IV JBOHAfiL MC iu_U(iiiJUjQ£ THE HANDY HORSE-BOOK —V TO MAJOE-GENEEAL LOED GEOEGE PAGET, C.E. ^nBpctax-(§tmxn\ cf Calralrg, SON or THE DISTINGUISHED HORSEMAN AND HERO WHO COM- MANDED THE CAVALRY AT WATERLOO, AND HIMSELF A LEADER AMONG THE "IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED," THIS BOOK IS BY PERMISSION INSCRIBED, IN TRIBUTE TO HIS SOLDIERLY QUALITIES, AND TO HIS CON- SIDERATION FOR THE NOBLE ANIMAL WHICH HAS CARRIED THE BRITISH CAVALRY THROUGH SO IMANY DANGERS TO SO MANY TRIUMPHS, BY HIS LORDSHIP S OBEDIENT SERVANT, "MAGENTA." PREFACE. Finding myself a standing reference among my friends and acquaintance on matters relating to horse-flesh, and being constantly in the habit of giving them advice verbally and by letter, I have been induced to comply with repeated suggestions to commit my knowledge to paper, in the shape of a Treatise or Manual. When I say that my experience has been prac- tically tested on the road, in the field, on the turf (having been formerly a steeplechase-rider, as well as now a hunting horseman), with the ribbons, and in a cavalry regiment, I must consider that, with an ardent taste for everything belonging to horses thus nourished for years, I must either have sadly neglected my opportunities, or have Vlll PREFACE. picked up some knowledge of the use and treat- ment of the animal in question.* Born and bred, I may say, in constant famil- iarity with a racing - stable, and having been always devotedly attached to horses, the wrongs of those noble animals have constantly been be- fore my eyes, and I have felt an anxious desire to see justice done to them, which, I am sorry to say, according to my observation, is but too seldom the case ; indeed, I have often marvelled at the tractability of those powerful animals under the most perverted treatment by their riders and drivers. * It may be well to let ray readers know how I became ex- perienced on the Toacl. In the days when coaching was in its perfection (and when many county gentlemen indulged in their fancy for the use of the "ribbons"), 1 became, during a long interval from service, deeply and actively concerned in a coaching establishment of the first order ; and those who, some years since, travelling between Dublin and Killarney ma, Limerick (a distance of about 185 miles), may have happened to hear coachmen and helpers talking of the " Captain," will re- cognise in the writer the individual thus referred to, who was also in partnership with the famous Bianconi in the staging on the Killarney line. Several years spent in such a school will probably be considered a good apprenticeship to the study of one branch of the subject herein treated upon — viz., the manage- ment of horses on the road. PREFACE. ix My object, therefore, in offering the following remarks, is not to trench upon the sphere of the professional veterinary surgeon or riding-master, but to render horse-proprietors independent of the dictation of ignorant farriers and grooms. In- tending this little work merely as a useful manual T have purposely avoided technicalities, as belong- ing exclusively to the professional man, and en- deavoured to present my dissertations on disease in the most comprehensive' terms possible, propos- ing only simple remedies as far as they go. When definitions of a case become delicate and incomprehensible to the uninitiated, they obviously belong to those who have studied ana- tomy professionally, though, for the satisfaction of my readers, I may mention that, as an ama- teur, I have myself devoted much time and thought to that science, and that any treatment of disease herein recommended has been care- fully perused and approved by a veterinary sur- geon. Theories are excluded, and I confine my- self simply to practical rules founded on my own experience. Hints and remarks are here offered to the general public, which, to practical men, will appear trifling X PKEFACE. aucl unnecessary ; but keen and extended observa- tion, carried on as opportunity offered, amongst all classes and in many countries and climates, lias given me an insight into the want of reasoning exhibited by men of every station in dealing with the noble and willing inmates of the stable, and has assisted in suggesting the necessity for just such ABC instructions as are herein presented by the Public's very humble servant, "MAGEXTA."* * The soubriquet by whicli the Author is known in his regi- ment. CONTENTS. PAGE BREEDING, 1 SELECTING, 2 BUYING, 6 STABLING, 8 GROOMING, 12 HALTERING, 16' CLOTHING, .18 FEEDING, 20 WATERING, 25 GRAZING, 26 TRAINING, 28 EXERCISING, 31 WORK, 33 BRIDLING, 38 SADDLING, 43 RIDING, ..... ^ ,. 49 HARNESSING, 55 DRIVING, 64 DRAWING, 71 SHOEING, 74 Xll CONTENTS. VICE, SELLING, CAPRICE, DISEASES, OPERATIONS, TO GIVE A BALL, . TO GIVE A DRENCH, PURGING, THE PULSE, . 92 93 95 96 97 100 DISEASES OF THE HEAD AND RESPIRATORY ORGANS, 100 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE AND URINARY ORGANS, 110 DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS, . . . 117 LOTIONS, PURGES, BLISTERS, &C,, . . . . 147 INDEX, 153 83 THE HANDY HORSE-BOOX. P A E T I. BREEDING. A FEW words only of observation would I make on this subject. Palpably our horses, especially racers and hunters, are degenerating in size and power, owing mainly, it is to be feared, to the parents being selected more for the reputation they have gained as winners carrying feather-weights, than for any symmetrical development or evidence of enduring power under the weight of a man. We English might take a useful lesson in selecting parental stock from the French, who reject our theory of breeding from animals simply be- cause they have reputation in the racing calendars, and who breed from none but those which have shape and poicer, as well as blood and performance, to recommend them. SELECTING. SELECTING. In selecting an animal, the character of the work for which he is required should be taken into considera- tion. For example, in choosing a hack, you will con- sider whether he is for riding or for draught. In choosing a hunter, you must bear in mind the peculiar nature of the country he will have to contend with. A horse should at all times have sufficient size and power for the weight he has to move. It is an act of cruelty to put a small horse, be his courage and breed- ing ever so good, to carry a heavy man or draw a heavy load. With regard to colour, some sportsmen say, and with truth, that " a good horse can't be a bad colour, no matter what his shade." Objection may, however, be reasonably made to pie-balls, skew-balls, or cream- colour, as being too conspicuous, — moreover, first-class animals of these shades are rare; nor are the roan or mouse-coloured ones as much prized as they should be. Bay, brown, or dark chestnuts,* black or grey horses, are about the most successful competitors in the market, and may be preferred in the order in which they are here enumerated. Very light chestnut, bay, and wliite horses are said to be irritable in temper and delicate in constitution, t * The French dealers of the present day choose, for gentlemen's hack-horses, chestnuts with legs white half-way up, causing the action to look more remarkable. " There's no accounting for taste." + It is to be remarked of bays, mouse-colours, and chestnuts, having a streak of a darker colour over the backbone from mane to tail (which sometimes, as with the donkey, crosses the shoulder) SELECTING. 3 Mares are objected to by some as being occasionally uncertain in temper and vigour, and at times unsafe in harness, from constitutional irritation. More import- ance is attached to these assumed drawbacks than they deserve ; and though the price of the male is generally from one-fourth to one-sixth more than that of the female, the latter will be found to get through ordinary work quite as well as the former. To judge of the Age hy the Teeth. — The permanent nippers, or front teeth, in the lower jaw^, are six. The two front teeth are cut and placed at from two to three years of age ; the next pair, at each side of the middle ones, at from three and a half to four ; and the corner pair between four and a half and five years of age, when the tusks in the male are also produced. The marks or cavities in these nippers are effaced in the following order : — At six years old they are worn out in the two centre teeth, at seven in the next pair, and at eight in the corner ones, when the horse is described as "aged." After this, as age advances, these nippers appear to change gradually year by year from an oval to a more detached and triangular form, till at twenty their ap- pearance is completely triangular. After six the tusks become each year more blunt, and the grooves, w^hich at that age are visible inside, gradually wear out. The Hack to Ride. — A horse with a small well-shaped head seldom proves to be a bad one ; therefore such, with small fine ears, should be sought in the first instance. It is particularly desirable that the shoulder of a riding hack should be light and w^ell placed. A high- — that animals thus marked generally possess peculiar powers of en- durance ; and rat-tailed ones, though ugly, prove very serviceable. 4 SELECTING. withered liorse is by no means tlie best for that purpose. Let the shoulder-blades be well slanted as the horse stands, their points light in front towards the chest. Nor should there be too wide a front ; for such width, though well enough for draught, is not necessary in a riding horse, provided the chest and girth be deep. As a matter of course the animal should be otherwise well formed, with rather long pasterns (before but not behind), — the length of which increases the elasticity of his movement on hard roads. His action should be in- dependent and high, bending the knees. If he cannot walk well — in fact, with action so light that, as the dealers say, "he'd hardly break an egg if he trod on it" — raising his legs briskly off the ground, when simply led by the halter (gixdng him his head) — in other words, if he walks " close to the ground " — he should be at once rejected. With regard to the other paces, different riders have different fancies : the trot and walk I consider to be the only important paces for a gentleman's ordinary riding-horse. It is very material, in selecting a riding- horse, to observe how he holds his head in his various paces ; and to judge of this the intending purchaser should remark closely how he works on the bit when ridden by the rough-rider, and he should also pay par- ticular attention to this point when he is himseK on his back, before selection is made.* * The extremes of various bad positions of the head when the bit is put in operation are — the throwing up the nose horizontal with the forehead, a trick denominated ''stargazing," at which ewe- necked horses are very ready, and getting the bit up to the angles of the jaws. Such a horse can easily run away, and cannot be commanded without a martingal. Another bad point is when the animal leans his jaw firmly against the bit, and, placing his head SELECTING. 5 Respecting soundness, though feeling fully compe- tent myself to judge of the matter, I consider the half- guinea fee to a veterinary surgeon well-laid-out money, to obtain his professional opinion and a certificate of the state of an animal, when purchasing a horse of any value. The Hack for Drauglit ought to be as well formed as the one just described ; but a much heavier shoulder and forehand altogether are admissible. No one should ever for a moment think of putting any harness-horse into a private vehicle, no matter what his seller's recommendation, without first having him out in a single or double break, as the case may be, and seeing him driven, as well as driving him him- self, to make acquaintance with the animal — in fact, to find Mm out. The Hunter, like the hack, should be particularly well-formed before the saddle. He should be deep in the girth, strong in the loins, with full development of thigh, short and flat in the canon joint from the knee to the pastern, with large fiat hocks and sound fore legs. This animal, like the road-horse, should lift his feet clear of the ground and walk independently, with evi- dence of great propelling power in the hind legs when put into a canter or gallop. A differently-shaped animal is required for each kind of country over which his rider has to be carried. In the midland counties and Yorkshire, the large three- quarter or thoroughbred horse only will be found to have pace and strength enough to keep his place. In close countries, such as the south, south-west, and part between his fore legs, the neck being over-arched, goes where he pleases : such is called by horsemen " a borer." 6 BUYING. of the north of England, a plainer-bred and closer- set animal does best. In countries where the fences are height jumps — a constant succession of timber, or stone walls — one must look for a certain angularity of hip, not so handsome in appearance, but giving greater leverage to lift the hind legs over that description of fence. A hunter should be all action ; for if the rider finds he can be carried safely across country, he will neces- sarily have more confidence, and go straighter, not therefore requiring so much pace to make up for round- about "gating" ga]3s and "craning."'^ BUYING. If you propose purchasing from a dealer, take care to employ none but a respectable man. It is also well to get yourself introduced to such a one, by securing the good offices of some valuable customer of his for the purpose ; for such an introduction will stimulate any dealer who values his character to endeavour by his dealings to sustain it with his patron. Auction. — An auction is a dangerous place for the uninitiated to purchase at. If, however, it should suit you to buy in that manner, the best course to pursue is to visit the stables on the clays previous to the sale, for in all well-regulated repositories the horses are in * The racer not coming within the province of this little work, I will only offer one maxim with refei'ence to such horses in general — viz., never race any horse unless you makeup your mind to have most probably a fretful, bad-tempered animal ever after. The course of training and the excitement of contest will induce such a result. BUYING. 7 for private inspection from two to three days before the auction-day. Taking, if possible, one good judge with you, eschewing 'the ojDinions of all grooms and others — in fact, fastening the responsibility of selection on the one individual — make for yourself all the ex- amination you possibly can, in or out of stable, of the animal you think likely to suit you. There is generally a loay of finding out some of the antecedents of the horses from the men about the establishment. Fairs. — To my mind it is jDreferable to purchase at fairs rather than at an auction : indeed, a judge will there have much more opportunity of comparison than elsewhere. Private Purcliase. — In buying from a private gentle- man or acquaintance, it is not unusual to get a horse on trial for three or four days. Many liberal dealers, if they have faith in the animal they want to dispose of, and in the intending purchaser, will permit the same thing. Warranty. — As observed under the head of " Select- ing," it is never wise to conclude the purchase of a horse without having him examined by a professional veterinary surgeon, and getting a certificate of his actual state. If the animal be a high-priced one, a warranty should be claimed from the seller as a sine qua non ; and if low-priced, a professional certificate is desirable, stating the extent of unsoundness, for your own satis- faction.'"" * If you happen to buy a low-priced animal, and depend upon your own opinion as to soundness, it is well to feel and look closely at the back part of the fore leg, above the fetlock, and along the pasterns, for cicatrices left after the performance of the operation of unnerving, by means of which a horse will go perhaps appar- ently sound while navicular disease is progressing in his foot, to STABLING. STABLING. Ventilation is a matter of the first importance in a stable. The means of ingress and egress of air should be always three or four feet higher than the range of the horses' heads, for two simple reasons : first, when an animal comes in warm, it is not well to have cold air passing directly on the heated surface of his body ; and, in the second place, the foul air, being the lightest, always ascends, and you give it the readiest mode of exit by placing the ventilation high up. The common louver window, v.hich can never be completely closed, is the best ordinary ventilator. Drainage ought to be closely investigated. The drains should run so as to remove the traps or grates outside the stable, or as far as possible from the horses, in order to keep the effluvium airay from them. All foul litter and mass should be removed frequently during the day ; straw and litter ought not to be al- lowed to remain under a horse in the daytime, unless it be considered expedient that he should rest lying down, in which case let him be properly bedded and kept as quiet as possible. In many cases the practice of leaving a small quantity of litter in the stall is a fine cloak for deposit and urine left unswept under- neath, emitting that noxious ammonia with which the air of most stables is so disagreeably impregnated that on entering them from the fresh air you are almost stifled. Masters who object to their horses standing on the terminate in most serious consequences. — See " Navicular Dis- ease," page 124. STABLING. 9 bare pavement can order that, after tlie stall is thor- ouglily cleaned and swept out, a thin layer of straw shall be laid over the stones during the daytime. In dealers' and livery stables, and indeed in some gentle- men's, the pavement is sanded over, which has a nice appearance, and prevents slipping. "When the foul litter is abstracted, and the straw bedding taken from under the horse, none of it should be pushed away under the manger ; let it be entirely removed : and in fair weather, or where a shed is avail- able, the bedding should be shaken out, to thoroughly dry and let the air pass through it. Wheaten is more durable than oaten straw for litter : but the fibre of the former is so strong that it will leave marks on the coat of a fine-skinned anim.al wher- ever it may be unprotected by the clothing ; however, this is not material. Liglit should be freely admitted into stables, not only that the grooms may be able to see to clean the horses properly, and to do all the stable-work, but if horses are kej)t in the dark it is natural that they should be more easily startled when they go into full daylight, — and such is always the consequence of badly- lighted stables. Of course, if a horse is ailing, and sleep is absolutely necessary for him, he should be placed separate in a dark quiet place. Stalls should be wide, from six to seven feet across if possible, yielding this in addition to other advan- tages, that if the partitions are extended by means of bars to the back wall, either end stall can be turned into a loose-box sufficiently large to serve in an emer- gency. A Loose-Box is unquestionably preferable to a stall 10 STABLING. (in wliicli a liorse is tied up all the time lie is not at work in nearly the same position), and is indispensable in cases of illness. Loose-boxes should be paved Avitli narrow bricks, and when prepared for the reception of an animal whose shoes have been removed, the floor should be covered with sawdust or tan, or either of these mixed with fine sandy earth, or, best of all, peat- mould when procurable, — any of which, where the in- disposition is confined to the feet only, may be kept slightly moistened with water to cool them. In cases of general illness, straw should be used for bedding ; and where the poor beast is likely to injure himself in paroxysms of pain, the walls or partitions should be well padded in all parts within his reach, and as a further precaution let the door be made to open outwards and be fastened by a bolt, as latches some- times cause accidents. Partitions should be carried high enough towards the head to prevent the horses from being able to bite one another, or get at each other's food. With regard to stable-kickers, see the remarks on this subject under the head of " Vice" (page 83). Macks and Hangers are now made of iron, so that horses can no longer gnaw away the manger piecemeal. Another improvement is that of placing the rack on a level with and beside the manger, instead of above the horses' heads ; but notwithstanding this more reason- able method of feeding hay when whole, it is far prefer- able to grvQ it as mana:er-food cut into chaff. Flooring. — In the construction of most stables a cruel practice is thoughtlessly adopted by the way of facilitating drainage (and in dealers' stables to make horses look large), viz., that of raising the paving to- STABLING. 11 wards the manger considerably above the level of the rear part. It should^ be borne in mind that the horse is peculiarly sensitive to any strain on the insertions of the back or flexor tendons of his legs. Thus in stalls formed as described, you will see the creature endea- vouring to relieve himself by getting his toes down be- tween the flags or stones (if the pavement will admit) with the heels resting upon the edges of them ; and if the fastening to the head be long enough he will draw back still farther, until he can get his toes down into the drain-channel behind his. stall, with the heels upon the opposite elevation of the drain. Proper pavement in your stable will help to alleviate a tendency towards what is called "clap of the back sinew." — See page 133. The slope of an inch and a half or two inches is suf- ficient for purposes of drainage in paving stables ; but if the drainage can be managed so as to allow of the flooring being made quite level, so much the better. Should my reader be disposed to build stabling, he cannot do better than consult the very useful and prac- tical work entitled ' Stonehenge, or the Horse in the Stable and in the Field.' The horse being a gregarious animal, and much happier in society than alone, will, in the absence of company of his own species, make friends with the most sociable living neighbour he can find. A horse should not be left solitary if it can be avoided. Dogs should never be kept in the stable with horses, or be permitted to be their playfellows, on account of the noxious emissions from their excrement. Cats are better and more wholesome companions. 12 GROOMING. GEOOMING. I do not profess to teach grooms their business, but to put masters on their guard against the common errors and malpractices of that class ; and with a view to that end, two or three general rules are added which a master would do well to enforce on a groom when hiring him, as binding, under pain of dismissal. 1. Never to doctor a horse himself, but to acquaint his master immediately with any accident, wound, or symptom of indisposition about the animal, that may come under his observation, and w^hich, if in existence, ought not to fail to attract the attention of a careful, intelligent servant during constant handling of and at- tendance on his charge. 2. Always to exercise the horses in the place ap- pointed by his master for the purpose, and never to canter or gallop them. 3. To stand by while a horse is having its shoes changed or removed, and see that any directions he may have received on the subject are carried out. 4. Never to clean a horse out of doors. These rules are recommended under a just apprecia- tion of that golden one, " Prevention is better than cure." If the master is satisfied with an ill-groomed horse, nine-tenths of the grooms will be so likewise ; therefore he may to a great extent blame himself if his bearer's dressing is neglected. Grooms are especially fond of using water in clean- ing the horse (though often rather careful how they use it "with themselves, either inside or out) : it saves them GROOMING. 13 trouble, to the great injury of the animal. The same predominating laziness which prompts them to use water for the removal of mud, &c., in preference to employing a dry wisp or brush for the purpose, forbids their exerting themselves to employ the proper means of drying the parts cleaned by wet. They will have recourse to any expedient to dry the skin rather than the legitimate one of friction. Over the body they will place cloths to soak up the wet ; on the legs they will roll their favourite bandages. It is best, therefore, to forbid the use of water above the hoof for the pur- pose of cleaning — except with the mane and tail, which should be properly washed with soap and water occa- sionally. J When some severe work has been done, so as to occasion perspiration, the ears should not be more neglected than the rest of the body ; and when they are dried by hand-rubbing and pulling, the horse will feel refreshed. As already recommended, cleaning out of doors should be forbidden. If one could rely on the discretion of servants, cleaning might be done outside occasionally in fine weather; but licence on this score being once given, the probability is that your horse will be found shivering in the open air on some inclement day. The groom always uses a picker in the process of washing and cleaning the feet, to dislodge all extrane- ous matter, stones, &c., that may hav^ been picked up in the clefts of the frog and thereabouts ; he also washes the foot with a long-haired brush. In dry v/eather, after heavy work, it is good to stop the fore feet with what is called "stopping" (cow-dung), which is not difficult to procure. Wet clay is sometimes used in 14 GROOMING. London for the purpose in- tlie absence of cow-dung. Very useful, too, in such case will be found a stopping composed of one part linseed-meal to two parts bran, wetted, and mixed to a sticking consistency. The evidence of care in the groomed appearance of the mane and tail looks well. An occasional inspection of the mane by the master may be desirable, by turning over the hairs to the reverse side ; any signs of dirt or dandriff found cannot be creditable to the groom. Bandagiwj. — When a hunter comes in from a severe day, it is an excellent plan to put rouyli bandages (pro- vided for the purpose) on the legs, leaving them on while the rest of the body is cleaning ; it will be found that the mud .and dirt of the legs will to a great extent fall off in flakes on their removal, thus reducing the time employed in cleaning. When his legs are cleaned and w^ell hand-rubbed, put on the usual-sized flannel bandages. They should never remain on more than four or six hours, and v/hen taken off (not to be again used till the next severe work) the legs should be once more hand-rubbed. Bandages ought not to be used under other circum- stances than the above, except by order of a veterinary surgeon for unsoundness. In some cases of unsoundness — such as undue dis- tension of the bursas, called " wind-galls," the effect of work — a linen or cotton bandage kept continually saturated with water, salt and water, or vinegar, and not much tightened, may remain on the affected legs ; but much cannot be said for the efiicacy of the treat- ment. For what is called " clap," or supposed distension of the back sinew (which is in reality no distension of GROOMING. 15 the tendon, as that is said to be impossible, though some of its fibres may be injured, but inflammation of the sheath through which the tendon passes), the cold lotion bandaging just described, in connection with the directions given under the head of " Shoeing " (page 80), will be found very serviceable. Grooms^ Requisites are usually understood to com- prise the following articles : — a body-brush, water- brush, dandriff or "dander" brush, picker, scraper, mane-comb, curry-comb, pitchfork, shovel and broom, manure-basket, chamois-leather, bucket, sponges, dus- ters, corn-sieve, and measures; leather boot for poul- tices, clyster syringe (requiring especial caution in use — see page 148, note), drenching-horn, bandages (wool- len and linen) ; a box with a supply of stopping con- stantly at hand ; a small store of tow and tar, most useful in checking the disease called thrush (page 125) before it assumes a chronic form ; a lump of rock-salt, ready to replace those which should be always kept in the mangers to promote the general health of the ani- mals as w^ell as to amuse them by licking it ; a lump of chalk, ready at any time for use (in the same manner as rock-salt) in the treatment of some diseases, as de- scribed, pages 143 and 149. Singeing, there is little doubt, tends to improve the condition of the animal ; so much so, that timid users do well to remember that animals which, before the removal of their winter coat, required perpetual remin- ders of the whip, will, directly they are divested of that covering, evince a spirit, vigour, and endurance which had remained, perhaps, quite unsuspected previously. In fact, in most cases, the general health and appetite seem to be improved. 16 GROOMING. Singeing, when severe rapid work is done, enables the horse to perform his task with less distress, and when it is over, facilitates his being made comfortable in the shortest possible space of time. Singeing, if done early in the jvinter, requires to be repeated lightly three or four times during the season. CUpxnng has exactly the same effect as the above, and is preferable to it only in cases where, the animal's coat being extremely long, extra labour, loss of time, and flame, are avoided by the clipping process. Singe- ing is best with the lighter coats, but sometimes thin skinned and coated animals are too nervous and excit- able to bear the flame near them for this purpose, in which case the' cause of alarm ought obviously to be avoided, and clipping resorted to. It is worth Avhile to employ the best manipulators to perform these operations. With horses intended for slow and easy work, and liable to continued exposure to the weather, singeing or clipping only the under part of the belly, and the long hairs of the legs, will suffice. Unless neatly and tastily done, this is very unsightly on a gentleman's horse. Clipping, if not done till the beginning of December, seldom requires repetition. In stony and rough countries, it is the habit of judi- cious horsemen to leave the hair on their hunters' legs from the knees and hocks down, as a protection to them. HALTEEING. Tlie Headstall should fit a horse, and have a proper brow-band ', it is ridiculous to suppose that the same HALTERING. 17 sized one can suit all heads. Ordinary liead-stalls have only one buckle, which, is on the throat-lash near-side ; and if the stall be made to fit, that is sufficient. Other- wise there should be three bu.ckles, one on each side of the cheek-straps, besides the one on the throat-lash. Let the fastening from the head-stall to the log be of rope or leather. Chain fastenings are objectionable, because, besides being heavy, they are very apt to catch in the ring, and they make a fearful noise, especially where there are many horses in the stable. By having rope or leather as a fastener, instead of chain, the log may be lighter (of wood instead of iron), and the less weight there is to drag the creature's head down, the less the distress to him. Poll-evil (page 107), it is said, has frequently resulted from the pressure of the head- stall on the poll, occasioned by heavy pendants. Chains are m.ore durable, and that is all that can be said in their favour, except that they may be necessary for a few vicious devils who are up to the trick of sever- ing the rope or leather with their teeth. See that the log is sufficiently heavy to keep the rope or leather at stretch, and that the manger-ring is large enough to allow the fastening to pass freely. If the log is too light, or the manger-ring too small, the likely result will be that the log will remain close up under the ring, the fastening falling into a sort of loop, through which the horse most probably introduces his foot, and in his consequent alarm and efforts to disen- tangle his legs, chucks up his head, and away he goes on his side, gets " halter-cast,'^ most likely breaks one of his hind legs in his struggles to regain his footing, or at least dislocates one of their joints. 18 CLOTHING. CLOTHING. Opinions differ materially as to the amount of cloth- ing that ought to be used in the stable. My view of the matter is, that a stable being, as it should be, thoroughly ventilated, necessitates the horses in it being to a cer- tain extent kept warm by clothing. An animal that has not been divested of his own coat by clipping or singeing, will require very little covering indeed ; for nature's provision, being sufficient to protect him out of doors, ought surely to suffice in the stable, with a very slight addition of clothing. If he has been clipped or singed, covering enough to make up for what he has lost ought to be ample : by going beyond this the horse is only made tender, and more susceptible of the influences of the atmosphere when he comes to be ex- posed to it with only a saddle on his back. In parts of North America, I have observed, where the stables are built roughly of wood, with many fis- sures to admit the weather, horses are seldom, if ever, sheeted. They are certainly rarely divested of their coats ; but during work, as occasion may require, it is usual for the rider, when stopping at any place, to leave his horse " hitched " (as they call it) to any convenient post or tree, in all weathers, and for any length of time, and these horses scarcely ever catch cold. The best Sheet is formed of a rug (sizeable enough to meet across the breast and extend to the quarters), by simply cutting the slope of the neck out of it, and fas- tening the points across the breast by two straps and buckles. The Hood need only be used when the horse is at CLOTHING. 19 walking exercise, or likely to be exposed to weather, or for the purpose of sw.eating, when a couple of thein, with two or three sheets, may be used. — See page 32. Horse-clothing should be, at least once a-week, taken outside the stable, and well beaten and shaken like a carpet. Rollers should be looked to from time to time, to see that the pads of the roller do not meet loifhin three or four inches (over the backbone), — in other v/ords, there should be always a clear channel over it, nearly large enough to pass the handle of a broom through, so as to avoid the possibility of the upper part of the roller even touching the sheet over the spinal ridge, which, if per- mitted, will be sure to cause a sore back, to the great injury of the horse and his master, arousing vicious habits in the former to resent any touch, necessary or unnecessary, of the sore place on so sensitive a part, and rendering him irritable when clothing, saddling, or harnessing, or if a hand even approach the tender place. This is so troublesome a consequence of not paying attention to the padding of rollers, that a master will do well to examine them himseK for his own satisfaction. Knee-Caps. — On all occasions when a valuable horse is taken by a servant on road or rail, his knees should be protected by caps. The only way to secure them is to fasten them tightly above the knee, where elastic straps are decidedly preferable, leaving the fastening below the knee slack. A Leather Boot, lined with sponge, or one of felt with a strong leather sole, should be ready in every stable to be used as required, in cases of sudden foot-lameness. 20 FEEDING. FEEDING. The cavalry allowances are 12 lb. hay, 10 lb. oats, and 8 lb. straw daily, which, I know by experience, will keep a healthy animal in condition with the work re- quired from a dragoon horse, of the severity of which none but those acquainted with that branch of the ser- vice have any idea. Until he is perfectly fit for the ranks, between riding- school, field-days, and drill, the troop-horse has quite work enough for any beast. I may add that few horses belonging to ojSficers of cavalry get more than the above allowance, unless when regularly hunted, in which case additional corn and beans are given. With severe work, 14 lb. to 16 lb. of oats, and 12 lb. of hay, which is the general allowance in well-re- gulated hunting stables, ought to be sufi&cient. Beans are also given in small quantity. Some persons feed their horses three times a-day, but it is better to divide their food into four daily portions, watering them at least half an hour before each fee'd. The habit which some grooms have of feeding while they are teazing an animal with the preliminaries of cleaning, is very senseless, as the uneasiness horses are sure to exhibit under anything like grooming causes them to knock about their heads and scatter their food. On a journey, according to the call upon the system by the increased amount of work, so should the horse's feeding be augmented by one-third, one-fourth, or one- half more than usual. A few beans or pease may well be added under such circumstances. FEEDING. 21 In stables where the stalls are divided by bales or swinging-bars, the hoRses when feeding should have their heads so tied as to prevent them from consuming their neighbours' food, or the result would be that the greedy or more rapid eaters would succeed in devouring more than their fair share, while the slower feeders would have to go on short commons. Oats ought always to be hruisGcl, as many horses, whether from greediness in devouring their food, or from their teeth being incapable of grinding, swallow them whole ; and it is a notorious fact that oats, unless masticated, pass right through the animal undigested. When supplies have been very deficient with forces in the field, the camp-followers have been known to exist upon the grain extracted from the droppings of the horses. It should be remembered that not more than at the utmost two days' consumxption of oats should be bruised at a time, as they soon turn sour in that state, and are thus unfit for the use of that most delicate feeder, the horse. All oats before being bruised should be well sifted, to dispose of the gravel and dust which are al- ways present in the grain as it comes from the farmer. Unbruised oats, if ever used, should be similarly pre- pared before being given in feed. Hay ought always to be cut into chaff or may be mixed with the corn, which is the only way to insure the proper proportion being given at a feed. When the hay is not cut but fed from the rack, never more than 3 lb. should be put in the rack at a time. If desirable to give as much as 12 lb. daily, let the rack be filled six times in twenty-four hours. Beans must be invariably split or bruised. It is 22 FEEDING. better to give a liiglier price for English beans than to use the Egyptian at any price ; the latter are said to be impregnated with the eggs of insects, which adhere to the lining of the horse's stomach, causing him serious injury. In India horses are principally fed on a kind of small pea called " gram " — in the United States their chief food is maize ; the oat-jDlant not succeeding well in either of those regions. Bran. — Food should be varied occasionally, and all horses not actually in training ought to have a bran- mash once a-week. The best time to give this is for the first feed after the work is done, on the day preceding the rest day, whenever that may be. Even hunters, after a hard day, will eat the bran with avidity, and it is well to give it for the first meal. Its laxative qualities render it a sedative and cooler in the half -feverish state of system induced by the exer- tion and excitement of the chase ; and, according to my experience, if given just after the work is done, the digestive process, relaxed by the bran, has full time to recover itself by the grain-feeding before the next call is made on the horse's powers. If the bran is not liked, a little bruised oats may be mixed through it to tempt the palate. Whole grains of oats should never be mixed with bran, as they must of necessity be bolted with the latter, and passed through the animal entire. Mash. — When only doing ordinary work, the follow- ing mash should be given to each horse on Saturday night after work, supposing your beasts to rest on Sunday : — Put half a pint of linseed in a two-quart pan with an even edge ; pour on it one quart of boiling water, cover it close, and leave to soak for four hours. FEEDING. 23 At the same time moisten half a bucket of bran with a gallon of water. W^ien the linseed has soaked for four hours, a hole must be made in the middle of the bran, and the linseed mass mixed into the bran mass. The whole forms one feed. If a cold is present, or an animal is delicate, the bran can be saturated with boiling water, of which a little more can be added to warm it when given. Carrots, when a horse is delicate, will be found acceptable, and are both nutritious and wholesome as food. In spring and summer, w^hen vetches or other green food can be had, an occasional treat of that sort conduces to health where the work is sufficiently mode- rate to admit of soft feeding. When an animal is "off his feed," as it is called, at- tention should be immediately directed to his manger, which is often found to be shamefully neglected, the bottom of it covered with gravel, or perhajDs the ends and corners fuU of foul matter, such as the sour re- mains of the last bran-mash and other half -masticated leavings. The introduction of any greasy or fetid matter into a horse's food will effectually prevent this dainty crea- ture from touching it. It used to be a common prac- tice at hostelries in the olden time, to rub the teeth of a traveller's horse with a tallow candle or a little oil; thus causing the poor beast to leave his food untouched for the benefit of his unfeeling attendant. Again, the oats or hay may be found, on close exa- mination, to be musty, which causes them to be rejected by the beast. Where no palpable cause for loss of appetite can be discovered, reference should be made to a qualified 24 FEEDING. veterinary surgeon, who will examine the animal's mouth, teeth, and general state of health, and probably report that the lining of the cheeks is highly inflamed in some part, owing to undue angularity or decay of the teeth, and he will know how to act accordingly. When horses are on a journey, or a long ride home after hunting, some people recommend the use of gruel ; but, from experience, I prefer giving a handful of wetted hay in half a bucket of te^iid water, or ale or porter. — See page 37. Feeding on Board Shi]j should be confined to chaff and bran, mixed with about one-fourth the usual quan- tity of bruised oats. Though horses generally look well when "full of flesh," there are many reasons why they should not be allowed to become fat after the fashion of a farmer's " stall-feds." Some really good grooms think this form of condition the pink of perfection. They are mistaken. An animal in such a state is quite unfit to travel at any fast pace or bear continued exertion without injury, and may therefore be considered so far useless. He is also much more liable to contract disease, and if attacked by such the constitution succumbs more readily. Moreover, the superfluous weight of the cumbrous flesh and fat tends to increase the wear and tear of the legs; and if the latter be at all light from the knee to the pastern, they are more likely to sufi'er. On the other hand, it may be well to observe, by way of caution, that it is by no means good management to let a horse become at any time reduced to actual lean- ness through overwork or deficient feeding. It is far easier to pidl down than to put up flesh. WATEEIXG. 25 These hints on feeding may be closed with a remark, that in all large towns contractors divo, to be found ready and willing to enter into contract for feeding gentle- men's horses by the month or year. This is a very desirable arrangement for masters, but one frequently objected to by servants, who, however, in such cases can easily be replaced by application to the dealer, he having necessarily excellent opportunities of meeting with others as efficient. Contractors should not be allowed to supply more than two or three days' forage at a time. WATERING. Horses are greater epicures in water than is generally supposed, and will make a rush for some favourite spring or rivulet where water may have once proved acceptable to their palate, when that of other drinking- places has been rejected or scarcely touched. The groom's common maxim is to water twice a-day, but there is little doubt that horses should have access to water more frequently, being, like ourselves or any other animal, liable from some cause — some slight de- rangement of the stomach, for instance — to be more thirsty at one time than another; and it is a well- known fact that, where water is easily within reach, these creatures never take such a quantity at a time as to unfit them for moderate worlz at any moment. If an arrangement for continual access to water be not convenient, horses should be watered before every feed, or at least thrice a-day, the first time being in the morning, an hour before feeding (which hour will be 26 GRAZING. employed in grooming tlie beast) ; and it may be ob- served that there is no greater aid to increasing their disposition to put up flesh, than giving them as much water as they like before and after every feed. A horse should never be watered when heated, or on the eve of any extraordinary exertion. Animals that are liable to colic or gripes, or are under the effect of medicines, particularly such as act on the alimentary canal, and i^redispose to those affections, should get water with the chill off. Watering in Public Troughs, or places where every brute that travels the road has access, must be strictly avoided. Glanders, farcy, and other infectious diseases may be easily contracted in this way. GRAZING. The advantage of grazing, as a change for the better in any, and indeed in every, case where the horse may be thrown out of sorts by accident or disease, becomes very questionable, on account of the artificial state in which he must have been kept, to enable him to meet the requirements of a master of the present day in work. If the change be recommended to restore the feet or legs, this object may be attained, and much better, by keeping the creature in a loose-box without shoes, on a floor covered with sawdust or tan, kept damp as directed (page 10), to counteract whatever slight inflammation may be in the feet and legs, or, best of all, covered with peat-mould, as this does not require to be damped, and the animal can lie down on it; besides, the properties of the peat neutralise the GRAZING. 27 noxious ammonia, and it does not consequently require to be so often renewed. . In the loose-box also he can take quite as much exercise as is necessary for an invalid intended to be laid up, and there he can be supplied with whatever grain, roots, or succulent food may be deemed necessary. As for any other advantage to be derived from a run at grass, unless for the purpose of using the herb as an alterative, I never could see it : and even this end, un- less the horse has a paddock to himself, can hardly be gained; for if there are too many beasts for the pro- duction of the ground, the fare must be scanty, and each animal half starved. The disadvantages of changing a horse to grass from the artificial state of condition are the following : — 1. That condition is sure to be lost (at least as far as it is necessary to fit for work, especially to go across country at a hunting pace, with safety to himself and his rider), and not to be regained for a considerable time, and at great cost. 2. The horse is exceedingly liable to meet with accident from the playfulness or temper of his com- panions. 3. Worms of the most dangerous and pertinacious description are picked up nowhere but at grass. 4. Many ailments are contracted from exposure and hardship or bad feeding ; and owing to the animal being removed from under immediate inspection, such ailments gain ground before they are observed. More- over, at grass the horse is more exposed to contagious and epidemic diseases. 5. Horses suffer great annoyance from flies in sum- mer time, not having long tails like horned cattle to 28 TRAINING. reach every part of tlieir body; and wherever any superficial sore may be present, the flies are sure to find it out. As to aged animals, it is sheer cruelty (practised by some masters with the best intentions and worst pos- sible results) to turn them out to grass. Such crea- tures have probably been accustomed in the earlier part of their lives to warm stables, their food put under their noses, good grooming, and proper care. You might just as well turn out a gentleman in his old age among a tribe of friendly savages, unclad and unsheltered, to exist upon whatever roots and fruits he could pick up, as expose a highly-bred and delicately- nurtured old horse to the vicissitudes and hardships of a life at grass. TEAINING. kaeey's system. The principle of this system is that of overpowering the horse that may in some instances have even become dangerous and useless, from having learned the secret that his strength gives him an advantage over his mas- ter — man. Unconsciously deprived of his power of resistance, his courage vanishes; the spirit which rose against all accountable efforts to subdue it, that would scorn to yield to overweight, pace, work, or any other evidence of man's power, and which in the well-dis- positioned animal causes him to strain every nerve to meet what is required of him rather than succumb, is by Rarey's system subdued through a ruse so effected TRAINING. 29 that the power which overwhelms all the creature's efiorts at resistance appears to originate and be identi- fied with the man who can thus, for the first time, take liberties with him, which he has lost the power of re- senting; and man thenceforward becomes his master. The method pursued by Mr Rarey in subduing such a vicious and ungovernable horse as Cruiser, is this: Placing himself under a waggon laden with hay, to which the animal is partly coaxed, partly led by guide- ropes, and stealing his fingers through the spokes of the waggon-wheel, he raises and gently straps up one fore leg, and fastens a long strap round the fetlock of the other, the end of which he holds in his hand and checks when necessary. The beast, thus unconsciously tampered with, is quite disposed to resent in his usual style the subsequent impertinent familiarities of his tamer; but being by the foregoing precautions cast prostrate on his first attempt to move, and finding all his efforts to regain his liberty and carry out reprisals abortive, worn-out and hopeless, he at length yields himself helplessly to his victor's obliging attentions, of sitting on him as he lies, drumming and fiddling in his ears, &c., and is thenceforward man's obedient and tractable servant. There is no doubt that Mr Earey's plan of thus overcoming the unruly or vicious beast by mild but effectual means, is the right one to gain the point, as far as it goes; but breaking him in to saddle or draught, improving his paces, or having ability in riding or driv- ing any horse judiciously, must be considered another affair, and only to be acquired through more or less competent instruction, and by practice combined with taste. 30 TKATNING. -* In training, tlie use of a dumb jockey* will be found most serviceable to get the head into proper position, and to bend the neck. Two hours a-day in this gear, while the horse is either loose in a box or fastened to the pillar-reins if in a stall, will not at all interfere with his regular training, exercise, or work, and will materially aid the former result. I greatly advocate the use of the dumb jockey with- out springs, even with formed horses, who, being daily used to it, need no such adjuncts as bearing-reins, but will arch their necks, work nicely on the bit, and ex- hibit an altered show and style in action that is very admirable in a gentleman's equipage. Should my reader be much interested in breaking-in rough colts, I recommend him to consult ' Stonehenge,' by J. H. Walsh, F.K.C.S., editor of the 'Field.' Training for Draught. ^Before the first trial in the break-carriage, give your horse from half-an-hour to an hour's quiet ringing in the harness, to which he should have been previously made accustomed by wearing it for a couple of hours the two or three preceding days. The first start should be in a regular break, or strong but inexpensive vehicle, and stout harness, with, also saving-collar, knee-caps, and kicking-strap — no bearing- rein. He should be led by ropes or reins (in single harness on both sides of the head), and tried on a level, or rather down than up a slight inclination. The place selected should be one where there is plenty of unoccu- pied roadway. Better begin in double harness, and let the break- horse with which the driver is to start the carriage be * The old-fashioned pattern, with leather gear, is, after all, the best, as proved by the most practical men of the day. EXEECISING. 31 strong and willing, so as to pull away the untried one. The Neck usually suffers during the first few lessons in training to harness ; and until that part of it where the collar wears becomes thoroughly hardened by use, it should be bathed with a strong solution of salt and water before the collar is taken off, that there may be no mistake about its being done at once. Should there be the least abrasion of the skin, do not use salt and water, but a wash of 1 scruple chloride of zinc to 1 pint of water, dabbed on the sore every two or three hours with fine linen rag, and give rest from collar-work till healed ; then harden with salt and w^ater ; and when the scab has disappeared, and the horse is fit for harness, chamber the collar over the affected part, and employ for a while a saving-collar. A sore neck will produce a jibbing horse, and therefore requires to be closely at- tended to in his training. EXERCISING. It is desirable that a master should appoint a parti- cular place for the exercising of his horses, coupled with strict injunctions to his groom on no account to leave it. No master should give his servants the option of going where they please to exercise, their favourite re- sort being often the precincts of a public-house, with a sharp gallop round the most impracticable corners to make up the time. An occasional visit of the master to the exercising ground is a very salutary check upon such proceedings. The best possible exercise for a horse is walking — the 32 EXERCISING. sod or any soft elastic surface being better than the road for the purpose ; and if the latter only is available, use knee-caps as a safeguard. Two hours' daily exercise (if he gets it) at a fast walk will be enough to keep a hack fit for his work ; and it is usual with some experienced field-horsemen never to allow their hunters, when once up to their icorlx, to get any but w^alking exercise for as much as four hours daily, two hours at a time — that is, when they desire to keep them "fit." Ladies' and elderly gentlemen's horses ought most particularly to be exercised, and not overfed, to keep them tame and tractable, and to guard against accidents. The foregoing directions refer to the preparations for the master's work, and are what I should give my groom. Siveaiing. — In case it is desirable to prepare an ani- mal for any extraordinary exertion, the readiest, safest, and most judicious means is by sweating, carefully pro- ceeded with, by using two or three sets of body-clothes, an empty stomach being indispensable for the process, and a riding-school, if available, the best place for the necessary exercise, — a sweat being thus sooner obtained free from cold air, and the soft footing of such a place saving the jar on the legs more even than the sod in the field, unless it happen to be very soft. Sweating is a peculiarly healthy process for either man or beast ; and to judge of the benefit derived by a horse through that means, from the effect of a heavy perspiration through exercise on one's self, there seems little doubt that it is very renewing to the phi/sique. Ringittg or Loungeing with a cavesson, though not ordinarily adopted, except by the trainer, is nevertheless WORK. 33 most useful as a means of exercise. It is a very suit able manner of " taking the rough edge off," or bring- ing down the superabundant spirits of horses that have been confined to the stable for some time by weather or other similar cause producing restiveness, and is pecu- liarly adapted for exercising harness-horses where it may not be safe or expedient to ride them. WOEK. The master on the road or in the field using his bearer for convenience or pleasure, will do him less injury in a day than a thoughtless ignorant servant will contrive to accomplish in an hour when only required to exercise the beast. To the advice already given, never to allow your horses to be galloped or cantered on a hard surface, it is well to add, refrain from doing so yourself. -On the elastic turf these paces do comparatively little harm ; but for the road, and indeed all ordinary usage, except hunting or racing, the trot or walk is the proper pace. My impression coincides with that of many experienced sportsmen, that one mile of a canter on a hard surface does more injury to the frame and legs of a horse, than twenty miles' walk and trot : for this reason, that in the act of walking or trotting the off fore and near hind feet are on the ground at the same moment alternately wdth the other two, thus dividing the pressure of weight and propulsion on the legs more than even ambling, w^hich is a lateral motion; while in anything approach- ing to the canter or gallop, the two fore feet and legs have at the same moment to bear the entire w^eight of 34 WOEK. man and horse, as well as the jar of the act of propul- sion from behind. Ambling is a favourite pace with the Americans, whose horses are trained to it ; also with the Easterns. It is, as before mentioned, a lateral motion, much less injurious to the wear and tear of the legs than either canter or gallop on the hard road, the off fore and hind being on the ground alternately with the near fore and hind legs. Though unsightly to an Englishman's eyes, this pace is decidedly the easiest of all to the rider, and may be accelerated from four to six or eight miles an hour without the least inconvenience. Some American horses are taught to excel in this pace, so as to beat regular trotters. By trotting a horse you do him comparatively little inju.ry on the road; but observe the animal that has been constantly ridden by ladies (at watering-places and elsewhere), who are so fond of the canter : he stands over, and is decidedly shaky on his legs, although the weight on his back has been generally light. Ob- serve, on the contrary, the bearer of the experienced horseman ; although the weight he had to carry may have been probably what is called " a welter," his legs are right enough. The softness of the turf, as fitting it for the indul- gence of a galloj), is indicated by the depth of the horse-tracks ; there is not much impression left on a hard road. It should be always borne in mind that " it is the pace that kills,'' and unless the wear and tear of horse-flesh be a matter of no consideration, according as the pace is increased from that of five or six miles per hour, so WORK. 35 should the distance for the animal's day's work be diminished. For instance, if you require him to do seven miles in the hour daily, that seven miles must always be con- sidered as full work for the day ; if you purpose going eight miles per hour, your horse should only travel six miles daily at that rate ; if faster still, five miles only should be your bearer's limit ; if at a ten-mile rate, then four miles ; or at a twelve-mile rate, three miles per day. But of course such regulations apply to daily work only, as a horse is capable of accomplishing a great deal more without injury, if only called upon to do so occasionally. A man may require to do a day's journey of thirty miles, or a day's hunting, and such work being only occasional, no harm whatever to the animal need result ; but about eight or ten miles a-day at an alternate walk or trot (say six-miles-an-hour pace) is as much as any valuable animal ought to do if worked regularly. No horse ought to be hunted more than twice a-week at the utmost. The work of horses, especially when ridden, ought to be so managed that the latter part of the journey may be done in a walk, so that they may be brought in cool. A horse in the saddle is capable of travelling a hun- dred miles, or even more, in twenty-four hours, if re- quired ; and if the weight be light, and the rider judi- cious, such feats may be done occasionally without injury : but if a journey of a hundred miles be contem- plated, it is better to take three days for its perform- ance, each day's journey of over thirty miles being divided into two equal portions, and got through early 36 WORK. in the morning and late in the afternoon ; the pace an alternate walk and trot at the rate of abont five miles an hour ; and it is good for both horse and man that the latter should dismount and take the whole, or nearly the whole, of the walking part on his own feet, thus not only relieving his bearer from the continual pressure of the rider's weight on the saddle on his back, but as a man when riding and walking brings into play two completely distinct sets of muscles, he will, though a little tired from walking, find himself on remounting positively refreshed from that change of exercise. This recommendation is equally applicable to the hunting-field at any check, or when there is the least opportunity. So well is the truth of the above remark known to the most experienced horsemen, that some of them, steeplechase riders, make it a practice before riding a severe race to walk rapidly from five to ten miles to the course, in preference to making use of any of the many vehicles always at their disposal on such occasions. It is only surprising that the expediency of making dragoons dismount and walk beside their horses on a march, at least part of the way, for distances of one or two miles at a time, is not more apj)arent to those in authority (many of them practical men), in whose power it lies to make a regulation so very salutary for both man and horse. The more the beneficial effect of such an arrangement is considered, the more desirable it would appear to be, especially in dry weather. The great occasional relief to an overweighted horse of being divested of his rider now and then, would rather serve than injure the latter, on account of the variety WORK. 37 of exercise, as before remarked, while liis handling of the horse would decidedly be enlivened by the change. Signals of Distress on increased pace. — Prominently may be mentioned a horse becoming winded, or, as sportsmen call it, having "bellows to mend," which in proper hands ought seldom to occur, even in the hunt- ing-field, as there are tokens which precede it — such as the creature hanging on his work, poking his head backwards and forwards, describing a sort of semicircle with his nose, gaping, the ears lopping, &c. Some horsemen are in the habit of giving ale or porter (from a pint to a quart of either) to their horses during severe work. This is not at all a bad plan, if the beast will take it ; and as many masters are fond of petting their animals with biscuit or bread, a piece of either being occasionally soaked in one of the above liquids when given, will accustom the creature so trained to the taste of them. After the work is ^ver a little well-made gruel is a great restorative; and when a long journey is com- pleted, a bran-mash might be given, as mentioned under the head of "Feeding," page 22. One of the worst results to be dreaded from a horse going long journeys daily, is fever in the feet (page 123), which may be obviated by stopping the fore feet directly they are picked and washed out at the end of each day's journey. — See page 13. After a long journey, it would be desirable to have the animal's fore shoes at least removed. The saddle ought not to be taken off for some time after work ; the longer it has been under the rider, and the more severe the work, the longer, comparatively, it should remain on after use, in order to avoid that 38 BEIDLING. frightful result Tvhicli is most likely to ensue from its being quickly removed — viz., sore back. With cavalry, saddles are left on for an hour or more after the return from a field-day or march. A numna or absorbing sweat-cloth under the saddle is in cases of hard or continued work a great preserva- tive against sore back. When an extraordinary day's work has been done, after the horse is cleaned and fed he should be at once bedded down, and left to rest in quiet, interrupted only to be fed. BRIDLING. Every horseman before he mounts should observe closely whether his horse is properly saddled and bridled. Bits must be invariably of wrought steel, and the mouthpiece in all hits should fit the horse's mouth exactly in its width : the bit that is made to fit a six- teen-hands-high is surely too large for a fourteen-hand cob. The bit ought to lie just above the tusk in a horse's jaw, and one inch above the last teeth with a mare. It must be adapted to the mouth and temper of the horse as well as to the formation of his head and neck. A riding-master, or the rider, if he has any judgment, ought to be able to form an opinion as to the most suitable bit for an animal.* The ordinary Bridoon (or Double bridle, as it is called * It has been truly said by the well-known Mr Elmore, that there is a key to every horse's mouth, requiring only proper hands to apply it. BRIDLING. 39 in the North) is best adapted to the well-mouthed and tempered horse, and is the safest and best bit for either road or field. Unfinished gentlemen as well as lady- equestrians, when riding with double reins to a bridoon bit, are recommended to tie the bit rein evenly in a knot on the horse's neck (holding only the bridoon- rein in the hand), provided his temper and mouth be suitable to a snaffle. This is a practice j)ursued by even good and experienced liorsemen where the temper of a horse is high, in order to have the bit to rely upon in case he should happen to pull too hard on the bri- doon or snaffle, which otherwise would be quite suffici- ent and best to use alone. The Curh, when used, should be strong and tight ; it should invariably be supported by a lip-strap, an adjunct that is really most essential, but which grooms practically ignore by losing. The object of the lip- strap is to prevent the curb, if rather loose, from falling over the lip, thus permitting the horse to get hold of it in his mouth and go where he pleases ; it also guards against a trick some beasts are very clever at, of catch- ing the cheek or leg of the bit in their teeth, and mak- ing off in spite of the efforts of any rider. If the curb be tight, the lip-strap is equally useful in sustaining it horizontally, and preventing its drooping to too great a pressure, thus causing abrasion of the animal's jaw. The curb ought to be pretty tight, sufficiently so to admit one finger between it and the jaw-bone. The Snaffle with a fine-mouthed horse is well adapted for the field — the only place where I would ever dis- pense altogether with the curb, and then only in favour of a fine-mouthed well-tempered beast disposed to go coolly at his fences. 40 BRIDLING. On the road a horse may put his foot upon a stone in a jog-trot, or come upon some irregularity ; and unless the rider has something more than a snaffle in his hand, he is exceedingly likely to suffer for it. Many a horse that is like a foot-ball in the field, full of life and elas- ticity, and never making a mistake, will on the road require constant watching to prevent his tumbling on his nose.'^' At the same time, a horse should by no means be encouraged to lean on the bit or on the rider's support, which most of them will be found quite ready to do ; a disposition in that direction must be checked by mildly feeling his mouth (with the bit), pressing your legs against his sides, and enlivening him gently with the whip or spur. The Martingal. — The standing or head martingal is a handsome equipment — safe and serviceable with a beast that is incorrigible about getting his head up, but should be used in the street or on the road only. The Ring-Martinyal is intended solely for the field with a horse whose head cannot be kept down ; but it requires to be used with nice judgment, and handling of the second or separate rein, which should pass through it, especially when the animal is in or near the act of taking his fences, when, with some horses, comparative freedom may be allowed to the head, which should, however, be brought down to its proper place directly he is safely landed on his legs again by the use of this * The famous Irish jumper "Distiller" was notorious among many other good fencers as a bungler on the road, though he would jump a six-foot-six stone wall with ease, sporting two large broken knees in consequence of his performance in that line ; and in fencinof he was also first-rate. • BRIDLING. 41 second martingal-rein, which is attached to the bridoon of that bit. N.B. — If this second rein be attached to the snaffle by buckles (and not stitched on as it onght to be), the buckles of the rein should be defended from getting into the rings of the martingal by pieces of leather larger than those rings. Most serious accidents have occurred from the absence of this precaution : the buckle becoming caught in the ring, the horse's head is fixed in one position, and not knowing where he is going, he proceeds, probably without any control from the rider, till both come to some serious mishap. The rein stitched to the ring of the bit is the safest. The Running-Rein, or other plan of martingal (from the D in front of the saddle above the rider's knee through the ring of the snaffle to his h^d), should only be iised by the riding-master or those competent to avail themselves of its assistar^e m fojming the mouthy of a troublesome or untrained animal Some ^peri- ■ enced horsemen, however, when they find they cannot keep the nose in or head down Fith ordinary bits, in- stead of using a martingal of any denomination, employ (especially in the field) with good eff'ect a ring, keeping the hridoon or snaffle-reins under the bend of the neck ; or a- better contrivance is a bit of stiff" leather three or four inches long, with two D's or staples for the reins to -pass through on each side. The Cliifney Bit is the most suitabte tor ladies' use, or for timid or invalid riders : it at once brings up a hard-pulling horse, but requires v^ry gentle handling. I have known more than one horse to be quite un- manageable in any but a Chifney bit. The more severe bits are those that have the longest 42 BRIDLING. legs or cheeks, giving the greatest leverage against the curb. By the addition of deep ports on the mouth- piece much severity is attained, which can be increased to the utmost by the addition of a tight noseband to prevent the horse from easing the port by movement of his tongue or jaws. It is almost needless to observe, that the reverse of the above will be the mildest bits for tender-mouthed, easy-going horses. Twisted Mouthpieces are happily now almost out of fashion, and ought to be entirely discountenanced ; their original intention was to command hard-mouthed horses, w^hose mouths their use can only render harder. The Noseband, if tightened, would be found very useful with many a hard-pulling horse in the excitement of hunting, when the bit Avhich would otherwise require to be used would only irritate the puller, cause him to go more wildly, and make matters worse. I have known some pullers to be more under control in the hunting-field with a pretty tight noseband and a snaffle than with the most severe curb-bit. The Throat-lasli is almost always too tight. Grooms are much in the habit of making this mistake, by means of which, when the head is bent by a severe bit, the throat is compressed and the respiration im- peded, besides occasioning an ugly appearance in the caparison. It may be remarked also that, if not corrected, ser- vants are apt to leave the ends of the bridle head-stall straps dangling at length out of the loops, which is very unsightly : the ends of the straps should be inserted in these loops, which should be sufficiently tight to retain them. SADDLING. 43 SADDLING. A Saddle should be made to fit the horse for which it is intended, and requires as much variation in shape, especially in the stuffing, as there is variety in the shapes of horses' backs.* An animal may be fairly shaped in the back, and yet a saddle that fits another horse will always go out on this one's withers. The saddle having been made to fit your horse, let it be placed gently upon him, and shifted till its proper berth be found. When in its right place, the action of the upper part of the shoulder-blade should be quite free from any confinement or pressure by what saddlers call the "gullet" of the saddle under the pommel when the animal is in motion. It stands to reason that any interference with the action of the shoulder-blade must, after a time, indirectly if not directly, cause a horse to falter in his movement. N.B. — A horse left in the stable with his saddle on, wdth or without a bridle, ought always to have his head fastened up, to prevent his lying down on the saddle and injuring it. Girths. — When girthing a horse, which is always done upon the near or left-hand side, the girth should be first drawn tightly towards you under the belly of the horse, so as to bring the saddle rather to the off side on the back of the ^beast. This is seldom done by grooms ; and though a gentleman is not supposed to girth his horse, information on this as well as on other points may happen to be of essential service to him ; * I may recommend Gibson, 6 Coventry Street, Leicester Square, as an excellent, intelligent, and experienced saddler. 44 SADDLING. for the consequence of the attendant's usual method is, that when the girths are tightened up, the saddle, in- stead of being in the centre of the horse's back, is in- clined to the near or left-hand side, to which it is still farther drawn by the act of mounting, so that when a man has mounted he fancies that one stirrup is longer than the other — the near-side stirrup invariably the longest. To remedy this he forces down his foot in the right stirrup, which brings the saddle to the centre of the animal's back. All this w^ould be obviated by care being taken, in the process of girthing, to place the left hand on the middle of the saddle, drawing the first or under girth with the right hand till the girth-holder reaches the buckle, the left hand being then disengaged to assist in bracing up the girth. The outer girth must go through the same process, being drawn under the belly of the horse from the off side tightly before it is attached to the girth-holder. With ladies' saddles most particular attention should be paid to the girthing. (It must be observed that, with some horses having the knack of swelling themselves out during the process of girthing, the girths may be tightened before leaving the stable so as to appear almost too tight, but which, when the horse has been walked about for ten minutes, will seem comparatively loose, and quite so when the rider's weight is placed in the saddle.) Stirrup-Irons should invariably be of wrought steel. A man should never be induced knowingly to ride in a cast-metal stirrup, any more than he ought to attempt to do so with a cast-metal bit. Stirrup-irons should be selected to suit the size of the rider's foot ; those with two or three narrow bars SADDLING. 45 at the bottom are decidedly preferable, for the simple reason, that in cold weather it is a tax on a man's en- durance to have a single broad bar like an icicle in the ball of his foot, and in wet weather a similar argument may apply as regards damp ; besides, with the double bar, the foot has a better hold in the stirrup, the rings being, of course, indented (rasp-like), as they usually are, to prevent the foot from slipping in them. This description of stirrup, with an ankle -pad, is preferable for ladies to the slipper, which is decidedly obsolete. Latchford's* ladies' patent safety stirrup seems to combine every precaution for the security of fair eques- trians. A balance-strap to a side-saddle is very desirable, and in general use. Where expense is no object, stirrups that open at the side with a spring are, no doubt, the safest in case of any accident. With regard to Stirrup-Leatliers, saddlers generally turn the right or dressed side out for appearance ; but as the dressing causes a tightness on that side of the leather, the undressed side, which admits of more ex- pansion, should be outside — because, after a little wear, the leather is susceptible of cracks, and the already ex- tended side will crack the soonest. The leather will break in the most insidious place, either in the D under the stirrup-iron, where no one but the servant who cleans it can see it ; or else, perhaps, where the buckle wears it under the flap of the saddle. Stirrup-leathers broken in this manner have caused many accidents. ■* Latchford, 11 Upper St Martin's Lane, London, and all saddlers. 46 SADDLING. Invariably adjust your stirrup-leatliers before moimt- ing. To measure the length of the stirrup-leathers of a new saddle, place the fingers of the right hand against the bar to which the leathers are attached, and, measur- ing from the bottom bar of the stirrup up to the arm- pit, make the length of the leathers and stirrups equal to the length of your arm, from the tips of the fingers to the armpit. Before entering the field, in hunting or crossing country, draw up the leathers two or three holes shorter on each side, and when starting on a long journey it is as well to do the same, to ease both your- self and your bearer. Clumped-soled Boots occasion accidents. If, in case of yourself or your horse falling, the foot catch in the stirruj), a boot with such a sole may prevent its release. The Crupper, though now obsolete for saddles, ex- cept in military caparison, would be decidedly beneficial in keeping the saddle in its proper place on long jour- neys, especially where, from the shape of the animal, the saddle will came too much forward, interfering with the action of the shoulders, and throwing the weight of the burden unduly on the fore-quarters, thus increasing the odds in favour of a tired beast making an irretriev- able stumble. The dock of the crupper should be seen to that it is soft, and free from crusted sweat and dandrifi", which would naturally cause irritation and abrasion of the tail. It should be always kept weU greased ready for use. * All the foregoing- observations on saddlery apply equally to ladies* saddles. Marked attention should be paid before they mount to the girths, which should be very tight, to prevent the SADDLING. 47 The Military Crupper j according to tlie rules of the service, should be so loose between cantel and dock as to admit of a man's hand being turned with ease be- tween the horse's back and the strap. If the crupper be intended merely for ornament, such a regulation has hardly any meaning, for it cannot be considered orna- mental to see an apparently useless piece of leather dangling at one side over a horse's hip ; and if the in- tention be to make it useful, to keep the saddle from going too forward on ill-formed horses,* or in case of strong exertion, it is obvious that a loose strap (accord- ing to orders) could hardly serve any such purpose. If the crupper be for use, it would appear that after the saddle is placed in its proper position on the animal's back (the crupper being left at its full length for this purpose), and previous to girthing, it should be short- ened so as to retain the saddle in that place under any circumstances, — not, however, that the crupper should be so tightened as to inconvenience the beast, and half cut his tail off; it will be tio-ht enough to serve its purpose if one or two fingers can be easily turned under the strap. The Breastplate may be necessary in hunting or steeplechasing with horses that are light behind the saddle from turning, a lady's weight being often altogether on one side. * As a good shoulder, such as will keep a saddle in its place, is one of the great essentials in a gentleman's hack, or indeed in an officer's charger, giving him leverage to lift his legs safely and showily, it stands to reason that not many such will pass into the ranks at the Government price for remounts, which, however, is ample to supply animals suitable for the service, and does so in regiments where the class of horse provided at once proves that the whole sum allowed is invested in the remount itself, and pro- per judgment exercised in purchasing. 48 SADDLING. girth, or what is vulgarly called " herring-gutted," and is used to prevent the saddle from getting too far back, or, as the grooms say, the horse "running through his girths." Animals trained to such trying •work as steeplechasing, or even hunting, will become much smaller in the carcass than a trooper or an ordinary gentleman's hack. With dragoons this part of the equipment is gene- rally ill-adjusted, as if to correspond with the inefficient arrangement of the crupper, the breast -straps being often too tight. Frequently, during manoeuvring in the field or the riding-school, I have seen breast-straps burst in consequence of their tightness; and indeed it stands to reason they can thus but interfere with a horse's action in leaping or making more than ordinary exertion. Their tightness not only renders discomfiture imminent, but must drag the saddle forward out of its place. Altogether it might be desirable that commanding officers of some cavalry regiments would study the pose on horseback of Marochetti's sculptured dragoons, or those of other eminent artists. The result would pro- bably be a marked improvement in the position of the saddle, and, consequently, in the general cou}:) cVoeil of our cavalry, who, however, notwithstanding such minor defects, have always maintained their superiority in horsemanship, as well as in efficiency, over any other cavalry in the world. EIDING. 49 RIDING. The seat, method of holding the hands, tfec, should be left to the riding-master,* with a friendly admoni- tion to the learner to avoid the "stuck-up," one-handed principle to a great extent, and to take a lesson when- ever opportunity occurs from one of the "great un- taught," t and, observing their ease and judgment in the management of their bearers, endeavour to modify their ow^n horsemanship accordingly. Kindness goes far in managing these noble animals. How is it that many horses that are unmanageable with powerful and good horsemen, can be ridden with perfect ease and safety by ladies ? The first thing a lady generally does after mounting, is to reassure her steed by patting, or, in riding-school language, " mak- ing much of him," taking up the reins with a very light hand, and giving him his head, whereas a man usually does the very reverse ; he takes a commanding hold of the reins, presses his legs into the horse as the signal for motion, perhaps with a rasp of both spurs into his sides, indicating no great amiability of temper — a state of things very likely to be reciprocated by a high-spirited horse. As before observed, every man ought himself to be * It might not be out of place to mention, for the information of those who desire to be well taught, that, "to my own know- ledge, Allen's, in Seymour Place, Bryanstoue Square, and Claren- don's, in Great Brunswick Street, Dublin, are excellent riding- schools. f Those who probably have never received a professional riding- lesson in their lives, but still, from intuitive taste, ride with ease and ability. D 50 KIDING. able to judge wlietlier his horse is properly saddled and bridled. I must still inveigh against misplacement of the saddle^ which grooms, it will be remarked, usually place too far forward — a mistake which is of more con- sequence than is generally considered. Take a dragoon, for instance, weighing, with arms, accoutrements, and kit, from fifteen to twenty stone; this weight, if allowed to fall unduly on the fore- quarter, must help to founder the charger, and bring him into trouble on the first provocation. Let him make the least stumble, and the weight of his burden, instead of being back in its proper place, with the man's assistance there to helj) him up, is thrown for- ward, keeping the beast tied down, and preventing his rising. But, taking appearances into consideration, the forward placement of the saddle is most ungraceful, reminding one of the position of an Eastern driving an elephant, seated on his bearer's neck. I have seen the tout ensernble of a magnificent cavalry regiment strikingly deteriorated by the ungraceful and absolutely unhorsemanlike misplacement of the saddles, and consequently of the men — though the military regulation on the subject is fair enough, directing a saddle to be placed a handbreadth behind the play of the shoulder. This would, perhaps, be a slight excess in the other direction, were it not considered that, in all probability, out of a hundred troop-horses so sad- dled, ninety-nine would be found after an hour's trot- ting to have shifted the saddle forward, for one on whom it would have remained stationary or gone back. It is well known that no rider should ever go fast down-hill on the road, or round a corner, especially on BIDING. 51 pavement ; but in the field, hunting or racing, down-hill is the place to make play. In the absence of an attendant to hold for mounting, some horses are allowed to contract a habit that is liable to cause accidents, of starting before the rider is com- fortably seated in the saddle. Prevent this bad fashion by gathering the snaffle-rein (not the curb) tightly up be- fore mounting, and when across the saddle, and before the right leg is in the stirrup, check any effort to move off. When a horse is alarmed, nothing so effectually re- assures him as speaking to him. I have myself expe- rienced the efficacy of gently using my voice on two or three occasions, when I admit having been run away,, with for a short time. Though a horse ought never to be allowed to have his ow^n way, his rider should try every means before resort- ing to actual punishment or fight, which may be some- times unavoidable as the only chance of conquest. An animal requiring such treatment should be handed over to the rough-rider for subsequent teaching, if not dis]30sed of for more suitable employment than that of a gentleman's horse. Your bearer should not be allowed to keep a per- petual lean upon your hand, more particularly when walking. Should he stumble while thus leaning, he is not likely to recover himself, but will fall helplessly on his knees. Keep him as self-dependent as possible, though not with a rein so slack as to leave him to himself alto- gether. It is the business or amusement of the rider to be on the alert for all casualties.* * Talking of a horse being self-dependent in his movement on the road, puts me in mind of a challenge once accepted by a very prac- 52 BIDING. To make a horse change his foot in canter, if you find it difficult to do so by merely using hand and leg, turn him as if to circle towards that side that you re- quire the foot to lead — he will use the foot forward that you wish in order to prop himself in turning. Thus, if you circle round to the right, he will lead with the off fore foot, and if you turn to the left, the near fore will be advanced. In using a curb, the rider should remember that if it is properly placed, with a fair leverage, rough hand- ling of the lower or bit rein may drive a fine-tempered animal into a state of great irritation, or even prove an incentive to rearing ;* and directly anything like this effect seems to be produced, that rein should be eased, and the bridoon-rein borne up. In fencing, the snaffle or bridoon bit and rein onlfj ought to be used ; this the ride?' should ixirticularly hear in rtiind. A rider with a hold of the curb-rein in fenc- ing, getting the least out of his equilibrium, or giving tica] horseman, to ride a notorious stumbler (reduced by this de- fect to mere farm work) three times round Stephen's Green, Dub- lin (a distance of over three miles), without falling. Given his choice of bits, some being of the severest kind, he rejected them all, desiring the groom to get him a common hemp halter, and with this simple head-gear, riding bare-backed, he accomplished the distance without the slightest mishap, and thereby won a large bet. The groom, however, resumed the use of the bit to ride the horse home (now feeling sufficient confidence to trust himself on his back instead of leading him), when the animal fell on his knees before he had gone a hundred yards, * The incautious use of that rein, which has leverage on the curb, is very apt, with young unformed horses, or such as have been only accustomed to the bridoon or snaflle, to induce a notion of rear- ing, especially in anything of a rough attempt to " rein back" with ; indeed, this latter pointy of training should^ be accomplished with the bridoon only. RIDING. 53 an involuntary check to the curb, may put any well- mouthed animal entirely out of his own way, preventing his jumping safely and confidently, and probably caus- ing accidents. One of several reasons why the Irish horses excel in fencing is, that it is very much the cus- tom in that country to use snaffles in cross-country rid- ing. The curb-rein may be taken up, if necessary, after the jump is over. (Some horses, however, are such vio- lent pullers, that, in the full tilt of going to hounds, where the country is close and fencing frequent, it is almost impossible to avoid using the curb-rein occasionally in the act of jumping.) "While touching on cross-country riding, it may be observed that many men who ought to know better, often make a serious mistake in not leaving hunters more to themselves than they do when going at and taking their fences. Horses vary in their mode of pro- gression ; and whether the gait be slow or fast, any- thing of a trained animal, when interfered with under these circumstances, will be put out of his own way (which is generally best suited to his peculiar temper or ability), in placing his legs advantageously to make his jump with safety.* * One can scarcely repress a smile on hearing cross-country mis- fortunes related, as they frequently are, in pretty nearly the fol- lowing terms : — '' I found my horse going sluggishly at his fences, and one place looking rather biggish ; I shook him up with the bit, and put both heels into him to rouse him, but somehow or other the brute took off too soon, caught his fore feet, I suppose, against something, and came such a cropper on the other side ! " or, " The beast kept going at such a bat at his fences that I brought him to book with my hands down, and with a good pull steadied him, but the brute with his 'awkwardness missed his footing on landing, dropped his hind legs into the brook somehow, and fell back on me, giving me a regular sousing !" 54 RIDING. Let your horse, if he is anything of a fencer, choose his own way and pace to take his jumps. It would be well, for cross-country horsemen more especially, to bear in mind Sir Francis Head's observation, as applied to riders as well as horses, that " the belly lifts the legs," meaning, I take it, that if man or horse is out of tone from derangement of the stomach or general debility, he cannot be up to the mark or fit for any physical exertion. It is well known to steeplechase riders and men who ride straight to hounds, that occasionally, in conse- quence of inertion, indulgence, or dissipation, having deranged the stomach or nervous system, a rider will be done up before his steed, who, oppressed with a comparatively dead weight knocking about on his back, will himself follow suit from want of being held together, and probably come a burster at some jump before the finish. To a practical horseman the act of standing in the stirrups will suggest itself as a matter of expediency to ease himself, when the horse is pulling hard at or near his full galloping pace. The great advantage of a rider easing his bearer by walking up-hill is treated of under the head of " Work," page 36. When a rider finds his horse going tender or lame, he ought immediately to dismount and examine his feet. If a stone has become bedded between the clefts of the frog, or got between shoe and sole, and a picker does not happen to be at hand, a suitable stone should be sought wherewith to dislodge the one in the foot. If no stone in the foot can be discovered as causing the lameness, closer examination must be made in search of a nail, a piece of iron or rough glass, or other damage to the sole. If no apparent means of relief present itself, the sooner the beast is led to the near- est place where a proper examination of the foot can HARNESSING. 55 take place tlie better.* For tlie amount of work a horse can do, see remarks on that subject, under the head of "Work," page 35; and to avoid broken knees, see hints on that subject, pages 51 and 131. Mounting of Lady i7i Side-SadcUe. — The mounter, being as close as possible to the animal, should place his right hand on his right knee, and in it receive the lady's left foot. When she springs, she should straight- en her left knee, at the same time having in her right hand the reins, with a fast hold of the middle crutch, and her left hand on the mounter's shoulder to help her to spring up. HARNESSING. The General Mounting, whether of brass or sil- ver-plated (to correspond with the mountings of the carriage), or with leather-covered buckles, is all a miatter of taste, the leather being, however, the least durable. A Dig Harness -Room is indispensable, in which there should be shallow presses with pegs, but no shelves; otherwise, coverings should be provided for harness and saddles to preserve them from flying dust. Style. — In pairing horses for draught, if one be rather larger than the other, the larger should be * In obscure lameness, to aid towards discovery of the affected part, having first decided which leg or foot is diseased, it is not a bad plan to walk the animal into a stream above the knees and take him out again (or have water dashed at once fullj^ over the member), then kneel and closely observe which spot on the sur- face dries first — that which does so will probably prove to be the most inflamed part. 56 HARNESSING. placed on tlie near or left side, as the left-hand side of the road being that on which vehicles travel, the near- side horse will generally be going an inch or more lower than the off-side one, and the difference of size in the pair will be less perceptible. If the animals are of an even size, and one be more lazy than the other, that one should be placed at the off side, being thus more conveniently situated to re- ceive gentle reminders from the whip without obser- vation. If one of the pair iciU carry his head higher than the other, Ms coupling-rein * should run under that of the animal that leans his head the most, so as to bring their heads as much on a level as possible. An ivory ring to run the coupling-reins through looks and acts well. Both manes should be trained to flow either in or out from the pole ; the latter way is probably prefer- able. Horses left to stand harnessed in the stable should be turned round in the stalls and fastened with the T's of two pillar-reins passed through the rings of the bridoon of bit. Should there be no pillar-reins in pairs belonging to the stern-posts of each stall, tie the horses' heads up with the rack-rein so as to prevent their lying down in the harness. As a maxim, never leave a bridle on in the stable, unless in the case where the head can be sustained by a pair of pillar-reins from the stern-posts. Most seri- ous accidents have occurred through neglect of this rule. * In double harness, to increase your power in turning, shorten the coupling-reins ; and to ease j^our horses, lengthen these to let their heads work more straight forward. HARNESSING. 57 In YoMng or ^^ putting to,^^ the shafts of a vehicle must never be left on -the ground while the horse is being: backed into them. If the shafts touch him he will probably kick, or he may injure by standing on them. Traces. — Great care should be taken in adjusting these to prove that they are of an even length, as the least deviation in equality is liable by pressure on one side to produce a sore on the neck, under the collar of the horse that happens to be on the side of the shortest trace. — See "Jibbing," page 86. The buckles of all traces and backhands ought to be provided with detached pieces of lea,ther cut square the width of those straps, and placed under the buckles, the tongues of which pass through these bits of leather ; the straps thus protected from being cut by the buckles will wear nearly thrice as long as otherwise, and there is nothing unsightly in the arrangement. In all cases, draught-horses should be placed close to their work — i. e., the traces should be as short as will just allow of the animal's going down an inclination at a brisk pace without coming in contact with the car- riage, the britching for single, and the pole-chains for double harness, being tightened in proportion to keep the carriage from running on them down-hill. For Pole-Chains and Sivinging-Bars, see page 72. The Haines. — In order to divide the draught or pressure of the traces on the shoulders a little, the hames might be furnished with scroll draught eyes ; this, however, has become unfashionable from being much used by cabmen, and for rough draught. Hames Top-Straps. — Care should be taken that these are perfectly sound and strong, especially in 58 HAEXESSING. double harness, where the strain of stopping and back- ing the carriage of necessity comes upon them. Britching and KicJihirj-Stra2). — It is better in single harness to have the britching made with side-straps attached to the buckle or tug of the back-band, and not to pass over the shaft (confined there by a loop or staple as is usual). These side-straps can be tightened or loosened according to the size of the animal, and if properly adjusted, effectually prevent any carriage from running on the quarters. Across the horses' hips and through these straps, confined by square metal D's, passes the kicking-strap, which is attached to the tugs on the shafts by buckles. This caparison, instead of being unsightly, is positively more elegant than the ordinary shaped britching, and provides a kicking-strap at all times with the britching. The kicking-strap for double harness must always be inelegant, nor can it be made as efi'ectual as that for single harness, for which reason, if for no other, a kick- ing horse should never be used in double harness under a gentleman's carriage. Britching is not generally used for double harness ; but where appearances are not regarded, it finds place amongst various other contrivances available to make kickers, jibbers, bolters, plungers, and runaways, work as placidly as "if they couldn't help it."* The Terret-Pad must be left to the taste of the owner and saddler, with an observation, that in single harness it should be ascertained that the back-band has always free play through it, and as a precaution, it * Any one desiring hints in that line can have the benefit of my experience in dealing with such cattle, by applying to my publisher. HAENESSING. 59 is desirable that in single harness the belly-band be always wrapped once rojind at least one of the shafts before the tug, whether the draught be on four or on a pair of wheels. JSTeglect in this particular has often occasioned accidents. The terret-pad is generally placed too far forward ; the shortening of the crupper remedies this. The Collar. — More care and judgment are necessary in shaping the stuffing of the collar to fit a horse than Fio. 1. — Front View of a Collar, with the stuffing placed as it should be for wear with ease and safety. a a, rim of collar all round. 6 b, stuffing projecting round outside of rim. c c, stuffing to project in- side at back of rim, for the purpose of tighten- ing the collar on the neck in that situation, and thus obviate ab- rasion. for any other part of the harness. The collar should not press either on the mane or on the under part of the neck round the gullet ; the pressure should be on each side of the neck at c c in figure. Collars to fit the ordinary run of horses ought to be shaped thus, by the padding exclusive of the rim. The shape of the rim is comparatively immaterial, but it must be strong to re- tain the collar in shape. Any collar, be it ever so well shaped, should be tried on the horse's neck before it is taken into wear, to make sure that it is neither too lar2:e nor too small. Some horses' heads are large in proportion with the size of collar they require ; in such cases, out of com- 60 HARNESSING. passion for the poor animal over whose head the small collar has to be forced at the risk of injuring his eyes, the collar, which is generally closed, should be made open at the top to fasten with buckle and strap. Under ordinary circumstances the open collars are not preferable, as the opening and closing weakens the rim, and is likely to put them out of shape ; but as grooms have a fashion of putting the collar on with the rigid hames tightly buckled round it, the whole process of forcing a small closed collar over a beast's larger head is so repulsive to him that in time he learns to dread the very sight of a collar. The plan of putting on the collar with the hames attached to it should never be permitted. Saving-Collar, and description of make. — This is generally formed by harness -makers of basil with quilted padding. More serviceable than this will be found the saving-collar cut of single leather, from the soft or belly part of the cow-hide. A breast-strap is placed at the bottom of the collar with a loop and buckle at the end, through which the belly-band of the terret-pad passes to confine the collar. Every owner of harness should be provided with one or two saving-collars of this description to be used where severe work is expected, on long journeys, or with animals new to harness. They should be open at the top, to fasten there with two buckles and narrow straps, the tightening or lengthening of the latter en- ablino; it to be fitted to the horse's size. Some care is necessary to observe that the regular collar does not rub the buckles of the saving-collar against the horse's neck and make a sore. The saving- collar should be always kept well moist- HARNESSING. Gl ened with grease or oil, and carefully looked to after use, the crusted sweat and dandriif being scraped off it. In the absence of a saving-collar, the collar itself should be watched in the same respect. The bridles generally in use for harness appear to require little or no improvement. The Bit must be equally adapted to the horse's mouth, &c., as for riding (page 38), except that with harness, while to all appearance using the same kind of bit with a pair of horses, the leverage on the mouths can be altered, by placing the billets or buckle-end of the driving-reins high or low in the cheeks of each, ac- cording to the animal's temper, his bearing on it, &c. In placing the billets in the bit, it should be borne in mind that the more use is made of the curb the more will be taken out of the horse ; therefore, when a long journey or severe work has to be done, animals should be driven in snaffle, or the billets should be placed as near as possible to the mouthpiece of the bit. Experience only can demonstrate the difference in the wear and tear of the general physique, resulting from a judicious arrangement or otherwise of the reins and bit. Blinker's. — The question of " blinkers or no blinkers " can best be answered by the observation, that if you can find horses that may be depended upon to work safely and steadily without them they may be dis- pensed with ; but as such animals are rare, blinkers are likely to continue in general use. Placing crests or ornaments on blinkers, unless the latter are light and well hollowed, and kept extended in front by stiff blinker -straps, is a practice likely to be injurious to the animals' eyes; in fact, all blinkers, unless light and well hollowed, are dangerous for the 62 HAENESSING. eyes, and of course the increased weight of crests and their fastenings aggravates the objection. Heavy forehead -bands and rosettes, though orna- mental, are anything but desirable, as far as the horse himself is concerned. The Noseband of the harness bridle, like the riding one, can by tightening be made very useful with some descriptions of hard-pulling horses. — &ee "Noseband," page 42. The Breastplate, or head-stall martingal, can be made useful in the same way. — See page 40. Throat-lash. — See page 42. Reins. — Saddlers generally suit the reins admirably to the work for which they are intended. A buff hand-piece with pullers is decidedly preferable to plain leather, as its roughness enables the driver to have a much firmer hold of the reins, but will become slippery in wet. The Bearing-Rein is only used to keep up a horse's head and give him a showy appearance, therefore no experienced person will use it except with that object, and it is injurious in every other respect. — [See "■ Broken Knees," pages 51 and 131.) Cruiyper. — This strap is intended to keep the terret- pad and back -band in their proper places, and to restrain the former from running too far forward or pressing on the withers {see " Sore Withers," page 140) ; also as a sustainer to the terret-pad against the bearing-rein when the latter is strained into its hook. Grooms have a very improper habit of leaving the whole of the hinder j)art of the harness suspended in one mass by the crupper-dock on a peg in the wall of the harness-room \ this should not be allowed. Let the HARNESSING. 63 terret-pad when not in use be always placed across a proper saddle -rack, with the britching and crupper suspended therefrom, or let them, at all events, be put somewhere by themselves. To ind on Harness. — First, while the horse's head is towards the manger, place the terret-pad loosely across the back — take hold of the tail, and carefully turn down the hair over the end of the flesh; thus grasping and holding the tail and its hair together in the left hand, with the right draw the crupper-dock over it, and adjust the latter to its place at the root of the tail, being careful not to leave a single loose hair under it. Then arrange your terret-pad in the place where it should work by shortening or length- ening the crujDper-strap ; which done, tighten the belly- band."^ Now turn the horse in his stall, and, your collar and hames having been hung up close at hand, slip the wide end of the former hy itself over the head. Leave the collar so on the narrow part of the neck till you place your hames within the collar-rim, and fasten them thereto by buckling the top strap over the narrow part or top of the collar : now turn the collar and hames round on the neck in the direction of the side over which the mane hangs. Put on the bridle and attach driving-reins, tempo- rarily doubling their hand-piece through the terrets. Fasten the horse thus harnessed to the pillar-reins till you are ready to " put to." To take off Harness, begin by removing the reins and * When a hame martingal strap is used, the pad belly-band should not be finally buckled until it has been passed through the other. 64 DRIVING. bridle, then take off the hames hij themselves, then the collar, and lastly the terret-pad and crupper. DEIVINa. In driving, a man should sit up against his work, and be thoroughly propped by his legs and feet, with the left or rein hand held well in to his body, in front of the waist. Nothing looks more ungraceful than to have the reins at arm's-length. A driver should always be seated before any one else in or about the vehicle ; and having carefully taken a firm hold of the reins in his left hand before mounting his seat, they should so remain, and never be shifted. All turns and manoeuvres must be effected by the fore- finger (and thumb if necessary) of the right or whip hand, either on the off or the near side rein, according as the direction of the intended movement is towards the right or left.''^ With four-in-hand, the general principle is, while allowing only a certain amount of play to the heads of your leaders, to keep your wheelers well in hand, ready for any sudden emergency, bearing in mind that it is only with them, as they are attached to the pole, that you can stop the carriage. A driver having occasion to raise his right hand for any purpose, should first place the whip transversely under the thumb of the left or rein hand (above, but upon, one of the reins), leaving the other hand at * Yankee fashion is to drive with a rein in each hand. This style in Ireland is humorously described as " driving vrith a rein in each hand and a whip in the other." DEIYIXG. 65 liberty; indeed, the whip should always lie in this transverse position, whether in the right or the left hand, unless w^hen in use for correction. Many horses are very clever at watching the whip over the blinkers, and careless pointing forward with it may keep a high- spirited animal in a continual fret. To ascertain how each horse is doing his work, judge not only by the test of the willing horse bearing more on your hand ; see also how each, horse keeps his traces. In whichever case they are slack, you may depend that that horse has no draught upon him; if tight, he is doing his share of the work, or more. A good whip will correct the defaulter so as to avoid an- noying the other horse. There is no better criterion of skill in the use of the whip than this. With the leaders in tandem and four-in-hand, and in low-seated carriages, unless the dash-board be very high, the reins are apt to get under the horses' tails. In such cases, to avoid a kicking match, no immediate attempt should be made to replace the reins while they are con- fined ; but a very light lash of the whip on the leg will engage the attention of the animal, and while the tail is switched up on the touch of the lash, the reins may be released. Horses should always be kept well in hand, unless that, upon a long and tiresome journey, some consideration may be shown for what they have to go through. Under such circumstances, attention may well be directed to the manner the billets are placed in the bit (page 61). On the level a fair pace can be maintained, but up hill no merciful man will ever press his beasts. When a heavy load has to be drawn up a sharp short hill, it is not a bad plan to cheat the horse out of the first half E 66 DRIVING. of it by going at it with an impetus, suffering the pace to merge into a walk without further pressure as the first impetus declines. When the ascent is long and gradual, horses should be allowed to walk the whole way, which can always be admitted of on ordinary roads, where the pace is not intended to exceed eight miles an hour, as the speed may be accelerated when the fall of ground is reached, without distressing the animals. Let a man suppose himself to be obliged to wheel a hand-cart with a heavy burden for a given distance within a given time, on an undulating roadway, and he will soon discover the course he would pursue to effect his object: he would certainly save himself by going very slowly up the hills, and make up the time and dis- tance with most ease by rolling the vehicle at a rapid rate down the declivities. Let the principle of working thus exemplified be always applied to the usage of horses in harness. An old driving maxim may be added, though not recommended by the metre : — *' Up the hill spare me ; Down hill let me run and bear me; On the level never fear me." Or,- " Walk me a mile out and a mile in ; Up the hill spur me not, Down the hill I'll walk or trot; On the plain spare me not ; In the stable forget me not." I have driven a great deal in my life, and have never met with an accident from driving at a fair trot down a moderate hill, with plenty of road-room, and no turn- DRIVING. 67 iiig to be made till after gaining tlie level, the team being well in hand throughout. This observation applies equally to any number of horses ; but with tandem or four-in-hand the wheelers should be held particularly tight, and the leaders pulled back. If, in descending a hill, the wheel can be drawn along rough stones without the horses being also brought on them, it is desirable to avail of such a drag. In such hilly countries as Wales, Devon, (fee, the constant use of a skid is indispensable. The uniniti- ated may not quarrel with me for reminding them of the necessity for keejDing always to their own or the left side of the road {the right on the Continent, in America, and other countries). In turning a corner, however, if it be to the left you intend going, tjefore you make your turn get from your proper side of the road a little towards the right, if possible, and from thence make your turn, by which means you will more easily reach the left, or your proper side, of the new route you in- tend to take, besides being able to see everything that is approaching on the other. To turn a right angle you must have space accordingly, and it is better to make use of that which you see insured to you than to be depending on that which is uncertain. It is hardly necessary to remark that it is infinitely safer to make your turns at a slow pace than faster. Turning quickly round corners is reckless work, but the faster your pace- the more necessary it is to get to the wrong side of the road when turning to the left before you make your turn to the new, or before entering a narrow gateway or passage. When the turn is to the right, you will keep to your own or left side of the road. 68 DKIVING. Where a narrow gateway has to be entered with four wheels, having brought your vehicle fairly in front of it, place your pole directly over the centre or bolt stone ; in the absence of this guide, mark with your eye some object in the centre, and bring your pole right over it. The wheels will take care of themselves if there is at all room for the carriage. With single harness the horse is brought direct at the gate, and kept very straight, his hind feet passing over the centre object. In driving through crowded streets or in a narrow way, esjDCcially with vehicles coming rapidly towards you, and every prospect of a collision, take a stronger hold of your horses, and moderate your pace, remember- ing that, if you cannot avoid grief, the less the impetus the less the crash, if it should come. This result is amusingly exemplified by the stage-coachman's defini- tion of the difference between the results of road and rail accidents. Coachey says, " If even an upset occur on the road, there you are; but if an accident takes place by rail, where are you ? " Remember to collect your horses well in hand before you alter your course on the road, or to cross it, in order to have them alert and handy for any emergency. When travelling in damp weather, the roads being sticky, half wet and dry, your horse requires saving and consideration, no matter to what extent the wind may be blowing, if it goes only in the same diredion as himself. When the roads are perfectly dry, with a light Avind blowing againd your horse, he travels under the more favourable circumstances. Neither blinkers not bit should ever, upon any con- sideration, be removed from a horse while he is attached DRIVING. 69 to a carriage, wlietlier to feed or for any other purpose. AVant of caution in this respect has been a fertile source of most serious accidents. Whe?i a horse falls irretrievably in harness, the driver should avoid leaving his seat till some assistant can go to the animal's head, who, placing his coat or some soft substance between it and the road, to prevent injury to the eyes, presses one or both knees lightly on the neck, but so as to prevent the beast from rising ; which done, the driver can get down from his seat, and, availing of all the aid he can jjrocure, frees all the har- ness as rapidly as possible, and, running back the car- riage from the horse, assists him to rise. To disengage buckles easily in such cases, instead of dragging at the point of the strap in the usual way, force both ends of it to the centre of the buckle, which will cause the tongue to turn back, and so free the strap. When a fall in harness occurs on slii3pery pavement such as some of the London streets, or in frosty weather, before the horse is permitted to make any effort to rise, some ashes, dry clay, sand, sawdust, hay or straw, or even any old rug or piece of cloth or carpet, should be so placed as to prevent him from slipping in his in- effectual and distressing endeavours to recover his legs. Backing. — When a horse takes to backing, and dan- ger is threatened, if you cannot get him forward, and have no assistant to take him by the head, the more rapidly you bring the brute's head to the point where he aims at bringing his tail the better. It is a bad habit, however, to give an animal, to allow of his being taken by the head when he is obstreperous, and should only be resorted to when quite unavoidable. Kicking in Harness. — When there is no kicking-strap 70 DRIVING. or other means of restraint available, and an animal seems disposed to persist in kicking, the driver, retain- ing his seat, should direct some one to hold np one of the fore feet (if he finds a difficulty in doing so, doub- ling the knee and tying a handkerchief tightly round it) so as to prevent the foot reaching the ground, which done, the driver may help to unharness, while the other assistant takes hold of the horse's head. Shying. — See page 86. Riinmcays are frequently checked by sawing the mouth. In such cases, retain your presence of mind, determined to stick to the ship to the last ; if you have the luck to meet with an ascent, that is your time to get a pull. A horse that has once run away, especially if, in con- nection with that feat, he has met wdth any noisy dis- aster or breakage, is never, as long as he lives, safe to drive again. It only remains for his owner to use humanity and judgment in disposing of him. Sfuhhorn horses, or jibbers, in single harness. — On the first appearance of this disposition at starting, the neck should be examined, to discover whether the fit may not have been occasioned by indisposition to work against an ill-fitting or dirty collar, which may have produced abrasion or tenderness of the skin under it (see page 61). If the unpleasantness proceed from innate stubbornness in the brute, and simple means do not succeed in single harness, place him in double harness, beside a well-tempered, good worker, that will drag him away, starting down-hill. In this manner the habit, if not confirmed, will be overcome. In ex- treme cases, diff'erent ap})liances have been used with varied success in making the beast move on — such as a DRAWING. ' 71 round pebble, about the size of a lien's egg, placed in tlie ear, and secured witli a cord tied round the latter, near the tip, or stuffing a glove in each ear. I have also seen coachmen put two or three handfuls of mud into the horse's mouth, and rub it against his palate with good effect, or tap him with a stick at the back of the fore legs, just under the knee. Letting a stubborn beast stand for hours in harness in the spot where he has taken the fit, and, when he has become well hungered, placing a feed of corn before him and gradually w^alking away with it, is a dilatory proceeding sometimes resorted to, but scarcely -worth mentioning. DRAWING. The size of horses should be in proportion to the weight and size of the vehicle and loads they are in- tended to move, upon the principle, easily demon- strated by experiment, that weight drags weight. ■ For instance, a horse having to drag a cart up a hill will do so more easily with the driver on his back than otherwise, as the weight of the man assists the horse against the weight he has to move. The latter part of this argument only refers, however, to short distances, or to starting a draught. The higher the wheels are, and the closer together, whether they be two or four, the lighter will be the draught. In fact, to render the draught as easy as possible, the axles ought to be on a level with the trace-hooks, or point of traction, or as nearly horizontal as possible with the traces and their place in the leg of the hames. It is self-evident that if a horse has to 72 DKAWING. be i^ulling ux), it is like his having to raise a certain part of the weight of the carriage with every step he moves ; and the faster he goes, the more injuriously does this principle operate against him. The point of the pole-and-chain attachment should be always so elevated from its insertion in the carriage as to be on a level with the rings of the hames through which the pole-chains pass. On the point of the pole should be a revolving steel cross-tree, from eight to ten inches in length, in the ends of which the pole- chains or leathers are inserted. The working of this contrivance will, to any practical man, demonstrate its utility. In light double harness, I much prefer using swing- ing-bars instead of one inflexible splinter-bar, unless for very heavy draught. Horses should be placed close to their work. For adjusting the traces to that effect, see page 57. It should be remembered that the farther forward in a carriage the weight to be drawn is placed, the easier will be the draught on the horse. Thus the weicrht of one man at the extreme end of a vehicle (like a conductor on an omnibus) has as much effect on the traction as that of two men on or near the driving-seat. The deader the weight, let it be placed as it may, the greater the trial on the horse ; therefore inanimate matter is heavier on traction than anything having; life. Vehicles of which the lower carriage and axles are kept braced together by a perch steadying the action of the wheels, are much the easiest on the draught. The Americans are well aware of the advantages of such a construction for encountering the roughness of DK AWING. 73 many of their roads. Not only are all their pleasure carriages, or "buggies,." so constructed, but the wag- gons have a perch that by an admirable arrangement can be detached, to allow of the carriage being length- ened when required to carry timber or other lading. The perch, being in two pieces, can be coupled by the simple contrivance of a movable iron band and pin, giving a freedom, most desirable in a rough country, to the movement of the lower carriage. This contrivance works well, and might with advantage be applied to our military train - waggons and ambulance - carts. Horses cannot but suffer from the present construction of carriages in general use, where the axles are left un- supported and unbraced to encounter the roughness and inequalities of the road. Axle- Boxes. — Proper lubrication of the axle-boxes is too often sadly neglected. Even Collin ge's patent will not run freely without periodical aid in proportion to use, and it is no harm to make an occasional examina- tion of the wheels of a carriage when they are lifted off the ground by setters, to see that there is thorough freedom in the working of them, by spinning them round with one's finger against the spokes. The re- application of gutta-percha or leather washers is essen- tial, as the amount of friction by work will wear that requisite. For a few days after the washers are replaced, the boxes should not be screwed too tightly, but subse- quently they should be re-tightened. A round tire is decidedly easier for draught than a flat-edged one. Carriages, immediately after use, should be cleaned, or at least have water dashed over them, to prevent the 74 SHOEING. mud from drying on the paint, which can scarcely fail to deteriorate it, and give it a premature appearance of wear. SHOEING. Some horses are very averse to being shod, through some fright the first time of shoeing, or bad manage- ment. It is better to overcome such shyness or vice by gentleness or stratagem than by force of any kind. Some few animals even require to be cast, or placed under the influence of the painful twitch. Before re- sorting to any force, however, the following means should be tried in preference to others : — Let whoever is in the habit of ridiuf^ or exercisino; the horse mount him when regularly bridled and saddled, the girths be- ing a little looser than if intended for work ; ride to the side of the forge, and there let him (his rider still on his back) be shod the first time ; on the second visit to the forge, if it be spacious enough, he may be ridden into it for the same purpose. In shoeing, the smith's rule ought to be to fit the shoe to the foot, not the foot to the shoe, according to the general practice of those gentry. In London and all large towns the best thing a gen- tleman can do is to contract with a veterinary surgeon for the shoeing as well as the doctoring of his horses. The night previous to a horse being shod or removed, the groom should stop his feet, to soften them, and en- able the farrier to use his drawing-knife properly, and without injury to that instrument. In shoeing, any undue accumulation of sole may be pared away; judgment must however be used in this SHOEING. -Ts particular, as tlie feet of some animals grow more sole than others, and superfluous increase tends to contrac- tion, whereas care must be taken not to weaken the sole of ordinary growth. I am aware that great difference of opinion exists on this subject, but I speak from prac- tical experience of the results of opposite modes of treat- ment in this particular. If no shoes were used, the wear and tear of work Avould provide for the disposal of this accumulation, which, as nature is interfered with by the use of shoes, must be artificially removed. If the frog be jagged it may be pared even, but the sound parts should not be cut away, and on no account should the smith's drawing-knife be allowed to divide the bars or returns of the foot — an operation technically called by the trade " opening the heels," to which falla- cious practice farriers are pertinaciously addicted, be- cause, in some one case of dreadfully contracted feet, they may have seen or heard of temporary relief being given by this process, with the natural result, which they ignore, of the remedy proving itself in time worse than the disease. If farriers are allowed, they will almost invariably drive as many shoe-nails round the inside quarter as the outside. This is a lamentable mistake, especially re- garding the fore feet, as the foot being thus nearly all round confined to the shoe, its proper action is inter- fered with, preventing a possibility of its natural and gradual expansion in action from the toe towards the heel, as the horse lays his foot upon the ground, with aU weight, as well as the act of propulsion, pressed on it. The reason for liberating the inside quarter in prefer-. 76 SHOEING. ence to the outside is, that the inside, being more under the centre of gravity, will be found to expand and con- tract more than the outside, as will be proved by the removal and examination of a shoe that has been in use three or four weeks. On observing the part of the shoe that has been next the foot, it will be distinctly perceived that the friction of the inside quarter of the foot has worn a cavity in the portion of the shoe which has been under that quarter of the foot, while the side that has been under the outside quarter bears compara- tively little evidence of friction above it. This being an established fact, it seems desirable that the full number of nails should be driven round the out- side quarter, and not more than one or two (for hunting purposes) on the inside from the toe. (Six nails alto- gether is the cavalry regulation.) If your horses are not quick wearers on the road, the fore shoes should be removed within two or three weeks after shoeing (care being taken that the clenches of the nails in the hind feet are at the same time properly levelled to the hoof to prevent brushing), and let them be re-shod every five or six weeks. In all foot ailments, whenever a horse is lame, al- though the disease may not apparently be in the foot, let the shoe first be carefully removed, and the shoeless foot examined by as competent a farrier as can be pro- cured (in the absence of a veterinary surgeon), by pin- cers round the nail-holes, gently pressing wall and sole together, by the hammer tapping the sole, and a judici- ous use of the drawing-knife, to detect the possible seat of disease. I have known a lame horse to be brought to a reput- edly-experienced amateur horse-doctor, the cause of dis- SHOEING. 77 ease being so evidently inflammation of the sheath of the tendon, that the ahimal was ordered to be treated accordingly — viz., with cold applications ; and this not succeeding, firing the leg was resorted to, after which, the weather being suitable, it was thought expedient to let the beast have a run at grass. As a preliminary the shoes were removed, in the course of which opera- tion a bed of gravel was found to have secreted itself in the foot of the supposed diseased leg, and the in- flammation occasioned by the gravel having gone up, caused what appeared to be marked disease about the tendon. Such were the results of neglecting the precautions here recommended. Brushing^ or cutting, is a very tormenting weakness in the horse, whether behind or before, and often highly dangerous in the latter case. The ordinary practice of farriers under such circum- stance is to rasp away the inside quarter of the offend- ing hoof, as well as doubly thickening the shoe under the weakened wall, leaving the toe to extend itself for- ward. This is a great mistake, jdelding only a tempo- rary improvement, not at all tending towards a cure. On the contrary, it would be better to shorten the toes by degrees ; and on no account should a rasp be put near the wall of the inside quarter, in order to let it get as strong as possible towards the heel. I would certainly allow no nails to i)e driven inside, but let the shoe be fastened round the outer quarter of the foot, the shoe itself being of equal thickness on both quarters as an ordinary shoe ; but in putting it on, it should not be suffered to project outside the inside quar- ter, and the sJwes might here be rasped to guard against 78 SHOEING. rough edges, whicli might injure the pastern of the op- posite leg during work. A strong clip should also be thrown up on the out- side quarters of these shoes to catch the wall and effec- tually prevent them from shifting towards or projecting beyond the inside quarter, which might cause them to come in contact with the opposite pastern-joint while in motion. Until the brushing be somewhat remedied, an india-rubber ring or a bit of leather, and elastic strap round the pastern, will prevent it from receiving pre- sent injury. If the above treatment is attended to and persevered in^ the probability is that in nine cases out of ten a cure will be effected in course of time. Corns. — Every horse-owner ought to make himself acquainted with the part of the sole between the frog and the wall on the inside quarter of the fore foot, called the seat of corns (seepages 121 and 130), and every time that a horse is shod or removed, in paring the foot the drawing-knife should be used to clean away this cavity (without v/eakening the adjacent wall), where the dis- ease originates from undue pressure of the shoe on the inside quarter of that susceptible spot, or from friction of the coffin-bone, on the inside of the sole, above the seat of corn. The shoe ought to rest entirely on the icall of the foot, and not on any part of the sole. Roughing and Frosting is simjily drawing out the old nails about the toes and replacing them with very large sharp-headed ones, called frost-nails. Horse-nails being made purposely of a soft metal, are unfit for frosting, as the heads wear down so quickly. If smiths would steel the heads of frost-nails, they would last much longer. This precaution against slipping, however, is only effectual in slight frosts. In regular frosting, the SHOEING. 79 nails are carried completely round, with the addition of sharp calkins being turned on the heels of all four feet, and sometimes also short spikes or cogs turned down from the toes ; but the latter are common only in severe climates, though their use is quite as desirable in Eng- land, especially to assist horses in ascending slippery hills, where the cogs on the heels have little or no hold in the ground. Cogs or calkins should be rasped by the smith, to sharpen them, every couple of days. Although it may be inconvenient and expensive to have horses prepared in frosty weather, it is highly necessary to do so where work is required of them. The very extraordinary exertion that is needed on the part of the animal to keep his feet when unprepared, as well as the fret to his energies, takes a vast deal more out of him in one day's work than a month's daily use would do under ordinary circumstances, not to speak of the risk of pecuniary loss from accident. It is a most pitiable thing to see the poor beasts struggling in their high courage and good temper to do their best, for what I can only call cruel or thought- less masters, to say nothing of the liability of the animals' breaking their knees and bringing their riders or drivers to serious trouble, smashing harness and vehicles, &c. I have always found servants most ingenious in making objections to having their horses prepared for frost, the grand secret being their anxiety to keej) them in the stable the whole time the frost lasts, that they may be saved from the trouble of cleaning either them or their caparison, carriages, (fee. They will alarm you with the stereotyped objections, "tearing the horses' feet to j)ieces," "driving fresh nail-holes," "ripping off 80 SHOEING. shoes," '' his feet won't bear a shoe after," &c. I never knew an ordinary sound foot to be reduced to such a condition, by simi:)ly changing shoes, that a good smith could not fasten a shoe on. The only tangible objection to calkins to which at- tention need be drawn is, that during their use, unless the horse is moved about in his stable with great cau- tion in cleaning or otherwise, he is apt to tread with them on the coronet of the opposite foot, which is a very- serious affair, inflicting a nasty jagged wound on one of the most sensitive vascular parts of the animal. The Bar SJioe going all round the foot is intended to protect weak or thrushy heels. Wide-icehbed or Surface Shoes are used with flat- footed, weak-soled horses : leather being often intro- duced above them to save the soles from being damaged by extraneous substances on the road. Higli-heeled Shoes, when a horse is laid up, properly managed, prove a most effectual palliation and aid in the cure of "clap of the back sinew" (page 133). These shoes are made with calkins (joined by a light iron bar), which should not be heavy, not more than an inch deep, and gradually reduced by the smith as the disease abates. Steeling the Toes is necessary with quick wearers on the road ; but particular cautions should be given to the smith to work the steel well into the iron, for any protrusion of this hard metal above the iron will occa- sion tripping, and possibly an irrecoverable fall. Calking the hind shoes moderately on the outside quarter only, is most essential to the hunter to prevent slipping, and to give him confldence in going at his fences, and on landing. Its advantages can be well SHOEING. 81 understood by any sportsman who has experienced the difference between walking liimself a day's simple shoot- ing over soft slippery ground, or taking a ten-mile walk on a half-wet road, in each case in boots with headed nails, to enable him to have a hold in the ground, and undertaking the same exercises in boots without nails, w^here one wearies himself with efforts to keep his feet. I speak as a jDractical man, having probably come to less grief than most others in hunting, which may be attributed mainly to the particular attention bestowed on the calking of my bearers w^hen I was a hard goer. It seems an unimportant matter, but if looked into will be found to be far otherwise. TiiDSy or half-shoes, which cover little more than the toe of a horse, leaving the heels to come in direct con- tact with the ground, are particularly serviceable in cases where the heels are disposed to contraction, and, from my experience, can be used without injury in any ordinary description of work while the frog is sound. The quarters of the feet being left by their use with- out the usual confinement of the shoe, and being pressed to expansion on every movement of the animal, natur- ally become strong and extended. Tips should become gradually thinner, finishing in a fine edge towards the ends. I have seen ill-made tips calculated to lame any horse, with the ends the thickness of an ordinary shoe (though extending, which is the intention of tips, less than half-way down the foot), as if the ^mith who made them expected the heels to remain always suspended in mid air. Slippers. — Regular sportsmen generally carry a spare shoe while hunting ; but if a shoe comes off one of the fore feet in the field or on the road, and the rider is p 82 SHOEING. not provided with a proper shoe, he should at once dismount and lead his bearer to the nearest forge, where an old shoe most approaching to the size of the foot that can possibly be found should be selected from the heaj) of cast ones that generally lies by in a forge, and let it be tacked on with three or four nails only, so as to serve the creature to get home, or until the proper shoe can be made. If a shoe comes off the hind foot, and the distance from home is not above three or four miles, the animal can be led or occasionally ridden that far without in- jury, especially if the softest side of the road be selected for the track, the hind feet being generally much strono;er than the fore. Travelling. — The day before a long journey, look to your horse's shoes ; see that the clinches are well laid down and the shoes nailed tightly. As a rule, do not have new shoes put on just before a journey, for the least carelessness in fitting or nailing them may occa- sion more or less lameness ; should it be severe, disap- pointment and delay may result ; while if only appar- ently slight at starting, and the animal endure the j)ain patiently during its work, the cause being in existence throughout will produce its effects only too palpably w^hen the day's journey is over. If old shoes are nearly worn, but will last the journey, let them by all means remain on ; but directly the work is over, send for any proper smith whose forge is nearest, and have them taken off in the stable. Should the forge not be at hand, the old slippers can of course be tacked on when the horse, having had his rest, is taken to be shod. All shoes, for road-work especially, should be made full long to cover the heels. It should be borne in mind VICE. 83 that, as the hoof grows naturally, the shoe is brought forward and thereby exposes the heels. VICE. In all cases where active vice, such as rearing, kick- ing, jibbing, plunging, has to be combated, the work of correction is half done if the horse is well tired in the first instance, or, in vulgar terms, " the fiery edge taken off him," by half an hour's rapid loungeing, with his neck well bent, chin into chest, on the softest and most tiring ground that is available. For myself, if I find a horse vicious, I never think of combating him if it can be helped, without having first reduced his vigour a little ; and all horsemen who undertake to conquer any seriously bad habits are recommended to consider and adopt this practice, if indeed such is not already their custom. KicJcing, to the horseman, is a matter of very trifling consideration. He may either amuse himself by let- ting the ebullition expend itself, or it may be stopped by chucking up the horse's head and increasing the pace. Kicking in Harness is a different affair, being gener- ally the prelude to disaster, and must be guarded against. — See page 58. Kicldng in the Stable. — Many animals, most gentle in other respects, take inordinate fits of this practice, and generally in the dead of night, as if to make up for their usual quietude on all other occasions ; most frequently they resort to the amusement without any apparent cause of irritation whatever. They will do it 84 VICE. when alone or when in company ; while, were it not for the capped hock and otherwise disfigured legs, as well as the dilapidated stabling behind them, discovered in the morning, you would think that " butter wouldn't melt in their mouths." In other cases the habit pro- ceeds from obvious bad temper or spite towards a neighbour. There are many cures proposed for kick- ing in the stable. One frequently successful is a round log of wood, four or five inches long and about two in diameter, with a staple at one end of it, through which a chain two or three inches long is passed and attached to a strap that buckles round the pastern (just above the coronet) of one hind leg, or a log in this way to each hind leg may be used if necessary. Another means is to pad all parts of the stable that can be reached by the hind feet. In many instances where this plan is adopted, the animal, no longer hearing any noise suggesting to his fancy resistance from behind, will cease kicking altogether, from no other explainable cause. For padding use some pads of hay or oaten straw, covered with coarse canvass, and nailed to all places within reach of his heels. Sometimes, where the habit is supposed to arise from spite towards a neighbour, a change of location will answer. In other cases nothing but arming all parts of the stable within reach with furze bushes, or other prickly repellants, will succeed. It will be well, in treating this vice, to try the rem- edies here recommended in rotation ; first with the otherwise quiet horse try the log, then the padding, the change of location, and the prickly armour in suc- cession. It is a remarkable fact that horses seldom kick in the stable during daylight : leaving a light in VICE. 85 the stable tlirougli the night may therefore effect a cure where all else has failed ; but as light interferes with sleep, it should be the very last resource. Rearing is of little consequence in harness, and sel- dom attempted to any extent ; but to the rider it is, in my opinion, the most dangerous of all bad habits to which a brute may be addicted. As I consider it almost impossible for a horseman to cure a practised rearer, my advice to the owner of such a beast would be, instead of risking his life in the endeavour, to get rid of him to some buyer, who will place him where, in the penal servitude of harness, he may perhaps eke out a useful existence. However, should accident j)lace you on a rearer, directly he rises lay hold of the mane with one hand ; this, while at once throwing your weight forward where it should be, will enable you also to completely slacken the reins, which is important. No one need be ashamed to adopt this plan. I have seen the best riders do so. Vicious rearing may, on its first manifestation, be sometimes checked by a determined and reckless rider giving a well-directed blow on the ear with some bother- ing missile ; but this is a venturesome proceeding, and only in emergency should it be resorted to, as an ill- directed blow is very likely to produce poll-evil, or knock the sight out of an eye. It is said that a bottle full of water, broken on the ear of a rearing horse, proves an effectual cure; but happily the danger to the rider during such treatment of his bearer, is a strong guarantee against the frequent adoption of this barbarous practice. In many cases lowering one hand with the rein on that side when the horse is just beginning to rise, will have the effect of 86 VICE. breaking the rear, the horse being urged forward with the spur the instant his fore legs are down ; but if, when he has gained anything like the perpendicular, the rein or head be chucked, or by any misfortune in- terfered with, the chances are that the brute will walk about on his hind legs like a dancing dog, and most likely finish by falling back on his rider. A martingal is sometimes found to be a preventive, especially a running one. Jihhing. — The disposition to this vice is generally called into action, in the first instance, by the fret con- sequent on the abrasion of the neck by the collar, or by the working of uneven traces (page 57). The use of a saving-collar, and the careful adjustment of the traces, may therefore obviate ^he propensity. Sometimes jibbing is the effect of bad handling when starting with a heavy load. Where such a disjDosition evinces itself, the carriage should be pushed from be- hind, or another horse placed beside, or, if possible, in front of the jibber, to lead him oiF. Shying may proceed from various causes, such as defective sight, nervousness, or tricks ; thus it may be the result of either constitutional infirmity or of vice. From whatever cause proceeding, the proper way to manage a shying horse is, to turn his head away from the object at which he shies, in riding, pressing the spur to the same side to which his head is turned ; thus, if the object he dislikes be on the right, turn his head to the left, and press your left leg, giving him that spur, and vice versa, according to the side on which the object to be avoided is found. If you have to deal with a bad shyer, your time being precious, and you only care to get through your present ride with the VICE. 87 least unpleasantness possible, in addition to the above- mentioned means, take him, if necessary, well by the head, the reins in each hand, and saw or job his mouth rather sharply, keeping him in rapid motion till you pass the object. Operating thus on his mouth severely, if necessary, will engage his attention, and cheat him out of his ap- prehension for the moment. It is bad horsemanship, and dangerous besides, to force a horse's head toicards an offending object while in motion ; but if it is particularly desirable that the animal should become familiarised with anything of which he is shy, let him be brought to a standstill, and coaxed up gradually to it, that he may assure himself of its harmlessness by smelling and feeling it with his nose and lij)S, if possible. Punishment by whip or spur — what is called " cram- ming " him up to a thing — is a vile error. When a horse is found to evince a confirmed objec- tion to passing a particular place, and that he. keeps bolting and turning viciously, in spite of all ordinary efforts to prevent it, take him at his own fancy, and keep turning and turning him till he is so tired of that game, that he will only be too glad to go forward past the objectionable spot. A horse's sense of smelling is very acute, and sometimes a dead animal in the ditch or field by the side of the road, though unseen, will cause an abrupt and very unseating sort of a shy, with an ordinarily quiet beast of sensitive olfactory nerves. CAPRICE. SELLING. If the horse you wish to dispose of be a fancy one, either for beauty, action, or disposition, and a fancy price be required, efforts must be made to obtain the fancy customer to suit, and time and attention must be devoted to that object. But if he be of the ordinary useful class, unless a purchaser be found at once, let the owner, directly he has made up his mind to part with him, think of the best market available, whether public auction, a fair, or private sale by commission. The public auction, with a good description of the animal's merits, if he has any, is the readiest and least troublesome mode of disposing of all unsuitable pro- perty ; and from my own experience, I should say that the better plan is to make up one's mind positively to dispose of such the first time it is put up by the auctioneer, having, of course, placed a reasonable and rather low reserve price on it, and provided that the sale be fairly attended by purchasers ; otherwise I should not allow my property to be offered until a more favour- able opportunity. A valuable and fancy animal, if his owner is not pressed to sell, had better be disposed of by full adver- tisement and private sale at his own stable. CAPHICE.* AU horsemen know how whimsical horses are, and the best riders feel a certain amount of diffidence, and * A suggestion has been made by one of the ablest reviewers CAPKICE. 89 even awkwardness, on beginning witli any new mount, until a more perfect acquaintance is established between man and horse. A horseman who identifies himself with his steed will sometimes by a mere fluke hit off the means of having his own way with a capricious though perhaps really well-disposed animal, if one only knew the way to manage him. For instance, a first-class hunter of my own (Baronet), whose excellent performance in the field, where I had seen him tried, induced me to purchase him, soon gave evidence of a peculiarity for which, unknown to me, he had made himself remarkable. No ordinary means could prevail upon him to go through any street of a town except such as he pleased himself, of which he gave me evidence the first day I had occasion to try him in that way, walking on his hind legs directly his will was disputed on the subject, even to the extent of a mere pressure on the rein at the side he was required to turn. In my difficulty instinct prompted me to drop the reins and gently direct his progress with the point of the whip at the side of his nose, and in this way he went ever after as quiet as a sheep with me. Having discovered his caprice, I was always provided with a handle of a whip or a switch of some kind for his bene- fit. Riding him one day into Dycer's, an old acquaint- of the first edition of this work, to add a chapter on caprices of horses ; and doubtless such would be so extremely interesting, that the temptation to insert notes under this head in my first edition was only overcome by the determination to avoid being led into anecdote, which has been strictly observed throughout, as being out of keeping with the concise style in which it was intended that the book should be produced. A few practical hints are, how- ever, here classed under the head of " Caprice." 90 CAPRICE. ance of his, well aware of liis propensity, exclaimed in terms not complimentary to Baronet at my possession of him, and was much amused when I told him my simple method of managing this self-willed gentleman. The same sort of what I can scarcely help terming "instinct" that has often taught me, and doubtless hundreds of other practical horsemen, to meet the whims of their steeds so as to suit themselves, produced a vic- tory somewhat similar to the foregoing over an animal that, in the presence of a large assembly interested in his performance, most determinedly refused to trot, though ridden successively by the most skilled nags- men Dycer's yard could produce, as well as by Dycer himself. I proposed to try my hand, and the animal at first start pursued the same uneasy half canter with me ; but perceiving that he seemed particularly desirous to take a drink from a trough that happened to be in the way, I allowed his attention to be distracted by taking as much water as he pleased from it ; and then turning him in the opposite direction from that in which he had so obstinately persisted in his own gait, patting and doing all I could to reassure him, dropping the bit-rein altogether, and taking a very light and lengthened hold of the snaffle-rein, I let him move off at his own pace, which, to the surprise of every one present (my own, I admit, included), proved to be a walk, which he imme- diately changed into a jog-trot all up the yard, winning for me a bet of twenty sovereigns to one from the late Edward Dycer, that the horse could not be made to trot within a quarter of an hour of the rider mounting. Now, it is only caprice that can account for the likes and dislikes of horses about going lead or wheel in CAPRICE. 91 four-in-liand. One horse will not stir till removed from the wheel, and another will be equally unmanageable if assigned the leader's part, while an exchange of places will perhaps render both animals perfectly tractable. In double harness it may sometimes be observed that an animal, while working by itself, or with others not faster, will casually show great spirit, but when coupled with another possessing more life and action, it will seem at once subdued from its former liveliness, and go along like a slug, quite out of sorts at finding itself outpaced, &c., while its more sprightly neighbour will exhibit a double ebullition of spirits, as if in re- proach to say, " Why can't you come on?" To prove such cases of whimsicality further, replace the apparent sluggard by coupling with our vivacious steed a more lively and active animal, and you will see the latter in his turn become subdued and " shut up," in comparison with his previous sprightliness. Again, although the animal is decidedly gregarious, a horse, from some dislike to its companions or other whim, will absolutely pine and cease to thrive in a stall stabled with others, and be restored to its usual spirits and health on removal to a loose-box. Such animals are generally restless at night, and show great ability in smashing their head-collars. On the other hand, most horses like company, and will pine away if kept alone. These things should be studied. P A K T 11. DISEASES. When I had nearly completed this little manual, chance placed in my way a valuable work called the ' Illustrated Horse - Doctor, by Edward Mayhew, M.R.C.V.S., which has borne me out in many of my opinions regarding various diseases, and given me some useful elucidation as to the latest approved treatment of some ailments. I would strenuously recommend the work for its simplicity and usefulness to country gentlemen and other owners of valuable horses who can afford to pur- chase it ; they would derive great assistance from it, not only as far as regards the written matter, but also from the spirited and very characteristic illustrations, exemplifying more clearly than any description pos- sibly can do, matters connected with the treatment of horses under disease. As to this little work, any remedy herein advised to be used, without reference to competent authorities, is OPERATIONS. 93 practical and may be depended on, though intended to be harmless in any eve'nt. However, every one must be aware that doctors will differ, and some who are critics may have pet theories of their own, which they might here and there prefer to parts of the practice here recommended. It may be borne in mind, nevertheless, that diseases, like politics, with time and occasion are liable to change their character. Many diseases are far more easily prevented than cured ; and I must, in the very first instance, protest against the unnatural and injurious warmth by heated foul air, so much advocated by grooms, as a means of giving condition, to produce which, food, work, and air are the safe and natural agents. Wherever a means of avoiding any disease herein touched upon has suggested itself, it is prominently set forth, in just appreciation of the golden rule, that "prevention is better than cure." OPERATIONS. As all painful operations can now be performed under the influence of chloroform, the least compensation an owner can make to his poor beast for the tortures he is put to, in order to enhance his value and usefulness to his master, is to lay an injunction on^the professional attendant to make use of this merciful provision, in cases where severe pain must otherwise be inflicted on the animal. Rarey's method of casting for operations, or when a horse is so extremely unruly as to require to be 94 OPERATIONS. thrown down, may be thus quoted from his own directions : — " Everything that we want to teach a horse must be commenced in some way to give him an idea of what you want him to do, and then be repeated till he learns perfectly. " To make a horse lie down, bend his left fore-leg and slip a loop over it, so that he cannot get it down. Then put a surcingle round his body, and fasten one end of a long strap around the other fore-leg, just above the hoof. Place the other end under the surcingle so as to keep the strap in the right direction ; take a short hold of it with your right hand ; stand on the left side of the horse; grasp the bit in your left hand; pull steadily on the strap with your right ; bear against his shoulder till you cause him to move. As soon as he lifts his weight, your pulling will raise the other foot, and he will have to come on his knees. " Keep the strap tight in your hand, so that he can- not straighten his leg if he rises up. Hold him in this position, and turn his head towards you; bear against his side with your shoulder, not hard, but with a steady equal pressure, and in about ten minutes he will be down. As soon as he lies down he will be completely conquered, and you can handle him at your pleasure. " Take off the straps and straighten out his legs ; rub him lightly about the face and neck with your hand, the way the hair lies ; handle all his legs, and after he has lain ten or twenty minutes let him get up again. After resting him a short time make him lie down and get up as before. Repeat the operation three or four tinies, which will be sufficient for one lesson. TO GIVE A BALL. 95 "Give liim two lessons a-day; and when you have given him four lessons h,e will lie down by taking hold of one foot. As soon as he is well broken to lie down in this w^ay, tap him on the opposite leg with a stick when you take hold of his foot, and in a few days he will lie down from the mere motion of the stick." For the purpose of handling horses more easily tvitJwut casting them, when slight operations have to be performed, a twitch is used, made by 7 or 8 inches of cord formed into a noose, which is attached to about two feet of a strong stick. The noose is placed on the upper lip of the horse, and by turning the stick round and round, it is tightened. The pain thus occasioned to the animal subdues him to bear almost anything, and he can thus be subjected to minor operations while standing, but it is also as well to place a cloth over his eyes to prevent his being too well informed of what is going on, — a precaution which may be used with advantage under various other circumstances, such as measuring the height, when the sight of the size- measure as placed against his shoulder might alarm him — in fact, upon any occasion when it may be desir- able that a horse should not be aware of w^hat is passing around him ; for instance, if he is unwilling to go on board ship or into a horse-van. TO GIVE A BALL. ^ Turn the animal round in the stall so as to have his head to the light, making the least possible fuss or noise. Stand on a stool on the off side, and, gently putting 96 TO GIVE A DEENCH. your hand in tlie mouth, draw the tongue a little out ; place the fingers of the left hand over it, and keep it firmly in this position by pressure against the jaw — not holding the tongue by itself, as a restless horse, by suddenly drawing back or sideways while his tongue is tightly held, may seriously injure himself. The ball having been oiled to cause it to pass easily, is to be taken between the tips of the fingers of the right hand, and then, making the hand as small as pos- sible, pass the ball uj) the mouth by the roof to avoid injury from the teeth. Directly the ball is landed well up on the root of the tongue, take away that hand, and as soon as it is out of the mouth, let the left hand re- lease the tongue, which, in the act of being drawn to its proper place, will help the ball down. An assistant standing at the near side may be useful to hand the ball to the operator, and to gently keep the jaws open while the ball is being given. Have a warm drink ready to give immediately after the ball is taken. It may be remarked that in racing stables, where such things are generally well done, young and small boys will, quite alone, coolly take spirited, and often vicious animals, and in the most gentle manner ad- minister the ball, unsuspected by the beast himself, who is hardly made aware of the operation he is under- going. To give a Drencli. — Turn the animal round in his stall as in administering a ball. Use a cow's horn, the wide end having been closed up by a tinman. Pour in the liquid at the narrow end, the mouth of which should be an inch in diameter. The operator, standing on the off side, should have PURGING. 97 an assistant; both should be tall, or make themselves so by standing on firm Stools or a form. The assistant must raise the horse's head till his mouth is above the level of his forehead, and keep it in that elevated position steadily while the drench is administered — such position being necessary to facilitate the passage of the liquid down the throat by its own gravity, the tongue not being here an available agent, as with the ball. The operator, taking the wide end of the horn in his right hand, can steady and assist himself by holding the upper jaw with his left, and, leaving the tongue at liberty, will discharge the drench from the horn below the root of the tongue if possible. A proper drenching-horn should be always kept at hand, and be well cleaned after use. A glass bottle should never on any account be sub- stituted for the proper instrument. PURGING. Whenever an animal accustomed to high feeding and hard work is from any cause laid by, it is most desir- able (in pursuance of the golden rule that prevention is better than cure) to take such opportunity to relax the hitherto tightly-strung bow, by administering a mild purge. The object of this precaution is, that the absorbents, having been accustomed to a perpetual call as the re- sult of perspiration induced by work, are liable, when the beast is left at rest for several days, and this call is thus discontinued, to take on unhealthy action, and G 98 PURGING. engender diseases, tlie most fatal of which is that scourge "Farcy." How many a fine horse, to all appearance in the best condition, have I seen stricken with this fell malady, from no other accountable cause than that which it is hereby proposed to guard against ; besides, every one knows that any animal kept at rest and fed up is more predisposed to all kinds of inflammatory attacks, and when thus visited the system more readily succumbs. More than this, every practical man is aware that an occasional aloetic purge improves the health, condition, and vigour of a horse. It seems as if the aloes acted as a powerful tonic and renovator as well as purge. What trainer will think of putting a lusty or ill- conditioned animal into " fettle " without employing this purge as a partial means ? It is very dangerous to give a purging medicine to a horse without first preparing the bowels by relaxing them moderately with bran mashes. This is best done by giving about three or four sloppy mashes, three in the course of the day preceding the administration of the purge (reducing the quantity of hay to one-third the usual amount), and one the first thing next morning, no water or hay being given before- hand that day ; about two or three hours after the mash, administer the purge, giving just before and after it as much warm water as the beast will drink. No hay should be allowed this day or night, but as many sloppy mashes as will be accepted should be given. Give two hours' brisk walking exercise in clothes about six or eight hours after the administration of the PURGING. 99 purge, and next morning, after a mash and watering (always with warm water), two more hours of the same exercise in ck)thes ; but be careful not to sweat the horse. — See page 144. If the evacuations be fully free, less exercise is necessary ; otherwise, in a couple of hours repeat the w^alking at a brisk pace. When the desired effect of the medicine has been satisfactorily produced, hay and corn may be gradually resorted to. While an animal is under the operation of purgative medicine the water and mashes should be warmed, and the body well protected from cold by clothing and the exclusion of draughts. The ordinary purge, consisting of Barbadoes aloes 4 drachms, extract gentian 2 drachms, is mixed into a mass by any chemist. With some delicate horses, sub- ject to looseness, this purge may be too strong, and should be reduced by a drachm of aloes and half a drachm of gentian. On the contrary, with large horses of a full habit, 5 drachms of Barbadoes aloes or even more may be neces- sary, with 2 drachms of gentian. In all cases where there is reason to suppose that the mucous surfaces of the alimentary canal may be in a state of irritation, it is mucli safer to give linseed-oil, say a pint at a time, to which may be added, if speedy purging be essential, twenty drops of croton oil. The use of old dry hay will be ^ound the most simple and ready primary resource to stop purging and steady the action of the bowels, and a very little bruised oats may also be given in such cases. Should the purge appear to grijDe, co^dIous clysters of warm water will aiford relief. 100 DISEASES OF THE HEAD THE PULSE is easily found by placing the two forefingers under the middle of the horse's jowl or cheek-bone. The novice can feel about here till he discovers pulsation, and having once made himself acquainted with its seat, he will be the better able to judge of a horse when appar- ently out of sorts. Inside the forearm, and in other spots, the pulse is equally superficial, but under the edge of the cheek-bone is the most convenient place to find it, or at the temple. A horse's pulse in health beats from about 32 to 38 a minute — the smaller the animal the faster the cir- culation will be. In brain affections the pulse is slower than natural ; it is quickest in inflammation of the serous and fibrous membranes — much slower in the mucous ones. DISEASES OF THE HEAD AND RESPIRATOEY ORGANS. Glanders. — As there is really no cure for this horrible disease, I will not attempt any dissertation upon it, but, merely referring to the remarks upon nasal gleet, page 106, advise all, ivhenever they liave the least susjncion about the latter, to consult a veterinary surgeon imme- diately. The only preventive against the disease is to keep and work your horses in a reasonable manner, give them plenty of pure air at all times, and to guard them as carefully as possible from contagion. AND RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 101 Sore Eyes should be treated mildly by stuping with tepid water, and the use of laxatives, as mashes, green food, or a mild purge, according to the severity of the case. Keep in darkness. If the affection is acute, con- sult a professional veterinary surgeon. Common Cold and Influenza. — It should be remem- bered that cold air seldom gives cold, but rather its action upon the exhalent vessels of the skin when they are under the process of sweat, and when the exercise that produced the latter has ceased. The superficial action of a low temperature then proves an astringent, clogging the small exhalent and exuding vessels, and by the derangement of the whole animal system, imme- diately affects the resj)iratory organs, producing more or less fever. When disease is thus contracted, it is self-evident that the best way to meet it is by forcing these small vessels into exudation (or sweat) as rapidly as possible, which may readily be done by exercise and clothing upon the very first suspicion that a chill has been taken, and before the animal is ijosiiively affected. Once, however, that the debility or feverish symptoms inci- dental to the disease are manifesting themselves, active but entirely different measures must be resorted to. The premonitory symptoms of cold, and that scourge of the stud, influenza, are, refusal of corn, staring coat, dull eyes, at first a thin and soon a purulent discharge from one or both nostrils, with more ^ or less cough ; pulse wired, sometimes very weak, but if highly in- flammatory symptoms be present, thin and rapid. Under these circumstances, if a professional veteri- nary surgeon is procurable, the case should be referred to him ; but rather than suffer an ordinary farrier to 102 DISEASES OF THE HEAD deal Avith the beast, I will take the liberty in this, as in other cases, to offer simple remedies that can do no harm, and have in my own experience been beneficial. Bleeding is admissible only in extreme cases, and under professional advice, at the commencement of an inflammatory attack, in aff'ections of the brain, or serous and fibrous membranes — not in mucous ones. In cases, however, of sudden pulmonary congestion, or apoplexy of the lungs, general depletion is indicated. Blood- letting should never be had recourse to in distemper or injiuenza^^ neither should purging be thought of in such cases, as it lowers the system, which, on the con- trary, requires all the sustaining power possible. Give at once, in the most inviting small mash of bran, or in the form of a ball, — 2 drachms of nitre ; giving little or no hay, and nothing but warm mashes of bran or linseed, if they will be taken. If the symp- toms are urgent, give in a ball, — 3 drachms of nitre, with 1 drachm of camphor. Also %cell hand-ruh, with a liniment composed of equal parts spirits of turpentine and oil mixed, all under the windpipe, the gullet, within three inches of the ear, by the parotid glands, and inside the jowls. Use the liniment twice the first day if the symptoms are severe, and once each day subsequently — abating its use ac- cording to the disappearance of the disease. The horse should be placed if possible in a loose-box, * A little work on blood-letting, by Professor Hugh Ferguson of Dublin, is well worthy of consultation on the subject. AND EESPIEATOKY OEGANS. ]03 and being kept warm with plenty of sheets, hoods, and bandages, the door and window of his stable should be thrown open during a considerable ]3ortion of the warmer part of the day, to give him plenty of freth pure air. The head should be kept as pendant as possible, in order to induce the throwing off of the nasal discharge, which will be further assisted by steaming the nostrils, using a very large nose-bag (if possible of haircloth), half -filled with common yellow deal sawdust, having an ounce of spirits of turpentine well mixed through it ; or better, hot bran mashes, of which the poor beast may be tempted to pick a little when first applied. Either application must be kept at a high tempera- ture by the frequent addition of hot water. The nose-bag must be used several times a-day — kept on for twenty minutes at a time, and never suf- fered to remain on the animal till its contents (which should of course be frequently changed) become cold or offensive. As recovery progresses, gradually resume ordinary feeding — remembering that in this, as in all cases of illness, where the constitution has been debilitated, it has to be carefully rebuilt by food and suitable exer- cise to fit the animal for work. It should be borne in mind that respiratory diseases appear to be very con- tagious, for which reason, if for no other, the patient on the first outbreak of distemper should be removed away from the rest of the stud to a loose-box, if prac- ticable ; the stall he leaves should be cleansed, and all his utensils kept rigidly separate. White-wash and chloride of lime are useful and simple as disinfectants. 104 DISEASES OF THE HEAD Tliis disease is more easily prevented than cured, and horse-owners do well to avoid leaving an animal Avhen heated, or after exercise, standing unclothed in the cold or in a chilly draught. Also be careful about transferring a horse suddenly from total exposure at grass, or from a healthy airy stable to an ill-ventilated and crowded one. Though influenza or distemper are often considered to be epidemic, contagion should be, as before observed, most carefully guarded against. Some professional men hold these two designations to represent distinct dis- eases. In influenza the animal becomes speedily at- tenuated, and the whole system appears disordered and debilitated, occasionally with lameness, as if from fever of the feet. There is generally one mark which may be permitted to be peculiar as distinguishing some forms of influenza, particularly in certain seasons during its prevalence, which is that of the mucous surfaces assuming a yellow colour all over the body, and the white of the eye being also tinged with that hue. When influenza assumes a serious character, the pro- fessional man must be left to deal with it ; but pending the arrival of such assistance, the treatment here recom- mended can do no harm, the primary seat of the dis- ease being that of the respiratory organ. Larynrjitis, Bronchitis, Pleurisy. — I will not attempt to enter into descriptions or prescribe separate modes of treatment for these and other diseases of the respira- tory organs, such delicate distinctions belonging exclu- sively to the professional man ; but while awaiting his advice, the treatment recommended for common cold and influenza can do no harm in any attacks of the AND TJESPIEATORY OEGANS. 105 upper air-passages ; and wlien tlie kings or cavity of the chest appear to be affected, that advised as follows for inflammation of the lungs is equally harmless. Irifiamnudion of the Lungs or Pneumonia is indicated by great prostration and high fever, heaving of the flanks (an evidence of great internal anguish) ; the legs are spread out to their fullest extent, as if to prop up the body and prevent it from falling ; the breathing is difficult, and respiration quick ; extremities cold ; a look of pain and wretchedness marks the countenance. '■ Such symptoms can be safely treated by a profes- sional man only ; but if his services cannot possibly be procured, rub in a powerful mustard poultice over the lungs, the seat of which I cannot better describe to the uninitiated than as situated beneath that portion of a horse's surface which would be covered by a saddle if placed on his belly directly underneath the situation it would have occupied on his back, the pommel being close to the fore legs, omitting to blister the portion of the belly which would be covered by the cantel of the saddle when reversed, but continuing the blister be- tween the fore legs to the front of the chest. The hair need not be clipped off before the applica- tion of this poultice. Give every six hours till the arrival of the veterinary surgeon from 30 to 40 grains of ordiucary grey powder mixed and administered in the form of a ball.t * The difference between this disease and attacks of the lower viscera is, that the animal does not kick about, but generally stands as if hopeless and helpless. *f- Practical men will tell you that the readiest and best way to mix grey powder, as water will not make it adhere, is with saliva in the palm of the hand, from whence it is transferred by a blunt knife to the horse's tongue near the root, the tongue being drawn 106 DISEASES OF THE HEAD Let the animal have an additional quantify of tlie purest air, with an increased supj)ly of clothing, and in cold weather the temperature should be slightly mode- rated. His strength must be kept up after the first day or two by drenches of gruel, till mashes will be accepted. Nasal Gleet may possibly be occasioned by protracted irritation of diseased molar teeth ; but if persistent, especially of a thin, ichorous, glairj^, or size -like char- acter, the glands under the jaw being swollen and ten- der, the Schneiderian membrane or mucous lining of the nose having a dull, pale, or leaden hue, it should be looked on with suspicion, particularly if confined to one nostril, and more so if the discharge adhere round the rim of it. In such cases consult a veterinary surgeon without a moment's delay, and be careful to prevent any part of your own body, or that of any other person, coming in contact with such a discharge. It is very probably in- cipient glanders of the most insidious and dangerous character. To more clearly distinguish the dangerous from the harmless gleet, it may be remarked that when the dis- charge is thick and purulent, yellow, and in full flow, and without a disposition to adhere to the nostril, though the most alarming in appearance, it is least to be apprehended, proceeding naturally from a heavy cold in the head, which, however, should of course meet with immediate attention. — {See " Cold, Influ- enza," page 101.) For the prevention of nasal gleet, out for the purpose. I can vouch for the efl&cacy of this not very elegant proceeding where expedition is an object, having witnessed it myself. AND TIESPIRATORY ORGANS. 107 observe the same precautions as those recommended against cold, &c. (page 100), and keep your horses as much as possible to themselves. In travelling, horses run great risks, and, of course, such diseases are less likely to be contracted in first- class hostelries than in inferior and hack stabling. Poll-Evil is generally occasioned by a bruise on the head, behind the ears, near the neck, by pressure of the head-stall, &c. (see " Haltering," page 17), when, if great care be not exercised to cure the sore promptly, sinuses or cavities will form, eating away into the more import- ant parts of the adjacent structure. Here also, unless an immediate cure be effected by the means directed for the treatment of sores (see " Water-dressing," page 149, and "Zinc Lotion," page 147), accompanied with the removal of the head-stall or any aggravating pressure, the veterinary surgeon ought to be consulted at once. Avoiding the causes will be the best j)reventive of this disease. Shivering Fits in general precede or are the com- mencement of a feverish attack, therefore, in such cases, no heating food must be alloM^ed. Substitute hot mashes, increase the clothing, and administer a febrifuge, as nitre, 2 drachms, repeated in two hours. Sldvers in the stable, proceeding from nervous sensi- bility, are frequently the result of recent excitement, caused by a band, an organ, or other unusual noise, or even by the sudden entrance of the beast's own attend- ant, the bounding of a cat, &c. Strangles generally attacks young horses about the age of maturity, or when first stabled. Debility grad- ually possesses them; the throat, and particularly the parotid glands under the ears, are sore and swelled, lOS DISEASES OF THE HEAD tending to distinguish tliis disease from ordinary cold and influenza ; a discharge from the nose is also pre- sent. The sooner the suppurative process can be in- duced in the throat the better. For this purpose rub in turpentine and oil (one part turpentine to two parts oil) once or twice a-day, which, when the skin becomes tender, must be carefully done with a sf)onge. A^Tien the suppuration is ripe, a professional man should let it out with a knife, and recovery speedily ensues. As great debility is attendant on this disease, the system should be kept up by bruised and scalded corn, and the appetite tempted in every way by green meats,* minced carrots, &c., if requisite. Plenty of air is also essential. It ought to be superfluous to remark that under such circumstances neither bleeding, purging, nor reducing means of any kind should be adopted, the bowels being merely kept open by bran and occasional linseed mashes, which will assist the mucous surfaces. The chill to be taken ofl" the drink. Soreness of the Throat frequently accompanies dis- temper or cold, and is indicated by want of appetite, constant endeavour to swallow the saliva, difficulty in imhlhing liquids, which, instead of going down the throat, appear to be returned through the nostrils, noisy gulping, &c. Rub the throat at once with a mixture of equal parts turpentine and oil, and keep up the irritation on the skin. Administer 2 drachms of nitre once or twice the first twenty-four hours, the animal being, of course, laid by AND RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 109 from all work, and placed in a loose-box ; let him be fed on bran and linseed mashes, and given green food, carrots, and anything that will tempt his appetite. Avoid purging, bleeding, or anything that will lower the system — a rule to be most particularly observed in all diseases of the respiratory organs, unless severe in- flammation be present, when a professional man only can judge to what extent the lowering process may be necessary. Broken Wind is caused by a large number of the air- cells of the lungs becoming fused, as it were, into one large air-cell, thus diminishing the aerating surface, and rendering the lungs weaker. It is indicated by a sudden inspiration and a long, almost double, expira- tion ; the flanks and abdomen are observed to suddenly fall down, instead of being gradually expanded. Broken wind is, in fact, emphysema of the lung, and there is said to be no absolute cure for it ; but it may be alleviated by restricting the animal in hay and water, and giving the latter only in small quantities, not more than half-a-pint at a time, and moistening all food. Take care he does not eat his bed, which he will make every efl"ort to do. He should have no straw about him in the day, and be muzzled at night. Lampas does not belong properly to these diseases, in- dicating some derangement in the alimentary canal, but is here mentioned to guard against a brutal practice com- monly resorted to by farriers as a cure for- the disorder. The groom complains that his charge is "ofi" his feed," and fancies that the palate is swollen more than usual — the fact being that he never examined it at any other time ; and the farrier proceeds to cure the rejec- tion of food by searing the poor beast's mouth with a 110 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS, ETC. red-liot iron, or scarifying it with a knife. The reason- able treatment of an ailment proceeding from heat or disorder of the stomach will be to withhold all heating food, at all events to a great extent, giving occasional mashes, also tonics and alteratives, the latter to those of full habit, the former in cases of evident debility. DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE AND URINARY ORGANS. Diarrhoea and Dysentery. — The first (diarrhcea, or mere looseness) is, in the horse, seldom more than a tem- porary debility. In many cases it is an effort of nature to relieve herself, and will probably effect its own cure. The symptoms require no definition, except that it may be remarked that they are almost invariably unac- companied by pain or any other inconvenience. Rest, and the use of more astringent food, and leaving a piece of chalk in the manger (which, with horses subject to diarrhoea, should never be absent), will in all probability arrest the attack, which may, to a certain extent, proceed from a predisposition to acidity. Animals disposed to this disease should be fed on a drier description of food. Dysentery is, on the contrary, a highly dangerous illness, accompanied with pain. It mostly commences with excessive purgation, the evacuations being mere foul Avater in appearance, and stinking. The beast will drink greedily ; the jDulse is w^eak ; great anguish of body perceptible, the perspira- tion breaking out in patches. ' On the first appearance of such dangerous symptoms, COLIC AND GEIPES. Ill procure the assistance of a professional man ; but in the interval the following drench may be given : — Laudamim, 1 oz. ) -kt- Powdered chalk, A oz. 3 or, Catechu, powdered, 1 drachm. ) ■^. Chalk, ^ oz. i or, Sulphuric ether and laudanum, of each one ounce. Also injections of cold linseed tea. The dose may be repeated in three or four hours, if medical assistance does not arrive. As great care is necessary in the diet, as well as general treatment, after partial recovery, everything should be done under professional advice. An attack of dysentery is very likely to be caused by the existence of some acrid matter in the intestines, or by an overdose, or too constant use, of aloes. As with diarrhoea, horses predisposed to dysentery ought always to have a lump of chalk in the manger, and constant or overdoses of aloes should be avoided. . COLIC AND GRIPES. As these diseases are sudden, and require prompt treatment, it is well to have some idea of the kind of remedy to be employed pending the arrival of the ve- terinary surgeon. Some animals are peculiarly subject to them, from a susceptible state of the alimentary canal. Cold water, taken on an empty stomach, or when a beast is heated, will cause the malady. The symptoms are distress, evinced by pawing, lift- ing of the fore and hind feet towards the stomach, the head being turned towards the sides, with a look of 112 COLIC AND GEIPES. anguish ; a cold sweat will sometimes bedew the body. A desire to lie down may be exhibited, and when on the ground the animal rolls about in evident agony. The upper lip is strained upwards from the teeth, al- most closing the nostrils, and the pulse indicates de- rangement of the system. When the true character of the ailment has been as- certained, it is well to inquire as to the character of the evacuations. If they are in a lax state, and a cause for the same can be discovered, of course discontinue it, and use astringent clysters for the bowels (page 148). If there be reason to apprehend that some offending matter is retained in the alimentary canal, use emollient laxatives and clysters (pages 147 and 148). But if anything like costiveness is present, and other remedies fail, recourse must be had to that of " back-raking," a process which need not be here explained, being well known to every experienced groom, any one of whom may safely be intrusted with the operation, the only necessary precaution being to have rather a small hand used, and that icell lubricated with lard or oil. Let all the fsecal matter that can be reached be carefully ex- tracted. Afterwards a warm enema, composed of one 2)int of turpentine mixed in two quarts of hot soap-suds, and a soothing drench of 1 oz. sulphuric ether, 1 oz. laudanum, 1 pint oil, will be found efficacious. In the early stages, "gripes," as they are called, may be cured by simply " back-raking," followed by a drench of a bottle of ale, warmed and mixed with one ounce of powdered ginger, and a brisk trot in heavy clothing. DIABETES. 113 Under liiglily inflammatory symptoms, the profes- sional man attending will probably bleed. To guard against colic, avoid giving cold water when the beast is heated, or on a fasting stomach. With horses subject to gripes the water should always be given with the chill off, if possible, or just previous to a good grooming or other gentle exercise tending to cir- culate internal warmth. Never allow any animal the opportunity of gorging himself with any kind of food after the stomach has been weakened by extra severe work and long fasting. For costiveness only, give soft bran or linseed mashes, or green feeding; and see treatment for excessive or painful costiveness, page 112. DIABETES, or profuse staling, is unfortunately a common disease, and is generally attributed to something WTong in the water, but bad provender may occasion it. Thirst is generally very great. Give catechu, 2 drachms at a time, tw^o or three times daily, in mashes. Change the food or water, whichever on examination seems most objectionable. Give no hay or grass, but plenty of linseed tea to drink ; give good bruised or scalded oats, with a small quantity of warm bran mixed in each feed, and leave a lump of chalk in manger : or administer diluted phosphoric acid, one ounce to one pint lukewarm water, twice daily, till the symptoms abate, then gradually reduce the dose.* * This will be found almost a specific; it is recommended by Mr H 114 WOEMS. A horse once found to be subject to this disease should be very carefully fed and watered. WORMS are indicated by a state of the coat called " hide-bound" and " staring," with loss of condition, and indisposition to work ; by a slimy mucus covering the dung balls ; also occasionally by the adherence of the parasites round the anus, and thin evacuation in the faeces. They cling so pertinaciously to the internals, that they will eat through the coat of the stomach, and are never likely to be removed by a single dose of any medicine. Spirit of turpentine is highly recommended as a cure, but if given it must be diluted largely — one part turpentine to four parts oil. Practical exDcrience of various remedies for worms J. justifies me in recommending one grain of arsenic and twenty grains of kamela twice daily (each dose mixed in a handful of wet bran, and given with oats or other feeding) for eighteen days, and a purge the nine- teenth morning. The horse may get moderate work during the ad- ministration of the powders. Common salt is also considered a good remedy : about a tablespoonful daily mixed with the food. To guard against these pests, avoid the use of Egyp- tian beans ; but as " bots" are mostly taken in at grass Mayhew, and is said to have originated with Mr Woodj-er, Y.S., at Paddington. Professor Dick is also reputed to be very successful in the treatment of this disease, by the use of small and repeated doses of iodine or iodide of potassium. WORMS. 115 by the animal licking off and swallowing tlieir larva laid in tlie hair of the legs,, it is almost impossible to ex- clude them. In a few cases they are bred in the in- ternals without any accountable cause, and against this no j)recaution can avail. Liver Diseases, or the farriers' " Yellows," so called from the fact that such cases are marked by the eyelids, linings of the nose, and lij)s when turned up, being found to be tinged more or less with yellow. Here mercury must be administered, and aided by sub- sequent purging, as is necessary with the human subject. Thus, give half a drachm to a drachm of calomel mixed in a little flour, and put in a mash of bran one evening, and next morning follow it up with the aloes purge-ball (page 99). If the ''yellows" be very marked, with other de- rangement of the system, give for two days one drachm of calomel daily in doses of half a drachm each, mixed in mashes as described above; and after two drachms have been taken in this way, administer on the third morning the aloetic purge. Inflammation of the Kidneys and Bladder. — With regard to internal inflammation arising from various causes, the symptoms of distress bear a general resem- blance to each other : legs spread out, extremities cold, breathing accelerated, and a look of pain pervading the animal's whole appearance, except that in diseases of the urinary organs there is generally a straddling gait, and on observance of the genitals some marked action in this region on the part of the beast will be dis- covered. Such attacks can only be properly treated by a pro- fessional man, therefore lose no time in procuring his 116 WORMS. services; but, in the meanwliile, I shall observe that inflammation of the kidneys is, sad to say, too common to admit of its being passed by without offering some caution and advice regarding it, more for the purpose of prevention than cure. Disease of the kidneys is generally brought on by the misuse by grooms of their favourite diuretics ; a dose of nitre " to fine his legs," or " bloom his coat," or for any other purpose, to save themselves trouble, is the groom's specific for the poor beasts under their care ; but so in- jurious are diuretics that masters ought to make their secret administration, as commonly practised by the class referred to, a case of instant dismissal. The kidneys of the horse are peculiarly susceptible of action; so much so that purges frequently, in place of acting as intended, will take effect on them. It should besides be borne in mind that while the kidneys are in artificial action, and secreting an extra quantity of urine which is being passed away, the crea- ture should have the same opportunity of rest, and as much consideration given him, as if he were in a state of purgation. The secretion is blood in its changed form, and is a serious call on the system. All this does not enter into the head of an ignorant groom, who, on the contrary,, will work or treat the poor suffering crea- ture as if he was in his best vig-our. Inflammation of the kidneys is marked by an appear- ance of general distress — hind legs straddled, the back- bone hogged, urine small in quantity, tenderness over the loins when pressed. If a practitioner be not procurable, immediately place warm mustard poultices over the loins, and cover them with sheep-skins. DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 117 Give lialf a drachm extract of belladonna with half an ounce laudanum in a' pint of linseed tea every four hours, and inject constantly with warm linseed tea. Tnjiammat'ion of ilie Bladder presents very similar symptoms to that of the kidneys, only that the bladder being farther away from the backbone, instead of the latter being hogged, it is rather depressed. In this case, as in inflammation of the kidneys, call in the veterinary surgeon; meanwhile give the drink recom- mended for the kidneys, and though the surgeon's decision is desirable with regard to mustard blistering, the use of this counter-irritant should not be too long delaj^ed ; therefore, in the event of his non - arrival within an hour or so, apply mustard blister to the stomach far back (between the flanks), as being nearest the seat of this disease. DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. Once more the old proverb that " prevention is better than cure " deserves to be dwelt upon, for very many diseases under this head can be prevented, and very few can ever be cured. Generally speaking, the fore feet and hocks of a horse are the most susceptible of disease induced by wear and tear — the fore feet, because the greater part of the weight of the animal is borne upon them, and the hocks behind, because they are the propelling power. It is remarkable in cases of lameness, that when the disease is seated in the feet, the lameness becomes tem- porarily aggravated on work, whereas if it proceed 118 DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. from disease in tlie legs, it becomes apparently less after the limbs have been worked a while. With re- gard to animals keej)ing their condition while labour- ing under lameness, experience has taught me that horses lame in the fore feet will, if able to work at all, continue to do so without apparently losing condition from the fret of lameness; but when the hind legs are the seat of disease, the condition evaporates very ra- pidly. This, I imagine, is because an animal lame in the fore feet will lie down and take more rest than when sound ; whereas if lame behind, he will not take suJSicient rest, as rising and lying down cause him pain ; hence he continually stands, and, of course, aggravates the disease. The foot is thus sectionised and described by Dela- were P. Blaine, Esq. : — Fig. 2. — Section of Foot. " On examining a perpendicular section of the foot and pasterns, there appear the coffin-bone («), the navicular or nut bone (^), the coronary or little pastern bone (c), the large pastern bone (<-?), the back sinew or great flexor tendon of the foot (e), the same tendon DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 119 sliding over the navicular bone (/), its termination or insertion into the bottom of the coffin-bone (i-), the elastic matter of the sensible frog (//), the insensible or horny frog (^), the horny sole (A*), which includes the parts of the sensible foot ; the outer wall of the hoof (/), the elastic processes {m\ the attachment of the extensor tendon to the coffin-bone {n), and its attach- ment to the coronary bone {o), which completes the section. " The coffin-bone (a) adapts itself to the figure of the hoof, or rather is adapted by nature to this eligible form. The eminence in its front receives the insertion of the tendon of the great extensor muscle of the foot. This important muscle has its upper attachment to the humerus or arm-bone, where it is princij^ally fleshy; but as it passes downwards it becomes tendinous, ex- panding over every joint, both to prevent friction, and to embrace and give firm attachment to each bone with its opposed bone, by which a firm connection of the various parts is maintained, and a simultaneous move- ment of the whole limb is effected. In the hinder limb this extensor tendon and its two less or tendinous adjuncts arise from the tibia, and in part from the femur, but in their origin are fleshy. " In the sides of the coffin-bone are attached lateral cartilages, and around its surface are marks of the attachment of the laminated substance. " The coronary, or small pastern bone (c), is seen to rest on the coffin-bone («), with which it articulates by its lower end ; its posterior part also may be seen to be closely articulated both with the coffin and with the navicular or nut bones (/), whose attachments to them are effected by ligaments of great power and some 120 DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. elasticity. Nor is it possible to view this horny box and its contents without being struck with the admir- able display of mechanism and contrivance which meets our eye. We are apt to say, 'as strong as a horse/ and some of us use horses as though they were made of imperishable stuff; but surely, when we well con- sider the subject, we shall see both the necessity and the morality of using them with discretion." This description of the structure of the foot will pro- bably better enable the uninitiated to understand the seat and nature of various ailments of that part of the horse which are here touched upon. Blaine further describes the construction of the hoof thus : — " The hoof itself is conical, or rather, as Clark observes, slightly truncated, and is a secretion as well from the vascular parts of the foot as from the skin, as our nails are formed from the portion of skin called quick. The structure of the hoof is firm and fibrous. Externally it is plane and convex, but internally concave and laminated. The quarters are the lateral parts. As the horn aj^proaches the heels it becomes soft and is re- flected inwards. The heels are parted by the horny «^ (Z. Fig. 3. frog (b, fig. 3) ; and without, the frog on each side the hoof inflects its fibres to form the bars which are seen DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 121 on the under surface (c, fig. 4). In a healthy foot, fig. 4, the heels are round, wide, and smooth (a, a), the frog fully expanded, the bars or binders distinct (c, c), no corns in the usual angle (J), the sole broad and concave {(l). In a diseased foot, fig. 3, the heels are high, and drawn together by contraction («, a), the frog narrow, and filled with fissures from contraction and thrush (5), corn frequently present {d\ the sole greatly shortened in its transverse diameter, which is morbidly counter- balanced by the increased heights in the truncated form (c). When the hoof is removed, the sensible or fleshy sole {li, section of foot), above which it immediately lies, presents itself, covering the whole of the horny sole, except so much as is taken up by the sensible frog (li). This part is exquisitely sensible and vascular, and thus we learn why injuries to it from puncture produce such serious effect, and why very slight pressure from con- traction of the hoof gives so much pain. The sensible frog and the sensible sole form the insensible frog and sole ; but when from pressure, too much moisture, or other causes, the sensible frog, instead of forming horn, secretes pus or matter as in thrush, the structure of the whole becomes injured, and the frog thus losing its support gradually wastes and decays. It is there- fore evident that no thrush can be entirely harmless, as is erroneously supposed. " Above the sensible frog is the great flexor tendon, or back sinew, inserting itself into the vaulted arch of the coffin (r<, section of foot). This important tendon, arising from its parent muscle above the knee, whose origin is taken from the humerus and ulna, in its pas- sa2;e unites with an assistant flexor, but which latter is principally distributed to the pastern bones, while the 122 DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. perforans, so called because it is perforated by tlie as- sistant flexor tendon, is inserted into the vault of the coffin ; in the posterior extremities the attachments of these two leading flexors and a smaller lateral one are from the femur and tibia. " The Sensible Laminoe. — Around the surface of the coffin-bone, it has been noticed that there are linear indentations to which about five hundred fibro-cartil- aginous leaves are attached. Each of these is received between two of the horny lamellae, which line the in- terior of the horny hoof ; and when it is considered what a vast surface of attachment is formed by these means, the strength of the union will not be wondered at. No common violence can separate these parts, and their use as a spring (for they are extensile) to support the action of an animal at once weighty, strong, and extremely agile, must be apparent. " The vessels and nerves of the foot are derived from the metacarpal arteries, veins, and nerves, which pass behind the pastern, when tbe main trunks divide to proceed to each side of the foot, and are ramified from thence throughout. It is a division of the metacarpal nerve on each side of the lesser pastern, or on each side of the larger, as occasion suits, which forms the nerve operation now in vogue as a remedy (V) for navicular disease." Laminitis, or Fever of the Feet, although generally the result of too long a journey, or any exercise where excessive and continuous concussion has been occa- sioned to the feet, frequently arises from other causes. It is often what is termed secondary, as one of the se- quelae of inflammatory diseases of a more constitutional character. — {See "Metastasis," page 144.) The laminae DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 123 are plates (technically, semi-cartilaginous leaves received between the horny lamellae which line the interior of the hoof) resting on the inside of the horny hoof, and giving an elastic support, whereby the whole weight of the horse's structure is thrown against the wall of the hoof and kept off the side. It is not surprising, there- fore, that these causes should produce derangement here. As laminitis generally attacks the fore feet, the poor beast in his anguish endeavours to throw his weight off them by resting on his hind quarters, which are tucked under him, with the fore legs and feet pushed out before him merely to keep him from falling; he can barely hobble if he attempts to move. If the fever be only slight and in one foot, he will point it, while extreme lameness and unnatural heat in the foot mark the disease. The shoe should (in this as in all cases of foot-lameness) be instantly removed by a smith brought to the stable instead of giving the poor creature the j)ain of limping to the forge. The foot should be put into cold water, constantly renewed, and kept in it all day ; at night a bran poul- tice or water-dressing should be left on [see " Water- dressing " and "Poultices," page 149). Also adminis- ter a purge. In acute cases, bleeding at the toe is sometimes prac- tised by paring away there till the veins appear. This is a very questionable remedy, and there is little doubt that the use of the knife only aggravates" the inflamma- tion. The fact is, that beyond its incipient stage, none but the veterinary surgeon is competent to deal with this disease. Its prevention is best secured by requiring moderate 124 DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. work only, and at the proper road paces — viz., walking and trotting — keeping the feet moist, wetting them oc- casionally during a long journey, and regularly stop- ping them directly after each day^s severe work. — See " Grooming," page 13, Navicular Disease is, unfortunately, a very common one with horses ; and when the delicate structure of the foot is considered in connection with the rough usage the creature gets on hard roads while carrying a heavy weight on his back, it is only surprising that the feet bear such jarring at all. The navicular is the small pulley-bone, over which the flexor tendon passes, and being the most active of any of the foot bones, is the most likely to be injured by ill usage {see page 118). The symptoms are lame- ness, with more or less pointing of the foot when at rest, and heat towards the quarters of the lame foot. Unlike laminitis, the lameness is inconsiderable at first, and increases as the disease progresses. Being so deep-seated, it is very difficult to cure. In the incijoient stages the most eff'ectual remedy appears to be the insertion of frog-setons, requiring the assist- ance of a veterinary surgeon. In most instances the case is hopeless, and many a fine horse is sold to limp out a life of misery, drawing a hack cab, or, with a refinement of cruelty, is subject to the operation of un- nerving the foot, which, by destroying sensation in that part, enables the animal to travel without apparent lameness, though the disease continues to progress till part of the foot has been known to drop off in work. Being a result of work to which all horses are liable, no mode of prevention can be recommended. DISExVSES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 125 Lateral Cartilages. — Another ailment of the foot is more common than is generally supposed, called "Dis- ease of the Lateral Cartilages." It requires the skill of an anatomist to decide upon its presence. In fact, this and navicular disease are both very obscure in their origin and diagnostics, and a surgeon only can properly deal with them, as well as with all other diseases that are not very distinctly marked, and in their early stages not important. Thrush. — A disease of the frog : the cleft becomes eaten away, and a foul matter is secreted. It more fre- quently attacks the hind than the fore feet. By some it is said to be constitutional, but it is much more probably the result of neglect of the foot in the stable, the hind feet being oftener affected, from the fact of the urine and fseces coming more immediately under their tread. At every shoeing or removing, the frog should be perfectly cleared of all defective parts by the knife, and where the disease has once manifested itself the cleft should be kept continually stopped with tar and tow. A return to a healthy state is likely to be tedious, there- fore continued attention to these directions is necessary. If a severe case, use a bar-shoe, to avoid the wear and tear of the road, and which will also help to keej^ the pledgets of tar and tow in their place. To prevent thrush, let the litter and bedding be comj)letely re- moved from the horse every morning till bedtime at night ; let the pavement be kept scrupulously clean through the day ; attend and wash the feet, examine them frequently, and upon the slightest sign of the dis- ease use the remedial means. Quittor. — This is a disease of the feet wherein, either 126 DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. from delicacy of or accident to the sole, the sensible part becomes affected. A suppurative sinus is formed, eating away till it often comes out at the coronet. Once it reaches this, the animal, unless of great value, might as well be destroyed, the restorative jDrocess being of a most tedious and expensive character, requiring con- tinual manipulation by a surgeon. By careful shoeing (where nails are not driven out of their proper direction) and a most exact examination of the foot where any extraneous matter, such as glass, gravel, &c., is suspected of having entered or damaged it, quittor will most probably be avoided. Canker seldom attacks gentlemen's horses, or well- bred ones. It is literally a change of a portion of the foot into a kind of fungus, sometimes commencing in the sole, sometimes in the frogs, and is aggravated by foul litter, bad stabling, and general bad care. As no dressing or external application will restore the foot without manipulation, a surgeon only can deal with it. Cracked and Greasy Heels. — Animals of languid cir- culation in the extremities are more susceptible of such diseases, which are induced and aggravated by lazy ignorant grooms pursuing their objectionable practice of wetting the legs, and leaving them to dry them- selves. — See page 13. Symptoms are tumefaction and soreness of the hinder part of the pasterns, even to fissures emitting matter. Clip away the hair in the first instance, so as to be able to cleanse the sore by washing it with warm water and soft soap, drying it perfectly. Then aj^ply gly- cerine lotion (page 147). If the sore seems likely to incapacitate the animal DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 127 from work, administer a mild aloetic j^m-ge (page 99), Very serious consequences may result from tlie indol- ence of grooms in neglecting this ailment. In acute cases, the sore, eating into the tendon, produces mortifi- cation and death. I have myself lost a valuable ani- mal from this disease, through the gross neglect of my grooms in my absence. Except in the very earliest stages and in palpably trifling cases, a veterinary surgeon should be consulted, especially in what is called " grease," or matter running from these cracks. The preventive means are, never to allow water to your horses' legs above the coronet on any pretence whatever, and if by accident or work they get wet, to have them rubbed dry as promptly as possible. Shelly Hoofs (or splitting open of the external part of the horny hoof). — The feet of some horses are more subject to this disease than those of others, from the fibrous structure being more dry with them. This fibrous structure forming the hoof is found, on microscopic examination, to resemble a lot of hairs all glued together into a hardened mass, and where the adhesive matter is of a drier character than usual, the hoofs are more brittle. With some horses this results in " shelly hoofs;" they don't split, but are perpetually breaking away. With this description of hoofs, tar is the best possible application. Neither grease nor oil should ever be used — these only aggravate the disease, as on close observation they will be found to act as powerful astringents, excluding the healthy action of air and moisture upon the part most in need of them. Strange to say, tar, from its pungent properties, induces healthy action in the part, and is peculiarly adapted 128 DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. to promote the growth of the fibrous structure as "well as lubricating it. Scmd-Cracks seldom go diagonally, but are either horizontal or vertical. I shall endeavour to exemplify the simple principle of this disease with a simple principle of remedy, dealing wdth it like a split in a board on w^hich I desired to put an effectual stopper. In such a case I should carefully gouge out a small hole at each end of the split, beyond wdiich hole the fissure w^ould be certain not to pass. With the hoof the same principle can be carried out by fihng an in- dentation directly across each end of the crack, only tak- ing care not to file deeper than the insensible part of the hoof ; or the end will be answered by using a red- hot firing-iron instead of a file, taking the same pre- caution not to touch the sensible j)art. I should also weaken along the edges of the crack itself by rasping them dow^n. Over the crack, if deep, should be strapped a thin jDad of tow and tar, to induce reproduction and prevent foreign substances from entering the fissure. Unless by the grossest neglect, no sand-crack wdll have been allowed to go beyond the reach of the fore- going treatment, but in some cases the effect of negli- gence and ignorance is seen in the horizontal crack running almost round the foot. In such cases it will generally be found that with a flat foot (inclined to greater malformation) the toes have been suffered to extend, shoeing after shoeing, by the smith allowing a great accumulation of wall over the toe, until the centre has become w^eakened into a fissure. Such a state of things seldom or never occurs in a gentleman's stable, but is to be met with among farm horses or those accustomed to heavy draught. DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 129 The careful strapping up with tar and tow, which must be constantly atterided to, rest, and the indenta- tion process, will, with time and care, effect a cure. Sand-crack, especially the vertical, is more dangerous and tedious the nearer it is to the coronet. This once divided, the case becomes serious, the coronet being very vascular, and a split here requires a great deal of care to induce it to take on union. Unless the closing com- mences at the coronet, and continues as the hoof grows down, it will never close at all; in fact, if the coronet be divided it is fortunate if the crack does not go the whole way down to the shoe. If it does not, the lower end should be weakened by filing an indentation at its lower extremity, weakening the sides of the crack by rasping them, and keeping the hoof strapped round with dressings of tar and tow, also (a most important part of the treatment) paring away the wall of the foot (above the shoe and immediately under the crack) an inch — that is, half an inch on each side of it — making as large a vacuum as can with safety to the sensible parts of the foot be pared away, directly under the crack and over the shoe; the object of this being that all parts of the wall except that under the crack shall press on the shoe. It is obvious that by the foregoing means every movement of the horse, in place of aggravation, will tend towards alleviation of the disease, by pressing the weakened sides of the fissure together. For the foregoing reasons, in the case of a vertical crack the shoes had better remain on, while in the worst cases of the horizontal crack, as its weight round the bottom tends to weaken the centre of the hoof where the crack is likely to be situated, it had better be removed (or light tips worn), its absence also enabling the wall of I 130 DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. the lioof under the crack to be rasped as tliin as pos- sible. In vertical cracks the use of a bar-shoe will tend to keep the foot together (page 80). Corns are occasioned by the inflexible shoe pressing on that part of the sole, or possibly from friction of the bones upon its internal surface. They present the ap- pearance of a red efi"used bruise, almost invariably situ- ated on the heel of the sole of the inside quarter of the fore feet. — [See illustration, fig. 3, page 120.) When neglected, they occasion severe lameness, and go on to suppuration. Broken knees are also frequently the result of ne- glected corns. A horse that is habitually properly shod, is never likely to have a corn. It arises entirely from want of attention and judgment in the smith. The groom, who should always stand by when a horse is shoeing, ought to be instructed to see that the farrier with his drawing- knife invariably pares out the sole at the seat of corn ; it can be no injury whatever to the foot when properly done, and is the best preventive of corns. Also take proper care that the shoes are so put on that they cannot by possibility press upon the sole. For prevention, keep the seat of corn well pared away, and dress with tar, unless in the suppurating state, when it requires poultices (page 149), and the ordinary treatment for that state, and full rest. Over-reach or Tread proceeds from the shoe of one foot coming in contact with the soft or sensible part above the hoof of the other. As the parts likely to be affected round the coronet are full of vessels, the simplest remedial means are the safest — viz., water- dressing (page 149) in the first instance, and afterwards DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 131 cliloride of zinc lotion (one grain to the ounce of water), or glycerine. Broken Knees. — Most travellers on tlie road know what style of thing this is, so it is needless to describe it. In bad cases, where the bones are exposed, and there is any appearance of synovia or joint-oil, place the horse in the nearest convenient stable, and leave him there to be attended to by a professional man as soon as pos- sible. When the abrasion is merely superficial, take the animal quietly to his stable, if near. In any event, wash the wound with warm water, which, if it be at all deep, should be done by squeezing the water above the wound, and allowing it to run down, as this part of the leg is very delicate and sensi- tive, and rough handling with a cloth or sponge should be avoided. Afterwards apply a lotion of chloride of zinc, one grain to the ounce of water. Tie the beast's head up in such a way as that he cannot possibly lie down, until the healing process has assumed sufficient health to render it safe to allow of the knee being used in lying down and getting up. Give one or tvro mild purges, according to the time he is laid up and the healthiness of the wound. To promote the growth of hair, use, when the knee is per- fectly healed, hog's lard mixed with very finely pow- dered burnt leather to colour it ; it is as good and safe a thing as can be employed for the purpose. Otherwise use weak mercurial ointment. For prevention, avoid the use of bearing-reins in harness ; in shafts, keep the weight off your horse's back ; keep out of the way of ruts and stones upon the road, and be very careful of 132 DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. yonr beast when the work you are giving him is cal- culated to make him leg- weary. In riding, teach your bearer to depend on himself, not on you : at the same time, don't leave him to him- self altogether. Go gently round sharp turns, and don't ride fast down-hill on the road, though on the turf or in harness the pace may be accelerated with impunity. Avoid inflicting sudden, injudicious, and undeserved chastisement ; restrain starts or alarms ; have your horses properly prepared in frosty weather; also be sure that the seat of corn is kept well pared out in shoeing. If your saddle has shifted forward out of its place, dismount and regirth it where it fits, so that when you remount your weight will be properly placed away from the shoulders. When the road is the only place available to have your horses exercised, see that your grooms put on the knee-caps. Splints are a well-known affection of the fore leg, presenting the appearance of a bony j)rotrusion along the canon or shank, which, though unsightly, is not very important, unless when lameness ensues. As it is not my intention to enter into professional technicalities in this work, I shall merely remark that, by letting the horse continue in moderate work, though lame, with the application of Stevens's ointment, accord- ing to the directions accompanying it, absorption of the bony matter will be obtained, or, at all events, it will become so far resolved that the surrounding structures being able to accommodate themselves to what remains of it, their action will not be interfered with, and lame- ness will consequently no longer appear. Veterinarians sometimes perform a simple operation for splints which DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS. 133 is said to be efficacious — namely, that of dividing the periosteum \yith a bistuary, the periosteum being that membrane which encases all bones like a skin. When this is cleverly done there is little or no disfiguration left. Setons also are sometimes run over the exostosis or bony excrescence, but I deal only with simple re- medies. As splints cannot be prevented, being a com- mon result of work in young horses, the next best thino; to be done is to resolve them while in an inci- pient state. Clap of the Bach Sineio — i.e., inflammation of the sheath under which the flexor tendon passes (as the most able practitioners deny that the tendon itself can be stretched, though it is liable to ruj)ture about its insertions) — is best treated, according to some, by cold refrigerant lotions, Goulard lotion, solution of acetate of lead, &c. I prefer plain water-dressing (page 149) placed loosely round the affected part of the leg, and the use of a high-heeled shoe (page 80). When the attack is be- yond the reach of such mild treatment, the veterinary surgeon will probably advise blistering and firing to act as a perpetual bandage. Moderate work on even surfaces will be the best pre- ventive of this disease, and having the pavement of your stables made nearly level, as described under the head of " Stabling" (page 10). Wind-Galls are undue distensions of the bursamer, and Tony, and Count M'Cafckey, will live in ihe memory for many a day. They are all three, in their wav, perfectly original conceptions and are as true to the life as any portraits ever drawn by pen and ink."— 6'ta/idard. ?HE PEEPETUAL CUEATE. By the Author of 'Salem Chapel.' Being a New Series of the 'Chron- icles of Carlingford.' 3 vols, post 8vo, £1, lis. 6d. " We can only repeat the expression of our admiration for a work which bears on every page the evidence of close observation and the keenest insight, united to real dramatic feeling and a style of unusual eloquence and power."— H'«*"l>"ne which Captain Speke has presented to the world possesses more than a geographical interest. 1 1 is a monument of preseverance, courage, and temper, displayed under difficulties which nave perhaps never been equalled."— Times. WHAT LED TO THE DISOOVEEY OF THE NILE SOURCE. By JOHN HANNING SPEKE, Captain H.M. Indian Army. 8vo, with Maps, i/'s. Captain Grant's book will be doubly interesting to those who have read Captain Spcke's He gives, as his special contribution to the story of their three years' walk across Africa, descriptions ot birds, beasts, trees and plants, and all that concerns them, and of domestic scenes throughout tne various regions. The book is written in a pleasant, quiet, gentlemanly style, and is characterised by a modest tone The whole work is delightful reading."— (;;o(>e. STEAY LEAVES FEOM AN AEOTIO JOUENAL ; Or, Eighteen Months in the Polar Regions in Search of Sir John Frank- lin's E.xpedition in 1850-51. To which is added, The Career, Last Voy- age, AND Fate of Captain Sir John Franklin. By Captain SHER- ARD OSBORN, C.B. A new Edition, in crown 8vo, "with a Map, 5s. OAXTONIANA : A Series of Essays on Life, Literature, and Manners Bv Sir EDWARD BULWER LYTTON, Bart. 2 vols, crown 8vo, 21s. EcleclTc°'^^^ ^'^ ''"'^ possible to fill many pages with the wise bright things of these volumes."- mei^'^-Z>a«? Vw/' ^*' "^''" ^°'"'^ °^ "^"^ """^^ important subjects that can engage the attention of THE OAIENGOEM MOUNTAINS. By JOHN HILL BURTON. In crown Svo, 3s. 6d. "One of the most complete a^ well as most lively and intelligent bits of reading that the lover of works of travel has seen for many a d.xy."-Saturday Review. ESSAYS ON SOCIAL SUBJECTS. From the 'Saturday Review.' Crown 8vo, 7s. 6d. Third Edition, du^'d ^L;?;i:,^^,^,r^^e:^?^!^^:;!;::'l ■•''«-"<'" ""- '"^' "- ^--nt centu,^ has pro- Cwaidl'i?" ""'"^""''^ ""^ """""■ '*'''" ^' •'•^ ''"' °'<""'^ 'o ^J °" topics which he treats so well."- RECENT PUBLICATIONS. THE SCOT ABEOAD, AND THE ANCIENT LEAGUE WITH FRANCE. By JOHN HILL BURTON, Author of 'The Book-Hunter,' &c. 2 vols, crown 8vo, iu Roxburghe binding, 15s. "Mr Burton's lively and interesting 'Scot Abroad,' not the least valuable of his contributions to the historical literature of his counlry." —Quarterly Revimn. " An excellent book, that will interest Englishmen and fascinate Scotchmen."— Tinip.?. " No amount of selections, detached at random, can give an adequate idea of the varied and copious results of readii\K which are stored up in the compact and pithy pages of ' The Scot Abroad.' "—fiaturddy Review. " A charming book."— Spectator. THE GEEAT GOYEEimTG PAMILIES OP ENGLAND. By J. LANGTON SANFORD and MEREDITH TOWNSEND. Contents :— The Percies— The Greys of Howifk— The Lowthers— The Vanes or Fanes— The Stanleys of Knowsley— The Grosvenors— Tlie Fitzwilliams— Tlie Cavendishes — The Bentincks — The Clintons— The Stanhopes— The Talbots— The Leveson-Gowers- The Pagets— The Man- ners—The Montagus— The Osbornes— The Fitzrovs— The Spencers— The Grenvilles— The Russells— The Cecils— The Villiers— The Barings— The Petty-Fitzmaurices— The Herberts — The Somersets— The Berkeleys— The Seymours— The Lennoxes— The Howards. 2 vols. 8vo, £1, 8s. in extra binding, with richly-gilt cover. BIOGEAPmOAL SKETCHES OP EMINENT SOLDIEES OF THE LAST FOUR CENTURIES. By the late Major-General JOHN MITCHELL, Author of 'Life of Wallenstein,' the 'Fall of Napo- leon,' &c. Edited, with a Memoir of the Author, by Leonhard Schmitz. LL.D. In Post 8vo, 9s. ELEMENTS OP MODEEN GEOGEAPHY. For the Use of Junior Classes. By the Rev. ALEX. MACKAY, A.M., F.R.G.S. In crown Svo, pp. 304, 3s. "There is no work of the kind, in the English or any other language, known to me, which cojnes so near my ideal of perfection in a school-book, on the important subject of which it treats, hi arrangement, style, selection of matter, clearness, and thorough accuracy of statement, it is without a rival : and knowing, as I do, the vast amount of labour and research bestowed on its production I trust It will be so appreciated as to insure, by an extensive sale, a well-merited reward."—^. Keith Johiwton, i.sq., F.R.S.E., F.R.G.S., H.il. Geographer for Scotland ; Author of the ' Physical Atlas,' " The best geography we have ever met with."— Spectator. ADVANCED TEXT-BOOK OP PHYSICAL GEOGEAPHY. By DAVID PAGE, F.R.S.E., F.G.S., Author of 'Introductory and Advanced Text-Books of Geology,' &c. Crown Svo, with a Glossary of Terms and numerous Illustrations, 5s. "Mr Page's volume is aptly entitled, and meets the wants of earnest and systematic students."— " A thoroughly good Text-Book of Physical Geography."— Safurdaj/ Review. THE ECONOMY OP CAPITAL: GOLD AND TRADE. By R. 11. PATTERSON, Author of 'The New Revolution,' &c. In 1 thick vol. crown 8vo, 12s. cloth. PAMILY PEAYEES POE TWO WEEKS. Prepared by the Committee of the General A.ssembly of the Church of Scotland on Aids to Devotion. In crown Svo, Is. 6d. bound in cloth, red edges. IN THE PRESS. THE HISTOEY OF SOOTLAITD From Agricola's Invasion to the Revolution of 16SS. By JOHN HILI BURTON, Author of ' The Scot Abroad,' .fee. ETONIANA. Originally published in ' Blackwood's Magazine.' 1 vol. fcap. 8vo. THE OPEEATIONS OF ¥AE EXPLAINED AND ILLTTS- TRATED. By Colonel E. B. HAMLEY, R.A., late Professor of Mil itary History, Strategy, and Tactics at the StaflF College. In 1 vol. 4to, with Plans. THE ILIAD OF HOMEE. Translated into English Verse in the Spenserian Stanza, by PHILIF STANHOPE WORSLEY, M.A., Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Uniform with the ' Odyssey,' Translated by the Same. ESSAYS ON SOCIAL SUBJECTS. From the ' Saturday Review.' A Second Series, uniform with the First. THE HANDY HOESE BOOK; Or, Practical Instructions on Riding, Driving, and the General Care and Management of Horses. By a CAVALRY OFFICER. DICTIONAEY OF BEITISH INDIAN DATES: Being a Compendium of all the Dates essential to the Study of the His- tory of British Rule in India, Legal, Historical, and Biographical. In- tended for Students about to face Examinations for the Indian Services. OOMPAEATIVE GEOGEAPHY. By CARL RITTER, Professor of Geography in the University of Berlin. Translated by W. L. Gage. In crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. DEFINITIONS IN ASTEONOMY AND NAVIGATION MADE EASY. By the Rev. J. HARBORD, M.A., R.N., Author of ' Glossary of Navigation.' CATALOGUE MESSES BLACKWOOD AND SONS' PUBLICATIONS. HISTORY OF EUROPE, From the Commencement of the French Revolution in 1789 to the Battle of Waterloo. By Sir ARCHIBALD ALISON, Bart., D.C.L. A New Library Edition (being the Tenth), in 14 vols, demy 8vo, with Portraits, and a copious Index, £10, 10s. Another Edition, in crown Svo, 20 vols. , £6. A People's Edition, 12 vols., closely printed in double columns, £2, 8s., and Index Volume, 3s. " An extraordinary work, which has earned fur itself a lasting place in the literature of the country, and within a few years found innumerable readers in every part of the globe. The»e is no book extant that treats so well of the period to the illustration of which Mr Alison's labours have been devoted. It exhibits great knowledge, patient research, indefatigable industry, and vast power."— J^imes, Sept. 7, 1850. COXTIXUATION OF ALISON'S HISTORY OF EUROPE, From the Fall of Napoleon to the Accession of Louis Napoleon. By Sir ARCHIBALD ALISON, Bart., D.C.L. In 9 vols., £6, 7s. 6d. Uniform with the Library Edition of the previous work. EPITOME OF ALISON'S HISTORY OF EUROPE. For the Use of Schools and Young Persons. Fifteenth Edition, 7s. 6d., bound. ATLAS TO ALISON'S HISTORY OF EUROPE; Containing 109 Maps and Plans of Countries, Battles, Sieges, and Sea-Fights. Constructed by A. Keith Johnston, F.R.S.E. With Vocabulary of Military and Marine Terms. Demy 4to. Library Edition, £3, 3s.; People's Edition, crown 4to, £1, lis. 6d. LIVES OF LORD CASTLEREAGH AND SIR CHARLES STEWART, Second and Third Marquesses of Londonderry. From the Original Papers of the Family, and other sources. By Sir ARCHIBALD ALISON, Bart., D.C.L. In 3 vols. Svo, £2, 5s. ANNALS OF THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGNS. By Capt. THOMAS HAMILTON. A New Edition. Edited by F. Hard- MAN, Esq. Svo, 16s. ; and Atlas of Maps to illustrate the Campaigns, 12s. A VISIT TO FLANDERS AND THE FIELD OF WATERLOO. By JAMES SIMPSON, Advocate. A Revised Edition. With Two Coloured Plans of the Battle. Crown Svo, 5s. WELL TNG TON'S CA REER : A Military and Political Summary. By Lieut.-Col. E. BRUCE HAMLET, Professor of Military History and Art at the Staff College. Crown Svo, 2s. 2 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY THE STORY OF THE CAMPAIGN OF SEBASTOPOL. Written in the Camp. By Lieut. -Col. E. BRUCE HAMLEY. With Illus- trations drawn in Camp by the Author. 8vo, 21s. " We strongly recommend this ' Story of the Campaign ' to all who would gain a just comprehension of this tremendous struggle. Of this we are perfectly sure, it is a book unlikely to be ever superseded. Its truth is of that simple and startling character which is sure of an immortal existence ; nor is it paying the gallant author too high a complement to class this masterpiece of military history with the most pre- cious of those classic records which have been bequeathed to us by the great writers of antiquity who took part in the wars they have described."— j(7te Fr«^. THE INVASION OF THE CPJMEA: Its Origin, and Account of its Progress down to the Death of Lord Raglan. By ALEXANDER WILLIAM KIXGLAKE, M.P. Vols. I. and II., bringing the Events down to the Close of the Battle of the Alma. Fourth Edition. Price 32s. To be completed in 4 vols. 8vo. TEN YEARS OF IMPERIALISM IN FRANCE. Impressions of a " Flaneur." Second Edition. In Svo, price 9s. " There has not been published for many a day a more remarkable book on France than this, which professes to be the impressions of a Flaneur. . . . It has all the liveliness and sparkle of a work written only for amusement ; it has all the solidity and weight of a State paper ; and we expect for it not a little political influence as a fair, full, and masterly statement of the Imperial policy— the first and only good account that has been given to Europe of the Kapoleonic system now in force."— TtTOe*. FLEETS AND NAVIES. By Captain CHARLES HAMLET, R.M. Originally published in 'Black- wood's Magazine.' Crown Svo, 6s. HISTORY OF GREECE UNDER FOREIGN DOMINATION. By GEORGE FINLAY, LL.D., Athens— viz. : Greece under the Romans, b.c. 146 to a.d. 717. A Historical View of the Condition of the Greek Nation from its Conquest by the Romans until the Extinction of the Roman Power in the East. Second Edition, 16s. History of the Byzantine Empire, a.d. 716 to 1204 ; and of the Greek Empire of Niciiea and Constantinople, a.d. 1204 to 1453. 2 vols., £1, 7s. 6d. Medieval Greece and Trebizond. The History of Greece, from its Con- quest by the Crusaders to its Conquest by the Turks, a.d. 1204 to 1566 ; and the History of the Empire of Trebizond, a.d. 1204 to 1461. 12s. Greece under Othoman and Venetian Domination, a.d. 1453 to 1821. 10s. 6d. History of the Greek Revolution. 2 vols. Svo, £1, 4s. " His book is worthy to take its place among the remarkable works on Greek history, which form one of the chief glories of English scholarship. The history of Greece is but half told without it."— London Guardian. THE NATIONAL CHARACTER OF THE ATHENIANS. By JOHN BROWN PATTERSON. Edited from the Author's revision, by Professor PILLANS, of the University of Edinburgh. With a Sketch of his Life. Crown 8vo, 4s. 6d. STUDIES IN ROMAN LAW. With Comparative Views of the Laws of France, England, and Scotland. By Lord MACKENZIE, one of the Judges of the Court of Session in Scotland. Svo, 12s. Second Edition. " We know not in the English language where else to look for a history of the Roman law so clear, and, at the same time, so short .... More improving reading, both for the general student and for the lawyer, we cannot well imagine ; and there arc few, even among learned professional men, who will not gather some novel information from Lord Mackenzie's simple pages."— ioiido/i Bevieui. THE EIGHTEEN CHRISTIAN CENTURIES. By the Rev. JAMES WHITE. Fourtli Edition, with an Analytical Table of Contents, and a Copious Index. Post Svo, 7s. 6d. THE MONKS OF THE WEST, From St Benedict to St Bernard. By the COUNT DE MONTALEMBERT. Authorised Translation. 2 vols. Svo, 21s. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 3 HISTORY OF FRANCE, From the Earliest Period to the Year 1848. By the Rev. JAMES WHITE, Author of 'The Eighteen Christian Centuries.' Second Edition. Post Svo, 9s. "An excellent and comprehensive compendium of French history, quite above the standard of a ichool-book, and particularly well adapted for the libraries of literary institutions."— iVattoitaJ Review. LEADERS OF THE REFORMATION: Luther, Calvin, Latimer, and Knox. By the Rev. JOHN TULLOCH, D.D., Principal, and Primarius Professor of Theologj', St Mary's College, St Andi'ews. Second Edition, crown Svo, 6s. 6d. ENGLISH PURITANISM AND ITS LEADERS: Cromwell, Milton, Baxter, and Bunyan. By the Rev. JOHN TULLOCH, D.D. Uniform with the ' Leaders of the Reformation.' 7s. (Jd. HISTORY OF THE FRENCH PROTESTANT REFUGEES. By CHARLES WEISS, Professor of History at the Lycee Buonaparte. Translated by F. Hardman, Esq. Svo, 14s. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, From the Reformation to the Revolution Settlement. By the Very Rev. JOHN LEE, D.D., LL.D., Principal of the University of EdinLurgh. Edited by the Rev. William Lee. 2 vols. Svo, 21s. HISTORY OF SCOTLAND FROM THE REVOLUTION To the Extinction of the last Jacobite Insurrection, 1689-1748. By JOHN HILL BURTON, Esq., Advocate. 2 vols. Svo, reduced to 15s. LIVES OF THE QUEENS OF SCOTLAND, And English Princesses connected with the Regal Succession of Great BritaiH. By AGNES STRICKLAND. With Portraits and Historical Vignettes. Post 8vo, £4, 4s. " Every step in Scotland is historical ; the shades of the dead arise on every side ; the very rocks breathe. Miss Strickland's talents as a writer, and turn of mind as an individual, in a peculiar manner fit her for painting a historical gallery of the most illustrious or dignified female characters iu that land of chivalry and ioi\g."— Blackwood's Magazine. MEMORIALS OF THE CASTLE OF EDINBURGH. By JAMES GRANT, Esq. A New Edition. In crown Svo, with 12 Engravings, 3s. 6d. MEMOIRS OF SIR WILLIAM KIRKALDY OF GRANGE, Governor of the Castle of Edinburgh for Mary Queen of Scots. By JAMES GRANT, Esq. Post Svo, 10s. 6d. MEMOIRS OF SIR JOHN HEPBURN, Marshal of France under Louis XIII., &c. By JAMES GRANT, Esq. Post Svo, 8s. WORKS OF THE REV. THOMAS M'CRIE, D.D. A New and Uniform Edition. Edited by Professor M'Grie. 4 vols, crown Svo, 24s. Sold separately — viz. : Life of John Knox. Containing Illustrations of the History of the Reformation in Scotland. Crown Svo, 6s. Life of Andrew Melville. Containing Illustrations of the Ecclesiasti- cal and Literarj-^ History of Scotland m the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Crown Svo, 6s. History of the Progress and Suppression of the Reformation in Italy in the Sixteenth Century. Crown Svo, 4s. History of the Progress and Suppression of the Reformation in Spain in the Sixteenth Century. Crown Svo, 3s. 6d. 4 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY THE BOSCOBEL TRACTS; Relating to the Escape of Charles the Second after the Battle of Worcester, and his subsequent Adventures. Edited by J. Hughes, Esq., A.M. A New Edition, with additional Notes and Illustrations, including Communications from the Rev. R. H. Barham, Author of the ' Ingoldsby Legends.' In 8vo, with Engravings, 16s. " • The Boscobel Tracts ' is a very curious book, and about as good an example of single subject histo- rical collections as may be found. Originally undertaken, or at least completed, at the suggestion of the late Bishop Copplestoiie, in 1827, it was carried out with a degree of judgment and taste not always found in works of a similar character."— i^>ecta(or. LIFE OF JOHN DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH. With some Account of his Contemporaries, and of the War of the Succession. By Sib ARCHIBALD ALISON, Bart., D.C.L. Third Edition. 2 vols. 8vo, Portraits and Maps, 30s. THE XEW 'EX AM EX;' Or, An Inquiry into the Evidence of certain Passages in ' Macaulay's History of England' concerning — the duke of marlborough — the massacre of GLENCOE — THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND — VISCOUNT DUNDEE — ^WILLIAM PENN. By JOHN PAGET, Esq., Barrister-at-Law. In crown 8vo, 6s. " We ccrtamly never saw a -more damaging exposure, and it is something worth notice that much of it appeared in ' Blackwood's Magazine ' during the lifetime of Lord Macaulay, but he never attempted to make any reply. The charges are so direct, and urged in such unmistakable language, that no writer who valued his character for either accuracy of fact or fairness in comment w ould let them remain un- answered if he had any reason to give." — Gentleman's Mayaziiie. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE REV. DR CARLYLE, Minister of Inveresk. Containing Memorials of the Men and Events of his Time. Edited by John Hill Burton. In Svo. Third Edition, with Portrait, 14s. " This book contains by far the most vivid picture of Scottish life and manners that has been given to the public since the days of Sir Walter Scott In bestowing upon it this high praise, we make no excep- tion, not even in favour of Lord Cockburn's ' Memonab '—the book which resembles it most, and which ranks next to it in interest."— i'dutbur^/t Review. MEMOIR OF THE POLITICAL LIFE OF EDMUND BURKE. With Extracts from his Writings. By the Rev. GEORGE CROLY, D.D. 2 vols, post Svo, 18s. CURRAX AXD HIS COX TEMPORARIES. By CHARLES PHILLIPS, Esq., A.B. A New Edition. Cro\vn Svo, 7s. 6d. " Certainly one of the most extraordinary pieces of biogi-aphy ever produced No library should be without it." — Lord Brouijham. " Never, perhaps, was there a more curious collection of portraits crowded before into the same can- vass."— Times. MEMOIR OF MRS HEMAXS. By her SISTER. With a Portrait. Fcap. 8vo, 5s. LIFE OF THE LATE REV. JAMES ROBERTSOX, D.D., F.R.S.E., Professor of Divinitv and Ecclesiastical History in the University of Edinburgh. By the Rev. A. H. CHARTERIS, M.A., Minister of New- abbey. With a Portrait. 8vo, price 10s. Od. ESSA YS; HISTORICAL, POLITICAL, AXD MISCELLAXEOUS. By Sir ARCHIBALD ALISON, Bart. 3 vols, demy 8vo, 45s. ESSAYS IX HISTORY AXD ART. By R. H. PATTERSON. Viz. : COLOUR IN NATURE AND ART — REAL AND IDEAL BEAUTY— SCULPTURE — ETHNOLOGY OF EUROPE — UTOPIAS — OUR INDIAN EMPIRE — THE NATIONAL LIFE OF CHINA — AN IDEAL ART-CONGRESS — BATTLE OF THE STYLES — GENIUS AND LIBERTY— YOUTH AND SUMMER— RECORDS OF THE PAST : NINEVEH AND BABYLON— INDIA : ITS CASTES AND CREEDS — "CHRISTOPHER NORTH:" IN MEMORiAM. In 1 vol. 8vo, 12s. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 5 XORMAy SINCLAIR. ByW. E. AYTOUN, D.C.L., Author of 'Lays of tlio Scottish Cavaliers,' &o. i<;r. HOMER AND HIS TRANSLATORS, And the Greek Drama. By Professor WILSON. Crown 8vo, 6s. " But of all the criticisms on Homer which I have ever had the good fortune to read, in our own or any language, the most vivid and entirely genial are those found in the ' Essays, Critical aud Imagina- tive,' of the late Professor Wilson."— J/r Gladstones Studies on Homer. THE SK ETC HER. By the Rev. JOHN EAGLES. Originally published in ' Blackwood's Maga- zine.' 8vo, 10s. 6d. " This volume, called by the appropriate name of ' The Sketclier,' is one that ought to be found in the studio of every English landscape-painter. .... More instructive and suggestive readings for young artists, especially landscape-painters, can scarcely be found."— TVte Globe. ESS A YS. By the Rev. JOHN EAGLES, A.M. Oxon. Originally published in ' Black- wood's Magazine.' Post 8vo, 10s. 6d. Contents : — Church Music, and other Parochials. — Medical Attendance, and other Parochials. — A few Hours at Hampton Court. — Grandfathers and Grandchildren. — Sitting for a Portrait. — Are there not Great Boasters among us? — Temperance and Teetotal Societies. — Thackeray's Lectures: Swift. — The Crystal Palace. — Civilisation : The Census. — The Beggar's Legacy. ESS A YS; HISTORICAL, POLITICAL, AND MISCELLANEOUS. By Sir ARCHIBALD ALISON, Bart., D.C.L. Three vols., demy 8vo, 45s. LECTURES ON THE POETICAL LITERATURE OF THE PAST HALF-CENTURY. By D. M. MOIR. Third Edition. Fcap. Svo, 5s. " Exquisite in its taste and generous in its criticisms."— /fjtyft. Miller. LECTURES ON THE HISTORY OF LITERATURE, Ancient and Modern. From the German of F. Schlegel. Fcap., 5s. "A wonderful performance— better than anything we as yet have in our own language."— Qua rfeHy Review. THE GENIUS OF HANDEL, And the distinctive Character of his Sacred Compositions. Two Lectures. Delivered to the Members of the Edinburgh Philosophical Institution. By the Very Rev, DEAN RAMSAY, Author of ' Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character.' In crown Svo, 3s. 6d. BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, From Commencement in 1817 to December 1861. Numbers 1 to 554, forming 90 Volumes. £31, 10s. INDEX TO THE FIRST FIFTY VOLUMES OF BLACKWOOD S MAGAZINE. 8vo, 15s. 10 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY LAYS OF THE SCOTTISH CAVALIERS, And other Poems. By W. EDMONDSTOUNE AYTOUN, D.C.L., Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature in the University of Edinburgh. Four- teenth Edition. Fcap. 8vo, 7s. 6d. " Professor Aytoun's ' Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers'— a volume of verse which shows that Scotland has 3et a poet. Full of the true fire, it now stirs and swells like a trurupet-note — now sinks in cadences sad and wild as the wail of a Highland dirse."— Quarterly Review. BOTH WELL: A POEM. By W. EDMONDSTOUNE AYTOUN, D.C.L. Third Edition. Fcap. 8vo, 7s. 6d. " Professor Aj-toun has produced a fine poem and an able argument, and ' Bothwell ' will assuredly take its stand among the classics of Scottish literature."— T/i« Press. THE BALLADS OF SCOTLAND. Edited by Professor Aytoun. Second Edition. 2 vols. fcap. 8vo, 12s. " No country can boast of a richer collection of Ballads than Scotland, and no Editor for these Ballads could be found more accomplished than Professor A ytoun. He has sentforth two beautiful volumes which range with ' Percy's Reliques '—which, for completeness and accuracy, leave little to be desired— which must henceforth be considered as the standard edition of the Scottish Ballads, and which we commend as a model to any among ourselves who may think of doing like service to the English Ballads." — Times. POEMS AND BALLADS OF GOETHE. Translated by Professor Aytoun and Theodore Martin. Second Edition. Fcap. 8vo, 6s. " There is no doubt that these are the best translations of Goethe's marvellously-cut gems which have yet been published."— jfMiies. THE BOOK OF BALLADS. Edited by Bon Gaultier, Seventh Edition, with numerous Illustrations by Doyle, Leech, and Crowquill. Gilt edges, post Svo, 8s. 6d. FIRMILTAN; OR, THE STUDENT OF BAD A JOS. A Spasmodic Tragedy. By T. PERCY JONES. In small 8vo, 5s. " Humour of a kind most rare at all times, and especially in the present day, runs through every pape, and passages of true poetry and delicious versification prevent the continual play of sarcasm from becom- ing tedious."— Z/iiecarj/ Gazette. POETICAL WORKS OF THOMAS AIRD. Fourth Edition. In 1 vol. fcap. Svo, 6s. POEMS. By the Lady FLORA HASTINGS. Edited by her Sister, Second Edition, with a Portrait. Fcap., 7s. 6d. THE POEMS OF FELICIA HEMANS. Complete in 1 vol. royal Svo, with Portrait by Finden. Cheap Edition, 12s. 6d. Another Edition, with MEMOIR by her Sister. Seven vols, fcap., 35s. Another Edition, in 6 vols., cloth, gilt edges, 24s. The following Works of Mrs Hemans are sold separately, bound in cloth, gilt edges, 4s. each : — Records of Woman. Forest Sanctuary. Songs of the Affections. Dramatic Work.s. Tales and Historic Scenes. Moral and Reli- gious Poems. THE ODYSSEY OF HOMER. Translated into English Verse in the Spenserian Stanza. By PHILIP STAN- HOPE WORSLEY, M.A., Scholar of Corpus Christi College. 2 vols, crown Svo, 18s. " Mr Worsley,— applying the Spenserian stanza, that beautiful romantic measure, to the most romantic poem of the ancient world— making the stanza yield him, too (what it never yielded to Byron), its trea- sures of fluidity and sweet ease— above all, bringing to his task a truly poetical sense and skill,— has pro- duced a version of the ' Odyssey' much the most pleasing of those hitherto produced, and which is de- lightful to Teiid."—FrofeaaorAr7uild on Translating Homer. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 11 POEMS AXD TRANSLATIOXS. By PHILIP STANHOPE WORSLEY, M.A., Scholar of Corpus Chrlsti College, Oxford. Fcap. 8vo, 5s. POEMS. By ISA. In small Svo, 4s. 6d. POETICAL WORKS OF D. M. MOIR. "With Portrait, and Memoir by Thomas Aird. Second Edition, 2 vols. fcap. Svo, 12s. LECTURES OX THE POETICAL LITERATURE OF THE PAST HALF-CENTURY. By D. M. MOIR (A). Second Edition. Fcap. Svo, 5s. " A delightful volume."— 3forningF Chronicle. " Exquisite iu its taste and generous in its criticisms."— /fug'/i Miller. THE COURSE OF TIME: A POEM. By ROBERT POLLOK, A.M. Twenty-third Edition. Fcap. Svo, 5s. " Of deep and hallowed impress, full of noble thoughts and graphic conceptions— the production of a mind alive to the great relations of being, and the sublime simplicity of our re\ision."— Blackwood's Ma'jazine. AN ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THE COURSE OF TIME. In large Svo, bound in cloth, richly gilt, 21s. " There has been no modern poem in the English language, of the class to ■nhich the ' Course of Time ' belongs, since Milton wrote, that can be compared to it. In the present instance the artistic talents of Messra Foster, Clayton, Tenniel, Evans, Dalziel, Green, and Woods, have been employed in giving expression to the sublimity of the language, by equally exquisite illustrations, all of which are of the highest class."— BeU's Messewjer. POEMS AND BALLADS OF SCHILLER. Translated by Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, Bart. Second Edition. Svo, 10s. 6d. ST STEPHEN'S; Or, Illustrations of Parliamentary Oratory. A Poem. Comprising — PjTn — Vane — Strafford — Halifax — Shaftesbury — St John— Sir R. "Walpole— Chester- field — Carteret — Chatham — Pitt — Fox — Burke— Sheridan— Wilberforee — "Wyndham — Conway— Castlereagh — William Lamb (Lord Melbourne) — Tier- ney — Lord Grey — O'Contiell — Plunkett — Shiel — FoUett — Macaulay — Peel. Second Edition. Crown Svo, 5s. LEGENDS, LYRICS, AND OTHER POEMS. By B. SIMMONS. Fcap., 7s. 6d. SIR WILLI A M CRICHTON—A THEL WOLD—GUIDONE : Dramas by "WILLIAM SMITH, Author of ' Thorndale,' &c. 32mo, 2s. 6d. THE BIRTHDAY, AND OTHER POEMS. By Mrs SOUTHEY. Second Edition, 5s. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE LYRIC POETRY AND MUSIC OF SCOTLAND. By "WILLIAM STENHOUSE. Originally compiled to accompany the ' Scots Musical Museiim,' and now published separately, with Additional Notes and Illustrations. Svo, 7s. 6d. PROFESSOR WILSON'S POEMS. Containing the 'Isle of Palms,' the 'City of the Plague,' 'Unimore,' and other Poems. Complete Edition. Crown Svo, 6s. POEMS AND SONGS. By DAVID WINGATE. Second Edition. Fcap. Svo, 5s. "We are delighted to welcome into the brotherhood of real poets a countryman of Bums, and whose verse will go far to render the rougher Border Scottish a classic dialect iu our lituraturc."— Jonn Bull. 12 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY THE PHYSICAL ATLAS OF NATURAL PHENOMENA. By ALEXANDER KEITH JOHNSTON, F.R.S.E.. &c., Geographer to the Queen for Scotland. A New and Enlarged Edition, consisting of 35 Folio Plates, and 27 smaller ones, printed in Colours, with 135 pages of Letterpress, and Index. Imperial folio, half-bound morocco, £8, 8s. " A perfect treasure of compressed iuformatiou."— Sir John UerscJiel. THE PHYSICAL ATLAS. By ALEXANDER KEITH JOHNSTON, F.R.S.E., &c. Reduced from the Imperial Folio. This Edition contains Twenty-five Maps, including a Palaeon- tological and Geological Map of the British Islands, with Descriptive Letter- press, and a very copious Index. In imperial 4to, half-bound morocco, £2, 12s. 6d. " E.xecuted with remarkable care, and is as accurate, and, for all educational purposes, as valuable, as the splendid large work (by the same author) which has now a European reputation."— £cfecfic Review. A GEOLOGICAL MAP OF EUROPE. By Sir R. I. MURCHISON, D.C.L., F.R.S., &c., Director-General of the Geological Survey of Great Britain and Ireland ; and JAMES NICOL, F.R.S.E., F.G.S., Professor of Natural Historjnn the University of Aberdeen. Constructed by Alexander Keith Johnston, F.R.S.E., &c. Four Sheets imperial, beautifully printed in Colours. In Sheets, £3, 3s.; in a Cloth Case, 4to, £3, 10s. GEOLOGICAL AND PALjEONTOLOGICAL MAP OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS, including Tables of the Fossils of the different Epochs, &c. &c., from the Sketches and Notes of Professor Edward Forbes. With Illustrative and Explanatory Letterpress. 21s. GEOLOGICAL MAP OF SCOTLAND. By JAMES NICOL, F.R.S.E., &c., Professor of Natural History in the Uni- versity of Aberdeen. With Explanatory Notes. The Topography by Alex- ander Keith Johnston, F.R.S.E., &c. Scale, 10 miles to an inch. In Cloth Case, 21s. INTRODUCTORY TEXT-BOOK OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. By DAVID PAGE, F. R. S. E. , &c. With Illustrations and a Glossarial Index. CrowTi Svo, 2s. INTRODUCTORY TEXT-BOOK OF GEOLOGY. By DAVID PAGE, F.R.S.E., F.G.S. With Engravings on Wood and Glos- sarial Index. Fifth Edition, Is. 9d. " It has not often been our good fortune to examine a text-book on science of which we could express an opinion so entirely favourable as we are enabled to do of Mr Page's little ^OT)L."—Athjen(eunu ADVANCED TEXT-BOOK OF GEOLOGY, Descriptive and Industrial. By DAVID PAGE, F.R.S.E., F.G.S. With Engravings and Glossary of Scientific Terms. Third Edition, revised and enlarged, 6s. " It is therefore with unfeigned pleasure that we record our appreciation of his ' Advanced Text-Book of Geology.' We have carefully read this truly satisfactory book, and do not hesitate to say that it is an excellent compendium of the great facts of Geology, and written in a truthful and philosophic spirit."— Sditiburgh Philosophical Journal. HANDBOOK OF GEOLOGICAL TERMS AND GEOLOGY. By DAVID PAGE, F.R.S.E., F.G.S. In crown Svo, 6s. THE PAST AND PRESENT LIFE OF THE GLOBE: Being a Sketch in Outline of the World's Life-System. By DAVID PAGE, F.R.S.E., F.G.S. Crown Svo, 6s. With Fifty Illustrations, drawn and engraved expressly for this Work. " Mr Pa^e, whose admirable text-books of geology have already secured him a position of importance in the scientific world, will add considerably to his reputation by the present sketch, as he modestly terms it. of the Life-System, or gradual evolution of the vitality of our globe. In no manual that we are aware of have the facts and phenomena of biology been presented in at once so sj-stematic and succinct a form, the successive manifestations of life on the earth set forth in so clear an order, or traced so vividly from the earliest organisms deep-buried in its stratified crust, to the familiar forms that now adorn and people its surface."— 2, iterai'i/ Gazette. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 13 THE GEOLOGICAL EX A MI X A TOR: A Progressive Series of Questions adapted to the Introductory and Advanced Text-Books of Geology. Prepared to assist Teachers in framing their Exami- nations, and Students in testing their own Progress and Proficiency By DAVID PAGE, F.R.S.E., F.G.S. Second Edition, (id. THE GEOLOGY OF PENNSYLVANIA: A Government Survey ; with a General View of the Geology of the United States, Essays on the Coal Formation and its Fossils, and a Description of the Coal-Fields of North America and Great Britain. By Professor HENRY DARWIN ROGERS, F.R.S., F.G.S., Professor of Natural History in the University of Glasgow. With Seven large Maps, and numerous Illustrations engraved on Copper and on Wood. In 3 vols, royal 4to, £S, 8s. SEA -SIDE STUDIES AT ILFRACOMBE, TENBY, THE SCILLY ISLES, AND JERSEY. By GEORGE HENRY LEWES. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, with Illustrations, and a Glossary of Technical Terms, 6s. 6d. PHYSIOLOGY OF COMMON LIFE. By GEORGE HENRY LEWES, Author of ' Sea-side Studies,' &c.. Illus- trated with numerous Engravings. 2 vols., 12s. CHEMISTRY OF COMMON LIFE,- By Professor J. F. W. JOHNSTON. A New Edition. Edited by G. H. LEWES. With 113 Illustrations on Wood, and a Copious Index. 2 vols, crown Svo, lis. 6d. NOMENCLATURE OF COLOURS, Applicable to the Arts and Natural Sciences, to Manufactures, and other Purposes of General Utility. By D. R. HAY, F.R.S.E. 228 Examples of Colours, Hues, Tints, and Shades. Svo, £3, 3s. NARRATIVE OF THE EARL OF ELGIN'S MISSION ■ TO CHINA AND JAPAN. By LAURENCE OLIPHANT, Private Secretary to Lord Elgin. Illustrated with numerous Engravings in Chromo-Lithogra- phy. Maps, and Engravings on Wood, from Original Drawings and Photo- graphs. Second Edition. In 2 vols. Svo, 21s. " The volumes in which Mr Oliphatit has related these transactions will be read with the strongest inte- rest now, and deserve to retain a permanent place in the literary and historical annals of ow time."— Edinburgh Uvuiew. RUSSIAN SHORES OF THE BLACK SEA In the Autumn of 1852. With a Voyage down the Volga and a Tour through the Country of the Don Cossacks. By LAURENCE OLIPHANT, Esq. 8vo, with Map and other Illustrations. Fourth Edition, 14s. EGYPT, THE SOUDAN, AND CENTRAL AFRICA: With Explorations from Khartoum on the White Nile to the Regions of the Equator. By JOHN PETHERICK. F.R.G.S., Her Britannic Majesty's Con- sul for the Soudan. In Svo, with a Map, 16s. NOTES ON NORTH AMERICA: Agricultural, Economical, and Social. By Professor J. F. W. JOHNSTON. 2 vols, post Svo, 21s. " Professor .Johnston's admirable Notes. . . . The very best manual for intelligent emigrants, whilst to the British agriculturist and general reader it conveys a more complete conception of the condition of these prosperous regions than all that has hitherto been written."— iconor/itsit. A FAMILY TOUR ROUND THE COASTS OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL during the Winter of 1860-1861. By L.A.Dy DUNBAR, of North- field. In post Svo, 5s. ' ■ 14 BOOKS PUBLISHED BY THE ROYAL ATLAS OF MODERN GEOGRAPHY. Ill a Series of entirely Original and Authentic Mai^s. By A. KEITH JOHNSTON, F.R.S.E., F.R.G.S., Author of the ' Physical Atlas,' &e. With a complete Index of easy reference to each Map, comprising nearly 150,000 Places contained in this Atlas. Imperial folio, half-bound in russia or mo- rocco, £5, 15s. 6d. (Dedicated by permission to Her Majesty.) " No one can look through Mr Keith Johnston's new Atlas without seeing that it is the best which has ever been published in this country."— TVie Times. " Of the many noble atlases prepared by Mr Johnston and published by Messrs Blackwood & Sons, this Royal Atlas will be the most useful to the public, and will deserve to be the most popular."— ^tc'« Jiwjazine. THE BOOK OF JOB. By the late Rev. GEORGE CROLY, LL.D., Rector of St Stephen's, Walbrook. With a Memoir of the Author by his Son. Fcap. 8vo, 4s. LECTURES IN DIVINITV. By the late Rev. GEORGE HILL, D.D, Principal of St Mary's College, St Andrews. Stereotyped Edition. 8vo, 14s. " I am not sure if I can recommend a more complete manual of Divinity."— Z>r Ctialmers. THE MOTHER'S LEGACIE TO HER UN BORNE CHILBE. By Mrs ELIZABETH JOCELINE. Edited by tlie Very Rev. Principal Lee. 32mo, 4s. 6d. "This beautiful and touching legacie."— yl/?i?nfei(TO. "A delightful monument of the piety and high feeling of a truly noble mother."— J/orntn/y Advertiser. ANALYSIS AND CRITICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE HEBREW TEXT OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS. Preceded by a Hebrew Grammar, and Dissertations on the Genuineness of the Pentateucli, and on the Structure of the Hebrew Language. By the Rev. WILLIAM PAUL, A.M. 8vo, 18s. PRAYERS FOR SOCIAL AND FAMILY WORSHIP. Prepared by a Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and specially designed for the use of Soldiers, Sailors, Colonists, Sojourners in India, and other Persons, at Home or Abroad, who are deprived of the Ordinary Services of a Christian Ministry. Published hy Authority o/ the Committee. Third Edition. In crown 8vo, bound in cloth, 4s. PRAYERS FOR SOCIAL AND FAMILY WORSHIP. Being a Cheap Edition of the above. Fcap. 8vo, Is. 6d. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, In its Origin, Progress, and Perfection. By the Very Rev. E. B. RAMSAY, LL.D., F.R.S.E., Dean of the Diocese of Edinburgh. Cro\vn 8vo, 9s. THEISM: THE WITNESS OF REASON AND NATURE TO AN ALL-WISE AND BENEFICENT CREATOR. By the Rev. JOHN TULLOCH, D.D., Principal and Professor of Theology, St Mary's College, St Andrews ; and one of Her Majesty's Chaplains in Ordinary in Scotland. In 1 vol. 8vo, 10s. 6d. ON THE ORIGIN AND CONNECTION OF THE GOSPELS OF MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE ; With Svnopsis of Parallel Passages, and Critical Notes. By JAMES SMITH, Esq. of Jordanhill, F.R.S., Author of the ' Voyage and Shipwreck of St Paul.' Medium Svo, 16s. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS. 19 IXSTTTUTES OF METAPHVSIC: THE THEORY OF KNOW- ING AND BEING. By JAMES F. FEREIER, A.B, Oxon., Professor of Moral Philosophy and Political Economy, St Andi'ews. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, 10s. lid. "We have no doubt, however, that the subtlety and depth of metaphysical genius which his work be- travs, its rare displ.iy of rigorous and consistent reasonings, and the inimitable precision ami beauty of its style on almost evtry page, must secure for it a JistinguisUed place in the history of philosophical discus- sion."— ruWoc/i's Burnett Prize Treatise. LECTCRES OX METAPHYSICS. By Sir WILLIAM HAMILTON, Bart, Professor of Lo