SCRATCHES. J 17 



SCRATCHES. 



THE scratches is a disease which soon places a 

 horse in such a situation as to render him unfit for any 

 kind of service. When it is permitted to run upon a 

 horse for a length of time, without any remedy being 

 applied, the ankles and legs swell very much, and 

 lameness is produced in so great a degree, that he is 

 scarcely able to move. 



The scratches are produced from many different 

 causes, as hard riding, dirty stables, legs left wet at 

 night without being rubbed, standing in his own ma- 

 nure or mud, in the stall where he is confined, &c. 

 &c. Although much inflammation may appear, and 

 the disease discover much inveteracy, the cure is not 

 difficult. 



REMEDIES. Number 1. Remove the horse to a 

 clean stall: with strong soap suds wash his legs and 

 ankles nicely ; clean out his feet ; then wash every 

 part, inflamed or sore, in strong copperas water, twice 

 a day, until the cure is performed : take half a gallon 

 of blood from the neck vein, and give a mash twice a 

 week, of one gallon of bran, one tea spoonful of salt- 

 petre, and one table spoonful of powdered brimstone. 

 Great attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the 

 stable. 



Number 2. After the horse is placed in a clean 

 stall and his legs and ankles nicely washed with warm 

 soap suds, take of blue-stone, one ounce ; of alum, 

 four ounces, to which add half a gallon of strong de- 

 coction of red oak bark, stir them together until the 

 alum and blue-stone are dissolved ; then wash the 

 cracks, sores, or inflamed parts, twice a day, and the 



