Boor VII. DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 9S5 



nicle is not In a state to allow of its pliancy and elasticity. The binding down of the hide thus closely 

 acts on the hair, which it protrudes in a contrary direction to its naturally inclined position ; and thus a 

 staring coat usually accompanies hide binding. In considering the subject of condition {GiiS.), we have 

 seen that it is not a disease of itself, but is in every instance a symptom only. 



SuBSECT. 7. Glanders and Farcy. 



6492. The glanders is the opprobium medicorum, for hitherto no attempts have succeeded in the cure 

 of more than a few cases. By some peculiar anomaly in the constitution of the horse, although con- 

 clusive proofs are not wanting that this and farcy are modifications of one disease, and can each generate 

 the other ; yet the one is incurable, while the other is cured every day. When glanders has been cured, 

 the time and iabour necessary to accomplish the end has swallowed up the value of the horse ; and has 

 also, in many supposed instances of cure, left the animal liable to future attacks which have occurred. 

 The experiments on glanders, pursued at the veterinary college and by White of Exeter, have thrown 

 great light on the disease itself, its causes, connexions, and consequences ; but have done little more. 

 From these we are led to conclude that glanders will produce farcy, and that farcy can produce glanders j 

 that glanders is highly infectious, and that such infection may be received by the stomach, or by the skin 

 when it is at all abraded or sore ; and it is also probable, that it is received by the noses of horses being 

 rubbed against each other. White's experiments go to prove that the air of a glandered stable is not in- 

 fectious ; but this matter is by no means certain, and should not be depended on without a greater body 

 of evidence. 



6493. The marks of glanders are a discharge of purulent matter from ulcers situated in one or both 

 nostrils, more often from the left than the right. This discharge soon becomes glairy, thick, and white- 

 of-egg-like: it afterwards shows bloody streaks, and is fetid. The glands of the jaw of the aliected side, 

 called the kernels, swell from an absorption of the virus or poison ; and as they exist or do not exist, or as 

 they adhere to the bone or are detached from it, so some prognosis is vainly attempted by farriers, v/ith 

 regard to the disease ; for in some few cases these glands are not at all affected, and in a great many 

 they are not bound ('own by the affection to the jaw. As there are many diseases which excite a stH;re- 

 tion of matter from the nose, and which is kept up a considerable time, so it is not always easy to detect 

 glanders in its early stages. Strangles and violent colds keep up a discharge from the nostrils lor weeks 

 sometimes. In such cases a criterion may be drawn from the existence of ulceration within the nose, 

 whenever the disease has become confirmed. These glanderous chancres are to be seen on opening the 

 nostril a little way up the cavity, sometimes immediately opposed to the opening of the nostril ; but a 

 solitary chancre should not determine the judgment. The health olten continues good, and sometimes 

 the condition also, until hectic takes place from absorption, and the lungs participate, when death soon 

 closes the scene. 



6494. The treatment of glanders, it has already been stated, is so uncertain that it is hardly worth the 

 attempt ; however, when the extreme value of the horse or the love of experiment leads to it, it may be 

 regarded as fixed by experience, that nothing but a long course of internal remedies, drawn from the 

 mineral acids, can elfect it. These have all been tritHi in their endless variety : White recommends the 

 mildest preparations of mercury, as, ceihiops mineral ; under the conviction that the more acrid prepar- 

 ations disturb the powers of the constitution so much, as to destroy as effectually as the disease. At the 

 veterinary college the sulphate of copper (blue vitriol) has been long in use. Others have used the sul- 

 phates of iron and zinc. Clark recommends the daily administration of a drink or ball, composed of the 

 following mgredients : Sulphate of zinc, 15 grains ; powdered ca7itharides, 7 grains ; potvdered allspice 

 15 grains ; of the utility of which he gives one or two extraordinary proofs, and Mr. Sewell still attaches 

 much importance to its use, in such daily doses as the stomach will bear. Blaine appears but little san- 

 guine as to any medical treatment, but recommends a union of the mineral acids in the same proportions, 

 and with the same cautions, as are detailed under farcy. (6496.) 



6495. The farcy is a disease more easily cured than the glanders, of which our daily experience convinces 

 us ; farcy, or farcin, attacks under distinct forms, one of which aftbcts the lymphatics of the skin, and is 

 called the bud or button farcy : the other is principally confined to the hind legs, which it affects by large 

 indurations, attended with heat and tenderness. A mere dropsical accumulation of water in the legs 

 sometimes receives the name of tvatcr farcy ; but this has no connection whatever with the true disease in 

 question. Farcy is very contagious, aiid is gained from either the matter of farcy or from that of glanders, 



6496. Treatment of farcy. The distended lymphatics or buds may often be traced to one sore, which 

 was the originally inoculated part; and in these cases the destruction of this sore, and that of all the 

 farcied buds, will frequently at once cure the disease, which is here purely local. But when the disease 

 has proceeded farther, the virus must be destroyed through the medium of the stomach ; although, even 

 in these cases, the cure is rendered more speedy and certain, by destroying all the diseased buds, by caustic 

 or by cautery. Perhaps no mode is better than the dividing them with a sharp firing-iron ; or if deeper 

 seated, by opening each with a lancet, and touching the inner surface with lapis infernalis. The various 

 mineral acids may any of them be tried as internal remedies with confidence ; never losing sight of the 

 necessity of watching their effects narrowly, and as soon as any derangement of the health appears, to 

 desist from their use. Oxymuriate of quicksilver (corrosive sublimate) may be given in daily doses of 

 fifteen grains ; oxide of arsenic may also be given in similar doses. The subacetate of copper (verdigris) 

 may also be tried, often with great advantage, in doses of a drachm daily. Blaine joins these preparations, 

 and strongly recommends the following : Oxy muriate of quicksilver, oxide of arsenic, subacetate of copper ^ 

 of each eight rains ; sulphate ofcojyper, one scruple ; make into a ball and give every morning, carefully 

 watching the effects ; and if it be found to occasion distress, divide, and give half, night and morning. 

 The same author professes to have received great benefit from the use of the following : The expressed 

 juice of clivers or goose-grass, a strong decoction of hempseeds, and of sassafras, of each six ounces, to be 

 given after the ball It remains to say, that whatever treatment is pursued either with respect to farcy 

 or glanders will be rendered doubly elricaeious if green meat be procured, and the horse be fed wholly 

 on it ; provided the bowels will bear such food : but if the medicines gripe, by being joined with green 

 food, add to the diet bean-meal. When green meat cannot be procured, carrots usually can ; and when 

 they cannot, still potatoes may be boiled, or the corn may be speare<l or malted. As a proof of the beneficial 

 efffects of green meat, a horse, so bad with farcy as to be entirely despaired of, was drawn into a field of 

 tares, and nothing more was done to him, nor further notice taken of him, although so ill as to be unable 

 to rise from the ground when drawn there. By the time he had eaten all the tares within his reach, he 

 was enabled to struggle to more ; finally, he rose to extend his search, and perfectly recovered. 



SuBSECT. 8. Diseases of the Extremities. 



6497. Shoulder strains are very rare, most of the lamenesses attributed to the shoulder belong to other 

 parts, and particularly to the feet Out of one hundred and twenty cases of lameness in the fore extre- 

 mities, Blaine found that three only arose from ligamentary or muscular extension of the shoulder. 

 When a shoulder strain does happen, it is commonly the consequence of some slip, by which the arm is 

 forced violently outwards. It is less to be wondered at than at first seems probable, that farriers mistake 

 foot lameness for shoulder strains, when we reflect that a contracted foot occasions inaction, and a dis. 

 position to favour the limb by pointing it forward, wiiich thus wastes the muscles of the shoulder. Seeing 

 one shoulder smaller than the other, the evil is supposed to be there, and it is pegged, blistered, and fired, 



