OF FARRIERY. 



89 



arises from a blow, will effect a cure in a few 

 days. 



This disease does not often attack aged 

 Horses, if they have been exempt previously. 

 Horses are most subject to it between four 

 years and six years old, when their growth is 

 becoming nearer complete ; and, consequently, 

 if highly kept, a plethoric habit is produced ; 

 the solids of the body ceasing to grow, the 

 deposit being greater than the system requires. 

 Youno" Horses are but little susceptible of this 

 disease ; I mean in early life. When an at- 

 tack commences, if nothing be done to prevent 

 it, the inflammation increases rapidly, until the 

 pupil is hid, and the whole surface of the eye 

 appears bloody. This, by proper remedies, 

 may be wholly removed. These attacks fly 

 from eye to eye ; first in one eye, then in the 

 other, probably at the interval of some 

 months, till one or both eyes go blind. If one 

 only be lost, the general opinion is, the other 

 becomes perfectly sound, and is considered 

 much stronger. All these facts prove it is not 

 a local disease, but that it is constitutional, and 

 that from its attacking first one eye and then 

 the other. The causes of this disease I have 

 no doubt is a poisoned atmosphere. I observe 

 in these cases, either the Horses do not per- 

 spire at all, or they perspire profusely, fiom 

 langour ; so that it appears, when it does take 

 place from plethora, the Horse then is in a 

 languid state. This disease proceeds from the 

 conjunctiva, until all the other parts partake of 

 it, including the iris, which under the attack 

 secretes pus, which falls into the posterior 

 chamber, where absorption takes it up, or 

 probably ulceration may take place. It is 

 worthy of notice, that the constitution appears 

 to undergo a change, when blindness ensues ; 

 for. this periodical opthalmia generally ceases 



when one or both of the eyes go out, although 

 at first sight, one cannot tell how the consti- 

 tution has been affected by the loss of this 

 organ, or see a reason why the inflammation 

 should not recur at intervals. 



This disease may arise from the effects of 

 purging ; but purging only causes the consti- 

 tutional tendency to the disease being brought 

 into eff'ect, and producing debility from the 

 medicine which becomes the exciting cause ; 

 the disease then being constitutional, it will 

 direct us to notice the proper remedies. 



Take Blue pill - - 12 drams. 

 Opium - - 2 do. 



Linseed meal - 1 oz. 

 Form into a mass with soft soap. 



And divide into six balls. Give one every 

 second morning fasting. Or, 



Take Sulphate of copper 12 drams. 



Or, 

 Take Sulphate of iron - 12 drams. 



Take either of the above, and form into a 

 mass with linseed meal and soap, and divide 

 into six balls, and give one every morning 

 about eleven o'clock. These two last are 

 strengthening, and when the disease arises 

 from debility, will be found of essential ser- 

 vice. Bleeding generally, according to the 

 streno'th of the animal, should not be omitted, 

 but it will relieve it in all its stages, though 

 not eventually cure it. The best thing in the 

 shape of lotion I could discover, was the fol- 

 lowing : — 



Take Common salt, a table-spoonful and a 

 half 

 Spring water, as much as will (ill a 

 wine-bottle 



