following: - Powdered ipecacuanha, a drachm; powdered opium, a scruple; liquid arrow-root, eight ounces. Should this not check the evacuation, and should it continue as mucous as at first, again give castor oil, and then follow it up by either of the drinks directed for the cure of scouring or looseness. (Vet. Pharm. 6552.)

6473. Diarrhea or looseness. This complaint originates in an increased peristaltic motion of the intestines, with an increase of their watery secretion, and is distinguished from dysentery by the purging being complete from the first, and seldom occasioning much fever or disturbance in the general health, unless exceedingly violent. The stools are merely solutions of the aliment, and unmixed with membranous films as in dysentery or molten grease. It sometimes succeeds to over-strong physic; at others the food itself enters into new combinations, and forms a purge. Some horses have their bowels constitutionally weak, as lank-sided small-carcased ones, where the mechanical pressure hurries the contents forwards. Salt mashes and sea water will purge horses violently sometimes. In violent cases, horn down liquid starch, and throw up the same by clysters. Give astringents (Vet. Pharm. 6552, No. 1.) two or three times a day; keep the animal warm and quiet. In the milder cases and in habitual scouring change the food. The change should be generally from one more moist to one less so, as beans, &c. Barley will sometimes stop looseness; malt usually increases it. Buck-wheat is often a check to habitual diarrhoea. Efficacious astringents will be found in the Vet. Pharm. (6552.) Repeat either of these night and morning. Give but little water and that little warm.

6474. Colic, flatulent or spasmodic, called also gripes, fret, or gullion, is an important, because a frequent, disease, and because it frequently destroys either quickly by its irritation, or by its degenerating into the red or inflammatory colic, when improperly treated or long continued. It is usually very sudden

in its attack.

6475. The causes of colic are not always apparent. It is sometimes occasioned by intestinal stones, which accumulate to a great size, remaining for years in the cells of the colon, until some accidental displacement occasions an interruption to the peristaltic motion. Cold in its various forms is a parent of colic; but under the form of cold water given when a horse is hot it is most common. In some horses it is so frequent as to become a constitutional appendage.

The ex

6476. The distinguishing marks between colic and inflammation of the bowels are gained, according to Blaine, by attending to the following circumstances: In gripes the horse has violent fits of pain, but they remit, and he has intervals of ease. The pain in red colic is more uniform and less violent. In gripes, the pulse is, in general, natural; in red colic it is quicker than natural, and commonly small. tremities are not usually cold in gripes; in red colic they usually are. In gripes, the horse attempts to roll on his back, which in red colic he seldom does. There are no marks of fever with gripes, as red eyelids, inflamed nostrils, &c.; but in red colic they are always present. When spasmodic colic has continued some hours, it is always proper to bleed to prevent its ending in inflammation: bleeding in the mouth is quite useless. Back-rake, and throw up clysters of warm water, one after another, as fast as possible, which often overcomes the irritation. La Fosse recommends a curious remedy; but as it can always be obtained, and has the sanction of long experience, it may be tried. An onion is pounded and mixed up with some powdered savin; in default of which, use powdered ginger. This is to be introduced up the rectum as high as possible, and the horse is to be then moved briskly about. An onion put up the fundament whole has long been a domestic remedy. The following is recommended by Blaine: — Spirit of vitriolic æther, an ounce; powdered opium, one drachm; oil of turpentine, three ounces; warm ale, a pint. He also recommends the following more simple remedy as always at hand :-The expressed juice of two or three large onions, common gin, common oil, of each half a pint; mix and give. White recom mends a pint of brandy, or of gin, with water, as an excellent carminative. Clark, who has expressly written on gripes, extols the virtues of a mixture thus made; which, if it have the qualities he attri butes to it, and which there is no reason to doubt, no agriculturist, coach or post master should be without it: Pimento berry, called also allspice, ground fine, half a pound; spirits of wine, and of water, of each a pint and a half: infuse these together, and keep for use. Give a quarter of a pint every hour until full relief is obtained; hand rubbing, wisping, or fomenting the bowels with hot water at the time.

6477. Inflammation of the intestines from wounds in the belly frequently occurs; and these injuries may happen in leaping over hedges or pale gates, or may be inflicted by the horns of a cow. Sometimes the strong tendinous covering of the belly is ruptured, while the skin remains entire; the gut then protrudes and forces out the skin into a tumour, The first thing to be done is to put the gut back, taking care at the same time, otherwise extensive inflammation follows, to remove any dirt or other matter that may be sticking to it; for which purpose, should it be found necessary, it may be washed with warm water, but with nothing stronger. If the gut cannot be returned, from its being full of air, and the opening in the belly be too small to put it back again, such opening may be carefully enlarged to the necessary size; but if the animal can be thrown upon his back conveniently, a great deal may be done that cannot otherwise be accomplished. After the gut is returned the skin only should be stitched up, and a cushion of several folds of old linen and tow being placed in the wound, it should be kept in its situation by means of a wide bandage rolled round the body, and carefully secured. The animal should then be copiously bled, and have his bowels emptied by clysters. The only food he should be allowed is grass, or bran mashes, and that only in moderate quantity. When the distention of the intestines wholly prevents their return, it would be prudent to puncture them with a very fine instrument, and thus to suffer the air to escape, which, although subjecting the horse to the risk of inflammation, is better than the certainty of death by having the intestines protruded

6478. Worms of horses are of several kinds. First, bots in the stomach; but which, as they mostly attach themselves to the hard insensible part of that organ, seldom do harm. Clark fancifully supposes they do good, and devises means for furnishing them when not in existence. The bot is the larva of the Estrus equi, a fly which deposits its eggs, it is supposed, on the grasses on which horses feed, and probably on parts of the horse himself, from whence they pass into the stomach by the food or by being licked off. Certain it is they get there, are hatched, and there remain hanging to the coats of it by two tentacule, receiving the juices of the masticated food as nutriment. After a considerable time they make their way out by the anus, drop on the ground, and are first transformed into chrysalids, and afterwards into parent flies. When bots fix themselves on the sensible portion of the stomach they may do harm; but no medicine that we know of will destroy them. The tères, or large round worm, sometimes occasions mis. chief, when it exists in great numbers, such as a staring coat, binding of the hide, irregular appetite, and clammy mouth. The best remedy is the Spigèlia marylandica or Indian pink, in daily doses of half an ounce. Tania are not common in the horse; now and then they exist, and are best combated by weekly doses of oil of turpentine, three ounces at a time, mixed by means of the yolk of an egg with half a pint of ale. The A'scaris or thread-worms are best removed by mercurial purgatives. The existence of worms may be known by the appearance of a yellow matter under the tail, and by the disposition the horse has to rub his fundament. Blaine recommends the following vermifuge:: - Powdered arsenic, eight grains; pewter or tin finely scraped; Venice turpentine, half an ounce: make into a ball, and give every morning. He also recommends salt to be given daily with the food; which agrees with our own expe rience as one of the best vermifuges known. It is a fact acknowledged by the residents along the seacoast, that horses troubled with worms will often voluntary drink largely of sea water, and thus cure themselves.

6479. The diseases of the liver are acute inflammation or hepatitis, and chronic inflammation or yellows. Hepatitis is the acute inflammation of this organ, which, like the lungs, stomach, and intestines, may spontaneously take on the affection. The symptoms are not unlike those which attend red colic, but with

less

If it be not, however, arrested, the termination will be equally fatal About the third day the whites of the eyes turn, colic and the mouth also, Bleeding, blistering, and purgatives form the methods of cure as practised in red 36180 Chronic inflammation or yellows. The liver of horses is less complex than that of many other animals, and is therefore not very liable to disease; indeed some authors affirm that the horse is never affected with jaundice, but that the yellowness of skin is a mere stomach affection: this is, however, erroneous; and not only does the liver become hardened and thickened occasionally, but the bile becomes diseased and is thrown out in that state by the blood over the body. If fever be present, bleed, but if the present

days work it off with a mild dose of physic. It is, however, necessary tone macht, mat, and every ten remark, that it is every yellowness of the skin that betokens either an acute or chronic inflammation of the liver. It is the pro perty of every serious inflammation of any of the important organs of the chest and belly, to communicate a portion of the evil to the other organs immediately in conjunction with the liver: thus an affection of the stomach or intestines, of the inflammatory kind, very often occasions redness of the membranes of the nose, eyelids, &c. &c.

1. Liseases of the urinary organs, Inflammation of the kidneys is an idiopathic affection, not one of frequent occurrence; but as brought on by injuries, such as over-riding, heavy loads, or violent diu. retics, it is not unfrequent; when idiopathic, it may be the effect either of cold, heating food, or a translation of some other inflammation; in which cases, it comes on suddenly, and assumes the same febrile appearances that other intestine inflammations produce; but there is not often great apparent pain, but a frequent inclination to stale, the quantity made being so small as almost to amount to a stoppage of urine, which is less or more complete, as one or both kidneys are affected. What little urine is made is also at first very thick, and then bloody. When the disease is the effect of external injury, the urine is not so scanty, but is more bloody; and this symptom precedes the other. There is usually much pain and stiff. ness about the loins; and we learn from Blaine, that a swelling and a paralytic affection of the hind leg, of the side of the affected kidney, sometimes is a feature in the complaint. To distinguish this inflammation from that of the neck or body of the bladder, with which it may be confounded, the same author recommends that the hand be passed up the rectum: when, if the affection belong to the kidneys, the bladder, whether full or empty, will not be hotter than usual'; but the contrary occurs when any part of the bladder is the seat of the disease.

6182. The treatment must be active, and in most respects similar to what has been recommended for red colic, as regards emptying the bowels, and endeavouring to lessen the arterial action by bleeding; but here we must carefully abstain from irritating the kidneys by diuretics internally, or blisters externally. A newly stripped sheepskin placed over the loins, or active fomentations of hot water, are the only sources of counter-irritation that are proper; neither should diluting liquors be pressed, on account of the distention they occasion, but no evil can arise from frequent warm clystering.

6483. Inflammation of the bladder. When the body of the bladder becomes inflamed, there is frequent staling from the very first attack; but when the neck of the bladder is the seat of the evil, the squeezing out of a few drops will only take place when the bladder has become filled, which may be known by pass ing the hand up the rectum. The treatment will be alike in both cases, and is the same as recommended for the last affection. It must be evident, that warm, mild, and frequent clystering must here be peculiarly advisable,

6484 Strangury or suppression of urine, incontinence of urine, bloody urine. Strangury may arise from an injury done to the kidneys, or to the bladder, by strains, or by the absorption of irritating matters. In these cases, bleed if there be fever, and if not, merely give the horse absolute rest; mash him, give gruel, and warm his water for drink. Bloody urine should be treated in the same way; some horses have such a natural or acquired weakness of kidneys, as to stale blood with their urine on every occasion of over-exertion: the means frequently used for relief are such as aggravate the complaint, and indeed are often the occasion of it, which are diuretics. Strong diuretics injure horses more than strong physic, and benefit them less than any other of the popular means made use of. In retentions of urine, but particu larly in the case of bloody urine, they are absolutely improper.

6485. Diabètes, profuse staling, or pissing evil. This disease is more frequently forced on the horse by long-continuod diuretics, or from a similar effect brought on by kiln-dried oats, mow-burnt hay, and some green vegetables, than acquired from constitutional indisposition. The horse first stales often and profusely, he then becomes weak and faint, and sweats on any exertion. If it be at all constitutional, his hide is bound from the beginning, and his urine will have a sweet taste; but if his appetite were good, and his coat sleek, bright, and elastic when the urine was first observed to be immoderate, the evil arises from some fault in the feeding, clothing, exercise, or other management of the horse. Examine into these matters, particularly into the food, and next the water. Enquire whether diuretics have been given, under an erroneous supposition of increasing the condition, and alter what may be amiss. If this do not remove the complaint, try the following, after Blaine's directions:- Liver of sulphur, two drachms; uva ursi, four drachms; oak bark, one ounce; catechu, half an ounce; alum, half a drachm: give as a daily drink in a pint of water.

6486. Stone and gravel. Calculous concrétions are not uncommon in the large intestines of horses, where they grow sometimes to an enormous size, lodged in one of the cells usually, and where they occa sion but little inconvenience, except a displacement occurs, when serious evils, as colic, inflammation, or total stoppage, follow. In the bladder, stone is very seldom found; and there is reason to believe, that though gravel is a common term in the farrier's list, that it seldom if ever occurs; injuries of the kidneys and bladder being usually mistaken for it.

SUBSECT. 6. Diseases of the Skin,

6487. Mange is a contagious disease not uncommon among lowbred and badly kept horses, but which is seldom generated in those properly managed. When it is the effect of impoverished blood, a different course of feeding must be substituted, not heating, but cooling though generous; as, carrots, speared corn, malt mashes, stable soiling, &c. When it arises in full-fed horses, bleed twice, lower the feeding, substi tuting for corn soilings, carrots, or barn mashes. Give a nightly alterative (Vet. Phorm. 6550. No. 1, or 2), and dress with either of the mange dressings. (Vet. Pharm. 6589.) After a cure has been effected, carefully clean all the apartments with soap and water.

6488. Surfeit will now and then degenerate into mange, but more generally it is brought on by a fulness of habit acted on by sudden transitions from cold to heat, or heat to cold it is likewise not unfrequently the consequence of over-fatigue. If it show a disposition to spread, and the skin become scaly and scurfy, treat as under mange; otherwise treat as directed under want of condition. (6125)

6489. Warbles are of the nature of surfeits in many instances, in others they are brought on by the pressure of the saddle, which either suppurate and burst, or become indolent and remain under the name of silfasts. In the early state, bathe them with chamberlye or vinegar: if they proceed to suppuration, refrain; and when they neither go back nor come forward, put on a pitch plaster, and if this do not promote suppuration, let the sitfast be dissected out.

6490. Warts are common to old horses, and had better be put up with, unless they be situated in some inconvenient or very conspicuous part. In this case, tie a thread tightly around the root, and the wart will drop off, or it may be cut off. Blaine recommends the following, when warts are too numerous to be so removed: Crude sal ammoniac, two drachms; powdered savin, one ounce; lard, an ounce and a half. 6491. Hide bound is a state of the skin, where the interstitial matter between that and the fleshy pan

nicle is not in a state to allow of its pliancy and elasticity. The binding down of the hide thus closely acts on the hair, which it protrudes in a contrary direction to its naturally inclined position; and thus a staring coat usually accompanies hide binding. In considering the subject of condition (6425.), we have seen that it is not a disease of itself, but is in every instance a symptom only.

SUBSECT. 7. Glanders and Farcy.

6492. The glanders is the opprobium medicorum, før hitherto no attempts have succeeded in the cure of more than a few cases. By some peculiar anomaly in the constitution of the horse, although conclusive proofs are not wanting that this and farcy are modifications of one disease, and can each generate the other; yet the one is incurable, while the other is cured every day. When glanders has been cured, the time and labour necessary to accomplish the end has swallowed up the value of the horse; and has also, in many supposed instances of cure, left the animal liable to future attacks which have occurred. The experiments on glanders, pursued at the veterinary college and by White of Exeter, have thrown great light on the disease itself, its causes, connexions, and consequences; but have done little more. From these we are led to conclude that glanders will produce farcy, and that farcy can produce glanders; that glanders is highly infectious, and that such infection may be received by the stomach, or by the skin when it is at all abraded or sore; and it is also probable, that it is received by the noses of horses being rubbed against each other. White's experiments go to prove that the air of a glandered stable is not infectious; but this matter is by no means certain, and should not be depended on without a greater body of evidence,

6493. The marks of glanders are a discharge of purulent matter from ulcers situated in one or both nostrils, more often from the left than the right. This discharge soon becomes glairy, thick, and whiteof-egg-like: it afterwards shows bloody streaks, and is fetid. The glands of the jaw of the affected side, called the kernels, swell from an absorption of the virus or poison; and as they exist or do not exist, or as they adhere to the bone or are detached from it, so some prognosis is vainly attempted by farriers, with regard to the disease; for in some few cases these glands are not at all affected, and in a great many they are not bound down by the affection to the jaw. As there are many diseases which excite a secre tion of matter from the nose, and which is kept up a considerable time, so it is not always easy to detect glanders in its early stages. Strangles and violent colds keep up a discharge from the nostrils for weeks sometimes. In such cases a criterion may be drawn from the existence of ulceration within the nose, whenever the disease has become confirmed. These glanderous chancres are to be seen on opening the nostril a little way up the cavity, sometimes immediately opposed to the opening of the nostril; but a solitary chancre should not determine the judgment. The health often continues good, and sometimes the condition also, until hectic takes place from absorption, and the lungs participate, when death soon closes the scene.

6494. The treatment of glanders, it has already been stated, is so uncertain that it is hardly worth the attempt; however, when the extreme value of the horse or the love of experiment leads to it, it may be regarded as fixed by experience, that nothing but a long course of internal remedies, drawn from the mineral acids, can effect it. These have all been tried in their endless variety: White recommends the mildest preparations of mercury, as æthiops mineral; under the conviction that the more acrid prepar. ations disturb the powers of the constitution so much, as to destroy as effectually as the disease. At the veterinary college the sulphate of copper (blue vitriol) has been long in use. Others have used the sulphates of iron and zinc. Clark recommends the daily administration of a drink or ball, composed of the following ingredients: - Sulphate of zinc, 15 grains; powdered cantharides, 7 grains; powdered allspice 15 grains; of the utility of which he gives one or two extraordinary proofs, and Mr. Sewell still attaches much importance to its use, in such daily doses as the stomach will bear. Blaine appears but little sanguine as to any medical treatment, but recommends a union of the mineral acids in the same proportions, and with the same cautions, as are detailed under farcy. (6496.)

6495. The farcy is a disease more easily cured than the glanders, of which our daily experience convinces us; farcy, or farcin, attacks under distinct forms, one of which affects the lymphatics of the skin, and is called the bud or button farcy: the other is principally confined to the hind legs, which it affects by large indurations, attended with heat and tenderness. A mere dropsical accumulation of water in the legs sometimes receives the name of water furcy; but this has no connection whatever with the true disease in question. Farcy is very contagious, and is gained from either the matter of farcy or from that of glanders. 6496. Treatment of farcy. The distended lymphatics or buds may often be traced to one sore, which was the originally inoculated part; and in these cases the destruction of this sore, and that of all the farcied buds, will frequently at once cure the disease, which is here purely local. But when the disease has proceeded farther, the virus must be destroyed through the medium of the stomach; although, even in these cases, the cure is rendered more speedy and certain, by destroying all the diseased buds, by caustic or by cautery. Perhaps no mode is better than the dividing them with a sharp firing-iron; or if deeper seated, by opening each with a lancet, and touching the inner surface with lapis infernalis. The various mineral acids may any of them be tried as internal remedies with confidence; never losing sight of the necessity of watching their effects narrowly, and as soon as any derangement of the health appears, to desist from their use. Oxymuriate of quicksilver (corrosive sublimate) may be given in daily doses of fifteen grains; oxide of arsenic may also be given in similar doses. The subacetate of copper (verdigris) may also be tried, often with great advantage, in doses of a drachm daily. Blaine joins these preparations, and strongly recommends the following:-Orymuriate of quicksilver, oxide of arsenic, subacetate of copper, of each eight rains; sulphate of copper, one scruple; make into a ball and give every morning, carefully watching the effects; and if it be found to occasion distress, divide, and give half, night and morning. The same author professes to have received great benefit from the use of the following:- The expressed juice of clivers or goose-grass, a strong decoction of hempseeds, and of sassafras, of euch six ounces, to be given after the ball. It remains to say, that whatever treatment is pursued either with respect to farcy or glanders will be rendered doubly efficacious if green meat be procured, and the horse be fed wholly on it; provided the bowels will bear such food: but if the medicines gripe, by being joined with green food, add to the diet bean-meal. When green meat cannot be procured, carrots usually can; and when they cannot, still potatoes may be boiled, or the corn may be speared or malted. As a proof of the beneficial effects of green meat, a horse, so bad with farcy as to be entirely despaired of, was drawn into a field of tares, and nothing more was done to him, nor further notice taken of him, although so ill as to be unable to rise from the ground when drawn there. By the time he had eaten all the tares within his reach, he was enabled to struggle to more; finally, he rose to extend his search, and perfectly recovered.

SUBSECT. 8. Diseases of the Extremities.

6497. Shoulder strains are very rare, most of the lamenesses attributed to the shoulder belong to other parts, and particularly to the feet. Out of one hundred and twenty cases of lameness in the fore extre mitics, Blaine found that three only arose from ligamentary or muscular extension of the shoulder. When a shoulder strain does happen, it is commonly the consequence of some slip, by which the arm is forced violently outwards. It is less to be wondered at than at first seems probable, that farriers mistake foot lameness for shoulder strains, when we reflect that a contracted foot occasions inaction, and a dis. position to favour the limb by pointing it forward, which thus wastes the muscles of the shoulder. Seeing one shoulder smaller than the other, the evil is supposed to be there, and it is pegged, blistered, and fired,

or the horse is swam for it to his torture, and the increase of the foot's contraction by the confinement. In real shoulder strains, the toe is dragged along the ground while in motion; at rest it is planted forward, but resting on the point of the toe. When the lameness is in the foot, the horse points his foot forward also, but he does so with the whole limb unbent, and the foot flat. These differences are highly necessary to attend to, as well as the peculiar difficulty which is always apparent in moving down hill, which he does with reluctance, and by swinging his leg round to avoid flexing it. This lameness may be farther brought to the test by lifting up the fore leg considerably, which, if the evil be in the shoulder, will give great pain. The muscles between the fore legs are likewise tumefied and tender in these cases.

6498. The treatment consists, when it is recent, in bleeding in the plate vein, rowelling in the chest, and fomenting with hot water two or three times a day. When the heat and tenderness have subsided, first bathe daily with the astringent wash for strains (Vet. Pharm. 6555. No. 1.) for a week; and afterwards, if necessary, proceed to blister in the usual manner.

6499. Strain in the whirl bone. (6324.) This important joint is sometimes strained, or its ligaments and muscles unnaturally extended, from a greater force being applied to them than their structure is able to bear, or their powers to resist: a læsion takes place of some of their fibrillæ, or in lesser injuries their elasticity is injured by being put on the stretch beyond their power of overcoming again. In all such cases, the parts react, and inflammation follows; by which heat, tenderness, and swelling ensue.

6500. Treatment. The first indication is the same in this as in all ligamentary strains, which is to moderate the inflammation by fomentations, &c. &c., and when that has subsided, to endeavour by astringents and bracers to restore the tone of the parts: after which, if any swelling remains, from the extravasated blood becoming organised, to promote its absorption by mercurial frictions, and blistering. This applies to all strains, and will direct the treatment therefore of that of strain in the articulation of the thigh with the body also.

6501. Strain in the stifle, is treated in the same manner.

6502. Strain or clap in the back sinews. This is generally an injury done to the sheaths of the tendons, or of the ligaments which bind them down. In very aggravated cases, it sometimes occurs that even the tendons themselves are extended beyond their capacity. The heat, swelling, and tenderness are first to be combated by fomentations, and if these be extreme, bleed also, and give a dose of physic. Next proceed to poultice with saturnine applications, until the heat and swelling are reduced: then use tonics, astringent wash (Vet. Pharm. 6555. No. 1. or 2.): bandage and exercise very carefully. If swelling remain after heat, pain, and lameness are past; or when lameness only remains, after all heat is gone, proceed to blister mildly twice. In all cases of ligamentary extension when the heat has subsided, the part may be considered as in a state of atony; and bandages judiciously applied are then proper, particularly during the day.

6503. Rupture of the tendons and ligaments of the leg. It is very seldom that the tendons themselves are ruptured, but the suspensory ligaments are more often so, and the evil is called breaking down. It is usually very sudden, and the fetlock is brought almost to the ground. A perfect cure is seldom obtained; but the inflammation should be moderated by the means already described, and the heels should be raised. A laced stocking or firm bandage, when the inflammation has subsided, is necessary; and firing is often prudent as a permanent bandage.

6504. Strains of the ligaments of the fetlock and coffin joints often occur, and may always be distinguished by the heat, tenderness, and swelling. Treat as already described. In all strains of the leg, attended with inflammation, a goulard poultice is a convenient and useful application. The goulard water should be mixed with bran; and a worsted stocking being drawn over the foot, and up the leg, it is first tied around the foot; the poultice is then put in, and the stocking fastened around the leg above the injury. (6536) 6505. Mallenders and sellenders are scurfy scabby eruptions, affecting the back of the knee, and ply of the hock; common only in coarse, low-bred, and in cart horses. Wash with soft soap every day, after which anoint with an unguent formed of equal parts of mercurial ointment, tar, and calamine cerate. 6506. Broken knees. The usual cases of broken knees are referrible to wounds in general; and the treatment of them in nowise differs therefrom, with this caution, that here it is more immediately neces sary, both for appearance and safety, that if any flap of skin hang apart, to cut it off, or the wound will heal with rugosed edges. But when the joint of the knee is broken into by the violence of the injury, it becomes of a very different nature, and is known first by the extreme lameness and swelling that occur; and next, by the escape of a slippery mucus not unlike the white of an egg. If this continue to escape, violent inflammation follows, and either the horse or the joint are lost by it. Farriers are apt to attempt to stop the flow of the joint oil, as it is called, by oil of vitriol, or other escharotics, which treatment is usually followed by the most disastrous consequences. It is, however, necessary to stop the immediate flow, by other means; the best of which is by a fine budding-iron heated. Should the laceration be considerable, this cannot be done; but the treatment must then consist of saturnine poultices, bleeding, low diet, and the other antifebrile remedies, until the swelling has subsided, when apply the astringent paste recommended by Clark, made of pipe-clay and alum, every day; but by no means introduce any

escharotics.

6507. Splints and bone spavins. The former are usually situated on the inner side of the canon or shank before; and as they are situated, so they are more or less injurious. When buried, as it were, within the tendons or back sinews, they are very apt to lame the horse seriously; but when situated on the plain bone, unless they be very large, they seldom do much injury. If a splint be early attended to, it is seldom difficult to remove. Blaine recommends the swelling to be rubbed night and morning for five or six days, with a drachm of mercurial ointment, rubbing it well in; after which to apply a blister, and at the end of a fortnight or three weeks to apply another. In very bad cases, he recommends firing in the lozenge form.

6508. Bone spavin is an exostosis of the hock bones, the treatment of which in nowise differs from that of splint; except that as a spavin in general is more injurious than a splint, so it is more necessary to commence the treatment early, and to continue it energetically. From the greater complexity of structure in the hock, spavin is not so easily removed as splint, and more usually requires the application of firing.

6509. Ring bone is of the same nature, being an exostosis or bony circle formed around the coronet, the treatment of which is the same with that of splint and spavin.

6510. Blood spavin, bog spavin, and thoroughpin, are all of them originally of the nature of windgalls, and are nothing more than enlargements of the bursal capsules described in the anatomy, as surrounding tendons, ligaments, and bones, to furnish them with a lubricating medium. By over-exertion or hard work these bursal bags become extended, and their contents increased and distended into puffy swellings in the hock, called, when on the ply, bog spavin. The pressure of this sometimes occasions a varicose state of the superficial vein, which passes directly over it on the inner side of the hock, and which enlargement then receives the name of blood spavin. When the bursal enlargement extends through the hock, it is called thoroughpin. When it is situated below, in the burse of the flexor tendons, near the fetlock joint, it receives the name of windgall.

6511. The treatment of all these cases must be similar in principle, and consists in lessening the distended sac; not as was formerly practised, to the destruction of the horse often, by letting out the contents of these windgalls; but by strengthening the sides of the tumours by stimulants or by pressure. The more active stimulants are the liquid blister (let. Pharm. 6262.), milder ones are found in the astringent wash. (Vet. Pharm. 6555. No. 1.) Bandages assist greatly, when well applied to the part, and in desperate cases firing has been resorted to, which is nothing more than a more violent stimulant, and a more permanent bandage.

6512. Capulet is a bursal enlargement of the point of the hock, and is to be treated by friction, astringents, and bandage.

6513. Curb is an inflammation of the ligaments at the back of the hock, and is usually removed by astringents. (Vet. Pharm. 6555.) When it does not give way to these, the sweating liquid blister may be applied. (Vet. Pharm. 6563.)

6514. Cracks and grease may be considered as modifications of one and the same affection, and are commonly brought on by some neglect in all horses; but when they occur in any but the thick-heeled lowbred animals, they are invariably so. Over-feeding or under-feeding, but much more frequently the former, will bring it on. A very frequent cause of it is the practice of washing the legs of horses, and suffering them to dry of themselves. In every case, without exception, washing the legs should be avoided, unless they be rubbed perfectly dry afterwards. When horses have long hairs about their heels, and are washed and then left wet, the evil must be doubled; as the evaporation going on, cools and chills the heels, and thus produces a species of chilblain: and we well know how difficult these are to heal when broken. Cracks in the heels very often occur in horses removed too suddenly into full keep from previous straw or grass, or from these to a hot stable; which, by the heat and moisture of the litter, occasions a determination of blood and humours to the legs, and they break out into cracks or scabs, from which issue a bloody ichor, or a more thick matter. Between the sores the hair stares and gets pen-feathered, and the horse finds difficulty and pain in moving.

6515. The treatment must depend on the state in which the animal is at present. If there be reason to suspect the horse to be full and foul, bleed, lower his food, soil him in the stable; or mash and give a mild dose of physic. But when some mismanagement is the sole cause, remove that, and if the case be a severe one, by means of an old stocking drawn over the foot, bury the whole heel in a poultice, made of scraped carrots or turnips; which will subdue the irritation, and bring the parts into a state to bear the 'application of the astringent paste (Vet. Pharm. 6557. No. 2.), or if more convenient, of the astringent wash. (Vet. Pharm. 6555. No. 1. or 2.) Moderate exercise should be continued, and the heels carefully cleaned from dirt by soft soap and water on each return therefrom; after which, always again apply the astringent. 6516. Grease is nothing more than an aggravated state of the same affection, and is more common to the hind than to the fore legs. Coarse fleshy-legged horses are peculiarly prone to the affection, from the great accumulation that takes place in their legs; and from the difficulty that the capillaries find in carrying the increased quantity of lymph upwards. In these, long stable confinement should be avoided, and when that is impossible, it should be counteracted by exercise frequently and judiciously administered. Many cart horses never go out but to work: they often work three days incessantly, or nearly so; and they perhaps rest two days entirely. Can it be wondered at, that the change occasions swelling, acting on the weakness and exhaustion of previous fatigue? and could not this be avoided by turning out for an hour, or walking for half an hour night and morning? Stable soiling should be used; bleeding and physicking also in very bad cases; and when the inflammation and irritation or soreness are great, the poultices recommended for cracks should be applied until these circumstances are removed: afterwards commence the use of some of the astringents recommended. (Vet. Pharm. 6555) White has stated two remarkable cases of grease cured by the application of corrosive sublimate, in the form of a wash, as of two drachms of sublimate to ten ounces of water; increasing it to three drachms, if the pain occasioned by the first be not too considerable. Blaine says that the clivers or goose-grass has been known to be of great service in bad cases of grease: half a pint of the expressed juice to be given daily as a drink; and a poultice of the herb to be applied to the heels. In some cases of long standing when the running has ceased, a thickened state of the limb remains, which is best removed by firing, and which likewise is a preventive to a return.

6517. Founder of the feet is of two kinds, acute and chronic. Acute founder is a disease that, until lately, was less understood than almost any other. After a very severe day's work, or when very much heated, if a horse get a sudden chill by standing in snow or cold water, it is not uncommon for him to be seized with universal stiffness and every symptom of great fever. Such a horse is said to be body foun dered. By degrees, however, it is observed that the animal has an extreme disinclination to remain on his feet; from whence it will appear that the whole of them are affected. When the horse draws his hind feet under him, his fore only are affected: and when he draws his fore feet under him, the hinder feet are the seat of the complaint; but which is seldom the case. On feeling the feet they will be found intensely hot, and the pastern arteries will beat with great violence. After a few days, unless the disease abate, a separation of the hoofs from the coronet takes place, and at last they fall entirely off.

6518. The treatment. At the commencement of the disease bleed largely, as well by the neck as from the toe of each affected foot, by paring, until the blood flows freely. After which immerse each foot in a goulard poultice (6556.), give the fever powder or drink (Vet. Pharm. 6578 and 6579.), litter up to the belly; and if amendment do not take place, renew the bleedings, and blister round the pasterns.

6519. Chronic founder, contraction or fever in the feet. The artificial life that horses lead subjects them to many diseases; one of the principal of which is that of contracted feet. Blaine considers a neglect of sufficient paring of hoof, the application of artificial heat from hot stables, and hotter litter, the depri vation of natural moisture, constitutional liability, and the existence of thrushes, as among the principal causes of this evil. It is more common to blood horses than to others; and he observes, that dark chestnuts are of all others most prone to it. The appearances of a contracted foot, as contrasted with a healthy one, we have already displayed. (6420.) It is there shown that the contracted hoof becomes longer, higher, and narrower the heels (fig. 837. a a) particularly are drawn in, and seem to screw the frog between them, which becomes wasted and thrushy from this pressure. The hinder hoofs are seldom affected.

6520. The treatment of contraction in the feet. It is better to prevent, than to be under the necessity of attempting to cure, the evil. Prevention may be practised by avoiding the acting causes. As soon as at all suspected to be likely to occur, keep the hoofs pared low; never suffer the horse to stand on litter, nor allow the stable to be too hot; feed moderately, and never allow the horse to go without daily exercise ; whatever increases the general fulness of habit, flies to the feet. Above all, keep the feet moist by means of wet cloths tied loosely around the coronet, falling over the whole hoof, but not extending beyond the edge. Then moisten repeatedly, and stop the feet (6587.) every night. When contraction has already taken place, many plans have been recommended; as jointed shoes by Coleman, Clark, and others; but it is not found that mechanical expansion in this way produces permanent benefit. The most effectual mode is to obviate all previous causes of contraction; and then to thin the hoofs around the heels from each quarter so thin as to be able to produce an impression by means of the thumb: in fact, to remove so much of the horn as is consistent with safety, from the coronet downwards. It is also prudent to put in a score or two from above downwards, drawn a quarter of an inch deep on each side towards the front of the hoof; but whether this be done or not, the front of the hoof should be rasped thin about an inch in width; by which means a hinge is formed, which operates most advantageously in opening the heels. After this is done, tips should be put on, and the horse should be turned out to grass, where he should remain three months, by which time the new formed heels will have reached the ground, and will bear a shoe. This process is fully described by Blaine in his Veterinary Outlines, where a plate completely elucidates the operation, and to which we would recommend the reader.

6521. The pumiced foot is a very common consequence of acute founder, in which the elasticity of the laminæ becoming destroyed, the support of the coffin bone is removed, and it rests wholly on the sole,