THE COMPLETE FARRIER. 57 



Cure. — After a horse has been bruised in the Withers, the skin 

 breaks and matter is discharged, and then the owner supposes that the 

 abcess will subside, but he is often mistaken; and the pipe which he 

 perceives throwing out matter, is at the same time running forwards 

 in the Withers, and forming a Fistula. When you find the disease 

 proceeding in this manner, lay the pipe open with a sharp penknife all 

 the length ; for if you leave any unopened, it will form a Fistula. 

 After you have laid the place open, dress it with the following mixture : 



4 oz. of Potashes. 2 oz. of White Vitriol. 



4 do. of Honey. 1 pint of Vinegar. 



Boil all together, wash the wound well with the mixture, and lay on 

 the green salve and tow. If the above be not dry enough, add two 

 ounces more of white, vitriol, and two ounces of bole. These will 

 make a salve by themselves ; and by these methods you may cure any 

 disease of the Withers arising from external injuries. 



But tumors often arise in the Withers from internal causes, such as 

 the crisis of Fevers. When this happens you must not attempt to stop 

 it, nor use any thing to put it back, for by this means you would drive 

 it more into the shoulder-blades, and make it worse to cure ; but, on 

 the contrary, do every thing you can to assist nature in bringing it for- 

 ward. You cannot do better than lay on poultices twice a day till it 

 breaks, for reason tells us that it is better to do so than to cut it ; but 

 when it is broken, open the orifice with a knife, that you may have 

 more freedom in dressing it ; but be careful in using the knife, that 

 you do not catch hold of the ligament which turns along the neck to 

 the Withers. Sometimes it runs to the other side of the neck, under 

 the Withers. The cure is the same as before. Lay all the cavities 

 open with the knife, and do not cut across if you can avoid it. Then 

 take the following never failing mixture to dress with : 



4 oz. of Crude Sal Ammoniac. 2 oz. Pearl-Ashes. 



2 do. Bole. 2 do. White Vitriol. 



8 do. Honey. 1 pint of Vinegar. 



Boil all together, and apply it to the wound every day at first, and 

 afterwards every other day till well. 



WARBLES, GIRTH-GALLS, AND PLUSHES FROM 



SADDLES. 



These grievances are commonly known, and every one has a cure 

 for them, as he calls it. Some lay on hot spirits, and others blue stone 

 vitriol, and many other things ; but such things are very improper, for 

 they always leave the grieved part hard and sore ; but the following 

 mixture will effect a cure, take off the soreness, and leave the skin 

 kind. I may affirm that it is one of the best recipes yet found out for 

 the purpose. Take 



2 oz. of Extract of Lead. 2 oz. Spirits of Wine. 



i do. White Copperas. 4 do. Soft Water. 



1 oz. Spirits of Sal Ammoniac. 



Mix all together in a bottle, keep shaking it up, and rub the affected 

 places well with it, and put your saddles and barfens on while the 

 places are wet, in order to prevent them from infecting other horses. 



