THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



gas, good will have been accomplished. If the animal seems constipated, a dose of oil or 

 aloes may bring relief. Walk the animal about, but do not permit him to exercise violently, 

 such as rolling or trotting, as in severe cases of distention there would be danger of rupture. 

 In severe cases, where delay might prove hazardous, and all other remedies fail, the trochar 

 is sometimes used for the escape of the gas, the puncture being made in the middle of the 

 right flank. No one should however resort to this remedy, unless skilled in its use. 



Corns. These are found in the angle of the hoof between the bars and quarters, near 

 the heel, and are generally caused by improper shoeing, or the shoe being worn too long, 

 which results in the hoof growing over the shoe, bringing the pressure of the weight upon 

 the sole. Placing the shoe on in such a manner that ^the pressure comes upon the sole will 

 also cause corns. An established corn is very troublesome, and will sometimes produce per 

 manent lameness. Horses with low, weak heels and thin, flat soles are apt to have bruises 

 of this kind. Old corns are difficult to cure, but those recently formed yield more readily to 

 treatment, frequently disappearing with proper shoeing, that will remove the pressure from 

 the part affected. A bar shoe that relieves the bar from pressure, and throws it upon the 

 frog will often prove highly beneficial. This should not, however, be worn for more than two 

 successive shoeings. The corn should be pared out very thin, and dressed every clay with 

 the following mixture: 1 drachm of chloride of zinc, 2 oz. of glycerine, and 6 oz. of water. 

 Upon cutting away the horn over the corn, a red or dark purple spot will be found, the 

 latter showing the corn to be a deep-seated one. After paring the part, it can be determined 

 whether there is any matter or blood underneath; if there be any, a small opening should 

 be made through the horn for its discharge. 



When suppuration has taken place, a poultice should be applied until the corn is softened, 

 after which the horny portion above it can be removed. The corn should then be kept 

 dressed with a solution of one grain chloride of zinc to one ounce of water. 



In all cases the most important part of the treatment is to remove the cause of the diffi 

 culty, by proper shoeing, 



Cough. A chronic cough in a horse is difficult to cure, and frequently leads to other 

 troubles. 



Steep half a pound of flax-seed in boiling water, and when nearly cold mix both seeds 

 and tea with his food every day, for a week or so. Give him also a tablespoonful of the 

 following once or twice each day: extract of belladonna 1 oz. ; powdered muriate ammonia, 

 3 oz. ; powdered liquorice, 5 oz. ; powdered sal nitre, 2 .oz. ; honey, 1 Ib. ; Barbadoes tar, 1 Ib. ; 

 powdered ginger, \ oz. Mix thoroughly before using. 



The best way to administer it, is to cover an old bit with a piece of cloth well fastened 

 on, and smear it with a tablespoonful of the paste, before putting it in the mouth. The 

 horse will suck it off in half an hour or so, after which remove the bit. 



Another remedy, often very effectual : 1 oz. balsam of fir, dissolved in two ozs. sweet 

 spirits of nitre, to which add 4 ozs. of the syrup of garlic; dose, a tablespoonful night and 

 morning. 



A simple, and sometimes very quick, remedy is found by steeping 2 parts liquorice root, 

 2 parts slippery elm bark, 4 parts flax-seed together, and giving two or three times a day. 



Crib-Biting. This is a vice that is sometimes acquired by a colt when teething, or 

 by horses that are too highly fed, and but little used. It not unfrequently happens that 

 horses that are not sufficiently fed will form the habit, from not having their hunger 

 appeased. Sometimes it seems to be from mere idleness, and not having anything else to do 

 the horse bites his manger. 



When once the habit is well established, it is a difficult one to cure, and an inveterate 

 cribber may be looked upon as a hard case. 



