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Bibliothcek uct
Hi|ksuniversiteit te Utretl*
AW. Di-rgeneeikurd*
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THE
Gentleman's Farriery:
6 R, A
PRACTICAL TREATISE
ON THE
Diseases bf HORSES:
Wherein the beft Writers on that Subject
have been confulted, and M. La Fosse's Method of Trepanning
Glandered Horfes
Is particularly confidered and improved :
ALSO
A New Method of Nicking HORSES
is recommended; with a Copper-Plate and Defcription of the Machine. To which is added an APPENDIX,
Treating, i. Of Particular Disorders of the Feet.
2. Observations on Shoeing Horses. With proper Cuts. * '■■- -------------------------— ...
.By 'J. BARTLET, Surgeon.
The Seventh Edition, revifed. LONDON:
Printed for J. Nourse, Hawes, Clark, and Collins, S,
Crowder, T. Caslon, J- Fletcher, Z.Stewart, W. Nicoll, Robinson and Roberts, and J. Pots at Eton. MDCCLXX. |
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Tf Abkur infelix fludiorum, atque immemor herbje,
■™ ' Vi&or equus ; fontefque avertitur, & pede terram
Crebraferit: demiffe aures; incertus ibidem , ,
Sudor & ille quidem morituris frigidus: aret
Pellis, & ad taftum traftanti dura refiftit.
Turn vero ardentes oculi; atque attradlus ab alto
Spiritus interdum gemitu gravis imaque longo
Ilia fmgultu tendunt: it naribus ater
Sanguis, & obfeflas fauces premit afpera lingua.
Virgil. Georgic. Lib. III.
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THE
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PREFACE.
CT^ H E author of the following trea-
-*- tije was induced to the wider- taking, from the complaints fo frequently made by gentlemen, of the objcurity, inaccuracy, and tediou/hejs, too general among the writers on the difeafes of horfs. On this account he thought he Jhould make no unacceptable prefent to the public, if he collected from the bejl authors on thisfubjecJ,fucb particular fymptoms of diftempers, as, would lead to the difcovery of the real one, and dijlinguijh it from others of a fimilar nature, rejecting all other de- fcriptions as ufelefs /peculations. By a due attention to this plan, every gentle- man would foon judge of the ability of his farrier, Jhould he think proper to confult one, before he follows the directions here laid down. A 2 WOULD
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The PREFACE.
WOULD the/e pra&itioners, inftead
of ringing the changes 'With a Jet of paltry receipts, handed down to them from their ignorant grand/ires, But care- fully apply themfelves to thisfo ufeful and necejfary branch of knowledge, and in- duftrioufy collect and compare the fymp- toms of particular difeafes, they would attain much more certainty in their practice, and, ofcourfe, morefafety and expedition in their cures. 'They would then find that a few Jimple medicines, judicionfly directed in acute cafes, would fully anjwer their intention, by jufifering nature toco-operate with them ; and that the naufeous ill-contrived drenches, fo ge- nerally made ufe of, but too often thwart her operations, and prove of worfe confe- rence than the difeafe itfelf. FOR it is this knowledge of the
fymptoms of difeafes, that difiingui/hes the rational phyfician from the empirical pretender; it is this accounts for the fu- perior ability and judgment which ap- pears between one phyfician and another; and it is hence only any progrefs can be made
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The P R E F A C E.
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made in the healing art ; and more par-
ticularly in the difeafes ofhorfes, as the fuffering animals can only defcribe their pain by their gejlures. WITH what contempt and indigna-
tion then mujl we view Juch ignorant pretenders blundering about a dijlemper, groping in the dark, and throwing in medicines at random ? And what a me- lancholy filiation mujl be that of the unhappy viSiim ? The power of nature, or Jlrength of conjlitution, will now and then indeed furmount the ignorance of blunderers, and elude the force of their hotch potches % fo that the doBor fhall receive applaufes and rewards for his imaginary Jki 11, when he deferves igno- miny and the feverefi cenfures. But what jhould we conclude hence ? Why only that fome few conjlitutions, like fome fortifications, are bomb-proof, and can fuppon the Jhoch of the whole medical artillery, without blowing up. AND here I cannot but lament the
flrange Jupinenefs of many gentlemen, who though they are real admirers of A 3 this |
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The PREFACE.
this ufeful animal, and /pare no expence
for the cure of their maladies, yet fuffer themfehes to be impofed on by illiterate grooms, and unskilful farriers; who, for the fake of their own private ad- vantage, are frequently poaching their horfes with drenches., which not only clajh with every intention of cure, but aggravate the diforder : whereas, would gentlemen' but take a little pains (and fare the fludy would be an entertain- ment) to make themfehes acquainted with the laws of the blood's circulation, and the different fecretions of the va- rious fluids ; they would foon be convinced {of what I have before hinted) that in~ judicious jumbles of drugs are only a load on the conftitution, and frequently defeat the very intentions of nature ; who of herfelf or with very little af- fiance, would in general foon work her own deliverance ; but when the had cj the fuppofed remedy is added to the difeafe, the cpprefjion becomes too violent for nature long to jupport; and though i '■'■'nal has the conjunction of a horfe, muji it at lajl fubmit, and fall a facrifce to ignorance and blind credu- |
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The PREFACE.
lity.—-A few leading quejlions would
alfofion convince gentlemen oj the ftupi- dity, but too prevalent among the major part of thefe prating fellows ; and faiis- fythemhow precarious, if not fatal, muft be the practice of men,fo little acquainted with the laws of nature, and of that machine they are fubverting by their continual blunders. By thefe means alfo the dejerving farrier would have pro- per juflice done him, and be difl'mguifhed from the common herd, by his J'uperior abilities. PERHAPS it moy be no ufelefs
digrefjion to obferve here, that this would not be the only advantage refulting from thfe kinds of ft u dies; as gentlemen would thereby be enabled to form a pro- per judgment of thofe guardians, with whom they often entruft their own healths and lives, and di/linguiftj the fuperficial loquacious coxcomb in phyftck, from the rational and modeft practitioner : for in general it may be obftrved, that in proportion to the Jhallownefs of the ftream, the bubbling and noife is moft manifeft, and where the froth offcience A 4 only |
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The PREFACE.
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viii
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only has been fipped, it is no wonder, as
our judicious Satyrift has obferved, that fuch fhallow draughts Jhould intoxicate the brain. But till gentlemen make this a more general ftudy, and thereby be- come better judges of phyjical merits we mujl not be fur prize a'to find them Jometimes impofed on by fuch conceited fmatterers ; ivhofe cant, though deemed oracular by the credulous, is but too like the oracles of old, fpecious deltifion, and vile impofition ; where learned imperti- nence paffes for found erudition, and a barren fuperfluity of words, for won- der ous knowledge and elocution. 'Thus founds are adopted and miftaken for fenfe ; and impudence and folly but too often triumph over modefty and true defert: for as the above-quoted Poet juftly obferves, Diftruflful fenfe with modeft caution
ipeaks,
But rattling nonfenfe, in full volleys breaks.
BUT to return: It may be ne-
cejfary to inform the reader', that as the
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The PREFACE.
the intention of this treatife was to
be as concife as po/ftble, and entirely practical; the immediate caufes within, which occafion the dijorder, with the moft plaufible theories relative thereto, are in genral omitted as precarious and delu/ive ; for we apprehend they tend rather to confound, than improve the judgment, and obfcure an art that Jh'Ould chiefly be founded on penetrating obfervation, and faithful defcription. Indeed-, the incertitude thas has always appeared in thefe fort of conjectures, hath now fully convinced the ingenuous of their inutility, and that one Syden- ham, one faithful recorder of facts, has merited more, by obferving and fol- lowing nature, painting to the life what his eyes Jaw, and fingers felt, than all the hypothetical writers united: as a proof of this, we need only recolleSi the numberlejs, ridiculous, and inconfiftent theories, that have fprung upfuccefjively, and which all had their patrons for a time, but dwindled into difrepute and oblivion, in proportion to the advance* of more plaufible conjectures: and this -probably will be the fate of all fubfequent ones,
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The PREFACE.
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ones, that are not ereSled on the more
folid bafts of repeated experience, and fedulous obfervation. FOR thefe reafons particularly we
have endeavoured to be as explicit as pofjible, in enumerating the fymptoms, as laid down by the bejl authors ; ejleem- ing them to be the only true guides that can lead us to the knowledge of the dif- cafe, and ccnfequently to the remedy. Should it be thought we have dwelt too long on this fart, we mufl plead the importance of it for our excufe, as we apprehend, by being more cone ife} the work had been lefs valuable. IT may not be improper here alfo
to acquaint the reader, that this piece -was originally drawn up, and intended for the author's own ufe, to refer to occafionally, and fave the trouble of turning over on every occafion the va- rious writers on this fubjecl; and that having been frequently borrowed by his friends, their approbation of the plan, and requefl, prevailed on him to fend it to the prefs, with fome additions. 3 He
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The PREFACE.
He is well aware how much he expofes
himfelfto the cenfure of the little criticks, and to the fneers of the malicious among his brethren; but he begs thefe would remember, that to write pertinently on the difeafes of horfs, requires 7nore me- dical knowledge and jludy than may at frjl be apprehended; a parity of rea- foning being requipte in treating the maladies of horfes and men. And he is convinced, that fo nearly allied is the true art of farriery to thofe of phyfick and furgery, that it never can be per- fected, but on fimilar principles; and of courfe the fubjecl can never be fo pro- perly handled, as by thofe who have made thofe arts their fludy. This will . evidently appear, by comparing only the two lafl treaiifes in 'our own language with all that have preceded them : for though many ufeful obfervations and remedies may be picked up from Blunderville, Markham, De Grey, Soleyfel, Gueriniere, Saunter, &c. yet, for the mofl part, their method is irrational, and not founded on a tho- rough knowledge of the mechanifm of a horfe, or animal economy ; their medicines
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The PREFACE.
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XII
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medicines in general are ajlrange com-
pound or jumble of various and dtfcordant ingredients; fuitable enough to the then reigning fajlnon of prefcribing where the falfe pomp of numerous ingredients inhanced their value ; but by no means agreeable to the later improvements, or to that jujl Jimplicity that fo remarkably adorns thepraBice of modern phyfick and furgery. THE author has no other apology
to make for digefting this piece, and the obfervations and reflections he has mterfperfed throughout the whole, than his good intention to refcue the prac- tice of farriery out of hands that fo much abufe it; and to convince gentle- men, that as it is founded on rati- onal principles, it is neither unbecom- ing their notice, or unworthy their Jludy : and he thinks he has reafon, from fome late attempts, to hope, that it will foon become as cuftomary for gentlemen to go through regular courfes of farriery, as it is for phyficians and Jurgeons through thofe of ehemijlry and anatomy. IT
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* •
XII
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The PREFACE.
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IT cannot indeed be expe&ed, that
our farriersjhould make any real' progrefs in their profeffon, till thy apply themfelves early to the jludy of anatomy, and to the dijJeSlions of morbid bodies, and lame horfes : by this method (and this only can do it effr Bit ally) a new fcene of knowledge will be unfolded ta them: thus would they reclify their for- mer errors, and be guaded againfi future ones, and taught by thefe very principles of anatomy how to aft on one feady and uniform plan. But now, through ignorance of the real feat of the diforder, how freque?itly do they -rowel, cauterife and apply medicines exter- nally, to parts free from any ailment or grievance whatever, while they neg- lec7 the real fource of the diforder? And how few from their experience, have made any tolerable ufful obferva- tions, fujfcient to deduce the caufe from thefymptoms, or form a rational method of cure ? IT has often occured, how advan-
tageous a ftudy this would prove to an ingenious
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arfv The PREFACE;
ingenious young man of tolerable educa-
tion ; who, by thus ailing on rational prijiciples, deduced from fuch founda- tions, and devoting his whole time to the making fuch obfervations, as would be the natural refult of his fudy and ex- perience, would of courfe foon render himflf fo eminently conspicuous over the rejl of his brethren as would amply re- pay him for his labours ; Jor the diftin- guiJJjed light he mufl appear in to every admirer of that noble animal, would fure- ly excite their generality to encourage fuch fuperior merit, and their gratitude of courfe to reward it. WHAT gentleman that would not
be highly delighted, and think it a ra- tional entertainment, to have the fource and caufe of lamenefs in a favourite horfe, evidently pointed out, and demon- frated to him by fimilar preparations
kept by the ingenious anatomijt for that purpofe ? How would old prejudices by this means be banifed, and new dij"co- wries fupply their places, fupported by evident truths, and plain demonftrable fails. It is to this fludy that mcdern
furgery
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The PREFAC E.
furgery is indebted, for the greatprogrefi
it has of late years made, and the daily improvements that are fill making ; and from hence arife thofe real benefits to mankind, which no other art or fcience can pretend to with equal merit and utility. BUT till this ftudy is more patro-
nized among us, we mufl not wonder at thefow advances it makes ; for the practice and character of a horfe phy- fician, or furgeon, at prefent jiands Jo low, in the popular opinion, by which many of our pafjions (our pride in par- ticular) are regulated ; that, as has been wittily obferved, not even a country furgeon, who is almoft ftarving under a fear city of human patients, will deign to attempt a fortune, by applying his medicinal and chirurgical talents to the ferviee of this neceffary fervant of mankind. B V T to return, we think it incum-
bent on us to acknowledge our obligations to Dr. Bracken and Mr. Gibfons trea- tifes on thisfubjecf, for many ingenious ob« ferva-
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xvi The P R E F A C E,
fervatiom, and real improvements; and
muji confefs, that, in our opinion, theje two gentlemen are the only authors, who have treated the difeafes of horfes with propriety, judgment, and method ; though perhaps there are few of note, that we have not carefully perufed, in order- to render this treatife more complete; but thefe are the chief of thofe, who have fuccefsfully contributed to introduce a rationalfyfern of farriery, and to ajjijl gentlemen in judging for themfclves in cafes, wherein every per- fon of a fuperior education, with any tolerable Jloare of experience, may at leaf put himfelf on a footing with the generality of our horfe-doclors. To theje gentlemen we arc indebted for the early and ingenious fleps they made to- wards reducing it to a rational fyflem ; well knowing it was matter of weight enough to engage the mojt fagacious in the improvement of an art, from which fo confiderable a benefit a- rifes to the greater part of mankind. 1o a late modern writer, the Sieur La Fojfe, we are alfo greatly obliged, for the many accurate obfervations and i dijcoveries
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The P R E F A G E.
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difcoveries he has made on this fubjecl,
and which in the courfe of this work, we have made due acknowledgement of- TERMS of art, and obfcurity in
exprefpon, have purpofely been avoided as much as pcjjible; (though Jometimes the nature of the fubjeSf has forced us to deviate from our ijttended plan:) For indeed we are more deftrous of being intelligible to the meaneft capacity, than ambitious oj writing in apolijhed file, to which we make no pretentions; and on this account we exbeSi fome indulgence from the candid reader. "THE receipts, it is hoped, will not
be thought too numerous, as their pre- ference to each other is generally pointed cut; and as the ingredients of fome may not always be procurable, it was therefore thought necejjary to Jubjlitute others in their Jlead. Befides, the dif- ficulty that occurs in adjufting the quantities and qualities of various drugs, though a thing familiar and eafy enough to one acquainted with medicine, would b have |
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xviii The PREFACE.
have greatly embarraffed the gentleman
fudent. Shouldfeme of them be thought too expenfive, we defire it may be re- membered, that, as we have fiudied to cure in the Jhorteft method, perhaps there may be little reafon for complaint in the event, efpecially when the ex- pence of the dearef of them is compared with a farrier's bill : 'Though we have feldom directed any of this fort, without giving the common cheap forms with them; and left the alternative to the circumjtance of the reader, and the value of his horfe. WE beg leave however to obferve,
that the writers on the difeafes of horfes are often toofanguine in the virtues they afcribe to particular medicines, and drugs; and too warm in the affertions of their particular faccefs in their praSiice a?td experience. But how are we often difappointed, when we come to compare thefe objervations with our own experience! Nor is this fo much to be wondered at when we re feci that no man by his own practice can acquire a [ufficient knowledge of the virtues of one- tenth |
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The PREFACE. xix
tenth part of the fmples in ufe, Jo that,
cf confequence, writers mujl copy from one another, and report to us many things on tradition. WHO E VE R is at all acquainted
with the power of drugs, even from his own experience, knows how extremely difficult it is to afcertain their medicinal properties; as the fame individual me- dicine has different effeSis, not only in different conjiitutions, and in different difcafes, but alp in different fages of the fame dijkafe. In Jhort, there areJo many circumjlances, to which we either do not, or perhaps cannot, fuffciently attend, which vary their operation and effeSh, that we are frequently difap^ pointed in our expectations, even of thofe medicines with which we are beft ac- quainted. THE SE ingenious hints I thought
extremely neceffary, in order to convince gentlemen of the great uncertainty of medicine in general; to the end that they may not be impofed on by the fuper- ficial reafonings of farriers in general, b 2 ivho |
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The PREFACE.
who on every occafion are but too ready
to poach their horfes with fame numera- ing drench or ether -, nor depend too much themflves on every receipt zvitb a pro- batum eft; for if nature or chance re- moves the dforder, the good eff'eSts are hut too often attributed to the medicine; and, if the caufe be thereby aggravated, it is then afcribrd to the malignity of the difeafe. In truth, nothing is fo difficult to afcertain, as the true virtue of medi- cines, and our fondnefs for many of them hut too often rifes in proportion to our credulity, ignorance, or prejudices: for, in our fir ft fludies, 'we have I ttle expe- rience of our own, and mufi therefore rely en the authorities of others; and before we have gone through the feveral branches offcience, we have ufually jwal- lowed jo many creeds implicitly, that it is perhaps with dijficulty (fo deeply rooted are our prejudices) we ever get the bet- ter oj them, and far the greater part per- haps are m fled for life. If then thepro- fejfbrs of medicine, whofe lives are devoted to the jludy oj the art, are liable to theje deviations and incertitudes, how much more muji the gentleman be impojed on, |
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The PREFACE; ' xxi
who depends on the authority of a favour-
ite aUthor>y or a traditionary receipt, without being at all acquainted with the uncertain cperation of drugs in generalt or the difeafe in cure; jor this we may venture to affirm, that the effects of me- dicine rather take their force jrom a proper judgment, in the due application. of them, than from any cmjiant and in- herent virtue of their own ; and that it is the judicious timing, and adapting the medicine to the circumjiance of the dif- eafe, that con/li-utej it either a beneficial remedy, or a dejlruftive poifon. THE S E obfervat'ons, it is hoped,
will be of fame ufe to gentlemen, and
jerveto convince ihem, that neitherthem-
Jelves or horjes need; on every fight
occafion, be crammed •wifh medicine; but
that abjiinence, and proper nurpng will
in many cafes be the bejl remedy; as they
will give nature and the conjlitution
fifificient opportunities to relieve them-
felves, and of courfe avail more than
the loathjbme dofes, that are fo confant-
ly given, with fo little judgment, and
lefsjuccefs,
THE
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xxiii The PREFACE.
T H E chapters on Glanders and
Nicking, with the Plates and Ex- planations annexed, it is hoped, will prove both ufeful and entertaining ; though we have been informed, that the operation of Trepanning Glandercd Horfes was attempted in England many years before M. La Feffes book was publijhed ; and probably was dif- conUnued, for want of a thorough knowledge of the parts affected in this difeafe, or from unficcefsful trials made on horfes, that might be in the laft flages of this difemper, and of covtrfe from the nature of them, incurable ; but the Jlrong probability of fuccefst in mo ft cafes, it is hoped, will now be a fufficient inducement to follow the method here laid down, till further experience can recommend a better; and be alfo a farther incentive to our induftry, in bringing to perfection the cure of a di/eafe, the tnoft naufeous and dangerous to our horfes, and that hither- to has been a reproach to the art of far- riery. 3
THE
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The PREFACE. xxiii
'THE chapters on Alteratives and
Humours, ive hope will be attended to, and particularly the ufe of Nitre fo ftrongly recommended therein, which by frequent experience, fince our laft edition, we have given to the quantity of half a pound a day, or more ; particularly in Fevers, Inflammatory Cafes, and Stag- gers ; nor will it be found Ifs ufeful as an alterative, by means of which it is hoped the too frequent ufe offtrong purges, may in time be difcarded; for we doubt not, when gentlemen are once convinced of the ?iatnre and power of alteratives, and guarded againft the abfurd notions of farriers, in relation to humours, the preference will be given to the alteratives, and a p^aBice eftablifed as innocent and Juccefful, as that of purging is danger- ous and uncertain. MANT improvements have been
made on a revifal of this edition for the prefs, and M. La Fojfe having lately publiJJxd a treatife on the difeafes of the feet andjhoeing horfes, which is efteemed particularly curious; <we have added an
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xxiv The PREFACE.
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an abftraB of it to this edition, in a di-
ftincl Appendix. P. S. By long experience of the life of
Nitre, it is now recommended to be given in much larger quantities than was at firjl adrifed; viz. to three or four ounces for a dofe, and this quantity well diluted with water-gruel may, in fevers, and many cafes, be given thrice a day. |
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THE
CONTENTS.
Chap.
I. QOME General Directions in
O regard to Horfes. Page i II. Some general Directions in regard
to Bleeding, Purging, &c. i1
III Of Colds. 25
IV. Of Fevers in general. 31
V. Of a Pleurify, and Inflammation
of the Lungs, &V. 51
VI. Of a Cough and Afthma. 59
VII. Of a Broken-Wind. 68
VIII. Of a Confumption. 76
IX. Of an Apoplexy, or Staggers, Con-
vulfive Diforders, Lethargy, Epi-
lepfy, and Palfy. 78 X. Of the Strangles, and Vives. 95
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Chap.
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c
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xxvi The C O N T E N T S.
Chap.
XI. Of the Difeafes of the Eyes.
100
XII. Of the Glanders. 114
XIII. Of the Cholic, or Gripes, and
Pains in the Bowels, from
fudden Accidents. 133 XIV. Of the Lax and Scouring, with
other Diforders of the Sto-
mach and Bowels. 143 XV. Of Worms and Bots. 150 XVI. Of the Yellows, or' Jaundice.
156
XVII. Of the Diforders of the Kid-
neys and Bladder. 159
XVIII. Of Molten Greafe. 167
XIX. Of Surfeits, Mange, and Hide-
Bound. 170 XX. Of the Farcin, or Farcy, and
Dropfical Diforders. 178
XXI. Of Alterative Medicines. 197
XXII. Of Humours. 213 XXIII. Of Rowelling. 220
XXIV. Of Strains in Various Parts.
224
XXV. Of Tumours and Impof-
thumes. 236
Chap.
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The CONTENTS. xx»5
Chap.
XXVI. Of Wounds in General 246 XXVII. Of Ulcers in General. 252 XXVIil. Of a Bone-Spavin. 257 XXIX. Of a Curb and Ring-Bone.
262
XXX. OfSplents. 265
XXXI. Of the Poll-Evil. 268
XXXII. Of a Fiftula, and Bruifes on
the Withers-, Warbles on
the Back, and Sit-Fafts.
272
XXXIII. Of Wind Galls, Blood, and
Bog-Spavins. 276
XXXIV. Of Mallenders and Sallenders.
281
XXXV. Of Lampas, Barbs, and
Wolves Teeth. 282
XXXVI. Of the Greale. 284
XXXVII. Of Scratches, Crown-Scabs,
Rat-Tails, and Capellets.
294 XXXVIII. Of the Difeafes of the Feet:
Narrow Heels and Bind-
ing of the Hoof, &c. 299 XXXIX. Of Sand-Cracks and Quittors. 302
Chap. |
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xxviii The CONTENTS.
Chap.
XL. Of Wounds in the Feet, from
Naiis, Gravel, &c. 305
XLI. Of the Running-Thrufh, and
Canker, and Lois of Hoof.
312
XLII. Of Venomous Bites from Vipers
and Mad Dogs. 316
XLIIL Of Gelding, Docking, and Nick,
ing of Horfes. 321
XLIV. Of Ruptures, Anticor, Colt-Evil,
or Gonorrhoea, and Difeafes of
the Mouth. 233
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APPENDIX.
I. Of particular Diforders of the Feet.
342
II. Reflections on fhoeing Horfes. 352 1
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THE
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THE
Gentleman's Farriery,~&c.
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CHAP. I.
Some General DirBiom in regard to
Horfes. LE T it be laid down as a general rule, Medfcines
to give horfes as few medicines as are i,n- poffible ; and by no means comply ProPer/or with the ridiculous cuftom of fome, who j^iti,. are frequently Bkeding, Purging, and giv- ing Balls, though their horfes are in per- fect health, and have no one indication that requires fuch treatment. Proper management in their Feeding,
Exercife, and Dreffing, will alone cure many diforders, and prevent moft; for the fimplicity of a horfe's diet, which ' chiefly confifts of grain and herbage, when good in kind, and difpenfed with judgment, fecures him from thofe com- plicated diforders, which are the general B effeas |
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2 General DireSiiom in
effe&s of intemperance in the human
body. Foreign- In France, Germany, and Denmark,
ersdepend horfes are feldom purged ; they depend more on tnere. mucn on Alteratives ; the ufe of the alteratives,. r , c . thanpurg-'iver °* antimony, we have from the
jng me di- French, which is in general a good medi- cines cine for that purpofe, and may, in many cafes, often be fubftituted in the room of |
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Of.
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purgin
The beft As Hay is fo material an article in a
bey?o°-Uldhorfe'sdiet' g^at care mould be taken to
cured. procure the beft ; when it .is not extraor- dinary, the duft mould be well (hook out, before it is put in the rack ; for fuch hay is very apt to breed vermin. Caution Beans afford the ftrongeft nourishment
concern- 0f a]j grain, but are fitteft for laborious mg eans-hoj-fes . except on particular occafions. In fome feafons they breed a kind of vermin called the red bugs, which, is thought to be dangerous; the beft me- thod, in fuch cafe, is to procure them well dried and fplit. |
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Cautions Bran fcalded is a kind of Panada to
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ef bran.
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e a fi°k horfe ; but nothing is worfe than
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a too frequent ufe of it, either dry or
fcalded; for it relaxes and weakens the bowels
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regard ^ HORSES. 3
bowels too much. The bots in young
horfes may be owing to too much mufty bran and chaff, given with other foul feed to make them up for fale : particular care therefore mould be taken that the bran be always fweet and new. Oats, well ripened, make a more hear- Oats the
ty and durable diet than Barley, and are regd,j^ much better fuked to the confticutions of horfe^ Englijh horfes, as appears by experience. A proper quantity of cut ftraw and hay mixed with them, is fometimes very ufe- ful to horfes troubled with bots, indigesti- on, &c. The method fome have of giving An ufefal
to young horfes, oats, or peafe, &c. in rema"s. the ftraw, is attended, amongft others, with this inconvenience, that their pulling out the ftraw, in order to find the corn, teaches them a bad cuftom, which they never after forget, of pulling moft of their hay out of the rack into the man- ger or on the floor, with the feme expec- tation. Horfes who eat their litter, mould par- Obfeiva-
ticularly have cut ftraw and powderedtion* chalk given them with their feed, as it is a fign of a depraved ftomach, which wants correcting, B 2 The
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4 General Direel ions in
The good The Salt-Marfhes are good pafture, re-
offPh-tie4 nm^^Y *° f°r horfes who have been Kiarihes. forfeited, and indeed for many other dif- orders ; they purge more by dung and urine than any other pafture, and make afterwards a firmer flefh : their Water is for the moil part brackifh, and of courfe, as weir" as the grafs, faturated with faiths from the fea-water. Seawater, The great advantages that arife from
its ufe. dnnYmgSea-waterSo mueh recommended (among us) of late, may have taken the hint from the good effects it was obferved to produce, in obftinate chronical cafes, on morbid horfes ; who are as frequently fent to the marfties, when all other means are defpaired on, as confumptive people are to Briftol, aryd as often recover beyond expectation. Grafs oft- A fummer's grafs is often neceffary;
en necef- m0re particularly to horfes glutted with
*' food, and who ufe little exerclfe, but a month or two's running is proper for rooft •, thofe efpecially who have been worked hard and have ftiff limbs, fwelled legs, or wind-galls. Horfes, whofe feet have been impaired by quitters, bad fho- ing, or any other accidents, are alfo beft repaired at grafs, Thofe lamenefTes par- ticularly |
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regard to HORSES.
tlcularly require turning out to graft,
where the mufcles or tendons are con- tracted or flirunk ; for by the continual gentle exercife in the field, with the affift- ance of a pattin-fhoe on the oppofite foot, the fhortened limb is kept on the ftretch, the wafted parts are reftored to'their ufual dimenfions, and the limb again recovers |
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its ufual tone and itren
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D1-
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h,
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Where it can be done with conveni-What
cnce, the pafturing them in May and,montl"t0 June is in general moft advifeable: as J5*/™"" the grafs in thofe months is to be prefer-w]iy7 red; and the feafon is lefs infefted with flies and heat, which in July and Auguft are apt to be very troublefome ; and fre- quently fo teafe and torment a horfe at pafture, that, with ftamping and kick- ing, his gourdinefs and wind-galls will often rather be increafed than dimi- nifhed. The Fields which lie near great towns, Cauticns
and are much dunged, are not proper J"& J°f pafture for horfes; but, on obfervation, pafture. appear very injurious to them, if they feed thereon all the fummer. Horfes may be kept abroad all .theMofthorf-
year, where they have a proper ftable, or £35? fhed, to fhelter them from the weather,heIQ*d ^ B 3 and the year.
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6 General Dire&isns hi
and hay at all times to come to. So
treated, they are feldom lick, their lim'bs always clean and dry ; and with the al- lowance of corn will hunt, and do more bufinefs than hprfes kept cqnftantly at houfe. Horfes If, when horfes are taken up from
taken up grafs, they fhould grow hot and coftive, from grafs mjx ^r&n ancj cj1Qpt jiay wjcn their corn ; i2edia" anc^ B've tnem fometimes a feed of fcald-
ed bran for a fortnight, or longer: let their exercife and diet be moderate for fome time, and both increafed by de- grees. Antimo- Fqual quantities of antimony and ful-
nials and phur, are fometimes given in their corn alteratives or rnarfhes, to fweeten the blood, and fomeumes j^^ ^ kocjy open. The Jiver of anti- ng ary. moriy js frequently dire&ed for this pur- pofe, to the quantity of half an ounce ag a time ; but it is thought by fome to fuc- ceed beft after the blood has been gradual- , ]y warmed and fufed by the above or with antimony and gum-guaiacum, previpufly taken for ten or twelve days. Caution It is worth obferving, that when this
concern- medicine is given in larger quantities, in- ing liver ftead of promoting a kind moifture, and Eiony!' ^ree Perfpiration through the fkin, it 3 fometimes
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■ regard to HORSES. J
fometimes creates a heat and drynefs j
when therefore a kindly moift breathing is notdiftinguifhed by the feel of the fkin, on the ufe of this medicine, it muft be fufpended, till this falutary evacuation is feftored by the above remedies. Thefe antimonials mould not be given Should
grofsly powdered, as is generally praclifed, be finely but ground very fine •, otherwife little Powdsr'd- ofthem will pafs into the blood, but will fometimes, when given in large dofes, fcour themfelves off without entering the mafs at all. When horfes are fciled in the liable, Whather-
care mould be taken that the herbage bagethe is young, tender, and full of fap j whe- jjj*5/1 for ther it be green barley, tares, clover, Ing' °r any thing elfe the l'eafon produces, and that it be cut frelh once every day at jeaft, if not oftener; for, when herbage ,s old and fibrous, it is diverted of the fap, has a tendency to putrefaction, and frequently caufes obstructions in the bowels •, which are fometimes of bad confequence, unlefs an evacuation is pro- cured, when the dung has often appeared not unlike what has laid a considerable time, mellowing and rotting on a dung* hill. |
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B 4 When
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Genenal DireSiiom in
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s
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Cautions When horfes lofe their flefh much in
in foiling, foiling, they fl^^
in time be taken to a
more folid diet ; for it is not in foiling as
in grazing, where, though a horfe lofes
his flefh at firft, yet, after the grafs has
purged him, he foon grows fat.
Horfes No general directions can be laid down
fhould be for tne fee£ng 0f horfes, but this ; that
fodrti!,Pn°o a11 horfes' who conftant]V work, fhould
theirwork. be well fed ; others ihould be fed in pro- portion to their exercife, and not kept to certain regular feeds, whether they work or not. How to Young horfes, who have not done grow-
prevent ing} mult be indulged more in their feed- biti'n?" 'inS t'mn thofe come to their maturity; but if their exercife is fo little, as to make it neceiTary to abridge their allowance of hay, a little frefh ftraw fhould conftantly be put in their racks, to prevent thtir nibling the manger, and turning crib- biters : they fhould ■ alfo fometiines be ftrapped back, in order to cure them of this habit. |
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Exercife
recom- mended. |
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A due degree of exercife isof the utmoft
confequence to maintain a horfe in perfect |
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health and vigour. But let it be obfervedi
that a horfe is nevar to be rode hard, or put
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regard /a HORSES. ; 9
put on-any violent exercife, when he has
a belly full of meat or water : move him gently at firft, and he will naturally mend his pace. It is obvious to every one, what care
fhould be taken of a horfe after violent exercife, that he cools not too faft, and drinks no cold water, &c. for which reafon we fhalji wave particular direc- tions. The ufual method of feeding coach- Bran and
horfes on the road, by giving them bran beans, with a few beans before their oats, is not whenPr0" amifs -, becaufe their work makes them perfpire fo much, that without fomething of this kind, they would be faint, or apt to grow coftive. The bran keeps their body open, and the beans prevent its fcour- ing, which horfes of weak bowels are fub- jecl: to on a journey. Moft horfes fed for fale, have the in- Horfes
terftices of their mufcles fo filled with fat, "ewl^, u that their true fhapes are hardly known, ^"^^ For which reafon, a horfe, juft come dealers, out of the dealer's hands, fhould at firft how to be be gently ufed. He ought to lofe blood, managed, and have his diet lowered, though not too much : walking exercife is moft proper at firft, two hours in a day; in a week or
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io General Directions, &c.
or fortnight two hours at a time, twice a
day ; after this ufage for a month, b}eed him again, and give him two or three times a week fcalded bran, which will prepare him for purging phyfick, that may now be given fafely, and repeated at the ufual intervals. Obferva- When a horfe comes out of a dealer's
tion. hands his cloathing muft be abated by de- grees, and care taken to put him in a mo- derately warm liable : otherwife the fud- den transition would be attended with the worft coniequences. signs of It is a certain proof of amendment in
healthand a horfe's conftitution, when his craving amend- ,&^tr water aDates ; for while his blood is thick or fizy, his mouth is generally dry and clammy, and his fecretions imperfect. Another good fign is, when on exercife his fweating abates, and does not turn white like foap lather, but runs ofFlike wa- ter: this is in general a fure fign that the blood and juices are attennuated and amended : for while they continue in their vifcid ftate, the fweats of courfe will be frothy and clammy, |
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CHAP.
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[ II]
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CHAP. II.
Some General DireBicns in regard to
Bleeding, Purging, &c. HORSES who ftand much in ftable, DiVedions
and are full fed, require bleeding 5on^rn" now and then, efpecially when their eyes j^'| ^ee " look heavy, dull, red, and inflamed ; as alfo, when they feel hotter than ufual, and mangle their hay. Young horfes fhould be bled when they In what
are fhedding their teeth, as it takes off£afes ufe" thofe feverifh heats they are fubjecl: to at thofe times. But the cafes that chiefly require bleeding, are colds, fevers of moft kinds, falls, bruifes, hurts of the eyes, ftrains, and all inflammatory dif- orders, &c. It is right to bleed a horfe, when he
begins to grow flefhy at grafs, or at any other time when he looks heavy : and it is generally proper to bleed before purging. Let your horfe always be bled by mea- To Uee^
fure, that you may know what quantity ^^reJ you take away: two or three quarts is always
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12 DireSiions in regard to
always enough at one time; when you
repeat it, allow for the diforder, and the horfe's conftitution. Ohfci va- Let the blood, when cold, be carefully
tion. examined, both as to colour and conflu- ence, whether black, florid, fizy, &c. Camions Purging is often neceflary in grofs full
concern- horfes, in ibrne diforders of the ftomach, ing purg- liver, &c. but mould be directed with „W' caution. Before a purge is given to any horfe, it is neceflary fome preparation
mould be made for it, in order to render the operation more fafe and efficacious; thus a horfe that is full of flefli fliould fir ft be bled, and at the fame time have his diet lowered for a week, efpecially thofe that have been pampered for fale; feveral mafhes of fcalded bran fhould alio previoufly be given, in order to open the bowels, and unload them of any in- durated excrement •, which fometimes proves an obftacle to the working of the phyfick, by creating great ficknefs and griping. |
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Let it be remembered that a horfe is
purged with difficulty; that the phyfick generally lies, twenty-four hours in the guts before it works ; and that the tract of bowels it has to pais through, is above thirty
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Remark-
able ob- servations |
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Bleeding, Purging, &c. 1$
thirty yards: and lying horizontally, con-
fequently refinous and other improper drugs may, and often do, by their violent irritations, occafion exceffive gripings and cold fweats, fhave off the very mucus or lining of the guts, and bring on inflam- mations, which often terminate in morti- fications, and death. It is remarkable too, that the ftomach
and guts of a horfe are but thin, com- pared to fome other animals of the fame bulk, and therefore muft be more liable to inflammation and irritation, Horfes kept much in the liable, who Purges,
have net the proper benefit of air and vvllen pr*- exercife, in proportion to their food, Per* fliould in Spring have a mild purge or two, after a previous preparation by bleeding, lowering their diet, and fcalded mafhes. Horfes that fall off their ftomach, whe- Cafes th*
ther it proceeds from too full feeding, or ^ftlre,c ingendering crudities and indigefted mat- ter, fliould have a mild purge or two. Horfes of a hot temperament will not
bear the common aloetic purges ; theic phyfick therefore fhould be mild and «oo,ling. |
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Purging
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14 DtreSfions in regard td
Purging is always found very beneficial
in ftubborn dry coughs; but mild mercu- rials joined with them, make them yet more efficacious. Horfes that have thofe forts of lame-
nefTes, that are faid to proceed from hu- mours flying about (which are of the rheu- matic kind, and in young horfes proceed from fizy blood, and occafion lamenefs in every limb) require frequent purging ; and mould alfo have, between whiles, medicines that attenuate and thin the fluids. Horfes of a watery conftitution, who
are fubjedf. to fwelled legs, that run a fharp briny ichor, cannot have the caufes removed any ways fo effectually as by purging. The firfl purge you give to a horfe
mould be mild, in order to know his con- ftitution. Some mif- jt js a miftaken notion, that if a proper*
cernh)001'" PrePare<^ Purge does not work to expecla-
jpuroes. tion, tne horfe will be injured by it; for
though it does not pafs by ftool, its
operation may be more efficacious, as
an alterative, to purify the blood, and
it
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J
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Bleeding, Purging, &c. i£
it may pafs by urine, or other fecreti-
ons.
_ Purging medicines are veryfuccefsfully
given in fmall quantities, mixed v/ith others ; and act then as alteratives. If mercurial phyfick is given, care Caution**
fliould be taken that it be well prepared; and warmer cloathing, and greater circum- spection is then required. Purges fhould be given early in theTj,emap_
morning upon an empty ftomach : about nerof giv- three or four hours after the horfe has ing purges taken it, he fhould have a feed of fcalded ;anndo"Tork' bran; and a lock or two of hay may Ins * then be put into his rack. The fame day give him two more mafhes ; but fhould he refufe warm meat, he may be allowed ravv bran. All his water fhould be milk warm,
and have a handful of bran fqueezed in 1t; but if he refufes to'drink white water, give it him without bran. Early the next morning, give him an-.
°ther mafh; but, if he refufes to eat it, E'ye him as much warm water as he will Qnnk : let him be properly cloathed, and rode gently about, This fhould be done two
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• Directions in regard to v
two or three times a day, unlefs he purges
violently, and then once or twice will be fuffkient: at night give him a feed of oats mixid with bran. During the working, a horfe fhould
drink plentifully ; but, if he will not drink warm water, he muft be indulged with cold, rather than not drink at all. We fhall here infert fome general
forms of purges. TAKE Succotrine aloes ten drams,
jalap and fait of tartar each two drams, grated ginger one dram, oil of cloves thirty drops; make them into a ball with fyrup of buckthorn. Or,
TAKE aloes and cream of tartar
each one ounce, jalap two drams, cloves powdered one dram, fyrup of buckthorn a fufficient quantity. Or,
The following, which has an eftablifhed
character among fportfmen. TAKE aloes, from ten drams to an
ounce and a half, myrrh and gin-
i ger
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Bleeding, Purging, &V. i
ger powdered each half an ounce,
faffron and oil of anifeed each half a drain'. Mr. Gibfon recommends the follow-
ing. TAKE Succotrine aloes ten drams,
myrrh finely powdered half an ounce, faffron and frefh jalap in powder, of each a dram; make them into a ftiff ball with fyrup of rofes, then add a ffnall fpoonful of rectified oil of amber. The Succotrine aloes fhould always be Obferva-
preferred to the Barbadoes, or Plantation tl0n" alces, though the latter may be given to robuft ftrong horfes, but even then ftiouid always be prepared with the fait, °r cream or tartar; which by opening its parts, prevent its adhefion to the coats °f the ftomach and bowels; from whence horrid gripings, and even death itfelf, has often enfued. This caution is well worth remarkmg, as many a horfe hath fell a Sacrifice to the neglect of it. Half an ounce of. Caftile foap, to a
horfe of a grofs conftitution, may be add- ed to any of the above ; and the propor- tions may be increafed for ftrong horfes. C When |
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18 Directions in regard to
Howmer- When mercurial phyfic is intended,-
ftolddbe 8lve two ^rams °f caJomel over night, given. mixed up with half an ounce of a diapente, and a little honey, and the purging ball
the next morning.
The following, when it can be afforded,
is a very gentle and effectual purge, par- ticularly for fine delicate horfes ; and if prepared with the Indian rhubarb, will not be expenfive. A mild TAKE of the fineft Succotrine aloes
purge. one ounce, rhubarb powdered half an ounce or fix drams, ginger grat-
ed one dram ; make into a ball, with fyrupof rofes. The following purging drink may be
given with the utmoft fafety : it may be quickened or made ftronger, by adding an ounce more of fena, or two drams of jalap. A cooling TAKE fena two ounces, infufe it
purging ^ in a pint of boiling water two hours,
•trink, with three drams of fait of tartar;
pour off", and difiblve in it four ounces
of Glauber (alts, and two or three of
cream of tartar.
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This
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Bleeding, Purging, &c, 19
This laft phyficis cooling, eafy, and Obferva-
quick in its operation j and j 1} pre- aon- ferable in all inflarr cafes to any other purge, as it paffes into the blood,
and operates alfo by urine. "When horfes lofe their appetites after Remedies
purging, it is neceffary to give them aforo.ver- warm ftomach drink, made of an infu- " * s" fion of camomile flowers, amieeds, and faffron : or the cordial ball may be given for that purpofe. Should the purging continue too long,
give an ounce of diafcordium in a pint of •fort wine, and repeat it once in twelve hours, if the purging continues. Plenty of gum Arabic water ■fliouldalfo be given, and in cafe of violent gripes, fat broth glyfters, or tripe liquor, fhould be often thrown up, with an hundred drops of laudanum in each. The Arabic folution may be thus pre-
pared. TAKE of gum Arabic and tragacanth Drink for
of each four ounces, juniper berries gnFes- and caraway feeds of each an ounce, cloves bruifed half an ounce ; Gm- Bier gently in a gallon of water, till C 2 the |
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. -,^mt ' 4j$*
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20 Direfiions in regard to
the gums are difiblved: give a quart
at a time in half a pail of water: but if he won't take it freely this way, give it him often in a horn. When a When a purge does not work, but
horfe makes the horfe iwell and refufe his food ivvdb. ancj water . which is fometimes the effect of bad drugs, or catching cold; warm di- uretics are the only remedy ; of which the following are recommended. |
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A diuretic
drink. |
TAKE a pint of white wine, nitre
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one ounce, mix with it a dram of
camphor diflfolved in a little rectified fpirit of wine ; then add two drams of oil of juniper, and the fame quantity of unrectified oil of amber, and fourounces of honey, or fyrupof marfn-mallows. Or,
TAKE Venice turpentine one ounce,
incorporate with the yolk of an egg : nitre one ounce : then add juniper berries, and frefh anifeeds pounded, each half an ounce, unreftiried oil of amber two drams-, make into a ball with fyrup of marfh-mallows. When a horfe fwelis much with phy-
fick, do not fuffer him to be rode about till
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A di.uretic
ball.
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Obferva-
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Bleeding, Purging, &c. 21
till he has fome vent, but rather lead him
gently in hand, till fome evacuation is ob- tained. >. As it is obferved, that horfes more Horfes
willingly take fweet and palatable things, drinks to than thofe that are bitter and of an ill be made tafte, care fhould be taken that the latter PaIatable- are given in balls, and that their drinks are always contrived to be as little naufe- °Us as poffible, and fweetened either with honey or liquorice. Thofe that are pre- pared with the grofs powders, are by no means fo agreeable to a horie, as thofe made by infufion : as the former often clam the mouth, irritate the membranes about the palate and throat, and frequent- ly occafion the cough they are intended to prevent. Balls fhould be of an oval fhape, and not Horfes
exceed the fize of a pullet's egg : when ba)!s the dofe is large, it fhould be divided into J^Jj*1101 two •, and they fhould be dipt in oil, to laro"e_ make them flip down the eafier. As we have given fome general forms
of purges, we fhall oblerve the fame rule in regard to glyfters, with fome few cauti- tions and remarks. |
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C s Let
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2 2 Directions in regard to
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Horfes Let it be obferved then, that before
fiiould oe tne adminiftering emollient glyfters in
jj^v. ceftive dilbrdersi a fmall hand well oiled
"r ■,: Brs; Ch uld be paffed up the node's fundament,
in order to bring away any hardened dung,
which otherwiie would be an obftacle to
theglyfter's paiTage.
Apipeand ^ ^g aricj pjpe 0f a proper form, is
ferabje to t0 ^e Preferred to a fyringe, which a fyringe. throws up the glyfter with fo much force, that it often furprizes a horfe, and makes him rejeel it as fa ft as it goes in: whereas the liquor, when preffed gently from the bag, gives him no furprize or uneafinefs, but paffes eafily up into the bowels, where it will fqmetiraes remain a long time, and be extremely ufetu'l, by cool- ing and relaxing them ; and will fome- times incorporate fo with the dung, as not eafily to be diftinguifhed from the other contents of the guts. Thefe emol- lient glyfters are extremely fervice- able in moft fevers, and greatly pre- ferable to purging ones -, which in general are too pungent, and ftimulate too much, efpecially if aloes are a part of the com- pofuion. Nutniive Nutritive glyfters are very necefTary,
£) 'trS' and often fave a horfe from ftarving, when his
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Bleeding, Purging, &c. 23
his jaws are fo locked up by convulfions,
that nothing can be conveyed by the mouth. They fhould not exceed a quart or Their
three pints at a time, but be often re- quantity. peated : nor fhould they be too fat; but made of fheeps heads, trotters or any other meat broth, milk pottage, rice-milk {train- ed, and many other fuch nourifhing things. For an emollient glyfter, take the following. TAKE marfh-mallows and chamomile AnemoJ-
fiowers each a large handful, bay- lient glyf- berries and fweet fennel feeds bruif- ter- ed, each an ounce : boil in a gallon of water to three quarts, pour off into a pan, and dirTo've it in half a pound of treacle, and a pint of lin- ieed oil, or any common oil. To make it more laxative, add four
ounces of lenitive electuary, or the fame quantity of cream of tartar, or common purging falts. TAKE two or three handfuls of marfh- Apurging
mallows, fena one ounce, bitter Sty"*1, apple half an ounce, bay-berries and anifeed bruifed, each an ounce, fait of tartar half an ounce ; boil a C 4 quarter |
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|
Directions in regard to, &c.
quarter of an hour in three quarts
of water, pour off, and add four ounces of fyrup of buckthorn, and half a pint of oil. |
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Obferva-
tion. |
This glyfler will purge a horfe pretty
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|
brifkly, and may be given fucceftfully,
when an immediate difcharge is want- ing; especially in fome fevers with in- flamed lungs -, or other diforders, which require fpeedy relief. Caution. But it is necefTary to caution againfl a
folution of courfe aloes for this purpofe, as it has been found to gripe hories vio- lently, and excite feverifh and fome- times convulfive fymptoms ; and indeed all pungent and ftimulating medicines, as the ftronger purgatives generally are, fhould be given in this form with great caution. Obfciva- But the generality of emollient glyfters,
tion. may be prepared with1 much lefs trouble ; as two quarts of water-gruel, with half a pound of treacle, a pint of oil, and a hand- ful of common fait, will as effectually an- fvver every purpofe. The following is a , reftringenc glyfter. |
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TAKE
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J
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Of COLDS. 25
TAKE pomegranate bark, or oakAreftrin-
bark, two ounces, red rofe leaves, genL gty1"- f'refli or dry, a handful, balauftines anter" ounce ; boil in two quarts of water, till one is near conlumed ; pour off and diflblve in it four ounces of diaf- cordium ; to which may be added a pint of Port wine. This will anfwer in all common cafes,
where reftringents are neceffary, but never be given in larger quanti- ses ; for the longer glyfters of this kind lie in the bowels, the more efficacious they are. |
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CHAP. III.
Of COLDS. AS the fource of the generality of Cold the
fevers, coughs, and many other firft fource diforders, that both men and horfes are °f m°rt fubjecl to, . arife originally from taking evers" p°'d ; I have made that diforder the fub- jeft of my firft chapter, as introductory to the flibfequent ones, to Fevers, Pleurify, Roughs, &c. |
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The
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26 Of C O L D S.
Ferfpira- The docVine of perfpiration (which
*°n* one could wifh in general better under- ftood, becaufe it is fo principally con- cerned in moft acute diforders) is now fo evidently demonftrable, that I am almoft tempted to explain it, fo far at leaft, as would give my readers a general idea thereof, and of the confequence of its fuppreffion, or being checked : but as it would be breaking through the limits we have prefcribed ourfelves, muft defire they would have recourfe, for farther fa- tisfa&ion on that head, to Chambers's VW- ionary, Art. Perfpiration. Takin? By taking cold then, we mean that the
coldwhat. pores and outlets of the fkin ^which in a natural healthy ftate of body are con- tinually breathing out a fine fluid, like the fteam arifing from hot water, or fmoke from fire) are fo far fliut up, that thefe fteams, or perfpirable matter, not having a free paffage through them, are hindered from going off in the ufual manner, the confequence of which is, their recoiling on the blood, vitiating its quality, overfilling the veffels, and affect- ing the head, glands or kernels of the neck and throat, the lungs and other principal parts. 2
To
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0/COLDS.
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27
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To enumerate the various caufes ofTIie cau-
colds, would beendlefs; the moft ufual res- are. riding horfes till they are hot, and fufFering them to Hand in that condition, where the air is coid and piercing ; re- moving a horfe from a hot liable to a cold one, and too fuddenly changing-his cioath- ing; hence it is, that horfes often catch fuch fevere colds, after they come out of dealers hands; and by not being care- fully rubbed down, when they come in hot, off journeys. The figns of a horfe's catching cold The fym-
are, a cough, heavinefs and dulnefs, ptoms. which affect him, more or lefs, in propor- tion to the ieverity of it; the eyes are fometimes moift and watery, the kernels about the ears and under the jaws fwell, the nofe gleets, and he rattles in his breathing \ and when the cold is violent, the horfe will be feverifh, his flanks work, and he will both loath his hot meat, and refufe his water. When thele laft fymp- toms are attended with a fiimy mouth, ears and feet cold, and a great inward iorenefs, there is danger of a bad fever. But when the horfe coughs ftrong, Good
fnorts after it, is but little off his ftornach, fymp- pricks up his ears, and moves brifkly in toms. his
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|
Of C O L D S.
his Hall, dungs and ftales freely, his fkin
feels kindly, and his coat does not ftare, he is in no danger, and there will be no occafion for medicines of any kind; but you fhall bleed hitn about two quarts, keep him warm, and give him feeds of icalded bran, with as much warm water as he will drink, in order to dilute his blood* If the diforder mould increafe, the
horfe feel hot, and refufe his meat, bleed him, if a itrong one, two quarts more ; and if you are not fatisfied, without giv- ing medicines, avoid, as you would poi- fon, a farrier's drench (which is gene- rally compofed of fome hot, nauleous powders, given in a quantity of ale; which too often increafes the fever, by overheating the blood, and palls the horfe's ftomach by its loathfomenefs.) And inftead of it, infufe two ounces of anifeeds, with a dram of farfron, in a pint and a half of boiling water; pour off the clear, and diflblve it in four ounces of honey; to which may be added four fpoonfuls of fallad oil: this drink may be given every night; or one of the fol- lowing balls, provided there is no fever; in which cafe, it always will be more eligible to give two, ot three ounces of nitre, or fait prunella every day in his feeds,
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Of C O L D S: 29
feeds, or water, till it is removed ; this
method of treating colds we have ex- plained, in our animadverfions on nitre, and the great efficacy of this medicine ; but ihould the horfe be inclined to cof- tivenefs, remember that his body mould be kept open by emollient glyfters, or cream of tartar diflblved in his water, to *he quantity of three or four ounces a day. TAKE of the frefh powders of ani- The pec-
feed, elicampane, caraway, liquor- 'or;jlhorfe ice, turmerick, and flower of brim- a " ftone, each three ounces, juice of liquorice four ounces, diflblved in a fufficient quantity of mountain, faf- fron powdered half an ounce, fallad oil and honey, each half a pound, oil of anifeed one ounce : mix to- gether with wheat flower enough to make them into a pafte. Or, Take the following from Dr."
Bracken. The cor-
T A K E anifeed, caraway feed, and dial ball, greater cardamoms, finely powder- ed, of each one ounce, flower of brimftone two ounces, turmerick in fine powder one ounce and a half, faffron two drams, Spanifh 4 juice |
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3o Of C O L D S.
juice diflblved in water, two ounces,
oil of anifeed half an ounce, li- quorice-powder one ounce and a half, wheat-flower, a fufficient quan- tity, to make into a ftifF pafte, by beating all the ingredients well in a mortar. Obferva- Thefe balls confift of warm opening
tions on ingredients; and given in fmall quanti- them. ties, about the fize of a pullet's egg, will encourage a free perfpiration -, but in cafe of a fever, mould be cautioufly con- tinued. They are much more efficacious, and in all cafes fuperior to the farriers drenches, if diffolved in a pint of warm ale. General ^is f*imP^e method, with good nurf-
obferva- i"g ar>d hot mafhes, warm water and tions. cloathing, efpecially about the head and throat, which promotes the running at the noftrils, will anfwer the moft fudden colds -, and when the horfe feeds hearti- ly, and fnorts after coughing, moderate exercife every day will haften his re- covery. Particular The fcalded bran ftiould be put hot
ones. into the manger, for the fteams conduce
not a little to promote a running at the
nofe, which is often very plentiful, and
greatly
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|
Of F E V E R S.
greatly forwards the cure. His manger
fhould be kept clem, by filling it with ftraw; his hay well fhook and fprinkled with water, and given in ftnall quanti- ses : for h is breathing, at this time, taints the ha y, and then he will not touch it. To a horfe loaded with fiefh, a rowel
Way fometimes be neceffary; as may alfo a gentle purge or two, to lome, when the diftemper is gone off. |
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CHAP. IV.
Of FEVERS in general. AS I purpofely avoid giving defcrip-
tions of difeafes, or fo much as gueffing at the caufes within, which bring them about, I fhall immediately enter upon the fymptoms which denote a fimple fever prefent. Thefe are great reftlefs-The {■ m nefs, th^ horfe ranging from one end ofptoms o£ his rack to the other -, his flanks beat -/ever, his eyes are red and inflamed ; his tongue parched and dry ; his breath is hot, and fmells ftrong; he lofes his Appetite, and nibbles his hay, but don't chew it, and is frequently fmelling to the ground •, the whole
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32 Of FEVERS.
whole body is hotter than ordinary
(though not parched, as in fome inflam- matory diforders ;) he dungs often, little at a time, ufually hard, and in fmall bits; he fometimes ftales with difficulty, and his urine is high coloured j his flanks beat, and he feems to thirft, but drinks little at a time, and often •, his pulfe beats full and hard, to fifty ftrokes and up- wards in a minute. The me- The firft intention of cure is bleeding,
thod pi t0 tne quantity of two or three quarts, if the horfe is ftrong, and in good condi- tion ; then give him a pint of the follow- ing drink four times a day ; or an ounce of nitre, mixed up into a ball with ho- ney, may be given thrice a day, inftead of the drink, and wafhed down with three or four horns of any fmall liquor. |
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The fever
balls and drink. |
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TAKE of baum, fage, and camo-
mile flowers, each a handful, liquor- |
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ice-root fliced half an ounce, fa!,
prunel, or nitre, three ounces •, in- fufe in two quarts of boiling water ; when cold, flrain off, and fqueeze into it the juice of two or three le- mons, and fweeten with honey. remark. j^s tne chief ingredient to be depended
on in this drink is the nitre, it may per- haps |
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1
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0/ FEVERS. 33
Haps be as well given in water alone;
but as a horfe's ftomach is foon pajled, and he requires palatable medicines, the other ingredients may in that refpect have their ufe. Soleyfel for this purpofe advifes two ounces of fait of tartar, and one of fal armoniac to be difTolved in two quarts of water, and mixed with a pail of common water, adding a handful of bran or barley flower to qualify the unpleafant fade : this may be given every day, and is an ufeful medicine. The following alfo may be given for
this purpofe. TAKE Ruflia pearl-alhes one ounce, a fever
diftilled vinegar one pint, fpring drink, or water two pints, honey four ounces : neutral give a pint three or four times amixture* day. This neutral mixture, and the nitre
drink above, may be taken alternately; they are both efficacious remedies, and in fome places may properly enough be joined with the camphor drink, p. 41. His diet Ihould be fcalded bran, given The diet
in fmall quantities ; which, if he fefufes, in fevers. let him have dry bran fprinkjed with water ; put a handful of picked hay into D the |
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|
Of FEVERS.
the rack, which a horfe will often ear*
when he will touch nothing elfe: his water need not be much warmed, but fhould be given often, and in fmall quan- tities : his cloathing fhould be moderate, too much heat and weight on a horfe being improper in a fever; which fcarce ever goes off in critical fweats (as thofe in the human body terminate) but by flfong perfpiration. If in a day Of two he begins to eat
his bran, and pick a little hay, this me- thod with good nurling will anfwer ; but if he refufes to feed, more blood fhould be taken away, and the drinks continued ; to which may be added two or three drams of faffron, avoiding at this time all hotter medicines. The following glyf- ter fhould be given, which may be re- peated everyday, efpecially if his dung is knotty and dry. TAKE two handfuls of marfh-mal-
lows, and one of camomile flowers; fennel-feed an ounce ; boil in three quarts of water to two, ftrain off, and add four ounces of treacle, and a pint of linfeed oil, or any common oil. |
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|
Obfei'va-
tion. |
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The emol-
lient glyf- ter. |
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Tw»
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1
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O/ FEVERS. 35
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- Two quarts of water-gruel, fat broth Remarks.
or pot-liquor, with the treacle and oil, will aniwer this purpofe; to which may be added a handful of fait. Thefe fort of glyfters are properer than thofe with purging ingredients. The following opening drink is very
effectual in thefe fevers, and may be given every other day, when the glyfters fhould be omitted : but the nitre balls or drink may be continued, except on thofe days thefe are taken. TAKEof cream of tartar and Glau- ^n open-
ber falts, each four ounces ; diffolve ing fever in barley-water, or any other liquor: drink. an ounce or two of lenitive electuary may be added, or a dram or two of powder of jalap, to quicken the operation in fome horfes. Four ounces of Glauber falts, or cream Others for
of tartar, with the fame quantity of leni- tha'pur- tive electuary, may be given for the fame p ^ purpofe, if the former fhould not open the body fufficiently. In four or five days the horfe gene- The %ns
rally begins to pick his hay, and has a of reco- fceming relifh to food ; though his flanks veTY- D 2 will |
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36 O/1 FEVERS.
will heave pretty much for a fortnight:
yet the temper of his body, and return of appetite, {hew that nothing more is re- quifite to complete his recovery, than walking him abroad in the air, and allow- ing plenty of clean litter to reft him ir» the liable. |
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Pra&ical
obferva- tioris. |
This method of treating a fever is fim-
ple, according to the laws of nature; and |
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is confirmed by long experience, to be
infinitely preferable to the hot method. The intention here is to leflbn the quan-
tity of blood, promote the fecretions of urine and perfpiration, and cool and di- lute the fluids in general. An ufeful How far vinous cordials, ftrong beer-
refleftion. drinks loaded with fiery powders, and fuch methods, are likely to anfwer thefe purpofes, is fubmitted to the judicious obferver; as alfo, whether adopting the cool one in its ftead is not as real an im- provement in farriery as phyfick. |
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Acorn
pound fever.
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There is another fort of fever that
horfes are fubjecT: to, of a more complicate |
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and irregular nature than the former ;
which, if not properly treated, often proves fatal. |
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The
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Of F E V E R S. 37
The figns are a flow fever, with Ian- The fym*
guifhing and great depreffions; thetoms- horfe is fometimes inwardly hot, and outwardly cold; at other times hot all over, but not to any extreme; his eyes look moift and languid; he has a conti- nual moifture in his mouth, which is the reafon he feldom cares to drink, and when he does, it is but little at a time. He feeds but little, and leaves off as foon as he has eat a mouthful or two ; he moves his jaws in a feeble, loofe manner, with an unpleafant grating of his teeth ; his body is commonly open ; his dung foft and moift, but feldom greafy ; his ftaling is often irregular, fometimes little, at other times profufe, feldom high-colour- ed, but rather pale, with little or no fe- diment. When a horfe's appetite declines daily,
till he refufes all meat, it is a bad fign. When the fever doth not diminifh, or keep at a ftand, but increafes, the cafe is then dangerous. But when it fenfibly abates, and his mouth grows drier, the grating of his teeth ceafes, his appetite mends, and he takes to lay down (which perhaps he has not done for a fortnight) thefe are promifing figns. A horfe in thefe fevers always runs at the nofe, but not D 3 the |
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|
38 Of F E. V E R S.
the kindly white difcharge, as in the
breaking of a cold, but of a reddifh or greenifh dulky colour, and of a confid- ence like glue, and flicks like turpentine to the hair on the infide of the noftrils: if this turns to a gleet of clear thin water, the horfe's hide keeps open, and he mends in his appetite j thefe are certain flgns of recovery. |
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The far- The various and irregular fymptoms
ner fhould tj)at attencj tnjs flow feVer, require great b^on- *k'^ t0 dire& tne cure, and more know-
fultcd. ledge of the fymptoms of horfes difeafes, than the generality of gentlemen are ac- quainted with. The experienced farrier mould therefore be confulted and attend- ed to, in regard to the fymptoms; but very feldom as to the application of the remedy, which is generally above theifr comprehenfion ; though it may be readily felecled, by duly attending to the obfer- vations here inculcated. The cure. jrnft then, a moderate quantity of
blood, not exceeding three pints, may be taken away, and repeated in propor- tion to his ftrength, fulnefs^ inward forenefs, cough, or any tendency to inflammation. After this, the fever- drink, p. 32. may be given, with the addition of an ounce of fnake-root, and 1 three |
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|
O/FE V E R S. ft
three drams of faffron and camphor,
diffolved firft in a little fpirit of wine ; the quantity of the nitre may be^Ieffened, and thefe increafed, as the fymptoms in- dicate. The diet fhould be regular ; no oats The diet.
given, but fcalded, or raw bran fprin- kled ; the beft-flavoured hay fhould be given by handfuls, and often by hand, as the horfe fometimes cannot lift up his head to the rack. As drinking is fo abfolutely neceffary Dilution
to dilute the blood, if the horfe refufes to neceffary. drink freely of warm water or gruel, he muft be indulged with having the chill only taken off, by (landing in the ftable; nor will any inconvenience enfue, but oftener an advantage : for the nau- feous warmth of water, forced on horfes for a time, palls their ftomachs, and takes away their appetites, which the cold water generally reftores. Should the fever after this treatment When the
increafe, the horfe feed [little, ftale often, fever in- his urine being thin and pale, and hiscrea'e!" dung fometimes loofe, and at other times hard ; fhould the moifture in his mouth continue, his fkin being fometimes dry, and at others moift, with his coat looking D 4 flaring, |
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|
4o Of F E V E R S.
flaring, and furfeited. Upon thefe irre-
gular fymptoms, which denote great danger, give the following balls, or drink ; for in thefe cafes there is no time to be loft. The com- TAKE of contrayerva-root, myrrh,
pound fe- an(j fhake-root powdered, each two ver balls. drams, faffron one dram, mithri-
date or Venice treacle half an ounce j
make into a ball with honey, which fhould be given twice or thrice a day, with two or three horns of an infufion of fnake-root, fweetened with honey ; to a pint and a half of which may be added, half a pint of treacle water, or vinegar, which latter is a medicine of excellent ufe, in all kinds of inflammatory and putrid diforders, either external or internal. Should thefe balls not prove fuccefsful,
add to each a dram of camphor, and where it can be afforded, to a horfe of va- lue, the fame quantity of caftor. Or, the following drink may be fubftituted in their Head for forne days. The fever TAKE of contrayerva and fnake-root,
drink. 0f ^^ two ounceSj Jiquorice-root
diced one ounce, faffron two drams;
3 infufe
|
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|
Of FEVER S. 4l
infufe in two quarts of boiling water
clofe covered for two hours, ftrainoff, and add half a pint of diftilled vi- negar, fourj ounces of fpirit of wine, wherein half an ounce of camphor is diflblved, and two ounces of mithri- date or Venice treacle ; give a pint of this drink every four, fix, or eight hours. A more fimple drink and perhaps full
as efficacious may be thus prepared. TAKE camphor one dram diflblved The cam-
in reclined fpirit of wine one ounce, Ph°r then gradually pour on a pint of di- dua^'. Hilled vinegar warmed, and give for two dofes. The quantity of camphor may be increafed. Should the horfe be coftive, recourfe Obferva*
niuft be had to glyfters, or the opening tioa. drink: fhould he purge, take care not to fupprefs it, if moderate; but if, by continuance, the horfe grows feeble, add diafcordium to his drinks, inftead of the mithridate ; if it increafes, give more po- tent remedies. Let it be remembered, that camphor
W a very powerful and effectual medicine, W thefe kinds of putrid fevers; being both
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42 Of F E V E R S.
both active and attenuating, and parti-
cularly calculated to promote the fecre- tions of urine and perfpiration : it has been long celebrated in malignant fevers, as it gives motion to ftagnant humours, in the moft diftant parts, and promotes their expulfion by the common outlets; nitre may be advantageoufiy joined with it in many cafes. 1 hefe are the medir cines that are chiefly to be depended on in putrid epidemic fevers, where the circu- lation is flow and languid, the blood and juices tending to coagulate, putrefy, and run into grumes. Obferva- A horfe fhould drink plentifully to pro-
mote the operation of thefe medicines ; but inftead of them to a horfe of fmall value, give an ounce of diapente, and half an ounce of mithridate, and one dram of camphor, with a ftrong infufion of rue, fcordium, and fnake root, in the manner as above directed. Symp- Regard mould alfo be had to his
jomstobe ftaling; which if in too great quantities,
negarded. fy as manjfeftiy to deprefs his fpirits, fhould be controuled by proper reftrin- gents, or by preparing his drinks with lime-water. If, on the contrary, it hap- pens that he is too remifs this way, and ftales fo little as to occafion a fuJl- i nefs, |
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|
Of F E V E R S. 43
fiefs, and fwelling of the body and legs,
recourfe may be had to the following, drink : TAKE of fait prunel, qr nitre, oneAdrinkto
ounce -, juniper berries, and Venice promote turpentine, of each half an ounce j uxine- make into a ball with oil of am- ber. Give him two or three of thefe balls, at
proper intervals, with a decoction of marfli- rnallows, fweetened with honey. But if, notwithstanding he method we ...
"ave laid down, a greenifh or reddifh tonkin §'eet is difcharged from his noftrils, with fevers. a frequent freezing: if he continues to ]ofe his flefh and becomes hid 3 bound ; •f he altogether forfakes his meat, and daily grows weaker : if he fwells about the joints, and his eyes look fixed and dead •, if the kernels under his jaws fwell, 3nd feel loofe ; if his tail is railed and qui- vers; if his breath fmells ftrong, and a purging enfues with a difcharge of foetid dark coloured matter : his cafe may then °e looked on as defperate, and all future ^tempts to fave him will be fruitlefs. |
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The
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Of F E V E R S.
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44
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Signs of a The figns of a horfe's recovery are
horft'iie- known by his hide's keeping open, and covery. j-jjg fjcjn feeling kindly •, his eats and feet will be of a moderate warmth, and his eyes, brifk and lively ; his nofe grows clean and dry ; his appetite mends, he lays down well, and bothftales and dungs regularly. - Cautions. Be careful not to overfeed him on his re-
covery •, let his diet be light, feeds fmall, and increafed by degrees, as he gets ftrength : for by overfeeding, horfes have frequent relapfes, or great forfeits, which are always difficult of cure. Praaical This is the mofl fuccefsful method of
c.bferv^ treating thefe irregular, malignant fevers ; where it is evident, by the various efforts nature makes to relieve herfelf, the wants affiftance, and a fpur to quicken her mo- tions. For by the ufe of thefe warm me- dicines, a crifis, or termination of the dif- eafe, is quickened and promoted, as ap- pears by the alteration made both in the urine and fkin ; the former of which, by its thicknefs, mews figns of concoction, as it is called, or of a feparation of the feverifh matter from the bood ; and the latter, by its fmoothnefs and gloffinefs, proves that a regular and free perforation |
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|
Of F E V E R S. 45
is obtained: thefe two fecretions are of
fuch importance to the welfare of every animal, that the neceffity of rectifying them, when difordered, is obvious from the confequences. If this fever (houkJ be brought to inter- The cn"«
mit, or prove of the intermitting kind, °*an. m~ immediately after the fit is over, give an terrnittmi ounce of Jefuit's bark, and repeat it every fix hours, till the horfe has taken four or fix ounces: fhould eruptions or fwellings appear, they ought to be encouraged, for they are good fymptoms at the decline of a fever, denote a termination of the dif- temper, and that no farther medicines are Wanted. The true reafons perhaps why fo many Reafons
horfes mifcarry in fevers, are, that their why fo mailers, or doctors, will not wait with f*'f. hor' patience, and let nature have fair play: fgVels. that they generally neglect bleeding fuffi- ciently at firfl:; and are conftantly forcing down fugar fops, or other food in a horn, as if a horfe mull be ftarved in a few days, if he did not eat: then they ply him twice Or thrice a day with hot medicines and fpirituous drinks, which (excepting a very "few cafes) muft be extremely pernicious to a horfe, whofe diet is naturally fimple, and "Whofe ftomach and blood, unaccuftomed to
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46 O/FEVERS,
to fuch heating medicines, muff, be greatly
injured, and without doubt are often in- flamed by fuch treatment. Of epi- From the experience we lately had of
demicfe- the epidemic cold and fever among our vera* horfes, and from the obfervations of others in the years 1732 and 1734, it evidently appeared that the fimpleft me- thod of treatment fucceeded bell. Thus it is proper to bleed largely at firft, to the quantity of three quarts, if the horfe is full and ftrong: and if it appears that his lungs are not relieved by it, but con- tinue fluffed and loaded, the bleeding fhould be repeated •, and a rowel may be put in his cheft or belly. A general Dilute the blood with plenty of water,
method of or white drink; let his diet be warm bran cure. maffies, and his hay fprinkled. Should the fever rife, which will be known by the fymptoms above defcribed, give him an ounce of nitre thrice a day in his water, or made up in a ball with honey. Let his body be kept cool and open, with the opening drink, given twice or thrice a week; or an ounce of fait of tartar may be given every day, diflblved in his wa- ter for that purpofe, omitting then the • nitre. After a week's treatment in this manner, the cardial ball may be given once
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Of F £ V E R S. 47
Once or twice a day, with an infufion of
liquorice root fweetened with honey ; to which may be added, when the phlegm is tough, or cough dry and hufky, a quarter of a pint of linfeed, or fallad oil, and the fame quantity of oxymel fquills. As the kernels about the throat are Necefiary
greatly fwelled in thefe cafes, 1 need not cautions. mention the neceflity of keeping the head and throat warmer than ordinary, to promote a freer perfpirarion, and for- ward the running at the nofe, which in a horfe anfwers the end of fpitting, or ex- pectoration in us: but the nofe mould never be fyringed, as is fometimes done, to promote this difcharge, which it of- ten checks, and occafions bad fwellings in the neighbouring parts and glands : tor let it be remembered thefe are critical runnings of nature's own appointments, which by art may foon be fruftrated. The following cooling purge is very proper to give at the decline of the dif- temper, and may be repeated three or four times. TAKE two ounces of fena; ani-A cooling
feed and fennel bruifed, each half purge, an ounce ; fait of tartar three drams; let them infufe two hours in a pint of boiling water; ftrain off, and diffolve
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4B Of F E V E R S.
diflblve in it three ounces of Glauber
fait, and two of cream of tartar j give for a dofe in the morning. This purge generally works before
night very gently •, and in fevers, and all inflammatory disorders, is infinitely pre- ferable to any other phyfick. The puife Before we clofe this chapter on fevers,
of horfes it may be no improper hint to the curious, ftould be t0 tak-e no.ice that a horfe's pu!fe mould auen c more particularly be attended to than is cuftomary, as a proper eftimate may there- by be made both of the degree and vio- lence of the fever prefent, by obferving the rapidity of the blood's motion, and the force that the heart and arteries labour with, to propel it round. The nigheft calculation that has been made of the . quicknefs of the pulfe in a healthy horfe, is, that it beats about forty ftrokes in a minute; fo that in proportion to the in- creafe above this number, the fever is rifing, and if farther increafed to above fifty, the fever is very high. How to How often the pulfe beats in a minute
calculate may eafily be difcovered by meafuring the pulfe. t^e tjme wjtn a fl.Qp watCDj or mjnute fand-glafs, while your hand is laid on
the horfe's near fide, or your fingers on any
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^
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Of F E V E, R S. 49
any artery; thofe which run up on each
fide the neck, are generally to be feen beating as well as felt a little above the cheft ; and one within fide each leg may be traced with the finger. A due attention to the pulfe is fo im- The
portant an article, in order to form a know- ^ proper judgment in fevers, that it would t^ege °jj-e appear amazing it has fo much been'neg- 0f great lefted, if one did not recollect, that the import- generality of farrurs are fo egregioufly aace- ignorant, that they have no manner of conception of the blood's circulation, nor in general have they ability enough to diftinguifh the difference between an ar- tery and a vein—With fuch pretty guar- dians do we intruft the healths and lives of the molt valuable of animals! For which reafon I cannot too much
enforce the neceffity of this ftudy and practice, as it is evident to every one with what fcrupulous attention the hu- man pulfe is examined in every feverifh ftage, and how often the phyfician's judgment is chiefly directed by it. What difcoveries therefore might not be made by accurate obfervations on the pulfe of horfes, both in regard to the quicknefs of the blood's motion, and to the hardnefs of the artery,- from its difficult vibrations! E It |
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|o O/FEVERS.
How ufe-It would be a fure guide to diftinguifh
an inflammatory fever with denfe fizy blood, from an irregular depreffed one j it would direct us more certainly when, and how often we fhould repeat bleeding in fevers, and other diforders, and when we fhould draw off" blood previous to purging; or refrain from the latter, till by lowering the horfe's diet, his constitu- tion and blood is reduced to a proper temper; for in fuch .as are replete and fanguine, without this caution, an inflam- mation of the bowels is foon brought on by the irritations fuch Simulating medi- cines produce on veflels too turgid, and many a horfe's life has been facrificed to this neglect, but more particularly, fine, high fed ones. It would alfo be of ufe to difcover whether a horfe has recovered himfelf in due time, after having been drove hard, either on the ehace, or race, fcJV. This digreffion, it is hoped, will be more readily pardoned, as it is not a mere matter of fpeculation, but a practi- cal remark. |
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C H A P.
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J
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t Si 1
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C H A P. V.
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Of a PLEURISY, and Inflate
mation of tkehungSj &c |
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T
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H E S E diforders have fcarce been '^0*
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mentioned by any writer in far- ^'rt07
fiery b-fore Mr. Gibfon ; who* by fre- are rre_ quently examining the carcaffes of dead quent in horfes, has found th:m fubjecT: to the dif- horfes. ferent kinds of inflammations here de- icribedi He has often difcovered matter on the p'a"ica*
pleura (or membrane which lines the n0^var chefl internally) making its way into the cheft; he has found in fome horfes the whole fubftance of the lungs black, and full of a gangreened water ; and in others abfcefles of various fizes ; and* in fhort, inflammations in every bowel. He has frequently feeri the blood-veffels fo over- loaded, that the blood has burft out of the fmaller veflels, and run over their carcaffes in many places, while the col- lar-maker was fleaing of their hides, and On cutting open the larger veffels, the blood has gufhed out as from a fountain, filling all the cavity of the body ; an evi-^ E 2 den? |
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52
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Of a PLEURISY, and
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dent proof that plentiful evacuation
had been neglected. In order to diftin- guifh thefe diforders from others, we ihall defcribe the fymptoms in Mr. Gib- fon's own words. The figns « A pleurify then, which is an inflarrr-
. * PIe"_ mation of the pleura, and a peripneu- inflamma- mony5 which is an inflammation of the tianof the lungs, have fymptoms very much alike 5 lungs. with this difference only, that in a pleu- rify a horfe fhews great uneafinefs, and fhifts about from place to place ; the fe> ver, which at firft is moderate, rifes fud- denly very high; in the beginning he often ftrives to lie down, but ftarts up again immediately, and frequently turns his head towards the affected fide, which has caufed many to miftake a pleuritic diforder for the gripes, this fign being common to both, though with this dif- ference : How to ct jn j o-ripes a horfe frequently lies
them'fmm down, and rolls; and when they are thegripes. violent, he will alfo have convulfive twitches, his eyes being turned up, and his limbs ftretched out, as if he was-dying : his ears and feet fometimes occafionally hot, and fometimes as cold as ice •, he falls into profufe fweats, and then into cold damps, ftrives often to ftale and dung,
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Inflammation of the Lungs. 53
dung, but with great pain and difficulty;
which fymptoms generally continue, till he has fome relief. But in a pleurily, a horfe's ears and feet are always burning- hot, his mouth parched and dry, his pulie hard and quick: even fometimes when he is nigh dying, his fever is con- tinued and increafing •, and though in the beginning he makes many motions to lie down, yet afterwards he runs back as far as his collar will permit, and makes not the lead offer to change his pofture, but ftands panting with fhort flops, and a difpofition to cough, till he has relief, or drops down." In an inflammation of the lungs, feve- The fyru-
ral of the fymptoms are the fame, only fl^ms °f in the beginning he is lefs aclive, and jnfla™e never offers to lie down during the whole time of his ficknefs; his fever is ftrong, breathing difficult, and attended with a fhort cough-, and whereas in a pleurify, a horfe's mouth is generally parched and dry, in an inflammation of the lungs, when a horfe's mouth is open, a ropy flime will run out in abundance; he gleets alfo at the nofe a reddifh or yellowifh water, which flicks like glue to the infide of his noftrils. |
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E 3 In
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Of a PL EURISY, &nd
In a pleurify, a horfe heaves and works
violently at his flanks, with great reft- lefnefs, and for the moft part his belly is tucked up; but in an inflammation of the lungs, lie always fhews fulnefs, and the' working of his 'flanks is regular, ex- cept after drinking and fhifting his pol- ture; and his ears and feet are for the moft part cold, and often in damp fweats. The cure The "cure of both thefe diforders is the
of a pleu- fame. In the beginning a ilrong horfe
f"?' ■ lofe three quarts of blood, the next
inflamed j ' i •£ r
j day two quarts, more■, and it iymptcms
do not abate, the breedings mult be re-
peated, a quart at a time; for it is fpeedy, large, and quick repeated bleedings that are in thefe cafes chiefly to be depended on. But if a horfe has had any previous weaknefs, or is old, you muft bleed him in lefs quantities, and oftener. Mr, Gibfon recommends rowels on each fide the bread, and one on the belly ; and a blifteririg ointment to be rubbed all over his brifket upon the foremoft ribs. The me- The diet and medicines fhould be both
axmes cooling, attenuating, relaxing, and di-
Ci"ry' luting; and the horfe fhould have warm
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Inflammation of the Lungs. $$
inalhes, and plenty of water, or gruel.
The following balls may be given thrice a day. T A K E of fperma-ceti and nitre, of peaoral
each one ounce •, oil of anifeed balls. thirty drops ; with honey enough to make a ball. A pint of barky-water, in which figs The regi-
and liquorice-root have been boiled-, 'en P'°" fhould be given after each ball -, to which per' the juice of lemons may be added •, and if the lungs are greatly opprefied with a dry fhort cough, two or three horns, full of the decoction, may be given three or four times a day, with four fpoonfuls of honey and linleed oil. A ftrong de- coction of the rattle-fnake- root is alfo much recommended in pleuritic diforders, and may be given to the quantity of two quarts a day, fweetened with honey. It remarkably attenuates the blood, and difperfes the inflammation, and in fome parts is deemed a fpecifick for this com- plaint. An emollient glyfter fhould be injected Gtyftew
once a day, to which may be added two nece-;ar3'< ounces of nitre, or cream of tartar. |
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E 4 In
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56 Of a PLEURISY, and
In two or three days he will probably
run at the nofr, and begin to feed ; but fhould he not, and continue hot and fhort- breathed, you muft bleed him again, and give the following glyfter. |
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A purging
glyfter. |
TAKE fena and marfh-mallows, of
each two ounces ; fennel and bay- |
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berries, each one ounce; boil in
five pints of water to two quarts, pour off the clear, and add four ounces of purging falts, two or three of fyrup of buckthorn, and half a pint of linfeed, or any common oil. If by thefe means he grows cooler,
and his pain moderates, repeat the glyi- ter the next day, unlefs it worked too much; then intermit a day; and when he comes to eat fcalded bran and picked hay, leave off the balls, and continue only the decoction, with now and then a glyfter. But let it be obferved, that a horfe
feidom gets the better of thefe diforders, unlefs he has relief in a few days; for if the inflammation is not checked in that time, it (ifuajly terminates in a gan- grene, |
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Obferva-
Uvn. |
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Inflammation of the Lungs, ^7
grene, or collection of matter, which for
want of expectoration foon fuffocates him. '. But as pleuritic diforders are apt tOThelior-
leave a taint on the lungs, great care fe's diet fliould be taken of the horfe's exercife and a.nfd.?xeir, feeding, whicn fhould be light and open be wetl'at- for two or three weeks. Thus a quartern tended to. of bran fcalded, with a fpoonful of honey and flower of brimftone, may be given every day, with two or three fmall feeds of oats fprinkled with chamber lye. In*' ftead of the bran, for a change, give about a quart of barley fcalded in a dou- ble infufion of hot water, that it may be foftened, and the water given to drink. Wis exercife fhould be gradual, in art open air and fair weather •, and when his ftrength is recovered, a gentle purge or two fliould be given -, that of rhubarb, when it can be afforded, is beft, or the purging drink already recommended for this purpofe. There is alfo an external pleurify, or ^n exter.
inflammation of the mufcles, between the nal pku- ribs, which when not properly treated, 'im- proves the foundation of that diforder, , ®7 called the cheft-founder: for if the in- wjlat# flammation is not difperfed in time, and the vifcid blood and juices fo attenuated by
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58 Of a P L E U R I S Y, &c.
by internal medicines, that a free circu-
lation is obtained ; fuch a ftiffhei's and inactivity will remain on thefe parts as will not eafily be removed, and which is generally known by the name of cheft- founder. Thefigns. The figns of this inflammation, or ex-
ternal pleurify, are a ftiffnefs of the body, moulders, and fore-legs; attend- ed ibmetimes with a fbort dry cough, and a ikrinking when handled in thofe parts. The cure. Bleeding, fofc pectorals, attenuants,
and gentle purges, are the internal reme- dies ; and externally the parts affecled may be bathed with equal parts of fpirit of fal armoniac, and ointment of marfh- mallows, or oil of camomile. ©bferva- Thefe outward inflammations frequent-
tion. ]y fa]l into the in fide of the fore-leg, and ibmetimes near the fhoulder ; forming abfceffes, which terminate the diforder. The dia- The membrane which feparates the
phragm ]unoS and more particularly the dia- and other , ° ; -j or ■ c ,r • n parts of phragm, or midriff, is often alfo inflam-
the cheft ed ; which is fcarce to be diftinguifhed
fubjea to from the pleurify, only in this, that when anflamma-£jie midriff is greatly inflamed, the horfc will
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Of a COUGH, &c. S9
will fometimes be jaw-fet, and his
mouth fo much clofed, that nothing can be got in : but the method of cure is the fame. |
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CHAP. IV.
O/flCOUGH, WASTHMA,
TH E confequence often of the pre- The cau-
ceding diforders injudicioully treat- fes of a ed, are fettled habitual coughs ; which ^ettled frequently degenerate into afthmas, and cous * broken-wind. "Various are the caufes affigned for this
laft diforder, which, as merely conjectu- ral, we fhall wave ; but the appearances on the diffection of broken-winded horfes, will be taken notice of in the proper place. Nothing has more perplexed pracli- Cough:to
tioners than the cure of fettled coughs; be.<j,ftin~ the caufe of which, perhaps, has been SU1 e their want of attention to the different fymptoms which diftinguilh one cough from another : for without ftrict ob- fervancc
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6o Of a COUGH, and
fervance thereof, it is impoffible to find out.
the true method of cure. |
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Obferva- Thus if a horfe's cough is of long (land-
ing, attended with lofs of appetite, waft- ing of flefh, and weaknefs, it denotes a confumption ; and that the lungs are full of knotty, hard fubftances, called tuber- cles, which have often been difcovered on difleclion. Vide Confumption. The figns The following figns denote when the
of a moid cough proceeds from phlegm, and flimy cough- matter, that flop up the yeiTels of the lungs. . The horfe's flanks have a fudden quick
motion ; he breathes thick, but not with his noftrils open, like a horfe in a fever, or that is broken-winded : his cough is fometimes dry and hufky, fometimes- mcifr, before which he wheezes, rattles In the throat, and fometimes throws out of his nofe and mouth great gobs of white phlegm, efpeciaily after drinking, or when he begins or ends hisexercife, which cftfcharge commonly gives great relief. Some luch horfes wheeze and rattle to fuch a degree, and are fo thick-winded, that they can fcarce move on, till they have been out fome time in the air; though
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A S T H M A. 6,
though then they will perform beyond
expectation. Thefe are properly afthmatic cafes,
and ought to be diftinguifhed in their fymptoms from that purfivenefs and thick windednefs we fee in fome horfes, occa- fioned by too full, or foul feeding, want of due e'xercife, or their being taken up from winter's grafs. But thefe two laft cafes are eafily cured by proper diet and exer- cife; the one by lowering his keeping, and the other by increafing it. The above afthmatic cafe proves often
very obflinate ; but, if it happens to a young horfe, and the cough is not of long itanding, it is greatly relieved, if .not totally cured by the following me-
"thod.
If the horfe is full of flelh, bleed him The cure.
plentifully ; if low in flefh, more fparing- ly ; which may occalionally be repeated, on very great oppreffions, and difficulty of breathing, in proportionate quan- tities. As mercurial medicines are found re- MerCllfi.
markably ufeful in thefe cafes, give aalSrecom- mercurial ball (with two drams of ealb-mended. mel)
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62 0/ « COUGH, and
mel) over night, and a common purge
the next morning : or the followingj which is much recommended by Mr. Gibfon. Analtera- TAKE gum galbanum, Ammonia-
tive purge ? cum, and affa fcetida, of each two drams ; fine aloes one ounce, faffron one dram, oil of anifeeds two drams, oil of amber one dram: with honey enough to form into a ball. |
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They may be repeated at proper in-
tervals, with the ufual cautions. In the intermediate days, and for fome time after, one of the following balls may be given every morning. TAKE cinabar of antimony, finely
levigated fix ounces: gum Ammo- niacum, galbanum, and afla fcetida* of each two ounces : garlic fouf ounces, faffron half an ounce : make into a pafte for balls, with a proper quantity of honey. |
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Balls for
an obfti- nate cough. |
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Remarks Thefe balls are extremely well calcu-
on them. latec\ for tnjs purpofe ; but if they are
thought too expenfive, the cordial ball
may be given, with an eighth part of
powdered
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A S T H M A. 63
powdered fquills .and Barbadoes tar; or
equal quantities of the above, and cordial ball may be beat up together ; and where they can be afforded, balfam of Peru, balfam of fulphur, and flowers of Benja- min, would undoubtedly, added to the cordial ball, make it a more efficacious medicine in cafes of this fort, as thus : TAKE of the pectoral or cordial ball An effica-
one pound, balfam of Peru half an ^.,ous balJ ounce, balfam of fulphur anifated c°ru„hr one ounce, flowers of Benjamin half an ounce, honey as much as is fuffi- cient to form them into a pafte; give the fize of a pigeon's egg every morning. Exercife in a free open air is very fer- Exercife
viceable, and the diet fhould be mode- and diet rate. Horfes fubject to any inward op- papicu- preffions of the lungs, fhould never be *Jclm_ fuffered to have a belly full •, that is, they mended, fhould never be permitted fo to diftend their ftomach with meat or water, as to prefs againft the midriff; which of courfe would hinder refpiration. Their hay fliould even be abridged, given in fmall quantities, and fprinkled with water; and their ufual allowance both of corn and water, fhould be divided into feveral portions :
4
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Of aC O U G H, and
portions: by fuch a regulation in diet,
horfes may be fo recovered as to do great fervice •, arid in all diibrders of the lungs- it is what fhould principally be attended to. The following are the fymptoms of a
dry cough, orafthma. The figns The horfe afflicted with this cough,
of a dry eats heartily, hunts, and goes through his Cfth8h W bufinefs with alacrity, appears weil coated, and has all the figns of perfeft health -, yet he (hall cough at particular times al- moft inceffantly, without throwing up any thing, except that the violence of the cough will caufe a little clear water tp diftil from his nofe. I hough this cough is not periodical, yet fome of thefe horfes cough moft in a morning, after drinking. A nervous This may properly be ftiled a nervous
cough, a'fthma in a horfe ; as probably it chiefly what. affects the nerves in the membranous parts of the lungs and midriff; and is a cafe very doubtful, at leaft, if not incur- able : but when the horfe is young, the following method may be iuccefs- ful. |
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'
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Take
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ASTHMA. 6S
Take away firft a moderate quantity The cure,
of blood ; then give him two drams of calomel, mixed up with an ounce of dia- pente, for two nights; and the next morning a purging ball. Keep him well cloathed and littered, and feed him with fcalded bran and warm water. Once in eight or ten days this purge
may be repeated, with one mercurial ball only, given over-night. The following balls may then be taken,
one every day, about the fize of a pul- let's egg, the horfe falling two hours afterwards; and fhould be continued two months, or longer, to be of real fervice. TAKE native cinnabar, or cinna- BaUs for
bar of antimony, half a pound; an obfti- gum guaiacum four ounces ; myrrh, nate drx and gum Ammoniac, of each two cous " ounces; Venice foap half a pound : the cinnabar muft be finely levi- gated, as before obferved, and the whole mixed up with honey, or oxymel fquills. |
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F Th*
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Of a COU GH, and
The following alfo will be found an
ufeful remedy in obftinate dry coughs. TAKE gum Ammoniacum, fquills,
and Venice foap, of each four oun- ces ; balfam of fulphur with ani- feeds one ounce ; beat up into a mafs, and give as the former. Thefe mercurial and ponderous medi-
cines are well adapted to open obftrucH- ons in the lungs, and prevent thoie little knots, or tubercles, which fo frequently ulcerate, and lay the foundation of an incurable malady, or confumption : but the common pectorals alone will avail nothing in old ftubborn coughs, their efficacy being loft in the long tour they have to make, before they come to the lungs; and indeed, were it otherwifey without they had fuch powerful openers joined with them, they would be of little confequence; for where there are any expectations from medicines, fuch are chiefly to be relied on, which have a power of diflblving and attenuating the vifcid humours, opening the fmall ob- ftructed veflels, and promoting all the natural fecretions. |
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Before
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ASTHMA. . 6,7
Before "we clofe this chapter, it may CougUs
be neceflary to obferve here that fomein y°ung young horfes are fubjeft to coughs on ^vue&t- cutting their teeth ; their eyes alfo are af- e&4 fefted from the fame caufe. In thefe cafes always bleed, and if the cough is obftinate, repeat it, and give warm mafhes ; which, in general, are alone fuf- ficient to remove this complaint. But wj,en when the cough is an attendant on worms, from as it often is in young horfes, you mufl worms, give fuch medicines as have a power to deftroy thofe animals; particularly mer- curial phyfick at proper intervals, and in- termediately half an ounce of iEthiop's mineral, mixed up with the cordial, or pectoral balls, may be given every day. . Vide Chapter on Worms. |
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Fa CHAP.
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[ 68 J
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CHAP. VII.
Of a BROKEN-WIND.
of broken *TP HIS diforder hitherto feems to
wind. X have been little underftood, but Mr. Gibfon is inclined to think, that the fburce of it is frequently owing to inju- dicious, or hafty feeding young horfes for fale; by which means the growth of the lungs, and all the contents within the cheft, are fo increafed, and in a few years fo preternaturally enlarged, that the cavity of the cheft is not capacious enough for them to expand themfelves in, and perform their functions. ioneiva' A narrow contracted cheft with large
lungs may fometimes naturally be the caufe of this diforder: and it has been obferved, that horfes rifing eight years old are as liable to this diftemper, as at a certain period of life men fall into afth- mas, confumptions, and other chronic difeafes. |
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The
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Of a BROKEN-WIND. 69
The reafon why this diforder becomes Whyhor-
more apparent at this age, may be, that J5S r"'^ a horfe comes to his full ftrength and pi hr maturity at this time: at fix he com- grow' monly finifhes his growth in heighth ; broken- after that time he lets down his belly and winded' fpreads, and all his parts are grown to their full extent; fo that the preiTure oh the lungs and midriff is now more in- creafed. But how little weight foever thefe rea- Obferva-
fons may have, repeated directions have tl0IK given ocular proofs of a preternatural largenefs, not only of the lungs of brok- en-winded horfes, but of their heart and its bag -, and of the membrane which di- vides the chert; as well as of a remarka- ble thinnefs in the diaphragm, or mid- rifF. This difproportion has been obferved The parts
to be fo great, that the heart and lungs, j»ffe&ed_m have been almoft of twice their natural ^L&tA. fize, perfectly found, and without any horfes. ulceration whatever ; or any defect: in the wind-pipe or its glands. |
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F3
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Hence
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70 Of a BROKEN-WIND.
The pre- Hence it appears that this enormous
teraatural f,ze 0f tne iur)gs anc] the fpace they oc- fizeofthe , , . ? . L F a.- r
lungs the cuPy> bJ hindering the free action of
chief the midriff, is the chief caufe of this dif-
caufe. order ; and as the fubftance of the lungs
was found more flefhy than ufual, they of
courfe muft lofe a great deal of their
fpring and tone.
Thediffi- This flefhinefs and fize of the lungs
culty in may in a great meafure be the caufe, why
breathing ^ jnTpirarions in broken winded horfes
accounted ,.rr . . n r
fQri are diiproportionately flow ; for we may
obferve that they draw in their breath
(lowly, their flanks filling up, and riling
with difficulty : but that their flanks fall
fuddenly, and their breath burfts forth
with violence, both from the mouth and
noftrils; infomuch that a man in the
dark, by holding his hands on a horfe's
mouth and nofe, may eafily difcover if h«
is broken-winded.
Broken- Whoever confiders a broken-wind in
wind in- this light, muft own that it may be reek- curable. 0necj among tne incurable diftempers of horfes ; and that all the boafted preten- fions to cure, are vain and frivolous, fince t,lje utmoft fkill can amount to no more than
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Of a BROKEN-WIND. 71
than now and then palliating the fymptoms,
and mitigating their violence. We fhall therefore only lay down fuch
methods as may probably prevent this diforder when purfued in time. But if they mould not fucceed, we fhall oiler fome remedies and rules to mitigate its force, and to make a horle as ufeful as pof» fible under this malady. It is ufual before a broken-wind ap-Tlje fym-
pears, for a horfe to have a dry obftinate torn co'.K2,h, without any vifible ficknefs, or ™h , loi's of appetite •, but, on the contrary, a ^ . diipofition. to foul feeding, eating the wjnd. litter, and drinking much water. In order then to prevent, as much as
poffible, this diforder, bleed him, and give him the mercurial phyfick above pre- ferred, which fhould be repeated two or three times. The following balls are then to be
taken for fome time, which have been found extremely efficacious in removing obftinate coughs. |
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TAKE aurum Mofaicum, finely Balls for a
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powdered, eight ounces ; myrrh and br.°kcn-
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F 4 elicam-
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7i Of a BROKEN-WIND.
elicampane, powdered each four
ounces; anifeeds and bay-berries, each an ounce; fafFron, half an ounce ; make into balls with oxymel fquills. Remarks. The aurum Mofaicum is made of equal
parts of quickfilver, tin, fal armoniac, and fulphur. We give this medicine, as ftrongly recommended by Mr. Gibfon ; but how far the aurum Mofaicum may contribute to its efficacy, may perhaps juftly be difputed : as a fubftitute in its room therefore, for this purpofe, we re- commend the fame quantity of powered fquills, or gum Ammoniacum ; or equal parts of each. For this end alfo the fol- lowing is offered. |
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Another TAKE gum Ammoniacum, galba-
for that num, and affa fcetida, of each two purpoe. ounces ; fquills four ounces, cina-
bar of antimony fix ounces, fafFron
half an ounce; make into a parte with honey. Give the quantity of a pullet's egg every morning. The diet Broken-winded horfes fhould eat fpar-
forbroken ingly of hay, which as well as their corn wmded may be wettec} wjth chamber-lye, or horfes. fair |
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Of a BROKE N-W I N D. 73
fair water •, as this will make them lefs
craving after water. The volatile falts in the urine mayGarlick
make it preferable to water, and may berecom- the reafon why garlic is found fo efEca- mended' cious in thefe caies : two or three cloves given at a time in a feed, or three ounces of garlirk bruifed, and boiled in a quart of milk and water, and given every Otbei morning for a fortnight, having been found very ferviceable ; for by Warming and ftimulating the folids, and diffb'ving the tenacious juices, which choak up the veffels of the lungs, thefe complaints are greatly relieved. Careful feeding and moderate exercife Broken.
has greatly relieved broken-winded horfes;*'1*^ and though for the firft fuminer they jj^^ , . have not been able to endure much conftantly labour, yet many have been found lefs abroad, oppreffed the fecond, and fome fcarce perceptibly affected the third ; and even able to bear great fatigue : and could a horfe bu kept conftantly in the field, and taken up only when ufed, he might by this management do good fervice for ma ny years. |
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But
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74 Of a BROKEN-WIND.
Ncceffary But whoever expects to cure his horfe,
caution, by fending him out to grafs, will find himself disappointed •, efpecially if he re- mains abroad after the fpring grafs, for on his return to the ftable and dry meat, he will be more oppreffed and inert breathed than before, for want of the open air and moift food he had beenaccuf- tomed to. Aremark- Holies fent to grafs, in order to be
ableob- cured of an obftinate cough, have oft- fervation. en returned completely broken winded, where the pailure has been rich and fuccu- lent, fo that they have had their bellies conftantly full. As the ill confequence therefore is obvious, where you have not the conveniency of turning out your horfe for a conftancy, you may foil him for a month or two with young green barley, tares or any other young her- bage. Thick To purfive thick-winded horfes, Bar-
wLided badoes and common tar have often been
horfes, • given with fuccefs, to the quantity of two
howtreat. fpQonfu]s mixed with the yolk of an egg,
diffolved in warm ale, and given failing
two or three times a week, efpecially thole
days you hunt or travel.
But
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Of a BROKEN-WIND. 75
But in order to make all thefe forts of Their re-
horfes of any real fervice to you, the Simen» grand point is to have a particular regard to their diet, obferving a juft ceconomy both in that and their exercife; giving but a moderate quantity of hay, corn, or water, at a time, and moiiiening the former, to prevent their requiring too much of the latter, and never exercifing them but with moderation, as has before been obferved. The following altera- tive ball may be given once a fortnight or three weeks, and as it operates very gently, and requires no confinement but on thofe days it is given (when warm meat and water are necefiary) it may be con- tinued for two or three months. TAKE Succotrine aloes fix drams, An altera-
myrrh, galbanum, and Ammonia- }lvePl"g- cum, of each two drams; bay-berries ing half an ounce: make into a ball with a fpoonful of oil of amber, and a fufEcienr, quantity of fyrup of buck- thorn. |
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C H A P.
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3
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[76]
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CHAP. VIII.
Of a CONSUMPTION. Tliefigns \^7^^^ a confumption proceeds
of a con- \y from a defect in a horfe's lungs, fumption. or any principal bowel, the eyes look dull; the ears and feet are moftly hot; he coughs fharply by fits,' fneezes much, and frequently groans with it; his flanks have a quick motion ; he gleets often at the nofe, and fometimes throws out a yellowifh curdled matter; and he has little appetite to hay, but will eat corn, after which he generally grows hot. The cure. As to the cure, one of the principal
things is bleeding in fmall quantities (a pint, or pint and half, from fome horfes is fufficient) which mould be repeated as often as the breath is more than ordina- rily opprefled. Pectorals may be given to palliate prefent emergent fymptoms j but as diffeclions have difcovered both the glands of the lungs, and mefentery to be fwelled, and often indurated, the whole ftrefs lies on mercurial purges, and the
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0/a CONSUMPTION. 77
the following ponderous alteratives, given
intermediately. TAKE native cinnabar, or cinnabar Alterative
of antimony, one pound, powder powders. very fine, and add the fame quan- tity of gum guaiacum and nitre ; give the horfe an ounce of this powder twice a day, wetting his feeds. The fpring grafs is often extremely The fait
ferviceable, but the falt-marfhes are to marfhes be preferred, and given to be more de- com"i , K , , °j. . c , mended.
pended on than medicines; for great al-
terations are thereby made in the blood and juices, and no fmall benefit arifes from open air, and proper exercife. But it may be worth obferving, that Obferva-
a horfe frequently relapfes, after ap- tl0n* jearances of amendment; when a yel- owiQi gleet, or curdled matter runs from lis nofe, and he grows emaciated, is much addi&ed to fweat, heaves much with a reduplicated motion, and has a Ihort rattling cough; under thefe cir- cumftances there can be little hopes of his recovery, or any future fervices from him; confequently, to fave farther ex- pences, the beft way would be to difpatch him as an incurable. An
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y8 Of an Apoplexy, or
Aremark. As many of the above medicines in
this, and the preceding chapter for coughs, may be thought too expenfive for horfes of no great value, tar-water may fupply their place; and perhaps will be found on trial no unworthy me- dicine, as Barbadoes and common tar has been experienced very effectual in fome fort of coughs, and of great fervice to thick-winded horfes. |
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CHAP. IX.
Of an Apoplexy, or Staggers, Con-
vulfive Diforders, Lethargy, Epi- lepfy, and Palfy. Diforders tt\ A R R IE R S generally include all
of the Ji diftempers °f tne nead under two to be'difW denominations, viz. Staggers and Convul- tinguifh- fions -, wherein they always fuppofe the ed. head primarily affected. But in treating on thefe diforders, we fhall diftinguifh be-
tween thofe that are peculiar to the head, as having their fource originally thence ; and
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Staggers, &c. 79
and thofe that are only concomitants of
fome other difeafe, where the head is afc fecled fecondarily by confent of nerves, the fource of this diforder being in the ftomach, bowels, &c. By this method we fhall avoid many blunders, which would otherwife arife in practice, for want of knowing the true feat of the dif- order. In an apoplexy a horfe drops down
fuddenly without any other fenfe or mo- tion than a working at his flanks. The previous fymptoms are drowfinefs, The
watery eyes, fomewhat full and inflamed j 0fapO. a difpofltion to reel, feeblenefs, a bad plexy, os appetite ; the head almoft coaftantly ftaggew. hanging, or refting. on the manger; fometimes with little or no fever, and fcarce any alteration in the dung or urine: the horfe is fometimes difpofed to rear up, and apt to fall back when handled about the head, which is often the cafe with young horfes, to which it does not prove fuddenly mortal, but with proper help they may fometimes recover. If the apoplexy proceeds from wound?, or blows on the head, or matter on the brain, befides the above fymptoms, the horfe will be frantick by fits,, efpecially' after
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8o Of an Apoplexy, or
after his feeds, fo as to (tart and fly at
every thing. Thefe cafes feldom admit of a perfect recovery ; and when horfes fall down fuddenly and work violently at their flanks, without any ability to rife after a plentiful bleeding, they feldom recover. The cure. All that can be done is to empty the
veflels as fpeedily as poflible, by ftriking the veins in feveral parts at once, bleed- ing to four or five quarts, and to raife up the horfes's head and (houlders, fup- porting them with plenty of ftraw. If he furvives the fit, cut feveral rowels; giue him, night and morning, glyfters prepared with a ftrong decoction of fena and fait, or the purging glyfter men- tioned in the directions ; blow once a day up his noftrils a dram of powder of afarabacca, which will promote a great difcharge, afterwards two or three aloetic purges fhoud be given ; and to fecure him from a relapfe, by attenuating and thinning his blood, give him an ounce of equal parts of antimony and crocus metallorum for a month ; or which is preferable, the fame quantity of cinnabar of antimony and gum guaicum. |
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If
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Staggers, &c. 81
If the fit proceeds only from fulnefs of When the
blood, high feeding, and want of fuffi- ftaggers
cient exercife, or a fizy blood (which is jre n°'
r \ <- ■ i i v> i daneer- orten the caie with young horfes, who, ous<
though they reel, ftagger, and fometimes
fuddenly fall down, yet are eafily cured by
the above method) an opening diet with
fcalded bran and barley will be neceflary
for fome time; and the bleeding may be
repeated in fmall quantities.
As to the other diforders of the head, Lethargy,
fuch as lethargy, orfleepingevil, epilepfy, VertlS0- or falling ficknefs, vertigo, frenzy, and madnefs, convulfions, and paralytical dif- orders, as they are moft of them to be treated as the apoplexy and epilepfy, by bleeding and evacuations, with the altera- tives there directed, we fhall wave treating on them feparately, but mention fome particular rules to diftinguifh them, ac- cording to the plan we laid down, and then offer fome general remedies for the feveral purpofes. Thus in order to diftinguifh epileptic Epilepfy
diforders and convulfions (which are of- and con-, ten occafioned by worms, bots, and ul- vulfions- cerations of the ftomach, bowels and mid- riff) from thofe which arife from origi- G <ial |
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82 Of an Apoplexy, or
nal caufes in the head only, we mail de-
fcribe the fymptoms which diftinguifh them from each other; by which means we fhall be able to avoid any miftake in the application of the remedy: and as epileptic diforders have by ignorant far- riers been miltaken for the gripes, we fhall alfo diftinguifh thefe diforders by the fymptoms. Kowepi- In an epilepfy, or falling ficknefs, the
kpticdf. norfe reejs ancj ftaggers, his eyes are diflin- a'e 6xed in his head, he has no fenfe of what guifhed he is doing, he ftales and dungs infen- fmm fibly, he runs round and falls fuddenly ; gnpes. fometimes he is immoveable, with his legs ftretched out, as if he was dead, ex- cept only a quick motion of his heart and lungs, which caufes a violent working of his flanks; fometimes he has invo- luntary motions, and making of his limbs, fo ftrong, that he has not only beat and fpurned his litter, but the pave- ment with it; and with thefe alternate fymptoms a horfe has continued more than three hours, and then he has as fur- prizingly recovered : at the going off of the fit, he generally Foams at the mouth, the foam being white and dry, like what comes from a healthful horfe when he champs on the bit. But
i |
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A
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Staggers, &cl 8%
But in all kinds of gripes, whether The fym-
they proceed from diforders in the guts, P'om.s or retention of urine, a horfe is often up delribed. and down, rolls and tumbles about, and ■when he goes to lie down, generally makes feveral motions with great feeming care- fulnefs, which fhews he has a fenfe of his pain, and if he lays ftretched out for any time, it is generally but for a fhort fpace. Vide Chapter on Gripes. Epilepfies and convulfions may arife Epilepfiei
from blows on the head, too violentand con_ exercife, and hard ftraining ; and from ^"k™* a fulnefs of blood, or impoverished different blood, and forfeits; which are fbme ofcaufes. the caufes that denote the original dif- order. But the head may alfo be affected by
fympathy of nerves; for excefiive pain in any part of the body will excite con- vulfions, efpecially if the nerves and ten- dinous parts are affected, as by wounds, pun&ures, and bruifes externally; and by ulcers, gatherings of matter, and by bots and worms, wounding and velli- cating the nervous parts internally; long coftivenefs' has fometimes alfo occafioned thefe diforders. In all fuch cafes, the G 2 original |
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§4 Of an Apoplexy, or
original caufe muft principally be attended
to. The gene- In lethargic diforders the horfe gene-
ral fymp- ra||y refl-s his head with his mouth in the toms of ttianger) ancj his pole often reclined to one Tide; he will (hew an inclination to eat, but generally falls afleep with his food in his mouth, and he frequently fwallows it whole, without chewing: emollient glyfters are extremely neceffary in this cafe, with the nervous balls re- commended for the ftaggers, and con- vulfions, p. 87: ftrong purges are not re- quiiite, nor muft you bleed in too large quantities, unlefs the horfe be young and lufty. In old hories, rowels and large evacuations are improper, but volatiles of all kinds are of ufe, when they can be afforded; the alterative purge, p. 94. may be given and repeated on his amend- ment. The good This diftemper is to be cured by thefe
and bad means, if the horfe is not old and paft fymp- his vigour. It is a good fign if he has a terns. tolerable appetite, and drinks freely with- out flabbering, and if he lies down, and rifes up carefully, though it be but fel- dom. |
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But
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Staggers, &e, S$
But if a lethargic horfe does not lie
down, if he is altogether ftupid and care- lefs, and takes no notice of any thing that comes near him; if he dungs and ftales feldom, and even while he fleeps and dozes, it is a bad fign ; if he runs at the nofe thick white matter, it may relieve him, but if a vifcid gleet that flicks to his noftrils like glue, which increafing, turns to a profufe running of ropy, reddifh, and greenifh matter ; it is an infallible fign of great decay of nature, and that it will prove deadly. Young horfes, from four to fix years, y0Ung
are very fubjedf. to convulfions from bots horfes in the Ipring ; and the large coach breed fabjefl to more than the faddle: they are feized ^'""J-" without any previous notice, and it bots bots- and worms are difcovered in their dung, the caufe feems to be out of doubt, more efpecialiy if they have lately come out of a dealer's hands. When this convulfion proceeds from From the
a diftemperature of the midriff, or any midriff, of the principal bowels, it is to be diftin- guilhed from bots and vermin by pre- vious fymptoms: the horfe falls off his ftomarii, and grows gradually weak, G 3 feeble. |
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86 Of an Apoplexy, or
feeble, and difpirited in his work; and
turns fhort breathed with the leaft exer- cife. Convulfi. The lively defcription of that univer-
onsfiom fal cramp or convulfion, called by fame thel'°- the ftag-evi], which fdzes all the rnuf- other'3n c^es Q^ t^ie kady at once, and locks up principal the jaws, fo that it is impoffible almoft bowelsde- to force them open, we fliall give in fcnbed. Mr. Gibfon's own words ; who fays, "as foon as the horfe is feized, his head is raifed with his nofe towards the rack, his ears pricked up, and his tail cocked, looking with eagernefs as an hungry horfe when hay is put down to him, of like a higb-fpirited horfe when he is put upon his mettle; infomuch that thofe who are ftrangers to fuch things, when they fee a horfe ftand in this manner, will fcarce believe any thing of confequence ails him-, but they are foon convinced, when they fee other fymptoms come on a- pace, and that his neck grows ftiff. cramp- ed, and almoft immoveable; and if a horfe in this condition lives a few day?, feveral knots will arife on the tendinous parts thereof, and all themufcles, both be- fore and behind, will be fo much pulled and cramped, and fo ftretched, that he looks as if" he was nailed to the pavement, with
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Staggers, &c. By
with his legs ftiff, wide, and ftraddling; his
fkin is drawn fo tight on all parts of the body, that it is almoft impoffible to move it; and if trial be made to make him Walk, he is ready to fall at every ftep, un- lefs he be carefully fupported : his eyes are fo fixed with the inaction of the muf- cles, as gives him a deadnefs in his looks: he fnorts and fneezes often, pants con- tinually with fhortnefs of breath ; and this fymptom increafes continually till he drops down dead ; which generally hap- pens in a few days, unlefs fome fudden and very effectual turn can be given to the diftemper." In all thefe cafes the horfe mould firft The cure
be bled plentifully, unlefshe is low in flefh, of convul- old, or lately come off any hard continued rions" duty, then you muft be more (paring of his blood ; afterwards give the Jollowing ball. TAKE afla fcetida half an ounce, Theneiv
Ruffia caftor powdered two drams, vous ball, valerian root powdered one ounce; make into a ball with honey and oil of amber. This ball may be given twice a d-ay at
firft ; and then once, wafhed down with.
a decodtion of mifletoe, or valerian; fweet-
G 4 cned
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88 Of an Apoplexy, or
ened with liquorice or honey; an ounce
of afia foetida may be tied up in a piece of ftrong coarfe linen rag, and put be- hind his grinders to champ on. The laxative purges and emollient glyf-
ters fhould be given intermeciately to keep the body open; but when the for- mer balls have been taken a week or ten days, the following may be given once a day with the valerian decoction, |
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Another
tprvous
all. |
TAKE cinnabar of antimony fix
drams, affa foetida half an ounce^ |
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ariftolochia, myrrh, and bay-berrries,
of each two drams: make into a ball with treacle and oil of amber. This is the moft effectual method of
treating thefe diforders: but when they are ,fufpec~ted to arife from bots and worms, which is generally the cafe, mer- curial medicines muft lead the way* Thus. .. • , |
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A mercu-
rial ball. |
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TAKE mercurius dulcis, and phi-
lonium, of eachhalf an ounce ; make into a ball with conferve of rofes, and give the horfe immediately: half the quantity may be repeated in four pr five days, , 3 |
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The
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Staggers, &c. Sg
The following infufion mould then
be given to the quantity of three or four horns, three or four times a day, till the fymptoms abate; when the above ner- vous balls may be continued till they are removed. TAKE penny-royal and rue, of each An infa-
two large handfuls ; camomile flow- fion« ers one handful ; affa fcetida and caftor, of each half an our<ce; faffron and liquorice roorfliced, of each two drams : infufe in two quarts of boil- ing water ; pour off from the ingre- dients as wanted. ■ If the caftor is omitted, add an ounce of
afta fcetida. The following ointment may be rubbed
into the cheeks, temples,neck, moulders, fpines of the back and loins, and wherever there is the greateft contractions and ftiff- nefs-. TAKE nerve and marfh-mallow oint- ^n emol-
ment, of each four ounces •, oil of lient lini- amber two ounces; with a fufficient ment quantity of camphorate fpirit of wine: make a liniment. To
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cjo Of an Apoplexy, or
To horfes of fmall value give the fol-
lowing. |
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A nervous
iafuiion. |
TAKE rue, penny-royal, and to-
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bacco, of each a handful ; afia fce-
tida an ounce ; boil in a quart of • forge-water : let the decoftion ftand
on the ingredients, and give as the former. Obferva- When the jaws are fo locked up, that
tion- medicines cannot be given by the mouth, it is more eligible then to give them by way of glyfter ; for forcing open the jaws by violence, often puts a hone into fuch agonies, that the iymptoms are thereby increafed. The infufion above may be given for this purpofe, or the follow- ing. A nervous TAKE rulj penny-royal, and ca-
gtyttcr. momile flowers, of each a handful, valerian root two ounces ; boil in
five pints of water to two quarts : in the (trained liquor diflblve caftor and afla fcetida, of each half an ounce, or of afla fcetida alone one ounce, common oil four ounces. Give this glyfter once a day. |
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In
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Staggers, &c. g\
In this cafe alfohemuft befupported by Nutritive
nourifliing glyfters, made of milk-pot- gtyfo". tage, broths, cjfr. which muft be given to the quantity of three or four quarts a day •, glyfters of this kind will be retained, and abforbed into the blood; and there have been inftances of horfes thus fup- ported for three weeks together, who muft otherwise have pcrifhed. Mr. Gibfon mentions fome extraordi- FrifHons
nary inftances of fuccefs in cafes of this very ure- fort by thefe methods, and repeated fric- fuI in a'J tions, which are extremely ferviceable ^fes" iVe in all convulfive diforders, and often prevent their being jaw-fet; they fhould be applied with unwearied diligence e- very two or three hours, wherever any ftiffnefs or contractions on the mufcies ap- pear, for a horie in this condition never lies down till they are in fome meafure re- moved. He takes particular norice of a horie Aremark-
whofe jaws were fo locked up for three able cafe. weeks, that both food and medicine were forced to be given by glyfter; that not having recovered the ufe of his jaws for a fortnight, though he now moved them with lefs ftiffnefs he was determined, from
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o2 Of an Apoplexy,' or
from the known relaxing power of opium*
to give him half an ounce of it, diflolved in one of his glyfters, the good effects of which were fo evident, by a general a- mendment, that he was encouraged to continue it in the following manner. TAKE Mathews's pill, and afla fce-
tida, of each an ounce : make ■ into a ball. This ball he gave for one dofe, and
repeated once ; and by this and the ufe of the nervous medicines given twice a week, and gentle purging, the horfe was perfect- ly recovered. Rowels The ufe of rowels in thefe cafes is gene-
lometimes rally unfuccefsful, the fkin being fo tenfe eftuid anc; tight, that they feldom digeft kindly, f"e" and fometimes mortify, fo that if they are applied, they fhould be put under the
jaws, and in the breaft.
Remark. The red-hot iron fo frequently run
through the foretop and mane, near the occipital bone, for this purpofe, has often been found to have deftroyed the cervical ligament. |
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In
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Staggers, &c. 93
In paralytic diforders, where the ufe of How pa-
a limb or limbs is taken away, the inter- ^JrjCeps nals above recommended mould be given, ^oa\^ j^ in order to warm, invigorate, and attenu- treated. ate the blood •, and the following ftimu- lating embrocation fhould be rubbed into -the parts affedled. T A K E oil of turpentine four ounces, A warm
nerve ointment and oil of bays, of Simula- each two ounces ; camphor rubbed m&1"^- fine, one ounce ; rectified oil of am- ber three ounces; tincture of can- tharides one ounce. With this liniment the parts arFefted ^w£A.
fhould be well ba:hed for a confiderable time, to make it penetrate; and when the hind parts chiefly are lame, the back and loins fhould be well rubbed with the fame : to the nervous medicines above re- commended, may be added fnake-ropt, contrayerva, muftard feed, horfe radifh root, fleeped in ftrong beer, or wine where it can be afforded. Take the following for an example, which may be given to the quantity of three pints a day alone, or two horns full may be taken after the nervous balls. |
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TAKE
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94 Of an Apoplexy, cr
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The para- TAKE fnake root, contrayerva, and
lytic infa- valerian, of each half an ounce ; muf-
' tard feed and horfe-radifh root fcrap-
ed, of each two ounces •, long pepper
two drams : infufe in three pints of
flrong beer or wine.
When the horfe is recovering from
any of the above diforders, the follow- ing alterative purge may be repeated two or three times, as it operates very gently. An altera- TAKE Succotrine aloes one ounce,
tivepurge. myrrh half an ounce, afla fcetida and gum Ammoniacum, of each two
drams, faffron one dram ; make in- to a ball with any fyrup. |
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How to Where a retention of dung is the caufe
V"T diff °^ l^'ls border, the great gut fhould firft the head De raked thoroughly with a fmall hand, from cof- after which plenty of emollient oily glyf- threnefs. ters fhould be thrown up, and the open- ing drink given, till the bowels are tho- roughly emptied of their imprifoned dung. Their diet fhould for fome days be opening, and confift chiefly of fcalded bran, with flower of brimltone, fcalded barley, &c. This
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Staggers, &c. 95
This general method we hope will give Obferva-
fufficient light into the nature of thefe dif- tion- orders, and their treatment, without mi- nutely entering into their caufes; which in fome cafes, perhaps, are infcrutable; and where the moft plaufible writers have appeared rather as learned triflers than fa- tisfacfory reafoners. |
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CHAP. X.
Of the STRANGLES and
VIVES.
TH E flrangles is a diftemper to Theflraa-
which colts and young horfes are gl« de- very fubjecl:; and begins with a fwelling lcni)ed- between the jaw-bones, which fometimes extends to the mufcles of the tongue i and is attended with fo great heat, paifi, and inflammation, that fometimes, till matter is formed, the horfe fwallows with the utmoft difficulty. The fymptoms are extraordinary heat The fym-
and feverifhnefs, with a painful cough, PtoJM« and a great inclination to drink without being
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96 Of the Strangles, Und ViveS.
being able•, fome horfes Jofing their ap-
petite intirely, others eating but little, by reafon of the pain which chewing and fwallowing occafions : when the Twilling begins on the infide of the jaw-bones, it is much longer in coming to matter than when more to the middle; when it arifes among the glands, and divides into feveral tumours, the cure is gene- rally tedious, as it breaks in different places-, and when it forms upwards on the wind-pipe and gullet, there is fome- times danger of fuffocation, unlefs the fwelling foon breaks. But the moft dan- gerous kind is, when, befides the above fymptoms, the horfe runs at the nofe; this by fome is called the* baftard ftran- gles. THe care. As this diforder feems to be critical,
the moft approved method is to affift na- ture in bringing the fwellings to maturity, by keeping them conftantly moift with ointment of marfh-mallows, and covering the head and neck with a warm hood. But as all fwellings in glandular parts fuppurate flowly, the following poultice may be applied hot twice a day: it is alio a very proper one to ripen, or bring any other fwelling to matter. |
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TAKE
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Staggers, &c. 97
A fuppu"
TAKE leaves of marfh-mallowsratins
ten handfuls, white lily root half aP0ultIce- pound, lnfeed and fennugreek feed bruifed, of each four ounces ; bo Id them in two quarts of water till the whole is pulpy, and add four onnces of ointment of marfh-mallows, and a fufficent quantity of hogs lard, to prevent its growing ftiff and dry. In five or fix days, by thefe means,
the matter is generally formed, and makes its way through the fkin ; and if the difcharge is made freely and with eafe, the opening need not be enlarged; but fliould be drefied with the following oint- ment fpread on tow, ftill continuing the poultice over it to promote the digef- »k>n, and prevent any remaining hard- nefs. TAKE rofin and Burgundy pitch, A general
of each a pound and a half 4 honey djgeftive and common turpentine, each eightointmeIlt" ounces ; yellow wax four ounces ; hogs-lard one pound ; verdigreafe, finely powdered, one ounce: melt the ingredients together, but do not put in the verdigreafe, till removed from the fire j and it mould be ftir- H red |
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98 Of the Strangles, and Vives.
red in by degrees, till the whole is
grown ftiff and cool. Bleeding If the fever and inflammation run high,
fonienraes ancj t]le fuelling be fo fituated as to en- nete ary. c|anger fu{f0cation, a moderate quantity of blood mull be taken away, and the re- mainder diluted with plenty of water-gru- el, or warm water, mafhes, tsrV. |
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Observa-
tion. |
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The running at the nofe, which often
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attends the ftrangles, is dangerous •, eipe-
cially if it continues after they have ripen- ed and broke, as the horfe will be greatly weakened thereby. To prevent this wafte and decay, give him every day for fome time an ounce of Jefuit's bark ; or a ftrong decoction of guaiacum (havings, which hath been found extremely benefici- al in retraining thefe glandular difcharges when too liberal, and in drying up ulcers of all kinds in horfes. Vide Chapter on Glanders. If a hardnefs remains after the fores are
healed up, they may be anointed with the mercurial ointment •, and, when the horfe has recovered his ftrength, purging will be neceflary. The vives or ives differ, from the
dci'cribid. ftrangles only in this, that the fwellings of
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Of the Strangles, and Vives. 99
of the kernels under the ears of the horfe
(which are the parts at firft chiefly affected) feldom gather, or come to matter, but by degrees perfpire off, and difperfe, by warm cloathing, anointing with the marfh- mallow ointment, and a moderate bleed- ing or two. But, fhould the inflamma- tion continue, notwirhftanding thefe means, a fuppuration muft be promoted by the methods above recommended in the ftran- gles. When thefe fwellings appear in an old
or full-aged horfe, they are figns of great malignity, and often of an inward decay, as well as forerunners of die glanders. The mercurial ointment, above-men-
tioned, may be prepared thus : TAKE of crude mercury,, or quick- Amerco-
filver, one ounce-, Venice turpentine rial oin:" half an ounce; rub them together in ment' a mortar till the globules of thequick- filver are no longer vifible ; then add two onnces of hogs-lard. Some authors recommend this oint- Obferva-
nient to be ufed at firft, in order to dif- tion' perfe the fwellings, and prevent their coming to matter; bleeding and purg- H2 in°; |
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roo. Of the Strangle?, andV'ivzs.
ing at the fame time for that purpofe ;
but as in young horfes they feem to be critical, the practice by fuppuration is certainly, more eligible and fafe ; for want of properly effecting which, the humours frequently fettle, or are tranf- lated to the lungs, and other bowels ; or falling on the flefhy parts of the hind quarters form deep impofthumes between the mufcles, which difeharge fuch large quantities of matter, as fometimes kill the horfe, and very often endanger his life. |
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CHAP. XI.
Of the Pfeafes of the EYES.
The dif- v N order to make the diforders of the
eafes of J^ eyfiS we]j un£ierfl;ood, we fhall confider diflin- S tnem as arifi^g fr°m different caufes:
guiftied. external injuries affecting the globe of the eye; and from internal caufes af- fecting the humours within the globe. We fhall confider alfo the eye as natu- rally weak from a b?d conformation, which
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Of the Difeafes of tie EYES. io!
which pofilbly may often be here-
ditary. We lhal! thus be able to form a proper
judgment when wafhes, and external ap- plications, are really ufeful, and to be depended on •, and when it is not only ab- furd to apply them, but even extremely pernicious. In all recent diforders of the eye from The cure
external injuries, fuch as blows, bites, &JV. of exter- attended with a fwelling of the lid, and a nal inju- running from the eye, you muff, firftnes> fponge the part often with cold fpring water and vinegar; and if much fwelled bleed immediately, and apply over it a poultice made of the pulps of roafted or boiled apples, cleared from their feeds and hulks ; or of conferve of rofes and vinegar, with a little bole, and the white of an egg. When the fwelling is abated, either of the following wafhes will com- plete the cure. TAKE white vitriol, half an ounce, a cooling
fugar of lead two drams j diflblve in eye-water a pint of fpring water; to which may occafionally be added, when the rheum is very great, and in* H 3 flam- |
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102 Of the Difeafes of the EYES.
fiammation removed, half an ounce
or tutty, or compound powder of cerufs. Howufed. Let the eye and eye lid be bathed three
or four times a day with a clean fponge dipped in this wafh ; or it may be ap- plied with a feather, leaving a few drops on the eye. When the veins under the eye have been turgid, opening them with a lancet has often been found fuccefs- <■-.. ful. Mr. Gibfon from his own experience
recommends the following, with which alone he has iucceeded in moft common cafes. |
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Another
reptliing eye-water. |
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TAKE two drams of rofe-buds, in-
fufe them in half a pint of boiling |
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water ; when cold, pour off the in-
fuilon, and add to it twenty grains of fugar of lead. This is to be ufed as the former; but
I think the quantity of fugar of lead too (mall, and may occafionally be increafed, |
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Sometimes
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Of the Difeafes of the EYES. 103
Sometimes from the violence of the in- Extraor-
fiammation, fucceeding blows, and exter- inary 1 • - • 1 r 1 n 11 r r 'ymptomS
rial injuries, the coats or the eye mall lole
their tranfparency, thicken, and turn white, or pearl colour ; in the latter cafe the horfe has fome glimmering of light; in the for- mer he is blind, while the eye continues in this ftate. This appearance may arife from a ftag- How
Nation of the lymph, or juices circulating caufed. in the cornea, which in their natural ftate are clear and thin, but undergo this change by the heat and inflammation ; a white blifter often forms on the cornea, the fize fometimes of a grape; this always proves a relief, and when it breaks, haftens the cure. In all thefe difbrders, the degree of in- Caution,
fiammation and obftru&ion is chiefly to be attended to, which mult regulate the pre- ceding remedies in regard to their ftrenth, fo as to proportion them to the exigency ofthefymptoms. If the horfe be flefhy, and of a grofs The cure
conftitution, bleeding may be repeated ; oi Jn(iam" and a rowel will be neceflary : let his diet ma"ons* be fcalded bran or barley; avoiding for H 4 iome |
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104 Of the Difeafes of the EYE S.
fome days oats, beans, or any thing hard
to chew. The cooling opening drink, p. 35.
fhould be given every other day, which will anfwer better than aloetic purges. |
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Obferva.
tion.
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If the eyelids continue fwelled and moift,
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and the under fide of the eye inflamed,
an ounce of honey may be added to four ounces of the above waters •, or the part may be well bathed with an ounce of ho- ney of rofes, and hall a dram of fugar of lead, difiblved in three ounces of Ipring water: to which may be added, when the eye is very watery, a fpoonfull or two of red wine, which will help to thicken the nutter and dry it up. A film If a film or thick flough fhould remain
how re- Jj may be ^ken off, by blowing into the
moved. Cye equaj pam Q£ wnite vitriol and fugar- candy, finely powdered. Glafs finely powdered, mixed up with
honey and a little frefh butter, is much re- commended by Dr. Bracken for this pur- pofe ; as alfo the following ointment. |
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TAKE
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Of the Difeafes of tie EYES. 105
TAKE ointment of tutty one ounce, An oint-
honey of rofes two drams, white "jcnt for- vitriol burnt one fcruple: this with a ,h™se°n feather may be fmeared over the eye ' twice a day. The aq. fapphirina and the juice of
celandine are recommended alfo for this purpofe, a few drops of either being put on the eye every day. For the fame pur- pofe, as alfo for bruifes and other dif- orders of the eye, the following will be found uieiul. TAKE eyebright and celandine ofAn oint-
each two handfuls, rofemary tops "^or half a handful, rofin half an ounce ; &c chop the herbs and boil them over a gentle fire in three pints of cream, till it comes to a green oil, then ftrain through a fine cknh, and keep in *- gallipot for ufe. The quantity of a fmall bean may be
put in the horfe's eye, night and morn- ing. The next is the famous ointment of
Sir Hans Sloane, where I have only taken the
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I o 6 Of the Lifeafes ef/hEYES.
the liberty to double the quantity of"
aloes. |
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S;r Hans
Sloane's
ointment
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TAKE of prepared tutty one ounce,
of lapis hcematitis prepared two fcruples, of the beft aloes twenty- |
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four grains, of prepared pearl four
grains; put into a marble mortar, and mix with a fufficient quantity of vipers fat. Someob- This medicine, like other noftrums,
fervations was in great efteem while it remained a on it. fecret; but fince the difcovery of it, and an examination of the composition, it ap- pears to vary in nothing from the common practice, except in the fubftitution of the vipers fat for lard, or frefh butter. It ought alfo to be remarked in Sir Han's account, that, in the application, he calls to his aiTiftance all the means medical practice has hitherto employed in cafes of this kind ; as bleeding, cupping, blis- tering, iffues, alteratives, &c.—So that either fome of thefe methods muft do very little, proportionably to the trouble they give, or his medicine lefs, to render both necefFary. This form may however be preferable to walhes, or eye-waters, as it will remain longer on the parts affected. Let
2
|
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Of the Difeafes of the EYES. i0;
Let it be remembered, that is has long Proper
been obferved in practice, that the eye caj"°«s. in its firft ftate of inflammation is fo very tender, that the eye waters prepared with tutty, and other powders, aggravate the diforder; confequently, during this ftate, the tinctures of vegetables, and folutions of falts, are greatly preferable. Wounds of the eye may be drefled with Worm<3«
honey of rofes alone, or with a little fugar of the of lead mixed with it, adding thereto, e>'e' 1\ow after a few days, an eighth part of tincturetreate " of myrrh; all the preceding directions in. regard to inflammation being attended to, efpecially bleeding, rowels, and gentle cooling phyfick. When the humours of the eye are9'3ferva*
thickened, and the diforder is within the uon- globe, fliarp external applications are not only ufelefs, but extremely detrimental, by the irritation they occafion, and con- fequently fhould be avoided. In all cafes of this fort, whether moon
eyes, which are only cataracts forming, or in confirmed ones attended with a weep- ing, general evacuations, with internal alteratives, can only take place. Let us defcribe
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io 8 Of the Bifiafes of the EYE S.
dcfci ibe rhefe internal diforders with their
fymptoms. The fym- Thefe generally make their appearance,
ptomsof wiien a horfe is turned five, coming fix ; areata-* at wn'c'1 t'me one eye becomes clouded,
raSs. the eyelids being fwelled, and very often fhut up •, and a thin water generally runs from the difeafed eye down the cheek, fo fharp as fometimes to excoriate the fkin ; the veins of the temple, under the eye, and along the nofe, are turgid and full: though fometimes it happens that the eye runs but little. This diforder comes and goes till the
cataract is ripe ; then all pain and running difappear, and the horfe becomes totally blind, which is generally in about two years. During this time fome horfes have more frequent returns than others ; which continue in fome a week or more, in others three or four; returning once in two or three months, and they are feldom fo long as five without a relapfe. |
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A fJry ca-
teraft de- itribed. |
There is another kind of moon blind-
nefsj which is alfo the forerunner of ca- |
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taracts, where no humour or weeping
attends. The eye is never fhut up or doled here, but will now and then look thick
|
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Of~tbe Difeafes of the EYES. 109
thick and troubled, at which time the
horfe fees nothing diftin&ly : when the eyes appear funk and periming, the cata- racts are longer coming to maturity 5 and it is not unufual in this cafe for one eye to efcape. Thefe cafes generally end in blindnefs Thegeac-
of one, if not of both eyes: the moft pro- ralevenu mifing figns of recovery are when the at- tacks come more feldom, and their conti- nuance grows Ihorter, and that they leave the cornea clear and tranfparent, and the globe plump and full. The atttempts to cure cataracts have The cow
hitherto been only palliative, and miti- of caxa" gating the fymptoms; yet early care has ra ' fometimes been fuccefsful. To this end the horfe fhould be rowelled and bled at proper intervals ; except where the eyes. appear funk and peri (hi ng, where it is often pernicious. During the violence of the fymptoms, obferve the cooling treatment above recommended, giving him two ounces of nitre every day mixed into a ball with honey, and bathe the parts above the eye with verjuice, or vinegar, wherein rofe-leaves are infufed; to four ounces of which, half a dram of fugar of lead may be added. The fwell- |
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Of the Difeafes of the E Y E S.
ing on the lid may afterwards be bathed
•with a fponge dipt in equal parts of lime arid Hungary water, mixed together : the cooling phyfick, p. 18, mould be given every fourth day till the eye becomes clear, and recovers its ulual brightnefs. The fol- lowing alfo is very proper phyfick for this purpofe: TAKE lenitive electuary, and cream
of tartar, of each four ounces; Glau- ber's fairs, three ounces; fyrup of buckthorn, two ounces. "When the weeping is by thefe means
removed, the alterative powders (ch. xxi.) fhould be given every day, till two or three pounds are taken, and, after an in- terval of three months, the fame courfe fhould be repeated. This method has often been attended with good fuccefs, where the eyes have been full, and no way perifhed; in that cafe bathe or fo- ment them with the following, twice a day. TAKE crude fal armoniac two drams,
diflblve it in a pint of lime-water, and add to it four ounces of brandy, or Hungary water. |
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This
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Of the Difeafes of the EYES. in
This will a£t as a ftimulus, and may
help to thin and rarefy the gummy juices, and bring new fupplies of nourifhment to the perifhing eyes. This courfe not fucceeding, in order Mercurl-
more powerfully to open the vefTels of the a's recom- chryftalline humour (which in thefe cafes mendesJ- is always found opake, and when the cataract is confirmed, intirely lofes its tranfparency) and hinder as much as pofli- ble the forming of obstructions, mercurials are chiefly to be depended on: thus give every other day, for three or four morn- ings, two drams of calomel, mixed up with conferve of rofes; and then purge off with ihe common ball. During thiscourfe particular care mould The alte-
be taken of the horfe : after repeating this, rf^ves the alterative powders before-mentioned j^^21? fliould be given, for fome weeks or months, pended if you expect any benefit from them •, on. or they may be beat up into a ball with live millepedes, and an ounce and a half given every day : if thefe mould not fuc- ceed, and the horfe is a valuable one, the turbith courfe, recommended in the chaper on alteratives, feems to be the moil promifing method left. But to horfe 5
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112 Of the Difeafes of the E Y E S.
norfes that are not fo, an ounce of anti-
mony ground into an impalpable powder, may be given every day in one of his feeds, for three months or longer; or a ftrong decoction of guaiacum fhavings may be given for fome time, to which crude antimony may be given in the following manner. An altera- TAKE guaiacum fhavings one pound,
tivcdrink. crude antimony tied in a rag, the fame quantity; boil in two gallons
of forge-water to one, and give a quart a day, either alone, or mixed with his water. Dr. Bracken advifes as much as will lie
on a fixpence, of the following powder, to be blown up the horfe's noftrils once a day. A ftimu- TAKE turbith mineral two drams,
lating afTarabacca powdered, half an ounce ; fnuff. miX} ancj keep jn a bottle, well
corked.
rfor let any one wonder at the tediouf-
nefs of the courfe here recommended, as the intention in curing is to alter the whole mafs of fluids, to fufe and atte- nuate them in fuch a manner, that they i may |
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Of the Difeafes of the EYES. 113
itiay circulate freely through the minuted
Veffels, particularly thofe of the eye, which are exquifitely fine •, and when the blood is in a vifcid ftate, may be fup- pofed eafily retarded in its circulation through them-, the confequence of which* if not foon removed, when once fixed, will be an immediate obftru&ion, and of coOrfe occafion total blindnefs. Tying up the temporal arteries is by Obferva-
fbme much commended, efpecially in tions« full eyes •, for by this means the circu- lation of the blood to them is greatly impeded : but to flat depreffed eyes this operation mult be injurious, as it would deprive them of their neceffary nourifh- ment, and tying up the veins would feefn here the mod proper. But the taking up the veins where the eyes are full, muft for the mod part prove hurt- ful, by cutting off the channels which fhould convey the blood and juices from them into the courfe of circulation, and confequently increafe the diftemper, in- ftead of abating it. The haws is a fwelling and fpunginefs The haws
that grows in the inner corner of the eye, vvhat' fo large fometimes as to cover a part of the eye. The operation here is eafily I perform^
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4ii 0//&GLANDERS.
performed by cutting part of it away %
but the farriers are apt to cut away too much : the wound may be dreffed with honey of rofes; and if a fungus or fpon- gy flefh arifes, it fhould. be fprinkled. with burnt alum, or touched with blue vitriol. |
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CHAP. XII.
0//&GLANDER&
ders,ew-'" TT H E caufe and feat of the §,anders
therto but -&- has till lately been fo imperfectly little un- handled, and fo little underftood by the
derftood. writers of this difteruper, that it is no- wonder it fhould be ranked among the incurables', but a new light having been, thrown on this whole affair by the ftudy of M. J a Foffe, the King of France's farrier, w ho has been at the pains to trace out, a,nd difcover, by directions, the fource and caufe of this diforder ; we hope the method he has propofed, with fome further experiments and improve- ments, will foon bring to a certainty of cure (^in moft cafes at lead) a diftemper To
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Of the GLANDERS,
fb dangerous to our horfes, and that hi- therto has eluded the force of art. Before we make mention of this work,
which has the approbation of the Royai Academy of Sciences, it will not be un- acceptable to our readers, we apprehend, to have a more particular account of the fymptoms of this diforder from M. La FofTe, that we may the better judge of the merit of our author and his difco- veries. This gentleman then has difUnguifhed
feven different kinds of glanders, four of which are incurable. The firfl: proceeds from ulcerated
lungs, the purulent matter of which comes up the trachea, and is difcharged through the noftrils, like a whitifh li- quor, fometimes appearing in lumps and grumes : in this diforder, though the matter is difcharged from the noftrils, yet the malady is folely in the lungs. The fecond is a wafting humour, which
ufually feizes horfes at the decline of a
difeafe, caufed by too hard labour : this
defluxion alfo proceeds from the lungs.
I z The
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116 0//&GLANDERS.
The third is a malignant difchargc,
which attends the ftrangles fometimes, and falls upon the lungs, which runs off by the noftrils. The fourth is, when an acrimonious
humour in the farcy feizes thefe parts, where it foam makes terrible havock. The fifth kind we fhall defcribe by
and by, as arifing from taking cold. The fixth kind is a difcharge from the
ftrangles, which fometimes vents itfelf at thenoftrils. Vide Strangles, chap. x. Thefe are the various diforders which
have been obferved fometimes to throw matter out from the noftrils ; let us now defcribe the real glanders. The gene- The matter then difcharged from the
ral fymp- noftrils of a glandered horfe, is either white, yellow, or greenifh, fometimes ftreaked, or tingid with blood : when the difeafe is of long {landing, and the bones are fouled, the matter turns blackifli, and becomes very foetid •, and is always attended with a iwelling of the kernels or glands under the jaws; in every other refpecl:
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Of the GLANDERS. n
refpect the horfe is generally healthy and
found, till the diftemper has been of fome continuance. It is always a bad fign, when the mat- part;cu
ter flicks to the infide of the noftrils, fymp- like glue or ftiff" pafte •, when the infide toms. of the nofe is raw and looks of a livid, or lead colour : when the matter becomes bloody, and ftinks, and when it looks of an afh colour. But when only a limpid fluid is firft difcharged, and afterwards a whitifh matter, the gland under the jaw not increasing, and the diforder of no long continuance, we may expect a fpeedy cure •, for in this cafe, which arifes from taking cold, after a horfe has been over-heated, the pituitary mem- brane is but (lightly inflamed, the lymph in the fmall veffels condenled, and the glands overloaded, but not yet ulcer- ated. From thefe fymptoms and fome ob- ©bferv*»
fervations made both by Braken and tion. Gibfon, it is plain they were not abfolute ftrangers to the feat of this diforder, though they neglected pufhing their en- quiries to the fountain-head, and con- fequently were at a lofs to know how to apply the remedy to the parts affected. I 3 But
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n8 Cfthe GLANDERS.
DiiTefti- But our author, after examining by dif-
onS prove fedtion, the carcaffes of slandered horfes, the lent of , , ■ n • o P ■ ■ i
the dan- anc* mak:ng a "net icrutiny into the
ders to be fiats of the vi/'cera, afisfted for that pur- ™ r!ie c?" pofe by ingenious and expert anatomifts, V^Z°\ f°r ten yeai's together, affirms this dif- and'not' ea^e t0 ^e altogether local ; and that the in the vif- true feat of it is in the pituitary mem- cm. brane, which lines the partition along the infide of the nofe, the maxillary JimtJ/es or cavities of the cheek-bones on each fide the nofe, and the frontal fmujfes or cavities above the orbits of the eyes; that the vifcera, as liver, lungs, (£c. of glan- dered horfes are in general exceeding found; and confequently that the feat of this diforder, is not in thofe parts, as has been afferted by molt authors; nor indeed is it probable it fhould: for how <:ou!d fuch horfes preierve their appetite, their good appearance, fleek and mining coats ; in a word, all the figns of health for many years together (which many glanclered horfes are known to enjoyj wiih fuch distempered bowels ? Ocular But on nicely examining the heads of
demon- fuch horfes, he found the cavities above-
flration of mentioned, more or lei's, filled with a
vifcous (limy matter, the membrane
which
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©/^-GLANDERS. u9
Which lines both them and the noftrils
inflamed, thickened, and corroded with fordid ulcers, which in fome cafes had ear, into the bones. Thefe finujfes or ca- vities will be better underftood by refer- ring to the annexed plate. He obferves, that when glandered Somecn-
horfes difcharge matter from both no- "ous ?b~ ftrils, both fides of the membrane and crva cavities were affected ; but vhen they ran at one noftril only, that fide only was found diftempered. Tt is a curious remark of our author,
that the fublingual glands, or the kernels fituated under the jaw-bone, which are always fwelled in this diftemper, do not difcharge their lymph into the mouth, as in man, but into the noftrils; and that he conftantly found their obftru&ion agreed with the difcharge : if one gland only was affeded, then the horfe dif- .charged from one noftril only, but if bottTwere, then the difcharge was from both. He fometimes, though rarely, found ™*g
the bony partition of the nofe carious or f)metimes rotten •, but that the fpongy bones about rotten, this part muft fuffer from the acrimony - I 4 of |
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i*o Of the GL AND E R S.
of matter long pent up, is not at all to
be doubted, though the more folid ones may efcape. The cure The feat of this diforder thus difcover-
bytrepan- ed, our author with great ingenuity has lnS- paved the way for cure, by trepanning thefe cavities, and taking out a piece of
bone ; by which means the parts affected may be warned with a proper injection, and, in fine, the ulcers eterged, healed, and dried up. Byinjec- But as from the obfervations fince
tions and mac]e fry t}-,js gentleman, there are dif- tions. ferent fpecies of the glanders, fo the cure of the mildjsr kinds may firit be at- tempted by injections and fumigations. Thus after taking cold, (hould-a horfe, for fifteen or twenty days, difcharge a limpid fluid, or whitifh matter, from one or both noftrils-, the glands under the jaw rather growing harder than dimi- nifhing, we may expect it will degene- rate into a true glanders. To prevent which, after firft bleeding, and treating him as we have directed for a cold, let an emollient injection, prepared with a decoction of linfeed, marin mallows, elder, camomile-flowers, and honey of rofes, or fuch like, be thrown up as far as pof- fible
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j
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Of ^GLANDER S.
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121
t
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fible with a ftrong fyringe, and repeated
three times a day : fhould the running leflen, or be removed in a fortnight by the ufe of this injection, areftringent one may now be prepared with tincture of rofes, lime-water, &c, p. 126. and the noftrils fumigated with the powders of frankincenfe, maftich, amber, and cin- nabar, burnt on an iron heated for that purpofe ; the fume of which may eafily be conveyed through a tube into the noftrils. This method has been found fuccefsful
when ufed in time •, but the methods of cure depend on the ftubbornnefs of the diforder, and when inveterate, recourfe muft be had to the operation above de- fcribed. This operation he has performed on The fuc
three horfes ; two of whom difcharged cefs in re- from one noftril only, and the third from Sard to both : the two firft he trepanned on that ti^n#p fide of the head which was affected, and to the other he performed it on both •, and found that the wound ar.J per- foration filled up with good fielh in twenty-fix days, and that the horfes fuffered no inconvenience from the opera- tion ; |
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122 Of the GLANDERS.
tion ; though after this experiment they
were put to death. Why not The directions and orders of the civil
broughtto government of France, which hinder perfection peop]e from keep-mo; slandered horfes long, prevented M. La FcfTe repeating his attempts, and pufhing his experi- ments further ; but it is to be hoped that fo ufeful a project will be purfued to its ntmoft extent, as it'feems fo promifing in the execution, and is fo important in its confequences: to which end we mall beg leave to animadvert on what has been faid, and offer our opinion both in re- lation to the difeafe, the operation, and the manner of conducting thexure. Proved to In order to prove that a great inflam-
ariieorigi- mation of the pituitary membrane is al- nally from ways tne caufe Qf tne glanderS) M. La
nw^on"1" Fofie nas attempted to bring on an in-
flammation upon the fame membrane, by a corrofive injection -, and when the injection was only thrown into one fide, the maxillary lymphatic glands were fwel- kd on the fame fide, and that noftril. only produced the difcharge •, but when both noftrils were injected, thefe fymp- tons appear on both fides. This gen- tleman has alfo oblerved, that the bone of
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Of the GLANDERS. 123
t>f the maxillary finus being broke by the
kick of another horfe, the ufual lymptoms of the glanders foon appeared, from the inflammation the pituitary membrane fuffered on the occafion. The original fource and caufe then ofThetme
this diforder, feems to be an inflamma- caufe and tion of the glands, and membrane that featofthe lines the noftrils and thefe cavities; which, ^ if not difperfed in time, will form mat- ter, and ulcerate and erode the bones, for want of a free difcharge to unload the cavities, and of proper applications to cleanfe and deterge the ulcers: vio- lent colas, or a feverifh tranflation, kt~ ting here may alio occafion the fame complaint, and are probably the general caufes. There is a diforder in men, called An ana-
ozena, that has great fimilitude to this logy be-
'n horfes, and ariles ofcen from an in- l"een t}ie
flammation in the maxillary fivuffes, or ?^naer*«
__..., iii *■* ~ * and mat-
cavuies in the cheek-bones, from wnence tergather-
«nfues a collection of matter ; which ed in the when the cavity is full, or the head pro- cheek- perl y inclined, runs over into the nofe, bor,eof and would conftantly difcharge thence like a glandered horfe, was the head Continued in the fame pofition. The furgical
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124 °f *& GLANDERS.
furgical cure is the taking out one or
more teeth from the upper jaw, and perforating the cavity with a proper in- ftrument, in order to make a depending orifice for the matter to flow through ; and to make way for fyringing the parts affected with proper injections, which in this cafe are thrown through the cavity into the nofe. Theme- The fimilarity of thefe two cafes, with
thod of the method of cure, and the fuccefs at- bmhnnch ttn^*ng tne furgical treatment (which alike. was firft invented and perfected by our countrymen Drake and Cowper) un- doubtedly gave the firft hint for trepan- ning, and fyringing thefe cavities in horfes; and it is mod probable, that when the operation is attempted in time, before the bones become rotten, it will be attended with equal fuccefs; but after opening the cavities, fhould it by probing be difcovered, that the bones are in that ftate, the beft way then would be to dif- patch the horfe, to prevent unnecefiary trouble and expence. The parts fixed on for applying the
trepan, are pointed out in the plate, and the manner of fawing out the bone will cafily be understood by a view of the |
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Of the GLANDERS. ti$
inftrument, and the explanation annex-
ed. The perforations being made, our Dire&i-
next bufinefs is to prevent their filling. °ns to be up too faft ; as it may be neceffary to °j?fe"f<i keep them open for fome weeks before 0J£&xjom a cure can be effected •, for which pur- pofe, after the ufe of the injection, let the upper one be rilled up with a piece of cork, waxed over, and adapted exactly to its fize; the lower one may be kept open with a hollow leaden tent, through which there will be a conftant drain of matter fron the finufles, which will be greatly favoured by this depending ori- fice, and both be detained by a proper bandage. If this method fiiould not prevent the Cauflick^,
granulations, or moots of the flefli, andcaute- from filling up fo faft as to choak up xym** be the perforation, and by that means hinder n ary' the injections paffing freely; they mult be fuppreffed by rubbing with cau- ftic medicines, or touching with the actual cautery ; as may alfo the bony edges ; which by obliging them to ex- foliate or fcale off, will retard the heal- ing. |
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The
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4
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126 Of the GLANDERS.
Injeftions The injections firft made ufe of, fhould
reco°1- be of a deterfive nature ; as a decoction men * of birthwort, gentian, and centaury: to a quart of which, if two ounces of JEgyptiacum and tincture of myrrh are added, it may be as proper as any j and when the difcharge is obferved to abate, and the colour alter to a thick white matter, the injection may be changed for barley-water, honey of rofes, and tincture of myrrh; and, finally, to dry up the humidities, and recover the tone of the relaxed glands, Bate's alum water, or a folution of colcothar» vitriol, lapis medicamentofus, or fuch like, in lime-water, will moft probably compleat the cure. Dr. Bracken recom- mends the following : TAKE of alum and white vitriol
powdered, of each four ounces •, cal- cine them in a crucible -, when cold, powder the calx, and mix it with a gallon of lime-water, and a quart of vinegar: decant the clear for ufe. Internals But whoever is at all acquainted with
neceffary practical furgery, well knows that with* STS£* out the affiftance of internals, efpecially
ia
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Of &GLANDER S.
1J* glandular diforders, the cure is not fo eafily effected,' nor rendered compleac or lafting: I therefore advife a flrong decoction of guaiacum chips to be given every day, to a quart or three pints, throughout the cure, and when the mat- ter leflens, to purge at proper intervals,, and put a rowel into the horfe's cheft, in order to divert the fluids from their old channel: if thefe fhould not fucceed, mercurials may be given with the phy- fick ; and the alterative powders with lime-water may be taken for a time, i£ the horfe is worth the expence. Vide Chapter on Alteratives. |
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An EXPLANATION of the
Heads and Trepan. B. B. two lines reprefenting the bounds
of the cerebellum, or back part of the brain, which is very fmall In a horfe, in proportion to that of a man, as well as the brain itfelf, which commences., from the line D. C. C. a line where the fuperior part of
the finus frontalis commences, together with.
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S
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Of ^GLANDERS.
•with a view of the bottom of the finus*
which terminates between the lines D and E, where there appears a fubftance in the form of a pear, which is the os ethmoides, or fieve-like bone ; through which the olfaftory nerves pafs, by which the pituitary membrane receives its fen- fibility, and the fenle of fmelling is per* formed. E, reprefents the beginning of the
maxillary finus, which terminates at The fhaded fpace which may be ob-
ferved between thefe two lines, repre- fents the great cavities. The oblique ray marked F, is a bony partition, which feparates this finus into two parts, that have no communication : and fometimes it happens (though but rarely) that there are two bony partitions •, and for this reafon they are reprefented by the lines marked F and G. It alfo fometimes happens (but (till more feldom) that there are horfes, in whofe heads we do not find any of thtfe bony partitions. N, points out the place of the cornets
or horns. O, the redoubling. P, their middle part. Q, the inferior part of them.
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Of the GLANDERS.
them. M, the bony canal or pipe which
guards the maxillary nerve. A, A, the feptum narium, or partition
which divides the nofe from top to bot- tom, and conftitutes the two noftrils. L, in the head that is intire, points out
where the trepan fhoiild be applied on the frontal finus, when we have reafon to be- lieve the glanders is fpread into this finus. However, I think it fafeft to apply it firft on E, for the reafons mentioned in the next explanation, and becaufe the brain may be endangered, fhould the finus be miftook. E, the place where the trepan may be
applied, in order to cieanfe the maxillary finus. The round mark between D and E (which is the impreffion of the trepan) is however on experience preferred by the author, as the propereft place ; as one orifice would then be fufficient to wafh all the parts both above and below, with the injection. But in general, when the maxillary
finus only is affected, penetrate but the
upper part, where the fynnge points, or
thereabouts, and vour expectations will
K be
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Of the GLANDERS.
be anfwered ; fhould they not, there feems
fo little danger in the operation, that you may again perforate at the places above- mentioned, higher up. But a proper number of experiments will foon fettle this point with certainty. H, in the head that is intire, points
out the place where another hole or perfo- ration fhould be made, as a drain to give iflue to the glanderous matter wafh- ed away by the injection ; which could not be difcharged without fuch a depend- ing orifice ; and perhaps this perforation alone, in many recent cafes, would be fufficient, provided the injection paffed freely upwards, and the hole was kept open by means of a hollow leaden pipe conftantly retained in it for that purpofe, and to procure a free paflage for the mat- ter. I, reprefents the injection pufhed in by
the fyringe, which flows out by the orifice and the noflril K j during the ufe of the fyringe, it is neceflary to hold the noftrils cloie. If, in the maxillary finus, Mead of
ore, there happens to be two bony par-
tiiiens, it is abfolutely neceflary to pierce
^_J-_ through
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Of the GLANDERS.
through them both, by means of a ftilet-
to, or {harp-pointed tuck, as in the man- ner reprefented in the cut of a horfe's head opened •, though this conformation feldom occurs. As thefe bony partitions may in fome
particulars vary, mould the ftiletto not have the defired effect, and the injection thrown in by the fyringe not come out at H ; in fuch cafe the liquor mould be injected upwards,through the orifice made by the ftiletto or trepan at H. As in young horfes the frontal and
maxillary finufles are very fmall, it will be proper to direct the trepan towards the interior part of the nofe ; otherwife the inftrument might work upon the roots of the teeth, which incline towards the finus, and would in fuch cafe be an infur- mountable obftacle to the operation. R, the inftrument or trepan. S, the
handle which turns it. T, the faw-part to be applied to the bone. From a view of this inftrument, the
manner of working it will appear fimple and eafy •, the cooper's managing his wim- ble being a proper dire&ory, K 2 The
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Of the GLANDERS.
The inftrument called the trephine*,
which is chiefly ufed by our Englifh fur- geons in perforating the flcull, will equal- ly anfwer this purpofe •, and if any diffi- culties fhould arife, notwithstanding this defcription, the gentlemen of the faculty will foon make it familiar and intelli- gible. Before the application of the trepan,
or trephine, it is quite neceflary to ob- ferve, that a circular piece of the fkin mould firft be cut off, with the mem- brane which covers the bone, about the fize of a half-crown piece ; in order to make the inftrument work the eafier, and to preventtheinconveniencies which might arife from the external w-ound's healing up too faft. The fyringe mould be large enough t®
contain half a.pint of injedion. |
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CHAP.
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fo/'^vt JJ.lj^.
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C *33 I
CHAP. XIII.
Of the C H O L IC or G R I P E S,
and Pains in the Bowels, from fud-
den Accidents. THERE feems to be no diftanper The
fo little underftood by the common g"Pes its farrier, as the cholic or gripes in hoifes, ,.°j'es' one general remedy or method ferving derftood them in all cafes; but as this diforder byfarriets. may be produced by very different caufes, the method of cure muft alfo vary, other- wife the intended remedy injudicioufly applied, will not only aggravate the com- plaint, but make it fatal. We (hall 'di- vide this diforder into three different fpe- cies ; the flatulent or windy, the bilious T, , or inflammatory, and the dry gripes; each rent kinds of which we fhall diftinguifh by their diffe- of gripes, rent fymptoms, and then point out the proper remedies. The flatulent or windy cholic is thus The fym.
known. The horfe is often lying down, ptom of and as fuddenly rifing again with a ^md-cho- fpring •, he ftrikes his belly with his hin- der feet, ftamps with his fcwe feet, and K 3 . refufes |
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i34 Of the CHOLIC, or
refufes his meat; when the gripes are
violent, he will have convulfive twitches, his eyes be turned up, and his limbs ftretched out as if dying, his ears and feet being alternately very hot and cold ; he falls into profufe fweats, and then into cold damps ; ftrives often to ftale, and turns his head frequently to his flanks ; he then falls down, rolls about, and often turns on his back ; this Ian; fyrnptom proceeds from a ftoppage of urine, that almoft always attends this fort of cholic, which may be increafed by a load of dung preffing on the neck of the blad- der. Cribbing Thefe are the general fymptoms of
horfes cholic and gripes from wind, drinking •very fub- c0]cj water when hot, and when the per- cholic' S fpirable matter is retained, or thrown on the bowels by catching-cold ■, in all which cafes they are violently diftended. Crib- bing horfes are more particularly fubjecl: to this complaint, by reafon they are conflantly fucking in great quantities of air. The cure, -p^ ^ft. intention is to empty the
{trait gut with a fmall hand dipt in oil, which frequently makes way for the con- fined wind to difcharge itfelf; and by eafing
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GRIPES, &c. 135
eafing the neck of the bladder, the fup-
preffion of urine is taken off, and the horfe ftales and gets eafe. Farriers generally ftrike a fleam into
the bars of a horfe's mouth, which feems to be of little or no ufe •, for where a quan- tity of blood is intended to be taken away, the veffels of this part are neither large or numerous enough to furnifh it •, fo that it is more eligible to take it from the neck vein, and is always proper in full, fan- guine, plethoric, young horfes. The following ball and glyfter feldom
fail of giving relief in thefe cafes. TAKE Strafburg or Venice turpen- A ball for
tine, and juniper-berries, poundedthe ft™"- of each half an ounce •, fal prunella, fj^j"^ or falt-petre, an ounce ; oil of ju- cholic, niper one dram; fait of tartar two drams : make into a ball with any fyrup. It may be given whole, and warned down with a decoction of juniper-berries, or a horn or two of ale. If the horfe does not break wind, orRemark.
ftale plentifully, he will find no relief; therefore in an hour or two give him ano- K 4 ther |
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136 Of the C H O L I C, or
another ball, and add to it a dram of fait
of amber -, which may be repeated a third time, if found necelTary. During the fit, the horfe may be walked and trotted gent- ly, but mould by no means be harraffed beyond his ability, or dragged about till he is jaded. A glyfter The following glyfter may be given,
for wind, between the balls, or alone, and repeated occafionally. TAKE camomile flowers two hand-
fuls; anife, coriander, and fenel feeds, of each an ounce •, long pep- per, half an ounce: boil in three quarts of water to two -, and add Daffy's elixir, or gin, half a pint ; oil of amber, half an ounce; and oil of camomile, eight ounces., The fubfequent balls and drink are alfo
very proper for this purpofe, and to re- move gripes occafioned by drinking cold water when hot, or catching cold after violent exercife. |
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A ball for
wind.
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TAKE powder of anife, cumin, and
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fennel feeds, of each half an ounce ;
camphor two drams; pellitory of Spain, one dram ; oil of juniper, fifty drops:
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GRIPES, &c. 137
drops: make into a ball with any
fyrup, and wafh it down with a horn or two of ale. . 0r'
TAKE mkhridate, or Venice trea-a drink
cle, two ounces; Matthews's pill, for the two drams ; camphor, one dram, *"aine- diflblved in a little fpirit of wine ; s powder of frefh anifeed one ounce;
or the fame quantity of the cordial ball ; diffolve in a pint and a half of ale. Or,
TAKE philonium one ounce, or an Anotlier
ounce and half; tincture of fena, or drink. Daffy's elixir, and fallad oil, of each half a pint; give warm for a drink, and repeat it if neceffary. Either of thefe medicines are well cal-
culated for this purpofe ; bur, as the in- gredients may not always be ready at hand, or procurable, we fhall put down a couple of drink?, that have frequently on trial been found fuccefsful, and are eafily prepared, h is to be obferved, that the horfe Ihould be well rubbed, cloath- ed, and littered with clean ttraw up to his belly. TAKE
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Of the CHOLIC, or
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i38
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TAKE of Caftile foap, or hard foap,
nitre or falt-petre, cf each one ounce ; juniper-berries and ginger, each half an ounce •, Venice tur- pentine or rofin, diffolved with the yolk of an egg, fix drams: mix with a pint and a half of warm ale, or a decoction of juniper-berries,, with a large onion boiled with them. This may be repeated twice or thrice. |
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Drinks for
the fame eafily pre- pared. |
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Or,
Another. TAKE a pint of brandy, rum, or
geneva, with as much fweet oil, and give for a drink. Should this not iucceed, boil an ounce of pep- per or ginger in a quart of milk, and add to it a handful of fait, and half a pint of oil ; this given warm, will (according to Burdon) purge in two or three hours. |
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The figns of a horfe's recovery, are his
lying quiet, without ftarting, or tumbling, and his gathering up his legs and ceafing to lafhout; and if he continues an hour in this quiet pofture, you may conclude all danger over. The
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Signs of
a horfe's recovery. |
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GRIPES, &c
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l39
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The next fpecies of cholic we mall The bi-
defcribe, is the bilious or inflammatory ; .,ious or |
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inflamma-
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Which, befldes moft of the preceding jJJ8"^
fymptoms, is attended with a fever, iic or great heat, pantivg and drynefs of the gripes, mouth; the horfe alio generally throws defcribed. out a little loofe dung, wkh a hot fcald- ing water, which when it appears black- ifh, or of a reddifh colour, and foetid fmell, denotes an approaching mortifica- tion. In this cafe the horfe fhould immediate- The cure.
ly be bled to the quantity of three quarts : and it fhould be repeated, if the fymp- toms do not abate in few hours. The emollient glyfter, with two ounces of nitre difiblved in it, fhould be thrown Up twice a day, to cool the inflamed bowels; plenty of gum Arabic water mould be taken, and a pint of the fol- lowing drink given every two or three hours, till feveral loofe {tools are pro- cured ; and then it fhould be given only night and morning till the diforder is re- moved. TAKE fena three ounces, fait of A cooling
tartar half an ounce ; infufe in a purg'nS quart of boiling water an hour or dnn % two ;
|
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|
140 Of the CHO L I C,
two-, then ftrain off, and add two
onnces of lenitive electuary, and four of Glauber falts. Badfymp. If this diforder is not removed by thefe
toms. means, but the inflammation and fever increafe, attended with a difcharge of the Hem-coloured water above defcribed, the event will moft probably be fatal: and the chief thing to be depended on now, muftbe a ftrong decoction of Jefuit's bark, given to the quantity of a pint every three hours, with a gill of red Port wine. Aftrength- A quart of the fame may be ufed for a
ningglyf- glyfter, with two ounces of Venice tur- £er' pentine, diffolved with the yolks of two eggs, an ounce of diafcordium, and a
pint of red wine, and given twice a day : if the hprfe recovers, give two or three mild rhubarb purges. To a horfe of little value give the fol-
lowing-, which in thefe cafes has been found fuccefsful. |
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|
An altera-
tiu ball. |
TAKE diapente one ounce, diafcor-
|
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|
dium half an ounce, myrrh in pow-
der two drams; make it into a ball with two drams of oil of.'am- ber, 2 |
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|
GRIPES, &c. 141
ber, and given twice or thrice a
day. The laft we fhall defcribe is the dry JrJeesdr/e_
gripes, or the cholic, which arifes often f^tbed. &~ from coftivenefs: it is difcovered by the "Qrfe's frequent and fruitlefs motion to dung, the blacknefs and hardnefs of the dung, the frequent and quick motion of his tail, the high colour of his urine, and his great reftlefsnefs and uneafinefs. |
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|
In this cafe the ftrait gut fhould be ex- The cure*
a[*iined, and emptied with a fmall hand °iled properly for that purpofe; the emollient oily glyfter, p. 22. fhould be thrown up twice a day; and the above forging drink given, till the bowels are- Unloaded, and the fymptoms removed. The diet for a horfe in the gripes The d-eK
'hould be fcalded bran, warm water- ed, or white water, made by diffolving °ur ounces of gum Arabic in a quart °f water, and mixing it with his other ^'ater. From this hiftory and divifion of gripes Some pro-
9nd cholics, with their different treat- Per «*?"- !Terit, it appears how abfolutely necef- ons an,d ary it is they fhould be well under-re flood,
|
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|
OftheCHQLlC, Gfc.
flood, in order to be managed fkilfully: it is plain too, that violent hot medicines fhould in every fpecies of this diforder be guarded againft, and given with great caution and difcretion, even in the firu kind of flatulent cholic, where indeed they can only be wanted ; yet too often, when prepared by the farriers, with_ oil of turpentine, geneva, pepper, and brine, &c. they even increafe that diforder, by ftimulating the neck of the bladder too forcibly -, heating the blood, and inflam l ino- the bowels, till a mortification is brought on them- Thefe are in general the conftant appearances of horfes that die of this diforder, whole bowels being ex- amined for that purpofe, have been found inflamed, full of red and livid fpots, fome- times quite blacked, crifped with extreme heat, and rotten. |
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CHAP'
|
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C >43 ]
CHAP. XIV.
Of the Lax and Scouring, with other
Difcrders of the Stomach and Bowels, TT /s fometimes a nice matter to form A purgW
X a proper judgment when to controul »<»»l- or encourage a ioofenefs, but thefe ^ene wa>'s t0 ?, 1 fr be,a.dire^O" ; If a healthy be ft°pt"
Ml horfe, on taking cold, or upon hard riding, overfeeding eating unwholefome food or wuh a flight fever, fhould have a moderate purging, by no means think ?f ftoppmg it, but rather encourage t wirh an open diet, and plenty of ^ rm gruel: but if it continues long, mh gnpmgs, mucus of the bowels coming away, and the horfe lofing his appetite and flefh, it is then high Stime to give him proper medicines! if he Voids great quantities of flime and greafv fatter, give him the following dfench Repeat it every other day%r three T A K E lenitive electuary and cream a
of tartar, of each folro£™&%&. yellow
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4-
|
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|
144 Of the Lax and Scouring, &c.'
yellow rofin finely powdered, one
ounce •, and four ounces of fweat oil: mix with a pint of water-gruel. The following alterative ball alone has
been found fuccefsful for this purpofe, when given twice a week, with fcalded bran and warm gruel. |
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|
An altera-
tive ball. |
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TAKE Succotrine aloes, half an
|
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|
ounce ; diapente, one ounce : make
into a ball with the juice of Spanifh liquorice diffolved in water, and a fpoonful of oil of amber. To this may be added two drams of
myrrh, and a dram of faffron, and (where It can be afforded) half an ounce of rhubarb. ■
How When the purging is attended with 3 whh a fever' rnubart> fhoutd firft be given, to
fever. tne quantity of half an ounce, with an ounce and half of lenitive electuary: at night, after the working, give half an ounce or more of diafcordium in a pint of red wine mulled with cinnamon, and repeat it every day, and the rhubarb ball once in two or three. |
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|
But
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Of the Lax and Scouring, &c. 145
But if the diftemper increafes, the
horfe's flanks and belly look full and diftended, and he appears griped and in pain, let this glyfter be given, and the quantity of diafcordium increafed to an ounce, in his night-drink. TAKE camomile flowers one hand- A reftrin-
ful, red rofes half a handful, pome- gentgtyf- granate and balauftines, of each an ter" ounce; boil in two quarts of water to one, flrain off" and diflolve in it two or three ounces of diafcordium, and one of mithridate ; to which may be added a pint of Port wine. Repeat it once a day. If the flux continues violent, give an Various
ounce of roach-alum, with an ounce reftringent and a half of bole, twice a day : or diA drinks. folve double this quantity with two ounces of diafcordium, and the cordial ball in two quarts of hartfhorn drink; to which may be added a pint of Port j and give the horfe three or four times a day a pint of this drink. For this purpofe alfo a ftrong decoftion of oak bark may be given, with either of the above re- medies, and to the fame quantity ; even L by |
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|
146 Of the Lax and Scouring, &e.
by itfelf, it will be found on trial no in-
confiderable remedy. Particular When the difcharge is attended with
fymp- an acrid mucus or flime, the griping and
ton,i>* pains are very fevere ; the common lining
of the bowels being wafhed away, in
this cafe the following glyfter mould
frequently be injected warm.
T A K E of tripe-liquor or thin fiarch
two quarts, oil of olives half a pint, the yolk of fix eggs well broke, and two or three ounces of coarfe fugar. The figns Some horfes having naturally weak
of indi- ftomachs and bowels, throw out their gel ion. aliment indigefted, their dung is habitu- ally foft, and of a pale colour, they feed poorly, and get no flefh : to remedy this complaint, give the following purge two or three times, and then the in- fufion to the quantity of a pint every morning. T^ lb- „ .■',■•'',-,
roach TAKE Succotnne aloes fix drams,
purge. rhubarb powdered three drams,
myrrh and faffron each a dram :
make into a ball with fyrup of gin- ger. TAKE
|
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|
Of the Lax and Scouring, &c. 147
TAKE zedoary, gentian, Winter's The
bark, and orange peel, of each two ^or"^ ounces; pomegranate bark and ba- ' huftine, of each an ounce ; camo- mile flowers and centaury, each a handful; cinnamon and cloves, each an ounce: infufe in a gallon of Port |
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|
or ftrong
|
o
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beer.
|
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|
The bloody flux is a diftemper horfes Tiie
are not very fubject to; however, as it bloody fometimes does occur, whenever blood flux de- is difcharged, attended with gripings, fcr'bec1, and great pain in bowels, if the flux is not fpeedily reftrained, the horfe pro- bably may foon be loft ; we recommend therefore the following glyfter and drink for that purpofe. TAKE oak bark four ounces, tor- A reftrin-
mentil root two ounces, burnt hartf- £ent ^~ horn three ounces; boil in three quarts of forge-water to two : ftrain off, and add two ounces of diafcor- dium, four ounces of ftarch, and half a dram of opium. A glyfter may alfo be prepared with
the fame quantity of fat broth, ftarch, and opium, in order to plaifter over the L 2 coat s |
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|
148 Of the Lax and Scouring, &c.
coats of the bowels, and abate their vio-
lent irritations. Alio, |
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|
Are-
flringing
drink. |
TAKE foft chalk two ounces, mi-
thridate or diafcordium one ounce, |
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|
powder of Indian root half a dram,
liquid laudanum fifty or fixty drops ; dhTolve in a pint of hartfhorn drink, and add to it four ounces of cinna- mon water, or red wine. Give it twice a day. Gum Arabic dhTolved in hartfhorn
drink, or in common water, mould be the horfe's ufual drink. A necef- it may necefTary in this place to
a.ryobfer-0t>fervej that thofe fcourings that fucceed long continued ficknefTes, fuch as farcies, putrid fevers, or an inflamed ftate of blood, where proper bleedings, have been negk&ed, in general end fatally •, efpe- cially if the difcharge is a foetid (lime, of a dirty brown colour like brine; and the fame matter runs from their nofes; for in fuch cafes the texture of the blood is diflolved, and the whole mafs of fluids is become putrid, and runs off through thefe outlets: and as they refemble the colliquative diarrhoeas that termi- nate confumptive cafes in the human body,
|
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|
Of the Lax and Scouring, &c. 149
body, fo like them alfo are they incura-
ble. When horfes are apt to be coftive, Remedies
from whatever caufe it arifes, gentle for cof-. openers mould be given, fuch as cream 'lvenefs in of tartar, Glauber falts, and lenitive electuary: four ounces of any two of thefe diflblved in warm ale, whey, or water, given every other morning for two or three times will anfwer this pur- pofe; efpecially if affifted by an oily emollient glyfter, prepared with a hand- ful of fait: fcalded bran, or barley, with an ounce of fenugreek, and linfeed, oc- cafionally given, will prevent this com- plaint. But where it is conftitutional, obferva- and proceeds from the power and force tion. of digeftion in the ftomach and guts, as it fometimes happens, and the horfe is otherwife in perfect health, no inconve- nience will arife from it; and it is ob- ferved that fuch horfes are able to endure great fatigue and labour. |
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|
CIIA P.
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|
L3
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|
[ i5o ]
CHAP. XV.
0/WORMS and BOTS. The diffe- \ U T H O R S have defcribed three
rent kinds £\ different forts of worms that af-
of worms fcQ- horfes, viz. Bots, which young horfes
defcnbed. r ' , , , • , • .i. r are often troubled with in the lpnng :
the Rotundi, or thofe refembling earth-
worms-, and the Afcarides, or thole about the fize of the largeft fewing-needle, with flat heads. Bots in the The bots which breed in the ftomachs
fi""?aclls of horfes, and are ibmetimes the caufe of defa-ibe" c°nvulfions, appear to be very large maggots, compofed of circular rings, with little {harp prickly feet along the fides of their bellies (like the feet of hog- lice) which by their fharpnefs (like the points of the fineft needles) feem to be of ufe to fatten them to the part where they breed and draw their nourishment, and to prevent their being loofened from fuch adhefion, before they come to ma- turity. The eggs from whence thefe bots are produced, are difperfed into clufters all round the lower orifice of the ftomach, and are laid under the inner coat,
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|
Of WORMS and BOTS.
coat, or thin membrane of the ftomach;
fo that when the animals come to form and life, they burft through this inner coat with their breech and tail ftrait out- wards, and their trunks fo fixed into the mufcular, or flefiiy coat of the ftomach, that it fometimes requires a good pull to difengage them ; from the blood of this laft coat they draw their nourishment, which they fuck like fo many leeches, every one ulcerating and purling up the part, where it fixes like a honey-comb : and they often make fuch quick havock, as to deftroy the horfe. i
The fymptoms of worms are various, The The bots that many horfes are troubled ofw with in the beginning of the fummer, are always feen (ticking on the ftrait gut, and are often thruft out with the dung, with a yellowifh coloured matter like melted fulphur ; they are no ways dangerous there, but are apt to make a horfe reft- lefs and uneafy, and rub his breech againft the polls. The feafon of their coming is ufually in the months of May and June, after which they are feldotn to be feen, and rarely continue in any one horie above a fortnight or three weeks. Thofc that take their lodgment in the ftomach, are extremely dangerous, by caufing con- |
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|
152 0/WORMS and B O T S.
vulfions; and are feldom difcovered by
any previous figns before they come to life, when they throw a horfe into vio- lent agonies. Vide Convulfions. The other kinds are more troublefome than dangerous; but are known by the fol- lowing figns. The horfe looks lean and jaded, his hair flares as if he was forfeited, and nothing he eats makes him thrive ; he often ftrikes his hind feet againft his ' bflly, is fometimes griped, but without the violent fymptoms that attend a cholic or ftrangury ; for he never rolls and tum- bles, but < nly fhews uneafinefs, and generally lays himlelf down quietly on his belly for a little while, and then gets up and falls a feeding : but the fureft fign is when he voids them with his dung. j The cure For the cure of bots in the ftomach, of hots. we j-^ve a]ready taken notice that calomel fhould firft be given in large quantities, and repeated at proper intervals; vide p 88 : iEthiop's mineral, or fome of the under-mentioned forms, may be given afterwards. i.
But bots in the (trait gut may be cured
by giving the horfe a Ipoonful of favin
cut very fmall, once or twice a day in
his oats or bran moiftened ; and three
or
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0/WORMSWBOTS. 153
or four cloves of garlic may be added to
advantage. Give alfo an aloetic purge between whiles. The following ftands re- commended. TAKE fine Succotrine aloes, ten a purge
drams ; frefh jalap, one dram ■, arif- for worms tochia, or birthwort and myrrh powdered, of each two drams ; oil of favin and amber, of each one dram ; fyrup of buckthorn enough to form into a ball. But as the fource of worms in gene-The gene-
ral proceeds from a vitiated appetite and nil cure of a weak digeftion, recourie muft firft bewoims- had to mercurials, and afterwards to fuch things as are proper to ftrengthen the ftomach, promote digeftion, and by de- ftroying the fuppofed ova, prevent the re- generation of thefe animals. Thus, Mercurial two drams of calomel may be given with p^|". half an ounce of diapente, and mixed up with conferve of wormwood over-night; and the next morning the above purge : thefe may be repeated in fix or eight days. Or the following mercurial purge may be given, which will be lefs troublc- fome, and no lefs efficacious. TAKE
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1
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154
A mercu-
rial. |
0/WORMS and B O T S.
TAKE crude quickfilver, two drams;
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|
Venice turpentine, half an ounce;
rub the quickfilver till no gliftening appears: then add an ounce of aloes, a dram of grated ginger, thirty drops of oil of favin, and a fufficient quan- tity of fyrup of buckthorn to make a ball. One of thefe balls may be given every
fix days, with the ufual precautions in regard to mercurial phyfick ; and thefe powders intermediately. |
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|
A worm-
powder. |
TAKE powdered tin and ^thiop's
|
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|
mineral, of each half an ounce;
give every night in a mafh, or his corn. Various The various preparations of antimony
wormme- ancj mercury muft be given feveral weeks Kcam- together, in order to get entire riddance mended, of thefe vermin. The iEthiop's mineral may be given to the quantity of half an ounce a day; the mercurius alkalifatus to two drams a day, incorporated with a bit of cordial ba-11. The cinnabar pow- ders, as directed in the farcy, are no iefs effectual: and when worms are bred from high feeding, or unwholefome food,
2
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|
0/WORMS and B OTS. 155
food, rue, garlick, tanfy, favin, box,
and many other fimples, may be given fucceisfully, being for that purpofe mix- ed with their food -, as alfo, cut to- bacco, from half an ounce to an ounce a day. As the generation of worms perhaps Abaddi-
principally proceeds from a weak fto- £^ltloa mach, and bad digeftion, if the horfe be Uiecauf& of a tender conftitution, and a bad feed- er, the following bitter drink, fhould be given to ftrengthen his ftomach, and mend his digeftion ; which will prevent the formation of thefe animals, interpofing now and then a gentle ftomach purge, prepared with an ounce and half of hiera picra made up into a ball, with fyrup of buckthorn. TAKE gentian root, zedoary, and AftomacK
galangals, of each two ounces •, ca- drink, momile flowers, and tops of cen- taury, of each two handfuls; Jefuit's bark powdered, two ounces ; filings of iron half a pound •, juniper-berries four ounces : infufe in three gallons of ale for a week, making the veffel now and then ; and give a pint of this night and morning. |
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|
To
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|
156 0/^YELLOW S, or
To anfwer this purpofe alfo, an ounce
of filings of Heel, finely powdered, has been fuccefsfully given every day. for a fortnight, or longer, in the horfe's corn. |
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|
CHAP. XVI.
Of the Y E L L O W S, or J A U N-
D I C E. rhe fyT T.J ORSES are frequently fubjecT: to
fh^aun- STi this diftemper : which is known by dice de- a dufky yellownefs of the eyes ; the infide fcribed. of the mouth and lips, the tongue and bars of the roof of the mouth, looking alfo yellow. The horfe is dull, and re- fufes all manner of food; the fever is flow, yet both that and the yellownefs increafe together. The dung is often hard and dry, of a pale yellow, or light pale green. His urine is commonly of a dark, dirty brown colour, and when it .has fettled fome time on the pavement, it looks red like blood. He ftales with fome pain and difficulty j and if the dif- temper |
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|
JAUNDICE. i$7
temper is not checked foon, grows deliri-
ous and frantick. The off fide of the belly is fometimes hard and diftended;and in old horfes, when the liver has been long difeafed, the cure is fcarce practica- ble, and ends fatally with a wafting di- arrhoea : but when the diftemper is recent, and in young horfes, there is no fear of a recovery, if the following directions are obferved, Firft of all bleed plentifully ; and give The cms.
the laxative glyft&r, p. 34. as horfes are apt to be very coftive in this eKfte,m- per; and the- next day give him this purge. TAKE of Indian rhubarb, powdered, ^ ni,r?e
one ounce and a half; faffron, two for the" drams; Suceotrine aloes fix drams ; jaundice. fyrup of buckthorn a fufficient quan- tify. If the rhubarb mould be found too
expenfive, omit it, and add the fame quantity of cream of tartar; and half an ounce of Caftile foap, with four drams more of aloes. This may be replaced two or three times, giving intermediately the following balls and drink. |
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|
TAKE
|
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|
Of the YELLOWS, or
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|
,58
|
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|
Tbeopen-
icg ball
|
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|
TAKE of .ZEthiop's mineral, half an
ounce j millepedes the fame quanti- ty ; Caftile foap, one ounce ; make into a ball, and give one every day, and walh it down with a pint of this decoftion. |
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|
Titeapen-
ing drink.
|
TAKE madder root and turmerick,
|
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|
of each four ounces •, burdock root
fliced, half a pound ; Monk's rhu- barb, four ounces ; liquorice diced two ounces : boil in a gallon of forge-water to three quarts ; ftrain off, and fweeten with honey. Balls of Caftile foap and turmerick,
may be given alfo for this purpofe, to the quantity of three or four ounces a day; and will in moll recent cafes fuc- ceed. By thefe means the diftemper generally
abates in a week; which may be difcover- ed by an alteration in the horfe's eyes and mouth ; but the medicines muft be continued till the yellownefs is entirely removed, Should the diftemper prove obftinate, and not fubmit to this treat- ment, you muft try more potent reme- dies, viz. mercurial phyfick repeated two
|
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Mercuri-
als fome- times ne- ceflary. |
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JAUNDICE. 159
two or three times at proper intervals;
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and then the followin
|
o
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balls.
|
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|
TAKE fait of tartar two ounces, cin- Alterative
nabar of antimony four ounces, balls for |
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live millepedes and filings of fteeL, 'he Jaun"
|
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|
■ dice.
|
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|
of each three ounces: faffron half
an ounce, Caftile or Venice foap half a pound : make into balls the fize of a pullet's egg with honey, and give one, night and morning, with a pint of the above drink. It will be proper on his recovery to
give two or three mild purges, and if a full fat horfe, to put in a rowel. |
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|
CHAP. XVIT.
Of the Disorders of the Kidneys and
Bladder. |
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|
TH E figns of the kidneys being hurt The fym-
or affected, are a weaknefs of the ptoms back and loins, difficulty of ftaling, ofhurts in faintnefs, lofs of appetite, and deadnefs lf kld" in the eyes ; the urine is thick, foul, and y * fometimes
|
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|
160 Of the T)iforders of
fometimes bloody, efpecially aHter a vio-
lent ftrain. A horfe difeafed in his kid- neys can feldom back, that is, move itraight backwards, without pain, which is vifible as foou as he is put to the trial: the fame thing is obfervable indeed in horfes, whofe backs have been wrang and wrench- ed, but with this difference, that in the latter there is feldom any defect or altera- tion in the urine, except that it is higher coloured. |
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|
The re-
medy. |
Bleeding is the prime remedy, and
|
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|
that plentifully, in order to prevent in-
flammation, and the more fo, if a fever attends a difficulty in ftaling, for then we may fufpect the kidneys already in- flamed. A rowel in the belly has been found ufeful, and the following balls may be given twice or thrice a day, with a pint of marfh-mallow decoction, in which half an ounce of gum Arabic is dif- folved, with an ounce of honey, TAKE 1 uofelli's balfam one ounce,
fperma ceti fix drams, fal prune!Is half an ounce ; mix into a ball with honey : if the urine is bloody, add half an ounce of japan earth. |
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|
Alhength-
Iving ball. |
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Should
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|
161
|
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|
tbt Kidneys and Bladder.
|
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|
Should the fever continue, bleed
largely, give emollient glyfters, and the cooling opening drink, p. 32. till it abates. If the urine pafles with difficulty and
pain, notwithstanding thefe means, give this ball, and repeat it twice or thrice a day, till the horfe (tales freer and with- out pain, his urine becomes of a right confiHence, and is free from any purulent fettlement. TAKE balfam of Copivi, or Straf-A diuretic
burgh turpentine, and Venice foap,baI1- of each one ounce 5 nitre fix drams, myrrh powdered two drams; make into a ball with honey, and wa#i it down with the marfh-mallow decoc- tion. Bwt if this method fhould not be fuc- obfem-
cefsful, and the urine continues turbid, tion. grows coffee-coloured or foetid, the horfe lofing his appetite and flefh; it is a fure fign of ulceration in the kidney; which if the above remedies do not foon remove, you may depend on it the horfe will go into a confumption, and is incurable. |
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|
M A*
|
||||||||
|
i6z Of the Diforders of the
Thecauf- Asa fuppreffion of urine arifes fome-
es of fup- tjmes from an inflammation of the kid- urTne?" ° ney; fo at others, from a paralytic dis- order; difabling them in their office of feparating the urine from the blood ; in this latter cafe the bladder is ufually emp- ty, fo that a horfe will make no motions to ftale, and if he continues a few days in this condition, his body will (well to a great degree, breaking out in blotches all over, and death, will foon clofe the fcene. TRecure. If it arifes from inflammation, bleed
largely, and treat the horfe as above re- commended ; but if not, give ftimukting glyfters, and ftrong diuretics, fuch as the following balls, once in four hours ; for if a horfe (tales not in thirty hours, his danger muft be great. |
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A ftimu-
lating diu- retic ball. |
TAKE juniper-berries powdered one
ounce, fal prunella; fix drams, ethe- real oil of turpentine half an ounce, |
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camphor one dram, oil of juniper
two drams ; make into a ball with honey, and give after it three or four horns of the marlh-mallow de- eo&ion and honey. |
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Qr,
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Kidneys and Bladder. 163
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Or,
TAKE fquills powdered two or three Another,
drams, nitre half an ounce, or fix drams ; make into a ball with ho- ney. Or,
The following, which is more forcing,
and fhould be given with caution. TAKE cantharides well dried, from Another
one fcruple to half a dram ; cam- J^X"* phor difiblved in oil of almonds, t-n„. from one dram to two ; nitre and Venice foap, of each an ounce ; mix into a ball with fyrup of marfh-mal- lows. When this lafl; ball is given, the horfe
fliould be made to drink plenty of water, with gum Arabic diflblved in ic ; the fol- lowing glyfier may alio be given at the fame time. TAKE of Barbadoes aloes two Aftimuia-
qunces; the fame quantity of Venice ting gly- turpentine, beat up with the yolks tier. of two eggs : jalap powdered two drams; juniper and bay-berries, each a handful, bruifed and boiled M 2 in |
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164 Of the Diforders of the
in two quarts of a decoction of mal-
lows ; ftrain off, and mix by degrees with the above, to which add a pint of linfeed oil. An em- If the complaint is not removed by
andftimu ^ mCanS' ™b tht hol"feS reins wdl
kting"111' wit^ £wo Parts of oil of turpentine, and
poultice. one of oil of amber; and apply a poultice of garlick, horfe-radifh, muftard feed, camphor, and green foap, fpread on thick cloth, ove» them. Give the horfe alfo two drams of calomel over night, and a moderate purge the next morning. Thefe, perhaps, are the chief and beft' remedies that can be given in this generally fatal diforder. Theftran- When the ftrangury in a horfe does not
gury how arife from wind, or dung preffing on the treated. neck °^ t^e D'adder (as was obferved irv
t.he chapter on cholick) the caufe is from inflammation, or too long a retention of the urine. Such horfes make frequent motions to ftale, ftand wide and itrad- dling, are full, and have their flanks dif- tended. In this cafe bleed largely ; give the following drink, and repeat it every two hours, for two or three times, till the horfe is relieved. |
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TAKE
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Kidneys and Bladder.1 165
TAKE Venice turpentine broke with A drink
the yolk of an egg one ounce, nitre for the or M prunella: fix drams, half a ftran2ur>'- pint of fweet oil, and a pint of white wine. If this drink flxould not have the defired
effect, the diuretic ball above mentioned may be given in the fame manner, omit- ting the myrrh. Give the horfe "plenty of the marfh-
mallow decoction ; in a quart of which diflblvean ounce of nitre and gum Arabic, and two of honey. Horfes fubject to a diabetes, or profufe Adiabetes
ftaling, if old, or of weak conftitution, how treat- are feldom cured ; they foon lofe theired- flefh and appetite, grow feeble, their coat flaring, and they die rotten. Of a young horfe there are more hopes ; but lie muft not be indulged with too much water, or moift food. Give him the fol- lowing : TAKE Jefuit's bark four ounces, a drink
biftort and tormentil root of each for a di»- two ounces ; boil in two gallons of betes« lime-water to the confumption of M 3 half, |
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166 Of the Diforders, &c."
half, and give a pint three times a
day. Others for Let the horfe drink two or three quarts
that pur- a day of lime-water ; and if thefe medi- Pofc> cines fhould not fucceed, give a quart of ftrong alum poffet, three or four times a
day.
This method is proper alfo for a horfe
■who ftales blood ; or the following balls may be given for that purpofe, if the bleeding is profufe. |
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Balls for
piffing
blood.
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TAKE bole armoniac one ounce,
Japan earth half an ounce, roach-al- |
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lum two drams, elixir of vitriol one
dram ; make into a ball with con- ferve of rofes, and give it every fix hours. As this diforder generally proceeds from
too violent exercife, over-draining, &c. repeated bleedings in fmall quantities are abfolutely necefiary, till the mouths of the vefiels clofe up. |
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CHAP.
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I *67 ]
CHAP. XVIII.
Of MOLTEN-GREASE.
BY molten-greafe is meant a fat or Molten-
oily difcharge with the dung, and Sreafe arifes from a colliquation or melting w down of the fat of the horfe's body, by violent exercife in very hot weather. It The fym- is always attended with a fever, heat, ptoms. reftleflhefs, ftarting, and tremblings, great inward ficknefs, fhortnefs of breath, and fometimes with the fymptoms of a pleurify. His dung will be extremely . greafy, and he will fall into a fcouring; his blood will have a thick fkin or rat over it when cold, of a white or yellow hue, but chiefly the latter; the con- gealed part, or fediment, is commonly a mixture of fize and greafe, which makes it fo extremely flippery, that it will not adhere to the fingers, and the fmall por- tion of ferum feels alfo flippery and clam- my. The horle foon lofes his fleih and fat, which probably is diffolved and ab- forbed into the blood : and thofe that furvive this fliock, commonly grow hide- bound for a time, their legs fwelling M 4 both |
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i68 Of MOLTEN-GREASE.
both before and behind, and continue in
this ftate till the blood and juices are rectified ; and if this is not done effectu- ally, the farcy, or fome obftinate fur- feit, generally follows, very difficult t» remove. The cure. jn the firft place bleed plentifully, and
repeat it for two or three days fucceffive- ly in fmaller quantities ; two or three row- els fhould alio be immediately put in, and the cooling emollient glyfters, p. 34. daily thrown up to abate the fever, and drain off the greafy matter from the in- terlines. By the mouth give plenty of warm water, or gruel, with cream of tar- tar, or nitre, to dilute and attenuate the blood ; which in this cafe is greatly dif- pofedtorun into grumes, and endanger a total ftagnation. purging When the fever is quite gone off, and
wh^nne- tne korfe has recovered his appetite, gen- tle aloetic purges fhould be given once a week, for a month or fix weeks, in order to bring down the fwelled legs ; but if the purgative ingredient does not exceed half an ounce, or fix drams of fine aloes, it only opens the belly gently; and, with the other medicines joined with it, paries into the blood, acts as an alterative, and operates
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0/MOL TEN-GREASE. 169
operates both by urine and perfpiration ;
as will appear by the horfe's ftaling plen- tifully, and the kindly feel of his fkin. To this end give the following, which, Repeated for fome time, will entirely re- move this diforder. TAKE of Succotrine aloes fix drams, Analtera-
of gum guaiacum powdered half an tivepui>gs ounce, of diaphoretic antimony, and powder of myrrh, of each two drams: make into a ball with fyrup of buck- thorn. Or, it may be prepared with an ounce
of aloes, fix drams of diapente, and a fpoonful of oil of amber. Thefe will feldom take a horfe from
his bufinefs above two or three days in a week ; neither will he lofe his flefh or ap- petite with them ; but, on the contrary, mend in both : which cannot be obtained by any other method of purging ; and gives this greatly the preference in many cafes. Two ounces of nitre mixed up into a Alterative
ball with honey, and a dram of camphor, balls- will alfo be found an excellent medicine for this purpofe, as it will powerfully attenuate the blood, and promote the |
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*7° ®f Surfeits, Mange, and
due fecretions ; to which end it (hould be
given every day for a fortnight, or three weeks. |
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CHAP. XIX.
Of Surfeits, Mange, and Hide-
Bound. |
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SUrfeits arife from various caufes: but
are commonly the effects of fome difeafes not attended to, or that have been ill cured. Surfeits A horfe is faid to be forfeited, when
defcribed. hjs coat ftares, and looks rufty and dirty, though proper means has not been want- ing to keep him clean. The fkin is full of fcales and dander, that lays thick and mealy among the hair, and is conftantly fupplied with a frefh fucceffion of the fame, for want of due tranfpiration. Some horfes have hurdles of various fizes, like peas or tares ; fome have dry fixed fcabs all over their limbs and bodies : others a moifture, attended with heat and inflammation; the humours being fo fharp,
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Hide-Bound. ijl
fliarp, and violently itching, that the
horfes rub fo inceffantly, as to make themfelves raw. Some have no eruptions at all, but an unwholefome look, and are dull, fiuggifh, and lazy; fome appear only lean and hide-bound •, others have flying pains and lamenefs, reiembling a rheumatifm : fo that in the furfeits of horfes, we have almoft all the different fpecies of the fcurvy and other chronical diftempers. The following method is ufually at-The cure,
tended with fuccefs in the dry fpecies. Firft take away about three orfourpounds of blood; and then give the following mild purge, which will work as an altera- tive, and fhould be repeated once a week, or ten days, for fome time. TAKE Succotrine aloes fix drams, or An altera-
one ounce ; gum guaiacum half an tivepurge. ounce; diaphoretic antimony, and powder of myrrh, of each two drams: make into a ball with fyrup of buck- thorn. In the intermediate days, an ounce of
the following powder fhould be given, morning and evening in his feeds. |
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TAKE
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Of Surfeits, Mange, and
TAKE native cinnabar, or cinnabar
of antimony, finely powdered, half a pound ; crude antimony, in fine powder, four ounces ; gum guaia- cum alfo in powder, four ounces: make into fixteen dofes for eight days. This medicine muft be repeated till the
horfp coats well, and all the fymptoms of furfeit difappear. If the horfe is of fmall value, two or three common purges fhould be given, and half an ounce of antimony, with the fame qauntity of fulphur, twice a day, or the alterative balls with camphor and nitre, as directed in the preceding chapter, If the little fcabs on the fkin do not
peel off, anoint them with the mercurial ointment ; during the time of ufing which, it will be proper to keep the horfe dry, and to give him warm water. This ointment properly rubbed into the blood, with the afiiftance of purging phyfick, has frequently cured thefe kind of furfeits, without any other affift- ance. |
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«72
The alter-
ative po.v- deis. |
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The
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Hide-bound^
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»73
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The wet furfeit, which is no more than The swift
a moift running fcurvy, appears on dif- far^\ ferent parts of the Dody of a hcrfe, at- tended fometimes with great heat and in- flammation ; the neck oftentimes fwelis fo in one night's time, that great quan- tities of a hot briny humour iflues forth, which, if not allayed, will be apt to col- led on the poll or whithers, and produce the poll-evil or fiftula. This difeafe alfo frequently attacks the limbs, where it proves obftinate, and hard to cure; and iji fome horfes fhews itfelf fpring and fail. In this cafe bleed plentifully, avoid Thecar&
externally all repellers, and give cooling phyfick twice a week ; as, four ounces of lenitive electuary, with the fame quan- tity of cream of tartar j or the latter, with four ounces of Glauber falts, quickened, if thought proper, with two or three drams of powder of jalap, difiblved in water-gruel, and given in a morning failing. After three or four of thefe purges Nitre re-
two ounces of nitre made into a ball with comm«u<3- honey, may be given every morning fored* a fort-
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J74 C/" Surfeits, Mange, and
a fortnight; and, if attended with fuccefs,
repeated for a fortnight longer. How The powders above-mentioned may
given. alfo be given with the horfe's corn j or a
ftrong decoction of guaiacum fhavings, or logwood, may be given alone to the quantity of two quarts a day. Thefe, and indeed all alterative medicines, muft be continued for a long time, where the diforder proves obftinate. Hide- The diet fhould be cool and opening,
bound, as fcalded bran or barley j and if the
bow treat- horfe [s hide-bound, an ounce of fenu- greek feeds fhould be given in his feeds for a month or longer: and, as this dif- order often proceeds from worms, give the mercurial phyfick too, and afterwards the cinnabar powders, as above directed ; but as in general it is not an original dif- eafe, but a fymptom only of many, in the cure, regard muft be had to the firft caufe: thus, as it is an attendant on fur- feits, fevers, worms, &c. the removal of this complaint muft be variouflyef- feded. The 1° a mangy horfe the fkin is generally
mange de- tawny, thick, and full of wrinkles, efpe-,
fcribed. oiaJly about the mane, the loins, and tail j and
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Hide-Bound, tjg
and the little hair that remains in thofe
parts ftands almoft always ftraight out or briftly : the ears are commonly naked and without hair, the eye and eyebrows the fame; and when it affects the limbs, it gives them the fame afpecl; ; yet the fkin is not raw, nor peels off, as in the hot in- flamed furfeit. Where this diftemper is caught by in- How
fection, if taken in time, it is very eahly cured. cured : and I would recommend a ful- phur ointment as moft effectual for that purpofe, rubbed in every day. To purify and cleanfe the blood, give antimony and fulphur for fome weeks after. There are a great variety of external remedies for this purpofe, fuch as train-oil and gun- powder, tobacco fteeped in chamber-Jye, fcrV. Soleyfel recommends the follow- , ing. TAKE burnt alum and borax in Olntmea*
fine powder, of each two ounces ; for the white vitriol and verdigreafe pow- manSc* dered, of each four ounces; put them into a clean pot, with two pounds of honey, ftirring till they are incorporated ; when cold, add two ounces of ftrong aqua fortis. |
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But
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Of Surfeits, Mange, and
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But when this diforder is contracted by
low feeding, and poverty of blood, the diet muft be mended, and the horfe pro- perly indulged with hay and corn. The following ointments are effectually ufed for this diforder, rubbed into the parts affected every day. Ointments TAKE powdered brimftone, train-oil,
for the i r r . i • ■
mange. anc* tar» °* eac" eqUJd quantities ; to
which may be added ginger, or white
hellebore. Or,
TAKE fulphur vivum half a pound, crude fal Armoniac one ounce, hogs- lard, or oil, a fufficient quantity to form into an ointment. Or,
TAKE quickfilver, and oil of vitriol,
of each one ounce; hogs-lard one pound, fulphur vivum four ounces, oil of turpentine, one ounce and half. Thefe are both very powerful remedies
for this diforder, and can fcarce fail of fuccefs. 3 T»
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Hide-Bound. 177
To the two firft, occafionally, may be
added a third part of mercurial ointment j but as fulpher is in general allowed to be the ipecific in the itch, and being found both more fafe and efficacious than mer- cury, fo we apprehend it will fufficiendy anfwer the purpofe here; for as this dis- order feems beft accounted for by Lewen- Obferva- hoeck, from certain fmall infedts he dif- "on. covered in the puftules by the microfcope; fo it feems as if they were deftroyed by the fleams of britnftone, though only raifed by the heat of the body; for in the human body, the itch may be cured by partial fulphureous unctions on the legs only; but where the mange proves ob-. ftinate in horfes, let the parts be warned with the fublimate water in Chap. xxv. before the application of the ointment, and fubjoin the internal ufe of fulphur, in order to diffufe the fleams more cer- tainly through the fkin ; there being reafon to believe, as in the itch, that the animalcula may fometimes lie too deep, £o be thoroughly deftroyed by external applications only. |
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CHAP.
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N
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[ *7* 1
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CHAP. XVII.
Of the FARCIN or FARCY* The farcy f~lf^ H E true farcy is properly a diftern-
defcribed. J[ per of the blood veffels, which generally follows the track of the veins, and when inveterate, thickens their coats and integuments, fo that they become like fo many cords. I fhall not defcribe the different forts of farcies, feeing they are only degrees of one and the fame • diftemper; but proceed to paint the diflemper by its fymptoms, which are pretty manifeft to the eye. Thefymp. At firft one or more fmall fwellings,
toins. or round buds like grapes or berries, fpring out over the veins, and are often exquifitely painful to the touch; in the beginning they are hard, but foon turn into foft blifters, which, when broke, difcharge an oily or bloody ichor, and turn into very foul and ill-diipofed ulcers. In fome horfes it appears on the head only, in fome on the external jugular; in others on the plate vein, and runs downwards on the infide of the fore-arm tqwards
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©/ the FARCIN or FARCY. i79
towards the knee, and very often upwards
towards the brifket; in fome the farcy fhews itfelf on the hind parts, about the patterns, and along the large veins on the infide of the thigh, rifing upwards into the groin and towards the fheath; and fomctimes the farcy makes its appearance on the flanks, and fpreads by degrees to- wards the lower belly, where it often be- comes very troublefome. When the farcy appears on the head When-
only, it is eafily cured; efpecially when™0***3," it is feated in the cheeks and forehead, vourabll<?- the blood-veflels being here fmall; but it is more difficult when it affects the lips, the noftrils, the eyes, and kernels under the jaws, and other foft and loofe parts, efpecially if the neck vein becomes cord- ed. When it begins on trie outfide of the fhoulder or hips, the cure is feldom diffi- cult; but when the farcy arifes on the plate vein, and that vein fwells much, and turns corded, and the glands or kernels under the arm-pit are affected, it is hard to cure; but more fo when the crural veins within-fide of the thigh are corded and befet with buds, which affect the kernels of the groin, and the cavernous body of the yard. When the farcy begins on the patterns or lower N 2 limbs, |
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i&> Of the FARCIN or FARCY.
limbs, it often becomes very uncertain
unlefs a timely flop is put to it-, for the fwelling in thofe dependent parts grows fo exceffively large in fome conftitutions, and the limbs fo much disfigured thereby with foul fores and callous ulcerations, that fuch a horfe is feldom fit for any thing afterwards, but the meaneft drudg- ery: but it is always a promifing fign, wherever the farcy happens to be fituate, if it fpreads no further. It is ufual to af- fecT: only one fide at a time, but when it paffes over to the other, it fhevvs great malignancy; when it ariies on the fpines, it is then for the moft part dangerous, and is always more fo to horfes that are fat and full of blood, than to thofe that are in a more moderate cafe. "When the farcy is epidemical, as fometimes hap- pens, it rifes on feveral parts of the body at once forms rally foul ulcers, and makes a profufe running of greenifh bloody matter from both noftrils; and foon ends in a miferable rot. General From this defcription of the farcy, it
fpecifics will appear how greatly thofe may be of little, difappointed, who depend on fome fingle fpecific drink or ball for a certain cure; for the fymptoms are fometimes fo fa- vourable, that it is eafily conquered by a very
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U
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Of the FARCIN or FARCY. 1S1
very fimple management; and when it
arifcs fuperficially upon the fmaller vef- fels, it will often go off with moderate labour without any other means than bleeding. Such inftances as thefe may eafily give a reputation to things of no great efficacy, and bring them into efteem; but whoever has acquired any true notion of the farcy, will know that this diftemper is not to be conquered but by fuch things as are fitly adapted to the various fymptoms that occur in the diffe- rent ftages of it. To avoid therefore the perplexity that arifes from the various complications fo ufual in the farcy, we fhall confider it in its different flates, or degrees, viz. when it feizes only the fmaller veflels; when the larger veins are corded, and the feet, patterns, and flanks affected; and laftly, when the farcy, beginning on one fide only, breaks out on the other alfo, and affecls the whole body. When the farcy makes its firft ap- The firft
pearance on the head, it rifes on the ftage of cheeks and temples, and looks like a net- the far(T- work, or fmall creeping twigs full of berries. Sometimes it inflames the eye, and fometimes little blifters or buds run along the fide of the nofe. It arifes often N 3 on |
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i82 Of the FARCIN or FARCY.
on the outfide of the fhoulder, running
along the fmall veins with heat and in- flammation ; and fo'metimes a few fmall buds appear near the withers, and on the outfide of the hip. In all thefe ap- pearances, the difeafe being fuperfkial, and affecting only the fmaller vefTel, is eafily conquered by the following me- thod, when taken in time; for the fym- pleft farcy, if neglected, may degenerate into the worft fort. Bleeding This diftemper then being of an in-
almoftai- flammatory nature, and in a particular ways ne- m?tXmtv affecting the blood-vefiels, muft ury' necefiarily require large bleeding, parti- cularly where the horfe happens to be fat and full of blood. This always checks the beginning of a farcy, but is of fmall fervice afterwards; and if a horfe is low in flcfli, the lofs of too much blood fome- times proves injurious. After bleeding, let the horfe have four ounces of cream of tartar and lenitive electuary; which may be given every other day for a week, to cool the blood, and open the body; and then give nitre three ounces a day, for three weeks, or a month; and anoint the buds and fwellings with the following ointment twice a day. |
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TAKE
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Of the FARCIN or FARCY. if 3
TAKE ointment of elder four ounces, An ©int.
oil of turpentine two ounces, fugar ment 'or of lead half an ounce, white vitriol l e powdered two drams; mix together in a gallipot. The buds fometimes by this method
are difperfed, leaving only little bald fpots, which the hair foon covers again. When they break and run, if the matter be thick and well digefted, they will foon be well 5 but in order to confirm the cure, and to difperfe forne little lumps which often remain for fome time on the fkin without hair, give the liver Liver of of antimony for a month ; two ounces antimony a day for a fortnight, and then one a recom- day for the other fortnight: by follow- mended- ing this method, a farcy which affects only the fmall veffels, may be flopped in a week or ten days, and foon after totally eradicated. When the farcin affects the larger When th«
blood vefTels, the cure is more difficult; Ij""ger but let it always be attempted early: v^"5ar9 therefore, on the plate, thigh or neck RjeCDre' veins appearing corded, bleed imme- is more diately on the oppofite fide, and apply difficult. the following to the corded vein. N 4. TAKE
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184 Of the FARCIN or FARCT.
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A lini-
ment to anoint the corded veins. |
TAKE oil of turpentine in a pint
bottle fix ounces; oil of vitriol three ounces; drop the oil of vitriol into the oil of turpentine by little at a time, otherwife the bo:tle will burft; when it has done fmoking, drop in more oil of vitriol, and fo on till all is mixed. This mixture is one of the beft univer-
fals in a beginning farcy; but where it is feated in loofe flethy parts, as the flanks or belly, equal parts of the oil of vitriol' and turpentine are necefiary. Rub the parts firft with a woollen
cloth, and then apply forne of the mix- ture over the buds, and wherever there is any fweiiing, twice a day. Give the cooling phyfick every other day, and then three ounces of nitre every day for fome time. This method mult be con- tinued till the buds digeft, and the cord difiblves; and when the fores run plenti- fully, the matter digefts well, and the lips and edges are no ways thick or cal- lous, may expect a fpeedy recovery; yet to confirm the cure, and prevent a relapfe, give the liver of antimony, or crude antimony, as above directed; and to
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How
ufed. |
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Of the FARCIN or FARCY. l8|
to heal the fores and fmooth the {kin,
drefs with bees-wax and oil. When the farcy begins on the flanks, The farcy
or towards the lower belly, it often takes on the its rife from a ingle punciure of a fharp <^Cuit fpur. The pain and fmarting is one fure Gf cure, fign to diftinguifh the -farcy from com- mon accidents : the flaring of the hair, which ftands up like a tuft all round the buds or blifters, and the matter that iffues from the buds, which is always purulent and of a clammy, greafy con- fidence, are other certain figns. After bathing with the mixture above-men- tioned till the ulcers are fmooth and heal- ing, mould the fwelling not fubfide, to prevent the fpreading of the buds, and to difperfe them, bathe with either of thefe mixtures as far as the center of the belly; and at the fame time give a coarfe of antimonials, as will prefently be pre- fer! bed. TAKE fpirits of wine four ounces •, Dlfculj-
oil of vitriol and turpentine, of each Spelling two ounces-, wiite wine vinegar or waftes. verjuice, fix ounces. |
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Or,
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186 Of the FARCIN or FARCY.
Or the following:
TAKE fpirits of wine rectified four ounces, camphor half an ounce, vinegar or verjuice fix ounces, white vitriol diffolved in four ounces of fpring water, One ounce; mix to- gether. The farcy In the lower limbs the farcy lies, fome-
irow dif- times concealed for a great, while, and lYim' ' ma'<es f° fl°w a progrefs, that it is often ibegrcafe. miftaken for greafe, or for a blow or kick, and goes by, the general appellation of an humour fettled there. Jn order to diftinguifh the one from the other, we iliall obferve, that a kick or bruife is generally attended with a fudden fwel- i'mg, or a contufed wound, which for the moft part digetts eafily: the greafe is al- fo a fmooth fwelling that breaks cut above the bending of the patterns backwards; but the farcy begins on the pattern joint ufually with one bud, and runs upwards iike a knotty crab-tree. y^e Very fimple means has fometimes flop-
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upralme-
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j"-« *•» — ~~'~ *."• *----- —fc>—, " *r—">
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thod of a poultice with bran and verjuice bound
«ere. round the part, and renewed once a day, will often alone fucceed; and if proud flcfh
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' Of the FARCIN or FARCY. 187
flefh fhould arife, touch it with oil of vi-
triol, or aqua fortis, an hour before you apply the poultice; for when the diftern- per is local, as we fuppofe it here, it is to be conquered by outward applica- tions. When the diftemper grows inveterate,
and rends the obove method, and the Veflels continue corded, Gibfon recom- mends the following mixture. TAKE linfeed oil, half a pint; oil A njlxtoi*
of turpentine and petre, of eachforani°- three ounces; tinclure of euphor-£f^me bium and hellebore, of each two drams: the foldier's ointment, two ounces, or oil of bays; oil of ori- ganum, half an ounce; double aqua fortis, half an ounce; after the ebullition is over, add two ounces of Barbadoes tar. Rub this into the corded veins, and
wherever there is a fwelling, once in two or three days; but if the orifices are ehoaked up with proud flefh. or the fkin fo much thickened over the ulcers How the as to confine the matter, in either cafe it t?uc!s is neceffary to make an open paffage j^^-j e with a fmal! hot iron, and deflroy the j £>romi |
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,88 Of the FARCIN or FARCY1.
proud flefli, after which it may be kept
down by touching with oil of vitriol, aqua fortis, or butter of antimony. A falve may alfo be prepared with quick- filver and aqua fortis, rubbing any quan- tity of the former with enough of the latter to the confidence of a liniment; fmear the ulcers with this whenever they appear foul, and you will find it prefera- ble to moll other eating med'tines. Cautions Our farriers, after opening the buds,
in regard pUt jn ofuaj]y a fmall quantity of corro- totheue fjve fub]jmate or arfenjck which they call mate. coring out the farcy: this may anfwer where the buds are few, and not fituated near large blood-veflels, joints, or ten- dons; others ufe roman vitriol, or fub- limate and vitriol, in equal quantities; but let it be remembered, that many a horfe has been poifoned by thefe medi- cines ignorantly ufed, and in too large quantities; which mould be a caution to huntfmen not to fuffer their hounds to feed on the carcafes of farcied horfes, as the greater! part of a pack have been poi- foned by that means. Very Ad- I mail now mention fome of the def-
perate perate methods, and more violent kinds methods 0f mefjjcjnes given by fome internally: 4 thus,
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4
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Of the FARCIN cr FARCY. 189
thus, from four to eight ounces of lapis the cure
Calaminaris, to which.two ounces of tutty of the finely powdered is added, with other me- farcy* tallic fubftances, have been given- Some give a pound of barrel foap boiled in dale beer, with favin, rue, and other herbs of that intention. Others go yet fur- ther, being determined to kill or cure, by giving diinks prepared with green vitriol, roach-allum, Roman vitriol, oil of vitriol boiled in chamber-lye, with hemp-feed, hemlock and common fait. Thofe who ufe nothing but the decocti- ons or juices of herbs, fuch as wormwood, rue, or elder particularly, ftand a much better chance for a cure, if given in time; but when the diftemper is grown inveterate, nothing conies in competi- tion with mercurial and antimonial medi- cines. The following balls are proper in every
ftate of the farcy, and when the diftem- per has been in its infancy, before the fkin was much defaced, has often cured it in a week or two, by giving them only once or twice a day : but in an old farcy they mould be given for two or three months together. |
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TAKE
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igo Of the FARCIN or FARCY.
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Tkealte- TAKE of native cinnabar, or cin-
rative nabar of antimony* eight ounces; b>&*' Jong birthwort and gum guaiacum
powdered of each four ounces;
make into a parte with honey, and form into balls of the fize of a large walnut, and roll them in liquorice pcjwder. |
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The tedioufnefs of this courfe has en-
courage^ the giving of mercurials, and indeed where they are directed with fkiil, they mull be attended with fuccefs; the ftronger preparations, as the red and white precipitates, and turbith, being com- bined with fharp faline parts, may be hazardous aud injurious ; but the latter given in fmall quantities have been found very fuccefsful in fuch kind of inveterate diforders. Mr. Gibfon fays, he has given it to a dram at a dofe, where the limbs have been greatly fwelled; that in forty- eight hours the fores were all dried up, and the limbs reduced: but that it made the horfe fo violently fickfor feveral days, and fcoured him to fuch a degree, that it could not be repeated. |
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Mercuri-
als gene- rally fuc- cetsfol, when given with fkiil. |
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Turbith One would have thought that the fuc-
fliould be cefs attending this medicine fo fuddenly, givenm ,mjght have encouraged Gibfon to have mal1 ° made |
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Of the FARCIN or FARCY. 191
made further trials in fmaller quantities, quantities
which had he done, it is more than pro- at a timc* bable he would nor have been difappoint- cd: for the grand fecret in giving mer- curials as alteratives, is the introducing them into the blood, without operating on the ftomach and bowels; and to do this effectually, they muft. be given in fmall quantities, and fo bridled, as to controul their force on the firft pafTages: taken in this manner, they will mix gra- dually with the blood and juices, and operate both effectually and fafely. The method I would recommend is as Balls w«i
follows: give one fcrupie or half a dram tjrbitii of turbith, mixed into a ball with an Tecon?~, CJ. . - . . , mended.
ounce or Venice loap, every other night
for a fortnight; then abflain a week or
ten days, and repeat it again. Should this bajl purge, or make the horfe fick, mix it up with two drams of philonium, or with four or five grains of opium, or camphor; with thefe reftrictions it may be given for fome weeks; but fhould the node's mouth be found tender or fore, you muft refrain giving, till that com- plaint is removed by gentle purges; and then return to it again in fmaller quan- tities ; for as the effects of mercurials are very different in the different confti- tutions,
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192 Of the FARCIN or FARCY.
tutions, both of horfes as well as men;
fo the quantity muft be varied, in pro- portion to the operation, which is not intended here to be fenfible, but to work imperceptibly on the blood and juices, correcting them as a powerful alterative: during the whole courie, particular care mould be taken that he gets no cold. Vide Chapter en Alteratives. Analte- Two ounces of quickfilver divided
rative with an ounce of turpentine, and made mercurial Up into four balls, with diapente and bal1- gum guaiacum of each two ounces, and a fufficient quantity of honey, have for this purpofe been fuccefsfuliy given, one ball twice a week; but gentle purga- tives fhould be interpofed, to prevent a falivation, which fome horfes are very prone to, on taking mercurials, though in fmall quantities. Dr. Bracken recommends the knots
and cords to be rubbed with the mer- curial ointment before they break, in order to difperfe them, and after break- ing, to drefs the fores with equal parts of Venice turpentine and quickfilver: if by thefe means the mouth fhould become fore, treat as above.-—This method feenu to be effectual with proper care. |
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Of tbeFARCIN or FARC Y. 193
The following is alfo recommended by
the fame gentleman. TAKE butter of antimony and be- Aaaltera-
zoar mineral, of each one ounce ; tlve bal1, beat up with half a pound of cordial ball, and give the bignefs of a wal- nut, or three quarters of an ounce, every day for two or three weeks, falling two or three hours after it. As mod preparations from antimony
are of ufe in the farcy, fo from two drams ' of antiheclicum Poterii to half an ounce, may be given with a bit of cordial ball, every other day, for fome time ; for in thefe obftinate cafes the very crafts of the blood muft be altered, which can only be effected by degrees, and of courfe is a work of time. We fhall here take notice of what is The water
called the water farcy, which has no re- farcy' or femblance to a true farcy, either in its droPr>'' Caufe, lymptoms, or effects, but has only obtained this name through cuftom and ignorance. This water farcy then is of two kinds; Thedrop-*
©ne the product of a feverim difpofition, ty°ftwo O terrni.kinds> |
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194 Of the F A R CIN or F A R C T.
terminating on the fkin, as often happens
in epidemical colds; the bther is dropfi- cal, where the water is not confined to the belly and limbs:, but Ihews itfelf in feveral parts of the body, by foft fwell» ings, yielding to thepreffure of the finger. This laft kind ufually proceeds from foul feeding, or from the latter grafs and fog, that often comes up in great plenty with continual cold rains, and breeds a fiug- gifh vifcid blood. In the former «afe, I hive feen the limbs and whole body enor- moufly fwelled, and very hard, the belly and fheath greatly diftended; which were as furprizingly reduced in four and twenty Scarifying hours, by flight fcarificatfons, within fide the &m, the leg and thigh, with a fharp pen- iometimes icnif*e, and three or four ftrokes on the twJ. CC" ^n °f l'ie belly on eae^ ^'e tne fheath;
from thefe fear-ifications there was a con- ftant and furprizing large dripping of water, which foon relieved the horfej- when a few purges compleated his recO' very. The ge- In the other fpecies of dropfy, the cura-
n«al c^e t;ve jnteriuons are to difcharge the water, csl diforl recover tne crafis or ftrength of the blood, ders. ' and brace up the relaxed fibres through- out the whole body. To this end, purge or.ce a week or ten days; and give inter- mediately |
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Of the FARCIN or FARCY. 195
mediately either of the following drinks,
or balls- TAKE black hellebore frefh gather- An altera,
ed, two pounds; wafh, bruife andtlvedrmk- boil in fix quarts of water to four; then ftrain out the liquor, and put two quarts of white wine on the re- maining hellebore, and let it infufe warm forty-eight hours; then ftrain ■ off, mix both together, and give the horfe a pint night and morning. TAKE nitre two ounces, fquills pow-Th.e c3iu-
dered, three drams, of half an ounce;reuc als* camphor one dram, honey enough to form into a ball: to be given oned a day alone, or warned down with a horn or two of the above drink. TA K E of the leaves and bark of elder, A diuretic
of each a large handful; camo- drmk* mile flowers half a handful, juniper berries bruifed two ounces: boil in a quart of water, to a pint and a half; w. to which add honey and nitre, of
each one ounce. Give this drink every night, or night
and morning; and to compleat the cure,
and ftrengthen the whole body, give a
O 2 pint
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196 O/V&FARCINcz-FARCY.
pint of the fubfequent infufion every night
and morning for a fortnight, fafting two hours after it. |
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Aftrenglh-
iiiug drink. |
TAKE gentian root and zedoary, of
each four ounces; camomile flow- |
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ers and the tops of centaury, of each
two handfuls; Jefuits bark powder- ed, two ounces; juniper berries, four ©unces; filings of iron, half a pound : infufe in two gallons of ale for a week, fhaking now and then the veflel. Before we clofe this chapter, we think
proper to lay down the fymptoms of an incurable farcy, that the owners of fuchr horfes may fave themfelves unneceffary expence and trouble in their endeavours to obtain a cure. The fym- When a farcy, by improper applications,
ptoms of or by neglect, has fpread and increafed, an incura- ancj after jong continuance refilled the medicines above recommended ; if frefli
buds are continually fprouting forth, while the old ones remain foul and ill- conditioned ; if they rife on the fpines of the back and loins ; if the horfe grows hide-bound, and runs at the nofe; if ab- fcefTes are formed in the fkfhy parts be- tween |
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0//& FARCINer FARCY. 197
tween the interftices of the large mufcles ;
if his eyes look dead and lifelefs; if he forfakes his food, and fcours often, and his excrements appear thin and of a black- ifh colour •, if the plate or thigh vein continues large and corded after firing, and other proper applications, thefe fymp- toms denote the diftemper to have pene- trated internally, and that it will degene- rate into an incurable confumption : it is moft probable alfo, that the whole mafs of fluids are tainted, and become irreme- diable by art. |
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CHAP. XXI.
Of Alterative Medicines.
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BY alteratives, or altering medieines, What is
are to be underftood fuch as, having meant by no immediate fenfible operation, eradu- alte/.at.lve
11 • .l /i- • 1 medicines ally gain upon the conftitution, by
changing the humours or juices from a
ftate of diftemperature to health. This
intention in fome cafes may perhaps be
effe&ed by corre&ing the acrimony of
O 3 the
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io8 Of Alterative Medicines.
the juices, and accelerating the blood's
motions; and in others by attenuating, or breaking its particles, and dividing thofe cohefions which obftruel: the ca- pillaries, or finer veflels; and fo pro- mote the due fecretions of the various fluids. It is certain that many have but an indifferent opinion of a medicine, that does not operate externally, and gratify their fenfes with a quantity of imagined humours injected from the body : but Jet fuch people remember, that there are good humours as well as bad, which are thrown off together; that no evacuating' medicine has a power of felecling, or fe- parating the bad from the good: and confequently that they are thrown out only Are men jn a proportionate quantity. Thefe few to be pre- ,. \ r n- ■ • i ■
fared to hints may be iufficient to convince the ju-
purges. dicious reader of the great advantages a- rifingfrom alteratives, and the preference due to them, in moft cafes, over purga- tives; unlefs it could be proved, as al- ready mentioned, that the latter could cull out, and feparate from the blood the bad humours foleiy, leaving the good behind ; but this eleclive power has long been juft- ly exploded as ridiculous and uncertain, fince it is plain, that all kinds of purging medicines differ only in degree of ftrength, and operate othenvife upon different humours,
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Of Alterative Medicines. 1.99
humours, than as they ftimulate more or
lefs. We mail therefore take this opportu- Nitre re-
nity of recommending fome alterativecom- medicines, which are not fo generally ^enJfdr" known as they ought to be; and that ti/e# too on the fureft grounds, a proper ex- perience of their good effects in repeated trials. The firft then is nitre, or purified falt-petre, which has long been in great efteem, and perhaps is more to be de- pended on in all inflammatory fevers than any other medicine whatever: but befides this extenfive power of allaying inflammatory diforders, it is now offered as a remedy, taken in proper quantities, as an alterative for forfeits, rnolten-greafe, hide-bound, greafe-heals, QJV. And, as -it has been known to fucceed even in the cure of the farcy, what other dif- tempers in horfes, arifing from vitiated fluids, may it not be tried on, with a ftrong probability of fuccefs ? This great advantage will arife from the ufe of this medicine over moft others, that, as its operation is chiefly by urine, it requires no confinement or cloathing-, but the horfe may be worked moderately through- out the whole courfe. This medicine has been found equally efficacious (by O 4 many 2
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Of Alterative Medicines,
many trials made in one of our hofpitals) in correcting the acrimony of the juices, and difpofing the moft obftinate and inve- terate fores to heal up; and hence pro- bably it came recommended as an altera- tive to our horfes, One of our moft eminent phyfical writ-
ers is very copious in the praife of this medicine, and my Lord Bacon bad fo high an opinion of it, that he believedit would prolong life; it is very certain, that it is a great refifter of putrefaction, which our very cooks are no ftrangers fo: if then it will preferve the flefh of dead animals, why not the blood and juices of living ones ? That it renders them, more fluid, may be proved by mixing a folution of it with blood frefh drawn, which will not only prevent the coagula- tion, but change its very colour, from a dark black to an elegant florid red, and preferve it fo for fome time. Malpighius has informed us, that he injected it into the very blood-veflels of a dog, where it intimately mixed with the blood without any detriment, or remarkable alteration, except a more copious difcharge of urine. Its power alfo of deftroying worms is very remarkable. In fhort, a more ufeful me- dicine perhaps fcarce exifts, and there is
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Of Alterative Medicines. 20 1
is no doubt to be made, when it comes
into more general ufe, its own merit and good effects will fufficiently reccm* mend itfelf. We mould not have pre- fumed to fay fo much in its favour, were we not thoroughly convinced of its great utility, and believe it to be, in many cafes, one of the beft and fafeft alteratives we have. We have already taken notice of its A good
great efficacy in removing fevers, and medians think that in the beginning of colds, m c ' (which are the forerunners of fevers) was this medicine given early, inftead of pectoral drinks, or the ufual balls, thofe complaints would be much fooner re- moved, without incurring any danger of the diftemper's fettling on the lungs, which the tampering too long with thofe forts of medicines too often lays a foun- dation for: we mull: confefs it would be a difficult undertaking, to perfuade moft farriers, that their healing drinks, or horfe balls, are very improper on thefe occafions, but more efpecially when given at firft; but gentlemen will rea- dily perceive the force of reafon, when they find that the intention here aimed at, is to cool and attenuate in general the whole mafs of fluids; by which method, |
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*
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202 Of Alterative Medicines.'
the blood, which is now become too
thick to circulate freely through the fmall veffels of the lungs (and is the ori- ginal caufe both of the cough, fluffing up, and laborious breathing) is rendered fufficiently fluid for that purpofe, by the ufe of this medicine; as all the fe- cretions are promoted by it at the fame time. Nitre, The quantity of nitre given at a time
how to be fhould be from two to three ounces a
jiven. jjgy . ]et jt bg finely powdered, and then , , mix with it, by little at a time, as much
honey as will form it into a ball; give it
every morning faffing for a month ; or it may be given at firft for a fortnight only, intermitting a fortnight, and then repeat it. If it be obferved that the horfe fhews an uneafinefs at the ftomach after taking it, a horn or two of any liquor fhould be given after it, or it may be difTolyed at firft in his water, or mixed with his corn •, ■ though the ball, where it agrees, is the eafieft method of giving. Befides the mercurial medicines recom-
mended in the farcy, which we have al- ready animadverted on •, in very obflinate cafes, the following method of giving tur- bith has been found extremely fuccefsful, after
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Of Alterative Medicines. 203
after bleeding the horfe twice or thrice, if
full of blood, and in fiefh. TAKE turbith mineral one dram, A mercu-
camphor half a dram, diapente half rjal altera- an ounce; make into a ball with Uve' honey. Give one of thefe balls every other
morning for a fortnight; reft a fortnight, and then repeat them in the fame man- ner. During this courfe, the horfe fhould be kept warm, in order to heighten the perfpiration; and particular care fliould be taken that he catches no cold : let him be bled once in ten days about two quarts; and thofe days the balls are omitted, take him out for half an hour, if the weather is fair, and when he comes in, let him be well curried for an hour •, after this courfe is finifhed, give him a quart of hemp-feed in his corn every day for a month: but as the horfe's mouth will probably be fore, his feed fliould be boiled oats, barley, and fcalded bran. As the operation of mercurials both Mercuri-
in men and horfes is very precarious, if aIs °Pe- the quantity above mentioned gripes the certain"" horfe, cr purges him, inftead of the dia- on horfes. pente, mis it up with two drams of phi- Ionium, |
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Of Alterative Medicines.
Ionium, or half a fcruple of opium, or
camphor; fhould it affect his mouth fo much as to render him incapable of eat- ing even foft food, the purging drink mould be given him, fo as to procure three or four ftools every day, and the ball forborn till this complaint is remov- ed. But this medicine, 1 think, may in fome horfes fucceed better, by giving the turbith in lefs quantities, and for a longer time, a fcruple every night, or halt a dram every other night; which method I think fafeft to begin with, in order to judge of the horfe's conftitu- tion; and as we have more particularly explained in the chapter on Farcv. After this courfe, a ftrong de,co6iion of guaiacum, or the alterative powders, mould be given for a month , or lime- water may be given for his conftant drink, at firft mixed with his water, af- terwards alone. The guaiacum decoction may be pre-
pared thus: TAKE of the fhavings of guaiacum
two pounds, liquorice root diced four ounce?, crude antimony, grofly pow- dered, and put into a bag, one pound; boil in three gallons of fpring water |
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The
fweetning
drink. |
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Of Alterative Medicines. 205
for an hour, and keep the decoction
upon the ingredients in a clean earth- en pan for ufe. This is both a cheap and efficacious In what
medicine in all foulnefs of the fkin, and C£!fes t0 bc very proper to be given after a courfe ofglven* mercurials; for it will fweeten and cor- rect the blood and juices, and, by pro- moting the fecretions, dry up fuperfluous humidities on particular parts, as in the ftrangles, all glandular disorders, and old running fores. Four horns full fhould be given twice or thrice a day, and continued two or three months in obftinate cafes, in- termitting now and then a week, that the horfe may not be cloyed with continual drenching. When horfes take drinks with great re- .
luctance, powders muft be given in their feeds; thus crude antimony, or liver of* antimony finely powdered, may be given to the quantity of half an ounce, night • and morning-, but in all forfeits, gum guaiacum mixed with antimony is found more efficacious. Thus, TAKE of crude antimony finely The at-
powdered, or, where it can be af- te™tlfor3 forded, cinnabar of antimony, and p v 4 gura |
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2oS Of Alterative Medicides:
gum guaiacum, of each a pound i
mix together with an oily peftle, tP prevent the gum's caking: divide the whole into thirty-two dofes, viz. an ounce each dofe: let one be given every day in the evening feed, Or,
Analtera* TAKE of cinnabar of antimony, gum
tire ball. guaiacum, and Caftile or Venice foap, of each half a pound; fait of
tartar four ounces; beat them up in- to a mafs, and give an ounce every day. To thefe may be added very advsntageoufly, an ounce and a half of camphor. Thefe are excellent alterative medn
cines, particularly for forfeited horfes; they will re&ify the fluids, open the horfe's hide, promote the fecretions, and make him coat well; they will Jikewife fufe and thin the blood, and therefore are extremely proper when the juices are too vifcid and fizy, which often occafion lamenefs in various parts: in Ihort, thefe fort of medicines are to be preferred to moft others of this kind, as they are given with greater fafety, and
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Of Alterative Medicines. 2 oy
and require no confinement, or particu-
lar diet. They feem well calculated alfo for run-Are pnv
ning-horfes (efpecially the latter) whofe Per for fluids of courfe, from the violence of™""1"2* their exercife, are often fubject to great 10r "" alterations ; which will with more fafety, and lefs inconvenience, be remedied by thefe means, and a gentle alterative purge given once a week or ten days, than the ufual method of treating them with ftrong- er purgatives •, which befides difqualifying them for their exercife forfome time, will not alone anfwer this intention, till the blood has been faturated with medicines of this kind. JEthiop's mineral given to the quantity &&mp%
of half an ounce a day, is a very good mineral ; fweetener and corrector of the bloodapt toc faIr" and juices-, but it has been obferved, af-horfe&. ter having been taken a week or ten days, to make fome horfes flabber, and unable to chew th^ir hay and oats; and the fame fymptoms have arofe, where only two drams of crude mercury has been given, and continued about the fame fpace of time. |
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Whenever
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2o8 Of Alterative Medicines.
The Whenever therefore mercurial prepft-
caufe. rations are given to horfes, they fhould
be well attended to, and fufficient inter- vals be allowed, to prevent a flux on the mouth and nofe. The reafon why thefe kind of mercurials will flux horfes fooner than men, may be owing to the mouths of the lacteals in horfes being more open* large and free, than thofe in men ; whofe orifices may alfo be furred up by vifcid oily things, to which inconveniences horfes are not fo liable, by reafon of their Am- ple diet; befides, the horizontal filia- tion of the guts of horfes may contri- bute not a little to it, by preventing the mercury from pafling through them fo quick as in men; and the depending fituation of the horfe's head, may occa- fion its being fo foon affected, when the blood is once faturated with mercurial particles. Impraai- But as it has been found impractica-
cable to ble to carry a horfe through a falivation^ fahvate or even to \^eep hjm one week under it, by reafon of the great plenitude or full-
nefs brought on all the veifels of the head, fo that the horfe can neither chew his food, nor fwallow liquids; whenever fuch fymptoms appear, the medicine muft be
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Of Alterative Medicines. 209
be laid afide, till by purging, as before
mentioned, they are removed. The following mercurial alterative ball
may be given under the above reftri&ions, in obftinate cafes. TAKE crude mercury one ounce, An altera-
Venice turpentine three drams ; rub tiv* °^r" them together in a mortar, till thecurld .quickfilver is thoroughly divided, and then add of gum guaiacum, finely powdered, two ounces; dia- gridium in powder half an ounce: mix with honey, and divide into eight balls: give one every other night for a month, or longer. Dur- ing this courie, care fhould be taken that the horfe gets no cold, for which it is belt profecuted in fummer. As may alfo the following antimonials
in the like cafes. TAKE of the glafs of antimony, Alterative
finely powdered, two ounces; crocus antin^on'" metallorum, finely powdered, foural biilIs* ounces; Venice foap fix ounces: make into twelve balls with honey, and give one every night. P The
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210 Of Alterative Medicines.
Purging The great inconveniences that atterid
medicines tjie pUre;jn2r 0f horfes in the ufual man- in fmall ners make the following method of giv- quantities ing thofe kind of medicines eligible in are alfo moft cafes; for though their operation good alte- by tfe Dowe]s is thereby greatly leffened, yet the other fecretions are more advan- tageoufly increafed ; for by giving them in fmall quantities, or combined with al- teratives adapted to the cafe, they pafs into the blood, and (as has been before explained) act more powerfully, by break- ing the cohefions of the vifcid fluids, cleanfing the finer veflels, where proba- bly obitru&ions are formed, than when they ad more fenfibly on the bowels. Thus in furfeits, flying Jamenefles, 4irV.
give the following mafs divided into eight balls; one may be taken twice or thrice a week, according to their operation. An altera- TAKE lenitive electuary eight ounces,
nve purge jalap and fcammony powdered, of each one ounce; cinnabar, and'gum guaiacum, of each two ounces; cam- phor half an ounce, fyrup of buck- thorn a fufficient quantity to form them. |
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4
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Or,
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Of Alterative Medicines. 21 r
Or,
TAKE aloes fix drams, gum giiai- Forms pf
acurn half an ounce, diaphoretic f«chnie- antimony and fait of tartar, of each dlClnes- two drams ; make into a ball with any fyrup. Alfo,
TAKE the fineft Succotrine aloes
half an ounce, or fix drams; cream of tartar half an ounce ; powder of jallap and fait of tartar, of each one dram: make into a ball with oil of amber. One of thefe may be given every week
for a month or fix weeks, with fcalded bran, and warm water •, the firft day it will operate by urine, the next day both ways, but very gently by ftool, unlefs it fhould meet with a redundancy of flime in the bowels. Six drams of aloes, with half an ounce Alterative
of diapente and fait of tartar, may be purges, given as an alterative purge in molten- greafe, &c. |
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Or,
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P 2
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212 Of Alterative Medicines. ,
Or,
Hiera picra and coloquintida with fait of tartar may be given in the fame man- ner •, and for obftruclions in the lungs, and to thick-winded horfes, take the fol- lowing. A gentle Galbanum, Ammoniacum, and afla
purge for foetida, of each two drams ; fine
j^d aloes half an ounce, or fix drams;
faffron one dram; honey a fufficient
quantity.
But, as we have already occafionally
offered various forms of this kind, we fhall avoid giving here any more fpeci- mens. Form* A deco&ion of log-wood, prepared like
of diet that of guaiacum, is alfo fuccefsfully given
drink. jn furfeitS. Lime-water, prepared with (havings of
fafiaphras and liquorice, is a good diet drink, to fweeten and correct a horfe's blood ; and may be given with the nitre balls for that purpofe. Tar-warter alfo, as has before been
hinted, may in many cafes be well worth trial:
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J
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Of H U M O U R S; 213
trial: but let it be remembered, that all
medicines of this kind mould be conti- nued a confiderable time, in obftinate cafes.
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CHAP. XXII.
Of HUMOURS;
TH E word humours (which has an The term
unbounded latitude both in phyfickhumours and farriery, and is too often a properbu'1,ttle fanctuary for the ignorant to fly to in^"0"~ both profeffions) feems to be ftrangely mifapplied, and in general but little un- derftood •, otherwife it would not be fo indeterminately ufed as it is, when the diforder is not in the fluids, but merely in the veffels. Thus it is often affirmed, that humours Veryim-
fall down on the limbs, when with more properly! propriety it might be faid, they cannot f«d Tome- lb well rife up, or circulate fo freely in "mest0 perpendicular as in diagonal canals ; for ovvn' the force of the heart is the fame, whether to raife a column of blood in an upright P 3 or |
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2i4 Of H U M O U R S.
or horizontal direction, though it is not
the fame in refpect to the fituation of the
vefTels : for when any animal is erect, the
blood veflels in the legs are more on a
Swellings ftretch by far than when he lies down ;
in the legs and if the veflels are in a lax ftate natu-
often ow- rai]y} or relaxed by external injuries, they
laxed vet- are not a^e t0 Pr0Pe' the fluids forward,
fels. and hence from a retarded circulation arifes a fwelling in the part affected.
Dr. Bracken fto whom all true lovers
of horfes are much indebted for the pains he has taken to explode falfe no- tions, and embellifh true ones) has en- deavoured to fet this matter in the cleareft light; which indeed he has done to the fatisfaction of the unprejudiced, and of every one who can underftand, and does not wilfully fliut his eyes on fo clear a doctrine. Tlie It would be to little purpofe therefore
anatomy t0 enf°rce *c» unlefs the reader would be
ebfolutely at the pains to form to himfelf a clear
neceffary. idea of the blood's circulation, with the
fecretions from it; and confider the folids
as compofed of elaftic fibres, or fpringy
threads, which are fometimes in a lax or
loofe ftate, and at others in a tight or firm
one.
This
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Of H U M O U R S. 215
This knowledge would foon convince
him, that the extreme parts may be fwelled without humours falling down upon them, from a difficulty in the circu- lation (as before explained) to pufh on blood in perpendicular columns, or from a laxity of the veflels themfelves. In order to make this doctrine as fa- The fall-
miliar as poffible, let us fuppofe that a ing down man, or horfe, in perfect health, whofe |
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mours ex-
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blood and juices are in the beft condi- piained
tion, receives a violent blow on the leg, by a fa- the confequence of which is a bruife, and miliar fwelling: if the limb of either is kept in cafe- a perpendicular fituation with little or no motion, the fwelling will continue; and we may fay, if we pleafe, the hu- mours are fallen into it: but change only the pofition, and continue the limb of either in a fupine or level one •, the fwell- ing will then foon abate, and the humours difappear. In this cafe, where were the humours before the accident ; how came they (o fuddenly to the injured limb, and fo foon to difappear ? Is it not more rea- , fonable to fuopofe the fwelling arofe from bwe "gs, , ., .- V ,. . . ,& . . , accounted
3 retarded circulation in the part injured, forfr0m
the veflels by the violence of the blow retarded having loft their tone, and were fo pre- circula. P 4 terna- tl0n- |
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2i6 Of H U M O U R S.
ternaturally diftended by the ftagnanf.
blood, that a free circulation through
the part was thereby interrupted ; and
that this fwelling would have continued,
had not the obftru&ion been removed by
a different pofture, affifted by proper
applications ? and is it not obvious in
fiedTrf'" dropfical, an<^ other fwellings, in the ex-
dmpf;«I treme parts, from lax fibres, that though
habits, the legs {hall be enormoufly fwelled, after
having been in an erect pofture all the
day ; yet that after laying twelve hours
in a fupine one, they fhall recover their
natural fhape ?
The blood This is by no means intended to prove,
and juices that there are no bad humours, or juicesj often vi- \n the blood, or that they do not attend, u ' and affect fome particular parts; (daily experience would contradict fuch an af- ferrion, particularly in cancerous, fchro- phulus, venereal, and fcorbutic cafes in the human body, and the farcy, furfeits, ftrangles, &c. in horfes ;) but only to guard againft the promifcuous ufe of the term, and to evince, that in many cafes where the humours are faid to abound, and caufe fwellings, the fault is in the veffels, which have not force enough to propel the circulating fluids, or a per- pendicular column of blood ; as often happens
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0/HUMOURS. 217
happens to the vefTels of the legs and ex-
treme parts. Thus we fee that a languid circulation, Limbs
relaxed veflels, and want of mufcular ma3j*>e power to pulh on the fluids, may, by re- ^hout tarding the circulation, occafion fwellings humoun. in the extreme parts, without any fufpi- cion of bad humours, or the blood's be- ing at all in fault. This might be farther illustrated by thofe fwellings in man, called the piles, where the afcent of the venal blood interrupted by its own weight, the want of force in the veflels, and of aflift- ance from the circumjacent parts to pulh on the circulation: but, we hope, what has already been faid, will fufficiently anfwer ourdefign. The inference to be drawn from hence The cure
is, that the cure muft be differently di- muft be reeled when the fwelling proceeds from dlfe&ecl the blood and juices, and when from the*"°'" folids or veflels. In th* former cafe, eva- cuations and alteratives are neceflary to leflen their quantity, and rectify their qua- lity; in the latter, externals, proper exer- cife, and good diet. Conformably fwelled legs, arifing from Mu.ft be
poverty of blood, laxity of veflels, and ™!iicd in lQw haJ?f'
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«8 Of HUM OURS.
low diet, would be increafed by evacua-
tions, and cured by recruiting the con- ftitution. But fwelled legs from a grofs constitution, where the vefiels are too replete, and the blood in bad condition, will feldom be cured without bleeding, purging, roweling, and alteratives; un- lefs, perhaps the horfe is turned out to grafs. The word To treat this fubjecT: properly, and
humours prove in a ftrict fenfe what ought to be
abufed by ur>derftood by the word humours, would
farriers, take up more time than the brevity we
have prefcribed ourfelves will admit on ;
but thefe hints may be fufficient to expofe
the abfurd cant of farriers* who are eter-
naily mifapplying a term they by no means
underftand, and making the word humours
fubfervient to all purpofes.
Obferva- We ihall conclude this chapter how-
tions on ever with obferving, that there are more humours. tj,an tjjjKy different juices, or humours, conftantly floating in, and feparated from the blood; the chief of which are the bile, perfpirable matter, fweat, faliva, urine, lymph, {ced, &c. which, when properly mixed and thrown off" in due quantity from it, are extremely necefTary to the health, and welfare of the animal; but
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Of HUMOURS. 219
but when once perverted, irregularly
carried on, or fuppreffed, they then be- come noxious, and are productive of many and various diforders. Thus from an obftrudtion of the bile, the yellows, Howtliey St. Anthony's fire, eryfipelatous fevers become and fwellings may be occafioned; the con- noxious, fequence of fo acrimonious a fluid mixing unduly with the blood : by colds, or a fudden checking of fweats, or perfpira- tion, that matter which mould freely flow off through the pores, is fuddenly thrown back on the blood, which increafes its quantity, and vitiates its quality; from hence the ferum of the blood may be- come acrid and fharp; the mafs of fluids in general may thus be tainted, and by thickening, form obftruclions in the glands, or fine veffels: the other juices, or humours, may alfo be perverted by various caufes, as foul feeding, impro- per diet. &c. and produce variety of dif- eafes, by rendering the blood too thick, thin, or acrimonious. Thus much we have thought neceflary to obferve in re- lation to humours; wherein may be ob- ferved, how much the term is mifunder- ftood and abufed ; as in their natural ftate, they are not only amicable, but neceflary: yet when obftrucled or per- verted, they are the caufe of almoft all difeafes :
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22o Q/ ROWELLING.
difeafes; that, in fine, health confifts in
a due temperature, or mixture of them, and the predominancy of any one, is fuf- ficient to excite a morbid ftate in that conftitution. |
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CHAP. XXIII.
O/ROWELLING.
Rowellmg fTT^ HERE feems to be no remedy fo
defined. J_ much made ufe of, and fo little underftood by farriers in general, as row- els ; for which reafon we fhall endea- vour to fet the whole affair in a clearer light, than hitherto it has appeared in. We {hall begin then by defcribing
rowelling, which is an artificial vent made between the llcin and fiefh, in order to unload and empty the veffels in general, and thereby relieve particular parts, when too much opprefTed by a fulnefs or re- dundancy. Thegene- The general and abfurd reafoning of
colcern-" f?rrierS 0n the effefts &Tid uk °f r0wd"
iog rowels unS» m *°nie raeafure makes this chapter
abfurd. the
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Of ROWELLING. 221
the more neceffary, as it is too notorious
how impertinently they talk on this fub- jcft: for, in fhort, with them, a rowel is to draw off all the bad and corrupt hu- mours from the blood, by a fort of ma- gick. It is neceffary to obferve, that the mat- WJiat the
ter generally difcharged by a rowel, is dlfcharS<w nothing more than an ouzing from the extremities of the veffels divided in the making of it; in fact then, it is blood, which lofes its colour, by being fhed out of the veffels, the warmth of the part» and its confinement. If this is granted, it will evidently ap- The ufe
pear, that the good effects enfuing thisof toweh* operation muft be owing to a gradual depletion, or emptying of the veffels in general •, by which means the furcharge, or load on a particular part, is taken off and removed ; and impurities, or bad juices (generally called humours) run off with the good in proportion to their quan- tity in the blood. To imagine -particular humours are Particuhr
thus feparately, and alone difcharged humours from the blood, through thefe orifices, .^dlf- is an opinion but too generally received, La[hem. though
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222 O/ROWELLING.
though a very abfurd one ; and muft be
very pernicious in its confequences, from the bad effects it may have in practice 5 as muft the lame reafoning alfo in regard to purging. Rowels, Thus to lean hide-bound horfes, and
"ro™ im* th°fe °f 3 dry h0t conftitlltion> the dif-
ProPer- cnarge, by depriving the conftitution of fo much blood and fluids, is daily ex-
haufting the ftrength of the animal; and
may be prod active of bad confequences,
by defrauding the conftitution of a ne-
ceffary fluid.
When But in diforders from fulnefs, attended
proper. wj£h acrimony, or fharpnefs of the juices,
and with defluxions on the eyes, lungs, or any part of confequence •, the gradual difcharge, brought on by thefe means, will contribute to leflen the fulnefs on the parts affected, and give the veffels an opportunity of recovering their tone, while evacuating and alterative medicines are doing their office. Obferva- It may be neceflary, however, to ob-
rions. ferve, that there is a wonderful commu- nication between the veffels of the cellu- lar membrane under the fkin, which re- markably appears, by inflating thofe of fheep,
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Of RO WELLING. 223
flieep, calves, &V. by the butchers ;
hence probably it is that fome diforders of this integument are fo apparently re- lieved by ifliies, or rowels, without our having any recourfe to that general de- pletion of the veffels, we have juft ob- served, to account for it; and hence alfo How ufe- may be deduced their utility, fometimes j[ull.n in draining off any extravafed fluids, which may lodge between the interfaces of the mufcles, after violent drains of the flaoulder; alfoindifchargingfuch vitious, or lharp fluids, as are thrown on the membranes, and occafion thofe flying pains, and lamenefles, which we find are often removed by this local remedy. Thefe obfervations, with fome few in-
terfperfed in the preceding chapters, it is hoped, will be of fome ufe to recon- cile a very vague term to fome mean- ing. |
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CHAP.
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C 224 ]
CHAP. XXIV.
Of Strains in Various Parts.
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Strainsdc- TT is neceffary to obfervc, that in all
fcribed. J[ ftrains, the mufcular or tendinous fibres are overftretched; and fometimes ruptured, or broke. To form there- fore a true idea of thefe diforders, let us firft confider every mufcle and tendon as compofed of ipringy, elaftic fibres, which have a proper power of their own to contract and extend themfelves; or, to make their action more familiar, k£ us compare them to a piece of cat' gut, that we may the better judge with what propriety oily medicines are directed for their cure. Thus then, if by a vio- lent extenfion of this cat-gut, you had (0 overftretched it, as to deftroy its fpringi- Oily m«- ne^s or elafticity, and was inclined to re- dieines cover its loft tone; would you for that improper purpofe think of foaking it in oil ? And for (trains. js not the method of treating ftrains, or overftretched mufcles and tendons, full as prepofterous, when you bathe or foak them in oily medicines, at a time
that
they want reftringents to brace them up •
Yet
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Of Strains in Various Parts* 22$
Ifet cuftom has Co eftablifhed this prac-
tice, and fallacious experience feemingly fo confirmed it, that it would be a dif- ficult talk to convince the illiterate and prejudiced, of the abfurdity; who, by attributing effects to wrong caufes, are led into this error, and the oils ufurp the reputation that is due only to reft and quiet: they feem, however, to be aware of the ill confequences, by their adding the hot oils, as fpike turpentine, and origanum •, which though they in fome rneafure guard againft the too fuppling' quality of the other oils, yet the treat- ment is ftill too relaxing to be of real fervice. And indeed, in all violent ftrains ofBancJ;tge
either tendon or mufcles, whatever opi- and re<' r l i • j proper '«
nion we may entertain or baching and ftra;ns,
anointing with favouring noftrums, which often fucceed in (light cafes, where per- haps bandage alone would have done j >'et it is the latter, v/ith proper refting the relaxed fibres, till they have tho- roughly recovered their tone, that are the chief things to be depended on •, and frequently fome months are neceffary for effecting the cure. |
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Q^ All
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226 Of Strains in Various Parts.
Time and All violent ftrains of the ligaments,
Tfsoften wnicn connec1: the bones together, efpe- necdlary. c'^y thofe of the thigh, require time, and turning out to grafs, to perfect a recovery. External applications can avail but little here, the parts affected laying too deep, and fo furrounded with mufcles, that medicines cannot penetrate to them. The fooner, in thefe cafes, a horfe is turned out to grafs, the better, as the gentle motion in the field will prevent the ligaments and joint-oil from thickening, and of courfe the joint itfelf from grow- ing ftiff-, nor do I believe that firing, fo commonly pradlifed in this cafe, is of half the confequence as reft, and turn- ing out for a confiderable time ; which, by the bye, is always advifed at the fame time the horfe is fired. I could not avoid faying thus much, in order to fhew the great advantages of reft in all ftrains, and that no" horfe fhould be worked till he is thoroughly recovered. The figns "When a horfe's fhoulder is overilrained,
®faftrd"" he does not put out that leg as the other, but to prevent pain, fets the found foot hardily on the ground to fave the other; even though he be turned fliort on the lame fide, which motion tries him the moft
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Of Strains in Various Parts. 227
fnoft of any. When trotted in hand,
inflead of putting his leg forward in a right line, he forms a circle with the lame leg; and when he ilands in the ftable, that leg is advanced before the other. In order to Cure this lamenefe, firfl; The cure.
bleed him, and let the whole moulder • be well bathed three times a day with hot verjuice or vinegar, in which may be diflblved a piece of foap; but if the lamenefs continues without fwelling, or imfkmmation, after refting two or rhree days, let the mufcles be well rubbed for a confiderable time, to make them pe- netrate, with good opodeldoch, or either of the following mixtures. TAKE camphorated fpirits of wine, Mixtures
two ounces; oil of turpentine, one for flrains. ounce; this proportion will prevent the hair coming off. Or»
TAKE the bed vinegar, half a pint -,
fpirit of vitriol, and camphorated fpiritof wine, of each two ounces. When the fhoulder is very much fwell- A fomen-
cd, it mould be fomented with wollen tatl0n- Q_2 cloths |
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. £28
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Of Strains in Various Parts./
cloths (large enough to cover the whole)
wrung out of hot verjuice and fpirit of wine; or a fomentation prepared with a ftrong decoction of wormwood, bay- leaves, and rofemary ; to a quart of which may be added half a pint of fpirit of wine. A rowel in the point of the moulder
in this cafe often does great fervice ; efpe- cially if the drain has been very vio- lent, and the fwelling very large ; but as to boring up the (houlder with a hot iron, and afterwards inflating it, is both a cruel and abfurd treatment;. and the pegging up the found foot, or letting on a patten-fhoe, to bring the lame moulder on a ftreteh, is a molt prepofte- rous practice,, and directly calculated to render a horfe incurably lame ; for it can only be neceflary in cafes the very oppo- fite to this, where the mufcles have been long contracted, and we want to ftreteh them out. |
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Boring
and peg- ging con> demned.
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Refcrin- Where poultices can be applied, they
l>ent pod- are at firft undoubtedly very effectual, |
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tices very
proper in ftrairts. |
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after bathing with hot vinegar or ver-
juice, and are to be preferred greatly to |
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cold charges, which, by drying fo foon
on.
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Of Strains hi Various Parts. 229
on the part, keep it ftiff and uneafy:
let them be prepared with oatmeal, rye- flower, or bran, boiled up in vinegar, ftrong beer, or red wine lees, with lard enough to prevent their growing ftiff; and when by thefe means the inflammation and fwelling is brought down, bathe the part twice a day with either of the above mixtures, opodeldoch, or camphorated fpirits of wine; and roll the part three Bamis„e or four inches, both above and below, advifca. with a ftrong linen roller, of about two fingers width; which will contribute not a little to the recovery, by bracing up the relaxed tendon ; and perhaps is more to be depended on than the applications themfelves. As opodeldoch is varioufly made, and
thofe ufually fold in the (hops do not feem fo well calculated for horfes, we fliall infert the following, as better adapt- ed to this purpofe, and recommend it to be kept ready prepared for the ufe of the ftable ; it being not only very proper for the above ufe, but for bruifes, cold fwellings, benumbed parts, and for dif- perfing many other fuch fort of tumours : it may occasionally alfo be given inter- nally for the gripes from wind, or taking^ cold ; for the ftrangury, alfo and as a Q_3 cordial^'" 2
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23° Of $trams W Various Parts.
aordial; one ounce or more may t?e
taken for a dofe in a pint of ale. A warm TAKE Jamaica pepper, four ounces }
liniment, Winter's bark, caraway feeds, laurel, docrf. ' and juniper-berries bruifed, of each
two ounces; rofemary, marjoram,
and lavender flowers, of each one ounce ; rectified fpirit of wine, three pints : let them digeft in a warm place ten days, then ftrain off the tincture, and difiblve in it Venice foap a pound and a half; camphor, three ounces; Barbadoes tar, four ounces; oil of turpentine, fix ounces; oil of amber, two ounces : mix and make a liniment. Sionsof J" drains °f the coffin-joint^ that have
ftrainsin not been difcovered in time, there will the coffin, grow fuch a ftifFnefs in the joint, that the horfe will only touch the ground with his toe ; and the joint cannot be played with the hand: the only method here is repeated bliftering, and then firing fuper- ficially. Strains in Strains of the back Jinews are very
the back common, and are eafily difcovered by howknovwn1^ fwe^'ng» which extends fometimes and cured. fr°m the back fide of the knee down to the
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Of Strains in Various Parts. 231
the heel, but for the mod part the horfe
lets that leg before the other. The ten- don fhould be well bathed three or four times a day with hot vinegar; and if much fwelled, apply the poultices above recommended; and when the fwelling is down, bathe with the mixtures above, or with camphorated fpirit of wine and oil of amber, in which is diffolved as much camphor as the fpirits will take up ; and roll up the tendon with a proper bandage, or laced flocking; which laft properly fitted to the limb, might be wore to great advantage, not" only in thefe fort of injuries, but in mod others, where there is a difpofition to the greafe, ■or other fwellings of the limbs, from weak and relaxed fibres. Currier's fhav- Remedies ings wetted with vinegar have been found for ftraius uieful for this purpofe: as has alfo tar and fpirit of wine; but where the tendon has iuffered by repeated injuries of this kind, the cafe will demand bliftering, firing, and proper reft. Strains of the knevs and pafterns arife fre- Strains of
quently from kicks, or blows ; if they are the knees much fwelled, apply firft the poultices; and paf" and when the fwelling is abated, bathe erns' with the above, or the following. |
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C^4 TAKE
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2$Z Of Strains in Various Parts,
Mixtures TAKE vinegar, one pint; camphors*
for flrains, tecj fpirjts of wine, four ounces; white vitriol, diflblved in a little water,
two drams. Or,
TAKE the whites of three or four eggs, beat them into a froth with a fpoon; to which add an ounce of roach-alum, finely powdered ; fpirit of turpentine, and wine, of each half an ounce: mix them well to* gether. The following is alfo much recom-
mended by the French writers, and has been found very fuccefsful in fome old ftrains, when other remedies have failed. A poultice TAKE one pound of tar, and two
for old of rectified fpirit of wine ; ftir them &mm. together over a fire till they incorpo-
rate (but take care the flame does
rot catch the rbirits :) then add two ounces of bole, finely powdered ; and a fufficient quantity of oatmeal to * bring it to the confidence of a poul- t;ce j to which add lard enough to
prevent its growing dry : apply it jpread on cloth twice a day. As
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Of Strains in Various Parts. 233
As great weaknefs remains in the paf- Turning
terns after violent ftrains, the beft method outto is to turn the horfe out to grafs till he is p^p'e*.e* perfectly recovered ; when this cannot be complied with the general way is to blifter and fire. When a horfe is lame in the ftifle, he The figns
generally treads on his toe, and cannot of Iame- iet the heel to the ground. Treat him at nefs in th« firft with the vinegar and the cooling re-^'' ftringents ; but if a large fwelling, with puffinefs, enfues, foment it well with the difcutient fomentation till it difperfes; and then bathe the part with any of the above medicines, A lamenefs in the whirle-bone and The figns
hip is difcovered by the horfe's drag- oflame- ging his leg after him, and dropping ne[s'"tlie backward on his heel when he trots. Jf^T" the mufcles of the hip are only injured, this kind of lamenefs is cured eafily ; but when the ligaments of the joint arg af- fected, the cure is often very difficult, tedious, and uncertain. In either cafe, at firft bathe the parts well with the cool- ing medicines, four or five times a day ; in the mufcular ftrain this method alone jfaay i'ueceed j but in the ligamentous, it V is
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234 ®f ^ trains in Various Parts.
is reft and time only can reftore the inju-
red parts to their proper tone. ^Thock! Strains in the /&<?<:£ are to be treated by
foaking the parts with coolers and re- pellers ; but when the ligaments are hurt, and they are attended with great weak- nefs and pain, ufe the fomentation. If a hardnefs mould remain on the* outfide, it may be removed by repeated biifter- ing ; if within it may be out of the power of any external applications to remove •, however, thejoint ihould be fired gently with fmall razes or lines pretty clofe together, and then covered with a mercurial plaifter. To the difcutient fo- mentation above mentioned may be added crude fal armoniac, with a handful of wood afb.es boiled in it. The bliftering ointment for the above
purpofes may be found in the chapter of Bone-Spavin •, but the fublimate ihould be omitted. Firing for xhe firing ufed for the ftrengthening
iT£s°" relaxed finevvs or tendons mould aft
the imews , . _ . . . , , how it onJy on £he_ fkin, which by contracting
fliouMbe and hardening it all round the finews, perform- comprelTes them more firmly like a ban- dage. The bowmen of old fubmitted to
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3
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Of Strains in Various Parts.'
to this operation, in order to give
ftrength to the mufcles and tendons of their arms. A proper degree of fkill is very requifite to perform it effectually on a horfe ; for a due medium Ihould be obferved, a-nd the inftrument neither fo flightly applied, as to fcarify the flriq only fuperficially, nor fo deep as to wound of cauterize the finew or its (heath : in the former cafe, the wounds not pene- trating the fkin at all, the fears would not be hard enough to aft with a fuffi- cient preffure on the tendon •, and in the latter, the fire being given too deep, might Hough off the tendon itfelf, the confequence of which would be a lofs of fubftance, and of courfe a lamenefs would enfue from a contracted finew. The lines ftiould be drawn pretty clofe together on each fide of the joint or finew, fol- lowing the courfe of the hair •, no crofs- lines mould be made, as they but disfigure the horfe afterwards, without any real ufe. The firing inftrument, or knife, ought to be a little rounded on the edge, gradually thickening to the back, that it may retain the heat for fome time, but fhould not be applied till the flaming rednefs is partly gone off. The cauterized parts may be bathed with fpirit of wine \% firft, and anointed afterwards with bees-
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236 0/TUMOURS «i
bees-wax and oil; which alone is fufficient
to complete the cure. |
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CHAP. XXV.
Of TUMOURS and
IMPOSTHUMES. |
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TUMOURS, or fwellings arife
either from external injuries, or in- ternal caufes. Swellings Swellings caufed by external accidents,
from ex- as blows and brnifes, mould at firft be remal treated with reftringents ; thus let the hew"' Part ke ^atned frequently with hot vine- treated, gat" or verjuice, and, where it will admit of bandage, let a flannel wetted with the fame be rolled on; if by this method the fwelling does not fubfide, apply, es- pecially on the legs, a poultice with red wine lees, ftrong-beer grounds, and oat- meal, or with vinegar, oil, and oatmeal % either of thefe may be continued twice a day after bathing, till the fwelling abates ; when, in order to difperfe it entirely, the vine'gar
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IMP OS THUMES. 237
vinegar mould be changed for campho-
rated fpirit of wine, to four ounces of which may be added one of fpirit of fal armoniac; or it may be bathed with a tnixture of twa ounces of crude fal ar- ttioniac boiled in a quart of chamber-lye, twice a day, and rags dipped in the fame aiay be rolled on. Fomentation made by boiling worm- Fomenta-
wood, bay-leaves, and rofemary, and tioasofteni adding a proper quantity of fpirits, are neceffarX- often of great fervice to thin the juices, and fit them for tranfpiration ; efpecially if- the injury has affected the joints. But in bruifes, where the extravafated
blood wild not by thefe means be dif- perfed, the fhorteft way is to open the fkin, and let out the grumes. Critical tumours, or fwellirtgs, which-Obferrc*.
terminate fevers, fhould by no means be tion- difperfed; except when they fall on the pattern or coffin-joint,, fo as to'endanger them: in this cafe the difcutient fomen- tation, p. 227. fhould be applied three or four times a day, and a cloth or flannel frequently wrung out of the farne fhould be bound on, in order to keep the joint Continually breathing. But
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238 Of TUMOURS dnd
Critical But if the fwelling fixes under the
ifel,'n2ks jaws, behind the ears, on the poll* fliould be J . ' . , ■ , n i Vj
brought to wthers, or in the groins and iheath, <sc.
matter. it fhould be encouraged and forwarded
by ripening poultices, wherever they can be applied; oatmeal boiled foft in milk, to which a proper quantity of oil and lard is added, may anfwer this purpofe ; or the poultice recommended in the chap- ter of Strangles: thefe maybe applied twice a day till the matter is perceived to fiudtuate under the fingers, when it ought to be let out -, for which purpofe let the tumour be opened with a knife, or ftrong launcet, the whole length of the fwelling, if it can be done fafely; for nothing contributes fo much to a kind healing, as the matter's having a free difcharge, and the openings being big enough to drefs to the bottom. The fore Pledgets of tow fpread with black or
howdref- yellow bafilicon (or the wound oint- fed- ment) and dipped in the fame, melted down with a fifth part of oil of turpentine,
Ihould be applied to the bottom of the fore, and filled up lightly with the fame, without cramming; it may be thus dref- fed once or twice a day, if the difcharge is great, till a proper digeftion is pro- cured, |
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IMPOSTHUMES. 239
cured, when it mould be changed for
pledgets fpread with the red precipitate ointment, applied in the fame manner. Should the fore not digeft kindly, but Fomenta-
run a thin water and look pale, foment tions and as often as you drefs, with the above fo- poultices mentation; and apply over your dreffing rec0T". the ftrong-beer poultice, and continue ™ehnel^ this method till the matter grows thick, digefeoa. and the fore florid. The following ointments will gene-
rally anfwer your expectations in all common cafes, and may be prepared without, as well as with, the verdi- greafe. TAKE Venice turpentine and bees- The
wax, of each a pound; oil of olives, wound one pound and a half; yellow rofin,omtmen* twelve ounces : when melted toge- ther, two or three ounces of verdi- greafe, fiaely powdered, may be flur- red in, and kept fo till cold, to pre- vent its fubfiding. TAKE of yellow bafilicon, or the The red
■ above ointment, without verdi- precipi- greafe, four ounces ; red precipitate,tate 0int* finely powdered, half an ounce: mix menu them
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24<> 0/tUMOURSW
them together cold, with a knife Of
fpatula. Howufed. This laft, applied early, will prevent a
fungus, or proud flefli, from {hooting out; for if you drefs too long with the above digeftive, the fungus will rife faft, and give fome trouble to fupprefs it; when it will be neceflary to warn the fore, as often as you drefs, with a folution of blue vitriol in water, or to fprinkle it with burnt alum and precipitate. If thefe mould not be powerful enough, touch with a cauftick, or wa(h with the Tbefubb- fublimate water, made- by diflblving half matewa . an ounc£ Qf corroflve fublimate in a pint of lime-water. |
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Ob'erva- But this trouble may in a 'great mea-
tion. fure be prevented, if the fore is on a part where bandage can be applied with
compreffes of linen cloth : for even when thefe excrefcences regerminate, as it were, under the knife, and fpring up in fpite of the caufticks above mentioned, they are to be fubdued by moderate compfef- fion made on the iprouting fibres, by thefe means. Wherein Authors on farriery have in general
authors given very proper receipts to anfwer are de- every ikieni
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J
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IMPOST HUMES. 241
every intention of this kind by medicines;
but as they have not, I think, laid down fufficient rules for their application in thofe cafes where they are moft wanted, I hope the following general directions will not be unacceptable -, as the difficulty in healing fome kinds of fores arifes fre- quently from the unfkilful manner of dref- fing them, It may be neceffary then to obferve Howfora»
here once for all; that the cures of moft |!l0^ddbc fores are effected by the fimpleft me- re e thods, and that it is often of much more confequence to know how to drefs a fore, than what to drefs it with; and in this confifts indeed the chief art of this branch of furgery ; for the moft eminent in that profeffion have long fince difcovered, that variety of ointments and falves are unneceffary in the cure of moft wounds and fores, and they have accordingly difcarded the greateft part, formerly in repute for that purpofe ; repeated obfer- vations having taught them, that after the digeftion, nature is generally dif- pofed to heal up the wound faft enough herfelf, and that the furgeon's chief care is to prevent a luxuriency commonly called proud flefh; which all ointments, wherein lard or oil enters, are but too R prone |
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242 Of TUMOURS and
prone to encourage, as they keep the fibres
too lax and ftfpple: and which dry lint alone, early appleci, as eafily prevents, by its abforbing quality, and light compreffion on the fprouting fibres. Some par- Thus, if a hollow wound or fore is
reaions'" cramrned with tents, or the dreffings are
for that applied too hard, the tender fhoots of
rp ofe. flefh from the bottom are prevented pufla-
ing jp ; and the fides of the fore in time
from this distention may grow horny, and
turn fiftulous : nor has the matter by this
method a free difcharge.
On the other hand, if fores of any
depth are dreffed fuperficially, the exter- nal parts being more difpofed to heal and come together than the internal, they will fall into contact, or heal too foon ; and the fore not filling up pro- perly from the bottom, will break out afrefli. Hence we may juftly conceive what lit'
tie ftref* is to be laid on famous ointments, or family falves, unfkilfully appled ; for unlefs this due medium is obferved, or obtained in the drefiing, no hollow fore can heal up properly. |
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I thought
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IMPOSTHUMES.
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243
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I thought it neceffary to be a little ex- Frequent
plicit on this head, as gentlemen fo fre- dlffP- quently complain of being difappointed ^g"," in their cures, notwithstanding the ex- happen cellency of their ointment, or balfanv, from dref- and to convince them, that lefs confidence j!n.2.u"" fhould be put in thefe favourite medicines ' u y' than is generally imagined ; for where the habit is found, and the blood and juices in good condition, there are few fimple dreffings that will not fucceed ; and when otherwife, the moft pompous will not avail, till thefe are rectified by proper in- ternal medicines. As foon then as a good digeftion is Thefigns
procured (which is known by the thick- of good nefs and whitenefs of the matter difcharg- dlgeftl0n- ed, and the florid red colour at the bot- tom of the fore) let the dreffings be changed for the precipitate medicine j or the fore may be filled up with dry lint alone, or dipped in lime-water with a little honey and tincture of myrrh, or brandy; about a fifth part of the latter to one of the former: a pledget of lint dipped in this mixture fhould alfo be ap- plied to the bottom of the fore, which fhould be filled up with others to the fur- face or edges, but not crammed in too R 2 hard |
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244 Of TUMOURS and
hard as before obferved, nor yet applied
too loofely. Dig^ftive By this method, the fore would incarn
ointments or heal up properly* and foft fpongy flefh fliould notwou](j ijg prevented or fupprefied in time ; Bued too whereas, when ointments or falves are too long. long continued, a fungus, or proud flefh> is thereby fo encouraged in its growth, that it requires fome time to deftroy and eat it down again: a proper comprefs of cloth, and a linen roller, is abfolutely ne- cefiary both for this purpofe, and to fecurc on the dreflings, wherever they can con- veniently be applied. An over- To illuftrate what has been faid, 1
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reach de
fcribcd, |
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(hall take this opportunity of fhewing
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how a wound from an over-reach mould
be treated, as I find it fometimes proves very difficult of cure. This wound is caufed by the point of the hind fhoe's cutting into the horfes fore heel; and when it is only fuperficial, or flight, is in general eafily cured by wafhing it clean, and applying the wound-ointment: but it fhould be obferved, from the nature and manner of the injury, where the blow has been fmart, that it differ* widely from a common cut; the part here being both torn and bruifed ; and confe-
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IMPOSTHUME.S. 2
confequently it requires to be properly di-
gefted in order to lay a good foundation for healing. For this purpofe, after wafhing out How
any dirt or gravel with foap fuds, CsV. cured, let the wound be digefted, by drefllng it with doflils of lint dipped in an ounce of Venice turpentine, divided with the yolk of an egg, to which half an ounce of tincture of myrrh may be added j over this dreffing I mould advife the turnep-poultice, or that with ftrong-beer grounds and oatmeal, to be applied three or four times, or oftener, till the digeftion is procured, which is known by the figns abovementioned, and then both thefe dreffings may be changed for the pre- cipitate medicines, or the lime-water mix- ture i obferving always to apply the dof- fils carefully to the bottom to fill up the fore with the fame even to the furface, and to bind all on with a comprefs and roller : and if any cavities appear, that cannot conveniently be dreffed to the bottom, they mould always be laid open, or no proper foundation for healing can be obtained. The hoof alfo fhould be kept fupple, or pared away, when the growth of it interrupts this end, as fome- times is the cafe* R 3 CHAP.
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•K_
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[ M6 ]
CHAP. XXVI.
Of WOUNDS in General. |
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The lips T N all frefh wounds made by cutting
of all fre(h J^ inftruments, there is nothing more ftoukAe required than bringing the lips of the brought wound into contact by future or bandage, into con- provided the part will allow of it.; for on «a. wounds of the hips, or other prominent parts, and acrofs fome of the large muf-
cles, the Hitches are apt to burft on the horfe's lying down and rifing up in the flail ; in fuch cafes the lips fhould not be brought clofe together: one flitch is furfi- cient for a wound two inches long; but in • . large wounds, they fhould be at an inch or more diftance; and if the wound is deep in the rnufcles, care fhould be taken to pais the needles proportionably deep, otherwife the wound will not unite pro- peri y from the bottom. jjow Should the wound bleed much from an
bleeding artery divided, the firfl ftep fhould be
'f-3 to fecure it, by paffing a crooked needle
/~e underneath, and tying it up with a wax*
°pi>e ' ed thread : if the artery cannot be got
at
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Of WOUND S.
at this way, apply a button of lint or tow
to the mouth of the bleeding veffel, dip- ped in a ftrong folution of blue vitriol, ftyptic water, oil of vitriol, or hot oil of turpentine, powdered vitriol, or colco- thar, csV. and remember always to apply it clofe to the mouth of the bleeding vef- fels, and take care that it is kept there by proper comprefs and bandage till an efchar is formed ; otherwife it will elude your expectations, and frequently alarm you with frefh bleedings. In a memoir prefented to the Royal The
Academy of Sciences by M. La FoflTe cacy he gives an account of the fuccefs he had pu met with in flopping the bleedings of very confiderable arteries in horfes by the application of the powder of puff- balls, the arteries cicatrizing by this means only, without any fucceeding haemor- rhage. This Lycoperdon, or puff-ball, was made ufe of for this purpofe in hu- man fubjects, about 160 years ago, by Felix Wurtz, a famous old furgeon in Germany ; but he does not feem to have . a thought of trailing to it in fuch confi- derable arteries, as M. La Foffe mentions, viz. thofeofthe leg and thigh, the bleed- ings from which divided veffels he ftopt in a few minutes by the ufe of this pow- R 4 der |
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248 Of W O U N D S.
der only. The agarick of the oak may
alfo be ufed for this purpofe, where it can be retained by a proper bandage. tkktaaP" Thefe aPPlicat;°ns' as indeed a11 ftyP"
" ticks, feem to act by conftringing the extremity of the veffel, or choaking it up,
till a grume of blood is formed inter- nally, which plugs up the orifice ; and has been found to adhere to it fo, as to confti- tute one body with the veffel. M. La Foffe has proved this by flitting an artery . up longitudinally, when he found that the little grume of clear blood was of a firm confiftence, of a lively red, in form of a cone or fugar-loaf, the ba- fis of which adhered to the little inclofing membrane, which (hut up the artery with- out ; the pocar of which floated in the cavity of the veffel. Obferva- I purpofely avoid fetting down any fa-
uons. mous receipts for frefh wounds, whether ointments, or Fryar's balfams, being well affured, that in a healthy found confti- tution, nature furnifhes the beft balfam, and performs herfelf the cure, which is fo often attributed to the medicine : when it is otherwife, and the blood is deprived of its balfamic ftate, as will appear from the afpeft of the wound, and its manner |
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Of W O U N D S. 24f
of healing, it mud be rectified by proper
internal medicines, before a good founda- tion forhealingcanbelaid by any external applications whatever. . The lips of the wound then being Fren,
brought together by the needle or ban- wounds, dage, it needs only to be covered with h°w dref- rags dipped in brandy, or a pledget of e * tow fpread with the wound-ointment, in p. 239. the directions in the preceding chapters being obferved, and the wound- ed part kept as much as pofiible from motion. Remember to drefs all wounds of the 9w"erva-
joints, tendons, and membranous parts,tl0n' with terebinthinate medicines; to which may be added honey and tincture of myrrh ; and avoid all greafy applications whatever : fomentations and poultices arc alfo generally here of great ufe; the for- mer thin and attenuate the impacted fluids, greatly promote a free perfpiration in the limb, and facilitate the unloading the fur- charge on the veflels, by quickening the motion of the fluids ; while the latter, by relaxing the veflels, abate their tenfion, and relieve the obftruction, by promoting digeftion. Punctured
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^
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Of W O U N D S.
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2 SO
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Pun&ured
wounds,
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PundTured wounds from thorns, or
any other accidents, mould be treated in |
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how treat- tne fame manner ; applying the beer, or
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eJ
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bread and milk poultice over the dreffing,
till fome figns of digeftion appear, and fomenting the part well every day. This method is alfo very fuccefsfully ufed to thofe fwellings, which often arife on the neck from bleeding, the fores being fprinkled with precipitate, and burnt alum powdered, to fetch out the core, or fungus, which choaks up the orifice.. The ufual method is to introduce a piece of vitriol, or fublimate, which often brings on a plentiful difcharge, fetches out the core, and makes a cure ; but it is often with the lofs of the vein, and it fometimes leaves a large fwelling and im- pofthumation. |
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Swellings
from bleeding, kcw treat ed. |
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In gun-fliot wounds, when the ball has
not penetrated too deep, it mould be' extracted, if it can be fetched away with- out difturbance, together with any extra- neous bodies that might pafs in with it; the wound mould be drefTed with the old digeftive of Venice or common tur- pentine, divided with the yolks of eggs, to which may be added fome honey and tinclure of myrrh. The entrance of thefe
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Gun (hot
wounds, how treat' ed. |
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*
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0/WOUNDS. 2Ji
thefe wounds frequently requires to be
enlarged, and a depending orifice mould always be procured, if poffible; and if the wound mould not digeft kindly, apply the beer-poultice, and foment with the dif- cutient fomentation, p. 237. In fcalds, or burns from gunpowder, Scalds and
or' any other caufe, when the ikin re- bums, mains intire, bathe the part well, and ll"w treat' keep itfoaked with rags dipped in fpirite ' of wine camphorated : fait bound thick on the part has been found very effectual for this purpofe : and indeed all faline and fpirituous applications excel others, while the fkin is yet unbroke •, but when the (kin is feparated, anoint the part, and keep it conftantly fupple with linfeed or fallad oil, and a plaiiter fpread with bees wax and oil: if the fkin is fo fcorch- ed, that floughs muft be digefted out, drefs with the wound ointment and oil of turpentine, and finifli the cure with any drying ointment. Should the horfe be feverifh from the pain, bleed him, give cooling glyfters, and treat him as we have directed in fimple fevers. The fire, fuppofed to be left in the Obfer?s.
part after injuries of this kind, is nothing tlon- more than the inflammation, which is the
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252 Of ULCERS.
the natural effect of iuch caufes; fo that
the whimfical notions and conceits con- cerning fire remaining in the burnt part, is extremely abfurd; |
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CHAP. XXVII.
O/ULCERS/s General,
WE fhall not here enter into a de-
fcription of each particular fpe- cies of ulcers, but only lay down fome directions for their general treatment ; by which means we fhall avoid the ufual prolixity of authors on this fubject, and yet fhall endeavour to give fo general an idea of the nature of ulcers, as we hope will be fufficiently inftru&ive both of the application, and of the proper remedy to each, Thecuie It may be neceflary to obferve, that
ot fome we ma 0ften \n Vain purfue the beft me- ulcers in , , J r , r . ,. vain at- thods or cure by external applications,
tempted unlefs we have recourfe to proper internal
without remedies ; for as all ulcers, difficult to internals. ^.^ proceec] from a particular indifpo- fition
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