PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS

THORN WOUNDS, PUNCTURED TENDONS,

LIGAMENTARY LAMENESS,

EXPERIMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS

FOR T � E I R

ILLUSTRATED BY A RECITAL OF CASES,

INTERSPERSED WITH A VARIETY OF USEFUL REMARJCS,

TO WHICH IS ADD ID

A SUCCESSFUL METHOD OF TREATING

IN THAT DESTRUCTIVE DISEASE CALLED

THE WHOiE TO:!IUNC A SUPItlMEKT TO

The Gentleman's Stable Dire&ory,

By WILLIAM TJPLIN, Surgtog.

?*INII)I FOR G. KEARSLEY, AT JOHNSOiTs HE AD, T LEIT-ST J! IET,
M DCC XC.

[PRICE ONE SHILLING.]

CntercD at j&tntioncra l^all.

Gentleman's Stable Directory,

Modern Syftem of Farriery.

t~ e iHE unlimited approbation of an indul-
1 gent public having ranked the Directory
very high in general eftimation, it would dis-
play an evident want of gratitude in the author
not to render the work as perfect as a conftant
accumulation of experimental remarks will per-
mit, and to farther increafe its acknowledged
utility, by the addition of every profeffional
improvement that can in the lead tend to en-
lighten a fubjecl; fo eagerly investigated even

by thofe who formerly affected to neglect the
fuperintendance of both Jluds and Jlables, as
matters too trifling for perfonal confideration.

Such indifference is no longer to be obferved,
or complained of, among the moil opulent or
fafhionablej for the wonderful avidity with
which the numerous editions of the Stable
Directory have been purchafed in this, and
repeatedly printed in a neighbouring king-
dom, are demonftrative proofs that the fubject
has acquired new life from fuch publication,
and that the medical and chirurgical parts of
Farriery are immerging very rapidly from the
rude and' illiterate hands in which they were
originally placed.

Upon this flattering improvement the au-
thor has to gratulate the public, as well as his
own fenfations, upon a feries of fuch uninter-
rupted fuccefs; for the great purport of his
publication may be considered in a certain de-
gree gratified, when the firft fortunes and abili-
ties no longer iilentlyand implicitly fubmit the
nobleft and mod,valuable animal on earth to
the ignorance and obftinacy of every unen-
lightened adventurer, but with a generous

emulation condefcend to inveftigate the origin
of difeafe, and comprehend the rational method
of cure. This palpable conviction has arifen
from the very great number of noblemen and
gentlemen of the firft eminence who have not
only honoured the author with their confidence
and correfpondence, upon the utility of his
Dire&ory, and the great efficacy of his Me-
dicines, but called in his affiftance upon cafes
of the greatefl difficulty and danger, where a
ftridl attention to his inftrudions has been
attended with the moft per feci fuccefs.

In a work of fo much extent, involving fuch
variety, and aiming fo much at general reform-
ation j perfection, at frjl, was not, could not_ybe expeded ; conflantly increafing pradice and
experience, with incefTant application and at-
tention, muft perpetually throw new lights
upon many parts of the whole, and render per-
fedly applicable the communication of fuch
remarks as may tend to make complete as pof-
fible> a trad, in which the public at large
have proved themfelves fo immediately inte-
refted.

Thus far by way of apology, for introducing
under the appendage of a Supplement, what
became in fact a matter indifpenfablej for to
its necejfity fuch a combination of eircumftances
bear powerful evidence, that it was no longer
to be avoided : the literary complaints oifome_tand anonymous expostulations of others_f upon the
fubjecls we proceed to treat, as well as the
pergonal fuperintendance and aftiftance the au-
thor has been required to give, in tbefe very
cafes, fingidar, alarming, and even fatal, where
nature has been ridiculoufly checked, or obfli-
nately oppofed, render fuperfluous any farther
defence for its introduction.

Although the fubjecl: matter of this addition
is fuppofed to conftitute a mere animadverfion
upon lameneis proceeding from thorn wounds,
and pundured or lacerated tendons, yet there
are variety of experimental obfervations (how-
ever inferior, individually confidered) that
become equally neceffary to our prefent defign-
of rendering the work as nearly applicable as
poffible to the wants or wiflies of fo very nu-
merous a body of readers.

To juftify, in a great meafurej the mode of
practice to be inculcated, and hereafter laid
down; to counteract the malicious or pre-
judiced remarks of the interefted or diffatisried,
as well as to eftablifh, upon an inco7itr avertible
bajis, the rational^ proper, and fuccefsfulj me-
thods of treatment, recent cafes in point will be
quoted ■>, and however improper it may be to
introduce the names of characters too eminent
for fuch publication, yet no kind of fecrecy
will be at all neceflary refpefting the parties,
whenever thofe fubjeds become the profeflional
topics of conversion between the author and
his friends.

Such cafes will be likewife illuftrdted to de-
tnonftrate the confiftency, propriety, and fuc-
cefs, of modern practice, in oppofition to the
ahtient fyfrem, fo repeatedly enlarged upon in
the courfe of the work. A very great number
of literary applications having been addrefled
to the author, from different parts of the king-
dom, requiring a farther explanation upon
many fubjects, and a continuation of others, it
is his earneft defire to elucidate every pajjage,
{o as to render it perfectly clear, and to de-
fcend to fuch minutia, for the gratification of
A 4 irquirers

inquirers, as did not appear fo immediately
neceffary in the firfr. formation of the Direc-
tory.

But the doubts of fame, and the timidity
(added to the inexperience) of others, having
thrown difficulties in the way of the moft
fimple operations, it becomes a duty incum-
bent to obviate thofe complaints, and leave in
future (if poffible) little room for oppofition
from the interested or diffatisfied.

Thefeobfervations are only made to prevent
furprife at the occafional introduction of fome
remarks in the courfe of this addition, that
may, to the more experienced and enlightened
reader, feem very much inferior to the magni
tude of the fubjecl:, not considering how many
there are whofe infantile judgment mufr. re-
ceive every injlrudiion from the pages before
them.

Under the influence of this confederation it
becomes (particularly after the frequent oppo~
fition from fervants or grooms) perfectly appli-
cable to introduce a few inductions upon the
very fimple act of neatly delivering a ball to the

horfe, without a fear of regurgitation; a cir-
cumftance that very frequently happens to
thofe who are little acquainted with the proper
mode of operation: and thefe directions will
not (to many) appear fo immediately neceffary*
unlefs I communicate what will hardly be
thought pojjibk, but by thofe who know the
circumftance to be well authenticated, in my
own neighbourhood, where it very lately oc-
curred.

A. valuable horfe, the property of Cap?,

W-------, having been under a courfe of the

Pectoral Cordial Balls for a fevere cold, eleven
had been given without the lead difficulty;
but in giving the twelfth and laft of the courfe,
the fervant not perceiving the ball pafs the gul-
let, erroneoufly conceived the ball was lodged
in the throat, and (ridiculous as it may feem)
abfolutely fet moft manfully to work v/tihhalf
a broom handle to diflodge the ball, till he had
fo bruifed and lacerated the furrounding parts,
that a violent inflammation enfued, and it was
not till after the induftrious efforts of a fort-
night, that the poor animal could be pro-
nounced out of danger from this new and very
extraordinary mode of operation.

To obviate fuch trouble, and to render uri-
neceffary the ufe of the farrier''sfavourite injlrtt-
ment, " a balling iron," (only calculated to
increafe the difficulty) I prefiime to introduce
fuch inftruclions for the adminiftration of a ball
as will enable the operator to deliver it with
the greatefl eafe to himfelf and fafety to his
patient. Firft holding the ball in the right
handy longitudinally and equally furrounded by
the fingers and thumb, let the left be infinuated
on the off fide of the mouth, when taking
gently hold of the tongue, draw it fteadily out
between the tulk and the grinders, then grafp-
ing it with great firmnefs, introduce the right
hand with the ball, and paffing it up with a
proper degree of refolution, to the higheft pof-
iible point j lodge it upon the root of the
tongue, inftantly pufiling it forward with your
fingers, and withdrawing your hand, place it
under his jaw, let loofe the tongue, and raife
his head, where, holding it for a very fhort
fpace, the ball is perceived to pafs without the
leaft difficulty; while on the contrary, a horfe,
either timid or refractory, is made much more
lb by the painful ufe of an iron that, from
its very fhape, appearance, and method of
introduction, is evidently calculated to pro-
mote

mote or increafe the difficulty it was intended
to prevent.

Thefe particulars, trifling as they may ap»
Dear to thofe expert in the practice, are never-
thelefs more particularly neceffary in the pre-
fent improving ftate of medicine, where
reformation is making fuch rapid ftrides, that
the adventurous opinions of rufiic fasriers, and:
the dangerous compofitions they provide, bid
exceedingly fair to encounter a partial oblivion :
and as numbers of the firft fporting eminence
have publicly declared their unalterable deter-
mination to commence and continue their own
farriers, fuch directions cannot be too clearly
explained or uuiverfally known.

It will, previous to a continuation upon the
fubject, be perfectly in point to obferve, it was
not till after a very rapid fale of the third
edition of the Stable Directory, thatl en-
tertained the leaft idea of preparing my moft
efficacious medicines for the accommodation of
the public in general; and even then the
thought occurred not more from the frequent
fupplies required by noblemen and gentlemen
at remote diftances, than an obfervation of great
4 weight

Weighty made by one of the moil opolerit
fporting characters in the kingdom.

* That having repeatedly purchafed his

* Purging Balls ready prepared, he was eter-^
¹ nally perplexed and difappointed in their
' effe&s; fome being exceedingly violent and
' dangerous, while others under the fame namei
' price, and defcription, were fearcely per-
^c ceptible in the operation, and this fre-

* quently happened in the fame fubjecl; a
' contrafl fo oppofite, he could no way recon-

* cile but by a fuppofition that fo large a

* quantity might be made together, as to render
' impracticable a regular incorporation of the

A remark fo perfectly appofite and appa-
rently juft, immediately determined me upon
the perfonal preparation of my mod powerful,
prefcriptions, under the jeal andfignature of

** Taplin's genuine Horse Medicines,"

as a counteraction to the adulteration fo fully
explained in the preface; and it is no fmall
recommendation to the undertaking, or grati-
fication to_ the proprietor, that, from the firft

liour of embarkation, amidft. the incredible
confumption in the metropolis, and almoft
every part of England, to the amount of many
hundred dozens, not a fingle complaint of the
in efficacy of purgatives, peel orals, diuretics, or
any of the whole lift of his advertifed medi-
cines, has ever reached the author. On the
contrary, innumerable congratulations upon
their various good effects are conftanr in arrival;
but as declarations bearing fo much the appear-
ance of faihionable attachment to felf-interefl_twill not be univerfally believed, palpable proofs
of their general utility, the applicable intro^
duclion of a few concife inftances of their
acknowledged efficacy, cannot be confidered
obftrufive, when evidently and equally adapted
to the promotion of public good.

Before I proceed to the irjveftigation and
proper treatment of thorn wounds, punctured
or lacerated tendons, and their dreadful effects,
it becomes abfolutely rcceffary I refer the reader
to my conclufive remarks u;-on Windgalls,
in the clafs under that head, in the early part
of the Stable Directory, where it will be
found how very emphatically I have repre-
fented the hazard, the danger (not to add the

folly) of attempting their cure by perforation,
and endeavoured to inculcate, mojl forcibly, the
only probability of fucceeding in the effort, by
' performing the operation with a bijlory, and
f the motion of elevation.'

After fuch cautions, fo earneftly urged, it is
ilrange to relate, that within the circle of my
own practice I have been required to give my
affifiance in two cafes, where very fine and
valuable horfes have been irretrievably loft, and
doomed to the hounds they had fo nobly fol-
lowed, by the rafh and imprudentofficioufnefs
of two of the faculty, who prefuming moft
certainly more on their confidence than their
judgment, facrificed to felf-confequence and
the deftru&ive lancet, hunters offigure ,faJloion,
fpeed, and value, not to be exceeded in the
kingdom, firengthening by their imprudence,
the obfervation of a celebrated writer, ^c that

* more have died by the improper ufe of the

* lancet than the point of the fword.'

To prevent in future (if poffible) fuch con-
temptible efforts of profeflional fierility, to
guard the unwary from becoming dupes to
their own credulity, and the dangerous efforts

of hazardous experiments, is much more the
motive of inducement to recite fuch cafes, than
any promifed expectation of permanent relief
from the mode of treatment raoft applicable
to the predominant fymptoms of either, which
will neverthelefs be accurately explained.

In the month of Auguft 1788, I was ap-
plied to by a character of the firft eminence to,
give my opinion upon one of the firft hunters
in England, for which he had been repeatedly
offered a hundred and twenty guineas. Upon
my arrival I found the horfe labouring under
the moft excruciating and indefcribahle agony,
totally unable to fet his off hind foot to the
ground, and from the higheff poffible con-
dition, yery much emaciated in a few days with
the extremity of pain. Investigating by in*

quiry the caufe of complaint, I was in*
formed that a ftudent in furgery, from one of
the hofpitals, had lately been upon a vilit to
the family; he was frequently in the (tables,
and perceiving an enlargement juft above the
footlock joint, which denominating a �windgail,
he displayed a great defire to obliterate by per-
foration. This being too kindly (too inadver-
tently) permitted by the owner, he attempted
the operation with a common lancet, but with
fo little fortitude and fuccefs, that in making
his incifion, the natural motion and rejecting
effort of the animal, fafcinated the inexperi-
enced operator in his firft attempt, and de-
prived him of his inftrument (which was the
next day found in the litter) but not till he had
given a defhuctive proof of his inability, and
afforded a mod ftriking corroboration of the
remarks before alluded to in '* The Directory,"
upon this unlucky mode of extirpation.

Proceeding to minute infpection, I found
the whole joint and furrounding parts in the
highefr. ftate of tenfion and inflammation ; the
orifice of the injury fo very trifling as barely to
admit the end of a probe, and fo exceeding
painful as not to bear the leafl preffure, but by

tnuch difficulty and perfeverance; from every
predominant fymptom (and they were all equally
violent) I could notentertain a momentary doubt,
but the extenfor tendon was as much pundured,
lacerated, or divided, as the diminutive fize of
the inftrument ufed, and the obftrudive mo-
tion of the horfe would admit. This appa-
rent fact I was induced to-believe (by the
feverity of pain, and almo'ft uncommon vio-
lence of iymptoms), that the point of the lancet
was broken off'm the attempt, and retained in
the wound: upon premifing this fear to the
groom, he allured me that was not the cafe;
for the inftrument was perfed -when found.
How that could be, after remaining under a
horfe in his litter for twenty-four hours (as the
lancet was not produced) will never be clearly
reconciled to my own opinion, who have fc>
conftantly fuch an inftrument in my hand.

To return: finding the orifice (fmall as it
was) difcharge, upon prejure, a bloody ichor,
or indigefted fanies, and the edges to have
acquired a very rigid callofity, I determined
(that the digeftion might not be a moment
retarded, when fufficiently fuppufated for fe-
paration) io enlarge the orifice, by dividing the

integument fuperjicially with the biftory, to tfe
length of an inch in the whole.

I then proceeded to the immediate ufe of a
fomentation, prepared exceedingly ftrong from
the various aromatic herbs, as rofemary and
lavender blended with wormwood and camo-
mile, continuing to foment the whole limb,
from above the hough downwards, with a
large fponge conftantly impregnated with the
decoction, hot as it could be applied, without
injury, for at leaft a quarter of an hour, then
dreffing with a pledget of very warm yellow
digeftive, covered the whole affected part with
a powerful fuppurative poultice, and repeated
the fomentation, drefiing, and poultice, twice
every day, till a tolerable difcharge was pro^
moted, which was not for fome conliderable
time; and even then, effected by increafing the
heat of the fomentation and the ftrength of
the poultice, as much as circumftanees would
bear.

The general intent of the treatment was ,in
fome degree anfwered ; for the pain was greatly
mitigated (except in motion) and the difcharge
moderate, but fo very fcetid, and of fo cor-

rofive a tendency, that it formed Jinufes in every
direction downwards, furrounding the bones to
the different depths of two, three, or four
inches. A feparation of. parts in the prefent
complication was abfolutely impra&icable,
without rendering to a certainty the remedy
worfe than the difeafe. Thus fituated, no
hope of cure could be entertained but by a
reunion of the divided parts, to promote which,
a conftant fyringing with detergents was
adopted at every dreffing, the wound was co-
vered with lint, plentifully impregnated with
the ftable digeftive, as warm as could be ap-
plied with fafety, firft infinuating as much as
poflible within the orifice (in the manner of a
tent), and covering all with a common poul-
tice of bread, milk, and oil, as the befl bed for
fo tender a part.
i

By a perfeverance in this mode of treatment
the finufes were perfectly united from the bot-
tom, and the wound completely healed (or
cicatrized) in little more than a month from
the time of my being called in, with no other
txternai inconvenience than a trifling enlarge-
ment of the joint, and an apparent callcfity of
the integument. But, as I had every reafon to
B 2 believe,

"believe, from the firft moment of infpedtion,
fo it terminated in oppofition to every humane
endeavour of the owner; for, after a run of
near twelve months, with no other perceptible
advantage than a feeming relief from violent
pain, and without the power of walking or
ufing even gentle motion with the foot affected,
an end was unavoidably put to his exiftence,
amply demonftrating the danger of experi-
ments, and the prudence of fometimes

" Bearing thofe ills we have,

*' Rather than fly to others we know not of."

A cafe of the fame complexion, and produced
by the very fame means, will hereafter come
under recital; but, as its termination has been
very different from the former, I mall intro-
duce others in the way they occurred.

After all that has been theoretically and
practically advanced by different writers (in-
cluding what has been faid upon the fame
fubject in The Stable Lireclory) it will, no
doubt, afford the moft fingular fatisfaction to
many, that an opportunity has offered to intro-
duce a fuccefsful and well authenticated cafe
of the Farcy, where a complete cure has been

effeded by the rational fyftem already laid
down, with no other variations but fuch as
temporary appearances rendered unavoidably
necefTary.

In the month of September, 1788, I was
called to one of the moft opulent charaders in
Windfor-Foreft (refiding in the neighbourhood
of the cafe before-mentioned), who, having a
blood mare labouring under a very fevere and
uncommon eruption, was told by his groom
and ftable attendants, that the difeafe in quef-
tion was the Farcy, for which no cure could be
expeded.

Having confulted every author in his library
(and they were all there) who had written

upon the difeafes of horfes, he was ple'afed to
fay, * he could difcover no fatisfactoiy invefti-
' gation or explanation of the origin, no fyfte-

* matic mode of treatment, or probability of

* cure, but in the Stable Directory; which had

* given him fo perfect a reprefentation of far-

* riers' pradtice in general, that he was deter-
^s mined to entruft no cafe of confequence to
*. their management, and enjoined me to un-

* dertake the fuperintendance,' I found, upon
inquiry, the mare had been bled in an early
flage of the appearance} but, the owner being
a long time abfent from home, the mare had
been continued at full feed, and no medicinal
flep taken to reftrain or counteract the progrefs
of deifafe.

That I might the better afcertain the prefent
irate of the blood, I ordered three pints to be
taken away, which, almoft immediately after
its exrravafation, formed a rigid coagulum,'
producing upon the furface a coat of fize more
than two inches thick, fo very vifcid that a
pen-knife, exceedingly fharp, barely effected
its feparation, the craffamentum uncommonly
livid and adhelive, denoting a great degree of
inflammation.

This was the exact ftate I had reafon to be-
lieve I fhould find it in, from every external
appearance and examination;' for upon taking
off the pellicle from any particular puftule, I
obferved the discharge to be of glutinous con-
fidence, putrid and offenfive, very different
from what we fometimes find an acrimonious
ichor. As a preparatory ftep to the introduc-
tion of medicine, I inftantly altered the regimen
to warm.mafb.es three times a day, with hay in
fmall quantities, and one ounce of nitre dif-
folved in both the morning and evening por-
tions of water, making two ounces for every
twenty-four hours; during this mode of com-
mencement, I perceived the off leg behind to
fwell fo rapidly, from the footlock joint to the
ftifle, and throw out fuch a general fulnefs,
particularly on the infide the thigh, that I could
not entertain a momentary doubt but a critical
formation of matter would inevitably take
place. To promote which, with all poffible
expedition, I increafed the fupport, by fub-
ftituting plenty of corn for the mafhes, and
called in the additional aid of ftrong and fre-
quent fomentations, hot as could be ufed with-
out injury (with two large pieces of fponge
B 4 alternately)

alternately) for the threatened fuppuration was
too extenfive to admit the application of poul-
tices by any bandage that could be invented.
Thiscrifis was evidently an effort of nature in
our favour, and a few days afforded great pro-
bability of fuccefs, for two fmall apertures ap-
pearing on the infide of the thigh, at about
three inches diftance (from which flowed
matter of the confidence before defcribed),
and the probe pafling direclly through both,
forming a complete finus, I made an entire
reparation with the biftory, and obtained a dis-
charge almoft incredible. I perfevered in my
fomentation and drefTed with warm digeltive;
but at the fecond dreffing I difcovered deep
feated finufes forming in different directions,
and furrounding the hough joints where no
fharp pointed inftruments could be infinuated
without danger. In the next four-and-twenty
hours another wound appeared on rather the
fore part of the infide of the joint, directly
upon the flexor tendon, bearing all the marks
of virulence and inveteracy, continuing to
throw out fuch fucceflions of fungous as not
to be conceived by thofe unacquainted with the
practice.

In this predicament followed a fecond flrug-
gle for fuperiority between the natural anxiety
and impatience of the employer, and the judg-
ment and reputation of the employed j the
former repeatedly dooming the patient to the
king's kennel at Afcot, the latter as conftantly
imploring her refpite; which having with much
difficulty finally obtained, I immediately form-
ed my medical arrangement, and proceeded
without variation or interruption in the follow-
ing way.�Having two days before begun a
courfe of my (advertifed) alterative powders,
in the morning and evening feeds of corn,
(firft fprinkled with water to infure their ad-
hefion and confumption) I now added an
ounce of Peruvian bark in powder to be given
twice every day, in three quarters of a pint of
thin gruel, repeating the ounce of nitre in the
water, night and morning, without intermif-
|ion.

I adopted this plan upon a perfect confi-
dence, that fuch fyftem would effect all that
could be expected from medicines internally,
then directing my attention to the complicated
wounds and finufes (that in fact bore a defpe-
fate afpecl), my great hope and expectation

confifted in correcting the morbid matter, and
fupporting nature; as neither ftrength or ap-
petite feemed yet to fail, nor had conftant pain
vifibly diflreffed the patient, or reduced the
frame.

The almoft unprecedented growth of fun-
gous bidding defiance to every confident cor-
rofive, cau/tic, or efebarotic, I had no alterna-
tive to effecl: my purpofe but the edge of the
knife j to this never failing refource I daily
applied for extirpation, repeating the fuperfi-
cial fcarifications longitudinally and tranverfely,
fo as not only to excite plentiful difcharges of
grumous inflammatory blood, but to difunite
and deftroy the very foundation of this obftruc-
tion to cure. After thefe fcarifications the
wounds were dreffed with the precipitate oint-
ment, and covered with warm digeftive, a
mode of treatment that foon gave the whole
a very healthy appearance, and promifed gra-
dual improvement.

As I have before obferved, the finufes were
fo fituated amidft the mufcular and ligamen-
tary parts, that inftrumental feparation was
not only dangerous but impoffible; a cure

could therefore only be obtained by a perfeve-
rance in the mode of treatment beft adapted
to the exigency of difeafe. Availing myfelf
of experimental obfervatior*, I continued to
cleanfe them thoroughly at every dreffing with
the injection of tindlure of myrrh (by means
of a long necked ivory fyringe), the beft bal-
famic detergent for foul wounds, inveterate ul-
cers, or deep feated finufes, I have been able
to difcover in the whole clafs of externals,
during a long and attentive practice.

Proceeding regularly in this track, with a
punctual adminiftration of the internal medi-
cines before recited, and the external applica-
tions fo minutely defcribed, the mare, in
little more than fix weeks, was completely
cured, perfedly free from every appearance of
eruption^ lamenefs, or difeafe, and is now in foal
by a celebrated Arabian of the royal ftud.

To thofe who may wifh to have farther ani-
madverfion upon the diftinct and acting pro-
perties of the medicines internally applied, I
can only obferve, fuch explanation would very
far exceed the limits originally prefcribed for
the extent of this addition; it muff therefore

fuffice to fay, if I had formed a hope of reduc-
ing inflammation, correcting acrimony, and refcu-
ing the whole mafs of blood from an inveterate
and dangerous flate of morbidity, by the ufe of
the alterative powders, bark, and nitre, I muft
confider myfelf exceedingly fortunate, that
they completed in conjunction, what, perhaps,
might never have been effected by any part of
the whole.

LIGAMENTARY LAMENESS.

The former cafe was fucceeded by a fevere
ligamentary lamenefs in the carriage horfe of
a gentleman, within three miles of my own
refidence, that had fufiained confiderable in-
jury in the articulation of the hip joint, by a
violent fall, in fuddenly flipping up when wan-
tonly exerting himfelf (at liberty) "with his

companion returning from pafturej the lame*
nefs was fo very fevere that it was with the
greateft difficulty he could draw the near hind
leg after him, and felt great perceptible pain
in being obliged to move it forward, which he
did with palpable reluctance, not bearing the
leaft weight upon it, or hardly permitting it
to touch the ground.

In four days after the accident I was re-
quired to give my afliftance, and found, by
the external appearance, that the article called
opodeldoc had been very plentifully ufed, till
the foap it contained had fo caked and accu-
mulated upon the furface, (cementing the hair
into fuch a folid mafs) as to render the pene-
tration of any fpirituous application abfolutely
impoffible. This fad: I clearly demonftrated
to the owner, and was not at all furprifed to
hear he had reaped no advantage from his in-
duftrious application.

It was unavoidably neceffary to adopt a very
different mode of proceedings I therefore re-
commended the immediate and frequent ufe
(three times a day) of a ftrong and hot fomen-
tation with a fporge, as before dire&ed, not

only to thoroughly cleanfe the furrounding
parts from the faponaceous ohftruElion of corro-
borants, but to take off the ftri&ure from the
part, and relax the porous fyftem, preparatory
to the rubbing in of the following fiimulants,
that their penetrative properties might obtain
the readier powers of action upon the internal
parts affected.

After the ufe of the fomentation for full
ten minutes, I ordered half a gill (two ounces)
of camphorated fpirits to be gradually rubbed
over the whole, immediately following it up
with the fame quantity of my advertifed " em-
brocation for lamenefs or Jirains," rubbing it
in with fuch degree of perfeverance, as to leave
no doubt of its penetration, and to let thefe be
repeated after each time of ufing the fomen-
tation.

Having fuperintended this ceremony at the
firft operation, I was requefted to give my
opinion, " how long I imagined it might be
before the horfe would be able to bear his
fpoft chaife») part of a journey to Southamp-
ton, which the family was under promife to
make?"�To which I undoubtedly replied,

the tafk of decifion was too arduous to under-
take, but in lefs than a month or fix weeks
was not to be expected.�On the fourth day,
however, the fervant was difpatched for a fup-
ply of camphorated fpirits, and another bottle
cf the embrocation, with information from his
matter, that " the horfe was mending fur-
prifingly." In a few days after, having a pro-
fefiional journey to the fame neighbourhood,
I made inquiry a matter of convenience, and
found at the houfe, that the horfe had rfet out
upon his journey, with the family, in about ten
days after my being called in, from whence he
returned as perfe&ly found as before the ac-
cident.

From the circumfiances of this cafe (amidll
many others), I am induced to bring forward
an obfervation I have repeatedly made upon
the ufe of opodeldoc in animals, where its moft
efl'ential parts cannot come into immediate
contact with the fkin, as is evidently the ttate
of the cafe with horfes, cattle, dogs, &c. where
the hair, in greater or lefs quantities, upon the
integument, fo entirely abforb the foap in the
firft operation of rubbing, as to form an adhse-
iive obftrucfion to porous admifficn, and a

confequent rejection of the more penetrative
ingredients in every future application. And
I cannot indulge the fhadow of doubt, but thofe
who have tried the experiment, or made the
obfervation, will eafily recollect the faponaceoui
mafs and obJiruSiion upon the furface I have
endeavoured to explain. Under this convic-
tion (and the beft of conviction, incontroverti-
ble experience) I will venture to affirm, how-
ever applicable and ufeful it may be univer-
fally acknowledged for various complaints of
the human frame, I mall never fubfcribe to
any pre-eminence of efficacy in its application
to quadrupeds.

PuncJured or Lacerated ^Tendon*

In the month of November 1789, I re-
ceived a letter of folicitation from a gentle-
man very high in a certain royal eftablifh-
ment, requefting my immediate attendance in
London to give my opinion upon a horfe that,
from a mere fuperfkial defect and complicated
experiments, was rendered a perfect cripple,
without hope or expectation of cure. In fuch
predicament, it became a determined deciflon
with the proprietor, that my perfonal investi-
gation fhould conclude the fcene of anxiety,
by dooming the fubjed to immediate death, or
producing a plaufible ray of hope for his reco-
very.

Upon my arrival in Town, and introdudion
to the owner, I received information, that
about three rnonths before, a kind of flatulent

or fluctuating tumour appeared upon the infide
of the near hough, difplaying great tendernefs
upon preffure and considerable pain in action ;
notwithstanding which, it was obferved to
vary fo much in effect, as to be productive of
lamenefs at one time and not at another.
Thefe circumftances were communicated by
the groom to his mafter, and by him in cafual
converfation to one of the faculty, a furgeon
of no fmall eminence, who kindly offering his
affiftance, a chirurgical infpeclion took place,
which terminated in the daily application of
different poultices to promote fuppuration;
thefe were continued till the joint opinion of
furgeon and groom pronounced the matter
" perfectly ripe" for expulfion. Under fuch
confultation, in the abfence of the owner, the
incifion was unluckily made, and dill more un-
luckily immediately upon the flexor tendon,
and direclly upon the part where it lay neareft
the furface. To the difappointment in this
operation, fucceeded diftrufls, difcontent, and.
cavillings, between the'projectors j for no mat-
ter, no fames, digelted orindigefted, following
the inftrument of feparation, mutual conster-
nation enfued, and language little fhort of
reproach prevailed with either party. This

( 35 j
contrariety of opinion (fomething fimjlar to the
frequent oppofition between doctor and nurfe)
loon effected the entire abdication of the fupe-
rior, and left the groom to an uninterrupted
exertion of his own judgment and medical abi-*
lities. To prove the extent of which, he pre-
pared an artificial probe, and continued its con-
ftant introduction, for two inches or more,
directly upon the tendon, thereby abrading and
rendering more irritable a part already injured,
and confequently fufceptible of additional pain
upon every erroneous application. His mailer;
was Itill abfent (in a diftant part of the king-
dom) and the cafe became every day more
alarming, not only in its conftantly increafing
enlargement of the joint, but perpetual and
inceflant pain, from which he had no reliefL
Nature had, in oppofition to the interpolitions
of art, clofed the orifice and healed the wound;
notwithstanding which, the lamenefs was
greater than before. This was matter of ad-
ditional perplexity to the fcientific fuperinten-
dent, who was now convinced nothing but a
practice entirely new could fucceed.

The better to eftabliih which (upon a vulgar

and generally received opinion^ that mercury is a

Specific for every ill) he procured a pot of
firong mercurial ointment, and perfevered in its
conftant ufe by friction, till finding every
effort to fucceed abortive, he obliquely courted
the examination and advice of a popular farrier,
Handing very high in public eftimation, whofe
fublimity of explanation certainly entitles him
to general confidence.

He mod fagacioufly difcovered and cbferved,
' a vein was loft, which could only be reco-
' vered by the application of a Jlro?ig blijler.'
However ftrange or ridiculous a propofed re-
medy, fo violent and extraordinary, may ap-
pear to the judicious or experienced reader, it
met no oppofition from the party concerned;
for, coming from the high founding authority
of fo much eminence, it was hajlily procured,
and as raJJj/y applied. I doubt not its effects
may be much better conceived than defcribed 5
external fire upon internal contraction could
but add to the excruciating pain, or rather
wanton perfecution, of a fubjecT: fuffering under
fuch a facceffion of cruel and inconfUlerate
experiments.

This account having been given me '_mrecital, as well as the prefent ftate of the horfe,
I could not entertain a doubt of the flexor ten-
dons being pundtured by the original operator,
or lacerated by his fucceffor, in the daily prob-
ing! that were to effecT: f₀ expeditious a cure.
Proceeding, however, to the ftables, I found
the patient upon three legs, in a frail barely five
feet wide, in a ftate of the greater! agony -, his
kg in an almoft conftant contractive motion,
abfolutely groaning with the extremity of pain]
the whole limb perceptibly wafted, the fh*me
emaciated, the joint much enlarged, the cica-
trix exceedingly tender, bearing no preflure
upon the tendon, and an uncommon ftriclure
upon the furrounding parts, wherever the
blifterhad taken effedtj and, to render the bu*
finefs of inquiry complete; I found circum-,
fiances had varied very little for near two
months, but that fympfoms had continued
nearly in the fame ftate.

Every aclion, every predominant trait tend-
ing to corroborate my fir ft opinion upon the
cafe, I could not hefitate a moment to pr₀,
nounce, that whatever had been the origin of
the^fimple tumour (perhaps a blow that had,
^ 3 however,

however, never been afcertained), the caufe of
the prefent diftreffing fcene was abfolutely and
beyond all poffibility of doubt or contradiction,
a pun&ure or laceration of the tendon.

Obfcured as the cafe was, by what is too
much the pra&ice, complicated opinions and
various experiments, in addition to the length
of time fince the injury had been fuitained,
great or fanguine hope of fuccefs was not to be
entertained. I neverthelefs obferved, if the
owner wifhed to adopt fuch fyflem as alone
feemed calculated to alleviate fymptoms and
afford relief, giving the whole a fair and per-
fevering trial of three weeks or a month, with-
out any perceptible advantage, I (hould then
(however difagreeable the office muft be) cer-
tainly not hefitate to advife the propriety of
paffing the only fentence that could extricate
the fubjecl; from a life of extreme pain and
perpetual mifery.

My propofal having been inftantly and moft
cheerfully acquiefced in by the great humanity
and anxious wifh for prefervation in the owner,
I ordered, without delay, a coach-houfe, or
open Jiable to be orocured (which was very
3 ' luckily

iuckily obtained in the fame yard) and covered
with litter, for his immediate reception, a par-
cel of hay being fufpended at each end, to
excite his alternate motion from one end to the
other when either bundle was confumed.

Ingredients were dire&ly procured for the
following decodion:

Take rofemary leaves, Roman wormwood,
lavender flowers, marfhmallow leaves, and ca-
momile flowers, of each four ounces; boil in
ten quarts of water till .reduced to eight, then
ftrain.

The whole limb was then fomented (with
two large pieces of fponge alternately, as hot as
the decoction could be brought into ufe with-
out danger) from the very ftifle to the footlock
joint, continuing it for a quarter of an hour at
leaft, each time of ufing the fomentation, and
repeating it three times a day at equal dis-
tances of time, rubbing in after every opera-
tion, upon the hough joint and neighbouring
parts, a two ounce phial full of the following
anodyne folution:

Take fpirits of wine - one pint,

camphire - - - an ounce and a half,
opium - - two drachms.

The camphire and opium were reduced to
fmall pieces, then frequently fhaken in the
ipirits till dhTolved, and clofe flopped for ufe.

That no part of my plan might be omitted,
tending in the leaft to promote a poffibility of
fuccefs, I continued in town a day extraordi-
nary, to fuperintend the commencement and
regulate the proceedings was prefent during
the firft operation, leaving him at full, liberty
in the loofe ftable I had recommended (as the
firft probable ftep to improvement), not with-
out fome degree of hope, wpon feeing him en-
joy a feeming temporary fufpenfion from pain,
during the warmth of the fomentation, which
he abfolutely leaned to, and courted the appli-.
cation of, in a very particular manner.

From thefe applications {however well
adapted to predominant fymptoms and the exi-
gency of the cafe) infallible expeSiations could
not be formed; neverthelefs, I had experimental
reafon and conviction to believe the properly

regulated heat_? and frequency of the fomen
tation, might not only gradually reduce the
rigid callofity of the integument and ftricture
upon the part where the bljfter had been ap-
plied, but alfo relax the porous fyftem, giving
admiffion to the anodyne for the reduction of
irritability, and the corroborants to excite a
degree of warmth and ftimulus upon the inter-
nal parts.

However well founded any doubts of cure
might have been, from the combined feveri-
ties of the cafe, I was moft agreeably deceived
in the fufpicious opinion I had formed; for
little more than a fortnight brought me a letter
qf in formation _? that every diftreffing fymptom
was alleviated j the horfe fed well, and feemed
almofl free from pain; the ftricture upon the
joint was greatly fubdued, and the local en-
largement promifed gradual redudion. A
Jecond account followed the Jirji in a few days,
from which it appeared, the horfe lay down
and got up with little difliculty, put his foot to
the ground, bore a great part of the propor-
tional weight upon it in motion, and even
walked feveral fteps in fucceffion without bait-
ing. Thefe encouraging appearances power-
fully

fully dictated an unremitting perfeverance in
the mode of treatment already defcribed, with-
out the moft trifling variation, which has fuc-
ceeded fo well, that a letter now lies before
me from the owner, wherein he fays, ' The

* horfe has been walked out twice, when he

* did not appear the leajl lame, and I hope he

* will be foon enabled to take his journey to
^f Wokingham, there to profit by the winter's
' run you have kindly provided for him. I

* am very glad to hear of the Supplement you

* mention, and hope foon to fee it published.
^? I think the cure of my own horfe an uncom*

As the introduction and illuftration of cafes
may not be perfectly applicable to the expec-
tation of thofe who wifh to meet little more *
than a dictatorial arrangement of prefcriptive
matter, it will be perfectly in point, not only
to explain their utility, but the caufe of com-
munication for general infpection.

The public having fo extenfively honoured
the Stable Directory with fuch decided appro-'
bation, even in the infancy of its appearance,
and before its theory could^ have been univerfally

reduced to praSiice, it muft afford the higheft
gratification in return, to receive corroborating
and well authenticated proofs of the confiftency
of its reformation, and that the confidence fo ge-
neroufly placed in the medical inftructions, has
fufFered no proflitution or difgrace, amidfl
their numerous trials and critical inveftigations.
However liberal the candid and impartial part
of the world may have been in their encomi-
ums upon the original work (or congratu-
lations to the author), its contents could only
appear to the public as mere matter of conjec-
ture (upon the propriety of which every
reader had a fubftantial reafon to entertain
doubts), till fuch doubts were removed by a
repetition of fuccefs, and a palpable confirm-
ation of the acknowledged utility of jmprdve-
ment in practice.

Naturally reverting to one or another of the
cafes already recited, it muft be perfectly appo-
fite to repeat the abfurdity, the wonderful in-
confiftency, of fubmkting the management of
valuable (or indeed any) horfes, to the ftrange
and inconfiderate experiments of thofe who
have no one qualification but their unbounded

confidence (or rather impudence) to recom-
mend them, or juftify the dreadful havock
they constantly make among this moSt ufefui
part of the creation, if we may be fairly allowed
to decide, by the great numbers annually
doomed to death, in the penury and credulity
of one clafs, or the invincible obstinacy and
ignorance of the other.

The penury and credulity I allude to (and
which cannot be too often or emphatically re-
peated), is that kind of faving knowledge in
the employer., inevitably productive of a double
deception; for (without beitowing even a remote
thought upon the defective abilities of the em-
ployed) his imagination outstripping reflection,
rapidly reaches an ideal cure at the leajl expenfe^
totally forgetting that felf-prefervation is a
concomitant to low cunning, and confequently
more is lavished upon the ignorant, obstinate,
confident, or neceffitous, for the promotion of
mifchief and danger, than would amply com-
penfate the enlightened practitioner for his
affiftance in all cafes of emergency. Nume-
rous facts might be adduced to demonstrate
the truth of thefe alTertions (notwithstanding

, the cautions fo repeatedly advanced in different
parts of the Directory), fome of which may
perhaps appear hereafter.

It becomes, however^ immediately appli-
cable to obferve (even here) how very much
depends, in all cafes of difficulty and danger,
upon drawing that nice and critical line of dif-
tindlion in the mode of treatment conflituting
right or wrong, confequently deftru&ion or
cure. Notwithftanding the palpable neceffity
for fuch accurate inveftigation, tim,e and obfer-
vation daily demonftrate, in a variety of cafes,
the number of deaths that frequently happen,
where it is abfolutely natural to fuppofe the
parties called in to relieve, had come with a
fixed determination to dejiroy; juflifying this
idea by the many, who, not paying the leaft
attention to Nature, or her indications, the
origin, caufe, or fymptoms, of difeafe, proceed
to their predetermined applications (whether
internals or externals) with no emulation to
infpire, no reputation to lofe, no refined fen*
fations to /often, confequently no anxious dejire
to prompt a fpeedy alleviation of pain, or mi-
tigation of fufferings in the animal, unluckily

deftined to undergo a repetition of raft, cruel,
and inconfiderate experiments.

To corroborate the juftice of this remark, is
it at all neceffary to go farther in retrospection
than the laft cafe recited ?�Can any rational
practitioner, whole conduct is regulated by
integrity, and a proper attention to the indi-
cations of Nature, come forward and explain,
what could be expected from the repeated ap-
plication of Jirong mercurial ointment by one
operator, or the meaning of ^c a loft vein, and

* its intentional recovery by the ufe of a ftrong

* blifter,' in the other ?

Whatever may have been the intent or ex-
pectation of either, the event has fully proved
the fads fo repeatedly urged beyond the power
of confradidion; fuch unmeaning efforts of
fterility can only be the combined efFeds of
vanity and prefumptuous impudence in the firft,
profeflional ignorance, or the moft unlimited
confidence and deception in the latter.

Out of thefe confederations will arife convic-
tion to fuch as do me the honour of attentive

perufal, that the major part of fuch pretenders
to patronage merely pofTefs abilities fufficient
to proceed in their invariable, fyflem of impo-
fition, with views very little beyond a conftant
and fuccefsful depredation upon the property
of thofe who unfortunately require their affifl-
ance.

During the ftiperintendance of the cafes be-
fore recited, many of inferior confequence, but
equally fuccefsful, intervened.�A gentleman
of the firft popular eminence in Surry, commu-
nicated a complete cure of the greafe in one of
his carriage horfes by the flrong diuretic balls,
and a fubfequent courfe of alteratives, after pay-
ing a tedious and implicit obedience to the dic-
tates of a neighbouring farrier, without the
leaft profpeSl of fuccefs.�Five in fiances have
occurred in my own neighbourhood (exclusive
of diftant communications) where horfes have
been almoft inflantaneoufly relieved from the
excruciating pain of cholic and fret, by the
prefcribed balls, after failure of the different
farriers potations, mofl powerfully impregnated
with their favourite fpecific, gin and pepper, to
which miflaken remedy, and obflinate attach-
ment, I have known many fall vi&ims, where

the inflammation has been by tbefe means pro-
moted, and nature too much exhaufted to ad-
mit the leaft relief.

Notwithstanding the general explana*
tion of the different kinds of wounds, and their
diftincl modes of treatment, fo fully enlarged
on, under proper heads, in the Stable Direc-
tory, there is a certain clafs not particularly
noticed, that from their feverity bear fo great
an affinity to cafes of punctured tendons, as to
become (at the requefr. of many refpectable
correfpondents) the immediate fubjedl of ani-
madverfion*

The inflammation, tenfion> pain, fuppu-
fation, and wounds, frequently arifing from
injuries fuftained by thorns, nails, ftubs, or
other pointed fubftances equally prejudicial
are univerfally known to become not only ex-
ceedingly

ceedingly troublefome, but often produ&ive of
great danger. The penetration of fuch can
very feldom take place without the probability
of difagreeable or alarming confequence; if in
the fore part of either leg, the periofteum, liga-
mentary parts, or articulation of the knee and
and footlock joints, may be feverely affected; if
the back part of either, the tendon, by being
punctured or lacerated, may receive irreparable
injury. From thefe various chances, it is not
at all furprizing that lamenefs, originating in
caufes fo trifling in their early appearance,
fhould frequently prove fo truly diftreffing in.
the event j for it is well known but few of
thefe accidents occur without terminating in.
fuppuration and its tedious effects : and there
can be no doubt but very many of thofe hap-
pen, from want of proper attention to circum-
stances, immediately after difcovery of the in-
jury fuftained.

Punctures from thorns, in general, are con-
sidered merely as a temporary or fuperficial
inconvenience, upon fuppolition that the inte-
gument is alone affected, without the leaft refe-
rence to parts more immediately and materially
concerned. From fuch mifconception and

error in" judgment' arife the difappointments
that fo frequently enfue in unexpected form-
ations of matter, ligamentary lamenefs, or ten-
dinous contractions.

Although the general mode of treatment has
been in a great degree particularly explained in
different parts of the original work, and will
be ftill more enlarged on, it is abfolutely im-
poffible to defcend to every minutiae, without
becoming too tedious and defultoryj fome un-
forefeen fymptoms will occur in ail cafes (after
every poffible defcription) tojuftify difcretional
variations, and render fuch alterations unavoid-
able as the predominant appearances may re-
quire.

Few perforations are made by fubftances of
the above defcription but what conftitute
lamenefs in a greater or lefs degree, either of
long or fort duration : the examination cannot
be made too foon, or thecaufe (if retained) too
expeditiouily extracted.

. If the injury fuftained be merely fuperficial,
not penetrating enough to indicate confequences
©f the kinds before mentioned, the readieil

mild aftringents become immediately appli-
cable, to clofe the mouths of the lacerated
vefTels, and harden the furface.' Of this clafs
none can be better adapted than two tea fpoori-
fuls of Goulard's Extract of Saturn, with a
large table fpoonful of brandy; or, in want of
the former, equal parts of vinegar and brandy
will become an ufeful fubftitute. Two or three
gentle bathings with either composition will in
all flight cafes generally effecT: the purpofe, and
prevent farther inconvenience.

On the contrary, mould appearances not
fubmit to thefe applications, but by fwelling,
conftantly increasing pain, tenfion, and inflam-
mation, threaten maturation, it will not ad-
mit of a doubt but the tendon has been in
fome degree pun&ured or lacerated; the liga-
mentary parts forming the union at the articu-
lation of the joints injured, or a retention of
extraneous matter has taken place from the
orifice of the original wound.

In all, or either of thefe, the great hope of

expeditious relief mud depend folely upon the

proper and confident mode of treatment that is

immediately adopted to promote fuppuration;

the general error has been productive of in-
conceivable mifchief. It has been the efla-
blifbed cuftom to form a combination of the
ftrongeft flimulants human invention could
devife, without a Angle reflection upon (or one
moment reverting to) the time inevitably ne-
cefTary for the extrayafated contents to become
mature for their difcharge by a critical effort
of nature

It has been the univerfal and long ftanding
practice in all tumours or inflammatory fwell-
ings threatening a formation of matter, to rely
entirely upon the effect of poultices (compofed
of the mod powerful ingredients) calculated to
fiimulate the parts and excite early digeftion.
However judicious and approved this practice
may have been, it will admit of fome improve-
ment, and even that juftified by reafon and ex-
perience ; conflantly obferving (from the quan-
tity of hair upon many horfes, in addition to
the thicknefs of the ikin j how difficult it muit
be for the penetrative power of the poultice to
come into immediate contact with the offending
and indigefted matter, as well as the long time
nccefiary to obtain a difcharge by fuch means
alone^ I in almoft every cafe of tumours, or

inflammatory fvvellings, adopt the ufe of very
�warm fomentations, for a confiderable length
of time preceding the application of each poul-
tice (which fhould be renewed night and morn-
ing,) and am perfectly convinced of the advan-
tages gained by the practice. No profeffional
animadverfion is required to elucidate or juftify
this affertion j the defcribed ftate of the parts,
and correfponding property of the application,
fufficiently demonstrate the certainty of fuccefs
dependent upon the execution: for the good
effect of fuch mode of treatment is not only
evident in an early relaxation of the integu-
ment and porous fyftem, but in a gradual com-
munication to the feat of inflammation, being
indubitably calculated to promote, mojl pvwer-
Jully, a fpeedy and plentiful evacuation.

During a perfeverance in this practice, it
will be found no uncommon circumftance in
fuch formations (more particularly in large in-
flammatory tumours), for Nature to make her
efforts in two or three diftind places at the
fame time, where oozings may be perceived
from the different apertures j it will now be
proper that every attention is paid to the nature
D-3 "of

of the difcharge, to afcertain the flate of ma-
turation, whether it is parti'at or univerfal: if
the fuppuration is perfecl, and evidently ready
for evacuation, let a fuperficisl incifion be
made in length, adapted to the lize of the tu-
mour, and that at the lowed or moft depend-
ing orifice (or fituation of the part) that the dif-
charge may become the more fpontaneous, and
impeded by no obftruction. But fuch operation
fhould by no means (as is very frequently the
cafe) be attempted till the part is properly pre-
pared, and-in need of affiftance : over offici-
oufnefs and eager impatience in counteracting
or anticipating the indications of Nature, are
often productive of thofe very difquietudes it is
our intereft to prevent.

Should the difcharge conliffc of a bloody
ichor, or a kind of watery indigefted fanies, the
maturation may be deemed partial, and ex-
ceedingly unfavourable. The fwelling in fuch
cafe is generally hard in one place and pliable
in another, the wound (or different apertures,
as it may be) difplaying a fiftulous appearance
that threatens more confequence and inconve-
nience than a cafe of univerfal fuppuration.

Thefe appearances will require an increafed
perfeverance in the repeated ufe of fomentation
and poultice, adding more heat to the former,
and emollients to the latter, continuing each
twice a day without remiffion. Increafe the
circulation and invigorate the fyftem by an
ounce of bark in powder (given in gruel), or a
peSioral cordial ball every morning, and correct
the acrimony in the blood and juices by one of
the alterative powders in the feed of corn every
evening: thefe attentions will generally effect
a falutary change in the conftitution, and pro-
duce a promifing difcharge of healthy matter.

Too much caution cannot be introduced to
prevent the opening of tumours or fwellings of
any kind, before the contents are fufficiently
foftened (or ripe) for difcharge. Such prema-
ture operation never fails to give a rigid callofity
to the edges of the wound; and they cannot
unite fo favourably as when the cafe is morp
judicioufly conducted.

Where finufei are fuperficial (as for inftance_s

from one aperture to another of thofe before

defcribed), and the integument is becoming

putrid by the corrofive quality of the matter,

an immediate reparation with the biftory, or
differing knife and director, is the heft prac-
tice, as the divided parts foon ilough off with
the dreffings, and make way for fucceeding
incarnation.

Should Jinufes lead to remote parts, or io
furround the joints as to forbid (or render
dangerous) the ufe of an inftrument, let them
be daily fyringed with tindure of myrrh, fo
long as the wound continues foul and unfavour-
able; when it is thoroughly cleanfed, and
affumes a promifing afpect, let the injection
be altered to half tincture and half warm wa-
ter, continuing its ufe at each dreffing, which
mould be regularly perfevered in night and
morning.

In wounds of this description, the rapid
growth of fungous (commonly called proud
fiefh) is almoft incredible: this fhould be care-
fully attended to in the infancy of its appear-
ance, and, if at all luxuriant, muft be repeatedly
touched in various directions, with the edge of
a lancet, biftory, pen-knife, or any other ap-
plicable inftrument exceedingly fharp; then
dj.efled with a fubftantial pledget of the follow-
ing

ing precipitate ointment, covered with the
warm ftable digeftive, and a bandage beft
adapted to the part affe&ed:

Take red precipitate, finely powdered, half an
ounce, yellow bafilicon two ounces, and let
them be well incorporated upon a marble flab
for ufe.

When the fungous is entirely fubdued, and
the cure nearly completed, this ointment may
be omitted: but I believe it can be very rarely-
laid afide with propriety j for I find in my ge-
neral practice, it is almoft impoflible to relin-
quish it totally, the excrefcence continuing to
fhoot, in many cafes, till the wound is per-

This mode of treatment will alfo be found
moft ftri&ly applicable to broken knees of any
confiderable confequence without diftindtion,
fome very remarkable cafes of which have fallen
under myinfpection,that have had their different
terminations: of the moft Angular was the wry
horfe whofe " ligamentary lamenefs" in the hip
joint is defcribed in the third cafe, that has a
very fhort time fince loft his life, after being

totally ruiaed by a broken knee, received upon
a projecting flint in the road between Henley
and Wargrave, that, feparating the Hgamen-
tary union of articulation at the joint, not only
produced an immediate hourly increasing in*
flammatory and incredible enlargement of the
whole limb, but a fixed contraction (without
the power of even refting the foot on the
ground), in oppofition to every attempt to
relieve, by three of the moll eminent prac<-
titioners in the centre of the royal ftuds, when,
after the faireft exertions for fome weeks, he
was unavoidably doomed to the death it was
impoffible to prevent,

A fecond, much more fevere in external ap-
pearance than the foregoing, was a bred mare (got
by an Arabian, late in poffeffion of Sir T. Rum-
bold, now of his Royal Highnefs the Prince of
Wales), the property of the owner of the farcy
mare (defcribed in cafe the fecond), and was at-
tended with equal fuccefs; for although the inte-^
gument and foft parts of the knee were entirely
deftroyed, as if taken off with an inftrument
(by a violent fall upon a very hard gravel road
in Windfor Foreft) fo as almoff. to deflroy every
expectation of cure, yet by a daily reduction of

the fungous, and ftrid attention to the con-
formation of the edges of the wounds, a cicatrix
was formed and cure completed, bidding defi-
ance to the eye or touch of the moft judicious in-
vefligator; which is the more extraordinary, as
the colour of the mare is a delicate grey. Thiscafe
is only quoted to prove the poffibility of prevent-
ing thefe accidents from becoming fo perpetu-
ally prejudicial, when properly attended to j
while on the contrary they become irreparable
injuries, in being left to the courfe of nature j
for, fufFered to cicatrize with a prominence
constituting an e/char, they prove an irretrieve-
able blemifh, that a very few days proper
attention (in moft cafes) would probably pre-
vent.

Having gone through every necefTary in-
ftrudlion that can be poffibly advanced for the
treatment and cure of the different kinds of
lamenefs proceeding from various caufes, one
additional remark cannot be too forcibly incul-
cated, nor too ftridtly obferved. It is the great
advantage to be gained in the progrefs and con-
firmation of every cure, from the ufe of an
openfiable, bay of a barn, or fuch other proper
receptacle, in preference to a very abfurd cuf-

torn, exceedingly common (but more particu-
larly in the metropolis, perhaps from the general
want of room) of confining a horfeby the head,
labouring -W a fevere and tedious lamenefs,
in a ftdi fo very narrow, that it ' Jy

impo[Jible for him to enjoy one fingi- xtended
motion in a ftate of nature j his fitu-tion is in
fact fo contracted that he is rendered incapable
of exerting his powers, or knowing his own
ftrength. He has no room for the moll trifling
action but in a compullive pofition, and can
move from fide tojtde only, under every reftraint
and difadvantage.

To eftablifh and render complete the cure of
infirmities proceeding from relaxed, punctured,
or lacerated tendons, ligamentary lamenefs,
thorn wounds, or indeed almoft any other
caufe, liberty, under certain limits, (as before
defcribed) fhould have equal weight with every
other confederation; and this can be effected
in no one way fo well as the line of mediocrity
already pointed out; for in fuch moderate re-
ceptacle they not only acquire a perfect know-
ledge of their own ftate and ability, but by
gentle efforts, voluntary motion, and gradual
life, the relaxed or defective parts recover their

former tone and elafticity -, while, on the con-
trary, by turning invalids out too foon to open
pafture (or with other horfes), after fevere in-
juries of this kind, they often forgetting (or
not confcious of) their late deficiencies, become
full of aftion and play upon obtaining their
liberty, and are not unfrequently returned to
the ftable in a ivorfe Jiate than at the origin of
complaint.

Previous to the conclufion of fuch compli-
cated remarks as have been introduced for the
purport of general information (calculated in
refpect to tninute particulars, much more for
the totally uninformed than the very many
fportfmen who, poffeffing a portion of experi-
ence, ftand in need of no inftrudtion), it be-
comes a matter of indifpenfable neceffity to add
a few words upon the great danger (in facl:
cruelty) of adhering clofely to fome parts of
ancient practice, that have no one plea but
their antiquity, and the invincible obftinacy of
their advocates to recommend them,

Of this clafs none ftand in a more confpicu-
ous or ridiculous point of view than thofe who,

1 have obferved in the body of the Work, per-
fift * in a maxim, never to be obliterated, that
* old laws, old times, and old books, are beft.'
Among thefe, none are more deftru&ive in
their perfeverance than thofe who, in op-
polition to every judicious opinion, every en-
lightened refinement and experimental con-
viction of the certain danger (and often fatal
confequence) continue to give cold water,
during the procefs of purging medicines,
under the contemptible ajjertion and pretended
Belief, that it adds to the &z/�and certainty of
the operation.

That this is a deceptive cuftom, fhamefully
perfevered in by numbers of the illiterate and
confident, without the knowledge, and againft
the decided opinion of their employers, is a
fact too notorious with me to admit of contra-
diction j and one of thofe, upon the ill effects
of which has been founded objections to phyjic,
though in many inftances the danger has been
attributed to more remote caufes, and the truth
(from fatal confequences) has never been afcer-
tained.

Cafes of this kind have occurred, within mf
own knowledge, where the caufe has been
confeffed, when the effect was unerringly per-
ceptible} both the pores and the interlines
(already preternaturaily relaxed by the admini-
stration of medicine, additional clothing, and
furrounding warmth) Suffer fudden collaplion,
by the fiypttc power of the frigid element pro-
ducing an almoft inftantaneous obstruction to
every fecretion; the perfpirative matter thus
obstructed, is directly fixed in the extremities,
constituting rheumatic pains, that frequently
terminate in palfy; or its effects upon the fto-
mach and inteftines, then in the higheft ftate
of irritability, are found to produce the moil ex-
cruciating chalk, fpafms, convulfions, inflam-
mation, or mortification, that in either cale
generally ends in death; though lingering in-
ilances are frequently feen, where eight, ten,
or twelve days of dreadful anxiety precede the
termination.

Thefe remarks upon fo critical a Subject are
introduced to point out the certain danger, and
to fupprefs, if poffible, fo abfurd, fo incon-
siderate, and contemptible, a practice, that, it is

natural to conclude, can be continued but from
a motive of inherent obftinacy, determined not
to be convinced) amidft all its dreadful confe-
quence. I am, however, mod earneftly in-
duced to hope, from an anxious and unalter-
able defire to improve the fubjed and reform
the pradice, that the ancient adage of ' Better
' late than never,' and due refledion, will be
produdive of a gradual reformation, parti-
cularly when it is now univerfally known, and
acknowledged by every impartial obferver, that
the inftrudions in the former part of the Di-
redory, for management in Physic, have
undergone the ordeal of public investigation,
and been honoured with general approbation;

DISEASE IN THE CANINE SPECIES,



				( 57 )

		ing precipitate ointment, covered with the warm ftable digeftive, and a bandage beft adapted to the part affe&ed: Take red precipitate, finely powdered, half an ounce, yellow bafilicon two ounces, and let them be well incorporated upon a marble flab for ufe. When the fungous is entirely fubdued, and the cure nearly completed, this ointment may be omitted: but I believe it can be very rarely- laid afide with propriety j for I find in my ge- neral practice, it is almoft impoflible to relin- quish it totally, the excrefcence continuing to fhoot, in many cafes, till the wound is per-

feclly			healed.
feclly

	This mode of treatment will alfo be found moft ftri&ly applicable to broken knees of any confiderable confequence without diftindtion, fome very remarkable cafes of which have fallen under myinfpection,that have had their different terminations: of the moft Angular was the wry horfe whofe " ligamentary lamenefs" in the hip joint is defcribed in the third cafe, that has a very fhort time fince loft his life, after being totally



		, / ■■-' ■ PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS UPON THORN WOUNDS, PUNCTURED TENDONS, A N P LIGAMENTARY LAMENESS, . I N HORSES, WITH EXPERIMENTAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR T � E I R TREATMENT AND CURE. ILLUSTRATED BY A RECITAL OF CASES, INTERSPERSED WITH A VARIETY OF USEFUL REMARJCS, TO WHICH IS ADD ID A SUCCESSFUL METHOD OF TREATING THE CANINE SPECIES, IN THAT DESTRUCTIVE DISEASE CALLED THE DISTEMPER: THE WHOiE TO:!IUNC A SUPItlMEKT TO The Gentleman's Stable Dire&ory, By WILLIAM TJPLIN, Surgtog.

			LONDON- ?INII)I FOR G. KEARSLEY, AT JOHNSOiTs HE AD, T* LEIT-ST J! IET, M DCC XC. [PRICE ONE SHILLING.] CntercD at j&tntioncra l^all.



		SUPPLEMENT TO THE Gentleman's Stable Directory, OR Modern Syftem of Farriery.

			t~ e iHE unlimited approbation of an indul- 1 gent public having ranked the Directory very high in general eftimation, it would dis- play an evident want of gratitude in the author not to render the work as perfect as a conftant accumulation of experimental remarks will per- mit, and to farther increafe its acknowledged utility, by the addition of every profeffional improvement that can in the lead tend to en- lighten a fubjecl; fo eagerly investigated even A 2 by



		( 4 ) by thofe who formerly affected to neglect the fuperintendance of both Jluds and Jlables, as matters too trifling for perfonal confideration. Such indifference is no longer to be obferved, or complained of, among the moil opulent or fafhionablej for the wonderful avidity with which the numerous editions of the Stable Directory have been purchafed in this, and repeatedly printed in a neighbouring king- dom, are demonftrative proofs that the fubject has acquired new life from fuch publication, and that the medical and chirurgical parts of Farriery are immerging very rapidly from the rude and' illiterate hands in which they were originally placed. Upon this flattering improvement the au- thor has to gratulate the public, as well as his own fenfations, upon a feries of fuch uninter- rupted fuccefs; for the great purport of his publication may be considered in a certain de- gree gratified, when the firft fortunes and abili- ties no longer iilentlyand implicitly fubmit the nobleft and mod,valuable animal on earth to the ignorance and obftinacy of every unen- lightened adventurer, but with a generous emulation



		*( s )* emulation condefcend to inveftigate the origin of difeafe, and comprehend the rational method of cure. This palpable conviction has arifen from the very great number of noblemen and gentlemen of the firft eminence who have not only honoured the author with their confidence and correfpondence, upon the utility of his Dire&ory, and the great efficacy of his Me- dicines, but called in his affiftance upon cafes of the greatefl difficulty and danger, where a ftridl attention to his inftrudions has been attended with the moft per feci fuccefs. In a work of fo much extent, involving fuch variety, and aiming fo much at general reform- ation j perfection, at frjl, was not, could not_ybe expeded ; conflantly increafing pradice and experience, with incefTant application and at- tention, muft perpetually throw new lights upon many parts of the whole, and render per- fedly applicable the communication of fuch remarks as may tend to make complete as pof- fible> a trad, in which the public at large have proved themfelves fo immediately inte- refted. A 3 Thus



		( 6 } Thus far by way of apology, for introducing under the appendage of a Supplement, what became in fact a matter indifpenfablej for to its necejfity fuch a combination of eircumftances bear powerful evidence, that it was no longer to be avoided : the literary complaints oifome_tand anonymous expostulations of others_f upon the fubjecls we proceed to treat, as well as the pergonal fuperintendance and aftiftance the au- thor has been required to give, in tbefe very cafes, fingidar, alarming, and even fatal, where nature has been ridiculoufly checked, or obfli- nately oppofed, render fuperfluous any farther defence for its introduction. Although the fubjecl: matter of this addition is fuppofed to conftitute a mere animadverfion upon lameneis proceeding from thorn wounds, and pundured or lacerated tendons, yet there are variety of experimental obfervations (how- ever inferior, individually confidered) that become equally neceffary to our prefent defign- of rendering the work as nearly applicable as poffible to the wants or wiflies of fo very nu- merous a body of readers.

			To



		( 7 ) To juftify, in a great meafurej the mode of practice to be inculcated, and hereafter laid down; to counteract the malicious or pre- judiced remarks of the interefted or diffatisried, as well as to eftablifh, upon an inco7itr avertible bajis, the rational^ proper, and fuccefsfulj me- thods of treatment, recent cafes in point will be quoted ■>, and however improper it may be to introduce the names of characters too eminent for fuch publication, yet no kind of fecrecy will be at all neceflary refpefting the parties, whenever thofe fubjeds become the profeflional topics of conversion between the author and his friends. Such cafes will be likewife illuftrdted to de- tnonftrate the confiftency, propriety, and fuc- cefs, of modern practice, in oppofition to the ahtient fyfrem, fo repeatedly enlarged upon in the courfe of the work. A very great number of literary applications having been addrefled to the author, from different parts of the king- dom, requiring a farther explanation upon many fubjects, and a continuation of others, it is his earneft defire to elucidate every pajjage, {o as to render it perfectly clear, and to de- fcend to fuch minutia, for the gratification of A 4 irquirers



		( 8 ) inquirers, as did not appear fo immediately neceffary in the firfr. formation of the Direc- tory. But the doubts of fame, and the timidity (added to the inexperience) of others, having thrown difficulties in the way of the moft fimple operations, it becomes a duty incum- bent to obviate thofe complaints, and leave in future (if poffible) little room for oppofition from the interested or diffatisfied. Thefeobfervations are only made to prevent furprife at the occafional introduction of fome remarks in the courfe of this addition, that may, to the more experienced and enlightened reader, feem very much inferior to the magni tude of the fubjecl:, not considering how many there are whofe infantile judgment mufr. re- ceive every injlrudiion from the pages before them. Under the influence of this confederation it becomes (particularly after the frequent oppo~ fition from fervants or grooms) perfectly appli- cable to introduce a few inductions upon the very fimple act of neatly delivering a ball to the horfe,



		( 9 ) horfe, without a fear of regurgitation; a cir- cumftance that very frequently happens to thofe who are little acquainted with the proper mode of operation: and thefe directions will not (to many) appear fo immediately neceffary* unlefs I communicate what will hardly be thought pojjibk, but by thofe who know the circumftance to be well authenticated, in my own neighbourhood, where it very lately oc- curred. A. valuable horfe, the property of Cap?, W-------, having been under a courfe of the Pectoral Cordial Balls for a fevere cold, eleven had been given without the lead difficulty; but in giving the twelfth and laft of the courfe, the fervant not perceiving the ball pafs the gul- let, erroneoufly conceived the ball was lodged in the throat, and (ridiculous as it may feem) abfolutely fet moft manfully to work v/tihhalf a broom handle to diflodge the ball, till he had fo bruifed and lacerated the furrounding parts, that a violent inflammation enfued, and it was not till after the induftrious efforts of a fort- night, that the poor animal could be pro- nounced out of danger from this new and very extraordinary mode of operation. To



		( « ) To obviate fuch trouble, and to render uri- neceffary the ufe of the farrier''sfavourite injlrtt- ment, " a balling iron," (only calculated to increafe the difficulty) I prefiime to introduce fuch inftruclions for the adminiftration of a ball as will enable the operator to deliver it with the greatefl eafe to himfelf and fafety to his patient. Firft holding the ball in the right handy longitudinally and equally furrounded by the fingers and thumb, let the left be infinuated on the off fide of the mouth, when taking gently hold of the tongue, draw it fteadily out between the tulk and the grinders, then grafp- ing it with great firmnefs, introduce the right hand with the ball, and paffing it up with a proper degree of refolution, to the higheft pof- iible point j lodge it upon the root of the tongue, inftantly pufiling it forward with your fingers, and withdrawing your hand, place it under his jaw, let loofe the tongue, and raife his head, where, holding it for a very fhort fpace, the ball is perceived to pafs without the leaft difficulty; while on the contrary, a horfe, either timid or refractory, is made much more lb by the painful ufe of an iron that, from its very fhape, appearance, and method of introduction, is evidently calculated to pro- mote



		< it ) mote or increafe the difficulty it was intended to prevent. Thefe particulars, trifling as they may ap» Dear to thofe expert in the practice, are never- thelefs more particularly neceffary in the pre- fent improving ftate of medicine, where reformation is making fuch rapid ftrides, that the adventurous opinions of rufiic fasriers, and: the dangerous compofitions they provide, bid exceedingly fair to encounter a partial oblivion : and as numbers of the firft fporting eminence have publicly declared their unalterable deter- mination to commence and continue their own farriers, fuch directions cannot be too clearly explained or uuiverfally known. It will, previous to a continuation upon the fubject, be perfectly in point to obferve, it was not till after a very rapid fale of the third edition of the Stable Directory, thatl en- tertained the leaft idea of preparing my moft efficacious medicines for the accommodation of the public in general; and even then the thought occurred not more from the frequent fupplies required by noblemen and gentlemen at remote diftances, than an obfervation of great 4 weight

			V



		{ rt ) Weighty made by one of the moil opolerit fporting characters in the kingdom. * That having repeatedly purchafed his * Purging Balls ready prepared, he was eter-^ ¹ nally perplexed and difappointed in their ' effe&s; fome being exceedingly violent and ' dangerous, while others under the fame namei ' price, and defcription, were fearcely per- ^c ceptible in the operation, and this fre- * quently happened in the fame fubjecl; a ' contrafl fo oppofite, he could no way recon- * cile but by a fuppofition that fo large a * quantity might be made together, as to render ' impracticable a regular incorporation of the * ingredients.' A remark fo perfectly appofite and appa- rently juft, immediately determined me upon the perfonal preparation of my mod powerful, prefcriptions, under the jeal andfignature of ** Taplin's genuine Horse Medicines," as a counteraction to the adulteration fo fully explained in the preface; and it is no fmall recommendation to the undertaking, or grati- fication to_ the proprietor, that, from the firft hour



		( »3 ) liour of embarkation, amidft. the incredible confumption in the metropolis, and almoft every part of England, to the amount of many hundred dozens, not a fingle complaint of the in efficacy of purgatives, peel orals, diuretics, or any of the whole lift of his advertifed medi- cines, has ever reached the author. On the contrary, innumerable congratulations upon their various good effects are conftanr in arrival; but as declarations bearing fo much the appear- ance of faihionable attachment to felf-interefl_twill not be univerfally believed, palpable proofs of their general utility, the applicable intro^ duclion of a few concife inftances of their acknowledged efficacy, cannot be confidered obftrufive, when evidently and equally adapted to the promotion of public good. Before I proceed to the irjveftigation and proper treatment of thorn wounds, punctured or lacerated tendons, and their dreadful effects, it becomes abfolutely rcceffary I refer the reader to my conclufive remarks u;-on Windgalls, in the clafs under that head, in the early part of the Stable Directory, where it will be found how very emphatically I have repre- fented the hazard, the danger (not to add the fol/yj



			( H )

		folly) of attempting their cure by perforation, and endeavoured to inculcate, mojl forcibly, the only probability of fucceeding in the effort, by ' performing the operation with a bijlory, and f the motion of elevation.' After fuch cautions, fo earneftly urged, it is ilrange to relate, that within the circle of my own practice I have been required to give my affifiance in two cafes, where very fine and valuable horfes have been irretrievably loft, and doomed to the hounds they had fo nobly fol- lowed, by the rafh and imprudentofficioufnefs of two of the faculty, who prefuming moft certainly more on their confidence than their judgment, facrificed to felf-confequence and the deftru&ive lancet, hunters offigure ,faJloion, fpeed, and value, not to be exceeded in the kingdom, firengthening by their imprudence, the obfervation of a celebrated writer, ^c that * more have died by the improper ufe of the * lancet than the point of the fword.' To prevent in future (if poffible) fuch con- temptible efforts of profeflional fierility, to guard the unwary from becoming dupes to their own credulity, and the dangerous efforts of



		( *5 )

of hazardous experiments, is much more the motive of inducement to recite fuch cafes, than any promifed expectation of permanent relief from the mode of treatment raoft applicable to the predominant fymptoms of either, which will neverthelefs be accurately explained.

	CASE O F A PUNCTURED TENDON, In the month of Auguft 1788, I was ap- plied to by a character of the firft eminence to, give my opinion upon one of the firft hunters in England, for which he had been repeatedly offered a hundred and twenty guineas. Upon my arrival I found the horfe labouring under the moft excruciating and indefcribahle agony, totally unable to fet his off hind foot to the ground, and from the higheff poffible con- dition, yery much emaciated in a few days with the extremity of pain. Investigating by in*



		( 16 ) quiry the caufe of complaint, I was in* formed that a ftudent in furgery, from one of the hofpitals, had lately been upon a vilit to the family; he was frequently in the (tables, and perceiving an enlargement juft above the footlock joint, which denominating a �windgail, he displayed a great defire to obliterate by per- foration. This being too kindly (too inadver- tently) permitted by the owner, he attempted the operation with a common lancet, but with fo little fortitude and fuccefs, that in making his incifion, the natural motion and rejecting effort of the animal, fafcinated the inexperi- enced operator in his firft attempt, and de- prived him of his inftrument (which was the next day found in the litter) but not till he had given a defhuctive proof of his inability, and afforded a mod ftriking corroboration of the remarks before alluded to in '* The Directory," upon this unlucky mode of extirpation. Proceeding to minute infpection, I found the whole joint and furrounding parts in the highefr. ftate of tenfion and inflammation ; the orifice of the injury fo very trifling as barely to admit the end of a probe, and fo exceeding painful as not to bear the leafl preffure, but by much



		( i7 ) ■ tnuch difficulty and perfeverance; from every predominant fymptom (and they were all equally violent) I could notentertain a momentary doubt, but the extenfor tendon was as much pundured, lacerated, or divided, as the diminutive fize of the inftrument ufed, and the obftrudive mo- tion of the horfe would admit. This appa- rent fact I was induced to-believe (by the feverity of pain, and almo'ft uncommon vio- lence of iymptoms), that the point of the lancet was broken off'm the attempt, and retained in the wound: upon premifing this fear to the groom, he allured me that was not the cafe; for the inftrument was perfed -when found. How that could be, after remaining under a horfe in his litter for twenty-four hours (as the lancet was not produced) will never be clearly reconciled to my own opinion, who have fc> conftantly fuch an inftrument in my hand. To return: finding the orifice (fmall as it was) difcharge, upon prejure, a bloody ichor, or indigefted fanies, and the edges to have acquired a very rigid callofity, I determined (that the digeftion might not be a moment retarded, when fufficiently fuppufated for fe- paration) io enlarge the orifice, by dividing the B integument



		( >8 J integument fuperjicially with the biftory, to tfe length of an inch in the whole. I then proceeded to the immediate ufe of a fomentation, prepared exceedingly ftrong from the various aromatic herbs, as rofemary and lavender blended with wormwood and camo- mile, continuing to foment the whole limb, from above the hough downwards, with a large fponge conftantly impregnated with the decoction, hot as it could be applied, without injury, for at leaft a quarter of an hour, then dreffing with a pledget of very warm yellow digeftive, covered the whole affected part with a powerful fuppurative poultice, and repeated the fomentation, drefiing, and poultice, twice every day, till a tolerable difcharge was pro^ moted, which was not for fome conliderable time; and even then, effected by increafing the heat of the fomentation and the ftrength of the poultice, as much as circumftanees would bear. The general intent of the treatment was ,in fome degree anfwered ; for the pain was greatly mitigated (except in motion) and the difcharge moderate, but fo very fcetid, and of fo cor- 5 . rofive



		( 9 ) rofive a tendency, that it formed Jinufes* in every direction downwards, furrounding the bones to the different depths of two, three, or four inches. A feparation of. parts in the prefent complication was abfolutely impra&icable, without rendering to a certainty the remedy worfe than the difeafe. Thus fituated, no hope of cure could be entertained but by a reunion of the divided parts, to promote which, a conftant fyringing with detergents was adopted at every dreffing, the wound was co- vered with lint, plentifully impregnated with the ftable digeftive, as warm as could be ap- plied with fafety, firft infinuating as much as poflible within the orifice (in the manner of a tent), and covering all with a common poul- tice of bread, milk, and oil, as the befl bed for fo tender a part. i By a perfeverance in this mode of treatment the finufes were perfectly united from the bot- tom, and the wound completely healed (or cicatrized) in little more than a month from the time of my being called in, with no other txternai inconvenience than a trifling enlarge- ment of the joint, and an apparent callcfity of the integument. But, as I had every reafon to B 2 believe,



			( 20 )

		"believe, from the firft moment of infpedtion, fo it terminated in oppofition to every humane endeavour of the owner; for, after a run of near twelve months, with no other perceptible advantage than a feeming relief from violent pain, and without the power of walking or ufing even gentle motion with the foot affected, an end was unavoidably put to his exiftence, amply demonftrating the danger of experi- ments, and the prudence of fometimes " Bearing thofe ills we have, ' Rather than fly to others we know not of." A cafe of the fame complexion, and produced by the very fame means,* will hereafter come under recital; but, as its termination has been very different from the former, I mall intro- duce others in the way they occurred. After all that has been theoretically and practically advanced by different writers (in- cluding what has been faid upon the fame fubject in The Stable Lireclory) it will, no doubt, afford the moft fingular fatisfaction to many, that an opportunity has offered to intro- duce a fuccefsful and well authenticated cafe of the Farcy, where a complete cure has been effected



			( 21 ) effeded by the rational fyftem already laid down, with no other variations but fuch as temporary appearances rendered unavoidably necefTary.

		A SUCCESSLFUL CASE O F THE FARCY. In the month of September, 1788, I was called to one of the moft opulent charaders in Windfor-Foreft (refiding in the neighbourhood of the cafe before-mentioned), who, having a blood mare labouring under a very fevere and uncommon eruption, was told by his groom and ftable attendants, that the difeafe in quef- tion was the Farcy, for which no cure could be expeded. Having confulted every author in his library (and they were all there) who had written B 3 upon



		( 22 ) upon the difeafes of horfes, he was ple'afed to fay, * he could difcover no fatisfactoiy invefti- ' gation or explanation of the origin, no fyfte- * matic mode of treatment, or probability of * cure, but in the Stable Directory; which had * given him fo perfect a reprefentation of far- * riers' pradtice in general, that he was deter- ^s mined to entruft no cafe of confequence to . their management, and enjoined me to un- dertake the fuperintendance,' I found, upon inquiry, the mare had been bled in an early flage of the appearance} but, the owner being a long time abfent from home, the mare had been continued at full feed, and no medicinal flep taken to reftrain or counteract the progrefs of deifafe. That I might the better afcertain the prefent irate of the blood, I ordered three pints to be taken away, which, almoft immediately after its exrravafation, formed a rigid coagulum,' producing upon the furface a coat of fize more than two inches thick, fo very vifcid that a pen-knife, exceedingly fharp, barely effected its feparation, the craffamentum uncommonly livid and adhelive, denoting a great degree of inflammation. This



		*( 3 )** This was the exact ftate I had reafon to be- lieve I fhould find it in, from every external appearance and examination;' for upon taking off the pellicle from any particular puftule, I obferved the discharge to be of glutinous con- fidence, putrid and offenfive, very different from what we fometimes find an acrimonious ichor. As a preparatory ftep to the introduc- tion of medicine, I inftantly altered the regimen to warm.mafb.es three times a day, with hay in fmall quantities, and one ounce of nitre dif- folved in both the morning and evening por- tions of water, making two ounces for every twenty-four hours; during this mode of com- mencement, I perceived the off leg behind to fwell fo rapidly, from the footlock joint to the ftifle, and throw out fuch a general fulnefs, particularly on the infide the thigh, that I could not entertain a momentary doubt but a critical formation of matter would inevitably take place. To promote which, with all poffible expedition, I increafed the fupport, by fub- ftituting plenty of corn for the mafhes, and called in the additional aid of ftrong and fre- quent fomentations, hot as could be ufed with- out injury (with two large pieces of fponge B 4 alternately)



		( U ) alternately) for the threatened fuppuration was too extenfive to admit the application of poul- tices by any bandage that could be invented. Thiscrifis was evidently an effort of nature in our favour, and a few days afforded great pro- bability of fuccefs, for two fmall apertures ap- pearing on the infide of the thigh, at about three inches diftance (from which flowed matter of the confidence before defcribed), and the probe pafling direclly through both, forming a complete finus, I made an entire reparation with the biftory, and obtained a dis- charge almoft incredible. I perfevered in my fomentation and drefTed with warm digeltive; but at the fecond dreffing I difcovered deep feated finufes forming in different directions, and furrounding the hough joints where no fharp pointed inftruments could be infinuated without danger. In the next four-and-twenty hours another wound appeared on rather the fore part of the infide of the joint, directly upon the flexor tendon, bearing all the marks of virulence and inveteracy, continuing to throw out fuch fucceflions of fungous as not to be conceived by thofe unacquainted with the practice. In



		*C 5 )** In this predicament followed a fecond flrug- gle for fuperiority between the natural anxiety and impatience of the employer, and the judg- ment and reputation of the employed j the former repeatedly dooming the patient to the king's kennel at Afcot, the latter as conftantly imploring her refpite; which having with much difficulty finally obtained, I immediately form- ed my medical arrangement, and proceeded without variation or interruption in the follow- ing way.�Having two days before begun a courfe of my (advertifed) alterative powders, in the morning and evening feeds of corn, (firft fprinkled with water to infure their ad- hefion and confumption) I now added an ounce of Peruvian bark in powder to be given twice every day, in three quarters of a pint of thin gruel, repeating the ounce of nitre in the water, night and morning, without intermif- \|ion. I adopted this plan upon a perfect confi- dence, that fuch fyftem would effect all that could be expected from medicines internally, then directing my attention to the complicated wounds and finufes (that in fact bore a defpe- fate afpecl), my great hope and expectation confided



		( 26 ) confifted in correcting the morbid matter, and fupporting nature; as neither ftrength or ap- petite feemed yet to fail, nor had conftant pain vifibly diflreffed the patient, or reduced the frame. The almoft unprecedented growth of fun- gous bidding defiance to every confident cor- rofive, cau/tic, or efebarotic, I had no alterna- tive to effecl: my purpofe but the edge of the knife j to this never failing refource I daily applied for extirpation, repeating the fuperfi- cial fcarifications longitudinally and tranverfely, fo as not only to excite plentiful difcharges of grumous inflammatory blood, but to difunite and deftroy the very foundation of this obftruc- tion to cure. After thefe fcarifications the wounds were dreffed with the precipitate oint- ment, and covered with warm digeftive, a mode of treatment that foon gave the whole a very healthy appearance, and promifed gra- dual improvement. As I have before obferved, the finufes were fo fituated amidft the mufcular and ligamen- tary parts, that inftrumental feparation was not only dangerous but impoffible; a cure could



		( 27 ) could therefore only be obtained by a perfeve- rance in the mode of treatment beft adapted to the exigency of difeafe. Availing myfelf of experimental obfervatior, I continued to cleanfe them thoroughly at every dreffing with the injection of tindlure of myrrh (by means of a long necked ivory fyringe), the beft bal- famic detergent for foul wounds, inveterate ul- cers, or deep feated finufes, I have been able to difcover in the whole clafs of externals, during a long and attentive practice. Proceeding regularly in this track, with a punctual adminiftration of the internal medi- cines before recited, and the external applica- tions fo minutely defcribed, the mare, in little more than fix weeks, was completely cured, perfedly free from every appearance of eruption^ lamenefs,* or difeafe, and is now in foal by a celebrated Arabian of the royal ftud. To thofe who may wifh to have farther ani- madverfion upon the diftinct and acting pro- perties of the medicines internally applied, I can only obferve, fuch explanation would very far exceed the limits originally prefcribed for the extent of this addition; it muff therefore fuffice



			C 23 ) fuffice to fay, if I had formed a hope of reduc- ing inflammation, correcting acrimony, and refcu- ing the whole mafs of blood from an inveterate and dangerous flate of morbidity, by the ufe of the alterative powders, bark, and nitre, I muft confider myfelf exceedingly fortunate, that they completed in conjunction, what, perhaps, might never have been effected by any part of the whole.

		A SUCCESSFUL CASE O F LIGAMENTARY LAMENESS. The former cafe was fucceeded by a fevere ligamentary lamenefs in the carriage horfe of a gentleman, within three miles of my own refidence, that had fufiained confiderable in- jury in the articulation of the hip joint, by a violent fall, in fuddenly flipping up when wan- tonly exerting himfelf (at liberty) "with his companion



		( 2₉ } companion returning from pafturej the lame* nefs was fo very fevere that it was with the greateft difficulty he could draw the near hind leg after him, and felt great perceptible pain in being obliged to move it forward, which he did with palpable reluctance, not bearing the leaft weight upon it, or hardly permitting it to touch the ground. In four days after the accident I was re- quired to give my afliftance, and found, by the external appearance, that the article called opodeldoc had been very plentifully ufed, till the foap it contained had fo caked and accu- mulated upon the furface, (cementing the hair into fuch a folid mafs) as to render the pene- tration of any fpirituous application abfolutely impoffible. This fad: I clearly demonftrated to the owner, and was not at all furprifed to hear he had reaped no advantage from his in- duftrious application. It was unavoidably neceffary to adopt a very different mode of proceedings I therefore re- commended the immediate and frequent ufe (three times a day) of a ftrong and hot fomen- tation with a fporge, as before dire&ed, not oaly



		( So ) only to thoroughly cleanfe the furrounding parts from the faponaceous ohftruElion of corro- borants, but to take off the ftri&ure from the part, and relax the porous fyftem, preparatory to the rubbing in of the following fiimulants, that their penetrative properties might obtain the readier powers of action upon the internal parts affected. After the ufe of the fomentation for full ten minutes, I ordered half a gill (two ounces) of camphorated fpirits to be gradually rubbed over the whole, immediately following it up with the fame quantity of my advertifed " em- brocation for lamenefs or Jirains," rubbing it in with fuch degree of perfeverance, as to leave no doubt of its penetration, and to let thefe be repeated after each time of ufing the fomen- tation. Having fuperintended this ceremony at the firft operation, I was requefted to give my opinion, " how long I imagined it might be before the horfe would be able to bear his fpoft chaife») part of a journey to Southamp- ton, which the family was under promife to make?"�To which I undoubtedly replied, the



		*( 3 1** the tafk of decifion was too arduous to under- take, but in lefs than a month or fix weeks was not to be expected.�On the fourth day, however, the fervant was difpatched for a fup- ply of camphorated fpirits, and another bottle cf the embrocation, with information from his matter, that " the horfe was mending fur- prifingly." In a few days after, having a pro- fefiional journey to the fame neighbourhood, I made inquiry a matter of convenience, and found at the houfe, that the horfe had rfet out upon his journey, with the family, in about ten days after my being called in, from whence he returned as perfe&ly found as before the ac- cident. From the circumfiances of this cafe (amidll many others), I am induced to bring forward an obfervation I have repeatedly made upon the ufe of opodeldoc in animals, where its moft efl'ential parts cannot come into immediate contact with the fkin, as is evidently the ttate of the cafe with horfes, cattle, dogs, &c. where the hair, in greater or lefs quantities, upon the integument, fo entirely abforb the foap in the firft operation of rubbing, as to form an adhse- iive obftrucfion to porous admifficn, and a consequent