178 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



the mouth feels cool antl moist, and the heat 

 of the body becomes gradually natural ; also 

 slight symptoms of returning appetite appear, 

 under which circumstances a resolution of the 

 fever is formed. 



For the treatment of simple fever, which 

 generally comes on after a journey, and must 

 be under the immediate observance of the 

 groom, he should immediately report the same 

 the instant the cold fit, or rigour comes on ; 

 then procure two or three men to work at the 

 Horse with dry straw with all their vigour, 

 the groom in the mean time preparing the fol- 

 lowing dia'ight — 



Take of Good ale. (warmed) - 1 quart. 



Ginger 

 Anise seeds 



ido. 



Give immediately, and aftei' rubbing the 

 Horse well, clothe warm, give a good bed of 

 clean straw, and bandage the legs well with 

 flannel bandages. Should the reader hare 

 one of the cordial balls, as recommended in 

 this work (^See list of medicines at the end of 

 the work,) take one and break up and dis- 

 solve in the warm ale ; if warm ale cannot be 

 immediately procured, take half-a-pint of gin, 

 and three half pints of water, to which add 

 either the ginger or cordial-ball. This pre- 

 ventive treatment will in most cases remove 

 simple fever. On the morrow I should recom- 

 mend the following alterative — 



Take Cape aloes - - 2 drams. 

 Juniper berries - 1 do. 

 Form into a ball with soft soap, and 

 sufficient hnseed meal. 



After which feed your Horse as usual. He 

 will be fit to work in two days' time. 



DISTEMPER, OR INFLUtNZA. 



The distemper, or influenza in Hoi-ses, at- 

 tacks them at any time of the year, and under 

 almost any circumstances ; but it is infinitely 

 more prevalent at sometimes, and under some 

 circumstances, than at others ; especially in 

 the spring of the year, or near the 8ea-coast, 

 and when the wind blows off the sea from the 

 south-east. Having lived on the sea-coast (or 

 some years, I have proved this to a demon- 

 stration. No age is exempt from this disease. 

 Horses of large towns are very liable to this 

 disease, especially if their heads are fastened 

 in a south-east direction, and the rack at top 

 being completely left open. Occasionally, how- 

 ever, it rages in a truly epidemic form, when 

 the liability to its attack is almost uniform 

 among all varieties, with the exception that 

 even under (his state, young Horses, and those 

 newly brought into stable management, are 

 more liable to it than the older ones. The 

 spring months appear to be the time of year 

 Horses are most liable to this disease, and (he 

 prevalence is materially increased by the 

 variable state of the atmosphere, as great and 

 sudden changes from dry to wet, and from 

 heat to cold, and still more certainly, if ac- 

 companied with an easterly wind. Now and 

 then, it is found to occur in wet autunons 

 also. It has been disputed whether it be 

 contagious or not ; but on this point I do 

 not think it difficult to decide, for I have 

 seen a number of Horses stabled together, 

 and some of them not the least affected, 

 while others standing near them, have suffered 

 ffreatlv from the attack. This can onlv l>e 

 attributed to the susceptibility of the con- 

 stitution of some Horses to take on th'i 

 disease more than others, thougli it may 



