Gentleman's Stable Dire�tory.

�ty NINq-H EDITION\nptb Enlarged*

f Price Six Shillings |n boards,, or Seven Shillings bou,id. J
©nteica at ^tarioBfM l^-"v'^f--

THE NINTH EDITION,
Considerably enlarged, and carefully corrected.

Gentleman's Stable Direftory;

Prefent e?iiire improved Mode ofPraBice:

All the molt, valuable prescriptions and approved remedies,
accurately proportioned and properly adapted to every known

disease to which the HORSE is incident.

Interfnerfed with occasional remarks upon the dangerous and
almoii obfolete practice of Gibson, Bracken, Bartlet>
Csmer, and others.

A!fo directions for feeding, bleeding, purging and
getting into condition for the chase.

To *which are no-zv added,
USEFUL INSTRUCTIONS FOR BUYING AND SELLING J

Containing experimental Obfervations upon the Management c.^c. Draft
Houses, their Blemishes and Detects.

Sir JOHN LADE, Bart.

By W I L L I A M T A P L I N, Surgeon.

PKOTED FOR G. KEARSI.EY, AT JOHNSON'S HEAD,
RO, 46, IN FLEET STREET. I789.

Sir JOHN I^ADEy Barh

fnr^HE very diftinguimed character;
I and eminent fituation you fup^
port in the /porting world, to the
great pleafure and admiration of thole
who furround you in the field and ac-
company you in the chafe, will, in
the opinion of every experienced
sportsman, fufficiently juftify the
confiilency and propriety of inferibing
to you this earneft endeavour to refcue
from the frequent and dread/ul effects
ofsTABULARiAN ignorance, and em-
pirical confidence, the future eafe,
fafety, and prejervation, of an animal
i that

that not only conftitutes to every
sportsman one of the nobleft
bleflings in life, but, in the fplendour
of your Jiitd_y JIables, and equipage^
affords ample difplay of your taste,

JUDGMENT, and LIBERALITY. It IS

a gratification highly flattering, that I
have the prefent opportunity to fub-
fcribe myfelf,

With refpe�t and admiration,
Sir John,
Your moil obedient^

And very humble fervant,

ON THE PUELJCATIC2* OP T5B

T would be a tacit acknowledgment of

the author's total infenfibility to every
gratification of ambition, was he to omit the
communication of acknowledgments that, in
their general diffufion, contribute fo very much
to his own honour. And he mud ever con-
fider it no fmall compliment to his endeavours
that the work is univerfally known to have
been crowned with the mod perfect fuccefs,
The very great and almoft unlimited portion
of fupport that has fo Angularly fandtioned its
birth, fufficiently demonflrates the abfolute
Want of fuch publication.

This pleafing incenfe to literary vanity
could be increafed only by the conftantly

riii To the R E A D E R,

accumulating encomiums, and moji Jubftantid
proofs of private approbation, from fome of
the firft, characters within the circle of The
Royal Hunt and Favour. Sportfmen, the pro-
pitious omen of whofe patronage not only
' reflects rays of additional honour, but whofe
judgment, equeftrian knowledge, and prac-
tical experience, jointly eftablifh a criterion of
equity that will ever render the author invul-
nerable to the barbed and envenomed arrows
of menjlrual criticifm.

The rapid circulation of EIGHT hrgQ
impreffions has forcibly influenced the author
to make fuch additions and improvements
as will, he has every reafon to believe, render
it of ftill greater utility by the introdticlion of
many ufeful obfervations for the prefervation of
health and promotion of condition, as well as the
treatment and cure of difeafe.

The proper management of draft horfes is
more particularly attended to, their blemimes

and defects are in many inftances evidently
accounted for, and the modes of prevention,
in general, clearly pointed out. Several effica-
cious prefcriptions are likewife added, and a
variety of ufeful inductions introduced, for
the diftincl: and feparate information of metro-
politan jockies, juvenile purchafers, and inex-
perienced'/port/men; with very interefting hints
for the purpofes of buying andjelling, including
(among many other ftriking and advantageous
particulars) a fuperficial furvey of that immacu-
late mart of integrity�A Modern Repofitory.

IT is a truth generally acknowledged and
univerfally lamented that, amidfl: all the
improvements of the prefent age, none has re-
ceived fo little advantage from the rays of re-
finement as the Art of Farriery. And, it mull
be likewife confeffed, it is an ill compliment to
a country abounding with [port/men, and thofe
remarkable for their extreme liberality, that
the intellectual faculties of many diftinguifhed
members of the different learned focieties mould
be abforbed in abftrufe contemplations and
intenfe lucubrations upon the antiquity of a coin
the probojcis of an elephant, the genus of an ex-
otic, or the beautiful variegations of a butterfly;
whilft a branch of fcience and ftudy, involving
the health, fafety, and prefervation, of the
mod beautiful and efteemed animal this king-
dom has to boail, is neglected as derogatory to

the dignity of a man of letters; and, from this
miftaken idea of degradation, a fubjecl of (o
much confequence has been for many years
fubmitted to the arbitrary dictation of the mofl
illiterate part of the community, without a
iingle effort of weight or influence to aboliih
the ancient and almoft obfolete mode of prac-
tice -_} or a iingle attempt made, from proper au-
thority, to introduce the modem improvements
and difcoveries in every branch of medicine.
It is moil: certain there is no one period of hif-
tory where the horfe has been ranked fo high
in general eftimation, or rendered of fuch in-
trinsic worth, by a difplay of his various
powers, as in the prefent age of experiment
and refinement.

this paufe may undoubtedly be attrr-
�eat atenrion pa 1 for fome
the oret-d of thf diftincT: and fe-
< lafH for the turf, field, roaa, or draft;
a it vrilu- h. ■-,., in a vej ■�� Chort fpace of
abi lately doubled their former worth,
� we osght to be proportionally anxious
foi :heir prefervation whether for [port, con-
ve tnce or emolument. The almoft incredible
j umber of this truly valuable part of the crea-
tion

tion that annually fail victims to the invinci-
ble confidence of thofe rufticfons of Vulcan,
felf-denominated farriers, (with the thunder
of whofe ignorance almoft every village re-
founds), has for years feemed to implore the
affiitance of fome intelligent member of fociety
to come forward; and, by blending the ad-
miniftration of medicines with a practical
knowledge of their properties and effects, refcue
the poor fufFering animals from the conftanf,
invariable, and unrelenting, depredations of
illiterate practitioners and experimental per/e-
cutors.

Well aware of the arduous talk of attempt-
ing to eradicate vulgar and habitual prejudices
in favour of ancient practice, or the improba-
bility of reconciling attachments of long {land-
ing to the rational fyftem of modern competi-
tion ; and the little chance of exploding entirely
the heterogeneous and inconfiftent farrago (6
long in ufe, univerfal fatisfaclion is not to be
expected, or approbation obtained. But when
a clear, open, and candid comparifon is drawn.
by the more enlightened, between the accu-
mulation of contrarieties in the laboured pre-
fcriptions « of Gibson and Bracken," with
A 3 the

the indigefted obfervations of the more intel-
ligent, though lefs prolix and digrefiive,
" Bartlet," the leafl doubt is not enter-
tained but every degree of favour will be (hewn
to a fyftem of pra&ice founded on reafon, fup-
ported by experience, and juftified hy a general
knowledge of medicines, their principles, pro-
perties, preparations and effe&s.

To difpel the gloom of ignorance from the
brow of obftinacy would be a tafk of Her-
culean labour j I therefore wave every idea
of animadverfion upon the intuitive knowledge
of thofe, who, wrapt up in the warm and happy
confolation of their own wifdom, never fuffer
their folid'judgments to be warped by the iri-
trufion of new opinions; and proceed to make
the neceffary remarks upon the qualifications
of thofe country praditioners who rank very
high in self-estimation.

And fuch obfervations as are rendered un-
avoidable fhall occasionally appear with all
poffible delicacy, wifhing to irritate, as little as
may be, the feelings of any individual, whofe
want of cultivation and improvement mud be
considered a misfortune, not a crime; but, in
7 whofe

^hofe deficiency of profeffional knowledge
confifts thfe danger which fo often occurs and
expofes him to that labyrinth of perplexity,
that dilemma of diftrefs, from which no bril-
liant fertility of genius, no idea of the ftruc-
ture of parts, no correfponding knowledge of
medicines, or their effeas, can poffibly arife to
extricate him, vvhilft the fuffering animal (in
perhaps the moft excruciating agonies) expires
at the feet of this " learned judge" jury, and
executioner.

Experience juftifies the affertion, that nine
times out of ten the complaint (if internal)
remains a matter of hypothefis and conjecture,
without one explanatory note, fentence, firug,
or ejaculation, by which we may be led to
underftand or difcover the caufe: but, as pro-
feffional ftupidity rnuft be defended, we are
at laft told (with a fyftematic fimplicity and
vacuity of countenance) " the horfe is in a
" great deal of fain."

This firft point being (not without fome dif-
ficulty and feeming depth of thought) at length
difcovered, the remedy is then to be obtained;
and as, in general, cowards once pumed on

become bold in proportion to the danger, (o
according to the exigency, fome powerful
" Mcmdragora" of the " Materia Medico" is
inflantly procured; and, as reputation muft be
fupported, (o " kill or cure," (time out of mind
the ancient and modern medical motto) is
compulsively adopted, and the whole arcana'
of equeftrian knowledge is let loofe, from the
very limple preparation of " fugar fops," to the
more remote, active, and dangerous mercury,
till relief is fortunately obtained, or the falling
favourite expires, in tortures, a martyr to the
ignorance of the practitioner and the credulity
of its owner!

To corroborate this fadl one felf-evident ob-*
fervation only is neceflary to give it due weight,
in opposition to a mind even prejudiced againft
the innovations of improvement in practice
or rectification in judgment". For inflance�Is
it poffible�can it (after a moment's reneclion)
be fuppofed�that thefe men, totally unculti-
vated in underftanding and the moft, common
occurrences in life, whofe minds are as rude and
uncivilized as their manners, can be at all con~
verfant or acquainted with the different pro-
perties, qualities, operations or effects, of a long

"ft of medicines, to all of which they are
"rangers even in appearance, pofTefling no
^other knowledge of the very articles fpecified
out what they have acquired from books and
prefcriptions, long lince become obfolete and
ufelefs from their inefficacy ? Can they be ex-
pected to underftand the chemical procefTes of
mercury antimony, and other dangerous medi-
cines they conftantly put into ufe, vvithout
knowing their origins, preparations, combina-
tion of principles, or the exact line of diftinc-
tion that renders them falutary remedies or
powerful poifons I

It is alfo highly neceftary to introduce a
matter perfectly applicable to the fubjecl: of in-
veftigation, as an impofition very little known
(except to the faculty); and is a palpable dif-
grace to that body, of which every profeffor of
medicine constitutes a member. It is the com-
mon and fcandalous adulteration of drugs, a
practice too prevalent amongft the druggijls in
the metropolis, as well as the country; who,
from the predominant paffion of gain, fo curi-
oufly adulterate, as to deceive even thofe who
confider themfelves adepts in deception. And
this, to be the better enabled to underfel their

competitors, convinced, by experience, the ma-
jority of farriers admit the medicines that
can be purchafed cheapest to be much the
best.

Thefe circumftances are not introduced or
hazarded as matters of opinion, but as palpable
facts that fpeak home to every reader of judge-
ment or experience; and fufficiently indicate
the neceffity of circulating, from medical au-
thority, the prefent improved fyftem of modern
compofition, univerfally adopted and generally
approved, to the approaching extermination of
empirical practice and danger out experiment.
This publication being undertaken to render as
plain and familiar as poffible a fubject that has,
through almoft every differtation, been obfcur-
ed by the mijl of ignorance and majk of myjleryi
it is anxioufiy to be defired in future, that every
gentleman who has occafion to elucidate or illu-
Urate his own underlfanding, by calling to his
affiflance any of the learned tribe before de-
fcribed, fo remarkable for their extent of com-
munication, will (previous to their adminiftra-
tion of medicine) require an explanatory pre-
lude, with fatisfadory information upon what
operations they frame their expectations of re-
lief

lief and fuccefs. With the very neceffary and
additional recommendation, to be particularly
careful to obtain their medicines from Difpen-
faries of refute, where the -proprietor is report-
ed or fuppofed to have formed a fair, honour-
^able, and equitable contract with emolument and
reputation.

And this caution is rendered more irrfme-
diately worthy confideration, by the multipli-
city of fpecious advertifements fo conftantly
held forth to promote the lucrative fale of
innumerable balls, pstvders, and pa/les, indivi-
dually infallible for every diforder to which
the horfe is incident. But what renders the
circumftance ftili more extraordinary, is their
being prefcribed and prepared, by thofe very
metropolitan practitioners in medicine, whofe
equeftrian pofieffions never amounted to a
Jingle Jleed; whofe journies or experimental
practice, never exceeded the diurnal progref-
iions of a hackney-coach; and whofe great
anxiety for the general good never furpaffed
the idea of cent, per cent, in the circulation.
This obfervation comes with a much better
grace, when I can affure the public one of
the very firft advertifers in this way was a

medical adventurer, who having failed as a
fharmacopolift at the weft end of the town
(as did his fucceffor alfo), they, in rotation,
adopted the alternative of neceffity, in pom-
poufly advertifing " Horfe medicines for the
" ufe of the nobility and gentry;" how well
they fucceeded the creditors of both can mojt
feelingly teftify;^: and of their compofitions the
reader will be beft enabled to form a compe-
tent opinion, when, in the courfe of the work
Tjojlrums and quack medicines become the ne-
cefiary fubje&s of animadversion.

OBfervation§,
Feeding, -

Condition,
Bleeding,
^Purg"mg, t

CLASS I.
Splents, »

Spavins,
"VVindgalls,
Larnenefs,
Strains, - r

Flatulent Cholic,
Inflammatory Cholic,
Scouring or Loofenefs,
Molten Greafe, -

Difeafes of the Eyes

'""jrVHE very great difcoveries made in the
■*- prefent century have certainly extended
to every art and fcience that could be mate-
rially improved by intenfe ftudy and applica-
tion j and to none more than the adminiftra-
tion of medicine, and its effects upon the
human body, by fomc of the mdft learned
men in every part of Europe: and, from the
rapid and univerfally acknowledged improve-
ments in this fyftem, the moil admirable ad-
Vantages have been obtained, and incredible
cures performed. In fuch general refinement,
the ancient mode of practice is not only ex-
ploded, but its origin and advocates nearly
buried in oblivion. Thofe flupendous folios,

the voluminous herbals in the libraries of the
botanical votaries, have reluctantly given place
to various differtations on the diftinguifhed
efficacy of thofe grand fpecifics, mercury', opium,
antimony, bark, &c. of which fo many expe-
rimental and efficacious preparations have been
difcovered by chymical procefs, as to render
of little ufe or refpect any prefcription of
ancient date, when put in competition with
the rational and approved fyflem of modern
improvements. The obflinate and invincible
advocates for the ancient mode of practice,
whether in phyfic or farriery, are at length
obliged to acquiefce in the change; for, what
they by inclination were not willing to ac-
knowledge, TIME, TRUTH, and EXPERIENCE,
have fully confirmed. But, ftrange as it may
appear (yet mamefully true it is!) notwith-
ftanding this rectification of judgment, very
little has yet been done to improve, or pro-
duce a change in the long ftanding, abfurd>
and ridiculous SYSTEM of FARRIERY;
a change as equally necejfary, juji, laudable,
equitable, and ufeful, as any that can be adopted
for the general fafety and advantage of our
own fpecies. And this becomes more necef-
farily and immediately the obje6l of ferious
2 confideration,

^onfideration, when circumftances daily evince
^to the medical practitioner (or compounder of
P^refcriptions) the very great danger to which
*ome of the finest horses in the world are
conrrantly expofcd, by the ignorance and obfti-
nacy of the parties to whofe care they are too
generally intrufted; every stable boy, aping
the groom his fuperior, and the groom the
Jelj-injlracled farrier, all have their heads
and pockets ftufFed with the quinterTence of
ftupidity, collected from the various produc-
tions of antiquity, whofe very prescriptions
are in themfelves fo obfolete, that many of
the articles included have been long fince re-
jected as of no utility. But, as variety mud
he obtained to effect the neceffary purpofe, the
mvention is inftantly fet at work to fubflitute
new ingredients, for thofe long fince aban-
doned as fuperfiuous and unnecefTary, in me-
dicinal compofition. Thefe alterations and
fubftitutes frequently form a mofl curious col-
lection of contrarieties�purgatives and rejlrin-
gents, cordials and coolers, mercurials, antimo-
mah and diuretics, are indifcriminately blended
in one mafs, as a fpecimen of thefe wonderful
improvements in the ART of FARRIERY!
And thofe who are mofl acquainted with this
B 2 practice

practice wonder lead how the dog-kennels
in every part of the kingdom are fo amply fur-
nifhed with horse flesh.

As an elucidation of this circumftance, and
to corroborate the confiftency of thefe obfer-
vations, we need only advert to the treatment
of the human fpecies in the time of that lumi-
nary, the famous Sydenham, who wasfo much
the celebrated favourite of his day, it was al»
mofi: fuppofed he could do no wrong. It being-
then a common practice of his�to order boldly
THIRTY ounces of blood to be taken from
the arm of a man, without fear of murder, or
danger otpunijhment. And this is not altogether
likely to create wonder, when we recollect
there is no law exifting to hang a phyfician for
error in judgment. Time and experience has
fixed the ftandard, according to cafes, circum-
ftances, and exigencies, from six ounces to
sixteen, which is nearly one half the original
evacuation j fo that we find by this change of
quantity the modern human body is fuppofed to
contain no more than one half the proportion
of blood that ran in the veins of the heroes of
antiquity, unlefs the whole fyftem is entirely
changed, as obferved by Gregory, in the Mock

^°ctor, who fays " The heart was for-
^cc merly on the left fide, but the COLLEGE
have altered all that, and placed it on the
" righC

To produce a cafe exactly fimilar in the
World of Farrtery, let us take a furvey
of the medical abilities of Gibson, who cer-
tainly wrote much better on the fubjecl: than
Bracken ; where we mail find ordered, in a
fingle prefcription for a purging ball, two ounces
of aloes, with the addition of the other ufual
purging articles, though modern practice and
experience fixes the eftablifhed proportion at
exactly half, or at moft. five eighths, to the
ftrongeft horfes, with the cathartic aids before
mentioned. He alfo moft courageoufly re-
commends half an ounce of calomel, or fublimed
mercury, in a fingle ball j and fpeaks of the
internal adminiftration of moft powerful poi-
fons, corrofrae fublimate, or red precipitate, as a
matter of courfe: the proportion for a dofe
being curioufly afcertained by the fublime
menfuration of a " filver two-pence," as if a
premium had been abfolutely provided by an
aa of parliament for the general extirpation of
the breed of HORSES, as defiruclive to the
B 3 interefii

interefts of fockty. Though, after prefcribing
thefe dreadful remedies, he modejily confeffes
'* in the adminiftration there is great danger j
" and, unlefs a horfe is very ftrong, he may
^tl not be able to recover from the experi-
*^c ment."

This is dot~irine (and doBoring) with a wit-
nefs! Thefe are the kind of experiments^ and
this the kind of language that has for two
centuries been held forth in almoft every trad
upon the fubjec"t: and, under thefe abfurd, ridi-
culous, dangerous, and contemptible burlef-
ques upon the application of medicine, will
any man, who wifhes well to the caufe of
humanity\ fay fame rational fyftem of redifi-
cation and improvement is not neceffary, to
refcue from the danger of perpetual experi-
ments the nobleft and moft valuable quadruped
in the creation!

The palpable neceflity for fuch improve-
ment having been univerfally admitted previous
to the fir ft edition of this work, it is Jince ren-?
dered more abfolutely needful by the recent re-
furredion of ancient practice, modernized in a
different form and periodical appearance. It has

^e^idently undergone a kind of regeneration by
*ts new birth, and is now become the child of
adoption; fanftioned with the authority of a
nominal voucher for the confifiency of its imper-
fections, and the propriety, of introducing the
irjoft incredible accumulation of prefcriptive
abfurdities that ever difgraced a medical work
offered to public infpedlion for the purpofe of
information. And what renders the impofi-
tion of ftill greater magnitude, is the very con-
fidential manner of proclaiming to the world
what every profeffor of medicine will inftanta-
neoufly refufe hid afTent to the belief of, viz.
that it is the joint production of an operative
farrier, phyficians, anatomifts, and profeffors
of furgery.

The talk of criticifm muff at all times be an
"npleafant performance, but much more par-
ticularly upon the prefent occafion, where it
^WlH be abfolutely impoffible for me to difcharge
^my obligation to an indulgent public (with
the necefTary precifion and impartiality) with-
out encountering, by this decifion, the pique or
refentment of all parties interefted in the fate
of fuch publication, or its effect upon the mul-
titude. However, the predicament I now

Hand in compels me to proceed to a thorough
explanation, feeling myfelf pledged by a public
promife not only to inve/ligate, make' clear,
and endeavour to explode, the cruelties of an-
cient practice, but to point out the equal dan-
ger of modern compojitlon even in its infancy $
more particularly when ufhered into the
world by fuch high founding authority as
may give it temporary weight with unthinkr
ing injudicious readers, or experimental ad-»
venturers.

Previous to farther animadverfion upon the
elaborate periodical work in queftion, I mail,
without the leaft intentional gratification of my
own vanity, offer to the prefent reader one
congratulatory fa�t beyond the p wer of
fophijiry to confute, or criticifm to condemn.
Amidft the paltry productions that b<'ve been
obtruded upon the public under various titles
(thofe fervile imitations or wretched, mutila-
tions of what have gone before) it is a mofl
flattering circumftance to the author, and no in-
different confolation to the publisher, that this
work will ever fupport itfelf upon the bans of
its own origin. The great fuccefs and rapid,
circulation of the former editions have totally
Z exculpated

exculpated every page from the leafr. accufa-
tion of plagiarism, as it will be found to differ
^Very materially from other publications upon the
faint [\ bjeft, and the exaSi reverfe of thofe in
circ;�].. ion. The iludious inquirer will be mod
feriouf.y difappoirited if he expects to find in
the/e pages a literal imitation and repetition of
Gibson's anatomical ftrodture, with the iden-
tical plates and corresponding referrences, or a
dangerous combination of deftruclive articles
heterogeneoufiy blended and cruelly applied.

Saying thus much to corroborate the intent
and meaning of our own work, it becomes
immediately applicable to repeat our affertions
reflecting the danger of others; particularly in
thofe truly wonderful prefcriptive parts, fo mo-
deftiy affirmed to be the conjunctive efforts of
learned phyjicians, Jludioiis anatomijh, and pro-
ficients in furgery. That the practical know-
ledge of thefe tiominal phyucians '*' in buckram"
has far exceeded every thing prefcribed before
their time, the magnitude and almoft unlimited
number of dangerous articles introduced in
their recipes will Sufficiently demonftrate to
thofe who are fo truly unfortunate as to have
the perufal fall to their lot; but more particu-
larly

lary thofe who Still more unfortunately fall

It is impoffible (without taking too much
time from the reader, or too much room in
the work) to indulge a moSl predominant wiSh
of enlarging upon the unaccountable abfurdi-
ties and aftoniShing proofs of ignorance in the
properties,'power, and ufe of medicine, that
might be juftly quoted (from this mon/irous
prodigy of modern instruction) to refcue from
the rapacity of literary imposition that clafs of
mankind who fo frequently become the dupes
of fpecious plaufibility. Jis it would afford
but little information or amufement to enume-
rate the follies or copy the illiterate prefcrip-
tions to juftify my own obfervations, or court a
coincidence from others, I (hall content my-
felf with oneafluranceto the public, that, hav-
ing taken the opinions of fome of the faculty,
(upon the recipes already promulgated in the
trifling part of the production hitherto gone
forth) they perfectly agree with me�there are
a variety introduced that would in a very few
hours inevitably reliete the Subject from every
pojjibiiity of future pain, Juffering, or d\jquie-
tude.

* mall only convey an oblique hint at thofe
catchpenny mifts, or abridgments, from the
authors before fpoken of, pubiimed under the
titles of " Ten Minutes Advice j" " The
^: Pocket Farrier," &c. &c. and proceed to
a few obfervations upon the wonderful difcove-
ries, prolix defcriptions, tedious digrejjions, and
aftsnijhing tales, of Henry Bracken (medi-
cinae do&or), who, to his diploma, which he
boafts of in his preface, adds the ftrangeft com-
plication of language, for a medical author
and phyfician, that ever difgraced a candidate
for critical direction. However bad the com-
pliment may be to my own underflandjng, or
largely it may tend to difplay my want of
tafte, I can neither condefcend to imitate him
in the' fublimity of his flyle or the fertility
of his medical invention: nor mall I prefume
to copy fo great an original, by introducing
A Tale of a Tub" in every page foreign to
the matter in queftion, merely for the purpofe
of fwelling this work to a fize that may con-
tribute to us difgrace; referving to myfelf one
confolation�if it does not become entitled to
approbation for its utility, neither pique or pre-
judice (hail have juft caufe to condemn it for
jts prolixity.

It has been hitherto cuftomary, in the in-
trodudory part of trads upon this fubjed, to
enlarge upon the fhape, make, figure, and qua-
lifications, of a horfe for the turf, field, road,
6cc. And all this might be very applicable
and proper, even now could we for a moment
fuppofe that a fportfnian does not know a
horse from an ass, or that a gentleman at*
tends a repofitory, fair, market, or fale, with
a book in his hand, or his pocket, by way of
remembrancer. Exclufive of this confider-
ation, in the prefent rbge of refinement, we
are become fo truly enlightened, that every
juvenile devotee to Diana, who has juft efcap-
ed from the tender anxiety of his mamma, and
the fuccefsful attention of his tutor, talks loudly
and confidently of the "full eye" " /mall ear"
" deep chejl," « clofe fillet" " fiort back,"
" Jlrqng pa ft em," found hoof" &c. In fhort,
all thofe qualifications that are at prefent uni-
verfally underftood, and in conftant requeiT,
by the beft judges, are very hard to obtain j
and it is by no means an uncommon thing to
obfcrve a horfe with very few good points, in
the pofTeffion of thofe we are apt to believe
(from a combination of circutnftances) have

^1E ^]n their power to be much better accom-
odated.

Since the original publication of this work
objections having been ftarted to the above
mode of explanation, as not only too concife
for the magnitude of the fubjea, but equally
inadequate to the expe&ation of the young and
inexperienced, who become inquirers more
from the motive of information than amufe-
ment; I (hall endeavour to obviate that difap-
pomtment by entering more minutely into the
defcriptive qualifications, and clearly point out
the advantages arifing from circumfpeclion to
juvenile adventurers in the equeftrian field of
fortune. Exclutive of the before-mentioned
clafs of enlightened pupils, who have improved
their theoretic knowledge by practical expe-
rience and difquifition upon the well-worn
hacks of Eton, Oxford, and Cambridge, (en-
abling themfelves to animadvert upon fplents,
fpavins, windgalls, and {trains), it muft be
confeffed there are innumerable inferiors who
having unluckily no experimental knowledge
¹⁰ ^lmprove upon, no advantage to avail them-
felves of but literary inftrudion, or dear bought
experience, it is undoubtedly juft fuch advice

fhould be inculcated as may tend to prevent
their becoming dupes to the various traps of
impofition eternally open to plunder the un-
wary.

In refpecT; then to the abfolute fhape^ make,
and figure, of a horfe", fuch rules (hall be laid
down for the felection, or choice in purchafe,
as it will be indifpenfably neceffary to adhere
to, if [peed, Jlrength or beauty (commonly
termed fafhion) are the obje&s of confider-
ation j though it may be juftly believed an al-
moft entire impofiibility" to procure a horfe
with all thofe points and advantages the eye of
caution and experience conftantly has in view.
In fuch furvey the primary and predominant
confideration (if found) is the ftate of age, but
much more particularly if required for imme-
diate ufe, at leaft that kind of ufe termed con-
flant work ; as no horfe whatever can be fup-
pofed adequate to fuch tafk at an earlier age
than rifing fix years.

To the very neceffary conviction of age mould
follow a moft minute and attentive infpeclion,
or rather ftridt examination, of thofe points
conflicting the diftinction between imperfec-
tions,

'^ms> blemijhes, and defecls; in general doubt-
^u% implied, and not always perfectly under-
wood, by the common affurance of '* Sound
wind and limb." To afcertain the veracity of
which technicalphrafeology much nicety of dis-
crimination appertains.

Amongft fportfmen (who arejuftly entitled.
to the appellation of gentlemen, and poflefs a
high and proper fenfe of honour and the prin-
ciples of equity) the general acceptation of the
word " found" has ever been, and JIM is, in-
tended to convey an honourable, unequivocal af-
furance of the perfect ftate of both the frame
and bodily health of the fubjecl without excep-
tion or ambiguity. It is meant to imply the
total abfence of blemifhes as well as defeds,
(unlefs particularly pointed out and explained);
and is really intended to confirm a bona fide
declaration of the horfe's being (at the time)
free from every imperfection, labouring under
no impediment to fight or aSlion. This is the
cftablifhed intent and meaning of the word
' found" amongft gentlemen and fportfmen; its
explication and various ufes, for the convenient
purpofes and impofitions of grooms, dealers,
black legs_t and jobbing itinerants, is too perfedly

underftood (by thofe who have run the gaunf«
let of experience and deception) to require fur-
ther animadveriion.

However, as you can but very feldom pof-
ies the good fortune to purchafe of a gentleman,
it will prove no contemptible practice to adopt
the fage old maxim, and " deal with an honeft
'* man as you would with a rogue j" this pre-
caution may prevent a probable repentance,
and palpably urges the neceffity of putting
your own judgment and circumfpedtion in
competition with the integrity of your oppo-
nent, however he may be favoured by fortune
or fanftioned by Jituation.

The prudent or experienced purchafer con-
fequently commences his talk of infpedlionv
with care, caution, and circumjpeSlion, firft ac-
curately afcertaining thejhape, make, bone, and
Jirength; collecting fufficient information from
iuch obfervation, whether his qualifications are
properly adapted to the purpofes of acquifition.
He fees him go all his paces, and forms his
own opinion upon each; or perhaps more judi-
cioufly avoids every poffibility of trick of decep-
tion, by riding the horfe and thoroughly inves-
tigating

^ll§atmg his properties; thereby efcaping bad
action, lamenefs, flatting, reflivenefs, and other
incidental imperfe&ions. He then mod atten-
tively proceeds to the more minute and necef-
*ary examination of the ftate of the eyes, wind,
Rnees_} fplents, fpavins, windgalls, ringbones,
quittors, cracks or greafe; defending laftly to
the feet, thereby avoiding corns, running thrufi,
canker, and additional defeats that young and
^experienced purchafers frequently fuppofe
"nworthy confideration or refledion, facrificing
the whole at the flmne oifigure and fajhion.

In the choice and purchafe of a horfe, fe-
lecled for whatever purpofe, it is an invariable
and eftabliChed cuftom with the beft judges to
come as near the following points and advan-
tages as circumftances will permit, thereby
gaming in each an additional ftep to the fum-
mt of perfection. For the defired or intended

eig t, fize, and figure, being afcertained and
procured, all other neceffary points fo ftridly
correfpond (in a certain degree of uniformity),
that what gives fpeed and firength to a large

°rfe will proportionably contribute fiaular
advantages to a fmaller.

To conftitute that uniformity the head and
ears mould both be fmall and fhort, with a
large full eye and open extended nofiril; a
long well proportioned neck, riling gradually
upon the withers, forming what is generally
termed " a fine forehand," having great depth
from thence to the point of the breaft, which
being wide affords ample proof of firength, as
does the neceffary declination of the moulder
(or blade bone) to the point of the withers
another of fpeed. This combination forms a
�well made horfe before, which is continued to
the remaining parts of the frame, by the backs
being fhort and even, not finking at all in the
loins, or rifing higher behind upon what is
termed " the crupper bone-" the carcafe fhould
be round, and well ribbed up to the hip bones,
(forming as trifling a hollownefs or concavity
in the flank as poffible) thefe being by no
means pointedly prominent. The legs mould
not be too long for the height of the horfe, but
fhort in the joints, and particularly fo upon
the paflerns.

Thefe inftrudionsrefpeclingyZw^, make, and

figure, will (with very few exceptions) prove

leading traits to the neceffary and defirable qua-

locations. To afcertain the whole of which,
ⁿo invariable rules can be laid down as an in-
fallible guide to certain perfection; for there are
many inftances of very well fhaped horfes hav-
ing proved indifferent goers, and others fo en*-
tirely crofs made as to poffefs hardly a good
point, being equal in action to fome of the
fined figures in the kingdom. Rules or in-
ftruclions thus liable to exception, (though they
are eftablifhed by cuftom, and in a great degree
juftified by experience), have yet fome claim
to contribution from the perfonal cbfervation
and deliberate judgment of the purchafer; for
furely it cad require no extraordinary portion
of genius, or extent of penetration,- to diftin-
guifh between " a good goer' and a bad one; if
fo, the adventurers may as probably fland in
need of an inftrudtor to point out the differ-
ence between a horfe and a mare.

Notwithftanding thefe inductions may con-
tribute to form the judgment of a juvenile
and inexperienced purchafer, yet he mould
never attempt to obtain a high priced horfe
from the hammer of a modern repofitory,
without the advantage of an affiftant, perfectly
adequate to the arduous tafc of difcrimination.
C 2 Let

Let it be remembered, at fuch mart of inte-
grity, a horfe is feldom, if ever, difplayed in a
irate of nature;'he is thrown into a variety of
alluring attitudes, and a profufion oifalfefire,
by the powerful intermediation of art�that
predominant incentive the whip before, and
the aggravating ftimulus of the ginger behind,
(better underftood by the appellation of "fig-
ging") giving to the horfe all the appearance of
fpirit, (in fa5l fear) that the injudicious fpec-
tator is too often imprudently induced to be-
lieve the fpontaneous effort of nature.

During the fuperficial furvey, in thofe few
minutes allowed for infpe&ion and purchafe,
much fatisfa&ory invefligation cannot be ob-
tained ; for, in the general hurry and con-
fufion of " (hewing out," the fhort turns and
irregular action of the horfe, the political and
occafional fmacks of the whip, the effedf. of
emulation in the bidders, the loquacity of the
orator, and the fafcinating flourifh of the ham-
mer, the qualifications of the object, is fre-
quently forgotten, and every idea of perfection
buried in the fpirit of perfonal oppolition.

Such a combination of circumstances, tending
fo much to perplex and confufe, urges the ne-
ceflity of care, caution, and circumfpeaion.
The eyes of Argus would hardly prove too nu-
merous upon the occafion, a bridle being as
neceffary upon the tongue as a padlock upon
the pocket; for, amidft the great variety of
profeffional manoeuvres in the art ofhorfe deal-
ing, a purchafer muit be in poffeffi on of a great
lhare of good fortune orfoundjudgment to elude
the xll effeds of deception and imposition j a
circumftance fo univerfally admitted that go-
vernment confidered a fubftantial tax no im-
proper compliment to their iniquities.

The infKtution was undoubtedly originally
g°od, and for fome years proved of the greateSi
public utilityj whether, like many other of the
^moft Suable institutions, it has been prosti-
tuted to the worji ofpurpofes, remains with the
opinion of every reader to decide. For my
own p_art however highly they may be ex-
tolled, or extenfively puffed, by the parties in-
terested in their fuccefs, I _muft confefs I am
^never included within their walls but I con-
ceive rnySeif in the very centre of Chefterfield's
Miof_lmquity, _andconflder _a/Whorfe

from a repofitory equally rare with a capital

prize in the lottery.

In the midft of thefe very neceffary confi-
derations it muft be remembered fuch heb-
domadal fales are not without their acknow-
ledged conveniences; for although they are
by no means calculated to buy at, they are moft
admirably adapted for Jelling, Here you may,
in compliance with cujiom and the full force of
fajhion, get rid of the blind, lame, re/live, broken
winded, Jplented, Jpavimd, or glandered horfe,
without remorfe or fear of punilhment, The
feller, whether a nominal gentleman without
honour, or the dealer without principle, is en-
titled to every degree of duplicity he can bring
into practice ; they lay equal claim to the privi-
lege of obliquely puffing their own horjes (as
ftanders-by praifing their unequalled qualifica-
tions), and bidding for them with.a.l affe&ed
enthufiafm, thereby inducing the unwary to
proceed in the purchafe very much beyond the
intrinfic value. The credulous dupe becomes in
a fhort time convinced of the bubble, and is in
pofTeffion of no confolation bat the law of re-
taliation, by a repetition of transfer; neceffity
compels him to fell at the fame or ajimilar

^market with an equal degree of deception, in
hich he now becomes initiated j and the per-
petual routine of crippled bojpitalhorfes is thus
Supported by the very predominant plea of
felf-prefervation.

Theie fads being well eftablimed, and
amongft the experienced univerfally known,
it is generally admitted that the moft probable
method of acquiring a young, found, perfect
horfe, rauft be by purchafing in the country,
before they have made a " trading voyage" to
the metropolis; where, with the joint effedts of
indifferent riders, indolent grooms or ojliers, hot
flables, irregular feeds, and the plentiful hay and
water fyftem that frequently conftitutes livery
fubfiftence, we foon perceive fluduating hu-
mours, depraved appetite, inflamed eyes, fwell-
ed legs, cracked heels, tender feet, and a mul-
tiplicity of thofe fable comforts that inftantly '
ftrike the eye of _an experimental obferver,
when taking an occafional furvey of the public
tables in London; where they conceive they
execute every degree of equeftrian duty in the
*»gheft perfedion, though a lad, of even the
fcond clafs, from a common hunting liable in

the country would inftantly demonftrate the
contrary.

My very worthy and learned predeceffar
Bracken, in his digreffions for the public
good, has introduced (lories and fimilies of
all defcriptions and denominations, from the
funeral of his " favourite mare with ale an4
" rofemary," to the " comparifon between a
" rider of jixteen ftone and a Scotchman's
*' pack ■" ftri&ly enjoining every man (who
had not a rational idea of his own corpulence,
or circumference) to be careful in adapting
the ftrength of his horfe to his own weight j
with many other oblervations of equal faga-
city and penetration. But, as I indulge a
much higher opinion of the understandings
of thofe to whofe ferious infpedion this trea-
tife will become fubjedr, I (hall not irritate
the feelings of any fportfman, who unluckily
rides a great weight, by reminding him what
kind of horfe is mod likely to reconcile the
inconvenience, but naturally conclude every
reader will exert his judgment for the pro-
curation of fuch purchafe as will prove moft
likely to become adequate to the purpofes for
which he is intended.

OBSERVATIONS. � ri

^e alfo (from an univerfality of genius, no
°^ubt), animadverts upon the art of riding and
Qualifications of horfemen, their tempers, dif-
P°fiiions, agiiity, ahcrity, fear, fortitude, "wry
faces, and lojing of leather \' defcants largely
U|Qn the appa.^us of bits, bridles, faddles,
.6cc. entering into the very minutiae of the
riding fchool, which now would be not only
degrading the experimental knowledge of every
ip°^r fman in the kingdom, but abfolutely/»/»�-
ghng a fubjecl the acknowledged property of
^Angelo, Jftky, Hughes, and Jones.

Inrefpeftto the anatomical ftrudure of a
horfe, nothing can be added upon that fubjedt

\ ^exeite attention ; it has been already fo
minutely inveftigated and accurately explained
by Gibson and Snape, that the leaft room for
addition, or enlargement is not left for any
Succeeding writer who does not (as before ob-
served) admit the capacities of the folids to be
more enlarged, the fluids increafed, or the
heart changed from one fide to the other, fince
the days of thofe authors, who fo well ful-
filled to the public the tafks they had under-
go. And as the operative part of farriery

s not intended to come within the purpofe of
pur prefent plan, but is entirely fubmitted to

thofe whofe immediate profeffion it is' to be
moll clearly informed of; to the excellent ana-
tomical works of the above writers I refer
them for a completion of their ftudies, and
come to fuch a fyftem as it is abfolutely ne-
cefTary for every fportfman to underftand, that
he may be not only enabled to prefcribe for his
own horfes upon emergencies, but to judge of
the propriety of their treatment when, by the
feverity of circumftances, fubmitted to the
fuperintendence of others.

Much multifarious matter has conftantly
been introduced relative to the age of a horfe
by his mouth j where (after all the obferva-
tions upon the fubjecl:) it becomes an acknow-
ledged fad, by every writer, each fign is doubt-
ful, and liable to deception in the various arts
and defigns of the dealers, who, by engrav-
ing and burning artificial marks in fome teeth,
and totally extracting (or beating out) others
render the horfe of any feeming age mod: ap-
plicable to their purpofe. And thefe faults
cannot be eafily difcovered but by grooms or
judges who are in the conftant habit and prac-
tice of making fuch remarks and obfervations.

^or is there any matter in a horfe requiring
ⁿtcer difcrimination in judgment, than to
ascertain 10 a certainty the age of a horfe by his
*^eetn only, having abfolutely ken two men of
abilities and experience on the oppofite fides
of a horfe's mouth, at the fame time declare
him of-different ages; when, by exchanging
fides, each changed his opinion, and the horfe
proved, by the common rule, to be coming a
year older on one fide than the other. Thefe
doubts in refpedt to the certainty of age being
admitted, one fixed rule is incontrovertible�
that, after the mark (which is the general
guide) is obliterated, the longer the teeth are,
and the narrower the under jaw is towards its
extremity, the more the horfe is advanced in
years.

But, as the age of the horfe is fo diftin&ly
abftrafted from, and unconnected with, the
delcnption of difeafe which becomes more
immediately the fubjedt of difcuffion, I mall
leave the former to the fubtle decifion of the
ftable difputants, to whofe province it may be
faid to belong, and whom it more materially
concerns.

There can be but little doubt that whoever
becomes a purchafer, at the prefent high price
of found, frefio, and fashionable horfes, will
proportion the price to fuch deficiencies as
times and circumftances render unavoidable;
and make pecuniary allowances for advanced
age, broken 'wind, bad eyes, fpavin$,fpknts, and
a long detail of incidental imperfections. But,
as fuch neceiTary circumfpedtion does not al-
ways take place with the young and inexperi-
enced purchafer, a concife hint not to acquire
too many infirmities at a high price, merely
to gratify a little perfonal orientation in an ex-
ternal difplay of blood and fashion, cannot
be amifs. More particularly when we fo fre-
quently fee an accidental fall, and confequent
laceration upon the knees, prove the tranfient
value of what was (a few minutes before) the
objecl of admiration and pofleffion with every
beholder, now become blown upon, and of no
greater eftimation than to be unrelentingly
torn to pieces, by that moft merciful and
humane invention

A MAIL COACH OF PALMERIAN MEMORY.

Previous to the treatment of difeafes, it
cannot be inapplicable to point out fuch things

as are ftri&ly neceffary, and abfolutely con*
ducive to the prefervation of health, though
perhaps not at all times properly attended to.
For inftance, no fubject is more highly entitled
to a diftindt and feparate inveftigation than the
article of

as a peculiar attention to the qualities and
quantities of aliment is particularly neceffary
to fecure the horfe in a ftate of health and con-
^tIOn> fit for the immediate purpofe to which
^he may be deftined. To produce him at all
times ready for the turf, field, or road, be-
comes neceffary the complete ftyle of clean-
tnefs, drejfing, exercife, and various minutiae,
that conftitute the prefent perfect ftate of ftable
difcipline; which never arofe to fo high a
pitch of excellence, _and can have originated
only in a laudable emulation, thatfeems (by a
kind of fympathetic infpiration or enthufiafm)
to have taken poffeffion of every groom in
ftables of repute, and renders unneceffary the
moil trifling obfervations upon this ceremony,

where the horfes are thought worthy the at-
tention of MASTER Or MAN.

And it is equally fo in refpedt to the articles
of food. Horfes are as often out of condition
(in inferior flables) from the effecT: of improper
food as from natural difeafes. Refpeding the
moll proper food to a horfe in health, no di-
verfity of opinions can be fupported unlefs by

Experience, that inevitable touchflone of
truth, demonftrates, to an indifputable cer-
tainty, the acknowledged preference of fpring-
grafs in the field; or fweel oats, found beans,
zndfragrant hay, in the ftable; to every other
article that imagination can invent or novelty
fupply.

And here it becomes unavoidably necefTary
to introduce a circumflance that constantly oc-
curs in the courfe of obfervation ; at leaft to
thofe who, entering a multiplicity of flables,
wifh to enlarge their information or exercife
their judgment. How very common is it to
find a confultation held upon the appearance
�of a favourite horfe, who, to the furprife of

.j ^e Parties, lofes flefli, becomes dull and heavy
^ⁿ the ftable, languid in adion, fickly in coat,
^and foul in excrement, doomed to a courfe of
Purgatives, then diuretics-, and, laftly, a tedi-
ous adminiftration of alteratives, as fickly and
Unfound! And all for what ?-becaufe the poor
emaciated animal, being deftitue of the powers
°r fpeech, could not better inform his perfe-
^cutors than by his emphatical and mifinter-
Preted looks, that his hay was mufty, and con-

equently laying the foundation of many difor-
h^f\-^F°^r' ^beinS^lhus deprived of more than
tak (h- ^fupP°^rt' ^the ^trifling quantity he did

^a e (being _againft _the difpofition of nature

a� appetite) afforded little nutriment; nor of

^e ^COuld, when fourteen pounds of hay

⁰ⁿ y had perhaps patted the inteftinal canal in

JW days, i_nft_ead ₀f fifty-fix j the accurlomed

proper proportion being rated at fourteen

or twenty-four hours, where horfes are

regularly corn fe_d. _To _bring ^ _deka _in _the

I ^y ^and T^ntity of this part of the aliment
jme to every com_prehenfion, let any reader

fitti"¹^ ^tHe ^^ ⁽°^r ^try ^the ^exP^eriment) ^of

mor^ ^d°^Wn ^Wkh ^an ^exceIlent ^aPPe»te (after a

°^rC ^e^^cellent chafe) to a beef fteak nearly

�Pproachmg putrefaction, with no fauce but

hunger, no alternative but necejfity, and I be-
lieve I may venture to affert-^�the feelings of
the man and the beast will not be diffimilar
on the occafion.

Thefe circumftances attending both hay and
corn I have repeatedly been witnefs to j and
do affirm, in oppofition to any opinion that
may be formed againft me, moft horfes will
fhew, in lefs than a fortnight, both in their
Jiefa, coat and /pints, when hay or corn do
not yield or convey their proper nutriment, if
given in fair andjuft proportions. I confe-
quently avail myfelf of this fad, to urge the
neceffity of found com, pweet hay, foft water, re-
gular feeds, and as regular exercife, if a horfe is
defired or expe&ed to appear in good

The word condition, in the phfafeology
of the turf, is fuppofed to imply a horfe's
being in fuch a ftate of perfection, and in
ftrength and power fo much above the pur-
pofe he is deftined to, that he dilplays it
in figure and appearance. Fine in coat, firm
2 in

S^eA high in fpirits, zxAfreJh upon his legs.

⁰ be in this defimble ftate, if a young horfe,

^d Granger to hard work, may be readily ex-
P^e&ed, and naturally concluded ; but, on the
contrary, where a horfe has been fubjed to a
Proportion of duty, either on the turf, field,
or road, a great degree of good fortune muft
We attended him through all his journies,
ⁿ°t to have fuffered from fome one of the
^many dangers to which he has been fo repeat-
f y cxpofed. By way therefore of introduc-
!^ng ^dlreaions for getting a horfe into condition,
" ^WiU ^be ^m°ft proper to fix the criterion of
commencement at that feafon when a hunter,
g had what is called a fummer's run, is
taken up with an intent to get him into pro-
per condition for the field. The horfe being
_t* ⁿ ^UP> ^if «e is free from lamenefs, and
^efe is no blemifh, infirmity, or any other
obltacle, to forbid fuch proceedings, put him
nrit upon a vp� i or

r vciy moderate proportion of hay
and corn, and increafe it gradually, according
to the f_12e and conftitution. At the expiration

three or four days, when the hard' food

TJ ^na_r^tUrally ^be ^fuPPored to have diflodged
^e grafs, _and _fuppHed _ks ^^^ _a _oa

blood may be taken away according to the

fize, ftate, ftrength, and temperament of the
horfe, with due attention to the flefli he may
have gained, or the impurities he may have
imbibed with his pafture.

And here let me particularly caution the
operator and the owner againft that Jlovenly,
infernal, and contemptible (not to add danger-
ous) practice of fuffering the blood to fall
indifcriminately, in refpec~t to quantity and
quality, upon the ground or dunghill. This
felf-fufficient manner of

the farrier always confiders a ftriking proof
of his confequence, and a never-failing mark
of his infallibility; but it never can be too
much difcouraged, and in fact ought by no
means to be countenanced, or indeed per-
mitted. If no particular plethora or fulnefs
appears, to Vender large evacuations necefTary,
three pints will prove fufficient for a flender or
delicate fubjeel"; two quarts for the more ad-
vanced in ftrength or fize; but from the very
large and ftrong, or remarkably foul horfes,

^tnay be fafely drawn full five pints. However
^la^fe diftindtions mould be carefully made by
^eafure, to avoid the inconvenience and dan-
S^er of too much relaxing the whole fyftem;
^an impropriety in conduit that may not be fo
eafily remedied as imagined. After this eva-
cuation let the fame regular fyftem of food,
and gentle exercife, be continued for three clear
days; and on the fourth prepare his body for
the phytic intended to be taken on the foliow-
^lng morning, by giving him in the courfe of
the day three majhes of equal parts of bran and
^oats, fcalded with boiling water, and given,
^a proper degree of warmth, morning, noon,
and night; putting on the neceffary body
^clothes, at the time of giving the firft mafh,
^t0 prevent the leaft hazard of cold from the
relaxation of either body or pores. In the
morning gi_ve one of the following purging
balls, of which f_our different proportions are
fpecified, and calculated for the horfes before
mentioned, in refpecl to ftrength, Ctzc, and
conftitution. But as we (hall, in the courfe
of the work, have occafion to introduce refe-
rences to thefe cathartic balls, under
the heads of various difeafes, it will be more
convenient to diftinguim them by numbers-,
E> 2 and,

and, beginning with the weakeft, the refe*
rence neeo not only be made to the number in
future, without a repetition of the ingre-
dients.

PURGING BALL.
( No. i. )

Take of fuccotrine aloes one ounce %

India rhubarb two drachms ;

Jalap and cream of tartar each one drachm %

Ginger (in powder) two fcruples ;

Eflential oil of cloves and anifeed each twenty

drops;
Syrup of buckthorn a fufficient quantity to form

Take of fuccotrine aloes ten drachms;
Of rhubarb, jalap, and ginger, each two drachms;
Cream of tartar three drachms, and fyrup of
buckthorn to make the ball.

Take Barbadoes aloes nine drachms;

Jalap, Caftile foap, and cream of tartar, of each

two drachms;
Piagrydmm and ginger (in powder) each a

drachm �,
Syrup of buckthorn fufEcient to make the ball.

'^AKE Barbadoes aloes ten drachms;

Caftile foap and jalap (in powder) of each half

^an ounce;
^^ream °f tartar and ginger each two drachms;
°'l of anifeed forty drops; of cloves twenty

drops_; which form into a ball, with fyrup of

¹¹ ^1S ^almoft unneceffary to obferve thefe
balls are gradually increafed in their purga-
tive qualities, io a$ to be feledled by the judge-
ment of the reader, according to the ftate of
itrength _and foulnefs the fubjecT: may be in;
and are fo carefully guarded with warm aro-
matics, that the operation will (by a ftrid ad-

herence to the following rules) in general pro-
ceed without the leaft alarm or danger. The
ball being given early in the morning, let it
be warned down with a quart of water flightly
warm, to take off the nanfea as much as pof-
ilblej ieave in his rack a little fweet hay ;
and, in about three hours after, give a warm
mam of Jcaided bran, containing one fourth
of oats; upon which let the water be poured
boiling hot, and ftand a proper time to cool,
before it is put into the manger ; as, by placing
it there too hot, the fumes produce an an-
tipathy which the horfe does not eafily get
over; on the contrary, by touching the majh,
and being burnt, will not be prevailed upon
to attempt it in future. In cafe of a fixed
averlion to mafbes, a feed of .bran may be
given at the flated periods, in which may be
mixed one quart of ground oatmeal.
Water proportionally warm may be given him
to the quantity of half a pail thrice in the day*
and let his map be repeated twice that day
alfo, and early on the following morning,
about which time the phyfic may be expe&ed
to begin its operation ; but if the mafh mould
be refufed, a pail of warm water may be fub-
iUtuted -, and in two hours after the horfe

(well clothed) walked out for half an hour at
leaft. Frequent fupplies of warm water muft:
be given, and two other mafhes at their pro-
per times; by no means omitting to take him
out, and walk him gently twice or thrice in
the courfe of the day. But, as purgatives
adminiftered to quadrupeds of this defcription
cannot, from the great continuation of the
inteftinal canal, be expe&ed to commence
their operation in lefs than twenty-four hours,
no hurrying or forcing methods muft be taken
to agitate the animal, or produce preternatural
effects. So ibon as the medicine begins to
operate, kindly and patiently affift the work
by the mean's before-mentioned, at ftated pe-
riods, or at fuch times as the appetite will
permit them to be taken -, continuing the
mafhes no longer than the phyfic is laid to be
fet, or (in other words) the excrements become
firm, and refume their original form.

Indeed the managment of horfes, during a
courfe of phyfic, is at prefent fo well under-
ftood, that little more need be added upon
that fubje&j excepting the very necefTary pre-
caution to avoid cold during thefe operations,
by a proper attention to the variations of the
D 4 weather^

weather, and proportional clothing to the
horfe: for a cold caught at the feafon we fpeak
of, and particularly during a courfe of phyfic,
by fixing on the eyes or lungs, becomes an
inveterate enemy to fport, and fometimes for
the whole winter.

Six clear days mould be allowed between
the nrft and fecond dole, and the fame lpace
between the fecond and third. The entire
courfe being regularly gone through, it will
undoubtedly remove every degree offoulnefs,
jrefulting from full feeding atgrafs: and, un-
lefs fome palpable dtfecf or latent obftacle
indicates the contrary, he will (in little more
than a fortnight) by his flefld, coat, and fpirits,
prove his ability to undertake any moderate
chafe in which his rider may be inclined to
engage.

Though in the attainment of this flate of
perfection much depends upon the care an4
punctuality of the groom or fuperintendent;
the increafe in food and length (as well as
itrength) of exercife, fhould be very gradual
from the fetting of the laft dofe of phyfic; as
for inftance, the hprfg mould be regularly

taken out (if the weather permit) morning
and evening, walking him half an hour before
his water, and the fame after j which fhould
be taken at a pond of foft water, in pre-
ference to a fpring or running ftream, if pof-
fible. His dreffings fhould be as conftant and
regular as his exercife, which having been
gradually lengthened for the firfl five or fix
days; he may then, after walking his ufual
time, have a moderate gallop (increafing it
daily in length and fpeed, according to flate
and ftrength) before he is taken to water
walking him a proper time, both before and
afterj by no means adopting that mod ridicu-
lous contemptible, and pernicious practice of
galloping your horfe immediately after, in fer-»
vile iuhjection to the illiterate opinion of warm-
ing the water in the hone's belly; a cuftom
that lias, through the ignorance or folly of
fervants, proved the abfolute ruin of many bun%
dreds, as will be clearly explained in the courfe
of our future remarks, when we come to fpeak
of broken winded horfes.

This mode of exercife muft be conftantly per-

fevered in without relaxation; his gallops night

and morning fhould be increafed as well as his

walking exercife, which fhould by this time
be lengthened to a full hour in the morning,
and the fame in the evening: not only during
the time of promoting conditio?:, but regularly
continued to preferve him fo; if the owner is
prompted by the leaft fpark of emulation to
appear in the field with a portion of that eclat_sfo very much the ton in every fporting county
in the kingdom.

A proper refpect to the abilities of Bartlet
(who has very confiderably improved and mo-
dernized the fyftem of Gibson and Bracken)
induces me to give a literal copy of his prepar-
ation for " a cooling purging drinkj" which,
as he obferves, " is cooling, eafy, and quick in
" its operation, and greatly preferable, in all
" inflammatory cafes, to any other purge, as
" it paffes into the blood, and operates alfo by
*' urine."

*' T-ake fenna two ounces; infufe in a pint
" of boiling water two hours, with three
" drachms of fait of tartar; pour off and
" -diflblve in it four ounces of Glauber falts,
" and two or three drachms of cream of
ff tartar."

In inflammatory cafes, where a cathartic is
required to operate expeditioufly; or where a
horfe, by his rejecting powers, compels a ball
to regurgitate, and it cannot be eanlyor pro-
perly parTed, this drink may be admitted with
propriety. But where a dofe of phytic is given
merely as a purgative, without any indication
of instantaneous neceffity, I muft, in juftice,
certainly recommend a bail in preference: and
for this reafcn, which I doubt not will prove
perfectly confident and fatisfactory to every
mind prepared for information.�The ball
being given, is twenty-four hours in its gra-
dual dillblution in the ftomach, and fubfe-
q-A it paflage through the inteftinal canal;
this, by its gentle and regular folution of the
excrements, and lubrication of the parts, ac-
counts mod: readily for the great eafe any of
the preceding balls work off with in general,
without the leaft neceffity for all that alarm
and apprehenfion betrayed by fo many, who
prefer the chance of fpoiling, or at leaft in-
juring, a capital horfe, to feeing turn under
the temporary difquietude of a falutary courfe
of phyfic.

The fame eafe is not to be expected in the
operation of cathartic medicine conveyed in a

liquid form ; for, the joint qualities and force
of the different ingredients being let loofe at
the fame moment upon the internal coat of
the ftomach, without their ftimulative powers
being covered by aromatic or carminative in-
gredients, may (cxclufive of the difagreeable
fenfation excited by their action upon the irri-
tability of the ftomach) be productive of
fpafms, or very fevere griping pains, previous
to the taxation of the hardened fceces in the
inteftines.

And where fuch pains are evidently predo-
minant, the (proper time being more than ex-
pired,) and there is no palpable fign of the
phyfic's beginning to operate kindly, (which
for the confolation of thofe unacquainted with
the ceremony, is very feldom the cafe, par-
ticularly if the medicines are carefully and ac-
curately prepared) fo far from applauding the
rafhly recommended fyftem of oiling " ajmall
*' hand," and extracting the excrement from
the fundament, I relinquish every expectation
of finding " a very [mall hand" among farriers
or grooms, and confequently difclaim the idea
of encouraging any fuch pra&ice, unlefs the
re&um fhould be abfolutely plugged up> �o as

to prevent the pailing of the pipe for the in-
jection of a glyfter, whi.h mould be given im-
mediately with a large bag and pipe procured
for the purpofe, and repeated if neceiLry;
making not the leaft doubi but this lubrication
and ftimulus will remove all obftrudions, and
afford every advantage that can be obtained
from the favourite and long-funding practice
of raking.

To prepare AGLYSTER.

Take of camomile flowers, fweet fennel, and
coriander feeds bruifed, of each one ounce j
carraway feeds half an ounce; boii in two quarts
of water till reduced to three pints j then
ftrain, and add for folution, whne hat; of
Epfom falts two ounces; and, when nearly
cool enough to adminifter, add of olive oil,
and tincture of fenna, commonly called
Daffy's elixir, of each a quarter of a pint.

On the contrary, where the conftitutional
ftamina does not prove fo ftrong as imagined,
the bowels in a weaker ftate than expected, or
the medicines are found to irritate or purge
more than is requifite or defired; and the
phytic does not fet attheufual time, (thehorfe

being confequently low, and off his appetite)
let the following cordial Restringent
ball be prepared and given immediately,
repeating it in fix or eight hours if neceffary :

Take mithridate one ounce, Armenian bole,
gum arabic, and prepared chalk (in fine pow-
der), each half an ounce ; ginger (in powder)
two drachms; fyrup of diacodium quantity
fufficient to make a ball.

In three hours after let the following re-
stringent mash be givdn, properly pre-
pared and kept occasionally fUrring when
over the fire, to prevent its burning: or this
may be given, if neceffary, without the ball,
where the operation has not been fo violent
as to require both.

Take two pounds of rice, and half an ounce of
cinnamon, bruifed to a grols powder, and
tied up loofe in a piece of linen, (fine enough
to prevent its paffing through); boil in five
quarts of water till reduced to the confidence
of a maih; take out the cinnamon, and fti'r
in a quart of ground oatmeal, and let it be
placed in the manger when of a proper warmth.
This may be repeated if neceffary.

It cannot be inapplicable, after thefe pre-
fcriptions, to make a remark upon one obfer-
vation ofBARTLET, who feemed to think it
unavoidably neceffary to omit a defigned part
of his prefcription at fome times, on account
of the expenfe j. but I muft confefs, in all my
experience, I have obferved, and happy I
am to acknowledge it to the honour of the
fporting world at large, I never remember to
have feen an inftance o� penury, or even hesita-
tion in the article of expenfe, where a horse
has been in pain or danger.

Having gone through the procefs univerfally
eftablifhed for getting horfes into proper con-
dition, it becomes neceffary to proceed to the
long lift of accidents and difeafes to which
they are fubject: and to introduce fuch medi-
cal fyftem as (after a gradual fucceffion from
generation to generation, and from grandfire to
grandfon, in the old ftyle) has at length acquir-
ed a degree of reformation and approbation, by
the experimental rejection of the ancient bota-
nical pradtice, believed infallible; and the in-
numerable difcoveries made in the world of me-
dicine, by fome of the moft learned, judicious,
and enlightened characters in every part of the

globe. And where the applications of modern
Invention are introduced, as much more ade-
quate and applicable to the caufe of complaint
than the practice of former writers, the reafon
ihall be constantly adduced, and fupported by
incontrovertible proof, why the prefent mode
of treatment is entitled to every degree of pre-
ference and refpect.



				C vii )

		To tub 'REAPER V / ON THE PUELJCATIC2* OP T5B NINTH EDITION.

	I		T would be a tacit acknowledgment of
	I
the author's total infenfibility to every gratification of ambition, was he to omit the communication of acknowledgments that, in their general diffufion, contribute fo very much to his own honour. And he mud ever con- fider it no fmall compliment to his endeavours that the work is univerfally known to have been crowned with the mod perfect fuccefs, The very great and almoft unlimited portion of fupport that has fo Angularly fandtioned its birth, fufficiently demonflrates the abfolute Want of fuch publication. This pleafing incenfe to literary vanity could be increafed only by the conftantly accumulating



		PHYSIC, &c.
		PHYSIC, &c.	37
			37

	( No. 3. ) Take Barbadoes aloes nine drachms; Jalap, Caftile foap, and cream of tartar, of each two drachms; Piagrydmm and ginger (in powder) each a drachm �, Syrup of buckthorn fufEcient to make the ball.

( No. 4. ) '^AKE Barbadoes aloes ten drachms; Caftile foap and jalap (in powder) of each half ^an ounce; ^^ream °f tartar and ginger each two drachms; °'l of anifeed forty drops; of cloves twenty drops_; which form into a ball, with fyrup of rofes or buckthorn. ¹¹ ^1S ^almoft unneceffary to obferve thefe balls are gradually increafed in their purga- tive qualities, io a$ to be feledled by the judge- ment of the reader, according to the ftate of itrength _and foulnefs the fubjecT: may be in; and are fo carefully guarded with warm aro- matics, that the operation will (by a ftrid ad- 1} 3 herence



POLL EVIL. 179 This application mould be made as warm as the nature of the cafe will admit, that it may the better fulfil the intent of relaxing the vef- fels, increafing their circumference, and pro- moting the fpeedy flux of matter to this par- ticular part. So foon as an opening appears, let it be enlarged fufRcienfiy to enfure a dif- charge, and prevent the retention of any im- proper portion of matter; and continue to pro- ceed with the cure according to the ftate of the cafe, colle&ing your informations from the variety of diredions extenfively given under the different head of wounds, ulcers, fiflula, and tu- mours; to the laft of which we now proceed.

	N 2
	N 2	CLASS
		CLASS



182 T U, M O U R S. mud be unavoidably attended with lofs of time, and a proportional mare of danger, if feated upon or interfered by the mufcular parts, perhaps it may be moll prudent to omit the experiment and fubmit it to chance. Scrofulous Tumours are fuch as orisi- nate in fcorbutic or hereditary taints, and in- creafe or diminifh according to the ilate or acrimony of the blood; they are therefore more than any of the others dependent upon, exter- nal application, and particularly the mercurial unguent juft before defcribed, affifled by a courfe of mercurial or antimonial altera- tives, as may be difcretionally feleeled from the chapters on thofe fubjefts. As the mercu- rial ointment has been repeatedly recommend- ed, it may not be inapplicable to introduce the de of preparation : Take quickfilver two ounces; Lard fix ounces; Balfam of fulphur half an ounce. Rub the quickfilver with the balfam in a metal mortar till the globules difappear; then add the lard by degrees, firfi made warm, and keep in a pot for Life.

		I now
	.1	I now
	.1



	NAVEL
	NAVEL	GALLS.
		GALLS.


Take extraft of Saturn half an ounce; Camphorated fpirits of wine two ounces 5 Soft water a quarter of a pint. Mix the extract with the fpirits, by making well together, and then add the water; or if thefe cannot be eafily procured juft at the time, fubftitute, for the moment, of vinegar and brandy equal parts;, but the ftronger muft be obtained fo foon as poffible, and perfe- vered in till the tumour is difpelled. The original caufe of the warble mud be likewife difcovered and removed, to prevent a repetition upon the fame part, from which, or the continuation, a sitfast will inevitably enfue. NAVEL GALLS Are, in the firft inflance, tumours formed upon the vertebra; orjpine, and caufed by a deficiency (or fcarcity of fluffing on each fide the pad, at the back part of the faddle^ which letting the tree come into clcie contact with the back bone the parts become bruifed by the fevere preffure and conftant fridion; an in- flammation



THE NINTH EDITION, Considerably enlarged, and carefully corrected.

			the

	Gentleman's Stable Direftory; 0 R, MODERN SYSTEM OF ' FAR R I E R Y. COMPREHENDING THE Prefent e?iiire improved Mode ofPraBice: LIKEWISE All the molt, valuable prescriptions and approved remedies, accurately proportioned and properly adapted to every known disease to which the HORSE is incident. Interfnerfed with occasional remarks upon the dangerous and almoii obfolete practice of Gibson, Bracken, Bartlet> Csmer, and others. A!fo directions for feeding, bleeding, purging and getting into condition for the chase. To which are no-zv added,* USEFUL INSTRUCTIONS FOR BUYING AND SELLING J WITH A N APPENDIX, Containing experimental Obfervations upon the Management c.^c. Draft Houses, their Blemishes and Detects. INSCRIBED TO Sir JOHN LADE, Bart. By W I L L I A M T A P L I N, Surgeon.

		LONDON: PKOTED FOR G. KEARSI.EY, AT JOHNSON'S HEAD, RO, 46, IN FLEET STREET. I789.



			*�i o*

		Sir JOHN I^ADEy Barh fnr^HE very diftinguimed character; I and eminent fituation you fup^ port in the /porting world, to the great pleafure and admiration of thole who furround you in the field and ac- company you in the chafe, will, in the opinion of every experienced sportsman, fufficiently juftify the confiilency and propriety of inferibing to you this earneft endeavour to refcue from the frequent and dread/ul effects ofsTABULARiAN ignorance, and em- pirical confidence, the future eafe, fafety, and prejervation, of an animal i that



		*( 5** that not only conftitutes to every sportsman one of the nobleft bleflings in life, but, in the fplendour of your Jiitd_y JIables, and equipage^ affords ample difplay of your taste, JUDGMENT, and LIBERALITY. It IS a gratification highly flattering, that I have the prefent opportunity to fub- fcribe myfelf, With refpe�t and admiration, Sir John, Your moil obedient^ And very humble fervant,

			The AUTHOR.



		riii To the R E A D E R, accumulating encomiums, and moji Jubftantid proofs of private approbation, from fome of the firft, characters within the circle of The Royal Hunt and Favour. Sportfmen, the pro- pitious omen of whofe patronage not only ' reflects rays of additional honour, but whofe judgment, equeftrian knowledge, and prac- tical experience, jointly eftablifh a criterion of equity that will ever render the author invul- nerable to the barbed and envenomed arrows of menjlrual criticifm. The rapid circulation of EIGHT hrgQ impreffions has forcibly influenced the author to make fuch additions and improvements as will, he has every reafon to believe, render it of ftill greater utility by the introdticlion of many ufeful obfervations for the prefervation of health and promotion of condition, as well as the treatment and cure of difeafe. The proper management of draft horfes is more particularly attended to, their blemimes and



To the READER. ix and defects are in many inftances evidently accounted for, and the modes of prevention, in general, clearly pointed out. Several effica- cious prefcriptions are likewife added, and a variety of ufeful inductions introduced, for the diftincl: and feparate information of metro- politan jockies, juvenile purchafers, and inex- perienced'/port/men; with very interefting hints for the purpofes of buying andjelling, including (among many other ftriking and advantageous particulars) a fuperficial furvey of that immacu- late mart of integrity�A Modern Repofitory.

		PREFACE,
	A



		{ » )

	PREFACE.

IT is a truth generally acknowledged and univerfally lamented that, amidfl: all the improvements of the prefent age, none has re- ceived fo little advantage from the rays of re- finement as the Art of Farriery. And, it mull be likewife confeffed, it is an ill compliment to a country abounding with [port/men, and thofe remarkable for their extreme liberality, that the intellectual faculties of many diftinguifhed members of the different learned focieties mould be abforbed in abftrufe contemplations and intenfe lucubrations upon the antiquity of a coin the probojcis of an elephant, the genus of an ex- otic, or the beautiful variegations of a butterfly; whilft a branch of fcience and ftudy, involving the health, fafety, and prefervation, of the mod beautiful and efteemed animal this king- dom has to boail, is neglected as derogatory to A 2 the



		xii PREFACE. the dignity of a man of letters; and, from this miftaken idea of degradation, a fubjecl of (o much confequence has been for many years fubmitted to the arbitrary dictation of the mofl illiterate part of the community, without a iingle effort of weight or influence to aboliih the ancient and almoft obfolete mode of prac- tice -_} or a iingle attempt made, from proper au- thority, to introduce the modem improvements and difcoveries in every branch of medicine. It is moil: certain there is no one period of hif- tory where the horfe has been ranked fo high in general eftimation, or rendered of fuch in- trinsic worth, by a difplay of his various powers, as in the prefent age of experiment and refinement. this paufe may undoubtedly be attrr- �eat atenrion pa 1 for fome the oret-d of thf diftincT: and fe- < lafH for the turf, field, roaa, or draft; a it vrilu- h. ■-,., in a vej ■�� Chort fpace of abi lately doubled their former worth, � we osght to be proportionally anxious foi :heir prefervation whether for [port, con- ve tnce or emolument. The almoft incredible j umber of this truly valuable part of the crea- tion



		PREFACE. xiii tion that annually fail victims to the invinci- ble confidence of thofe rufticfons of Vulcan, felf-denominated farriers, (with the thunder of whofe ignorance almoft every village re- founds), has for years feemed to implore the affiitance of fome intelligent member of fociety to come forward; and, by blending the ad- miniftration of medicines with a practical knowledge of their properties and effects, refcue the poor fufFering animals from the conftanf, invariable, and unrelenting, depredations of illiterate practitioners and experimental per/e- cutors. Well aware of the arduous talk of attempt- ing to eradicate vulgar and habitual prejudices in favour of ancient practice, or the improba- bility of reconciling attachments of long {land- ing to the rational fyftem of modern competi- tion ; and the little chance of exploding entirely the heterogeneous and inconfiftent farrago (6 long in ufe, univerfal fatisfaclion is not to be expected, or approbation obtained. But when a clear, open, and candid comparifon is drawn. by the more enlightened, between the accu- mulation of contrarieties in the laboured pre- fcriptions « of Gibson and Bracken," with A 3 the



		xiv PREFACE. the indigefted obfervations of the more intel- ligent, though lefs prolix and digrefiive, " Bartlet," the leafl doubt is not enter- tained but every degree of favour will be (hewn to a fyftem of pra&ice founded on reafon, fup- ported by experience, and juftified hy a general knowledge of medicines, their principles, pro- perties, preparations and effe&s. To difpel the gloom of ignorance from the brow of obftinacy would be a tafk of Her- culean labour j I therefore wave every idea of animadverfion upon the intuitive knowledge of thofe, who, wrapt up in the warm and happy confolation of their own wifdom, never fuffer their folid'judgments to be warped by the iri- trufion of new opinions; and proceed to make the neceffary remarks upon the qualifications of thofe country praditioners who rank very high in self-estimation. And fuch obfervations as are rendered un- avoidable fhall occasionally appear with all poffible delicacy, wifhing to irritate, as little as may be, the feelings of any individual, whofe want of cultivation and improvement mud be considered a misfortune, not a crime; but, in 7 whofe



		PREFACE. xv ^hofe deficiency of profeffional knowledge confifts thfe danger which fo often occurs and expofes him to that labyrinth of perplexity, that dilemma of diftrefs, from which no bril- liant fertility of genius, no idea of the ftruc- ture of parts, no correfponding knowledge of medicines, or their effeas, can poffibly arife to extricate him, vvhilft the fuffering animal (in perhaps the moft excruciating agonies) expires at the feet of this " learned judge" jury, and executioner. Experience juftifies the affertion, that nine times out of ten the complaint (if internal) remains a matter of hypothefis and conjecture, without one explanatory note, fentence, firug, or ejaculation, by which we may be led to underftand or difcover the caufe: but, as pro- feffional ftupidity rnuft be defended, we are at laft told (with a fyftematic fimplicity and vacuity of countenance) " the horfe is in a " great deal of fain." This firft point being (not without fome dif- ficulty and feeming depth of thought) at length difcovered, the remedy is then to be obtained; and as, in general, cowards once pumed on become



		[^ W.TAPL.IN



		xvi PREFAC E. become bold in proportion to the danger, (o according to the exigency, fome powerful " Mcmdragora" of the " Materia Medico" is inflantly procured; and, as reputation muft be fupported, (o " kill or cure," (time out of mind the ancient and modern medical motto) is compulsively adopted, and the whole arcana' of equeftrian knowledge is let loofe, from the very limple preparation of " fugar fops," to the more remote, active, and dangerous mercury, till relief is fortunately obtained, or the falling favourite expires, in tortures, a martyr to the ignorance of the practitioner and the credulity of its owner! To corroborate this fadl one felf-evident ob-* fervation only is neceflary to give it due weight, in opposition to a mind even prejudiced againft the innovations of improvement in practice or rectification in judgment". For inflance�Is it poffible�can it (after a moment's reneclion) be fuppofed�that thefe men, totally unculti- vated in underftanding and the moft, common occurrences in life, whofe minds are as rude and uncivilized as their manners, can be at all con~ verfant or acquainted with the different pro- perties, qualities, operations or effects, of a long lid



		PREFACE. xvii "ft of medicines, to all of which they are "rangers even in appearance, pofTefling no ^other knowledge of the very articles fpecified out what they have acquired from books and prefcriptions, long lince become obfolete and ufelefs from their inefficacy ? Can they be ex- pected to underftand the chemical procefTes of mercury antimony, and other dangerous medi- cines they conftantly put into ufe, vvithout knowing their origins, preparations, combina- tion of principles, or the exact line of diftinc- tion that renders them falutary remedies or powerful poifons I It is alfo highly neceftary to introduce a matter perfectly applicable to the fubjecl: of in- veftigation, as an impofition very little known (except to the faculty); and is a palpable dif- grace to that body, of which every profeffor of medicine constitutes a member. It is the com- mon and fcandalous adulteration of drugs, a practice too prevalent amongft the druggijls in the metropolis, as well as the country; who, from the predominant paffion of gain, fo curi- oufly adulterate, as to deceive even thofe who confider themfelves adepts in deception. And this, to be the better enabled to underfel their competitors,



		xviii PREFACE. competitors, convinced, by experience, the ma- jority of farriers admit the medicines that can be purchafed cheapest to be much the best. Thefe circumftances are not introduced or hazarded as matters of opinion, but as palpable facts that fpeak home to every reader of judge- ment or experience; and fufficiently indicate the neceffity of circulating, from medical au- thority, the prefent improved fyftem of modern compofition, univerfally adopted and generally approved, to the approaching extermination of empirical practice and danger out experiment. This publication being undertaken to render as plain and familiar as poffible a fubject that has, through almoft every differtation, been obfcur- ed by the mijl of ignorance and majk of myjleryi it is anxioufiy to be defired in future, that every gentleman who has occafion to elucidate or illu- Urate his own underlfanding, by calling to his affiflance any of the learned tribe before de- fcribed, fo remarkable for their extent of com- munication, will (previous to their adminiftra- tion of medicine) require an explanatory pre- lude, with fatisfadory information upon what operations they frame their expectations of re- lief



		PREFACE. xix ■ lief and fuccefs. With the very neceffary and additional recommendation, to be particularly careful to obtain their medicines from Difpen- faries of refute, where the -proprietor is report- ed or fuppofed to have formed a fair, honour- ^able, and equitable contract with emolument and reputation. And this caution is rendered more irrfme- diately worthy confideration, by the multipli- city of fpecious advertifements fo conftantly held forth to promote the lucrative fale of innumerable balls, pstvders, and pa/les, indivi- dually infallible for every diforder to which the horfe is incident. But what renders the circumftance ftili more extraordinary, is their being prefcribed and prepared, by thofe very metropolitan practitioners in medicine, whofe equeftrian pofieffions never amounted to a Jingle Jleed; whofe journies or experimental practice, never exceeded the diurnal progref- iions of a hackney-coach; and whofe great anxiety for the general good never furpaffed the idea of cent, per cent, in the circulation. This obfervation comes with a much better grace, when I can affure the public one of the very firft advertifers in this way was a medical



		xx PREFACE. medical adventurer, who having failed as a fharmacopolift at the weft end of the town (as did his fucceffor alfo), they, in rotation, adopted the alternative of neceffity, in pom- poufly advertifing " Horfe medicines for the " ufe of the nobility and gentry;" how well they fucceeded the creditors of both can mojt feelingly teftify;^: and of their compofitions the reader will be beft enabled to form a compe- tent opinion, when, in the courfe of the work Tjojlrums and quack medicines become the ne- cefiary fubje&s of animadversion.

			CONTENTS.



		( xxi )

	CONTENT

OBfervation§, Feeding, - Condition, Bleeding, ^Purg"mg, t CLASS I. Splents, » Spavins, "VVindgalls, Larnenefs, Strains, - r CLASS II, Cracks, &c. Thrufh, Greafe, CLASS III. Hidebound, Surfeit, Mange,



		CONTENTS. CLASS IX. Flatulent Cholic, Inflammatory Cholic, Scouring or Loofenefs, Molten Greafe, - CLASS X. Strangury, &c. &c. CLASS XI. Difeafes of the Eyes CLASS XII. Mallenders, - Sallenders, - Lampas, -, Quitter, - Curbs, - Ringbones, -



			T H "

		Modern system O F FARRIERY. '""jrVHE very great difcoveries made in the ■*- prefent century have certainly extended to every art and fcience that could be mate- rially improved by intenfe ftudy and applica- tion j and to none more than the adminiftra- tion of medicine, and its effects upon the human body, by fomc of the mdft learned men in every part of Europe: and, from the rapid and univerfally acknowledged improve- ments in this fyftem, the moil admirable ad- Vantages have been obtained, and incredible cures performed. In fuch general refinement, the ancient mode of practice is not only ex- ploded, but its origin and advocates nearly buried in oblivion. Thofe flupendous folios, B the



		OBSERVATIONS. the voluminous herbals in the libraries of the botanical votaries, have reluctantly given place to various differtations on the diftinguifhed efficacy of thofe grand fpecifics, mercury', opium, antimony, bark, &c. of which fo many expe- rimental and efficacious preparations have been difcovered by chymical procefs, as to render of little ufe or refpect any prefcription of ancient date, when put in competition with the rational and approved fyflem of modern improvements. The obflinate and invincible advocates for the ancient mode of practice, whether in phyfic or farriery, are at length obliged to acquiefce in the change; for, what they by inclination were not willing to ac- knowledge, TIME, TRUTH, and EXPERIENCE, have fully confirmed. But, ftrange as it may appear (yet mamefully true it is!) notwith- ftanding this rectification of judgment, very little has yet been done to improve, or pro- duce a change in the long ftanding, abfurd> and ridiculous SYSTEM of FARRIERY; a change as equally necejfary, juji, laudable, equitable, and ufeful, as any that can be adopted for the general fafety and advantage of our own fpecies. And this becomes more necef- farily and immediately the obje6l of ferious 2 confideration,



		OBSERVATIONS. 3 ^onfideration, when circumftances daily evince ^to the medical practitioner (or compounder of P^refcriptions) the very great danger to which ome of the finest horses in the world are conrrantly expofcd, by the ignorance and obfti- nacy of the parties to whofe care they are too generally intrufted; every stable boy, aping the groom* his fuperior, and the groom the Jelj-injlracled farrier, all have their heads and pockets ftufFed with the quinterTence of ftupidity, collected from the various produc- tions of antiquity, whofe very prescriptions are in themfelves fo obfolete, that many of the articles included have been long fince re- jected as of no utility. But, as variety mud he obtained to effect the neceffary purpofe, the mvention is inftantly fet at work to fubflitute new ingredients, for thofe long fince aban- doned as fuperfiuous and unnecefTary, in me- dicinal compofition. Thefe alterations and fubftitutes frequently form a mofl curious col- lection of contrarieties�purgatives and rejlrin- gents, cordials and coolers, mercurials, antimo- mah and diuretics, are indifcriminately blended in one mafs, as a fpecimen of thefe wonderful improvements in the ART of FARRIERY! And thofe who are mofl acquainted with this B 2 practice



		4 OBSERVATIONS. practice wonder lead how the dog-kennels in every part of the kingdom are fo amply fur- nifhed with horse flesh. As an elucidation of this circumftance, and to corroborate the confiftency of thefe obfer- vations, we need only advert to the treatment of the human fpecies in the time of that lumi- nary, the famous Sydenham, who wasfo much the celebrated favourite of his day, it was al» mofi: fuppofed he could do no wrong. It being- then a common practice of his�to order boldly THIRTY ounces of blood to be taken from the arm of a man, without fear of murder, or danger otpunijhment. And this is not altogether likely to create wonder, when we recollect there is no law exifting to hang a phyfician for error in judgment. Time and experience has fixed the ftandard, according to cafes, circum- ftances, and exigencies, from six ounces to sixteen, which is nearly one half the original evacuation j fo that we find by this change of quantity the modern human body is fuppofed to contain no more than one half the proportion of blood that ran in the veins of the heroes of antiquity, unlefs the whole fyftem is entirely changed, as obferved by Gregory, in the Mock Doctor,



		OBSERVATIONS. 5 ^°ctor, who fays " The heart was for- ^cc merly on the left fide, but the COLLEGE have altered all that, and placed it on the " righC To produce a cafe exactly fimilar in the World of Farrtery, let us take a furvey of the medical abilities of Gibson, who cer- tainly wrote much better on the fubjecl: than Bracken ; where we mail find ordered, in a fingle prefcription for a purging ball, two ounces of aloes, with the addition of the other ufual purging articles, though modern practice and experience fixes the eftablifhed proportion at exactly half, or at moft. five eighths, to the ftrongeft horfes, with the cathartic aids before mentioned. He alfo moft courageoufly re- commends half an ounce of calomel, or fublimed mercury, in a fingle ball j and fpeaks of the internal adminiftration of moft powerful poi- fons, corrofrae fublimate, or red precipitate, as a matter of courfe: the proportion for a dofe being curioufly afcertained by the fublime menfuration of a " filver two-pence," as if a premium had been abfolutely provided by an aa of parliament for the general extirpation of the breed of HORSES, as defiruclive to the B 3 interefii



		6 OBSERVATIONS. interefts of fockty. Though, after prefcribing thefe dreadful remedies, he modejily confeffes '* in the adminiftration there is great danger j " and, unlefs a horfe is very ftrong, he may ^tl not be able to recover from the experi- ^c ment." This is dot~irine* (and doBoring) with a wit- nefs! Thefe are the kind of experiments^ and this the kind of language that has for two centuries been held forth in almoft every trad upon the fubjec"t: and, under thefe abfurd, ridi- culous, dangerous, and contemptible burlef- ques upon the application of medicine, will any man, who wifhes well to the caufe of humanity\ fay fame rational fyftem of redifi- cation and improvement is not neceffary, to refcue from the danger of perpetual experi- ments the nobleft and moft valuable quadruped in the creation! The palpable neceflity for fuch improve- ment having been univerfally admitted previous to the fir ft edition of this work, it is Jince ren-? dered more abfolutely needful by the recent re- furredion of ancient practice, modernized in a different form and periodical appearance. It has evidently



		OBSERVATIONS. ₇ ^e^idently undergone a kind of regeneration by ts new birth,* and is now become the child of adoption; fanftioned with the authority of a nominal voucher for the confifiency of its imper- fections, and the propriety, of introducing the irjoft incredible accumulation of prefcriptive abfurdities that ever difgraced a medical work offered to public infpedlion for the purpofe of information. And what renders the impofi- tion of ftill greater magnitude, is the very con- fidential manner of proclaiming to the world what every profeffor of medicine will inftanta- neoufly refufe hid afTent to the belief of, viz. that it is the joint production of an operative farrier, phyficians, anatomifts, and profeffors of furgery. The talk of criticifm muff at all times be an "npleafant performance, but much more par- ticularly upon the prefent occafion, where it ^WlH be abfolutely impoffible for me to difcharge ^my obligation to an indulgent public (with the necefTary precifion and impartiality) with- out encountering, by this decifion, the pique or refentment of all parties interefted in the fate of fuch publication, or its effect upon the mul- titude. However, the predicament I now B 4 ftand



		8 OBSERVATIONS. Hand in compels me to proceed to a thorough explanation, feeling myfelf pledged by a public promife not only to inve/ligate, make' clear, and endeavour to explode, the cruelties of an- cient practice, but to point out the equal dan- ger of modern compojitlon even in its infancy $ more particularly when ufhered into the world by fuch high founding authority as may give it temporary weight with unthinkr ing injudicious readers, or experimental ad-» venturers. Previous to farther animadverfion upon the elaborate periodical work in queftion, I mail, without the leaft intentional gratification of my own vanity, offer to the prefent reader one congratulatory fa�t beyond the p wer of fophijiry to confute, or criticifm to condemn. Amidft the paltry productions that b<'ve been obtruded upon the public under various titles (thofe fervile imitations or wretched, mutila- tions of what have gone before) it is a mofl flattering circumftance to the author, and no in- different confolation to the publisher, that this work will ever fupport itfelf upon the bans of its own origin. The great fuccefs and rapid, circulation of the former editions have totally Z exculpated



		OBSERVATIONS. 9 exculpated every page from the leafr. accufa- tion of plagiarism, as it will be found to differ ^Very materially from other publications upon the faint [\ bjeft, and the exaSi reverfe of thofe in circ;�].. ion. The iludious inquirer will be mod feriouf.y difappoirited if he expects to find in the/e pages a literal imitation and repetition of Gibson's anatomical ftrodture, with the iden- tical plates and corresponding referrences, or a dangerous combination of deftruclive articles heterogeneoufiy blended and cruelly applied. Saying thus much to corroborate the intent and meaning of our own work, it becomes immediately applicable to repeat our affertions reflecting the danger of others; particularly in thofe truly wonderful prefcriptive parts, fo mo- deftiy affirmed to be the conjunctive efforts of learned phyjicians, Jludioiis anatomijh, and pro- ficients in furgery. That the practical know- ledge of thefe tiominal phyucians '*' in buckram" has far exceeded every thing prefcribed before their time, the magnitude and almoft unlimited number of dangerous articles introduced in their recipes will Sufficiently demonftrate to thofe who are fo truly unfortunate as to have the perufal fall to their lot; but more particu- larly



		io OBSERVATIONS. lary thofe who Still more unfortunately fall into the practice. It is impoffible (without taking too much time from the reader, or too much room in the work) to indulge a moSl predominant wiSh of enlarging upon the unaccountable abfurdi- ties and aftoniShing proofs of ignorance in the properties,'power, and ufe of medicine, that might be juftly quoted (from this mon/irous prodigy of modern instruction) to refcue from the rapacity of literary imposition that clafs of mankind who fo frequently become the dupes of fpecious plaufibility. Jis it would afford but little information or amufement to enume- rate the follies or copy the illiterate prefcrip- tions to juftify my own obfervations, or court a coincidence from others, I (hall content my- felf with oneafluranceto the public, that, hav- ing taken the opinions of fome of the faculty, (upon the recipes already promulgated in the trifling part of the production hitherto gone forth) they perfectly agree with me�there are a variety introduced that would in a very few hours inevitably reliete the Subject from every pojjibiiity of future pain, Juffering, or d\jquie- tude. I Shall



		OBSERVATIONS. n * mall only convey an oblique hint at thofe catchpenny mifts, or abridgments, from the authors before fpoken of, pubiimed under the titles of " Ten Minutes Advice j" " The ^: Pocket Farrier," &c. &c. and proceed to a few obfervations upon the wonderful difcove- ries, prolix defcriptions, tedious digrejjions, and aftsnijhing tales, of Henry Bracken (medi- cinae do&or), who, to his diploma, which he boafts of in his preface, adds the ftrangeft com- plication of language, for a medical author and phyfician, that ever difgraced a candidate for critical direction. However bad the com- pliment may be to my own underflandjng, or largely it may tend to difplay my want of tafte, I can neither condefcend to imitate him in the' fublimity of his flyle or the fertility of his medical invention: nor mall I prefume to copy fo great an original, by introducing A Tale of a Tub" in every page foreign to the matter in queftion, merely for the purpofe of fwelling this work to a fize that may con- tribute to us difgrace; referving to myfelf one confolation�if it does not become entitled to approbation for its utility, neither pique or pre- judice (hail have juft caufe to condemn it for jts prolixity.

			It



		12 OBSERVATIONS. It has been hitherto cuftomary, in the in- trodudory part of trads upon this fubjed, to enlarge upon the fhape, make, figure, and qua- lifications, of a horfe for the turf, field, road, 6cc. And all this might be very applicable and proper, even now could we for a moment fuppofe that a fportfnian does not know a horse from an ass, or that a gentleman at* tends a repofitory, fair, market, or fale, with a book in his hand, or his pocket, by way of remembrancer. Exclufive of this confider- ation, in the prefent rbge of refinement, we are become fo truly enlightened, that every juvenile devotee to Diana, who has juft efcap- ed from the tender anxiety of his mamma, and the fuccefsful attention of his tutor, talks loudly and confidently of the "full eye" " /mall ear" " deep chejl," « clofe fillet" " fiort back," " Jlrqng pa ft em," found hoof" &c. In fhort, all thofe qualifications that are at prefent uni- verfally underftood, and in conftant requeiT, by the beft judges, are very hard to obtain j and it is by no means an uncommon thing to obfcrve a horfe with very few good points, in the pofTeffion of thofe we are apt to believe (from a combination of circutnftances) have

			it



		OBSERVATIONS. ig ^1E ^]n their power to be much better accom- odated. Since the original publication of this work objections having been ftarted to the above mode of explanation, as not only too concife for the magnitude of the fubjea, but equally inadequate to the expe&ation of the young and inexperienced, who become inquirers more from the motive of information than amufe- ment; I (hall endeavour to obviate that difap- pomtment by entering more minutely into the defcriptive qualifications, and clearly point out the advantages arifing from circumfpeclion to juvenile adventurers in the equeftrian field of fortune. Exclutive of the before-mentioned clafs of enlightened pupils, who have improved their theoretic knowledge by practical expe- rience and difquifition upon the well-worn hacks of Eton, Oxford, and Cambridge, (en- abling themfelves to animadvert upon fplents, fpavins, windgalls, and {trains), it muft be confeffed there are innumerable inferiors who having unluckily no experimental knowledge ¹⁰ ^lmprove upon, no advantage to avail them- felves of but literary inftrudion, or dear bought experience, it is undoubtedly juft fuch advice iliould