The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Farmer's Own Book, by J. D. Koogle This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: The Farmer's Own Book A treatise on the numerous diseases of the horse Author: J. D. Koogle Release Date: February 21, 2017 [EBook #54217] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FARMER'S OWN BOOK *** Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) Transcriber’s note: Printing errors have been amended but the author’s idiosyncratic style and spelling have not. THE FARMER’S OWN BOOK: A TREATISE ON THE Numerous Diseases of the Horse, WITH AN EXPLANATION OF THEIR SYMPTOMS, AND THE COURSE OF TREATMENT TO BE PURSUED; ALSO A TREATISE ON THE DISEASE OF HORNED CATTLE. PUBLISHED BY J. D. KOOGLE, Middletown, Maryland. 1858. Entered according to the Act of Congress in the year 1857, By J. D. Koogle, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of Maryland. PREFACE. [1] [2] [3] The object of this work is to give a thorough explanation of the numerous diseases to which the horse is subject, and point out in a clear and distinct manner the symptoms by which the diseases may be known, so that the Farmer and others having the care of horses may be enabled to detect any disease in its first stages,—thereby rendering it an easy case to cure; also, giving a regular course of medicine to be pursued in the treatment of the different diseases, by which almost any one, with a little study, can treat the most difficult cases. The great objection to other works that have been issued is that they do not point out the symptoms of the diseases in horses; and their treatment is so badly arranged that it is very difficult for the Farmer and persons generally to understand it. The advantages this work possesses over others, is its plainness in pointing out the difficulties attending the treatment of diseases in horses and the manner in which they may be surmounted. And it is hoped that those interested will give this book their careful attention, as the author is satisfied that it will save them a vast amount of time and trouble in times of need. THE AUTHOR. Horse! Horse! DISEASES OF HORSES. The diseases of the horse are very numerous, and many of them so complicated as to defy detection, except by those who are thoroughly acquainted with the nature of the animal, and his mode of living. This is the reason that horses which have been under the care of the farrier are often returned to the owner in a worse condition than when they received them. It is to prevent this practice as much as possible that has induced me to bring this work before the public, in the hope of alleviating the condition of that noble animal—the Horse. Horse! THE POLL EVIL. This disease may arise from accident, but is commonly the result of blows or bruises carelessly inflicted by those having charge of the horses. It is a tumor or swelling in the sinews, found between the noll bone and the uppermost joint of the neck, immediately on the nap of the neck. Nearly all farriers, tell you to sell your horse for anything he will bring, or give him away; but I would advise you to keep your horse and cure him, which can be done quickly and surely with the following remedies: REMEDY NO. 1. First wash the sore well with strong warm soap suds, then drop 8 or 10 drops of muriatic acid in it twice a day, until it has the appearance of a fresh wound, after which it should be washed clean with soap suds from castile soap and then left to heal, which it will quickly do if the acid has been used long enough in a proper manner; but if it does not get well, wash as before, and apply the acid until a cure is effected. It is a sure remedy, and will not fail if applied properly until the disease is burnt out or killed. In case you should drop any of the acid on the part that is not affected, apply a little oil, which will neutralize the [4] [5] [6] power of the acid and prevent it from becoming sore. REMEDY NO. 2. When the disease first makes its appearance, take a quantity of asmart and put it to soak, letting it remain all night. In the morning take as much as you can hold in your hand and apply it to the swollen part, holding it there some 20 or 30 minutes, pressing on it as hard as you conveniently can, which must be repeated several times. This remedy generally scatters the disease, but if it should fail you will be obliged to use applications of a more astringent nature. REMEDY NO. 3. After the disease has fully shown itself, wash as directed in Remedy No. 1; then take Arsenic and apply it until the foul flesh has all disappeared, and let it heal. This is a certain remedy, and has cured several cases within my own knowledge. REMEDY NO. 4. Take 1 quart of strong ley and boil it into a salve, then apply a portion of the salve every 2 hours until the core comes out, and heal with elder ointment. If this remedy does not effect a cure on the first application, try it again, as it is a certain cure. Should the ley after being boiled down leave a hard substance, it must be worked into a salve. REMEDY NO. 5. First wash the ulcer well with warm soap suds; then take air-slacked lime and put as much into the sore as will lay on, which must be repeated 2 or 3 times a day, and the affected part cleaned and swabbed out as often. This, though very simple, is an excellent remedy, which I have never known to fail. The foregoing remedies are very plain and simple, and cannot fail if properly applied. In washing the ulcers, use none other than castile soap, which is far superior to any other for cleansing and healing wounds and eruptions of any kind, and can be had from any of the drug stores at 25 cents per pound. It is also an excellent article for domestic purposes, such as shaving, &c. and will be found cheaper than any other fine or toilet soaps. FLATULENT OR WIND COLIC. This is an entirely different disease from the Spasmodic Colic. It often originates with something that the horse has eaten and then drinking large quantities of water, by which the food becomes fermented and creates a gastric gas, which enlarges to a greater or less extent, sometimes to twenty or thirty times the bulk of the food. It generally takes place in the stomach, but at times in the small or large intestines. SYMPTOMS. The horse suddenly slacks his pace, perhaps lays or falls down as if he were shot. In the stable he paws the floor with his fore feet, lays down and rolls, starts up instantly and throws himself down again with greater violence, looks wistfully at his flanks, and makes many fruitless efforts to void his urine. Here the symptoms are similar to other colics, but the true character of the disease soon develops itself.—It is in one of the large intestines, and the belly swells all round, but mostly on the right flanks and as the disease progresses the pain becomes more intense, and the horse more violent. The treatment is quite different from other colics. REMEDY NO. 1. Take 1 ounce of the chlorate of lime and ½ pint of warm water, put it into a bottle and shake well, so as to dissolve, then give it as a drench which will devour the gas, and cause the swelling to subside. If in fifteen minutes after this has been given, the pain does not seem to have been alleviated, take 4 ounces of spirits of Pimento, and 1 ounce of Laudanum, mix it with ½ pint of warm water and give it also as a drench. If you have no pimento and it is not convenient to get it, take 2½ ounces of peppermint, and 1 ounce of laudanum, and should you not have laudanum, take a larger quantity of peppermint with ½ pint of warm water, and give it as a drench. In this disease no time should be lost, as it very often runs its course in from 1 to 2 hours. If the first should not give relief in 15 or 20 minutes, repeat it until it does. Rubbing the belly with a smooth rail or pole will greatly facilitate the action of the medicine. Should you not have any of the above remedies on hand or convenient, use from 1 to 2 ounces of golden tincture as the case may require. REMEDY NO. 2. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] In the first place take 2 ounces of the essence of peppermint, mixed with ½ pint of warm water and give it to him as a drench, then take a bat of common raw cotton and set fire to it, holding it close to the nostrils of the horse, so that he can freely inhale the smoke arising therefrom; continue this until you see that the horse is relieved. The quantity of cotton used is from 4 to 5 bats, as the necessity of the case may require. This is a simple and safe remedy, and numbers who have tried it say that they have never known it to fail. I saw a horse that had suffered from the colic for nearly three hours, being puffed up almost to bursting, and in half an hour after this operation had been performed on him, he was completely cured. SPASMODIC COLIC. This is a disease to which horses generally are subject, and in consequence of improper treatment, it often proves fatal. It is produced by improper riding, feeding, watering, and may arise from a want of proper action in the bowels, which occasions constriction of the intestines and a confinement of the air. SYMPTOMS. The horse begins to shift his position, looks around at his flanks, paws violently, strikes his belly with his feet, and crouches in a peculiar manner, advancing his hind legs under him, he then suddenly lies or rather falls down, and balances himself on his back with his feet resting on his belly. The pain seems to have ceased for a while, and he gets up and shakes himself; he begins to feed, but in a short time the pain returns, and is more violent than before; he heaves at the flanks, breaks out in a profused perspiration, and throws himself more recklessly. The pulse is little affected in the commencement, but as the disease progresses, it becomes full. Legs and ears of a natural temperature. The affection of the strength scarcely perceivable. REMEDY. Relief may be obtained from motion in this disease. Take 1 ounce of turpentine, 1 ounce of laudanum, ½ pint of gin or good whiskey, ½ pint of warm water. Mix and give it as a drench. Bleed, and if not relieved in half an hour, repeat the dose, rubbing the belly with a stout brush or a smooth rail. If not relieved in 15 or 20 minutes, repeat the dose and continue it until relief is obtained. If the horse be walked about or trotted moderately, it will relieve the spasms. A glyster with warm soap suds should be injected, which may be done by burning the peth out of elder, and filling a bladder with the suds, then tie the bladder on the elder tight and force it into the fundament, occasionally throwing the warm suds in until it operates; if a reasonable portion of it remains, it will do no harm if it does not operate, but will help to relieve the spasms. This should be done immediately, as in most cases no time is to be lost. A glyster of tobacco smoke may be thrown in as a last resort. Keep the horse in a warm stable and give bran mash and plenty of warm or thin gruel for two or three days. The turpentine, laudanum, gin and warm water were never known to fail if given at the proper time. Should you not have these medicines at hand, give 2½ or 3 ounces of peppermint every 15 or 20 minutes until the horse is relieved; or if you have no peppermint, give same quantity of golden tincture. The gruel for feeding is made by putting any quantity of bran into a bucket or tub, then pour boiling water over it, so as to scald it thoroughly, and cover it with a cloth until it is cool enough for him to eat. INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER. In this disease and inflammation of the kidneys, the symptoms are nearly similar; therefore, in order to ascertain whether the disease is inflammation of the bladder or inflammation of the kidneys, it is necessary to introduce the hand into the rectum, where you will find the bladder immediately under the hand, if it feels hard and full, accompanied by more than natural heat and tenderness, it is a sure case of inflammation of the bladder, but if the bladder is empty and no increased heat is apparent, then it must be a case of inflammation of the kidneys. In treating these two diseases—though the symptoms are so much alike—be very careful to observe that the course of treatment recommended in each is entirely different, and should you give the medicine prescribed for inflammation of the bladder for that of the kidneys, it will greatly endanger the life of the horse. SYMPTOMS. The early symptoms in this disease are generally those of fever, but the seat of the disease soon becomes apparent. The horse occasionally looks round at his flanks, stands with his hind legs wide apart, is unwilling to lie down, straddles [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] as he walks, evinces great pain in turning, shrinks when his loins are pressed; the loins feel hot, the urine is voided in small quantities, which is often highly colored and sometimes bloody; he tries to urinate very often and strains painfully, but the discharge is nearly or quite suppressed; the pulse is quick, hard and full at first, but rapidly becomes small, indicating a disease of the urinary organs, yet not distinguishing inflammation of the bladder from inflammation of the kidneys. TREATMENT—REMEDY. When you feel satisfied that it is a case of inflammation of the bladder, blister the loins with the blister ointment and give 1 ounce of turpentine with 1 ounce of laudanum. INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. The symptoms of this disease are similar to those of inflammation of the bladder, but are to be treated in quite a different manner. Inflammation of the kidneys is brought on by over-riding, heavy loads, improper feeding, and sometimes by being poled on the haunches, or across the kidneys and loins. TREATMENT—REMEDY. Place a mustard plaster made with vinegar across the loins and bleed. After this give an active purge, and when it begins to abate give of white helebore from ½ to ¾ of a drachm, and 1½ drachms of tartar emetic, with ½ a pint of warm water, this should be repeated 2 or 3 times a day, according to the nature of the disease. For drink, give him warm water or gruel as much as he will drink, and keep the back and loins warm and comfortable. INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. This disease is generally brought on by sudden cold, hard driving, high feeding, &c. SYMPTOMS. The first appearance of this disease is generally marked by fits of shivering, accompanied with a coldness throughout the entire body, which, however, gradually wears off, and he becomes warm, except the ears and feet; but it sometimes commences slowly, with a hard, dry cough, which appears to give the horse great pain; he appears dull, and refuses to eat his food; the pulse is obscure and oppressed—he heaves at the flanks, the nostrils are extended, the eye-lids and linings of the nose are inflamed with a disagreeable running at the nose, experiences great difficulty in breathing, seems very stiff, is unwilling to lie down or move, and often stands until completely exhausted. TREATMENT—REMEDY. Bleed until the pulse becomes round and full, and then the heart will be able to accomplish its object; next hand rub the legs, well, wrap them up with flannel bandages as high as the knees, put a blanket on the horse to keep him warm, but let the stable have a sufficient opening to admit the fresh air, not so much as to make it cold or chilly. In warm weather the horse cannot have too much fresh air. The following prescription will be found very beneficial: 1 drachm powdered foxglove, 1½ “ tartar emetic, 3 “ nitre, 4 “ tincture of aloes, ½ pint of warm water. Mix well, give it as a drench and clyster with soap and warm water; when the focus has become softened a little, leave off using the tincture of aloes, but continue to administer the remaining portion of the above prescription, and blister the sides and brisket with the blister ointment every 6 hours. If the ointment should act well on the first application, there is no further need for it, but should it not act properly continue the blistering until it does, or until the parts become very sore, and in two or three days after dress with lard. In the latter stages of the disease it will be found very difficult to get the blister to act properly on account of the exhaustion of the natural powers of the animal, but it must be continued, and the sinking energies aroused, or the horse is lost. The blister is often prevented from acting by the gig being up. In this disease the treatment should be prompt and decisive, as not a moment of time is to be lost. The first object should be to subdue the inflammation, and if the mouth continues hot, the extremities cold, and the nose red, the horse must be bled again and again in rapid succession, the good that we can do must be done immediately or not at all. The first step to be taken in this disease is to bleed profusely—let the lancet used be a large, broad shouldered one, [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] in order that the blood may be extracted as quick as possible and the disease destroyed without impairing the strength of the animal. (If the blood be allowed to flow slowly in a small stream, the strength of the animal will be sapped, while the disease remains untouched.) Let the blood flow until the pulse falters and the horse begins to tremble; no harm will be done however if he should fall by bleeding in this disease. As soon as possible after the bleeding, give the medicine prescribed; then hand rub and bandage, and cover with warm blankets; feed him on bran mash and let him run to grass for a month. INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. This disease arises from various causes, and is frequently brought on by long standing costiveness, neglected gripes, or hard riding, over heating and immediately drinking of cold water. SYMPTOMS. In many cases of this disease fits of shivering or restlessness are the first indications of its approach; the mouth becomes hot, the nose red, the horse begins to evince the most intense pain by pawing, striking at his belly with his feet, looking wildly at his flanks, groaning and rolling. The pulse is quick but small, the ears and feet cold, the belly tender to the touch and sometimes hot, the breathing is quickened, the bowels costive, and the horse rapidly becoming fearfully weak. He paws and stamps as in the colic, but the pulse is much quicker than in that disease, and the pain becomes constant without any intermissions, as occur in colic. TREATMENT—REMEDY. Commence by bleeding profusely, taking at least 7 or 8 quarts of blood, or as much as the horse can bear, which must be done immediately, or a fatal termination may be looked for. If the horse does not seem to have been relieved or the pulse become round and full, the bleeding must be repeated as the only means of subduing the inflammation, which is the immediate cause of the weakness. If the inflammation is subdued by the extraction of the blood the weakness will soon disappear. After the bleeding, make a strong decoction of aloes and opium or laudanum, say 1 ounce of laudanum with the same quantity of the tincture of aloes, and give it to the horse; this must be quickly followed by back-raking and an injection of soap and warm water or thin gruel, in which epsom salts or aloes may be dissolved in moderate quantities; repeat this until the bowels are completely cleaned out. He should be given as much warm water or thin gruel as he will drink, and half the quantity of tincture of aloes and laudanum should be administered every two or three hours until the bowels are freely opened. Blister the sides and belly with common blistering ointment and bandage the legs up to the knees with flannel, cover him with blankets as directed in inflammation of the lungs, and give him a comfortable stable, but not too hot, with plenty of fresh air. No corn or hay should be allowed in this disease—bran mash will answer very well for feed, but green meat is preferable if it can be had. Turn him out for two or three hours in the middle of the day if not too cold; give the legs good hand-rubbing every day; continue to clyster with thin gruel for two or three days. BOTS OR GRUBS. The Bots or Grubs are small worms of a red or brownish color, found in the stomach, and it is considered almost impossible for them to do any harm, but a horse that has the bots, grubs or worms, loses flesh, becomes hide bound and dull. SYMPTOMS. In this disease a yellowish matter is often found under the horse’s tail; he has pain, stamps and rolls, switches his tail between his legs, turns up his upper lip, and frequently looks round to his flanks, and often tries to rub his fundament against the wall, or any other place that he can. TREATMENT—REMEDY NO. 1. First give an active purge, and if that is not sufficient to expel them, take 2 drachms of tartar emetic, with a small quantity of tin or pewter filings, or a little ground glass, make into balls or pills, and give one every morning for two weeks; if it is necessary, the balls can be made with a little tar, which will also improve the condition of the horse. REMEDY NO. 2. Take 1 pint of common honey and give it as a drench; in two hours after give an active purge:—1 pint of molasses added to 1 pint of soft soap and a handful of salt will answer very well. Repeat the dose if it does not operate in four or five hours. MEMBRANES OF THE NOSE. [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] Showing the Symptoms that mark the Different Stages of the Disease. 1st.—The pale pink hue, when the horse is in perfect health. 2d.—An increased tinge of red, and the gradual uniform painting of the membrane, indicating some excitement of the general system. 3d.—The streaked appearance when inflammation is threatening or commencing. 4th.—The intense florid red, of inflammation being acute. 5th.—The starting of the vessels from their gossamer coat, and their seeming to run bare over the membranes, when inflammation has attained its highest point. 6th.—The pale ground, with patches of vivid red, showing the half subdued but still existing fever. 7th.—The uniform color, but of a deeper red than natural, indicating the return of a healthy state of the circulation. 8th.—A paleness approaching to white, with a slight radiation of crimson, showing that there is still considerable irritability, and that mischief may be in the wind. 9th.—The pale, livid color, warning you that the disease is assuming a typhoid character. 10th.—The deep livid, announcing that the typhus is establishing, and that the vital current is stagnating. 11th.—The brown or dirty painting, intermingling with and subduing the lividness, denoting that the game is up. 12th.—These appearances will be guides to our opinions and treatment, which can never be too highly appreciated. THE EYES. From the eye of the horse we form an idea of his age. There is, at the back of the eye a considerable quantity of fatty substance, on which it may revolve easily, without friction. In aged horses much of this disappears, the eye becomes sunken, and the pit above it deepens: The eye is a very important organ of the horse, and should be large, clear, shining, lively, dark colored, round and full, so that you may look deep into them; when moving but a small portion of the white should show, and the purchaser who notices this should pause ere he completes his bargain for a horse that shows too much of the whites of his eyes. THE EARS. Those who are acquainted with the nature of the horse pay much attention to the size and motion of the ear. Ears rather small than large, placed not too far apart, erect and quick in motion, indicate both breeding and spirit. If a horse is frequently in the habit of carrying one ear forward and the other backward, and especially when on a journey, he generally possesses both spirit and continuance; and if attentive to what is taking place about him, he cannot be much fatigued or likely soon to become so. STAGGERS. A number of opinions have been advanced in relation to the origin and seat of this disease. Some think that it is confined entirely to the head, while others say that the lungs are also affected; that it originates in the stomach, from which it is removed by the action of the lymphatic vessels, and being thrown into the circulation is diffused throughout the entire system, and carried by the arteries into the lungs, through which all the blood in a horse’s body passes many times during an hour, where it undergoes a change, thus depositing a portion of the poisonous matter that had been received into the stomach in the lungs. It is common to horses of all ages and conditions, and is a very rare case where it does not prove fatal. SYMPTOMS. The symptoms in this disease are feebleness, drowsiness, loss of appetite, a constant hanging of the head, with inflamed eyes, nearly closed; he kicks, rears and plunges, seemingly unconscious of what he is doing; it is dangerous for any one to approach him in this state; the ears and forehead hot, accompanied by a burning fever. TREATMENT—REMEDY. The first step to be taken in this disease is to relieve the overloaded organs of the brain, which should be done by opening the neck or jugular vein with a large lancet, that the blood may flow freely. No definite quantity of blood need be taken, but let it run until the horse begins to falter and blow; or, perhaps, with more assurance of success, until he falls. Immediately after inject freely with warm water, and give as a drench ½ ounce of aloes, ½ ounce of ginger, and ½ pint of warm water; feed on bran mash and green meal. RABIES OR MADNESS. [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] If a horse be bitten by a dog or horse that is affected with rabies or madness, the wound should be well burned out with caustic, (nitrate of silver,) and on the third day after remove the scab and repeat the operation. The caustic should reach every part of the wound. The following remedy has often been administered, and found effectual in nine cases out of every ten. Take 2 ounces of fresh leaves of tree-box, 2 “ “ of rue, ½ “ sage, Chop these very fine and boil in a pint of water down to half a pint; strain carefully, and press out the liquor, put back the ingredients into a pint of milk, and boil again to half a pint; strain as before, mix both liquors, which forms three doses for a human subject. Double this quantity for a horse or cow. Two-thirds of the quantity is sufficient for a large dog, half for a middling sized, and one-third for a small dog. Three doses are sufficient each subsequent morning fasting, giving the quantity directed, being that which forms these three doses. INJURY OF THE EYE. The eye itself of the horse is rarely injured by blows and bruises carelessly inflicted by passionate persons, but the substance that surrounds it may be seriously wounded, and considerable inflammation ensue—this may be abated by the application of poultices, bleeding and physicing. Sometimes the eye-lids become inflamed from the same cause— fomentations of warm water will be serviceable in this case. The horse occasionally has a scaly eruption on the edges of the eye-lids, attended with much itching, in the effort to allay which the eye is often blemished by being rubbed against some hard substance—the nitriated ointment of quicksilver, mixed with an equal quantity of lard may be slightly rubbed on the edges of the lids, with good effect. Warts are sometimes attached to the edges of the lids, and are a source of great irritation—they should be removed with a pair of sharp scissors, and their roots touched with lunar caustic. In common inflammation of the eye, free bleeding, cooling applications, physic and mash diet will usually allay the evil; the tincture of opium is a good lotion. LAMPASS. The lampass is a swelling of the gums on the inner side of the upper jaw, to which young horses are mostly subject, and sometimes suffer considerably before it is discovered. In some cases the swelling will subside without further medical treatment than administering a few alteratives, and feeding on bran mashes, but should this fail it will have to be cured by cutting across the bars with a lancet or pen-knife. If, however, it returns in three or four months after this operation, which it sometimes does, take a sharp, flat piece of iron, a little crooked at one end, heat it and burn out the disease a little below the level of the teeth, being very careful not to let the iron rest or bear against the teeth. After this operation give the horse a little meal, mixed with a small quantity of salt, and feed on mashes. THE PROCESS OF TEETHING. At 1½ years of age the mark in the central nippers will be much shorter and fainter; that in the other pairs will have undergone an evident change, and all the nippers become flat. At 2 years this will be more manifest, and about this period a fifth will appear. Now, likewise, another process is commencing: the first teeth are adapted to the size and wants of the young animal, and are sufficiently large to fill the colt’s jaws. At 3 years old the horse should have the central permanent nippers growing, the other two pairs wasting away; six grinders in each jaw above and below, the first and fifth level with the others, and the sixth protruding; the sharp edge of the incisors, which will be very evident when compared to the neighboring teeth. At 4 years the central nippers will be fully developed, with the edge somewhat worn off, and the mark in them shorter, wider and fainter; the next pair will have made their appearance with the mark deep, and extending entirely across them. The corner nippers will be larger than the inside ones, yet smaller than they were and flat, with the mark nearly effaced. The sixth grinder will have become level with the others, and the tushes beginning to make their appearance. At 5 years the horse’s mouth is almost perfect. The corner nippers are quite up with the long, deep mark, irregular on the inside, and the other nippers bearing evident tokens of increasing wearing. The tush is much grown, the grooves have almost or quite disappeared, and the outer surface is regularly convex. At 6 years the mark on the central nippers is worn out, though there is still a difference in the color of the centre of the teeth. The cement filling the hole, made by the dipping in of enamel, will present a browner hue than the other part of the teeth. At 7 years the mark in the manner which we have described it, has worn out in the four central nippers, and is fast disappearing in the corner teeth; the tush also is beginning to alter—it is rounding at the point, the edges, and without, [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] and beginning to get round inside. At 8 years old the tush is rounded in every way, the mark has disappeared from all the bottom nippers, and it may almost be said to be out of the mouth. There is nothing remaining in the bottom nippers afterward that can clearly show the age of the horse. CHEST FOUNDER. I believe this disease to be nothing more than the rheumatism, produced by suffering the horse to remain too long tied up and exposed to the cold, or riding him against a very bleak wind. SYMPTOMS. The horse has considerable stiffness in moving, evidently not arising from the feet; there is a tenderness about the muscles of the breast and occasional swelling; it is sometimes accompanied with a considerable degree of fever. TREATMENT—REMEDY. Bleeding, physic, and a rowel in the chest, warm stabling and warm clothing, with occasional doses of antimonial powder, will soon subdue the complaint. INFLAMMATION. Inflammation consists of an increased flow of the blood to and through the parts. The proper mode of abating which is to lessen the quantity of blood—if we take away the fuel, the fire will go out—all other means are comparatively unimportant contrasted with bleeding. Blood is generally extracted from the jugular vein, so that the general quantity may be lessened, but if it can be taken from the neighborhood of the diseased part, it will be productive of tenfold benefit: one quart of blood extracted from the foot in acute founder, will do more good than five quarts taken from the general circulation; an ounce of blood obtained by scarifying the swollen vessels of the inflamed eye, will give as much relief to that organ as a copious bleeding from the jugular. This is a principle in the animal’s nature which should never be lost sight of; hence the necessity for bleeding early and largely in inflammation of the lungs, or of the bowels, or of the brain, or of any important organ. Many horses are lost for want of, or insufficiency in bleeding, but we never knew of one being materially injured by the most copious extraction of blood. It is very difficult to decide when a cold or hot application is to be used, and no general rule can be laid down, except that in cases of inflammation in the early stages, cold will be preferable, but when the inflammation is deeper seated or fully established, warm fomentations will be found most serviceable. Stimulating applications are frequently used in local inflammation. When the disease is deeply seated, a stimulating application to the skin will cause some irritation and inflammation there, and lessen or remove the malady; hence the use of rowels and blisters in inflammation of the chest. If we excite it in one, we shall abate it in the other,—and also, by the discharge which we establish from the one, we shall lessen the determination of the other. Stimulating and blistering applications should never be applied to a part that is already inflamed. A fire will not go out by heaping more fuel upon it; hence the mischief which is often done by rubbing those abominable oils on a recent sprain, hot and tender. Many a horse has been ruined by this absurd treatment, when the heat and tenderness have disappeared by the use of cold lotions or fomentations. When the leg or sprained part remains enlarged long or matter threatens to be deposited, it may be right to excite inflammation of the skin by a blister, in order to rouse the deeper seated absorbants to action and enable them to take up this deposit; but, except to hasten the natural process and effects of inflammation, a blister or stimulating application should never be applied to a part already inflamed. INFLAMMATION OF THE LARYNX. He who is desirous of ascertaining whether there is any disease in the larynx of a horse, should apply his ear to the lower part of the windpipe. If he finds that the air passes in and out without interruption, there is no disease of any consequence, either in the windpipe or the chest, for it would be immediately detected by the loudness or the interruption of the murmur. Then let him gradually proceed up the neck with his ear still upon the windpipe; perhaps he soon begins to recognize a little gurgling sound. He can have no surer proof that there is the seat of the disease. TREATMENT—REMEDY. The treatment here is very plain: Blood must be copiously extracted from the jugular vein, which must be done quickly, letting it run until the pulse begins to flutter, then administer the fever medicine: 1 drachm digitalis, 1½ “ emetic tartar, 3 “ nitre, [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] ½ ounce aloes, Which must be repeated twice or thrice in the day. Aloes may be safely given at this stage of the disease, because the chest is not yet implicated. To this must be added immediately a blister, and a sharp one. EPIDEMICS. In epidemics all offensive matter should be immediately and carefully cleared away, and no small portion of the chloride of lime used in washing the stables, troughs, &c., and particularly his ulcers, &c. CHRONIC COUGH. If a harsh hollow cough is accompanied by a staring coat; it proceeds from irritability of the air passages, which will be discovered by the horse coughing after drinking, or when he first goes out of the stable in the morning, or by occasionally snorting out thick mucus from the nose, medicine may be given with advantage to diminish the irritation; generally small doses of digitalis, emetic tartar and nitre administered at night. Take Digitalis ½ drachm, Emetic tartar 1 drachm, Nitre 1 drachm. This should be mixed into a ball with tar and given every night regularly for a considerable length of time. A blister extending from the root of one ear to that of the other, taking in the whole of the channel and reaching six or eight inches down the windpipe has been tried with good effect. Feeding has much influence on this complaint: too much dry meat, and especially chaff increases it; carrots afford decided relief. THICK OR BROKEN WIND. There is no remedy for the cure of this but it may be improved. The horse should have full proportions of solid food, but very little hay, and no chaff; he should not be worked immediately after a heavy meal; water should be given in moderate quantities, but the horse should not be suffered to drink as much as he likes until the day’s work is over; green meat will always be serviceable, and carrots are particularly useful. PHYSICING. A horse should be carefully prepared for the action of physic. Two or three bran mashes given on that or the preceding day, which should be continued until the dung becomes softened, as a less quantity of physic will then suffice. On the day which the physic is given, the horse should have walking exercise, or may be gently trotted for a quarter of an hour twice in the day; but after the physic begins to work, he should not be moved from his stall. A little hay may be put in the rack, and as much mash given as the horse will eat, and as much water as he will drink with the coldness off. Aloes is the best purgative, for there is no other that is at once so sure and safe—the dose is from ½ to 1 ounce, if the horse is properly prepared. The only other purgative on which dependence can be placed is the croton; the dose varies from 1 scruple to ½ a drachm. Linseed oil is an uncertain but safe purgative, in doses from a pint to a pint and a half. Epsom salts are an inefficacious remedy except in the immense dose of a pound and a half, and then they are not always safe. SPRAINS OF THE BACK SINEWS. Should there remain the slightest lameness or enlargement, the leg must be blistered; and it would seldom be a bad practice to blister after every case of severe sprain. The inflammation may lay deep, and the part once sprained may long remain weak, and subject to renewed injury, not from unusual but ordinary exertion. The horse should be afterwards turned out for one or two months. We must here again repeat that a blister should never be used while any heat remains. ENLARGEMENT OF THE HOCK. A horse with an enlarged hock must always be regarded with suspicion: in truth he is unsound. The animal may discharge his usual work during a long period, without return of lameness, but when all his energies are required, the weakened part will fail. The treatment is plain enough: fomentations, blistering, &c. may remedy the evil. SPRAIN OF THE COFFIN JOINT. The proof of this is when the lameness is sudden, and the heat and tenderness are principally felt around the cornet. Bleeding at the toe, physic, fomentations and blisters are the usual means adopted. This lameness is not easily removed even by a blister, and if removed like sprains of the fetlock and of the back sinews, it is apt to return again. Sprains of [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] the coffin joint sometimes become a very serious affair; not being attended by any swelling, and being detected only by heat around the coronet. First reduce the heat by fomentations: say bathe the foot with water as warm as the hand will bear, fomentate with this for 15 or 20 minutes—the long continuance of fomentations has been found very efficacious in reducing inflammation; next apply a clay poultice made with vinegar, and when getting dry moisten by pouring vinegar on the foot and clay. After the heat has left the parts, then blister. The horse should not be used for a month or two. GREASE. Grease consists of swollen legs, although swelled legs occur frequently, yet there is no grease. Friction and bandaging will generally remove this. Grease is a specific inflammation of the skin of the heels, sometimes of the forefeet, but oftener of the hinder ones. It is not a contagious disease, as some have asserted although when it once appears in a stable, it frequently attacks almost every horse in it.—Bad stable management is the true cause of it. The first appearance of grease is usually a dry and scurfy state of the skin of the heel, with redness, heat and itching. The heel should be well but gently washed with soap and water, and as much of the scurf detached as is easily removed. If the cracks are deep, with an ichorous discharge and considerable lameness, it will be necessary to poultice. A poultice made of carrots boiled soft and mashed will answer the purpose. The efficacy of a carrot poultice is seldom sufficiently appreciated in cases like this. The poultice just referred to should be diligently applied at night, to insure success, and when the heat and tenderness and stiffness of motion have diminished, astringent lotions should be applied. Either the alum lotion or a strong decoction of oak bark—perhaps the alum dissolved in whiskey will do better than water, or the alum dissolved in a decoction of bark will answer better than either. This disease requires perseverance—the decoctions should be made very strong. After washing several times should there be watery matter on the heels or leg, wash it off with wafer and soap. Moderate physicing, bran mashes, &c. will be found very beneficial. The above decoctions will never fail to cure the scratches. INFLAMMATION OF THE FEET, ACUTE FOUNDER. This is a disease that was less understood than any other until very recently. It often arises by allowing a horse that is very much heated to stand in the snow or cold water for any length of time, or where he is apt to become chilled, which produces a general stiffness throughout the entire system; but it will soon be observed that the seat of the disease is in the feet, by the disinclination of the horse to remain upon them. SYMPTOMS. The earliest symptoms of fever in the feet are restiveness, frequent shifting of the fore legs, but no pawing. The pulse is quickened, the flanks heaving, the nostrils red and his moaning indicating great pain. He looks about his litter, as if preparing to lie down; he continues to shift his weight from foot to foot; he is afraid to draw his feet sufficiently under him for the purpose of lying down, but at length he drops. His lying down will distinguish inflammation of the feet from that of the lungs, in which the horse obstinately persists in standing until he drops. His quietness when down will distinguish it from colic or inflammation of the bowels. He will point out the seat of the disease by looking at the part; his muzzle will often rest on the feet or affected foot. TREATMENT—REMEDY NO. 1. The treatment in this disease resembles that of other inflammations. Bleeding is indispensable and that to its fullest extent. Four quarts of blood should be taken from the toe of the foot, which may be put into warm water to quicken the flow of blood. Poultices of linseed meal, made very soft, should cover the whole of the foot and pastern, and be frequently renewed. This will relieve its painful pressure on the swelled and tender parts beneath. The shoe should be removed, the sole pared as thin as possible, the crust and quarters well washed—all this should be done gently. Sedatives and cooling medicines should be diligently administered, consisting of digitalis, nitre and tartar emetic, 1 drachm digitalis, 2 drachms tartar emetic, 3 drachm saltpetre. If no amendment is apparent after this, blood should again be extracted on the following day. In extreme cases, a third bleeding may be justifiable, and instead of the poultice, cloths kept wet with water in which nitre has been dissolved, in the proportion of an ounce of nitre to a pint of water. The cloths should be wrapped around the feet. TREATMENT—REMEDY NO. 2. Take 1 quart sweet milk, 1 quart molasses, ½ oz. pulverized saltpetre, mix and dissolve all together, give in 2 drenches about 5 minutes apart: this is highly recommended by those who have tried it. RESTIVENESS, OR TAMING HORSES. Mr. Catlin has published an account, the veracity of which is unimpeached, of his travels among the North American Indians. “He coils his lasso on his arm and gallops fearlessly into the herd of wild horses. He soon gets it over the neck of one of the number, when he instantly dismounts, leaving his own horse, letting the lasso pass out gradually and carefully through his hands until the horse falls for want of breath. The Indian advances, keeping the lasso tight upon his [50] [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] neck until he fastens a pair of hobbles on the animals two fore feet,—then passing a noose round the under jaw by which he obtains great power over the affrighted animal, that is rearing and plunging when it gets breath. By this means he gradually advances until he is able to place his hand on the animal nose and over its eyes, and at length to breathe into its nostrils, when it soon becomes docile and conquered; so that he has little else to do than remove the hobbles from its feet, and lead or ride it to the camp.” Mr. A. B. Moss happened to read this account, and he felt a natural desire to ascertain how far this mode of horse training might be employed among the American horses. He soon had an opportunity of putting the veracity of the story to the test. A man on a neighboring farm was attempting to break a very restive colt, which had foiled him in every possible way. After several attempts, he succeeded in breathing into one of the horse’s nostrils, and from that moment all became easy. The horse was completely subdued. He suffered himself to be led quietly away with a loose halter, and was perfectly at command. BROOD MARES. Great care and attention should be paid to brood mares, particularly three or four weeks before foaling. She should be worked up to the day of foaling, being very careful not to overwork or exert her too much; light and moderate work is an advantage to the animal with foal. She should be fed on a little flax seed meal, or the whole seed if the meal cannot be obtained, twice a week at least six or eight weeks before foaling, and should never fail to turn out to grass of a night for several weeks previous to foaling. Should be fed on bran mash through the winter, and up to the time of foaling, which will be found very advantageous to both mare and colt. There is nothing so refreshing as a bran mash with a little salt in it, adding a reasonable quantity of corn and oats. If this course and caution is taken you will not lose one mare out of a hundred, and perhaps not one out of a thousand. WARTS. Warts are found on the eye-lids, the muzzel, the ears, the belly, the neck, the penis, and the prepuce. There are some caustics available, but frequently they must be removed by an operation. If the root is very small it may be snapped asunder close to the skin with a pair of scissors, and touched with lunar caustic. If the pedicle or stem is somewhat larger, a ligature of waxed silk should be passed firmly round it and tightened every day. The source of nutriment being thus removed the tumor will in a short time die and drop off. If the warts are large or in considerable clusters, it will be necessary to cast the horse in order to cut them off close to the skin. The root should then be seared with a red hot iron; unless these precautions are used the warts will speedily sprout out again. A COMPLETE LIST OF Receipts Belonging to the Horse. AND THEIR USES. CELEBRATED HORSE POWDERS. For the cure of Yellow Water, Hide Bound, Grub Worms, Bots, &c. These powders will cleanse the blood and give new life and vigor to the animal, its effects will soon be made apparent. They are harmless and can be fed with safety. Take ½ pound gentian root. 1 “ flour of brimstone, 1 “ fenugreek, ½ “ alum, ¼ “ gum asafœtida, 1 “ rosin, ¼ “ angelica root, ½ “ rhubarb, ½ “ columbo, 1 “ copperas, 1 “ cut and dried tobacco, [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] ½ “ cream of tartar, ¼ “ red tartar, 1 “ epsom salts, 1 “ juniper berries, ½ “ garden benedict, ½ “ salts of nitre, 1 “ spice berries, 1 “ antimony, 1 “ ginger, Mix and pulverize well. The glass should be ground through a fine mill two or three times. If the benedict and spice berries cannot be obtained it will do well without them. DIRECTIONS FOR USE. The dose is 1 table spoonful night and morning, with bran mash or oats, which can be increased or diminished to suit the case. By leaving out tobacco it will make an excellent powder for cows, hogs, sheep, &c. TO CURE GALDS ON HORSES. Take dry white lead and sprinkle it on the gald twice a day, which will dry it up and cure it in a short time. ARABIAN OIL FOR HORSES. This oil is an excel...