Part 1
Transcriber’s note: Printing errors have been amended but the author’s idiosyncratic style and spelling have not.
THE FARMER’S OWN BOOK:
A TREATISE ON THE Numerous Diseases of the Horse, WITH AN EXPLANATION OF THEIR SYMPTOMS, AND THE COURSE OF TREATMENT TO BE PURSUED; ALSO A TREATISE ON THE DISEASE OF HORNED CATTLE.
PUBLISHED BY J. D. KOOGLE, Middletown, Maryland. 1858.
ENTERED according to the Act of Congress in the year 1857, BY J. D. KOOGLE, In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of Maryland.
PREFACE.
The object of this work is to give a thorough explanation of the numerous diseases to which the horse is subject, and point out in a clear and distinct manner the symptoms by which the diseases may be known, so that the Farmer and others having the care of horses may be enabled to detect any disease in its first stages,--thereby rendering it an easy case to cure; also, giving a regular course of medicine to be pursued in the treatment of the different diseases, by which almost any one, with a little study, can treat the most difficult cases. The great objection to other works that have been issued is that they do not point out the symptoms of the diseases in horses; and their treatment is so badly arranged that it is very difficult for the Farmer and persons generally to understand it. The advantages this work possesses over others, is its plainness in pointing out the difficulties attending the treatment of diseases in horses and the manner in which they may be surmounted. And it is hoped that those interested will give this book their careful attention, as the author is satisfied that it will save them a vast amount of time and trouble in times of need.
THE AUTHOR.
DISEASES OF HORSES.
The diseases of the horse are very numerous, and many of them so complicated as to defy detection, except by those who are thoroughly acquainted with the nature of the animal, and his mode of living. This is the reason that horses which have been under the care of the farrier are often returned to the owner in a worse condition than when they received them. It is to prevent this practice as much as possible that has induced me to bring this work before the public, in the hope of alleviating the condition of that noble animal--_the Horse_.
THE POLL EVIL.
This disease may arise from accident, but is commonly the result of blows or bruises carelessly inflicted by those having charge of the horses. It is a tumor or swelling in the sinews, found between the noll bone and the uppermost joint of the neck, immediately on the nap of the neck.
Nearly all farriers, tell you to sell your horse for anything he will bring, or give him away; but I would advise you to keep your horse and cure him, which can be done quickly and surely with the following remedies:
REMEDY NO. 1.
First wash the sore well with strong warm soap suds, then drop 8 or 10 drops of muriatic acid in it twice a day, until it has the appearance of a fresh wound, after which it should be washed clean with soap suds from castile soap and then left to heal, which it will quickly do if the acid has been used long enough in a proper manner; but if it does not get well, wash as before, and apply the acid until a cure is effected. It is a sure remedy, and will not fail if applied properly until the disease is burnt out or killed.
In case you should drop any of the acid on the part that is not affected, apply a little oil, which will neutralize the power of the acid and prevent it from becoming sore.
REMEDY NO. 2.
When the disease first makes its appearance, take a quantity of asmart and put it to soak, letting it remain all night. In the morning take as much as you can hold in your hand and apply it to the swollen part, holding it there some 20 or 30 minutes, pressing on it as hard as you conveniently can, which must be repeated several times. This remedy generally scatters the disease, but if it should fail you will be obliged to use applications of a more astringent nature.
REMEDY NO. 3.
After the disease has fully shown itself, wash as directed in Remedy No. 1; then take Arsenic and apply it until the foul flesh has all disappeared, and let it heal. This is a certain remedy, and has cured several cases within my own knowledge.
REMEDY NO. 4.
Take 1 quart of strong ley and boil it into a salve, then apply a portion of the salve every 2 hours until the core comes out, and heal with elder ointment. If this remedy does not effect a cure on the first application, try it again, as it is a certain cure. Should the ley after being boiled down leave a hard substance, it must be worked into a salve.
REMEDY NO. 5.
First wash the ulcer well with warm soap suds; then take air-slacked lime and put as much into the sore as will lay on, which must be repeated 2 or 3 times a day, and the affected part cleaned and swabbed out as often. This, though very simple, is an excellent remedy, which I have never known to fail.
* * * * *
The foregoing remedies are very plain and simple, and cannot fail if properly applied. In washing the ulcers, use none other than castile soap, which is far superior to any other for cleansing and healing wounds and eruptions of any kind, and can be had from any of the drug stores at 25 cents per pound. It is also an excellent article for domestic purposes, such as shaving, &c. and will be found cheaper than any other fine or toilet soaps.
FLATULENT OR WIND COLIC.
This is an entirely different disease from the Spasmodic Colic. It often originates with something that the horse has eaten and then drinking large quantities of water, by which the food becomes fermented and creates a gastric gas, which enlarges to a greater or less extent, sometimes to twenty or thirty times the bulk of the food. It generally takes place in the stomach, but at times in the small or large intestines.
SYMPTOMS.
The horse suddenly slacks his pace, perhaps lays or falls down as if he were shot. In the stable he paws the floor with his fore feet, lays down and rolls, starts up instantly and throws himself down again with greater violence, looks wistfully at his flanks, and makes many fruitless efforts to void his urine. Here the symptoms are similar to other colics, but the true character of the disease soon develops itself.--It is in one of the large intestines, and the belly swells all round, but mostly on the right flanks and as the disease progresses the pain becomes more intense, and the horse more violent. The treatment is quite different from other colics.
REMEDY NO. 1.
Take 1 ounce of the chlorate of lime and ½ pint of warm water, put it into a bottle and shake well, so as to dissolve, then give it as a drench which will devour the gas, and cause the swelling to subside. If in fifteen minutes after this has been given, the pain does not seem to have been alleviated, take 4 ounces of spirits of Pimento, and 1 ounce of Laudanum, mix it with ½ pint of warm water and give it also as a drench. If you have no pimento and it is not convenient to get it, take 2½ ounces of peppermint, and 1 ounce of laudanum, and should you not have laudanum, take a larger quantity of peppermint with ½ pint of warm water, and give it as a drench. In this disease no time should be lost, as it very often runs its course in from 1 to 2 hours. If the first should not give relief in 15 or 20 minutes, repeat it until it does. Rubbing the belly with a smooth rail or pole will greatly facilitate the action of the medicine. Should you not have any of the above remedies on hand or convenient, use from 1 to 2 ounces of golden tincture as the case may require.
REMEDY NO. 2.
In the first place take 2 ounces of the essence of peppermint, mixed with ½ pint of warm water and give it to him as a drench, then take a bat of common raw cotton and set fire to it, holding it close to the nostrils of the horse, so that he can freely inhale the smoke arising therefrom; continue this until you see that the horse is relieved. The quantity of cotton used is from 4 to 5 bats, as the necessity of the case may require.
This is a simple and safe remedy, and numbers who have tried it say that they have never known it to fail. I saw a horse that had suffered from the colic for nearly three hours, being puffed up almost to bursting, and in half an hour after this operation had been performed on him, he was completely cured.
SPASMODIC COLIC.
This is a disease to which horses generally are subject, and in consequence of improper treatment, it often proves fatal. It is produced by improper riding, feeding, watering, and may arise from a want of proper action in the bowels, which occasions constriction of the intestines and a confinement of the air.
SYMPTOMS.
The horse begins to shift his position, looks around at his flanks, paws violently, strikes his belly with his feet, and crouches in a peculiar manner, advancing his hind legs under him, he then suddenly lies or rather falls down, and balances himself on his back with his feet resting on his belly. The pain seems to have ceased for a while, and he gets up and shakes himself; he begins to feed, but in a short time the pain returns, and is more violent than before; he heaves at the flanks, breaks out in a profused perspiration, and throws himself more recklessly. The pulse is little affected in the commencement, but as the disease progresses, it becomes full. Legs and ears of a natural temperature. The affection of the strength scarcely perceivable.
REMEDY.
Relief may be obtained from motion in this disease. Take
1 ounce of turpentine, 1 ounce of laudanum, ½ pint of gin or good whiskey, ½ pint of warm water.
Mix and give it as a drench. Bleed, and if not relieved in half an hour, repeat the dose, rubbing the belly with a stout brush or a smooth rail. If not relieved in 15 or 20 minutes, repeat the dose and continue it until relief is obtained. If the horse be walked about or trotted moderately, it will relieve the spasms. A glyster with warm soap suds should be injected, which may be done by burning the peth out of elder, and filling a bladder with the suds, then tie the bladder on the elder tight and force it into the fundament, occasionally throwing the warm suds in until it operates; if a reasonable portion of it remains, it will do no harm if it does not operate, but will help to relieve the spasms. This should be done immediately, as in most cases no time is to be lost. A glyster of tobacco smoke may be thrown in as a last resort. Keep the horse in a warm stable and give bran mash and plenty of warm or thin gruel for two or three days.
The turpentine, laudanum, gin and warm water were never known to fail if given at the proper time. Should you not have these medicines at hand, give 2½ or 3 ounces of peppermint every 15 or 20 minutes until the horse is relieved; or if you have no peppermint, give same quantity of golden tincture.
The gruel for feeding is made by putting any quantity of bran into a bucket or tub, then pour boiling water over it, so as to scald it thoroughly, and cover it with a cloth until it is cool enough for him to eat.
INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER.
In this disease and inflammation of the kidneys, the symptoms are nearly similar; therefore, in order to ascertain whether the disease is inflammation of the bladder or inflammation of the kidneys, it is necessary to introduce the hand into the rectum, where you will find the bladder immediately under the hand, if it feels hard and full, accompanied by more than natural heat and tenderness, it is a sure case of inflammation of the bladder, but if the bladder is empty and no increased heat is apparent, then it must be a case of inflammation of the kidneys.
In treating these two diseases--though the symptoms are so much alike--be very careful to observe that the course of treatment recommended in each is entirely different, and should you give the medicine prescribed for inflammation of the bladder for that of the kidneys, it will greatly endanger the life of the horse.
SYMPTOMS.
The early symptoms in this disease are generally those of fever, but the seat of the disease soon becomes apparent. The horse occasionally looks round at his flanks, stands with his hind legs wide apart, is unwilling to lie down, straddles as he walks, evinces great pain in turning, shrinks when his loins are pressed; the loins feel hot, the urine is voided in small quantities, which is often highly colored and sometimes bloody; he tries to urinate very often and strains painfully, but the discharge is nearly or quite suppressed; the pulse is quick, hard and full at first, but rapidly becomes small, indicating a disease of the urinary organs, yet not distinguishing inflammation of the bladder from inflammation of the kidneys.
TREATMENT--REMEDY.
When you feel satisfied that it is a case of inflammation of the bladder, blister the loins with the blister ointment and give 1 ounce of turpentine with 1 ounce of laudanum.
INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS.
The symptoms of this disease are similar to those of inflammation of the bladder, but are to be treated in quite a different manner. Inflammation of the kidneys is brought on by over-riding, heavy loads, improper feeding, and sometimes by being poled on the haunches, or across the kidneys and loins.
TREATMENT--REMEDY.
Place a mustard plaster made with vinegar across the loins and bleed. After this give an active purge, and when it begins to abate give of white helebore from ½ to ¾ of a drachm, and 1½ drachms of tartar emetic, with ½ a pint of warm water, this should be repeated 2 or 3 times a day, according to the nature of the disease. For drink, give him warm water or gruel as much as he will drink, and keep the back and loins warm and comfortable.
INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS.
This disease is generally brought on by sudden cold, hard driving, high feeding, &c.
SYMPTOMS.
The first appearance of this disease is generally marked by fits of shivering, accompanied with a coldness throughout the entire body, which, however, gradually wears off, and he becomes warm, except the ears and feet; but it sometimes commences slowly, with a hard, dry cough, which appears to give the horse great pain; he appears dull, and refuses to eat his food; the pulse is obscure and oppressed--he heaves at the flanks, the nostrils are extended, the eye-lids and linings of the nose are inflamed with a disagreeable running at the nose, experiences great difficulty in breathing, seems very stiff, is unwilling to lie down or move, and often stands until completely exhausted.
TREATMENT--REMEDY.
Bleed until the pulse becomes round and full, and then the heart will be able to accomplish its object; next hand rub the legs, well, wrap them up with flannel bandages as high as the knees, put a blanket on the horse to keep him warm, but let the stable have a sufficient opening to admit the fresh air, not so much as to make it cold or chilly. In warm weather the horse cannot have too much fresh air. The following prescription will be found very beneficial:
1 drachm powdered foxglove, 1½ “ tartar emetic, 3 “ nitre, 4 “ tincture of aloes, ½ pint of warm water.
Mix well, give it as a drench and clyster with soap and warm water; when the focus has become softened a little, _leave off using the tincture of aloes_, but continue to administer the remaining portion of the above prescription, and blister the sides and brisket with the blister ointment every 6 hours. If the ointment should act well on the first application, there is no further need for it, but should it not act properly continue the blistering until it does, or until the parts become very sore, and in two or three days after dress with lard.
In the latter stages of the disease it will be found very difficult to get the blister to act properly on account of the exhaustion of the natural powers of the animal, but it must be continued, and the sinking energies aroused, or the horse is lost. The blister is often prevented from acting by the gig being up.
In this disease the treatment should be prompt and decisive, as not a moment of time is to be lost. The first object should be to subdue the inflammation, and if the mouth continues hot, the extremities cold, and the nose red, the horse must be bled again and again in rapid succession, the good that we can do must be done immediately or not at all.
The first step to be taken in this disease is to bleed profusely--let the lancet used be a large, broad shouldered one, in order that the blood may be extracted as quick as possible and the disease destroyed without impairing the strength of the animal. (If the blood be allowed to flow slowly in a small stream, the strength of the animal will be sapped, while the disease remains untouched.) Let the blood flow until the pulse falters and the horse begins to tremble; no harm will be done however if he should fall by bleeding in this disease. As soon as possible after the bleeding, give the medicine prescribed; then hand rub and bandage, and cover with warm blankets; feed him on bran mash and let him run to grass for a month.
INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS.
This disease arises from various causes, and is frequently brought on by long standing costiveness, neglected gripes, or hard riding, over heating and immediately drinking of cold water.
SYMPTOMS.
In many cases of this disease fits of shivering or restlessness are the first indications of its approach; the mouth becomes hot, the nose red, the horse begins to evince the most intense pain by pawing, striking at his belly with his feet, looking wildly at his flanks, groaning and rolling. The pulse is quick but small, the ears and feet cold, the belly tender to the touch and sometimes hot, the breathing is quickened, the bowels costive, and the horse rapidly becoming fearfully weak. He paws and stamps as in the colic, but the pulse is much quicker than in that disease, and the pain becomes constant without any intermissions, as occur in colic.
TREATMENT--REMEDY.
Commence by bleeding profusely, taking at least 7 or 8 quarts of blood, or as much as the horse can bear, which must be done immediately, or a fatal termination may be looked for. If the horse does not seem to have been relieved or the pulse become round and full, the bleeding must be repeated as the only means of subduing the inflammation, which is the immediate cause of the weakness. If the inflammation is subdued by the extraction of the blood the weakness will soon disappear. After the bleeding, make a strong decoction of aloes and opium or laudanum, say 1 ounce of laudanum with the same quantity of the tincture of aloes, and give it to the horse; this must be quickly followed by back-raking and an injection of soap and warm water or thin gruel, in which epsom salts or aloes may be dissolved in moderate quantities; repeat this until the bowels are completely cleaned out. He should be given as much warm water or thin gruel as he will drink, and half the quantity of tincture of aloes and laudanum should be administered every two or three hours until the bowels are freely opened. Blister the sides and belly with common blistering ointment and bandage the legs up to the knees with flannel, cover him with blankets as directed in inflammation of the lungs, and give him a comfortable stable, but not too hot, with plenty of fresh air. No corn or hay should be allowed in this disease--bran mash will answer very well for feed, but green meat is preferable if it can be had. Turn him out for two or three hours in the middle of the day if not too cold; give the legs good hand-rubbing every day; continue to clyster with thin gruel for two or three days.
BOTS OR GRUBS.
The Bots or Grubs are small worms of a red or brownish color, found in the stomach, and it is considered almost impossible for them to do any harm, but a horse that has the bots, grubs or worms, loses flesh, becomes hide bound and dull.
SYMPTOMS.
In this disease a yellowish matter is often found under the horse’s tail; he has pain, stamps and rolls, switches his tail between his legs, turns up his upper lip, and frequently looks round to his flanks, and often tries to rub his fundament against the wall, or any other place that he can.
TREATMENT--REMEDY NO. 1.
First give an active purge, and if that is not sufficient to expel them, take 2 drachms of tartar emetic, with a small quantity of tin or pewter filings, or a little ground glass, make into balls or pills, and give one every morning for two weeks; if it is necessary, the balls can be made with a little tar, which will also improve the condition of the horse.
REMEDY NO. 2.
Take 1 pint of common honey and give it as a drench; in two hours after give an active purge:--1 pint of molasses added to 1 pint of soft soap and a handful of salt will answer very well. Repeat the dose if it does not operate in four or five hours.
MEMBRANES OF THE NOSE.
SHOWING THE SYMPTOMS THAT MARK THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE DISEASE.
1st.--The pale pink hue, when the horse is in perfect health.
2d.--An increased tinge of red, and the gradual uniform painting of the membrane, indicating some excitement of the general system.
3d.--The streaked appearance when inflammation is threatening or commencing.
4th.--The intense florid red, of inflammation being acute.
5th.--The starting of the vessels from their gossamer coat, and their seeming to run bare over the membranes, when inflammation has attained its highest point.
6th.--The pale ground, with patches of vivid red, showing the half subdued but still existing fever.
7th.--The uniform color, but of a deeper red than natural, indicating the return of a healthy state of the circulation.
8th.--A paleness approaching to white, with a slight radiation of crimson, showing that there is still considerable irritability, and that mischief may be in the wind.
9th.--The pale, livid color, warning you that the disease is assuming a typhoid character.
10th.--The deep livid, announcing that the typhus is establishing, and that the vital current is stagnating.
11th.--The brown or dirty painting, intermingling with and subduing the lividness, denoting that the game is up.
12th.--These appearances will be guides to our opinions and treatment, which can never be too highly appreciated.
THE EYES.
From the eye of the horse we form an idea of his age. There is, at the back of the eye a considerable quantity of fatty substance, on which it may revolve easily, without friction. In aged horses much of this disappears, the eye becomes sunken, and the pit above it deepens: The eye is a very important organ of the horse, and should be large, clear, shining, lively, dark colored, round and full, so that you may look deep into them; when moving but a small portion of the white should show, and the purchaser who notices this should pause ere he completes his bargain for a horse that shows too much of the whites of his eyes.
THE EARS.
Those who are acquainted with the nature of the horse pay much attention to the size and motion of the ear. Ears rather small than large, placed not too far apart, erect and quick in motion, indicate both breeding and spirit. If a horse is frequently in the habit of carrying one ear forward and the other backward, and especially when on a journey, he generally possesses both spirit and continuance; and if attentive to what is taking place about him, he cannot be much fatigued or likely soon to become so.
STAGGERS.