THK HORSE. 117 



ter, to open a imssage with a amall hot iron ; and also to 

 destroy the proud flesh, which may be kept down by touch- 

 ing it occasionally with oil of vitriol, aquafortis, or butter of 

 antimony. 



In this disorder, these are the best ways of proceeding 

 that have yet been discovered ; but it is to be considered as 

 an obstinate one, and is sometimes very bad to cure. It 

 has hitherto baffled many an able practitioner, and it is to 

 be feared will baffle many more ; for when the blood has 

 got into such a corrupted state, it bids defiance to medi- 

 cines. 



The ingenious Dr. Brackden recommends the strong mer- 

 curial ointment, for rubbing the cords and tumors with before 

 they break ; and in order to disperse them when they are 

 broken, to dress the sores with a mixture composed of equal 

 parts of Venice turpentine and quicksilver. If the mouth 

 become sore by this means, a gentle purge should be given 

 to prevent salivation. This is doubtless a very good method, 

 and if care be taken, will often prove effectual. " 



A SPRAIN IN THE SHOULDER. 



When the shoulder of a horse is sprained, he does not 

 put out that leg like the other, but in order to ease it, sets 

 the sound foot firmly on the gi'ound. When trotted in 

 hand, he performs a kind of circle with his lame leg, in- 

 stead of putting it forward ; and when he stands in the 

 stable, that leg is advanced before the other. 



There is what is called a Shoulder-slip, which is worse 

 than a Sprain. When this happens, the horse can neither 

 lift his leg nor put it forwards. You may know this fi'om 

 the shoulder-blade standing higher than the other ; but to 

 discern that, you must make him stand on the lame leg, for 

 the leg he stands on will always appear a little higher than 

 the other. The flesh will also shortly waste away from 

 the shoulder-blade, which is a sure sign of a Shoulder-slip. 

 When this accident has taken place, put a tap into the lame 

 side of the animal's breast, and blow the shoulder full of 

 wind with a pipe. When you have rinded the skin to put 

 the tap in, hold the skin ftist to the pipe, and blow the part 

 that you have rinded, full, and let some one draw the wind 

 up into the shoulder with the edge of his hand, as far a* 



