46 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



his wanting the use of his Umbs on the off-side, which 

 made him turn round on his near-side ; the Umbs 

 of his near-side not being affected, but firm, w^hich was 

 the reason of this circular motion, for he could not 

 get straight forw^ards for want of the use in the other. 

 Several horses were taken in the same manner, but in 

 a less degree, and some were convulsed, and had their 

 mouths sometimes pulled to one side, but were soon 

 relieved, but those that were only convulsed in this 

 manner, retained somewhat their appetite. 



" Another remarkable case happened at this time, 

 of a horse that w^as so much convulsed, that whenever 

 he endeavoured to raise his head in the least degree, 

 nothing could be seen of his eyes but the white part, 

 which gave him a very extraordinary appearance. But 

 as this horse also had a very strong fever, and was 

 affected on both sides alike, so he never lost the use 

 of his limbs, but went staggering, and with a twitched 

 motion, arising from convulsed cramps. 



" This horse was recovered by bleeding, and other 

 plentiful evacuations, with the constant use of cepha- 

 lics, which were given him in great plenty, especially 

 castor, which had such an effect upon him, that it kept 

 him perspiring above three wrecks without intermission, 

 insomuch that all his clothes and the whole stable were 

 perfumed with it ; and if these remedies were but one 

 day omitted while the convulsions lasted, the horse al- 

 ways fell back, and was the worse for it, so that he 

 must inevitably have died in the hands of the common 

 practitioner, none of w^hom I ever knew treat convulsed 

 horses in this manner. 



"As to the horses that were affected on one side 

 only, their lameness was more apparent, so that I 

 caused them to be put into close stalls, and littered 

 quite up to their bellies, and also had a good quantity 



