466 XAYIN ox THE HORSE. 



the treatment of weak eyes. It is also used to soften the hoof 

 in hoof-bound. It is a physic in doses of from one to two pints, 

 but is not very reliable as a physic. 



Linseed, or Flax-seed. — Ground flax-seed is much used in 

 making poultices. For this purpose it is boiled in enough 

 water to make a stiff mush. It is the best poultice used for 

 general purposes. The oil-cake, which is much used by horse- 

 men for improving the horse's condition, is the cake which re- 

 mains after the oil has been pressed out of the ground seed. 

 It is used in the quantity of one or two ounces a day, in the 

 feed ; but the best preparation which has ever been used for 

 improving the condition of the horse is one which I have used 

 for many years, and the knowledge of which is worth double 

 the price of this book to any horseman. Its great superiority 

 consists in its perfect safety and invariable good effect. I 

 never knew of any harm to result from its use. Nothing 

 brings a horse up so quick. The following is the preparation 

 which I have named : 



Flax-seed Jelhj. — Take one quart of flax-seed, and put it in 

 len quarts of water, in a convenient vessel, an'd let it stand 

 ■over night, or about twelve hours. Then put it over the fire 

 .and boil very slowly, until it is boiled down to a thick jelly, 

 which will take about three hours. It must be stirred con- 

 ■Stantly while boiling, to keep it from burning. To this quan- 

 tity a double-handful of salt may be added, to preserve it. 

 It will improve its effect, in most cases, to add to the above 

 quantity two ounces of ginger and the same quantity of ground 

 poplar bark, or that quantity of either. The dose is one tea- 

 cupfid three times a day, to be given with cut or ground feed. 

 After a week or ten days it may only be given twice a day. 

 If the horse should become too costive, stop the use of the 

 jelly for a few days, or it might be necessary to give a physic, 

 •or, what is better, a feed or two of boiled barley. 



Lime-water is a good antacid, that is, it destroys the sour- 



