251 
FARR 
that tliefe dangerous fymptoms make their appearance 
before any effectual remedies can be applied. 
From the view here given of the ftaggers, it is evident 
that the terms which farriers have adopted to diftinguifh 
its different appearances, are very inadequate ; and that 
it would be better to confider the difeafe tinder the two 
following heads, viz. the idiopathic , and fymptomatic, ftag¬ 
gers. In the former, bleeding is the grand remedy, and 
feldom fails of affording relief, if employed with freedom 
at the commencement of the difeafe. It will be advifable 
-alfo to give the following purgative draft: Succotrine 
aloes, one ounce; Caftile foap, two drams; common fait, 
four ounces ; water, one pint; mixed for ufe. Its ope¬ 
ration fhould, if needful, be aflifted by a clyfter. Should 
the fymptoms not abate in eight or ten hours after the 
bleeding, there will be great probability of obtaining re¬ 
lief by opening the temporal arteries, and fuffering them 
to bleed freely. When the difpofition to fleep is not re¬ 
moved by the firft bleeding, the head fhould be blifterea, 
and a rowel inferted under the jaw. 
With refpedl to the fymptomatic ftaggers, which originate 
in a difeafed condition of the ftomach, a different treat¬ 
ment muft be purfned. In this cafe medicines of a ftimu- 
lating and antifpafmodic quality have been ftrongly re¬ 
commended ; of this kind are fait of hartfhorn, afafcetida, 
ether, fcetid fpirit of ammonia, camphor, &c. It appears, 
however, that an opening medicine is preferable, and for 
this purpofe the following is recommended : Aloes, fix 
drams; myrrh and ginger, of each, two drams; Caftile 
foap, three drams; fimple mint water, one pint; mixed 
for one dofe. Bleeding, as above obferved, is feldom 
proper in fymptomatic ftaggers; but whenever the pulfe 
is tolerably ftrong, and the difpofition to fleep confidera- 
ble, it fhould by no means be omitted, in a moderate way. 
Diarrhcf.a, or Scouring. —This malady proceeds 
from an increased fecretion of the faeces, arifing frequently 
from a relaxation or an irritation of the lacteal glands, in 
confequence of a ftoppage of perfpiraticn fixed on the in- 
teftines. Too great a quantity of food and fluid taken at 
a time, fuch as green clover, flafhy graft, &c. may alfo 
produce the fame effeift, by increafing too much the aflion 
of the lacfeals, and by absorbing chyle or fluids from the 
ftomach and bowels; while the lymphatics of the large 
inteftines revert their motions, and tranfmit this over re¬ 
flection into the large inteftines, and thus produce diarr¬ 
hoea. This effeft accounts alfo for the fpeedy operation 
of ftrong phyfic. This kind of diarrhoea is never attended 
with danger; a dram of opium every morning will (top it 
in a little time. Exercife, during tliefe intervals, muft 
be very gentle and moderate. Should the fcouring, how¬ 
ever, bring on an obltinate purging, accompanied with 
high fever, the difeafe is then to be confidered as a cafe 
of inflammation in the bowels, and treated accordingly. 
But if the purging appears to continue from the weakened 
fiate of the bowels, void of every indication of fever, lu¬ 
bricating and comforting beverages ai'e the only things 
requiftte. To compound tliefe, take mutton fuet, one 
pound; milk, one quart ; boil them together till the fuet 
isdiffolved, thenadd ftarch dilfolved in mucilage of linfeed, 
or of gum arabic.—Or take ifinglafs, or fill) glue, boiled 
into a jelly with milk, and add liquid laudanum half an 
ounce. Either of tliefe comforting draughts is extremely 
efficacious in counteracting the evil effects' of diarrhcea, 
and in ftrengthening the ftomach and inteftines. 
Diabetes, or excessive Staling. —This difeafe 
often proves extremely obltinate, though at firft it confilts 
merely in an increafed fecretion of urine, the horle Haling 
frequently, and in conliderable quantity ; the urine is ge¬ 
nerally tranfparent and colourlefs; at length the horfe 
becomes feverilh, the mouth dry, and he ieems to fuffer 
greatly from thirft ; the appetite is diminiffied, and the 
pulfe is feverilh and quick; he now becomes hide-bound, 
and gradually loles his flefn and ftrength, Lime-water 
I E R Y. 
has been much recommended as a remedy for this difeafe; 
but others prefer diaphoretic medicines, from a fuppofi- 
tion that it depends in a great meafure upon a fupprellion 
of perfpiration. Bark and other tonics have alfo been 
confidered as ufeful remedies. Mr. White, veterinary 
furgeon, recommends the following ball as a fpecific : 
Opium, one dram ; powdered ginger, two drams; yellow 
Peruvian bark, half an ounce ; mixed in fyrup to form 
the ball. Should this remedy fail, and the difeafe appear 
very obftinate, try the following : Salt of hartfhorn, two 
drams; opium, half a dram; powdered ginger, one dram; 
liquorice powder, three drams; moulded into a ball for 
one dofe ; which will in moft cafes have the delired effect. 
Suppression of Urine. —Horfes are often attacked 
with a difficulty in making water, fometimes amounting 
to a total fuppreffion of that excretion; this moft com¬ 
monly arifes from fpafm in the neck of the bladder, or 
from hardened excrement in the rectum. Whenever this 
happens, let large clyfters of warm water be injected, ia 
order to wafli out the redtum and colon, which will enable 
the fmall inteftines to perform their functions with greater 
facility ; then give the following ball : Nitre, one ounce ; 
camphor, two drams; linfeed, meal, and fyrup, to form 
the ball for ufe. Should there be any indication of fever, 
or fhould the horfe appear to feel pain when the loins are 
preffed upon, it is probable that the kidneys are inflamed ; 
in which cafe the ball would be improper; and the treat¬ 
ment to be purfued muft be the fame as that before given 
for inflammation of the kidneys. 
Hide-bound. —This term implies a tightnefs and ad- 
hefion of the Ikin, which feels as if it were glued to the 
ribs; the coat having at the fame time a rough unfeemly 
appearance. This complaint may be occafioned by worms, 
or an impoverifhed ftate of the blood ; but, we believe, 
much oftener from the negledl and inattention of grooms. 
This flaring and clinging difpofition of the coat, is foon 
overcome by warm clothing, good grooming, and regular 
exercife. The exercife fhould not be confined to mere 
walking, but ought to be carried fo far as to excite a free 
perfpiration. Then give for four or five days the follow¬ 
ing alterative ball : Barbadces aloes, one ounce ; Caftile 
foap, nine drams ; powdered ginger, fix drams; with fy¬ 
rup to form the mafs, and to be divided into four doles. 
Surfeit. —This injudicious term is given by farriers 
to a difeafe of the Ikin, confining in fmall tumours or 
knobs, which appear fuddenly over various parts of the 
body, fometimes in confequence of drinking too freely of 
cold water when the body is unufually warm : yet it ap¬ 
pears frequently without any manifeft caufe. It may be 
eafily cured by bleeding moderately, or by giving a laxa¬ 
tive ball ; though in general it goes off without any me¬ 
dical afliftance. There is another difeafe of the fkin of 
the fame kind, which is more obftinate, and attacks horfes 
that are hide-bound and out of condition ; in this a great 
number of very fmall fcabs may be felt in various parts 
of the cuticle ; the horfe is feen frequently rubbing him- 
felf, and the hair falls off from thofe parts which he rubs. 
This complaint approaches to the nature of mange, and 
requires the fame treatment, aflifted by a generous diet, 
good grooming, and regular exercife. 
Mange. —This is a fpecies of fcabies, feldom met with, 
except in ftables where fcarcely any attention is paid to 
the cleanlinefs of horfes, and where their food is of the 
coarfeft quality : it is certainly contagious, and may infedt 
horfes that are in good condition. It is known to exili 
by the horfe conftantly rubbing or biting himfelf, fo as 
to remove the hair, and fometimes produce ulceration ; 
the hair of the mane and tail frequently falls off, and 
fmall fcabs are obfervable about the roots of that which 
remains. The mange, like the itch, is a local difeafe, 
and requires only the foliowing ointment or lotion for its 
a removal; 
