186 THE HORSE. 



To ensure the full operation of the blister, the hair must be closely 

 shaved, and an ointment composed of one part of powdered Spanish flies, 

 and four of lard and one of resin, well rubbed in. The lard and the resin 

 should be meited together, and the powdered flies afterwards added. 



To form a rowel, the skin is raised between the finger and thumb, and, 

 with a lancet, or with scissars contrived for the purpose, a slit is cut an 

 inch in length. The finger, or the handle of the improved rowelling scis- 

 sors, which are to be procured from Mr. Long, in Holborn, or from any 

 veterinarv instrument m.aker, is introduced, and the skin is forcibly sepa- 

 rated from the muscular or cellular substance beneath, until there is a circu- 

 lar cavity two or three inches wide. Into this a piece of tow is inserted, 

 sufficient to fill it, and previously smeared with blister ointment. This 

 causes considerable inflammation and discharge. If a little of the tow be 

 left sticking out of the incision, the discharge will conveniently dribble 

 down it. Tlie tow should be changed every day, with or without the oint- 

 ment, according to the action of the rowel, or the urgency of the case. 

 The lar-re piece of stiff leather, with a hole in its centre, used by the far- 

 rier, is objectionable, as not being easily changed, and frequently, in the 

 extraction of it, tearing the skin so as to cause a lasting blemish. 



The blister sometimes will not rise. It will not when the inflammation 

 of the chest is at its greatest intensity : too much action is going on there, 

 for any to be excited elsewhere. The blister occasionally will not act in 

 the later stages of the disease, because the powers of nature are exhausted. 

 It is always a most unfavourable symptom when the blisters or the rowels do 

 not take "effect. The best time for the application of the blister, is when the 

 inflammation is somewhat subdued by the bleeding ; and then by the irrita- 

 tion which it excites, and in a part so near the original seat of disease, the 

 inflammation of the chest is either abated or transferred to the skin ; for, 

 as we have before observed, it is an important law of nature, that no two 

 violent actions of different kinds can take place in the frame at the same 

 time. 



Next comes the aid of medicine. If the patient was a human being the 

 surgeon would immediately purge him. We must not do this: for from 

 sympathy between the bowels and the lungs in the horse, we should 

 either produce a fatal extension of inflammation, or a transferring of it 

 in a more vi(i^nt form, and the horse would assuredly die. We must 

 back-rake, ^diijinister clysters, or perhaps give eight ounces of Epsom salts, 

 dissolved in warm gruel. No castor-oil must be given. It may be a mild 

 and a safe aperient for the human being : it is a very dangerous one for 

 the horse. . 



Having a little relaxed the bowels, we eagerly turn to cooling or sedative 

 medicines. The farrier gives his cordial to support the animal, and pre- 

 vent rottenness. He adds fuel to the fire, and no wonder that the edifice 

 is frequently destroyed. Nitre, digitalis, and emetic tartar, should be 

 given in the doses already recommended, and persisted in until an inter- 

 mittent state of the pulse is produced. Many practitioners give hellebore 

 in doses of half a drachm, or two scruples, every six or eight hours, and 

 they say with considerable advantage. It is continued until the horse 

 hangs his head, and saliva drivels Irom his mouth, and he becomes half 

 stupid, and half delirious. These symptoms pass over in a few hours, 

 and the inflammation of the chest is found to be abated. If it be so, it is 

 on the principle of the blister : the determination of blood to the head, and 

 the temporary excitement of the brain or its membranes, divert the 

 inflammation or a portion of it, from its original seat, and give time for 

 the parts somewhat to recover their tone. We confess that we prcfier the 



