Chap. XLVIII. Of the Farcin. 177 



ihg thofe Tumors ought to be fuited to their various Difpo- 

 litions ; but while they are nothing but fmall Puftules, full 

 of Matter, neither the Fire, nor a hot Iron, is neceflary, but 

 a fliarp Inftrument with a keen Edge, particularly a Lancet, 

 or Incifion- knife ; neither {hould they be pierc'd or bor'd, 

 and then have Tents thruft into them, but the Orifice made 

 large enough to difcharge the Matter. For the moft fim'ple 

 Sore may eafily be chang'd to an ill-difpofed tJlcer, by the 

 Ufe of Tents, as fhall be fhewn in another Place. 



If the Sores have no bad Tendency, they need but be dref- 

 fed with warm Turpentine, or common Tar, keeping your 

 Horfe cover'd with a Sheet 3 and if they be fometimes wafh'd 

 with warm Brandy, or Spirit of Wine, it will be very proper. 

 This Method will be fufficient to cure all thofe Knots that 

 are of a moderate Size, and ealily ripen. But when there 

 happens to be fome that are pretty large, and can neither be 

 difcufs'd, nor brought to Matter, in that Cafe, if they were 

 to be cut with a fharp cold Inftrument, there would pro- 

 bably nothing ifl'ue out but Blood, and the Wound would 

 foon clofe again ; therefore, to them, a hot Knife, or a hot 

 Iron, is the moft proper; but then the Farrier (hould know 

 very well upon what Grounds he meddles with them. 



We fhall now confider the Farcin in its more advanc'dState, 

 viz, when it becomes attended with ill Accidents; to under- 

 ftand which aright, befides many other Pracognita, the Far- 

 rier ought to be pretty well inftrufted in the Art of Chirur- 

 gery. For, as we have already obferv'd, the moft fimple 

 Knots and Tumors may, when they are ill manag'd, dege- 

 nerate into Ulcers, fo we find this to be true by daily Expe- 

 rience ; for there is fcarcely any Ulcer, or preternatural Ex- 

 crefcence of any Kind, which can grow out upon an Animal 

 Body, but what is often the Effedl of this Diftemper, and 

 proceeds chiefly, as we have alfo taken notice, from the want 

 of proper Medicines internally, or even when the Medicines, 

 tho' well adapted, have not been continued long enough to 

 do their Bufinefs. The compelling Nature in bringing thofe 

 things to Suppuration and Matter, which in themfelves have 

 no Tendency to it. The inducing a badDifpofition into the 

 Sores and Ulcers, by the Application of fat greafy Medicines ; 

 and the inclofing of foreign Bodies within them, as Tents 

 made of the Pith of Elder, and other fpongy things, and even 

 thofe of Flax. The injudicious Application of hot, cauftick, 

 and corrofive Medicines, and of the Fire itfelf : The expofing 

 the Sores to the fharp Air, and a great many other fuch-like 

 Errors. U But 



