OF FARRIERY. 



2C3 



While the convulsion, or fit. is on, hold the 

 bottle of ammonia frequently to his nose ; and 

 in all probability the Horse may immediately 

 jump up, or at least in a very short time, and 

 remove the epilepsy from him. Should he be 

 a large cart Horse, in high condition, take four 

 or six quarts of blood from him ; feed him on 

 cold bran mashes, and give a dose of physic 

 or two, according to his strength or size. (^See 

 list of medicines.) The mercurial ball, com- 

 posed of blue pill and aloes, is also very good 

 in this case. If you can procure it, feed with 

 grass occasionally ; but you must lessen your 

 hard feed. I have seen some poor farmers" 

 Horses attacked, and that violently. This I 

 attribute to the excessively hard and bad 

 arrangement of the harness, as before-men- 

 tioned. 



PALSY. 



Palsy is when a part of the body loses its 

 power of moving, or feeling, or both. This 

 disease, amongst the old farriers, was called 

 planet-struck, or shrew-run. 



If there is only a trembling, or shaking in 

 the part ; or, if only one limb be attacked with 

 palsy, it is seldom dangerous. But when it 

 seizes both limbs behind, the case is very 

 troublesome and difficult to cure. The Horse 

 going at the slowest pace, reels about, with 

 difficulty is able to stand at all ; and on turn- 

 ing round, is obliged to form an immense 

 circle, to accomplish the act ; or, as it fre- 

 quently happens, ends in a fall. 



This, of course, would lead our attention to 

 examine the Horse's loins, which always occa- 

 sions him to exhibit pain on pressure ; shewing 

 that there must be some morbid action jjoing: 

 on ill the spinal marrow ; either in the sub- 

 stance itself, or the membranes covering it; 



or, from some accident, a small portion of 

 bone may be pressing upon it there ; and 

 consequently deprive the posterior nerves of 

 their action. I have no doubt that it may 

 occur from turning in a narrow stall ; for it is 

 t'uly distressing to see some Horses placed in 

 such hen-coop stalls as they are, and in en- 

 deavouring to come out, twist themselves 

 almost double. As this affection is not of 

 unfrequent occurrence, every person who 

 knows the value of a good hackney, will 

 be glad to see it removed. The stimulant 

 applications are the best, such as the follow- 

 ing :— 



Take Cantharides, powdered - I ounce. 

 Oil of turpentine - - - 2 do. 

 Olive Oil 3 do. 



Mix, and shake well together in a bottle, and 

 apply a portion of it over the Horse's loius, 

 night and morning. 



Or, 



Take Tartar emetic 

 Hog's lard - 



2 drams. 

 2 ounces. 



Form this into an ointment, and apply, until 

 small pimples arise. Give the mild mercurial 

 alterative ball {see list of medicines,) every 

 second or third day. Some people are ex- 

 ceedingly fond of applying what are called 

 changes, and ordering a run at grass for a ^ 

 few months. A cure by such means is some- 

 times efTected ; but in this case, as in many 

 others among the old farriers, they place the 

 praise on the least deserving. The farrier 

 says, " It was my change that restored the 

 Horse ;" leaving rest and Dr. Green, com- 

 pletely out of the question *, 



* In India there is a disease called kumree, which al- 

 ways ends in complete paralysis of the hind-quarieri 



