THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 265 



IS more useful as an article of diet for sick or conva- 

 lescent horses, than water-gruel, provided it is pro- 

 perly made, and as this is seldom done, ^ e shall give 

 the best method of making it: Take of fine and sweet 

 oatmeal, four ounces; water, two quarts; put the water 

 over a slow clear fire to boil, and mix the oatmeal 

 gradually, with as much cold water as will make the 

 mixture quite hquid : add this to the water over the 

 fire before it gets very hot, and continue to stir the 

 whole till it boils : the gruel is then made, but may 

 be improved by letting it simmer some time longer over 

 a slow clear fire, for horses are very nice, and perhaps 

 would not touch it if in the least smoky. Should the 

 gruel be too thick, add warm water. 



Inflammation of the Spleen. 



I never met with this disease in my own practice, 

 but I have lately heard of a very well authenticated 

 one, in which the symptoms so exactly resembled He- 

 patitis, as to be mistaken by a very observant practi- 

 tioner for that. An active and judicious treatment 

 was promptly pursued, but the violence of the disease 

 destroyed the horse on the fourth day. On examina- 

 tion, the spleen was highly inflamed and nearly gan- 

 grenous, while the surrounding viscera were un- 

 afiected. 



A chronic enlargement of the spleen is less rare, 

 and produces symptoms not unlike jaundice, even to 

 the yellow tinge of the skin. Rupture also of the 

 spleen occasionally occurs. 



L M 



