144 AGRlCtlLTURAL ESSAYS. 



Gibson condemns the practice of putting ginger and other stim- 

 ulating things into the ear, as dangerous, though it may some- 

 times prove beneficial. v 



Strain, or Sprain. Horses are liable to strains, particular- 

 ly in the shoulders. Anointing them with spirits of turpentine 

 in the part injured, will help them for a while, but will not af- 

 ford them a permanent relief. Washing the shoulder, when 

 that partis affected, with brine, as warm as it can wel] be borne, 

 will effect a cure in a few days. It should be done twice a 

 day. And letting the animal rest from labor, will generally 

 perform a cure in a few weeks, at fartherest. If these will not 

 answer, let warm poultices be applied, of bran boiled in vine- 

 gar, with a sufficiency of hog's lard to prevent its growing 

 hard ; let this be repeated, if necessary, until the cure is com- 

 pleted ; and then mind to keep that part covered a while so that 

 it shall not be affected by colds. 



Wheezing. A disease of horses commonly called broken 

 wind. Caused by surfeits, violent exercise when the helly is 

 ful], by being rode into cold water when very warm, or by ob- 

 stinate colds not cured. For the curft, it is advised that the 

 horse should have good nourishment, much grain, and little 

 iiay : and that tJxe v/ater given him to drink daily, have a solu- 

 tion of half an ounce of saltpetre, and two drachms of sal am- 

 moniac. It is said that the hay made of white weed, or what 

 is called bull's eye, rnay-weed, &c. will cure this disorder. 



WiNDGALL These are flatulent swellings on the bodies of 

 horses, but most commonly they are seated on both sides of 

 the back sinew, above the fet-locks. Sometimes they are in 

 the joints and tendons. They are generally filled with air and 

 a watry matter. When they appear in the interstices of the 

 large muscles, which then appear blown up like bladders, they 

 aie principally filled with air, and may be safely opsned^and 

 treated as a common wound. When they first appear, tliey are 

 usually cured with restringents and bandages, drawn very tiglit- 

 ly round them ; for which purpose, let the swelling be bathed 

 twice a day with vinoa ar or verjuice, or fomented with a decoc- 

 tion of oak bark, from granite and allum boiled in verjuice, and 

 Jet the bandage which binds the wind-gall be soaked in the 

 same. If this should fail, the swelling may be drawn off by 

 blistering, and applying the blistering ointment, repeating it || 

 at times, till the humor is all drawn off. Some, however, cut ij 

 open these swellings, wherever they may be situated, and 

 treat them as a wound. But perhaps, when they are in tho- 

 joints, the blistering is the safer remedy, as the joints may be- 

 stiffened by imprudent management., 



