Chapter XI: Part II: Diseases (2)

_Lateral Cartilages._—Another ailment of the foot is more common than is generally supposed, called “Disease of the Lateral Cartilages.” It requires the skill of an anatomist to decide upon its presence. In fact, this and navicular disease are both very obscure in their origin and diagnostics, and a surgeon only can properly deal with them, as well as with all other diseases that are not very distinctly marked, and in their early stages not important.

_Thrush._—A disease of the frog: the cleft becomes eaten away, and a foul matter is secreted. It more frequently attacks the hind than the fore feet.

By some it is said to be constitutional, but it is much more probably the result of neglect of the foot in the stable, the hind feet being oftener affected, from the fact of the urine and fæces coming more immediately under their tread.

At every shoeing or removing, the frog should be perfectly cleared of all defective parts by the knife, and where the disease has once manifested itself the cleft should be kept continually stopped with tar and tow. A return to a healthy state is likely to be tedious, therefore continued attention to these directions is necessary. If a severe case, use a bar-shoe, to avoid the wear and tear of the road, and which will also help to keep the pledgets of tar and tow in their place. To prevent thrush, let the litter and bedding be completely removed from the horse every morning till bedtime at night; let the pavement be kept scrupulously clean through the day; attend and wash the feet, examine them frequently, and upon the slightest sign of the disease use the remedial means.

_Quittor._—This is a disease of the feet, wherein, either from delicacy of or accident to the sole, the sensible part becomes affected. A suppurative sinus is formed, eating away till it often comes out at the coronet. Once it reaches this, the animal, unless of great value, might as well be destroyed, the restorative process being of a most tedious and expensive character, requiring continual manipulation by a surgeon.

By careful shoeing (where nails are not driven out of their proper direction) and a most exact examination of the foot where any extraneous matter, such as glass, gravel, &c., is suspected of having entered or damaged it, quittor will most probably be avoided.

_Canker_ seldom attacks gentlemen’s horses, or well-bred ones. It is literally a change of a portion of the foot into a kind of fungus, sometimes commencing in the sole, sometimes in the frogs, and is aggravated by foul litter, bad stabling, and general bad care.

As no dressing or external application will restore the foot without manipulation, a surgeon only can deal with it.

_Cracked and Greasy Heels._—Animals of languid circulation in the extremities are more susceptible of such diseases, which are induced and aggravated by lazy ignorant grooms pursuing their objectionable practice of wetting the legs, and leaving them to dry themselves.—_See_ page 13.

Symptoms are tumefaction and soreness of the hinder part of the pasterns, even to fissures emitting matter.

Clip away the hair in the first instance, so as to be able to cleanse the sore by washing it with warm water and soft soap, drying it perfectly. Then apply glycerine lotion (page 158).

If the sore seems likely to incapacitate the animal from work, administer a mild aloetic purge (page 108). Very serious consequences may result from the indolence of grooms in neglecting this ailment. In acute cases, the sore, eating into the tendon, produces mortification and death. I have myself lost a valuable animal from this disease, through the gross neglect of my grooms in my absence.

Except in the very earliest stages, and in palpably trifling cases, a veterinary surgeon should be consulted, especially in what is called “grease,” or matter running from these cracks. The preventive means are, never to allow water to your horses’ legs above the coronet on any pretence whatever, and if by accident or work they get wet, to have them rubbed dry as promptly as possible.

_Shelly Hoofs_ (or splitting open of the external part of the horny hoof).—The feet of some horses are more subject to this disease than those of others, from the fibrous structure being more dry with them.

This fibrous structure forming the hoof is found, on microscopic examination, to resemble a lot of hairs all glued together into a hardened mass, and where the adhesive matter is of a drier character than usual, the hoofs are more brittle. With some horses this results in “shelly hoofs;” they don’t split, but are perpetually breaking away. With this description of hoofs, tar is the best possible application. Neither grease nor oil should ever be used—these only aggravate the disease, as on close observation they will be found to act as powerful astringents, excluding the healthy action of air and moisture upon the part most in need of them. Strange to say, tar, from its pungent properties, induces healthy action in the part, and is peculiarly adapted to promote the growth of the fibrous structure as well as lubricating it.

_Sand-Cracks_ seldom go diagonally, but are either horizontal or vertical. I shall endeavour to exemplify the simple principle of this disease with a simple principle of remedy, dealing with it like a split in a board on which I desired to put an effectual stopper. In such a case I should carefully gouge out a small hole at each end of the split, beyond which hole the fissure would be certain not to pass. With the hoof the same principle can be carried out by filing an indentation directly across each end of the crack, only taking care not to file deeper than the insensible part of the hoof; or the end will be answered by using a red-hot firing-iron instead of a file, taking the same precaution not to touch the sensible part. I should also weaken along the edges of the crack itself by rasping them down. Over the crack, if deep, should be strapped a thin pad of tow and tar, to induce reproduction and prevent foreign substances from entering the fissure.

Unless by the grossest neglect, no sand-crack will have been allowed to go beyond the reach of the foregoing treatment, but in some cases the effect of negligence and ignorance is seen in the horizontal crack running almost round the foot. In such cases it will generally be found that with a flat foot (inclined to greater malformation) the toes have been suffered to extend, shoeing after shoeing, by the smith allowing a great accumulation of wall over the toe, until the centre has become weakened into a fissure. Such a state of things seldom or never occurs in a gentleman’s stable, but is to be met with among farm-horses or those accustomed to heavy draught.

The careful strapping-up with tar and tow, which must be constantly attended to, rest, and the indentation process, will, with _time_ and _care_, effect a cure.

Sand-crack, especially the vertical, is more dangerous and tedious the nearer it is to the coronet. This once divided, the case becomes serious, the coronet being very vascular, and a split here requires a great deal of care to induce it to take on union. Unless the closing commences at the coronet, and continues as the hoof grows _down_, it will never close _at all_; in fact, if the coronet be divided, it is fortunate if the crack does not go the whole way down to the shoe. If it does not, the lower end should be weakened by filing an indentation at its lower extremity, weakening the sides of the crack by rasping them, and keeping the hoof strapped round with dressings of tar and tow, also (a most _important_ part of the treatment) paring away the wall of the foot (above the shoe and immediately under the crack) an inch—that is, half an inch on each side of it—making as large a vacuum as can with safety to the sensible parts of the foot be pared away, directly under the crack and over the shoe; the object of this being that all parts of the wall except that under the crack shall press on the shoe. It is obvious that by the above means every movement of the horse, in place of aggravation, will tend towards alleviation of the disease, by pressing the weakened sides of the fissure together. For the foregoing reasons, in the case of a vertical crack the shoes had better remain on, while in the worst cases of the horizontal crack, as its weight round the bottom tends to weaken the centre of the hoof where the crack is likely to be situated, it had better be removed (or light tips worn), its absence also enabling the wall of the hoof under the crack to be rasped as thin as possible. In vertical cracks the use of a bar-shoe will tend to keep the foot together (page 81).

_Corns_ are occasioned by the inflexible shoe pressing on that part of the sole, or possibly from friction of the bones upon its internal surface. They present the appearance of a red effused bruise, almost invariably situated on the heel of the sole of the inside quarter of the fore feet.—_See_ illustration, fig. 3, page 130.

When neglected, they occasion severe lameness, and go on to suppuration.

Broken knees are also frequently the result of neglected corns.

A horse that is habitually properly shod is never likely to have a corn. It arises entirely from want of attention and judgment in the smith. The groom, who should always stand by when a horse is shoeing, ought to be instructed to see that the farrier with his drawing-knife invariably pares out the sole at the seat of corn; it can be no injury whatever to the foot when properly done, and is the best preventive of corns. Also take proper care that the shoes are so put on that they cannot by possibility press upon the sole.

For prevention, keep the seat of corn well pared away, and dress with tar, unless in the suppurating state, when it requires poultices (page 160), and the ordinary treatment for that state, and full rest.

_Over-reach_ or _Tread_ proceeds from the shoe of one foot coming in contact with the soft or sensible part above the hoof of the other. As the parts likely to be affected round the coronet are full of vessels, the simplest remedial means are the safest—viz., water-dressing (page 160) in the first instance, and afterwards chloride of zinc lotion (one grain to the ounce of water), or glycerine.

_Broken Knees._—Most travellers on the road know what style of thing this is, so it is needless to describe it.

In bad cases, where the bones are exposed, and there is any appearance of synovia or joint-oil, place the horse in the nearest convenient stable, and leave him there to be attended to by a professional man as soon as possible. When the abrasion is merely superficial, take the animal quietly to his stable, if near.

In any event, wash the wound with warm water, which, if it be at all deep, should be done by squeezing the water _above_ the wound, and allowing it to run down, as this part of the leg is very delicate and sensitive, and rough handling with a cloth or sponge should be avoided.

Afterwards apply a lotion of chloride of zinc, one grain to the ounce of water.

Tie the creature’s head up in such a way as that he cannot possibly lie down, until the healing process has assumed sufficient health to render it safe to allow of the knee being used in lying down and getting up.

Give one or two mild purges, according to the time he is laid up and the healthiness of the wound. To promote the growth of hair, use, when the knee is perfectly healed, hog’s lard mixed with very finely powdered burnt leather to colour it; it is as good and safe a thing as can be employed for the purpose. Otherwise use _weak_ mercurial ointment. For prevention, avoid the use of bearing-reins in harness; in shafts, keep the weight off your horse’s back; keep out of the way of ruts and stones upon the road, and be very careful of your beast when the work you are giving him is calculated to make him leg-weary.

In riding, teach your bearer to depend on himself, _not_ on you: at the same time, don’t leave him to himself altogether. Go gently round sharp turns, and don’t ride fast down-hill on the road, though on the turf or in harness the pace may be accelerated with impunity. Avoid inflicting sudden, injudicious, and undeserved chastisement; restrain starts or alarms; have your horses properly prepared in frosty weather; also be sure that the seat of corn is kept well pared out in shoeing. If your saddle has shifted forward out of its place, dismount and regirth it where it fits, so that when you remount your weight will be properly placed away from the shoulders.

When the road is the only place available to have your horses exercised, see that your grooms put on the knee-caps.

_Splints_ are a well-known affection of the fore leg, presenting the appearance of a bony protrusion along the canon or shank, which, though unsightly, is not very important, unless when lameness ensues.

As it is not my intention to enter into professional technicalities in this work, I shall merely remark that, by letting the horse continue in moderate work, though lame, with the application of Stevens’s ointment, according to the directions accompanying it, absorption of the bony matter will be obtained, or, at all events, it will become so far resolved that the surrounding structures being able to accommodate themselves to what remains of it, their action will not be interfered with, and lameness will consequently no longer appear. Veterinarians sometimes perform a simple operation for splints which is said to be efficacious—namely, that of dividing the periosteum with a bistuary, the periosteum being that membrane which encases all bones like a skin. When this is cleverly done, there is little or no disfiguration left. Setons also are sometimes run over the exostosis or bony excrescence, but I deal only with simple remedies. As splints cannot be prevented, being a common result of work in young horses, the next best thing to be done is to resolve them while in an incipient state.

_Clap of the Back Sinew_—_i.e._, inflammation of the sheath under which the flexor tendon passes (as the most able practitioners deny that the tendon itself can be stretched, though it is liable to rupture about its insertions)—is best treated, according to some, by cold refrigerant lotions, Goulard lotion, solution of acetate of lead, &c.

I prefer plain water-dressing (page 160) placed loosely round the affected part of the leg, and the use of a high-heeled shoe (page 82). When the attack is beyond the reach of such mild treatment, the veterinary surgeon will probably advise blistering and firing to act as a perpetual bandage.

Moderate work on even surfaces will be the best preventive of this disease, and having the pavement of your stables made nearly level, as described under the head of “Stabling” (page 8).

_Wind-Galls_ are undue distensions of the bursæ or bags of synovia at the back and sides of the lower part of the canon or shin intended to lubricate the adjacent structure. Though unsightly, and no improvement to the action of the horse, they can be reduced by external absorbents (page 159), also by bandages with refrigerant repellants, such as vinegar and water (_see_ “Grooming,” page 12).

_Riding-Bone_ is an unhealthy enlargement round the pastern above the coronet, generally in front, and may be removed in the incipient stage by external absorbents (page 159), beyond which a professional man had better be consulted.

_Wrench_ or _Wrick_, occasioned by accident or strain in work over a rough path by a slip, presents generally no external swelling or indication of suffering beyond lameness in movement; but on close examination, inflammation will be discovered by extra heat about the part affected. Remove the shoe, give plenty of rest, and apply water-dressing (page 160) round the affected part. A purge may be administered, as recommended in all cases where the animal is laid up for several days. To avoid wrench, care should be observed in starting, turning, and working a horse, especially on uneven ground or when heavily laden.

_Mallenders_ and _Sallenders_ denote a scurvy state of the skin inside the bend of the knees and hocks. Let the parts be cleansed with hot water and soft soap, and rub in equal parts of hog’s lard and mercurial ointment mixed; if there be a positive crack or sore, use the chloride of zinc lotion (_see_ page 158) till healed. Keep a good attentive groom, and see that he does his work, as such blemishes are occasioned by carelessness and want of cleanliness.

_Spavin_ is like splint, a bony excrescence, but on the lower part of the leg, at the inside of the _hock_ towards the front, occasioned by local derangement from overwork of the structure.

If it does not produce lameness it had better be left alone; but otherwise, the horse being placed in a loose-box, rest should be given, and treatment with absorbents (page 159), the use of Stevens’s ointment, &c., persisted in. A mild purge or two during the process will be beneficial.

As in nearly all affections of the legs and feet, proper reasonable work and due care will avert the disease or disfigurement.

_Curb_ is an enlargement of the tendon or its sheath at the lower part of the back of the hock, with a good deal of local inflammation attending it.

It is greatly occasioned by the fashion some riders have of habitually throwing their horses back on their hocks by severe use of the bit.

Use water-dressing to reduce inflammation, then absorbents, such as Stevens’s ointment (page 159). Give rest, &c., as directed for Spavin.

_String-Halt_ is a well-known and only too conspicuous defect or affection of the nerves of the hind limbs, or emanating from the spine.

As its local origin is obscure, so also is the method of dealing with it.

It is in no way dangerous, though unsightly, and seriously deteriorating to the value of the animal, although it is said not to interfere much with his working powers.

_Capped Hock_ is a pursy swelling over the _os calcis_ or heel-bone at the end of the hock, generally produced by kicking either in the stable or against some object in harness, or possibly in consequence of exertion in getting up and lying down on a scanty bed, especially where the paving-stones are uneven.

Use hot fomentations, loose water-dressing, followed by rubbing in iodine ointment, if necessary, for reduction, but this must be done with judgment and careful observance of the effect the iodine produces. Or, after using hot fomentations for a week, apply gas water (which can be obtained from any gas-works) with a sponge dabbed on every hour during the day. This treatment, if persisted in, is said to be very efficacious.

For prevention, keep a good bed for your horse to lie on at night. See “Kicking in the Stable” (page 85) and “Kicking-Strap” (page 58).

_Thorough-Pin_ and _Bog-Spavin_ are, like wind-galls, an undue distension of the bursæ containing the synovia intended to keep the surrounding parts of the leg lubricated; such distension interfering with the circulation of the vein in front of the hock is denominated “Blood” (or Bog) Spavin; at the back and sides of the hock these distensions are called Thorough-Pin.

The treatment is with hot fomentations and gas water, as in “capped hock,” or other absorbents, especially Stevens’s ointment, iodine ointment, blisters, and actual cautery, which remedies had better be tried in rotation, the three latter only by a practitioner; but unless the distensions produce lameness, it is perhaps preferable not to meddle with them at all.

There are other diseases of the feet and legs, but requiring very delicate definitions: they must be left altogether to the professional man.

As a rule, in all cases where it may be considered desirable to use stimulating or strong absorbing treatment externally to cure lameness, the inflammation should be first fully abated by _local_ cooling applications; and in severe cases, purges administered before the application of blisters or powerful absorbents.

FARCY.

This dreaded disease is, I believe, like glanders, incurable, and generally ends in glanders itself.

Some practitioners seem to be under the impression that it only attacks worn-out and ill-conditioned animals; but from personal losses and sad experience I may venture to differ entirely from such an opinion, and to state that I have seen horses in the finest condition lost by it. No doubt feeble animals are very liable to it, but the disease is not confined to such constitutions. I have remarked that, when contracted by high-conditioned horses, it can be traced to their being called on occasionally to do extra work, followed by entire rest for days together, as a sort of equivalent for the spurt of work done, during which period of rest (considered necessary on account of the beast’s supposed state of exhaustion) his powers are taxed with the same amount of high feeding as if he were in full work.

Thus the absorbent system seems to become diseased, and farcy-buds appear, accompanied by craving thirst, in which case, or on the least suspicion of the disease, reference should at once be made to a professional man.

From these buds (whence after a time matter is seen to exude) small cords may be traced leading to other swellings, rather serving to distinguish the early stages of farcy from surfeit, besides that in surfeit the lumps appear indolent and scabby.

To guard against this scourge of the stable, as the disease is contagious, be careful what company your horses keep, and let reason be used in the working, feeding, exercising, and general care of your stud.

What is called _Water Farcy_ is neither dangerous nor contagious, and arises from debility of the system, occasioned probably by overwork and indifferent feeding.

It is generally marked by a dropsical swelling of the legs, mostly the hind ones. It is not common in gentlemen’s stables, where horses are less worked and better cared for than their neighbours.

The best cure is friction to the swelling, moderate work, and improved feeding; and give a ball twice a-day, each dose with

Sulphate of iron, 2 drachms.
Powdered ginger, 2 ”
Powdered gentian, 2 ”

To be mixed with palm-oil or lard.

RINGWORM.

Ringworm is characterised by one or more scurfy or scaly circular patches on the skin where the hair has fallen off. As soon as discovered, let the parts be washed with soap and tepid water twice a-day; and when they have been gently but perfectly dried, apply rather thickly the following ointment over the spots:—

Animal glycerine, 1 ounce.
Spermaceti, 1 ”
Iodide of lead, 2 drachms.

Rub the glycerine and spermaceti together, and when thoroughly incorporated, add the iodide of lead; give also every night the following drink:—

Liquor arsenicalis, 1 ounce.
Tincture of muriate of iron, 1½ ”
Water, 1 quart.

Mix.—Dose, half a pint.

Continue this drink until the disease has disappeared.

Should ulceration remain about the circumferent edges after the central bare spot has been apparently cured, apply to the affected circuit six times a-day persistently the following lotion:—

Chloride of zinc, 2 scruples.
Water, 1 pint.

The animal should be thrown up from work during this treatment, which may be requisite for a month, and good food given.

Administer also a powerful alterative or two during the course of treatment, more particularly if the case is obstinate.[32]

Other practitioners recommend, with the administration of alteratives, the simple application of a solution of nitrate of silver, 30 grains to 1 ounce of water (distilled), applied every second day to the eruptions, until they are destroyed.

SURFEIT

is an eruption on the skin, and generally gives way, if attended to immediately on its appearance, by relaxing the bowels mildly, giving partly green food instead of hay and bran mashes; at the same time keep up the strength by feeding with the best oats and a little beans, alternately with the laxative treatment.

Should these means not suffice, or the disease become worse, consult a medical practitioner, who will probably administer diuretics; or if you cannot procure a professional man, give the following excellent tonic and alterative drink, recommended by Mr Mayhew:—

Liquor arsenicalis, 1 ounce.
Tincture of muriate of iron, 1½ ”
Water, 1 quart.

Mix, and give daily half a pint for a dose.

_Hidebound_ requires the same treatment as surfeit.

_Mange_ is generally the result of insufficient food and other privations endured at grass, and of the neglect of the skin consequent on animals being turned out for a time to take care of themselves.

It is highly contagious, and is now admitted to be occasioned by an insect which is engendered in the foul coat.

A capital wash is recommended by Mr Mayhew, viz.:—

Animal glycerine, four parts.
Creosote, half a part.
Oil of turpentine, one part.
Oil of juniper, half a part.

About a pint and a half is said to be the quantity required to make one dressing. Every portion of the entire coat should be saturated with this wash, and thus left for two clear days, when it should be washed clean with soft soap and warm water, equal care being taken to omit no part of the body, which should afterwards be thoroughly dried and the coat well dressed or whisked.

When all is dry and clean apply a second dressing, proceeding as directed for the first, and a third after the two days have elapsed and the second cleaning process has been thoroughly gone through, after which the disease ought to be eradicated. A mere disposition to scratching is generally successfully treated by giving bran mashes night and morning for some days, and part green food instead of hay. Others recommend for mange, as most successful, the following application, to be well rubbed in once a-week all over the animal with a stiff horse-brush:—

Barbadoes tar, 1 part.
Linseed oil, 3 parts.

To be mixed and gently warmed in a pan.

The whole of the horse’s body to be thoroughly washed with soft soap and warm water, and PERFECTLY _dried_, previous to rubbing in the foregoing application.

SORE BACK, WITHERS, AND SITFASTS,

should be carefully attended to with poultices or water-dressing (_see_ page 160), while a disposition to throw off pus is present, after which the application of healing agents (among which chloride of zinc lotion and glycerine are now prominent) is the proper course, but applicable only to decidedly trifling and superficial cases. It is imperative, if a cure be desired, that no pressure whatever from the saddle or any other cause of irritation be permitted; therefore, unless a saddler can effectually chamber and pack the saddle so as to prevent the possibility of its touching on or near the sore, the saddle must not be used at all.

The worst and common result of sores on the back is, that sinuses or cavities, with an almost imperceptible orifice, insidiously eat away like poll-evil into the more important part of the adjacent structure. Here the aid of the veterinary surgeon is indispensable.

(Being myself acquainted with anatomy, I used to get a
depending orifice as near as possible to the bottom of the
sinus (as discovered with a probe) by a bistuary, laying
the sinus open all the way; or if the direction were rather
superficial, by the insertion of a seton-needle about the width
of the sinus, run out at bottom, leaving the seton in to direct
the discharge. The latter operation, if carefully conducted, is
decidedly the simplest and best when practicable.)

For prevention of sore back avoid injurious pressure from an ill-fitting saddle; also removing it too quickly from, the back of a heated animal (_see_ “Work,” page 37). Pressure of the terret-pad (_see_ page 59), or of the roller from not being properly chambered over the ridge of the back (_see_ page 19), must also be carefully guarded against.

WOUNDS,

if deep or dangerous, should meet with the immediate attention of a surgeon, as none but anatomists should deal with them. Generally speaking, the loss of a moderate quantity of blood is rather beneficial than otherwise, tending to avert inflammation. Where water-dressing (_see_ page 160) can be applied, nothing is better in the first instance; and when the wound is fairly cleansed and evidently healing, the chloride of zinc lotion (_see_ page 158) will advance that process and help to dry it up. When the surface is _perfectly_ healed and a new skin formed, the growth of the hair will be promoted by the application of hog’s lard coloured with very finely powdered burnt leather.

MEGRIMS OR EPILEPSY

may proceed from the effects of the sun in very hot weather, from congestion of the blood-vessels of the brain and head, or from disordered stomach or indigestion. The horse when at work suddenly evinces a disinclination to proceed, appears bothered, and shows unaccountable perverseness—sometimes staggers and falls. Release him at once from whatever work he may be at; if the cause can be descried, treat in the most reasonable way accordingly. If the illness is supposed to proceed from the heat of the sun or congestion of the head, dash water on the head and keep it enveloped in cold wet cloths; also cool the system by aperients, giving rest for some time. If from indigestion, repeated mild aperients should be administered.

It is a strange fact known to those who are experienced on the road, that these fits are seldom or never taken during work at night. When such attacks are habitual the animal is only fit for farm-work.

CRIB-BITING AND WIND-SUCKING.

Some able veterinarians declare these habits to be the result of an endeavour to eject acidity from the stomach as the horse cannot vomit, while others compare it to the human belch. It is almost impossible to _cure_ a crib-biter; the only thing that can be done is, to palliate and prevent it, which is essential, as the habit is not only injurious to the horse himself, but one that, strange to say, is most readily imitated by his companions; in whatever stable such an animal may be, the others are liable to become crib-biters.

By leaving a lump of rock-salt in horses’ mangers many ailments may be averted. Licking it is a resource to them in their hours of solitary confinement. In the present instance a lump of chalk might be added, for the animal to amuse himself at any moment that he is left without a muzzle (which should be made for him by an experienced saddler, and constantly used). The chalk being essentially antacid, is decidedly useful if the habit is supposed to result from acidity.

As the muzzle should not be left off for any length of time, the food should be prepared to be taken up in the most rapid form—viz., a small quantity of chaff to bruised oats. When the beast finds by experience that his feeding-time is limited, with starvation for the alternative, he will probably prefer his food to gnawing the iron during the short space allowed him without his muzzle. A simple remedy sometimes used with good effect is, keeping a tightened strap round the creature’s neck when he is not feeding; and I have known the covering of every portion of the stall within his reach with rabbit or sheep skins, the hair outside, to effectually check a crib-biter for the time being,—the habit being resumed, however, on his removal to another stall.[33]

METASTASIS.

As this term is frequently used by practitioners, it may be well to explain that it is a Greek word signifying a removal from one place to another, employed as a technical designation in describing a change of the seat of disease from one part of the animal structure to another, which is by no means uncommon: for instance, when the feet are attacked with fever, that malady will appear to remove itself to some other and probably distant part, and fix itself on the lungs or other viscera, the same way that inflammation of the lungs and other parts of the upper structure will change amongst themselves, or from their own seat of disease to the feet.[34] I have even known superpurgation (occasioned, in a pair of horses, by _undue_, but not severe work when under the irritation of the medicine) to cause fever of the feet, by a metastasis, changing the seat of irritation from the internals to the extremities—a very palpable case in point.

SETONS.

The insertion of a seton properly belongs to the professional man, and only for the guidance of persons who, from living in remote neighbourhoods or other causes, cannot possibly procure the assistance of such, the following information is inserted, in order to obviate the necessity for some ignorant farrier being permitted to perform the operation after his own fashion. The skin is first divided, by surgical scissors made for such purposes, to the width of the seton-needle to be used, which must be wide or narrow, according to the orifice required, with white linen tape passed through its eye, about the same width as the needle and orifice. The needle is then inserted at the opening, and, passing superficially under the skin, is directed towards the point where the lower or depending orifice is intended to be, and where the needle and tape are drawn out. Sufficient tape must be left at each extremity to admit not only of its being tied round small rolls of tow which keep the tape from running through at either side, but some inches of the tape should be left in addition at one end, to allow of a portion being drawn out at one orifice each day, and a fresh piece with dressing being drawn in at the other.

In cases where there is already an upper orifice with sinuses, the surgeon (if he does not lay the place entirely open with a knife, which, if the sinuses are deep-seated, he will do) will insert the seton-needle at such orifice, no incision with the scissors being necessary, the direction of the sinuses having been first ascertained by the careful use of the probe. The dressing to be applied to the tape will be either chloride of zinc lotion, Venice turpentine, or tincture of arnica lotion (_see_ “Lotions”), according as the healing or discharging process may be desired, the first being the healing application. Farriers attempting this operation will even now adopt an old and most objectionable practice of tying the two ends of the seton-tape together, and turning it round at each fresh dressing; the consequence being that, if anything happen to catch in the loop thus made, the whole piece of skin may be dragged out.

LOTIONS, PURGES, BLISTERS, &c.

AS A RULE, ALL VOLATILE OILS OR TINCTURES SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED IN COLD WATER, OR LIQUID.

_Strong Heeding Lotion._—Chloride of zinc, two scruples; water, one pint.

_Weaker, as for Sore Mouth, &c._—Chloride of zinc, one scruple; water, one pint.

_To encourage Pus, and heal subsequently._—Tincture of arnica, one ounce; water, one pint.

_To keep off Flies from Wounds or Bruises._—Apply a rag dipped in solution of tar.

_Glycerine Lotion._—Glycerine, half pint; chloride of zinc, half ounce; water, six quarts.

_To abate External Inflammation._—Vinegar, two ounces; Goulard lotion, one ounce; water, two pints.

_Liniment for the Neck in Cold and Distemper, Sore Throat, &c._—One part spirit of turpentine, two parts oil, mixed, or equal parts of each, and rubbed in once or twice daily.

_Purges._—A mild purge is composed of—aloes, four drachms; extract of gentian, two drachms.

_A very mild Laxative Drench._—Castor-oil, three ounces; linseed-oil, two ounces; warm gruel, one pint—Mix.

Of linseed-oil alone the ordinary dose is one pint. If ineffectual, to be repeated, with the addition of twenty drops of croton-oil.

_Alterative Ball_ (for surfeit and skin diseases).—Cream of tartar, half drachm; nitre, two drachms; flowers of sulphur, half ounce—Mix in mass.

_External Absorbents._—Iodine ointment and tincture, Stevens’s ointment,[35] water-dressing.

_Restoratives or Renovators—Drenches._—A quart of stout, morning or evening; hay-tea, when mashes are refused; gruel properly prepared (page 161) and linseed mashes (page 22).

_Soothing Drench in Colic._—Sulphuric ether, one ounce; laudanum, one ounce; linseed-oil, one pint.

_Astringent Drenches_ (for diabetes).—Diluted phosphoric acid, one ounce; chilled water, one pint.

Or—Oak-bark, one ounce; alum, quarter ounce; camomile tea, one pint—Made into a drench.

Feeding on old hay is generally effectual to check purging.

_Clysters_[36] (for diarrhœa, dysentery, or over-purgation).—Laudanum, one ounce—Mixed in three pints warm thin starch, repeated every half-hour, as long as necessary. (The above is soothing and _astringent_.)

(For inflammation of the bladder or kidneys.)—Injections of warm linseed-tea constantly repeated.

(For dysentery.)—Injections of cold linseed-tea.

(For colic.)—Injection of one pint of turpentine mixed in two quarts of hot soap-suds. (Soothing and _laxative_.)

_Ointment_ (to recover hair).—Equal parts hogs’ lard and mercurial ointment, with _very finely powdered_ burnt leather to colour it.

_Poultices_ are made of bran or linseed-meal, with boiling water, and applied as hot as bearable. They are seldom used except for the feet, in which cases the leather shoe is useful.

_Water-dressing_ (for sores, &c.)—Pads of linen kept _continually fully_ saturated with water, and entirely over them is kept fixed a waterproof covering of oiled silk or calico (gutta-percha is too liable to tear), to prevent evaporation. The pads should be changed every three or four hours, and cleansed where they are intended to promote effusion of matter.

_For Acidity._—A lump of chalk kept in the manger.

_For General Health._—A lump of rock-salt always in the manger.

_For Worms._—One to two grains of arsenic and twenty grains of kamela twice daily (each dose mixed in a handful of wet bran, and given with oats or other feeding) for eighteen days, and a purge the nineteenth morning. The horse may get _moderate_ work during the administration of the powders. Or, common salt, a tablespoonful daily, to be mixed with the food.

_Strong Mustard Blister._—For cases of acute inflammation, mustard to be made into a paste, eight ounces; oil of turpentine, two ounces—To be well rubbed into the chest or belly in severe inflammation.

_Blisters_ should never be applied to a horse’s four legs at the same time, as is the practice with some farriers. Two legs only should be blistered at once, and an interval of three or four days suffered to elapse before the application of the remaining blisters. The animal’s head should be tied up for at least thirty hours after the blister is put on, to prevent his gnawing the part; but if a cradle round the neck can effect the same purpose in cases where other parts are blistered, its use is preferable to tying up the head.

_Sedative._—To allay excitement after a wound, &c.: tincture of aconite, ten to twenty drops, in drench of one pint of water with chill off.

_To make Gruel._—Mix well a pound of oatmeal in a quart of cold water; put this mixture in a stew-pan containing three quarts of boiling water, stir all well over the fire till it becomes thick, then leave it aside to cool sufficiently to be eatable.

_Disinfectant._—As it will perhaps be useful to any proprietor of horse-flesh, who may unfortunately have had contagious disease in his stables, such as farcy or glanders, to know how premises should be disinfected according to the most approved means, the following recommendations of Government for purifying the holds of ships, during the prevalence of rinderpest, are appended:—

_Suggestions for Disinfecting Holds of Ships._—The Government has issued the following circular to the shipowners and veterinary inspectors of Irish ports. It must not be forgotten that the importation of raw hides is still permitted.

“_23d August 1865._

“The usual means had recourse to for the purpose of
disinfecting the holds of vessels (such as washing and
subsequently applying diluted disinfecting solutions, the most
generally used of which is chloride of lime), do not possess
sufficient efficacy, particularly within the limited time that
can be devoted to that purpose, without interfering with the
commercial interests of the vessels.

“It would occupy too much time to carefully scour and
afterwards apply a disinfecting fluid to the entire surface of
a ship’s hold, in which, generally, there are many crevices
and parts that cannot be reached by the hand or brush. Such
crevices and parts are capable of retaining the contagious and
infectious principles in all their virulence.

“Holds of vessels, and all other chambers from which the
external air can be excluded for a time, can be, comparatively
speaking, most effectually disinfected by filling them with
chlorine gas, the great disinfecting principle of chloride of
lime. The gas insinuates itself into every chink, crevice,
and part of the chamber in which it is confined, and more
effectually decomposes the contagious and infectious compounds,
whether they be solid, fluid, or aeriform, than any other
disinfectant equally easy of application, and as cheap. The
mode of disinfecting the hold of a vessel with chlorine is, to
place a quantity of common salt and black oxide of manganese in
a strong basin, which may be put into a bucket, to the handle
of which a rope has been attached. Pour on the salt and black
oxide of manganese their combined weight of sulphuric acid;
then let the bucket containing the basin a little way down into
the hold by the rope attached to its handle. The chlorine gas,
being heavier than the atmospheric air, will quickly displace
the latter and fill the hold. In a short time, when the hold
has become filled with chlorine, the hatches may be battened
down for about half an hour.

“Previous to using the hold again for live freight, a current
of air should be admitted through it to remove the chlorine.

“Many recommend the use of charcoal; but it is not alone
more difficult of application, but it is much less of a
disinfectant than a deodoriser. Charcoal will not, like the
chlorides, decompose the matter of disease. If the damp
matter of glanders, or sheep-pox, be well mixed with a strong
solution of chloride of lime, it will seldom produce bad
effects by inoculation; but if pure charcoal of any kind be
used, the contagious principle of the diseased matter is
not at all diminished in its virulence—quite the contrary;
similar results are found if cow-pox be the matter used in the
experiment.

“The cost of the readiest materials for the production of
chlorine gas is very trifling. The salt is not ¼d. per pound;
black oxide of manganese but 4d. per pound; and sulphuric acid
1½d. per pound. These are the retail prices. A couple of pounds
weight of each would suffice for a large-sized hold.

“The attention of the customs, shipowners, and veterinary
inspectors is directed to the above disinfecting means.

(Signed)

“HUGH FERGUSON,
Her Majesty’s Veterinary Surgeon,
Principal Government Veterinary Inspector, Ireland.”

FOOTNOTES

[1] It may be well to let my readers know how I became experienced on the _road_. In the days when coaching was in its perfection (and when many country gentlemen indulged in their fancy for the use of the “ribbons”), I became, during a long interval from service, deeply and actively concerned in a coaching establishment of the first order; and those who, some years since, travelling between Dublin and Killarney _via_ Limerick (a distance of about 185 miles), may have happened to hear coachmen and helpers talking of the “Captain,” will recognise in the writer the individual thus referred to, who was also in partnership with the famous Bianconi in the staging on the Killarney line. Several years spent in such a school will probably be considered a good apprenticeship to the study of one branch of the subject herein treated upon—viz., the management of horses on the road.

[2] The soubriquet by which the Author is known in his regiment.

[3] It, however, is treated more fully in a new section, page 93, which, at the request of many readers, and in consequence of its increasing interest to a large portion of the community, has been added to this edition.

[4] The French dealers of the present day choose, for gentlemen’s hack-horses, chestnuts with legs white half-way up, causing the action to look more remarkable. “There’s no accounting for taste.”

[5] It is to be remarked of bays, mouse-colours, and chestnuts, having a streak of a darker colour over the backbone from mane to tail (which sometimes, as with the donkey, crosses the shoulder)—that animals thus marked generally possess peculiar powers of endurance; and rat-tailed ones, though ugly, prove very serviceable.

[6] The extremes of various bad positions of the head when the bit is put in operation are—the throwing up the nose horizontal with the forehead, a trick denominated “stargazing,” at which ewe-necked horses are very ready, and getting the bit up to the angles of the jaws. Such a horse can easily run away, and cannot be commanded without a martingal. Another bad point is when the animal leans his jaw firmly against the bit, and, placing his head between his fore legs, the neck being over-arched, goes where he pleases: such is called by horsemen “a borer.”

[7] The racer not coming within the province, of this little work, I will only offer one maxim with reference to such horses in general—viz., never race any horse unless you make up your mind to have most probably a fretful, bad-tempered animal ever after. The course of training and the excitement of contest will induce such a result.

[8] If you happen to buy a low-priced animal, and depend upon your own opinion as to soundness, it is well to feel and look closely at the back part of the fore leg, above the fetlock, and along the pasterns, for cicatrices left after the performance of the operation of unnerving, by means of which a horse will go perhaps apparently sound while navicular disease is progressing in his foot, to terminate in most serious consequences.—_See_ “Navicular Disease,” page 134.

[9] The old-fashioned pattern, with leather gear, is, after all, the best, as proved by the most practical men of the day.

[10] It has been truly said by the well-known Mr Elmore, that there is a key to every horse’s mouth, requiring only proper hands to apply it.

[11] The famous Irish jumper “Distiller” was notorious among many other good fencers as a bungler on the road, though he would jump a six-foot-six stone wall with ease, sporting two large broken knees in consequence of his performance in that line; and in fencing he was also first-rate.

[12] I may recommend Gibson, 6 Coventry Street, Leicester Square, as an excellent, intelligent, and experienced saddler.

[13] Latchford, 11 Upper St Martin’s Lane, London, and all saddlers.

[14] All the foregoing observations on saddlery apply equally to ladies’ saddles. Marked attention should be paid before they mount to the girths, which should be very tight, to prevent the saddle from turning, a lady’s weight being often altogether on one side.

[15] As a good shoulder, such as will keep a saddle in its place, is one of the great essentials in a gentleman’s hack, or indeed in an officer’s charger, giving him leverage to lift his legs safely and showily, it stands to reason that not many such will pass into the ranks at the Government price for remounts, which, however, is _ample_ to supply animals suitable for the service, and does so in regiments where the class of horse provided at once proves that the whole sum allowed is invested in the remount itself, and proper judgment exercised in purchasing.

[16] It might not be out of place to mention, for the information of those who desire to be well taught, that, to my own knowledge, Allen’s, in Seymour Place, Bryanstone Square, and Clarendon’s, in Great Brunswick Street, Dublin, are excellent riding-schools.

[17] Those who probably have never received a professional riding-lesson in their lives, but still, from intuitive taste, ride with ease and ability.

[18] Talking of a horse being self-dependent in his movement on the road, puts me in mind of a challenge once accepted by a very practical horseman, to ride a notorious stumbler (reduced by this defect to mere farm-work) three times round Stephen’s Green, Dublin (a distance of over three miles), without falling. Given his choice of bits, some being of the severest kind, he rejected them all, desiring the groom to get him a common hemp halter, and with this simple head-gear, riding bare-backed, he accomplished the distance without the slightest mishap, and thereby won a large bet. The groom, however, resumed the use of the bit to ride the horse home (now feeling sufficient confidence to trust himself on his back instead of leading him), when the animal fell on his knees before he had gone a hundred yards.

[19] The incautious use of that rein, which has leverage on the curb, is very apt, with young unformed horses, or such as have been only accustomed to the bridoon or snaffle, to induce a notion of rearing, especially in anything of a rough attempt to “rein back” with; indeed, this latter point of training should be accomplished with the bridoon only.

[20] One can scarcely repress a smile on hearing cross-country misfortunes related, as they frequently are, in pretty nearly the following terms:—“I found my horse going sluggishly at his fences; and one place looking rather biggish, I shook him up with the bit, and put both heels into him to rouse him, but somehow or other the brute took off too soon, caught his fore feet, I suppose, against something, and came such a cropper on the other side!” or, “The beast kept going at such a bat at his fences that I brought him to book with my hands down, and with a good pull steadied him; but the brute with his awkwardness missed his footing on landing, dropped his hind legs into the brook somehow, and fell back on me, giving me a regular sousing!”

[21] In obscure lameness, to aid towards discovery of the affected part, having first decided which leg or foot is diseased, it is not a bad plan to walk the animal into a stream above the knees and take him out again (or have water dashed at once fully over the member), then kneel and closely observe which spot on the surface dries first—that which does so will probably prove to be the most inflamed part.

[22] In double harness, to increase your power in turning, shorten the coupling-reins; and to ease your horses, lengthen these to let their heads work more straight forward.

[23] Any one desiring hints in that line can have the benefit of my experience in dealing with such cattle, by applying to my publisher.

[24] When a hame martingal strap is used, the pad belly-band should not be finally buckled until it has been passed through the other.

[25] Yankee fashion is to drive with a rein in each hand. This style in Ireland is humorously described as “driving with a rein in each hand and a whip in the other.”

[26] There is a useful and inexpensive contrivance for very temporary roughing, patented and sold by John Coppard & Co., 24 Fleet Street, who, on being communicated with, will forward descriptive particulars. There is also a capital and more permanent arrangement prepared and sold by Mr Morris of 21 Rathbone Place, Oxford Street, being an improvement on Mr White’s plan of frosting horses’ shoes, by screwing three sharpened cogs into each—one at each heel and one at the toe—the shoes when put on being prepared to receive them.

[27] A suggestion has been made by one of the ablest reviewers of the first edition of this work, to add a chapter on caprices of horses; and doubtless such would be so extremely interesting, that the temptation to insert notes under this head in my first edition was only overcome by the determination to avoid being led into anecdote, which has been strictly observed throughout, as being out of keeping with the concise style in which it was intended that the book should be produced. A few practical hints are, however, here classed under the head of “Caprice.”

[28] A little work on blood-letting, by Professor Hugh Ferguson of Dublin, is well worthy of consultation on the subject.

[29] The difference between this disease and attacks of the lower viscera is, that the animal does not kick about, but generally stands as if hopeless and helpless.

[30] Practical men will tell you that the readiest and best way to mix grey powder, as water will not make it adhere, is with saliva in the palm of the hand, from whence it is transferred by a blunt knife to the horse’s tongue near the root, the tongue being drawn out for the purpose. I can vouch for the efficacy of this not very elegant proceeding where expedition is an object, having witnessed it myself.