&2 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



lour weeks, should the Horse have not got rid 

 of his lameness, you must have recourse to 

 firing, and which perform at least half way 

 up the large pastern bone, and down to the 

 hoof, in what is called diaments ; after which 

 lay some mild blistei* on ; this will, in most 

 cases, remove the lameness altogether ; if it 

 should not, repeat the firing, and blister 



agam. 



ANCHYLOSIS, OR STIFF JOINT. 



The origin of this disease is an inflammation 

 of the ligaments, connecting joints together, 

 and occurs in the fore legs, particularly be- 

 tween the large and small pastern bones ; it 

 also may arise from sprain, or laceration ; it 

 also may arise from various other causes, as 

 tumefaction of the ends of bones, caries, frac- 

 ture, dislocation ; also the joints are very apt 

 to become stiff", as the Horse becomes aged. 

 It is a disease that more frequently occurs in 

 the spine, or back-bone of the Horse ; and he 

 is then termed rigged in the back, because it 



most generally affects him about the loins • 

 and the difficulty he shews in turning, and 

 that with a kind of jerk, according as he may 

 be turned either to the left or right, has occa- 

 sioned the term rig ; also, if he be trotted, he 

 will have such a decidedly rolling gait, and 

 appearance of weakness, that he at once pro- 

 claims the disease ; though there are many 

 Horses that are called chinked in the back 

 may in a measure be restored, for slow work, 

 and as much rest as you can possibly give 

 them ; so that this kind of anchylosis of the 

 backbone does not interfere with the Horse 

 so much, if used for slow work on a farm. If 

 anchylosis takes place in either the fetlock 

 joints, pasterns, knee, hock, or stifle, I should 

 decide the Horse to be totally useless, and 

 present him to the nearest friend who kept 

 hounds ; for a cure is impossible. Conse- 

 quently, to prevent my readers going to ex- 

 pence and trouble, I deem it the best advice I 

 can give them, to get rid of such a Horse 

 at once. 



