On the Yelloxv Water of Horses. 151 



In the British Museum Rusticum, there is an account 

 of the yellows^ or jawidice. Some of its diagnosticks arc 

 similar to those of the present disease. It is owing to 

 an obstruction of the liver^ and the blood overcharged 

 with bile. Bleeding in this case is forbid ; but I doubt 

 the propriety of this prohibition. The vitality of the 

 blood, which no doubt to a certain point is true, is a fa- 

 vorite doctrine in England, among some of their phy- 

 sicians; prejudices against plentiful bleeding are there 

 strong, (w^hether these are proper or not, I do not un- 

 dertake to decide) and their climate does not produce 

 malignancy in febrile complaints, so much as do the 

 ardent heats, and variable temperatures, of our atmos- 

 phere. 



If this, perhaps too prolix, account of what I have 

 experienced and collected, furnishes the means of sav- 

 ing any valuable horses, or ^i^ords facts for more intel- 

 ligent enquirers, it will be some recompense for my dis- 

 asters* At any rate, this almost resistless destroyier, 

 should add to our motives for using more oxen, and 

 fewer horses, on our farms. Good will then arise out 

 of evil. Providence aiHicts us with piulial evil, to rouze 

 our attention to measures promotive of general good. 



Since writing the foregoing account, I have heard of 

 many horses having, during this season, perished with 

 the same disease. Partial losses have occurred among 

 an assemblage of many horses, and the rest remained 

 in health. They w^r^fed in various w^ays — sovrq sta- 

 bled, others at pasture. — From this it should seem, tliat 

 there was nothing peculiarly noxious in my mode of 

 feeding ; or in the local situation of my stable. I have 

 heard of several remedies; one composed of herbs. 



