THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 43 



1 oz. of Liver of Antimony. 

 1 do. Bezoar Mineral. 

 4 do. Cordial Ball. 



Beat all well together, and give about the size of a walnut every 

 day for some time, fasting, and to fast two or three hours after. 



I have given you the best prescriptions that I am able to give, and 

 such as will not fail to cure if properly applied, if the horse be not in- 

 curable. I have been more particular in treating of this disease, be- 

 cause it is common among horses, and very often managed improperly 

 by those who pretend to cure it. Such, therefore, as have valuable 

 horses in this disease, would do well to be careful whom they employ, 

 and assiduous in observing the methods they make use of to cure it. 

 if they do not think proper to attempt a cure themselves. But in my 

 opinion they may do it better themselves, by following these directions, 

 than most farriers they can employ. 



THE WATER FARCY. 



This disease varies very much from the last, and would more pro- 

 perly be called a Dropsy than a Farcy. There are two kinds of this 

 disorder, but they are nearly of the same nature. One of them is 

 produced by indisposition terminating in the skin, as is often the case 

 in epidemical colds ; the other is a true dropsy, where the water is not 

 confined to the belly and limbs, but is found in different parts of the 

 body, and a great number of soft swellings appear. When you press 

 the finger pretty hard upon any of the swelled parts, or under the 

 belly, it will leave a dimple, as if it were pressed on paste. When 

 you find those swellings under the horse's belly, or on any part of the 

 body, you may take it for granted that he has gpt the Dropsy, or what 

 is called the Water Farcy. 



This disorder mostly proceeds from foul feeding, or a continuance 

 of very wet weather in the end of summer. It mostly happens in the 

 autumnal season, and greatly injures the health of such horses as stay 

 abroad, rendering the blood sluggish and viscid. 



Cure. — Wherever the swellings appear, make scarifications, that is, 

 holes through the skin. This may be done by a short fleam ; and if 

 you have not one short enough, put a collar made of a piece of leather 

 on it. If the swelling be under the belly, strike a good many holes 

 4 n at a time, but be careful to avoid the veins. By this means a great 

 quantity of water will run out. Taps in the brisket are also often of 

 great service. I have fleamed horses four or five times before I could 

 get the swelling to subside. When the water has subsided, the blood 

 is left in a bad state, to remedy which, a gentle purge should be 

 given two or three times, eight days distance, to recover the oasis of 

 the blood, and brace ujgHhe relaxed fibres of the whole body. Lime 

 water is very proper, with a little nitre in it, and let the horse's food be 

 warm mashes of bran, with a little malt in it. His keep must be in- 

 creased by degrees. The disorder mostly happens to young horses 

 that have not been used to high keep. You must give one of the fol- 

 lowing balls every day, omitting the time when the physic is working: 



