OF FARRIERY. 



135 



produced debility ; but I have no doubt that 

 a torpor of the absorbent vessels may occasion 

 the disease, consequently a debility in those 

 vessels to perform their office. 



It sometimes happens with Horses that are 

 brought up immediately from grass, and 

 ridden rather sharper than they ought to be, 

 causing congestion on the brain ; but as we 

 shall have to speak of that disease in its 

 regular course, we will now enter on the 

 symptoms of dropsy in the head. 



In the first place, the Horse refuses his food, 

 hangs his head down in the manger, is dull, 

 and seems careless of all kind of food, hang- 

 ing himself forward, restina: his whole weig-ht 

 on his fore legs, the Horse looking as if he 

 was going to sleep, and wanted rousing up. 

 Now, for the treatment of this disease, you 

 must first make yourself acquainted with the 

 cause. If it be a farmer's Horse, and not 

 having been ridden lately, you may natually 

 conclude its being congestion on the brain 

 This may exist without any visible pain on 

 pressure ; should this be the case, do not 

 bleed, for you will not find that relief from it 

 you anticipate ; but 



Take Watery solution of aloes ]h oz. 

 Nitre ----- 2 do. 

 Linseed meal - - - 2 do. 



Mix for a drink, and give immediately. Let 

 the Horse have plenty of room, such as a 

 loose box, or bay of a barn ; let him have 

 plenty of straw, in case he shoi'd lie down, 

 and be inclined to roll or knock himself about. 

 Should this treatment appear not to relieve 

 him, apply a blister to the pole or back of the 

 neck, composed of 



Cantharides - - 2 drams. 

 Hog's lard - - 2 oz 



Let this ointment be well rubbed in behind 

 the ears. Should this disease be occasioned 

 by blows, or falls, &c., examine the head well, 

 to be convinced if any pain is existing there ; 

 and should this be the case, do not hesitate in 

 immediately opening the temporal artery, and 

 abstract as much blood as you can, without 

 the Horses fainting; if you see him begin to 

 tremble, it is time to leave off, for you have 

 gained your object. Secure the artery in the fol- 

 lowing manner : — take a curved needle, armed 

 with doubled whitey-brown thread, take up 

 the lips as directed in sutures, then lay a plegit 

 of tow over the orifice, tie up the suture, and 

 the bleeding will be stopped. For feed give 

 very little, or no hay, but bran mashes : 

 do not give any corn. I recommend bleeding, 

 if the disease arises from blows, because it is 

 most likely to stimulate the absorbents to take 

 cm their natural functions. Fur the medical 

 treatment, proceed as before directed. 



DROPSY OF THE CHEST. 



This, as a primary affection, is not common 

 in the Horse, but as a secondary attack it 

 becomes frequent, and that most especially 

 supervening in an attack of inllammation, 

 consistinff in a collection of fluid within the 

 cavity of one or both of the plurse; and in 

 these cases there can be no doubt of it arising 

 from debility. Many gallons of fluid have 

 been found so formed within a very short 

 space of time ; in some instances pus has been 

 discovered; in others, matter and other co- 

 agulable masses are frequently discovered 

 floating in it. 



The causes of this disease, as I before 

 stated, are principally arising from the termi- 

 nation of inflammation of the lungs, and is 

 o-enerally to be discovered by the peculiar 



