have been accompanied by enlarged glands and ulceration in the nose. Here the aid of a judicious veterinary surgeon is indispensable; and he will sometimes experience considerable difficulty in deciding the case. One circumstance will principally guide him. No disease will run on to glanders which has not, to a considerable and palpable degree, impaired and broken down the constitution ; and every disease that does this will run on to glanders.. He will look then to the general state and condition of the horse, as well as to the situation of the glands, the nature of the discharge, and the character of the ulceration. If, after all, he is in doubt, an experiment may be resorted to, which wears indeed the appearance of cruelty, and which only the safety of a valuable animal, or of a whole team, can justify. He will inoculate an ass, or a horse already condemned to the hounds, with the matter discharged from the nose. If the horse is glandered, the symptoms of glanders or farcy will appear in the inoculated animal in the course of a few days. The post mortem examination of the horse will remove every doubt as to the character of the disease. The nostril is generally more or less blanched, with spots or lines of inflammation of considerable intensity. Ulceration is almost invariably found, and of a chancrous character, on the septum, and also on the ethmoid and turbinated bones. The ulcers evidently follow the course of the absorbents, sometimes almost confined to the track of the main vessel, or, if scattered over the membrane generally, thickest over the path of the lymphatic. The ethmoid-and tur- binated bones are often filled with pus, and sometimes eaten through and carious ; but, in the majority of cases, the ulceration is confined to the external membrane, although there may be pus within. In aggravated cases the disease extends through all the cells of the face and head. The path of the disease down the larynx and windpipe is easily GLANDERS. 111 traced, and the ulcers follow one line—that of the alsorbents. In aggravated cases, this can generally be traced on to the lungs. It produces inflammation in these organs, characterised in some eases by congestion; but in other cases, the congestion having gone on to hepatisation, in which the cellular texture of the lungs is obliterated. Most frequently, when the lungs are affected at all, tubercles are found—miliary tubercles—minute granulated spots on the surface, or in the substance of the lungs, and not accompanied by much inflammation. In a few cases there are larger tubercles, which soften and burst, and terminate in cavities of varying size. In some cases, and showing that glanders is not essentially or necessarily a disease of the lungs, there is no morbid affection whatever in those organs. The history thus given of the symptoms of glanders will clearly point out its nature. It is inflammation, whether specific or common, of the lining membrane of the nose—possibly for months, and even for years. confined to that membrane, and even to a portion of it—the health and the usefulness of the animal not being in the slightest degree impaired. Then, from some unknown cause, not a new but an intenser action is setup, the inflammation more speedily runs its course, and the membrane becomes ulcerated. The in- flammation spreads on either side down the septum, and the ul- ceration at length assumes that peculiar chancrous form which characterises inflammation of the absorbents. Even then, when the discharge becomes gluey, and sometimes after chancres have appeared, the horse is apparently well. There are hundreds of glandered horses about the country with not a sick one among them. For months or years this disease may do no injury to the general health. The inflammation is purely local, and is only recognised by the invariable accompaniment of inflammation and increased secretion. Its neighbors fall around, but the disease affects not the animal whence it came. At length a constitu- tional inflammation appears; farcy is established in its most hor- rible form, and death speedily closes the scene. Glanders may be either bred in the horse, or communicated by contagion. What we have farther to remark on this malady will be arranged under these two heads. Improper stable management we believe to be a far more fre- quent cause of. glanders than contagion. The air which ie . necessary to respiration is changed and empoisoned in its passage through the lungs, and a fresh supply is necessary for the support of life. That supply may be sufficient barely to support life, but not to prevent the vitiated air from again and again passing to the lungs, and producing irritation and disease. The membrane 112 GEANDERS. of the nose, possessed of extreme sensibility for the purposes of smell, is easily irritated by this poison, and close and ill-ventilated stables oftenest witness the ravages of glanders. Professor Cole- man relates a case which proves to demonstration the rapid and Yatal agency of this cause. ‘(In the expedition to Quiberon, the norses had not been long on board the transports before it becaine aecessary to shut down the hatchways for a few hours; the con- sequence of this was, that some of them were suffocated, and mat allthe rest were disembarked either glandered or farcied.”’ The injurious gasses arising from the dung, urine, &c., in badly eieaned stables, are also powerful sources of the mischief. Glanders may be produced by anything that injures, or for a tength of time acts upon and weakens, the vital energy of this membrane. They have been known to follow a fracture of the bones of the nose. They have been the consequence of violent catairh, and particularly the long-continued discharge from the nostiis, of which we have spoken. They have been produced by tne injection of stimulating and acrid substances up the nos- tril. iverything that weakens the constitution eS will lead to piandets. Among the causes of glanders are want of regular exercise, over-exertion, and the stimulating and debilitating cordials ad- ministered by senseless grooms. Every exciting cause of disease exerts its chief and worst in fluence on the membrane of the nose, and there is not another disease which may not lay the foundation of glanders. A long time may elapse before it appears, but when at length the whole frame becomes excited or debilitated in some way, this debilitated portion is the first to yield to the attack. Several strongly marked instances are on record showing the connection between the attack of this disease and exposure to the dampness of brick or stone stables, the walls of which were not yet dry, and in others subject to damp exhalations. There is no doubt that glanders, or a predisposition to glanders is sometimes hereditary. Glanders are highly contagious. If the discharge from the nostrils of a glandered horse is rubbed on a wound, or on a mu cous surface, like the nostrils, it will produce a similar disease If the division between two horses were sufficiently high to pre- vent all smelling and snorting at each other, and contact of every kind, and they drank. not out of the same pail, a sound horse might live for years, uninfected, by the side of a glandered one. The matter of glanders has been mixed up into a ball, and given to a healthy horse, without effect. Some horses have eaten the hay left by those that were glandered, and no bad consequence has followed; but others have been speedily infected. The GLANDERS. 113 glanderous matter must come in contact with a wound, or fall on some membrane, thin and delicate, like that of the nose, and through which it may be absorbed. It is easy, then, accustomed as horses are to be crowded together, and to recognize each other by the smell—eating out of the same manger, and drinking from the same pail—to imagine that the disease may be very readily communicated. One horse has passed another when he was in the act of snorting, and has become glandered. Some fillies have received the infection from the matter blown by the wind across a lane, when a glandered horse, in the opposite field, has claimed acquaintance by neighing or snorting. It is almost impossible for an infected horse to remain long in a stable with others without irreparable mischief. If some persons underrate the danger, it is because the disease may remain unrecognised in the infected horse for some months, or even years, and therefore, when it appears, it is attributed to other causes, or to after inoculation. No glandered horse should be employed on any farm, nor should a glandered horse be per- mitted to work on any road, or even to pasture on any field. He should be destroyed. , In a well settled case of glanders it is not worth while, ex- cept by way of experiment at a veterinary school, to attempt any remedies. The chances of cure are too remote, and the danger of infection too great. If, however, remedial measures are resorted to, a pure atmos- phere is that which should first be tried. Turn out the horse, and, if practicable, on a salt marsh,—but much caution is requi- site, as the grass, and even the fences may receive the glander- ous matter; and hardening on them, it may months afterward communicate the disease to horses; and there is not yet decided proof that sheep and cattle are not subject to the same malady. ‘Worse than all, the man who attends on that horse is in danger. The cases are now becoming far too numerous in which the groom or the veterinary surgeon attending on glan dered horses becomes infected, and in the majority of cases dies. Every portion of the stable, every vessel, &c., which have been within the reach of a nasal discharge of a glanderea horse, should be well scraped, scoured with soap and water, then well washed with a solution of chloride of lime (a pint of the chloride to a pail full of water,) and the walls white-washed. His head gear should be burned—his clothing baked or washed— pails newly painted—and the iron work with which he has been in contact, should, where practicable, be exposed to a red heat.* * Note by Mr. Spooner—Mr. Ss note contains nothing materially adding to Mr. Youatt’s elaborate account ; but the following is important: The contagiozs character of glanders is very well known, and not only 8 114 FARCY, FARCY Farcy is intimately connected with glanders; they will run into each other, or their symptoms will mingle together, anu before either arrives at its fatal termination its associate wil: almost invariably appear. An animal inocculated with the roatter of farcy will often be afflicted with glanders, while the matter of glanders will frequently produce farcy. They are different types or stages of the same disease. There is, how- ever, a very material difference in their symptoms and progress, and this most important one of all, that while glanders are generally incurable, farcy, in its early stage and mild form, may be successfully treated. While the capillary vessels of the arteries are everywhere employed in building up the frame, the absorbents are no less diligently at work in selecting and carrying away every useless or worn-out portion or part of it. There is no surface on which thousands of these little mouths do not open. Opening on the surfaces of glanderous ulcers, they absorb a portion of the virus secreted by them, and as it passes through these little tubes, they become thickened and inflamed by means of its acrimonious qualities, and hence they received the name of corded veins from farriers who mistook them for the veins whose courses they follow. At certain distances in the course of the absorbents are natural valves, or loose duplicatures of the ling membrane, which are pressed against the side of the vessel and permit the fluid to pass in a direction towards the chest, but belly out and impede or arrest its progress from the chest. The virus at these places, and the additional inflammation there excited, is to a greater or less degree evident to the eye and to the feeling. They are usually first observed about the lips, the nose, the neck, and the thighs. They are very hard—even of a scirrhous hard- ness, more or less tender, and with perceptible heat about them. The poisonous matter being thus confined and pressing on the part, suppuration and ulceration ensue. The ulcers have the it so with regard to the horse, but it is capable of being communicated to the human being ; and, indeed, there have been very many deaths from this cause, and most horrible deaths they are. It is generally by means of some cut or abrasion which comes in. contact with the glandered matter, that the infection is communicated. The utmost caution should, therefore, be exercised by the attendants; and it is most unpardonable to keep glan- dered horses any length of time for the sake of their work; and we are scarcely justified in tampering long with them under the idea of effecting a cure, when the cases are decidedly glandered. FaRCY. lla same character as the glanderous ones on the membrane of the nose. They are rounded, with an elevated edge and a pale surface. They are true chancres, and they discharge a virus as infectious and as dangerous as the matter of glanders. While they remain in their hard prominent state, they are called buttons or farcy buds ; and they are connected together by the inflamed and corded veins. In some cases the horse will droop for many a day before the appearance of the corded veins or buds—his appetite will be impaired—his coat will stare—he will lose flesh. The poison is evidently at work, but has not gained sufficient power to cause the absorbents to enlarge. In a few cases these buds do not ulcerate, but become hard and difficult to disperse. The pro- gress of the disease is then suspended, and possibly for some months the horse will appear to be restored to health; but he bears the seeds of the malady about him, and in due time the farcy assumes its virulent form, and hurries him off. These buds have sometimes been confounded with the little tumors or iumps termed surfeit. They are generally higher than these tumors, and not so broad. They have a more knotty character, and are principally found on the inside of the limbs, instead of the outside. The surfeit bumps are pustular and end in des- quamation (scaling off}) not in ulceration, and they do not follow the course of the absorbents, but are scattered irregularly over the skin. 4 Few things are more unlike, or more perplexing, than the different forms which farcy assumes at different times. One of the legs, and particularly one of the hinder legs, will suddenly swell to an enormous size. At night the horse will appear to be perfectly well, and in the morning one leg will be three times the size of the other, with considerable fever, and scarcely the power of moving the limb. At other times the head will be subject to this enlargement, the muzzle particularly will swell, and an offensive discharge will proceed from the nose. Sometimes the horse will gradually lose flesh and strength ; he will be hide-bound ; many eruptions will appear in different parts; the legs will’ swell; cracks will be seen at the heels, and an inexperienced person may conceive it to be a mere want of condition, combined with grease. By degrees the affection becomes general. The virus has teached the termination of the absorbents, and mingles with the general circulating fluid, and is conveyed with the blood to every part of the frame. There are no longer any valves to impede its progress, and consequently no knots or duds, but the myriads of capillary absorbents that penetrate every part be come inflamed. and thickened, and enlarged, and cease to dis 416 FARvY. charge their function. Hence arises enlargement of the sub- stance of various parts, swellings of the legs, and chest, and head—sudden, painful, enormous, and distinguished by a heat and tenderness, which do not accompany other enlargements. Farcy cannot probably exist without previous glanders, and if is certam that it cannot long and extensively prevail without being accompanied by it. They are, in fact, stages of the same disease. Farcy has been confounded with other diseases; but he must be careless or ignorant who mistook sprain for it. The inflam- mation is too circumscribed and too plainly connected with the joint or tendon. . It may be readily distinguished from grease or swelled legs. In grease there is usually some crack or scurfiness, a peculiar tenseness and redness and glossiness of the skin, some ichorous discharge, and a singular spasmodic catching up of the leg. In farcy the engorgement is even more sudden than that of grease. The horse is well to-day, and to-morrow he is gorged from the fet-lock to the haunch, and although there is not the same redness or glossiness, there is great tenderness, a burning heat in the limb, and much general fever. It is simultaneous inflammation of all the absorbents of the limb. Local dropsy of the cellular membrane, and particularly that enlargement beneath the thorax which has the strange appella- tion of water-farcy, have none of the characters of real farcy. It is general debility to a greater or less degree, and not in- flammation of the absorbents. Farcy, like glanders, springs from infection and from bad stable management. It is produced by all the causes which give rise to glanders, with this difference, that it is more fre- quently generated, and sometimes strangely prevalent in particu- lar districts. The matter of farcy must come in contact with a ‘wound or sore, in order to communicate the disease. The treatment of farcy differs with the form that it assumes. As a general rule, and especially when the buttons or buds are beginning to appear, a mild dose of physic should first be ad- ministered. The buds should then be carefully examined, and if any of them have broken, the budding-iron, at a dull red heat, should be applied. If pus should be felt in them, showing that they are disposed to break, they should be penetrated with the iron. These wounds should be daily inspected, and if, when the slough of the cautery comes off, they look pale, and foul, and spongy, and discharge a thin matter, they should be frequently washed with a strong lotion of corrosive sublimate, dissolved in rectified spirit. When the wounds begin to look red, and the bottom of them is even and firm, and they discharge a thick white or yel- THE LIPS. 117 low matter, the Friar’s balsam will usually dispose them to heal. As, however, the constitution is now tainted, local applications will not be sufficient, and the disease must be attacked by inter- nal medicine, as soon as the physic has ceased to operate. The most effectual constitutional remedy is the diniodide or _copper. Itis a stimulant of the absorbent vessels, and a tonic. The gentian root is usually combined with it. Cantharides, in small quantities, may be advantageously added. An indication of its influence is a soreness of the diseased parts, arising from the absorbent vessels being roused into increased action: the agent should then be for a time withheld. The animal should be generously fed, have green food, if pos- sible, and a free circulation of air.* THE LIPS. The dips of the horse are far more important organs than many suppose. They are the hands of the animal, and without them he could not convey his food to his mouth. The lips are composed of a muscular substance for the sake of strength, and a multitude of small glands, which secrete a fluid that covers the inside of the lips and the gums, in order ‘to prevent friction, and likewise furnish a portion of the moisture so necessary for the proper chewing of the food. The lips of the-horse should be thin and well kept together ; and the depth of the mouth should be considerable. The cor- * Note by Mr. Spooner—tThe cure of farcy materially depends on the ex- tent to which the constitution is affected by the disease. If it. be confinea to a single extremity, particularly one of the hind ones, or if the superficial absorbents are alone affected, there is then a very reasonable prospect of establishing a cure. ‘The application of the caustic, as advised in the text, is very proper; but we may also materially assist the case by rubbing into any swollen part, or along the course of the absorbents, an ointment consisting of : Toding' 02. 4 ge a ee aw SI ARG: ocr ay 0 ae fat ae ae By SEL, Mercurial ointment . . . 31 to be incorporated together. Advantage will also be felt by the internal exhibition of five to ten grains daily of hydriodate of potash in combination with a mineral tonic, such as sulphate of iron, three drachms, and gentian, two drachms, The ointment as well as the ball must be continued for some time. We have succeeded in many cases by this mode of treatment, though it must. be acknowledged that there is no disease, to which the horse is liable, so deceptive as this. When the external symptoms are most favorable, the ulcers healed, and the swelling reduced. the disease will sometimes break out again, and prove rapidly fatal 118 THE MOUTH—-PALATE. ners or angles of the lips are sometimes wounded by the tight- ness of the bearing-rein, or by sharp or badly formed bits. If inflammation or ulcers in the mouth follow contusions inflicted by the bit, a little cooling medicine may be administered ; and to the ulcers themselves, tincture of myrrh, diluted with water, or alum dissolved in water, may be applied with advantage. THE BONES OF THE MOUTH. The bones, in and giving form to the mouth, are the superior maxillary or upper jaw (8, Fig. 1, and /, Fig. 2,) containing the grinders : the anterior maxillary, or lower part of the upper jaw, (4, Fig. 1, 2, Fig. 2, 7, Fig. 3,) containing the upper-nippers or cutting-teeth ; the palatine bone (below 8, Fig. 3,) and the pos- terior maxillary or under jaw (a, Fig. 1, and w, Fig. 3,) con- taining all the undeyr-teeth. The size of these, their connection with the other bones of the head, and their muscular attachments, will be sufficiently learned from a careful inspection of the cuts, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 12. THE PALATE, y Adhering to a portion of the three bones just described, and constituting the lining of the roof of the mouth, is the palate (¢, Fig. 3,) composed of an elastic and dense substance, divided into several ridges called dars. The following cut gives a view of them. a The palate, divided into ridges or bars. 6 A strip dissected up to show the vessels and nerve beneath. c The palatine artery. f d The palatine vein. » ¢ The palatine nerve, between the artery and the vein. f The cheek divided, showing the direction of the muscular ~fibres. g The grinders. h The nippers. 2 The tushes. LAMPAS. a 119 It will also point oui the bleeding place, if it should occasion- ally be deemed advisable to abstract blood from the mouth; or, if the horse should be attacked with megrims on a journey, and the driver, having no lancet, should be compelled to make use of his knife, the incision should be made between the central and second nippers on either side, about an inch within the mouth, and cutting through the second bar. A stream of blood will be thus obtained, which will usually cease to flow when two or three quarts have escaped, or may generally be arrested by the application of a sponge filled with cold water. Should the cut be made a little too much on one side, and about the middle of the second incisor tooth, the artery may be wounded longitudinally, but not divided, and there may be very great difficulty in stopping the blood. We recollect a horse which almost bled to death from the artery being thus wounded. If, however, a large and firm pledget of lint or tow be rolled round a piece of twine, and that tied firmly round the front teeth, the pressure on the part will effect the desired purpose ; or, should this in a very few cases fail, a gag may be easily con- trived to press upon the pledget, and the bleeding will imme- diately cease. This, however, is a make-shift sort of bleeding, that may be allowable on a journey, and possibly in some cases of lampas, but which is decidedly objectionable as the usual mode of ab- stracting blood. The quantity withdrawn cannot be measured, the degree of inflammation cannot be ascertained by the manner in which it coagulates, and there may be difficulty to the operator, and annoyance and. pain to the horse, in stopping the bleeding. LAMPAS. The bars occasionally swell, and rise to a level with, and even beyond the edge of, the teeth. They are very sore, and the -horse feeds badly on account of the pain he suffers from the pres- sure of the food on them. This is called the Lampas. It may arise from inflammation of the gums, propagated to the bars, when the horse is shedding his teeth—and young horses are more subject to it than others—or from some slight febrile tendency in the constitution generally, as when a young horse has lately been taken up from grass, and has been over-fed, or not sufficiently exercised. At times, it appears in aged horses; for the process of growth in the teeth of the horse is continued during the whole life of the animal. . ‘ In the majority of cases, the swelling will soon subside without inedical treatment; or a few mashes, and gentle alteratives, will 120 THE LOWER JAW. relieve the animal. A few slight incisions across the bars with a lancet, or pen-knife, will remove the inflammation, and cause the swelling to subside ; indeed, this scarification of the bars in lampas will seldom do harm, although it is far from being so necessary asis supposed. The brutal custom of the farrier, who sears and burns down the bars with a red-hot iron, is most objec- tionable. It is torturing the horse to no purpose, and rendering that part callous, on the delicate sensibility of which all the pleasure and safety of riding and driving depend. It may be prudent, in case of lampas, to examine the grinders, and more particularly the tushes, in order to ascertain whether either of them is making its way through the gum. If it is so, two inci- sions across each other should be made on the tooth, and the horse will experience immediate relief.* THE LOWER JAW. The posterior or lower jaw may be considered as forming the floor of the mouth (a, Fig. 1, or w, Fig. 3). The body, or lower part of it, contains the under cutting teeth and the tushes, and at the sides are two flat pieces of bone containing the grinders. {See the preceding cuts of the anatomy and tissues of the head]. The joint which connects the lower to the upper jaw, unlike that in carnivorous animals, is so constructed, that it not only admits of the simple motion of a hinge, but of a lateral or grinding motion, necessary to break down vegetable fibre, and fit it for the stomach. * Note by Mr. Spooner.—lIt is almost impossible that the swelling of the bars of the mouth, denominated lampas, can interfere with the process of mastication, when the horse is in the stable and feeding on grain, for we well know that the food is ground as in a mill, by the molar teeth. It often happens, however, that connected with this lampas, there is an inability to masticate properly ; the horse quids his food, as it is called, that is, throws it out of his mouth in rolls covered with saliva. On the same principle as “Tenterden steeple being the cause of Goodwin sands,” the lampas has been regarded as the cause of this imperfect mastication. If we look farther, however, we shall almost invariably find that the gums are swelled gene- rally, and particularly the membranous tissues covering the lower jaw-bone, between the molar and incisor teeth ; so much so, that when the horse at- tempts to masticate, this membrane gets between the molar teeth and causes pain, and interrupts the process of mastication. This state of the ele is often overlooked, and the horse becomes weak and thin from not aving sufficient nutriment. This disease, if it can be called so, is com- monly termed the Bags, or Washes, and is relieved by cutting off a portion of the membrane by means of a pair of scissors ; the bleeding relieves the inflammation, and the cicatrization of the wound causes the membrane to contract, so as to be put out of the way of further injury from the teeth. The horse should have mashes for some days after the operation, and care taust be taken that the bit does not injure the denuded part, PROCESS OF TEETHING. 12) The space beneath between the jaw-bones, called the channel, 1s of considerable consequence. It may be a little too wide, and then the face will have a clumsy appearance: but if it is too narrow, the horse will never be able to bend his head freely and gracefully ; he will be always pulling or boring upon the hand, nor can he possibly be well reined in. The jaws contain the teeth, which are the millstones employed in comminuting the food. The mouth of the horse at five yearg old contains forty teeth, viz. : six nippers or cutting-teeth in front, - a tush on each side, and six molars, or grinding-teeth, above and below. The gums are singularly compact, that it may not be wounded by the hard or sharp particles of the food, and almost devoid of feeling, for the same purpose. _ : Seven or eight months before the foal is born, the germs o1 beginnings of the teeth are visible in the cavities of the jaws. At the time of birth, the first and second Fie. 14 grinders have appeared, large compared with a the size of the jaw, and seemingly filling it, In the course of seven or eight days the two central nippers are seen as in Fig. 14. They likewise appear to be large, and to fill the front of the mouth; although they will af- terwards be found to be small, compared with the permanent teeth that follow. In the course of the first month the third grinder appears above and below, and, not long after, and gen- erally before six weeks have expired, another incisor above and below will be seen on each side of the two first, which have now considerably grown, but not attained their perfect height. The second cut will represent the appearance of the mouth at that time. At two months, the central nippers will have reached their natural level, and between the second and ‘Fig. 15. third month the second pair will have overtaken them. They will then begin to wear away a little, and the outer edge, which was at first somewhat raised and sharp, is brought to a level with the inner one, and so the mouth continues until f some time between the sixth and ninth month, when another nipper begins to ap- pear on each side of the two first, making six above and below, and completing the colt’s mouth; after which, the only ob- servable difference, until between the sec- ond and third year, is in the wear of these teeth. See Fig. 15. F be SS < “QG 122 PROCESS OF TEETHING. The teeth are covered with a polished and exceedingly hard substance, called the enamel. It spreads over that portion of the teeth which appears above the gum, and not only so, but as they are to be so much employed in nipping the grass, and gath- ering up the animal’s food, and in such employment even this hard substance must be gradually worn away, a portion of it, as it passes over the upper surface of the teeth, is bent inward, and sunk into the body of the teeth, and formis a little pit in them. ‘The inside and bottom of this pit being blackened by the food, constitutes the mark of the teeth, by the gradual dis- appearance of which, in consequence of the wearing down of the edge, we are enabled, for several years, to judge of the age of the animal, The colt’s nipping-teeth are rounded in front, somewhat hol- low towards the mouth, and present at first a cutting surface, with the outer edge rising in a slanting direction above the inner edge. This, however, soon begins to wear down until both sur- faces are level, and the mark, which was originally long and narrow, becomes shorter, and wide1, and fainter. At six months the four nippers are beginning to wear to a level. The annexed cut will convey some idea of the appearance of the teeth at twelve months. The four middle teeth are almost level, and the. corner ones becoming so. The mark in the two middle teeth is wide and faint ; in the two next teeth it is darker, and longer, and nar- rower; and in the corner teeth it is darkest, and longest, and narrowest. The back teeth, or grinders, will not guide us far in ascertaining the age of the animal, for we cannot ea- sily inspect them ; but there are some interesting particulars connected with them. The foal is born with two grinders in each jaw, above and be- low; or they appear within three o1 four days after the birth. Before tho expiration of a month they are suc: ceeded by a third, more backward. The crowns of the grinders are entirely covered with enamel on the top and sides, but attrition soon wears it away from the tcp, and there remains a compound surface of alternate layers of crusted petraser, enamel, and ivory, which are employed in grinding down the hardest portion of the food. Nature haa, therefore, made an additional provision for their strength and endurance. PROCESS OF TEETHING. 123 Fig. 17 represents a grinder sawed across. The five dark spots represent bony matter; the parts , covered with lines, enamel; and the Fig. 17. white spaces, a strong bony cement, uniting the other portions of the teeth. At the completion of the first year, a fourth grinder usually comes up, and the yearling has then, or soon after- wards, six nippers, and four grinders above and below in each jaw, which, with the alteration in the appearance of the nippers that we have just described, will enable us to cal- culate nearly the age of the foal, suject to some variations aris- ing from the period of weaning, and the nature of the food. _ At the age of one year and a-half, the mark in the central nippers will be much shorter and fainter ; that in the two other pairs will have undergone an evident vhange, and all the nippers will be flat. At two years this will be more manifest. The accompanying cut (Fig 18,) deserves attention, as giv- ing an accurate represention of the nippers in the lower jaw of a two- years-old colt. About this period a fifth grinder will appear, and now, likewise, will sommence another process. The first teeth are adapted to the size and wants of the young animal They are sufficiently large to occupy and fill the colt’s jaws ; Lut when these bones have expanded with the increasing growth of the animal, the teeth ure separated too far from each other to be useful, and another and larger set is required. The second teeth then begin to push up from below, and the fangs of the first are absorbed, until the former approach the surface of the gum, when they drop out. Where the temporary teeth do not rise immediately under the milk-teeth, but by their sides, the latter being pressed sideway, are absorbed throughout their whole length. They grow narrow, are pushed out of place, and cause inconvenience to the gums, and sometimes the cheek. They are then called wolf’s-teeth, and they should be extracted.* The teeth which first appeared are first renewed, and there- * Note by Mr. Spooner——Although irregularities of the teeth sometimes occur, as mentioned in the text, yet the wolves’ teeth are generally two very small supplementary teeth appearing in font of the molar teeth ; and, 124 PROCESS OF TEETHING. fore the front or first grinder is changed at the age of twu years. During the period between the falling out of the central milk nippers, and the coming up of the permanent ones, the colt, having a broken mouth, may find some difficulty in grazing. If he should fall away considerably in condition, he should be fed with mashes and com, or cut feed. The next cut (Fig. 19,) will represent a three-year-old mouth. The central teeth are larger than the others, with two grooves in the outer convex surface, and the mark is long, narrow, deep and black. Not having yet attained their full growth, they are rather lower than the others. The mark in the two next nip- pers is nearly worn out, and it is wearing away in the corner nippers. Is it possible to give this mouth to an early two-years- old? The ages of all horses used to be reckoned from May, but some are foaled even so early as January, and being actually four months over the two years, if they have been well nursed and fed, and are strong and large, they may, with the inexperi- enced, have an additional year put upon them. The central Fig. 19. nippers are punched or drawn out, and the others appear three or four mouths earlier than they otherwise would. In the natu- ral process, they could only rise by long pressing upon, and caus- } ing the absorption of, the first set. But opposition from the first set being removed, it is easy to imagine that their pro- gress will be more rapid. Three or four months will be gained in the appearance of the teeth, and these three or four months may enable the breeder to term hum a late colt of a preceding year. To him, however, who is accustomed to horses, the general form of the animal—the little development of the fore-hand—the continuance of the fark on the next pair of nippers—its more evident existence in the cor- ner ones, some enlargement or irregularity about the gums from the violence used in forcing out the teeth—the small growth of the first and fifth grinders and the non-appearance of the sixth though supposed to have an injurious effect on the eyes, we have rarely, if ever, found that they produce any injurious effect, either on the eyes or the mouth, and, consequently, it is useless to interfere with them. When, how- ever, the teeth grow irregularly, the permanent ones appearing by the side of the temporary, the latter should be removed. PROCESS OF TEETHING. 125 grinder, which if it is not through the gum at three years old, is swelling under it, and preparing to get through—any or all of these circumstances, carefully attended to, will be a sufficient security against deception. A horse at three years old ought to have the central perma- nent nippers growing—the other two pairs wasting—six grind- ers in each jaw, above and below—the first and fifth level with the others, and the sixth protruding. The sharp edge of the new incisors, although it -ould not be well expressed in the cut, will be very evident when compared with the neighboring teeth. As the permanent nippers wear, and continue to grow, a nar- rower portion of the cone-shaped tooth is exposed to the attrition, and they look as if they had been compressed, but it is not so. The mark, of course, gradually disappears as the pit is worn away. At three years and a half; or between that and four, the next pair of nippers will be changed, and the mouth at that time cannot be mistaken. The central nippers will have attained nearly their full growth. A vacuity will be left where the second stood, or they will begin to peep above the gum, and the corner ones will be diminished in breadth, worn down, and the mark becoming small and Fig. 20 faint. At this period, like- reat wise, the second pair of grind- ers will be shed, Previously to this may be the attempt of the dealer to give to his three- year-old an additional year, but the fraud will be detected by an examination similar to that which has been already described. _ At four years, the central nippers will be fully devel- oped; the sharp edge some- what worn off, and the mark - shorter, wider, and fainter. The next pair will be up, but they will be small, with the mark deep, and extending quite across them. The corner nippers will be larger than the inside ones, yet smaller than they were, and flat, and the mark nearly effaced. The sixth grinder will have risen to a level with the others, and the tushes will begin to appear. . Now, more than at any other time, will the dealer be anxious to put an additional year upon the animal, for the differenve between a four-years-old colt, and a five-years-old horse, in strength, utility, and value, is very great; but, the want of 126 PROCESS OF TEETHING wear in the other nippers—the small size of the corner ones— the little growth of the tush—the smallness of the second grinder —the low fore-hand—the legginess of the colt, and the thick- ness and little depth of the mouth, will, to the man of common experience among horses, at once detect the cheat. The tushes (see Fig. 13,) are four in number, two in each jaw, situated between the nippers and the grinders—much nearer to the former than the latter, and nearer in the lower jaw than in the upper, but this distance increasing in both jaws with the age. It is conical, protrudes about an inch from the gum, and is sharp pointed and curved. Mares have the rudiments of them, and they usually appear externally in old age. The appearance of the tush in the horse may vary from four years to four years and six months. It can only be accelerated a few weeks by cutting the gum over it. At four years and a half, or between that and five, the last im- portant change takes place in the mouth of the horse. The cor- ner nippers are shed, and the permanent ones begin to appear The central nippers are considerably worn, and the next pair aro commencing to show marks of usage. The tush has now pro- truded, and is generally a full half-inch in height; externally it has a rounded prominence, with a groove on either side, and it is evidently hollowed within. The reader needs not to be told that after the rising of the corner nipper, the animal changes its name—the colt becomes a horse, and the filly a mare. At five years the horse’s mouth is almost perfect, (see Fig. 21.) Fig. 21. The corner nippers are quite up, with the long deep mark irree- ular on the inside; and the other nippers bearing evident @ tokens of increasing wearing. @) The tush is much grown—the yy grooves have almost or quite “| disappeared, and the outer sur- } face is regularly convex. It is still as concave within, and with the edge nearly as sharp as it was six months before. The sixth molar is quite up, and the third molar is wanting. This last circumstance, if the general appearance of the animal, and particularly his forehead and the wearing of the centre nippers, and the growth and shape of the tushes, are likewise carefully attended to, will prevent deception if a late four-years-old is attempted to be substituted for a five The nippers may be brouwar nm a. tev wimm te Bates ean ae PROCESS OF TEETHING 127 and the tushes a few weeks, but the grinder is with difficulty displaced. The three last grinders and the tushes are never shed. At six years, (see Fig. 22,) the mark on the central nip- pers is worn out, There will still be a difference of color in the centre of the tooth. The cement filling up the f hole, made by the dipping in | of the enamel, will present a browner hue than the other part of the tooth, and it will be evidently surrounded by an edge of enamel, and there will even remain a little de- pression in the centre, and also a depression round the case of enamel: but the deep hole in the centre of the teeth, with the blackened surface which it presents, and the elevated edge of enamel, will have disappeared. Persons not much accus- tomed to horses have been puzzled here. They expected to find a plain surface of a uniform color, and knew not what conclu- sion to draw when there was both discoloration and irreg- ularity. 2 In the next incisors the mark is shorter, broader and fainter ; and in the corner teeth the edges of the enamel are more regular, and the surface is evidently worn. The tush has attained its full growth, being nearly or quite an inch in length ; convex outward, concave within; tending to a point, and the extremity some- what curved. The third grinder is fairly up; and all the grind- ers are level. The horse may now be said to have a perfect mouth. All the teeth are produced, fully grown, and have hitherto sustained no material injury. During these important changes of the teeth, the animal has suffered less than could be supposed possible. In children, the period of teething is fraught with danger. Dogs are subject to convulsions, and hundreds of them die, from the irritation caused by the cutting or shedding of their teeth; but ‘the horse appears to feel little inconvenience. The gums and palate are occasionally somewhat hot and swollen; but the slightest scarification will remove this. The teeth of the horse are more necessary to him than those of the other animals are to them. The child may be fed, and the dog wili bolt his food ; but that of the horse must be well ground down, or the nutri- ment cannot be extracted from it. 128 PROCESS OF TEETHING. At seven years, (see Fig. 23,) the mark, in the way in which ‘we have described it, is worn out in the four central nip- pers, and fast wearing away in the corner teeth; the tush also is beginning to be altered. It is rounded at the point; \ rounded at the edges; still } round without; and begin- “7 ning to get round inside. ; At eight years old, the tush £=*\ is rounder in every way; the mark is gone from all the bottom nippers, and it may almost be said to be out of the mouth. There is nothing remaining in the bottom nippers that can afterwards clearly show the age of the horse, or justify the most experienced ex- aminer in giving a positive opinion. Dishonest dealers have been said to resort to a method of pro- longing the mark in the lower nippers. It is called dishoping, from the name of the scoundrel who invented it. The horse of eight or nine years old, (see Fig. 24,) is thrown, and with an engraver’s tool a hole is dug in the now almost plain surface Fig, 24. of the corner teeth, and in shape and depth resembling the mark ina seven-years-old horse. The hole is then burned with a heated iron, \\ and a permanent black stain ‘is left. The next pair of EW | nippers are sometimes light- ly touched. An ignorant man would be very easily . imposed on by this trick : but Z the irregular appearance of the cavity—the diffusion of the black stain around the tushes, the sharpened edges and concave inner surface of which can never be given again— the marks on the uppur nippers, together with the general con- formation of the horse, can never deceive the careful examiner Horsemen, after the animal is eight years old, are accustomed to look to the nippers .u the upper jaw, and some conclusion has been drawn from the a »pearances which they present. It cannot 7 PROCESS OF TEETHING. 149 be doubted tnat the mark remains in them for some years after it has been obliterated from the nippers in the lower jaw. There are various opinions as to the intervals between the dis- appearance of the marks from the different cutting-teeth in the upper jaw. Some have averaged it at two years, and others at one. The author is inclined to adopt the latter opinion, and then the age will be thus determined. at nine years, the mark wil) be worn out from the middle nippers—from the next pair at ten, and from all the upper nippers at eleven. During these periods, the tush is likewise undergoing a manifest change—it is blunter, shorter, and rounder In what degree this takes place in the different periods, iong and most favorable opportunities for obser- vation can alone enable the horseman to decide. The alteration in the form of the tushes is frequently uncertain. It will sometimes be blunt at eight, and at others, remain pointed at eighteen. After eleven, and until the horse is very old, the age may be guessed at, with some degree of confidence, from the shape of the upper surface or extremity of the nippers. At eight, they are all oval, the length of the oval running across from tooth to toooth ; but as the horse gets older, the teeth diminish in size—and this commencing in their width, and not in their thickness. They become a little apart from each other, and their surfaces become round instead of oval. At nine, the centre nippers are evidently so; at ten, the others begin:to have the oval shortened. At eleven, the second pair of nippers are quite rounded; and at thirteen, the corner ones have that appearance. At fourteen, the faces of the central nippers become somewhat triangular. At seventeen, they are all so. At nineteen, the angles begin to wear off, and the central teeth are again oval, but in a reversed direc- tion, viz., from outward, inward; and at twenty-one, they all’ wear this form. It would of course be folly to expect anything like certainty in an opinion of the exact age of an old horse, drawn from the above indications. Stabled horses have the marks sooner worn out than those that are at grass, and crib-biters still sooner. At nine or ten, the bars of the mouth become less prominent, and their reg- ular diminution will designate increasing age. At eleven or twelve, the lower nippers change their original upright direction, and project forward or horizontally, and become of a yellow color. The genera] indications of old age, independent of the teeth, are deepening of the hollows over the eyes; gray hairs, and par- ticularly over the eyes and about the muzzle ; thinness and hang- ing down of the lips; sharpness of the withers; sinking of the vack; lengthening of the quarters; and the disappearance of windgalls, spavins, and tumors of every kind. 130 DISEASES OF THE TEETH. Horses, kindly and not prematurely used, sometimes live to be- tween thirty-five and forty years of age; and Mr. Percivall gives an account of a barge horse that died in his sixty-second year.* DISEASES OF THE TEETH. Of the diseases of the teeth in the horse, we know little. Ca- rious or hollow teeth are occasionally, but not often, seen; but the edges of the grinders, from the wearing off of the enamel, or * Note by Mr. Spooner—We have little to add. There are exceptions, however, to the above rules) We have known a horse at twelve exhibit the same appearance as another at six. In such instances, the age must be judged by the length and shape of the teeth, and more particularly by the shape of the faces of the teeth. A careful examination leads me to believe that the observation in the text, that the teeth are developed much earlier in young animals that are corn- fed and taken early into the stable, and that in thorough-bred horses, conse- quently, the changes of the teeth are earlier than in animals that remain more in a state of nature, is erroneous. I think them, of the two, rather more backward. Many successful attempts have doubtless been made to run four year old horses for three year olds, as in the celebrated-case of Running Rein, which obtained such notoriety. An incisor tooth, when it is first shed, and for some time afterwards, is higher on the outer or front edge, than the inner or back edge. After some time, this outer edge is worr down to the same level as the inner, and subsequently both edges wear equally, till the bottom of the hole which forms the mark is reached, when, of course, the mark disappears. It takes about three years to effect this process, that is, from the time the tooth is cut to the disappearance of the mark. Ina four-year old mouth, there are four permanent lower incisors, and two corner temporary teeth. The outer and inner edge of the central teeth are tolerably level, and the mark smaller than the middle teeth next them, which present the appearance of younger teeth. Now, in a three-year old mouth the central teeth have a younger appearance, the mark being larger, and the outer edge higher, than the inner, whilst the middle teeth are either in the act of being cut, or the temporary teeth have not yet dis- appeared. By careful examination, therefore, the difference between a three and four year old horse can be readily detected. The permanent teeth differ from the temporary, being larger, less white, and having more depth above the gums. After the marks have disappeared, the age of the horse may be judged partly by the shape of the faces of the teeth, and partly by the horizontal position in which the teeth proceed from the jaw. If we take a young in- cisor tooth and saw it off below the bottom of the hole which forms the mark, and again at a similar distance lower down, we shall find that the several surfaces made by the sections resemble the shape of the face of the tooth in a horse in which a similar quantity of the tooth has been naturally worn down, The comparison also holds good with regard to the direction in which the teeth proceed from the lower jaw, being in the young animal up- right or curved, and in the old one nearly horizontal. Although the teeth grow to supply the loss of that which wears away, yet the origihal shape remains, so that the face of an incisor tooth at different periods is owing to that particular part which, in”. . : sai! THE TONGUE. 131 the irregular growth of the teeth, become rough, and wound the inside of the cheek ; it is then necessary to adopt a summary, but effectual method of cure; namely, to rasp them smooth. Many bad ulcers have been produced in the mouth by neglect of this. The teeth sometimes grow irregularly in length—particularly the grinders—from not meeting the proper opposition of the cor- responding tooth in the other jaw. These sometimes penetrate the bars, causing ulceration ; and at others, interfere partially or entirely with the grinding motion of the jaw. The teeth should be reduced to the level of the others with a saw, and occasionally looked to, because the difficulty will return. Horses often pine away from this unsuspected cause. Every horse that grows thin without apparent cause, especially if he guzds, (partly chews and then drops his feed) should be looked to in this particular. Very wregular teeth lessen the value of a horse, and to all intents and purposes constitute unsoundness. Decayed teeth should be removed to prevent injury to. the other teeth and to the jaw. The hammer and punch should never be resorted to in this operation, but a keyed instrument, like that of the human subject, only on a larger scale.* Fever, cough, catarrhal affections generally, disease of the eyes, cutaneous affections, diarrhea, dysentery, loss of appetite, and general derangement, will frequently be traced by the careful observer to irritation from teething, in the colt. It is a rule scarcely admitting of the slightest deviation, that, when young horses are laboring under any febrile affection, the mouth should be examined, and if the tushes are prominent and pushing against the gums, a crucial (in the form of a cross) inci- sion should be made across them. Relief will often be immediate. THE TONGUE. The tongue is the organ of taste. It is also employed in dis- posing the food for being ground between the teeth, and after- wards collecting it together, and conveying it to the back part of the mouth, in order to be swallowed. It is likewise the main instrument in swallowing, and the canal through which the water passes in the act of drinking. Its form, attachments. &c., are too well known to require description. * The keyed instrument is now banished from human practice, and the substitutes for it might probably be advantageously introduced into veteri- nary practice.—American Editor. 132 pISEASES OF THE TONGUE—THE SALIVARY GLANDS. DISEASES OF THE TONGUE. The tongue is frequently lacerated by carelessness in adminis tering medicine, by the bit, and sometimes by being bitten by the animal itself. A little diluted tincture of myrrh, or alum dis- solved in water, or, if the wound is not serious, unassisted nature, will heal the parts. Purple-colored vesicles or bladders will sometimes appear along the under side of the tongue, and increase to considerable size ; the tongue will be enlarged so that it becomes difficult to swallow ; and a great quantity of ropy saliva will drivel from the mouth. Lance the vesicles freely and deeply from end to end and they will soon disappear, and any little fever that remains may be subdued by cooling medicine. THE SALIVARY GLANDS. Jn order that the food may ge properly comminuted preparatory to digestion, it is necessary that it should be previously moistened. Nature has made a provision for this. She has placed in the neighborhood of the mouth various glands to secrete, and that plentifully, a limpid fluid, somewhat saline to the taste. This fluid is conveyed from the glands into the mouth, by various ducts, in the act of chewing, and, being mixed with the food, renders it more easily ground, more easily passed afterwards into the stomach, and better fitted for digestion. The principal of these is the parotid gland (see Fig. 12). The quantity of fluid poured into the mouth, in the act of mastication, from each uf these glands, amounts to a pint in half an hour. The parotid gland sympathizes with every inflammatory affec- tion of the upper part of the throat, and therefore it is found swollen, hot, and tender, in almost every catarrh or cold. The eatarrh is to be treated in the usual way; while a stimulating application, almost amounting to a blister, well rubbed over the gland, will best subdue the inflammation of that body. In bad strangles, and, sometimes, in violent cold, this gland will be much enlarged and ulcerated, or an obstruction will take place in some part of the duct, and the accumulating fluid will burst the vessel, and a fistulous ulcer will be formed that will be very difficult to heal. A veterinary surgeon alone will be com- petent to the treatment of either case; and the principle by which he will be guided, will be to heal the abscess in the gland as speedily as he can, and, probably, by the application of the heated iron: or, if the ulcer is in the duct, either to restore the passage through the duct, or to form a new one, or to cut off the flow of the saliva by the destruction of the gland. STRANGLES. 133 A second source of the saliva is from the sudmazillary glands, or the glands under the jaw. One of them is represented at s, Fig. 12. When the horse has catarrh or cold, these glands, like the parotid gland, enlarge. This is often to be observed after strangles, and several distinct kernels are to be felt under the jaw. The farriers call them vives, and often adopt cruel and absurd methods to disperse them,—as burning them with a lighted can- dle, or hot iron, or even cutting them out. They will, in the majority of instances, gradually disperse in proportion as the dis- ease which produced them subsides; or they will yield to slightly stimulating embrocations ; or, if they are obstinate in their con- tinuance, they are of no further consequence, than as indicating that the horse has labored under severe cold or strangles. During catarrh, the little protuberances marking the mouths of these ducts on either side of the bridle of the tongue, are apt to enlarge, and the mouth under the tongue is a little red, and hot, and tender. The farriers call these swellings BaRBs or PaPs ; and as soon as they discover them, mistaking the effect of disease for the cause of it, they set to work to cut them close off. The bleeding that follows this operation somewhat abates the local inflammation, and affords temporary relief; but the wounds will not speedily heal, and even when healed are apt to break out again for months or years afterwards. These paps disappear with the cold that caused them, and should not be meddled with. The sublingual glands, resembling little folds m the integu- ment on the lower side of the tongue, or on the bottom of the mouth, sometimes enlarge during catarrh, and are called gigs, bladders, or flaps in the mouth. Let them alone; and should any ulceration remain after that abatement of the swelling, use tincture of myrrh, or a solution of alum. STRANGLES.* This is a disease principally incident to young horses—usually appearing between the fourth and fifth year, and oftener in the spring than in any other part of the year. It is preceded by cough, and can at first be scarcely distinguished from common cough, except that there is more discharge from the nostril, of a yellowish color, mixed with pus, and generally without smell There is likewise a considerable discharge of ropy fluid from the mouth, and greater swelling than usual under the throat. This swelling increases with uncertain rapidity, accompanied by some fever, and disinclination to eat, partly arising from the fever, but more from the pain which the animal feels in the act of masti * Usually termed “ Horse distemper,” in the United States. 134 STRANGLES cation. There is considerable thirst, but after a gulp or two the horse ceases to drink, yet is evidently desirous of contin 1ing his draught. In the attempt to swallow, and sometimes when not drinking, a convulsive cough comes on, which almost threat- ens to suffocate the animal—and thence, probably, the name of the disease. The tumor is under the jaw, and about the centre of the channel. It soon fills the whole of the space, and is evidently one uniform body, and may thus be distinguished from glanders, or the enlarged glands of catarrh. In a few days it becomes more prominent and soft, and evidently contains a fluid. This tapidly ‘increases ; the tumor bursts, and a great quantity of pus is discharged. As soon as the tumor has broken, the cough subsides, and the horse speedily mends, although some degree of weakness may hang about him for a considerable time. Few horses, possibly none, escape its attack; but, the disease having passed over, the animal is free from it for the remainder of his life. Catarrh may precede, or may predispose to, the attack, and, undoubtedly the state of the atmosphere has much to do with it, for both its prevalence and its severity are connected with certain seasons of the year and changes of the weather. There is no preventive for the disease, nor is there anything contagious about it. . Many strange stories are told with regard to this; but the explanation of the matter is, that when several horses in the same form, or in the same neighbor- hood, have had strangles at the same time, they have been ex- posed to the same powerful but unknown exciting cause. As soon as the tumor under the jaw is decidedly apparent, the part should be actively blistered. From the thickness of skin, poultices, fomentations, &c., are of little avail. The blis- ter will also abate the internal inflammation and soreness of the throat, and thus lessen the cough and wheezing. As soon as the swelling is soft on its summit, and evidently contains matter,-it should be freely and deeply lanced. It isa bad, although frequent practice, to suffer the tumor to burst naturally, for a ragged ulcer is formed, very slow to heal, and difficult of treatment. If the incision is deep and large enough, no second collection of matter will be formed: and that which is already there may be suffered to run out slowly, all pressure , with the fingers being avoided. The part should be kept clean, and a little friar’s balsam daily injected into the wound. The remainder of the treatment will depend on the symp- toms. If there is much fever, and evident affection of the chest, and which should carefully be distinguished from the oppression and choking occasioned by the pressure of the tumor it will be proper to bleed tT th~ mnie THE PHARYNX. 135 bleeding will not only be unnecessary, but injurious. It will delay the suppuration of the tumor, and increase the subsequent debility. A few cooling medicines, as nitre, emetic tartar, and perhaps digitalis, may be given, as the case requires. The appe- tite, or ravher the ability to eat, will return with the opening of the abscess. Bran-mashes, or fresh-cut-grass or tares, should be liberally supplied, which will not only afford sufficient nourish- ment to recruit the strength of the animal, but keep the bowels gently open. If the weakness is not great, no farther medicine will be wanted, excep: a dose of mild physic in order to prevent the swellings or eruptions which sometimes succeed to strangles In eases of debiliy, a small quantity of tonic medicine, as chamomile, gentian, or zimger, may be administered.* THE PHARYNX. Proceeding to the back of the mouth, we find the pHarynx (carrying or conveying the food towards the stomach). It com- mences at the root of the tongue (see 7, 8 and 9, Fig. 3.); is separated from the mouth by the soft palate (7), which -hangs down ‘from the palatine bone at 8, and extends to the epiglottis or covering to the windpipe. In order to understand the diseases of these parts, the anatomy of the neck generally must be considered. * Note by Mr. Spooner—aA blister is, unque: tionably, the best topical application ; but it should be washed off as soon as it rises, by which means it can be repeated in a day or two, and so the action can be kept up, which , will greatly promote the suppurative process. After the abscess is lanced, a linseed poultice will be a very desirable application, and, with regard to injections, they may be omitted without injury. Although the ages from two to five are the usual period for strangles to appear, yet it occasionally attacks old animals; we have, indeed, known it affect a horse sixteen years old, and within the last month an animal eight years old, but such instances are rare. It is a very desirable thing in strangles to get the submaxillary abscess to form and suppurate without much delay; for when it is suppressed, or does not form in this place, there is sometimes danger to be apprehended ; occasionally, abscesses will form internally, and carry off the patient. The symptoms of these untoward cases are an unthrifty coat, occasional shiver ing fits, and a pulse rather accelerated. When the cunt remain hard, and do not suppurate, the disease is fre- quently termed bastard strangles, and may lead to glanders, The use of iodine, applied externally as an ointment, and internally as hydriodate of potass, in Faily doses of five to ten grains combined with tonics, will be founc useful. CHAPTER V. THE ANATOMY AND DISEASES OF THE NECK AND NEINH- BORING PARTS. Tue neck of the horse, and of every animal belonging to the class mammalia, except one species, is composed of seven bones called vertebra, movable or turning upon each other (see Fig. 1). They are connected together by strong ligaments, and form sc many distinct joints, in order to give sufficiently extensive motion to this important part of the body. The atlas has already been described. Its junction with the head is the seat of a very serious and troublesome ulcer, termed POLL-EVIL. From the horse rubf ng and sometimes striking his poll against the lower end of the manger, or hanging back in the stall and bruising the part with the halter—or from the frequent and pain- ful stretching of the ligaments and muscles by unnecessary tight reining, and, occasionally, from a violent blow on the poll, in- flammation ensues, and a swelling appears, hot, tender, and pain- ful. It used to be a disease of frequent occurrence, but it is now, from better treatment of the animal, of comparatively rare oc- currence. It has been stated, that the ligament of the neck passes over the atlas, or first bone, without being attached to it, and the seat of inflammation is between the ligament and the bone beneath ; and being thus deeply situated, it is serious in its nature and dif ficult of treatment. The first thing to be attempted is to abate the inflammation by bleeding, physic, and the application of cold lotions to the part. In a very early period of the case a blister might have considerable effect. Strong purgatives should also be employed. By these means the tumor will sometimes be dispersed. This rystem, however, must not be pursued too far. If the swelling ncreases, and the heat and tenderness Whauies er--s-5 2 7 POLL-EVIL. F 137 w:ll form in the tumor; and then our object should be to hasten its formation by warm fomentations, poultices, or stimulating embrocations. As soon as the matter is formed, which may be known by the softness of the tumor, and before it has time to spread around and eat into the neighboring parts, it should be evacuated. Now comes the whole art of treating poll-evi ; the opening into the tumor must be so contrived that all the matter shall run out, and continue afterwards to run out as quickly as it is formed, and not collect at the bottom of the ulcer, irritating and corroding it. This can be effected by a seton alone. The needle should enter at the top of the tumor, penetrate through its bottom, and be brought out at the side of the neck, a little below the abscess. Without anything more than this, except frequent fomentation with warm water, in order to keep the part clean, and to obviate inflammation, poll-evil in its early stage will frequently be cured. If the ulcer has deepened and spread, and threatens to eat into the ligaments of the joints of the neck, it may be necessary to stimulate its surface, and perhaps paintully so, in order to bring it to a healthy state, and dispose it to fill up. In extreme cases, some highly stimulating application may be employed. All measures, however, will be effectual, unless the pus or matter is, by the use of setons, perfectly evacuated. The application of these setons will require the skill and anatomical knowledge of the veterinary surgeon. In desperate cases, the wound cannot be fairly exposed to the action of the caustic without the division of the ligament of the neck. This may be effected with perfect safety; for although the ligament is carried on to the occipital bone, and some strength is gained by this prolongation of it, the main stress is on the second bone; and the head will continue to be supported. The divided ligament, also, will soon unite again, and its former usefulness will be restored when the wound is healed.* * Note by Mr. Spooner —All cooling applications to the poll-evil are use- less, for when once the swelling which constitutes the disease has appeared we nave never known it dispersed, but: sooner or later it suppurates. It often takes many months before the matter reaches the surface; but the more complete the suppuration is, the easier it is to effect a cure. The in- jury, which generally arises from striking the poll against a low door-way, is deep-seated, and the surface of the bone is often diseased from the Le- ‘inning, = It as be confessed that the poll-evil is very difficult to cure, a difficulty arising not from the character of the injury, but rather from its situation, and the nature of the surrounding parts. When matter forms in any situation it has a tendency to pass downwards, and to seek an exit where the least obstacles are offered to its passage. It consequently forms passages or sinuses (pipes) amongst the muscles, and, when these are filled, the matter points to the surface. This tendency conti.aues after an external rpening is 138 ‘MUSCLES AND FORM OF NECK. THE MUSCLES AND PROPER FORM OF THE NECK. The bones of the neck serve as the frame-work to which nu merous muscles concerned in the motions of the head and neck are attached. The weight of the head and neck is supported by the ligament without muscular aid, and without fatigue to the animal; but in order to raise the head higher, or to lower it, or to turn it in every direction, a complicated system of muscles is necessary. ; .; The splenius muscle (c. Fig. 12) is the principal one concerned in this. It gives its bulk to the neck above, and the beauty of that member depends mainly upon. it. It was admirably devel- oped in the horse of whose neck the annexed cut (Fig. 25) gives an accurate delineation. Fig. 26. 4 / made, and deep sinuses are formed in various directions, rendering it alraos impossible to get a depending opening. The abscess should not be opened till the matter is thoroughly formed, and then a depending opening should be made, through which a seton may be passed. The great error frequently made in the treatment of poll-evil is, that these openings are not made half large enough, so that much of the pus flows in another direction, and there forms sinuses, Now, the chief art in the treatment of this disease is to use the bistoury freely, to lay all the sinuses open as much as possible, and to throw them together ; then to make the lower opening extremely large, and as low down as possible, large enough, indeed, for two fingers to be inserted. If the bone is injured, it will be necessary to apply some caustic application, in order to cause a healthy slough. Pressure is found very useful in keeping the sides of the wound together, and preventing the formation of sinuses. With this view, it has been recommended to apply a tight compress, by means of bandages, round the part, but it is extremely inconvenient to apply them in conseauence of the windpipe interfering. MUSCLES AND FORM OF NECK. 139 Tf the curve were quite regular from the poll to the withers, we should call it a perfect neck. It is rather a long neck, and we do not like it the less for that. In the carriage-horse, a neck that is not half concealed by the collar is indispensable, so far as appearance goes; and it is only the horse with a neck of tolera- ble length that will bear to be reined up, so as to give this part the arched and beautiful appearance which fashion demands. It is no detriment to the riding-horse, and there are few horses of extraordinary speed that have not the neck rather iong. The race-horse at the top of his speed not only extends it as far as he can, that the air-passages may be as straight as he can make them, and that he may therefore be able to breathe more freely, but. the weight of the head and neck, and the effect increasing with their distance from the trunk, add materially to the rapidity of the animal’s motion. It has been said, that a horse with a long neck will bear heavy on the hand ; neither the length of the neck nor even the bulk of the head has any influence in causing this. They are both counterbalanced by the power of the ligament of the neck. The settzng on of the head is most of all connected with heavy bearing onthe hand, and a short-necked horse wili bear heavily, because, from the thickness of the lower part of the neck, consequent on its shortness, the head cannot be rightly placed, nor, generally, the shoulder. However fine at the top, the neck should be muscular at the bottom, or it generally indicates a weak and worthless animal. It is then called a loose neck. The principal bulk of the lower part of the neck is composed of the complexus major, or larger complicated muscle. If its action is habitually too powerful, the muzzle is protruded, and the horse becomes what is technically called a star-gazer. He is heavy in hand, and even the martingale will not ordinarily remedy the difficulty. Connected with this is another unsightly deformity. The horse is ewe-necked ; i. e. the neck is hollowed above, and arched be- low. His head can never be fairly got down, and the bearing rein of harness is a source of constant torture to him. The mane is a matter of some importance. In a wild state, the horse has many battles to fight, and his neck, deprived of the mane, would be a vulnerable part. The hair of the mane, the tail, and the legs, is not shed in the same manner as that on the . body. It does not fall so regularly, nor so often ; for, if all were shed at once, the parts would be for a long time defenceless. The mane is generally dressed so as to lie on the nght side— some persons divide it equally on both sides. For ponies, it used © to be cut off near the reots, only a few stumps being left to stand perpendicularly. This was termed the hog-mane. The groom 110 BLOOD-VESSELS AND—VEINS OF THE NECK. sometimes bestows a great deal of pains in getting the mane of his horse into good and fashionable order. It is wetted, and plaited, and loaded with lead; and every hair that is a little too long is pulled out. The mane and tail of the heavy draught- horse are seldom thin; but on the well-bred horse, the thin, well-arranged mane is very ornamental. THE BLOOD-VESSELS OF THE NECK. Running down the under part of the neck, are the principal blood-vessels, going to and returning from the head, with the windpipe and gullet. Our cut could not give a view of the arterves that carry the blood from the heart to the head, because they are too deeply seated. The external arteries are the carotid, of which there are two. They ascend the neck on either side, close to the windpipe, until they have reached the middle of the neck, where they sometimes diverge, and lie more deeply. The vertebral arterics run through the bones of the neck, supplying the neighboring parts as they climb, and at length enter the skull at the large hole in the occipital bone, and ramify on and supply the brain. It is rarely or never necessary to bleed from an artery. If an artery is opened in the direction in which it runs, there is usually great difficulty in stopping the bleeding, and it is sometimes ne- cessary to tie the vessel to accomplish this: if cut across, it re- tracts, and after the first gush of blood, no more is obtained. THE VEINS OF THE NECK. The external veins which return the blood from the head to the heart are the jugulars. The horse has but one on either side. The human being and the ox have two. The jugular takes its rise from the base of the skull; it then descends, receiv- ing other branches in its way towards the angle of the jaw and behind the parotid gland ; and emerging from that, as seen at ¢, Fig. 12, and being united to a large branch from the face, it takes its course down the neck. Veterinary surgeons and horsemen have agreed to adopt the jugular, a little way below the union of these two branches, as the usual place for bleeding ; and a very convenient one it is, for it is easily got at, and the vessel islarge. The manner of bleeding, &c., will hereafter be adverted to. (See page 166.) INFLAMMATION OF THE VEIN. 141 INFLAMMATION OF THE VEIN. lt is usual and proper, after bleeding, to brirz the edges of the wound carefully together, and to hold them in contact by insert- ing a pin through the skin, with a little tow twisted round it. Jn ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the wound quickly heals, and gives no trouble ; but in a few instances, from using a blunt instrument, or a dirty or rusty one; or striking too hard, and bruising the vein; or, in the act of pinning up, pulling the skin too far from the neck, and suffermg some blood to insinu- ate itself into the cellular texture; or neglecting to tie the horse up for a little while, and thus enabling him to rub the bleeding place against the manger and tear out the pin; or from the animal being worked immediately afterward ; or the reins of the bridle rubbing against it ; or several blows having been clumsily given, and a large and ragged wound made; or from some disposition to inflammation about the horse (for the bleeder is not always in fault) the wound does not heal, or, if it closes for a little while, it re-opens. A slight bleeding appears —some tumefaction commences—the edges of the orifice sepa- rate, and become swollen and red—a discharge of sanious, bloody fluid proceeds from the wound, followed, perhaps, in a few days, by purulent matter. The neck swells, and is hot and tender both above and below the incision. The lips of the wound be- come everted—the swelling increases, particularly above the wound, where the vein is most hard and cordy—the horse begins to loathe his food, and little abscesses form round the orifice. The cordiness of the vein rapidly increases. Not only the vein itself has become obstructed and its coats thickened, but the cel- lular tissue inflamed and hardened, and is an additional source of irritation and torture. The thickening of the vein extends to the bifurcation above: it occupies both branches, and extends downward to the chest—- even to the very heart itself, and the patient dies. Of the means of cure it is difficult to speak confidently. The wound should be carefully examined—the divided edges brought into exact apposition, and any hair interposed between them re- moved—the pin withdrawn or not, according to circumstances— the part carefully and long fomented, and a dose of physic admin- istered. If two or three days have passed and the discharge still remains, the application of the budding-iron—not too large or too not—may produce engorgement of the neighboring parts, and union of the lips of the wound. This should be daily, or every second day, repeated, according to circumstances. A blister applied over the orifice, or as far as the mischicf extends, will often be ser- 342 THE PALATE—LARYNX. viceable. Here, likewise, the parts will be brought into contact with each other, and pressed together, and union may be effected. The owner of the horse will find it his interest to apply to a veterinary practitioner as soon as a case of inflamed vein occurs. Should the vein be destroyed, the horse will not be irrepara- bly injured, and perhaps at no great distance of time, scarcely njured at all.* THE PALATE—(gEsumep). At the back of the paiate (see Fig. 3), and attached to the crescent-shaped border of the palatine bone, is a dense membra- nous curtain, called the velum palati, so arranged that the horse can breathe through his nostrils alone, and in the act of vomiting, the contents of the stomach are ejected the same way, and not by the mouth. On this account it is, and on account of the struc- ture of the entrance of the stomach, that the horse can with great difficulty be excited to vomit. THE LARYNX Is placed on the top of the windpipe (see 1, Fig. 3) and is the inner guard of the lungs, if any injurious substance should pene- trate so far; it is the main protection against the passage of food into the respiratory tubes, and it is at the same time the instru- ment of voice. Tue Erictortis (see 2, Fig. 3), is a heart-shaped cartilage, placed at the extremity of the opening into the windpipe, with its back opposed to the pharynx, so that when a. pellet of food passes the pharynx in its way to the cesophagus, it presses down the epiglottis, and by this means, as already described, closes the aperture of the larynx, and prevents any food from entering it. The food having passed over the epiglottis, from * Note by Mr. Spooner—This disease sometimes occurs when bleeding has been performed with the utmost care and skill. The course of treatment which a considerable experience of the disease bas induced us to adopt, is to avoid all setons, and dissecting out the vein, and above all, caustic injection, which we have known to produce a fatal result. First allay the superficial inflammation by cold applications, and then blister the part, washing off the effects of the blister the following day, and repeating it several times. The ointment of iodine may be alternated with the blister to advantage. During this time, the horse’s head should be tied up to the rack, and he should be fed on such food as will not require any considerable action of the jaws, such as bran mashes, scalded oats, car- rots, and but very little hay. In a few weeks the swelling will become re- duced, the blood find new channels, and the horse will become as useful as ever. We have never known this treatment to fail. In a few instances it may be necessary to apply the iron to the edges of the wound, and use other methods to stop bleeding. WINDFIPE—TRACHLULUMY. 143 its own elasticity and that of the membrane at its base, and more particularly the power of the hyo-epiglotideus muscle, rises again and resumes its former situation. Tue Tuyroiw Cartinace (see 1, Fig. 3) occupies almost the whole of the external part of the larynx, both anteriorly and laterally. It envelops and protects all the rest. THE TRACHEA OR WINDPIPE. The windpipe is composed of an elastic cartilage, divided inte rings (50 or 52), sufficiently firm to resist ordinary pressure, and united together by means of an interposed highly elastic fibro- ligamentous substance, which, in effect, constitutes a joint be- tween each ring, giving the necessary flexibility to all its mo- tious, and admitting of elongation when the head is stretched up- ward or downward. It is indisputable that the windpipe should be prominent and loose on the neck, in the horse from which active exertion is re- quired, and which consequently is subjected to hurried respiration. It is not commonly found thus in large slow beasts, like the cart- horse, nor is it necessary. TRACHEOTOMY. It has been found that when obstructions, not speedily re- movable enough for safety, occur in the windpipe of the horse, a portion of the trachea may be safely removed, on or below the point of obstruction, to admit of the continuance of respiration. The operation must be performed while the horse is standing, and secured by a side-line, for he would, probably, be suffocated amidst the struggles with which he would resist the act ot throwing. The twitch is then firmly fixed on the muzzle; the operator stands on a stool or pail, by which means he can more perfectly command the part, and an assistant holds a scalpel, a bistoury, scissors, curved needles armed, and a moist sponge. The operator should once more examine the whole course of the windpipe, and the different sounds which he will be able te detect by the application of the ear, and likewise the different degrees of temperature and of tenderness which the finger will detect, will guide to the seat of the evil. The hair is to be closely cut off from the part, the skin tight- ened across the trachea with the thumb and fingers of the left hand, and then a longitudinal incision cautiously made through the skin, three inches in length. This is usually effected when there is no express indication to the contrary on the fifth and sixth rings; a slip from which, and the connecting hgament 144 THE BRONCHIAL TUBES. above and below, about half the width of each ring, should be excised with the intervening ligament. The remaining portion will then be strong enough to retain the perfect arched form of the trachea. If the orifice is only to be kept open while some foreign body is extracted, or tumor removed, or ulcer healed, or inflammation subdued, nothing more is necessary than to keep the lips of the wound a little apart, by passing some thread through each, and slightly everting them, and tying the threads to the mane. If, however, there is any permanent obstruction, a tube will be necessary. It should be two or three inches long, curved at the top, and the external orifice turning downwards with a little ring on each side, by which, through the means of strings, it may be retained in its situation. The purpose of the operation being answered, the flaps of in- tegument must be brought over the weunds, the edges, if neces- sary, diminished, and the parts kept in apposition by a few stitches. The cartilage will be perfectly reproduced, only the rings will be a little thicker and wider. THE BRONCHIAL TUBES. After the windpipe has entered the chest, and continued through the mediastinum to the base of the heart, it divides into two tubes—the Bronchial tubes—which enter each lung, where they are again subdivided into smaller tubes carrying air to every portion and cell of the lungs. Before considering their diseases, we will pause and consider the structure and functions of the chest. CHAPTER VI. THE CHEST. @ The first rib. & The cartilages of the eleven hindermost, or false ribs, connected together and uniting with that of the seventh or last true rib. e The breast-bone. d The top, or point, of the withers, which are formed by the lengthened spinous, or upright processes of the ten or eleven first bones of the back. The bones of the back are eighteen in number. e The ribs, usually eighteen on each side; the seven first united to the breast- bone by cartilage; the cartilages of the remaining eleven united to each other, as at . f That portion of the spine where the loins commence, and composed of five bones. g The bones forming the hip, or baunch, and into the hole at the bottom of which the head of the thigh-bone is received. The portion of the spine belonging to the haunch, and consisting of five pieces. The bones of the tail, usually fifteen in number. Tue chest, in the horizontal position in which it is placed in the cut, is of a somewhat oval figure, with its extremities trun- cated (cut off). The spine is its roof; the sternum, or breast, its floor; the ribs, its sides; the trachea, esophagus, and great blood-vessels passing through its anterior extremity and the dia- phragm, being its posterior. It is contracted in front, broad and deep towards the central boundary, and again contracted pos- teriorly. It eneloacs the heart and the lungs, the origin uf the 146 THE CHEST. arterial aud the termination of the venous trunks and the col rected vessels of the absorbents. The windpipe penetrates into it, and the esophagus traverses its whole extent. Most ingeniously and admirably is this whole structure con- pposite virtues,—combining the strength of the lion with the mildness of the dove. It is a fact that nine horses out of ten will not attempt to blem- ish themselves; and it is the knowledge of this fact that induces the puffers of these blisters to state that the animal does not require his head to be tied up. The careful veterinary surgeon will, however, use proper precautions in all cases, though only one in ten may actually require it. The writer has known a horse tear up the stones under his feet from the irritation produced by James’s blister FIRING. ‘366 remove an unnatural bony or other tumor. t raises more intense external inflammation than we can produce by any other means. It may be truly said to be the most powerful agent that we have at our disposal. Humanity, however, will dictate, that on account of the inflammation which it excites, and the ‘pain it inflicts, it should only be had recourse to when milder means rarely succeed. Some practitioners blister immediately after firing. As agen- eral usage it is highly to be reprobated. It is wanton and useless cruelty. It may be required in bony tumors of considerable ex- tent, and long standing, anv. interfering materially with the ac- tion of the neighboring joint. Spavin accompanied by much lameness, and ring-bone sprzading round the coronet and involv- ing the side cartilages or the pastern joint, may justify it. The inflammation is rendered m~re intense, and of considerably longer duration. In old affections of the round bone it may be admitted, but no excuse can be made for it in slighter cases of sprain or weakness, or staleness. : - On the day after the cveration, it will be prudent gently to rub some neat’s foot oil, or lard, over the wound, This will soften the skin, and render it less likely to separate or ulcerate. A bandage would add to the irritation of the part. Any cracks of the skin, or ulcerations that may ensue, must be treated with the calamine ointment. It will be evident that there is an advantage derived from firing to which a blister can have no pretension. The skin, par- tially destroyed by the iron, is reinstated and healed, not merely by the formation of some new matter filling up the vacuity, but by the gradual drawing together and closing of the separated edges. The skin, therefore, is lessened in surface. It is tight- ened over the part, and it acts, as just described, as a salutary and permanent bandage. Of the effect of pressure in removing enlargements of every kind, as well as giving strength to the part to which it is applied, we lave repeatedly spoken ; and it is far from being the least valuable effect of the operation of firing, that, by contracting the skin, it affords a salutary, equable, and permanent pressure. For whatever reason the horse is fired, he should, if possible, be turned out, ‘or soiled in a loose box, for three or four months at least. The full effect intended to result from the external irritation is not soon produced, and the benefit de- rived from pressure proceeds still more slowly. The firing in every case should be eitlier in longitudinal or par- allel lines. On the back sinews, the fetlocks, and the coronet, this is peculiarly requisite, for thus only will the skin contract so as to form the greatest and most equable pressure. The lines should be about half an inch from each other.* * Note by Mr. Spooner—Notwithstanding its seeming cruelty, it cannot 366 SETONS. SETONS Are pieces of tape or cord, passed, by means of an instrument re- sembling a large needle, either through abscesses, or the base of ulcers with deep sinuses, or between the skin and the muscular or other substances beneath. They are retained there by the nds being tied together, or by a knot at each end. The tape is moved in the wound twice or thrice in the day, and occasionally wetted with spirit of turpentine, or some acrid fluid, in order to increase the inflammation which it produces, or the discharge which is intended to be established. In abscesses, such as occur in the withers or the poll, and when passed from the summit to the very bottom of the swelling, setons are highly useful, by discharging the purulent fluid, (pus or matter), and suffering any fresh quantity of it that may be secreted to flow out; and, by the degree of inflarnmation which they excite on the interior of the tumor, stimulating it to throw out healthy granulations which gradually occupy and fillthe hollow. In deep fistulous wounds they are indispensable, for except some channel is made through which the matter may flow from the bottom of the wound, it will continue to penetrate deeper into the part, and the healing process will never be accomplished. On these accounts, a seton passed through the base of the ulcer in poll-evil and fis- tulous withers is of so much benefit. Setons are sometimes useful by promoting a discharge in the aeighborhood of an inflamed part, and thus diverting and carry- ing away a portion of the fluids which distend or overload the vessels of that part: thus aseton is placed with considerable ad- vantage in the cheek, when the eyes are much inflamed. We confess, however, that we prefer a rowel under the jaw. With this view, and to excite a new and different inflamma- ‘ion in the neighborhood of a part already inflamed, and espe- cially so deeply seated and so difficult to be reached as the navic- ular joint, a seton has occasionally been used with manifest ben- efit, but we must peremptorily object to the indiscriminate use of the frog-seton for almost every disease of the frog or the foot. In inflammations of extensive organs, setons afford only feeble aid. Their action is too circumscribed. In inflammation of the chest or the intestines, a rowel is preferable to a seton; and a blister is far better than any of them. be denied that this operation often succeeds when all the other methods of cure have failed. We have little or nothing to add as to the mode of per- forming the operation, only that we prefer the lines to be made in the oblique or feather form, simply because it is as effectual as the perpendicu- lar firing, as regards the bandage, and leaves a lesser blemish as the lines become covered by the hair growing from above. DOCKING. 367 On the principle of exciting the absorbents to action for the removal of tumors, as spavin or splent, a blister is quicker in its action, and far more effectual than any seton Firing is still luure useful.* DOCKING. The shortening of the tail of the horse is an operation which “ashion and the convenience of the rider require to be performed m most of these animals. The operation is simple. That joint is searched for which is che nearest to the desired length of tail. The hair is then turned ap, and tied round with tape for an inch or two above this joint, and that which lies immediately upon this joint is cut off. The horse is fettered with the side-line, and then the veterinary sur- geon with his docking-machine, or the farmer with his carving- knife and mallet, cuts through the tail at one stroke. The bleeding which ensues is rarely injurious, but as it would occasionally continue some hours and weaken the animal, it is customary to stop it by the application of a hot iron. A large hole is made in the centre of the iron, that the bone may not be seared, which would exfoliate (scale off) if it were burned with any severity, or drop off at the joint above, and thus shorten the dock. The iron rests on the muscular parts round the bone, and is brought into contact with the bleeding vessels, and very speedily stops the bleeding. Care should be taken that the iron is not too hot—and that it is not held too long or too forcibly on the part, for many more horses would be destroyed by severe application of the cautery, than by the bleeding being left to its own course. Powdered resin. sprinkled on the stump, or indeed any other application, is worse than useless. It causes unnecessary irrita- tion, and sometimes extensive ulceration ; but if the simple iron is moderately applied, the horse may go to work immediately after the operation, and no dressing will be afterwards required If a sight bleeding should occur after the cautery, it is much better to let it alone than to run the risk of inflammation or locked-jaw, by re-applying the iron with greater severity. Some farmers dock their colts a few days after they are drop- ped. This is a commendable custom on the score of humanity No colt was ever lost by it; and neitter the growth of the hair, nor the beauty of the tail, is in the least impaired. * Note by Mr. Spooner—We are more favorable than our author to the ase of setons; they are equally effectual and far more cleanly than rowels, and a deep-seated and continued action may be kept up with little or no pain to the animal. They are often preferable to other methods of treat- ment for diseases of the hocks, and we have found the use of the frog seton, in many instances extremely beneficial. 368 NICKING. NICKING. This barbarous operation was once sanctioned by fashion, and the breeder and the dealer even now are sometimes tempted to inflict the torture of it in order to obtain a ready sale for their cults. It is not, however, practised to the extent that it used to be, nor attended by so many circumstances of cruelty. The operation is thus performed. The side-line is put on the horse, or some persons deem it more prudent to cast him, and that precaution we should be disposed to recommend. The hair at the end of the tail is securely tied together, for the purpose of afterwards attaching a weight to it. The operator then grasps the tail in his hand, and, lifting it up, feels for the centre of one of the bones—the prominences at the extremities will guide him —from two to four inches from the root of the tail, according to the size of the horse. He then, with a sharp knife, divides the muscles deeply from the edge of the tail on one side to the centre, and, continuing the incision across the bone of the tail, he makes it as deep on the other side. One continued incision, steadily yet rapidly made, will accomplish all this. If it is a blood-horse that is operated on, this will be sufficient. For a hunter, two sneisions are usually made, the second being about two inches below the first, and likewise as nearly as possible in the centre of one of the bones. On a hackney, or cocktail, a third incision is made ; for fashion has decided that his tail shall be still more elevated and curved Two incisions only are made in the tail of a mare, and the second not very deep. When the second incision is made, some fibres of the muscles between the first and second will project into the wound, and must be removed by a pair of curved scissors. The sarme must be done with the projecting portions from between the secona and third incisions. The wound should then be carefully ex: amined, in order to ascertain that the muscles have been equally divided on each side, otherwise the tail will be carried awry. This being done, pledgets of tow must be introduced deeply into each incision, and confined, but not too tightly, by a bandage. A very profuse bleeding will alone justify any tightness of band- age, and the ill consequences that have resulted from nicking are mainly attributable to the unnecessary force that is used in con- fining these pledgets. Even if the bleeding, immediately after the operation, should have been very great, the roller must be loosened in two or three hours, otherwise swelling and inflamma- tion, and even death, may possibly ensue. Twenty-four hours after the operation, the bandage must be quite removed; and NICKING, 3by then, all that is necessary, so far as the healing of the incisions is concerned, is to keep them clean. The wounds must remain open, and that can only be accom- plished by forcibly keeping the tail curved back during two or three weeks. For this purpose a cord, one or two feet in leugth, is affixed to the end of the hair, which terminates in another divided cord, each division going over a pully on either side of the back of the stall. A weight is hung at either extremity suf- ficient to keep the incisions properly open, and regulated by the degree in which this is wished to be accomplished. The animal will thus be retained in an uneasy position, although, after the first two or three days, probably not of acute pain. It is barba- ous to increase this uneasiness or pain by affixing too great a weight to the cords; for it should be remembered that the proper elevated curve is given to the tail, not by the weight of keeping it in a certain position for a considerable time, but by the depth of the first incisions, and the degree in which the wounds are kept open. The dock should not—for the first three or four days—be brought higher than the back. _ Dangerous irritation and inflam- mation would ‘probably be produced. It may, after that, be gradually raised to an elevation of forty-five degrees. The horse should be taken out of the pulleys, and gently exercised once or twice every day; but the pulleys cannot finally be dispensed with until a fortnight after the wounds have healed, because the process of contraction, or the approach of the divided parts,. goes on for some time after the skin is perfect over the incisions, and the tail would thus sink below the desired elevation. If the tail has not been unnecessarily extended by enormous weights, no bad consequences will usually follow ; but if consid- yrable inflammation should ensue, the tail must be taken from the pulley and diligently fomented with simple warm water, and a dose of physic given. lLocked-jaw has in some rare instances followed, unuer which the horse generally perishes. The best means of cure in the early state of this disease is to amputate the tail at the joint above the highest incision. In order to prevent the hair from coming off, it shouid be unplaited and combed out every fourth or fifth day. P 24 CHAPTER XIX. THE VICES AND DISAGREEABLE OR DANGEROUS HABITS OF THE HORSE. Tue horse has many excellent qualities, but he has likewise defects, and these occasionally amounting to vices. Some of them may be attributed to natural temper, for the human being scarcely discovers more peculiarities of habit and disposition than does the horse. The majority of them, however, as perhaps in the human being, are the consequences of a faulty education. Their early instructor has been ignorant and brutal, and they have become obstinate and vicious. RESTIVENESS. At the head of all the vices of the horse is RESTIVENEss, the most annoying and the most dangerous of all. It is the produce of bad temper and worse education ; and, like all other habits founded on nature and stamped by education, it is inveterate. Whether it appears in the form of kicking, or rearing, plunging, or bolting, or in any way that threatens danger to the rider or the horse, it rarely admits of cure. A determined rider may 1o a certain extent subjugate the animal; or the horse may have nis favorites, or form his attachments, and with some particular person he may be comparatively or perfectly manageable ; but others cannot long depend upon him, and even his master is not always sure of him. It is a rule, that admits of very few ex- ceptions, that he neither displays his wisdom nor consults his safety, who attempts to conquer a restive horse. BACKING OR GIBBING.* One of the first kinds of restiveness, taking them in alphabeti cal order, is backing or gibbing. These are so closely allied that we hardly know how to separate them. Some horses have the * Termed “ balking” in the United States, and the horse accustomed te it is said to be “ balky.”—Am. Ed GIBBING. 371 habit of backing at first starting, and that more from playfulness than desire of mischief. A moderate application of the whip will usually be effectual. Others, even after starting, exhibit considerable obstinacy and viciousness. This is frequently the eflect of bad breaking. Either the shoulder of the horse had been wrung when he was first put to the collar, or he had been foolishly accustomed to be started in the break zp-hill, and, therefore, all his work -coming upon him at once, he gradually acquired this dangerous habit. A hasty and passionate breaker will often make a really good- tempered young horse an inveterate gibber. Every young horse is.at first shy of the collar. If he is too quickly forced to throw his weight into it, he will possibly take a dislike to it, that will occasionally show itself in the form’ of gibbing as long as he lives. The judicious horse-breaker will resort to no severity, even if the colt should go out several times without even touch- ing collar. The example of his companion will ultimately induce him to take it voluntarily and effectually. A large and heavy stone should be put behind the wheel be- fore starting, when the horse, finding it more difficult to back than to go forward, will gradually forget this unpleasant trick. It will likewise be of advantage as often as it can be managed, so to start that the horse shall have to back up-hill. The diffi culty of accomplishing this will soon make him readily go for- ward. A little coaxing, or leading, or moderate flagellation, wili assist in accomplishing the cure. When, however, a horse, thinking he has had enough of work, or has been improperly checked or corrected, or beginning to feel the painful pressure of the collar, swerves, and gibs, and backs, it is a more serious matter. Persuasion should first be tried ; and, afterwards, reasonable coercion, but no cruelty: for the brutality which is often exercised to compel a gibbing horse to throw him- self habitually into the collar, never yet accomplished the purpose. The horse, may, perhaps, be whipped into motion; but if he has once begun to gib, he will have recourse to it again whenever any circumstance displeases or annoys him, and the habit will be so rapidly and completely formed, that he will become insensible to all severity. Sometimes a horse not often accustomed to gib, betrays a relu tance to move, or a determination not to move. Before resortin, to severity, the cause, if practicable, should be ascertained. The horse may be overtaxed, his withers may be wrung, or he may be insupportably galled or pained by the harness. These things should be examined into, and, if possible, rectified ; for, under such circumstances, cruelty may produ e obstinacy and vice, but not willing obedience 37% BITING——CHEEK OF THE BIT IN THE MOUTH. They who are accustomed to horses know what seemingly trivial circumstances occasionally produce this vice. A horse, whose shoulders are raw, or have frequently been so, will not start with a cold collar. When the collar has acquired the warmth of the parts on which it presses, the animal will go with- out reluctance. Some determined gibbers have been reformed by constautly wearing a false collar, or strip of cloth round the shoulders, so that the coldness of the usual collar should never be felt ; and others have been cured of gibbing by keeping the collar on night and day, for the animal is not able to lie down completely at full length, which the tired horse is always glad to do. When a horse gibs, not at starting, but while doing his work, it has sometimes been useful to line the collar with cloth instead of leather; the perspiration is readily absorbed, the substance which presses on the shoulder is softer, and it may be far more accurately eased off at a tender place. BITING. This is either the consequence of natural ferocity, or a habit acquired from the foolish and teasing play of grooms and stable- boys. When a horse is tickled and pinched by thoughtless and mischievous youths, he will first pretend to bite his tor- mentors; by degrees he will proceed farther, and actually bite them, and very soon after that, he will be the first to challenge to the combat, and, without provocation, seize some opportunity to gripe the incautious tormentor. At length, as the love of mischief is a propensity too easily acquired, this war, half play- ful and half in earnest, becomes habitual to him, and degen- erates into absolute viciousness. It is seldom that anything can be done in the way of cure. Kindness will ageravate the evil, and no degree of severity will correct it. ‘Ihave seen,” says Professor Stewart, ‘‘ biters punished until they trembled in every jot, and were ready to urop, but have never in any case known them cured by this treatment, or by any other. The lash is forgotten in an hour, and the horse is as ready and determined to repeat the offence as before. He appears unable to resist the temptation, and in its worst form biting is a species of insanity.” Prevention, however, is in the power of every proprietor of horses. While he insists on gentle and humane treatment of his cattle, he should systematically forbid this horse-play. GETTING THE CHEEK OF THE BIT INTO THE MOUTH. Some horses that are disposed to be mischievous try to do this, and are very expert at it. They soon find what advantage KICKING. 373 it gives them over their driver, who by this maneuvre loses al- most all command. Harsh treatment is here completely out of the question. All that can be done, is, by some mechanical contrivance, to render the thing difficult or impossible, ahd this may be managed by fastening a round piece of leather on the inside of the cheek of the bit. KICKING. This, as @ vice, is another consequence of the culpable habit of grooms and stable-boys of teasing the horse. That which is at first an indication of annoyance at the pinching and tickling of the groom, and without any design to injure, gradually be- comes the expression of anger, and the effort to do mischief. The horse likewise too soon recognizes the least appearance of timidity, and takes advantage of the discovery. There is no cure for this vice; and he cannot be justified who keeps a kick- ing horse in his stable. Some horses acquire, from mere irritability and fidgetiness, a habit of kicking at the stall or the bail, and partigeflarly at night. The neighboring ‘horses are disturbed, and¢the kicker gets swelled hocks, or some more serious injury. This, is also a habit very difficult to correct if suffered to become established Mares are far more subject to it than horses. cs e Before the habit is inveterately established, a thorn-bufh’ pra piece of furze fastened against the partition or post wil Aperie- times effect a cure. When the horse finds that he is prett} severely pricked, he will not long continue to punish himse{-7In confirmed cases it may be necessary to have recourse to the log, but the legs are often not a little bruised by it. A rather long and heavy piece of wood attached to a chain has been buckled above the hock, so as to reach about half-way down the leg. When the horse attempts to kick violently, his leg wi] re- ceive a severe blow: this, and the repetition of it, may, +afher a time, teach him to be quiet. rr A much more serious vice is kicking in harness. From the least annoyance about the rump or quarters, some horses will kick at a most violent rate, and destroy the bottom ot the chaise, and endanger the limbs of the driver. Those that are fidgety in the stable are most apt to do this. If the reins should per- chance get under the tail, the violence of the kicker will olten be most outrageous; and while the animal presses down his tail so tightly that it is almost impossible to extricate the reins, he continues to plunge until he has demolished everything behind him. i This is a vice standing foremost in point of danger, and which ° 574 UNSTEADINESS WHILE BEING MOUNTED—REARING. no treatment will always conquer. It will be altogether in vain to try coercion. If the shafts are very strong and without flaw, or if they are plated with iron underneath, and a stout kicking- strap resorted to which will barely allow the horse the proper use of his hind limbs in progression, but not permit him to raise them sufficiently for the purpose of kicking, he may be pre- vented from doing mischief; or if he is harnessed to a heavy cart, and thus confined, his efforts to lash out will be restrained : but it is frequently a very unpleasant thing to witness these attempts, though ineffectual, to demolish the vehicle, for the shafts or the kicking-strap may possibly break, and extreme dan. ger may ensue. A horse that has once begun to kick, whatever -may have been the original cause of it, can never be depended upon again, and he will be very unwise who ventures behind him. The man, however, who must come within reach of a kicker should come as close to him as possible. The blow may thus become a push, and seldom is injurious. UNSTEADINESS WHILE BEING MOUNTED. When this merely amounts to eagerness to start—very un pleasant, indeed, at times, for many a rider has been thrown from his seat before he was fairly fixed in it—it may be remedied by an active and good horseman. We have known many: instances in which, while the elderly, and inactive, and fearful man has been making more than one ineffectual attempt to vault into the saddle, the horse has been dancing about to his annoyance and danger; but the animal had no sooner been trans- ferred to the management of a younger and more agile rider than he became perfectly subdued. Severity will here, more decidedly than in any other case, do harm. The rider should be fearless—he should carelessly and confidently approach the horse, mount at the first effort, and then restrain him for a while : - «~patting him, and not suffering him to proceed until he becomes perfectly quiet. Horses of this kind should not be too highly ied, and should have sufficient daily exercise. When the difficulty of mounting arises, not from eagerness to start, but unwillingness to be ridden, the sooner that horse is disposed of the better. He may be conquered by a skilful and determined horseman; but even he will not succeed without frequent and dangerous contests that will mar all the pleasure of the ride. REARING. This sometimes results from playfulness, carried indeed, to an unpleasant and dangerous extent; but it is oftener a desperate RUNNING AWAY—VICIOUS TO CLEAN. 378 and occasionally successful effort to unhorse the rider, and conse quently a vice. The horse that has twice decidedly and danger ously reared, should never be trusted again, unless, indeed, it waa the fault of the rider, who had been using a deep curb and a sharp bit. Some of the best horses will contend against these and then rearing may be immediately and permanently cured by using a snaffle-bridle alone. The horse-breaker’s remedy, that of pulling the horse back- ward on a soft piece of ground, should be practised by reckless and brutal fellows alone. Many horses have been injured in the spine, and others have broken their necks, by being thus suddenly pulled over; while even the fellow who fears no danger, is not always able to extricate himself from the falling horse. If rear- ing proceeds from vice, and is unprovoked by the bruising and laceration of the mouth, it fully partakes of the inveteracy which attends the other divisions of restiveness. RUNNING AWAY. Some headstrong horses will occasionally endeavor to bolt with the best rider. Others with their wonted sagacity endeavor thus __to dislodge the timid or unskilful one. Some are hard to hold. or bolt only during the excitement of the chase ; others will run away, prompted by a vicious propensity alone. There is no cer- tain cure here. The method which affords any probabil- ity of success is, to ride such a horse with a strong curb and sharp bit; to have him always firmly in hand; and, if he will run away, and the place will admit of it, to give him (sparing neither curb, whip, nor spur) a great deal more running than he likes. VICIOUS TO CLEAN. It would scarcely be credited to what an extent this exists in some horses that are otherwise perfectly quiet. It is only at great hazard that they can be cleansed at all. The origin of this is probably some maltreatment. There is, however, a great differ- ence in the sensibility of the skin in different horses. Some seem asif they could scarcely be made to feel the whip, while others cannot beara fly to light on them without an expression of an- noyance. In young horses the skin is peculiarly delicate. If they have been curried with a broken comb, or hardly rubbed with an uneven brush, the recollection of the torture they have felt makes them impatient, and even vicious, during every suc- ceeding operation: of the kind. Many grooms, likewise, scem to delight in producing these exhibitions of uneasiness and vice; 376 VICIOUS TO SHOE. although, when they are carried a little too far, and at the haz ard of the limbs of the groom, the animals that have been almost tutored into these expressions of irritation are brutally kicked and punished. This, however, is a vice that may be conquered. If the horse is dressed with a lighter hand, and wisped rather than brushed, aud the places where the skin is most sensitive are avoided as much as thorough cleanliness will allow, he will gradually lose the recollection of former ill-treatment, and become tractable and quiet.* VICIOUS TO SHOE. The correction of this is more peculiarly the business of the smith ; yet the master should diligently concern himself with it, for it is oftener the consequence of injudicious or bad swage than of natural vice. It may be expected that there will be some dif- ficulty in shoeing a horse. for the first few times. It is an opera- tion that gives him a little uneasiness. The man to whom he is most accustomed should go with him to the forge ; and if another and steady horse is shod before him, he may be induced more readily to submit. It cannot be denied that, after the habit of resisting this necessary operation is formed, force may sometimes be necessary to reduce our rebellious servant to obedience ; but we unhesitatingly affirm that the majority of horses vicious to shoe are rendered so by harsh usage, and by the pain of correc- tion being added to the uneasiness of shoeing. It should be a rule in every forge that no smith should be permitted to strike a horse, much less to twitch or to gag him, without the master-far- rier’s order ; and that a young horse should never be twitched or struck. There are few horses that may not be gradually ren- dered manageable for this purpose by mildness and firmness in the operator. They will soon understand that no harm is meant, and they will not forget their usual habit of obedience; but if the remembrance of corporal punishment is connected with shoe- ing, they will always be fidgety, and occasionally dangerous.t * Note by Mr. Spooner.—In some instances the skin is so irritable that the horse really endures a great deal of misery every time he is cleaned, besides expending a great deal of muscular exertion needlessly. The rem- edy for this is very simple; instead of being currycombed and wiped, he should be simply washed over with warm water on his coming in warm from a journey, then gently scraped and covered with a rug. The warmth of the body will very soon dry the skin. + Note by Mr. Spooner—This is certainly a very bad vice, and one, in- deed, that very materially diminishes the value of the horse, for it is a habit that generally gets worse at each time of shoeing. It is not so much the kicking of the horse that is to be feared, but the animal will bear his whole SWALLOWING WITHOUT GRINDING. 377 SWALLOWING WITHOUT GRINDING. Horses have many unpleasant habits in the stable and on the road, which cannot be said to amount to vice, but which mate- rially lessen their value. Some greedy horses habitually swallow their grain without properly grinding it, and the power of digestion not being ade- quate to the dissolving of the husk, no nutriment is extracted, and the oats are voided whole. This is particularly the case when horses of unequal appetite feed from the same manger. The greedy one, in his eagerness to get more then his share, bolts a portion of his grain whole. If the farmer, without considerable inconvenience, could contrive that every horse shall have his separate division of the manger, the one of smaller appetite and slower feed would have the opportunity of grinding at his leisure, without the fear of the greater share being stolen by his neigh- vor. Some horses, however, are naturally greedy feeders, and will -not, even when alone, allow themselves time to chew or grind their grain. In consequence of this they carry but little flesh, and are not equal to severe work. Ifthe rack was supplied with hay when the grain was put into the manger, they will continue to eat on, and their stomachs will become distended with half- chewed and indigestible food. In consequence of this they will be incapable of considerable exertion for a long time after feed- ing, and, occasionally, dangerous symptoms. of staggers will occur. The remedy is, not to let such horses fast too long. The nose- bag should be the companion of every considerable joumey. The food should likewise be of such a nature that it cannot be rapidly bolted. Chaff should be plentifully mixed with the grain, and, in some cases, and especially in horses of slow work, it should, with the grain, constitute the whole of the food. This will be treated on more at large under the article ‘‘ Feeding.” In every case of this kind the teeth should be carefully exam- ined, Some of them may be unduly lengthened, particularly the first of the grinders: or they may be ragged at the edges, and may abrade and wound the cheek. In the first place the horse cannot properly masticate his food; in the latter he will not, weight on the foot required to be shod, so that the smith is unable to lift it up, or afterwards to.support it; besides which the animal will keep continu. ally kicking or endeavoring to get the foot away, to the imminent danger of the limbs of the unfortunate operative. This deplorable and vicious habit is greatly increased, if not altogether produced, by rough usage at the early shoeings, and it generally gets worse at each time of shoeing, so that the horse is often rendered at last completely worthless 378 CR1B-BITING. for these animals, as too often happens in sore-throat, would rather starve than put themselves to much pain. CRIB-BITING. This is a very unpleasant habit, and a considerable defect, al- though not so serious a one as some have represented. The horse lays hold of the manger with his teeth, violently extends his neck, and then, after some convulsive action of the throat, a slight grunting is heard, accompanied by a sucking or drawing in of air. It is not an eflort at simple eructation, arising from indiges- tion. It is the inhalation of air. It is that which takes place with all kinds of diet, and when the stomach is empty as well as when it is full. The effects of crib-biting are plain enough. The teeth are in- jured and worn away, and that, in an old horse, to a very serious degree. A considerable quantity of grain is often lost, for the horse will frequently crib with his mouth full of it, and the greater part will fall over the edge of the manger. Much. saliva escapes while the manger is thus forcibly held, the loss of which must be of serious detriment in impairing the digestion. The crib-biting horse is notoriously more subject to colic than other horses, and to a species difficult of treatment and frequently dangerous, Although many a crib-biter is stout and strong, and capable of all ordinary work, these horses do not generally carry s0 much flesh as others, and have not their endurance. On these accounts crib-biting has very properly been decided to be un- soundness We must not look to the state of the disease at the time of purchase. The question is, does it exist at all? A case was tried before Lord Tenterden, and thus decided ; ‘a horse with crib-bitig is unsound.” It is one of those tricks which are exceedingly contagious Every companion of a crib-biter in the same stables is likely to acquire the habit, and it is the most inveterate of all habits. The edge of the manger will in vain be lined with iron, or with sheep-skin, or with sheep-skin covered with tar or aloes, or any other unpleasant substance. In defiance of the annoyance which these may occasion, the horse will persist in the attack on his manger. A strap buckled tightly round the neck, by compress- ing the wind-pipe, is the best means of preventing the possibility of this trick; but the strap must be constantly worn, and its pressure is too apt to produce a worse affection, viz., an irritation :n the windpipe, which terminates in roaring. Some have recommended turning out for five or six months ; but this has never succeeded except with a young horse, and then rarely. The old crib-hiter will employ the gate for the same WIND-SUCKING—CUTTING. 379 purpose as the edge of his manger, and we have often scen him galloping across a field for the mere object of having a gripe at a rail. Medicine will be altogether thrown away in this case. The only remedy is a muzzle, with bars across the bottom; sufficiently wide to enable the animal to pick up his corn and to pull his hay, but not to grasp the edge of the manger. If this is worn for a considerable period, the horse may be tired of attempt- ing that which he cannot accomplish, and for a while forget the habit, but in a majority of cases, the desire of crib-biting will re turn with the power of gratifying it. The causes of crib-biting are various, and some of them beyond the control of the proprietor of the horse. It is often the result of imitation ; but it is more frequently the consequence of idle- ness. The high-fed and spirited horse must be in mischief if he is not usefully employed. Sometimes, but we believe not often, it is produced by partial starvation, whether in a bad straw-yard, or from unpalatable food. An occasional cause of crib-biting is the frequent custom of grooms, even when the weather is not severe, of dressing them in the stable. The horse either catches at the edge of the manger, or at that of the partition on each side, if he has been turned, and thus he forms the habit of laying hold of these substances on every occasion. WIND-SUCKING. This bears a close analogy to crib-biting. It arises from the same causes ; the same purpose is accomplished; and the same results follow. The horse stands with his neck bent; his head drawn inward ; his lips alternately a little opened and then closed, and a noise is heard as if he were sucking. If we may judge from the same comparative want of condition and the flat- ulence which we have described under the last head, either some portion of wind enters the stomach, or there is an injurious loss of saliva. This diminishes the value of the horse almost as much as crib-biting ; it is as contagious, and it is as inveterate. The only remedies, and they will seldom avail, are tying the head up, except when the horse is feeding, or putting on a muzzle with sharp spikes towards the neck, and which will prick him when- ever he attempts to rein his head in for the purpose of wind- sucking. CUTTING. Of this habit, mention has been made at page 266 ; and we would advise the owner of a cutting horse, without trymg any previous experiments of raising or lowering the heels, to put on 380 NOT LYING DOWN—OVERREACH—PAWING, the cutting foot a shoe of even thickness from heel to toe, not pro jecting in the slightest degree beyond the crust, and the crust it self being rasped a little at the quarters. The shoe should be fas- tened as usual, on the outside, but with only one nail on the in side, and that almost close to the toe. The principle on which this shoe acts, has been explained at page 350 NOT LYING DOWN. It not uncommonly happens that a horse will seldom or never lie down in the stable. He sometimes continues in apparent good health, and feeds and works well; but generally his legs swell, or he becomes fatigued sooner than another horse. If it is impossible to let him loose in the saddle, or to put him into a spare box, we know not what is to be done. No means, gentle or cruel, will force him to lie down. The secret is that he is tied up, and either has never dared to lie down through fear of the confinement of the halter, or he has been cast in the night and severely injured. If he can be suffered to range the stable, or have a comfortable box in which he may be loose, he will usually lie down the first night. Some few horses, however, will lie down in the stable, and not in a loose box. A fresh, well made bed, will generally tempt the tired horse to refresh himself with sleep.* OVERREACH. This unpleasant noise, known also by the term “clicking,” arises from the toe of the hind-foot knocking against the shoe of the fore-foot. The consequences of it, and the treatment of the wounds resulting from it, have been sufficently given on page 320 If the animal is young, the action of the horse may be materi- ally improved ; otherwise nothing can be done, except to keep the toe of the hind foot as short and as round as it can safely be, and to bevel off and round the toe of the shoe, like that which has been worn off by a stumbling horse, and perhaps, to lower the heel of the fore-foot a little. PAWING. Some hot and irritable horses are restless even in the stable, and paw frequently and violently. Their litter is destroyed, the * Note by Mr. Spooner—It should not be forgotten that the basis of sup- port afforded by the four extremities is so considerable in the horse, that he is able to sleep in a standing position, and we have known some horses pre- serve their health, strength, and condition, although they have never been known to lie down. At the same time, it must be confessed that an anima! that will quietly lie down and take his rest, generally preserves his condi tion, and is better fitted for exertion. QUIDDING—ROLLING—SHYING. 381 tloor of the stable broken up, the shoes worn out, the feet bruised, and the legs sometimes sprained. If this habit does not exist to any great extent, yet the stable never looks well. Shackles are the only remedy, with a chain sufficiently long to enable the horse to shift his posture, or move in his stall; but these must be taken off at night, otherwise the animal will seldom lie down. Ex- cept, however, the horse possesses peculiar value, it will be better to dispose of him at once, than to submit to the danger and incon- venience that he may occasion. QUIDDING. A horse will sometimes partly chew his hay, and suffer it to drop from his mouth. If this does not proceed from irregular teeth, which it will be the business of the veterinary surgeon to rasp down, it will be found to be connected with sore-throat, and then the horse,will exhibit some other symptoms of indisposition, and particularly, the swallowing of water will be accompanied by a peculiar gulping effort. In this case, the disease (catarrh, with sore-throat) must be attacked, and the quidding will cease. ROLLING. This is a very pleasant and perfectly safe amusement for a horse at grass, but cannot be indulged in the stable without the chance of his being dangerously entangled with the collar-rein (halter) and being cast: Yet, although the horse is cast, and bruised, and half-strangled, he will roll again on the following night and continue to do so aslong as he lives. The only remedy is not avery pleasant one for the horse, nor always quite safe ; yet it must be had recourse to, if the habit of rolling is inveter ate. ‘ The horse,” says Mr. Castley, ‘should be tied with length enough of halter to lie down, but not to allow of his head resting on the ground; because, in order to roll over, a horse is obliged to place his head quite down upon.the ground.” SHYING. We have briefly treated of the cause of this vice at page 66, and observed that while it is often the result of cowardice, or playfulness, or want of work, it is at other times the consequence of a defect of sight. It has been remarked, and we believe very truly, that shying is oftener a vice of half or quarter-bred horses, than of those who have in them more of the genuine racing blood. In the treatment of shying, is it of great importance to distin- guish between that which is the consequence of defective sight. 382 SUYING. and what results from fear, or newness of objects, or mere affec- tation or skittishness. For the first, the nature of which we have explained at page 66, every allowance must be made, and care must be taken that the fear of correction is not associated with the imagined existence of some terrifying object. The severe use of the whip and the spur cannot do good here, and are likely to ag- gravate the vice ten-fold. A word half encouraging and half scolding, with a slight pressure of the heel, or a slight touch of the spur, will tell the horse that there was nothing to fear, and will give him confidence in his rider on a future occasion. The shying from skittishness or affectation is quite a different affair, and must be conquered: but how? Severity is altogether out of place. If he is forced into contact with the object by dint of correction, the dread of punishment will afterwards be associ- ated with that object, and, on the next occasion, his startings will be more frequent and more dangerous. The way to cure him is to go on, turning as little as possible out of the road, giving a harsh word or two, and agentle touch with the spur, and then taking no more notice of the matter. Aftera few times, what- ever may have been the object which he chose to select as the pretended cause of affright, he will pass it almost without notice. In page 243, under the head “breaking in,” we described how the colt may be cured of the habit of shying from fear or newness of objects ; and, if he then is accustomed as much as possible to the objects among which his services will be required, he will not possess this annoyiug vice when he grows to maturer age. It is now generally admitted by all riding-masters and colt- breakers, that a great deal more is to be effected by lenient than by harsh treatment. Rewards are found to operate more benefi- cially than punishments; and therefore the most scientific and practised riding-masters adopt methods based upon the former. Let us not be understood to mean that the animal is to receive any encouragement to shy; for by no other expression can be characterized that erroneous and foolish practice of patting the horse, or “ making much of him,” either just before or during the time he evinces shyness. The former is bad, because it draws the attention of the animal to the object he dreads; the latter is worse, because it fills him with the impression either that the ob- ject itself is really terrific, or that he has acted right in shying at it, and ought to do so again. ‘Whether we are approaching the frightful object, or the horse is actually shying, “we should let him alone’’—‘‘ we should take no notice whatever of him’’—neither letting him perceive that we are aware that we are advancing towards anything he dis- likes ; nor do more with him, while in the act of shying, than is uevessary for due restraint with a steady hand upon the rein. We SLIPPING THE HALTER, 383 may depend upon it, that battling on our part -will only serve to augment affright and arouse resistance on his, and that the most judicious course we can pursue is to persevere in mild forbearant usage. Saying on coming out of the stable is a habit that can rarely or never be cured. It proceeds from the remembrance of some ul-usage or hurt which the animal has received in the act of pro- ceeding from the stable, such as striking his head against a low door-way, or entangling the harness. When the cure, however, is early attempted, it may be so far overcome that it will be unattended with danger or difficulty. The horse should be bridled when led out or in. He should be held short and tight by the head, that he may feel he has not lib- erty to make a leap, and this of itself is often sufficient to restrain him. Punishment, or a threat of punishment, will be highly im- proper. It is only timid or high-spirited horses that acquire this habit, and rough usage invariably increases their agitation and terror.* SLIPPING THE COLLAR OR HALTER. This is a trick at which many horses are so clever, that scarcely a night passes without their getting loose. It is a very serious habit, for it enables the horse sometimes to gorge himself with food, to the imminent danger of staggers ; or it exposes him, as he * Note by Mr. Spooner—This vice or habit—for it ranges between the one and the other—exists in every variety of degree. There are more horses that shy than do not: when the practice exists in a slight degree, it is a mat- ter of no consequence, but when the animal, instead of merely looking at the object of alarm and dwelling a little in his pace as he approaches it, stops suddenly, or turns round, or swerves considerably, the habit becomes a dan- gerous vice, and is exceedingly objectionable. There is more affectation than real fear about this habit, the horse making.use of every unusual ob- ject as an excuse for the indulgence of his skittishness, or his obstinacy. There are often some strange eccentricities connected with it. Horses will often pass a frightful object without the least fear; but if, perchance, there is a puddle in the road, or a stick of timber lying beside it, imagination ap- pears to paint the object in the most hideous colors or portentous forms. Horses shy most in the country, where there are but few objects to meet; and they rarely exhibit this propensity in the crowded streets of the metro- polis. ‘fhe objects are there far too numerous to allow an excuse for shying, or would soon weary them of the habit; indeed the very best method of curing the vice is to use the animal in crowded streets. Though shying is often connected with imperfect vision, it is rarely produced by actual disease, and, therefore, its existence does not augur unsound eyes. Too great con- vexity of the eyeis certainly often connected with shying, so that objects are refracted too quickly, and thus are imperfectly painted on the retina, Shying horses are frequently made much worse by rough usage; instead of which they should always be treated with gentleness and firmners, which system, in many irstances, will succeed in effecting a cure. 384 TRIPPING——-WEAVING. wanders about, to be kicked and injured by the other horses, while his restlessness will often keep the whole team awake. If the web of the halter, being first accurately fitted to his neck, is suffered to slip only one way, or a strap is attached to the halter and buckled round the neck, but not sufficiently tight to be of serious inconvenience, the power of slipping the collar will be taken away. TRIPPING. He must be a skilful practitioner or a mere pretender who promises to remedy this habit. If it arises from a heavy fore-hand, and the fore-legs being too much under the horse, no one can al- ter the natural frame of the animal: if it proceeds from tender- ness of the foot, groeginess, or old lameness, these ailments are seldom cured. Also if it is to be traced to habitual carelessness and idleness, no whipping will rouse the drone. A known stum- bler should never be ridden, or driven by any one who values his safety or his life. A tight hand or a strong-bearing rein are pre- cautions that should not be neglected, although they are generally of little avail; for the inveterate stumbler will rarely be able to save himself, and this tight rein may sooner and farther precipi- tate the nder. If, after a trip, the horse suddenly starts forward, and endeavors to break into a short trot or canter, the rider or driver may be assured that others before him have fruitlessly en- leavored to remedy the nuisance. If the stumbler has the foot kept as short, and the toe pared as close as safety will permit, and the shoe is rounded at the toe, or has that shape given to it which it naturally acquires in a fort- night from the peculiar action of such a horse, the animal may not stumble quite so much; or if the disease which produced the habit can be alleviated, some trifling good may be done, but in almost every case a stumbler should be got rid of, or put to slow and heavy work. If the latter alternative is adopted, he may trip as much as he pleases, for the weight of the load and the motion of the other horses will keep him upon his legs. WEAVING This consists in a motion of the head, neck, and body, from side to side, like the shuttle of a weaver passing through the web, and hence the name which is given to this peculiar, and incessant, and unpleasant action. It indicates an impatient, irritable temper, and a dislike to the confinement of the stable. A horse that 13 thus incessantly on the fret will seldom carry flesh, or be safe to ride or drive. There is no cure for it, but the close tying-up of the animal, or at least allowing him but one loose rein, except at feeding-time CHAPTER XX. THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSE. Tumis is a most important part of our subject, even as it re- gards the farmer, although there are comparatively few glaring errors in the treatment of the agricultural horse; but it comes more especially home to the gentleman, who is too often, and too implicitly, under the guidance of an idle, and ignorant, and designing groom. We will arrange the most important points of general man- agement under the following heads :— AIR. The breathing of pure air is necessary to the existence and the health of man and beast. It is comparatively lately that this has been admitted even in the management of our best sta- bles. They have been close, and hot, and foul, instead of airy, and cool, and wholesome. : The stable should be as large, compared with the number of horses that it is destined to contain, as circumstances will allow, A stable for six horses should not be less than forty feet in leugth, and thirteen or fourteen feet wide.* If there is no loft above, the inside of the roof should always be plastered in order to prevent direct currents of air and occasional droppings from broken tiles. The heated and foul air should escape, and cool and pure air be admitted, by elevation of the central tiles; or by large tubes car- ried through the roof, with caps a iittle above them, to prevent the beating in of the rain ; or by gratings placed high up in the walls. These latter apertures should be as far above the horses as they can conveniently be placed, by which means all injuri- ous draught will be prevented. If there is a loft above the stable, the ceiling should be plas- tered, in order to prevent the foul air from penetrating to the hay above, and injuring both its taste and its wholesomeness ; * It will be borne in mind that the author is speaking of the close stone or brick stables a England.—Am. Ed. a 336 AIR. and no openings should be allowed above the racks, through which the hay may be thrown into them; for they will permit the foul air to ascend to the provender, and also in the act of fillmg the rack, and while the horse is eagerly gazing upward for his food, a grass seed may fall into the eye, and produce con- siderable inflammation. At other times, when the careless groom has left open the trap-door, a stream of cold air beats down on the head of the horse. The stable with a loft over it should never be less than twelve feet high, and proper ventilation should be secured, either by tubes carried through the roof, or by gratings close to the ceil- ing. These gratings or openings should be enlarged or con- tracted by means of a covering or shutter, so that spring, sum- mer, and autumn, the stable may possess nearly the same tem- perature with the open air, and in winter a temperature of net more than ten degrees above that of the external atmosphere. A hot stable has, in the mind of the groom, been long connected with a glossy coat. The latter, it is thought, cannot be obtained without the former. To this we should reply, that in winter a thin, glossy coat is not desirable. Nature gives to every animal a warmer clothing when the-cold weather approaches. The horse—the agricul- tural horse especially—acquires a thicker and a lengthened coat, in order to defend him from the surrounding cold. Man puts on an additional and a warmer covering, and his comfort is in- ereased and his health preserved by it. He who knows any- th.mg of the farmer’s horse, or cares about his enjoyment, will not object to a coat a little longer, and a little roughened when the wintry wind blows bleak. The coat, however, needs not to be su long as to be unsightly ; and warm clothing, even in a cool stable, will, with plenty of honest grooming, keep the hair sufficiently smooth an’ glossy to satisfy the most fastidious. The over-heated air of a .ose stable saves much of this grooming, and theretore the id! - attendant unscrupulously sacrifices the health and safety of tue horse. When we have presently to treat of the hair an { skin of the horse, this will be placed in a somewhat different point of view. If the stable is close, the air will not only be hot, but foul. The breathing of every animal contaminates it; and when in the course of the night, with every aperture stopped, it passes again and again through the lungs, the ‘blood cannot undergo its proper and healthy change ; digestion will not be so perfectly per- formed, and all the functions of life are injured. Let the owner of a valuable horse think of his passing twenty or twenty-two out of the twenty-four hours in this debilitating atmosphere! Natnre does wonders in cnabling every animal to accomracdate AIR—L.TTER. 387 itself to the situation in which it is placed, and the horse that lives in the stable-oven suffers less from it than would scarcely be conceived possible ; but he does not, and cannot, possess the power and the hardihood which he would acquire under other circumstances. The air of the improperly close and heated stable is still fur- ther contanunated by the urine and dung, which rapidly ferment there, and give out stimulating and unwholesome vapors. When a person first enters an ill-managed stable, and especially early in the morning, he is annoyed, not only by the heat of the con- fined air, but by a pungent smell, resembling hartshorn ; and can he be surprised at the inflammation of the eyes, and the chronic cough, and the disease of the lungs, by which the animal, who has been all night shut up in this vitiated atmosphere, is often attacked ; or if glanders and farcy should occasionally break out im such stables? It has been ascertained by chemical experi- ment that the urine of the horse contains in it an exceedingly large quantity of hartshorn ; and not only so, but that, influenced by the heat of a crowded stable, and possibly by other decompo- sitions that are going forward at the same time, this ammoniacal vapor begins to be rapidly given out almost immediately after the urine is voided. ‘When disease begins to appear among the inhabitants of these ill-ventilated places, is it wonderful that it should rapidly spread among them, and that the plague-spot should be, as it were, placed on the door of such a stable? Whea distemper appears In spring or in autumn, it is in very many cases to be traced to such a pest-house. It is peculiarly fatal there. The horses be- longing to a small establishment, and rationally treated, have it comparatively seldom, or have it lightly ; but among the inmates of a crowded stable it is sure to display itself, and there it is most fatal. The experience of every veterinary surgeon, and of every large proprietor of horses, will corroborate this statement. Every stable should possess within itself a certain degree of ventilation. The cost of this would be trifling, and its saving in the preservation of valuable animals may be immense. The apertures need not be large, and the whole may be so contrived that no direct current of air shall fall on the horse. A gentleman's stable should never be without a thermometer. The temperature should seldom exceed 70° in the summer, or sink below 40’ or 50° in the winter. LITTER. Having spoken of the vapor of hartshorn, which is so rapidly and so vlentifully given out from the urjne of a horse in a heated 388 LIGHT. stable, we next take into consideration the subject of litter. The first caution is frequently to remove it. The early extrication of gas shows the rapid putrefaction of the urine; and the conse- quence of which will be the rapid putrefaction of the litter that has been moistened by it. Everything hastening to decomposition should be carefully removed where life and health are to be pre- served. The litter that has been much wetted or at all softened py the urine, and is beginning to decay, should be swept away every morning; the greater part of the remainder may then be piled under the manger; a little being left to prevent the painful and injurious pressure of the feet on the hard pavement during the day. The soiled and soaked portion of that which was left should be removed at night. In the better kind of stables, how- ever, the stalls should be completely emptied every morning. No heap of fermenting dung should be suffered to remain dur- ing the day in the corner or in any part of the stable. With re- gard to this, the directions »f the master should be peremptory. The stable should be e9 contrived that the urine shall quickly run off, and the offer ive and injurious vapor from the decom- posing fluid and the .itter will thus be materially lessened, but if this is effected hy means of gutters and a descending floor, the descent must be barely sufficient to cause the fluid to escape, as if the toes are kept higher than the heels, it will lead to lame- ness, and is also a frequent cause of contraction of the foot. Stalls of this kind certainly do best for mares; but for horses we much prefer those with a grating in the centre, and a slight inclination of the floor on every side towards the middle. A short branch may communicate with a larger drain, by means of which the urine may be carried off to a reservoir outside the stable. Traps are now contrived, and may be procured at little expense, by means of which neither any offensive smell nor current of air can vass through the grating. ‘ Humanity and interest, as well as the appearance of the stable, should induce the proprietor of the horse to place a moderate suantity of litter under him during the day.* LIGHT. This neglected branch of stable-management is of far more consequence than is generally imagined ; and it is particularly neglected by those for whom these treatises are principally de- signed. The farmer’s stable is frequently destitute of any glazed window, and has only a shutter, which is raised in warm weather, and closed when the weather becomes cold. When the horse is * Jt will be remembered the author is speaking of paved floors— Am. Ed. GROOMING. $89 in the stable only during a few hours in the day, this is not of so much consequence, nor of so much, probably, with regard to horsvs of slow work ; but to carriage-horses and hackneys, so far, at least, as the eyes are concerned, a dark stable is little less injurious than a foul and heated one. In order to illustrate this, reference may be made to the unpleasant feeling, and the utter impossibility of seeing distinctly, when a man suddenly emerges from a dark place into the full blaze of day. The sensation of mingled pain and giddiness is not soon forgotten; and some minutes pass before the eye can accommodate itself to the increased light. If this were to happen every day, or several times in the day, the sight would be irreparably injured, or possibly blindness would ensue. Can we wonder, then, that the horse, taken from a dark stable into a glare of light, feeling, probably, as we should do under similar circumstances, and unable for a considerable time to see anything wround him distinctly, should become a starter, or that the fre quently repeated violent effect of sudden light should induce in- flammation of the eye so intense as to terminate in blindness ? There is, indeed, no doubt that horses kept in dark stables are frequently notorious starters, and that abominable habit has been properly. traced to this cause. If plenty of light is admitted, the walls of the stable, and es- pecially that portion of them which is before the horse’s head, must not be of too glaring a color. The color of the stable should depend on the quantity of light. Where much can be admitted, the walls should be of a gray hue. Where darkness would other- wise prevail, frequent whitewashing may in some degree dissipate the gloom. For another reason, it will be evident that the stable should not possess too glaring a light: it is the resting-place of the horse. The work of the farmey’s horse, indeed, is confined principally to the day. The hour of exertion having passed, the animal returns to his stable to feed and to repose, and the latter is as necessary as the former, in order to prepare him for renewed work. Some- thing approaching to the dimness of twilight is requisite to induce the animal to compose himself to sleep. This half-light more particularly suits horses of heavy work. In the quietness of a dimly-lighted stable, they obtain repose, and accumulate flesh and fat. GROOMING, Of this. much need not be said to the agriculturist, since cus- tom, and apparently without ill effect, has allotted so little of the comb and brush to the farmer’s horse. The animal that is worked all day, and turned out at night, requires little more to be done 390 GROOMING. to him than to have the dirt brushed off his limbs. Regular grooming, by rendering his skin more sensible to the alteration of temperature, and the inclemency of the weather, would be preju- dicial. The horse that is altogether turned out, needs no groom- ing. The dandriff, or scurf, which accumulates at the roots of the hair, is a provision of nature to defend him from the wind and the cold. It is to the stabled horse, highly fed, and little or irregularly worked, that grooming is of so much consequence. Good rubbing with the brush, or the curry-comb, opens the pores of the skin, circulates the blood to the extremities of the body, produces free and healthy perspiration, and stands in the room of exercise. No horse will carry a fine coat without either unnatural heat or dressing. They both effect the same purpose ; they both increase the insensible perspiration : but the first does it at the expense of health and strength, while the second, at the same time that it produces a glow on the skin, and a determination of blood to it, rouses all the energies of the frame. It would be well for the proprietor of the horse if he were to insist—and to see that his orders are really obeyed—that the fine coat in which he and his groom so much delight, is produced by honest rubbing, and not by a heated stable and thick clothing, and most of all, not by stimulating or injurious spices. The horse should be regularly sressed every day, in addition to the grooming that is necessary after work. When the weather will permit the horse to be taken out, he should never be groomed in the stable, unless he is an animal of peculiar value, or placed for a time under peculiar circumstances. Without dwelling on the want of cleanliness, when the scurf and dust that are brushed from the horse lodge in his manger, and mingle with his food, experience teaches, that if the cold is not too great, the animal is braced and invigorated to a degree that cannot be attained in the stable, from being dressed in the open air. There is no necessity, however, for half the punishment which many a groom inflicts upon the horse in the act of dressing ; and particularly on one whose skin is thin and sensible. The curry-comb should at all times be lightly applied. With many horses, its use may be almost dispensed with ; and even the brush needs not to be so hard, nor the points of the bristles so irregular, as they often are. A soft brush, with a little more weight of the hand, will be equally effectual, and a great deal more pleasant to the horse. A hair-cloth, while it will seldom irritate and tease, will be almost sufficient with horses that have a thin skin, and that have not been neglected. After all, it is no slight task to dress a horse as it ought to be done. It occupies no little time, and demands considerable natience. as well as devtevity T+ wil! EXERCISE. 391 be readily ascertained whether a horse has been well dressed by rubbing him with one of the fingers. A greasy stain will detect the idleness of the groom When, however, the horse is chang- ing his coat, both the curry-comb and the brush should be used as lightly as possible. ‘Whoever would be convinced of the benefit of friction to the horse’s skin, and to the horse generally, needs only to observe the effects produced by well hand-rubbing the legs of a tired horse. While every enlargement subsides, and the painful stiffness dis- appears, and the legs attain their natural warmth, and become fine, the animal is evidently and rapidly reviving ; he attacks his food with appetite, and then quietly lies down to rest. EXERCISE. Our observations on this important branch of stable-manage ment must-have only a slight reference to the agricultural horse. His work is usually regular, and not exhausting. He is neither predisposed to disease by idleness, nor worn out by excessive ex- ertion. He, like his master, has enough to do to keep him in health, and not enough to distress or injure him: on the contrary, the regularity of his work prolongs life to an extent rarely wit- nessed in the stable of the gentleman. Our remarks on exercise, then, must have a general bearing, or have principal reference to those persons who are in the middle stations of life, and who eon- trive to keep a horse for business or pleasure, but cannot afford to maintain a servant for the express purpose of looking after it. The fivst rule we would lay down is, that every horse should have daily exercise. The animal that, with the usual stable feeding. stands idle for three or four days, as is the case in many establish ments, must suffer. He is predisposed to fever, or to grease, o1 most of all, diseases of the foot; and if, after three or four days of inactivity, he is ridden far and fast, he is almost sure to have inflammation of the lungs or of the fect. : A gentleman’s or a tradesman’s horse suffers a great deal more from idleness than he does from work. A stable-fed horse should have two hours’ exercise every day, if he is to be kept free from disease. Nothing of extraordinary, or even of ordinary labor, can be effected on the road or in the field, without sufficient and reg- ular exercise. It is this alone which can give energy to the sys- tem, or develope the powers of any animal. Ee In training the hunter and the race-horse, regular exercise is the most important of all considerations, however it may be for- gotten in the usual management of the stable. The exercised horse will discharge his task, and sometimes a severe one, with ease and pleasure; while the idle and neglected one will be 392 FOOD. fatigued ere half his labor is accomplished, and, if he 1s pushed a little too far, dangerous inflammation will ensue. How often, nev ertheless, does it happen, that the horse which has stood inactive ir the stable three or four days, is ridden or driven thirty or forty miles in the course ofa singleday! This rest is often purposely given te prepare for extra-exertion ;—to lay in a stock of strength for the performance of the task required of him: and then the owner is surprised and dissatisfied if the animal is fairly knocked up, or possibly becomes seriously ill. Nothing isso common and so pre- posterous, as for a person to buy a horse from a dealer’s stable, where he has been idly fattened for sale for many a day, and im- mediately to give him a long run after the hounds, and then to complain bitterly, and think that he has been imposed upon, if the animal is exhausted before the end of the chase, or is compelled to be led home suffering from violent inflammation. Regular and gradually increasing exercise would have made the same horse appear a treasure to his owner. Exercise should be somewhat proportioned to the age of the horse. A young horse requires more than an old one. Nature has given to young animals of every kind a disposition to activity , but the exercise must not be violent. A great deal depends upon the manner in which it is given. To preserve the temper, and to promote health, it should be moderate, at least at the beginning and the termination. The rapid trot, or even the gallop, may be resorted to in the middle of the exercise, but the horse should he brought in cool. FOOD. The system of manger-feeding is becoming general among farm ers. There are few horses that do not habitually waste a portion of their hay; and by some the preater part is pulled down and trampled under foot, in order first to cull the sweetest and best locks, and which could not be done while the hay was enclosed in the rack. A good feeder will afterwards pick up much of that which was thrown down; but some of it must be soiled and ren- dered disgusting, and, in many cases, one-third of this division of their food is wasted. Some of the oats and beans are imperfectly chewed by ail horses, and scarcely at all by hungry and greedy ones. The appearance of the dung will sufficiently evince this. The observation of this induced the adoption of manger-feeding. or of mixing a portion of chaff (i. e., cut feed) with the grain and beans By this means the animal is compelled to chew his food - he cannot, to any great degree, waste the straw or hay; the chaft is too hard and too sharp to be swallowed without sufficient mas- tication, and while he is forced to grind that down, the oats and FOOD. 393 beans are grouad with it. and yield more nourishment ; the stom- ach is more slowly filled, and therefore acts better on its contents, and is not so likely to be overloaded ; and the increased quantity of saliva thrown out in the lengthened maceration of the food, softens it, and makes it more fit for digestion. ; Chaff may be composed of equal quantities of clover or meadow hay, and wheaten, oaten, or barley straw, cut into pieces of a quarter or half an inch in length, and mingled well together ; the allowance of oats or beans is afterwards added, and mixed with the chaff. Many farmers very properly bruise the oats or beans. The whole oat is apt to slip out of the chaff and be lost ; but when it is bruised, and especially if the chaff is a little wetted, it will not readily separate ; or, should a portion of it escape the grind- ers, it will be partly prepared for digestion by the act of bruising. The prejudice against bruising the oats is, so far as the farmer’s horse, and the wagon horse, and every horse of slow draught, are concerned, altogether unfounded. The quantity of straw in the chaff will always counteract any supposed purgative quality in bruised oats. Horses of quicker draught, except they are nat- urally disposed to scour, will thrive better with bruised than with whole oats; for a greater quantity of nutriment will be extracted from the food, and it will always be easy to apportion the quan- tity of straw or beans to the effect of the mixture on the bowels of the horse. The principal alteration that should be made in the horse of harder and more rapid work, such as the post-horse, and the stage-coach horse, is to increase the quantity of hay, and diminish that of straw. Two trusses of hay may be cut with one of straw. Some gentlemen, in defiance of the prejudice and opposition of the coachman. or the groom, have introduced this mode of feeding into the stables of their carriage-horses and hackneys, and with manifest advantage. There has been no loss of condition or power, and considerable saving of provender. This system is not, how- ever, calculated for the hunter or the race-horse. Their food must lie in smaller bulk, in order that the action of the lungs may not be impeded by the distention of the stomach ; yet many hunters have gone well over the field who have been manger-fed, the pro- portion of grain, however, being materially increased. For the agricultural and cart-horse, eight pounds of oats and two of beans should be added to every twenty pounds of chaff. Thirty-four or thirty-six pounds of the mixture will be sufficient for any moderate-sized horse, with fair, or even hard work. The dray and wagon horse may require forty pounds. Hay in the rack at night is, in this case, supposed to be omitted altogether The rack, however, may remain, as occasionally useful for the sick horse, or to contain tares or other green feed. Horses are very fond of this provender. The majority of them, 394 . FOOD. after having been accustomed to it, will leave the best oats given to them alone, for the sake of the mingled chaffand grain. We would, however, caution the farmer not to set apart too much damaged hay for the manufacture of the chaff. The horse may be thus induced to eat that which he would otherwise refuse ; but if the nourishing property of the hay has been impaired, or it has acquired an injurious principle, the animal will either lose condition, or become diseased. Much more injury is done by eat- ing damaged hay or musty oats than is generally imagined. There will be sufficient saving in the diminished cost of the provender by the introduction of the straw, and the improved condition of the horse, without poisoning him with the refuse of the farm. For old horses, and for those with defective teeth, chaff is peculiarly useful, and for them the grain should be bro- ken down as well as the fodder. While the mixture of chaff with the grain prevents it from being too rapidly devoured and a portion of it swallowed whole, and therefore the stomach is not too loaded with that on which, as containing the most nutiiment, its chief digestive power should be exerted, yet, on the whole, a great deal of time is gained by this mode of feeding, and more is left for rest. When a horse comes in wearied at the close of the day, it occupies, after he has eaten his grain, two or three hours to clear his rack. On the system of manger-feeding, the chaff being already cut into small pieces, and the beans and oats bruised, he is able fully to satisfy his appetite in an hour anda half. Two additional hours are therefore devoted to rest. This is a circumstance deserving of much consideration even in the farmer’s stable, and of immense consequence to the post-master, the stage-coach proprietor, and the owner of every hard worked horse. Manger food will be the usual support of the farmer’s horse during the winter, and while at constant or occasional hard work: but from the middle of April to the end of July, he may be fed with this mixture in the day and turned out at night, or he may remain out during every rest-day. A team in constant employ should not, however, be suffered to be out at night after the end of July. The farmer should take care that the pasture is thick and good ; and that the distance from the yard is not too great, or the fields too large, otherwise a very considerable portion of time will be occupied in catching the horse inthe morning. He will like- wise have to take into consideration the sale he would have for his hay, and the necessity for sweet and untrodden pasture for his cattle. On the whole, however, turning out in this way, when cicrumstances will admit of it, will be found to be more bencficiaj for the horse, and cheaper than soiling in the yard. FOOD. 3935 The horse of the inferior farmer is sometimes fed on hay or grass alone, and the animal. although he rarely gets a feed of grain, maintains himself in tolerable condition, and does the work that is required of him: but hay and grass alone, however good in quality, or in whatever quantity allowed, will not support a horse under hard work. Other substances containing a large proportion of nutriment in a smaller compass, have been added. They shall be briefly enumerated, and an estimate formed of their comparative value. In almost every part of Great Britain, Oats have been selected as that portion of the food which is to afford the principal nour- ishment. They contain seven hundred and forty-three parts out of a thousand of the nutritive matter. They should be about or somewhat less than a year old, heavy, dry, and sweet. New oats will weigh ten or fifteen per cent. more than old ones; but the difference consists principally in watery matter, which is gradually evaporated. New oats are not so readily ground down by the teeth as old ones. They form a more glutinous mass, dif- ficult to digest, and, when eaten in considerable quantities, are apt to occasion colic and even staggers. If they are to be used before they are from three to five months old, they would be materi- ally improved by a little kiln-drying. There is no fear for the horses from simple drying, if the corn was good when it was put into the kiln. The old oat forms, when chewed, a smooth and uniform mass, which readily dissolves in the stomach, and yields the nourishment which it contains. Perhaps some chemical change may have been slowly effected in the old oat, disposing it tu be more readily assimilated. Oats should be plump, bright in color, and free from unpleasant smell or taste. The musty smell of wetted or damaged grain is produced by a fungus which grows upon the seed, and which has an injurious effect on the urinary organs, and often on the intestines, producing profuse staling, in- flammation of the kidneys, colic, and inflammation of the bowels. This musty smell is removed by kiln-drying the oat; but care is here requisite that too great a degree of heat is not employed. It should be sufficient to destroy the fungus without injuring the life of the seed. A considerable improvement would be effected by cutting the unthrashed oat-straw into chaff, and the expense of thrashing would be saved. Oat-straw is better than that of barley, but does not contain so much nutriment as that of wheat When the horse is fed on hay and oats, the quantity of the oats must vary with his size and the work to be performed. In win- ter, four feeds, or from ten to fourteen pounds of oats in the day, will be a fair allowance for a horse of fifteen hands one or two inches high, and that has moderate work. In summer, half the quantity, with green food will be sufficient. Those which work 396 FOOD. on the farm have from ten to fourteen pounds, and the hunter from twelve to sixteen. There are no efficient and safe substi- tutes for good oats; but, on the contrary, we are much inclined to believe that they possess an invigorating property which is not found in other food. Oatmeal will form a poultice more stimulating than one com- posed of linseed-meal alone—or they may be mingled in different proportions, as circumstances require. In the form of gruel it constitutes one of the most important articles of diet for the sick horse—not, indeed, foreed upon him, but a pail containing it being slung in his box, and of which he will soon begin to drink when water is denied. Few grooms make good gruel; it is either not boiled long enough, or a sufficient quantity of oatmeal has not been used. The proportions should be, a pound of meal thrown into a gallon of water, and kept constantly stirred until it boils, and five minutes afterwards. White-water, made by stirring a pint of oatmeal in a pail of water, the chill being taken from it, is an excellent beverage foi the thirsty and tired horse. Barxey is a common food of the horse on various parts: of the Continent, and, until the introduction of the oat, seems to have constituted almost his only food. It is more nutritious than oats, containing nine hundred and twenty parts of nutritive matter in every thousand. There seems, however, to be something neces- sary besides a great proportion of nutritive matter, in order te render any substance wholesome, strengthening, or fattening : therefore it is that, in many horses that are hardly worked, and. indeed, in horses generally, barley does not agree with them so well as oats. They are occasionally subject to inflammatory complaints, and particularly to surfeit and mange. When barley is given, the quantity should not exceed a peck daily. It should always be bruised, and the chaff should consist of equal quantities of hay and barley-straw, and not cut too short. If the farmer has a quantity of spotted or unsaleable barley that he wishes thus to get rid of, he must very gradually accustom his horses to it, or he will probably produce serious illness among them. For horses that are recovering from illness, barley, in the form of malt, is often serviceable, as tempting the appetite and recruiting the strength. It is best given in mashes—water, con- siderably below the boiling heat, being poured upon it, and the vessel or pail kept covered for half an hour. Grains fresh trom the mash-tub, either alone, or mixed with oats or chaff, or both, may be occasionally given to horses of slow draught ; they would, however, afford very insufficient nourish ment for horses of quicker or harder work. Wueat is, in Great Britain, more rarely given than barley FOOD. 397 »€ contains nme hundred and fifty-five parts of nutritive matter When farmers have a damaged or unmarketable sample of wheat, they sometimes give it to their horses, and, being at first used in small quantities, they become accustomed to it, and thrive and work well: it must, however, always be bruised and given in chaff. Wheat contains a greater portion of gluten, or sticky, adhesive matter, than any other kind of grain. It is difficult of digestion, and apt to cake and forms obstructions in the bowels This will oftener be the case if the horse is suffered to drink much waier soon after feeding upon wheat. Fermentation, colic, and death, are occasionally the conse- quence of eating any great quantity of wheat. A horse that is fed on wheat should have very little hay. The proportion should not be more than one truss of hay to two of straw. Wheaten flour, boiled in water to the thickness of starch, is given with good effect in over-purging, and especially if combined with chalk and opium. Bran, or the ground husk of the wheat, used to be frequently given to sick horses on account of the supposed advantage derived from its relaxing the bowels, There is no doubt that it does ope- rate gently on the intestinal canal, and assists in quickening the passage of its contents, when it is occasionally given ; but it must not be a constant, or even frequent food. Mr Ernes attended three mills at which many horses were kept, and there were al- ways two or three cases of indigestion from the accumulation of bran or pollard in the large intestines. Bran may, however, be useful as an occasional aperient in the form of a mash, but never should become a regular article of food. : Brans.—These form a striking illustration of the principle, that the nourishing or strengthening effects of the different arti- cles of food depend more on some peculiar property which they possess, or some combination which they form, than on the actual quantity of nutritive matter. Beans contain but five hundred and seventy parts of nutritive matter, yet they add materially to the vigor of the horse. There are many horses that will not stand hard work without beans being mingled with their food, and these not horses whose tendency to purge it may be neces- sary to restrain by the astringency of the bean. There is no traveller who is not aware of the difference in the spirit and con- tinuance of his horse whether he allows or denies him beans on his journey. They afford not merely a temporary stimulus, but they may be daily used without losing their power, or producing exhaustion. They are indispensable to the hard-worked coach- horse. Washy horses could never get through their work with. out them; and old horses would often sink under the task im- posed upon them. They should not be given to the horses whole 398 FOOD or split, but crushed. This will make a material difference the quantity of nutriment that will be extracted. They are sometimes given to turf-horses, but only as an occasional stimu- iant. Two pounds of beans may, with advantage, be mixed with the chaff of the agricultural horse, during the winter. In sum- mer the quantity.of beans should be lessened, or they should be altogether discontinued. Beans are generally given whole. This is very absurd : for the young horse whose teeth are strong, sel- dom requires them ; while the old horse, to whom they are in a manner necessary, is scarcely able to masticate them, swallows many of them which he is unable to break, and drops much corn from his mouth in the ineffectual attempt to crushthem. Beans should not be merely split, but crushed; they will even then give sufficient employment to the grinders of the animal. Some post-masters use chaff with beans instead of oats. With hardly- worked horses they may possibly be allowed; but, in general cases, beans, without oats, would be too binding and stimulating, and would produce costiveness, and probably megrims or staggers. Beans should be at least a twelvemonth old before they are given to the horse, and they should be carefully preserved from damp and mouldiness, which at least disgust the horse if they do no other harm, and harbor an insect that destroys the inner part of the bean. The straw of the bean is nutritive and wholesome, and is usu- ally given to the horses. Its nutritive properties are supposed tu be little inferior to those of oats. The small.and plump bean is generally the best. Peas are occasionally given. They appear to be in a slight degree more nourishing than beans, and not so heating. They contain five hundred and seventy-four parts of nutritive matter. ror horses of slow work they may be used; but the quantity of chaff should be increased, and a few oats added. They have not been found to answer with horses of quick draught. It is essential that they should be crushed ; otherwise, on account of their globular form, they are apt to escape from the teeth, and many are swallowed whole. Exposed to warmth and moisture in the stomach, they swell considerably, and may painfully and injuriously distend it. The peas that are given to horses should be suund, and at least a twelve-month old. In some northern counties pea-meal is frequently used, not only as an excellent food for the horse, but as a remedy for diabetes. LinsErp is sometimes given to sick horses—raw, ground, and boiled. It is supposed to be useful in cases of catarrh. Hay is most in perfection when it is about a twelve-month old The horse perhaps would prefer it earlier, but it neither so whole- some nur so nutritive, and often has a purgative quality. When FOOD. 399 it is about a year old, it retains or should retain somewhat of its green color, its agreeable smell and its pleasant taste. It has un- dergone the slow process uf fermentation, by which the sugar which it contains is developed, and its nutritive quality is fully exercised. Old hay becomes dry and tasteless, and innutritive and unwholesome. After the grass is cut, and the hay stacked, a slight degree of fermentation takes place in it. This is neces- sary for the developement of the saccharine principle ; but occa- sionally it proceeds too far and the hay becomes mowburnt, in which state it is injurious, or even poisonous. The horse soon shows the effect which it has upon him. He has diabetes to a cansiderable degree—he becomes hidebound—his strength is wasted—his thirst is excessive, and he is alinost worthless. Where the system of manger-feeding is not adopted, or where hay is still allowed at night, and chaff and corn in the day, there is no error into which the farmer is so apt to fall as to give an un- due quantity of hay, and that generally ofthe worst kind. If the manger system is good, there can be no necessity for hay, or only for a small quantity of it; but if the rack is overloaded, the greedy horse will be eating all night, instead of taking rest— when the time for the morning feed arrives, his stomach will be already filled, and he will be less capable of work from the want of sleep, and from the long-continued distention of the stomach rendering it impossible for the food to be properly digested. It is a good practice to sprinkle the hay with water in which salt has been dissolved. It is evidently more palatable to the ani- mal, who will leave the best unsalted hay for that of an inferior quality that has been moistened with brine; and there can be no doubt that the salt very materially assists the process of digestion. The preferable way of salting hay is to sprinkle it over the differ- ent layers asthe rick is formed. From its attraction for water, it would combine with that excess of moisture which, in wet sea- sons, is the cause of too rapid and violent fermentation, and of the hay becoming mowburnt, or the rick catching fire, and it would become more incorporated with the hay. The only objection to its being thus used is, that the color of the hay is not so bright ; but this will be of little consequence for home consumption. Of the value of Tares, as forming a portion of the late spring and summer food of the stabled and agricultural horse, there can be no doubt. They are cut after the pods are formed, but a con- siderable time before the seeds are ripe-—They supply a larger quantity of food for a limited time than almost any other forage- crop. The vicia sativa is the more profitable of thetare. ‘It is very nutritive, and acts as a gentle aperient. When surfeit- lumps appear on the skin, and the horse begins to rub himself against the divisions of the stall, and the legs swell. and the heels 400 FOOD. threaten to crack, a few tares, cut up with the chaff, or given in stead of a portion of the hay, will afford considerable relief. Ten or twelve pounds may be allowed daily, and half that weight of hay subtracted. It is an erroneous notion, that, given in mode- rate quantities, they either roughen the coat or lessen the capabi- lity for hard work. Rye Grass affords a valuable article of food, but is inferior to the tare. It is not so nutritive. It is apt to scour, and, occasion- ally, and late in the spring, it has appeared to be injurious to the horse. Cuover, for soiling the horse, is inferior to the tare and the rye grass, but nevertheless, is useful when they cannot be obtained. Clover hay is, perhaps, preferable to meadow hay for chaff. It will sometimes tempt the sick horse, and may be given with ad- vantage to those of slow and heavy work: but custom s¢éms properly to have forbidden it to the hunter and the hackney. Lucern, where it can be obtained, is preferable even to tares and SAINFOIN is superior to lucern. Although they contain but a small quantity of nutritive matter, it is easily digested, and per- fectly assimilated. They speedily put both muscle and fat on the horse that is worn down by labor, and they are almost a speci- fic for hide-bound. Some farmers have thonght so highly of lu- cern as to substitute it for oats. This may be allowable for the agricultural horse of slow and not severe work, but he from whom speedier action is sometimes required, and the horse of all work, must have a portion of hard meat within him. Tue SwepisH Turnip is an article of food the value of which has not been sufficiently appreciated, and particularly for agricul- tural horses. Although it is far from containing the quantity of nutritive matter which has been supposed, that which it has seems to be capable of easy and complete digestion. It should be sliced with chopped straw, and without hay. It quickly fat- tens the horse, and produces a smooth glossy coat and a loose skin. It will be good practice to give it once a day, and that at night when the work is done. Carrots.—The virtues of this root arc not sufficiently known, whether as contributing to the strength and endurance of the sound horse, or the rapid recovery of the sickone. To the healthy horse they should be given sliced in his chaff. Half a bushel will be a fair daily allowance. There is little provender of which the horse is fonder. The following account of the value of the carrot is not exaggerated. ‘This root is held in much esteem. There is none better, nor perhaps so good. When first given it is slightly diuretic and laxative ; but as the horse becomes accustomed to it, these effects cease to be produced. They also improve the state of the skin. They form a good sub FOOD. 401 stitute for grass, and an excellent alterative for horses out of con- dition. To sick and idle horses they render grain unnecessary, Dhey are beneficial in all chronic diseases connected with breathing. and have a marked influence upon chronic cough and broken wind. They are serviceable in diseases of the skin, and in combination with oats they restore a worn horse much sooner than oats alone Potatoes have been given, and with advantage, in their raw state, sliced with the chaff; but, where.it has been convenient to boil or steam them, the benefit has been far more evident. Purg- ing has then rarely ensued. Some have given boiled potatoes alone, and horses, instead of rejecting them, have soon preferred them even to the oat; but it is better to mix them with the usual manger feed, in the proportion of one pound of potatoes to two and a half pounds of the other ingredients The use of the po- tato must depend on its cheapness, and the facility for boiling it. Half a dozen horses would soon repay the expense of a steaming boiler in the saving of provender, without taking into the account their improved condition and capability for work.* A horse fed on potatoes should have his quantity of water materially curtailed. Furze has sometimes been given during the winter months. There is considerable trouble attending the preparation of it, al- though its plentifulness and little value for other purposes would, on a large farm, well repay that trouble. The furze is cut down at about, three or four years’ growth; the green branches of that and the preceding year are bruised in a mill, and then given to the horses in the state in which they come from the mill, or cut up with the chaff. Horses are very fond of it. If twenty pounds of the furze are given, five pounds of straw, the beans, and three pounds of the oats, may be withdrawn. The times of feeding should be as equally divided as con venience will permit ; and when it is likely that the horse will be kept longer than usual from home, the nose-bag should in- variably be taken. The small stomach of the horse is emptied in a few hours; and if he is suffered to remain hungry much beyond his accustomed time, he will afterwards devour his food so voraciously as to distend the stomach and endanger an attack of staggers. When extra work is required from the animal, the system of management is often injudicious, for a double feed is put before him, and as soon as he has swallowed it, he is started. It would pe far better to give him a double feed on the previous eve- ning, which would be digested before he is wanted, and then he * Professor Low says that 15 lbs. of potatoes yield as much nourishment as four pounds and a half of oats. Von Thayer asserts that three bushels are equal to 112]bs. of hay; and Curwen, who tried potatoes extensively in the feeding of horses says hint an acre goes as far as four acres of hay. 102 WATER. might set out in the morning after a very small portion of grain has been given to him, or perhaps only a little hay. One of the most successful methods of enabling a horse to get well through a long journey, is to give him only a little at a time while on the road, and at night to indulge him with a double feed of grain and a full allowance of beans. Warer.—tThis is a part of stable management little re- garded by the farmer. He lets his horses loose morning and night, and they go to the nearest pond or brook and drink their fill, and no harm results, for they obtain that kind of water which nature designed them to have, in a manner pre- pared for them by some unknown influence of the atmosphere, as well as by the deposition of many saline admixtures. The difference between hard and soft water is known to every one. In hard water, soap will curdle, vegetables will not boil soft, and the saccharine matter of the malt cannot be fully ob- tained in the process of brewing. There is nothing in which the different effect of hard and soft water is so evident, as in the stomach and digestive organs of the horse. Hard water, drawn fresh from the well, will assuredly make the coat of a horse unaccustomed to it stare, and it will not unfrequently gripe and otherwise injure him. Instinct or experience has made even the horse himself conscious of this, for he will never drink hard water if he has access to soft, and he will leave the most transparent and pure water of the well for a river, although the stream may be turbid, and even for the muddiest pool.* He is injured, however, not so much by the hardness of the well-water as by its coldness—particularly by its coldness in summer, and when it is in many degrees below the temperature of the atmosphere. The water in the brook and the pond being warmed by long exposure to the air, as well as having become soft, the horse drinks freely of it without danger. If the horse were watered three times a day, and especially in summer, he would often be saved from the sad torture of thirst, and from many a disease. Whoever has observed the eagerness with which the over-worked ‘horse, hot and _ tired, plunges his muzzle into the pail, and the difficulty of stopping’ him until he has drained the last drop, may form some idea of what he had previously suffered, and will not wonder at the violent spasms, and inflammation, and sudden death, that often result. There is a prejudice in the minds of many persons against the * Some trainers have so much fear of hard or strange water, that they carry with them to the different courses the water that the animal has been accustomed to drink, and that which they know agrees with it. MANAGEMENT OF THE FEET. 403 horse being fully supplied with water. They think that it injures his wind, and disables him for quick and hard work. If he is galloped, as he too often is, immediately after drinking, his wind may be irreparably injured; but if he were oftener suffered to satiate his thirst at the intervals of rest, he would be happier and better. It is a fact unsuspected by those who have not carefully observed the horse, that if he has frequent access to water, he will not drink so much in the course of the day as another will do, who, to cool his parched mouth, swallows as fast as he can, and knows not when to stop. On a journey a horse should be liberally supplied with water. When he is a little cooled, two or three quarts may be given to him, and after that his feed. Before he has finished his corn, two or three quarts more may be offered. He will take no harm ‘ this is repeated three or four times during a long and hot ay. It is a judicious rule with travellers, that when a horse begins to refuse his food, he should he pushed no farther that day. It may, however, be worth while to try whether this does not pro- ceed from thirst, as much as from exhaustion, for in many in- stances his appetite and his spirits will return soon after he has partaken of the refreshing draught. ManaGEMENT oF THE Freet.—This is the only division of stable management that remains to be considered, and one sadly neglected by the carter and groom. The feet should be care- fully examined every morning, for the shoes may be loose and the horse would have been stopped in the middle of his work ; or the clenches may be raised, and endanger the wounding of his legs ; or the shoe may begin to press upon the sole or the heel, and bruises of the sole, or corn, may be the result ; and, the horse having stood so long in the stable, every little crease of heat in the foot, or lameness, will be more readily detected, and serious disease may often be prevented. When the horse comes in at night, and after the harness has been taken off and stowed away, the heels should be well brushed out. Hand-rubbing will be preferable to washing, especially in the agricultural horse, whose heels, covered with long hair, can scarcely be dried again. If the dirt is suffered to accumulate in that long hairy, the heels will become sore and grease will follow; and if the heels are washed, and pavticu- larly during the winter, grease will result from the coldness occasioned by the slow evaporation of the moisture. The feet should be stopped—even. the feet of the farmer’s horse, if he remains in the stable. Very little clay should be used in the stopping, for it will get hard and press upon the sole. Cow flung is the best stopping to preserve the feet cool and clastic ; but 104 MANAGEMENT OF THE FEET. before the stopping is applied, the picker should be run round the whole of the foot, between the shoe and the sole, in order to detect any stone that may have insinuated itself there, or a wound on any other part of the sole. For the hackney and hunter stopping is indispensable. After several days’ hard work it will afford very great relief to take the shoes off, having put plenty of litter under the horse, or to turn him, if possible, into a loose- box ; and the shoes of every horse, whether hardly worked or not, should be removed or changed once in every three weeks. CHAPTER XXI. THE SKIN AND ITS DISEASES, Tue skin of the horse consists of three layers. Externally 1s the cuticle, epidermis, or scarf-skin, composed of innumerable thin transparent scales, like those of a fish. They are raised in the form of pellucid bladders in blistering, and are thrown off in hard, dry, white scales, in mange and some other diseases. The scarf- skin is permeated by innumerable pores, for the passage of the hair, perspiration, and unctuous secretions, and for the inha- lation of gasses and fluids. It is destitute of nerves and-blood- vessels, is insensible, and its principal use seems to be to protect the true skin, and to moderate its occasional morbid sensibility. There is a constant alteration and renewal of every part of it, but it adheres to the true skin through the medium of the pores, and also numerous little eminences, or projections, which seem tc be prolongations of the nerves of the skin. Beneath the cuticle is a thin, soft substance, through which the pores and eminences of the true skin pass. It is termed the rete mucosum, from its web-like structure, and its soft mucous consistence. Its office is to cover the minute vessels and nerves in their way from the cutis to the cuticle. It is also connected with the color of the skin. The cutis, or true skin, lies beneath the rete mucosum. It is decidedly of a fibrous texture, elastic, but with difficulty lacerated —exceedingly vascular, and highly sensitive. The skin answers the double purpose of protection and strength. Where it is necessary that the parts should be bound and knit together, it adheres so tightly that we can scarcely raise it. Thus the bones of the knees and the pasterns and the tendons of the legs, on which so much stress.is frequently thrown, are securely tied down and kept in their places. Of its strength we have abundant proof, both in the living and dead animal. It is, while the animal is alive, one of the most elastic bodies with which we are acquainted. It not only perfectly adapts it- self to the slow growth or decrease of the body, and appears 406 THE SKIN AND ITS DISEASES, equally to fit, whether the horse is in the plumpest condition o1 reduced to a skeleton ; but, when a portion of it is distended to an extraordinary degree, in the most powerful action of the muscles, it, in a moment, again contracts to its usual dimensions. It is principally indebted for this elasticity to almost innumer- able minute glands which pour out an oily fluid that softens and supplies it. When the horse is in health, and every organ dis- charges its proper functions, a certain quantity of this unctuous matter is spread over the surface of the skin, and is contained in all the pores that penetrate its substance ; and the skin becomes pliable, easily raised from the texture beneath, and presenting that peculiar yielding softness and elasticity which experience has proved to be the best proofs of the condition, or in other words, the general health of the animal. Then, too, ftom the oilness and softness of the skin, the hair lies in its natural and proper direc- tion, and is smooth and glossy. When the system is deranged, and especially the digestive system, and the vessels coucerned in the nourishment of the animal feebly act, those of the skin evi- dently sympathize. This oily secretion is no more thrown out; the skin loses its pliancy ; it seems to cling to the animal, and we have that peculiar appearance which we call hide-bound. This, however, requires attentive consideration. We observe a horse inthe summer. We find him witha thin, smooth, glossy coat, and his extremities clean and free almost from a single rough and misplaced hair. We meet with him again towards the winter, when the thermometer has fallen al- most.or quite to the freezing point, and we scarcely recognize him in his thick, rough, coarse, colorless coat, and his legs enveloped in long, shaggy hair. The health of the horse is, to a certain de- gree, deranged. He is dull, languid, easily fatigued. He will break into a sweat with the slightest exertion, and it is almost imposssble thoroughly to dry him. He may perhaps feed as well as usual, although that will not generally be the case, but he is not equal to the demands which we are compelled to make upon him. This process goes on for an uncertain time, depending on the constitution of the animal, until nature has effected a change, and then he once more rallies; but a great alteration has taken place in him—the hair has lost its soft and glossy character, and is be- come dry and staring. The skin ceases to secrete that peculiar unctuous matter which kept it soft and flexible, and becomes dry and scaly ; and the exhalents on the surface, having become re- laxed, are frequently pouring out a profuse perspiration, without any apparent adequate cause for it. So passes the approach to winter, and the owner complains sadly of the appearance of his steed, and, according to the old HIDE-BOUND. 407 custom, gives him plenty of cordial balls,—perhaps too many of them,—on the whole not being unserviccable at this critical pe- viod, yet not productive of a great deal of good. At length the animal rallies of himself, and although not so strong and full of spirits as he ought to be, is hardier and more lively than he was, and able to struggle with the cold of the coming winter. What a desideratum in the management of the horse would be a course of treatment that would render all this unnecessary ! The desideratum has been found—a free escape of perspiration, a moist and softened state of the skin, an evident increase of health, and capability of enduring fatigue, and working on shorter supply of food than he could before. This issaid to be performed by the clipping and singeing systems. Mr. Thomas Turner, who was almost one of the earliest advo- cates of these systems, states that during the months of October and November an inordinate growth of hair is observed over the whole surface of the body, and in many horses as early as the be- ginning of September, and almost invariably prevails, more or less, in every horse that is not thorough-bred. The debilitating effects thereby induced are profuse perspiration on the least pos- sible exertion—depression of the animal spirits, and temporary loss of appetite. The immediate removal of all the superfluous hair by close clipping, instantly proves so powerful a tonic to the animal, that he unhesitatingly affirms it to be inferior to none at present known in our pharmacopezia. Mr. Turner adds,—“ Now, signal as the success of clipping has been, I do entertain a hope, and am of opinion that, in the majority of instances, it may be superseded by singeing under certain modifications.” ‘We may not, perhaps, be able satisfactorily to explain the ap- parently magical effects of clipping and singeing on the general constitution, and particularly the wind of the horse, or the respi- ratory functions generally, but there is no doubt of their exist- ence. An increased tone is given to the system generally ; and probably, in some way not yet sufficiently developed, the increased current of the electric fluid may have much to do with it. HIDE-BOUND. This is not so much a diminution of the cellular or fatty sub- stance between the skin and the muscles beneath, as it is an al- teration in the skin itself. It is a hardness and unyieldingness cf the skin from the want of the oily matter on its surface and its ubstance. It is the difference that is presented to the feeling by well curried and supple leather, and that which has become dry and unyielding. The surface of the skin becoming dry and hard, the scales of 408 HIDE-LOUND. the cuticle are no longer penetrated by the hair, but separating themselves in every direction, give that peculiar roughness to the coat which aecompanies want of condition. It betokens impaired function of the vessels everywhere, and particularly those of the stomach and bowels. Hide-bound is not so much a disease as a symptom of disease, and particularly of the digestive organs ; and our remedies must be applied not so much to the skin—although we have, in friction and in warmth, most valuable agents in pro- ducing a healthy condition of the integuments—as to the cause of the hide-bound, and the state of the constitution generally. Every disease that can affect the general system may produce this derangement of the functions of the skin. Glanders, when become constitutional, is strongly indicated by the unthrifty ap- pearance of the coat. Chronic cough, grease, farcy, and founder, are accompanied by hide-bound ; and diet too sparing, and not adequate to the work exacted, is an unfailing source of it. If the cause is removed, the effect will cease. Should the cause be obscure, as it frequently is—should the horse wear an unthrifty coat, and his hide cling to his ribs, with- out any apparent disease, we shall generally be warranted in tracing it to sympathy with the actual, although not demonstrable, suspension of. some important secretion or function, either of the alimentary canal or the respiratory functions. A few mashes, and a mild dose of physic, are first indicated, and, simple as they ap- pear to be, they often have a very beneficial effect. The regular action of the bowels being re-established, that of all the organs of the frame will speedily follow. If the horse cannot be spared for physic, alteratives may be administered. There is no better alterative for hide-bound and an unthrifty coat, than that which is in common use, pulverized antimony, nitre, and sulphur. The peculiar effect of the antimony and sulphur, and electric influ- ence on the skin, with that of the sulphur on the bowels, and of the nitre on the urinary organs, will be here advantageously combined. Should the horse not feed well, and there is no indication of fever, a slight tonic may be added, as gentian or ginger; but in the majority of cases, attended by loss of condition and an un- thrifty coat, and hide-bound, tonics and aromatics should be care- fully avoided. The cause of the impaired action of the vessels being removed, the powers of nature will generally be sufficient, and had better be left to themselves. There are not any more dangerous medi- cines in common use in the stable, and especially in cases like these, than tonics and cordials. They often arouse to fatal action a tendency to fever that would otherwise have slept, or they pro- duce a state of excitement near akin to fever, and apt to degen- PORES OF THE SKIN 409 erate into it. By the stimulus of a cordial, the secretions may be suddenly roused, and among them, this unctuous secretion from the pores of the skin, so necessary to apparent condition ; but the effect soon passes over, and a repetition of the stimulus is neces- sary—the habit is soon formed—the dose must be gradually in- creased, and in the mean time the animal is kept in a state of dangerous excitement, by which the powers of nature must be eventually impaired. Friction may be employed with advantage in the removal of hide- bound. It has repeatedly been shown that this is one of the most efficacious instruments we can use, to call into exercise the sus- pended energies either of the absorbent or seereting vessels. ‘Warmth may likewise be had recourse to—not warmth of stable, which has been shown to be so injurious, but warmth arising from exercise, and: the salutary, although inexplicable, influence of clipping and singeing. PORES OF THE SKIN. Besides the openings already mentioned, through which pro- ceeds the unctuous fluid that supplies and softens the skin, there are others more numerous, by means of which a vast quantity of aqueous fluid escapes, and perspiration is carried on. This process of perspiration, is not, however, so far under the control of medicine as in the human being.* We are not aware of any drugs that will certainly produce it. Warm clothing seems occasionally io effect it, but this is more in appearance than reality. The insensible perspiration cannot escape through the mass of clothing, and assumes a visible form. There are, however, a few medicines, as antimony and sulphur, that have an evident and very considerable effect on the skin, in opening its pores and exciting its vessels to action. Of the existence of absorbent vessels on the skin, or those which take up some fluid or substance, and convey it into the circulation, we have satisfactory proof. A horse is even more easily salivated than the human being. Salivation has been pro- duced by rubbing a splint with mercurial ointment, previous to blistering ; and a very few drachms rubbed on the inside of the thighs, will probably produce a greater effect than the practitioner desires. ® Note by Mr. Spooner—Although the same medicines will not pro- duce this effect, yet those that come under the designation of diffusible stimulants, will Thus, a large dose of spirit of nitrous ether will often pro- duce perspiration; and so, likewise, w:ll the spirit of hartshorn, and even vinegar. R 410 MOULTING. MOULTING. Twice in the year, the hair of the body of the horse is changed. The short, fine coat of summer would afford little protection against the winter, and that of the winter would be oppressive to the animal, if it appeared during the summer. The hair of the mane and tail remains. The bulbous root of the hair does not die, but the pulpy matter seems to be removed from the root of the hair, which, thus deprived of its nourishment, perishes and dre 3 off, and a new hair springs at its side from the same bulb. he hair which is produced in the autnmn, is evidently differa:. from that which grows in the spring; it is coarser, thicker, and not so glossy as the other. As moulting is a process extending over the whole of the skin, and requiring a very con- siderable expenditure of vital power, the health of the animal is generally affected at these times. That energy, and nervous vital influence, which should support the whole of the frame, is to a great degree determined to the skin, and the animal is languid, and unequal to much hard work. He perspires greatly with the least unusual exertion, and if he is pressed beyond his strength, becomes seriously ill. The treatment which the groom in this case adopts, is most absurd and dangerous. The horse, from the deranged distribution of vital power, is disposed to fever, or he labors under a slight degree of fever, sufficiently indicated by the increased quickness of pulse, redness of nose, and heat of mouth. The lassitude and want of appetite which are the accompaniments of this febri« state, are mistaken for debility; and cordials of various kind«, some of them exceedingly stimulating, are unsparingly adminis- tered. At length,-with regard to the hunter, the racer, and even in the hackney and the carriage-horse, the scissors or the lamp are introduced, and a new method is established of guarding against this periodical debility, setting at defiance the occasionai exposure to cold, and establishing a degree of health and strength previously unknown. Friction may be allowed, to assist the fall- ing off of the old hair, and to loosen the cuticle for the appear- ance of the new hair, but it is somewhat more gently applied than it used to be. The curry-comb is in a great measure ban- ished, and even the brush is not applied ,too hard or too long. The old hair is not forced off before the young hair is ready to take its place. . Nature adapts the coat to the climate and to the season. The Sheltie has one as long and thick as that of a bear; and, as tho summer is short and cold in those northern islands, the coat is cough and shaggy during the whole of the year. In the southern COLUR 41} parts 3f our country, the short, and light and glossy coat of sum mer gradually yields to the close and heavy, and warm clothing of winter. In the deserts of Arabia, where the winter is rarely cold, the coat remains short and glossy throughout the year. These are wise and kind provisions of nature, and excite our ad miration.* COLOR. The color of the hair admits of every variety, and each color becomes in turn fashionable. Like that of the skin, it is influ- enced by, or depends on, the mucous mesh-work under the cuticle. There are comparatively few perfectly white horses now remain- ing. The majority of white horses are those that have become so. Light-grey colts begin to grow white before they are five years old, especially if they have not much dark mixture about the joints. Grey horses are of different shades, from the lightest silver to a dark iron-grey. The silver-grey reminds the observer of the palfrey, improved by an admixture of Arab blood. He does not often exceed fourteen hands and a half in height, and is round carcassed—thin-legged—with oblique pasterns, calculated for a light carriage, or for a lady’s riding—seldom subject to disease— but not very fleet, or capable of hard work. ° The iron-grey is usually a larger horse ; higher in the withers, deeper and thinner in the carcass, more angular in all his propor- tions, and in many cases a little too long in the legs. Some of these greys make good hackneys and hunters, and especially the Irish horses ; but they are principally used for the carriage. They have more endurance than the flatness of their chest would pro- mise ; but their principal defect is their feet, which are liable to contraction, and yet that contraction not so often accompanied by lameness as in many other horses. The dappled grey is generally a handsomer and a better horse * Note by Mr. Spooner.—We must protest against the idea that a horse with a long coat, however fed and trained, is in as good condition, or capable of as great exertion, as a horse with a sleek glossy coat. As well maya nian with a great coat on attempt to run a racé with another stripped al- most to the skin. This fact it is which has led to the now general practice of clipping or singeing, by which the coats of coarse-skinned horses are re- moved, and the horses put on a par with sleek-skinned animals, without the necessity of very hot stables, and a long course of preparatory treatment. The advantages of clipping are great; perspiration is considerably lessened, the horse is soon brought into condition, and grooming is greatly facilitated, without unnecessary irritation; indeed, the quickest method is to wash the skin while the animal is somewhat warm, with warm water (and soap if ne- cessary), and then scrape the skin, and throw.a horse-cloth’ on the body, which, in the course of ten minutes, will be found dry and comfortable, 412 COLOR. All the angulai points of the iron-grey are filled up, and with that which not only adds to symmetry, but to use. - Whether as a hackney, or, the larger variety, a carriage-horse, there are few better, especially since his form has been so materially improved, and so much of his heaviness got rid of, by the free use of foreign blood. There are not, however, so many dappled greys as there ased to be, since the bays have been bred with so much care. The dappled grey, if dark at first, generally retains his color to old age. Some of the greys approach to a nutmeg, or even bay color. Many of these are handsome, and most of them are hardy. . The roans, of every variety of color and form, are composed of white mixed with bay, or red, or black. In some it seems to be a natural mixture of the colors; in others it appears as if one color was powdered or sprinkled over another. They are pretty horses for ladies or light carriages, and many of them easy in their paces, but they do not usually display much blood, nor are they celebrated for endurance. If they should have white fore legs, with white hoofs, they are too often tender-footed, or become so with even a little hard work. The strawberry horse is a mixture of sorrel with white; usu- ally handsome and pleasant, but more celebrated for these quali ties than for strength and endurance. The pied horse is one that has distinct spots or patches of dif- ferent colors, but generally of white with some other color. They are not liked as hackneys, on account of their peculiarity of color, _ nor in teams of horses ; but they look well when tolerably matched in a pheton or light carriage. Their value must depend on their breed. Ofthemselves they have no peculiar character, except that a white leg and foot is as suspicious in them as it is in the roan, The dun, of the Galloway size, and with considerable blood, is often attached to the curricle or the pheton. The larger variety is a true farmer’s or miller’s horse, with no great speed or extra- ordinary strength, yet a good-tempered, good-feéling, good-consti tutioned, useful horse enough. Varieties of the dun, shaded with a darker color, or dappled, and with some breeding, and not stand- ing too high, are beautiful animals, and much sought after for light carriages. The cream-color, of Hanoverian extraction, with his white iris and red pupil, is appropriated to royal use. Attached to the state- carriage of the monarch, he is a superb animal. His bulky, yet perfectly-formed body, his swelling crest, and his proud and lofty action, as if conscious of his office, qualify him for the service that is exacted from him, but we have little experience how far ae would suit other purposes. Of the chestnuts there are three varieties—the pale red or the ‘ CoLor, 413 sorrel, usually with some white, either on the face or the legs— generally lightly made, yet some of them bulky enough for the heaviest loads. Their color is generally objectionable, and they are supposed to be somewhat deficient in endurance. The light chestnut, with less red and a little more bay or brown, is considered a preferable animal, especially if he has little or no white about him; yet even he, although pleasant to ride, is some- times irritable, and generally weak. We must except one variety, the Suffolk punch; a heavy horse, and adapted for slow work, but perfect of his kind—whom no labor can daunt, no fatigue overcome. This is a hreed now, unfortunately, nearly extinct. The present variety, however crossed, is not equal to the old Suffolk. The dark chestnut is as different a horse from the hackney-like chestnut as can be well imagined; round in the carcase; pow- erful in the quarters, but rather fine in the legs; possessed of great endurance, and with a constitution that rarely knows an ailment, except that the feet are small and disposed to contrac- tion, and the horse is occasionally of a hot and unmanageable temper. ; Of the bays, there are many varieties, and they include the very best of our horses of every description. The bright yellow bay, although very beautiful, and especially if his mane and tail are black, is the least valuable—the lightness of his color seems to give him some tenderness of constitution. The pure bay, with no white about him, and black from the knees and hocks to the feet, is the most desirable of all. He has generally a good con- stitution, and good feet; and, if his conformation is not faulty, will turn out a valuable horse for almost every purpose. The bay-brown has not always so much show and action, but, _generally, more strength and endurance, and usefulness. He has greater substance than the lighter bay, and more depth of leg ; and, if he had the same degree of breeding, he would be as hand- some and more valuable. : : When, however, we arrive at the browns, it is necessary to examine the degree of breeding. This color is not so fashionable, and therefore these horses have been considerably neglected. There are many good ones, and those that are good are val. uable; others, probably, are only half or a quarter bred, and therefore comparatively coarse, yet useful for the saddle and for harness—for slow work, and, occasionally, for that which is more rapid. The black-brown is generally more neglected so far as its breed is concerned, and should be more carefull” examined. It is val- uable if it retains the goodness of constitution of the brown and bay-brown. 414 COLOR, Of the black, greater care has been taken. The heavy black of Lincolnshire and the midland counties is a noble animal, and would be almost beyond price if he could be rendered more ac tive. The next in size constitute the majority of our wagon- horses, and perhaps our best; and, on a smaller breed, and to the improvement of which much attention has been devoted, nany of our cavalry are mounted. A few black thorough-bred horses and black hunters are occasionally seen, but the improve- ment of horses of this color has not-been studied, except for the purposes that have been mentioned. Their peculiar high action, while not objectionable for draught, and desirable for the parade, would be unbearable in the roadster. Black horses have been said to be more subject to vice, disease, and blindness, than those of any other color. This charge is not true to its full extent ; but there certainly are a great many worthless black horses in in every part of the country. After all, there is an old saying, that a good horse cannot be a bad color; and that it is far more necessary to attend to the conformation and points of the animal than to his color. The foregoing observations, however, although they admit of many exceptions, may be useful in guiding to the judicious purchase of the horse.* * Note by Mr. Spooner—Cotor.—We do not consider that the size, con- formation, and qualifications of horses depend so much on the color as the text would imply. We have found both good and bad horses of every color, and the only rule we can admit as correct is, that certain colors denote deficient breeding, and therefore such animal is not likely to be so good as he looks, but is probably deficient in bottom or the powers of endurance. These colors are black, which prevails so much with cart-horses, and sorrel, dun, piebald, cic.; the possessors of which come from the north, and possess no eastern blood. Black horses, ualess evidently high bred, are very often soft and sluggish, with breeding insufficient for their work ; the pedigree of the majority of them may be dated from the plough-tail, whatever admix- tures there may have been since. White hair denotes a thin skin, which is objectionable, when it prevails on the legs of horses, as such animals are more disposed to swelled legs and cracked heels than others. Bay horses with black legs are greatly esteemed, and yet we have known many determined slugs of this hue. Their constitution is, however, almost inva- riably good. Chestnut is the prevailing color with our race-horses, and con- sequently chestnut horses are generally pretty well bred, and possess the good and bad qualities which obtain most amongst thorough-breds, The Suffolk cart-norse is also distinguished by his light chestnut color; and it is no small recommendation to find that this breed has, for several years past, carried away the principal prizes at the annual shows of the Royal Agricul tural Society of England. “ Gray is a very good color, and one which has become very fashionable for carriage and pheton horses during the present reign. Her Majesty’s ponies, as they are still called, although they have increased in height from thirteen to fifteen hands, are beautiful specimens of this color, and-have rendered the culor fashionable for harness purposes. These horses have a SURFEIT. 415 SURFEIT. Large pimples or eruptions often appear suddenly on the skin of the horse, and especially in the spring of the year. Occasion- ally they disappear as quickly as they came. Sometimes they zem to be attended with great itching, but at other times, the an- noyance is comparatively little. When these eruptions have remained a few days, the cuticle frequently peels off, and a small scaly spot—rarely a sore—is left. This is called a surfeit, from its resemblance to some eruptions on the skin of the human being when indigestible or unwholesome food has been taken. The surfeit is, in some cases, confined to the neck; but it oftener spreads over the sides, back, loins, and quarters. The cause is enveloped in some obscurity. The disease most frequently appears when the skin is irritable during or after the process of moulting, or when it sympathizes with any disorder of the stomach. It has been known to follow the eating of poisonous herbs or mow- burnt hay, but, much oftener, it is to be traced to exposure to cold when the skin was previously irritable and the horse heated by exercise. It has also-been attributed to the immoderate drink- ing of cold water when the animal was hot. It is obstruction of some of the pores of the skin and swelling of the surrounding sub- stance, either from primary affection of the skin, or a plethoric state of the system, or sympathy with the digestive organs. The state of the patient will sufficiently guide the surgeon as to the course he should pursue. If there is simple eruption, without any marked inflammatory action, alteratives should be resorted to, and particularly those recommended for hide-bound in page 407. They should be given on several successive nights. The night is better than the morning, because the warmth of the stable will cause the antimony and sulphur to act more power- fully on the skin. The horse should be warmly clothed—half an considerable admixture of eastern blood, and most of them are immediately derived from an Arab or a Turkish horse. This, indeed, is the principal or’ only use of the eastern horse in this country. It is vain to expect any mprovement in the speed of our race-horses from foreign admixture, for every attempt of the kind for some-years past has been unsuccessful. The circular carcase, arched neck, good shoulders and fore legs, high and excel- lent trotting action, are, however, qualifications which our thorough-breds cannot supply, and are truly valuable in animals required for getting car- riage-horses, The white Arabian ‘horse is, therefore, the very animal re- quired for getting pheton horses, and, if put to large mares, are also well adapted for perpetuating handsome and valuable carriage-horses. There are also some excellent cart-horses of a gray color; some of massive propor tions, and others of moderate size, and more active. The iron grays and roans are generally cleaner about the legs, and more compact than the mottled greys. ; 416 MANGE. hour’s walking exercise should be given, an additional rag thrown over him—such green feed as can be procured should be used in moderate quantities, and the chill should be taken from the water. Should the eruption continue or assume a more violent charac- ter, bleeding and aloes must be had recourse to, but neithe) should be carried to any extreme. The physic having set, the al- teratives should again be had recourse to, and attention should be paid to the comfort and diet of the horse. If the eruption, after several of these alternative appearan:es and disappearances, should remain, and the cuticle and the hair begin extensively to peel off, a worse affection is to be feared, for surfeit is too apt to precede, or degenerate into, mange. This dis- order, therefore, must next be considered. MANGE Is a pimpled or vesicular eruption. After a while the vesicles break, or the cuticle and the ‘hair fall off, and there is, as in ob- stinate surfeit, a bare spot covered with scurf—some fluid oozing from the skin beneath, and this changing to a scab, which like- wise soon peels off, and leaves a wider spot. This process is at- tended by considerable itching and tenderness, and thickening of the skin, which soon becomes more or less folded, or puckered. The mange generally first appears on the neck at the root of the mane, and its existence may be suspected even before the blotches appear, and when there is only considerable itchiness of the part, by the ease with which the short hair at the root of the mane is plucked out. From the neck it spreads upward to the head, or downward to the withers and back, and occasionally extends over the whole carcass of the horse. One cause of it, although an unfrequent one, has been stated to be neglected or inveterate surfeit. Several instances are on record in which poverty of condition, and general neglect of cleanliness, preceded or produced the most violent mange. A remark of Mr. Blaine is very important :—“ Among the truly healthy, so far as my experience goes, it never arises spontane- ously, but it does readily form a spontaneous origin among the unhealthy.” The most common cause is contagion. Amidst the whole list of diseases to which the horse is exposed, there is not one more highly contagious than mange. If it once gets into a stable, it spreads through it, for the slightest contact seems suffi- cient for the communication of this. noisome complaint. If the same brush and currycomb is used on all the horses, the propagation of mange is assured ; and horses feeding in the same pasture with a mangy one rarely escape, from the propensity they MANGE. , 417 have to nibble one another. Mange in cattle has been propagated to the horse, and from the horse to cattle. There are also some well-authenticated instances of the same disease being communi- cated trom the dog to the horse, but not from the horse to the dog. Mange has been said to originate in want of cleanliness in the management of the stable. The comfort and the health of the horse demand the strictest cleanliness. The eyes and the lungs frequently suffer from the noxious fumes of the purifymg dung and urine; but, in defiance of common prejudice, there is no au- thentic instance of mange being the result. Poverty and starva- tion are fruitful sources of mange, but it does not appear that filth has much to do with it, although poverty and filth generally go hand in hand. : The propriety of bleeding in.cases of mange depends on the con- dition of the patient. If mange is the result of poverty, and the animal is much debilitated, bleeding will increase the evil, and will probably deprive the constitution of the power of rallying. Physic, however, is indispensable in every case. A mercurial ball will be preferable to a common aloetic one, as more certain and effectual in its operation, and the mercury probably having some influence in mitigating the disease. In this, however, mange in the horse resembles itch in the human being—medicine alone will never effect a cure. There must be some local appli- sation. There is this additional similarity—that which is most effectual in curing the itch in the human being must form the basis of every local application for the cure of mange in the horse. Sulphur is indispensable in every ointment for mange. It is the sheet-anchor of the veterinary surgeon. In an early and not very acute state of mange, equal portions of sulphur, turpentine, and train-oil, gently but well rubbed on the part, will be applied with advantage. Farriers are fond of the black sulphur, but that which consists of earthy matter, with the mere dregs of various substan- ces, cannot be so effectual as the pure sublimed sulphur. A tol- erably stout brush, or even a curry-comh, lightly applied, should be used, in order to remove the dandriff or scurf, wherever there is any appearance of mange. After that, the horse should be washed with strong soap and water as far as the disease’ has ex- tended ; and, when he has been thoroughly dried, the ointment should be well rubbed in with the naked hand, or with a piece of: flannel. More good will be done by a little of the ointment being well rubbed in, than by a great deal being smeared over the part. The rubbing should be daily repeated. During the application of the ointment, and as soon as the physic has set, an alterative ball or powder, similar to those recommend- ed for the other affections of the skin, should be daily given. If, after some days have passed, no yrogress should apjear to have r 418 MANGE. been nade, haif 2 pound of sulphur should be well mixed with a pint of oil of tar, or, if that is not to be obtained, a pint of Barba- boes tar, and the affected parts rubbed, as before. On every fifth or sixth day, the ointmem: snould be washed off with warm soap and water. The progress towards cure will thus be ascertained, and the skin will be cleansed, and its pores opened for the more effectual application of the ointment. The horse should be well supplied with nourishing, but not stimulating food. As much green feed as he will eat should be given to him, or, what is far better, he should be turned out, if the weather is not too cold. It may be useful to add, that, after the horse has been once well dressed with either of these liniments, the danger of contagion ceases. It is necessary, however, to be assured that every mangy place has been anoimted. It will be prudent to give two or three dressings after the horse has been ap- parently cured, and to continue the alteratives for ten days or a fortnight. : The cure being completed, the clothing of the horse should be well soaked in water, to which a fortieth part of the saturated so- lution of the chloride of lime has been added; after which i* should be washed with soap and water, and again washed anu soaked in asolution of the chloride of lime. Every part of the harness should undergo a similar purification. The curry-comb may be scoured but the brush should be burned. The rack and manger, and partitions, and every part of the stable which the horse could possibly have touched, should be well washed with a hair-broom—a pint of the chloride of lime being added to three gallonsof water. All the wood-work should then be scoured with soap and water, after which a second washing with the chloride of lime will render all secure. Every case of itchiness of the skin should be regarded with sus- picion. When a horse is seen to rub the root of his tail, or his head, or neck, against the manger, the parts should be carefuliy examined. Some of the hair may have been rubbed or torn off, but if the roots remain firmly adherent, and there is only redi:-ss and not scurfiness of the skin, it probably is not mange, but only inflammation of the skin, from too great fulness of blood. A lit- tle blood should be abstracted—a purgative administered—and the alteratives given. The mange ointment cannot do harm, and may possibly prevent this heat of the skin from degenerating into mange, or arrest the progress of mange if it has commenced. If a scurfiness of the skin should appear on any of the points that are pressed upon by the collar or harness, the veterinary surgeon will do right to guard against danger by alterative medicine and the use of the »intment.* * Note by Mr. Spooner—We have only to remark, that the administration WANK TS——-VENMLN, 419 WARTS. These are occasionally found on all parts of the horse. There are some caustics available, but frequently they must be removed by an operation. If the root is very small, it may be snipped asunder, close to the skin, with a pair of scissors, and touched with the lunar caustic. If the pedicle or stem is somewhat larger, a ligature of waxed silk should be passed firmly round it, and tight- ened every day. The source of nutriment being thus.removed, the tumor will, in a short time, die and drop off. Ifthe warts are large, or in considerable clusters, it will be necessary to cast the horse, in order to cut them off close to the skin: the root should then be seared with a red-hot iron. Unless these precautions are used, the warts will speedily sprout again. VERMIN. Both the biped and the quadruped are subject to the visitation of insects that fasten on the skin, and are a constant nuisance from the itchiness which they occasion. If the horse, after being turned out for the winter, is taken up in the spring long and rough in his coat, and poor in condition, and with evident hide-bound, he will almost invariably be afflicted with vermin. In our present imperfect acquaintance with natural history, it is difficult to account for the appearance of certain insects, and of chose alone, on the integument of one animal, while others of an altogether different character are found on its neighbor. Each one has a tormentor peculiar to itself. The vermin of the horse is destroyed by an infusion of tobacco or a solution of corrosive sublimate, the latter requiring the great- est caution. The skin being once cleansed of them, an attention to cleanliness will prevent their reappearance. of mercurial physic requires extreme caution in this disease. We have known horses very low in condition killed by this means, and we doubt the necessity of the purge. Topical treatment is. the principal remedy, and it is also well to administer sulphur internally at the same time. There isa disease very much resembling the mange, which we occasionally meet with. The horse is affected with the most violent itching, and the hair is often rubbed off, but the skin does not become wrinkled, as in mange. Though this disease often appears to yield to the same topical treatment as the mange, yet, in some instances, it is incurable, and continues through life. CHAPTER XXII. GN SOUNDNESS, AND THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF HORSES, [This chapter is given nearly entire, as in the original, and in the remarks on warranty, &c., entire, because it is believed to give a luminous exposition of what Equrry in all cases demands in regard to the matters of which it treats. It constitutes there- fore the proper basis of amicable settlement between gentlemen, in all countries, where the purchaser of the horse alleges a violation of warranty; and the basis of proper adjudication where an action is commenced for fraud. In some of the States of the Union, there may be statutes or judicial decisions which would vary from the English ones cited on the subject of warranty, fraud, and as to what constitutes unsoundness,—but probably in most cases, they will be found substantially the same.—Am. Ed.| There are few sources of greater annoyance both to the pur- chaser and the seller of the horse than disputes with regard to the soundness of the animal. That horse is sound in whom there is no disease, and no alter- ation of structure that impairs, or is likely to impair, his natural usefulness. The horse is unsound that labors under disease, or has some alteration of structure which does interfere, or is likely to interfere, with his natural usefulness.* The term “natural usefulness” must be borne in mind. One horse may possess great speed, but is soon knocked up; another will work all day, but cannot be got beyond a snail’s pace: a third with a heavy * Since the publication of our first edition, this definition or rule as to soundness or unsoundness has received very high judicial sanction. Coates v. Stephens, 2 Moody and Robinson, 157, Scholefield v. Robb, id. 210. We shall adhere to it as our test of soundness or unsoundness throughout this chapter, not forgetting what is said in the following extract from a note to one of these cases. “As it may now be considered as settled law, that the breach of a warranty or soundness does not entitle the purchaser to return the horse, but only to recover the difference of value of the horse with or without the particvlar unsoundness, the question of temporary maladies, producing no permanent deterioration of the animal, would, generally speaking, only involve a right to damages merely nominal.” ‘ SOUNDNESS—RULES FOR PURCHASE. 42) forehand is liable to stumble, and is continually yuttling to hazard the neck of his rider; another, with an irm\uble consti- tution and a loose, washy form, loses his appetite and begins to scour if a litte extra work is exacted from him. The term un- soundness must not be applied to either of these ; it would be opening far too widely a door to disputation and endiess wrang- ling. The buyer can discern, or ought to know, whether the form of the horse is that which will render him likely to suit his purpose, and he should try him sufficiently to ascertain his natural strength, endurance, and manner of going. Unsound- ness, we repeat, has reference only to diseease, or to that al- teration of structure which is connected with, or will produce disease, and lessen the usefulness of the animal. These principles will be best illustrated by a brief consider- ation of the usually supposed appearances or causes of unsound- ness. BroxkEN KNEES certainly do not constitute unsoundness, after the wounds are healed, unless they interfere with the action of the joint ; for the horse may have fallen from mere accident, or through the fault of the rider, without the slightest damage more than the blemish. No person, however, would buy a horse with broken knees, until he has thoroughly tried him, and satisfied himself as to his form and action. CarPeD Hocks may be produced by lying on an unevenly paved stable, with a scanty supply of litter, or by kicking gen- erally, in neither of which cases would they constitute unsound- ness, although in the latter they would be an indication of vice ; but, in the majority of instances, they are the consequence of sprain, or of latent injury of the hock, and accompanied by enlargement of it, and would constitute unsoundness. A special warranty should always be taken against capped hocks.* Contraction is a considerable deviation from the natural form of the foot, but not necessarily constituting unsoundness. It re- quires, however, a most careful examination on the part of the purchaser or veterinary surgeon, in order to ascertain that thera is no heat about the quarter, or ossification of the cartilage— that the frog, although diminished in size, is not diseased—that * Note by Mr. Spooner—Capped hocks.—lIn nine cases out of ten these enlargements are occasioned by kicking in the stall, a vice altogether differ- ent from that of spitefulness, which appears to arise more from restless- ness than anything else. The swelling consists of an effusion of serum or water in the cellular bag which is found beneath the skin at the point of the hock, placed there for the purpose of giving facility of motion. It is never occasioned by strains, therefore, although a sad blemish, it should not be regarded as an unsoundness, unless accompamed witb other indications of disease. : 422 SOUNDNESS——-RULES FOR PURCHASE. the horse dues not step short and go as if the foot were tender, and that there is not the slightest trace of lameness. Unless these circumstances, or some of them, are detected, a horse must uot be pronounced to be unsound because his feet are contracted ; for many horses with strangely contracted. feet do not suffer at all in their action. A special warranty, however, should be tequired where the feet are at all contracted. Corns manifestly constitute unsoundness. The portion of the foot in which bad corns are situated will not bear the ordinary pressure of the shoe ; and accidental additional pressure from the growing down of the horn, or the introduction of dirt or gravel, will cause serious lameness. They render it necessary to wear a thick and heavy shoe, or a bar-shoe, in order to protect the weakened and diseased part; and they are very seldom radically cured. There may be, however, and frequently is, a difference of opinion as to the actual existence or character of the corn. They are sometimes, too, so slight that they do not diminish the value of the horse, and will disappear on the horse being shod with ordinary skill and care, even without any alteration in the shoe, Coucu.—This is a disease, and consequently unsoundness. However slight may be its degree, and of whatever short stand- ing it may be, although it may sometimes scarcely seem to inter. fere with the usefulness of the horse, yet a change of stabling or slight exposure to wet and cold, or the least over-exertion, may, at other times, cause it to degenerate into many dangerous complaints. A horse, therefore, should never be purchased with a cough upon him, without a special warranty; or if—the cough not being observed—he is purchased under a general war- rauty, that warranty is thereby broken. It is not law, that a horse may be returned on breach of the warranty. The seller is not bound to take him back, unless he has contracted so to do; but he is liable to damages. Lord Ellenborough has completely deeided this matter. “I have always held,” said he, ‘that a warranty of soundness is broken, if the animal, at the time of sale, had any infirmity upon him that rendered him-less fit for present service. It is not necessary that the disorder should be permanent or incurable. While he has a cough, he is unsound, although that may either be temporary or prove mortal.” In deciding on another case, the same judge said, “I have al- ways held it that a cough is a breach of the warranty. On that understanding I have always acted, and think it quite clear.” It was argued on the other hand that two-thirds of the horses in London had coughs, yet still the judge maintained that the cough was a breach of warranty. When it was farther argued that the norse had been hunted the day after the purchase, and the cough SOUNDNESS. 423 might have been increased by this, the reply was singular, but decisive. ‘ There is no proof that he would have got well if he had not been hunted.”’ ‘This doctrine is confirmed by Parke, B., in the first case cited in p. 420. Roarinc, WuHeEeEzinc, Wuistiine, Hicu-BLowine, and GRuNT- NG, being the result of alteration of structure, or disease in some of the air-passages, and interfering with the perfect freedom of breathing, especially when the horse is put on his speed, without doubt constitute unsoundness. There are decisions to the contra- ry, which are now universally admitted to be erroneous. BRoxkEN- WIND is still more decidedly unsoundness.* Cris-BiTiInc.— Although some learned judges have asserted that crib-biting is simply a trick or bad habit, it must be regarded as unsoundness, This unnatural sucking in of the air must, to a certain degree injure digestion. It must dispose to colic, and so interfere with the strength, and usefulness, and health of the horse. Some crib-biters are good goers, but they probably would have possessed more endurance had they not acquired this habit; and it is a fact well established, that, as soon as a horse becomes a crib-biter, he, in nine cases out of ten, loses condition. In its very early stage it may be a mere trick—confirmed, it must have produced morbid deterioration. The wear of the front teeth, and the occasional breaking of them, make a horse old before his time, and sometimes render it difficult or impossible for him to graze, when the state of the animal or the convenience of the owner re quires that he should be turned out.t * Note by Mr. Spooner—Roaring, wheezing, and whistling may be can- sidered as modifications of the same disease, viz., an obstruction to the pas- sage of air to and from the lungs; and as the nature and amount of this ob- struction necessarily varies, so must the noise thereby produced, and which is consequently expressed by the terms in question; all, however, being de- cidedly unsoundness. Grunting is the noise which many roarers will evince when suddenly alarmed by a real or pretended blow. It is the common horse-dealer’s method of discovering a roarer, but by no means one that can be depended on, as many moderate. roarers, particularly if they have lately become so, will not grunt. With regard to high-blowing, we by no means consider it an unsoundness, understanding by this term, however, the noise, often very considerable, which some horses make on being first excited, or put into motion. This noise is produced by the false nostrils, which either possess greater laxity than common, or else it is owing to the nervousness of the horse. It begins at once if the horse is excited, and, instead of increasing with exertion, like roaring, it diminishes or goes off. This is, or ought to be, the proper test of soundness. oe} Broken wind is of course decided unsoundness, and equally so is thick wind, or quickened respiration, which often arises from consolidation of a rtion of the lungs, and sometimes merely from thickening of the mem- sane of the air passages. | 2 ; t Note by Mr. Spooner—Crib-biting has often been the subject of dispute 424 SOUNDNESD. Cursg constitutes unsoundness while it lasts, and perhaps while the swelling remains, although the inflammation may have sub- sided; for a horse that has once thrown out a curb is, for a while at least, very liable to do so again, to get lame in the same place on the slightest extra exertion ; or, at all events, he would there first fail on extraordinary exertion. A horse, however, is not re- turnable, although he should spring a curb five minutes after the purchase ; for it is done in a moment, and does not necessarily in- dicate any previous unsoundness or weakness of the part.* Curtine, as rendering a horse liable to serious injury of the legs, and indicating that he is either weak, or has an awkward- ness of gait inconsistent with safety, produces, rather than this, unsoundness. Many horses go lame for a considerable period after cutting themselves severely ; and others have dropped from the sudden agony, and endangered themselves and their nders. As some doubt, however, exists on this subject, and as it is a very material objection to a horse, cutting, when evid nt, should have its serious consequences provided against by a special warranty.t Eniarcep Guianps.—The enlargement of the glands under the jaw has not been so much considered as it ought to have been in aa to whether it constitutes unsoundness or not, which is not to be wondered at, seeing that many crib-biters will perform their work for many years without hindrance or inconvenience. Crib-biting is now, however, regarded as an unsoundness, on the principle that though at the present time the horse may be equal to his work, yet, at a future period, it may render him unequal to its performance, by causing indigestion, loss of flesh, and weakness. It is better that the question should be thus set at rest, as the value of the ani mal is very materially diminished by being a crib-biter, which is owing not so much to real injury, as to the disagreeable habit, and to the fact that if the animal is in a stable with other horses, they are very likely to learn the habit. Wind-sucking must come under the same rules as crib-biting, which re- sembles it so far as the swallowing of air is concerned, the animal, however, being enabled to do it without the necessity of laying hold of the manger. * Note by Mr. Spooner.—Curb constitutes unsoundness, unless it is well known that the horse has stood the ordeal of work for some months since the curb was thrown out, or any treatment adopted for it. As this infor- mation, however, can seldom be satisfactorily obtained, the possible effects of a curb should be guarded against by a special warranty. + Note by Mr. Spooner—We cannot agree with the text in considering this an unsoundness. It is a visible defect, and therefore can readily be observed, and pointed out, and objected to, in proportion to the amount of the evil which may be very severe and unlikely to be remedied, or slight, and owing either to improper shoeing, or youth, awkwardness, or weakness. To consider it, therefore, as an unsoundness, there being neither alteration of structure nor function, would be to open the door to perpetual disputes, and render the already vexed question of soundness still more vexatious. At the same time, if the cutting is considerable, and evidentl. arises from naturally defective action, and is of such a nature as not to ai mit of a remedy, we should noé hesitate, in such a case, to pronounce the animal unsound. SOUNDNESS. 420 our estimate of the soundness of the horse. Simple catarrh will occasionally, and severe affection of the chest will generally, be accompanied by swelling of these glands, which does not subside for a considerable time after the cold or fever has apparently been cured. To slight enlargements of the glands under the jaw much attention need not be paid; but if they are of considerable size, and especially if they are tender, and the glands at the root of the ear partake of the enlargement, and the membrane of the nose is redder than it should be, we should hesitate in pronouncing that horse to be sound. We must consider the swelling as a symptom of disease. Entarcep Hocx.—A horse with enlarged hock is unsound, the structure of this complicated joint being so materially affected that, although the horse may appear for a considerable time to be capable of ordinary work, he will occasionally fail even in that, and a few days’ hard work will always lame him.* Tue Eyes.—That inflammation of the eye of the horse which usually terminates in blindness of one or both eyes, has the pecu- liar character of receding or disappearing for a time, once or twice, or thrice, before it fully runsits course. The eye, after an attack of inflammation, regains so nearly its former natural bril- liancy that a person even well acquainted with horses will not always recognize the traces of former disease. After atime, how- ever, the inflammation returns, and the result is inevitable. A horse that has had one attack of this complaint, is long afterwards unsound, however perfect the eye may seem to be, because he carries about with him a disease that will probably again break out, and eventually destroy the sight. Whether, therefore, he may be rejected or not, depends on the possibility of proving an attack of inflammation of the eye, prior to the purchase. Next to direct evidence of this are appearances about the eye, of which the veterinary surgeon at least ought not to be ignorant. Allu- sion has been made to them in page 64. They consist chiefly of a puckering of the lids towards the inner corner of one or both eyes—a difference in the size of the eyes, although perhaps only aslight one, and not discovered except it be looked for—a gloom- iness of the eye—a dullness of the iris—a little dullness of the * Note by Mr. Spooner—The greater number of these cases, arising as they most frequently do from strains, we should consider as unsoundness, even although the probability may be that the horse will stand work with- out lameness. There is weakness of the part, and a possibility of lame- ness. There are, however, other cases in which the enlargement may be in the skin, or immediately under it, or on the outside of the bone, such cases being often produced by kicks or blows, or other external injuries. There are many such cases that we should regard as blemishes, fmt not as ur soundnese k 426 SOUNDNESS. transparent part of the eye generally—a minute, faint, dusky spot deep in the eye, and generally with little radiations of white lines proceeding from it. If these symptoms, or the majority of them. existed at the time of purchase, the animal had assuredly been diseased before, and was unsound Starting has been considered as unequivocal proof. It is usually an indication of defective sight, but it is occasionally a trick. Connected, however, with he appearances just described, it is a very strong corroborative proof.* Lamensss, from whatever cause arising, is unsoundness. How- ever temporary it may be, or however obscure, there must be dis- ease which lessens the utility of the horse, and renders him un- sound for the time. So says common sense, but there are contra- dictory decisions on the case. “A horse laboring under a tempo- rary injury or hurt, which is capable of being speedily cured or removed, is not, according to Chief Justice Eyre, an unsound horse ; and where a warranty is made that such a horse is sound, it is made without any view to such an injury ; nor is a horse so cireumstanced within the meaning of the warranty. To vitiate the warranty, the injury the horse had sustained, or the malady * Note by Mr. Spooner.—All internal diseases of the eye, or the remains of such diseases, constitute unsoundness ; and even although no mischief can be discovered at the time of sale, yet, if inflammation can be proved to have existed previously, and such inflammation subsequently recurs, the horse is returnable. As, however, it is extremely difficult to obtain such proof, the most particular care should be taken with regard to an examination of the eyes. Distinction, however, must be made between those streaks or opaque spots often seen on the cornea alone, and without the axis of vision, and which. invariably arises from blows or other external injuries, and which, although amounting to a blemish, does not constitute unsoundness. There are also occasional specks deeper in the eye, about the size of a pin’s head, evidently on the surface of the crystalline lens, and not in its body. These false cata- racts, as they may be called in contradistinction to true cataracts, are very frequently absorbed, and do not increase or injure vision. When, there- fore, the examiner can satify himself that such is the nature of the specks in question, he will be justified, whilst pointing out their existence, in deciding in favor of soundness of the animal. We cannot by any means agree with the doctrine implied in the text, that a blind horse is not returnable. If the horée is warranted sound, and proves to be blind, the warranty is broken, and the horse is returnable. Many purchasers of horses know no more about a horse than a horse does about them, and cannot be supposed to be capable of discovering the animal’s defects, and they have aright to consider the warranty .as their protection. The writer himself remembers, many years since, riding a horse twenty miles on a turnpike road, without knowing that the animal was blind. It was a case of amaurosis; the eye was clear and apparently free from dis- ease, the animal went safe, straight and well, and he could scarcely believe it, the next morning, when he found that the animal was stone blind. If, however, the horse is bought without a warranty, the defect being ay+ varent, the horse is then not returnable on the ground of fraud. SOUNDNESS. 427 under which he labored, ought to be of a permanent nature, and not such as may arise from a temporary injury or accident.” On the contrary, Lord Ellenborough says: ‘I have always held, and now hold, that a warranty of soundness is brolen, if the animal at the time of sale has any infirmity upon him which renders him less fit for present service. It is not necessary that the disorder should be permanent or incurable. While a horse has a cough he is unsound, although it may either be temporary or may prove mortal. The horse in question having been lame at the time of sale, when he was warranted to be sound, his condi- tion subsequently is no defence to the action.* The decision of Mr. Baron Parke, already referred to, confirms this doctrine. Nevrotomy.—A question has arisen how far a horse that has undergone the operation of the division of the nerve of the leg (see p. 86), and has recovered from the lameness with which he was before affected, and stands his work well, may be considered to be sound. Chief Justice Best held such a horse to be unsound, and in our opinion there cannot be a doubt about the matter. The operation of neurotomy does not remove the disease causing the lameness, but only the sensation of pain. A horse on whom this operation has been performed may be improved by it—may cease to be lame—may go well for many years; but there is no cer taimty of this, and he is unsound, within our definition, unless na- ture gave the nerve for no useful purpose. OssIFICATION OF THE LATERAL CARTILAGES constitutes unsound- ness, as interfering with the natural expansion of the foot, and, in horses of quick work, almost universally producing lameness. ‘ Pumicep-roor.— When the union between the horny and sen- sible lamin, or little plates of the foot (see p. 305), is weakened, and the coffin-bone is let down, and presses upon the sole, and the sole yields to this unnatural weight, and becomes rounded, and is brought in contact with the ground, and is bruised and injured, that horse must be unsound, and unsound forever, because there are no means by which we can raise the coffin-bone again into its place. Quippine.—If the mastication of the food gives pain to the ani- mal, in consequence of soreness of the mouth or throat, he will drop it before it is perfectly chewed. This, as an indication of disease, constitutes unsoundness. Quidding sometimes arises from irregularity in the teeth, which wound the cheek with their sharp edges; or a protruding tooth renders it impossible for the horse to close his jaws so as to chew his food thoroughly. Quidding ic unsoundness for the time ; but the unsoundness will cease when * 4 Campbell, 251, Elton vs. Brogden. 428 SOUNDNESS. the teeth are properly filed, or the soreness or other cause of this ‘mperfect chewing removed. QuiTToR is mnanifestly unsoundness. Rine-BonE.—Although when the bony tumor is small, and on one side, only, there is little or no lameness—and there are a few instances in which a horse with ring-bone has worked for many years without its return—yet from the action of the foot, and the stress upon the part, the inflammation and the formation of bone may acquire a tendency to spread so rapidly, that we must pro- nounce the slightest enlargement of the pasterns, or around the coronet, to be a cause of unsoundness. Sanp-crack is nanifestly unsoundness. It may, however, occur without the slightest warning, and no horse can be rejected on account of a sand-crack that has sprung after purchase. Its usual cause is too great brittleness of the crust of the hoof; but there is no infallible method of detecting this, or the degree in which it must exist in order 1o constitute unsoundness. When the horn round the bottom of the foot has chipped off so much that only a skilful smith can fasten the shoe without pricking the horse, or even when there is a tendency in the horn to chip and break in a much less degree than this, the horse is unsound, for the brittleness of the crust is a disease of the part, or it is such an altered structure of it as to interfere materially with the usefulness of the animal. Spavin.—Bone spavin, comprehending in its largest sense every bony tumor on the hock, is not necessarily unsoundness. If the tumor affects in the slightest degree the action of the horse, it is unsoundness ;—even if it does not, it is seldom safe to pronounce it otherwise than unsoundness. But it may possibly be (like splint in the fore-leg) so situated as to have no tendency to affect the ac- tion. A veterinary surgeon consulted on the purchase will not always reject a horse because of such a tumor. His evidence on a question of soundness will depend on the facts. The situation and history of the tumor may be such as to enable him to give a decisive opinion in a horse going sound, but not often. Boe or Bioop Spavin is unsoundness, because, although it may not be productive of lameness at slow work, the rapid and power- ful action of the hock in quicker motion will produce permanent, yet perhaps not considerable lameness, which can scarcely eve1 be with certainty removed.* Spiint.—It depends entirely on the situation of the bony tumor on the shank-bone, whether it is to be considered as unsoundness, If it is not in the neighborhood of any joint, so as to interfere with * Note by Mr. Spooner—Blood-Spavin is certainly unsoundness, unless extremely slight, although, in the majority of cases, it does not cause lameness. SOUNDNESS. 429 its actiun, and if it does-not press upon any ligament or tendon, it may be no cause of unsoundness, although it is often very un- sightly. In many cases, it may not lessen the capability and value of the animal. This has been treated on at considerable length in page 256.* StTrincHaLT.—This singular and very unpleasant action of the hind-leg is decidedly an unsoundness. It is an irregular commu- nication of nervous energy to some muscle of the thigh, observable when the horse first comes from the stable, and gradually ceasing on exercise. It has usually been accompanied by a more than common degree of strength and endurance. It must, however, be traced to some morbid alteration of structure or function; and it rarely or never fails to deteriorate and gradually wear out the animal. THICKENING or THE Back Sinews.—Suflicient attention is not always paid to the fineness of the legs of the horse. If the flexor tendons have been sprained, so as to produce considerable thick- ening of the cellular substance in which their sheaths are envel- oped, they will long afterwards, or perhaps always, be liable to sprain, from causes by which they would otherwise be scarcely affected. The continuance of any considerable thickness around the sheaths of the tendons indicates previous violent sprain. This very thickening will fetter the action of the tendons, and, after much quick work, will occasionally renew the inflammation and the lameness; therefore, such a horse cannot be sound. It requires, however, a little discrimination to distinguish this from the gum- miness, or roundness of leg, peculiar to some breeds. There should be an evident difference between the injured leg and the other. THoROUGHPIN, except it is of great size, is rarely productive of lameness, and therefore cannot be termed unsoundness ; but as it is the consequence of hard work, and now and then does produce * Note by Mr. Spooner—We do not think the situation of this tumor has as much to do with the existence of lameness as is generally imagined. The lameness is occasioned by the tension of the periosteum, or covering of the bone, which has not had time to accommodate itself to the bony swelling beneath it. All splints, therefore, which evince tenderness on being pressed should be considered as unsoundness, and, indeed, all splints on horses un der six years of age should be guarded against by a sufficient warranty though no lameness or tenderness may exist. In older horses, this precau tion is unnecessary. + Note by Mr. Spooner.—All enlargements of the sinews or ligaments, un less evidently produced by blows, constitute unsoundness. It is an old but mistaken idea, that the enlargement of sprung sinews, as it is termed, exists in the eellular membrane. It is the substance of the sinews themselves that becomes thickened. 430 SOUNDNESS lameness, the hock should be most carefully examined, and there should be a special warranty against it.* Turusu.—There are various cases on record of actions on ac- count of thrushes in horses and the decisions have been much at variance, or perfectly contradictory Thrush has not been always considered by legal men as unsoundness. We, however, decided- fy so consider it ; as being a disease interfering and likely to inter- fere with the usefulness of the horse. Thrush is inflammation of the lower surface of the inner or sensible frog—and the secretion or throwing out of pus—almost invariably accompanied ‘by a slight degree of tenderness of the frog itself, or of the heel a little above it, and, if neglected, leading to diminution of the substance of the frog, and separation of the horn from parts beneath, and underrunning, and the production of fungus and canker, and, ul- timately, a diseased state of the foot, destructive of the present, and dangerous to the future usefulness of the horse.+ ‘Winpeatits.—There are few horses perfectly free from wind- galls, but they do not interfere with the action of the fetlock, or cause lameness, except when they are numerous or large. They constitute unsoundness only when they cause lameness, or are so large and numerous as to render it likely that they will cause it. In the purchase of a horse the buyer usually receives, embod- ied in the receipt, what is termed a warranty. It should be thus expressed :— “Received of A. B. forty pounds for a gray mare, warranted only five years old, sound, free from vice, and quiet to ride or drive. “£40. “Cc. D” A receipt, including merely the word “ warranted,” extends on ly to soundness,—‘‘ warranted sound” goes no farther; the age, freedom from vice, and quietness to ride and drive, should be es pecially named. This warranty comprises every cause of unsound- ness that can be detected, or that lurksin the constitution at the time of sale, and to every vicious habit that the animal has hitherto shown. To establish a breach of warranty, and to be enabled to tender a return of the horse and recover the difference of price, the purchaser must prove that it was unsound or vicious- y disposed at the time of sale. In case of cough, the horse must nave been heard to cough immediately after the purchase, or as * Note by Mr. Spooner—Thoroughpins, unless they are very slight, ought to be considered in the same light as Bog Spavin, which they resemble in their nature though not in situation. They indicate weakness of. one of the most important points in the body, though lameness rarely attends it. + Note by Mr. Spooner—We cannot consider thrush as invariably un- soundness, as it may often be cured. In bad cases, of long standing, we are justified in considering it as unsoundness. SOUNDNESs. 431 he was led home, or as soon ashe had entered the stable of the purchaser. Coughing, even on the following moming, will not be sufficient ; for it is possible that he might have caught cold by change of stabling. If he is lame, it must be proved tc arise from a cause that existed before the animal was in the purchaser’s possession. No price will imply a warranty, or be equivalent to one; there must be an express warranty. A fraud must be proved in the seller, in order that the buyer may be enabled to return the horse or maintain an action for the price. The war- ranty should be given at the time of sale. A warranty, or a pro- mise to warrant the horse given at any period antecedent to the sale, is invalid ; for horse-flesh is a very perishable commodity, and the constitution and usefulness of the animal may undergo a considerable change in the space of a few days. A warranty after the sale is invalid, for it is is given without any legal consi- deration. In order to complete the purchase, there must be a transfer of the animal, or a memorandum of agreement, or the payment of the earnest-money. The least sum will suffice for eamest. No verbal promise to buy or to sell is binding without one of these. The moment either of these is effected, the legal trans- fec of property or delivery is made, and whatever may happen to the horse, the seller retains, or is entitled to the money. If the purchaser exercises any act of ownership, by using the animal without leave of the vender, or by having any operation per- formed, or any medicine given to him, he makes him his own. The warranty of a servant is considered to be binding on the master.* If the horse should be afterwards discovered to have been un- sound at the time of warranty, the buyer may tender a return of it, and, if it be not taken back, may bring his action for the price ; but the seller is not bound to rescind the contract, unless he has agreed so to do. : : Although there is no legal compulsion to give immediate no- tice to the seller of the discovered unsoundness, it will be better for it to be done. The animal should then be tendered at the house or stable of the vender. If he refuses to receive him, the animal may be sent to a livery stable and sold; and an action for the difference in price may be brought. The keep, however, can be recovered only for the time that necessarily intervened between the tender and the determination of the action. It isnot legally necessary to tender a return of the horse as soon as the unsoundness is discovered. The animal may be kept for a reaso- nable time afterwards, and even proper medical means used to re- * The weight of authority decides that the master is bound by the act of the servant. Lord Kenyon, however, had some doubt on the susject. 232 SOUNDNESS. “nove the unsoundness ; but courtesy, and indeed justice, will re sire that the notice should be given as soon as possible. Al- though it is stated, on the authority of Lord Loughborough, that ‘no length of time elapsed after the sale will alter the nature of a contract originally false,” yet it seems to have been onve thought it was necessary to the action to give notice of the un. soundness in a reasonable time. The cause of action is cer- tainly complete on breach of the warranty. It used to be supposed that the buyer had noright to have the horse medically treated, and that he would waive the warranty by doing so. The question, however, would be, has he mjured or diminished the value of the horse by this treatment? It will | generally be prudent for him to refrain from all medical treat- ment, because the means adopted, however skilfully employed, may have an unfortunate effect, or may be misrepresented by ig- norant or interested observers. The purchaser possibly may like the horse, notwithstanding his discovered defect, and he may retain, and bring his action for the lepreciation in value on account of the unsoundness. Few, how- ever, will do this, because his retaining the horse will cause a suspicion that the defect was of no great consequence, and will give rise to much ecavil about the quantum of damages, and after all, very slight damages will probably be obtained. ‘I take it to be clear law,” says Lord Eldon, “that if a person purchases a horse that is warranted, and it afterwards turns out that the horse was unsound at the time of warranty, the buyer may, if he pleases, keep the horse, and bring an action on the warranty; in which he will have a right to recover the difference between the value of a sound horse, and one with such defects as existed at the time of warranty; or he may return the horse, and bring an action to ‘recover the full money ; but in the latter case, the sel- ler has a right to expect that the horse shall be returned to him in the same state he was when sold, and not by any means di- minished in value; for if a person keep a warranted article for any length of time after discovering its defects, and when he re- turns it, it is in a worse state than it would have been if returned immediately after such discovery, I think the party can have no defence to an action for the price of the article on the ground of non-compliance with the warranty, but must be left to his action on the warranty to recover the difference in the value of the ar- ticle warranted, and its value when sold.* Where there is no warranty, an action may be brought on the ground of fraud; but this is very difficult to be maintained, and not often hazarded. It will be necessary to prove that the dealer knew the defect, and that the purchaser was imposed upon by his * Curtis v. Hannay, 3 Esp. 83. SOUNDNESS. 433 false representation, or other fraudulent means. If the defect was evident to every eye, the purchaser has no remedy—he should have taken more care ; but if a warranty was given, that extends to all unsoundness, palpable or concealed. Although a person should ignorantly or carelessly buy a blind horse, warranted sound, he may reject it—the warranty is his guard, and prevents him from so closely examining the horse as he otherwise would have done ; but if he buys a blind horse, thinking him to be sound, and without a warranty, he has no remedy. Every one ought to ex- ercise common circumspection and common sense. A man should have a more perfect knowledge of horses than falls to the lot of most, and a perfect knowledge of the vender too, who ventures to buy a horse without a warranty. . If a person buys a horse wairanted sound, and discovering no defect in him, and, relying on the warranty, re-sells him, and the unsoundness is discovered by the second purchaser, and the horse returned to the first purchaser, or an action commenced against him, he has his claim on the first seller, and may demand of him not only the price of the horse, or the difference in value, but every expense that may have been incurred. Absolute exchanges, of one horse for another, or a sum of money being paid in addition by one of the parties, stand on the same ground as simple sales. If there is a warranty on either side, and that is broken, an action may. be maintained : if there be no war- ranty, deceit must be proved. - The trial of horses on sale often leads to disputes. The law is perfectly clear, but the application of it, as in other matters con- nected with horse-flesh, attended with glorious uncertainty. The intended purchaser is only liable for damage done to the horse through his own misconduct. The seller may put what restriction he chooses on the trial, and takes the risks of all accidents in the fair use of the horse within such restrictions. If a horse from a dealer’s stable is galloped far and fast, it is probable that he will soon show distress ; and if he is pushed far- ther, inflammation and death may ensue. The dealer rarely gets recompénsed for this; nor ought he, as he knows the unfitness of his horse, and may thank himself for permitting such a trial; and if it should occur soon after the sale, he runs the risk of having the horse returned, or of an action for itr price. In this, too, he is not much to be pitied. The mischievous and fraudulent practice of dealers, especially in London, of giving their horses, by overfeeding, a false appearance of muscular sub- stance, leads to the ruin of many a valuable animal. It would be a useful lesson to have to contest in an action or two the ques- tion whether a horse overloaded with fat can be otherwise thar in a state of geese and conpeqnently unsound, 434 SOUNDNESS. It is proper, however, to put a limit to what has been too fre- quently asserted from the bench, that a horse warranted sound must be taken as fit for immediate use, and capable of being im mediately put to any fair work the owner chooses. A hunter honestly warranted sound is certainly warranted to be in imme diate condition to follow the hounds. The mysteries of condition, as bas been shown in a former part of the work, are not sutfi- ciently unravelled. In London, and in most great towns, there are repositories for the periodical sale of horses by auction. They are of great eon- venience to the seller who can at once get rid of a horse with which he wishes to part, without waiting month after month be- fore he obtains a purchaser, and he is relieved from the nuisance or fear of having the animal returned on account of breach of the warranty, because in these places only two days are allowed for the trial, and if the horse-is not returned within that period he cannot be afterwards returned. They are also convenient to the purchaser, who can thus in a large town soon find a horse that will suit him, and which, from this restriction as to returning the animal, he will obtain twenty or thirty per cent. below the dealers’ prices. Although an auction may seem to offer a fair and open competition, there is no place at which itis more neces- sary for a person not much accustomed to horses to take with him an experienced friend, and, when there, to depend on his own judgment, or that of his friend, heedless of the observations or maneuvres of the bystanders, the exaggerated commendation of some horses, and the thousand faults found with others. There are always numerous groups of low dealers, copers, and chaunters, whose business it is to delude and deceive. One of the regulations of the Bazaar in King Street was ex- ceedingly fair, both with regard to the previous owner and the purchaser, viz.— “ When a horse, having been warranted sound, shall be returned within the prescribed period, on account of unsoundness, a certi- ficate from a veterinary surgeon, particularly describing the un- soundness, must accompany the horse so returned ; when, if it be agreed to by the veterinary surgeon of the establishment, the amount received for the horse shall be immediately paid back ; but if the veterinary surgeon of the establishment should not confirm the certificate, then, in order to avoid further dispute, one of the veterinary surgeons of the college shall be called in, and his decision shall be final, and the expense of such umpire shall ve borne by the party in error.” CHAPTER XXIII. A LIST OF THE MEDICINES USED IN ‘THE TREATMENT OP THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE. He will rarely consult his own interest, who, not having had the advantage of a veterinary education, undertakes the treatment of any of the serious diseases of his horses. Many of the maladies of the horse nearly resemble each other. They are continually varying their character, and require, in their different stages, a very different treatment, and in the plainest case not only the characteristic symptoms of disease are obscure, but even the in- dications of returning health, or increasing danger, are often scarcely ascertainable, conseqently the sick horse, as well as the human being, needs the care of one whom study and experience have qualified for the task. A list of the drugs generally em- ployed, with a slight account of their history, adulterations, and medicinal effects, will be interesting to the horse-proprietor as well as to the veterinary surgeon ; and may occasionally, be use- ful when professional aid cannot be obtained.* Frequent reference will be made to Professor Morton’s most valuable Manual of Pharmacy. This work will be found to be a treasure to every veterinary surgeon. Mr. W. C. Spooner’s Materia Medica, in his recent compendium of White’s account of the horse, will occasionally be laid under contribution. Acacia Gummi, Gum Arapic.—Many varieties of gum arabic are procured from Egypt, Arabia, and the East Indies. It is employed in the form of a mucilage, made by dissolving it in water, in the proportion of one part of the gum to three or four of water. Various insoluble powders may be thus suspended, or oils rendered miscible, or emulsions formed. Emulsions composed of gum arabic are supposed to be useful in urinary affections. Acipum Aceticum, Acetic Actp, Vinecar.—Vinegar is a very * Note by Mr. Spooner—We have little to add under this division of the work. ‘The Pharmacopeeia in the text was cautiously written, and is for the most vart correct. 436 MEDICINES. useful application for sprains and bruises. Equal parts of boiling water and cold vinegar will form a good fomentation. Extract of lead, or bay salt, may be added with some advantage. Asan internal remedy, vinegar is rarely given, nor has it, except in large doses, any considerable medicinal power. The veterinarian and the horse-owner should manufacture their own vinegar. That which they buy frequently contains sulphuric acid and pun- gent spices, and irritates the inflamed part to which it is applied. Acipum Arseniosum, Arsenic Acip.—Were it not that some practitioners continue to use it as a tonic, in doses of from ten to twenty grains daily, and others employ it to core out old ulcers, we should not include it in our list, for we have little faith in 1. There are better and safer tonics, nl far better and safer caus- tics. Acipum Muriaticum, or eneaama sees Acip: Spirit oF Satt.—This acid is formed by distilling corrosive sublimate with antimony. The butter-like matter which is produced (whence the common name, Butyr of Antimony), has a strong aflinity for water, which it attracts from the atmosphere, and thus be- comes converted into a fluid. The less water it is suffered to attract to itself the more powerful it remains, and therefore it should be kept in stoppered bottles. The proof of its goodness is its weight. It is decidedly the best liquid caustic we have. It is most manageable, and its effect can most readily be ascertained. As soon as it touches any muscular or living part, a change of color is perceived, and the effect of the caustic can be fairly judged of by the degree of change. For corns, canker, indispo- sition in the sole to secrete good horn, wounds in the foot not attended by healthy action, and for every case where the super- ficial application of a caustic is needed, this acid is unrivalled. Aciwum Nirricum: Nirric Acrp, AQquarortis.—This is a valuable externa] application. It is beth a caustic and ar anti- septic. It destroys fungous excrescences. A pledget of tar should be dipped in the acid, and then firmly pressed on the cankerous surface. Every part with which the acid has come into contact will be deadened and slough off, and healthy granulations will sprig up. AcipuM Hyproctantcum : Prussic Acip.—This, in a concen- trated state, is truly a deadly poison ; a few drops of it will kill a large animal. In a diluted form, it is a powerful sedative. In doses of six drops, largely diluted, it abates both pulmonary and gastric ixritation. It may be worth trying in the form of injec- tions in cases of tetanus. It may also be given by the mouth in the same disease. Nothing ‘s more likely to tranquillize the general excitement of the nervous system. The author of this work was the firs’ person who applied the hydrocyanic acid for MEDICINES. 437 «he purpose of allaying irritation of the skin in dogs. It seldom vails of producing the desired effect, and it has had a similar good effect in subduing itchiness and mange in the horse. Acipum SunpHuricum, Su.puuric Acip, Om or ViTRriot.— When mixed with tar in the proportion of an ounce to the pound, it is a good application for thrush and canker: a smaller quantity, mixed with olive oil, makes a good stimulating lini- ment. If too much sulphuric acid is added, either by mistake or wilfully, it inflames and corrodes the stomach and bowels. The proper antidotes in this case are magnesia, or the carbonate of soda or potash, with soft soap. The acid might possibly be neutralized by this combination. Acruat CauTery.—See Caustics. . Apveps, Hoe’s Larp, very properly forms the basis of most of our ointments. It is tasteless, inodorous, and free from every stimulating quality. That cannot be said of all the ingredients used in the composition of our unguents. , Auconot, Rectirmp Sprrir.—This is necessarily used in jmany of our tinctures and other preparations, and is sometimes given to the horse in almost a pure state. Some horses that are compelled to travel far and quickly, show evident fatigue before they arrive at the end of their journey. A cordial or carmina- tive tincture, to the extent of three or four ounces, largely diluted, may occasionally be given, and they rally, and cheerfully pursue their journey to the end. The groom or the stableman gives the gin or whiskey of the country, in preference to any other stimulant. In cases of thorough fatigue, the Daffy’s Elixir may be administered, and probably rendered more stimulant by the addi- tion of pepper. Mr. Bracy Clark recommends four ounces of the tincture of allspice in cases of gripes. On the other hand, some veterinary surgeons have preferred simple hot water, or the infu- sion of several of our medicinal herbs, as peppermint, rosemary, &c. We should be loth, except on extraordinary occasions, to advocate the use of any spirituous drink. : Axoes.—There are two kinds used in horse practice, the Barba- does and the Cape. The Socotorine, preferred by the human sur- geon, are very uncertain in their effect on the horse, and are seldom to be met with pure. Of the Barbadoes and the Cape, the first are much to be preferred. The Barbadoes are black, with a shade of brown, of an unctu- ous feeling, with a stronger smell, broken with difficulty, and the fracture dull.- The Cape are darker coloyed, stronger smelling, very brittle, and the fracture perfectly glossy. Every veterinary surgeon who uses much aloes should buy them in the mass, and powder them at home, and then, by attending to this account of the difference of the two, he can scarcely be imposed upon. It 138 MEDICINES. is, however,.the fact, that these are mostly adulterated, by their being melted together. Aloes purchased in powder are too often sadly adulterated. The Cape aloes may be powdered at all times, and the Barba- does in frosty weather, when enough should be prepared, to be kept in closed bottles, for the year’s consumption. They may also be powdered when they have been taken from the gourd, and exposed to a gentle heat for two or three hours before they arc put into the mortar. In the proportion of fifteen ounces of the powder mixed with one ounce of powdered ginger, and beaten up with eight ounces of palm oil, and afterwards divided into the proper doses, it will form a purging mass more effectual, and much less likely to gripe, than any that can be procured by melt- ing the drug. If the physic is given in the shape of a ball, it more readily dissolves in the stomach, and more certainly and safely acts on the bowels when mingled with some oily matter, like that just recommended, than when combined with syrup or honey, which are apt to ferment, and be themselves the cause of gripes. It is also worse than useless to add any diuretic to the mass, as soap or carbonate of suda, The action of these on one set of organs will weaken that of the aloes on another. A physic mass should never be kept more than two or three months, for, after that time, it rapidly loses its purgative property. Directions for physicking’ will be found at page 224. We will only add that, as a promoter of condition, the dose should always be mild. A few fluid stools will be sufficient for every good purpose. Violent disease will alone justify violent purging. The Barbadoes aloes have a greater purgative power than the Cape exclusive of griping less and being safer. In addition to this, the action of the bowels is kept up longer by the Barbadoes aloes than by the Cape. If the horse is well mashed, and care- fully exercised, and will drink plenty of warm water, the Cape may be ventured on, or at least mixed with equal quanties of the Barbadoes ; but if there is any neglect of preparation for physic. or during the usual operation of the physic, the Cape are not always to be depended upon. The combination of alkaline com- pounds with aloes alters the results of the medicine. The action is quickened, but their purgative properties are impaired, and they cease to operate specifically on the larger intestines. Such is the opinion of Professor Morton, and undoubtedly the latter would be an advantage gained. The activity of the aloes may be occasionally increased by a few drops of the croton oil. Mashes are useful helps when physic is administered. Some persons are fond of what are called half-doses of physic. Three or four drachms are given on one day, and three or four on the following: and perhansg. if the medicina hac nat anaentsa MEDICINES. 439 as in this divided state it will not airways, two or three additional drachms are given on the third day. The consequence is, that the bowels having been rendered irritable by the former doses. the horse is over-purged, and inflammation and death occasion- ally ensue. In physicking a horse, whatever is.to be done should be done at once. Whatever quantity is intended to be giver. should be given in one dose. The systern of giving small doses of aloes as alteratives is nc good. These repeated minute doses lodging in some of the folds of the intestines, and at length uniting, often produce more effect than is desirable. It is never safe to ride a horse far or fast, with even a small dose of aloes within him. Most of all objectionable is the custom of giving small doses of aloes as a nauseant, in inflammation of the lungs. There is so much sympathy between the contents of the chest and the belly in the horse, and inflammation of one part is so likely to be transferred to another, that it is treading on very dangerous ground, when, with much inflammation of the lungs, that is given which will stimulate and may inflame the intestines. Aloes are most commonly, because most easily, administered in the form’of ball, but in a state of solution their effect is more speedy, effectual and safe.* ’ Aloes are useful in the form of tincture. Eight ounces of powdered aloes, and one ounce of powdered myrrh, may be put into two quarts of alcohol, diluted with an equal quantity of water. ‘The mixture should be daily well shaken for a fortnight, and then suffered to stand, in order that the undissolved portion may fall to the bottom. This will constitute a very excellent application for wounds, whether recent or of long-standing and indisposed to heal. It is not only a gentle stimulant, but it forms a thin crust over the wound, and shields it from the action of the air. The principal adulteration of aloes is. by means of resin, and the alteration of color is concealed by the addition of charcoal or lamp-black. This adulteration is easily enough detected by dis- solving the aloes in hot water. All aloes contain some resinous matter, which the water will not dissolve and which has very slight purgative effect. The excess of this resin at the bottom of the solution will mark the degree of adulteration. ALTERATIVES,—are a class of medicines the nature and effect of which are often much misunderstood, and liable to considerable abuse. It is a very convenient name in order to excuse that pro- pensity to dose the horse with medicines, which is the disgrace of the groom, and the bane of the stable. * See note by Mr. Spooner, on page 225 449 MEDICINES. By alteratives we understand those drugs which effect some slow change in the diseased action of certain parts without inter- fering with the food or work; but by common consent the term seems to be confined to medicines for the diseases of the circula- tion, or of the digestive organs, or of the skin. If a horse is heavy and incapable of work from too good keep, or if he is off his food from some temporary indigestion—or if he has mange or grease, or cracked heels, or swelled legs, a few alteratives are prescribed, and the complaint is expected to be gradually and imperceptibly removed. For all skin affections there is no better alterative than that so often recommended in this treatise, consisting of black antimony, nitre, and sulphur. If there is any tendency to grease, some resin may be added to each ball. Ifthe complaint is ac- companied by weakness, a little gentian and ginger may be farther added, but we enter our protest against the ignorant use of mer cury in any form, or any of the mineral acids, or mineral tonics, or heating spices, as alteratives. We indeed should be pleased if we could banish the term alterative from common. usage. The mode of proceeding which reason and science would dictate is to ascertain the nature and the degree of the disease, and then the medicine which is calculated to restore the healthy action of the part, or of the frame generally. ALum,—is occasionally used internally in cases of over-purging in the form of alum-whey, two drachms of the powder being added to a pint of hot mill; but there are much better astrin- gents, although this may sometimes succeed when others fail. If alum is added to a vegetable astringent, as oak-bark, the power of both is diminished. Its principal use is external. A solution of two drachms to a pint of water forms alone, or with the addi- tion of a small quantity of white vitriol, a very useful wash for cracked heels, and for grease generally ; and also for those forms of swelled legs attended with exudation of moisture through the skin. Some add the Goulard lotion, forgetting the chemical de composition that takes place; the result of which is, that the al umine, possessing little astringency, is detached, and two salts with no astringency at all, the sulphate of lead and the sulphate of potash, are formed. _ The Burnt Axum is inferior to the common alum for the pur- poses mentioned, and we have better stimulants, or caustics, to apply to wounds. ANISE SEED,—see ANIst SEMINA. Ammonia, HarrsHorn,—is, to the annoyance of the horse, and the injury of his eyes and his lungs, plentifully extricated from the putrefying dung and urine of the stable ; but, when combined with water in the common form of hartshorn, it is seldom used in veterinary practice It has been given, and with decided benefit MEDICINES. 441 and when other things have failed, in flatulent colic ; and is best administered in the form of the aromatic spirit of ammonia, and in doses of one or two ounces, in warm water. CHLORIDE or AMMONIA,—or SAL AMMONIAG, is scarcely deserving of a place in our list. It is not now used internally; and as an astringent embrocation, it must yield to several that are more ef- fectual, and less likely to blemish. Anist Semina, Anise Srep.—This seed is here mentioned prin- cipally as a record of old times, when it was one of the sheet- anchors of the farrier. It is not yet quite discarded from his shop as a stimulant, a carminative, and a cordial. Anopynes.—Of these there is but one in horse practice: Opium is the only drug that will lull pain. It may be given as an ano- dyne, but it will also be an astringent in doses of one, two, o1 three drachms. Antimony.—There are several valuable preparations of this metal. : The Brack Sesqui-SutpuuretT or ANTIMONY, a compound of sulphur and antimony, is a good alterative. It is given with more sulphur and with nitre, in varying doses, according to the disease, and the slow or rapid effect’ intended to be produced. It should never be bought in powder whatever trouble there may be in pulverizing it, for it is often grossly adulterated with lead, manganese, forge-dust, and arsenic. The adulteration may be detected by placing a little of the powder on a red-hot iron plate. The pure sulphuret will evaporate without the slightest res- idue—so will the arsenic: but there will be an evident smell of garlic. A portion of the lead and the manganese will be left behind. Awntimonu Potassio Tartras, Emetic Tartar.—The tartrate of potash and antimony, or a combination of super-tartrate of potash and oxide of antimony, is a very useful nauseant, and has considerable effect on the skin. It is particularly valuable in in- flammation of the lungs, and in every catarrhal affection. It is given in doses of from one drachm to a drachm and a half, and combined with nitre and digitalis. It is also beneficial in the expulsion of worms. It should be given in doses of two drachms, and with some mechanical vermifuge, as tin filings, or grcund glass, and administered on an empty stomach, and for several successive days. A'tnough it may sometimes fail to expel the worms, it will materially improve the condition of the horse, and produce slecxness of the coat. Toa slight degree the emetic tar- tar is Jcomposed by the action of light, and should be kept in a jar, cx green bottle. It is sometimes adulterated with arsenic, which is detected by the garlic smell when it is placed on hot iron, and also by its not giving a beautiful gold-colored precipitate a 442 MEDICINES. when suiphuret of ammonia is added to a solution of it. It has also been externally applied in chest affections, in combination with lard, and in quantities of from one drachm to two drachms of the antimony, to an ounce of the lard; but, except in extreme vases, recourse should not be had to it, on account of the exten- sive sloughing which it sometimes produces. Aqua Fortis,—see Acipum Nrrricum. Arasic Gum,—see Acacia GuMMI. ; Putvis AnTimonu Compositus, THE Compounp Powber or AN- timony, James’ Powprr.—lIt is employed as a sudorific in fever, either alone or in combination with mercurials. The dose is from one to two drachms. The late Mr. Bloxam used to trust to it alone in the treatment of Epidemic Catarrh in the horse. It is, however, decidedly inferior to Emetic Tartar. It is often adul- terated with chalk and burnt bones, and other white powders, and that to so shameful a degree. that little dependence can be placed on the antimonial powder usually sold by druggists. The muriatic or sulphuric acids will detect most of these adultera tions. Antr-spasmopics.—Of these our ligt is scanty, for the horse is subject only to a few spasmodic diseases, and there are fewer medicines which have an anti-spasmodic effect. Opium stands first for its general power, and that exerted particularly in locked- jaw. Oil of turpentine is almost a specific for spasm of the bowels. Camphor, assafcetida, and various other medicines, used on the human subject, have a very doubtful effect on the horse, or may be considered as almost inert. Arcentoum, Sitver, Lunar Caustic.—One combination only of this metal is used, and that as a manageable and excellent caus- tic, viz., the Lunar Caustic. It is far preferable to the hot iron, or to any acid, for the destruction of the part if a horse should have been bitten by a rabid dog; and it stands next to the butyr of antimony for the removal of fungus generally. It has not yet been administered internally to the horse. Arsenic.—This drug used to be employed as a tonic, in order to core out old ulcers; but it is now seldom employed, for there are better and safer tonics, and far better and safer caustics. Batis.—The usual and the most convenient mode of adminis- tering veterinary medicines is in the form of balls, compounded with oil, and not with honey or syrup, on account of their longer keeping soft and more easily dissolving in the stomach. Balls should never weigh more than an ounce and a half, otherwise they will be so large as not to pass without difficulty down the gullet. They should not be more than an inch in diameter and three inches in length. The mode of delivering balls is not diffi- cult to acquire ; but the balling-iron, while it often wounds and MEDICINES 443 permanently injures the bars, occasions the horse tu struggle more than he otherwise would against the administration of the medi- cine. The horse should be backed in the stall ;—the tongue should be drawn gently out with the left hand on the off side of the mouth, and there fixed, not by continuing to pull at it, but by pressing the fingers against the side of the lower jaw. The ball, being now taken between the tips of the fingers of the right hand, is passed rapidly up the mouth, as near to the palate as possible, until it reaches the root of the tongue. It is then deliv- ered with a slight jerk, and the hand being immediately with- drawn and the tongue liberated, the ball is forced through the pharynx into the wsophagus. Its passage should be watched down the left side of the throat; and if the passage of it is not seen going down, a slight tap or blow under the chin will gen- erally cause the horse to swallow it, or a few gulps of water will convey it into the stomach. Very few balls should be kept ready made, for they become so hard as to be incapable of passing down the gullet, or dissolving in the stomach, and the life of the horse may be endangered or lost. This is peculiarly liable tn be the case if the ball is too large, or wrapped in thick paper. Batsam or Capivi,—see Coparsa. Bark, Peruvian.—A concentrated preparation of this is entitled the Sutpuatse or QuininE. The simple bark is now seldom used If it has any good effect, it isin diabetes. The quinine, however, is strongly recommended by Professor Morton as singularly effica- cious in the prostration of strength which is often the ecnsernence of influenza. Basmicon OintmenT,—is a valuable digestive ointment, eom- posed of resin, bees-wax, and olive-oil. If it is needed as a st1m- ulant, a little turpentine and verdigris may be added. BELLaDonN& Extractum, Extract or Deapiy NicutsHaDE.-— The inspissated juice is principally used as a narcotic and seda- tive, and indicated where there is undue action of the nervous and vascular systems, as in tetanus, carditis, and nervous affec- tions generally. Externally, it is beneficially applied to tne eye. "Pies ake applications to the skin which separate the cu- ticle in the form of vesicles containing a serous fluid. They ex- cite increased action in the vessels of the skin, by means of which this fluid.is thrown out. The part, or neighboring parts, are some- what relieved by the discharge, but more by the inflammation and pain that are produced, and lessen that previously existing in some contiguous part. On this principle we account for the de- cided relief often obtained by blisters in inflammation of the lungs, and their efficacy in abating deeply-seated disease, as that of the tendons, ligaments, or joints; and also the necessity of previously 444 MEDICINES. removing, in these latter cases, the superficial inflam. sation caused by them, in order that one of a different kind may be excited, and to which the deeply-seated inflammation of the part will be more likely to yield. The blisters used in horse-practice are composed of cantharides or the oil of turpentine, to which some have added a tincture of the croton-nut. . The art of blistering consists in cutting, or rather shaving, the hair perfectly close; then well rubbing in the ointment, for at least ten minutes; and, afterwards, and what is of the greatest consequence of all, plastering a little more of the ointment lightly over the part and leaving it. As soon as the vesicles have per- fectly risen, which will be in twenty or twenty-four hours, the tor- ture of the animal may be somewhat relieved by the application of olive or neat’s-foot oil, or any emollient ointment. When too extensive a blister has been employed, or, from the intensity of the original inflammation, theblister has not risen (for no two intense inflammations can exist in neighboring parts at the same time), strangury—great difficulty in passing urine, and even suppression of it—has occurred. The careful washing off of the blister, and the administration of plenty of warm water, with opium, and bleeding if the symptoms run high, will generally re- move this unpleasant effect. For some important remarks on the composition, application, and management of the blister, see page 362. : Boz ARMENIAN,—is an argillaceous earth combined with iron, and is supposed to possess some astringent property. The pro- priety of its being administered inwardly is doubtful ; for it may remain in the intestinal canal, and become the nucleus of a cal- culus. On account of its supposed astringency, it is employed ex- ternally to give consistence to ointments for grease. Even the bole Armenian has not escaped the process of adulteration, and is largely mixed with inferior earths. The fraud may be suspected, but not satisfactorily detected, by the color of the powder, which should be a bright red. Catamine Powper.—See Zinc. CaLomeL.—See Hyprareyrum. Campuor,—is the produce of one of the laurus species, a native of Japan, and too often imitated by passing a stream of chlorine through oil of turpentine. According to Professor Morton, it is a narcotic. It diminishes the frequency of the pulse, and softens its tone. When long exhibited, it acts on the kidneys. Externally applied, it is said to be a discutient and an anodyne for chronic sprains, bruises, and tumors. The camphor ball is a favorite one with the groom, and occasionally administered by the veterinary surgeon. Mr. W. C. Spooner uses it, mixed with opium, in cases of locked-jaw, and in doses of from one totwo drachms. In the MEDICINES. 445 form of camphorated oil, it promotes the absorption of fluids thrown out beneath the skin, the removal of old callus, and the suppling of joints stiff from labor. Combined with oil of turpen- tine it is more effective, but in this combination it occasionally blemishes.* CantuHaripys, Spanish Fires,—are the basis of the most ap- proved and useful veterinary blisters. The cantharis is a fly, the native of Italy and the south of France. It is destroyed by sulphur, dried and powdered, and mixed with palm-oil and resin. Its action is intense, and yet superficial; it plenti- fully raises the cuticle, yet rarely injures the true skin, and therefore seldom blemishes. The application of other acrid substances is occasionally followed by deeply-seated ulcerations ; but a blister composed of the Spanish fly alone, while it does its duty, leaves, after a few weeks have passed, scarcely a trace behind. An infusion of two ounces of the flies in a pint of oil of turpen- tine, for several days, is occasionally used as a liquid blister ; and, when sufficiently lowered with common oil, it is called a sweat- zg oil, for it maintains a certain degree of irritation and inflamma- tion on the skin, yet not sufficient to blister, and thus gradually abates or removes some old or deep inflammation, or cause of lameness. Of late cantharides have come into more general use. They were recommended by Mr..Vines, in combination with vegetable bitters, as a stimulating tonic, in cases of debility. He next ap- plied them for the cure of glanders, and with considerable suc- cess. The veterinary public is much indebted to Mr. Vines for the steadiness with which he has followed up the employment of the Spanish fly. The dose is from five to eight grains given daily, but withheld for a day or two when diuresis supervenes. Carsict Baccm, Capsicum Berries. Guinea Peprer.—They are valuable as stimulants affecting the system generally, yet not too much accelerating the pulse. Their beneficial effect in cases af cold has seldom been properly estimated. The dose is from a scruple to half a drachm. Caraway Srrps.—These and ginger, alone or combined,, are the best stirfulants used in horse-practice. CaasonaTE or Inon.—See under FerRum. CascariLua Barx.—Tonic as well as aromatic. It must not, however, be used with the sulphates of iron or zinc. Castor Ort, Or1um Ricrni.—An expensive medicine. It must be given in large doses, and even then it is uncertain in its effects. * Note by Mr. Spooner—Camphor is a sedative and slight narcotic, and as such, may be exhibited in fever balls with advantage. It has also been found useful, combined with opium, in relieving the spasms of locked.jaw. 446 MEDICINES. Mild as is its operation in most animals, it sometimes gripes, aad even endangers the horse. CatEcuu, Japan Eartu,—yet, no earth, but extracted from the wood of one of the acacia trees, is a very useful astringent, It is given in over purging, in doses of one or two drachms, with opium, as a yet more powerful astringent ; chalk, to neu- tralize any acid in the stomach or bowels; and powdered gum, to sheath the over-irritated mucous coat of the intestines. It is not often adulterated in our country, but grossly so abroad—fine sand and aluminous earth being mixed with the extract. It is seldom given with any alkali, yet the prescription just recom- mended contains chalk: but, although the chalk, as an alkan. may weaken the astringency of the catechu, it probably neu- tralizes some acid in the stomach or bowels, that would have diminished the power of the catechu to a greater degree. It must not be given in conjunction with any metallic salt, for the tannin or gallic acid, on which its power chiefly or entirely depends, has an affinity for all metals, and will unite with them, and form a gallate of them, possessing little astringent energy Common ink is the union of this tannin principle with iron. A tincture of catechu is sometimes made by macerating three ounces of the powder in a quart of spirit for a fortnight. It is an excellent application for wounds; and, with the aloes, con- stitutes all that we want of a balsamic nature for the purpose of hastening the healing process of wounds. Caustics,—are substances that burn or destroy the parts to which they are applied. First among them stands the red-hot iron, or actual cautery, and then pure alkalies, potash, and soda, and the sulphuric and nitrous acids. Milder caustics are found in the sulphate of copper, red precipitate, burnt alum, and ver- digris. They are principally used to destroy fungous excrescences or stimulate indolent tumors, or remove portions of cellular sub. stance, or muscle infected by any poison. CuaLx,—see CRETA PREPARATA. CHamomiLE, ANTHEMIS.—The powder of the flower is a use- ful vegetable tonic, and the mildest in our list. It is given in doses of one or two drachms, and is exhibited in the early stage of convalescence in order to ascertain whether the febrile stage of the disease is passed, and to prepare the way for a more pow- erful tonic, the gentian. If no acceleration of pulse, or heat of mouth, or indication of return of fever, accompanies the cautious use of chamomile, the gentian, with carbonate of iron, may be safely ventured upon; but if the gentian had been first used, and a little too soon, there might have been considerable, and perhaps dangerous return of fever. CuarcoaL,- ~is occasionally used as an antiseptic, being made MEDICINES. 447 mto a poultice witn linseed meal, and applied to foul and offen. sive ulcers, and to cracked heels. It removes the fetid and un wholesome smell that occasionally proceeds from them. Cuarces,—are thick, adhesive plasters spread over parts that have been strained or weakened, and, being applied to the skin, adhere for a considerable time. The following mixture makes good charge—Burgundy or common pitch, five ounces ; tar, six ounces; yellow wax, one ounce, melted together, and when they are becoming cool, half a drachm of powdered cantharides well stirred in. This must be partially melted afresh when applied, and spread on the part with a large spatula, as hot as can be done without giving the animal too much pain. Flocks of tow should be scattered over it while it is warm, and thus a thick and adhesive covering will be formed that cannot be separated from the skin for many months. It is used for old sprains of the loins, and also strains of the back sinews. The charge acts in three ways—by the slight stimulant power which it possesses it gradually removes all deep-seated inflammation— by its stimulus and its pressure it promotes the absorption of any callus or thickening beneath ; and, acting as a constant bandage it gives tone and strength to the part. Cuioripe or Livz,—see under Lime. CHLOROFORM,—see note.* Crysrers.—These are useful and too often neglected means of hastening the evacuation of the bowels when the disease requires their speedy action. The old ox-bladder and wooden pipe may still be employed, and a considerable quantity of fluid thrown into the intestine; but the patent stomach and clyster pump of Mr. Reid is far preferable, as enabling the practitioner to inject a greater quantity of fluid, and in a less time. Two ounces of soft or yellow soap, dissolved in a gallon of warm water, will form a useful aperient clyster. It will detach or dissolve many irritating substances that may have adhered to the mucous coat of the bowels. For a more active aperient. half a pound of Epsom salts, or even of common salt, may be dissolved in the same quantity of water. A stronger injection, but not to be’ used if much purgative medicine has been pre- viously given, may be composed of an ounce of Barbadoes aloes dissolved in two or three quarts of warm water. If nothing else can be procured, warm water may be employed; it will % Note by Mr. Spooner—Chloroform, or the perchloride of formyle, has been found to be a better anesthetic agent than sulphuric ether, and has also been used internally for spasms of the bowels. The objection to its use as a destroyer of sensation is the quantity required to be taken, amounting, indeed, to several ounces. The writer has employed it succesa fully in many operations 4438 MEDICINES. act as a fomentation to the inflamed and irritable surface of the bowels, and will have no inconsiderable effect even as an ape rient. In cases of over-purging or inflammation of the bowels, the injection must be of a soothing nature. It may consist of gruel alone, or, if the purging is considerable, and difficult to stop, the ruel must be thicker, and four ounces of prepared or powdered chalk well mixed with or suspended in it, with two scruples or a drachm of powdered opium. No oil should enter into the composition of a clyster, except that linseed oil may be used for the expulsion of the ascarides, or needle-worms. , In epidemic catarrh, when the horse sometimes obstinately refuses to eat or to drink, his strength may be supported by nourishing clysters; but they should consist of thick gruel only, and not more than a quart should be administered at once. A greater quantity would be ejected soon after the pipe is with- drawn. Strong broths, and more particularly ale and wine, are dangerous ingredients. They may rapidly aggravate the fever, and should never be administered, except under the superin- tendence, or by the direction, of a veterimary surgeon. The principal art of administering a clyster consists in not frightening the horse. The pipe, well oiled, ‘should be very gently introduced, and the fluid not too hastily thrown into the intestine ; its heat being as nearly as possible that of the intes- tine, or about 96° of Fahrenheit’s thermometer. Cotiyria, Lotions ror THE Eve.—These have been suffi- ciently described when inflammation of the eyes was treated of. Coparsa, Batsam or Capiv1.i—The resin is obtained from a tree growing in South America and the West India Islands. It is expensive, much adulterated, and seldom used ; for its proper- ties differ but little from those of common diuretics. Correr.—There are two combinations of this metal used in veterinary practice: the verdigris or subacetate, and the blue vitriol or sulphate. Verovicris, or Subacetate of Copper is the common rust of that metal produced by subjecting it to the action of acetic acid. It is given internally by some practitioners, in doses of two or three drachms daily, as a tonic, and particularly for the cure of farcy. It is, however, an uncertain and dangerous medicine. The corrosive sublimate, with vegetable tonics, as recommended at page 117, is preferable. Verdigris is, however, usefully ap- plied externally as a mild caustic. Either alone, in the form of fine powder, or mixed with an equal quantity of the sugar (superacetate) of lead, it eats down proud flesh, or stimulates old ulcers to healthy action. When boiled with honey and vinegar, MEDICINES, 4A9 it constitutes the farriers’ Egyptiacum, certainly of henefit in cankered or ulcerated mouth, and no bad application for thrushes ; but yielding, as it regards both, to better remedies, that are mentioned under the proper heads. Some practitioners use alum and oil of vitriol in making their Egyptiacum, forgetting the strange decomposition which is produced. Buve Virriot or Sulphate-of Copper is the union of sulphuric acid and copper. It is a favorite tonic with many practitioners, and has been vaunted as a specific for glanders; while others, and we.think properly, have no very good opinion of it in either respect. Asa cure for glanders, its reputation has nearly passed away. As a tonic, when the horse is slowly recovering from se- vere illness, it is dangerous, and its internal use should be con- fined to cases of long-continued discharge from the nostril, when catarrh or fever has ceased. It may then be given with benefit in doses of from one to two drachms twice in the day, and always combined with gentian and ginger. It is principally valuable as an external application, dissolved in water in the proportion of two drachms to a pint, and acting as a gentle stimulant. If an ounce is dissolved in the same quantity of water, it becomes a mild caustic. In the forraer proportion, it rouses old ulcers to a healthy action, and disposes even recent wounds to heal more quickly than they otherwise would do; and in the latter it re- moves fungous granulations or proud flesh. The blue vitriol is sometimes reduced to powder and sprinkled upon the wound for this purpose : it is also a good application for canker in the foot. Copreras,—See under FErrum. ° CorpiaLs,—are useful or injurious according to the judgment with which they are given, When a horse comes home thoroughly exhausted, and refuses his food, a cordial may be bene- ficial. It may rouse the stomach and the system generally, and may prevent cold and fever; but it is poison to the animal when administered after the cold is actually caught and fever begins to appear. More to be reprobated is the practice of giving frequent cordials, that by their stimulus on the stomach, (the skin sympa- thising so much with that viscus,) a fine coat may be produced. The artificial excitement of the cordial soon becomes as necessary to enable the horse to do even common work, as is the excite- ment of the dram to sustain the animal spirits of the drunkard. In order to recall the appetite of the horse siowly recovering from illness, a cordial may, sometimes be allowed ; or to old horses that have been worked hard and used to these excitements when young ; or to draught horses, that have exhibited slight symptoms of stag zers when their labor has been unusually protracted and their stomachs left too long empty ; or mixed with diuretic med icine, to fine the legs gf the over-worked and debilitated animal 450 MEDICINES. but in 1.0 other case should they obtain a place in the stable, or be used at the discretion of the carter or the groom. Corrosive SusttmaTe.—See under HyDRARGYRUM. Cream or Tartar.—See under Potasu. : Creasots,—has very lately been introduced into veterinary practice, and is much valued on account of its antiseptic proper- ties. It is obtained by the destructive distillation of various sub- tances, as pyroligneous adid, tar, wood, smoke, &c. Pure crea- sote is colorless and transparent ; its odor is that of smoked meat and its taste is caustic and burning. It coagulates the albumen of the blood, and hence has been lately employed in stopping her- morrhages. It acts very powerfully on the general system, and quickly destroys small animals. Professor Morton gives a very’ interesting and faithful account of it. It is, according to him, both a stimulant and a tonic. In an undiluted state it acts as a zaustic. When diluted it is a-general excitant and an antisep- tic. Inthe form of a lotion, a liniment, or an ointment, it has been useful in farcy and glanders, also in foot-rot, canker, and thrush,—mange, carries excessive suppuration, and the oppression of fungous granulations. As a caustic it acts as a powerful stim ulant, and is an antiseptic. Creta Preparata,—is principally used in combination with catechu and opium in cases of super-purgation. Alladventitious matters are removed by washing, and the prepared or pulverized chalk remains in the form of an impalpable powder. It is usu- ally administered in doses of two or three ounces. It is externally applied over ulcers that discharge a thin and ichorous matter. Croton Szeps.—The croton-nut has not been long introduced into veterinary practice, although it has been used from time im- memorial by the inhabitants of India as a powerful purgative. An oil has been extracted from it, and used by the surgeon ; the meal is adopted by the veterinarian. It is given in doses from a seruple-to half a drachm, and from its acrid nature, in the form of a ball, with an ounce of linseed meal. When it does operate the effect is generally observed in six or eight hours, the stools being profuse and watery, and the patient frequently griped. On account of its speedy operation, it may be given in locked-jaw and staggers: and also mm dropsy of the chest or belly, from the watery and profuse stools which it produces; but it is often un- certain in its operation, and its griping, and the debility which it occasions, are serious objections to it as common physic. When placed on the tongue of the horse in quantities varying from twenty to forty drops, it produces purging, but the mem- brane of the mouth frequently becomes violently inflamed. This likewise happens, but not to so great a degree, when it is given in the form of a drink, or in a mash. MEDICINES. 44] Deapiy NicutsHapE —extract of, see BELLADONNE Exrrac- TIM. Demuncents,—are substances that have the power of dimin- ishing the effect of acrimonious or stimulating substances. Tho first, by some oily or mucilaginous substance, sheaths the sensible parts. The other dilutes the stimulus, and diminishes its power. It will rarely be difficult to determine which effect should be produced, and the means by which it is to be effected. DiapHoreEtics,—are medicines that increase the sensible and insensible perspiration of the animal. As’it regards the horse, they are neither many nor powerful. Antimony in its various forms, and sulphur, have some effect in opening the pores of the skin, and exciting its vessels to action, and especially when assist- ed by warmth of stable or clothing, and therefore is useful in those diseases in which it is desirable that some portion of the blood should be diverted from the overloaded, and inflamed, and vital organs of the chest, to the skin or the extremities. The only diaphoretics, however, on which much confidence can be placed, and especially to produce condition, are warm clothing and good grooming. Dicestives,—are applications to recent or old wounds, as mild stimulants, in order to produce a healthy appearance and action in them, and to cause them more speedily to heal. A weak so- lution of blue vitriol is an excellent digestive ; so is the tincture of aloes, and the tincture of myrrh. The best digestive oint- mient is one composed of three parts of calamine ointment (Tur- ner’s cerate) and one of common turpentine. Dierratis—Fox-Giove.—The leaves of the common fox-glove, gathered about the flowering time, dried carefully in a dark place, and powdered, and kept in a close black bottle, fgrm one of the most valuable medicines in veterinary practice. It is a direct and powerful sedative, diminishing the frequency of the pulse, and the general irritability of the system, and acting also as a mild diuretic : it is therefore useful in every inflammatory and febrile complaint, and particularly in inflammation of the chest. It is usually given in combination with emetic tartar and nitre The average dose is one drachm of digitalis, one and a half ofemet ic tartar, and three of nitre, repeated twice or thrice in a day. Digitalis seems to have an immediate effect on the heart, less- ening the number of its pulsations; but effecting this in a singular manner—not by causing the heart to beat more slowly, but produ- cig certain intermissions or pauses in its action. When these become marked—when at every sixth or seventh Leat, the pulsa- _ tions are suspended while two or three can be slowly counted, this is precisely the effect that is intended to be produced, and, how- ever ill the horse may appear to be, or however alarming this in- 152 MEDICINES. vermittent pulse may seem to the standers-by, from that moment the animal will frequently begin to amend. The dose must then be diminished one-half, and in a few days it may be omitted al- together: but the emetic tartar and the nitre should be continued during some days after the practitioner has deemed it prudent to try the effect of mild vegetable tonics. There is no danger in the intermittent pulse thus produced ; but there is much when the digitalis fails to produce any effect on the circulation. The disease is then too powerful to be arrested by medicine. Digitalis requires watching ; but the only consequence to be apprehended from an over-dose is, that the pa- tient may be reduced a little too low, and his convalescence re- tarded for a day or two. In the form of infusion or tincture, digitalis is very useful in inflammation of the eyes. It is almost equal in its sedative in- fluence to opium, and it may with great advantage be alternated with it, when opium begins to lose its power. The infusion is made by pouring a quart of boiling water on an ounce of the powder. When it is become cold, a portion of the liquid may be introduced into the eye. One or two drops of the tincture may be introduced with good effect. This may be obtained by mace- rating three ounces of digitalis in a quart of spirit. The infusion has been serviceable in mange; but there are better applications. Divretics,—constitute a useful but much abused class of medi- cines. They stimulate the kidneys to secrete more than the usual quantity of urine, or to separate a greater than ordinary proportion of the watery parts of the blood. The deficiency of water in the blood thus occasioned, must be speedily supplied, or the healthy circulation cannot be carried on; and it is generally supplied by the absorbents taking up the watery fluid in some part of the frame, and carrying it into the circulation. Hence the evident use of diuretics in dropsical affections, in swelled legs, and also in inflammation and fever, by lessening the quantity of the circulating fluid, and, consequently, that which is sent to the inflamed parts. All this is effected by the kidneys being stimulated to increased action ; but if this stimulus is:too often or too violently applied, the energy of the kidney may be impaired, or inflammation may be produced. That inflammation may be of an acute character, and destroy the patient; or, although not intense in its nature, it may by frequent repetition assume a chronic form, and more slowly, but as surely, do irreparable mischief. Hence the neces- sity of attention to that portion of the food which may have a diuretic power. Mow-burnt hay and foxy oats are the unsus- pected causes of many a disease in the horse, at first obscure, but MEDICINES 453 ultimately referable to injury or inflammation of the urinary or- gans. Hence, too, the impropriety of suffering medicines of a diuretic nature to be at the command of the ignorant carter or groom. In swelled legs, cracks, grease, or accumulation of fluid in any part, and in those superficial eruptions and inflammations which are said to be produced by humors floating in the blood, diuretics are evidently beneficial; but they should be as mild as possible, and not oftener given or continued longer than the case requires. For some cautions as to the administration of diu- retics, and a list of the safest and best, the reader is referred to page 231. The expensive Castile soap, and camphor, so often resorted to, are not needed, for the common liquid turpentine is quite sufficient in all ordinary cases, and nitre and digitalis may be added if fever is suspected. Drinxs.—Many practitioners and horse-proprietors have a great objection to the administration of medicines in the form of drinks. A drink is not so portable as a ball, it is more trouble- some to give, and a portion of it is usually wasted. If the drink contains any acid substance, it is apt to excoriate the mouth, or toirritate the throat, already sore from disease, or the unpleasant taste of the drug, may unnecessarily nauseate the horse. There are some medicines, however, which must be given in the form of drink, as in colic; and the time, perhaps, in not distant when purgatives will be thus administered, as more speedy, and safer in their operation. In cases of much debility and entire loss of ap- petite, all medicine should be given in solution, for the stomach may not have sufficient power to dissolve the paper in which the ball is wrapped, or the substance of the ball.* An ox’s horn, the larger end being cut slantingly, is the usual and best instrument for administering drinks. The noose of a halter is intrcdueed into the mouth, and then, by means of a sta-. ble-fork, the head is elevated by an assistant considerably higher than for the delivery of a ball. The surgeon stands on a pail or stable-basket on the off-side of the horse, and draws out the tongue with the left hand; he then, with the right hand, intro- duces the horn gently into the mouth, and over the tongue, and by a dexterous turn of the horn empties the whole of the drink —not more than. about six ounces—into the back part of the mouth. The horn is now quickly withdrawn, and the tongue loosened, and the greater portion of the fluid will be swallowed. A portion of it, however, will often be obstinately held in the mouth for a long time, and the head must be kept up until the whole is got rid of, which a quick, but not violent slap on the muzzle will generally compel the horse to do. The art of giving * See note on p. 225. 454 MEDICINES. adrink consists in not putting too much into the horn at once, introducing the horn far enough into the mouth, and quickly turn- ing and withdrawing it, without bruising or wounding the mouth, the tongue being loosened at the same moment. A bottle is a disgraceful and dangerous instrument to use, except it be a flat pint bottle, with a long and thick neck. Emetic Tartar.—See Anrimonio Potassio Tarrras. Epsom SaLts.—See under MaGnesia. Ergot or Ryr.—See SecaLte Cornutum. Eruiors Minerat.—See under Hyprarcyrum. Eye Lotions or WasuEs.—See CoLLyrua.. Ferrvum, Iron.—Of this metal there are two preparations adopted by veterinarians. The rust, or Carbonate, is a mild and useful tonic, in doses of from two to four drachms. The Sui- phate (green vitriol or copperas) is more powerful. It should never be given in the early stages of recovery, and always with caution, The dose should be the same as that of the carbonate. The sulphate has lately been recommended for the cure of that de- ceitful stage or form of glanders, in which there is nothing to char acterize the disease but a very slight discharge from the nostrils. It is to be dissolved in the common drink of the horse. It is worth a trial, but too sanguine expectations must not be encouraged of the power of any drug over this intractable malady. The iron should be given in combination with gentian and ginger, but never with any alkali or nitre or soap, or catechu, or astringent vegetable. A Frever.—For the nature and treatment of the fever, both pure and symptomatic, reference may be made to page 163. Force Water,—used to be a favorite tonic with farriers, and also a lotion for canker and ulcersin the mouth. It owes its power, if there be any, to the iron with which it is impregnated. Fiax Seep.—See LinsEep. FomEntaTions,—open the pores of the skin and promote per- spiration in the part, and so abate the local swelling, and relieve pam and lessen inflammation. They are often used, and with more benefit when the inflammation is somewhat.deeply seated, than when it is superficial. The effect depends upon the warmth of the water, and not ou any herb that may have been boiled in it. They are best applied by means of flannel, frequently dipped in the hot water, or on which the water is poured, and the heat should be as great asthe hand will bear. The benefit that might be derived from them is much impaired by the absurd method in which the fomentations are conducted. They are rarely contin- ued long enough, and when they are removed, the part is left wet and uncovered, and the culdness of evaporation succeeds to the heat of fomentation. The perspiration is thus suddenly checked MEDICINES. 455 the animal suffers considerable pain, and, more harm is done by the extreme change of temperature than if the fomentation had not been attempted. Fox-Guiove.—See Diciratis. GeEntian,—stands at the head of the vegetable tonics, and is a stomachic as well as a tonic. It is equally useful in chronic de- bility, and in that which is consequent on severe and protracted ill- ness. It is generally united with chamomile, ginger, and, when the patient will bear it, carbonate of iron. Four drachms of gen- tian, two of chamomile, one of carbonate of iron, and one of ginger, will make an excellent tonic ball. An infusion of gentian is one of the best applications to putrid ulcers. INGER,—is as valuable as a cordial, as gentian is as a tonic. It is the basis of the cordial ball, and it is indispensable in the tonic ball. Although it is difficult to powder, the veterinary prac- titioner should always purchase it in its solid form. If the root is large, heavy, and not worm-eaten, the black ginger is as good as the white, and considerably cheaper. The powder is adulterated with bean-meal and the sawdust of boxwood, and rendered warm and pungent by means of capsicum. Govu.arp’s Extract.—See under Leap. GLauBER’s SaLt.—See Sop# SuLPHuR. Harrsuorn.—See Ammonia. Heatine Ointment.—See under Zinc. HELLEBORE, white,—This is a drastic cathartic, and should be used with great caution. It is a powerful nauseant, and lowers both the force and frequency of the pulse, and is therefore given with good effect in various inflammations, and particularly that of the lungs. In the hospital of the veterinary surgeon, or in the stable of the gentleman who will superintend the giving and the operation of every medicine, it may be used with safety ; but with himn who has to trust to others, and who does not see the horse more than once in twelve or twenty-four hours, it is a dangerous drug. If it is pushed a little too far, trembling and giddiness, and purging follow, and the horse is sometimes lost. The hanging of the head, and the frothing of the mouth, and, more particularly, the sinking of the pulse, will give warning of danger; but the medical attendant may not have the opportunity of observing this, and when he does observe it, it may be too late. Its dose varies from ascruple to halfadrachm. In doses ofa drachm, it could not be given with safety ; and yet, such is the different effect of med- icines given im different doses, that in the quantity of an ounce it is said to be a diuretic and a tonic, and exhibited with advantage in chronic and obstinate grease. . Hewuevore, black,—This is used mostly as a local application, and as such it is a very powerful stimulant. Mr. E. Stanley, of 156 MEDICINES. Banbury, frequently resorts to it in fistulous affections of the pol and withers, and with considerable success. The abscess having formed, and exit being given to the imprisoned fluid, it is allowed to discharge itself, for two or three days, being dressed with an ordinary digestive ointment. When the pus assumes a laudable character, he introduces a few portions of the fibrous part of the root, passing them down to the bottom of the sinus, and letting them remain, for a fortnight or more ; in the mean time, merely kveping the surrounding parts clean. On examination, it will be found that the healing process has commenced. Professor Morton adds, that an ointment, formed of the powder of either the black or white Hellebore, in the proportion of one part of the powder to eight of lard, will be found exceedingly 4c- tive for the dressing of rowels and setons. Hemiocx,—is used by some practitioners, instead of digitalis or hellebore, in affections of the chest, whether acute or chronic ; but it is inferior to both. The dose of the powder of the dried leaves is about a drachm. Hoe’s Larp.—See AvEPs. Hyprareyrum, Mercury.—This metal is found native in many countries in the form of minute globules. It also occurs in masses, and in different varieties of crystallization. It has the singular property of being liquid in the natural temperature of our earth. It freezes, or assumes a singular species of crystalliza- tion, at 39° below 0 of Fah., and at 660° above 0 of Fah. it boils, and rapidly evaporates. In its metallic state it appears to have no action on the animal system, but its compounds are mostly powerful excitants, and some of them are active caustics. The Common Mercurial Ointment may be used for ring- worm, and that species of acarus which seems to be the source, or the precursor of, mange. The compound mercurial ointment is also useful in the destruction of the same insect. For most erup- tions connecting with or simulating mange, the author of this work has been accustomed to apply the following ointment with considerable success :— - Sublimed sulphur . . eo One ety » «1 pound Common turpentine‘ , + oo + 402 Mercurial ointment . : . oe . . « 2 oz. Linseed oil 2. wk - . 1 pint. The Mercurial Ointment is prepared by rubbing quicksilver with lard, in the proportion of one part of mercury to three of lard, until no globules appear. The practitioner should, if possible, pre- pare it himself, for he can seldom get it pure or of the proper strength from the druggist. It is employed with considerable ad vantage in preparing splints, spavins, or other bony or callous t MEDICINES. 467 mors, for blistering or firing. One or two drachms, according to the nature and size of the swelling, may be daily well rubbed in; put it should be watched, for it sometimes salivates the horse very speedily. The tumors more readily disperse, at the application of a stronger stimulant, when they have been thus prepared. Mer- curial ointment in a weaker state is sometimes necessary for th cure of mallenders and. sallenders ; and in very obstinate cases of mange, one-eighth part of mercurial ointment may be added to the ointment recommended at page 409. _ Calomel, the submuriate or protochloride of mercury, may be given, combined with aloes, in mange, surfeit, or worms. It is also useful in some cases of chronic cough, in farcy and in jaun- dice. Alone it has little purgative effect on the horse, but it as- sists the action of other aperients. It is given in doses from a scruple toa drachm. As soon as the gums become red, or the ani- mal begins to quid or drop his hay, it must be discontinued. Cal- omel has lately gained much repute in arresting the progress of epidemic catarrh in the horse. Mr. Percival has succeeded in this attempt to a very considerable extent. In fact, the influence of calomel in veterinary practice seems to have been far too much undervalued. Corrosive Sublimate, the oxymuriate or bichloride of mercury, combined with chlorine in a double proportion, is a useful tonic in farcy. It should be given in doses of ten grains daily, and gradually increased to a scruple, until the horse is purged, or the mouth becomes sore, when it may be omitted for a few days, and resumed. ‘Some have recommended it as a diuretic, but it is too dangerous a medicine for this purpose. It is used externally in solution ; in substance in quittor, as a stimulant to foul ulcers; and in the proportion of five grains to an ounce of rectified spirit n obstinate mange, or to destroy vermin on the skin. It is, how- ever, too uncertain and too dangerous, a medicine for the horse- proprietor to venture on its use. oe ZEthiop’s Mineral, the black sulphuret of mercury, is not often used in horse-practice, but it is a good alterative for obstin- ate surfeit or foulness of the skin, in doses of three drachms daily. Four drachms of cream of tartar may be advantageously added to each dose. Inrustons.—The active matter of some vegetable substances is partly or entirely extracted by water. Dried vegetables yield their properties more readily and perfectly than when in their green state. Boiling water is poured on the substance to be in- ‘used, and which should have been previously pounded or pow- dered, and the vessel then covered and placed near a fire. In five or six hours the transparent part may be poured off, and 1s eady for use. In a few days, Hoes all infusions become thick, 458 MEDICINES. and lose their virtue, from the decomposition of the veg table matter. The infusion of chamomile is advantageously used instead of water in compounding a mild tonic drench. The infusion of catechu is useful in astringent mixtures ; that of linseed is used instead of common water in catarrh and cold; and the infusior. of tobacco in some injections. Insections.—See CLYSTERS. Iopinr.—This substance has not been loug introduced inte veterimary practice. The first object which it seemed to accom- plish, was the reduction of the enlarged glands that frequently remain after catarrh, but it soon appeared that it could reduce almost every species of tumor. Much concerned in the first in- troduction of iodine into veterinary practice, the writer of the present work bears willing testimony to the zeal and success of others, in establishing the claims of this most valuable medi- cine. Professor Morton has devoted much time and labor to the different combinations of iodine, and they are described at length in the useful ‘Manual of Pharmacy.” He gives the formule of the composition of a liniment, an ointment, and a tincture of iodine, adapted to different species and stages of disease. He uext describes the preparation of the iodide of potassium—the. combination of iodine and potash—-and then the improvement on that under the name of the diniodide of copper—the union of two parts of the iodide of potassium with four of the sulphate of copper. The action of this compound is an admirable tonic and a stim- alant to the absorbent system, if combined with vegetable tonics, and, occasionally, small doses of cantharides. Professor Spooner and Mr. Daws applied this compound, and with marked sucvess, to the alleviation of farcy, nasal gleet, and glanders. It is pleas- ing to witness these triumphs over disease, a little while ago so unexpected, and now so assured.* loping OivtMENT.—See under Iopine. Inon.—See Ferrum. Jamzs’s Powprr.—See Putvis Anrimona Comrositus. Japan Hartu.—See Carecuv. Juniper, Ou or.—This essential oil is retained because it has some diruetic property, as well as being a pleasant aromatic. It frequently enters into the composition of the diuretic ball. * Note by Mr. Spooner—lodine is employed in various forms. In that of iodide of potassium it is best administered internally, as a promoter of ab- sorption, Combined with the sulphate of copper it forms a powerful and useful tonic; whilst in the form of iodide of mercury, and combined with lard or palm oil, it becomes a powerful blister, and a useful promcter of absorption MEDICINES 459 Leap, PLumpum.—The Carbonate of Lead had a deleterious effect on the biped and the quadruped in the neighborhood of lead works. They are subject to violent griping pains, and to constipation that can with great difficulty, or not at all, be over- come. Something of the same kind is occasionally observed in the cider counties, and the “ painter’s colic” is a circumstance of too frequent occurrence—the occasional dreadful pains, and the ravenous appetite extending to everything that comes in the way of the animal. Active purgatives followed by opium are the most effectual remedies. The Acetate of Lead, Plumbi Acetas.—Sugar of jead is sel- dom given externally to the horse, but is used as a collyrium for inflammation of the eyes. — The Liguor Plumbi Subacetatis, or Goulard’s Extract, or, as it used to be termed at the Veterinary College, the Agua Vegeto, is a better eye wash, and advantageously used in external and superficial inflammation, and particularly the inflammation that remains after the application of a blister. Lime,—was formerly sprinkled over cankered feet and greasy heels, but there are less painful caustics, and more effectual ab- sorbents of moisture. Lime-water is rarely used, but the Chloride of Lime is exceedingly valuable. Diluted with twenty times its quantity of water, it helps to form the poultice applied to every part from which there is the slightest offensive discharge. The fetid smell of fistulous withers, poll-evil, canker, and ill-condi- tioned wounds, is immediately removed, and the ulcers are more disposed to heal. When mangy horses are dismissed as cured, a washing with the diluted chloride will remove any infection that may lurk about them, or which they may carry from the place in which they have been confined. One pint of the chloride mixed with three gallons of water, and brushed over the walls and manger and rack of the foulest stable, will completely re- move all infection. Professor Morton, very properly, says tha the common practice of merely white-washing the walls serve. only to cover the infectious matter, and perhaps to preserve it for an indefinite length of time, so that when the lime scales off, dis ease may be again engendered by the exposed virus. The horse ‘furniture worn by a glandered or mangy animal will be effectu- ally purified by the chloride. Internally administered, it seems to have little or no power. Liniments,—are oily applications of the consistence of a thick Guid, and designed either to soothe an inflamed surface, or, by gently stimulating the skin, to remove deeper-seated pain or in- flammation. As an emollient, one composed of half an ounce of extract of lead and four ounces of olive oil will be useful. For sprains, old swellings, or rheumatism, two ounces of hartshorn, ' 460 MEDICINES. the same quantity of camphorated spirit, an ounce of oil of tur- pentine, and half an ounce of laudanum, may be mixed together ; or an ounce of camphor may be dissolved in four ounces of sweet oil, to which an ounce of oil of turpentine may be afterwards added. A little powdered cantharides, or tincture of cantharides, or mustard powder, will render either of these more powerful, or convert it into a liquid blister. Linsrep.—An infusion of linseed is often used instead of water, for the drink of the horse with sore-throat or catarrh, or disease of the urinary organs or of the bowels. A pail containing it should be slung in the stable or loose box. Thus gruel, however, is preferable; it is as bland and soothing, and it is more nutri- tious. Linseed meal forms the best poultice for almost every pur- ose. Lunar Caustic.—See under ARGENTIUM. Macnesia.—The sulphate of magnesia, or Epsom Saxts, should be used only in promoting the purgative effect of clysters, or, in repeated doses of six or eight ounces, gently to open the boweis at the commencement of fever. Some doubt, however, attends the latter practice ; for the dose must occasionally be thrice re- peated before it will act, and then, although safer than aloes, it may produce too much irritation in the intestinal canal, especially if the fever is the precursor of inflammation of the lungs. MasuEs,—constitute a very important part of horse-provender, whether in sickness or health. A mash given occasionally to a horse that is otherwise fed on dry meat prevents him from be- coming dangerously costive. To the over-worked and tired horse. nothing is so refreshing as a warm mash with his usual allow- ance of corn init. The art of getting a horse into apparent con- dition for sale, or giving him a round and plump appearance, con- sists principally in the frequent repetition of mashes, and, from their easiness of digestion and the mild nutriment which they afford, as well as their laxative effect, they form the principal diet of the sick horse. They are made by pouring boiling water or bran, and stirring it well, and then covering it over until it is sufficiently cool for she horse to eat. . If in the heat of summer a.cold mash is pre- ferred, it should, nevertheless, be made with hot water, and then suffered to remain until it is cold. This is not always suf ficiently attended to by the groom, who is not aware that the efficacy of the mash depends principally on the change which is effected in the bran and the other ingredients by boiling water rendering them more easy of digestion, as well as more aperient. [f the horse refuses the mash, a few oats may be sprinkled over ‘t, in order to tempt him to eat it; but if it is previously desizned that corn should be given in the mash, it should be scalded with MEDICINES. 461 the bran, in order to soften it and render it more digestible. Bran mashes are very useful preparatives for physic, and they are necessary during the operation of the physic. They very soon become sour, and the manger of the horse, of whose diet they form a principal part, should be daily and carefully cleaned out. ‘When horses are weakly and much reduced, malt mashes will often be very palatable to them and very nutritive : but the water that is poured on a malt mash should be considerably below the boiling heat, otherwise the malt will be set, or clogged together. If the owner was aware of the value of a malt mash, it would be oftener given when the horse is rapidly getting weaker from protracted disease, or when he is beginning to recover from a dis- ease by which he has been much reduced. The only exception to their use is in cases of chest affection, in which they must not be given too early. In grease, and in mange accompanied by much emaciation, malt mashes will be peculiarly useful, especially if they constitute a principal portion of the food. MeErcury,—see HyprarGyRuM. MercuriaL OINTMENT,—see under HyprarGyRuUM. Moriatic Actp,—see Acmpum Muriaticum. Mustarp, Srnapis.—This will be found occasionally useful, if, in inflammation of the chest or bowels, it is well rubbed on the chest or the abdomen. The external swelling and irritation which it excites may, to a greater or less degree, abate the inflammation within. Myrru,—may be used in the form of tincture, or it may be united to the tincture of aloes as a stimulating and digestive ap- plication to wounds. Diluted with an equal quantity of water, it is a good application for canker in the mouth, but as an inter- nal medicine it seems to be inert, although some practitioners ad- vocate its use, combined with opium, in cases of chronic cough. Nirre,—see under Potash. Nirrous Arner, Spirit or,—is a very useful medicine in the advanced stages of fever, for while it, to a certain degree, rouses the exhausted powers of the animal, and may be denominated a stimulant, it never brings back the dangerous febrile action which was subsiding. It is given in doses of three or four drachms. OutvE OrL,—is an emollient and demulcent. Its laxative effect is very inconsiderable and uncertain in the horse. — Orrum:—However underrated by some, there is not a more valuable drug on our list. It does not often act as a narcotic, ex- etpt in considerable doses; but it is a powerful antispasmodic, sedative, and astringent. As an antispasmodic, it enters into the cholic drink, and it is the sheet-anchor of the veterinarian in the treatment of tetanus or locked-jaw. As a sedative it relaxes that universal spasm of the muscular system which is the character- 462 MEDICINES. :stit of tetanus; and, perhaps, it is only as a sedative that it has such admirable effect as an astringent, for when the irritation around the mouths of the vessels of the intestines and kidneys is allayed by the opium, the undue purging and profuse staling wil necessarily be arrested. ; Opium should, however, be given with caution. It is its sec- ndary effect that is sedative, and, if given in cases of fever, its primary effect in increasing the excitation of the frame may be very considerable and highly injurious. In the early and acute stage of fever, it would be bad practice to give it in the smallest quantity ; but when the fever has passed, or is passing, there is nothing which so rapidly subdues the irritability that accompanies extreme weakness. It becomes an excellent tonic, because it is a sedative. If the blue or green vitriol, or cantharides, have been pushed too far, opium, sooner than any other drug, quiets the disorder they have occasioned. It is given in doses of one or two drachms, in the form of ball. Other medicines are usually combined with it, according to the circumstances of the case. Externally, it is useful in ophthalmia. In the form of decoc- tion of the poppy-head, it may constitute the basis of an anodyne poultice ; but it must not be given in union with any alkali, with the exception of chalk, in over-purging ; nor with the superace- tate of lead, by which its powers are materially impaired ; nor with sulphate of zine, or copper, or iron. From its high price it is much adulterated, and it is not always met with in a state of purity. The best, tests are its smell, its taste, its toughness and pliancy, its fawn or brown color, and its weight, for it is the heaviest of all the vegetable extracts except gum arabic; yet its weight is often fraudulently increased by stones and bits of lead dexterously concealed in it. The English opium is almost as good as the Turkish, and frequently sold for it ; but is distinguishable by its blackness and softness. Paim Ori,—when genuine, is the very best substance that can be used for making masses and balls. It has a pleasant smell, and it never becomes rancid. Preprer,—see Carsici Baccam. Pircu,—is used to give adhesiveness and firmness to charges and plasters. The common pitch is quite as good as the more expensive Burgundy pitch. The best plaster for sand-crack con- sists of one pound of pitch and an ounce of yellow beeswax melted cogether. Puysic.—The cases which require physic, the composition of the most effectual and safest physic-ball, and the mode of treat- ment under physic, have been already described. PotasH.—T wo compounds of potash are used in veterinary MEDICINES. 463 practice The Nitrate of Potash (Nitre) is a valualle cooling medicine and a mild diuretic, and, therefore, it should enter into the composition of every fever-ball. Its dose is from two to four drachms. Grooms often dissolve it in the water. There are two objections to this: either the horse is nauseated and will not drink so much water as he ought; or the salt taste of the water causes considerable thirst, and disinclination to solid food. Nitre, whilst dissolving, materially lowers the temperature of water, and fur- nishes a very cold and useful lotion for sprain of the back-sinews, and other local inflammations. The lotion should be used as soon as the salt is dissolved, for it quickly becomes as warm as the surrounding air. The Bitartrate of Potash (Cream of Tartar) is a mild diuretic, and, combined with Aithiop’s mineral, is used as an alterative in obstinate mange or grease. The objection, however, to its use in such an animal as the horse, is the little power which it seems to exercise. Pountices.—Few horsemen are aware of the value of these simple applications in abating inflammation, relieving pain, cleans- ing wounds, and disposing them to heal. They are applications of the best kind continued much longer than a simple fomentation can be. In all inflammations of the foot they are very beneficial, by softening the horn hardened by the heat of the foot and con- tracted and pressing on the internal and highly sensible parts. The moisture and warmth are the useful qualities of the poultice ; and that poultice is the best for general purposes in which moisture and warmth are longest retained. Perspiration is most abundantly promoted in the part, the pores are opened, swellings are relieved, and discharges of a healthy nature procured from wounds. Linseed meal forms the best general poultice, because it longest retains the moisture. Bran, although frequently used for poultices, is objectionable, because it so soon becomes dry To abate con- siderable inflammation, and especially in a wounded part, (toulard may be added, or the linseed meal may be made into a paste with a decoction of poppy-heads. To promote a healthy discharge from an old or foul ulcer ; or separation of the dead from the liv- ing parts, in the process of what is called coring out; or to hasten the ripening of a tumor that must be opened; or to cleanse it when it is opened,—two ounces of common turpentine may be added toa pound of linseed meal: but nothing can be so absurd, or is so injurious, as the addition of turpentine to a poultice that 's designed to be an emollient. The drawing poultices and stop- pings of farriers are often highly injurious, instead of abating inflammation. If the ulcer smells offensively, two ounces of powdered chai- coal may be added to the linseed meal, or the poultice may be made of water, to which a solution of the chloride of lime has 464 MEDICINES. been added in the proportion of half an ounce toa pound. As an emollient poultice for grease and cracked heels, and especially if accompanied by much unpleasant smell, there is nothing prefer- able to a poultice of mashed carrots with charcoal. For old grease some slight stimulant must be added, as a little yeast or the grounds of table beer. There are two errors in the application of a poultice, and par- ticularly as it regards the legs. It is often put on too tight, by means of which the return of the blood from the foot is prevent- ed, and the disease is increased instead of lessened ; or it is too hot, and unnecessary pain is given, and the inflammation aggravated. Powprrs.—Some horses are very difficult to ball or drench, and the violent struggle that would accompany the attempt to conquer them may heighten the fever or inflammation. To such horses powders must be given in mashes. TEmetic tartar and digitalis may be generally used in cases of inflammation or fever ; or emetic tartar for worms; or calomel or even the farina of the croton-nut for physic: but powders are too often an excuse for the laziness or awkwardness of the carter or groom. The horse fre- quently refuses them, especially if his appetite has otherwise be- gun to fail; the powder and the mash are wasted, and the animal is unnecessarily nauseated. All medicine should be given in the form of a ball or drink. Prussic Actp.—See Acipum Hyprocianicum. QuinivE.—See under Bark, Peruvian. Raxinc.—This consists in introducing the hand into the reec- tum of the horse, and drawing out any hardened dung that may be there. It may be necessary in costiveness or fever, if a clyster pipe cannot be obtained; but an injection will better effect the purpose, and with less inconvenience to the animal. The introduction of the hand into the rectum is, however, useful to ascertain the existence of stone in the bladder, or the degree of distension of the bladder in suppression of the urine, for the bladder will be easily felt below the intestine, and, at the same time by the heat of the intestine, the degree of inflammation in it or in the bladder may be detected. Resin.—The yellow resin is that which remains after the distillation of oil of turpentine. It is used externally to give consistence to ointments, and to render them slightly stimulant. Internally it is a useful diuretic, and is given in doses of tive or six drachms made into a ball with soft soav. The common liquid turpentine is, however, preferable. ; Rowexrs.—The manner of rowelling has been already de- scribed. As exciting inflammation on the surface, and so les- sening that which had previously existed in a neighboring but deeper-seated part, they are decidedly inferior to blisters for they MEDICINES. 468 ao not act so quickly or so extensively; therefore they should not be used in acute inflammation of the lungs.or bowels, or any vital part. When the inflammation, however, although not in- tense, has long continued, rowels will be serviceable by produ- cing an irritation and discharge that can be better kept up than by ablister. As promoting a permanent, although not very cou- siderable discharge, and some inflammation, rowels in the thighs are useful in swelled legs and obstinate grease. If fluid is thrown out under the skin in any other part, the rowel acts as a per- manent drain. When the sprain of the joint or the muscles ot the shoulders is suspected, a rowel in the chest will be ser- viceable. The wound caused by a rowel will readily heal, and with little blemish, unless the useless leather of the farrier has been inserted. Sat Ammontac,—See Cutoripe or AMMONIA. SaLt, common, see Sopn CHtormum. SEcCALE coRNUTUM, Ercot or Rre.—This is well known to be au excitant in assisting parturition in cattle, sheep, and dogs. It has Leen used with success in the mare by Mr. Richardson, of Lin- cum. It should only be applied in difficult cases, and the dose snould be two drachms, combined with some carminative, and given every hour. SepaTivEs,—are medicines that subdue irritation, repress spas modic action, or deaden pain. We will not inquire whether they act first as stimulants: if they do, their effect is exceedingly tran- sient, and is quickly followed by depression and diminished action. Digitalis, hellebore, opium, turpentine, are medicines of this kind. Their effect in different diseases or stages of disease, and the circumstances which indicate the use of any one of them in preference to the rest, are considered under their respective titles.* Sopa.—The Carbonate of Soda is a useful antacid, and prob- ably a diuretic, but it is not much used in veterinary practice. The Chloride of Soda is not so efficacious for the removal of un- pleasant smells and all infection as the chloride of lime ; but it is exceedingly useful in changing malignant and corroding and de- structive sores into the state of simple ulcers, and, in ulcers that are not malignant, it much hastens the cure. Poll-evil and fis- tulous withers are much benefited by it, and all farcy ulcers. It is used in the proportion of one part of the solution to twenty-four of water. Sop Cutormwum, Common Salt,—is very extensively em- ployed in veterinary practice. It forms an efficacious aperient * Note by Mr. Spooner —Sedatives—To the list enumerated in the tex may be added the extract of belladonna, or the deadly nightshade, which 1 given in doses of two drachms. . 30 4166 MEDICINES. elyster, and a solution of it has been given as an aperient drink Sprinkled over the hay, or in a mash, it is very palatable to sick horses; and in that languor and disinclination to food which re- main after severe illness, few things will so soon recall the appe- tite as a drink composed of six or eight ounces of salt in solution. To horses in health it is more useful than is generally imagined, as promoting the digestion of the food, and, consequently, condi tion. Externally applied, there are few better lotions for in flamed eyes than a solution of half a drachm of salt in four ounces of water. In the proportion of an ounce of salt to the same quan- tity of water, it is a good embrocation for sore shoulders and backs; and if it does not always disperse warbles and tumors, it takes away much of the tenderness of the skin. Sopa Sutpnas,—Sulphate of Soda.—Glauber’s Salt.—This medicine is seldom used in the treatment of the horse. It ap- pears to have some diuretic property. Soap,—is supposed to possess a diuretic quality, and therefore enters into the composition of some diuretic masses. See Resin. By many practitioners it is made an ingredient in the physic-ball, but uselessly or injuriously so; for if the shoes are finely powdered and mixed with palm oil, they will dissolve readily enough in the bowels without the aid of the soap, while the action of the soap on the kidneys will impair the purgative effect of the aloes. SpanisH Firy,—See CanTHaRIDES. i : Starcu,—may be substituted with advantage for gruel in ob- stinate cases of purging, both as a clyster, and to support the strength of the animal. Srorrines,—constitute an important, but too often neglected part of stable management. If a horse is irregularly or seldom worked, his feet are deprived of moisture ; they become hard and unyielding and brittle, and disposed to corn and contraction and founder. The very dung of a neglected and filthy stable would be preferable to habitual standing on the cleanest litter without stop- ping. In wounds, and bruises, and corns, moisture is even more ne- cessary, in order to supple the horn, and relieve its pressure on the tender parts beneath. As a common stopping, nothing is better than cow-dung with a fourth part of clay well beaten into it, and confined with splents from the binding or larger twigs of the broom. In cases of wounds, a little tar may be added ; but tar, as a common stopping, is too stimulating and drying. Pads made of thick felt have lately been contrived, which are fitted to the sole, and, swelling on being wetted, are sufficiently confined by ‘the shoe. Having been well saturated with water, they wili continue moist during the night. They are very useful in gen- tlemen’s stables ; but the cow-dung and clay are sufficient for the farmer MEDICINES 467 Srrycunia.—This drug has frequently been :mployed with decided advantage in cases of paralysis in the dog; and lately, and with decided advantage, it has been administered to the ee The dose is from one to three grains, given twice in the ay. Suear or Lreap,—see under Leap. SuLpHur,—is the basis of the most effectual applications for mange. It is an excellent alterative, combined usually with an- timony and nitre, and particularly for mange, surfeit, grease, hide- bound, or want of condition ; and it is a useful ingredient in the cough and fever ball. "When given alone, it seems to have little effect, except as a laxative in doses of six or eight ounces; but there are much better aperients. The black sulphur consists prin: cipally of the dross after the pure sulphur has been separated. Tar,—melted with an equal quantity of grease forms the usv- al stopping of the farrier. It is a warm, or slightly stimulant, and therefore useful, dressing for bruised or wounded feet ; but its principal virtue seems to consist in preventing the penetration of dirt and water to the wounded part. As a common stopping it has been considered objectionable. From its warm and drying properties it is the usual and proper basis for thrush ointments ; and from its adhesiveness, and slightly stimulating power, it often forms an ingredient in application for mange. Some practition- ers give it, and advantageously, with the usual cough medicine, and in doses of two or three drachms for chronic cough. The ecmmon tar is as effectual as the Barbadoes for every veterinary purpose. The oil, or spirit (rectified oil) of tar is sometimes used alone for the cure of mange, but it is not to be depended upon. The spirit of tar, mixed with double the quantity of fish-oil, is, from its peculiar penetrating property, one of the best applica- tions for hard and brittle feet. It should be well.rubbed with a brush, every night, both on the crust and sole. Tinctures.—The medicinal properties of many substances are extracted by spirit of wine, but in such small quantities as to be scarcely available for internal use in veterinary practice. So much aloes or opium must be given in order to produce effect on the horse, that the quantity of spirit necessary to dissolve it would be injurious or might be fatal. As applications to wounds or in- flamed surfaces, the tinctures of aloes, digitalis, myrrh, and opium, are highly useful. Topacco,—in the hands of the skilful veterinarian, may be ad- vantageously employed in cases of extreme costiveness, or danger- ous cholic ; but should never be permitted to be used as an ex- ternal application for the cure of mange, or an internal medicine to promote a fine coat. Tonics —are valuable medicines when judiciously employed ; 468 MEDICINES. but, like cordials, they have been fatally abused. Many a horse recovering from severe disease has been destroyed by their too early, or too free use. The veterinary surgeon-occasionally ad- ministers them injuriously, in his anxiety to gratify the impa- tience of his employer. The mild vegetable tonics, chamomile, gentian, and ginger, and, perhaps, the carbonate of iron, may sometimes be given with benefit, and may hasten the perfect reco- very of the patient; but there are few principles more truly found- ed on reason and experience, than, that disease once removed, the powers of nature are sufficient to re-establish health. Against the more powerful mineral tonics, except for the particular pur- poses that have been pointed out under the proper heads, the horse proprietor and the veterinarian should be on his guard. Turner’s CERATE,—see under Dicestives, and also under Zinc. TuRPENTINE.—The common liquid turpentine has been de- scribed as one of the best diuretics, in doses of half an ounce, and made into a ball with linseed meal and powdered ginger. It is added to the calamine or any other mild ointment in order to ren- der it stimulating and digestive, and, from its adhesiveness and slight stimulating power it is an ingredient in mange ointments. The oil of turpentine is an excellent antispasmodic. For the re- moval of colic it stands unrivalled. Forming a tincture with cantharides, it is the basis of the sweating blister for old strains and swellings. As a blister it is far inferior to the common oint- ment. As a stimulant frequently applied it must be sufficiently lowered, or it may blemish.—See Resin. VeERDIGRIs,—see under CopPErR. VinEGar,—see Acipum ACETICUM. Virriot,—bdlue,—see under CoprEr. VITRIOL,—gveen,—see under FERRUM. Virriot,—white,—see under Zinc. Virriot,—O2l of,—see Actpum SuLPHURIcUM. ‘Wax.—The yellow wax is used in charges and some plasters vo render them less brittle. Zinc.—The impure carbonate of zinc, under the name of Calamine Powder, is used in the preparation of a valuable heal- mg ointment, called Turner’s Cerate. Five parts of lard and one of resin are melted together, and when these begin to get cool two parts of the calamine, reduced to an impalpable powder, are s‘irred in. If the wound is not healthy, a small quantity of com ynon turpentine may be added. This salve justly deserves tha usine which it has gained, “The Healing Omtment.” The ca- Iamine is sometimes sprinkled with advantage on cracked heels and superficial sores. The sulphate of zine, White Vitriol, in the p-oportion of three MEDICINES 469 grains to an ounce of water, is an excellent application in opthal- mia, when the inflammatory stage is passing over; and quittor is most successfully treated by a saturated solution of white vitriol being injected into the sinuses. A solution of white vitriol of less strength forms a wash for grease that is occasionally useful, wher vhe alum or blue vitriol does not appear to succeed. Zincweris Rapix.—Ginger Root.—This is an admirable sti- mulant and carminative. It is useful in loss of appetite and fla- tulent colic, while it rouses the intestinal canal to its prope1 action. The cordial mass resorted to by the best surgeons con- sists of equal parts of ginger and gentian beaten into a mass with treacle. INDEX. ACETABULUM, description of the, 272. Acini, description of, 213. Acetic acid, its properties, 436. Adeps, properties of, 437. {thiop’s mineral, an alterative, 411. Age, natural, of the horse, 130; of the ‘horse as indicated by the teeth, 122; other era of, 129. Air, a supply of pure, necessary for the health of the horse, 385. hss Alcohol, its medicinal properties, 437. Aloes, Barbadoes, far preferable to Cape, 437; description of the differ- ent kinds of, 438; principal adultera- tions of, 439; tincture of, its composi- tion and use, 7b. Alteratives, the best, 439; nature and effect of, 440. Alum, the use of, in restraining purging, 440; solution of, a good wash for grease, 7/; burnt, a stimulant and caus- tic for wounds, 2d. Ammonia, given in flatulent colic, 440; vapor of, plentifully extricated from dung and urine, most injurious to the eyes and lungs, ib. Anchylosis of bones, what, 149. Animals, zoological divisions of, 44. Anise-seed, its properties, 441. Axodyne, opium the only one to be de- pended on, 441. Antea-spinatus muscle, description of the, 251. Antimonial powder, a good febrifage, 441 Antimony, black sulphuret of, method of detecting its adulterations, 441; used as an alterative, 2b. ; tartarized, used as a nauseant, diaphoretic and worm medicine, 2b. Antispasmodics, nature of, 442. Apoplexy, nature and treatment of, 70. Aqueous fluid, an, why placed in the labyrinth of the ear, 58; humor of the eye, description of the, 64. Arabian Horses, different varieties of, 25, 26; character of, 26, 27; fondness of the Arabs for, 27; prices of, 28; unequal to the English race-horse, 29. Arabian, 25; Darley, 19; Godolphin, 21. Arcned form of the skull, advantage of 55. Arm, description of the, 252; action of explained on the principle of the lev- er, 249, 252; extensor muscles of the, 252, 253; flexor muscles of the, 253, fall and swelling, advantage of, ib. ; should be muscular and long, 252; fracture of the, 338. Arsenic, medical use of, 442. Arteries, description of the, 140; of the arm, 252: of the face, 101; neck, 140 shoulder, 246. Ascaris, account of the, 227. Astragalus, account of the, 278. Atlas, anatomy of the, 136. Auscultation, the importance of, 171. Back, general description of the, 149: proper form of the, 7b. ; long and short. comparative advantages of, 2b. ; auat- omy of the, 2d. ; muscies of the, 151. Backing, of the colt, 371; a bad habit of the horse, usual origin of it, 2b. Back-sinews, sprain of the, 258 ; thicken- ing of the, constituting unsoundness 429. Balls, the manner of giving, 442; the manner of making, 7b Barbary horse, description of, 21. Barbs or paps, treatment of, 133. Bark, Peruvian, the properties of it, 443. Barley, considered as food for the horse, 396. Barnacles, use of the, as a mode of re- straint, 360. Bar-shoe, description and use of, 352. Bars, description and office of the, 296 ; roper paring of, for shoeing, 297 folly of cutting them away, 2.; re- moval of, a cause of contraction, 2b. ; corns, 7b. Basilicon ointment, 443. Bay horses, description of, 413. Beans, good for hardly-worked horses, and that have a tendency to purge, 397, 402; should always be crashed 398. Bearing-rein, the use and abuse of, 118. Beet, the nutritive matter in, 401. Belladonna. extract of, 443. 472 Biceps femoris, account of the, 274. Bile, account of the, 213. Bishoping the teeth, description of, 128. Biting, 2 bad habit, and how usually ac- quired, 372. Bit, the, often too sharp, 118; sometimes got into the mouth, 372, Biting of the colt, 242. Black horses, description and character of, 414. Blaze, 19. Bladder, description of the, 234; inflam- mation of, symptoms and treatment, 2b.; neck of, 2b. ; stone in the, 235. Bleeding, best place for general, 166, 361; directions for, 140, 166; from veins rather than arteries, 140; finger should be on the pulse during, 360; importance of, in inflammation, 70. ; at the toe described, 168; comparison between the fleam and lancet, 166, 167. Blindness, usual method of discovering, : 64; discovered by the pupil not dila- ting or contracting, 7b. ; of one eye, ib, 2b. Blistering all round at once, barbarity and danger of, 363, 445; after firing, absurdity and cruelty of, 362. Blisters, best composition of, 362; the different kinds and uses of, 7b.; best mode of applying, 7b.; caution with regard to their application, 7b.; the principle of their action, 443; use of, in inflammation, 362; comparison be- tween them and rowels and setons, 366, 367. Blood, change in after bleeding, 167; changes in during respiration, 156; coagulation of, 189; horses, very sub- ject to contraction, 309; spavin, na- ture and treatment of, 164. Bloody urine, 233. Bog spavin, nature and treatment of, 164, 281, 282, 287. Bole-Armenian, medical use of, 444. Bones, strength does not depend on the size of, 28. Bone-spavin, nature and treatment of, Cc Bots in the stomach, natural history of, 208, 209 ; not usually injurious, 209. Bowels, inflammation of the, 220. Brain, description of the, 55; its cortical and cineritious composition, 56; the office of each,