act as a counter-irritant to the peiHosteum (the membrane covering all bones), or the membraneous sheath of the

tendons, which are inflamed, in these diseases, and also stimulates the parts to

an increased healthy action, by which the cure is effected. The cutting off of

the hair is to prevent too thick a scab, which cannot be removed so easily.

9.

cantharides, 2 drs.

%

;

—

;

—

SWEENY—

Liniment, Oils, and Other Cures for.— Webster gives

us no such word; but it is well understood by horsemen, to refer to a shrinkage of the muscles over the shoulder-blade of the horse, with a tightening down

of the skin to the shrunken condition of the muscles.

If it was upon a person, physicians would say the muscles

were atrophied, from lack of nourish-

ment; then what will stimulate them to a healthy action, so that they shall

receive their proper share of nutrition, will soon cure the difficulty; hence, the

propriety of using some of the following liniments, or oils, upon the affected

shoulder.

And first I will give one from a Kansas stage driver, which he called:

—

1.

Sweeny Cure. Oil of origanum, 4 ozs. oil of spike, 2 ozs. oil of

hemlock, tinct. of cantharides, spirits of turpentine and camphor gum, each 1

oz, ;

mix and keep corked.

skin well at first.

;

;

DmECTiONS— Rub on well, once daily, lifting the

Two to three weeks will cure bad cases.

It will blister.

But if it gets too sore miss a few applications, or rub over with sweet oil Gard

will do), after applying.

—

Remarks. This was given me by a stage driver, over whose route I passed,

April 20, 1876, from Wichita (Wich-e-taw) to Winfield, Kan., assuring me he

DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

had cured many bad cases with it.

qt.

681

The above, without cantharides, put into 1

of alcohol, will make a splendid liniment for man or beast, for general pur-

Next I will give you the one spoken of in No. 7, of ringbones, Califor-

poses.

nia cure, which see.

Horseman's Hope Liniment—A Cure for Sweeny (" Cali-

2.

1 qt. ;

—

I will give it in his own words: " Ninety-eight per cent, alcohol,

4 ozs. origanum oil, of best quality; 2 ozs. hemlock oil, pure; 2 ozs. sas-

fornian").

add the oils and stand till cut (they will cut, or dissolve, by

safras oil, pure;

shaking, immediately); then add the following: 8 ozs. aqua ammonia, strong;

4 ozs. gum camphor; 4 ozs. castile soap, shaved and dissolved in a little hot

water; then add the whole to the alcohol and it is fit for use. I have cured

Sweenys on 3 or 4 occasions with the above by applying and immediately covering the parts with a heavy woolen blanket."

Remarks.

— I do not think Mr. McCIane [see No. 7 of Ringbones for expla-

nation] intends to be understood that one application would cure, but that to

continue its use a reasonable time daily would do it, of which I have not a

doubt. Still, I think it a good plan in all cases to lift up the skin, by means of

the thumbs and fingers, to break it loose, as it were, from its attachments to the

muscles for the first few applications. Some persons, you will see in the next

recipe, claim this " lifting up of the skin " and allowing it to fill with air will

I cannot say that it will, but I know the breaking up of the

attachment will help the cure by its stimulating the muscles and blood vessels

of the shoulder to increased action, and the admission of the air will undoubt-

cure the disease.

edly cause an irritation, and thus help the stimulation.

Sweeny, Simple and Certain Cure for.— A. W. Baird, of Gibson,

m., writes to one of the papers in answer to an inquiry for a cure for this disWith the

It is this:

ease, saying: " The cure is short, easy, sure and simple.

forefinger and thumb of the left hand pull up the skin on the shoulder, pretty

well up on the shrunk place; then with the small blade of a penknife make an

Then with both hands

incision through one side of the skin that is pulled up.

Fill the shrunk

raise up the skin around the incision, and it will fill with air.

place full; let your horse stand a few days, or run on pastm-e; he will soon be

well

;

it is

a certain cure.

—

me that there would be more certainty of fi'lling with

was passed just through the orifice in the skin and then

inflated to its full extent by blowing.

I will give one more, the oil, made with

angle-worms, taken from the veterinary department of the Post and Tribune,

and will also remark that angle-worm oil has been considered valuable also for

stiff joints, rheumatism, etc.

The additions to this will make it so much better

Beinarks.

It strikes

air if a goosequill

than without them.

It is as follows:

—

Oil for Sweeny. Dig and wash clean angle worms to make 1 pt.

and put them into a suitable bottle, adding salt, by weight, 1 oz. spirits of turHang in the sun until the worms are dispentine and sassafras oil, each, 1 oz.

solved, then strain and add oils of spike, hemlock and cedar and gum camphor,

Shake and bathe the shoulder night and morneach, 2 ozs. best alcohol, 1 pt.

If it blisters, or gives too much uaiu. rub on a little liird oil I'oi lardV"

ing.

4.

*'

;

;

L

DR. CHASE'S RECIPES.

682

Remarks.

—I think this will prove a very valuable

oil for sweeny, and foi

In the same issue was the following treat-

the general purposes of a liniment.

ment for

Strains, Swelled Legs, etc.—Lotion

— Steep wormwood herb, 4

and Liniment for, —

qts., and add salt,

Bathe the limb thoroughly with this, then use the following:

Liniinent.

Oil of spike, 1 oz. oils of hemlock, cedar, and camphor

II.

gum, turpentine and sweet oil, each 2 ozs., in 1 qt. of arnica. Shake before

Lotion.

ozs., in

sharp vinegar, 2

2 lbs.

—

applying.

Remarks.

;

—^The author not being much of an arnica man, would say, that

in his estimation, this would be a far better liniment to put these into 1 qt. of

alcohol.

1.

SCRATCHES, GREASE HEEL, ETC.— To Avoid and to

— To avoid, keep the horse in good health, and in the wet and muddy

winter and spring— keep the naturally long hair of the fetlocks,

season —

Cure.

fall,

especially of the hind legs, which are much the more liable to this disease, cut

rather closely, so that by proper grooming, these parts soon dry, and thus avoid

this difficulty

— I say

tliis,

for as a general thing, it begins with slight inflam-

mation of the skin, when it is scratches, proper; but which, if allowed to proceed to deeper and more extensive inflammation, causing the cracking of the

skin, and the escape of a greasy and purulent, or foul matter, to exude from

the cracks, which also excoriates and extends the inflammation to all parts

which it touches, when "grease" maybe considered to have taken full possession; and if not now met with proper treatment, the exudation assumes a

foul smell, and finally a fungus growth may arise in lumps grape-like— to

cover the whole of the diseased parts, leaving a red and angry appearance.

—

Of course this is not common; for proper constitutional treatment, by condition powders, combining cathartics

and diuretics, as well as tonics, with some

of the following local applications, will prevent, or cure, this disease.

dition Powders, Nos.

1,

2

(See Con-

and 3, and also the one given in connection with

Cribbing.)

2.

Grease Heels, National Live Stock Journal's Cure.—

Attend to cleanliness. Apply during 2 days poultices of equal parts of bran,

flaxseed meal, and powdered charcoal.

Thereafter apply twice or thrice daily

a portion of oxide of zinc ointment (this is made with oxide of zinc, 1 oz., to

benzoated lard, 6 ozs.), previously removing all secretions of matter as well as

dry scabs and crusts. [This must be done with warm water and castile soap,

washing carefully and drying perfectly.] If, after a week or 10 days, the case

does not improve satisfactorily, apply instead of the ointment twice or thrice

^z. of cardaily a portion of a mixture of 1 oz. of Goulard's extract and

Give loosening food, among which maybe mixed

bolic acid to 3^ pt. of water.

%

2 drs. of nitrate of potash, morning and evening, during 1 week.

Remarks. This poultice may be considered one of the best that can be

—

made, which I know from personal experience, except the bran, to which I

have no particular objections. Although I have never had the scratches proper,

DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

683

yet I had something much worse some 50 j^ears ago.

I had a foot mashed in a

threshing machine, and mortification set in upon two of the toes, but the young

physician was equal to the occasion with a poultice of flaxseed (properly boiled,

as there was no flaxseed meal then kept by druggists), and thickened with pow-

dered charcoal, the mortification was stopped from extending, and the mortified

when the tendons only had to be clipped

hence no one need be afraid to tie to this

poultice, and the whole treatment will be found good, not forgetting the constiparts separated from the healthy parts

to remove them wholly from the foot

tutional or condition powder part of

;

;

it,

in all cases.

Scratches, Canadian Remedy.— A Canadian correspondent of

the Scientific American gives the following simple remedy for scratdies in horses.

3.

He says:

"Having tried many lotions, etc., only to obtain temporary relief

for

my horse, I concluded to try a mixture of flowers of sulphur and glycer-

ine,

which I mixed into a paste using sufiicient glycerine to give it a glossy

appearance, and the results I obtained in a short time were truly wonderful.

I

apply this paste at night, and in the morning before going out I apply plain

glycerine."

Remarks.

— This

is

undoubtedly very valuable, for in McClure and Har-

vey's edition of Stonehenge's English work on the horse, in speaking upon the

subject of grease, says: " The skin must be kept supple (soft and pliant), and at

the same time suitable to a healthy action.

For the fonner purpose, glycerine

is the most valuable, being far more efficacious than any greasy dressing, such as

we were obliged to employ before the discovery of this substance, etc.

He uses it in all stages of the disease, to keep the skin soft. To stimulate

to a healthy action, he uses:

"Chloride of zinc, 30 grs., to soft water, 1

and thorough cleansing with soap and warm water, and thorough drying,

applying this with a brush, only suflScient to dampen the parts, and 15 minutes

after, applying glycerine, and if not improved in a few days, he increases the

strength of the zinc solution to 40 or 50 grs. to the pt. repeating night and

morning with, of course, constitutional treatment.

pt. ,

—

4. Scratclies, Simple Remedy for.

—A correspondent of the Western

Rural sent this, as he calls it, " Simple Remedy for Scratches," which he also

said has been thoroughly tested and proved highly successful: "Wash the sores

thoroughly with warm, soft water and castile soap; then rinse them oS. with

clear water, after which rub them dry with a cloth.

Now grate up some carrots and bind them on the sores.

This should be repeated every day, for 4 or

5 days, when the scratches will be cured.

Remarks.

— know that carrot poultice

I

is

very good; but I would suggest

here, that it should be repeated twice daily, niglit and morning, instead of only

daily, as the writer directs; but, if no carrots are to be had, take the following,

unless you prefer the first one, or some other of the recipes here given.

Boiled

and mashed turnips, thickened with powdered charcoal, are undoubtedly good,

whether they will prove as good as the bran and flaxseed meal of No. 1 or not,

I leave for each one to judge for himself, when either can be had or to use the

one he can get the materials for, when the other cannot be obtained, this is the

;

DR- CHASE'S RECIPES.

^84

object of giving several recipes for any disease. There is, however, a different

dressing in the next, to follow the poulticing, which is undoubtedly valuable,

especially when the white lead is

mixed with tanner's or currier's oil, as there

recommended.

5. Scratches oj.' Grease Heel in Horses, Simple and Cheap

Remedy. —The following which is the last I shall give upon this subject, was

from one signing himself "A Subscriber," of Hillsdale, Mich., to the Detroit

Tribune, in answer to an inquiry of H. E. Lyon, concerning the treatment of

scratches; but to which Jie says: " I will state that I think it a case of grease

The remedy prescribed in

heel, which is far worsQ than common scratches.

Cleanliness

the Tribune is a good OTie, but I have a simple and cheap remedy.

in the stable has much '^o do in the case, keeping the stable well cleaned and

littered with clean,

dry straw.

" Give the foUowing condition powder; Jamaica ginger, 8 ozs. gentian

root, 3 ozs. niter, blood root, and arnica, each, 1 oz. crude antimony (black),

J^ oz. Directions— A.11 to be finely powdered and thoroughly mixed together,

then give 1 large tabl'vspoonful in bran mash once each day for 6 days; then

omit 3 days, and agai n repeat 2 or 3 days. This is equally good for any horse

that is out of conditinn, or wants an appetite.

"For the sore heels: Cleanse the parts affected thoroughly with castile

II.

soap and soft water, and when thoroughly dry, boil turnips (have boiled and

mashed and already mixed,) and mash, and to this add finely pulverized charPoultice with this for 3 days, changing the poultice twice each day; then

coal.

cleanse thoroughly Hgain with castile soap and soft water, and when the parts

are thoroughly dry mix (have already mixed) together tanner's oil and white lead

to the consistency of paint; apply thoroughly with a brush to the affected

A few applications will generally sufl3ce. Cleanliness in

parts once each d?y.

the case has mucl-i to do in effecting a cure. The white lead is of the greatest

importance in th£ case, but works best when incorporated with tanner's oil.

Hoping this may prove beneficial to Mr. Lyon, I submit it to your consideration

I.

;

;

;

if you think proper to publish."

Remarks.- -Of course they published it, and it will be found good treatment,

although I mvist say that our condition powders will have a more general action

upon all the secretions than "Subscriber's"; but his turnip poultice with the

charcoal thickening and the white lead in tanner's oil, will no doubt prove very

I have known common white-lead paint to

satisfactory \o all who try them.

act nicely vipon galled shoulders, while this, with the tanner's oil in place of

linseed oil

will prove more softening and, I think, also more healing.

Surfeit in Horses, Cause and Cure.— Surfeit is a disease more particularly iffecting the skin, in which at first there will be found hard lumps,

and if not soon cured, will finally become sore and a sticky matter exude, forming sca''.es or scabs, and the treatment become more difficult. It is believed to

arise from the horse having been overworked or overdriven, by which the

blood has become heated; then, by drinking cold water, or standing in the cold,

"Vt ecome chilled, which shows itself in the skin, more particularly because

'

DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

685

the kidneys fail to depurate the blood, i. e., to take up and carry off the effete

or worn out portions of the system, which are, therefore, thrown upon the skin

in too great quantities to obtain free escape, and hence, diuretics, such as niter,

J^ oz. .dissolved in a little water, and given in its drink night and morning, or

an ounce daily of sweet spirits of niter in the same way for a few days, will

if taken in hand soon, generally correct the difficulty

but if the horse is not in

general good health, a general constitutional treatment, with some of the condition powders, care in his feed and grooming, as well as to see he is not again

over-heated, will be necessary.

Cathartics, however, are not considered as

;

do not see that any writer upon this

but I should most positively recommend the daily, or twice daily, application of a good stimulating liniment to be

well rubbed into the diseased parts of the skin, for I know it will expedite the

cure as much as an itch ointment helps to more quickly cure the itch.

Remarks. Many is the horse that has been spoiled by hitching into a

buggy or wagon and being driven quickly to town, then allowed to stand for

hours, often I have seen it till eleven o'clock at night, in a cold, dreary wind,

while the driver " gossiped " and "guzzled " in a warm, comfortable room. If

this must be done, for humanity's sake put the horse into a comfortable stable.

essential in this disease as diuretics.

I

subject directs any application to the skin

;

—

1. WARTS ON HORSES OR OTHER STOCK— To Cure.A farmer writing to one of the papers says: " I had a mare some years ago

had a large wart on her side, where the harness rubbed and kept it sore.

To prevent this I put on a good daub

of tar, and in a few weeks the wart was killed and disappeared. I have frequently tried it since on cattle and horses, and seldom had occasion to make a

second application. The remedy is simple and effectual."

Bemarks. I am not able to see any chemical property in the tar to effect a

cure; yet I have not a doubt of the fact, as above given.

If this fails in any

that

In the summer the flies made it worse.

—

case apply the following:

2.

Warts, Effectual Cure for, on Horses or Persons.

—Take

full strength acetic acid, and with a 3-cent camel's hair pencil (brush) just fairly

wet the wart all over. A few applications will cure them on man or beast.

Don't put on enough to run off the wart upon the skin, to make a sore.

3. Put 1 oz. of powdered sal-soda (washing soda) in a 2 oz. vial and fill

with water, and wet the warts thoroughly with this, is also effectual, by a few

applications, in all cases, as with No. 2.

A little of this soda in water to soak

the feet in, for those who have corns, (which see) will soften up the dead part,

and make its removal easy.

1.

WORMS— Successful Remedies.— For the long worm which

inhabits the small intestines of the horse, and sometimes find their way into the

stomach, a Mr. Rhodes, a farmer near Ann Arbor, Mich., gave me the follow-

ing as a certain cure: Burn black ash bark, and give the ashes, in 1 table-spoonful

doses, in his feed every morning for 3 mornings, then skip 3, till 9 doses are given.

Bemarks. Believing that the alkali arising from these ashes coming in con-

—

tact with the linings of the stomach, and intestines, will correct the muciis con-

dition of these parts, in which the worms find themselves, I give it,