.■ftf"'/: Hi Soldi>y AScJ.Black, " a'eitkall Street rJR '>TA^ ■vv Tat J. IK THE Gentleman's Stable Dire(5lory 5 o R, • MODERN SYSTEM OF F A R R I E R r. COMPREHENDING All the moft valuable prescriptions and approved remedies accurately proportioned and properly adapted to every known DISEASE to which the horse is incident ; interfperfed with OCCASIONAL REFERENCES to the dangerous and almoft obfolete Pradlice of Gibson, BxIACKEN, Bartlet, Osmer, and others ; alio particular directions for buying, selling, feeding^ bleeding, purging, and getting into condition for the Chafe ; with experimental remarks upon the management of draft horses, their blemishes and defects. ■ TO WHICH IS N'OW ADDED, A SUPPLEMENT, COXTAINIXG PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON THORN WOUNDS, PUNCTUPJBD TENDONS, AND LIGAMENTARY LAMENESS ; WITH AMPLE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THEIR TREATMENT AND CURE; Illufirated by a Recital of Cafes, including a Variety of Ufeful Remark -^ ; V.'ITH a successful method of treating the Ci^INE SPECIES, IN THAT DESTRUCTIVE DISEASE CALLED THE DISTEAIPER. By WILLIAM TAPLIN, Surgeon IKE IHIRTEENTH EDITION, LONDON : FRINTED for G. G. AND J.ROBINSON, PATERNOSTER-ROW 5 a:td g. kearsley, fleet. street. ■96. T O Sir JOHN LADE, Bart. THE very diftinguifhed charadler and eminent fituation you fupport in the Jporthig world y to the great pleafure and admiration of thofe who furround you in the field and accompany you in the chafe ^ will, in the opinion of every experienced sportsman, fufficiently juftify the confiftency and propriety of infcribing to you this earneft endeavour to refcue from the frequent and dreadful effedls of stabularian ignorance y and EMPIRICAL confidence, the future eafe, fafety^ and prefervationy of an animal that not only A 2 conftitues ( iv ) conftitutes to every sportsman one of the nobleft bleffings in life, but, in the fplendour of your flud^ Jiablesj and equipage^ affords ample cjifplay of your taste, judgment, and LIBERALITY. Itisa gratification highly flattering, that I have the prefent opportunity to fubfpribe myfelf. With refpeft and admiration^ Sir John, Your moft obedient. And very humble fervant^ The Author to T K « READER, tti THE PUBLICATIOK OF THE ELEVENTH EDITION. T T would be a tacit acknowledgment of* the au- thor's total infenfibility to every gratification of ambition, was he to omit the communication of ac- knowledgments, that, in their general diffufion, con- tribute fo very much to his own honour. And he nluft everconfider it no fmall compliment to his en- deavours, that the work is univerfally known to havd been crowned with the moil perfedl fuccefs. The very great and almoft unlimited portion of fupport that has fo fingularly fandioned its birth, fufficiently de- monftrates the abfolute want of fuch publication. This pleafing incenie to literary vanity could be increafed only by the conftantly accumulating, enco- miums, and mojl fubjlantial proofs of private appro- bation, from fome of the firft charaders within the circle of The Royal Hunt and Favour* Sportfmen, ^e propitious omen of whofe patronage not onl)^ A J refiefts ( vi ) . reflc<5bs rays of additional honour, but whofe judg- ment, equeftrian knowledge, and pradcical experi- ence, jointly eftablifh a criterion of equity that will ever render the author invulnerable to the barbed and envenomed arrows of menfirual criticijm. The rapid circulation of T E N large impreflions has forcibly influenced the author to make fuch addi- tions and improvements as will, he has every reafon to believe, render it of ftill greater utility y by the in- trodudion of many ufeful obfervations for the f refer- nation of health and -promotion of conditiony as well as the treatment and cure of difeafe. The proper m.z.mgtmzvi\. oi draft horjes is more particularly attended to ; their blemifhes and defedls are in many inflances evidently accounted for \ and the modes of prevention, in general, clearly pointed out. Several efficacious prefcriptions are likewife added, and a variety of ufeful inftrudions introduced, for the diftin6t and feparate information of metropo- litan jockiesy juvenile pur chafer Sy and inexperienced fportf- men; with very interefting hints for the purpofes of buying and felling, including (among many other ilriking and advantageous particulars) a fuperficial furvey of that immaculate mart of integrity — A Mo- dern Repofitory* PREFACE. PREFACE* T T is a truth, generally acknowledged and univer- faily lamented, that amidft all the improvements of the prefent age, none has received fo little advan- tage from the rays of refinement as the Art of Far- riery* And it muft be likewife confefTed, it is an ill compliment to a country abounding with Jportjmen^ and thofe remarkable for their extreme liberality, that the intelledual faculties of many diilinguifhed members of the different learned focieties fhould be abforbed in abftrufe contemplations and intenfe lu- cubrations upon the antiquity of a mn, the prcbofcis of an elephant y the genus of an exotic^ or the beautiful variegations of a butterfly \ whilft a branch of fcience and fludy, involving the health, fafety, and preferva- tion, of the moft beautiful and elleemed animal this kingdom has to boaft, is negled:ed, as derogatory to the dignity of a man of letters : and, from this mif- taken idea of degradation, a fubjed: of fo much con- fequence has been for many years fubmitted to the arbitrary didation of the moft illiterate part of the community, without a fingle effort of weight or in- fluence to abolifh the ancient and almoft obfolete mode of pradlice; or a fingle attempt made, from ■proper authority ^ to intr>.duce the modern improve- ments and difcoveries in every branch of medicine. It is moft certain there is no one period of hiftory where the horfe has been ranked fo high in general A 4 qftimation> viii PREFACE. cftimation, or rendered of fuch intrinfic worth, by a difplay of his various powers, as in the prefent age of experiment and refinement. To this caufe may undoubtedly be attributed the very great attention paid for fome years pad to the breed of the diftin6l and feparate clafTes for the tur^ field, road, or draft 5 and as their value has, in a very fhort fpace of time, abfoluteiy doubled their former worth, furely v/e ought to be proportionally anxious for their prefervation, wliether for/porfy ccnveniencey or emclument. The almod incredible number of this truly valuable part of the creation, that annually fall victims to xk\.e invincible confidence of thofe ruilic fons of Vulcan, felf-denominated /^rnVrj, (with the thunder of whofe ignorance almofh every village re- founds), has for years feemed to implore the afTifl- ance of fome intelligent member of fociety to come forward; and, by blending the adminiflration of medicines with a pradical knowledge of their pro^ perties and effeblsy refcue the poor fuffering animals from theconftant, invariable, and unrelenting depre- dations of illiterate pra^it loners and experimental per- fecuiors. Well aware of the arduous tafk of attempting to eradicate vulgar and habitual prejudices in favour of ancient practice, or the improbability of reconciling attachments of long Handing to the rational fyflem pf modern com.pofition ; and the little chance of ex- ploding PREFACE. m ploding entirely the heterogeneous and inconfiftent farrago fo long in ufe, univerfal fatlsfadion is not to be expected, or approbation obtained. But when a clear, open, and candid comparifon is drawn by the more enlightened, between the accumulation of con- trarieties in the laboured prefcriptions " of Gibson and Bracken," with the indigeiled obfervations of the more intelligent, though iefs prolix and digref- five, " Bartlet," the lead doubt is not entertained but every degree of favour will be (hewn to a fyflem of pradtice founded on reajon^ fupported . by expert-^ encBy and juftified by a general knowledge of -medi- cines ^ their principles ^ properties ^ preparations y and effe^s. To dilpel the gloom of ignorance from the brow of obftinacy would be a rafk of Herculean labour^ I therefore wave every idea of animadverfion upon the intuitive knowledge of thofe, who, v/rapt up in the warm and happy confolation of their own wif- dom, never i\i^tr t\\t\v f olid judgments to be warped by the intrufion of new opinions ; and proceed to make the neceffary remarks upon the qualifications of thofe country praclitioners who rank very high in StLF-ESTIMATION. And fuch obfervations as are rendered unavoida- ble fh all occafionally appear with ail pofiible delicacy, v,'i{hing to irritate, as little as may be, the feelings of any individual, whofe want of cultivation and im- provement X PREFACE. provement muft be confidered a misfortune, not a crinme ; but in whofe deficiency of profeflional know- ledge confifts the danger which fo often occurs, and expofes him to that labyrinth of perplexity, that di- lemma of diflrefs, from which no brilliant fertility of genius, no idea of the ftru6ture of parts, no corre- fponding knowledge of medicines, or their effeds, can poffibly arife to extricate him, whilft the fuffering animal (in perhaps the mod excruciating agonies) expires at the feet of this ^^ learned judge ^'^ jury, and txecutioner. Experience juftifies the alTertion, that nine times out often the complaint (if internal) remains a mat- ter of hypo the fis and conjedure, without one expla- natory notey Jentence, Jhrug, or ejaculation^ by which v/e may be led to underftand or difcover the caufe : but, as profeffional flupidity muft be defended, we are at laft told (with a fyftematic fimplicity and vacu- ity of countenance) " the horje is in a great deal of fain,** Tills firft point being (not without fome difficulty and Teeming depth of thought) at length difcovered, the remedy is then to be obtained ; and as, in gene- ral, cowards once puihed on become bold in propor- tion to the danger, fo, according to the exigency, fome powerful! ^^ Mandr agora'' of the ^* Materia '^ Mediea'' is inftantly procured ^ and, as reputation muft be fupported, fo ^^ kill or cur ey' (time out of 7 mind PREFACE. xi mind the ancient and nrvodern medical motto) is com- pulfively adopted, and the whole arcana of equeflrian knowledge is let loofe, from the very fimple prepara - tion of ^^fugar/ops," to the more remote, a6i:ive, and dangerous mercury y till relief is fortunately obtained, or the falling favourite expires, in tortures, a martyr to the ignorance of the pra5fitioner and the credulity of its owner ! To corroborate this fadl, one felf- evident obferva- tion only is necefTary to give it due weight, in oppo- fition to a mind even prejudiced againft the innova- tions of improvement in pradcice or rectification in judgment. For inftance — Is it polTible — can it (after a moment's refledtion) be fuppofed — that thefe men, totally uncultivated in underflanding and the moft common occurrences in life, whofe minds are as rude and uncivilized as their manners, can be at all con- verfant or acquainted with the different properties y qualities, operations, or effe^s, of a long lift of medi- cines, to all of which they are ftrangers even in ap- pearance, pofTefllng no other knowledge of the very articles fpecified but what they have acquired from books and prefcriptions, long fmce become obfolete and ufelefs from their inefficacy ? Can they be ex- pedled to underftand the chemical proceffes of mer- cury, antimc72y, and other dangerous medicines they conftantly put into ufe, without knowing their ori- gins, preparations, combination of principles, or t\ic, exact: xii PREFACE. exa6l line of diftindtion that renders them Jalutarj remedies or powerful poijons ? It is alfo highly neceffary to introduce a matter perfedly applicable to the fubje6t of inveftigation, as an impofition very little known (except to the fa- culty); and is a palpable difgrace to that body, of which every profefTor of medicine conftitutes a mem^ ber. It is the common and fcandalous adulteration of drugs, a pradlice too prevalent amongft the drug- gijis in the metropolisy as well as the country -, who, from the predominant pafTion of gain^ fo curioufly adulterate, as to deceive even thofe who confider themfelves adepts in deception. And this, to be the better enabled to underfell their competitors, con- vinced, by experience, the majority of farriers ad- mit the medicines that can be purchafed cheapest to be much the best. Thefe circumftances are not introduced or ha- zarded as matters of opinion, but as palpable fads that fpeak home to every reader of judgment or ex- perience ; and fufficiendy indicate the necelTity of circulating, from medical authority, the prefent im- proved fyftem of modern compofition, univerfally adopted and generally approved, to the approaching extermination of empirical praElice and dangerous ex- periment. This publication being undertaken to ren- der as plain and familiar as poiTible a fubjedb that has, through almoft every diflertation, been obfcured by the PREFACE. xiii the mifl of ignorance and majk o( myftery ; it is anxi- pufly to be defired in future, that every gentleman who has occafion to elucidate or iiluftrate his own underftanding, by calling to his afljflance any of the learned tribe before defcribed, fo remarkable for their extent of communication, will (previous to their ad- miniftration of medicine) require an explanatory pre- lude, with fatisfadory information upon what opera- tions they frame their expedtations of relief and fuc- cefs; — with the very neceffary and additional re- commendation, to be particularly careful to obtain their medicines from Bifpenjanes of repute^ where the proprietor is reported or fuppofed to have formed a fair, honourable:, and equitable contradl with emolument and reputation. And this caution is rendered more immediately worthy confideration, by the multiplicity of fpecious advertifements fo conftantlyheld forth to promote the lucrative fale of innumerable balls, powders, ^indipajlesy individually infallible for every diforder to which the horfe is incident. But what renders the circumftance flill more extraordinary, is their being prefcribed and prepared, by thofe vtry metropolitan pra^ioners in me- dicine, whofe equeftrian polTefTions never amounted to a ftngle fteed -, whofe journeys or unexperimental pradlice never exceeded the diurnal progreiTions of a hackney -coach ; and whofe great anxiety for the gene- ral good never furpafTed the idea of cent, per cent, in |:he circulation. This obfervation comes with a much 6 betcer XIV P R E F A C E. better grace, when I can afifure the public, one of the very lirft advertifers in this way was a medical ad- venturer, who having failed as a pharmacopoliji^ at the welt end of the town (as did his fucceflbr alfo), they, in rotatioTiy adopted the alternative of neceffity, in pompoufly advertifing " Horfe medicines for the ufe ^'' of the nobility and gentry." How well they fuc- ceeded, the creditors of both can moft feelingly teflify 3 and of their compofitions the reader will be beft en- abled to form a competent opinion, when, in the courfe of the work, noftrums and quack medicines be- come xh^ neceilary fubiedsof animadverfion. CONTENTS. CONTENTS. Page o Bfervation^ Feeding, ^^ ^9 Condition, — """" 3^ Bleeding, """"^ 34- Purging, 36 C L A S ^ I. Splents, «— - 49 Spavins, ' ■ 55 Windgalls, ^i Lamenefs, ■ . ' ^^ Strains, — 7^ CLASS II. Cracks, &c. — 9^ Thruih, — 94. Creafe, 9^ CLASS IIL Hidebound, ■' ■ ■ — i£4. Surfeit, "—^ "8 Mange, — *-^ >2S Farcy, — — • * 3 * CLASS IV. Wounds, ■ ■ ' 146 Ulcers, ■ 161 Fiftula, — 168 PoU Evil, 173 CLASS V. Tumours, * •— 180 Warbles, 187 Navel Galls, — 189 Sitfall:, — 192 CLASS VI. Colds, — >- — 19s Coughs, ■ < 199 Pleurify, &c. *— — - 211 Broken Wind, — 319 Confumption, •— — • 227 CLASS ^vi ' C O N T E N T S. CLASS VII. ' Page Fevers, ■' 230 Worms, • — — 255 Jaundice, ■ ' . ■ 266 CLASS VIII. Strangles, • 276 Glanders, ,^ 287 Staggers, and Convulfions, ■ ^08 CLASS IX, Flatulent Cholic, i ^ ^28 Inflammatory Cholic, n n ' 235 Scouring or Loofenefs, ._— » ^^2 Molten Greafe, * — — ^ 253 CLASS X. Strangury, &c. &c. ■ . 35^ CLASS XL Difeafes of the Eyes, ■■ 273 CLASS XIL ^lallenders, — — 333 Sallenders, ■ ' 3po Lampas, ■ ibid. Quittor, ■■ « ■ 392 Curbs, ^ ■ 394 Ringbones, * 3gjj SUPPLEMENT. Punflared Tendon, ■ ■■ 431 Farcy, — 437 Ligamentary Lamenefs, ■ 444 Punt^ured or lacerated Tendon, . » ■ 449 Thorn Wounds, — . , 464 Diftcmpcr in Canine Species, <*— - 4$! THE ■ i THE MODERN SYSTEM o FARRIERY. THE very great difcoveries made In the prefeht century have certainly extended to every art and fcience that could be mate- rially improved by intenfe ftudy and applica- tion ; and to none more than the adminiftra- tion of medicine, and its efteifts upon the HUMAN BODY, by fome of the moft learned meurin every part of Europe : and, from the rapid and univerfally acknowledged improve- ments in this fyftem, the moll admirable ad- vantages have been obtained, and incredible cures performed. In fuch general refinement, the ancient mode of practice is not only ex- ploded, but its origin and advocates nearly buried in oblivion, Thofe ftupendous folios, B th€ t OBSERVATIONS- the voluminous herbals in the libraries of the botanical votaries, have reluctantly given place to various dilTertations on the diilinguifhed efficacy of thofe grand fpecifics, mercury, opiuniy antimony, bark, &c. of which fo many expe- rimental and efficacious preparations have been difcovered by chemical procefs, as to render of little ufe or refpedl any prefcription of antient date, v^hen put in competition with the rational and approved fyflem of modern improvements. The obftinate and invincible advocates for the ancient mode of practice, whether in phyfic or farriery, are at length obliged to acquiefce in the change ; for, what they by inclination were not willing to acknow^ ledge, TIME, TRUTH, and experience, have fully confirmed. But, ftrange as it may ap- pear, (yet ihamefully true it is!) notwith- ftanding this redtification of judgment, very - little has yet been done to improve, or pro- duce a change in, the long {landing, abfurd, and ridiculous SYSTEM of FARRIERY > a change as equally necejjary, jujl, laudable ^ equitable, and ujeful, as any that can be adopted for the general fafety and advantage of our own fpecres. And tliis becomes more necef- iirily and immediately the objedl of ferlous confideration. OBSERVATIONS. 3 confideration, when circumftances daily evince to the medical pradtitioner (or compounder of prefcriptions) the very great danger to which fome of the finest horses in the world are conflantly expofed, by the ignorance and obfti- nacy of the parties to whofe care they are too generally entrufted -, every stable-boy, aping the groom his fuperior, and the groom the felf-mjlru^ed FARRIER, all have their heads and pockets fluffed with the quinteffence of ftupidity, coUedled from the various produce tions of antiquity, whofe very prescriptions are in themfelves fo obfolete, that many of the articles included have been long fince re- jected as of no utility* But as variety muft be obtained to effedl the ncceffary purpofe, the invention is inflantly fet at work to fubftitute new ingredients, for thofe long fince aban- doned as faperfluous and unneceffary, in me- dicinal compofition. Thefe alterations and fubftitutes frequently form a moft curious col- lef the human fpecies in the time of that lumi- nary, the famous Sydenham, who was fo much the celebrated favourite of his day, it was ahnoft fuppofed he could do no wrong. It being then a common pradice of his — to order boldly THIRTY ounces of blood to be taken from the arm of a man, v/ithout fear of mw^der or danger oi pumjhment. And this is not alto- gether likely to create wonder, when we recol- left there is no law exifting to hang a phyiician for error in judgment. Time and experience have fixed the ilandard, according to cafes, circumllances, and exigencies, from six ounces to SIXTEEN, which is nearly one half the ori- ginal evacuation ; fo that we find by this change of quantity, the modern human body is f appofed to contain no more than one half the propor- tion of blood that ran in the veins of the HEROES of ANTIQUITY, unlcfs the wliole fyftem is entirely changed, as obferved by 2 Gregory^ OBSERVATIONS. 5 Gregory,, in the Mock Doctor, who fays *^ The heart was formerly on the left fide, but '* the COLLEGE have altered all tliat, and " placed it on the right'' To produce a cafe exaclly iimilar in the World of Farriery, let us take' a furvey of the medical abilities of Gibson, who cer- tainly wrote much better on the fubjed than Bracken ; v/here we fhall find ordered, m a iingle prefcription for a purging bail, t'-voo ounces of aloes, with the addition of the other ufual purging articles, though modern pradiice and experience fix the eftablifhed proportion at exadlly haf, or at mofty/-i'^ eighths^ to the ftrongefl: horfes, with the cathartic aids before mentioned. He alfo moil: courageoufly re- commends haf an ounce of calomel, ox: fub limed mercury y in a fmgle ball ; and fpeaks of the internal adminiftration of moft powerful poi- fonSj corrofive fubliniate, or red precipitate, as a matter of courfe : the proportion for a dofe being curioufly afcertained by the fublime menfuration of a "^ filver two-pence," as if a premium had been abfolutely provided by an a6l of parliament for the general extirpation ot Jhe breed of HORSES, as defiruSive to the B 3 interejls 6 OBSERVATIONS, tnterejls offodety. Though, after prefcribing thefe dreadful remedies, he modeftly confeffes " in the adminiftration there is great danger ; ^* and, unlefs a horfe is very ftrong, he rnay not " be able to recover from the experiment." This is dodirine (and do3rifie) with a wit- nefs ! Thefe are the kinds of experiments^ and this the kind of language that has for two centuries been held forth in almoft every tradl upon the fubjed : and, under thefe abfurd, ridiculous, dangerous, and contemptible bur- lefques upon the application of medicine, wil| any man, who wifhe§ w^U to the caufe of humanity y fay fome rational fyftem of redtiii- cation and improvement is not neceffary, to refcue from the danger of perpetual experi-^ ments the nobleft and moft valuable quadruped in the creation ! The palpable neceffity for fuch improve- ment having been univerfally admitted ^r^i;/^«j to the firft edition of this work, it \%fince ren- dered m.ore abjolutely needful by the recent re-* furredion of ancient praBice^ modornifed in a different form and periodical appearance *. It has * A Syitem of Farriery, in weekly numbers. 8 evidently OBSERVATIONS. 7 evidently undergone a kind of regeneration by- its new birthy and is now become the child of adoption ; fandioned with the authority of a nominal voucher for the confifiency of its im per- fections, and the propriety of introducing the moft incredible accumulation of prefcriptive abfurdities that ever dlfgraced a medical work offered to public infpedtion for the purpofe of information. And what renders the impofi^ tion of ftill greater magnitude, is the very con-^ fidential manner of proclaiming to the world what every profeffor of medicine will inftanta^ neoully refufe his aifent to the belief of, viz. that it is the joint production of an operative farrier, phyficians, anatomifts, and profeffors of furgery. The talk of criticifrrt muft at all times be an unpleafant performance, but much more par- ticularly upon the prefent occafion, where it will be abfclutely impoffible for me to difcharge my obligation to an indulgent public (with the necelTary precifion and impartiality) with- out encountering, by this decifion, the pique or refentment of all parties interefled in the fate of fuch publication, or its effedls upon the mul- titude. However, the predicament I now B 4 ftand S OBSERVATIONS. ftand in compels me to proceed to a thorough explanation, feeling myfelf pledged by a pub- lic promife not only to inve/iigate^ tnake clear ^ and endeavour to explode^ the cruelties of an- cient pradlice, but to point out the equal dan- ger of modern cofupofition even in its infancy ; more particularly when uihered into the world by fuch high founding authority as may give it temporary weight with unthink- ing injudicious readers, or experimental ad- venturers. Previous to farther animadverfion upon the elaborate periodical work in queftion, I fhall, without the leaft intentional gratification of my own vanity, offer to the prefent reader one congratulatory fadl beyond the power of fophijlry to confute, or criticijm to condemn, Amidft the paltry produ^ions that have been obtruded upon the public under various titles, (thofe fervile imitations or wretched mutila- tions of what had gone before) it is a moil flattering circumftance to the author, and no indifferent confolation to the publifher, that this 'work will ever fupport itfelf upon the bafis pf its own origin. The great fuccefs and rapid circulation of the former editions have totally exculpated OBSERVATIONS. 9 exculpated every page from the leaft accufation of plagiarifm, as it will be found to differ very materially from other publications upon the fame fubjed, and the exaS reverfe of thofe in circulation. The ftudious enquirer will be moft feriouily difappointed if he expedls to find in thefe pages a literal imitation and repetition of Gibson's anatomical ftrudture, with the iden^ iical plates and correfponding references, or a dangerous combination of deftrudtive articles heterogeneovjly blended and cruelly applied. Saying thus much to corroborate the intent and meaning of our own work, it becomes immediately applicable to repeat our affertions refpedling the danger of others ; particularly in thofe truly wo7iderfiil prefcriptive parts, fo ;//£?- dejlly affirmed to be the conj unlive efforts of learned phyficians.Jludious a?2atomijh, ^ndpro-^ jicients injiirgery. That the practical know- ledge of thefe ;76';/7/Wphyficians " in buckram'* has far exceeded every thing prefcribed before their time, the magnitude and almoft unli- mited numxber of dangerous articles, introduced in their recipes, will fufficiently demonftrate to thole who are fo truly unfortunate as to have the perufal fill to their lot 5 but more particu- larly t-d OBSERVATIONS. larly thofe who ftjll more unfortunately fall int» the pradice. It is impoflible (without taking too much, time from the reader, or too much room in the work) to indulge a moft predominant wifh of enlarging upon the unaccountable abfurdi- ties and aftonifhing proofs of ignorance in the properties, power, and ufe of medicine, that might be juftly quoted from this monjlrous prodigy of modern inftrudtion, to refcue from the rapacity of literary impofition that clafs of mankind who fo frequently become the dupes of fpecious piaufibility. As it would aiford but little information or amufement to enu- merate the follies or copy the illiterate pre- fcriptions to juftify my own obfervations, or court a coincidence from others, I fhall content myfelf with one alTurance to the public, that having taken the opinions of fome of the fa- culty, (upon the recipes already promulgated, in the trifling part of the produdion hitherto gone forth) they perfectly agree with me — tliere are a variety introduced that would in a very few hours inevitably relieve the fubjedt from every pojjibility of future pain, Jufferingy ©r difquietude, \ iliall OBSERVATIONS u I fhall only convey an oblique hint a thofe catchpenny fhifts or abridgments, frcm the authors before fpoken of, publiihed und^r the titles of '' Ten Minutes Advice /' <* The Pocket Farrier,'' &c^ &c. and proceed to a few obfervations upon the wonderful dif^ove-^ rieSf prolix defcriptionsy tedious digrej[jions^2S)A aJloniJJjing tales y of Henry Bracken (rredi- cinas dodlor), v^ho, to his diploma, whicl. he boafts of in his Preface, adds the ftrangeft can- plication of language, for a medical autior and phyfician, that ever difgraced a candidite for critical diffedtipn. How^ever bad the com- pliment may be to my ow^n underfta nding, or largely it may tend to difplay my want :>f tafte, I can neither condefcend to imitate him in the fublimity of his ftyle or the lertility of his medical invention: nor fhall I prefumc to copy fo great an originaU by in troducing ** A Tale of a Tub'' in every page, foreign to the matter in queflion, merely for th e purpofe of fwelling this work to a fize that may con- tribute to its difgrace^ referving to niyfelf one confolation^—if it does not become e ntitled to approbation for its utility, ntiihQv pique ov pre- judice fhall have juft caufe to condemn it for its prolixity. It 12 OBSERVATION S. It his been hitherto cuftomciry, in the in- trodudory part of tradls upon this fubjec!!:, to enlarge upon the fliape, make, figure, and quahications, of a horfe for the turf, field, road &c. And all this might be very appli^ cabl' and proper, eve7i noiv, could we for a mo- mert fuppofe that a fportfman does not know a lORSE from an ass, or that a gentleman attends a repofitory, fair, market, or fale, with a look in his hand or his pocket, by way of renembrancer. Exclufive of this confideration, in the prefent ftage of refinement, we are become h truly enlightened, that every juve- nle devotee to Diana, who has jufl efcaped fiom the tender anxiety of his mamma and the fuccefsflil attention of his tutor, talks loudly snd confidently of the "///// eye,' ^'fmalleary* '' deep ch£ji;' '' clofe fillet;' '' fiort back;* *' /irong j^^ijicrn;' ^\foimd hoof;' &c. In fhort, all thofe qualifications that are at prefent uni- verfally uiderllood, and in conftant requeft, by the beft judges, are very hard to obtain; and it is bv no means an uncommon thing to obferve a horfe with a very few good points, 7.n the poiiefiioii of thofe we arc apt to believe (from a combination of circumftances) have OBSERVATIONS. 13 it in their power to be much better accommo- dated. Since the original publication of this work, obje^j mahey ^w^ figure of a horfe, fuch rules ihall be laid down for the fele(Sion, or choice in purchafe, as it will be indifpenfibly neceflary to adhere to, \i fpeedi ftren^th, or beauty ^ (commonly termed fafhion) a'e the objedls of cdnfideration j though it maybe juftly believed an almoft en- tire impoffibilit/ to procure a horfe with all thofe points anc advantages the eye of caution and experience onftantly has in view. In fuch furvey, the pnmary and predominant confi- deration (if fouid) is the ftate of age, but much more particularly if required for immediate ufe, at kail tiat kind of ufe termed conftant work ; as no iorfe whatever can be fuppofed adequate to lich tafk at an earlier age than rifing fix yeaK. To the ver) neceffary ccnvi5iion of age llioulcf follow a moftminute and attentive infped:ion> or rather ftrd: examination, of thofe points conftltutmg tae diftindtion between imperfect tionSf OBSERVATIONS, i^ tionSi blemijljesy and dcfeBs*y in general doubt- fully implied, and not always perfedlly under- flood, by the common affurance of " Sound " wind and limb/' To afcertain the veracity of which technical phrafeology much nicety of difcrimination appertains* Amongft fportfmen (who are juftly entitled to the appellation of gentlemen, and poffefs a high and proper fenfe of honour and the prin^ ciples of equity) the general acceptation of tlic word ^^ found'' hs,^ ever been y ^xAJiill is, in- tended to convey an hanourabky unequivocal affurance of the perfect ftate of both the frame and bodily health of the fubjedt, without ex- ception or ambiguity. It is meant to imply the total abfence of blemifhes as well as defecfls, (unlefs particularly pointed out and explained)^ and is really intended to confirm a bonajide de- claration of the horfe's being (at the time) free from every imperfe^ion, labouring undef no impediment lo fight or aBion. This is the eftablifhed intent and meaning of the word *^ found'' zmongA gentlemen 2^ni fportfmen -, its explication and various ufes, for the convenient purpofes and impoiitions of grooms, dealers^ black AegSy and jobbing itinerafitSy are too perfectly underftood i6 OBSERVATIONS. underilood (by thofe who have run the gaunt- let of experience and deception) to require further animadverfion. However, as you can but very feldom pof- fefs the good fortune to purchafe of a gentleman y it will prove no contemptible practice to adopt the fage old maxim, and **deal with znhonejl *' man as you would with 2. rogue:'' this pre- caution may prevent a probable repentance, and palpably urges the neceffity of putting your own judgment and circumfpeclion in competition with the Integrity of your oppo- nent, however he maybe idLWomtdihy fort ufie^ or lanitioned by fitnatioUn The prudent or experienced purchafer con-^ fequently commences his taflc of infpe(flion with carcy caution^ and circumJpeBiony firft ac- curately afcertaining the y7j^/»^, 7nakey bone^ and jlrengthi colledting fufficient information from fuch obfervation, whether his qualifications are properly adapted to the purpofes of acquilition* He fees him go all his paces, and forms his own opinion upon each; or perhaps more judi- cioufly avoids every poffibility of trick or decep^ tion, by riding the horfe and thoroughly invef-- tigating OBSERVATIONS. 17 tigating his properties; thereby efcaping bad ad:ion, lamenefs, ftarting, reftivenefs, and other incidental imperfedlions. He tlicn moft atten- tively proceeds to the more minute and necef- fary examination of the ftate of the eyes^ windy knees,fplentSjfpavif2s, windgalls, 7'tngbones, quit^ torSy cracks ov greafe: defcending laftly to the Jeety thereby avoiding r^r;7j, running thrufi, can- ker^ and additional defed:s that yOung and in- experienced purchafers frequently fuppofe un- worthy confideration or reflection, facrificing the v^hole at the fhrine di figure 2i)iAfaJkion, In the choice and purchafe of a horfe, felecfted for ^whatever purpofe, it is an invariable and eftabliihed cuftom w^ith the beft judges to come as near the following points and advantages as circumftances will permit, thereby gaining Jn each an additional ftep to the fummit of per- feftion. For the defired or intended height, fize, and figure, being afcertained and pro- cured, all other neceffaiy points fo ftridlly cor- refpond (in a certain degree of uniformity) that what gi\t^ /peed ^ndifirength to a large horfe, will proportionably contribute fimilar advan- tai^es to a fmaller. To i8 OBSERVATIONS. To contribute that uniformity, the head and ears fhould both be fmall and fhort, with a large full eye and open extended noftril; a long well proportioned neck, rifing gradually upon the withers, forming what is generally termed " a fine forehand,'' haying great depth from thence to the point of the breaft, which being wide, affords ample proof of y?r£';7^//&, as does the neceffary declination of the fhoulder (or blade-bone) to the point of the withers another oi Jpeed* This combination forms a well made horfe before, which is continued to the remaining parts of the frame, by the back's being fhort and even, not Jinking at all in the loins, or rifmg higher behindy upon what is termed " the crupper -bone \ the carcafe fliould be round, and well ribbed up to the hip-bones, (forming as trifling a hollownefs or concavity in the flank as poflible) thefe being by no means pointedly prominent. The legs fliould not be too long for the height of the horfe, but fhort in the joints, and particularly fo upon the paflerns. Thefe infl:ru6lions refpedingyZ?/^/)^, make^ and figure y will (with very few exceptions) prove leading traits to the neceffary and defirable qua- lifications. OBSERVATIONS. 19 lifications. To afcertain the whole of which, no invariable rules can be laid down as an in- fallible guide to certain perfection ; for there are many inftances of very v»^ell iliaped horfes hav- ing proved indilfferent goers, and others fo en- tirely crofs made as to poffefs hardly a good point, being equal in adion to fome of the fineft figures in the kingdom. Rules or inftruc- tions thus liable to exception, (though they are eftabliihed by cuftom, and in a great degree juftified by experience, have yet fome claim to contribution from the perfonal objervation and deliberate judgment c -^ the purchafer; for furely it can require no extraordinary portion oi genius^ or extent of penetration, to diftin- guifh between *' 2^ good goer ' and a bad one : if fo, the adventurers may as probably ftand in need of an inftrudor to point out the differ- ence between a horje and a mare^ Notwithftanding thefe inftrudlons may con- tribute to form the judgment of a juvenile and inexperienced purchafer, yet he fliould . never attempt to obtain a high priced horfe from the hammer of a modern repofitory, without the advantage of an affiftant perfediy* adequate to the arduous taik of difcrimination, C z Let 10 OBSERVATIONS. Let it be remembered, at fuch mart of infe-- grity, a horfe is feldom, if ever, difplayed in a ftate of nature; he is thrown into a variety of alluring attitudes, and a profufion oifalfe-Jire^ by the powerful intermediation of ^r/ — that predominant incentive the whip before, and the aggravating ftimulus of the ginger behind, (better underflood by the application of "^^- ging'') giving to the horfe all the appearance of ipirit, {infaBfear) that the injudicious fpec- tator is too often imprudently induced to be- lieve the fpontaneous effort of nature. During the fuperficial furvey, in thofe few minutes allowed for infpedion and purchafe, much fatisfadlory inveftigation cannot be ob- tained; for, in the general hurry and con- fufion of " fhe wing out," the fhort turns and irrugular aSion of the horfe, the political and occalional fmacks of the whip, the effedt of emulation in the bidders, the loquacity of the orator, and the fafcinating flourish of the ham- mer, the qualifications of the objedt is fre- quently forgotten, and every idea of perfedlion buried in the fpirit of perfonal oppofition. Such OBSERVATIONS. 21 ^ Such a combination of circumftances, tend- ing fo much to perplex and confufe, urges the neceffity of care, caution, and circumfpedtion. The eyes oi Argus would hardly prove too nu- merous upon the occafion, a bridle being as neceflary upon the tongue as a padlock upon the pocket; for, am.idft the great variety of profeffional m.anosuvres in the art of horfe-deaU ingy a purchafer muft be in poffeffion of a ereat fliare oi good fortune or found judgment to elude the ill effedls of deception and impoiition; a circumftance fo univerfally admitted that go- vernment confidered a fubftantial tax no im- proper compliment to their iniquities. The inftitution was undoubtedly originally good, and for fome years proved of the greateft public utility : whether, like many other of the moft valuable inftitutions, it has been profli- tuted to the worjl cfpurpofes, remains with the opinion of every reader to decide. For my own part, however highly they may be ex- tolled, or exteniively puffed, by the parties in- terefted in their fuccefs, I muft confefs, I am never included within their walls but I con- ceive myfelf in the very centre of Chefterfield's *' fmk of iniquity,'' and confider 2^ foundhor^Q C 3 from ^2 OBSERVATIONS. from a repofitory equally rare with a capital prize in the lottery. In the midft of thefe very neceffary conli- derations, it muft be remembered, fuch heb- dominal fales are not without their acknow- ledged conveniences ; for although they are by no means calculated to buy at, they are moft admirably adapted for felling. Here you may, in compliance with cujiom and the full force of faflmriy get rid of the hlindy lame^ rejlive, broken- winded ^ fplented, fpavinedy or gla^idej^edhovfes, without remprfe or fear of punifhment. The feller, v^hether a nominal gentleman without honour y or the dealer without principle y is enti- tled to every degree of duplicity he can bring into pracflice j they lay equal ^'i^x^ to the privi- lege of obliquely puffing their own horjes (as ftanders~by prailing their unequalled qualifica- tions, and bidding for them) with an aifedled enthuliafm, thereby inducing the unwary to proceed in the purchafe very much beyond the intrinfic value. The credulous dupe becomes in a fhort time convinced of the bubble ^ and is in poiTeffion of no confolation but the law of re- taliation, by a repetition of transfer; neceffity compels him to fell at ihtfame or a fimilar market OBSERVATIONS. 23 market with an equal degree of deception, in which he now becomes initiated ; and the per- petual routine of crippled hofpital horfes is thus fupported by the very predominant plea of felf-prefervation . Thefe fadls being well eflabliihed, and amongft the experienced univerfally known, it is generally admitted that the moft probable method of acquiring a youngs found, perfeEi horfe, muft be by purchafing in the country, before they have made a ''trading voyage" to the metropolis-, where, with the joint effects of indifferent rider Sy indolent grooms or ojllers, hot ft able s, irregular feeds, and the plentiful hay and water fyftem that frequently conftitutes livery fubfiftence, we foon perceive fludluating hu- mours, depraved appetite, inflamed eyes, fwell- ed legs, cracked heels, tender feet, and a mul- tiplicity of thoi^Jiahle comforts that inftantly ftrike the eye of an experimental obferver, when taking an occafional furvey of the public flables in London ; where they conceive they execute every degree of equeftrian duty in the higheft perfedion, though a lad, of even the fecond clafsy from a common hunting-ftable in C 4 th p» 24 OBSERVATIONS. the country would inftantly demonftrate the contrary. My very worthy and learned predeceflbr Bracken, in his digrellions for the public GOOD, has introduced ftories and fimiles of all difcriptions and denominations, from the funeral of his " favourite mare with ale and ^' rofemary,'' to the " comparifon between a ^"^ rider of Jixteen Jione and a Scotchman s *^ pack','' ftricHily enjoining levery man (who had not a rational idea of his own corpulence or circumference) to be careful in adapting the ftrength of his horfe to his own weighty with many other obfervations oi equal faga-- city and penetration. But, as I indulge a much highier opinion of the underftandings of thofe to whofe ferious infped:lon this trea- tife will become fubjed:, I fhall not irritate the feelings of any fportfman, who unluckily rides a great weight, by reminding him what kind of horfe is moft likely to reconcile the inconvenience, but naturally conclude every reader v/ill exert his judgment for the pro- curation of fuch purchafe as will prove moft likely to become adequate to the purpofes for which he is intended. He OBSERVATIONS. 25 He alfo (from an univerfality of genius, dp doubt,) animadverts upon the art of riding and qualifications of horfemen, their tempers, dif- pofitions, agility, alacrity, fear, fortitude, ^^wry faces ^ and lojing of leather -^ '' defcants largely upon the apparatus of bits, bridles, faddles, &c. entering into the very minutiiE of the riding-fchool, which nov^ would be not only degrading the experimental knowledge of every fportfmanin the kingdom, but abfolutelyy;;;^/^- gling a fubjedl the acknowledged property of A?2geloy AJiley, Hughes ^ and Jones. In refpcdl to the anatomical ftruclure of a horfe, nothing can be added upon that fubjed; to excite attention; it has been already fo mi- nutely inveftigated and accurately explained by Gibson and Sn ape, that the leaft room for addition or enlargement is not left for any fucceeding writer who does not (as before obferved) admit the capacities of the folids to be more enlarged, the fluids encreafed, or the heart changed from one fide to the other, fmce the days of thofe authors, who fo well fill- filled to the public the talks they had under- taken. And as the operative part of farrier y is not intended to come within the purpofe of our 26 OBSERVATIONS. our prefent plan, but is entirely fubmitted to thofe whofe immediate profeffion it is to be moft clearly informed of; to the excellent anatomical works of the above writers 1 refer them for a completion of their ftudies, and come to fdch a fyftem as it is abfolutely necef- fary for every fportfman to underiland, that lie may be not only enabled to prefcribe for his own horfes upon emergencies, but to judge of the propriety of their treatment when, by the feverity of circumftances, jflibmitted to the fuperintendence of others. Much multifarious matter has conftantly been intorduced relative to the a^e of a horfe by his mouth ; where (after all the obfervations upon the fubjecft) it becomes an acknowledged fid; by every writer, each fign is doubtful, and liable to deception in the various arts and defigns of the dealers, wlio, by engraving and burning artificial marks in fome teeth, and totally extrading (or beating out) others, ren- der the horfe of znyfeeming age moft applicable to their purpofe. And thefe faults cannot be eafily difcovered but by grooms or judges who are in the conftant habit and pradlice of making fuch remarks and obfervations. Nor O BSERVAT IONS. 27 Nor Is there any matter in a horfe requiring a nicer difcriminatlon in judgment, than to afcertain to a certainty the age of a horfe by his teeth only, having abfclutely feen two men of abihties and experience on the oppofite fides of a horfe's mouth, at the fame time declare him of different ages -, when, by exchanging fides, each changed his opinion, and the horfe proved, by the common rule, to be coming a year older on one fide than the other. Thefe doubts in refped: to the certainty of age being admitted, one fixed rule is incontrovertible — that, after the mark (which is the general guide) is obliterated, the longer the teeth are, and the narrower the under jaw is towards its extremity, the more the horfe is advanced in years. But, as the age of the horfe is fo diftindly abfiiracled from, and unconnedled with, the difcription of difeafe which becomes more immediately the fubjed: of difcuflion, I fhall leave the former to the fubtle decifion of the liable difputants, to whofe province it may be faid to belong, and vvhom it more materially .concerns. There 28 OBSERVATIONS. There can be but little doubt that whoever becomes a purchafer, at the prefent high price of founds frejloy and fafliionable horfas, will proportion the price to fuch deficiences as limes and circumftances render unavoidable ; znd. make pecuniary allowances for advanced ££gey broken zvindy bad eyeSyfpavinyfplentSy and a long detail of incidental imperfedbions. But S3 fuch neceffary circumfpe(ftion does not always take place with the young and inexpe- rienced purchafer, a concife hint not to acquire too many infirmities at a high price, merely to gratify a little perfonal oftentation in an ex- ternal difplay of BLOOD and fashion, cannot be amifs. More particularly when we fo fre- q^uently iee an accidental fall, and confequent laceration upon the knees, prove the tranfient Falue of what was (a few minutes before) the objecfh of admiration and pofTeilion with every beholder, now become blown upon, and of no greater eftimation than to be unrelentingly torn to pieces, by that moft merciful and humane "invention, A MAIL COACH OF PALMERIAN MEMORY, Previous to the treatment of difeafes, it cannot be inapplicable to point out fuch things as FEEDING. 29 as are flridlly necefiary, and abfolutely con- ducive to the prefervation of health, though perhaps not at all times properly attended to. For inftance, no rubje(5tis more highly entitled to a diftind: and feparate inveftigation than the article of FEEDING, as a peculiar attention to the qualities and quantities of aliment is particularly neceflary to fecure the horfe in a ftate of health and con- dition, fit for the immediate purpofe to which he may be deftined. To produce him at all times ready for the turfy fields or roady be- comes neceffarily the complete ftyle of clean^ linefsy drejjingy exercifey and various minutis, that conftitute the prefent perfed: ftate of ftable difcipline; which never arofe to fo high a pitch of excellence, and can have originated only In a laudable emulation, that feems (by a kind of fympathetic infpiration or enthuiiafm) to have taken poffeffion of every groom ia ftables of repute, and renders unnecefiary the moil trifling obfervations upon this ceremony, 7 where 30 FEEDING- where the horfes are thought worthy the attention of master or man. And It is equally fo in refped to the articles oifood. Horfes are as often out of condition (in inferior llables) from the effedt of improper food as from natural difeafes. Refpe(5ling the moft proper food to a horfe in health, no diverfity of opinions can be fupported unlefs by FOOLS or MADMEN. Experience, that inevitable touchftone of tf^uthy demonlirates, to an indifputable cer- tainty, the acknowledged preference oi fpring-- grajs in the field; ovf^weet oatSy found beans y 2xA fragrant hajy in the liable, to every other article that imagination can invent or novelty fupply. And here it becomes unavoidably neceflary to introduce a circumftance that conftantly occurs In the courfe of obfervation % at leaft ta thofe v/ho, entering a multiplicity of ftableSy wifh' to enlarge their information or exercife their judgment. Hov^ very common is it to find a confdltation held upon the appearance of a favourite horfe, who, to the fupprife of the F E E D TN G. 31 the parties, lofes fielli, becomes dull and heavy in the ftable, languid in acftion, fickly in coat, and foul in excrement, doomed to a courfe of purgatives y then diuretics-, and, laftly, a tedious adminiftration of alteratives, as iickly and unfound ! And all for what ? — becaufe the poor emaciated animal, being deftitute of the powers of fpeech, could not better inform his perfe- cutors, than by his emphatical and miiinter- preted looks, that his hay was muflyy and con- fequently laying the foundation of many dif- orders. For, being thus deprived of more than half his fupport, the trifling quantity he did take (being againft the difpofition of nature ' and appetite) afforded little nutrim.ent; nor of courfe could, when . fourteen pounds of. hay only had perhaps pafied the inteflinal canal in four days, inftead of fifty- fix; the accuftomed and proper proportion being rated at fourteen pounds for twenty-four hours, where horfes are regularly corn-fed. To bring this defecfr in the quality and quantity of this part of the alime?it home to every comprehenfion, let any reader conceive the idea (or try the experiment) of fitting downv/ithan excellent appetite (after a moft excellent chafe) to a beef ileak nearly approaching piitrefacii-.n, with no fauce but hwiger. 32 CONDITION. hunger^ no alternative but necejjity^ and I be- lieve I may venture to affert — the feelings of the MAN and the beast v^ill not be diflimilar on the occafion. Thefe circumftances attending both hay and corn I have repeatedly been v^itnefs to; and do affirm, in oppofition to any opinion that may be formed againil me, moft horfes v^ill fliew, in lefs than a fortnight, both in their fiefi^ coaty and JpiritSy when hay or corn do not yield or convey their proper nutriment y if given in fair and juft proportions. I confe- quently avail myfelf of this fadt, to urge the neceffity oi found corn y fweet hajy Joft water i regular feeds y and a^ regular exercifey if a horfe is deiired or expefted to appear in good CONDITION. The w^ord condition^ in the phrafeology of the turfy is fuppofed to imply a horfe's being in fach a ftate of perfection, and in ftrength and power fo much above the pur- pofe he is deflined to, that he difplays it in figure and appearance. Fine in eoat, firm in CONDITION. 33 mjlejl:), high m [pints, zvAfreflj upon his Ugs. To be in this delirable ftate, if a young horfe, and ftranger to hard work, may be readily ex- pected, and naturally concluded ; but, on the contrary, where a horfe has been fubjedl to a proportion of duty, either on the turf, field, or road, a great degree of good fortune muft have attended him through all his journies, not to have fuffered from fome one of the many dangers to which he has been fo repeat- edly expofed. By way therefore of introdu- cing diredlions for getting a horfe into condition^ it will be moft proper to fix the criterion of commencement at that feafon when a hunter, having had what is called a fammer's run, is taken up v/ith an intent to get him into pro- per condition for the field. The horfe being taken up, if he is free from lamenefs, and there is no blemiili, infirmity, or any other obftacie, to forbid fuch proceedings, put him firft upon a very moderate proportion of hay and corn, and increafe it gradually, according to the fize and conftitution. At the expiration of three or four days, when the hard food may naturally be fappofed to have diflodged the grafs, and fupplied its place, a proportion of blood may be taken away, according to the D fize, 34 BLEEDING. fize, ftate, ftrength, and temperament of the horfe, with due attention to the fleih he may have gained, or the impurities he may have imbibed v^ith his pafture. And here let me particularly caution the operator and the owner againft that fiovejily^ infernal y and contemptible (not to add danger- ous) practice of fuffering the blood to fall indifcrimina:^e}y, in refped; to quantity and quality, upon the ground or diuighilL Thi^ felf-iiifficient manner of BLEEDING the farrier always confiders a flriking proof of his confequence, and a never failing mark oi his infallibility ; but it never can be too much difcouraged, and in faft ought by no means to be countenanced, or indeed, per- mitted. If no particular plethora or fulnefs •appears, to render large evacuations neceflary, three pints will prove fufRcient for a flender or delicate fubjed:; two quarts for the more ad- vanced in ftrength or fize ; but from the very largfe and ftrong, or remarkably foul hdrfe^, may BLEEDING, 35 -iiiay be fafely drawn full Jive pints. However, thefe direcfticns fhould be carefully made by meafure, to avoid the inconvenience and dan- ger -of too much relaxing the whole fy item '^ an impropriety in condudl that may not be fd eafily remedied as imagined. After this eva- cuation, let the fame regular fyftem of food> and gentle exercif^, be continued for three clear days ; and on the fourth prepare his body for the phyfic intended to be taken on the follow- ing morning, by giving him in the courfe of the day tiree ma/Jjes of equal parts of bran and oats, fcalded with boiling water, and given at a proper degree of warmth, mornings noon^ and night 3 putting on the neceffary body- clothes, at the time of giving the firft mafh; to prevent the leaft hazard of cold from the relaxation of either body or pores. In the morning give one of the following purging balls, of which four different proportions are fpecified, and calculated for the horfes before mentioned, in refped to ftrength, lize, and eonftitution. But as we iliall, in the courfe of the vv'ork, have occafion to introduce refe^ r once 5 to thefe ca-thartic. balls, under the heads of various difeafes, it will be more -eoAvenient to diftinguifh them by 7iumbers } D 2 and. 36 P H Y S I C, &c% and, beginning with the weakeft, the refe* rence need only be made to the number ia future, without a repetition of the ingre- dients. P U P. G I N G B A L L. ( No. I. ) Take of fuccotrlne aloes one ounce ; India rhubarb two drachms \ Jalap and cream oi tartar each one drachm ; Ginger (in powder) two fcruples ; Eflential oil of cloves and anifeed each- twenty drops ; Syrup of buckthorn a fjfficicnt quantity to form fhe balL ( No. 2. ) Take of fuccotrlns aloes ten drachms 5 Of rhubarb, jalap, and ginger, each a d/acbm and a h?lf, and fyrup of buckthorn to make the ball. (No. PHYSIC, &. 37 ( Nd. 3. ) Take Barbadoes aloes ten drachms ; Jalap, and Caftile foap, of each a drachm and a halt; Diagrydium and ginger fin powder) each a drachm ; Sjrup of b-uckthorn fufHcient to raake the balL ( No. 4. ) Take Barbadoes aloes an ounce and a half; Caftlle foap and jalap (in powder) of each two drachms -, ginger two fcruples ; Oil of anifeed forty drops ; of cloves twenty drops : which form into a ball with fyrup of rofes or buck- thorn. It is alnioft unneceffary to obferve thefe BALLS are gradually increafed in their pi^rga^ tive qualities, fo as to be feled:ed by the judg- ment of the reader^ according to the ilate of Arength and foulnefs the fubje^S may be in ; and are fo carefully guarded with warm aro- niatics^ that the operatic?! will (by a iiricl ad- D 3 herencc 3§ P H Y S I Q, &c. herence to the following RULES) in general proceed without the leafl alarm or danger. The BALL being given early in the morning, . let it be wafhed down with a quart of water flightly warm, to take off the nauj'ea as much as pof- fible : leave in his rack a little fweet hav ; and, in about three hours after, give a warm mafli oi Jc aided bran , containing one fourth pi oats 'y upon which let the water be poured boiling hot, and ftand a proper time to cool before it is put into the manger ; as, by placing it there too hot, the fum.es produce an anti- pathy which the horfe does not eafily get over ', on the contrary, by touching the majh^ and being burnt, will not be prevailed upon to attempt it in future. In cafe of a fixed averfion to ^naJJoesy a feed of bran may be given at the ftated periods, in which may be mixed one quart of ground oatPvI^al, Water proportionally warm may be given him to the quantity of half a pail thrice in the day; and let his ?7iafi be repeated twice that day alfc, and early on the following morning, about which time the phyfic may be expedted to begin its operation ; but if the ma£li fliould be refufed, a pail of warm water m.ay be fub-* ftituted; and in two hours after the horfc (well PHYSIC, &c. 39 (well clothed) walked out for half an hour at leaft. Frequent fupplies of warm water muft be given, and two other mafhes at their pro- per times ; b y no means omitting to take him out, and walk him gently twice or thrice in the courfe of the day. But, as purgatives adminiftered to quadrupeds of this defcription cannot, from the great continuation of the intefrinal canal, be expe6Led to commence their operation in lefs than twenty-four hours, no hurrying or forcing methods muft" be taken to agitate the animal, or produce preternatural eiFeds. So foon as the medicine begins to operate kindly and patiently, afliil the work by the means before mentioned, at Hated periods, or at fach times as the appetite w^ill permit them to be taken ; continuing the mafhes no longer than the phyfic is faid to be fet, or (in other words) the excrements become firm, and refume their original form. Indeed the management of horfes, during a courfe of phyfic, is at prefent fo well under- ftood, that little more need be added upon that fabjed: ; excepting the very neceflary pre- caution to avoid cold during thefe operations, by a proper attention to the variations of the D 4 weather, 40 PHYSIC, Szc. weather, and proportional clothing to the hcrfe : for a cold caught at the feafon we fpeak of, and particularly during a courfe of phyiic, by fixing on the eyes or lungs, becomes an inveterate enemy to fport, and fometimes for the whole winter, Six clear days iliould be allowed between the firft and fecond dofe, and the fame fpace between the fecond and third. The entire courfe being regularly gone through^ it will undoubtedly remove every degree of fculnefs refulting from full feeding at grafs : and un- lefs fome palpable defedl or latent obftacle indicates the contrary, he will (in little more than a fortnight) by his Jle/Ij, ccat, andJpinJs, prove his ability to undertake any moderate chace. in v/hich his rider may be inclined to engage. Though in the attainment of this flate of perfedlion much depends upon the care and punctuality of the groom or fuperintendent ; the increafe mfood, and length (as well as jftrength) of exerdfe, fhould be very gradual from the fetting of the laft dofe of phyfic ; as for inflance, the horfe ihculd be regularly takers PHYSIC, Sec. 41 taken out (if the weather permit) morning and evening, Vv^aiking him half an hour before his water, and the fame after ; which fhculd be taken at a pond of foft water, in pre- ference to a fpring or running ftream, if pof- fibie. Kis dreflings fliould be as conflant and regular as his exercife, which having been gradually ienglhened for the firft five or fix days, he may then, after walking his ufual time, have a moderate gallop (increafing it daily in length and fpeed, according to ftate and flrength), before he is taken to Vv^ater, vralking him a proper time both before and after ; by no means adopting that moit ridicu- kiiSy contemptible^ and pernicious pracftice of galloping your horfe tni?nediately after, in fer- vile fubjedion to the illiterate opinion of warm- ing the water in the horfe's belly ; a cuftom that has, through the ignorance or folly of fervants, proved the abfolute ruin of 7naj2y bun- dreds, as will be clearly explained in the courfe of our future remarks, when we comxe to fpeak pf broken- winded horfes. This mode of exercife m^uft be conflantlyper- fevered in without relaxation j his gallops night ^nd morning fliould be increafed, as well as his walk ins: ^^. P H Y S I C, &c. walking exercife, which fhould by this time be lengthened to a full hour in the morning, and the fame in the evening : not only during the time of promoting condition, but regularly continued to prefer ve him fo j if the owner is prompted by the leafl fpark of emulation to appear in the field with a portion of that eclat y fo very much the ton in every fporting county in the kingdom. A proper refped: to the abilities of Bart let (who has very confiderably. improved and mo- dernifedthe fyftem of Gibson and Bracken) induces me to give a literal copy of his prepar- ation for ^' a cooling purging drink;" which, 4S he obferves, '^ is cooling, eafy, and quick in *' its operation, and greatly preferable, in all '* inflammatory cafes, to any other purge, as '' it paifes into the blood, and operates alfo by *^ urine." tt Take fcnna two ounces; Infufe in a pint of boil- "■ ing water two hours, with three drachms of fait " of tartar ; pour off-and diffolve in it four ounces of " Glauber falts, and two or three drachms of cream «' of tartar." In P H Y S I C, &c. 43 - In inflammatory cafes, where a cathartic is required to operate expeditioufly ; or where a horfe, by his rejecting povv^ers, compels a ball to regurgitate, and it cannot be ealily or pro- perly palled, this drink may be admitted with propriety. But where a dole of phylic is given m.erely as a purgative, without any indication of inftantaneous necellity, I muft, in juftice, certainly recommend a ball in preference ; and for this realbn, which I doubt not will prove perfectly confident and fatisfa6tory to every mind prepared for information. — The ball being given, is tv/enty-four hours in its gra- dual dilTolution in the ftomach and fubfe- quent paffage through the intedinal canal; this, by his gentle and regular folution of the excrem.ents, and lubrication of the parts, ac- counts moft readily for the great eafe any of the preceding balls v/crk off w'ith in general, without the leaft neceffity for all that alarm and appreheniion betrayed by fo m.any, who prefer the chance of fpoiling, or at leaft injuring, a capital horfe, to feeing him under the tempo- rary difquietude of a falutary courfe of phy- lic. The fame eafe is not to be expedled in the operation of cathartic medicine conveyed in a liquid 44 PHYSIC, &c. liquid form -, for the joint qualities and force of the difierent ingredients being let loofe zt the fame moment upon the internal coat of the ftomach, without their ilimulative powers being covered by aromatic or carminative in- gredients, may (exclulive, of the disagreeable lenfation excited by their ad:ion upon the irri- tability of the fcomach) be produclive of fpafms, or very fevere griping pains, previous to the laxation of the hardened f^ces in the inteftines. And Vv^hcre fjch pains are evidently predo- minant, (the proper time being more than ex- pired), and there is no palpable fign of the phyfic's beginning to operate kindly, (which for the corifolation of thofe unacquainted with the ceremony, is very feldom the cafe, parti- cularly if the medicines are carefully and ac- curately prepared) fo far from applauding the rafhly recomm.ended fyflem of oiling ^^ a fmal! *'* hand,'' and extrading the excrement from the fundament, I relinquifli every expe but I muft confefs, in all my experience, I have obferved, and happy I am to acknowledge it to the honour of the fporting world at large, I never remember to have feen an inftance oi penury ^ or even heli- tation in the article of expence, where a horse has been in pain or danger. Having gone through the procefs univerfally cflablifhed for getting horfes into proper con- dition, it becomes necefFary to proceed to the long lift of accidents and difeafes to which they are fubjecl : and to introduce fuch medi- cal fyftem as (after a gradual fuccefiion from generation to generation, and from grandiire to grandfon, in the old ftyle) has at length acquired a degree of reformation and approbation, by the experimental rejedtionof the ancient bota- nical practice, believed- infallible -, and the in- numerable difcoveries m.ade in the world of me- dicine, by fome of the moft learned, judicious and enlightened charadiers in every part of ths I globe.' 4S P H Y S I C, &c. globe. And where the applications of modern invention are introduced, as much more ade- quate and applicable to the caufe of complaint than the pradiice of former writers, the reafon ihall be conftantly adduced, and fupported by incontrovertible proof, why the prefent mode of treatment is entitled to every degree of pre- ference and refpecft. Without becoming a convert to the ufjal ftyle of dividing and fubdividing chapters, cafes, and remedies, as has in general been the cuftom, introducing a large proportion of extraneous matter, merely by way of fweliing the work (as a compliment to the pecuniary fenfations of the publilher) I fhall proceed, as in many other refpedls, the diredl contrary way, and contract the plan as much as the confiilency of circum- fiances will permit, by bringing into clalTes fuch accidents or difeafes as bear a degree of affinity to each other, or come under a fimilar mode of treatment; and iliall likewife (as much as poffible) divefl each cafe and expla- nation of technical terms ^ that every part may be the more univerfally comprehended. CLASS ( 49 ) CLASS I. SPLENTS, SPAVINS, WINDGALLS, LAMENESS, and STRAINS. SPLENTS; Of which various accounts have been given without any thing fatisfadtory as to their ori- gin or cure, except that " they are hard ex- " crefcences of different fhapes and fizes on " the ihank bone, which often difappear of ** themfelves ; that " they are not dangerous " but when fituated near the joints, or appear ^* very large upon the back part of the bone, ** and prefs againft the back finew/' All this is moft certainly true, and generally believed to be fo. Now let us remark what follows as directions for cure : ^' That the hair is to *^ be fhaved, the part to be rubbed with a E ^^ round ^0 S P L E N T S. " round iliick //// // // almojl raw, and thea *^ touched with oil of origanum fublimatej *' arjmicy or oil of vitriol.'* You are then told *^ thefe may produce an ulcer, a rottennefs of *^ the bone, and, when cured, an ugly fear V Another fays " it is to be foundly rubbed ** with the handle of a hammer, till it is fo ^^ much bruifedz.^ to bring on an impofthume, ** and confequent fuppu ration or difcharge of ** matter!'* And there can be no doubt but this is rubbing \\, foundly with the impofthume for a witnefs t Another tells you " they are to be deftroyed ** with ad;ual cauteries, or flat inftruments of ** iron, made red hot, and applied to the ** fplents, placing a piece of the rind of bacon *' between, with the fat fide outwards; and, *' having a fecond iron heating alternately with *' the firft, the operation is to be repeated till *' the fplent is diffolved." To thefe, in cafe of failure, they acknowledge the neceflary aid of " bliferingy firing,'' &c. &c. Nov/, upon a candid inveftigation of this accumulated variety of opinions, we fhall find them amount to a verification of an obfervation not long fince made ; a paltry praftice of fwelling their 9 writings S P L E N T S. 51 writings at the expence of a reader's under- standing as well as his purse. From cir- cumftances the nioft predominant it abfolutely appears that neither of the authors here quoted (notwithftanding the degree of eftimation they may be held in) gave himfelf time, even for a moment, to confider the nature of the ** excrefcence" he means or wiihes to defcribe^ or the method of cure he may be naturally anxious to recommend. And this the more powerfully appears, by the ridiculous attempt to deftroy what they acknowledge an apparent offification, or bony fubflance, feated upon a folid body, under the integuments, without a deftrudlion of the integuments themfelves, or a palpable injury to the component parts. But to bring this matter as near the truth as conjedure can juf- tify, we will ( by allowing an alternative, ) • take one or other for the fadt, and drav/ what mufl appear a very natural and jufh conclufion; that is, whether the protuberance upon any part of the fhank-bone, called a Splent, is an enlarge- ment of the penq/ieum (or membrane cover- ing the bone,) by an original rupture of the fmall veffels, and the extravafated fluid col- Ez ledlcd 52 S P L E N t S. leded and become indurated by time ? or, i callofity originally formed upon the bone (as hinted by Gibson) and becoming offified^ conftitutes a bony fubftance, leeming a deform- ed part of the bone itfelf ? In either cafe the only expedlation of cure without anxiety and difficulty^ is to be careful in obferving fuch appearances, in their earlieji Jiate ; and then feeing that frequent fridlion is ufed for a confi- derable time, twice every day, with the utmofl force of the operator's hands, letting the part be well moiflened, after each time of rubbing, with a proportion of the following linmenti leaving a pledget of tow wet with the fame, bound on pretty firm with two yards of wide tape as a roller: Take camphorated fpirits of wine, and fpirlts of tuN pentine, of each four ounces, (a quarter of a pint.) Mix together. Of, Oil of origanum and fpirlts of turpcntinej each half • an ounce •, camphorated fpirits of wine^ two ounces* —Mix. When this plan has been perfevered in for ten days or a fortnight, you will then be able to S P L E N T S. 53 to judge whether any perceptible advantage has been obtained from the force of thefe power^ ful repellents : if not, procure two ounces of the ftrongeft mercurial ointment, and let the fize of a hazle nut be well rubbed in upon the part affeded, every night and morning, till the whole is confumed, ufing the roller each night, and taking it off in the morning. If this does not fucceed, the beft andmoft fpeedy method will be the immediate extirpation, by malcing a longitudinal inciiion (** without bruifing^ hammerings' &c.) through the integuments, diffecling and extracfling the fubftance, com- pleting the cure by taking up a couple of ftitches, and treating ii: as a fuperiicial wound : for which directions will be found under that head. Notwdthftanding the variety of opinions in-^. culcated, and inftrudtions laid down, to ob-? tain a radical cure, ;t becomes a matter of doubt whether a little deliberation, previous to a rajfh execution, may not prove the moft Vifeful monitor of the two; that is, if the jfplent is not produdive of lamenefs or dif- quletude, forming no inconvenience but an external appearance, whether it m.ay not be E 3 moft 54 S P L E N T S. moft advifable (at any rate moft prudent) to let it remain in its pacific ftate of inadtivity, rather than provoke it to a certain degree of adlive virulence, by the premature application oi blijlers or burning cauftlcs. This refledlion renders a former obfervation of greater v^eight, by adverting to the neceflity of attacking them in their firft ftate of appearance; when there is not the leaft doubt but the beforementioned early courfe of fridion, with the mild dif- folvents and repellents, will, if applied with care and pundluality, efted: their total obliter- ation, without any perceptible efchar^ or evea the leaft lofs of hair. In refpecSl to the auxiliaries of purging balls and diuretic drinks, flightly recommended by Bart LET, they form no part of my opinion ; nor can I fee the leaft reafon for encountering that expence and trouble, as they cannot con-? tribute in any degree to the removal of fuch fubftances, fo remote from the centre of adtion, without injuring the general fyftem to a . greater degree than adequate to any propor- tional local relief that can be obtained. But to reduce this myfterious and technical ex- planation to a more fimple and lefs complex idea^ SPAVINS, 55 idea, Bartlet's fyflem may be adopted by thofe whofe credulity can conceive that a courfe of purgatives and diuretics will contribute to the removal of corns or warts from the feet or hands of the human fpecies. SPAVINS. Of tliefe there are two kinds, very diflinftly explained by moft authors on the fubjedt, and juftly denominated a blood and bone SPAVIN. They both take their feats in nearly the fame fituation, and proceed from the fol- lowing caufes: — a blood spavin is a preter- natural enlargement of the vein running on the iniide the hough, and by the accumulated fluid forms a fwelling that is pliant to the touch, fubmitting to prelTure, becoming, in the courfe of time, produdive of lamenefs. Thefe appearances, were they attended to in their infancy, would (as obferved in the pre- ceding article) immediately fubmit to a fre- quent application of the following embroca- tion ^ rubbing in about two table fpoonfuls twice every day, and keeping on (when in the E 4 ftable) 56 SPAVINS. ftable) a pledget of tow, wet with the fame, and confined with an elbow bandage ; that is, the elbow part of an old waiftcoat lleeve, opened and farnifiied with tape firings, at equal diftances, to confine it upon the part affedted. Take of ftrong white wine vinegar four ounces; Camphorated fpirits of wine three ounces ; Ex- tract: of faturn, commonly called Goulard's extrad^, one ounce. Shake well together at every time of ufing. In almoft all cafes of fhort ftanding the caufe of complaint will fubmit to the power of thefe conftant applications, that, by their aftion upon the folids fo reflore their elailicity and contradt their circumference, as to repel the internal expanding fluid, and reduce the vein to its natural and original fize. But where the defed is of long ftanding, and will not fubmit to this mode of treatment (the at- tempt having been fufficiently perfevered into enfure a fair probability of fuccefs,) the fol- lowing had better be adopted. Take of cantharidcs (in powder) one drachm ^ of olive oil two ounces.— Mix together. 7 And SPAVINS, 57 And let this be gradually rubbed upon the part tDl abforbed by the feat of difeafe; then place over it a piece of flannel, and faften on with the elbow-bandage as before defcribed. In every eight-and-forty hours repeat this operation for a week (with the fame pro-* portion,) which has been attended with cer- tain fuccefs in a multiplicity of cafes, par- ticularly in the metropolis of Ireland, where the moft eminent practitioners (and very able there are) prefer it to our general method, which will be hereafter defcribed. The great advantage refulting from this kind of blifler is its immediate Jlimulus upon the parts, from which it derived a very fpeedy and plentiful difcharge. The hair is raifed up, and be- comes what is itrrciQ^di pen-featheredy during the efflux o? ferum, in large proportion; which, fubfiding, forms a kind of fcurf, and may be all brought away in a few days by waihing two or three times with foap and water; leaving no fear or trace of external applica- tion behind. And furely this method, juili- fied by fuccefs and experience, muft be pre- ferable to the long-ftanding opinion of in- flrumental extirpation. As for inftance, an incifion is to be made through the Ikin, of fufficient 58 SPAVINS. fufRcient length to admit of the vein's being taken up, above and below the enlargement, by paffing a crooked needle, furnifhed v^dth a v^ax thread, underneath the vein, and mak- ing the ligatures at the parts moft applicable to the extirpation intended. Should any in- flammation or extreme fwelling attend the parts after operation, warm fomentations and mild poultices muft be made ufe of till they fubfide ; after which the wound muft be treat- ed with digeftives till the exuberance is Houghed off with the dreffings, and the cica- trization, or fkinning over, is accompliflied, as in the cafe of abfcefles and wounds, which will be treated of hereafter, when we come to that clafs. Every degree of information, obfervation, and experimental inveftigation, defines a bone SPAVIN to be exadlly in a greater degree ie- y&/W w^hat a splent is acknov/ledged to be before-, formed nearly by the fame means, fed nearly in the fame manner, differing only in its critical fituation; which from a con- tiguity to the joints, and ligamentary appen- dages, becomes fo much the more an objedt of concern and attention, to avoid the certain impediment SPAVINS. 59 Impedlnent of lamenefs, whicli will in time inevitably enfue, if not prevented by redudtion or extirpation. Much advice, and many directions, might here be obtruded oiblijlering^ Jiring, 6cc, but they all come fo imm_ediatelj within the department of the operative FARRIER, that further animadverfion upon the fubjedl will be totally foreign to the pre- fent inteniion — one obfervation and recom- mendation only excepted, viz. the necefiity, m operations y of applying to praditioners of EMINENCE, whofe judgment and execution will require no greater pecuniary compeniation than thofe whofe comparitive abilities entitle them to no more than a mere 'manual ajjijiance in furnifhing the apparatus. Previous to the difm.iilion of this article, I Ihall, for the accomodation of thofe who have never ittw the publication, introduce the directions given by Osmer for the cure, as they literally appear iji a trad: of his com- mitted to public infpedlion about five and twenty years ago; but, I believe I may ven- ture to afiirm, the elaborate operation procured very few converts to the pracStice, '' Firft 6o SPAVINS. ^' Firft clip the hair from the difeafed partj *' make feveral punftures on the fame, through <* the fkin, with a fliarp-pointed inftrument ; **mal<:e a longitudinal inciiion through the **ikin, above the deceafed part, about the *' middle thereof: there introduce a cornet, **and dilate the jfkin with it as far as the *^fwelling reaches. Make another fmaller ** longitudinal incifion, through the fl^in, be- "low the fwelled part, diredlly oppofite to *^ the wound above ; in doing which, your ** probe introduced at top will direft you. — ** At the fuperlor wound a caudic wrapped ** up in a piece of lint is to be introduced, "and there left. The cauftic diifolved is ** carried off by the inferior wound, the *' whole is diredtly to be covered with a warm ** adhefive charge, and this is the whole of the "operation. — The cauftic thus introduced ** under the fkin adls both ways, namely, on " the membrane underneath it, and the outer " tegument upon it, Thus the membrane, *^ outer tegument, and the charge, throw " thcmfelves oft' together, and thp difeafed or " fwelled part becomes fair and fmooth. The **horfe fliould be turned out, or kept in a **loofe ftable; and if the charge ccm.es off " before WIND GALLS. 6t *' before the wound is well, another ihould *' be immediately applied. But in fpite of "this, and all other methods ufed for this *' diforder, the horfe will very frequently re- *^main full as lame as he was before, al- " though the appearance of the difeafe is *^ removed: the reafon of which is, that the **periofteum only is fometimes difeafed; at " other times the bone itfelf, and its cellular *'part. Yet I dare fay there is not one far- *' rier in this kingdom but has an infallible "and certain cure forthefe diforders." WINDGALLS Are thofe prominences iituate on both fides the tendons (commonly called the back finews) above the fetlock joints on the fore- legs, and not unfrequently upon the hind-legs likewife. They are much larger on fome horfes than others; and as they never appe;:r but upon thofe that have been conftantly work- ed too young, or proportionally overworked when older, the caufe will be the more readily explained. For the tendons, by their per- petual 6z W I N D G A L L S. petual adion in conllant labour, are (o pre^ ternaturally extended, that fome of the fine and delicate fibres of which the aggregate is compofed, are, by. fuch extenfion, actually ruptured or broken 5 from the mouths of which (minute as they are) ooze a very trifling portion of ferum, or fluid, which, when ex- travafated, forms a gelatinous fubftance -, and> combining itfelf with the included air, be- comes, to external appearance, a kind of blad- der between the tendon and integuments. This being the exacl fyilem of principle and action that conftitutes the caufe, we pro- ceed to the received notion (and our own opinion) of cure. Perhaps it may not be thought intrufive or inapplicable firft to in- troduce a few Vv^ords upon the iubjed: of pre- 'ocnticriy which will convey a much ftronger proof of judgment in the rider than any fub- fequent advice that can poffibly be offered on the part of the farrier 3 that is, no more than to recommend it to every man in the poffefTion of a good horfe to reflect a little upon the nature of his own fuperiority, that it is but temporm-y^ and fleeting duration; to ruminate upon this circumftance in the career of W I N D G A L L S. 63 of his journey, and, feeling proportionally for the animal who bears his burthen, take no more of his ftrength in the field, or upon the road, than Nature intended or prudence may dilate. For fo beautiful a beaft, conftituting almoll the centrical point of every good, (whether in pleafure or profit,) is certainly entitled to the utmofl exertion of tendernefs and humanity. And I will venture to affirm that no man, whofe line of conducft is regulated by the prin- ciples of unfullied reditude (or whofe heart is open to thofe finer feelings that are even in enjoyment ov poffeffion a gratification,) ever did or ever will, after a chqfe ov journey y indulge the calls of appetite till the partner of his pleafure, or the companion of his labour, has had every attention paid to his wants -, which Nature has formed equally numerous and neceffary with thofe of his (often unnatural) RIDER. The frequent boafting of every unfeeling puppy who has rode thirty or forty miles in ** fo many hours and fo many minutes, vvith- *' out baiting," and other equeftrian exploits, equally 64 WINDGALLS. equally wonderful^ leaving the jaded obje pofes LAMENESS. 71 pofes of motion and flexibility for which they were formed, but to produce a general ten- fion upon all the furrounding parts. The legs become full, round, inflamed, and ex- ceedingly painful; the horfe alternately eaf- ing one leg or the other, when ftanding ; which he is obferved to do as little aspoflible,' except when up for the purpofe of feeding. This kind of lamenefs remains in general little attended to, till by a too conftant repetition of the cauje^ the horfe is fo far difabled, that his daily labour becomes a work of mifery ; inadequate to the rapidity of motion or aftion required, he is rode or driven, till (finking under the burthen), with repeated falls, broken knees, and a perfeverance in perpetual drudgery ^ he is literally brought to " a fland ftill," and rendered unfit for every purpofe but the cart ; where they are too frequently obferved dying wretched martyrs to the horrid combination, or rather joint efi^edl, of HARD WORK,' WHIPCORD, and POVERTY. . To avert this calamity from fo defervedly great and univerfal a favourite of mankind, is a duty incumbent upon every individual, who (prompted by his refledlions, becomes con- F 4 fcious 7^ LAMENESS, fcious of the uncertainty of his own ftate, and the admirable fervices of this dependant,) wiilies by a contribution of his endeavours, however difproportionatey to render himfelf of fome utility to that fociety of which he con- ftitutes a member. This conlideration, blend- ed with a perfedl knowledge of the various, not to add almoft inexpreffible, fufFerings of an animal fo truly valuable, firft roufed me from the lethargy of oblivion, and prompted me to undertake a tafk of reformation, which (diverted of every perfonal paltry idea of am- bition) I fhould have been far happier to have feen from an abler hand, and more extenlive abilities. Whatever might have been my ori- ginal fufpenfe, I am nov/ juftified in making confeffion, fuch portion of diffidence is in a great degree obliterated \ the foftering hand of public favour having removed every doubt, rendered every confolation, and I muft ever confider it one of the moll fortunate occur- rences of my life, that I have been enabled to mitigate the inconveniences of fo general a want by the prefent publication. From this fentimental digreffion, it will be thought prudent to advert to the cafe in quef- tiOBji LAMENESS, 73 tion. It is therefore (even In the firft in- ftance) moft earnefUy recommended to let every horfe have fuch proportion of reft from his daily employment or purpofes as nature evidently ftands in need of. That invariable rule will pfove a pradice highly advantageous to the proprietor, for he may be then experi- mentally convinced prevention is ever prefer- able to a curey by precluding its neceflity. But when fuch failure is perceived, every kind of work fliould be inftantly fet afide, if the leaft defire is indulged to reftore the horfe to his former ftate of purity or perfeEiion. Such defedt being attended to in proper time, mo- derate reftringent applications, with a loofe ftable, if in winter ^ or a iimilar method, with turning out in fmmnery will, in a fhort time, generally reftore the tone of the whole fyftem aited:ed by thefe means. In this clafs of me- dicine the following is entitled to the prefer- ence : Take rectified fplrlts of wine one pint ; Camphor two ounces ; Beft vinegar half a pint. Let the camphor be totally difTolved in the fpirits before the vinegar is added, which being 74 LAMENESS. being fliaken well together, the parts affected mull be properly and patiently bathed with a fufficient quantity every night and morning, till tlie whole is confumed, leaving that grand ipecific, REST, to crown this prelude with luccefs. This treatment may fuffice when taken in its early ftate ; but where the evil has been fuitered to increafe, and accumulate to a cer- tain degree of lamenefs, attended with vifible teniion, inflammation, and extreme pain, as before defcribed, let the above embrocation be ufed as there diredled, it being a proper prepar- ative to the following jftimulative application, which will moft certainly and infallibly effed: the cure, if the inflrudions here laid down are ftriftly adhered to. Take cantharldes (in powder) three drachms ; Oil of olives fix ounces ; Spirits of turpentine two ounces. Mix the Spanifh flies with the olive oil, then add the turpentine. Half of this compofition to be well rubbed )ur- md- into the fore-legs, and the other half in four- LAMENESS. 75 and- twenty hours after, taking care to employ proper time in each operation ; rubbing in a fmall quantity at once, and continuing fo to do by moderate fridtion, till the portion pre- fcribed is abforbed by the feat of difeafe. Af- ter which procels the halter muft be fhortened, or the parts covered, fo as to prevent a proba- bility of the eifeds being deflroyed by the natural exertions of the horfe, when finding himfelf dilagreeably afteded by the ftimulus of the application. In three or four days after which, he ihould be turned out and left to enjoy the advantage of gentle motion for a length of time, adapted to the original caufe and prefent feverity of complaint. If a radical cure is anxioully defired or meant to be pro- moted, prudejice will readily point out the con- fiftency of a three months run, when a horfe may be expected to come into hand perfeclly found, and as fuch (no fymptoms appearing to indicate the contrary) may be got into proper condition^ as directed under that head. There are undoubtedly fome, who, from different motives of intcrejl or impatiencey will not permit fo long a refpite from bufinefs or pleafure, let what may prove the confequence.; notwith- 76 STRAINS, notwlthftanding which I fliall prefume to in- troduce my farther advice, and recommend it moft ilrenuoufly to fuch owners as have horfes in this predicament, to extend their lenity for iix weeks at leaft in the former cafe, and two months in the latter, left, by an almoft imme- diate relapfe, they may have reafon to repent thQiv /o/ly or impatience. STRAINS Are a part of this treatife to which fuch frequent application will be made for inform- ation, that they cannot be too accurately ex- plained for the purpofe of being well under- ftood. And as I would much rather appeal to the tafte and critical inquiries of the intel- ligent and enlightened reader than the caprice of the prejudiced vulgar, I fhall be more anxious to obtain the approbation of the ju- dicious, by a minute and explanatory invefti- gation, than the faniftion of the multitude by fuch a fuperficial account as would beft come into compacft with the ftandard of their com- prehenfion. Previous STRAINS. 77 Previous to farther animadverfion, It becomes unavoidably neceflary to combat the promul- gated opinion of Osmer, who, in his remarks, ventures an alTertion that " tendons are un- " elaftic bodies," though in the very fame page (and frequently after), he fays, " the tendon is " often elongated and ftrained/' — How this writer, or his readers, could reconcile fuch pal- pable abfurdity and contradidlion, I am at a lofs to conceive ; or how a tendon can be elongated^ that has no eUJiicityy I am yet to learn. Nor does the introduction of this obfervation prove of greater utility than to corroborate the propriety of my former remarks upon the fmgularity of ANCIENT pradlice and modern piiblicatio?2s. To underftand this fubjedl clearly, It Is un- avoidably neceflary to be informed not only of the caufes from which fuch complaints pro- ceed, but the parts that conftitute the feat of difeafe itfelf. To acquire which let it be obferved strains are of two forts, the one originating in the ligamentary parts, by which the different joints are preferved in contadl ; the other by a relaxation of the 772ufclesy or tendons f whofe purpofes are the direft office of motion. Hence it is that the farrier and groom 78 STRAINS. groom are fo frequently at a lofs for their de« finition or explanation of any particular lame- nefs, fixing it by conjedlure upon any part (at- tributing it to any caufe) but the right; and to this they are feldom direded by any mental information, poffe fling a very barren concep- tion of the flrufture of parts, their purpofes, or appropriations. The fnufcles or tejidons (by farriers generally termed iinews) are ftrong elaftic fubftances, compofed of innumerable' threads or fibres, poffefl^ing the properties of extenfion and coiitradlion to a certain degree, beyond which their flexibility or elafticity can- not be extended without palpable injury, and certain lamenefs -, for, by overftraining, their elaftic , quality (or affinity, to catgut) is in a great meafure deilroyed in proportion to the injury fjftained. To render this idea fo clear that it cannot be mifunderftood, let us fuppofe that a horfe is going at his rate, and in fo do- ing his toe covers a prominence, or the edge of one, where the heel has no fupport, it con- fequently extends the tendons beyond the dif- tance afforded by nature, and inftantly con- ftitutes what is called a letting d'own of the back fine ws; a circumftance that conftantly happens upon the turf in running for a heat, and S T R A I N S,. 79 and the horfe is then faid to have been " brok-ea '' down." This being fuppofed to have happened, the principal indication of cure will immediately ftrike every reader, io far as the gradual con- tradlion and tone of the tendon is concerned ; but the previous and inflantaneous confider- ation will be to prevent, as much as poiTible, ^ny confequent inflammation that may fall upon the part. To which end take away, fo fooii as' convenient after the injury is fuftained, 2L proportion of blood adequate to the ftate and ftrength of the fubje of cure, which I have never yet feen once fail in an experi- ence of twenty years. In every twenty-four hours, but more par- ticularly at each time of the horfe*s returning from the road or exercife, let the cracks or SCRATCHES be wailied for a coniiderable time withfoap and war?n water y making a lather, and continuing to rub them tenderly v^ith the fudsy till they become pliable, and perfed;Iy clear from every degree of fcurf, or hardnefs at the edges, and the ftiffened mucus, or ooz- ing, is entirely w^alhed away ; then wipe very dry with a linen cloth, and when perfed:ly fo, rub in a fufficient quantity of camphorated fpermaceti ointme7it : there is no doubt but they will foon fubmit to this fimple treatment, if regularly perfevered in. On the ccntrarj^, if in fome days after this method has been adopted, you perceive the cracks to be deep, the difcharge copious, and the fmell foetid or fti-nking, you may naturally conclude there is a foulnefs in the habit, or an acrimony in the blood, requiring redification \ in that cafe con- tinue 94 THRUSH. tinue your waJJnngs with, foap and warm water every night and morning; take away a propor- tion of blood, according to the directions be- fore given under that head, rubbing in a fmall quantity of the ftrong mercurial ointment (inftead of the camphorated fpermaceti,) ad- minifiering two purging balls : and if neceflary afterwards a diuretic ball, every other morning for a fortnight, as will be hereafter defcribed, under the article Greafcy when we come to that fubjedt. T H R U S IL Commonly called '* tht Rtmning 'Thriip,'' is a varicous ftate of the frog, which, becoming perforated in different parts, bears the appear- ance of rapid decay and rottennefs ; occafioned by an ichorous corrofive difcharge, frequently the evident effeds of negled in fuifering the horfe to go badly fhod, till the frog, by re- peated bruifes, lofes its original property, and becomes difeafed. To inattention the complaint is generally owing, and by eaj'ly care is as ge- nerally cured. Though there are undoubtedly inflances THRUSH. 95 inftances of fuch defeds being what are termed natural blemiflies; but the mode of treatment will be fimilar and eifedlive. The putrid, ragged, or rotten part of the frog fhould be conftantly pared away, as fhould alfo the hoof that bears upon the defective parts. The bot- tom of the foot fhould be frequently waflied with warm water, particularly after coming into the flable ; and, when dry, the whole frog moiftened (lightly with tindture of myrrh. The feet fhould be conflantly flopped with a compofition of the following proportion: Cow dung, (Qven pounds ; Vinegar and chamber-lye> of each one pInt.~Mlx» If the complaint difplays (by its depth or fcetidity) a degree of inveteracy, aiTifl with the following diuretic balls: Take white foap, eight ounces; Nitre and rofin (ia powder) of each three ounces; Camphor and oil of juniper, of each three drachms; form the mafs into half a dozen balls, and let one be given every, or every other, morning, as the flate .»f the cafe requires. But 96 GREASE, But fliould the horfe be vilibly foul, and, by his whole appearance, indicate a tendency to fluduating humours, from an impurity in the blood, a courfe of phyfic is firft to be adopted, preceded by a proportional bleeding, regulating both by the directions given under thofe dif- tind: heads. Thefe inftrudlions properly at- tended to, no doubt need be entertained of a perfed; cure ; yet it had in moft cafes (parti- cularly where the defed has been fevere, or the frog very much impaired) much better be fully confirmed by turning out to grafs for an ade- quate length of time, where the foftnefs of the paflure may ad as a natural cataplafm, pro- moting the growth of the frog to its original ftate of jftrength and perfedion. GREASE. We are told by an author of the lateft date, what is almoft univerfally underflood by thofe at all acquainted with the animal oeconomy, that '* the blood is conveyed from the heart ** to the extremities by the arteries, and re- ** turned by the veins; in which latter the '' blood GREASE. 97 *' blood is to rife in perpendicular columns, ** to return the circulating fluids from the ex- " tremities. Hence fwellings in the legs of **horfes may be eafily accounted for, from a ** partial ftagnation of the blood and juices in "the finer veflels, where the circulation is "moil languid; and efpecially where there is " a want of due exercife, and a proper mufcu- " lar compreflion upon the veffels to pufh for- " ward the returning blood, and propel the ** inert or half-ftagnating fluid through their " vefl^els/' This is one reafon (where a reafon is wanting and mufl: be obtained) , and is quoted entirely for the fervice of thofe who require no other. But, as many may wiih to receive more fatisfadory information upon the fubjec^, it will be neceflary to afford it a nicer elucida- tion. Indeed it cannot be fuppofed that any reader pofl^efilng the fmallcil degree of rational con- ception will fall into this ridiculous idea, and implicity believe nature has prevented her own laws, by appropriating to certain offices veflils. inadequate to the purpofes for which they were formed. That the vefl^els are fmall in the extremities mufl be acknowledged s H ""that 98 GREASE. that the contents are proportional, cannot be denied : thefe poiitions being admitted, it cer- tainly fliall follow, the lefs the weight or fub- ftance, the lefs muft be the force required to give it motion : this force is retained in the contrafting power of the veffels adling upon their own contents, exclufive of the affifting mufcular compreffion mentioned by the author above quoted, which (in the fyftem of circu- lation) can only prove the fecondary confide r- ation. I do not mean to enter into tedious and unentertaining difquifitions upon the laws of nature and motion ^ but hope (and naturally conclude) every reader will coincide with me in one opinion — that thefe veflels are as fully adequate to the offices affigned them in the extremities, as thofe whofe capacities have fix- ed them in the more noble parts. This truth being allowed (as by every" intelligent reader it muft be), I confider NATURE totally exculpated from the accufation of infufficiency in the execution of her own laws; and doubt not, in the inveftigation of the fubjedl, we Ihall be able to produce more fatisfaftory reafons for the appearance and progrefs GREASE. 99 progrefs of this difeafe, than any we have yet feen offered to pubhc confideration. That *' a partial ftagnation of the blood and ** juices in the finer vellels, where the circula- **tionis moft languid," may and does happen, I readily admit, but by no means fo often as to conflitute the difeafe we now treat of; if fo (the extremities in moft horfes being the fame, as well as the circumference or capacity of the vefTels and force of circulation), there can be no doubt but nineteen out of every twenty would be afflidled with this malady, from an " ERROR in NATURE,'* that no human fore-= fight can prevent, or judgment remove. Bartlet (who is the author before alluded to) fays, in the paflage there quoted, " the *' horfes moft fubjedl to it are thofe where *' there is a due wantof exercife." In com.pli- ment to an author of merit and repute, we will admit this for a moment ; but, the better to eftablifh my own point, I ihall claim the privilege of making one oif/ervation, in direct oppofition to an aiTertion that has required fome authority by remaining fo long uncontradidled. And as I, from the firft moment of my H a embarkation loo GREASE. embarkation In this treatife, have totally dif- claimed the very idea of implicit obedience to the dictation of thofe who have preceded me on the fubjed, I now come to the declaration of an opinion direftly oppofite to what we have juft quoted, and (as no bad prelude to what is to follow) wreft the attention of the reader to the following circumftance, well worthy of note. — That the horfes having the moft re- gular and temperate exercife, food, air, and water, are the very {ubjtdis that are in gene- ral more feverely afflicted v/ith this difeafe than any other, no one will attempt to difprove. For inftance, thofe paffing under the denomi- nation of " cart horfes," employed in teams, agriculture, road waggons, &c. and this cir- cumftance alone, if unaffifted with other tefti- mony, would very much warp the opinion before-mentioned; and prove both the veflels and circulation to be lefs culpable in this bufi- nefs than that writer feemed to imagine. It is a circumftance known to the moft fuper- ficial obferver, that enormous quantities of hair are permitted to remain upon the heels of iiraft horfes of the above difcription, without exception 3 and it is in vain to expoftulate upon the 6 GREASE. loi the abfurdity, by enlarging upon the heat it occafions in fummer, or the dirt and filth it harbours in winter. You are told, in return, *' of its utility in preventing injuries from *' flints, bruifes from flones,'' &c. this is the evident effecfl of inftindtive obftinacy and ig- norance, tranfmitted from fire to fon; and is one of the moft palpable reafons that can be produced for the frequent appearance and pro- grefs of this complaint, whether proceeding originally from a hidden accumulation of exter- nal naftinefs or internal impurity. As I mean however to give the explanation of this difeafe the face of novelty, I fhall hint only at the impoffibility of removing, from under the loads of hair juft defcribed, the quan- tity of dirt and extraneous matter that muft inevitably lodge there, and continue to accu- mulate, without even a probability of extirpa- tion; and proceed to hazard an opinion, or perhaps a faft, that the proportion of fecreted perfpirable matter, making its efforts here (as elfe where) for a natural difcharge, is obflrucSed by the mafs or filth caked upon the furface, as before explained; and becomes, in the courfe of time, too vifcid and y?/^^;///^/ to be again H 3 abforded 102 GREASE, abforded and carried into the circulation. This is palpably the ftate of the cafe; and Nature, faid by Bartlet to be deficient in her own office, is not fo but upon compulfion ; the con- llant flow of perfpirable matter to the parts fo evidently obiiruded, totally overpower every effort of Nature ; and, from the accumulation of matter, the veffels certainly become inade- quate to the tails: of conveying treble the proportion for which they were intended : the extremities being by thefe means overloaded and diftended, the contents not only become, from their ftagnaticn, putrid and corrofive^ but at length, by their acrimonious quality, pGr-= forate the integuments in ay^//^/ ichor -^ and, by a particular fharpnefs in its cutaneous oozing, gives a callofity or hardncfs to the edges of the apertures, fmall as they are, conftituting, in this difeafe, a greater or lefs degree of invete- racy, according to the ftate and temperament of the blood at the time of attack. The diforder having once made its appear- ance, will, m its progrefs, beyond every ad- miilion of doubt, be almoft entirely regulated bv the fivourable or unfavourable ftate of the hab:^> which muft now be more minutely inquired GREASE. 103 inquired into. But as it appears very little amongft horfes of the firft or lecond clafs, appropriated to either turf or field, and is con- fined chiefly to thofe before defcribed, or fuch as are unluckily deftined to a hard road, and a harder' mafter, fall in for a much greater pro- portion of WORK than care; I avail myfelf of this additional obfervation to corroborate any former alTertion, or opinion, — that this com- plaint frequently originates much more in the ill humours of \}iit groom than the horse 3 to which the careleimefs and inattention of the mafter does not fometimesa little contribute. But as an ancient adage inftrufts us to be- lieve '^ There is no rule without exception,' ' fo I am willing to admit the exception, and allow that a vijcidlty or tenacity in the blood may ^ng^vA^x foidnefs \ and i772puritics may be produced by omitting to corredl and purify acrimony on the one part, or d. JluggiJJj cohefion on the other. Colledions of matter may be formed, and are undoubtedly the efforts of NATURE to difburden herfelf of the morbid affeBion^ and ftie moft wifely makes thofe efforts as remote as poflible from the vital principle of adion, and in the parts beft quali- iied to bear the operation. H 4 Thus 104 GREASE. Thus much produced to inculcate the doc- trine of the difeafe, let us endeavour to eftablilh (contrary to the cuftom of a century paft) the moil rational and lefs objedlionable mode of obtaining relief in cafes of fo much pain and trouble. So foon as the attack is difcovered, or the arpearance of difeafe is afcertained, let blood be taken away, with a proper re- ference to the diredtions given under that head ^ letting your quantity be proportioned to the fize, ftate, and ftrength of your horfe^ and fo foon as the blood is cold, let an examination be made of its ftate, and proceed accordingly. If you find the blood is firmly coagulated with a fmall proportion of ferum or liquid, that the craiTamentum, or mafs, is livid, with a coat of fize or gelatinifed matter upon the furface, you may immediately conclude there is too great a tenacity and adhefion in the BLOOD for the office of circulation through the fmaller veflels 3 and that fuch quality has con- tributed to the caufe of obftrudtion under which the fubjedt is difcovered to labour. If the difeafe is in its earlieft ftate, and does not feem to indicate rapid Jigm of inveteracy ; and the horfe is not remarkably yj^/ or out of con^ ditioriy it may probably fubmit to the mildeft method GREASE. 105 method of treatment : as for inftance, let the parts affed:ed be well wajhed t'lcice every day v/\xh.foft water made warm, and plentifully impregnated with foap, fo as to form a fub- ftantial lather; with which every defective or offenfive fpot fhould be moft patiently rubbed, fo as to clear the furface of all fcruf, fcabs, or indurated matter; then wipe the parts gently dry with a linen cloth; and fo foon as v/ell dried, wafh where neceffary with as much as is requifite of the following lotion : Take tin6i:ure of myrrh and camphorated fpirlts of wine each one ounce ; Of befl white wine vinegar and fpring water, each two ounces. — Mix together : And when well dried in, flightly rub over with a fmall quantity of the following ointment : Take of white diachylon plafler three ounces, olive oil four ounces ; melt together over the fire; then keep ftirring till cold, and mix upon a ftone with three drachms of the fugar of lead, firll powdered very fine in a mortar. And let one of the followino: diuretic BALLS be given every other morning for a courfc ro6 G R E A S E\ caurfe of one dozen : hut if the horfe is evi- dently grofs in habit, and foul in excrement, this coi^rfe mull be preceded by two dofes of phyfic, prepared according to his ftrength and condition, from fome of thofe preicribed under tbc dircdiions for purging. See page 36. DIURETIC BALLS. Take of Cafllle, or beft Briftol foap, twelve ounces ; Yellow rofin and nitre (in powder) each eight ounces j Camphire (in powder) one ounce i Oil of juniper fix drachms ; Mix with as much fyrup or honey as required, and divide into a doztn balls, and roll up in liquorice anifeed powder, If the difeafe is firther advanced, and dif- pLivs a palpable inveteracy, the parts confider- ably enlarged, and the difcharge both foetid in itfelf and copious in quantity (the Hood being as before defcribed), bleed again in four or five days; giving in two days, or three at mofl, one of the purging balls, adding of I murcurhis GREASE. 107 viercurius dulcis (commonly called calomel) two drachms; working it off as before de- fcribed, and ufing every precaution to avoid cold: at the expiration of four or five clear days, repeat the purging ball, adding or dimi- nifhing (that is changing the number), fo as to render it effedlual in refpedt to ftrength. In three days after the fetting of which fecond dofe, begin a courfe of the above diuretic BALLS, and let one be given every morning for a fortnight, three weeks, or a month, as may be found neceffary. The waihing with the folution of foap in warm water to be regu- larly and fubftantially repeated tvjtce every day; the parts to be fomented after each wafhing with fianneh dipped in a ho.t decodlion of camomile y wormwood y marjhinallo'wsy and rofe- ?naryy for a quarter of an hour or more ; and this to be followed, if neceffary, by the ap- plication of a POULTICE prepared with equal parts of ryemeal and oatmeal-, with garlic and white lily rooty of each two ounces; both beat to a pafl^, and all mixed together to a proper confiftence, with a part of the decoction pre- pared for the fomentation ; and then flir in a quarter of a pound of lardy and apply as warm ^s may be with fafety. On loS GREASE. On the contrary, if circuinftances Ihould not be fo fevere as to require the poultice^ the fol- lowing OINTMENT may be plentifully applied after the fomentation (when rubbed dry); or, in worfe cafes, when the poultice is left off: Take ointment of elder four ounces ; Camphire, powdered and molified with a little olive oil, fix drachms ; Of liquid laudanum and extra£l of Saturn, each two drachms ; Mix well together, and keep clofe flopped for ufe. But when the cafe is fo obftinate as to bear no iigns of fubmiffion either in a redudlion of the difcharge, or a decreafe of the fwelling, let longitudinal and tranfverfe fcarifications be - made fuperficially with a fleam, in number and diftance proportioned to the diilenfion of the parts, (or inveteracy of appearance), fo as to enfure a plentiful difcharge oi blood 2xA fames. Immediately after the difcharge, apply a poul- tice very warm, and fjfficiently large to cover all the parts, compounded of the following ingredients : Take GREASE. 109 Take of coarfe brown bread and boiled turnips equal parts, and mafh well over the fire : addino- a fufficient quantity of ftale ftrong beer to give it a proper confiftence : and ftir in of beft flour of muflard one ounce, turpentine two ounces, lin- feed powder three ounces, and lard fix ounces, or fufficient to keep it from getting too fliff. This muft be continued night and mornino- till a change in appearance renders a variation or treatment neceffary, regulating the ufe of purgatives or diuretics by the face of the difeafe, and the difcretion of the prejcriber, farrier ^ or groom-, adopting fuch choice of the various methods pointed out as may rationally appear moft applicable to the ftate and changes of the fubjecft. During the \vhole progre fs of cure, fuch proportion of gentle motion or exercife fliould be adopted as the nature and circum- ftances of the difeafe will bear; and the horie, if at a proper feafon of the year, be turned out to enjoy the advantages of gradual and volun- tary motion, fo foon as his ftate will admit, firft obferving however mild or fevere this difeafe may have been. So foon as the dif- charge has declined its fcetidity (or offenfive fmell) no GREASE. fmell Is fubdued, and the fwelling totally fub- fided, the cure may be compleated by well wafmng the parts with equal proportions of Jbap lees and good vi?2egary once every day, occafionally moiflening, with a fmall quantity of the ointment before-mentioned, compound- ed of diachylon plajler^ olive oily Z-ndfiigar of leady page 105. Having treated largely upon that degree of foulnefs termed grease, originating in a pal- pable combination of negle6l and naftinefs, ftrengthened by internal groffnefs and vifcidity of blood, with the various methods of treat- ment adapted to each diftindl ftage of difeafe, let us revert to the fame difeafe, formed by a very diftind and feparate caufe, where, from the kind of horfe and the care conftantly taken, we are inftantly convinced it mufl arife from an acrimonious ilate of the blood and juices, or an hereditary retention or taint from sire or DAM. In this cafe the firfi: ftep to cure muft be the fame as with the other; that is, bleed to a proper quantity, according to the ftate of your fubjedt: GREASE. Ill fubjecS: if he is fu// of tiefli, ligh in condi- tion, and has had no forced evacuations for a length of time, take fufficient in proportion to ftrength: if the fymptoms are powerful and threaten obftinacy, give him a couple of the following PURGING BALLS fix days apart; the management being ftriclly regulated by the diredlions given under t\it article of purging, page 35- Take fuccotrine aloes nine drachms ; u^thiop*s mineral half an ounce; Caftile foap and jalap of each two drachms; Ginger one drachm ; Oil of juniper forty drops; Syrup of buckthorn fufficient to make the ball. If this proportion does not purge quite fa much as defired, add another drach7n of aloes y if on the contrary it is thought to relax top much, take off a drachm of the jalap. In four days after the laft dofe, begin with one of the following BALLS, and repeat it e^-cery morn- ing for fifteen days, three weeks, or a month, as the urgency or mildnefs of the cafe may require. Tak£ 112 GREASE. Take of antimony finely levigated, falphur, nitre, and iEthiop's mineral, each three ounces i Caftile foap ten ounces ; Oil of juniper three drachms ; Syrup of honey fufficient to make the mafs, which divide into a dozen balls, rolling them in liquo- rice or anifeed povirder. This difeafe has been fo fully explained, and every method of cure fo minutely entered into, that the reader can be at no lofs for far- ther inftrudlions under this head, having fuch a variety of prefcriptions to affift his endea- vours, if he will but induftrioufly exert his judgment on the occaiion. And this In fad becomes neceffary even In • Its earlieft ftate; for, by remaining long un- correfted, it foon affumes a degree of virulence, particularly in fubjed:s remarkably foul and out of condition; occalioning a greater portion of trouble and inconvenience than can poffibly happen in almoft any other difeafe. To ob- viate this difficulty, and counteraft the ten- dency as much as poffible, fuch hints v^ill be found in the Appendix refpefting the manage- ment GREASE. 113 ment of draft horfe, as take into confider- ation and properly attended to, may, in a great meafure, reduce the number conftantly labour- ing under this diflemper; many of whom, by negled; and injudicious treatment, are doomed to perpetual punifhment, and relinquiihed as incurable. CLASS ( iH ) CLASS III HIDEBOUND, SURFEIT, MANGE, AND FARCY. HIDEBOUND IS a fubjed that has hitherto been very little treated of, and by no means at all fatisfac- torily. It has been attributed to many caufes ; but from every obfervation I have been able to make, I muft confine it to few. The figns are, a w^ant of flexibility in the jfkin, which is pervaded by a general ftiffnefs that feems to form an entire adhefion to the fleili, with- out the leaft partial feparation or diftincftion. There is a kind of dufty fcurf, plainly per- ceived underneath the hair, that raifes it up in different parts; and, giving it another hue, the coat in many places forms an appearance of two or three colours 3 conveying, even in this HIDEBOUND, &c. 115 this trifling circumftance, 2. very forcible idea of POVERTY \x\ho\}i\ food 2Xidi raiuient. The horfe is generally languid, dull, heavy, and vv^eak; his excrement is dark, foul, and offen- {\vz ; he fweats much upon very moderate exertions j then his coat ftares, the hair turns different ways, (which in its effluvia is difagree- able,) and affords evident proof of weaknefs and debilitation. Thecaufe requires very little animadverfion, and it bears the face of poverty (in food and attention) upon every trait of its countenance. Bad food and want oi Jlahk care are, in general, the only probable reafons that can be affigned for this complaint, or defedl. Long lank grafs in low fwampy land in autumn, and mufty hay or bad oats at any feafon, may in fome degree allay the hunger, but not gra- tify the appetite ; for, being in itfelf deftitute of the effedt and quality of fuperior food, no nutritive contribution can be conveyed for the generation of blood or formation of flefh. The fources for the fupply of chyle being thus obftruded, the lymphatics are deprived of their due proportion of nutrivite fluid that ihould pafs through thefe fmaller veffels, and I 2 they ii6 HIDEBOUND, &c. they become not onljr in fome meafure con- tradled, but in a great degree inaSive, which, with the want of proper external care and dreffing, contribute to an almoft univerfal ob- ftruftion of the cutaneous pores. Thefe, from the preternatural debilitation of the general iyftem, are compulfively thrown open upon the moft moderate exercife, when a horfe that is (from excellent food, care, and attention) in what is termed good condition will not difplay the leaft moifture upon his ikin, even in undergoing a much greater proportion of fatigue. Thus much is introduced to prove its ex- iftence as an original complaint, probably caufed by thefe means, when abftrafted from Its conlideration as a fymptomatic attendant upon any other. And when that is really the cafe, by efFed:ually removing the caufe, the cffcQ: will ceafe; or, in other words, cure the difeafe on which it is attendant, and you" will of courfe get rid of its concomitant like-f wife. In refped; to its cure, very little inftruc- tion v/ill be neceflary, for (under judicious management) it is hardly entitled to the ap- pellation of difeafe, being in fadt no more than 7 a tern- H I D E B O U N D, &c, 117 a temporary inconvenience. Therefore, by way of affording fome little change to the cir-- culation of the blood, take away a fmall quantity, and in three or fcur hours after, increafe its impetus by a mafh of malt, oats, and bran, equal parts; continuing it every night for a fortnight, ftirring in two ounces of flour of brimilone every other night ; giving his other feeds (morning and noon) equal parts of oats and bran, wath half a pint of old beans in each, to prevent relaxing the body too much by the mafhes. To give this method of cure fome certainty of fuccefs, regular and fubftantial dreffing, air, exercife, found oats, fweet hay, and good foft water, will greatly contribute. And when by thefe means he has vifibly improved in hide, coat, and condition, let him have twice in the week a brufhing gallop, to produce a tolerable fweat and en- liven the circulation ; taking great care not to let him ftand flill till he is perfeftiy cool; when his dreffing iliould be thoroughly gone through with attention, care, and perfeverance, every night and m.orning, Jf this method Ihould be unattended with fuccefs, there muft be fome unknown caufe lurking behind ; in which cafe go through a mild ccurfe of phyfic, I 3 feeding ii8 SURFEIT. feeding well between the dofes, or a regular adminiilratiou of diuretics, as defcribed in the lall clafs. SURFEIT. This word has been theconftant friend and frequent refource of all country farriers, and may, with great truth, be termed " The " Farrier's Vade Meciiniy' abridged to a word of two fyllables, for the convenience of tech- nical explanation and vulgar comprehenfion. For certainly fo foon as a cutaneous eruption appears, indicating an acrimonious ftate of the blood, or a degeneracy of habit, it is (with a wonderful degree of fagacity, and almofi: in- credible penetration,) confidently pronounced ** A SURFEIT;" but what a furfeit is, un- lefs, as Captain le Brupy in the Regifter Office^ defines chaoi to be ''a fort of — , a kind of i< a — chaos-,'" they filently acknowledge they cannot tell. And what makes it the more un- fortunate for them is, that Bartlet, the great '' god of their idolatry," to whom they look for every information, omitted to give them the leaft clue by which they might glofs their SURFEIT, 119 their ignorance. ^' For," fays he, 277. toto, " furfeits arife from various caufes: but are ** commonly the eiFefts oi Jome difeafes not *^ attended to, or that have been ill cured." Whether this can be called an elucidation, or is entitled to the compliment of *' 7nultum in *' pa7^V0y' I leave to the difcerning reader, anxious for inilrucflion ; and gladly fubmit to his itnpartial decifion alone, whether we are not likely to derive greater gratification to our inquiries from a more minute inveftigation. As the above mentioned writer has been indulging] y concife, another has been moil tedioujly prolix y who, after taking a trip through almoft every known difeafe, feeling for the caufe, plainly tells you, *' it may originate in " ALL or ANY ; but it mofl commonly pro- *' ceeds from a horfe's conllantly feeding till ** he can feed no longer." We thank him heartily for fuch very useful i72formatio72 -, and proceed to our own part of the talk, but not without the neceflary compliment of mak- ing one obfervation upon bis — That it is very natural to fuppofe a horfe conftantly fupplied with food, even to fatiety, muft be Jht, (at leaft in tolerable condition,) whereas on 'the I 4 contrarv. I20 SURFEIT. contrary, it is univerfally feen, that horfes labouring under the difeafe known by the appellation of surfeit, are generally ^^^r. There is no rational unprejudiced man liv- ing who will not mofl cheerfully fubfcribe his opinion to a fair inveftigation and demonflra- tion of TRUTH, rather than every fallacious conjcBure that may be forcibly feized upon by a POST-HASTE author^ impatient to arrive at the goal of his undertaking. Of SURFEITS then there are two kinds, originating from different caufes, one being no more than a very advanced ftage of the cafe laft defcribed; which being long negledled, continues to encreafe, with all its fymptoms before mentioned, till the entire mafs of blood being at laft affedtedy difplays itfelf upon the flirface of the body with a degree of virulence that forcibly appeals to the fenfations of the owner; and necejjityy by the plea of self- interest, prompts him to yield, in his own defence, what the dicftates of humanity had in vain endeavoured to, obtain. This I confider one embelUfoment to the Farrier*s abflrufe abridgment; to which I fh^U add an additional deiinition SURFEIT. 121 definition of this difeafe, that has for ages oc- cafioned infinite looks oi fitrprifc^ and exertions of wifdom, when invoking the interpofition of Mifieria or Somnusy to elucidate a matter that even their immaculate Bartlet did not condefcend to explain. And as his great pre- decefibr (who he has moft inceifantly and im- plicitly copied, ) after ringing the changes upon almoft EVERY difeafe, fixed his opinion of the caufe upon '^ immoderate feeding;" I fliall avail myfelf of the privilege afforded me in the ancient adage of '^ Dolors differ,'' and declare I attribute the caufe to hard drinking. And although he declined faying much in favour of HIS opinion, I fhall nf^x. qmit to advance a thefis is confirmation of mine. The kind oifurfeit differing from the for- mer in caufe, but very little in efeof, is that kind where, from igjiorance, intoxication, or hiattention, a horfe is fjffered to drink immo- derately of cold water, v/hen in a violent per- foration, and the blood confequentiy in the higheft degree of circulation. The Jloock nature fuilains by this revuJfion will be inftantly conceived, even by a mind not 122 S U R F E I T. not at all accullomed to fearch into the ab- ftrufe receffes of Nature. The blood, in its greateft velocity, is £o inftantaneoufly checked by the Jlyptic injluejice of iht frigid element, and the fudden contradlion of the folids, that the CRASS AMENTUM, or balfamic part of the blood, becomes immediately thickened and inflamed, feparating itfelf from the ferum or watery part, which (being, from the inflam- matory particles, impregnated with its pro- portion of acrimony) extravafates itfelf; and, by an effort of Nature, is propelled to the jfkin for tranfpiration, where the pores (having been infliantly collapfed at the time of the water's taking effed) are fo clofely obfl:rud:ed that its pajfage to the furface is abfolutely prevented and rendered impraoiicabk. Thus fixed, it becomes united with the perfpirable matter already confined there (forming a morbid com- bination), and is, in the courfe of time, compelled by the progrefs of internal inflam- mation to m.ake its way through the ikin ; upon which it at lafl: appears in a variety of FORMS and different symptoms, aflliming difl:in(ft degrees of malignancy, according to the Jtate, habit, and conjlitiition of the fubje6l at the time of attack. This S U Pv F E I T. 123 This being the exact physical demonftra- tion and regular procefs of the difcafc, the in- dications of cure aptly arife from our invefii- gation. For inftance, to refolve the inflaniiiia- tory crudities, remove cutaneous obftruftions, corred the acrimonious ftate of the blood, and gently quicken the circulation. The better to effecfl thefe, take away a moderate portion of blood, that the impetus may be encouraged ; open the body with a few^ iva?'?n 'mafces ; and, according to the mildnefs or inveteracy of its appearance, give (as the cafe requires) either /w(?or//6r^£^of the following PURGING balls, allowing fufficient time between each dofe, and exerting more than ufual precaution to avoid cold, on account oi the mercurial pre- paration contained in its compofition j though it is not only remarkably gentle in the opera- tion, but fmall in quantity, and may be admi- niftered with the greatell: fafety and effeft : Take Barbadoes aloes one ounce; Jalap (in powder) two ; and Mercurius dulcis, alias calomel, each two drachms; Caftile foap, and ginger (in powder) of each one drachm ; SjTup of buckthorn fufficient to make the ball. After 124 SURFEIT. After the courfe of phyfc is regularly gone through, and properly condud:ed, let ftridt attention be paid to the very neceffary direc- tmts of FOOD, dreffings, water, &c. given un- der the laft article of ** hidebound;'* and in three days after the laft dofe of phyfic begin the following courfe of alternatives, per- feverlng for a month with unremitting punc- tuality, if you wi(h to fucceed in the acqui- fition of events fully enumerated in the indi^ cations of cure : Take of antimony levigated and fulphur, each half a pound ; iEthiop^s mineral and cream of tartar, each four ounces. Mix well together, and divide into tvjclve equal parts of two ounces each, giving one every night with the feed of corn ; which being firft fprinklcd with water, will retain the powders and enfure their confumption. Two ounces of nitre mud be given every morning in a pail o^J'cft water, and continued daring the whole time of giving the powders. Should it.ny trifling efchars, fcabs, or excoriations, prove ob- ilinatc upon any part of the body, they may be v/a£hed v/ith equal parts of lye (procured from the foap-boilers) and lime water. After a re- gular continuation of the above proportionf-, ihould no confidcrable advantages appear, the dofes muft MANGE. 125 muft be gradually Increafed of each, from ?cra ounces to tixo and an half; and in another week to three ounces for each dofe, of both the com- pofltion and the nitre. M A N G E. This diftemper is fo unlverfally known, that a general defcription of its moil predomi- nant features would be a very indifferent com- pliment both to the time and underftanding of the reader; fuffice it therefore to fay, a mere fuperficial view of it inftantly conveys to the fpedlator a very itrong idea of general wretch- ednefs. For furely nothing can convey it ftronge?' than exhausted nature finking under a complication of difeafe and poverty^ And in this cafe fo true it is " one misfortune feldom comes alone ^'^ that the latter feems ia combination to go hand in hand with this diftemper where ever it makes an appearance. And as a proof of the truth in this obferva- tion, it is very little feen amongft horses of any estimation : on the contrary, is almoft entirely confined to the lower clafs of ftables and proprietors. It 126 U A N G E. It is obferved to fall c&kjly upon thofe tliaf liave been zlmoii Ji?'a;7gers to the taste of oatSf and are kept entirely on the n^uje of pro- vender, bm'-ren pafture, miijly hay, feparated haybands, J^uoampy mofly ground, or I'uJJjy moors ; from all which nature may receive a wretched existence, but cannot be far- nifhed with fupport ; at leaft the fupport ne- ceflary to contribute nutritive juices for the cojiftant healthv fubliftence of fo lar2:eaframe. From this mode of living (or rather ftarving) originates fo fevere and inveterate a difeafe^ the eccnomy and law of nature demonjlrates it to a certainty, and renders farther ani- madversion upon the fubjedl tedious •scLi^un-' necejfary. For the blood being by this barren contribution robbed of what it was by nature intended to receive, becomes i7npoveriped ^vtw to a degree of incredibility (by thofe who are unacquainted Vv^ith the fyftem of repletion and circulation) ; it lofes its tenacity and bal-- Jamie adhefive quality, degenerating to an acrid ferous vapour that acquires malignity by its preternatural feparation from its original cor-^ r.etlor. Thus extravafated and unreftrained, its morbid effecfts and virulence foon difplay themfelves upon the farface, with a fevere- and MANGE. 127 and conftant irritation or itching; to allay which the poor beajl is eternally exert- ing himfelf in perpetual rubbings^ till with thofe, and the lofs of hair fi-om the different parts, he bears the zz/z/'u^'r/".^/ appearance of ap- proaching excoriation. In this predica- ment it has been the conftant practice to get rid of ONE devil hy the application of many; for inftance, qtiickfilver, aquafortis , oil of vi^ trioly corrofve mercury, Jpirit of turpentincy fulphur ofvivum, fal armoniacy tar, train oily and all the combufiibles that could well be in- vented for the fupport of an everlafting co72^ flagration in the lower regions. Without enlarging upon this defperate mode of practice, I fhall only acknowledge it brings to my memory a paflage from that juftly celebrated writer, who fays " Where the greater malady is, the lefler is not felt." And I naturally conclude from the purport of this fentence, their 7node of practice was adopted to extirpate an itching by a courfe of cauterization-, and there is no doubt but a poor devil would feel very little iineafinefs from a cutaneous irritation when burning alive with 3 a com- J28 MANGE. a combination of the moil powerful caustics^ That THESE PRESCRIPTIONS were in full pra(flice upon the principle of " kill or cure/' no one will deny ; for, as Gibson fays, when he fpeaks of the internal adminiftration of corroiive mercury, or other poisons, '* the *' horfe mull have a very ftrong conflitution *^ to recover it:'' and I will, in opposition to the confidence and felf-fufficiency of any far- rier in the kingdom, declare the above courfe of und:lon (and extreme undiion it certainly is) hath font more PIORSEFLESH to the dif- ferent dog-ke?inets than the difeafe itfelf. That the poor dlilreffed and emaciated fubjedls may in future be in fonie degree rescued from fuch a dreadful fcene of unmerited misery and persecution, fuch methods are pointed out as Vv^IU certainly eradicate the difeafe, with proper attention and pundluality, unlefs it has been fuffered by a long and negleBed con- tinuance to aimme a degree of inveteracy ^y if fo, and the horfe is not of great value, I will venture to hazard an Iricism, and aiTurethe owner that the moil merciful, certain, and lead expenfive CURE, will be by inilantly cutting his throat, ov Jljootingliim. through the head. The MANGE. 129 The firft ftep to be taken is a conftant fup- ply of WARM mafloesy prepared with half ;W^ and half branny or equal parts of oats and brariy with four ounces of ho7iey diffolved in each : let thefe be given night and morning, with a feed of dry cor?i every day at noon. During this treatment (which muft be conti- nued a week, to fheath the acrimony and foften the rigidity of the fkin) give one ounce of fulphur in each mafh, and one ounce of nitre in water every night and morning. In a week or ten days, when the frame becomes more invigorated, difcontinue the mafhes, and let the diet be changed to good oats and fweet hay ; giving, in the morning and evening feeds, one of the following powders inter- mixed with the corn, firft fprinkled with water : Take fulphur and preparecJ antimony, of each a pound % rub well together in a mortar, and divide in twenty-four equal parts : Or, Antimony levigated, and fulphur, of each twelve ounces ; Liver of antimony and cream of tartar each half a pound. — Mix well together and divide Into twenty-^ four equal parts, and let them be given as above 4Lr6(Sted, K Upon 130 MANGE. Upon firft taking the fubjedl in hand, and previous to the commencement of the mafhes, procure a pail of warm water, and a quarter of a pound of foft foap (tied up in a linen rag) ; and with this let every infed:ed part be thoroughly wailied and cleanfed, by forming a fubftantial lather, fo that no fcurf or filth remains upon the farface ; then rub tenderly dry with a coarfe cloth or feparated haybands ; and on the following morning begin to rub in a neceffary portion of this ointment, and repeat it for (twcn, ten days, or a fortnight, (as the urgency of fymptoms may require) upon every part affedled. Take of the weak mercurial ointment half a pound -, Sulphur vivum four ounces ; White hellebore (in powder) three ounces ; Black pepper (in powder) and oil of tartar, each one ounce ; Olive oil as much as is necciTary to make it fufEci- ently foft. Continue the ufe of the powders before mentioned, with the nitre alfo, for three weeks or a month .; and fo foon as it is con- ceived by the horfe's condition he is in a ftate to bear it, take away a moderate portion of blood. FARCY. 131 blood, and give him afterwards two very mild dofes of phyfic, feleded from the prefcriptions under the article of purging, and this will be the more neceffary, for reafons that cannot require the leaf!; explanation. FARCY. I MUST confefs I have heard, feen, and read lefs, to prove fatisfad;ory, upon this dif- temper than any other to which the horfe is fubjedt. Every writer has defcribed the fymp- toms, but no author, farrier, or groom, has afcertained the caufe. Their opinions upon the fubjecft forming a very great fimilitude to Scrub's alluiion in the comedy, where he fays ** Some fay one thing, and fome fay " another -, but, for my part, I believe he's *' a Jefuit." This is ftridly the ftate of the cafe with the farcy ; fome attribute it to one caufe, fome to another ; moft declare it a bad caufe, and all acknowledge the *^ fault," (as I'fual) to be in the blood. K 2 That 132 FARCY. That they are right muft be admitted ; and that they are fo is the lefs extraordinary, when a very fuperficial furvey of the cafe will evi- dently prove it would be a difficult tafk to be wrong. One author gives us many pages replete with figurative defcriptions, and runs through the whole animal mechanifm to de- mon flrate the caufe very clearly, but unluckily never draws nearer the point than to prove what a writer of more modern authority LEARNEDLY tclls US in two lines, that *^ the ** true FARCY is properly a diftemper of the ** blood veffels, which generally follows the •* track of the veins/' What infinite fatisfac- tion muft it afford every reader, to be in- formed from the fountain head of inftrucftion, that *' the blood veffels generally follow the ** track of the veins !'* Aiixious for inform- ation, and open to convid:ion, I receive the intelligence with gratitude ; and, although my retentive faculties are deceptive and imper- fedl, I jQiall exert their utmofl: influence to preferve, in high efteem, fo excellent a monitor ; making no doubt but it will prove highly fatisfadory to the cuRiotJS to be in- formed they need not look for a diftemper of the blood veffels in the *' TRACK" of the inteftines. FARCY. 133 inteilines. But to purfue this vein of irony no farther, and come to the fubjed in difcuf- fion, let it be obferved that, from the begin- ing of this clafs, we have had occafion to ENLARGE fo much upon the acrimony ^ vif- cidity, putridity and tenacity of the bloody un- der the feparate articles of hidebound, sur- feit, and MANGE, it is but natural to con- clude the intelligent reader is by this time enabled to form a competent judgment of its circulation, qualities, difpolitions, and effedls : from rules fo clear and explanatory, the fyftem is abfolutely reduced to the moft minute demonftration, and cannot poffibly be mifunderftood. Every reader being by thefe m^eans put into poffeffion of fuch reafons as may tend to form his own opinion, perhaps it may be the moft prudent to fay nothing peremptorily decifive upon the matter, but introduce my opinion, leaving each obferver open to an exertion of his own judgment, to which of the three preceding diftempers this is allied ; or v/hether it bears the leaft fimilitude to the feverity of the whole. It would be a verj^ indifferent compliment to the patience of die enlightened K X reader 134 FARCY. reader to repeat the techical jargon that was unavoidably neceffary to explain the original caufes oi greafe, hidebound^ Jurfeit^ or mange. An hypothetical explanation of the nature and origin of this complaint would be to go over the fame ground, introducing the fame law of nature in the fyftem of circulation : the con- veyance of chyle by the lymphatics or fmall veffels, for the generating of blood, the par- tial coagulation of the craffamentum, and its confequent effects \ as obftru(flion, putrefac- tion, and the appearances that follow upon different parts of the body, or in general over the whole. That this disease has its dif- ferent ftages or degrees of malignity, accord- ing to thtjiate, habit, blood, age, keep, and con- dition of the horfe, is certain ; but generally that circumftance is mifunderftood, and the different degrees of the diftemper are fup- pofed to conftitute diftindl kinds of the fame difeafe. That the diflemper originates In an inflam- matory flate of blood in the firft inflance, gra- dually increafing to the greatefl pitch of acri- mony, and affecfting the fyflem by degrees, till the whole mafs is corrupted;, is too evidently clear FARCY. 135 clear to admit of a doubt. The gradual and general afFedion of the frame may be eafily reconciled to any compreheniion, by the idea of a lingle fpark of fire giving life to a com- bination of combuftibles that foon conftitute a general flame. To fay the farcy is or can be long partial to any particular fpot is a very ridiculous fuppofltion > for although the attack may be local (the caufe being inflammatoiy), it muft foon be unhcrfal from the very nature of the circulation. Certain folid parts of the body may be individually affecled by iniiam.- mation^ but Vve naturally infer, from a ivno\v- ledge of the circulation, one part of the blood cannot imbibe a temporary affe^Lion without a fpeedy communication to the whole. If, as it has been before obferved, " the " Farcy is a diftemper of the blood vefiels," I cannot indulge a momentary doubt but fuch diftemper in the veiiels mufl have received the full force of difeafe from the acrimonious flate of the blood itfelf ; which, by its accumulating force and morbid pungency, foon exceeds the bounds prefcribed by nature, making its way to the furfice, by a corroiion of the veflels in which it was contained. The coat is raifed in K />, difierent 136 FARC Y. different parts (as they become affefted) with various fniall prominences, bearing the ap-^ pearance of bunches of berries, branching off in dire(!j: uniformity with the veins. Soon after their appearance they are generally co- vered with a fmall fcab or efchar, which, as they advance to maturation, peel off, and the puftules difchai-g,e a fliarp ferous ichor, or a gelatinous, adheiive, putrid matter, forming ulcers of a more or lefs inveterate appearance, according to the degree of difeafe. Previous to the prefent improved and ra- tional fyftem of cure, it may be applicable to introduce one of the promifed observations upon the dangerous and almoft obfolete prac^ tice of others, or rather the moft erne/ experi- ments and infernal perfecutions that were ever invented, or could be fuppofed to enter into the mind of man, for the prevention or cure of difeafe. In the laft article treated on we produced a tchrable fyflem of cruelty -, but in the FARCY (as a more perplexing difeafe and greater excitement to judgment or madnefs) we have FIRE UPON FIRE, or effectual cauterization treble refined. As FARCY. 137 As they advanced in danger they mcreafed in courage ; and adhering invariably to the general intention of, " kill or cure,'' they dealt about them with the fire of Mars and the llrength of Hercules. Began v/ith oil of vitriol and oil of turpentine ; then euphcr- bium, hellebore, quickfilver, oil of origanum, double aquafortis, and, to ium up the whole fcene of conjijiencyy made open palTages v/ith fmall hot irons, and touched with oil of vitriol or aquafortis ; or opening the buds, put in a fmall quantity of corrofive mercury, arfenic, or Roman vitriol and fublimate, equal quanti- ties. " But,'* fays the writer, *^ let it be remem- *' bered that rftany a horfe has been poifojied ** by thefe medicines ignorantly ufed, and in '^ too large quantities.'' This very acknov/- ledgment (for which I confefs I am under in- finite obligations) will ferve to corroborate my former aflertion — that fome system has Ions: been necefiary to refciie this moft ufeful and fufFering animal FROM STABULARIAN IGNORANCE AND EMPIRICAL CONFIDENCE. Can it be fuppofed, v/ill reafon or renedion for a moment fupport the idea, that the moil feverc 138 FAR C Y. fevere and burning cauftics, very little fliort of actual fire, were ever calculated, when laid on by loads, to re(n:ify the blood, or to promote an incarnation of the flefh ? It muft create afto- nidiment in every mind made calm by time, or cool by experience, that men have lived, who, from a want of knowledge in the pro- perties of medicines, could fo proftitute their ufes 3 or others prove fo weak as to tranfmit that proftitution to pofterity ! But fo deeply has the injurious and dangerous fyftem taken root among the illiterate, who ftick to a ruftic maxim never to be obliterated, that '^ old laws, ** old times, old fongs, and old books, are *^ beft," and confequently fly to the latter upon every cccaiion ; in whofe inftrudions they have fo much faith, and to whofe con- tents they pay fuch implicit obedience, that the very devil, however great his influence be in other refpedls, will never prevail upon that clafs to change their fyftem. That MERCURIALS and antimonials m- fernally, with neceflary and occaflonal caufliics externally, will (dictated by judgment, and proportioned with difcretion), work w^onders, experience and indefatigable attention from men of the mofl: extenfive abilities have fuffi- cientlv FARCY. 139 ciently proved. But the abundant, unlimited, and injudicious application of fuch deftrudrive poifcnsy either externally or internally, no rea- fon canjuftify, or prudence diredt. And what confirms it a danger of ftill greater magnitude is, the predominant deiire to increafe the dofes and applications, upon a mxoft contemptible but very common fuppoiition ; " if a fmall or even *' a moderate dofe does much, a large one ^^ will CERTAINLY do a great deal more." ' The very frequent application of cauilics and repellents is a cuftom evidently too abfurd to require animadverCon. Every common obferver muft inftantly perceive the folly of repelling a morbid and malignant putrid mat- ter to be again abforbed into the circulation, at the very time Nature has arrived at the criti- cal effort of relievino; herfelf from the mor- bid affedlion or preternatural load with w^hich flie is oppreffed. To prevent therefore a mif- conception, let it be once for all underftood, that in difeafes of the blood or juices, however externals may occaiionally alleviate as auxilia- ries, the very fountain of relief muft take its courfe from the effect of medicines internally adminiilered, But forry I am to believe, and have 14a FARC Y. have every reafon to declare, penury on the one fide, and a want of common humanity on the other, has in general countenanced and pro- moted the burning pracftice formerly adopted ; a few ounces of oil of vitriol, turpentine, aqua- fortis, or a RED HOT IRON, being, in the dif- ference of expence, much more applicable to the conftitutlon of the POCKET than a regular courfe of alteratives. Thefe obfervations being made to point out the danger and deter the praftice, m.ore than to condemn the authors, who, to their exculpa- tion be it remembered, v/rote in times of lefs refinement ; I fhall conclude them for this clafs with one REMARK —That where the cure is not to be eiiecled by the courfe of bleeding, purging, mercurials, antimonials, and altera- tives, hereafter defcribed, I perfectly coincide yvl opinion with a writer before quoted, who &ys, ** When the difeafe is fo inveterate as to "' refill every application, that the fymptoms ** not only continue predominant, but evi- ** dently iiicreafe, it is incurable." And to this information I fufpecfl he meant (but omitted to reccmm^end vvhat I now mofl heartily do,) the putting a period to a fcenc of pain and 7 mifery. F A Pv C Y. 141 mifery, by taking away a life that every degree of afliduity and effort of art cannot render worthy prefervation. In refpecS to cure, upon the very earlieft appearance take away blood in quantity as before defcribed, and after fo doing attend minutely to the quaUty, which circumftance will enable you to form a very decifive judo-- ment how foon, and to what proportion, the fubjed will bear this evacuation, jQiould it again be neceffary ; for according to the extra pro- portion of the crajfamentu7n (or coaguluni), and the iize (or gelatinized fubftance upon the furface), with the difproportion of the ferum, or watery part, it may be very readily afcer- tained how much the blood is certainly above or bch'-jD the ftandard of mediocrity neceffary for the abfolute preservation oi health. If the horfe is in a high ftate of condition, and full of flefh, give him maflies through the day of bleeding, and the next ; on the following morning let this purging ball be given : Take Aiccotrlne aloes ten drachms ; Of calomel and jalap (in powder) each two drachms; Ginger and oii of aruTeed each a drachm ; Syrup of buckthorn or rofes fuiEcient to form th^ Let 142 FARC Y. Let it be carefully attended to, and worked oft as fpecified under the direction for purging. If the phyfic works favourably, and fets well, let his feed (if his appetite is keen), for four clear days, be plentiful ; and on the fifth, or lixth at fartheft, repeat his purging ball, con- ducting the operation as before. If the dif- temper has attacked him with violence, or makes rapid progrefs, a third dole muft be given in like manner ; on the contrary, if the difeafe is mild, and early difcovered, the two may do. In two days after your courfe of phyfic is completed begin upon the following ant'imonial alteratives, afiiiled by a regular adminiilration of nitre ; both being continued a month without the moil trifling intermifiion : Take of prepared antimony one pound ; Common fulphur twelve ounces j Cream of tartar eight ounces ; Cinnabar of antimony fix ounces. Incorporate well in a mortar, and divide into twenty equal parts, giving one every night in the corn, firft fprinkling with water to enfure its adhefion ; giving two ounces of nitre in the water every morning, at which time he will generally drink it with the greater 9 avidity. FARCY. 143 avidity, as being moft thirfty. This proportion is meant for the diftemper in its mildefl ftate ; when the buds or fwelUng, upon their firft appearance, may be well waflied with the following lotion twice every day : Take extract of Saturn two ounces ; Camphorated fpirits of wine eight ounces ; Diftilled vinegar a pint ; Mix well together and keep clofe ftopt for ufe, ' Should the diftemper be in a more advanced or inveterate ftage, bleeding fhould be repeated, in proper time, between the phylic, in a mo- derate degree ; and upon the fcabs or efchars peeling from the buds, with a degree of inve- terate malignity, wafh them well occafionally with the following : Take corrofive mercury two drachms, difToIve in half a pint of Britilh brandy ; then add of white wine vinegar a pint ; half a pint of fpring water, and two ounces of tin£lure of myrrh \ fnaking well together : Or, Take fugar of lead and white vitriol each an ounce : Diftilled vinegar and fpring water each one pint \ Styptic tincture three ounces.— Mix together. Should 144 FARCY, Should the ulcers continue foul, and their edges become callous, very finall quantities of the ftrong mercurial ointment mufl: be gently- rubbed into the centre of the moft inveterate, once in three or four days, cleanfing them occafionally with one of the wafhes before mentioned. In this cafe one of the following mercurial ALT 'E.R AT lY'E balls muft be given regularly every morning for a month, or longer if neceffary ; altering your proportion of nitre to three ounces, which muft, in the arrange- ment of this courfe, be given in the water every evening, upon the viiible neceffity of intro- ducing your ball in the morning : Take ^^thiop's mineral four ouncrs ; Of milk of brimftone, prepared antimony, cream of tartar, and cinnabar of antimony, each five ounces ; Honey fufficient to make a mafs ; divide into a dozen equal balls, and roll up in liquorice or anifeed powder. Thefe remedies are founded upon a fyftem of certainty to effedl all that alteratives can do; and are directed in fuch proportions as may be given with the greateft fafety, and calculated to bear fome additions to their more aftive in- gredients, at the difcretion of the prefcriber, fliould FARCY. 145 fliould an unexpeded refiftance render it neceflary. And upon the introdud:ion of fuch additions, and a perfeverance in the alteration ibr a proper length of time, fhould the whole mafs prove fo virulently corrupted as to difplay no fign of fubmiffion to fuch treatment, there can be no doubt but death would put a very deiirable period to the bufinefs, and had much better be folicited than rejected. *** For a fingujar cafe and cure, fee Supplement CLASS ( h6 ) CLASS IV. WOUNDS, ULCERS, FISTULA, AND POLL EVIL. W O U N D S Are a fpecies of injury to which horfes are not only perpetually liable, but of fo many different kinds, and requiring fuch various modes of treatment, (according to the caufe, appearance, iituation, depth, and Itate of the wound, or habit of the fubjedt) that, to enu- merate the whole, with all poffible or probable circumftances, would be to write a volume on the article alone ; v/hich is certainly entitled to every degree of attention and injirudlioiZy from the fimple and complex cafes that fo frequently occur. And though it may natu- rally be fuppofed that v/cunds of fize, depth, or danger, muft confequently come under the imme- WOUNDS, 147 immediate care and infpedtion of the operative FARRIER, whofe judgment or experience fhould dired: him upon all cafes of emergency', as time will not admit of reference to books; and even with fuch affiitance^ much more will de- pend upon his experimental dexterity, or ex- pertnefs in manual operation, than any infor-- mation he may derive from literary inftru