DANGER OF RELAPSE, FIRING. IRON DEFENCR 179 



Mix in a bottle, and rub the parts twice daily. Let a long bandage, dipped \v 

 the embrocation just prescribed, be passed tightly round tne parts, beginning 

 at the bottom and making it fast above the knee, or the hock, as the case may 

 be. Moisten the bandage after it is on. 



No. 3. 



Cantharides, in powder, 1 drachm. 

 Spirits of wine, 2 ounces. 



Mix, and rub it on the part. Although this acts as a very mild blister, the 

 horse's head must be tied up for a few hours while it is operating. 



A course of treatment that has been followed in this manner steadily, and 

 with due caution, seldom fails to restore the animal to a comparative sound- 

 ness, if not completelv so : though the swelling may remain after the lameness 

 has ceased, it generally subsides when the convalescent animal can be per- 

 mitted to walk out for a little exercise, which should take place gradually, and 

 the use of a loose stall allowed, than which there is not in the whole catalogue 

 of remedies a more certain adjunct to be found. Going out too early after ap- 

 parent recovery is very likely to bring on a relapse, and a relapse, as every one 

 knows, is always more diffjcult to remove than the original disorder. Time 

 IS required for "the injured parts to recover their former posture and strength, 

 if that event ever arrive. Firing may be employed after a while, but is very 

 often resorted to prematurely, before the tendons and ligaments have recovered 

 jx>sition, or absorf>tion has reduced the muscular parts to their former size, and 

 restored their action. When three, or four, or five months of moderate laoour 

 give reason for believing that these events have taken place, firing is likely to 

 prove highly serviceable by hracing the whole together in a tight skin, much 

 resembling, and greatly excelling the long bandage prescribed with embroca- 

 tion No, 2, in p, 178, The reader of discernment will please to note, that if 

 the said artificial bracing be found to lessen the lameness in that early stage 

 of the disorder, no less will the bracing of the natural skin by firing be found 

 beneficial when healthy action is restored, but not perhaps ^he former strength. 



CHAPTER III. 



SHOEING. 



Terms and phrases, in all matters connected with the arts of life should 

 convey a good and most distinct notion of the thing spoken of. This does not 

 always happen in our day, formerly never, and proved a vast stumbling-block 

 to the advance of science; but whoever termed the horse-shoe an "iron-de- 

 fence, was a happy fellow, and deserves well at our hands, inasmuch as hia 

 appellation is goodly descriptive of the thimr intended, and tells plainly what 

 a snoe ought to be in reality. If not made of sufficient quantity, and of o 

 proper material, it proves inadequate to defend the hoof from injury; if made 

 too hea^y, or ill-shaped, the shoe becomes the cause of grievous offence, of 

 pain, heat and contraction of the horn, with its train of evils. Any workman 

 may learn by practice, and therefore every one ought to know, at least, when 

 too much or too little is applied. Some feet have the wall very thick, and the 

 shoe will require a good bearing ; if very thin, it can not carry a heavy 



