Encyclopaedia Britannica; or, A dictionary of arts and sciences, compiled upon a new plan … > Volume 2, C-L

FARR
Take white vitriol and burnt alum, of each two
ounces; iEgyptikcum, one ounce ; lime-water, a
quart or three pints : w'aih the fores with a fponge
dipped in this, three times a-day, and apply the
common white ointment fpread on tow; to an ounce
of which may be added two drams of fugar of
lead.
This method is generally very fuccefsful, when die
diftemper is only local, and requires no internal medi¬
cines ; but if the horfe be full and grofs, his legs great¬
ly gorged, fo that the hair dares up, and is what fome
term pen-feathered, and has a large {linking difcharge
■from deep foul fores, you may expedt to meet with great
trouble, as thefe diforders are very obftinate to remove,
being often occafioned by a poor dropfical (late of blood,
-or a general bad difpofition in the blood and juices.
The cure in this cafe, if the horfe is full and flelhy,
muft be begun by bleeding, rowels, and repeated purg¬
ing; after which, diuretic medicines are frequently given
•with fuccefs. Thus,
Take four ounces of yellow rofin, one of fal prunel-
lae ; grind them together with an oiled peftle, add
a dram of oil of amber, and give a quart of forge-
water every morning, fading two hours before and
after taking, and ride moderately.
As this drink is found very difagreeable to fome hor-
<fes, I would recommend the nitre-balls in its dead, given
to the quantity of two ounces a day, for a month orlix
•weeks, mixed up with honey, or in his feeds : take the
following alfo for that purpofe.
Yellow rofin, four ounces; fait of tartar, and fal pru-
nellae, of each two ounces ; Venice foap, half a
pound ; oil of juniper, half an ounce; make into
balls of two ounce weight, and give one every mor¬
ning.
The legs, in this cafe, fliould be bathed or fomented,
in order to breathe out the dagnant juices, or. to thin
■them, fo that they may be able to circulate freely in the
common current. Forthis purpofe, foment twice a-day with
the difcutient fomentation, p. 569.col. 2. par. 3. in which
a handft^lor two of wood-alhes has been boiled; apply
then the above poultices, or the following, till the fwel-
liog has fubfided, when the fores may be dreded with the
•green ointment till they are properly digeded, and then
dried up with* the water and ointment above recom¬
mended. '
Take honey-, one potfnd; turpentine, fix ounces; in¬
corporate with a fpoon ; and add of the meal of fe¬
nugreek and linfeed, each four ounces; boil in three
quarts of red-wine lees to the confidence of a poul¬
tice ; to which add, when taken from the fire, two
ounces of camphor in powder; fpread it on thick
cloths, and apply warm to the legs, fecuring it on
with a drong roller.
If the fores are very foul, drefs them with two parts
■of the wound-ointment, and one of iEgyptiacum; and
apply the following, fpread on thick cloths, and rolled on.
Take of black foap, one pound ; honey, half a pound;
burnt alum, four ounces; verdigreafe powdered,
two ounces ; wheat-flour, a fufficient quantity.
. If the diuretic balls Ihould not fucceed, they mud be
Yol. IL No. 5a. 2
I E R Y. 577
changed for the antimonial and mercurial alteratives, al¬
ready mentioned ; but turning a horfe out in a field,
where he has a hovel or Ihed to run to at pleafure, would-
greatly contribute to quicken the cure, and indeed would
in general effedt it alone ; but if this cannot be complied
with, let him be turned out in the day-time.
If the horfe is not turned out, a large and convenient
dall is abfolutely neceflary, with good drefling and care.
The lad thing we (hall recommend, is a method to o-
blige a horfe to lie down in the dable. This undoubted¬
ly is of the utmod confequence, as it will not a little con¬
tribute to the removal and cure of this diforder ; for by
only changing the pofition of his legs, a freer circulation
would be obtained, and the fwelling taken down : where¬
as in general it is greatly aggravated by the obdinacy of
the horfe, who refufes to lie down- at all (probably from
the pain it gives him to bend his legs for that purpofe) by
which means the diffhefs and fwelling increafes, till the
over-gorged and diltended veflels are obliged to give way,
and by burfting, difcharge the fluids, which fliould cir¬
culate through them.
0/Scratches, Crowx Scabs, Rat-Tails, and
Capellets.
Scratches in the heels have fo much affinity with
the greafe, and are fo often concomitants of that diflem-
per, that the method of treating them may be fele&ed
chiefly from the preceding fc<dion ; which at fird Ihould
be by the linfeed and turnip poultice, with a little com¬
mon turpentine to foften them, and relax the veflels;
the green ointment may then be applied for a few days to
promote a difcharge, when they may be dried up with
the ointments and waflies recommended in the above fec-
tion. It is bed afterwards to keep the heels fupple, and
fqftened with currier’s dubbing, which is made of oil and
tallow. This will keep the hide from cracking, and be
as good a prefervative as it is to leather ; and by ufing it
often before exercife, will prevent the {cratches, if care
is taken to wafli the heels with warm water, when the
horfe comes in. When they prove obdinate, and the
fores are deep, ufe the following; but if any cavities or
hollow places are formed, they fliould firdiie laid open;
for no foundation can be laid for healing, till you can
drefs to the bottom.
Take Venice turpentine, four ounces; quickfilver,
one ounce; incorporate well together by rubbing
fome time, and then add honey and ffieeps fuet, of
each two ounces.
Anoint with this once or twice a day; and if the horle
is full or -flefliy, you mud bleed and purge; and if the
blood is in a bad date, the alteratives mud be given to
reftify it.
The crown-fcab is an humour that breaks out round
the coronet, which is very fliarp and itching, and attend¬
ed with a fcurfinefs : {harp waters prepared with vitriol
are generally ufed for the cure ; but the fafed way is firft
to mix marfhmallow and yellow bafilicon, or the wound
ointment, equal parts, and to fpread them on tow, and'
lay all round the coronet. A doze or two of phyfic may
be very proper, with the diuretic medicines, (par. 4. 5.
6. of the preced. col. and the alteratives above re-
6 F commended