somewhat inverted. Suppuration soon follows, and the surrounding skin appears tumefied, tight, and hard, and the vein itself, above the orifice, feels like a hard cord. After this the swelling of the neck increases, accompanied with extreme tenderness, and now there is constitutional irritation, with tendency to inflammatory fever.

In the first stage we must try to relieve by evaporating lotions or by fomentation. If these fail, and as soon as the disease begins to spread in the vein, the appropriate remedy is to touch the spot with the actual cautery, simply to sear the lips of the wound, and apply a blister over it, which may be repeated. Purgatives in full doses must be administered, and the neck, as much as possible, kept steady and upright."

1476. Blistering. "6 Blistering plasters are never applied to horses. An ointment is always used, of which rather more than half is well rubbed into the part to be blistered, while the remainder is thinly and equally spread over the part that has been rubbed. When there is any danger of the ointment running, and acting upon places that should not be blistered, they must be covered with a stiff ointment made of hog's lard and bees'-wax, or kept wet with a little water. The horse's head must be secured in such a way that he cannot reach the blister with his teeth. When the blister has become quite dry, the head may be freed. Sometimes it remains itchy, and the horse rubs it; in that case he must be tied up again. When the blister is quite dry, put some sweet-oil on it, and repeat it every second day. Give time and no work, otherwise the horse may be blemished by the process."

66

1477. Physicking. - Physicking, which in stable language is the term used for purging, is employed for improving the condition when in indifferent health, and is a remedy for disease. The medicines chiefly used are, for horses, Barbadoes aloes, dose from 3 to 9 drachms; croton bean, from 1 scruple to drachm, or cake, from drachm to 1 drachm, to which may occasionally be added calomel, from 1 to 1 drachm. For cattle, aloes, in doses somewhat larger than for the horse; Epsom salts, or common salt, dose from 1 lb. to 14 lb., with some stimulus, as ginger, anise, or carraway-seed; also linseed-oil, dose 1 lb., and croton oil, 15 to 20 drops, or the bean or cake, the same as in the horse. For dogs, jalap, dose 1 drachm, combined with 2 grains of calomel; croton oil, dose 2 drops; bean, 5 grains; and syrup of buckthorn, dose 1 oz.

1478. "These, it will be observed, are average doses for full-grown animals; in the young and small they may be less, in the large they may require to be greater; but much injury has often been done by too large doses too frequently repeated. To the horse, physic is usually administered in the form of a bolus or ball; to cattle by drinking or drenching, though for both either way may be employed. A ball is conveniently made of linseed-meal, molasses, and the active ingre

dient, whether purgative, diuretic, or cordial; it should be softish, and about the size of a pullet's egg. In administering it, the operator stands before the horse, which is generally unbound, and turned with its head out of the stall, with a halter on it. An assistant stands on the left side, to steady the horse's head, and keep it from rising too high; sometimes he holds the mouth, and grooms generally need such aid. The operator seizes the horse's tongue in his left hand, draws it a little out and to one side, and places his little finger fast upon the under jaw; with his right hand he carries the ball smartly along the roof of the mouth, and leaves it at the root of the tongue; the mouth is closed, and the head is held, till the ball is seen descending the gullet on the left side. When loath to swallow, a little water may be offered, and it will carry the ball before it. A hot, troublesome horse should be sent at once to a veterinary surgeon. Instruments should, if possible, be avoided, and adding croton farina to the mash often answers the purpose."

1479. "The horse must undergo preparation for physic, which is done by gently relaxing the bowels. During the day previous, his food should be restricted to bran mashes-a quarter peck being sufficient for a feed-and this with his drink, should be given warm; corn should be withheld, and hay restricted. He may have walking and trotting exercise morning and evening. The physic is given on an empty stomach early in the morning; immediately after, a bran mash is given; that over, the horse goes to exercise for perhaps an hour, and is watered when he returns. The water should be as warm as he will take it; and he should take as much as he pleases throughout the day; bran mash should be given as often as corn usually is, and better warm than cold; if both are refused, bran may be tried, but no corn, and but little hay. Sometimes gentle exercise may be given in the afternoon, and also next day. The physic usually begins to operate next morning, though it rarely takes effect in 12 hours, frequently not for 30. When the physic begins to operate, the horse should stand in the stable till it sets, which may be in 12 hours." * The stable should be well littered behind the stall, to receive the discharge.

1480. Drenches should be given with caution either to horse or ox; "that no unnecessary force be used, that they be never given by the nostrils, and especially that, if the slightest irritation is occasioned in the windpipe, the animal shall immediately be set at liberty, that, by coughing, he may free himself of the offending

matter."

1481. "Many practitioners and horse proprietors," says Mr Youatt, "have a great objection to the administration of medicines in the form of drinks. There are some medicines, however, which must be given in the form of drink, as in colic. An ox horn, the larger end being cut slantingly, is the usual and

best instrument for administering drinks. The noose of a halter is introduced into the mouth, and then, by means of a stable-fork, the head is elevated by an assistant considerably higher than for the delivery of a ball. The surgeon stands on a pail on the offside of the horse, and draws out the tongue with the left hand. He then, with the right hand, introduces the horn gently into the mouth and over the tongue, and by a dexterous turn of the horn, empties the whole of the drink-not more than about 6 oz.-into the back part of the mouth. The horn is now quickly withdrawn, and the tongue loosened, and the greater portion of the fluid will be swallowed. A portion of it, however, will often be obstinately held in the mouth for a long time, and the head must be kept up until the whole is got rid of, which a quick, but not violent, slap on the muzzle will generally compel the horse to do. The art of giving a drink consists in not putting too much in the horn at once; introducing the horn far enough into the mouth; and quickly turning and withdrawing it without bruising or wounding the mouth, the tongue being loosened at the same moment. A bottle is a disgraceful instrument to use, except it be a flat pint bottle, with a long and thick neck."* The nearside horn has the most handy twist for administering a drink with the right hand.

1482. Fomentations.-" Clean water is the best fomentation. It should be as hot as the hand can bear it, yet not hot enough to pain the animal. In fomenting the horse, the groom has rarely enough water, and he does not continue the bathing long enough to do any good. If the leg is to be fomented, get a pailful of water as hot as the hand can bear it; put the horse's foot into it, and, with a large sponge, lave the water well above the affected part, and keep it constantly running down the whole limb. Foment for half an hour, and keep the water hot by adding more."

1483. Poultices.-"Poultices should be formed of those materials which best maintain heat and moisture, and they should be applied as warm as possible, and can be safely borne. They are usually made of bran mash, turnips, or oatmeal porridge. Linseed meal alone makes the best of poultices, and some of it should always be added to the other ingredients. Wet bandages act as poultices."

1484. Lotions." Of cooling lotions, cold water is the menstruum. It may be made colder by the introduction of a little salt or ice. Sal-ammoniac and vinegar may be added for the same purpose. The object is to reduce heat, and promote evaporation. The addition of a little spirits is made with the same object."

1485. The Pulse." Of the horse, the natural pulse is from 35 to 45 beats in the minute; under fever, it rises to 80, 90, and 100. The most convenient spot to examine it is at the edge of the lower jaw, a little before the angle, where

* Youatt On the Horse, p. 507, edition of 1843.

the maxillary comes from the neck to be distributed over the face. The pulse is one of the most important indications in all serious disorders."

1486. Injections." Injections, though easily administered by means of the old ox-bladder and pipe, are still more conveniently given with a syringe. For laxative clysters for the horse or cow, from 1 gallon to 12 pints imperial of warm water or gruel, at the temperature of 96° Fahr., with a couple of handfuls of salt or 2 oz. of soft soap, prove most useful. Stronger ones may be obtained by adding a few ounces of aloes to the mixture. In cases of diarrhoea or over-purging, the injection should consist of a few pints of warm gruel, to which is added 1 oz. of catechu electuary, or from drachm to 1 drachm of powdered opium. The only art in administering a clyster, where, however, there is often bungling, and even injury, by wounding the rectum,is to avoid frightening the animal, anointing the pipe well, and gently insinuating it before the fluid is forced up."

1487. "In general, bran mashes, carrots, green meat, and hay, form the sick horse's diet; gruel and tepid water his drink."+ Of the diseases themselves, I shall only notice those at present which usually affect farm-horses in winter.

1488. Horse-louse (Trichodectes Equi.)-The horse is infested by a louse as well as the ox, and which is represented in fig. 115. It will be found

Fig. 115.

I

referred to by the older writers on natural history, under the name of Pediculus Equi. Colour of the head and thorax bright chestnut, the former very large and somewhat square, the surface with a longitudinal black line towards each side, forming an angle near the middle; antennæ with the third joint longest; abdomen pale, tawny yellow, with fine pubescence, the first eight segments having a dusky transverse band on the upper half, the lateral margins also with a TRICHODECTES EQUI. dusky band; legs pale chestnut; length 1 line. Common in the tail-head and neck of the horse, especially when fresh from pasture in autumn. Found also on the ass. A little oil will destroy this animal when it first appears; but if allowed to establish itself for some time, mercurial ointment will be necessary, but in small quantities at a time.

THE HORSE-LOUSE,

1489. Besides being infested by this species, the ass has a louse peculiar to itself, the Hematopinus Asini; of a rusty red; abdomen whitish, tinged with yellow, and having a row of dark horny excrescences on each side; head long, with

+ Dick's Manual of Veterinary Science, p. 9.

1490. Batts. One of the most common complaints amongst farm-horses is the flatulent colic, gripes, or batts. It arises from indigestion, which again is occasioned by various causes, such as hard work immediately after feeding, drinking water largely after a feed of corn, bad state of the food, fast eating, and, in consequence, a paucity of saliva, an overloaded stomach, a sudden change of food from soft to hard and dry, and more likely to occur after eating turnips, potatoes, carrots, and grass, than hay and oats, and after pease than barley. The indigestion arises in two forms; the food either undergoing no change, or running rapidly to fermentation. In the former case acute foot-founder is apt to arise, and its treatment is purgatives, drenches, and injections. In the latter case, the symptoms are most alarming-the horse falls down, rolls over, starts up, paws the ground with his forefoot, strikes his belly with the hind-foot, perspiration runs down, and agony appears extreme. Relief may be obtained from this dose :-Linseed oil, raw, 1 lb. ; oil of turpentine from 2 to 3 oz. ; laudanum from 1 to 2 oz., or hartshorn from to 1 oz. The following tincture may be kept in readiness: In 2 lbs. of whisky digest for 8 days 3 oz. of ginger, 3 oz. of cloves, and then add 4 oz. of sweet spirits of nitre. Half a pint imperial of this tincture is a dose, in a quart of warm water. The abdomen should be rubbed, the horse walked slowly about, and supplied with a good bed, and with room to roll about. If there is no relief in half an hour, a second dose may be given, and, ere long, if still required, a third. Farm-horses that have keen appetites and devour their food greedily, and when they have been long in the yoke, are most apt to this disease.

1491. Inflammation of the bowels.-The symptoms of the batts are very similar at first to those of inflammation of the bowels, and, if mistaken, serious consequences may arise, as the treatment of the two complaints is very different. The symptoms may be distinguished thus: In batts, the pulse remains nearly unaltered, whereas in inflammation it is quickened; all the extremities, the ears, and feet, feel cold in batts, hot in inflammation. Whenever inflammation is apprehended, blood may be taken; in batts this is not necessary; but, under such an apprehension, the assistance of the veterinary surgeon should be obtained as speedily as possible. I have cured many horses of the batts by administering stimulating drinks with a handy cow's horn. I remember of one horse being seized with inflammation of the bowels, on its arrival home from delivering corn at the market town; and though the usual remedies of bleeding and blistering were resorted to, they proved ineffectual no doubt from being disproportioned to the exigencies of the case-and the horse sunk in five days in excruciating agony. There was no veterinary surgeon in the district at that time, which was many years ago. Now,

however, thanks to the Veterinary College of Edinburgh, through the really practically useful tuition of its indefatigable principal, Professor Dick, there is not a populous district of the country in which a skilful veterinarian is not settled. To the surgeon, therefore, in a serious case such as this and, indeed, in all cases of extensive inflammation, and especially in the interior of the body -recourse should immediately be had. I say immediately, for it is but fair to give the surgeon the chance of treating the case correctly from its commencement, and not to impose upon him the task of amending your previous bungling. Inflammation of the lungs, as well as inflammation of the kidneys-both of which the farm-horse is subject to-should always be treated by the veterinarian; but, fortunately, these formidable maladies may, almost with certainty, be evaded with well-timed working, discrimination of work according to the state of the weather, and by good food, supplied with regularity, and proper quantity.

1492. Common colds frequently occur among farm-horses at the commencement of winter, and when not entirely unheeded, but treated with due care, seldom leave serious effects. "A cold requires nothing more but confinement in a moderately warm stable for a few days, with clothing, bran mashes instead of corn, and a little laxative and diuretic medicine." The evil lies not so much in the complaint as in its ordinary treatment; it is seldom thought seriously of by farmers-"It is only a cold," is the usual remarkand, in consequence, the horse goes out every day, feels fatigued, gets wet, becomes worse, and then the lungs not unfrequently become affected, or a chronic discharge is established from one of the nostrils. One season 9 horses out of 12 in one stable were affected, one after another, by a catarrhal epidemic, which required bleeding, poulticing, or blistering under the jaw, besides the medical remedies mentioned above. These I was obliged to take charge of myself, there being no veterinarian in the district, and all fortunately recovered. The remaining 3 were slightly affected afterwards, and easily brought through; but had the cases been unheeded from the first, very serious loss might have been incurred by death.

1493. Grease.-"The well-known and unsightly disease called grease," says Professor Dick, "is a morbid secretion of the cutaneous pores of of the heels and neighbouring parts, of a peculiar greasy offensive matter, attended with irritation and increased vascular action. It is most frequently seen in coach and cart horses, but often also in young colts which are badly cared for; and it is most common in the hind-feet, but occurs in all. Its main cause seems to be sudden changes in the condition of the foot from dry to wet, and from heat to cold, greatly augmented, of course, by evaporation." Hence the evil effects of washing the legs at night without thoroughly drying them afterwards. "The first appearance of grease," continues the Professor, "is a dry state of the heels, with heat and itchi

much better, and in the end cheaper. The horses got gradually worse under the disease, and at length, being unable to maintain their step with the rest, were disposed of as broken-winded horses.

1500. Sprains. "A sprain, or strain, is violence inflicted, with extension, often rupture and displacement, upon the soft parts of a joint, including cellular membrane, tendons, ligaments, and all other parts forming the articulation. The dislocation or disruption may be complete, or it may be a mere bruise or stress; and innumerable are the shades of difference between these extremes. Effusion of the fluids is an attendant consequence. Parts of vital importance, as in the neck or back, may be implicated, and the accident be immediately fatal, or wholly irremediable; on the contrary, they may be to that extent only that, with time and ease, restoration may be accomplished. They constitute a serious class of cases. The marked symptoms are, pain in the injured parts, and inability of motion sometimes complete. The treatment is at first rest, a regulation of the local action and constitutional disturbance, according to circumstances, by venesection, general and local, the antiphlogistic regimen, fomentation, bandages, and other soothing remedies; and when the sprain is of an older date, counter-irritation, friction, and gentle exercise." Farm-horses are not unfrequently subject to strains, especially in doing work connected with building, draining, and other heavy work; and they are most apt to occur in autumn, when geldings are generally in a weak state. For rough work of this kind, old seasoned horses are best adapted, and such may often be procured for little money at sales of stock.

1501. Saddle-galls.-When young horses are first put to work, the parts covered by the saddle and collar are apt to become tender, heated, and then inflamed, and if the inflammation is neglected, the parts may break out into sores. Washing with a strong solution of salt in water, with tincture of myrrh, is a good lotion, while attention should be paid to the packing of both saddle and collar, until they assume the form of the horse intended to wear them. "Tumours, which sometimes result from the pressure of the saddle, go by the name of warbles, to which, when they ulcerate, the name of sitfasts is applied, from the callous skin which adheres to the centre. Goulard water may be used to disperse the swelling; a digestive ointment will remove the sitfast; and the sore should be healed with a solution of sulphate of zinc."

together his feet." Both vices are said to be prevented by fastening a strap round the neck, studded with one or more sharp points or prickles opposite the lower jaw; but this means will not avail in all cases, for I had a year-old colt which first began crib-biting in the field by seizing the gate or any other object he could find. Being prevented using the gate by a few thorns, he pressed his mouth against any object that would resist him, even against the sides or rumps of his companions, and he then became a regular wind-sucker. A strap of the above form was put on, recommended to me by an artillery officer; but though it remained upon the colt for more than a twelvemonth, night and day, and as tight as even to affect his appearance, he continued to crib-bite or wind-suck in spite of it, even to the laceration of his skin by the iron prickles. Growing largely to the bone, though very thin, he was taken up to work at the early age of two years, solely with the view of seeing if the yoke would drive him from the practice; but it had no such effect. Whenever he came into the stable, he set to with earnestness to bite and suck with the strap on, until he would become puffed up as if to bursting, and preferred sucking wind to eating his corn. At length I was so disgusted with the habit of the brute that I sold him to a carrier, to draw a heavy single cart, and being a powerful animal and good worker, got a fair price for him, though sold as a cribbiter. I may mention that the constant practice of the vice neither retarded his growth nor injured his health.

1503. Dust-ball.-Millers' horses are most liable to be affected with this disease. Dust-ball is composed of corn and barley-dust, saved in grinding meal and used as food, and occurs sometimes in the stomach, but more frequently in the intestinal canal. "In an advanced stage, no doubt can remain as to the nature of the disorder. The countenance is haggard, the eye distressed, the back up, the belly distended, the respiration becomes hurried, bowels habitually costive, and sometimes the horse will sit like a dog on his haunches. Relief may frequently be afforded. Strong purgatives and large injections must be given, and under their continued action the offending body is sometimes removed." using barley-dust as food for horses, it would be well to mix it thoroughly with other prepared ingredients, instead of using it in the dry state.

On

1504. Worms.-Farm-horses are sometimes affected with worms. These are of three kinds: the round worm, teres; the thread-worm, ascaris; and the tape-worm, tania. "In the horse the tænia is very rare; in the dog exceedingly common. When the horse is underfed, his bowels are full of teres and ascaris; and the appearance of his staring coat, want of flesh, and voracious appetite, betoken it. They occasion gripes and diarrhoea, but the mischief they produce is not great. The principal habitat of the ascaris is the cœcum, although they are sometimes found in countless multitudes in the colon and rectum. Turpentine is a deadly poison to all these worms; but this medicine, so harmless in man, acts most