236 avery's own farrier. 



Now, let us talk about the horse a little. Everything 

 that is digested in the stomach, goes to help form blood; 

 anything that is not digested, acts more directly on the 

 kidneys and urine, or passes off with the evacuations of 

 the bowels, or through the pores of the skin; for these 

 are the principal outlets of all food and medicine taken 

 into the bowels, except what is absorbed in the growth 

 and support of nature. Hence those oils, balsams, and 

 articles used for urinary difficulties, are among the things 

 not so easily digested. 



When the horse is (or appears) quite sick — if his 

 appetite is not much impaired, his bowels move regu- 

 larly and healthy, he urinates well, and his skin feels 

 soft and looks glossy — he can not be seriously ill, except 

 from some local difficulty, and this can not be of long 

 continuance without affecting some of the above named 

 functions. Some people talk a great deal about doctor- 

 ing the blood, but if a horse is ill in any way, these 

 things should be first looked into; and, when properly 

 attended to, the blood will take care of itself, and other 

 things will be found of minor importance. If a horse is 

 diseased, treat him accordingly, but do not (because you 

 have learned how to treat a few complaints) be con- 

 tinually dosing him with medicine that he does not 

 need, and the effect of which you do not know on the 

 system. 



The Thorax is that part of the body from the mouth 

 (or throat rather), quite back to the midriff or diaphragm, 

 containing the heart and lungs. That part back of the 

 midriff is called abdomen; containing the intestinal 



