'rS UC-NRLF B 3 10^=1 312 THE LIBRARY r« OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID -lAUU~i^\-^'i /it,- f THE COMPLETE FARMER, OR HOKSE-DOCTOR. " A TREATISE ON THE BISEASES OF HORSES: "WtaTTENIN PLAIN LANGUAGE, WHICH THOSE WHO CAN READ •• . MAY EASILY UNDERSTAND. THE WHOEE ClSflNG THE RJ^SUL'T OP SEVENTY YEAUs'eXTENSIVE PRACTICE OF THE AUTHOR. • .JOHN C. KNOWLSON. MART br THE RECIPES IN THIS BOOK ARE WORTH ONE SrJTORED t>0t!AR,8 BACH, 'aI^D THE WHOLE ARE NEW TO THE WORXft. CINCINN.ATI: .. . STRA^JTaN «Sfc BARNARD. ' •* PRINTED BY MORGAN & QYER^END. 7rge, but also the membrane which divides the chest; and that the midriff was remarkably thin. In some horses the disproportion has been so great that the heart and lungs have been almost twice their natural size, yet perfectly sound: and without any ulceration whatever, or the least defect in the windpipe or in its glands. From these observations it abundantly appears, that the enormous size of the lungs, and other contents of the chest, by hindering the free action of the midriff, is the principal cause of this disorder ; and as the lungs are found much more fleshy than usual, they must consequently have lost a great part of their spring and tone. Therefore, as this disorder is caused by the largeness of the lungs, we may conclude that it is one of those diseases which cannot be cured by art ; and that the boasting of those who pretend to cure it are built on a sandy foundation. They may indeed relieve the complaint, but will never cure it, for an absolute cure is not in the power of any hu- man being. All that I can do is to lay down some rules which have a great tendency to prevent this'disorder, if pursued in time; and some remedies that will aflbrd relief when it has taken place, and render the horse capable of performing good service, notwithstanding his misfortune. Symptoms. — The first symptom of a Broken Wind is an obstinate dry cough, which is neither attended with sickness nor loss of appe- tite ; but, on the contrary, with a disposition to foul feeding, eating the litter, and drinking large quantities of water. Prevention. — When a horse is troubled with an. obstinate dry cough, and eats his Utter, it will be necessary to bleed him, and to give him the mercurial physic already prescribed, repeating it two or tliree times. Afterwards give the following balls for some time, which have been found of great service : 4 oz. of Gum Animoniacum. 4 do. Galbanum. 4 do. Assafoetida. 4 do. Squills. J do. Saffron. 6 drams of Cinnabar of Antimony. Make the whole up into balls with honey and a little liquorice * The Midriff, or Diaphragm, is that which is commonly calied the Skirts, and separates the Chest (where the lungs lie) from the Bowels. THE COMPLETE FARRIER, 2y powder, and give one about the size of a pullet's egg every other morning. This is a very good ball for a dry cough. Some horse-dealers give broken-winded horses a quantity of shot when they carry them into the market for sale, and I suppose it is to draw the bowels from the midriff, so that the disorder may not be dis- coverable ; but at the same time there is great danger of killing the horse. But it is not enough to give proper medicines ; the horse's diet should also be carefully attended to at the same time, if we would hope for success. In order to this, the horse should eat very sparing- ly of hay, which, as well as his corn, should be wetted with chamber- lie, which is much better than water; and in this disease the horse is always craving after water. Chamber-lie is best for this purpose, be- cause of the volatile salts which it contains, as they are a means of removing the thirst. For the same reason, garlic is very eificacious in this disorder. Two or three cloves being given in each feed ; or three ounces bruised, and boiled in a quart of milk and water, and given every morning for a fortnight, has been found very serviceable. "So easy a remedy should never be neglected; fgr, by u-arming and stimulating the solids, and at the same time dissolving the tenacious juices which choke up the vessels of the lungs, it greatly relieves this complaint. Moderate exercise should never be omitted ; and although broken- winded horses are not able to endure much labor the first summer, yet many have been found less oppressed the second, and scarcely perceptibly affected the third, being then able to perform a long jour- ney, and to endure great fatigue. A horse kept constantly in the field, when not in work, will be able to do good service for many years. It may not be improper to observe that those who hope to cure a broken-winded horse, or even one that is troubled Avith an obstinate cough, by putting him to grass, will find themselves wretchedly mis- taken ; for on his being taken into the stable and fed Avith dry meat, he will be much worse than before ; and some that had only a dry cough when they were put to grass, have returned broken winded. Therefore, always remember that if you cannot keep a horse of this description constantly abroad, it is best not to put him to grass at all, as, instead of curing, it will tend to augment the disorder. In short, the grand secret of managing horses of this kind, consists in having particular regard to their diet and exercise. A moderate quantity of hay or corn, and water, should be given at a time, and the former constantly moistened, to prevent their wanting too much of the latter. They should have moderate exercise, but never any that is violent. By this method, and giving the following ball once every fortnight or three weeks, the horse will be able to do good service for many years. 6 drams of Socotrine Aloes. 2 do. Myrrh. 2 do. Galbanum. 2 do. Ammoniacum, 2 oz. of Bayberries, in powder. 30 THE COMPLETE FARRIER, Make the whole into a ball with a little oil of amber, and a suffic- ient quantity of syrup of buckthorn. This ball operates so gently that there is no need for confinement, except a little the day following- that on which it is given. The horse must have warm mashes and warm water, and the utmost care must be taken to prevent his catch- ing cold. A CONSUMPTION. It is hard to lay down proper rules on this head, or to give the owner or farrier such an explanation of the disease as may lead him to a proper knowledge of it. It has been above a match for many ; but having, in my long experience, had many under my care in this dangerous disorder, I hope to be able to explain it as well as most people. Symptoms. — A Consumption is a want of nourishment, and a waste of flesh. The horse's eyes look dull, his ears and feet are commonly hot, he coughs violently by fits, sneezes often, and groans at the same lime; he gleets at the nose, and sometimes throws a yellowish matter, rather curdled, from his nose ; his flanks have a quick motion, and he has little appetite to hay, though he will eat corn, but he grows hot after it. • Causes. — Damp stabh^s are most likely to bring on this disorder, though it may be brought on by many other things. In my time 1 have known many horses suffer much by damp stables. 1 knew a gentleman who had two valuable horses, and he built a new stable for ihem, without any air-holes above their heads. He put the horses in as soon as the stable appeared dry, and their heat soon caused the walls of the place to sweat, and to run down with water, by which means both the bonnes were thrown into a Consumption and died. 1 mention this to caution others. Cure. — The first, and irideed one of the prmcipal things to be done, is to bleed in small quantities. A pint, or at most a pint and a half, is sufficient at once, and the operation is to be repeated whenever the breath is more than commonly oppressed. We are assured, by dis- section, that in a Consumption both the glands of the lungs and the mesentery are swelled, and often indurated. The only medicines that can be depended upon, are mercurial purges and ponderous .al- teratives. 1 have already given you examples of the former, and the bllowing is a formula of the latter. iVIix 4 oz. of Crocus .Metalorum. 1 do. Calomel pp. 1 !b. of Gum Guaiacum, finely powdered. Give about an ounce every day in a mash of bran and lin.^ccd. Iceland liverwort, a handful boiled in a gallon of water, is much better to make mashes up with than water ; for it is a great helper of the. blood. But it is to be observed that nothing will answer so good an end as spring grass ; so that if the horse be afflicted with this dis- ease in spring time, turn him out to grass as soon as you can ; and if the nights be cold, turn him out in the day-time, and take him in at THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 31 nights. Salt marshes arc the most proper places, when they can be met with. When a horse has had this disorder, he can never more bear cold and hard service as before. If the horse be of small value, the above medicines will be thought too expensive, and you may give tar-balls, or tar water. Fine Norway tar is of very great use in diseases of the lungs, and is to be made into balls in the ibllowing manner, which will be useful either in consumption, a cough, or an asthma, and help them as soon as most drugs that are make use of. 1 lb. of fresh Norway or Stockholm Tar. 4 oz. of Garlic. Bruise the garlic, and work them up with liquorice powder into a paste, and give two ounces at a time every other day. A SCOURING, AND OTHER DISORDERS OF THE INTES- TINES. You should consider vv-ell what the Scouring proceeds from, wheth- er it is caused by foul feeding, bad water, hard exercise, sudden heat or cold, an overflowing of the bile, or a weakness of the intestines. If it is brought on "by foul feeding, or bad water, it should not be stopped, but rather be "promoted; for it should be remembered that nature by this means throws off the seeds of disease, and evacuates the morbid matter which would otherwise be retained to the great disadvantage, and perhaps to the destruction, of the animal. The great difficulty therefore consists in knowing when these discharges are critical and salutary, and when detrimental and noxious; for the former must not be checked but the aid of medicine must be called in to put a stop to the latter. For instance, — if a healthy horse, upon taking cold, or after hard riding, over feeding, or at the beginning of a slight fever, have a mod- erate purging, you must be careful not to stop it, but on the contrary to promote it, by an open diet, and plenty of warm gruel. But if this ])urging continue a long time, with smart gripings, and the inner skin of the bowels come away with the dung, and the horse lose both his flesh and his appetite at the same time, recourse must immediately be had to proper medicines ; among which the following are very effectual. I do not wish any one to give medicines upon merely hearing the names of the drugs, but to know in what manner the drugs will operate before they give them. Take — 1 oz. of Rhubarb, in powder. 2 drams Myrrh, do. 2 do. Saffron. Give altogether in warm ale, and warm water for two days after. This dose will only work gently, but will be of great service to the horse, as it will bring away the slime which lodges in the small intes- tines, and correct the bile of the stomach, which is the cause of this disorder. If the horse be a good one, I would advise the owner never to refuse giving medicines because of the expense, as they will soon make him ample amends by their salutary effects; and sometimes the ,32 THE COMPLETE FARRIER desire of saving a few pence in a medicine has been the destruction of a useful horse. Buc when the disorder continues, and the horse's flesh keeps wasting away, recourse must be had to astringents. Tormentil Root (dried, and pounded in a mortar, and put through a seive,) is one of the best astringents yet found out, though very little known. I heartily wish my fellow creatures would make more use of this valuable root than they do. The dose is from an ounce to an ounce and a half I believe that this valuable root has done more good in my time, in stopping loosenesses and bowel complaints, than any thing else. I have known many people who have spent pounds on physicians, and got no relief, and whose strength has been nearly gone, and their lives despaired of, but b}'^ taking the above in red wine, they have been restored. The dose is from half a dram to a dram, in a little red wine, four or five times a day. But you may say. Where is this root to be got, as few of the druggists keep it ? I believe they do not ; neither do I wish you to apply to them for it, for they will give you something else that will not answer the purpose. It may commonly be found in dry land, where whins and brackens grow. It flowers all summer long ; its top is sraall, something like southern wood ; its flowers are small, yellow, and numerous: it is seldom above half a foot high; and its root is strong: in loose land and old cams as thick as a finger, but in fast bound land not so strong. When the purging is attended with a fever, a different method of practice is necessary. Take — i oz. of Rhubarb, in powder. 1 do. Lenitive Electuary. i do. Camphor. 1 do. Powdered Ginger. To be given in a pint of old ale. This is a very proper medicine when the horse is troubled with a fever ; but if he have no fever upon him, give the following: 1 oz. of Tormentil Root, in powder. i do. Japan Earth, do. Give these in red wine, or if that be thought too expensive, in oak bark tea. Japan earth is a great healer of the bowels. Repeat this last medicine three or four times to allow it a fair trial ; giving the horse at the same time but little exercise, for he cannot then bear much. Should this medicine fail, and the disorder increase instead of decreas- ing, which may be known by his flanks and belly being full and dis- tended, and his appearing to suffer strong griping pains, give the fol- lowing clyster : i oz. of Isinglass, dissolved in a quart of warm milk. 2 do. Mitriridate. Sometimes the flux is so violent as not to be overcome by the pre- ceding medicine, when recourse must be had to the following. Boil a hand full of oak bark in a quart of water, strain it off', and add — 2 oz. of Tormentil Root, in powder. 2 do. Bole. THE COMPLETE FARRIER. «it» Give them all together. This should be repeated once a day, for two or three days. The practitioner should carefully attend to the symptoms that ac- company this disorder; for if the discharge be attended with an acrid mucus, or slime, the griping pains being very severe, there is then a sure indication that the common lining of the bowels is wasted away ; and then it will be necessary frequently to inject the following clyster, warm, in order to prevent the fatal consequences which will otherwise soon ensue. Four ounces of starch, dissolved in a quart of water; half a pint of sweet oil, three yolks of Eggs, well broken; and a little loaf sugar. This will do for twice, at four hours' distance. It is also necessary to observe that some horses, from having weak stomachs and bowels, throw out their aliment undigested, and their dung is habitually soft, and of a pale color ; they also feed sparingly, and are always low in flesh. This complaint, which often proves fatal at last, may be removed by the following medicines : 6 drams of Socotrine Aloes. 3 do. Rhubarb, in powder. 1 do. Myrrh I do. Saffron. Make all up into a ball with syrup of ginger. After the above stomachic purge shall have been given two or three times, a pint of the following infusion should be given every morning : Take Gentian, Winter Bark, Orange Peel, Columbia Root, Aniseeds, Fennel Seeds, and Camonfiile Flowers, of each a small handful and of Orris Root, two ounces. Boil all together in a gallon of strong ale ; and when cold, clear Jt off, and add one pint of spirits of wine. If this be thought too strong, two quarts more of ale may be added. This is an excellent cordial both for healing and strengthening the stomach and bowels. These are the best methods of treating the above disorders, to which horses are often subject, and in which they are often lost for want of proper treatment. But before we conclude this chapter, it is necessary to observe that the scourings which succeed long-continued sickness, such as the Farcy, Putrid Fevers, or an inflamed state of the blood, where bleed- ing and other proper evacuations have been neglected, too often ter- minate fatally; especially when the creature discharges a foetid slime, and when the same matter gleets from his nose; for in these cases the blood is dissolved, and the whole mass of the fluids is become putrid, and discharges itself by those drains. DISORDERS OF THE KIDNEYS AND BLADDER. Inflammation of the kidneys and bladder are sometimes brought on by other disorders, and often by sprains, hard exercise, catching cold when hot, or from the want of proper care. Symptoms of a Hurt in the Kidneys. — The horse is very weak in the back and loins ; he stales with difficulty, is faint, eats very little ; his eyes appear languid, and of a dead color; his urine is foul, o 34 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. thick, and often bloody, especially after a violent strain ; he cannot move backwards without great pain, which may be seen at every at- tempt. It is sometimes hard to distinguish an inflammation from a sprain, or what is called, " tifled in the back." There is no method but observing the gait of the horse. If he have got tifled in the back, he will be hard put to it to keep from coming down behind, and indeed will oft come down; his eyes will look rather red, but his urine the same as before. A lifle lies in the marrow, or pith, of the back. , (Jure. — The principal remedy for a hurt in the kidneys is bleeding, which should be done pretty plentifully, as by this means an inflam- mation will be prevented ; and if you have reason to think that the inflammation is already begun, from the creature's being feverish, and staling with great difficulty, the operation should be repeated ; foi unless the inflammation be prevented, or immediately removed, the consequence will be fatal. But, although bleeding is the principal, it is not the only remedy, for rowelling is of great service. Put a rowel on each side of his belly, and give the following balls twice a day, in a pint of the decoction of marshmallows, having an ounce of gum arabie, and an ounce of honey dissolved in it. 1 oz. of Salts of Prunella. 6 drams of Spermaceti. 2 oz. of Castile Soap. Add as much honey as will make a ball ; and if the urine be bloody, an ounce of Japan earth must be added. If the fever continue, you must repeat the bleeding, and give emollient clysters, and the cooling, opening drink, before recommended for Fevers, till it abate. These methods will often prove successful, but sometimes the disease is too obstinate to be overcome by them, and the urine still passes M'ith pain and difficulty. Recourse must then be had to the following balls, and they must be repeated twice a day till the horse stale without pain, and his urine become clear, and without any purulent settlement : 1 oz. of Venice Turpentine. 1 do. Castile Soap. 6 drams of Nitre. 2 do. Myrrh, in powder. Make the whole into a ball with honey, and wash it down with a strong decoction of marshmallows. These are the best methods of treatment in this disorder, and will in general prove successful. Sometimes indeed this malady is too strong for the power of medicine, and then the urine continues turbid, and daily becomes of a deeper color, with a foetid smell, — a sure sign tliat the kidneys are ulcerated ; which generally terminates in a con- sumption, and the creature becomes absolutely incurable. In treating of the Cholic I have recommended a method for removing the Stranguary, when it proceeds from wind, or from dung pressing upon the neck of the bladder ; but sometimes it proceeds from an inflammation, and a retention of urine. Symptoms of an Inflammation of the Neck of the Bladder. — When a horse is seized with a Stranguary from the above cause, he will make frequent motions to stale, standing wide and straddling. THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 35 his bladder being full of urine, and his flanks distended ; he will be uneasy, constantly shifting his hind feet, and often giving clicks in his motions ; he also sometimes hangs his head, and then raises it suddenly. Cure. — First bleed largely, and then give the following: 1 oz. of Spirits of Sweet Nitre. 4 do. Syrup of Marshmallows. 1 do. Venice Soap. Cut the soap small, dissolve it in a gill of hot water, put the above to it, and give it to the horse. Repeat it every eight hours. Also dissolve an ounce of gum arable and an ounce of nitre in a gallon of water, and let him drink plentifully of it, If he will drink it of his own accord, it is best ; but if not, horn a little into him, for it will greatly tend to remove the cause of the disease, and consequently to terminate the effects. There is a disease of the kidneys, viz : a Diabetes, or profuse stal- ing, which produces effects directly opposite. This disorder is seldom cured in old horses, as their .fibres are become rigid, and unable to perform their office, — a misfortune which all the power of medicine cannot remove. But in young horses this disease is often cured, and the following method will generally be attended with success : Cure of a Diabetes. — In order to cure this threatening disorder, great care must be taken not to let the horse drink too much water, and never to give him any moist food. Attention to these particulars will go a great way towards a cure; and instead of giving him com- mon water to drink, give him lime-water; to make which, take about three pounds of lime, unslacked, put it into a clean vessel, and for 'every pound of lime pour six quarts of water into it; let it stand three days, take the scum off the top, and give the horse the water to drink. (Be careful not to stir the lime at the bottom of the vessel.) This is a very clear, wholesome water, and very good for many dis- orders. In the mean time the following medicine should be given: 1 oz. of Peruvian Bark. 1 do. Japan Earth, in powder. 1 do. Irish Slate, do. Give these in lime water, and you may repeat it as often as needful. Some Farriers give strong alum possets two or three times a day ; but this kind of treatment cannot be proper, for the alum takes so fast hold of the juices of the stomach, that if the horse were not ill, it would be enough to make him so. But if the above are properly given, they will not disappoint expectation. THE MOLTEN GREASE. This is so common a disorder, that it ought to be well understood; but, alas ! like many others, it is often mistaken for something else. This disease is a melting down of the fat of the liorse's body, caused by violent exercise in very hot weather ; or if the horse be full of flesh, it may happen in cold weather. Hard riding, or sudden colds, will bring on this disorder. 30 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. Symptoms. — It is always attended with a fever, heat, restlessness, starting and trembling, inward sickness, and shortness of breath. Also the horse's dung is extremely greasy, and he often falls into a scouring. His blood, when cold, is covered with a thick scum of fat, of a white or yellow color, but generally the latter. The congeaied part, or sediment, appears like a mixture of size and grease, and is so extremely slippery that it will not adhere to the fingers ; and the small proportion of serum is also slippery and clammy. The horse soon loses his flesh and fat, the latter being probably dissolved into the blood. Such as have sufficient strength to sustain the first shock, commonly become hidebound, and their legs swell greatly ; and in this state they continue till the blood and juices are rectified ; and if that is not done effectually, the Farcy, or an obstinate Surfeit, is generally the consequence, which cannot be removed but with the utmost difficulty. Cure. — In the first place, bleed pretty plentifully, and repeat the operation two or three days successively ; but take care that you take only a small quantity at a time after the first bleeding, as otherwise the creature would be rendered too weak to support himself, and his blood too poor to be easily recruited. As soon as he has been bled the first time, let two or three rowels be put in, and the emollient clysters prescribed for Fevers be thrown up daily, to mitigate the fever, and to cleanse the intestines from the greasy matter. At the same time plenty of water-gruel should be given him, and sometimes a small quantity of water, with a little nitre dissolved in it. The latter Avill be of great service, as it will prevent the blood from run- ning into grumous concretions, and proving the source of innumerable disorders, if not causing a total stagnation, and consequently the death of the animal. The horse must be treated in this manner till the fever be entirely gone, and he shall have recovered his appetite ; and then it will be necessary to give him three or four purges, a week distant from each other, which will make him stale and perspire plentifully, and at the same time bring down the swelling of his legs. The following is well calculated for the purpose : 6 drams of Socotrine Aloes. 4 do. Gum Guaiacum, in powder. 2 do. Ginger. ^2 do. Jalap. 2 do. Oil of Juniper. To be made into a ball with syrup of buckthorn. By pursuing this method the horse will soon be recovered, for this purge will mend his appetite and increase his flesh. If it be too weak, add a dram 23ore of aloes. It will bring down his swelled legs, and carry away all the superfluous matter that clogs the blood. When you give the physic, be careful to give plenty of warm water all the time. A SURFEIT. Some people pronounce every ill-thriven horse surfeited, whether it is so or not. A Surfeit is nothing more than the effects of an ill- THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 37 cured disease, and therefore what is called a Surfeit in horses is very different to the disease which bears that name in the human body ; the latter being the beginning of a disease, and the former the re- mains of one. Symptoms. — The horse's coat will stare, look of a rusty color, and even appear dirty, although the greatest pains have been taken to keep him clean. His skin will be covered with scales and dandriff, which will appear Mke meal among the hair, and when cleaned off will be followed by a continual succession of the same matter, occa- sioned by the perspiration being obstructed. Some horses will be covered with a kind of scab, sometimes moist, attended with heat and mflammation, and the humor so very sharp, and causing so violent an itching, that the creature is incessantly rubbing himself, and by that means making himself raw in different parts of his body. Some horses have neither scales, dandriff, nor scab ; but look dull, sluggish and lazy. Some are hidebound, and others afflicted with flying pains and a temporary lameness. In short, the symptoms are very various, and almost as numerous as those of the scurvy itself. Causes. — The causes are as various as the symptoms. Some horses are surfeited by high feeding and want of proper exercise ; which produce a bad digestion, and generate ill humors. Some are surl'eit- ed by unwholesome food ; some by hard riding ; some by drinking cold water when they are hot ; some by bad or improper physic, and some by standing in stables through wliich the rain drops, or by lying wet. But as many also get surfeited by standing when hot at the doors of public-houses, such bad practices should be guarded against. Cure. — If we duly consider the nature of Surfeits, their cure will be much more easily performed. All allow that they arise from a bad state of the blood ; but how is this to be remedied ? By bleeding and purging. But this must be done in a very gentle manner. Take about a quart of blood, and the next day give the following ball : 1 oz of Socotrine Aloes. 1 dram of Calomel pp. 2 do. Oil of Aniseeds. Add as much lenitive electuary as will make it into a ball. Give plenty of warm water to work it off. Repeat both bleeding and physic in eight days ; and when the last dose is wrought off, give him six ounces of the cordial balls in a little warm ale. Also give a spoon- ful of the following powders every day in a mash. 4 oz. of Flour of Brimstone. 4 do. of Crocus Metalorum. 4 do. Nitre, in powder. Mix all up well together. By persevering in the above method you may cure the most inveterate Surfeit, and if any scabs or runnings appear iu the skin, rub them with the following : 4 oz. of Sulphur Vivum. 2 do. White Copperas. 2 do. White Hellebore, in powder. Mix these powders with churn-milk, rub the places affected well, and the grievance will soon disappear. Sometimes a Surfeit settles in 98 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. the legs, and they swell much, and then break out and run very much. When this is the case, two taps put into the lower belly will be found of great use. Staling balls should he given every third day, and plenty of warm water to work them off with. Make the staling-balls as follows : 1 oz. of White Resin. 4 drams of Castile. Soap. 2 do. Oil of Juuiper. 2 do. Camphor. 4 do. Saltpetre. Bray all well together into a paste, in a mortar, and form it into a ball. The above is only for one dose, but you may make as many as you think proper at once, and keep them for use. Give them at night, and they will work off the next day. These balls are of great service in many of the disorders of horses, and some of the best staling-balls yet foimd out. By following the above directions, a cure will generally be per- formed. Sometimes in this disorder little knots break out, especially upon the hind parts of the horse, and these knots throw out a little matter. When this is the case, you must rub them with strong mer- curial ointment. Sometimes these little tubes, or pustules, have living insects in them : but by rubbing them as I have just directed you, they will be destroyed, and the cure complelml. THE HIDEBOUND. This disorder is too often brought on by the horse being worked too hard, and badly kept; although this is not always the case. When the skin of a horse sticks so close to his ribs that it appears immovable the horse is said to be hidebound. But this is not [)roperly a disease, but rather a symptom, being often caused by previous disorders, such as fevers, convulsions, surfeits, worms, or disorders of the kidneys or lungs. Cure. — As the hidebound may proceed from various causes, it is necessary to determine the cause, before such medicines can be ap- plied as will remove it. If it owe its origin to hard labor and want of food, rest and plenty will soon remove it. If it be caused by worms, worm medicines must be applied ; or if it be left by any imperfectly-cured disorder, the fol- lowing drink must be given : 2 oz. of Aniseeds, in powder. 2 do. Ginger, in powder. 1 do. Grains of Paradise. 2 do. Mustard. 2 do. Turmeric. All to be powdered, and to be given in warm ale, fasting, and to fast two hours after. Give warm water two or three times. Bleeding, tapping, and physic are also necessary, when the hidebound is left. by any disorder. ; THE MANGE. This disorder is more shameful than dangerous, for you cannot go abroad with a scabbed horse without being hisSed at, neither is ii THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 39 proper ; for this disease is so infectious that every horse that jnay come near it will be in danger. The Mange is too well known to need a long description, though some have been mistaken, and have taken a hot itching eruption for it. Symptoms. — At first it is confined to the skin, but by long continu-' ance it vitiates and pollutes the blood. The skin is generally thick, and full of wrinkles, especially about the mane, the loins, and the tail ; and the little hair remaining on those parts stand erect. The ears and eyebrows are commonly naked ; and when the limbs arc affected, they have the same appearance-: but at the same time the horse is not raw, nor does the skin peel off as in a Surfeit. C.^usKS. — The Mange is generally taken by infection, for it is so very catching, that if a horse be put into a stable where one in the Mange has stood before it be thoroughly cleansed, he will hardly fail being infected. But though infection is the general, it is not the only cause of the Mange. Low feeding, and running long abroad in cold, pinching weather, without sufficient provender, will cause horses to iiave the Mange. Cure. — When the horse has been infected by another, the disorder is not so obstinate as when caused by starvation, for the blood will not be in so bad a state. When you think a horse has got the Mange, apply the following where you think it needful, and it will cure it af the beginning without much trouble or expense. 4 oz. of Sulphur Vivuiii. 4 do. White Copperas. -1 do. White Hellebore Root in powder. Mix all together in two quarts of churn-milk, and rub the places well. By this method you may cure most scabs of short duration ; but when once the mange has got great hold, it will require sharper treatment Make the following for one horse. 4 oz. of Sulphur Vivum. 2 do. White Hellebore Root, in powder. 2 do. Blue Stone Vitriol, in powder, i do. Verdigris, in powder. 4 do. Flanders Oil of Bays, 3 gills of Whale Oil. Mi.x all well together, and rub the horse well with it all over in the sun, if in Sunmier, but before a fire if in the winter. In Summer you must also turn him out to grass after rubbing, but in Winter keep him v.-arm in the house. You must be careful to wash your saddles and bridles, cart gears, stands, mangers, racks, &c., well with quick-lime and chamber-lie ; for if you do not clean all that the horse may have used, the infection will remain. You will find the above a certain cure, if managed rightly, for I have cured hundreds with it, and I do not remember one instance of its failure. , At the same time give freely of flour of sulphur and liver of anti- mony ; and if you have a number of horses infected, be sure to rub them all together. Some people say that when a horse is rubbed for the scab he will infect others, but I am of opinion that he will not, neither do I remem- ber an instance of it. 40 THE COMPLETE FAEPaER. THE FARCY, OR FARCIN. There have been many opinions respecting this disease. Some authors reckon five kinds ; but although there are so many different branches, yet four of them have the same root. The Water Farcy is different from the others, and therefore I shall put it afterwards by itself There is a scurvy which horses are subject to, and which is often called a Farcy ; but it is no such thing, for there are only the two kinds of the Farcy, which I here shall treat upon. Horses are often said to have the Farcy when they have not, for sometimes when people do not know the proper name of a disorder, they call it the Farcy. The true Farcy is a disorder of the blood-vessels, and gen- erally follows the course of the veins, and when inveterate, thickens their coats and integuments in such a manner that they become like so many cords. Symptoms. — At the beginning of this disorder a few small knobs, or tumors, resembling grapes, are found on the veins, which are so painful to the touch that the creature shows evident marks of uneasi- ness on their being pressed with the finger. They are at first very hard like unripe grapes, but in a very little time they grow soft, and break and discharge a bloody matter, and become very foul and un- toward ulcers. This disease appears in different places in different horses. Some show it first on the head; some on the external juo-u- lar vein ; some on the plate vein, extending from thence downward, on the inside of the fore-leg, towards the knee, or upwards towards the brisket. In some it first appears about the pasterns, on the sides of the large veins, and on the insides of the thighs, extending tovv'ards the groin ; in. others on the flanks, spreading by degrees towards the lower belly ; and some horses are nearly covered all over the body at once. Cure. — When the Farcy attacks only one part of a horse, and that where the blood-vessels are small, it may be easily cured ; but when the plate vein is affected, and turns corded; and especially when the crural veins, withinside the thigh, are in that condition, the cure is very difficult, and the creature is rarely fit for any thing but the low- est work after it. Therefore those who depend upon some particular medicine, and flatter themselves with being able to cure every species of the Farcy Avith it, will find themselves wretchedly mistaken ; for difljerent medicines are needful, according as the disease is superficial or inveterate. The former is easily cured, for sometimes moderate exercise is sufficient; but the latter requires knowledge and experi- ence ; and sometimes bafiles the most skillful, and defies the whole power of medicine. From the above description of this disease it appears that it is of the inflarnmatory kind, and that the blood-vessels are affected. Copious bleedings are therefore absolutely necessary, especially if the horse be fat and full of blood. This evacuation always checks the progress of the Farcy in its beginning-, but its good" effects soon vanish, especially if the horse be low in flesh. After Weeding, mix the fol lowin£v : . THE COMPLETE FARRIER, 41 4 oz. of Cream of Tartar 4 do. Liver of Autimony. 4 do. Lenitive Electuary. 4 do. Castile Soap. 2 drams of Calomel, 8 drams to an oz. Make these into balls, and give two ounces a day for some time. While giving these balls, dissolve a little nitre in the water given to the horses to drink. These medicines will keep his body open, and allay the inflammatory heat of his blood, which is the principal cause of the disease ; and while they are given inwardly to remove the cause, let the tumors be rubbed twice a day with the following ointment: 4 oz. of Elder Ointment. 4 do. Flanders Oil of Bays. 2 do. White Vitriol. 1 do. Red Precipitate. 2 do. Sugar of Lead. Beat all well together into an ointment, and keep it for use. This ointment will soon disperse the tumors, which will leave small bald spots on the skin, but the hair will grow again in time. If the tu- mors break, and run a thick, well digested matter, it is a sign that the disease is conquered, and the horse will soon be well ; but it will be necessary to give him two ounces of liver of antimony every day for a fortnight, and two ounces every other day for a fortnight after, in order to .sweeten his blood, and disperse the small bunches that remain. This method will never fail when the small veins only are affected ; and a short time will complete the cure. But when the Farcy affects the large blood-vessels, the cure is far more difficult. Let the practitioner always attempt it at the beo-in- ning of the disease, as he then will have fewer difficulties to encoun- ter ; for delay renders that almost impossible to be overcome Avhich at first might have been easily conquered. Therefore, when the plate or crural veins are corded, lose no time, but bleed immediately on the opposite side, and apply to the distempe.W vein the following mixture, which is proper to dress the wounds with, but not before they are broken out: 1 dram of Corrosive Sublimate. 1 oz. of Spirits of Salt. Powder the sublimate, and put it into a bottle, and -put the spirits of salt upon it to dissolve it; then add two ounces of vinegar, by degrees. This is a very proper mixture to dress the ulcers with ; but if it can- not be easily got, take — 6 oz. Oil of Turpentine. 3 do. Oil of Vitriol. Put the pot in water with the turpentine in it, and pour the oil of vitriol in, a little at a time, and keep stirring it till it shall have sub- sided. If the Farcy be situate in the loose and fleshy parts, such as the flanks and the belly, the mixture should consist of equal parts of oil of turpentine and oil of vitriol ; but when the seat of the disease is in the parts which are less fleshy, the proportions above are best cal- culated to perform "a cure. The medicine musf be used in the foilovsr- 42 Tiii; (^OMl'LKT.: FAKRIER.. m^^ manner. Rub the parts affected with a woollen cloth, and then apply some of the coiupoiind oil to every bud and tumor. Continue this method twice a day, and at the same time give cooling physic every other day. The bails and nitrous draughts before mentioned will answer the intention. By this treatment the tumors will be di- gested, and the cords dissolved ; but it will be neces,sary to give liver of antimony to complete the cure, and to prevent a relapse ; and also to dress the sores, when well digested, with a mixture of bees' wax and oil, which will heal them, and smooth the skin. Sometimes the disease will not yield to this treatment, especially when situate near the flanks or the lower belly. In that case it will be necessary to bathe the parts with the compound oil, as far as the center of the belly ; and at the same time to give a course of antimo nial medicines. The following composition is stronger than the last, and on that ac- count i.s often used when the disease is obstinate: 4 oz. of Spirits of Wine. 2 do. Oil of Turpentine. 4 do. Oil of Vitriol. '2 do. Vinegar. Mix all together, with the caution before directed. When thi? method fails, and the disorder becomes inveterate, try the following which is recommended by an eminent practitioner : 2 pint of Linseed Oil. 3 oz. of Oil of Turpentine. 3 do. Oil of Peter. 2 do. Oil of Bays. i do. Oil of Origanum. i do. Strong Aquafortis. 2 do Barbadoes Tar. 2 drams of Tincture of Euphorbium. Mix all together with caution, as before directed. This medicine must be rubbed on the tumors and corded veins once in two or three days, observing that if the mouths of the ulcers are choked up, or so thick as to confine the matter, to open a passage with a small hot iron ; and also to destroy the proud flesh, which may be kept down by touching it occasionally with oil of vitriol, aquafortis or butter of antimony. In this disorder, these are the best ways of proceeding that have yet been discovered : but it is to be considered as an obstinate one, and is sometimes very bad to cure. It has hitherto baffled many an able practitioner, and it is to be feared will baffle many more ; for when the blood has got into such a corrupted state, it bids defiance to medicines. The ingenious Dr. Brackden recommends the strong mercurial ointment for rubbing the cords and tumors' with before they break; and in order to disperse them when they are broken, to dress the sores with a mixture composed of equal parts of Venice turpentine and quicksilver. If the mouth becomes sore by this means, a gentle purgi- should be given to prevent salivation. This is doubtless a very good method, and if care be taken, will often prove effectual. He also recommends the following alterative b.ili : THE COMPLETE FAURIER. 43 1 oz. of Liver of Antimony. 1 do. Bezoar Mineral. 4 do. Cordial Ball. Boat all well together, and give about the size of a walnut every day for some time, fasting, and to fast two or three hours after. I have given you the best prescriptions that I am able to give, and such as will not fail to cure if properly applied, if the horse be not in- curable. I have been more particular in treating of this disease, be- cause it is common among horses, and very often managed improperly by those who pretend to cure it. Such, therefore, as have valuable horses in this disease, would do well to be careful whom they employ, and assiduous in observing the methods they make use of to cure it. if they do not think proper to attempt a cure themselves. But in my opinion they may do it better themselves, by following these directions, than most farriers they can employ. THE WATER FARCY. This disease varies very much from the last, and would more pro- perly be called a Dropsy than a Farcy. There are two kinds of this disorder, but they are nearly of the same nature. One of them is produced by indisposition terminating in the skin, as is often the case in epidemical colds ; the other is a true dropsy, where the water is not confined to the belly and limbs, but is found in different parts of the body, and a great number of soft swellings appear. When you press the finger pretty hard upon any of the swelled parts, or under the belly, it will leave a dimple, as if it were pressed on paste. When you find those swellings under the horse's belly, or on any part of the body, you may take it for granted that he has gpt the Dropsy, or what is called the Water Farcy. This disorder mostly proceeds from foul feeding, or a continuance of very wet weather in the end of summer. It iTWStly happens in the autumnal season, and greatly injures the health of such horses as stay abroad, rendering the blood sluggish and viscid. Cure. — Wherever the swellings appear, make scarifications, that is, holes through the skin. This ma)-- be done by a short fleam ; and if you have not one short enough, put a collar made of a piece of leather on it. If the swelling be under the belly, strike a good many holes ^'n at a time, but be careful to avoid the veins. By this means a great quantity of water will run out. Taps in the brisket are also often of great service. I have fleamed horses four or five times before I could get the swelling to subside. When the water has subsided, the blood is left in a bad state, to remedy which, a gentle purge should be given two or three times, eight days distance, to recover the crasis of the blood, and brace u^the relaxed fibres of the whole body. Lime water is very proper, with a little nitre in it, and let the horse's food be warm mashes of bran, with a little malt in it. His keep must be in- creased by degrees. The disorder mostly happens to young horses that have not been used to high keep. You must give one of the fol- lowing balls every day, omitting the time when the physic is working: ^■t TUi: CCr.Ii'L'iTE FAKIUEU. 2 07.. of Squills. 1 do. Camphor. I do. Castile Soap, i do. Turpentine. 4 do. Yellow Resin. Make these into a ball with honey, and give one ounce at a time. These balls will work the water off by urine. When the horse has been treated in this manner till the water is evacuated, and he begins to recover, give him a pint of the following infusion every day for a fortnight, fasting, and let him fast one hour after each dose : 4 oz. of Gentian Root. 4 do. Black Hellebore. 2 do. Jesuit's Bark. 4 do. Camomile Flowers. 1 Handful of Centaury. Boil all together in six quarts of water, for ten minutes, let it stana till cool, and tho strain it through a cloth. This strengthening drink will brace the fibres, cause the fluids to circulate quicker, and complete the cure. SPRAINS. All kinds of Sprains resemble each other. They are a relaxation of the tendinous fibres, from the muscular parts being overstretched. A SPRAIN IN THE BACK. Sprains in the back are mostly caused by overweighting the horse, or by his loosing his hind feet on the side of a hill ; and sometimes by putting him back too quickly. There is much difference between a Sprain in the back, and what is called tifled in the back. Sometimes a horse catches cold in his loins by having his clothes or his saddle taken off" when he is hot, and bemg turned out of doors : and some horses are subject to Rheumatics, which make them lame in many places, and are generally taken for Sprains. To cure a Sprain in the back, first bleed pretty freely, and then give the following drink : 1 oz. of Tincture of Guaiacum. 1 do. Balsam Capivi. 1 do. Oil of Juniper. To be put into a quart of strong parsley-root tea ; half to be given at night, half in the morning, and plenty of warm water to work them ofl^ Also, lay a sheep's skin vdth the flesh side to his loins for six or eight hours, if he can bear it ; and then turn the wool side to him, and let it stay on a day ; and when you take it off", sheet him well for fear of catching cold. Also, make a plaster of the following: 2 oz. of Oxycroseum. 2 do. Paracellis. 2 do. Red Dominion. 2 do. Burgundy Pitch. Melt all together, and lay them on pretty warm, and put a little wool, clipped short, on the charge while hot, and then pour on a little THE COMPLETE FARRIEE. 45 cold water to fasten the whole together. These are the best methods I am acquainted with. A SPRAIN IN THE SHOULDER. When the shoulder of a horse is sprained, he does not put out that leg- like the other, but in order to ease it sets the sound foot firmly on the ground. When trotted in hand he forms a kind of circle with his lame leg; instead of putting it forward, and when he stands in the stable that leg is advanced before the other. There is what is called a Shoulder-slip, which is worse than a Sprain. When this happens, the horse can neither lift his leg nor put it forward. You may know this by the shoulder-blade standing higher than the other ; but to discern that, you must make him stand on the lame leg, for the leg he stands on will always appear a liitle higher than the other. The flesh will also shortly waste away from the shoulder-blade, which is a sure sign of a Shoulder-slip. When this accident has taken place, put a tap into the lame side of the ani- mal's breast, and blow the shoulder full of wind with a pipe. When you have rinded the skin to put the tap in, hold the skin fast to the pipe, and blow the part that you have rinded full, and let some one draw the wind up into the shoulder with the edge of his hand as far as the top of the shoulder-blade, and then put in the tap, or rowel, and stop the hole up Avell with tow and salve. Give warm water for three days, and then open the place, stir the tap round, and rub the shoulder all over with the following liniment : 2 oz. of Spirits of Wine. 2 do. Sweet Oil. 2 do. Spirits of Sal Ammoniac. Shake them well together, rub the shoulder well with the mixture every third day for some time, and if the horse do not get better with three or four times rubbing, use the following: 2 oz. of Oil of Turpentine. 1 do. Oil of Orig^antiiii. 1 do. Oil of Bricks. Shake these up together, rub all on at a time, and walk the horse about a little afterwards. When near the sea, swimming in the salt water is very proper, and I have known swimming in fresh water to be of great use. A Sprain in the shoulder point requires nearly the same treatment as a slip, but you need not "blow it. When it is attended by inflam- mation, cooling mixtures, such as extract of lead and water, must be used. But when a swelling or an inflammation takes place, it is mostly caused by a hurt, or by a stroke from another horse. If there be no swelling, rub the shoulder point well with the following mixture every third day : 1 oz. of Oil of Peter. 1 do. Oil of Amber. 1 do. Oil of Spike. 1 do. Oil of Bricks. Shake these well together, and rub the shoulder point every other day. If the horse be not better, take 46 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 1 oz. of Oil of Turpentine. 1 do. Oil of Origanum. 1 do. Oil of Swallows. 1 do. Oil of Arnber. Shake these together, and ruh the shoulder point well with them every third day ; and if the horse continue lame, recourse must be had to blistering. A SPRAIN IN THE COFFIN JOINT. This is often a grievous disease, and it is difficult to discover where the lameness is. It is often neglected till the joint grows stiff, and then the horse pitches upon his toe, and is afraid of bearing any weight on his foot. If )^ou press with your thumb in the hole in the horse's heel, and upon the cornet of his foot, you will soon discover whether the hurt is in the Coffin Joint. When people cannot tell the cause of a horse's lameness, they often say that he has got sprained in the coffin. In my opinion it is better not to doctor a horse than to apply stuff to you know not what. If people would have a little patience, most lamenesses would soon show themselves, especially a Sprain in the Coffin Joint, for it would raise a ring round the cornet of the foot, not much unlike a Ring-bone, but closer to the foot. The first thing to be done is to draw a little blood from the spurn vein, then mix an equal quantity of oil of bays, and oil of origanum, beat well together, and rub well all round, just above the hoof. Apply this for three or four days together, and if no better, you must have re- course to repeated blistering. A SPRAIN IN THE BACK SINEWS. This kind of Sprain is more frequent among horses than any other, and is so common that I need not describe it, but only inform you how to cure it. If it be recent, bathe the leg with a little hot vinegar, or verjuice, with a little saltpetre dissolved in it, and put round it a proper band- age : or, curriers' shavings, wetted with a composition made of vine- gar, spirits of wine, and a little tar, and laid on the swelling with a pretty tight bandage round them, will be of great use. Take it off once a day. and soak the shavings again, or get fresh. Injuries of this kind must not be expected to be removed immediately. Rest is absolutely necessary, and turning the horse out to grass would be of great service as soon as the swelling disappears, but not before. If these methods fail, the next thing is to blister ; for I have known blis- tering succeed when all the former have failed. The last thing to have recourse to, is firing. SPRAINS OF THE KNEES AND PASTERNS. The knees are liable to many misfortunes besides sprains. The Speedy Cut is done by striking one foot against the other leg, just be- low the knee, and is frequently done by a horse that trots high. THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 47 Sometimes it swells very much, and is taken for a sprain. Some- dmes horses get kicked by others, or meet with some other accident which causes a swelled knee, which is sometimes bad to remove. A poultice made as follows will have a great tendency to remove the swelling. Take 4 oz. of Tar. 4 do. Spirits of Wine. 3 do. Hogs' Lard. Melt these together over a slow fire, and be careful not to set fire to tliem, and put in as much linseed-meal as will make ihem of a proper consistence. This is a very good poultice for many other kinds of swellings, and although but little known hitherto, I hope that it will be found of great service. If any substance be l<;ft which will not give way to this method, you must lay on a little blithering ointment. LAMENESS IN THE STIFLE. The Stifle is the tenderest part of a horse, except the eye. How many horses have lost their lives by misfortunes in this part, and how many have been left lame by not being properly cured ! A horse that is lame in the stifle generally treads on his toe, and cannot set his heel to the ground without great pain and difficulty. When you find this is the case, bathe the part well with warm vinegar; and if a puny swelling appear, foment it well with a woollen cloth wrung out of hot vinegar, wormwood and rosemary, having added half a pint of spirits of wine to a quart of the decoction. Let this operation be continued till the swelling is nearly gone. When a horse has got a stroke and cut by the heel of his shoe, great care must be taken to keep out the cold air, and to keep him from drinking cold water, especially in winter time; for if the horse take cold, and an inflammation come on, there is reason to fear that death will follow. When you perceive that a horse has got a stroke, and is cut through the skin, bathe it well with the following mixture : 2 oz. of Spirits of Wine. 1 do. Spirits of Sal Ammoniac. 1 do. Oil of Amber. Shake all well together, bathe the place well with it, and lay on a diachylon plaster with gum, in order to keep out the cold. If the horse grow very lame, and the place swell much, foment with the following : Take Wormwood, Elder Leaves, Camomile Flowers, Juniper Berries, and Mar.^h- nuillow Leaves, of each a handful, and boil them in two gallons of Chamber-lie. If the above cannot all be got, take double the quantity of juniper berries and camomile flowers, and foment for some time as before directed ; and when you leave off" fomenting, rub with the above mixture. Be careful to wrap the part up warm, and as soon as it comes to matter, dress it with basilicon ointment. If any brown lee appear, syringe tincture of Benjamin, or balm drops, into the wound. When a callous substance, or proud flesh appears, eat it off" with red precipitate. These are the best ways of curing a horse that has got lamed in the stifle. 48 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. LAMENESS IN THE CUP-BONE OR WHIRLEBONE. A lameness in this part of the hip is discovered by the horse's drag- ging his leg after him, and dropping backwards on his heel when he trots. If the muscles of the hips only are injured, the lameness may be soon cured ; but if the ligaments of the cup are aflected, or relaxed, the cure is often very tedious ; and when the cup is full of glueish liquor, the cure is doubtful. I have known the ligament which holds the hip bone in the cup to be broken, and then the hip bone has come loose ; but this seldom happens, and when it does nothing can be done to relieve it. When a horse is lame in the cup-bone, rub him well with the following mixture : 1 oz. of Oil of Amber. 1 do. Oil of Bricks. i do. Oil of Origanum. 1 do. Oil of Turpentine. Shake these well up, rub one half on the cup, and the other half the third day. I have known this mixture remove the complaint when of long standing; but if it fail, you must try what blistering will do. The last thing to be tried is firing. I have fired horses that have been lame above a year, and cured them by it. It is very easy to fire a horse in this part. Take the iron" and make a circle, eight inches in diameter, like a cart-wheel, with scores about an inch asunder. Cut nearly through the skin; and if you do cut through in some places, it will be no worse. Then lay on the follow- ing charge: 2 oz. of Oxycroseuni. 2 do. Paracellis. 2 do. Red Dominion. 2 do. Burgundy Pitch. Melt these all together, lay them on pretty hot, lay a little wool, clipped short, on before it cools, and then throw a little water on to fasten all together. Sprains in the Fetlock, or anywhere in the limbs, may be treated in the same manner, and if the oils will not remove the substances, blisters will ; therefore I shall give you a recipe for a blister suitable for those complaints. Take i oz. of Quicksilver. i do. Venice Turpentine. 2 do. Flanders Oil of Bays. * do. Gum Euphorbium. 1 do. Spanish Flies. 2 drams of Oil of Origanum. Rub the Venice turpentine and quicksilver well in a mortar for some time, and then put in the oil of bays and rub for some time longer, till the quicksilver is quite killed. Powder the gum and flies well, and then mix all together. When you lay the blister on, rub it well against the hair to get it to the bottom ; lay it on with a broad- pointed knife, and cover it with a cloth, or the horse will get his mouth to it. This blister will answer any purpose you want a blister for, but you must observe that there must be fifteen days between the times of lay- ing it on. THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 49 THE BONE-SPAVIN. Although this is a common disorder among horses, yet it is little understood by either breeders or farriers. The Bone-spavin is a bony excrescence, or hard swelling on the inside of the hock in a horse's leg, and sometimes owes its origin to kicks and blows, and sometimes to natural causes ; but in the former case it is much more easily cured than in the latter; and those that grow spontaneously ou colts, or young horses, are not so bad as those that appear in horses, that have arrived at their full strength and maturity. In old horsei-i they are generally incurable. Our horse-dealers and jobbers make a second kind of Bone-spavin, which they call a Jack, but this is only a polished name for a Bone- spavin, as there is no difference between the two. Some call it a Dry Knot, but still it is a Bone-spavin. Sometimes the horse is very lame when the Spavin is first coming out, and when it has come out is better for some time, and then grows lamer again as the bone hardens. I would advise you to apply a blister as soon as you have any suspicion that a horse is likely to put out a spavin, and to continue blistering, every fortnight, for some time, by which means you may stop a Spavin in a young horse. Cure. — Mild medicines should be used if the horse is young, as they will in a short time wear the tumor down by degrees, which is much better than trying to remove it at once by severer methods, which often have a very bad effect, and produce worse consequences than those they were intended to remove. But in full-grown horses they are absolutely necessary, and accordingly various authors have given prescriptions for compounding medicines to answer the intention ; but I will not enum.erate them here, as the blisteving ointment given in the last chapter will be found to answer better for young horses than any thing yet found out; and for an old horse, or one that has come to his full strength, you may add a dram of sublimate, finely powdered, to two ounces of the blistering ointment, and stir it well up. Before these are applied, the hair must be cut off very close, and then the ointment laid very thick on the affected part. It is proper to make the application in the morning, and to keep the horse tied up to the rack all day without any litter ; but at night he must be littered in order that he may lie down ; and to prevent the blister from coming off, put a white pitch plaster over it, and tie on with broad tape, A-Vhen the blister has done running, and the scabs begin to dry and peel off, it should be applied a second time in the same manner as be- fore, and the second will have a much greater effect than the first. When the Spavin has continued long, the Ulster will have to be often renewed, perhaps five or six times ; but it is necessary to observe that after the second time you must not be less than three weeks be- fore you lay on the third, or you will destroy the roots of the hair and leave t!ie place bald. By these means Bone-spavins may often be cured ; but when they fail, recourse must be had to firing. Before you fire a horse for the Bone-spavin, be careful to take the vein out of the way, for it generally lies over the Spavin, and you 4 60 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. cannot fire deep enough to come at the callous substance without its removal. In order to destroy the vein, cut a nick througli the skin upon it, just below the Spavin, and another just above it, and put a crooked needle under the vein, and tie both ends : then cut the vein across between the tyings, both above and below, and you may either draw the piece of the vein out or leave it in. Let the iron you fire with be pretty sharp; cut four or five nicks upon the bone, and let the iron take hold of the superfluous bone, in order that it may waste away by mattering; and when you htive done, lay on some white pitch, pretty hot, and put a cloth round it to keep it on. In three days open the place, and dress it with yellow basilicon. Some people put lunar caustic, or sublimate, into the places; but it is a dangerous practice, and often lames the horse forever. I wish those who have got a horse that has a Bone-Spavin to make a full irial of the directions here given, and I trust they will find them to answer the purpose as well as any hitherto found out. THE BLOOD-SPAVIN, OR BOG SPAVIN. Many farriers and horse-dealers divide this disease into two heads, and give them different names.; but to my certain knowledge they are both one, for I have proved it many ways. A Blood-spavin does not come by breeding from spavined mares, nor by being got by spa- vined horses, as the Bone-spavin does; but you may safely breed out of H Blood-spavined mare, or have foals got by a Blood-spavined horse. In my opinion Bloofl-spavins are generally brought on either by Sprains, or hard labor when the horse is young, and sometimes wheii he is full-grown. The Blood-spavin, or Bog-spavin, is a dilation of the vein that run& along the inside of the hock, and forms a small soft swelling in the hollow part, which in time renders the creature lame, but seldom till the gelatinous matter becomes ropy, like melted glue in a bag, and is situafe on the inside of the hough. Sometimes it goes through to the back part of the joint, and then it is called a thorough-pin. Cure. — Soon as you discover the vein puffed up, or forming a bag, lay on some blistering ointment, and in four days after bathe the swelling well with hot vinegar, with a little saltpetre dissolved in it. Also put a bandage round it to disperse the swelling as much as you can. If this method do not succeed, you must make two incisions in the skin lengthwise, as the vein runs, one just above, and the other just below the joint, and lay the vein bare: then put the end of a buck's horn under it, raise it up, and fasten it in both places with waxed thread : then cut the vein in two at both places, within the ty- ings, and if you think proper, draw the vein out. This method of proceeding will cure most Bog-spavins at the beginning. Spring, or the back end of the year, is the most proper time for this operation, but the latter is preferable, as you can then let the horse run out most of Winter, which will be of great service to him. THE COMPLETE FARRIEU. 51 If the above method fail of a cure, you may make an incision into the bag with a knife, and let out the gelatinous matter, and then dress the wound with a digestive ointment till the bag be destroyed. But this is a dangerous method ; and although it may answer in some cases, it will not in others. Sliould the joint run a joint-lee, the cure •is not to be depended on. In old horses nothing can be done that will be of service. A CORB. This is a soft swelling that rises out of the joint on the back part •of the hind-leg, just below the hock, and mostly lames the horse, be- sides being unpleasant to the eye. To cure it, strike a few holes into it with a pricker, made so as just to go through the skin, then rub well with oil of origanum, and blister as often as needful. A RING BONE. This is so well known that I need not describe it, but only point out the remedy ; yet I must observe that a Sprain in the Coffin is sometimes taken for a Ring-bone when it causes a rim to rise just above the foot. Ring-bones come out from the pastern, between the fedock nnd the foot ; but if the pastern is long, they are nearer the foot. They will generally yield to the same method of cure as a Corb, especially if just coming out, but if not, recourse must be had to firing. Splents, Osselets, or any other bony or fleshy substances on the legs may be cured in the same manner. A Splent on the shank-bone is only a grievance to the eye, and will go away of itself when the horse comes to age; but the sooner those that are near the knees or the tendons are removed the better. MALLENDERS AND SALLENDERS. The first is on the fore-leg, at the bend of the knee, and the last on the hind-leg, at the bend of the hough. They crack and throw out a thin brown matter, and sometimes, a hard scurf, or scab, which pre- vents the horse from bending the limbs which are affected as he should do. Cure. — They both proceed from the same cause, and consequently require the same treatment; which cotisists in washing the parts with old chamber-lie, or a warm lather of soap-suds, and afterwards ap- plying strong mercural ointment, spread on tow, to the cracks, once a day till the scabs fall off, when the cure will be completed ; and then it will be necessary to give him a dose or two of physic. If the disorder will not yield to the mercurial ointment, make a strong mix- ture of vitriol water, and wash the cracks with it, and it will dry them up, and cause the scabs to fall off. THE STRANGLES. Most horses have this disorder while young, but at seven years old they are out of danger. There are two kinds of this disorder, 52 THE COMPLETE FARRlEK. The common kind is a swelling under or between the jaw-bonegf. The other, which is called the bastard kind, is much the worsL Sometimes swellings appear on the buttocks, break, and discharge matter for a few days, and then dry up, after which others appear in a fresh place in the same manner. I have known horses that have had this complaint eight or ten weeks. The common kind begins with a swelling between the jaw-boneg, which sometimes extends to the muscles of the tongue, and is often attended with so much heat, pain and inflammation, that before the matter is formed the creature swallows with the utmost difficulty. Symptoms. — The Strangles is attended with great heat and fever, a painful cough, and great inclination to drink, without being able. Some horses lose their appetites entirely, and otliers eat but very little, occasioned by the pain resulting from the motion of the jaws in chewing and swallowing. When the horse runs much at the nose, h is not a good sign. Although this disease is very troublesome, it is not dangerous, except when the swelling turns upwards against the windpipe and gullet, and then there is danger of sufibcation if it do not break soon. Cure. — The Strangles is not properly a disease, but a discharge common to young horses, and therefore it follows that the discharge must be promoted in order to throw off the offensive matter. The best method of doing this is to keep the swelling always soft by soak- ing it with softening ointment, such as marshmallows, or elder oint- ment. I have known oil of swallows, with a little spirits of hartshorn in it, to be very useful in bringing the swelling forward and causing it to break. A cloth in the form of a cap, put on the horse's head, and stuffed with wool to keep the swelling warm, will be of great service. Some people apply a poultice, but there is no need of this if the above be properly used. Give plenty of warm water, with a little meal oi> it ; for in this disorder a horse cannot swallow dry meat enough for its support. Sometimes the Strangles gather four or five times, and break in many places ; and you must observe that if the orifices are not wide enough, they must be opened with the point of a knife, and by this means it will be prevented from breaking out in so many places. After the swelling appears, it will be five or six days before it breaks and discharges. There is always a small discharge at the nostrils, but it is little or no grievance to the horse. When the swelling is broken, and the orifice of a proper size to discharge the matter, dress with the following ointment spread on tow • Take Yellow Rosin and Burgundy Pitch, of each one pound ; Honey and Common Turpentine, of each half a pound: Bees' Wax, four ounces: Hog-g' Lard, one pound and a half; and of Verdigris, finely powdered, one ounce. Melt the' ingredients together, but do not put the Verdigris in till nearly cold, and keep stirring all the time till cold, or the Verdigris will fall to the bottom. This is one of the best salves for wounds that has been found out, and especially for old ones. The Bastard Strangles requires the same kind of treatment, but it is proper to give the horse a dose ov two ©f calomel physic also. THE COMPLETE FARRIER. THE GLANDERS. This disease has baffled all who have tried to cure it, and probably will do so to the end of time ; so I advise those who may have a glandered horse, to put him off as soon as they shall be certain that ;he is so. People often mistake other disorders for the Glanders. ■ A violent cold sometimes causes a running at the nostrils, and kernels under the jaws, when the horse is free from the Glanders. Some- times a running at the nostrils is caused by laying too much weight -on a horse. I once bought one at Boroughbridge fair, which 1 soon after sold, and eleven weeks after that had him returned as a glan- dered horse ; but I kept him for some time afterwards, and he neither infected others nor lost his flesh. This horse was bought from a miller, who had overloaded him, which caused him to bleed at the nose; afterwards he began to run at the nose, and did so during the time that I had him, which was nearly half a year. I do not pretend to cure this disorder. Symptoms. — The matter discharged from the nostrils of a glandered horse is either white, yellow, greenish, or streaked or tinged with blood. When the disease has been of long standing, and the bones are fouled, the matter turns blackish and becomes very bad. The Glanders is always attended v.'ith a swelling of the kernels, or glands under the jaws, but in every other respect the horse is gener- ally healthy and sound, till the disorder has continued some time, and the morbid matter has affected other parts. If a thin, limpid fluid be first discharged, and afterwards a whitish matter ; if the gland under the jaw do not continue to swell, and the disorder shall have been recently contracted, a speedy cure may be effected by applj'ing the following : 1 ox. of Koach Alum. 1 do. While Vitriol. Powder the.se well, put them into a pint of warm vinegar, and gyringe about an ounce up his nostrils every day. This may do good if the disorder be newly caught. SWELLINGS AND IMPOSTHUMES. It is difficult to treat on Swellings, as so many external or internal accidents happen to horses ; the former by blows or bruises, and the latter by disorders. When a .swelling is in its first stage, bathe it v/ell with verjuice, or vinegar, with a little saltpetre dissolved in it ; and if the swelling stiH continue, mix 1 oz. of Extract of Lead. 1 oz. of Spirits of Sal Ammoniac. 1 do. Spirits of Wine. 3 do. Vinegar. Rub the swelling well with it ; but if it be very hot, add four ounces of water instead of the vinegar. Should the swelling come forward and form matter, which you may feel by the pressure of your finger, let the matter out, but be sure to make the incision large enough that you may dress it with case. When you have laid the part open, dress „4 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. it with the green salve before recommended, on tow, for you cannot have a more proper salve. The next time you dress it, that is the day after, make a wash of the following : 2 oz. of Spirits of Wine. 1 oz. of Roach Alum. 2 do. Spirits of Rosemary. 2 do. Water. Mix these all together, and they will answer the purpose extrem'"' well. When you have washed the wound with the above mixture lay on a little green salve, on tow, and bind it on if you can, but if you cannot, lay on a plaster to keep it on. Some swellings, such as have been caused by bad barfens on the shoulders, or blows on the legs, will not submit to weak mixtures, nor come to matter in a reasonable time. Mix the following, and it will either take them off or bring them to matter : 2 oz. of Oil of Spike. A oz. of Oil of Origanum. 1 do. Oil of Amber. 1 do. Oil of Turpentine.. Mix these well together, and rub the swelling well with them every other day. I have known this remove obstinate swellings. WOUNDS. Wounds are caused by hccidents of various kinds. When the skin is much torn from the flesh, if you are at hand while the wound is quite fresh, take a square-pointed needle and a waxed thread, and sew it up. Mind to put the needle in straight, one side over against the other; draw the skin tight, and lie a knot ; cut off the thread, and then [ake another stitch about an inch off, and so proceed. When some people sew up a wound they do it the same as they would sew a i>iece of cloth, but that is quite wrong, for they should tie a knot at every stitch, and cut the thread off But when you do not see the wound until the place is growing dead,, and the skin is drawing up, then take off the loose skin ; for if you keep it on it will curl up. and leave a blemish. Always keep the lips of the wound down. When a wound is upon or near a joint, there is danger of its throw- ing out a joint-lee, of which there are three kinds. One. and mostly the first, is thin and brown, something like sweet wort : the second is rather thicker and tougher, something like melted glue ; and the third, which is the worst, is like muddy water and snort mixed together. This, last has deceived many people ; for when the wound has throwa out this kind of lee, with little Avhite slippery pieces, something like matter, it has often been taken for such. When you find any of these kinds of lee, get a bottle of Riga Balsam, and syringe the wound every day. If Riga Balsam cannot be got, use Tincture of Benjamin. I have known fomentations be of great use, especially on the stifle joint. When the wound is of a dead color, and the lips rise, and the* dirty lee flows profusely, the cure is to be despaired of If proud flesh rise when a wound is in a fair way for healing, take 1 oz. of Basillicon. 2 drams of Red Precipitate. Mix them well together, and lay them on the proud flesh. This ointment is also very proper to dress a wound with that appears dea(^ « THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 55 and does not discharge a proper matter. If the proud flesh do not submit to the above, lay on a little blue vitriol, in powder, or touch it with caustic or oil of vitriol ; and should none of these make it give way, lay on a little corrosive sublimate. The salves, tinctures and mixtures already laid down, are sufficient to cure any curable wound. HURTS IN THE FEET. Horses are oftener hurt in the Feet than any where else, and those hurts are often received from the blacksmith. Every black-smith should be a farrier, and every farrier a blacksmith, for these busi- nesses should go hand in hand. What is a man fit for who has got the theoretical part without the practical? A man that has ahead and no tongue will do but little mischief, but one that has a tongue and no head may do much. Few of the fine farriers sent from the hospitals have done any good, but many of them a great deal of hurt. A man without education who has a gift, is better than a man who has edu- cation but no gift ; and a man of sobriety will far excel one without it. A fine tongue often proves a snake in the grass. Sometimes a horse is lamed by being shod into the quick. The foot should always be carefully examined on the first appearance of lameness. Sometimes a nail with a flaw in it will cause a great grievance, as one part will come out and the other will go into the foot. Blacksmiths should never use such nails except in a frost, when they can put them into the old holes. Sometimes they leave stumps, or pieces of nails in the feet ; and sometimes when they drive n nail they turn the point into the foot, and then draw it back and put in another, taking no further thought about it, and when the horse be- comes lame they say he is gravelled. Few blacksmiths will stop at telling a lie to clear themselves. When a horse has got lamed in the foot, be careful to cut it well out, and to damage the hoof as little as possible, and dress the place with oil of turpentine, spirits of tar, and common tar. Lay no hot, drying drugs on, unless proud flesh rise. Sometimes corns in the heels cause a horse to be lame : cut them out, and dress the place with aquafortis. There is another fault which blacksmiths are guilty of, and which is a great hurt to a horse, that is, cutting or paring the heel down too much. The heel being best to come at, they clap the paring-knife there and cut them down, when Ihere is no need to take any off them at all. The heels are the great- • est support of the horse, and by paring them too thin, both corns and lameness in the back sinews are produced. Before a blacksmith begins to shoe a valuable horse, especially a road-horse, he should examine how he stands and how he goes. If he go low, heavy shoes should be used ; but if he go high, light ones. If he turn his toes out, he will cut with the heel, and if he turn them in, will cut with the spurn. If he have a thin, flat foot, he should have broad shoes ; but if a hollow, dished foot, narrow ones. If the crust be thin, and the vein near, small nails should be used. Some horses are hoof-bound, that is, have straight heels which pinch 56 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. the vein between the hoof and the coffin. When this is the case, thin the soles of the feet till the blood springs through, and then put on screw-shoes, and screw the feet out. Let the screw-shoes stay on a fortnight. You may screw the feet out more than half an inch. The next thing to be considered is gravel rising from the bottom to the top of the foot, and breaking out at the cornet. How many twit- ter-bones have been thus formed that might have been pievtnted ! When the gravel comes up to. the top of the foot, take away the sole at the bottom, and the hoof at the top, and mix equal parts of oil of turpentine and oil of origanum, and bathe the top part of the foot. This will prevent a Twitter from forming. A TWITTER-BONE. A Twitter-bone makes a horse very lame, and not fit for work. It keep throwing a tough white matter out of what is called a pipe. In order to cure it, first find out to where the pipe leads. This you may do with a piece of round lead, the size of a small quill-barrel. Have the following ready, viz : 4 an oz. of Sublimate, in fine powder, put into 1 oz. of Spirits of Salt, and as soon as the Spirits dissolve the Sublimate, put to it the juice of a middle-sized lemon. Mix all together, and syringe a squirt full into the pipe when you take the lead out ; and when you draw out the point of the syringe, put your thumb upon the place to prevent it coming back again, and then put on a pledget of green salve and tow. Do this every other day, for three or four times, and by this method most Twitters may be removed. But, if this method fail, the next thing to be done is to put a hot iron, the thickness of a small finger, where the pipe leads to, and to fill the hole with sublimate, and bind on it a pledget of gnen salve with a cloth. Let it be five days, and then lay on some more salve and tow, and in five days more the Twitter-bone and pipe will come out. The wound must be washed with the following mixture, and dressed with green salve and tow every other day, till nearly well: 1 oz. of Bole. 1 oz. of Oil of Origanum. 4 oz. of Oil of Turpentin ■. Shake them up well together, and they will both help to heal the wound, and to bring down the substance. If any more Twitter-bone.s or pipes form, you must take them out in the same manner. A FISTULA, AND BRUISES OF THE WITHERS. This disorder has formerly baffled many people who were expert in surgery, but of late years it has been better understood, and the cure more easily performed. The Withers are very subject to bruises, which are often caused by bad saddles, or such as are too wide in the front, but, whatever be the cause, it is well known that by neglect they often terminate in a Fistula. When the Withers are bruised and a swelling appears, lay a poultice of bran and vinegar over the part. People who have a horse which is crushed in the Withers, and pay no regard to it, are worse than savages, and are not fit to have such an useful animal. THE COHPLETE FARPaER. 57 Cure. — After a horse has been bruised in the Withers, the skin breaks and matter is discharged, and then the owner supposes that the abcess will subside, but he is often mistaken; and the pipe which he perceives throwing out matter, is at the same time running forwards in the Withers, and forming a Fistula. When you find the disease proceeding in this manner, lay the pipe open with a sharp penknife all the length ; for if you leave any unopened, it will form a Fistula. After you have laid the place open, dress it with the following mixture : 4 oz. of Potashes. 2 oz. of White Vitriol. 4 do. of Honey. 1 pint of V^inegar. Boil all together, wash the wound well w^ith the mixture, and lay on the green salve and tow. If the above be not dry enough, add tvi^o ounces more of white, vitriol, and two ounces of bole. These will make a salve by themselves ; and by these methods you may cure any disease of the Withers arising from external injuries. But tumors often arise in the Withers from internal causes, such as the crisis of Fevers. When this happens you must not attempt to stop it, nor use any thing to put it back, for by this means you would drive it more into the shoulder-blades, and make it worse to cure ; but, on the contrary, do every thing you can to assist nature in bringing it for- ward. You cannot do better than lay on poultices twice a day till it breaks, for reason tells us that it is better to do so than to cut it ; but when it is broken, open the orifice wdth a knife, that you may have more freedom in dressing it ; but be careful in using the knife, that you do not catch hold of the ligament which turns along the neck to the Withers. Sometimes it runs to the other side of the neck, under the Withers. The cure is the same as before. Lay all the cavities open with the knife, and do not cut across if you can avoid it. Then take the following never failing mixture to dress with : 4 oz. of Crude Sal Ammoniac. 2 oz. Pearl-Aslies. 2 do. Bole. 2 do. White Vitriol. 8 do'. Honey. 1 pint of Vinegar. Boil all together, and apply it to the wound every day at first, and afterwards every other day till well. WARBLES, GIRTH-GALLS, AND PLUSHES FROM SADDLES. These grievances are commonly known, and every one has a cure for them, as he calls it. Some lay on hot spirits, and others blue stone vitriol, and many other things ; but such things are very improper, for they always leave the grieved part hard and sore ; but the following mixture will effect a cure, take off the soreness, and leave the skin kind. I may affirm that it is one of the best recipes yet found out for the purpose. Take 2 oz. of Extract of Lead. 2 oz. Spirits of Wine. -V do. White Copperas. 4 do. Soft Water. 1 oz. Spirits of Sal Ammoniac. Mix all together in a bottle, keep shaking it up, and rub the affected places well with it, and put your saddles and barfens on while the places are wet, in order to prevent them from infecting other horses. 5S THE COMPLETE FARRIER. Sometimes horses have what are called Selfasts on their backs. Rub them with a little mercurial ointment, in order to raise them and make them come off; and if you cannot pull them out after using the ointment, cut them out with a sharp knife, and apply to the place the above mixture, or heal it up as a common wound. WINDGALLS. These are mostly on the hind-legs, near the fetlock, but I have known them above the fetlock, and on the arm. Windgalls are not only eye- sores, but lame many a horse. Many methods are tried to disperse them without effect. If you put your finger on one side and your thumb on the other, and press with one of them, you will find the Windfall to go quite through the leg. The reason that they are most- ly on the hind-legs 's, because the horse stands lower behind than be- fore, and throws mob,' weight on the hind-legs. Cure. — On the first appearance of a Windgall, bathe the place well with warm vinegar and spirits of wine, and put a pretty tight bandage round it. If this do not remove it, lay on blistering ointment till the cure shall be completed. But should this method also fail, which it seldom does, you must lay the Windgall open, and dress it as a com- mon wound. Before you use the knife, be careful to get the horse's body into a proper cool state by physic. Some people fire to cure Windgalls, running the iron on the skm, (what is called scoring,) but thereby do little good, as that cannot destroy the bag of wind and matter. It may draw the skin a little tighter, so that the AVindgall will not appear so large. THE GREASE. This disorder is mostly brought on by soft corn, hard usage, want of proper cleaning, or a depraved state of the blood and juices; there- fore it is proper to divide it into two heads. Cure, when the Vessels are relaxed. — On first observing the legs of a horse to swell after standing several hours, and to recover their proper dimensions widi exercise, be careful to v/ash them clean with chamber-lie, soap-suds, or vinegar and water, every time he comes in, for this will prevent or remove the disorder. Horses thai liave round or fleshy legs are more subject to the grease than those that have flat legs ; but a flat-legged horse is more easily sprained. Nitre, sulphur, and liver of antimony, are proper both to prevent the grease and to refine the blood. Mix equal parts of each, and give a meat-spoonful every day in his food. Cure for the Grease from Internal Causes. — If the horse be full of flesh, the cure must be begun by bleeding, rowels, and repeated purging; after which two ounces of the following balls should be given every other day for some time, and they will work by urine the day following : 4 oz. of Yellow Resin. 2 oz. of Salt of Tartar. 2 do. Salt of Prunel. 8 do. Castile Soap. 1 do. Oil of Juniper. I do. Camphor. THE COMPLETE FARKIER. 59 Pur these into a mortar with about two ounces of honey, or as much as will make them into balls, and they will carry oft' the olTending hu- mors, and free the blood from its noxious qualities. But, at the same time that these internal remedies are taken, outward ones should not be oaiiited. The legs should be bathed with warm verjuice, and, if verv bad, a poultice of boiled turnips applied. If turnips cannot be got, make a poultice of linseed meal and bran, with a little hog's lard in to prevent it from growing hard. Sometimes horses are neglected when in the Grease till they have wh.it nre called grape-legs. These may be cured on their first ap- peaiiviee, when they are in the bud, by laying on caustic, or cor- rosive sublimate. When the svvelling is abated, make the following into a salve to dress the sores with. 4 oz. of Honey. 2 oz. of V/iiite Lead, in powder. 1 oz. Blue Stone Vitriol, in powder. Mix these well together, and lay them on the sores with tow to heal them : but, should they continue foul, and not frame to heal, mix four ounces of green salve, and four ounces of iEgyptiacum ointment well together, and lay it on in the above manner. The mixture will both heal and dry up the sores. SCRATCHES. This disease is a forerunner of the Grease, and is a hot oozing matter that breaks out like kins, with a nauseous smell. It is very troublesome to a horse, causing his heels to look red and angry, and to be very sore ; and sometimes it is so violent as to render a horse lame, and unfit for use. If you do not bleed and physic as soon as you find a heat in a horse's heels, you may soon have him laid up in the Grease. Some- times in slight" touches of this complaint the heels are not hotter than usual. In that case, take a little flour of sulphur and spirits of wine, mix them together into an ointment, and fill the cracks well with it. When the disorder is too hot to be healed by this ointment, rub with a little ^Egyptiacum ointment, but be careful not to lay too much on, for it is a great drier. Rat-tails at first resemble the Grease, and are attended with a hot scorbutic humor at the beginning, and often by neglect destroy the roots of the hair, and then there is no complete cure for them, but they may be relieved by rubbing with equal parts of strong mercurial ointment and Flanders oil of bays. If a horse have got the Scurvy, or Scabs on his legs, this ointment will mostly take them off; but if not, mix well with hog's lard, one dram of sublimate, in fine powder. These two last mixtures will cure most Scabs, and mixed together they will cure the Itch. THE CROWN SCAB. This disorder is similar to the last. It breaks out on the cornet cf the foot, and is at first a hot running tumor, and afterwards a diy^ 60 TIIE COMPLETE FARFJER. scurfy scab. Let the horse be bled and physiced, and then rub him with either of the above ointments, and the cure will be effected. DIRECTIONS FOR MANAGING A HORSE ON A JOURNEY. In the first place, find out whether the horse is in heaUh, and has been properly fed and exercised : for when a horse is flushed up, and has had no exercise, he is very unfit for a journey. Before you set out be careful to observe if his shoes are fast, and if they sit easy ; also whether he cuts before or behind, or interferes, as it is called. If a horse cut with bad shoes, he will probably do it with new ones, notwithstanding what horse-dealers may say to the contrary. If your horse's back inflame by the rubbing of the saddle, wash the part as soon as you perceive it, with salt and water, or vinegar and water, and have the stuffing of the saddle altered so as to remove the pressure from the part affected: but if the skin be broken before you perceive it, the injured part should be washed with a mixture, com- posed of equal parts of extract of lead, spirits of wine, and water. You must look well after his back, and walk sometimes, in order to ease him, especially when going down a hill. It often happens, especially to young horses, that the legs swell, or become gourdy, as farriers call it, with traveling ; and more frequent- ly when a horse cuts. It is also observed that the hind-legs swell oftener than the fore-legs, because the fore-parts stand highest in the stall, and consequently the greatest stress lies on the hind-legs. The best method of prevention is to wash the legs with warm water every time you bait, by which means the disease will be prevented, and much time, trouble and expense saved. Soft warm water that will bear soap, is as good for the purpose as it can be made by any ad- dition, and washing the legs with it, when made pretty warm, will seethe out the sand and the dirt, open the pores, give circulation to the blood, much defend the juices in these depending parts, and prevent other disorders. You should also see that your horse has a wide stand, good dressing, and proper bedding, as these things will be of the greatest use in preventing the limbs from swelling. Few grooms dress a horse properly, but it should be remembered that he who intends his horse to perform his duty well, must take care that he is well cleaned ; and as nothing is more conducive to health than friction, his skin should be rubbed till the whole is of a glowing heat, and then with proper feeding he will answer his master's ex- pectations. Nothing is of more consequence in traveling than to take care that your horse has water at proper times and in proper quantities. When a horse travels he perspires considerably, especially in hot weather, and should therefore be allowed to drink a little more than usual, as opportunity offers, which will refresh him greatly ; but never suffer him to drink much at a time, for if you suffer him to drink his fill he will be dull and sluggish afterwards, besides the harm he may receive from drinking too much cold water when he is hot. When you come THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 61 near the place you intend to bait at, either at noon or nio-ht, that is, within a mile, or a mile and a half of it, you may suffer him to drink more freely, going at a moderate trot afterwards, by which means the water will be warmed in his belly, and he will go in cool. Observe, however, that if there is no water on the road, you should never suffer your horse to be led to water, or to have his heels washed, after you have arrived atyour inn, but let him have luke-warm water when he "has stood some time in the stable. Much mischief has been done by im- prudent riders, who, after traveling hard, have suffered their horses to drink as much as they would just at going into the town, or inn where they intended to lie. It is a general rule that when any extraneous body, or foreign mat- ter, such as sand or gravel, is lodged in any part of the animal's body, it must be extracted as soon and as easily as possible. When gravellv matter has got into the quick at a nail-hole, or any other aperture, it ought to be removed as soon as possible, but with as little loss of sub- stance as the nature of the case will admit of, for it is a folly to cut and pair away the hoof as some ignorant farriers do ; because by tiiat means they increase the evil instead of removing it, as it is a conside- rable time before the breach is repaired, and till that is done, the sam« part is likely to admit inore gravel. So much, therefore, and no more, of the hoof should be taken away as is absolutely necessary, viz : till the blackness or discoloration vanishes ; then the wound should be dressed with the following balsam: ^ oz. of Gum Benjamin. 3 drams of Slorax. i do. Balsam of Peru. 3 do. Socotriiie Aloes. 6 drams of Myrrh. 3 do. Frankincense. 3 drams Gum Guaiacum. Powder the ingredients that will powder, and put them in a bottle with one quart of spirits of wine, and let them stand warm for eight or ten days, shaking the bottle up every day. This is an excellent balsam for green wounds, and no person that keeps valuable horses should be without it. Apply it warm to the wound, dipping a piece of tow or lint into it, and fastening it on to the part out of which the gravel or thorn has been taken, and renew it as it grows dry. Sprains and twistings of the joints sometimes happen on a journey without any sensible heat or swelling, so that farriers often mistake where the ailment lies. The place must therefore be carefully sought for. and if you cannot find it, do not begin to doctor where there is no grievance. It may be a slight rheumatic affection, and go off of its own accord. In a sprain of the back sinews, be careful not to lay on anything hot or blistering while on your journey, if you can avoid it. A horse is often seized with the Gripes on a journey, the best and shortest cure for which is the following : 9 drams of Tincture of Opium. 1 oz. of Spirits of Sweet Nitre. 2 oz. Olive Oil. Mix the above in half a pint of mint-water, give it to the horse, and at the same time bed him well, that he may lie down to rest, and be careful not to give him cold water for a day or two after. A horse that is subject to scouring, or purging, upon the road, has .*• 62 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. wl^af is called a washy constitutioii, and such horses seldom biar .hardships well, because*