JOHNA.SEAVERNS TUFTS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IlllllllillllllllllH 3 9090 014 529 578 Webster Family Librgry of Veterinary Medicine Cun^niings School ot Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University 200 Westboro Road North Grafton, MA 01536 '^^aamMmm lE^ ^ff^^S^E i®^ ^ 'i^fff ^p-^g ^-M i^Sl3 w msmm^m ^m^m ^^.iS^^^^^^i^aWi -cT^a.^^ ^n^^^^l^^^^si'^^^^' " ■^iic^^^f ?*■■ i_<* J^^ C"-: JrO f4 The style of a man may be known by his horse.' THE IMPOSSIBLE HOKSS. THE GRIFFIN^S AIDE-DE-CAMP. BLUNT SPURS, LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, ^ubliiSlier in (©rtJmari) to ^tv Plajeslty. 1843. « TO MAJOR OUTRAM, C.B. RESIDENT AT THE COURT OF HYDERABAD, IN SCINDE, ETC. ETC. As an admirer of your public talents and private virtues, as well as of your justly cele- brated character as one of the best hog-hunters on the Bombay side of India, but as no ad- mirer of the neglect in your stable, this volume is dedicated by your much obliged friend, BLUNT SPURS. CONTENTS. Preface ..... PART I. Purchasing from the Stables, etc. The Caste .... The Build, commencing with the Quarters, Tail Thighs, Stifle, &c. . The Hocks and the Hind Parts proof of half the Breeding .... The Head, Nostrils, Mouth, Lips, Eye, Ears, &c. The Neck .... The Withers and Back The Shoulder and Chest . The Depth of Girth, and Carcase . The Elbow and Forearm, &c. The Knee, and Back Sinews, and Suspensory Liga ment. The Shank-bone, Fetlocks, &c. The Pasterns, &c. Position of the Legs The Feet The Testicles, &c. The Colour Arriving Thin Manner of Coins . 12 17 20 22 24 26 27 28 35 37 39 45 46 47 49 X CONTENTS. PAGE Purchasing from the Stables, etc. continued. Price ..... . 50 Advice ..... . ^^ The Griffin's Catechism . . 57 Racer ..... . 59 Charger ..... . 60 Hunter ..... . 62 PART II. The Age ..... lb The Colt's Grinders 75 The Colt's Nippers 77 The Tushes . . . . , 78 Marks that show the Age 78 Remarks . . . . . 79 The Pulse ...... 83 Bleeding ...... 85 Physicking ...... 89 To make Bran Mash and Bran Tea 96 To make Fine Gram, or Wheat-flour Gruel 97 Muzzle . . . . 98 Drenching . . . . . 99 Physic Ball and Drench . . . . 100 Alteratives . . . . . 101 General Alteratives . . . . 102 Shoeing ...... 103 Cutting the Hoof . . . . 107 Three-quarter Shoes and Tips 110 PART III. Putting into Condition . . . . 113 Stabling and Clothing . . . . 113 CONTENTS. XI Putting into Condition continued. The Feet, Physic, &c. . UG Hours of Feeding and Watering . 122 Grooming, Washing, &c. . 123 Getting out of Order 128 Gora-Wallas Riding 129 Danger of Overfeeding 130 Mixed Boiled Food, Chaff, &c. 131 Exercise .... 136 How to keep Condition 138 Change from Stabling to the open Air, Hunting, &c 141 Masallah Balls .... . 147 Cordial Drinks .... 148 Beer Tonic .... . 148 Native Masallah Ball . 150 Training ..... . 151 Stable and Clothing . 156 Stable Management . . 157 Difference of Form, &c. . . 157 Time required to Train . 159 A Day's Routine . 160 Training Weight, Physic, Exercise, of the Bowels. » of the Liver and Spleen. }> of the Stomach. j> of the Heart. » of the Kidneys, the Neck of the Blad- der, and Bladder. 5> of the Feet. )> undiscoverable. Class VII . Red Urine. Bursantee. p 2 212 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. CLASS I. SICKNESS UNDER PHYSIC is caused, firstly, by the ball breaking in the mouth, and half of it, perhaps, sticking there for a couple of hours ; secondly, by the physic being too strong ; thirdly, by the horse not having been suflSciently prepared, or by having been suffered to drink too much cold water, or to eat too much, or to other bad management. Symptoms of the first : — The horse looks dull, hangs his head, and the saliva is black with the aloes. Treatment : — Give whatever remains of the ball, adding another drachm or two to it ; for, at least, that quantity is generally slobbered away before it is discovered ; and wash the mouth out with salt and water. Symptoms of the second: — Looks dull, and hangs his head, as before ; generally coming on towards the evening of the day the physic is given. Treatment : — If you think you have given too strong a dose, keep him perfectly quiet, with a bed to lie down on. By not giving any exer- cise, and only very little grass and water when it SICKNESS UNDER PHYSIC. 213 commences to work, it will, perhaps, not operate more than is desired : if it does, see " Over- purging." Symptoms of the third : — Looks dull, hangs his head, lies down gently, and occasionally, though seldom, rolls, throwing himself on his back, and yet without appearing griped. Pulse, natural. Treatment : — Leave this state alone too : it will sometimes occur, even when the horse has been properly prepared, and the physic good ; but if the uneasiness continues for an hour, or more, throw up a clyster of warm salt and water. At other times, all the symptoms of severe gripes come on, and you must be quickly on your guard. Back-rake immediately; then clyster with two ounces of soap and two ounces of common salt, in a gallon of thin warm rice congee. Then drench with one drachm of oil of peppermint, or three drachms of finely-grated ginger, and one ounce of Epsom salts, in a quart of thin warm rice congee; and throw three gallons of hot (hot enough to burn and make him flinch, but not scalding) water over his loins and belly. The whole of this, excepting the back-raking, to be repeated every hour ; trotting gentlij in the inter- val. If, after three hours, the symptoms should not be alleviated, and the pulse should rise be- yond sixty, take away three quarts of blood, con- 214 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. tinuing the above treatment. Should the physic be operating, or immediately it begins to do so, there must be no exercise ; the Epsom salts must be left out of the drench ; and the clyster be composed of one quart of thicker congee, with a teaspoonful of laudanum in it. OVER-PURGING. If a horse purges more than twenty times, he must be considered over-purged; and, if un- attended to, inflammation may succeed. Treatment: — Continue the gruel, as directed under " Physicking," till you have given it six times ; then change to the following : four drachms of prepared or common chalk, three drachms of gum-arabic, one drachm and a half of catechu, and one drachm and a half of anise- seed, well mixed in a pint of arrowroot, or thick rice congee : give this every four hours. The legs to be, also, well hand-rubbed every four hours ; and, in the interim, bandaged up as high as the knees in flannel or grass ; and, if the weather is cold or damp, the jhool and head-piece to be put on. He should have a large soft bed, but be muzzled, if inclined to eat ; and not a particle of grain, grass, or water given. After three drenches OVER-PURGING. 215 of the above, that is, after twelve hours, if the purging remains undiminished, add to it a quarter of a drachm of opium and a quarter of a drachm of alum ; and give the same, also, by clyster, in- creasing the quantity of arrowroot in the clyster to a quart. There will be no danger of fatal in- flammation, and very little of the bowels being injured, if this treatment is fairly adopted ; but if you allow the over-purging to go on for twelve or eighteen hours, and then suddenly stop it with over-doses of opium or catechu, you will, most probably, as suddenly stop his breath at the same time. Should the purging, after another twelve hours, still continue unabated, the distress appear great, and the legs and ears cold, he will be in much danger : blister the belly, take away three quarts of blood, and give the medicine, both by mouth and clyster, every three hours. Blister for the belli/. — Half a pound of flour of mustard, one ounce of spirits of turpentine, two drachms of finely-powdered Spanish flies, and half a pint of linseed-oil; to be made into a paste, and spread on dungaree a foot square, with a jhool underneath it; or else spread on the inside of a sheepskin, and kept close to the belly for two or three hours, by bandages tied over the back. 216 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. On recovering from violent over-purging, a seer of well-boiled ground grain, (gradually in- creasing to two,) one map of bran mash, and three drachms of gum-arabic, should be given at each feed for a week ; wheat, or bajree flour gruel, sweetened, always at the first watering time in the morning ; only two gallons of water at each drink, and that with the chill off; very little grass after each feed; a little dried lucern, of the previous day's cutting, is best ; and for the first three days, not moved from his loose stall. But inflammation may also come on from the badness of the aloes, (if the stufl* sometimes procured from the bazaar can come under that name,) or from improper ingredients being mixed up, or from the physic being given when the bowels were overloaded ; as well as being caused by over-purging, and the then deadly sudden stopping of the purging with strong astringents. The symptoms are the same. A quick small pulse, from fifty to eighty, and scarcely to be felt ; heaving at the flanks; distressed countenance, and eyelids very red : the feet also become cold^ and the hind leg, up at the stifle, sometimes trembles violently. Treatment : — Bleed four quarts, or more if the horse looks as if he could stand it : blister the whole of the belly, tying the jhool over it : put each foot in water, as hot as GRIPES. 217 he can bear, for ten minutes, drying each quickly as it comes out; then rubbing till well warm, and bandaging half way up to the hocks and knees in flannel. Clyster with thin, warm rice congee, if the bowels are not open ; and drench, also, with a quart every hour. Put on warm clothing, if it is cold weather : but the irritation having been so great as to produce inflammation, he generally dies. CLASS II. GRIPES are caused by drinking cold water, especially when heated by exercise ; or too much water immediately after feeding ; or by exercise, im- mediately after feeding ; or by over-feeding. By green food with the morning's dew on it ; or too much green food suddenly given ; or too much, even when accustomed to it. By change of grain. By the cold air. By want of exercise. Also, when the attacks are fre- quent, perhaps by some occult disease existing in the bowels. 218 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. Symptoms. — The pain comes on quite sud- denly ; he paws the ground ; looks round to his sides ; rolls, and rolls over ; tries to strike his belly with his hind feet ; and breaks out into a perspiration : gets up again in a few minutes, shakes himself, and not unfrequently begins to eat. Almost all these exist, in a greater or less degree; and, after a short inter- val, they all return. The belly is sometimes tremendously swollen ; I have seen it like a bullock's struck dead by lightning, and he groans heavily. GRIPES, DistinguisJiifig Symptoms between it and Inflamma- tion of the Bowels. The ears, and legs, and feet are scarcely ever cold till after the perspiration breaks out; and, when rubbed dry and warm, they do not be- come cold again till after he breaks out into another sweat. In inflammation of the bowels they are always cold, and though good friction will make them warm, they quickly become cold again. The pain decreases after a trot ; and when brought back to the stall h« often stands quite GRIPES. 219 quiet for two or three minutes, as if perfectly recovered. In inflammation, the pain increases after a trot. There are, also, short intervals of ease during gripes, but none during inflamma- tion. In gripes, he often rolls quite over : in in- flammation very seldom. In gripes, he frequently commences picking at grass : in inflammation, I believe, never. Rubbing the belly relieves the gripes : it in- creases the pain in inflammation. The pulse is generally natural at the com- mencement of gripes, becoming fuller and quicker after a couple of hours or so, but not rising above sixty. In inflammation, it is never natural, but much accelerated at the com- mencement of the disease ; not full, but small, and scarcely to be felt, and rising in four or ^ye hours to eighty or ninety, or more. Gripes, are not so often mistaken for inflam- mation of the bowels, as inflammation of the bowels for gripes. Treatment. — Gripes from bajree and nihut. These are generally easily cured. Three drachms of flnely-powdered black pe2)per in a quart of hot, (do not burn his throat,) greasy mutton broth. 220 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. Gripes from curby. — Three drachms of finely- powdered black pepper, and a quarter of a drachm of mustard, in half a pint of warm ghee. Gripes from green meat. — Two drachms of finely-powdered black pepper, a quarter of a drachm of cayenne ditto, and one ounce of tincture of opium, in a pint of warm congee. Gripes from cold water. — Four ounces of sweet spirits of nitre, and one drachm of finely- grated ginger, in a pint of warm milk. Gripes when severe, or the belly is greatly swollen. — -Six ounces of linseed-oil, three ounces of spirits of turpentine, one ounce of tincture of opium, three drachms of finely-powdered aloes, and one drachm of oil of peppermintj mixed. Gripes when the horse is known to have worms. — Three quarters of a pint of linseed-oil, and three ounces of spirits of turpentine, mixed. Gripes when the horse has sore throat or influenza. — Three quarters of a pint of linseed- oil, one ounce and a half of sweet spirits of nitre, and one ounce and a half of tincture of opium, mixed. Gripes when the bowels are very costive. — - The same as that for worms. Gripes when the bowels- are well open, or GRIPES. 221 loose. — One ounce of tincture of opium, and one drachm of oil of peppermint, or three drachms of ginger, in half a pint of warm congee. Gripes which come of themselves, — One ounce of onion juice, in half a pint of warm ghee ; or three drachms of aloes, and one ounce of tincture of opium, in half a pint of warm water. Or half, or three quarters of a pint of brandy, gin, or rum, in a pint of warm water. Should the first dose of any of these not re- lieve in twenty minutes, always backrake ; after that, clyster, repeat the drench, and throw hot water over the loins and belly, and continue doing these last three every hour, till cure takes place, trotting gently in the interval ; but always give the same dose twice, or, if you like, thrice, before changing to another. If it is a severe case, and no relief obtained after three doses, that is, after two hours and a half, take away three quarts of blood.* The first clyster, may be two ounces of spirits of turpentine, and two ounces of onion juice, in a gallon of thin warm congee. When it is time for the second, if the bowels have not been opened, the clyster every hour should be four drachms of aloes, or eight ounces of Epsom * See '^ Bleeding," p. 85. 222 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. salts, with six ounces of glioor, in a gallon of thin warm congee ; but if he has dunged freely, and the pain should still continue, each clyster should consist of two ounces of tincture of opium, in only a quart of warm congee. Do not forget to change the clothing, if any has been on, that has become damp with the perspiration. Doubtful Symptoms. — If the symptoms are not very clear, and you are frightened lest it should be inflammation, give half a pint of linseed-oil, and two ounces of spirits of turpentine, mixed, which repeat, in half an hour, with one ounce of tincture of opium* added ; and let the clys- ter be two ounces of soap, and two ounces of salt, in a gallon of thin warm rice congee. For the first twenty-four, or, if the gripes have been severe, the first forty-eight hours after recovery, give only one map of boiled grain, and two of bran mash, at each feed ; the water with the chill off, and very little grass. Gripes in India are very common, and the cordial quart of Hodgson, with three drachms * Half a drachm of unadulterated or purified opium, is reckoned equal to about one ounce of the tincture. If you have none of the tincture ready, macerate tlie half drachm in a small wine-glass of brandy. • GRIPES. 223 of finely-grated ginger, six draclims of anise- seed, and three ounces of ghoor, is, after all, the most grateful cure : and one that is generally at hand. In giving it, you may omit the little point of mistaken politeness, you so gene- rously offer to your friend at dinner, begging him " not to wait," but to swallow it down, fixed air and all, the instant it is poured out. You are now only treating the inside of a horse, and that under disease, which, having too much wind already there, will not be cured by another quart being thrust down his gullet. Pour the beer into a clean cooking-pot ; then put in the ginger, anise°seed, and ghoor, and stir it round whilst on the fire warming : in this way the stimulants become properly incorporated with the beer. CLASS III. COLD. A thorough draught, or letting a horse stand still when heated by exercise, are almost as frequent causes of cold in this country as in England. Stripping oif the jhool in the cold 224 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. weather, and then taking him out of the warm stall to be led for his morning's walk, or, at the gora-walla's option, to stand still, common sense must tell you will chill ; and suddenly bringing a horse from the open mydan, in cold weather, into a close Bombay stable, has an equal ten- dency to produce cold or inflammation. During the months that are very cold, if you purpose riding at daybreak, and your horse is used to a comfortable stall, always keep as much cloth- ing over the saddle as he had on at night, until brought out, and then, when you mount, give a trot for the first quarter of a mile. This may appear over particular ; but, on getting out of bed in January, at daybreak, walk out your- self without dressing. Symptoms, — The same as in the human being. Treatment, — Decrease, and boil the grain, and mix one map of hot bran mash with it, or more, if he is fond of bran ; decrease the grass also, giving lucern or green grass instead ; take the chill off the water by boiling a handful of linseed, and a lump of ghoor in three quarts of water, then adding to it two gallons of cold : clothe him a little warmer than usual if it is cold, but let the stall be open, well open, and cool, not damp. If COLD. 225 he coughs, put a drachm of antimouial powder, and three drachms of nitre in two wine-glasses of hot water, and then mix with three ounces of the simple oxymel, and give it twice a-day, before his morning's and evening's mash, which must now have less boiled grain in them ; and do not exercise him beyond a walk. If the cold is very bad, he must not be moved from his loose stall, but clysters of warm soap and water used every other day. In some of these severe colds, when the pulse is much quickened, the glands below the ears perhaps swollen, the skin dry, and the running from the nostrils thick and plentiful, taking two or three quarts of blood is necessary, giving six ounces of Epsom salts in a pint of thin warm congee, every morn- ing and evening, until it begins to operate. Should the cold and cough not be of this se- vere acute kind, but remain hanging on him ten days or more, and the pulse be under forty- two, leave off the antimonial powder, &c., and resort to the mild beer tonic stimulant, p. 148, once a-day, in the morning ; giving also half a drachm of asafoetida in half of one of the fried vegetable bringals, every afternoon. A little of the Bambooke pulta, is also useful in this case. Simfle Oxymel, — Two pounds of honey and Q 226 TREATMENT OF DISEASES- a pint of vinegar, simmered together over the fire. If a horse takes cold, and, in stead of be- coming feverish, remains cold, perhaps slightly shivers, which sometimes happens, the hot in- stead of the cooling treatment may be begun with. A pint of warm beer, with two drachms of ginger and one drachm of camphor dissolved in it may be given, which repeat in twelve hours, the grain being boiled, and mixed with a hot mash. A horse is seldom the better for having a cold hanging on him a week or ten days, and nothing is more annoying than hearing a fa- vourite one coughing ; therefore these easy di- rections should not be neglected : besides, as colds of all kinds (both feverish colds, when the pulse is quickened, the skin dry, and the breath hot, &;c. ; and those when the pulse is not quickened at all, and the running from the nos- tril remains thin and watery) are so liable to lay the foundation of rheumatism, or leave the horse more or less debilitated, and pre-disposed to take on other disease, the beer tonic, p. 148, should always be given every morning for a week after the cold has gone off; or when given during a chill or lingering cold, be con- tinued for a day or two longer. For a horse in training, or that is sufficiently SORE THROAT. 227 in vigour and spirits to work off a slight cold in his exercise, three quarters of an ounce of nitrous aether in half a pint of warm beer, may be given, for three successive nights: or four drachms of nitre, one drachm of black pepper, one drachm of anise-seed, quarter of a drachm of opium, and one ounce of honey or ghoor, to be put in the half pint of beer. A hot bran mash should be added to the evening's grain, for these three nights, and the bowels also once opened by a clyster consisting of one and a half ounce of- soap and three drachms of aloes, in a gallon of warm water. SORE THROAT. Severe cold, or a cold neglected, may have sore throat connected with the cough, which is some- times a serious affair. Symptoms. — The food is not properly swal- lowed, but lumps of grass are often quidded out again. The water is not freely gulped ; he sips and slavers in the dhool ; it, in fact, hurts him to swallow it. The discharge from the nose is thick ; mucus is coughed up, and the cough is so pain- ful that he sometimes stamps with his foot. There is a wheezing noise when he breathes, Q 2 228 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. and the glands below each of the ears are often swollen. Treatment. — Take away two quarts of blood ;* in this case never more than three. Blister the throat. Give half a drachm of digitalis, one drachm of antimonial powder, and three drachms of nitre, dissolved in two wine-glasses of hot water, and then mixed in three ounces of the simple oxymel, p. 225, three times a- day. As much warm bran tea f as he will drink should also be given, and the dhool held up as high as the chest, that he may not be distressed by lowering his head. Not more than half a seer of boiled grain must be put into each bran mash, but lucern or green grass should be put in the trough as high as his chest. Dry grass irritates the throat ; so, if no green meat is to be had, more boiled food, as turnips, car- rots, &;c., should be allowed instead. He must be left to his loose cool stall, with a bed, and well jhooled at night and the early part of the morning, if it is the cold weather. The digi- talis is to be discontinued after three days, and the antimonial powder and nitre, after six. The bowels must be opened by clysters every other * See " Bleeding/* p. 85. \ See " Bran Tea," p. 97. INFLUENZA, 229 day, consisting of one ounce of soap, and four ounces of Epsom or common salt, in a gallon of warm water. INFLUENZA, fortunately, is hardly known in India ; but severe colds and sore-throats are not uncommon, both in the hot and cold weather ; and if these were properly attended to and taken care of at their commencement, and the horse, on recovering, neither over-fed, nor allowed to drink too much gruel, which often brings back the complaint in all its force, requiring a second bleeding, added to the greatest care, to save him from danger, we perhaps should see nothing resembling it. The real epidemic may, however, some day be transported here : it is said to be very infectious, and that when it does visit a neighbourhood, many cases will occur about the same time. Si/mptoms. — At the commencement of the disease, the coat is a little rough, the breath- ing somewhat hurried, the eyes inflamed, and the throat sore ; hence, the swallowing is dif- ficult, the food and water being sometimes returned through the nostrils : a discharge also takes place from them, as well as from the '230 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. mouth, and the legs are swollen. Fever is pre- sent, and great weakness. The pulse varies, being in some patients only fifty ; and in others, ninety ; depending on the degree of fever. Treatment. — If the pulse is full or wiry, and above fifty-live, and the membrane inside the nostril red, bleed three quarts ; * and if the dung is hard, give three-quarters of a pint of linseed-oil, with a drachm of ginger in it. Clys- ter with a gallon of warm water, and four ounces of Epsom, or common salt. Insert a seton in the chest, and also at the top of the neck, and blister the throat. Foment the legs with hot water, and keep the stall cool. The following morning, if the pulse still continues full and quick, and the membrane inside the nostril is redder than usual, bleed again three quarts; but no more purgative physic is to be given. If a second bleeding is not required, — or, if it IS, then, after twenty-four hours, give three-quarters of an ounce of carbonate of am- monia, and three-quarters of an ounce of nitrous sether, twice a-day, at eight and four: also, two drachms of nitre, one drachm and a half of gentian, one drachm and a half of colombo- root, and one drachm and a half of ginger, * See '* Bleeding,'" p. 85. INFLUENZA. 231 twice a-day, when the stomach is a little empty, at twelve and six : these last balls may be washed down with a half pint of beer, or a quarter of a pint (a wine-glass and a half) of port wine, mixed with a wine-glass of water. Clysters, if the bowels are not open, and hot fomentations to the legs, must be used every day ; and if the legs continue much swollen, they are to be sca- rified. The first twenty hours, while the physic is in his inside, feed on sweet fresh bran mashes and a little dried green food: after that, as it is the real epidemic, liberally on gram-flour gruel — three quarts, three times a-day — boiled gram with bran mash, boiled carrots, fresh lucern, &c., and also thin gruel for drink — not water. Continue this for a week or ten days, when improvement or death will most probably have taken place ; if the former, lessen the medicine daily, and be careful to keep the bowels open with clysters. 232 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. CLASS IV. STRANGLES. Strangles occur between the age of one and five, oftenest about three. There are three kinds of it. Strangle fever, without any abscess ; true strangles with the abscess under the jaw ; and bastard strangles, when the abscess bursts inwardly ; but they are not so common in India as in England. Si/mptoms, — A slight fever, dulness, and dis- inclination to eat or drink occasionally comes over colts at two or three years old, either with, or without any cold, which keeps them weak and sickly for some weeks ; and no abscess forming in the channel to mark the complaint, we are at a loss to account for the ailing: it may possibly be the strangle-fever. When an abscess forms in the channel under the jaws, then he has the true strangles ; and it is most desirable that it should form, ripen, and be dis- charged ; for the constitution is then said to be renovated by it. There is- always a nasty dis- STRANGLES. 233 charge from both nostrils, with a choking kind of cough. When the abscess forms and bursts inwardly, it is called bastard strangles — though other forms of the complaint, and when it hangs long upon the horse, also come under that name. Sometimes during the strangle- fever an abscess, or, perhaps two, will form, not under the channel, but in some part of the body, such as the thigh, groin, &c. : this, fortunately, rarely occurs, as it renders the complaint very puzzling. True strangles, from mismanagement, may run into bastard stran- gles, and that into glanders ; but bastard stran- gles has never the good luck to run into true strangles. Treatment. — The strangle-fever, either with or without a cold, is to be treated the same as under " Cold," feeding on warm bran mashes, green food, sliced carrots, &c. ; and if there is sore-throat, the same as under " Sore Throat." The true strangles is to be treated the same ; but as the bleeding delays the abscess forming, he is not to be bled, unless the ears and legs remain cold, which shows that the lungs are becoming slightly affected. A tobra (not the one he eats out of) should be kept constantly half full of bran mash, and hot water poured on it every hour: 234 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. the head being held over ; this will promote the discharge from the nostrils, and be of great bene- fit ; but if the breathing is difficult, this cannot be borne. Immediately the abscess begins to form, the liquid blister is to be rubbed over it, and when soft and pointing, opened with a lancet ; but the matter is only to be very gently pressed, never forcibly squeezed, out. A poultice, kept con- tinually warm, is then to be applied over the whole channel for two or three days ; after which, a little Friar's balsam, or tincture of aloes, is to be daily squirted into the sore. Should the abscess burst of itself, enlarge the opening. When the abscess bursts inwardly, still promote the discharge from tjie nostrils with the tobra of hot mash, feeding on green food and mashes. If the abscess forms in any other part, instead of under the channel, treat the same. After the strangles are over, a mild dose of physic is always requisite, followed by the " Beer Tonic," p. 148." SWELLING OF THE GLANDS UNDER THE JAW. After five years old, a tumour sometimes forms in the centre of the channel under the jaw, with- out being accompanied by fever. A waim poul- FEVER. 235 tice should be applied till it becomes ripe, when it is to be opened, as before mentioned, with a lancet, and healed with the Friar's balsam. A large hard swelling occasionally remains in the middle of the channel, the effect of strangles, cold, &c. Blister it, and if not lessened after a month, repeat the blister, or rub in the dis- cutient lotion. If the glands below the ears remain hardened, treat them the same. CLASS V. FEVER is as common among horses as ourselves, and the after effects of it equally debilitating. More horses, I am inclined to believe, die from the effects of fever than from attacks of any of the acute inflammations ; and for this reason, the danger is so often overlooked for the first three or four days, until inflammation of the lungs or bowels is approaching ; then death is too near for bleeding or physic to be of any avail. 236 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. Sy^nptoms. — The three principal and distin- guishing symptoms of fever are, the great dis- inclination to exercise, the almost total loss of appetite, and the coat feeling dry and hot, and generally rough also, about the ribs. There is a peculiar soostiness all over the animal, but no expression of pain. A direct cold fit some- times first occurs, as with us, and this comes on quite suddenly. The mouth is dry, the breath foul, and the tongue pale. The pulse may be quickened, or it may he weaker, or al- most natural ; but, during the fit, the legs, like the body, are more or less cold. When the cold fit is over, a warm one frequently suc- ceeds, and a slight perspiration. In this state he remains, the fever often returning on the following day, and near the same hour. He is also generally flatulent, and the bowels are cos- tive, but occasionally they scarcely at all alter, and the difference of warmth in the feet, some hot aiid others cold, often not at all remark- able until the fever has existed some days : but if at all thin before, the falling off in flesh and great prostration of strength, will be clearly manifest in forty-eight hours. Treatment. — During the first cold fit, (not when the warm one has commenced,) if a quart FEVER. 237 of warm beer, with three drachms of ginger, or a pint of port, and a pint of hot water, with a little spice were given, a jhool put on, and the horse gently trotted in hand for a quarter of an hour, (or let the trotting go on while the wine or beer is preparing, only be quick about warming it,) the fever might be nipped in the bud, and no more seen of it. Three horses I have cured in this way; feeding on bran mashes and green food the following two days. If un- fortunately not observed at the onset, (which it rarely is, except by a man who lives half the day in his stable,) bleed* five or six quarts if the horse is fat and the pulse much quickened ; but if the pulse is not much quickened, or not above forty-five, never bleed, for the horse will frequently sink under it. Always backrake, then clyster. Give half a drachm of calomel, one drachm of emetic tartar, and one drachm and a half of aloes, made into a ball, and ten hours after, another ball of the same. After ten hours more, give half a pint of linseed-oil, or six ounces of Epsom salts in thin congee ; and if the dung is not softened, repeat it after another ten hours : nothing more, however, than three or four extra evacuations are allowable ; purging is strictly prohibited. If the pulse was high and * See '' Bleeding," p. 85. 238 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. bleeding has been resorted to, half a drachm of digitalis, one drachm of emetic tartar, and three drachms of nitre, are now to be given, morning, noon, and evening, in about three ounces of warm water ; but leave out the digi- talis after two days, or three, at most. Two drachms of cream of tartar may be given once in the day, as a cooling drink, when the digi- talis is left off. The food must be warm bran mashes, with a little green grass or lucern ; a little thin gruel occasionally; and the water have the chill off. Clothe warmly, if the weather is cold, making a large bed. The emetic tartar and nitre are to be left off when the appetite returns, and he becomes a little lively; but if the attack has been at all severe, you must not think of mounting him for a month at least, not even for a walk. Beer tonic, p. 148, to be commenced a week after recovery. CLASS VI. INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. Before commencing with inflammatory dis- eases, I must caution you against taking away a INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 239 little blood, as a preventive when inflammation is coming on : this will render the disease very confused to you, whatever may be the case with a professional man. Wait an hour or so, until the disease fairly shows itself; the symptoms will then be fully developed, and you will know what part is attacked; and one full bleeding at the proper time, with the other treatment steadily pursued, will generally make a safe and speedy cure. After an attack of inflammation of any vital part, it will take a fortnight, and often a month, before the horse can be again mounted. Boiled food ; a little sweetened gram flour gruel in the morning before the first watering-time, and green grass, lucern, or carrots, are always needed to recruit the strength; but nothing is more dangerous than surfeiting with any kind of food after these attacks, in order to raise the con- dition quickly. Starvation, that is, as far as keeping the horse hungry, is the only safe sys- tem for ten days after recovery : the muzzle must be used at night if the appetite increases too quickly ; but if, on the contrary, the ap- petite should flag, and the spirits not revive in that time, the beer tonic, p. 148, should be immediately resorted to ; and even if the recovery is perfect, still, after ten days or so, a few mild 240 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. beer drenches should be given. There is no disease in India, whether cold, fever, inflam- mation, or any other, for which blood has been abstracted, and whether the appetite is regained or not, that tonic stimulants, of some kind, are not beneficial afterwards ; and the beer tonic, in proper quantities, is as good as any ; the danger consists in commencing it too early. Inflammation of the Lungs is caused by sud- den changes from cold to heat, rarely, it is said, by the contrary ; by over riding ; by drinking cold water when hot, &;c. It occasionally comes on quite suddenly : at other times the horse may have ailed a day or more previous to the attack. Symptoms. — Veterinary writers have fortu- nately given us two symptoms, which mark this disease so clearly, that by common attention we can generally discover it : always, I may say, if not _ complicated with any other disorder. " The legs and ears are cold ; of a deathy cold- ness ; and the horse persists in standing, or, if he lies down, it is only for two or three minutes." The pulse is oppressed, rising to seventy or a hundred, and often imperceptible. The inside of the corner of the nostrils becomes of a dark crimson colour, the nostril itself being expand- ed, and the breathing greatly distressed. He INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 241 appears stiff all over, and gently but anxiously turns his head round to his sides. Sometimes there is a cough ; sometimes none. Treatment. — Bleed six to eight quarts,* three to four (according as the horse is large or small, fat or thin) from each vein, at the same time ; and it is particularly recommended in this inflamma- tion to bleed from a large orifice with a broad- shouldered lancet, that the blood may flow freely and quickly. The bleeding over, back-rake ; then clyster with one ounce of soap and four ounces of Epsom salts in two gallons of water, and give three drachms of aloes in half a pint of thin congee. Soak the feet and legs in hot water, * See " Bleeding/' p. 85. Bleeding a particular quantity may appear to veterinarians equally as objectionable as giving a particular quantity of any medicine. Bleed, they say, till the pulse rises, &c., &c. I once saw a man bleed, and take a teacupful away, when he said the pulse rose. Bleed till the pulse rises, is about as useful a piece of information to many people as what I once received from a surgeon I had written to regarding a horse that was dying from an inflamed vein ; first, said he, '' dissect it out." Bleeding a given quantity may, in some cases, be bad ; but a quart too much or too little is better than a gallon too much or too little, and a certain quantity must be laid down. I have done the same with the dangerous medicine digitaUs, &c. ; for an acquaintance of mine once gave hellebore to a horse (strictly according to some professional book, he said) till the head drooped. It was done, however, too effectually ; the head drooped for ever. R 242 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. then rub them well till dry, and bandage them up to the knees and hocks in thick flannel ban- dages, or cover them round thickly with dry grass. If it is cold weather, put on a warm jhool; but the horse must remain in as cool a place as possible; if in a stable, every door and window should be open. In six hours after the bleeding, should the breathing still continue laborious, the ears and legs cadaverously cold, and he still stand in that peculiar stiff position, with the forelegs rather wide apart, open both veins again, and take from each another two or three quarts, and give half a drachm of digitalis, one drachm of emetic tartar, and three drachms of nitre, made into a ball with linseed meal and liquorice water, or put them into a drench. Two ounces of the simple oxymel,* are also to be given once every eight hours ; and clyster every day, for three or four days, if the bowels are not open, with one ounce of soap and four ounces of Epsom salts, in two gallons of warm water. Nothing must be given to eat for the first forty- eight hours but cold bran mash, (boiling water poured on bran, and allowed to stand till it is cold,) a handful of green meat occasionally, and the water with the chill taken off. The digitalis must be left out after two days; * See p. 225, for the '^ Oxymel." INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 243 i. e. after six doses, and the emetic tartar and nitre after three days.* Beer tonic (page 148) to be commenced a week after recovery. If you blister the sides, the proper time for it is an hour after the first bleeding ; but never do this in the hot weather, nor during the rains, unless it is cool. INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS is common enough everywhere. The causes are, cold suddenly applied ; cold wind blowing on a horse's belly, picketed outside, that has been accustomed to a stable; or a draught of wind when under physic ; drinking cold water, when hot ; costiveness, unattended to ; which last is often produced by gora-wallas, when en route by themselves, not searching for good water. Sym'ptoms, — The horse lies down, apparently * A horse I had was attacked with violent inflammation of the lungs at six o'clock in the afternoon : he stood stiff as a post until two the following morning, when he fell, to all appearance, dead, and cold as marble all over, I was dining out, and did not return till that hour, but a veterinary surgeon was at hand. He was bled in both veins, back-raked, and clystered. Five hours afterwards, both veins were opened again : the horse recovered, notwithstanding the severity of the attack and the neglect of the first eight hours. 244 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. without much pain ; after a few minutes, gets up, and then lies down again. The breathing- is a little quickened ; the pulse, at the com- mencement, increased to sixty or seventy, and the ears and legs rather cold. In the course of an hour or two all these symptoms rapidly in- crease ; the pain of the belly becomes very great, which is fully evinced on pressure; the pulse rises to eighty or ninety, and the ears and legs get much colder. His haggard countenance is often anxiously turned towards his flanks, as he groans and rolls; but he seldom tries to strike his belly with his hind feet, as in gripes. The bowels are always costive ; the belly is some- times swollen, and the urine, if passed, is in small quantities, and with pain. The mouth is hot and dry ; and the eyelids red, looking gorged with blood. Treatment, — Bleed * from six to eight quarts ; three to four quarts (according as the horse is large or small, and fat or thin) from each vein at the same time. The bleeding over, back- rake, and clyster with six ounces of Epsom salts, dissolved in two gallons of thin rice congee. Foment the belly with hot water for half an hour, while a blister is preparing to be applied, * See '^ Bleeding," p. ^b. INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 245 about a foot square. Give half a pint of linseed- oil, which repeat every seven hours till an eva- cuation takes place ; but no purging is allowed here any more than in the previous disease ; merely the removal of the costiveness, so as to cause a softened state of the dung. The legs must be well hand-rubbed to restore the circu- lation, and then bandaged with flannel or tied round with grass. A jhool, if it is cold or damp, should be put over the body, but the horse kept in a cool place. Warm bran mashes, with two drachms of finely-powdered gum-arabic in each mash ; linseed or bran tea ; thin gruel, and a little green grass, is all the food allowed for the first three days. If the bleeding has been pro- perly performed, and none of the other treatment omitted, the force of the disease generally yields in six or eight hours ; but if after that time the inflammation should not be subdued, and the symptoms of uneasiness and pain continue as at first, bleed again two or three quarts from each vein, and draw the firing-iron over the belly two or three strokes, a little behind the blister. The costiveness must be fully removed before the inflammation will subside; but immediately the dung is softened, no more physic is necessary, nothing but a soothing congee clyster.* * A handsome Arab, that had gone through a morning's 246 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. - INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER, OR SPLEEN. The first of these is much more common at many stations than the preceding disease. The causes are, the climate, added to not giving physic, or giving that which is of no use, when, from a foul habit, there has long been evident necessity for it. Symptoms — Are somewhat between inflamma- tion of the lungs and bowels. The pulse increases as the disease advances, and rises to seventy or a hundred. The horse will sometimes stand, but not with his forelegs so fixed and apart as when the lungs are affected. The eyes, mouth, and nostrils are always more or less yellow ; but the legs are not so particularly cold. The bowels are always costive, unless the inflammation is very trivial, and then there may be a slight loose- ness. The head is, generally, being continually turned to the side that is affected, and which, if pressed on, near the middle of the false ribs, will be painful. parade without the slightest sluggishness, was attacked with inflammation of the bowels when led to his stall. The bleed- ing, &c., having been delayed for twelve hourS;, he died on the following morning. INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER, OR SPLEEN. 247 Treatment — Bleed* from six to eight quarts. Blister the side you think affected, about the mid- dle of the false ribs for about a foot square, six inches above and six inches below the finish of the ribs ; back-rake, and clyster with six drachms of aloes, dissolved in a gallon of warm water ; and give one drachm of calomel, one drachm of emetic tartar, and one drachm and a half of aloes, made into a soft ball, every six hours, until the dung is well softened ; but if the bowels were re- laxed from the commencement, which is the case sometimes, though very rarely, bleed not more than from three to four quarts, and give one drachm of calomel, half a drachm of opium, and one drachm of chereeta, every twelve hours, for three times ; after which, a pint of linseed-oil, and a pint of congee, mixed. Diet to consist of warm bran mash ; water with the chill off ; and, after twenty-four hours, a little dried, green grass. On recovering, you must rigidly attend to the leading paragraph, Class VI., p. 238, for a relapse is very likely to occur ; to prevent which, a dose of physic should be given about three weeks after, consist- ing of one drachm and a half of calomel over- night, and four drachms of aloes in the morning. Inflammation of the spleen seldom takes place. Symptoms and treatment the same as " Liver." * See " Bleeding," p. 85. 248 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH may also be said to be very rare, and not to be distinguished from inflammation of the bowels. Symptoms and treatment are the same as in that disease. INFLAMMATION OF THE HEART is another very rare disease, and more resem- bling inflammation of the lungs. If a horse dies of the latter, the former may be found inflamed ; the same as when a horse dies of inflammation of the bowels, the stomach on dissection may also be found inflamed : but, as primary diseases, they are both allowed to be very rare. INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS; THE NECK OF THE BLADDER ; AND BLADDER, are caused by cold ; continued rain dropping on the loins ; over-riding, or strain of the loins ; not allowing the horse to stale, if he requires it, whilst riding ; long feeding on musty gram, &c. INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. 249 Symptoms of Inflammation of the Kidneys, the Neck of the Bladder, and Bladder, are the same. — The mouth is hot and dry ; the pulse greatly increased; and the head anxiously turned to- wards the flanks, as under other inflammations: but here there is often observed a stedfast gaze towards the affected part ; the head being turned over the body, and the muzzle almost put on the loins, instead of slightly directed towards the belly. The most distinguishing symptoms, how- ever, are the hind legs. He stands wide apart ; straddles broad when walked ; and shows great pain, by shrinking when the loins are pressed on. The testicles are occasionally drawn close to the body, and then let down again. He strains to stale, and the little that is passed is high-coloured, or bloody ; but he is not so con- tinually lying down and getting up again as when inflammation of the bowels is just taking place. Treatment. — Bleed,* from six to eight quarts, three to four from each vein, at the same time ; back-rake ; clyster with four ounces of linseed-oil, and four drachms of aloes, mixed in four quarts of thin warm rice congee. Give a drench of * See '' Bleeding/' p. 85. 250 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. physic, consisting of four ounces of linseed-oil, and four drachms of aloes, in a pint of thin congee. Put a mustard poultice * over the loins, lay- ing the same on the inside of a sheep-skin, if at hand. A blister is not allowed ; so if the mustard poultice cannot be had, 'foment the loins every half hour with nearly boiling water, and keep them well warm during the inter- vals. Cover up with a warm jhool, if in cold weather : hand-rub the legs, and bandage them up to the knees in flannel, or grass ; but keep the horse in a cool place. When the physic has operated, half a drachm of digitalis, half a drachm of emetic tartar, and two drachms of finely powdered gum-arabic, made into a ball with linseed meal or ghoor, should be given once in every eight hours : the digitalis to be left out after six doses, and the emetic tartar and gum , after ten. Warm bran mashes ; water with the chill off; and, after twenty- four hours, a little dried green grass may be allowed for the diet. Clysters of plain warm congee should be used once in every eight hours during the day of the attack, in order to foment and soothe the in- flamed parts. On recovery, treat as under lead- ing paragraph. Class VI., p. 238. Should the * Mustard poultice: — Mustard-flour and linseed-meal, equal parts : mix them together with an equal quantity of hot vinegar. INFLAMMATION OF THE FEET. 251 liindlegs remain stiff for more than a fortnight after the disease is subdued, put a charge over the loins.* INFLAMMATION OF THE FEET is caused by hunting, or hard riding, or driving over stony ground; by severe training, parti- cularly if the course is hard ; by washing the feet in cold water whilst hot, or, vice versa ; when in a high latitude, by putting the horse into a hot stable, and bedding the feet up in deep hot grass the instant of return from the cold air; or, by inflammation being transferred from the lungs, or any other organ, to the feet. The two fore-feet only are generally attacked, but sometimes all four. Spnptoms, — The pulse becomes greatly in- creased ; the inside of the nostrils red ; and the countenance distressed, as in other inflamma- tions ; but the horse is here evidently very uneasy on his legs, and when he lies down the muzzle * Charge : — Pitch, one pound ; tar, one pound ; bees'- wax, quarter of a pound ; resin, two ounces ; heat them together, and when a Kttle cool, spread thickly over the loins, strewing over flocks of short tow immediately it is on. This will stick fast for six weeks, or two months ; during which time the horse must be well walked : but not mounted. 252 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. is often rested directly on the affected feet, which are always found intensely hot; and the arteries on the sides of the pastern throbbing distinctly. These last symptoms are what we are told to rely on, as the distinguishing marks of this complaint. He occasionally breaks out into a sweat, but never attempts to paw with his feet, or to kick at his belly ; and when down, though he may groan quite as much as when any of the previously mentioned vital organs are the seat of attack, yet he never rolls. Un- der any other inflammations also that had existed only an hour or two, the horse would be able to walk without exhibiting any pain in the ex- tremities ; but in this, the fore-feet are lifted up and put down again, similar to a man suf- fering from broken chilblains, and having a boot on; notwithstanding, you will seldom discover the disease till all the symptoms become fully marked. Treatment — Take the shoes off very gently, filing away the clenches, and slowly withdrawing each nail separately, for the pain is intense. Thin the sole all over as well as you can, cutting away small chips from the crust also, with the drawing-knife, and then filing even. You must do this when he is down, if he is unable to stand INFLAMMATION OF THE FEET. 253 to allow it. Bleed three quarts from each affected foot ;* if you cannot get that quantity, take as much as you can, and then bleed six quarts from the neck vein. The bleeding over, put the feet into warm poultices of bran and linseed-meal. Back-rake, clyster, with warm soap and water, and give the mild aloetic salt drench, p. 99 ; also one drachm and a half of emetic tartar, two drachms of nitre, and two drachms of cream of tartar, morning and evening, for three days, dissolved in half a pint of warm water. Make a large soft bed, that he may lie down as much as possible ; but, for the first three days, the diet must be only bran mash ; water with the chill off, and occasionally a handful of green grass. On the following day after the attack, if the inflamma- tion has not subsided, bleed again, three quarts from each foot ; and if the horse is fat, change the warm poultices to swabs of cloth, which wrap round the hoofs, keeping them well wet with two ounces of nitre dissolved in a quart of the coldest water. On the third day, if the inflammation still remains, the pastern, round about the coronet, is to be blistered ; but unless the blistered part is well covered up with a cloth, and also something put round the neck to pre- vent him getting at it with his mouth, he will ^^ See '' Bleeding," p. 85. 254 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. tear it off, and the pastern will then for ever re- main denuded of hair. INFLAMMATION UNDISCOVERABLE would not be so common, if people would only take the trouble to read over quietly the dif- ferent inflammations in the stable, in presence of their horse when reported sick ; yet some, who do take that trouble, are often in such a fright, if the horse is valuable, or in such a hurry, that they fail in catching the symptoms indicative of the part affected. If the lungs are the seat — the purple nos- tril ; the stiff fixed standing, with the forelegs rather apart ; and the deathly claylike coldness of the ears and legs, are the principal distin- guishing signs. If the bowels — the redness of the eyelids, when turned down ; the lying down and get- ting up again ; and coldness of the ears and legs. If the liver — There will be yellowness about the eyes, added to the other symptoms of in- flammation of the bowels : and if you here make a mistake, the treatment for this will possibly cure the other, although, of course, not so well, nor so safely, as purging is dangerous when the bowels are the seat. INFLAMMATION UNDISCOVERABLE. 255 If the kidneys — the stradling of the hind legs, and shrinking on pressing the loins. If the feet — they are hot, instead of cold; the muzzle often resting on them when lying down, and the great disinclination to stand. The note at the bottom of the page, how- ever, ought to serve as a guide and warning, to convince yourself that inflammation really does exist in some part before you commence to cure.* * A horse that had been for some months having only very gentle exercise^, was taken out and galloped after a hog. On return to his stall, he immediately lay down. The alarmed master, without feeling the pulse or asking any body's opinion, took five quarts of blood. The poor animal not being much refreshed by this, a friend recommended he should be clystered and physicked. The horse, after this, getting more " gureeb" still, they both allowed that it was a most extraordinary case, but that, as he appeared so near dead, bleeding again could not do harm, if it did not do good. At this stage, as I lived close by, my advice was solicited. I had seen the horse on his first return ; his case was plain enough — a little overgalloped when not in wind, and brought home hot. Out of pity for the poor brute, I undertook to do all I could, saying, I had a bottle of Elixir lately sent me from London, just adapted for these obscure cases. I then mixed some sawdust, red- ink, and blue-paint, in a quart of sour claret for the master to smell at, and putting the sufferer, half-dead from treat- ment, into a loose open stall, with a large soft bed, washed his mouth out with the Elixir of warm water, and left 256 TREATMENT OF DISEASES, CLASS VII. RED URINE, in India, must be considered as arising more from some little derangement in the digestive functions, than as a primary disease of the kid- neys ; and what would alarm in England, is here allowed to pass almost unnoticed. The native remedy is ghoor and ginger, six drachms of each, mixed, and given daily, for three days ; and if the pulse is not increased beyond its natural stand- ard, half of this may be tried. If there is too much excitement, a pint of the dhye (sour milk) sweetened with a small lump of ghoor, and given every morning, would be preferable. Some boiled food, with a little bran mash, and dried green grass, or lucern, should never be forgotten. Red urine, as a disease of the kidneys, or from inflammation, must be treated of separately. him with a little green grass till the following morning. The horse survived; and the owner gave me a gold mohar for a pint of the mixture ; and his hunter, from henceforth, went by the name of, Impostor. 257 BURSANTEE. Various are the remedies that have been employed for this disease, and it is rather un- consolatory to find, that no veterinary surgeon, at either of the Presidencies, has yet con- descended to favour the public with a paper on the subject. If, then, we are to be doomed to grope out a cure ourselves, I cannot too soon add my ideas to those of other amateurs, who have already written for our benefit in the "Sporting Magazine;" such recommending the madar, blue vitriol, &c. In accordance with its name, the months of June, July, August, and September, generally the two middle ones, are the periods at which this disease breaks out. The worst cases are always low, damp, and "feverish," situations. It rarely occurs in a bad form in the Deccan ; a dry " liverish" climate, like this, is one of the most effectual ingredients in the cure. When a horse is predisposed to break out with bursantee, and it happens to be at an unfavorable station, and he is at the same time neglected, the usefulness of the animal is then destroyed for seven or eight months, and he will too often retain the scars, and loss of hair, for ever. It being my opi- s 258 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. nion, that the cause lies in a constitutional pre- disposition, which cannot be discovered till the complaint appears, and the only likely safeguard, against its breaking out severely, being a dry climate, I shall proceed to recommend a trial of that which in most cases will be found to expedite the cure. On the first appearance of the disease give a mild, warm drench of physic, * consisting of aloes and Epsom salts, with a drachm of ginger, in rice congee. Three days after the physic has set, give half of a common masallah ball daily, for three days, then omit one day, and commence with two grains of can- tharides, one drachm of ginger, one drachm of gentian, or chrecate, and one drachm of anise-seed, in a ball ; this to be given every evening, after the last seven o'clock feed. After six days increase the cantharides to four grains, and after twelve days, to six grains. After eighteen days, if the appetite improves, increase the cantharides to eight grains. After twenty-four days, discon- tinue the ball altogether for three days, and then commence again with the first quantity of only two grains, increasing to the second, as before, and so on through the whole monsoon. The food during this time, whether the horse is fat or thin, is to be boiled sago, boiled barley, * See '' Physicking/' p. 89. BURSANTEE. 259 boiled oorucl and sheeps' heads, — try everything* to induce him to eat the sheeps' heads, or in default, any strong meat broth, — and the more black salt he will willingly eat with his grain and bran mash the better. If the horse is gross, and unable to take much exercise, from the largeness of the sores or swell- ing of the limbs, still liberal (not over) feeding on this kind of diet cannot be dispensed with : you must muzzle occasionally at night. Lucern and green grass, cut the day before, I am also friendly to in small quantities. Keeping the horse in a dry loose stall, well littered at night- time, is of course to be remembered, and as much walking, or gentle trotting exercise should be given, morning and evening, as possible, for w^hich you may as well take off the shoes. The external application for the sores (and to apply which, you should endeavour to obtain the as- sistance of a clever native farrier) is the native poultice : — Seem ke putta, as much as the size of an o^gg. Chitrawal ke putta, ditto. Vikmar, as much as two peas, or two gram. Fulkeree, a quarter of a rupee weight. When the sores are small, four tea-spoonsful of the koorkum-ketail, half a tea-spoonful of s 2 260 TREATMENT OF DISEASES. finely-powdered blue-stone, and half a one of alum, all mixed, will frequently dry them up. As a preventative for the ensuing monsoon, I should recommend the same treatment to be commenced with on the 1st of May, and carried on to the 1st of July, but not increasing to the eight grains of cantharides, unless some symp- toms of breaking out again show themselves, in which case you may gradually go up to ten grains. The cure, of course, consists in eradi- cating all tendency to the disease from the con- stitution, as the sores would generally heal of themselves by October or November. Many persons are advocates for the application of the hot iron, or the caustic madar, to the sores, and giving large doses, internally, of blue vi- triol in solution. It is not for me to say any- thing against this treatment in severe cases to those who understand how to use these re- medies^ but there is no more analogy between bursantee and farcy than there is between a common cold and glanders. 261 WARRANTING. Caveat Emptor, at p. 253, says, " It is known that horses have secret maladies, which cannot be discovered by the usual trials and inspections ; therefore the buyer requires a Warranty of Soundness, to guard against such latent defects." I have taken the liberty of extracting a great deal of the language, that follows, down to the line at p. 178, finishing with the words "know- ledge of the seller," from the above author, and converting the same to my own purpose ; for which plagiarism I offer every apology. The ar- guments and recommendations, however, in va- rious parts of " Caveat Emptor," in support of Warranty, are not exactly applicable to India, nor can I agree with them even for England, being opposed to warranty in every shape; so, with all due deference to the ability and the pleasantry displayed in the writings of that author, I am about to advise you to swamp all warranty, for these reasons : — 262 WARRANTING. 1st. If you sell a horse to-day that either has a slight cold on him, or catches one during the time of sale, and that cold, from improper ma- nagement or neglect, degenerates into a chronic cough, the purchaser may, perhaps, declare he had a chronic cough on him at the time of sale, and bring evidence to prove the horse coughed the minute he came out of your hands, and has coughed every day since : if warranted, in law you might be liable, and have to take him back. 2nd. If you sell a horse, that should die two months afterwards of chronic diseased lungs, and a veterinary surgeon was to declare, from appearances on dissection, that the horse must have been diseased for a period of three months, and, consequently, must have been so at the time of selling: if warranted, in law you might be liable, and have to refund the money. 3rd. If you sell a horse that, four or ^ye months previously, had put out his hip, strained his shoulder or back sinews, or had been lame from navicular disease ; and a fortnight or so after purchase, he again puts out his hip, strains his shoulder, or back sinews, or becomes lame again from navicular disease : if warranted, in WARRANTING. 263 law you might be liable, and have to receive him back. Caveat Emptor, p. 804, quoting from Lord Ellenborough says : " I have always held, and now hold, that a warranty of soundness is broken, if the animal at the time of sale had any in- firmity upon him which rendered him less fit for present service." 1st. Again, if you sell a horse perfectly fresh and unblemished, and that horse, a week after- wards, throws out a spavin : if warranted, in law you might be liable, and have to receive him back. 2nd. If you sell a horse perfectly fresh and unblemished, and that horse, a month after- wards, becomes blind from ophthalmia ; and the purchaser proves that the sire and dam of that horse were blind from that cause, it is an he- reditary disease : if warranted, in law you might be liable, and have to receive him back. Caveat Emptor, p. 313. " Where, however, the proof of pedigree and hereditary disease are both accessible, it seems clear that a constitu- tional taint is unsoundness." From the foregoing two sets of examples, with the quotations from law at the bottom of each, and which have been brought to bear on 264 WARRANTING. exactly similar questions, you may judge of the difficulties you might occasionally be placed in, as a seller, by warranting. I have used the w^ord might throughout them all, nothing regard- ing horseflesh in law being positively certain, for so much depends on particular circumstances. Unsoundness itself is sometimes sufficient to break a warranty ; at other times there must have been knowledge of the unsoundness. Most cases are questions for the jury, rather than of law. No legal contract can be founded on fraud, and wilful deception amounts in law to fraud. This is plain enough; yet, if you take your case to law, the chances are always nearly equal, whether it will be decided for or against you ; " not from any defect in the law, but because both buyer and seller have ahvays proofs of the shameful transaction." Suppose you gain your cause : if you have been a seller, your horse may be returned to you half-ruined ; and if you have been a pur- chaser, you are always bound to return a horse in as good a state as he was when taken from the seller's hands. Here is a second affair that may upset your first, and cost you another large sum. Avoid law, if possible, and never enter into any discussion : " your character, if you WARRANTING. 265 have any, will not be enhanced by embroiling yourself in a quarrel with a cheat ;" but in order to prevent disputes, as well as litigation, never warrant, nor ask for a warranty. Do not com- mit yourself either, by saying, " He is sound as far as I know:" this is a qualified warranty, and the purchaser may maintain assumpsit upon it, " if he can show the horse was unsound to the knowledge of the seller." Such might be fair in some cases, but very unfair in others, and it might lead to great disputes ; for every man who really knows a horse, must be fully aware there are not ten in every hundred that can strictly, professionally, and legally, be called sound. This, therefore, should be your only warranty : — " There 's my horse, his price is rupees, ready coin ; you take him with all faults and diseases ; I allow you a quarter of an hour's inspection, and I will send him over when you send the money." There are even objections to allowing a man to try your horse. A friend of mine had a chestnut Arab for sale. A pur- chaser called to inspect him ; he appeared to suit ; was sound, wind and limb ; fresh, unscar- red, and four years old ; price 1200 rupees. " I like him much," said the purchaser ; " might I throw my leg over him?" "Yes," said my 266 WARRANTING. friend, "ride up and down here as long as you wish, in my presence." He mounted; walked, trotted, and cantered ; the action was good in every respect. You imagine, perhaps, the horse was sold. No, he now discovers two objections ; he did not want a chestnut, he wanted a grey ; and he did not like to go to so high a price as 1200 rupees. The chap ought to have been forced to take him. I wonder how an imposition of this kind would be decided at law? If fifty heavy men were to play this trick on a slight blood Arab, his action, of course, would be none the better for it. Having recommended you, as a seller, never to warrant, and consequently, in equal fairness, as a buyer, never to ask for a warranty, there is the greater reason in the latter case for you to proceed with caution, and if distrustful of your own judgment, to have a friend with you. When, therefore, ahorse is brought out for in- spection, if the appearance, figure, limbs, &c. do not satisfy, make your conge, but do not abuse another man's property when at sale. If you are pleased, and fully certain that it is a horse you want ; that the colour and price will suit, and that you have got the money ready to pay, take ten minutes' examination, or allow your friend WARRANTING. 267 to do it for you, then solicit five minutes for a walk, trot, and canter; in a quarter of an hour let your decision be final : if undisturbed by the owner, this is ample. In England the case is different ; there it is always advisable for an inexperienced person to have a new purchase submitted to a veterinary surgeon besides, for a couple of hours, a day, or two days, as he may think necessary. Half a guinea is all you have to pay, and this, with your own, or your friend's eyes, to boot, is abundance of warranty. Some persons, however, expect too much from a veteri- nary surgeon. A professional man can only tell you of any disease or remains of disease, or fault in the build, which is likely to produce disease or strain. He cannot tell you, merely by look- ing, if a horse is subject to gripes, rheumatism, or inflammation, unless some outward sign or symptom remain. He cannot tell you if a horse has ever been sprained, unless there is enlarge- ment, mark as of blister, or something externally to denote it. He cannot say either if one horse is more liable to become blind, throw out a curb, spavin, or splent, than another, unless there is some visible sign or malformation, or he knows the sire and dam, or grand sire and dam, had these defects ; and then he may say, 268 WARRANTING. " These diseases being often hereditary, or this build being faulty, they are more liable to occur in your horse." Beyond this, no uninspired ve- terinary surgeon can caution you. When a re- cruit presents himself before the surgeon of the regiment, on enlisting, do you suppose the sur- geon could tell if he had fever last year, or sprained his leg last year, unless some evident weakness or enlargement remained? How can he tell if he is subject to gripes ? Buying a horse blind in both eyes, it is said you cannot return him as unsound. Caveat Emp- tor, p. 274. " But it has been held that a war- ranty against visible defects is bad in law, the purchaser being expected not only to possess ordinary skill, but to exhibit ordinary precau- tion." But a large splent extending on to the back sinews, a large spavin, large curb, or con- tracted, foundered foot, anchylosed pastern-joints, are all as visible defects as blind eyes : they are palpable defects, yet they constitute unsoundness : but " law is law." Much has been said against dealers in Eng- land, and dealers in India too. I have seen some black tricks in both countries ; notwith- standing, I think, in the long run, dealers are as much sinned against as sinning. In either coun- WARRANTING. 269 try, every man is bound to be wide awake, or, as the judge says, expected, not only to possess ordinary skill, but to exhibit ordinary precau- tion ; and experience tells me to trust a dealer quite as soon as a gentleman.* Every novice in horseflesh is satisfied with his new hobby for a week. A horse, however badly bred, or faultily built, if only in good external condition, will always catch his eye before a thin one ; and bog-spavins, thorough-pins, capped hocks, and windgalls, as well as the round shank- bones and dents, are all less likely to be taken notice of when the nag is in plump order ; many having a bone-spavin, a contracted long foot, or founder, have I seen pass through three or four hands, each new possessor alike unconscious of anything wrong : these treasures, whether * Addison's definition of the word gentleman is " a term of complaisance, sometimes ironical." And gentlemen, and passers for gentlemen, are as often mystically mixed up together in one house, as thorough-breds and passers for thorough-breds are in the same stable. At a dinner-party of eight, some few years ago, the con- versation turning upon horse-flesh, I happened to let fall my ideas of the little general honesty existing in any part of the civilized world, i,n selling a horse. My vis-d-vis exclaimed, "^ Impossible ! no gentleman would ever attempt to pass off an unsound horse." Five more of the party chimed in to this most 270 WARRANTING. latent or patent, not being always discovered till the horse is hunted, or suddenly becomes lame. Kind Griffins, then, for whom this volume is chiefly written, I most fully exonerate, and acquit you of the charge of intentionally deceiv- ing; yet, for reflecting on your judgment, and creditable speech, so well calculated to delude the unwary, leaving only one of the same opinion, or, rather, who acknow- ledged the same opinion, as myself. Clearly seeing that I had got into company with either knaves or fools, most probably a little of both, I thought more nourishment was to be gained at this house for the body by drinking, than for the mind by talking, so I allowed the subject to drop. Three months had not elapsed, when my vis-a-vis, the " impossible " gentleman, asked me to look at a horse of his that had been sprained, and blis- tered, but was still lame. The horse had a ringbone on one pastern, besides something else internally wrong in the foot of the other, arising, most probably, from concussion; so I pro- nounced him incurable under eight months, — very probably, not then, "What shall I do?" said he. ''Write on half a sheet of paper," I replied, '^ that the horse has been lame for two months — is thought to be incurable — and that he is in the market for sale." The man burst out laughing. He after- wards tried to get rid of him, but failed ; for I took especial care that none of my acquaintance should be deceived by such an apostate as this. He then sent him to a dealer, who refused to sell him as sound. At last, he handed him over to a friend to dispose of, from whom he received nearly the full amount of his original cost. I did not discover the unlucky wight that was imposed upon ; but, fancy this hypocrite crying out, " Impossi- ble I" Here lies the honest distinction between a man wanting to buy, and one wanting to sell. WARRANTING. 271 for daring to assert, tliat if you want knowledge you must begin with " Blunt Spurs," I know you would like to see me " regularly bitten." Friends, impose upon me with every fault and infirmity the horse is subject to ; from the day this book issues from the press, I know I must be consi- dered fair game ; but if you have the slightest compassion for a man who has endeavoured to save your limbs, as well as your money, I implore you, never ask me to buy A CHEAP HORSE. SHARP SPURS HAVE FINISHED HIM. 272 Always on hand, for sale, at MR. GREEN'S REPOSITORY, Bombay Bomb Proof. RUPEES. A good horse ..... 400 A very good horse . . . . . 500 A superior horse ..... 600 A very superior horse . . . . . 700 A first-rate hunter ..... 800 A very handsome horse . . . . . 900 A superb horse, carrying a magnificent head and tail . 1000 A perfectly fresh officer's charger . . .1100 A high caste, five-year old horse, without any blemish . 1200 A racer . . . . . . . 1300 A handsome racer ..... 1400 A three mile welterer . . . . . 1500 273 It was my original intention to have sent this Treatise forth with a brief exposition of every complaint and accident the horse is subject to, which I had divided into thirty- five classes, under a hundred and fifty heads, but at present I am prevented doing so : at some future period these may possibly be added. On the request of an old acquaintance, not to fail to subjoin a few lines on red urine, and bursantee, I have dwelt a little on these two diseases, though out of their place. I have now to acknowledge my thanks to Professors Spooner and Morton, of the Royal Veterinary College, for their very great kind- ness in perusing the foregoing before publica- tion ; Mr. Morton has, also, most obligingly undertaken the trouble of seeing the whole through the press for me ; and if there are any little points not in strict accordance with the views of these scientific gentlemen, they are, perhaps, of no great importance. I can, however, assure you my manuscript received due praise, especially for the forcible expound- ing and illustration of the Foot and Heel ; and I therefore am entitled to expect the work will soon realize me half a fortune ; in order to 274 succeed in which, I am about to change half my name. In conclusion then, critical gentle- men, I respectfully caution you to " Ware Name," * and if you do not liberally patronize these pages, drawn out by the head of Blunt Spurs, you may yet get punished with a heel, and be brought to the ground by SHARP SPURS. * " Ware horse/' I suppose, you know, is the caution given in England to the bystanders, when a horse is brought out for sale. THE END. LONDON : PRINTED BV S. & J. BKNTLEV, WILSON, AND FLEV, Bangor House, Sboe Lane. The Reader is requested to correct with a pen the following ERRATA. PAGE xii, 257, 259, 260, and 273,/br bursantee, 7-ead bursautee. '26, /or fifteen hands, read fourteen hands. 40, for parting, read paring. 72, /or page 5, read page 8. 74, in the Outline of the Horse, tlie bog-spavin, No. 9, requires the line to be brought further forward between the figures 7 and 8. i)3, /or grain, read green. 103, 119, 121, 146, 147, 149, and 151, /or ghoon, read ghoor. 128, 182, 190, and 193,/orpage 101, read page 102. 145,/br the boiled food, read that boiled food. 149, 196, and 258, /or chrecate, read chreeate. 160, /or to get into condition, read putting into condition. 162, /or syees, read syces. 174,ybr rack salt, read rock salt. 196 and 2oS,/or page 99, read page 100. 201, /or page 100, read page 101. 205, /or page 272, read page 271. 225, /or bambooke pulta, 7'ead bamboo-ke-putta. 247 and 250,/or page 238, read page 239. 259, /or Seem ke putta, read Leein ke putta. 261, /or page 178, read page 265. 264, from the word " unsoundness," down to the word " fraud," requires in- verted commas. 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