176 The Farrier'^ Ne'W Guide, Ch. XL VIII. 



the fame time give no Signs of their coming to Digeftion 

 while they continue fo : Let the Horfe have daily the Jnti- 

 vionial or Ciruuibar Balls exhibited to him, that, if poflible, 

 the Matter which forms the Cords and Knots may be there- 

 by attenuated, fo as it may be carry'd along with the Current, 

 or may find a PaJlage thro' the Pores ; for it is every one's 

 Bufinefs, as much as may be, to avoid their breaking, and 

 turning to Ulcers. For the endeavouring unskilfully to digeft 

 and break thole blind and dry Knots, whichj of themfelves, 

 have no Tendency to ripen and turn to Matter, is the Rea- 

 fon why they fo often degenerate into thofe indurated and 

 hard Excrefcences, which we daily obferve arc fo difficult 

 to be removed. And therefore while the proper Means are 

 ufed inwardly, which mull never be negleded till the Dil- 

 eafe is quite conquer'd and overcome, outwardly may be 

 made ufe of the camphorated Spirits, viz. 



" Take redlify'd Spirits of Wine one Pint, diflblve in it 

 ** an Ounce and a half of Camphire : and with a Sponge dipt 

 '* in it, rub all the Knots and Cords five or fix times a Day. 



But if the Knots grow foft, and yield to the Imprefiion 

 of your Finger, in this Cafe they ought to be opened as foon 

 as they come to Maturity, efpccially thofe that are the lar- 

 geft, to prevent the Matter returning into the Blood. For 

 although a fmall Quantity of Matter taken up, and wafh'd 

 back into the Veins with the refluent Blood, may be of no 

 very ill Confequence ; yet when there happens to be much 

 of it, and that its Dilcharge is prevented by the Thicknefs 

 of the Skin, as is pretty ufual to Horles, it is not unlikely 

 that the Matter, when it returns in this Manner, may by its 

 Acrimony and Sharpnefs, abrade the fmall Vefiels, and 

 thereby caufe frefh Eruptions on other Parts of the Skin ; 

 or if that does not happen, its Stay and Continuance may 

 caufe a very ill Difpolition of the Part, efpecially in thole 

 Tumours and Knots that are feated near the Glands and 

 Kernels. Now there are various ways of opening thofe 

 little Tumours; fome Farriers prick them with an Awl, or 

 ■with a large Needle, or other fharp Inflrument. Some 

 pierce them with a fmall Iron red hot, and fomewhat round- 

 ed at the End. But many of our common Farriers puU 

 out the Knots with Pincers ; and there are fome who ufe 

 no other Method of killing the Farcin, as they often term 

 it, but by giving the Fire. • 



No doubt, all thefe Methods may be praftis'd in the Far- 

 cin in fome particular Circumltanccs j but the Way of treat- 

 ins 



