avery's own farrier. 155 



treatment of cords and muscles. 



I have already given directions for relaxing the mus- 

 cles, in speaking of other diseases, and now I will tell 

 you how to strengthen them after they have become 

 weakened by blows, strains, rheumatism, or other causes, 

 &c.; this can be done in an astonishingly short time by 

 the use of the following — first rub it on the parts af- 

 fected, and then bathe it in with a hot brick or shovel: 

 Take equal parts of sweet apple tree and white oak 

 bark; boil them in water sufficient to get the strength; 

 then strain and boil down to thitk syrup; when cool, add 

 a very little alcohol, and bottle for use. "When you have 

 occasion to use any of it turn out what you want to use 

 at once, and add to that a very little spii its of turpentine; 

 mix thoroughly, and use as above stated. Where the 

 parts are much swollen and inflamed, previous to using 

 the above, it may be well to bathe the parts with cold 

 water until the inflammation is subdued. One applica- 

 tion of the above is frequently sufficient to relieve the 

 animal from pain and lameness in very aggravated cases. 

 This remedy is very useful in many complaints, as lame- 

 ness in the stifle joint, weakness across the loins, tipple 

 in the back, and all soreness or stifl^ness in or about the 

 shoulders, &c. The affinity of spirits of turpentine for 

 water is so great that it is more readily taken up by the 

 absorbents and carried into the fluids than anything else 

 that can be used for this purpose; therefore, when mixed 

 with other ingredients, they are taken along with it 

 through the pores of the skin and carried deeper and 

 nearer the seat of pain; hence comes the benefit of this 

 article when used as above. 



