922 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Paet III. 



SuBSECT. 5. Blistering and Firing. 



5810. Blistering answers the same purposes as setons ; and is practised by first cutting or shaving the hair 

 from the part, when the blistering ointment {Vet. Fharm. 5890.) should be well rubbed in for ten minutes, 

 or a quarter of an hour. Some of the ointment after the rubbing may be smeared over the part. The 

 head of the horse should now be tied up to prevent his gnawing or licking. If a neck cradle be at hand 

 it may also for safety be put on ; in wMch case the head may let down the third day. 



5871. A neck cradle for blistered horses is very convenient for other occasions also, when the mouth 

 is to be kept from licking or biting other parts j or to keep other parts from being rubbed against the 

 head. It is of very simple construction, and may be made by a dozen pieces of wood of about an inch and 

 half diameter, as old broom handles, &c. These bored at each end admit a rope to be passed through ; 

 and as each is passed on, a knot may be tied to the upper part of the pieces of the cradle, two inches 

 apart; and those which form the lower part, four inches : by which means the neck will be fitted by the 

 cradle when it is put on ; and the horse will be prevented from bending his head to lick or gnaw parts to 

 be protected. When the lower parts of the legs, particularly of the hinder, require blistering, it is 

 necessary to bear in mind that in gross ;full horses, particularly in autumn, grease is very apt to follow 

 blistering ; and almost certainly if the back of the heels below the fetlock be blistered. First, therefore, 

 smear this part over with lard or suet ; and afterwards avoid touching it with the ointment. After 

 blistering in summer, the horse is often turned out before the blistered parts are quite sound ; 

 in this case guard them from flies by some kind of covering, or they may become fly-blown : and like- 

 wise the fourth or fifth day rub into the blistered part some oil or lard to prevent the skin from cracking. 



5872. Sweating or liquid blisters ( Vet. Fharm. 5894.) are only more gentle stimulants, which are daily ap- 

 plied to produce the same effects on a diseased part without removing the hair. Of course less activity is 

 expected ; yet as the action is repeated, they are often more beneficial even than blistering itself: as in 

 old strains and stiffnesses. 



5873. Firing, as requiring the assistance of an experienced practitioner, we shall not describe; it will 

 be only prudent to point out that it is a more active mode of blistering ; and that it acts very powerfully 

 as a stimulant, not only while its effects last as blisters do, but also after its escharotic eflf'ect is over, by 

 its pressure ; and in this way it is that it operates so favorably in bony exostosis, as splints and spavins; 

 and in this way it is so useful in old ligamentary weaknesses ; because by lessening the dilatability of the 

 skin it becomes a continual bandage to the part. 



SuBSECT. 6. Clystering and Physicking. 



5874. Clystering should always be preceded by back-raking, which consists in oiling one hand and arm, 

 and passing them up the fundament, and by that means to remove all the dung balls that can be reached. 

 The large pewter syringe for clystering, is neither a useful or safe machine. A much better consists in 

 a turned box pipe, to which may be attached a large pig or ox-bladder, by which four or five quarts of 

 liquid can be administered at one time. [Vet. Fharm. 5895. ^o5898.). The pipe should be previously oiled, 

 by which means it passes more easily : the liquor should then be steadily pressed up ; and when the pipe 

 is removed, the tail sliould be held_down over the fundament a little to prevent the return of the clyster. 

 In some cases of a spasmodic nature, as gripes and locked jaw, great force is made by the bowels to 

 Yctum the clyster, and nothing but continued pressure over the fundament can enable it to be retained. 



Clysters not only act in relaxing the bowels, but they may be used as means of nutriment when it cannot 

 be taken by the mouth ; as in locked jaw, wounds of the mouth, throat, &c., &c. In locked jaw, it was 

 observed by Gibson, that he kept a horse alive many days by clysters alone : and by clysters also, many 

 medicines may be given more conveniently than by the mouth. 



5875. Physicking of horses. It is equally an error to refrain altogether from giving horses physic, as it 

 is to give it on every occasion, as some do. Neither is it necessary for horses to be bled and physicked 

 every spring and autumn, if they be in perfect health, and the less so, as at this time they are generally 

 weak and faint from the change going on in their coats. Nor is it always necessary to give horses physic 

 when they come from grass or a straw yard ; provided the change from the one state to the other be very 

 moderately brought about. But on such a removal, it certainly expedites all the phenomena of condition, 

 (5754 ), and such horses are less likely to fall to pieces, as it is termed, afterwards, {5155.) In various mor- 

 bid states physic is particularly useful, as in worms, hide-bound, from too full a habit, &c. &c. It is not 

 advisable to physic horses in either very cold, or very warm weather. Strong physic is always hurtful : 

 all that physic can do is as well operated by a mild as by a strong dose, with infinitely less hazard. No 

 horse should be physicked whose bowels have not been previously prepared by mashing for two days at 

 least before. By these means the physic will work kindly, and a moderate quantity only is requisite. 

 Most of the articles put into the purging balls for horses, to assist the aloes, are useless. Jalap will not 

 purge a horse, nor rhubarb either. Aloes are the only proper drug to be depended on for this purpose, 

 and of all the varieties of aloes the socotorine and Cape are the best. {Vet. Fharm. 5915.) Barbadoes aloes 

 are also not improper, but are thought more rough than the socotorine. For formulae of purging balls, 

 see Vet. Fharm. (5915.) Blaine gives the following as the process. 



5876. Fhysicking process. The horse having fasted an hour or two in the morning from food, but having 

 had his water as usual ; give him his purge, and two hours after offer him a little chilled, but not 

 warm water, as is often done, by which horses are disgusted from taking any : it may be here remarked 

 that in this particular much error is frequently committed. Many horses will drink water with the chill 

 taken off, provided it be perfectly clean, and do not smell of smoke from the fire, kettle, or saucepan : 

 but few, very few, will drink warm or hot water ; and still fewer, if it be in the least degree greasy or 

 smoky. After the ball has been given two hours, a warm bran mash may be offered, and a very little 

 hay. He should have walking exercise as usual, moderately clothed : and altogether he should be kept 

 rather more warm than usual. At noon mash again, and give a little hay, which should be repeated 

 at night, giving him at intervals chilled water. On the following morning the physic may be expected to 

 work ; which if it do briskly, keep the horse quiet : but should it not move his bowels, or only relax them, 

 walk him quietly half an hour, which will probably have the desired eflf'ect. Continue to give mashes 

 and warm water, repeating them every two or three hours to support him. When physic gripes a horse, 

 give him a clyster of warm water, and hand rub the belly, as well as walk him out. If the griping 

 prove severe, give him four ounces of gin in half a pint of sound ale, which will soon relieve him. On 

 the next day the physic will probably set, but should it continue to work him severely, pour down some 

 boiled starch ; and if this fail, turn to the directions under diarrhoea. (.5804.) The horse should return to his 

 usual habits of full feeding, and full exercise by degrees ; and if more than one dose be to be given, a 

 week should intervene. It is often requisite to make the second and third doses rather stronger than the 

 first. A very mild dose of physic is likewise often given to horses while at grass in very warm weather, 

 and without any injury. When worms, or skin foulness are present, and mercurial physic is deemed 

 necessary, it is better to give two drachms of calomel in a mash the previous night, than to put it into the 

 purging ball. 



SuBSECT. 7. Castration, Nicking, Docking, ^c. 



5877. The operations of castration, docking, nicking, and that of cropping (which is now seldom practised), 

 all require the assistance of a veterinary surgeon ; and it is only necessary to remark of them, that the 

 after treatment must be the same as in all other wounds. To avoid irritation, to preserve a cool tempe- 

 Vature and a moderate diet ; and if active febrile symptoms make their appearance, to obviate them by 

 bleeding, &c., &c. It likewise is proper to direct the attention of the agriculturist who attends to these 



