9n4 PI14CT^,CJE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



less violenve. U it be not, however, arrested, the termination will be equally fatal. About the third day 

 fild whites of the eyejs turn yellow, and the mouth also. Bleeding, blistering, and purgatives form the 

 ftiftthoiLs ()f cure as practise*! 'in red colic. 



* fi^BO. CV/ron/c itiflatnination or yellows. The liver of horses is less complex than that of many other 

 animals, and is therefore not very liable to disease ; indeed some authors atfirm tliat the horse is never 

 alfected with jaundice, but that the yellowness of skin is a mere stomach affection : this is, however, 

 erroneous ; and not only does the liver become hardened and thickened occasionally, but the bile becomes 

 diseased and is thrown out in that state by the blood over the body. If fever be present, bleed, but if the 

 eyfpp^9ns present no token of active inflammation, give each night ten grains of calomel, and every ten 

 days y(oxk it oif with a mild dose of physic. It is, however, necessary to remark, that it is not every 

 X^lowness of the skin that betokens either an acute or chronic inflammation of the liver. It is the pro- 

 wrty of every serious inflammation of any of the important organs of the chest and belly, to communi- 

 cate a portion of the evil to the other organs immediately in conjunction with the liver : thus an atrection 

 Qf the stomach or intestines, of the inflammatory kind, very often occasions redness of the membranes of 

 tte nose, eyelids, &c. &c. 



.481. Diseases of the urinary organs. Inflammation of the kidneys is an idiopathic affection, not one 

 of frequent occurrence ; but as brought on by Injuries, such as over-riding, heavy loads, or violent diu- 

 retics, it is not unfrequent ; when idiopathic, it may be the effect either of cold, heating food, or a trans- 

 lation of some other inflammation ; in which cases, it comes on suddenly, and assumes the same febrile 

 appearaiices that other intestine inflammations produce; but there is not often great apparent pain, but a 

 frequent inclination to stale, the quantity made being so small as almost to amount to a stoppage of urine, 

 which is less or more complete, as one or both kidneys are affected. "What little urine is made is also at 

 fifst very thick, and then bloody. When the disease is the effect of external injury, the urine is not so 

 scanty, but is more bloody ; and this symptom precedes the other. There is usually much pain and stiff, 

 ness about the loins ; and we learn from Blaine, that a swelling and a paralytic affection of the hind log, 

 of the side of the affected kidney, sometimes is a feature in the complaint. To distinguish this inflam- 

 mation from that of the neck or body of the bladder, with which it may be confounded, the same author 

 Recommends that the hand be passed up the rectum : when, if the affection belong to the kidneys, tlie 

 bladder, whether full or empty, will not be hotter than usual j but the contrary occurs when any part of 

 the bladder is the seat of the disease. 



6482. The treatment must be active, and in most respects similar to what has been recommended for 

 tfd colic, as regards emptying the bov/els, and endeavouring to lessen the arterial action by bleeding ; but 

 here we must carefully abstain from irritating the kidneys by diuretics internally, or blisters externally. 

 A newly stripped sheepskin placed over the loins, or active fomentations of hot water, are the only 

 sources of counter-irritation that are proper ; neither should diluting liquors be pressed, on account of the 

 distention they occasion, but no evil can arise from frequent warm clystering. 



(>t83. hiflammation of the bladder. When the body of the bladder becomes inflamed, there is frequent 

 staling from the very first attack ; but when the neck of the bladder is the seat of the evil, the squeezing 

 out of a few drops will only take place v;hen the bladder has become filled, which may be known by pass- 

 ing the hand up the rectum. The treatment will be alike in both cases, and is the same as recommended 

 for the last affection. It must be evident, that warm, mild, and frequent clystering must here be pecu- 

 liarly advisable. 



6484. Strangury or svppjession qf urines incontinefice of urine, bloody urine. Strangury may arise 

 from an injury done to the kidneys, or to the bladder, by strains, or by the absorption of irritating matters. 

 In these cases, bleed if there be fever, and if not, merely give the horse absolute rest; mash him, give 

 gruel, and warm his water for drink. Bloody urine should be treated in the same way; some horses have 

 such a natural or acquired weakness of kidneys, as to stale blood with their urine on every occasion of 

 over- exertion : the means frequently used for relief are such as aggravate the complaint, and indeed are 

 often the occasion of it, which are diuretics. Strong diuretics injure horses more than strong physic, and 

 benefit them less than any other of the popular means made use of. In retentions of urine, but particu- 

 larly in the case of bloody urine, they are absolutely improper. 



6485. Diabetes, profuse staling, or pissing evil. This disease is more frequently forced on the horse 

 by long-continuod diuretics, or from a similar effect brought on by kiln-dried oats, mow-burnt hay, and 

 some green vegetables, than acquired from constitutional indisposition. The horse first stales often and 

 profusely, he then becomes weak and f;unt, and sweats on any exertion. If it be at all constitutional, his 

 hide is bound fVom the beginning, and his urine will have a sweet taste ; but if his appetite were good, 

 and his coat sleek, bright, and clastic when the urine was first observed to be immoderate, the evil arises 

 from some fault in the feeding, clothins, exercise, or other management of the horse. Examine into 

 these matters, particularly into the food, and next the water. Enquire whether diuretics have been given, 

 under an erroneous supi>osition of increasing the condition, and alter what may be amiss. If this do not 

 remove the complaint, try th6 following, after Blaine's directions : Liver of sulphur, two drachms j uva 

 ursi,fotir drach?ns ; oak bark, one ounce ; catechu, half an ounce j alum, half a drachm : give as a daily 

 drink in a pint of water. 



6486. Stofie and gravel. Calculous concretions are not uncommon in the large intestines of horses, 

 where they grow sometimes to an enormous size, lodged in one of the cells usually, and where they occa- 

 sion but little inconvenience, except a displacement occurs, when serious evils, as colic, inflammation, or 

 total stoppage, follow. In the bladder, stone is very seldom found ; and there is reason to believe, that 

 though gravel is a common term in the farrier's list, that it seldom if ever occurs ; injuries of the kidneys 

 and bladder being usually mistaken for it. 



SuBSECT. 6. Diseases of tlte Skin. 



6487. Mange is a contagious disease not uncommon among low-bred and badly kept horses, but which 

 is seldom generated in those properly managed. When it is the effect of impoverished blood, a different 

 course of feeding must be substituted, not heating, but cooling though generous ; as, carrots, speared corn, 

 malt mashes, stable soiling, &c. When it arises in full-fed horses, bleed twice, lower the feeding, substi- 

 tuting for corn soilings, carrots, or barn mashes. Give a nightly alterative {Vet. Pharm. 6550. No. 1. or 2.), 

 and dress with either of the mange dressings. ( Vet. Pharm. 6589.) After a cure has been effected, care- 

 fully clean all the apartments with soap and water. 



6488. Surfeit will now and then degenerate into mange, but more generally it is brought on by a fulness 

 of habit acted on by sudden transitions from cold to heat, or heat to cold ; it is likewise not unfrequently 

 the con.sequence of over-fatigue. If it show a disposition to spread, and the skin becom.e scaly and scurfy, 

 treat as under mange ; otherwise treat as directed under want of condition. (6425 ) 



6489. Warbles are of the nature of surfeits in many instances, in others they are brought on by the 

 pressure of the saddle, which either suppurate and burst, or become indolent and remain under the name 

 of sitfasts. In the early state, bathe them with chamberlye or vinegar : if they proceed to suppuration, 

 refrain ; and when they neither go back nor come forward, put on a pitch plaster, and if this do not pro- 

 mote suppuration, let the sitfast be dissected out 



649(). IVart^ are common to old horses, and had better be put up with, \mless they be situated in some 

 inconvenient or very conspicuous part. In this case, tie a thread tightly around the root, and the wart 

 will drop off, or it may be cut off. Blaine recommends the following, when warts are too numerous to be 

 so removed : Crude sal ammoniac, two drachtns ; pou^dercd savin, one ounce j lard, an ounce and a half. 



0491. Hide bound is a state of the skin, where the interstitial matter between that and the fleshy pan- 



