OR, HORSE DOCTOR. 63 



the greatest stress lies on the hind legs. The best method 

 of prevention is to wash the legs with warm water every 

 time you bait, by which means the disease will be prevented, 

 and much time, trouble and expense saved. 



Nothing is of more consequence in traveling than to take 

 care that your horse has water at proper times and in proper 

 quantities. When a horse travels he perspires considerably, 

 especially in hot weather, and should therefore be allowed 

 to drink a little more than usual, as opportunity otters, which 

 will refresh him greatly ; but never suffer him to drink much 

 at a time, for if you suffer him to drink his fill he will be 

 dull and sluggish afterwards, besides the harm he may re- 

 ceive from drinking too much cold water when he is hot. 

 Never allow your horse to be led to water, or to have his heels 

 washed, after you have arrived at your inn, but let him have 

 lukewarm water, or water moderately cool, when he has 

 stood some time in the stable. 



It is a general rule that when any extraneous body, or 

 foreign matter, such as sand or gravel, is lodged in any part 

 of the animal's body, it must be extracted as soon and as 

 easily as possible. When gravelly matter has got into the 

 quick at a nail-hole, or any other aperture, it ought to be 

 removed as soon as possible, but with as little loss of sub- 

 stance as the nature of the case will admit of, for it is a folly 

 to cut and pare away the hoof as some ignorant farriers do ; 

 because by that means they increase the evil instead of re- 

 moving it, as it is a considerable time before the breach is 

 repaired, and till that is done, the same part is likely to ad- 

 mit more gravel. So much, therefore, and no more, of the 

 hoof should be taken away as is necessary, viz. : till the 

 blackness or discoloration vanishes ; then the wound should 

 be dressed with the following balsam : 



^ an ounce of Gum Benjamin. 

 \^ an ounce of Balsam of Peru. 



6 drams of Myrrh. 



3 drams of Storax. 



3 drams of Socotrine Aloes. 



3 drams of Frankincense. 



3 drams of Gum Guaiaciim. 



Powder the ingredients that will powder, and put them in 

 a bottle with one quart of spirits of wine, and let them stand 

 warm for eight or ten days, shaking the bottle up every day. 

 This is an excellent balsam for green Avounds, and no person 

 that keeps valuable horses should be without it. Apply it 

 warm to the wound, dipping a piece of tow or lint into it, and 

 fastening it on to the part out of which the gravel or thorn 

 has been taken, and renew it as it grows dry. 



