OF FARRIERY. 



235 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



ON MORBID POISONS 



Hydrophobia, or madness. This disease completely exhausted ; when he was immedi- 

 seldom attacks the Horse ; but when it does, ately ordered to be destroyed. 

 it arises from the bite of some other animal ; | The other case was that of a cart-horse, 

 such as a dog, or cat, that may be allowed to \ the symptoms of which was so very like the 



remain in the stable with the Horse. 



I never saw but two cases ot madness in 

 the Horse, and those were frightful to behold. 

 The first was a large bay carriage Horse, 

 which occurred during ray pupilage at the 

 Royal Veterinary College. The symptoms 

 that first made their appearance were, his 

 refusing all kind of food and water ; the 

 Horse then was taken with a kind of shiver- 

 ing fit, after which he broke out into a profuse 

 sweat, stared vacantly around him, began to be 

 extremely restless in his stall : he was then 

 placed in a loose box. No sooner was he 

 placed there, than he began rolling and tum- 

 bling about, reeling and staggering from one 

 side of the box to the other ; biting at the 

 manger and rack with the greatest violence ; 

 biting his own sides until they bled, raising 

 his fore feet as high as he could. Indeed, the 

 sight was too horrible to behold ; foaming at 

 the mouth ; eyes glaring and glassy. From 

 the agonizing torments the poor animal was 

 in, we left him for a short time ; but on re- 

 turning lo the box, found him on the floor 



preceding, that it needs little or no descrip- 

 tion ; the Horse having been shot after the 

 attack had been on him about three hours. 



The Bite of venemous reptiles frequently in- 

 flict fatal wounds ; but I am happy to say, this 

 country is pretty free from such enemies to 

 man and beast. The adder is the only reptile 

 that we have known to bite either Horses or 

 cattle ; and should such a case occur, and be 

 attended with swelling, 



2 ounces. 

 4 do. 



Take Oil of turpentine 

 Olive oil - - 



Mix and rub a portion of the liniment on the 

 parts affected, morning and night. 



Vegetable Poisons. — Of this class of poison 

 we have only the yew-tree, that possesses any 

 particular deleterious effects upon Horses ; 

 and I may say, when once eaten, the animal 

 wastes away by degrees, until death puts a 

 period to his sufferings. 



Mineral Poisons. — It appears that the nu- 

 merous minerals given in veterinary practice, 

 are not of that poisonous nature that might 



