NIDEBOUND. 527 
quarters, is known by this name. Doubtless, it has been supposed to 
avise from an excess of food, causing indigestion ; but it often comes on 
in horses which, apparently, are quite free from that disorder. The most 
common cause appears to be, sweating the horse when he is in a gross or 
plethoric condition, and then exposing him to a chill. Colts are very 
subject to surfeit while being broken, as are horses fresh from grass during 
the summer, when they are usually over-fat, and require great care in 
reducing this plethoric condition. The usual course of the eruption is for 
the scabs to dry and gradually loosen, w Tae the hair of the part is slightly 
thinned by being pulled out in dressing, a fresh crop of pustules forming, 
and, to the casual observer, keeping ap the appearance of a permanent 
state of the original scabs. Surfeit is not confined to gross horses, as it 
sometimes makes its appearance in those which are low in condition, 
exhibiting the same appearance to the eye; but, on examination, the 
secretion “from the skin will be found to be thinner, and of a more 
purulent nature. The treatment must greatly depend upon the state of 
the general health. If the horse is very gross, it may be desirable to take 
a little blood away; but this will seldom be necessary, and never is 
desirable. Physic seems to do little immediate good ; and, indeed, it is 
very doubtful whether any treatment is of much service, excepting such 
as will gradually bring the horse into working condition. ‘The disease, in 
most cases, has its origin in obstruction of the sebaceous and perspiratory 
pores; and until these are restored to their proper functions, by gradually 
exercising them, little good can be done. Unfortunately, the very means 
which will accomplish this object are apt to increase the disease for a 
time ; but still this must be put up with, as a matter in which no choice 
can be made. Regular exercise and grooming must be fully attended to, 
using the whisp only in dressing the skin, when the eruption shows itself, 
and carefully avoiding the brush and currycomb. By acting on the kidneys, 
more good will be done than by purging physic, which seems to be of 
little or no service in any case but when the stomach is greatly out of 
order. An ounce of nitre may be given with a mash twice a week, or the 
following balls may be administered :— 
Take of Nitre, 
Sulphurfotieach (ty) i 1-1 te bicultatn etl ou peter fo rachmes: 
Sulphuret of Antimony . . 2 drachms, 
Linseed Meal and Water enough £6 form heey balls: 
HIDEBOUND 
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY a disorder of the skin produced by sympathy with 
the stomach. It rarely occurs in any horse but one sadly out of health 
trom a deficiency either in the quantity or quality of the food. Some- 
times it comes on in the latter stages of consumption or dysentery, without 
any previous mismanagement ; but in the vast majority of cases the cause 
may be laid to the food. The skin of a horse in health feels supple, and 
on his sides it may readily be gathered up by the hand into a large fold, 
but in hidebound it is as if it were glued to the ribs, and were also too 
tight for the carcase which it invests. ‘The name, indeed, is expressive 
of this state, and the disease can scarcely be mistaken when once seen, or 
rather felt. Coincident with this condition of the skin, there is also, 
generally, either a distended state of the abdomen from flatulence, or a 
contracted and “tucked up” appearance from diarrhoea. The treatment 
should be addressed to the digestive organs, the state of which must be 
