THK HORSE. 12S 



of soap-suds, and afterwards a|)plying strong mercurial 

 ointment, spread on tow, to the cracks, once a day till the 

 scabs fiill off, when the cure will bo completed; and then 

 it will be necessar}^ to give him a dose of physic. If the 

 disorder will not yield to the meicurial ointment, make a 

 strong mixture of vitriol water, and wash the cracks with 

 It, and it will dry them up, and cause the scabs to fall off. 



THE STRANCtLES. 



Most horses have this disorder while young, but at seven 

 years old they are out of danger. There are two kinds 

 of this disorder. The common kind is a swelling under, or 

 between the jaw-bones. The other, which is called the 

 bastard kind, is much the worst. Sometimes swellings 

 appear on the buttocks, break, and discharge matter for a 

 few days, and then dry up, after which, others appear in 

 a fresh place in the same manner. I have known horses 

 that have had this complaint eight or ten weeks. 



The common kind begins with a swelling between the 

 jaw-bones, which sometimes extends to the muscles of the 

 tongue, and is often attended with so much heat, pain and 

 inflammation, that before the matter is formed the crea- 

 ture swallows with the utmost difficulty. 

 ■ Symptoms. The Strangles is attended w^ith great heat 

 and fever, a painful cough, and great inclination to drink, 

 without being able. Some horses lose their appetites en- 

 tirely, and others eat but very little, occasioned by the pain 

 resulting from the motion of the jaws in chewing and swal- 

 lowing. When the horse runs much at the nose, it is not 

 a good sign. 



Although this disease is very troublesome, it is not dan- 

 gerous, except when the swelling turns upwards against 

 the wind- pipe and gullet, and then there is danger of suffo* 

 cation if it do not break soon. 



Cure. The Strangles is not properly a disease, but a 

 discharge common to young horses, and therefore it follows 

 that the discharge must be promoted, in order to throw ofl 

 the offensive matter. The best method of doing this is, to 

 keep the swelling always soft by soaking it with softening 

 ointment, such as marshmallows, or eider ointment. 1 

 have known oil of swallows, with a little spirit'-, of harts- 



