,32 THE COMPLETE FARRIER 



desire of saving a few pence in a medicine has been the destruction of 

 a useful horse. 



But when the disorder continues, and the horse's flesh keeps wasting 

 away, recourse must be had to astringents. Tormentil Root (dried, 

 and pounded in a mortar, and put through a seive,) is one of the best 

 astringents yet found out, though very little known. I heartily wish 

 my fellow creatures would make more use of this valuable root than 

 they do. The dose is from an ounce to an ounce and a half. I believe 

 that this valuable root has done more good in my time, in stopping 

 loosenesses and bowel complaints, than any thing else. I have known 

 many people who have spent pounds on physicians, and got no relief, 

 and whose strength has been nearly gone, and their lives despaired of, 

 but by taking the above in red wine, they have been restored. The 

 dose is from half a dram to a dram, in a little red wine, four or five 

 times a day. But you may say, Where is this root to be got, as few of 

 the druggists keep it 1 I believe they do not ; neither do I wish you to 

 apply to them for it, for they will give you something else that will not 

 answer the purpose. It may commonly be found in dry land, where 

 whins and brackens grow. It flowers all summer long ; its top is small, 

 something like southern wood ; its flowers are small, yellow, and 

 numerous: it is seldom above half a foot high; and its root is strong: 

 in loose land and old cams as thick as a finger, but in fast bound land 



not so strong. 



When the purging is attended with a fever, a different method of 

 practice is necessary. Take — 



* oz. of Rhubarb, in powder. 

 1 do. Lenitive Electuary. 

 & do. Camphor. 



1 do. Powdered Ginger. 



To be given in a pint of old ale. This is a very proper medicine. 



when the horse is troubled with a fever ; but if he have no fever upon 



him, give the following: 



1 oz. of Tormentil Root, in powder. 

 i do. Japan Earth, do. 



Give these in red wine, or if that be thought too expensive, in oak 

 bark tea. Japan earth is a great healer of the bowels. Repeat this 

 last medicine three or four times to allow it a fair trial ; giving the 

 horse at the same time but little exercise, for he cannot then bear much. 

 Should this medicine fail, and the disorder increase instead of decreas- 

 ing, which may be known by his flanks and belly being full and dis- 

 tended, and his appearing to suffer strong griping pains, give the fol- 

 lowing clyster: 



i oz. of Isinglass, dissolved in a quart of warm milk. 

 2 do. Mithridate. 



Sometimes the flux is so violent as not to be overcome by the pre- 

 ceding medicine, when recourse must be had to the following-. Boil 

 a hand full of oak bark in a quart of water, strain it off, and add — 



2 oz. of Tormentil Root, in powder. 



2 do. Bole. 



