14 FIRING HORSES. 



On the side of the neck, body or inside of the leg will be felt a thick sub- 

 stance under the skin but somewhat elevated and hardened, and interrupted 

 at distances with a small sore similar to that on the leg. In some cases soft, 

 puffy swellings will be found about many parts of the body. 



Cause. — Poorly ventilated stables which are overcrowded with horses; in- 

 oculation from the virus of the glandered o^ farcied horses, and this virus 

 producing a ferment in the blood. Absorption of pus into the blood is 

 , liable to produce either farcy, glanders or some other zymotic disease. 



Treatment. — Understanding the cause of this disease you will readily see 

 what the treatment should be — that by removing the cause the effects will 

 cease. Give a tablespoonful of sulphite (not sulphate) of soda twice a 

 day. 



This remedy will stop all fermentation and purify the blood. It would 

 be well to continue the sulphite of soda two or three times a week for a few 

 weeks after the horse seems to be well. 



After leaving off the sulphite of soda give the tonic powders as directed 

 in the treatment for bots, to improve the general condition of the horse. 

 Give good and generous feed. 



Another plan is to give the following powders once or twice a day: 

 Take sulphur, 8 ozs. ; saltpetre, 4 ozs. ; black antimony, 2 ozs. ; mix, and give 

 one tablespoonful. 



Another mode of treating this disease is to give three drachms of sul- 

 phate of copper every night, in the food, until the horse refuses to eat. 

 After a few daj's, repeat ; but if the case is bad, give the medicine as a 

 drench in water, for ten days, if he will not take it in his food. 



The horse, as well as all his clothing and articles used in feeding him, 

 should be removed from all healthy animals, as this is one of the contagious 

 diseases of the horse. 



FIRING HORSES.— I can fully indorse the following statements of Dr. 

 Robt. McClure in regard to this inhuman practice. He says: "This is an 

 operation which is a great favorite, and in much repute among horse doc- 

 tors. For my part I think it not only cruel and barbarous, but unnecessary, 

 doing no good whatever, and in many cases a positive injury, the effects 

 of which will never disappear from the legs and body while the animal 

 lives. Firing is intended by its advocates to prevent and cure spavin, curbs, 

 sprains and ring-bones by scoring the parts with a red hot iron in lines over 

 the part that is thought will he diseased or is already so." (See Cautery.) 



FOOT DISEASES.— iVa?)^cw^ar disease.— {^Qd engraving on cover for 

 location.) 



This is a serious disease, and is sometimes very obscure in its symp- 



