'HICH THOSe: WHO CAN SEAD MAY EASILY UNDERSTAND. THE WHOLE BEIKG THE RESULT OF SEVENTY YEARS EXTENSIVE I'RACTICE OF THE AU'I H OR. JOHN C. KNOWLSON. MflJSYOFTHF. RECIPES IS THIS BOOK ARE WORTH ONE HUNDRED DOLLAKS nACH, AND THE WHOLE ARE NEW TO THE WORLD. (^Xv* J)l)Ualiclp!)ia: ^^Q T. B.>^ETERSON, No. 9S CHESNUT STREET. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from NCSU Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/completefarrieroOOI and two on the bottom, which are called the Nippers ; at three yearn and a half it changes two others, called the Separaters ; at four and a naif it changes tlie Nook Teeth ; and at five years old has a full mouth ; when the Tusks, commonly called the Bridle-Fangs, rise. Horse-dealers have a trick of knocking out the nook teeth at threo years and a half, to make the horse appear five years old when only four ; but they cannot raise the tusks. At six years old the Nook Teeth are a little hollow, and at seven there is a black mark, like the end of a ripe bean. Afterwards you will observe the flesh to shrink from the teeth, which grow long and yellow. Horse-dealers have also a method which they call Bishoping a horse's month ; that is, filing the tusks shorter, rounding them at the ends, taking a little out of the nook teeth, so as to make them rather hollow, and then burning them with a hot iron. I was hired by An- thony Johnson, of Wiiicolmlee, Hull, as farrier to a numT)er of ho-r- ses that were going to the city of Moscow, in Russia, for sale, aaid we had a little grey stoned horse, called Peattim, that was seventeen years old, the mouth of which I bishoped, and he passed for six years old, and was the first horse sold, and for j£.300 English money ! I only mention this as a caution to horsc-buycrs. The Feet should next be regarded ; for a horse with bad feet is like a house with a weak foundation, and will do little service. Tlio feet should be smooth and tough, of a middle size, without wrinkles, and neither loo hard and brittle, nor too soft j the Heels should be firm. THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 8 ana i>ot spongy and rotten ; the Frogs horny and dry ; and the Soles soniewhat liollo\^, like the inside oi' a dish or bowl. Such feet will never disappoint your expectations, and such only should be chosen. Particular regard should be had to the Shoulders j they should not be too much loaded, tor a horse with heavy shoulders can never move well ; and on the other hand, one that has very thin shoulders, and a narrow chest, though he may move briskly so long as he is sound, yet he is generally weak, and easily lamed in the shoulders; a medium should therefore be chosen. Be careful to observe the creature's Motions, — that the sJioidders, knees, and pasterns all act together, and have but one spring of motion, for in that case alone can they be said to move well. The Limbs should be free from *Splenis and ^Windgalh. The Kiiees should be straight, and not bending, or what is called a calf's knee: the Back-sinews strong and well braced: the Pastern Joints clean, and free from swellings of all kinds ; and the Hocks lean and dry, and free from '^Spavins, ^Corbs and Flatulent Tumors. The Body, or Carcass, should neither be too small nor too large. The Back should be straight, or have only a moderate sinking below the Withers : for when the back of a horse is low, or higher behind than belbre, it is both very ugly and a sign of weakness. The back sliould also be of a proper length. Tlie Ribs should be large, the Flanks smooth and full, and the Hind-parts, or vppennost Haunches, not higher than the shoulders. When the horse trots before you, observe if his haunches cover his fore-knees. A horse with a short hind- quarter does not look well. The next thing to be regarded in a horse is his Wind, which may be easily judged of by the motion of his flanks. A broken-winded horse always pinches in his flanks, with a very slow motion, and drops them suddenly, which may be easily perceived. Many horses breathe thick that are not broken-winded ; indeed, any horse will in foggy weather, or if foul fed, without sufficient exercise ; but if a horse has been in good keeping, and liad proper exercise, and yet has these symptoms, tliere is some defect, either natural or accidental ; such as a narrov/ chest, or some cold that has aifected the lungs. There are other particulars that should be observed in choosing a horse. If his Hcado be large and fleshy, and his Neck thick and gross, ha will, always go heavy on the hand, and therefore such should never be chosen. A horse that has his Hocks very wide, seldom moves well, aad one that has them too near will chafe and cut his legs by crossing them. Fleshy-legged horses are generally subject to the Grease, and other infirmities of that kind, and therefore should not be chosen. The Temper of a horse should be particularly attended to; because • There arc four kinds of Splonts ; viz. The Bone Sjilent, tlie Blood Splcnt, the Oase- lot, and the Ftorn Spleiit. v) Windsrulls nrc ?ot"t Tumors, seated on eitlier sids of th" Fetlock Joint. t There are two kind? of Sptivins; viz. The Blood S]>in in which lies in the joint c.f the hind leg, soincthiiir one that is worked hard and badly fed. Horses are subject to five sorts of worms, and perhaps to many more, but I shall only describe to you three, which are the most common. The worst sort to destroy are long, round worms, re- sembling earthworms, but smaller at the tail ; they have a seam all 18 THE COMPLKTE FARRIER. t.he length of their bodies, and are very hard: these are called Round Worms. The next are small worms, about the size of a sewing needle ; they have reddish, flat heads, having nine feet on each side, and are called Ascarides : — these are also very troublesome to horses. The third sort are short, thick worms, called Bots : their seat is mostly at the stomach ; but when horses get any food that they are fond of, they fill themselves so full, that they lose their hold, and come along with the dung to ihe fundament, and there catch hold and stick to the end gut, partly out of the horse ; — this happens mostly in spring, when they get the juice of fresh grass. It is well known that horses which have many worms can never thrive, or carry much flesh. If the breeding of these vermin were prevented, it would add much to the strength of the horse ; and it might be done by giving him a decoction of bitter herbs, such as wormwood, in spring. It may be boiled, or steeped in hot water, and given two or three times a week. Or a decoction of wormwood, buckbean, gentian root, and camomile flowers, (of each a large handful, boiled in a sufficient quantity of water, and given as above,) will answer the end. Symptoms. The symptoms which indicate worms are various, as the animals are different, and seated in different parts of the body. When the Bots are seated in the strait gut, they are never dangerous but are often thrust out with the dung. They generally come in the months of May and June, and scarcely ever continue in a horse above a fortnight. But when they breed in the stomach, they often cause convulsions, and even death. The Bots that breed in the stomach are about tlie size of a large maggot, composed of circular rings, and have little, sharp, prickly feet along the sides of their bellies, by means of which they fasten themselves to the part from whence they derive their nourishment, to prevent their being loosed from such adhesion before they con'te to maturity ; and as they drain the coats of the stomach like leeches, it is no wonder that they often throw the horse into convulsions, which terminate in death, unless the cause be re- moved. The violent agonies of the creature are the only indications of their existence. The other kinds of worms are more troublesome than dangerous, and are discovered by the following signs : there is a white fur on the end of the strait gut ; the horse is lean and jaded ; his coat is rough and staring: and if you rub your hand backward on the hair, a white scurf will rise, as if he had been surfeited; and though he eats with a remarkable appetite, he docs not thrive, He often strikes his hind- feet against his belly, and is sometimes griped, but without the violent pains that attend the cholic, or stranguary ; for he never rolls or tumbles, but is uneasy, often laying himself down quietly on his belly for a little while, and then rising and be- ginning to feed. But the su?est symptom is when the horse voids the worms with his dung. Cure. Many medicines have been given t!0 destroy these vermin, without knowledge or judgment, and even contrary to common reason, ^ome give coarse sugar for that purpose, but, in my opinion it will ratlie" increi'se than destroy them; although a i!ew will fill thern THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 19 selves so full as to loose their hold, and to come away with the dung. 1 advise all who have horses nearly eaten up witli worms, not to give every foolish nostrum that people prescribe, bu', something that is likely to destroy them. Take — 1 oz. of Socotrine Aloes. 1 dram of Calomel, 8 drams to an oz. 1 dram of Oil of Aniseed. 2 drams of Powdered Ginger J oz. of Syrup of Buckthorn. Beat all up together in a mortar till the aloes are well broken, and the whole is brought into a paste ; which give in the morning, fasting, and to fast one hour after ; also give warm water, and walking exer- cise till wrought off. (It will not work the first day.) Be careful that the horse be open in his body before you give the ball. In grass time you will have nothing more to do than to give it, and to put the horse where he can get water. This dose is for a pretty strong horse, so you must add or diminish according to size. This dose must be re- peated as need requires, but not within seven days. It will destroy most kinds of worms; but the hard, round worms require difTereht treatment, as they are the worst of any to get rid of. To destroy them, give the following. 1 dram of Calomel, 8 drams to an oz. 6 drams of Jalap. 6 drams of Rhubarb, in powder. Wrought up into a paste with conserve of hips, and two days after give the above ball. Or the following: 1 dram of Calomel, 8 drams to an oz. 1 oz. of dried Foxglove Leaves, powdered. i oz. of Worm Seed, powdered. 1 oz. of Jalap, in powder. To be given in three gills of malt liquor from the mash-tub. If the above be given every week for three 'weeks together, you may be sure that most of the vermin will be expelled. If the medicines be given in the house, let the food be light and opening, and warm water for two days, with walking exercise. I advise all who have horses troubled with worms, to give savin, dried and powdered, before they give the worm physic. If one ounce a day be given for a week before, in a mash of bran, it will be much better. The above ball is good for many disorders besides worms. THE YELLOV/S, OR JAUNDICE. This disorder is very common in horses, and sometimes it is either unknown, or overlooked, till it gets much worse to cure. A young horse is easily cured, but an old one is bad to cure. Some people may say. How can a horse have the Jaundice, lohen he has no gall-hlad. der ? I answer. Though he has no gall-hladder in sight, he has a large vesselin the liver which ,'iswers the same end. We may here observe the handiwork of GcJ m placing a horse's gall-bladder differently from those of other animals, when we consider that the horse is tlie swiftest and most laborious creature in the world j so that if the gall- 20 THE COMPLETE FARHIER. bladder had been placed on the liver it would always have been exposed to injuries. Symptoms. The white of the eyes is yellow, also the inside of the mouth, the tongue, and the bars in the moutli, are of a dusky yellow ; the horse is dull, and refuses all kinds of food ; a slow fever is perceived, which increases with the yellowness; the dung is often hard and dry, and of a pale yellow color ; the urine is commonly of a dark, dirty brown, and when it has settled, sometimes looks like b'ood: the horse stales with pain and difficulty; and, if the disorder is not checked, becomes in a short time unable to stir about. When this disease gets strong hold of a horse before proper medicines are applied, it is often fatal, or it brings on some other disorder as bad, or worse than itself. Cure. Bleed plentifully, and as this disease is always attended by a costive habit of body, it will be proper to give a clyster or two be- fore you give the physic. A clyster may be made of one ounce of camomile flowers, boiled in a quart of water with two ounces of Castile soap. Then give the following ball. 4 drams of Indian Rhubarb. 2 do. of Saffron. 6 do. of Socotrine Aloes. 1 oz. of Castile Soap. To be brayed in a mortar with a little syrup of buckthorn, and made into two balls ; one to be given the last thing at night, and the other the first thing in the morning ; and give plenty of warm water to work them off. If the disease is obstinate and will not yield to the above, give the following ball. 1 dram of Calomel, 8 drams to an oz. 1 oz. of Barbadoes Aloes. 1 do. of Venice Soap. 1 do. of Turmeric. 1 dram of Oil of Juniper. AH to be brayed in a mortar with a little syrup of buckthorn, and made into two balls ; one to be given at night, and the other in the morning, with plenty of warm water, and walking exercise till wrought off. If the horse is better after the first medicine, repeat it, for it is much safer than the last; but if not, the last may be given, and repeated as need requires ; but be careful not to give it in less than six days distance. If, after giving one dose of the last ball, you give the following powders every other day in celandine tea, if it can be got, or in warm ale, you will find them very useful in removing the complaint. 2 oz. of Salts of Tartar. 1 oz. of ^thiojj's Mineral. 3 oz. of Turmeric. These powders are proper to be given after either of the former doses. There are so many prescriptions given for this disorder, that a horse's life is endangered by them, for although the things given by many people may do the horse no hurt, yet the disorder is getting THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 21 Stronger hold, and opening the way for others to follow ; so that I ad- vise all into whose hands this little treatise may fall, to give the medi- cines herein recommended a fair trial ; and 1 hope they will seldom be disappointed of a cure. THE STAGGERS This disease is a grievous one indeed. Farriers generally divide it into two heads,— The Heart Staggers and the Head Staggers ; but they are both one. It is caused by the liver making blood so fast that the cavity of the heart is overloaded and the blood flies up the neck vein till the head is overloaded too: and if relief cannot be obtained, the horse soon dies. Symptoms. The most common are, drowsiness, watery and some- what full and inflamed eyes, a disposition to reel, feebleness, a bad appetite, the head generally hanging down, or resting on the manger. There is little or no fever, and the dung and urine are very little altered. The horse soon begins to reel, and falls down, and sometimes is so outrageous as to bite every thing in his way. Cure. In the first place, bleed him well as soon as you possibly can, by striking the veins in several places at once, and taking away four or five quarts at one time ; and, in order to raise up his head and shoulders, support them with plenty of straw. If he survive the first fit cut several rowels, give him clysters at night and morning, made of barley-water and a little sweet oil and salt ; and blow up his nostrils u little Cayenne pepper, or white hellebore. Also give him — 4 drams of Bark. 16 grains of Tuibeth Mineral. ^ oz. of Camphor. Give it in a little warm ale. If the horse be outrageous, give him— 1 oz. of Tincture of Opium. 1 gill of Syrup of Poppies. 1 oz. of Tincture Guaiacum. Be careful not to let him knock his head, for it will increase the disorder. If he get through the first fit, give him two ounces of crocus metallorum every day, to thin his blood, for fear of a relapse. It will be proper to give him the following ball once a month for some time after. i oz.of Rhubarb, iu powder. I do. of Jalap. I drara of Calomel, 8 drams to the oz. To be made into a ball with syrup of buckthorn. This ball will be of great use in thinning the blood, and preventing a return of the disorder ; for when a horse has had one fit of it, he is very likely to liave another, if care be not taken to prevent it. CONVULSIONS, OR THE STAG EVIL. Of all disorders to which horses are subject, this is the worst, and is scarcely discoverable till the horse falls down raging mad. It seizes him all at once, without any previous warning. He raises his head. 22 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. with liis nose toward the rack, pricks up his ears, and cocks his tail. In this posture he continues, and those who do not understand the disorder never suppose that he ails anything of consequence. But other symptoms soon convince them of their mistake ; for his neck grows stitf, cramped, and ahnost immovable ; his jaws are locked and every tendon in his body becomes stitf. If he can get his mouth open, he will bite any thing that comes in his way ; and if he live a few days in this condition, several knots will arise on the tendinous parts of it. Every muscle is so much cramped and extended, that the horse looks as if he were fastened to the place, witli his legs stilF, wide, and stag- gering, and the skin drawn so tight over every part of his body, that it is almost impossible for him to move ; and if you attempt to make him walk, he will be ready to fall at every step, unless he be well supported. At the same time his eyes are so fixed by the contraction of the muscles as to give him a dead look. He snorts and sneezes often, pants continually, and his shortness of breath increases till the distemper takes a favorable turn, or the horse falls down and dies. Cure. In the first place, bleed plentifully, unless the horse be old and low in flesh, or taken from some hard duty, and then you must not take so much blood. After bleeding, give the following ball, if you can get it in, but the horse is very often jaw-locked till nothing can be got in but by a clyster-pipe put between his fore and axle eeth. J oz. of Assafa3tida. ^ oz. of Guin Gu;iiacuiii. ^ oz. of G uin Camphor. Make them up into a ball with honey, and give one of these balls every twelve hours, for two days, if you can get them in ; and if not, dissolve them in a little hot beer, and give them with the clyster-pipe. (Be careful to powder the Gums.) Then make an ointment or lotion of the following. 1 oz. of Oil of Spike. 1 oz. of Oil of Amber. 1 oz. of Oil of Bricks, oz. of Spirits of Sal Ammoniac. Shake them well together, and rub the jaws just below the ears, where they lock into the upper chap ; also rub the small of the back well, where the cross bones are fixed to the back bone. In this, as in most other disorders, the body should be kept gently open with laxative purges and emollient clysters. When the jaws are so locked that you cannot get any thing in, do not open them by force, for that would increase the disorder instead of relieving it. Sheep skins, newly taken otf, and laid with the flesh side to the horse, will sweat him greatly, and by that means draw a quantity of water from the blood : indeed, there are few things that will relieve a locked jaw more : but if they be laid on the loins, tiiey must not lie above three hours at a time before they are turned with the wool side to the horse. You may keep the skins on twenty-four hours if you change sides every two or three hours. If the horse cannot take either food or water in at his mouth, he must be supported by clysters, made of barley-water and milk, and THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 23 given both at the mouth and the fundament. I once supported a large waggon-horse in this manner for twelve days, and he recovered. Convulsions are caused by different things, but often by hots in the stomach; for these destructive vermin suclv up the juices that should feed the blood, and bring it into a thin, bad state ; indeed they are sure to destroy the horse by one means or other when there are a great number of them in the stomach. I therefore wish all who have a horse troubled with them, to desti'oy them before they destroy the horse. When you suspect that these vermin are the cause of the disorder and they generally are, give the ball recommended to destroy bots. If the horse get better the first time, be sure to guard against a relapse, for you may depend upon it he will not get better a second time. Tapping under the jaws, and at the breast, is sometimes of great service in this disorder, but I am of opinion that sweating with sheep skins will give relief much sooner. I wish to observe, before I con- clude this chapter, that the stiffness of the jaws continues sometimes after the convulsions have ceased; in which case the following medi- cine should be given. Half an oz. of Matthews' Pill. Half an oz. of Assafcetida. Make them into a ball, and give it twice, (one day between the dogfes,) and it will give relief. FEVERS. Horses are subject to few disorders which are not attended with more or less fever. Causes. Fevers are often brought on by sudden heats and colds ; by going out of warm stables into cold ones ; by being clothed, and then having the clothes stripped off; and by being turned out to grass; for many people turn their horses out to grass in the morning, and let them layout, which is quite wrong: for when tiiey are turned out to grass, to be there night and day, it is best to tu»rn them out at night, for then they will graze all night; but if you turn them out in the morning, they will fill themselves in the day-time, and lie still all night, which is the way to catch cold. ]\Iost fevers are brought on by colds, therefore be careful to keep your horses as much as possible from catching cold. Symptoms. The horse is remarkably restless, ranging from one end of his rack to the other ; his flanks woik, his eyes appear red and inflamed, his tongue is parched, and his breath hot and of a strong smell. He often smells at the ground, he loses his appetite, and though he will take hay into his mouth, he does not chew it; his whole body is hotter than usual, but not parched : he dungs often, but little at a time, and it is generally hard, and in small pieces; his urine is high-colored, and he generally stales with pain and difficulty ; he is always craving for water, but drinks very little at a time ; and his pulse is much quicker than usual. Cure. Whenever a fever takes place, tl e first part of a cure is 24 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. bleeding, and if the horse be strong and in good condition, the quan- tity should be two or three quarts. When this has been done, give hiin a pint at a time of the following infusion, three or four times a day, 4 oz. of Juice of Liquorice. 4 do. of Liquorice Hoot. 2 do. of Salt Petre. 4 do. of Salt of Tartar 8 do. of Good Raisins. 2 do. of Aniseeds, 2 drams of SalVron. Boil all these together in six quarts of water, for ten minutes, let it stand till cold, and then strain it olF. It is one of the best medicines for colds, coughs, hoarseness, or fevers, in either horse or man ; and if it were more known, and more used, it would give greater relief in violent colds than any thing yet found out. It is kind in its operations, opening to the lungs, works gently by stool and urine, is free in ita passage, and opening in its nature. The horse should scarcely eat anything but mashes made of linseed and bran, and given in small quantities. If he refuse them, let him hare dry bran sprinkled with water, and put a little hay into his rack, as a small quantity of it will not hurt him, and a horse will often eat hay when he will not eat any thing else. His water should be rather warm, and given often, but in small quantities ; and his clothing moderate, too much heat being pernicious in a fever. If he refuse his meat, do not let it lie before him, but take it away, and clean his rack and manger. If he be able to go about, a little walking exercise in the open air will be very proper, but you must be careful not to get him wet. This method, with good nursing, will often be sufncient to restore the horse to health ; but if he refuse his meat, more blood should oe taken from him, and the drink continued ; and if his dung be hard and knotty, a clyster should be given. Tane Marshmallows and Camomile flowers, a handful of each, boil them in tiiree quarts of water till one quart is wasted ; then strain it off, and add four ounces of Venice Treacle, and one pmt of Pale Rape Oil. The above will make three clysters, to be given at four hour's dis- tance. If his pulse continue high and quick, give the following. 2 07, . of Nitre 2 do. of Cream of Tartar. 4 do. of Glaubers Salt. 2 do. of Lenitive Electuar}'. Dissolve them in hot water, give one half, and the other half the day following. If the horse be very open in his body, you need noi give the above : but if dry, be sure to give him it. If he be very open, give him four drams of bark in a gill of red port. By pursuing this method, the horse will begin to recover, and will relish his hay, though his Hanks will continue to heave for a fortnight. Nothing more will be requisite to complete the cure than walking him abroad iu the air, and giving him plenty of clean litter to rest on in the stable. T lere is another and much worse kind of foverto which horses are Ytjry subject, and which often proves fxtal if not properly treated, vix. THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 25 A COMPOUND FEVER. Symptoms. The symptoms of tliis disease are — a slow fever, with great depression ; and sometimes inward heat and outward cold, and at other times heat all over, but not excessive. The horse's eyes are moist and languid ; his mouth is continually moist, so that he is not desirous of drinking, and when he does drink, a very little satisfies him ; he eats very little, and moves his joints in a loose, feeble mannner, grating his teeth very disagreeably ; his body is generally open, his dung soft and moist, and he stales irregularly, sometimes making little water, and at others a large quantity, which is of a pale color, and has very little sediment. Cure. In the first place, take from the horse a moderate quantity of blood. Let it not exceed three pints, but repeat the operation according to its strength, if there be any tendency to inflammation ; after this the nitre drink already described maybe given, with the following addition. 1 oz. of Snake Root. 3 tli-auis of SulVron. 3 drams of Camphor, dissolved in Spirits of Wine. The horse's diet should be scalded bran ; and linseed, boiled, and wrought up with bran. Also give him the best hay by a handful at a time. It is often necessary to feed him by the hand, for sometimes he is not able to lift his head to the rack. In this disease, drinking is absolutely necessary to thin the blood ; and therefore if the horse refuse warm water, he should be indulged with such only as has had the cold taken ofi". This may be done with a hot iron, or by letting it stand in the pail in a warm stable ; and this will be better than forcing warm water on the horse's stomach. If this method do not prove sufficient, but the fever shall continue to increase, the following balls should be given immediately, as the danger augments every hour. I oz. of Camphor. ^ do. G um iMyrrh. 1 do. Squills. 2 drams of Castor. Make them up into two balls, and give one at night, and the other in the morning. If no better in a short time, give the following infusion. 1 oz. of Snake Root. '2 do. Genti-m Hooi. 2 do. Lemon Peel. 2 drams of Saffron. Boil these well together in three quarts of water, and give a pint once a day. If the above ball fail of success, give the following. 1 oz. of Cnmplior, dissolved in Spirits of Vv'ine. 1 do. Sal A:iiin(miac. I pint of good Vinegar. Put them all together, and stir them about till the fume subside. This is for two doses to be taken at twelve hours' distance, diluted with water. There is not perhaps a more powerful and elTectual medicine known than camphor in all kinds of putrid fevers, it being active, attenuating, and particularly calculated to promote urine and perspi- 2G THB COMPLETE FARRIER. ration, the tv\o principal outlets by which relief is to be obtained ; and if this medicine were more often given than it is, it would be a greater credit to the farrier, and give greater relief to the horse. If the horse be costive, clysters, or an opening drink, should be given; and should he purge moderately, be careful not to suppress it; but if it continue so long as to enfeeble the horse, give him a little red port wine and bark. Also observe to let the animal drink plentifully, for that will greatly promote the operation of the above named medicnies, as both the dis- order and the medicines will cause a thirst. If the horse can bear walking about, a little open air will be very proper, but be careful to keep him well covered. Particular regard should also be paid to his staling, which, if it flow in too great quantities, must be repressed by proper astringents, and by giving him lime-water ; and, on the other hand, if he stale so little as to occasion a fulness or swelling in his body and legs, give him the following drink. 1 oz. of Nitre. 2 do. Castile Soap. 1 do. Venice Turpentine. 2 drams of Oil of Juniper. Make them into a ball with liquorice powder, and give them at twice twenty-four hours' distance. These balls may be given as occasions may require, and are very proper to convey oft' the greasy, slimy matter from the passage of the urine, and to settle swelled legs. These are the best methods of management, and will generally prove successful ; but sometimes art will fail, and the horse will dis- charge a greenish or a reddish gleet from his nostrils, and sneeze very frequently ; he will continue to lose his flesh, become hide- bound, refuse his meat, swell about his joints, and his eyes will apoear fixed and dead ; a purging also ensues, ana a dark-colored foetid matter is discharged. When these symptoms appear, the case may be considered desperate, and all attempts to save the horse will be fruitless. In this disorder you must take care not to let the horse eat too much, for his diet should be light, and in small quantities at once, and increased gradually as he may gain strength. When his skin feels kind, his ears and feet continue moderately warm, his eyes look lively, his nose remains clean and dry, his appetite mends, he lies down with ease, and dungs and stales Avell, you may conclude that the danger is nearly over, and that nothing more is needful but care to complete the cure. On the contrary, by overfeeding you will run the risk of bringing on a bad surfeit, and the horse may be, accord, ing to the old saying, — killed with keeping. Sometimes the fever returns; so that every one who has a horse in a fever should be careful of cold for some time after, as his blood is l«ft in a thin bad state. His legs will probably be subject to swell; and if tiie swelling leave a dimple when you press your finger upon it, it is a jign of a dropsy ; in which case it will be advisable to put twj rowels on each side of his belly, and to give him half-an-ounoe THE COMPLETE FARR >ER. 27 el the best yellow bark eveiy day for some time. At other times a fever leaves a running at his nose, of a thin yellow, glueish matter, and small swellings below his cars and chaps. When you find these symptoms, giv^e one ounce of crocus metaio- rum every day in a mash of bian, and rub the swellings with mercu- rial ointment. In the year 1796, 1797, and 1798, a distemper prevailed among horses, attended with a strong fever, which in a few days turned to a putrid fever. Some horses had their eyes so much inflamed as to stand goggling out of their sockets; they had also swellings all over their bodies, and in two or three days dropped down dead. At that time I observed that the horses which had camphor given them got the best through. Some horses which have had this distemper, have a relapse of it in the spring season; and it is difficult to eradicate. Care should be taken to keep the head and throat warmer than common, as the kernels about the latter are swelled ; and also to pro- mote a free perspiration, and to increase the running at the nose, which has the same effect in horses as spitting has in the human spe- cies; but never syringe the nose, as is often done, to promote the discharge, for it has an efTect quite contrary, and lessens the quantity of matter instead of increasing it ; and checking the discharge of mat- ter at the nostrils often causes swellings of tlie glands, and other bad consequences. Let me once for all remind you that all such dis- charges are critical, and thrown off by nature to free herself from the load °that oppresses her, and consequently should by all means be promoted. A BROKEN WIND. This disorder may sometimes be prevented, but cannot be cured; and it has hitherto been as little understood as any to which a horse is subject. People have had various opinions respecting its cause, and why some horses are more subject to it than others ; but of all the opinions hitherto delivered, that of Mr. Gibson seems the best founded. He thinks that it is frequently owing to the hasty or injudicious feed- ing of young horses for sale ; by which means the growth of the lungs is "rapidly increased, and all the contents of the chest so much en- lu,ro-ed, that in a few years the cavity of the chest is not sufficient to con'tain them when they are expanded to perform their proper func- tions. Nor is tliis opinion founded upon bare conjecture, for horses that have died broken-winded have been opened, and the lungs and other parts found too large for the chest. But although hasty feeding is often the cause of this disorder, yet it is not always, for a narrow chest may cause it. It has been observed that horses rising eight years old are most subject to it. The reason of this is, because a iiorse arrives at his full strength and maturity at that age. At six he generally finishes his growth in height ; then he lets down his belly, and spreads, and all his parts gain their full size ; so that the pressure on the lungs a.T i ■.i,<^ midriff is now increased. Also, when the aorse catches cold and gets a dry cough, the lungs 28 THE COMPLETE .FARRIER. are much larger than they ought to be, and at that time riding sharp- ly is enough to force the lungs so hard against the Midriff as to force a passage through it.* A few years bacl< some people pretended to cure the complaint by boring; but none were ever cured by it yet, nor ever will be. They made a nole above the fundament, to let out the wind that was forced thorough the midriff into the bowels; and this caused the horse to be continually discharging wind out of the place ; so that the pretended cure was worse than the disease. Dissections of horses that have died broken-winded, have sufficiently proved the truth of the above observations; and that not only the lungs, together with the heart and its bag, were preternaturally large, but also the membrane which divides the chest ; and that the midriff was remarkably tliin. In some horses the disproportion has been so great that the heart and lungs have been almost twice their natural size, yet perfectly sound : and without any ulceration whatever, or the least defect in the windpipe or in its glands. From these observations it abundantly appears, that the enormous size of the lungs, and other contents of the chest, by hindering the free action of the midriff, is the principal cause of this disorder ; and as the lungs are found much more fleshy than usual, they must consequently have lost a great part of their spring and tone. Therefore, as this disorder is caused by the largeness of the lungs, we may conclude that it is one of those diseases which cannot be cured by art; and that the boasting of those who pretend to cure it are built on a sandy foundation. They may indeed relieve the complaint, but will never cure it, for an absolute cure is not in the power of any hu- man being. All that I can do is to lay down some rules which have a great tendency to prevent this disorder, if pursued in time ; and some remedies that will ailbrd relief when it has taken place, and render the horse capable of performing good service, notwithstanding his misfortune. SvMPTOMS. The first symptom of a Broken Wind is an obstinate dry cough, which is neither attended with sickness nor loss of appetite; but, on the contrary, with a disposition to foul feeding, eating the litter, and drinking large quantities of water. Prevention. When a horse is troubled with an obstinate dry cough, and eats his litter, it will be necessary to bleed hnn, and to give him the mercurial physic already prescribed, repeating it two or three times. Afterwards give the following balls for some time, which have been found of very great service. 4 oz. of Gum Ammoniacun , 4 do. Galbanuin. 4 do. Assafofitida. 4 do. Squills. i do. SafiVon. 6 drams of Cinnabar of Autimony. Make the whole up into balls with hof^ey and a little liquorice • The MidrilT, or Diaphrnpni, is that which is coromo »y called the Skirts, and separates the Chest (where the lungs lie) Irm tha Bow* \a. THE COMPI.ETE FARRIER. 29 powder, and give one about the size of a pullet's egg e/ery other morning. This is a very good ball for a dry cough. Some horse-dealers give broken-winded horses a quantity of shot when they carry them into the market for sale, and I suppose it is to drew the bowek from the midriff, so that the disorder may not be dis- ooverable; but at the same time there is great danger of killing tJie horse. ° But it is no* enough to give proper medicines; the horse's diet should also be carefully attended to at the same time, if we would hope for success. In order to tliis, the horse should eat very sparinith a strong decoction of marshmallows. These are the best methods of treatment in this disorder, and will in general prove successful. Sometimes indeed this malady is too strong for the power of medicine, and then the urine continues turbid, and daily becomes of a deeper color, with a foetid smell, — a sure sign that the kidneys are ulcerated ; which generally terminates in a consumption, and the creature becomes absolutely incurable. In treating oftheCholic I have recommended a method for removmg the Stranguary, when it proceeds from wind, or from dung pressing upon the neck of the' bladder ; but sometimes it proceeds frcan an inflammation, and a retention of urine. Symptoms of an Inflammation of the neck of the bladder. When a horse is seized with a Stranguary from the above cause, he will make frequent motions to stale, standing wide and straddling, THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 36 his bladder being full of urine, and his flanks distended ; he will be uneasy, constantly sliifting his hind feet, and often giving clicks in his motions ; he also sometimes hangs his head, and then raises it suddenly. Cure. First bleed largely, and then give the following. 1 oz. of Spirits of Sweet Nitre. 4 do. Syrup of Marsinnallows. 1 do. Venice Soap. Cut the soap small, dissolve it in a gill of hot water, put the above to it, and give it to the horse. Repeat it every eight hours. Also dissolve an ounce of gum arable and an ounce of nitre in a gallon of water, and let him drink plentifully of it. If he will drink it of his own accord, it is best ; but if not, horn a little into him, for it will greatly tend to remove the cause of the disease, and consequently to terminate the effects. There is a disease of the kidneys, viz. a Diabetes, or profuse stal- ing, which produces effects directly opposite. This disorder is seldom cured in old horses, as their fibres are become rigid, and unable to perform their office, — a misfortune which all the power of medicine cannot remove. But in young horses this disease is often cured, and the following method will generally be attended with success. Cure of a Diabetes. In order to cure this threatening disorder, great care must be taken not to let the horse drink too much water, and never to give him any moist food. Attention to these particulars will go a great way towards a cure ; and instead of giving him com- mon water to drink, give him lime-water ; to make which, take about three pounds of lime, unslacked, put it into a clean vessel, and for every pound of lime pour six quarts of water into it ; let it stand three days, take the scum off the top, and give the horse the water to drink. (Be careful not to stir the lime at the bottom of the vessel.) This is a very clear, wholesome water, and very good for many dis- orders. In the meantime the following medicine should be given. 1 oz. of Peruvian Bark. I do. Japan Earth, in powder. 1 do. Irish Slaie, do. Give these in lime water, and you may repeat it as often as needful. Some Farriers give strong alum possets two or three times a day ; but this kind of treatment cannot be proper, for the alum takes so fast hold of the juices of the stomach, that if the horse were not ill, it would be enough to make him so. But if the above are properly given, they will not disappoint expectation. THE MOLTEN GREASE. This is so common a disorder, that it ought to be well understood ; but, alas ! like many others, it is often mistaken for something else. This disease is a melting down of the fat of the horse's body, caused by violent exercise in very hot weather ; or if the horse be full of fl(?sh, it may happen in cold weather. Hard riding, or sudden colds, wi]] brinsr on this disorder. 8(5 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. Symptoms. It is always attended with a fever, heat, restlessness, starting and trembling, inward sickness, and shortness of breath. Also the horse's dung is extremely greasy, and he often falls into a scouring. His blood, when cold, is covered with a thick scum of fat, of a white or yellow color, but generally the latter. The congealed part, or sediment, appears like a mixture of size and grease, and is so extremely slippery that it will not adhere to the fingers ; and the small proportion of serum is also slippery and clammy. The horse soon loses his flesh and fat, the latter being probably dissolved into the blood. Such as have sufficient strength to sustain the first shock, commonly become hidebound, and their legs swell greatly ; and in this state they continue till the blood and juices are rectified ; and if that is not done effectually, the Farcy, or an obstinate Surfeit, is generally the consequence, which cannot be removed but with tho utmost difficulty. Cure. In the first place, bleed pretty plentifully, and repeat thra operation two or three days successively ; but take care that you tak(i) only a small quantity at a time after the first bleeding, as otherwisw the creature would be rendered too weak to support himself, and hiv blood too poor to be easily recruited. As soon as he has been bleii the first time, let two or three rowels be put in, and the emollienl clysters prescribed for Fevers be thrown up daily, to mitigate thv fever, and to cleanse the intestines from the greasy matter. At th* same time plenty of water-gruel should be given him, and sometime**) a small quantity of water, with a little nitre dissolved in it. Thw latter will be of great service, as it will prevent the blood from run ning into grumous concretions, and proving the source of innumera ble disorders, if not causing a total stagnation, and consequently th'j death of the animal. The horse must be treated in this manner till the fever be entireli' gone, and he shall have recovered his appetite ; and then it will bt) necessary to give him three or four purges, a week distant from each other, which will make him stale and perspire plentifully, and at th« same time bring down the swelling of his legs. The following iii well calculated for the purpose. 6 drams of Socotrine Aloes. 4 do. Guin Guaiacum, iu powder 2 do. Ginger. 2 do. Jalap. 2 do. Oil of Juniper. To be made into a ball with syrup of buckthorn. By pursuing this method the horse will soon be recovered, for this purge will mend his appetite and increase his flesh. If it be too weak, add a dram more of aloes. It will bring down his swelled legs, and carry away all the superfluous matter that clogs the blood. When you give the physic, be careful to give plenty of warm water all the time. A SURFEIT. Some people pronounce every ill-thriven horse surfeited, whether il is so or not. A Surfeit is nothincr more than the effects of an ill- THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 37 cured disease, and therefore what is called a Surfeit in horses i« very different to the disease which bears that name in the human body ; tlie latter being the beginning of a disease, and the former the re- mains of one. Symptoms. The horse's coat will stare, look of a rusty color, and even appear dirty, althou-h the greatest pains have been taken to keep him clean. His skin will be covered with scales and dandriff, which will appear like meal among the hair, and when cleaned off will be followed by a continual succession of the same matter, occa- sioned by the perspiration being obstructed. Some horses will be covered with a kind of scab, sometimes moist, attended with heat and inflammation, and the humor so very sharp, and causing so violent an itching, that [he creature is incessantly rubbing himself, and by that means making himself raw in difierent parts of his body. Some horses have neither scales, dandriff, nor scab, but look dull, sluggish and lazy. Some are hidebound, and others afflicted with flying pains and a temporary lameness. In short, the symptoms are very various, and almost as numerous as those of the scurvy itself. Causes. The causes are as various as the symptoms. Some horses are surfeited by high feeding and want of proper exercise ; which produce a bad digestion, and generate ill humors. Some are surfeit- ed by unwholesome food ; some by hard riding ; some by drinking cold water when they are hot ; some by bad or improper physic, and Bome by standing in stables through which the rain drops, or by lying vi^et. But as many also get surfeited by standing when hot at the doors of public-houses, such bad practices should be guarded against. Cure. If we duly consider the nature of Surfeits, their cure will be much more easily performed. All allow that they arise from a bad state of the blood; but how is this to be remedied? By bleeding ■and purging. But this must be done in a very gentle manner. Take about a quart of blood, and the next day give the following ball. 1 oz. of Socotrine Aloes. 1 dram of Calomel pp. 2 do. Oil of Aniseeds. Add as much lenitive electuary as will make it into a ball. Give plenty of warm water to work it off. Repeat both bleeding and physic in eight days ; and when the last dose is wrought off, give him" six ounces of the cordial balls in a little warm ale. Also give a spoon- ful of the follov/ing powders every day in a mash. 4 oz. of Flour of Biimstone. 4 do. Crocus Melalorum. ' 4 do. Nitre, in powder. Mix all Up well together. By persevering in the above method you may cure the most inveterate surfeit, and if any scabs or runnings appear in the skin, rub them with the following. 4 oz. of Siilph ir Vivum. 2 do. White Copperas. 2 do. White Hellebore, in powder. Mix these powders v/ith churn-milk, rub the places affected well, and the grievance will soon disappear. Sometimes a Surfeit settles ia 38 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. the legs, and they swell much, and then break out and run very much. When tills is the case, two taps put into the lower belly will be found of great use. Staling balls should be given every third day, and plenty of warm water to work them otf with. Make the staling-balls as follows. 1 oz. of White Rosin. 4 dranis of Castile Soap. 2 do. Oil of Juniper. 2 do. Camphor. 4 do. SaltpeU-e. Bray all well together into a paste, in a mortar, and form it into a ball. The above is only for one dose, but you may make as many as you think proper at once, and keep them for use. Give them at night, and they will work olf the next day. These balls are of great s*ervice in many of the disorders of horses, and some of the best staling-balls yet found out. By following the above directions, a cure will generally be pei- fornied. Sometimes in this disorder little knots break out, especially upon the hind parts of the horse, and these knots throw out a little matter. When this is the case, you must rub them with strong mer- curial ointment. Sometimes these little tubes, or pustules, have living insects in them : but by rubbing them as I have just directed you, they will be destroyed, and the cure completed. THE HIDEBOUND. This disorder is too often brought on by the horse being worked too hard, and badly kept ; although this is not always the case. When the skin of a horse sticks so close to his ribs that it appears immovable, the horse is said to be hidebound. But this is not properly a disease, but rather a symptom, being often caused by previous disorders, such as fevers, convulsions, surfeits, worms, or disorders of the kidneys or lungs. Cure. As the hidebound may proceed from various causes, it ii necessary to determine the cause, before such medicines can be ap. plied as will remove it. If it owe its origin to hard labor and want of food, rest and plentj' will soon remove it. If it be caused by worms, worm medicines must be applied ; or if it be left by any imperfectly-cured disorder, the fol- lowing drink must be given. 2 oz. of Aniseeds, in powder. 2 do. Ginger, in powder. 1 do. Grains of l^uradise, 2 do. Mustard. 2 do* Turmeric. All to be powdered, and to be given in warm ale, fasting, and to fast TWO hours after. Give warm water two or three times. Bleeding, tapping, and physic are also necessary, when the hidebound is left by any disorder. THE MANGE. This disorder is more shameful than dangerous, for you cannot go abroad with a scabbed horse without being hissed at, neither is it THE 00M1»LETE FARRIER. S& proper ; for this disease is so infectious that every horse ,hat may come near it will be in danger. The Mange is too well known to need a long description, 'hough some have been mistaken, and have taken a hot, itching eruption for it. Symptoms. At first it is confined to the skin, but by long continu- ance it vitiates and pollutes the blood. The skin is generally thick, and full of wrinkles, especially about the mane, the loins, and the tail ; and the little hair remaining on those parts stands erect. The ears and eyebrows are commonly naked; and when the limbs are affected, they have the same appearance ; but at the same time the horse is not raw, nor does the skin peel off as in a surfeit. Causes. The Mange is generally taken by infection, for it is so very catching, that if a horse be put into a stable where one in the mange has stood, before it be thoroughly cleansed, he will hardly fail being infected. But though infection is the general, it is not the only cause of the IMange. Low feeding, and running long abroad in cold, pinching weather, without sufficient provender, will cause horses to have the ]\Iange. Cure. When the horse has been infected by another, the disorder is not so obstinate as when caused by starvation, for the blood will not be in so bad a state. When you think a horse has got the Mange, apply the following where you think it needful, and it will cure it at the beginning without much trouble or expense. 4 oz. of Sulphur Viviiin. 4 do. VVIiite Copperas. 4 do. White ilellehore Root, in powder. » Mix all together in two quarts of churn-milk, and rub the places well. By this method you may cure most scabs of short duration ; but when once the mange has got great hold, it will require sharper treatment. Make the following for one horse. 4 oz. of Sulphur Vivuni. 2 do. White HcUeboie Root, in powder. 2 do. Blue Stone Vitriol, in powder. I do. V'erdi2:rise, in powder. 4 do. Flanders Oil of Bays. 3 gills of Whale Oil. Mix all well together, and rub the horse well with it all over in the sun, if in Summer, but before a fire if in winter. In Summer you must also turn him out to grass after rubbing, but in Winter keep him warm in the house. You must be careful to wash your saddles and bridles, cart-gears, stands, mangers, racks, &c., well with quick-lime and chamber-lie ; for if vov: do not clean all that the horse may have used, the infection will remain. You will find the above a certain cure, if managed rightly, for I have cured hundreds with it, and I do not remember one instance of its failure. At the same time give freely of flour of sulphur and liver of anti- mony; and if you have a number of horses infected, be sui'e to rub them all together. Some people say that when a horse is rubbed for the scab he will infect others, but I am of opinion that he will not, neither do I re- member an instance of it. 40 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. THE FARCY, OR FARCIN. There have been many opuiions respecting t lis disease. .Some authors reckon five kinds j but although there are so many different branches, yet four of them have the same root. The Water Farcy Is dilfercnt from the others, and therefore I shall put it afterwards, by itself. There is a scurvy which horses are subject to, and wliich is often called a Farcy; but it is no such thing, for there are only the two kinds of the Farcy, which I here shall treat upon. Horses are alien said to have the Farcy when they have not, for sometimes when people do not know the proper name of a disorder, they call it the Farcy. The true Farcy is a disorder of the blood-vessels, and gen- erally follows the course of the veins, and when inveterate, thickens their coats and integuments in such a manner that they become like so many cords. Symptoms. At the beginning of this disorder a few small knobs, or tumors, resembling grapes, are found on the veins, which are so painful to the touch tiiat the creature shows evident marks of uneasi- ness on their being pressed with the finger. They are at first very hai'd, like unripe grapes, but in a very little time they grow soft, and break and discharge a bloody matter, and become very foul and un- toward ulcers. This disease appears in difierent places in different horses. Some show -it first on the head; some on the external jugu- lar vein; some on the plate vein, extending from thence downward, on the inside of the fore-leg, towards the knee, or upwards towards the brisket. In some it first appears about the pasterns, on the sides of the large veins, and on the insides of the thighs, extending towards the groin ; in others on the flanks, spreading by degrees towards the lower belly; and some horses are nearly covered all over the body at once. Cure. When the Farcy attacks only one part of a horse, and that where the biood-vesscls are small, it may be easily cured ; but when the plate vein is affected, and turns corded : and especially when the crural veins, withinside the thigh, are in that condition, tlie cure is very difficult, and the creature is rarely fit for any thing but the low. est work after it. Therefore those who depend upon some particular medicine, and flatter themselves with being able to cure every species of the Farcy with it, will find themselves wretchedly mistaken ; for different medicines are needful, according as the disease is superficial or inveterate. The former is easily cured, for sometimes moderate exercise is sufficient; but the latter requires knowledge and experi- ence; and sometimes baffles the most skilful, and defies the whole power of medicine. From the above description of this disease it appears tliat it is of the inflammatory kind, and that the blood-vessels are affected. Copi- ous bleedings are therefore absolutely necessary, especially if the horse be fat and full of blood. This evacuation always checks the progress of the Farcy in its beginning, but its good effects soon van- ish, especially if the hors^ be low in ficbh. After bleeding, mix th(» following. THE COMPLETE FARRIEE. 41 4 oz. of Cream of Tartar. 4 do. Liver of Antimony. 4 clo. Lenitive Electuary. 4 do. Ct'.stile Soap 2 drains of Calomel, 3 drams to an 0£. -Vlake these into balls, and give two ounces a day for some time. While giving these balls, dissolve a little nitre in the water given to the horse to drink. These medicines will keep his body open, and allay the inflammatory heat of his blood, Avhich is the principal cause of the disease; and wliile they are given inwardly to remove the cause, let the tumors be rubbed twice a day with the following ointment. 4 oz. of Elder Ointment. 4 do. Flanders Oil of Bays. 2 do. White Vitriol. 1 do. Red Precipitate. 2 do. Sugar of Lead. Beat all well together into an ointment, and keep it for use. This ointment will soon disperse the tumors, which will leave small bald spots on the skin, but the hair will grow again in time. If the tu- mors break, and run a thick, well-digested matter, it is a sign that the disease is conquered, and the horse will soon be well ;^ but it will be necessary to give him two ounces of liver of antimony every day for a fortnight, and two ounces every other day for a fortnight after, iQ order to sweeten his blood, and disperse the small bunches that remain. This method will never fail when the small veins only are affected ; c.nd a «hort time will complete the cure. But when the Farcy atfects the large blood-vessels, the cure is far more difficult. Let the practitioner always attempt it at the begin- ning of the disease, as he then will have fewer difliculties to encoun- ter; for delay renders that almost impossible to be overcome which at first might have been easily conquered. Therefore, when the plate cr crural veins are corded, lose no time, but bleed immediately on tie opposite side, and apply to the distempered vein the following mixture, which is proper to dress the wounds with, but not before they are broken out. 1 dram of Corrosive Sublimate. * 1 oz. of Spirit? of Salt. Powder the sublimate, and put it into a bottle, and put the spirits of salt upon it to dissolve it ; then add two ounces of vinegar, by degrees. This is a very proper mixture to dress the ulcers with; but if it can- not be easily got, take — G oz. of Oil of Turpentine. 3 do. Oil of \itriul. Put the pot in water with the turpentine in it, and pour the oil ol vitriol in, a little at a lime, and keep stirring it till it shall have sub- sided. If the Farcy be situate in the loose and fleshy parts, such as the flanks and the belly, tlie mixture should consist of equal parts of oil of turpentine and oil of vitriol ; but when the seat of the disease is in the parts which are less fleshy, the proportions above are best cal- culated to perform a cure. The medicine must be used in the follow 42 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. ng manner. Rub the parts affected with a woollen cloth, and then apply some of the compound oil to every bud and tumor. Continue this method twice a day, and at the same time give cooling physic every other day. The balls and nitrous draughts befoi'e mentioned will answer the intention. By this treatment the tumors will be di- gested, and the cords dissolved ; but it will be necessary to give liver of antimony to complete the cure, and to prevent a relapse ; and also to dress tlie sores, when well digested, with a mixture of bees' wax and oil, which will heal them, and smooth the skin. Sometimes the disease will not yield to this treatment, especially when situate near the flanks or the lower belly. In that case it will be necessary to bathe the parts with the compound oil, as far as the centre of the belly ; and at the same time to give a course of antimo- nial medicines. The following composition is stronger than the last, and on that ac- count is often used when the disease is obstinate. 4 oz. of Spirits of Wine. 2 do. Oil of Turpeiuine. 4 do. Oil of Vitriol. 2 do. Vinegar. Mix all together, with the caution before directed. When this method fails, and the disorder becomes inveterate, try the following, which is recommended by an eminent practitioner. 1 pint of Linseed Oil. 3 oz. of Oil of Turpentine. 3 do. Oil of Peter. 2 do. Oil of Bays. ^ do. Oil of Origanum. J do. Strong Aquiifonis. 2 do. Barbadocs Tar. 2 drams of Tincture of Euphorbiuni. Mix all together with caution, as before directed. This medicme must be rubbed on the tumors and corded veins once in two or three days, observing that if the mouths of tiie ulcers are choked up, or so thick as to confine the matter, to open a passage with a small hot iron ; and also to destroy the proud flesh, which may be kept down by touching it occasionally with oil of vitriol, aquafortis or butter of antimony. In this disorder, these are the best ways of proceeding that have yet been discovered ; but it is to be considered as an obstinate one, and is sometimes very bad to cure. It has hitlierto baffled many an able practitioner, and it is to be feared will baffle many more ; for when the blood has got into such a corrupted state, it bids defiance to medicines. The ingenious Dr. Brackden recommends tlie strong mercurial ointment for rubbing the cords and tumors with before they break ; and in order to disperse them when they are broken, to dress the sores with a mixture composed of equal parts of Venice turpentine and quicksilver. If the mouth become sore by this means, a gentle purge should be given to prevent salivation. This is doubtless a very good method, and if care be taken, will often prove effectual. He also recommends the following alterative ball. THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 43 1 oz. of Liver of Antimony. 1 do. Bezoar Mineral. 4 do. Cordial ball. Beat all well together, and give about the size of a walnut every day for some time, fasting, and to fast two or three hours after. I have given you the best prescriptions that I am able to give, and such as will not fail to cure if properly applied, if the horse be not in- curable. I have been more particular in treating of this disease, be- cause it is common among horses, and very often managed improperly by those who pretend to cure it. Such therefore as have valuable horses in this disease, would do well to be careful whom they employ, and assiduous in observing the methods they make use of to cure it, if they do not think proper to attempt a cure themselves. But in my opinion they may do it better themselves, by following these directions, than most farriers they can employ. THE WATER FARCY. This disease varies very much from the last, and would more properly be called a Dropsy than a Farcy. There are two kinds of this disorder, but they are nearly of the same nature. One of them is produced by indisposition terminating in the skin, as is often the case in epidemical colds ; the other is a true dropsy, where the water is not confined to the belly and limbs, but is found in different parts of the body, and a great number of soft swellings appear. When you press the finger pretty hard upon any of the swelled parts, or under the belly, it will leave a dimple, as if it were pressed on paste. When you find those swellings under the horse's belly, or on any part of the body, you may take it for granted that he has got the Dropsy, or what is called the Water Farcy. This disorder mostly proceeds from foul feeding, or a continuance of very wet weather in the end of Summer. It mostly happens in the autumnal season, and greatly injures the health of such horses as stay abroad, rendering the blood sluggish and viscid. Cure. Wherever the swellings appear, make scarifications, that is, holes through the skin. This may be done by a short fleam ; and if you have not one short enough, put a collar made of a piece of leather on it. If the sv/elling be under the belly, strike a good many holes in at a time, but be careful to avoid the veins. By this means a great quantity of water will run out. Taps in the brisket are also often of great service. I have fleamed horses four or five times before I could get the swelling to subside. When the water has subsided, the blood is left in a bad state, to remedy which a gentle purge should be given two or three times, eight days distance, to re- cover the crasis of the blood, and brace up the relaxed fibres of the whole body. Lime-water is very proper, with a little nitre in it, and let the horse's food be warm mashes of bran, with a little malt in it. His keep must be increased by degrees. The disorder mostly hap- pens to young horses that have not been used to high keep. You must give one of the following balls every day, omitting the time when the physic is working. 44 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 2 oz. of Squills. 1 do. Camphor. 1 do. Castile Soap. J do. Tuijieutiiie. 4 do. Yellow llosin. Make these into a ball with honey, and give one ounce at a time. These balls will work the water off by urine. When the horse has been treated in this manner till the water is evacuated, and he begins to recover, give him a pint of the following infusion every day lor a fortoight, fasting, and let him fast one hour after each dose. 4 oz. of Gentian Root. 4 do. Black Hellehore. 2 do. Jesuit's Uurk. 4 do. Cunioiuile Flowers. 1 Handful of Centaury. Boil all together in six qurrts of water, for ten minutes, let it stand till cool, and then strain it through a cloth. This strengthening drink will brace the fibres, cause the fluids to circulate quicker, and complete the cure. SPRAINS. All kinds of Sprains resemble each other. They are a relaxation of the tendinous fibres, from the muscular parts being overstretched. A SPRAIN IN THE BACK. Sprains in the back are mostly caused by over-weighting the horse, or by his loosing his hind-feet on the side of a hill ; and sometimes by putting him back too quickly. There is much difference between a Sprain in the back, and what is called tifled in the back. Some- times a horse catches cold in his loins by having his clothes or his saddle taken off when he is hot, and being turned out of doors ; and some horses are subject to Rheumatics, which make them lame in many places, and are generally taken for Sprains. To cure a Sprain in the back, first bleed pretty freely, and then give the following drink. 1 oz. of Tincture ofGuaiacum. 1 do. Balsam Capivi. 1 do. Oil of Junij)er. To be put into a quart of strong parsley-root tea ; half to be given at night, half in the morning, and plenty of warm water to work them off. Also lay a sheep's skin with the flesh side to his loins for six or eight hours, if he can bear it; and then turn the wool side to him, and let it stay on a day ; and when you take it off, sheet him well for fear of catching cold. Also make a plaster of the following. 2 oz. of Oxycroscura. 2 do. Paracellis. 2 do. Red Doiniiiion. 2 do. Burgundy Pitch. Melt all together, and lay them on pretty warm, and put a little wool, clipped short, on the charge while hot, and then pour on a little THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 45 cold water to fasten the whole together. These are the best methods I am acquainted with. A SPRAIN IN THE SHOULDER. When the shoulder of a horse is sprained, he does not put out that leg like the other, but in order to ease it sets the sound foot firmly on the ground. When trotted in hand he forms a kind of circle with his lame leg, instead of putting it forward, and when he stands in the stable that leg is advanced before the other. There is what is called a Shoulder-slip, which is worse than a Sprain. When this happens the horse can neither lift his leg nor put it forwards. You may know this by the shoulder-blade standing higher than the other; but to discern that you must make him stand on the lame leg, for the leg he stands on will always appear a little higher than the other. The flesh will also shortly waste away from the shoulder-blade, which is a sure sign of a Shoulder-slip. When this accident has taken place, put a tap into the lame side of the animal's breast, and blow the shoulder full of wind with a pipe. When you have rinded the skin to put the tap in, hold the skin fast to the pipe, and blow the part that you have rinded full, and let some one draw the wind up into the shoulder with the edge of his hand as far as the top of the shoulder-blade, and then put in the tap, or rowel, and stop the hole up well with tow and salve. Give warm water for three days, and then open the place, stir the tap round, and rub the shoulder all over with the following liniment. 2 07.. of Spirits of Wine. 2 do. Sweet Oil. 2 do. Spirits of Sal Ammoniac. Shake them well together, rub the shoulder well with the mixture every third day for some time, and if the horse do not get better with three or four times rubbing, use the following. 2 oz. of Oil of Turpentine. 1 do. Oil of Origanum. 1 do. Oil of Bricks. Shake these up together, rub all on at a time, and walk the horse about a little afterwards. When near the sea, swimming in the salt water is very proper, and I have known swimming in fresh water be of great use. A Sprain in the shoulder point requires nearly the same treatment as a slip, but you need not blow it. When it is attended by inflam- mation, cooling mixtures, such as extract of lead and water, must be used. But when a swelling or an inflammation takes place, it is mostly caused by a hurt, or by a stroke from another horse. If there be no swelling, rub the shoulder point well with the following mixture every third day, 1 oz. of Oil of Peter. 1 do. Oil of Amber. 1 do. Oil of Spike. 1 do. Oil of Bricks. Shake these well together, and rub the shoulder point eveiy other day. If the horse be not better, take 46 THE COMPLETE FARRlEtt. 1 oz. of Oil of Tuqiemine, 1 do. Oil of Origanum. 1 do. Oil of Swallows. 1 do. Oil of Amber. Shake these together, and rub the shoulder point well with them every third day; and if the liorse continue lame, recourse must be had to blistering. A SPRAIN IN THE COFFIN JOINT. Tliis is often a grievous disease, and it is difficult to discover where the lameness is. It is often neglected till the joint grows stiff, and then the horse pitches upon his toe, and is afraid of bearing any weight on his foot. If you press with your thumb in the hole in the horse's heel, and upon the cornet of his foot, you will soon discover whether the hurt is in the Coffin Joint. When people cannot tell the cause of a horse's lameness, they often say that he has got sprained in the coffin. In my opinion it is better not to doctor a horse than to apply stuff to you know not what. If people would have a little patience, most lamenesses would soon show themselves, especially a Sprain in the Coffin Joint, for it would raise a ring round the cornet of the foot, not much unlike a Ring- bone, but closer to the foot. The first thing to be done is to draw a little blood from the spurn vein, then mix an equal quantity of oil of bays, and oil of origanum, beat well together, and rub well all round, just above the hoof. Apply this for three or four days together, and if no better, you must have recourse to repeated blistering. A SPRAIN IN THE BACK SINEWS. This kind of sprain is more frequent among horses than any other, and is so common that I need not describe it, but only inform you how to cure it. If it be recent, bathe the leg with a little hot vinegar, or verjuice, with a little saltpetre dissolved in it, and put round it a proper ban- dage : or, curriers' shavings, wetted with a composition made of vinegar, spirits of wine, and a little tar, and laid on the swelling with a pretty tight bandage round them, will be of great use. Take it off once a day, and soak the shavings again, or get fresh. Injuries of this kind must not be expected to be removed immediately. Rest is absolutely necessary, and turning the horse out to grass would be of great service as soon as the swelling disappears, but not before. If these methods fail, the next thing is to blister; for I have known blis- tering succeed when all the former have failed. The last thing to have recourse to is firin'j. SPRMNB Of THE KNEES AND PASTERNS. The knees are iiatk to many misfortunes besides sprains. The Speedy Cut is clcnii by striking one foot against the other leg, just be low the knge, at'.T is frequently done by a horse that trots high. THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 47 tSometimes it swells very much, and is taken for a sprain. Some- times horses get kicked by others, or meet with some other accident which causes'a swelled knee, which is sometimes bad to remove. A poultice made as follows will have a great tendency to remove the swelling. Take 4 oz.of Tar. 4 do. Sjiiiits of Wine. •' 3 do. Hogs' Lard. Melt these together over a slow fire, and be careful not to set fire to them, and put in as much linseed-meal as will make them of a proper consistence. This is a very good poultice for many other kinds of swellings, and although but little known hitherto, I hope that it will be found of great service. If any substance be left which will not give way to this method, you must lay on a little blistering ointment. LAMENESS IN THE STIFFLE. The Stiffle is the tenderest part of a horse, except the eye. How many horses have lost their lives by misfortunes in this part, and how many have been left lame by not being properly cured ! A horse that is lame in the stiffle generally treads on his toe, and cannot set his heel to the ground without great pain and difficulty. When you find this is the case, bathe the part well with warm vinegar j and if a puny swelling appear, foment it well with a woollen cloth wrung out of hot vinegar, wormwood and rosemary, having added half a pint of spirits of wine to a quart of the decoction. Let this operation be continued till the swelling is nearly gone. When a horse has got a stroke and cut by the heel of his shoe, great care must be taken to keep out the cold air, and to keep him from drinking cold water, especially in winter time ; for if the horse take cold, and an inflammation come on, there is reason to fear ihed death will follow. When you perceive that a horse has got a stroke, and is cut through the skin, bathe it well with the following mixture. 2 oz. of Spirits of Wine. 1 do. Sinrits of Sal Ammoniac. 1 do. Oil of Amber. Shake all well together, bathe the place well with it, and lay on a diachylon plaster with gum, in order to keep out the cold. If the horse grow very lame, and the place swell much, foment with the following. Take Wormwood, Elder Leaves, Camomile Flowers, Juniper Berries, ana Marsi»:ua.'lcw Leaves, of each a handful, and boil them in tug gallons of Chamber-lie. If the above cannot all be got, take double the quantity Oif jxjixnpftf berries and camomile flowers, and foment for some time as b"--fcre directed ; and when you leave off* fomenting, rub with the above mixture. Be careful to wrap the part up warm, and as soon as it comes to matter, dress it v/ith basil icon ointment. If any brown lee appear, syringe tincture of Benjamin, or b3,lm drops, into the wound. When a callous substance, or proud flesh appears, eat it off" with red precipitate. These are the best ways of curing a horse that has goi lamed in the sti^e. 48 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. LAMENESS IN THE CUP-BONE OR WHIRLEBONE. A lameness in this part of the hip is discovered by the horse's drag- ging his leg after him, and dropping backwards on his heel when he trots. If the muscles of the hips only are injured, the lameness may be soon cured ; but if the ligaments of the cup are affected, or relaxed, the cure is often very tedious; and wlien the cup is full of glueish liquor, the cure is doubtful. I have known the ligament which holds the hip bone in the cup to be broken, and then the hip bone lias come loose ; but this seldom happens, and when it does nothing can be done to relieve it. When a horse is lame in the cup-bone, rub him well with the following mixture. 1 oz. of Oil of Amber. 1 do. Oil of Bricks. I do. Oil of Origanum. 1 do. Oil of Turpentine. Shake these well up, rub one half on the cup, and the other half the third day. I have known this mixture remove the complaint when of long standing; but if it fail, you must try what blistering will do. The last thing to be tried is firing. I have fired horses that have been, lame above a year, and cured them by it. It is very easy to fire a horse in this part. Take the iron and mako a circle, eight inches in diameter, like a cart-wheel, with scores about an inch asunder. Cut nearly through the skin; and if you do cu\ through in some places, it will be no worse. Then lay on the following charge. 2 oz. of Oxycroseuni. 2 do. Paracellis. 2 do. Red Dominion. 2 do. Burgundy Pitch. Melt these all together, lay them on pretty hot, lay a little wool, clipped short, on before it cools, and then throw a little water on tc fasten all together. Sprains in the Fetlock, or anywhere in the limbs, may be treated in the same manner, and if the oils will not remove the substances, blisters will ; therefore I shall give you a recipe for a blister suitable for those complaints. Take 1 oz. of Quicksilver. \ do. Venice Turpentine. 2 do. Flanders Oil of Bays, j do. Guui Euphorbiuni. 1 do. Spanish Flies. 2 drama of Oil of Origanum. Rub the Venice turpentine and quicksilver well in a mortar for some time, and then put in the oil of bays and rub for some time longer, till the quicksilver is quite killed. Powder the gum and flies well, and then mix all togetlier. When you lay the blister on, rub it well against the hair to get it to the bottom ; lay it on with a broad- pointed knife, and cover it with a cloth, or the horse will get his mouth to it. This blister will answer any purpose you want a blister for, but you must observe that there must be -fifteen days between the times of lay- ing it oa. THE COMPLETE FATRIER. 49 THE BONE-SPAVIN. Although this is a common disorder among horses, yet it is little understood by either breeders or farriers. The Bone-Spavin is a bony excrescence, or hard swelling on the inside of the hock in a horse's leg, and sometimes owes its origin to kicks and blows, and sometimes to natural causes ; but in the former case it is much more easily cured than in the latter ; and those that grow spontaneously on colts, or young horses, are not so bad as those that appear in horses, that have arrived at their full strength and maturity. In old horses they are generally incurable. Our horse-dealers and jobbers make a second kind of Bone-Spavin, which they call a Jack, but this is only a polished name for a Bone- Spavin, as there is no difference between the two. Some call it a Dry Knot, but still it is a Bone-Spavin. Sometimes the horse is very lame when the Spavin is first coming out, and when it has come out is better for some time, and then grows lamer again as the bone hardens. I would advise you to apply a blister as soon as you have any suspicion that a horse is likely to put out a Spavin, and to continue blistering, every fortnight, for some time, by which means you may stop a Spavin in a young horse. CtrRE. Mild medicines should be used if the horse is young, as they will in a short time wear the tumor down by degrees, which is much better than trying to remove it at once by severer methods, which often have a very bad effect, and produce worse consequences than those they were intended to remove. But in full-grown horses they are absolutely necessary, and accordingly various authors have given prescriptions for compounding medicines to answer the intention ; but I will not enumerate them here, as the blistering ointment given in the last chapter will be found to answer better for young horses thaa anything yet found out ; and for an old horse, or one that has come to his full strength, you may add a dram of sublimate, finely powdered, to two ounces of the blistering ointment, and stir it well up. Before these are applied, the hair mnst be cut off very close, and then the ointment laid very thick on the affected part. It is proper to make the application in the morning, and to keep the horse tied up to the rack all day without any litter; but at night he must be littered in order that he may lie down ; and to prevent the blister from coming off, put a white pitch plaster over it, and tie it on with broad tape. When the blister has done running, and the scabs begin to dry and peel off, it should be applied a second time in the same manner as be- fore, and the second will have a much greater effect than the first. When the Spavin has continued long, the blister will have to he often renewed, perhaps five or six times ; but it is necessary to observe that after the second time you must not be less than three weeks be- fore you lay on the third, or you will destroy the roots of the hair anH leave the place bald. By these means Bone-Spavins may often be cured ; but when they fail, recourse must be had to firing. Before you fire a horse for the Bone-Spavin, be careful to take the vein out of the way, for it generally lies over the Spavin, and vou 4 50 TUF, COMPLETE FARRIER cannot fire deep enough to come at the callous substance without its removal. In order to destroy tiie vein, cut a nick through the skin upon it, just below the Spavin, and another just above it, and put a crooked needle under the vein, and tie both ends : then cut the vein across between the tyings, both above and below, and you may either draw the piece of tlie vein out or leave it in. Let the iron you tire with be pretty sharp ; cut four or five nicks upon the bone, and let the iron take hold of the superfluous bone, in order that it may waste away by mattering; and when you have done, lay on some white pitch, pretty hot, and put a cloth round it to keep it on. In three days open the place, and dress it with yellow basilicon. Some people put lunar caustic, or sublimate, into the places ; but it is a dangerous practice, and often lames the horse for ever. I wish those who have got a horse that has a Bone-Spavin to make a full trial of the directions here given, and I trust they will find them to answer the purpose as well as any hitherto found out. THE BLOOD-SPAVIN, OR BOG-SPAVIN. Many farriers and horse-dealers divide this disease into two heads, and give them different names ; but to my certain knowledge they are both one, for I have proved it many ways. A Blood-spavin does not come by breeding from spavined mares, nor by being got by spa- vined horses, as the Bone-spavin does ; but you may safely breed out of a Blood-spavined mare, or have foals got by a Blood-spavined horse. In my opinion Blood-spavins are generally brought on either by Sprains, or hard labor when the horse is young, and sometimes when he is full-grown. The Blood-spavin, or Bog-spavin, is a dilation of the vein that runs along the inside of the hock, and forms a small soft swelling in the hollow part, which in time renders the creature lame, but seldom till the gelatinous matter becomes ropy, like melted glue in a bag, and is situate on the inside of the hough. Sometimes it goes through to the back part of the joint, and then it is called a thorough-pin. Cure. Soon as you discover ihe vein puffed up, or forming a bag, lay on some blistering ointment, and in four days after bathe the swelling well with hot vinegar, with a little saltpetre dissolved in it. Also put a bandage round it to disperse the swelling as much as you can. If this method do not succeed, you must make two incisions in the skin lengthwise, as the vein runs, one just above, and the other just below the joint, and lay the vein bare : then put the end of a buck's horn under it, raise it up, and fasten it in both places with waxed thread : then cut the vein in two at both places, within the ty- ings, and if you think proper, draw the vein out. This method of proceeding will cure most Bog-spavins at the beginning. Spring, or the back end of the year, is the most proper time for this operation, but the latter is preferable, as you can then let the horse run out most of Winter, which will be of great service to him. THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 5l If the above method fail of a cure, you may make an incision into (he bag witli a knife, and let out tlie gelatenous matter, and then dress the wound with a digestive ointment till the bag be destroyed. Bui this is a dangerous method; and although it may answer in some cases, it will not in others. Should the joint run a joint-lee, the cure IS not to be depended on. In old horses nothing can be done that will be of service. A CORB. This is a soft swelling that rises out of the joint on the back part of the hind-leg, just below the hock, and mostly lames the horse* be- sides being unpleasant to the eye. To cure it, strike a few holes into it with a pricker, made so as just to go through the skin, then rub well with oil of origanum, and blister as often as needful. A RING-BONE. This is so well known that I need not describe it, but only point out the remedy ; yet I must observe that a Sprain in the Coffin is sometimes taken for a Ring-bone when it causes a rim to rise just above the foot. Ring-bones come out from the pastern, between the fetlock and the foot ; but if the pastern is long, they are nearer the foot. They will generally yield to the same method of cure as a Corb, especially if just coming out, but if not, recourse must be had to firing. Splents, Osselets, or any other bony or fleshy substances on the legs may be cured in the same manner. A Splent on the shank-bone is only a grievance to the eye, and will go away of itself when the horse comes to age ; but the sooner those that are near the knees or the tendons are removed the better. MALLENDERS AND SALLENDERS. The first is on the fore-leg, at the bend of the knee, and the last on the hind-leg, at the bend of the hough. They crack and throw out a thin brown matter, and sometimes a hard scurf, or scab, which pre- vents the horse from bending the limbs which are affected as he should do. Cure. They both proceed from the same cause, and consequently require the same treatment ; which consists in washing the parts with old chamber-lie, or a warm lather of soap-suds, and afterwards ap- plying strong mercurial ointment, spread on tow, to the cracks, once a day till the scabs fall off, when the cure will be completed ; and then it will be necessary to give him a dose or two of physic. If the disorder will not yield to the mercurial ointment, make a strong mix-^ ture of vitriol water, and wash the cracks with it, and it will dry them up, and cause the scabs to fall off. THE STRANGLES. Most horses have this disorder while young, but at seven years oli they are out of danger. There are two kinds of this disorder. 52 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. The common kind is a swelling under or between the jawoones. The other, which is called the bastard kind, is much the worst. Sometimes swellings appear on the buttocks, break, and discharge matter for a few days, and then dry up, after which others appear in a fresh place in the same manner. I have known horses that have had this complaint eight or ten weeks. The common kind begins with a swelling between the jaw-bones, which sometimes extends to the muscles of the tongue, and is often attended with so much heat, pain and inflammation, that before the matter is formed the creature swallows with the utmost difficulty. SyMPTOivis. The Strangles is attended with great heat and fever, a painful cough, and great inclination to drink, without being able. Some horses lose their appetites entirely, and others eat but very little, occasioned by the pain resulting from the motion of the jaws in chewing and swallowing. When the horse runs much at the nose, it is not a good sign. Although this disease is very troublesome, it is not dangerous, except when the swelling turns upwards against the windpipe and gullet, and then there is danger of suffocation if it do not break soon. Cure. The Strangles is not properly a disease, but a discharge common to young horses, and therefore it follows that the discharge must be promoted in order to throw off the offensive matter. The best method of doing this is to keep the swelling always soft by soak- ing it with softening ointment, such as marshmallows, or elder oint- ment. I have known oil of swallows, with a little spirits of hartshorn in it, be very useful in bringing the swelling forward and causing it to break. A cloth in the form of a cap, put on the horse's head, and stuffed with wool to keep the swelling warm, will be of great service. Some people apply a poultice, but there is no need of this if the above be properly used. Give plenty of warm water, with a little meal on it : for in this disorder a horse cannot swallow dry meat enough for its support. Sometimes the Strangles gather four or five times, and break in many places ; and you must observe that if the orifices are not wide enough, they must be opened with the point of a knife, and by this means it will be prevented from breaking out in so many places. After the swelling appears, it will be five or six days before it breaks and discharges. There is always a small discharge at the nostrils, but it is little or no grievance to the horse. When the swelling is broken, and the orifice of a proper size to discharge the matter, dress with the following ointment spread on tow. Take Yellow Rosin and Burgundy Pitch, of each one pound; Honey and Common Turpentine, of each half a pound; Bees' Wax, four ounces; Hogs' Lard, one pound and a half; and of Verdigrise, finely powdered, one ounce. Melt the ingredients to- gether, but do not put the Verdigrise in till nearly cold, and keep stirring all tlie time till cold, or the Verdigrise will fall to the bottom. This is one of the best salves for wounds that has been found out, and especially for old ones. The Bastard Strangles requires the same kind of treatment, but it is proper to give the horse a dose or two of calomel physic also. THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 5Z THE GLANDERS This disease has baffled all who have tried to cure it, and pf^bably will do so to the end of time ; so I advise those who may have a glandered horse, to put him oti' as soon as they shall be certain that he is so. People often mistake other disorders for the Glanders. A violent cold sometimes causes a running at the nostrils, and kernels under the jaws, when the horse is free from the Glanders. Some- times a running at the nostrils is caused by laying too much weight on a horse. I once bought one at Boroughbridge fair, which I soon after sold, and eleven weeks after that had him returned as a glan- dered horse ; but I kept him for some time afterwards, and he neiihei' /nfected others nor lost his flesh. This horse was bought from a miller, who had overloaded him, which caused him to bleed at the I lose ; afterwards he began to run at the nose, and did so during the lime that I had him, which was nearly half a year. I do not pre- (end to cure this disorder. SyjiPT0.'\is. The matter discharged from the nostrils of a glandered liorse is either white, yellow, greenish, or streaked or tinged with Mood. When the disease has been of long standing, and the bones lire fouled, the matter turns blackish, and becomes very bad. The glanders is always attended with a swelling of Me kernels, or jflands under the jaws, but in every other respect the horse is gener- fdly healthy and sound, till the disorder has continued some time, and Ihe morbid matter has affected other parts. If a thin limpid fluid be first discharged, and afterwards a whitish laatter; if the gland under the jaw do not continue to swell, and the *''isorder shall have been recently contracted, a speedy cure may be effected by applying the following. 1 oz. of Roach Alum. 1 do. White Vitriol. Powder these well, put them into a pint of warm vinegar, and s^ ringe about an ounce up his nostrils every day. This may do good if the disorder be newly caught. SWELLINGS AND IMPOSTHUMES. It is diflicult to treat on Swellings, as so many external or internal accidents happen to horses ; the former by blows or bruises, and the latter by disorders. When a swelling is in its first stage, bathe it well with verjuice, or vinegar, with a little saltpetre dissolved in it; and if the swelling still continue, mix — 1 oz. of Extract of Lead. 1 oz. of Spirits of Sal AniLaoniiic. 1 do. Spirits of Wine. 3 do. Vinegar. Rub the swelling well with it; but if it be very hot. add four ounces of water instead of the vinegar. Should the swelling come forward and form matter, which you may feel by the pressure of your finger, let the matter out, but be sure to make the incisi9n large enough that you may dress it with ease. When -you have laid the part open, dress 64 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. it Mith the green salve before recommended, on tow, for you cannot i.ave a more proper salve. The next time you dresa it, thai is tho day after, make a wash of the following : — 2 oz. of Spirits of Wine. 1 oz. of Roacli Alum. 2 do. Spirits of Rosemary. 2 do. Water. Mix these all together, and they will answer the purpose extremel) well. When you have washed the wound with the above mixture, lay on a little green salve, on tow, and bind it on if you can, but if you cannot, lay on a plaster to keep it on. Some swellings, such as have been caused by bad barfens on the shoulders, or blows on the legs, will not submit to weak mixtures, nor come to matter in a reasonable time. Mix the following, and it will either take them off or bring them to matter. 2 oz. of Oil of Spike, mmmm J oz. of Oil of Origanum. 1 do. Oil of Amber, mramna 1 do. Oil of Turpentine. Mix these well together, and rub the swelling well with them every other day. I have known this remove obstinate swellings. WOUNDS, Wounds are caused by accidents of various kinds. When the skia is much torn from the flesh, if you are at hand while the wound is quite fresh, take a square-pointed needle and a waxed thread, an 1 sew it up. Mind to put the needle in straight, one side over against the other; draw the skin tight, and lie a knot; cut olf the thread, and then take another stitch about an inch off, and so proceed. When some people sew up a wound they do it the same as they would sew it piece of cloth, but that is quite wrong, for they should tie a knot al every stitch, and cut the thread off. But when you do not see the wound till the place is growing dead, and the skin is drawing up, then take off the loose skin; for if you keep it on it will curl up, and leave a blemish. Always keep the lips of the wound down. When a wound is upon or near a joint, there is danger of its throw, ng out a joint-lee, of which there are three kinds. One, and mostly lie lirst, is tliin and brown, sometiiing like sweet wort : the second is rather thicker and tougher, something like melted glue ; and the third, whicli is the w^orst, is like muddy water and snort mixed together. Tliis last has deceived many people; for when the wound has tlirown out this kind of lee, with little white slippery pieces, something like matter, it has often been taken for such. When you find any of these kinds of lee, get a bottle of Riga Balsam, and syringe tho wound every day. If Riga Balsam cannot be got, use Tincture of Benjamin. I have known fomentations be of great use, especially on the stiffle joint. When the wound is of a dead color, and the lips rise, and the dirty lee flows profusely, the cure is to be despaired of, If proud flesh rise when a wound is in a fair way for healing, take — 1 oz. of Basillicon. 2 drams of Red Precipitate. Mix them well together, and lay them on the proud flesh. This ointment is also very proper to dress a wound with that appears^dead THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 55 and does not discharge a proper matter. If the proud flesh do not submit to the above, lay on a little blue vitriol, in powder, or touch it with caustic or oil of vitriol ; and should none of these make it give way, lay on a little corrosive sublimate. The salves, tinctures and mixtures already laid down are sufficient to cure any cui'able wound. HURTS IN THE FEET. Horses are oftener hurt in the Feet than any where else, and those hurts are often received from the blacksmith. Every blacksmitli should be a farrier, and every farrier a blacksmith, for these busi- nesses should go hand in hand. What is a man fit for who has got the theoretical part without the practical ? A man that has a head and no tongue will do but little mischief, but one that has a tongue and no head may do much. Few of the fine farriers sent from the hospitals have done any good, but many of them a great deal of hurt. A man without education who has a gift, is better than a man who has edu- cation but no gift ; and a man of sobriety will far excel one without it. A fine tongue often proves a snake in the grass. Sometimes a horse is lamed by being shod into the quick. The foot should always be carefully examined on the first appearance of lameness. Sometimes a nail with a flaw in it will cause a great grievance, as one part will come out and the other will go into the foot. Blacksmiths should never use such nails except in a frost, when they can put them into the old holes. Sometimes they leave stumps, or pieces of nails in the feet ; and sometimes when they drive a nail they turn the point into the foot, and then draw it back and put in another, taking no further thought about it, and when the horse becomes lame they say he is gravelled. Few blacksmiths will stop at telling a lie to clear themselves. When a horse has got lamed in the foot, be careful to cut it well out, and to damage the hoof as little as possible, and dress the place with oil of turpentine, spirits of tar, and common tar. Lay no hot, drying drugs on, unless proud flesh rise. Sometimes corns in the heels cause a horse to be lame ; — cut them out, and dress the place with aquafortis. There is another fault which blacksmiths are guilty of, and which is a great hurt to a horse, that is, cutting or paring the heel down too much. The heel being best to come at, they clap the paring-knife there and cut them down, when there is no need to take any off them at all. The heels are the o-reat- est support of the horse, and by paring them too thin, both conis and lameness in the back sinews are produced. Before a blacksmith begins to shoe a valuable horse, especially a road-horse, he should examine how he stands and how he goes. If he go low, heavy shoes should be used; but if he high, light^ones. If ne turn his toes out, he will cut with the heel, and if he turn them in, will cut with the spurn. If he have a thin, flat foot, he should have broad shoes ; but if a hollow, dished foot, narrow ones. If the crust DC thin, and the vein near, small nails should be used. Some horses are hoof-bouid, that is, have strait heels which piucii 56 THE COMPLETE FARRIER. the vein between the hoof and the coffin. When this is the case, thin the soles of the feet till the blood springs through, and then put on screw-shoes, and screw the feet out. Let the tscrew-shoes stay on a fortnight. You may screw the feet out more than half an inch. The next thing to be considered is gravel rising from the bottom to the top of the foot, and breaking out at the cornet. How many twit- ter-bones have been thus formed that might have been prevented! When the gravel comes up to the top of the foot, take away the sole at the bottom, and the hoof at the top, and mix equal parts of oil of turpentine and oil of origanum, and bathe the top part of the foot. This will prevent a Twitter from forming. A TWITTER-BONE. A Twitter-bone makes a horse very lame, and not fit for work. It keeps throwing a tough white matter out of what is called a pipe. In order to cure it, first find out to where the pipe leads. This you may do with a piece of round lead, the size of a small quill-barrel, {lave the following ready, viz. Half an oz, of Sublimate, in fine powder, put into I oz. of Spirits of Salt , and as soon as the Sjiirits dissolve the Sublimate, put to it the juice of a middle-sized lemon. iVIix all together, and syringe a squirt full into the pipe when you take the lead out; and when you draw out the point of the syrmge, put your thumb upon the place to prevent it coming back again, and then put on a pledget of green salve and tow. Do this every other day, for three or four times, and by this method most Twitter^ may be removed. But, if this method fail, the next thing to be done is to put a hot iron, the thicknes of a small finger, where the pipe leads to, and to fill the hole with sublimate, and bind on it a pledget of greeu salve with a cloth. Let it be five days, and then lay on some more salve and tow, and in five days more the twitter-bone and pipe will come out. The wound must be washed with the following mixture, and dressed with green salve and tow every other day, till nearly well. 1 oz. of Bole. 1 oz. of Oil of Origanum. 4 oz. of Oil of Turpentine. Shake them up well together, and they will both help to heal the wound and to bring down the substance. If any more twitter-bones or pipes form, you must take them out in the same manner. A FISTULA, AND BRUISES OF THE WITHERS. This disorder has formerly balHed many people who were expert in surgery, but of late years it has been better understood, and the cure more easily performed. The Withers are very subject to bruises, which are often caused by bad saddles, or such as are too wide in the front ; but, whatever be the cause, it is well known that by neglect they often terminate in a Fistula. When the withers are bruised and a swelling appears, lay a poultice of bran and vinegar over the part. People who have a horse which is crushed in the Withers, and pay no regard to it, are worse than savages, and are not fit to have such an useful animal. THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 57 Cure. After a horse has been bruised in the Withers, the skin breaks and matter is discharged, and then the owner supposes that the abcess will subside, but he is often mistaken ; and the pipe which he perceives throwing out matter, is at the same time running forwards in the Withers, and forming a Fistula. When you lind the disease proceeding in this manner, lay the pipe open with a sharp penknife all the length ; lor if you leave any unopened, it will form a Fistula. After you have laid the place open, dress it with the following mixture. 4 oz. of Potashes. 2 oz. of White Vitriol. 4 do. of liouey. 1 pint of Vinegar. Boil all together, wash the wound well with the mixture, and lay on the green salve and tow. If the above be not dry enough, add two ounces more of white vitriol, and two ounces of bole. These will make a salve by themselves; and by these methods you may cure any disease of the Withers arising from external injuries. But tumors often arise in the Withers from internal causes, such as the crisis of Fevers. When this happens you must not attempt to stop if., nor use anything to put it back, for by this means you would drive il more into the shoulder-blades, and make it worse to cure; but, on the contrary, do everything you can to assist nature in bringing it for- ward. You cannot do better than lay on poultices twice a day till it breaks, for reason tell us that it is better to do so than to cut it; but when it is broken, open the orifice with a knife, that 5'-ou may have more freedom in dressing it; but be careful in using the knife, that 3*ou do not catch hold of the ligament which turns along the neck to the Withers. Sometimes it runs to the other side of the neck, under the Withers. The cure is the same as before. Lay all the cavities open with the knife, and do not cut across if you can avoid it. Then lake the following never failing mixture to dress with. 4 oz. of Crude Sal Aiiiiiiouiac. 2 oz. Pearl-Aslics. 2 do. Bole. 2 do. \Miite Vitriol. 8 do. Honey. 1 pint of Vinegar. Boil all together, and apply it to the wound every day at first, and afterwards every other day till well. WARBLES, GIRTH-GALLS, AND PLUSHES FROM SADDLES. These grievances are commonly known, and every one has a cure for them, as he calls it. Some lay on hot spirits, and others blue stone vitriol, and many other things ; but such things are very improper, for they always leave the grieved part hard and sore ; but the follow, ing mixture will effect a cure, take olF the soreness, and leave the skin kind. I may affirm that it is one of the best recipes yet found out for the purpose. Take 2 oz. of Extract of Lead. 2 oz. Spirits of Wine. i do. White Copperas. 4 do. Soft Water. lililUih 1 oz. Spirits of Sal Ammoniac. Mix all together in a bottle, keep shaking it up, and rub the affected j.]aces well with it, and put your saddles and barfens on while tho places are wjt, in order to prevent them from infecting other horses. 88 THE COMPLETE FARRIER Sometimes horses have what are called Setfasts on their bai no general rules can be given for them. THE END