THE LirS. 215 



The treatment of farcy differs with the form that it assumes. As a 

 general rule, and especially when the buttons or buds are beginning to 

 appear, a mild dose of physic should first be administered. The buds 

 should then be carefully examined, and if any of them have broken, 

 the budding-iron, at a dull red heat, should be applied. If pus should be 

 felt in them, showing that they are disposed to break, they should be pene- 

 trated with the iron. These wounds should be daily inspected, and if, when 

 the slough of the cautery comes off, they look pale, and foul, and spongy, 

 and discharge a thin matter, they should be frequently washed with a 

 strong lotion of corrosive sublimate, dissolved in rectified spirit. When 

 the wounds begin to look red, and the bottom of them is even and firm, 

 and they discharge a thick white or yellow matter, the Friar's balsam will 

 usiially dispose them to heal. 



As, however, the constitution is now tainted, local applications will not 

 be sufficient, and the disease must be attacked by internal medicine as soon 

 as the physic has ceased to operate. 



Corrosive sublimate used to be a favourite medicine, combined with 

 tonics, and repeated morning and night until the ulcers disappeared, unless 

 the mouth became sore or the horse w^as violently purged, when the sulphate 

 of copper was substituted for the corrosive sublimate. During this treat- 

 ment the animal was placed, if possible, in a large box, with a free circu- 

 lation of air ; and green meat or carrots, and particularly the latter, were 

 given, with a full allowance of corn. If he could be turned out in the day, 

 it was deemed highly advantageous. It is related by J\Ir. Blaine, that a 

 horse, so reduced as not to be able to stand, was drawn into a field of tares, 

 and suffered to take his chance. The consequence was that, when he had 

 eaten all within his reach, he contrived to move about and search for more, 

 and eventually recovered. Many horses recover under the use ©f the 

 sublimate, but the great majority of them die. 



Mr. Vines introduced a more effective medicine — cant Jiar ides, in combi- 

 nation likewise with the vegetable bitters — as a cure for farcy and 

 glanders. It cannot be denied, that many animals laboui'ing under the 

 former, and a few under the latter, were to all appearance radically cured. 

 The medicine was suspended for awhile if affection of the kidneys super- 

 vened. 



A still more efi'ectual medicine has been introduced by Professor Morton, 

 namely, the cliniodide of copper, and it has been found of essential service 

 in farcy and in diseases simulating glanders. He says that its action is 

 that of a stimulant to the absorbent vessels, and a tonic. The gentian 

 root is usually combined with it. Cantharides, in small quantities, may be 

 advantageously added. An indication of its influence is a soreness of the 

 diseased parts arising from the absorbent vessels being roused into in- 

 creased action : the agent should then be for a time withheld. 



Water- Farcy, confounded by name Avith the common farcy, and by 

 which much confusion has been caused, and a great deal of mischief done, 

 is a dropsical affection of the skin, either of the chest or of the limbs, and 

 belongs to another part of the subject. 



THE LIPS. 



The lips of the horse are fiir more important organs tlian many suppose. 

 They are the hands of the animal ; and if any one will take the trouble to 

 observe the manner in which he gathers up his corn wdth them, and col- 

 lects together the grass before he divides it with his nippers, he wall be 

 satisfied that the horse would be no more able to convey the food to his 

 mouth without them, than the human being coiild wdthout his hands. 

 Tins has even been put to the test of experiment. The nerves which 



