of the disease is unknown. It appears, however, to consist in a paralysed condition of the bronchial tubes and remoter air-cells, which renders expiration more difficult, and necessitates the double effort so characteristic of the malady.

to the farmer's horse, especially when carting. It consists in securing a bag containing corn over the animal's mouth and nose, by a string, which passes over the poll, and is locally denominated a nose-bag," or "horse-poke," and which should be removed when he has finished his feed. To pre- 'The cure of a broken-winded horse no one vent the effects of the wet upon the skin, an unex- ever witnessed; yet much may be done in the pensive glazed cloth may be thrown over the way of palliation. The food of the animal should horse's back, and secured to the collar and traces. | consist of much nutriment condensed into a small This may by some be considered very troublesome; compass; the quantity of oats should be inbut it will be found that when it is once begun, it creased, and that of hay proportionably diminwill be considered no more trouble than carrying ished; the moistening of the hay is also usually the rest of the harness; and if disease is prevented, beneficial; the bowels should be gently relaxed the trouble amounts to nothing. To counteract as by the frequent use of mashes; water should be much as possible any habits of greedy feeding given sparingly through the day, although at which the horse may have acquired, his corn night the thirst of the animal should be fully should be mixed with chopped straw, or chopped satisfied; and exercise should never be taken clover, which will secure its proper mastication, when the stomach is full.' Under such manageand prevent many troublesome complaints, as well ment, and at slow work, a broken-winded horse as render all the nutrition of the food available. will often remain serviceable for years. These may be substituted by an admixture of clean chaff with corn-a plan which is pursued in a farm-stable with which I am acquainted, and is found a useful practice. It would save the animals much time in eating if all their food was chopped, and perhaps steamed; but on this subject we have not sufficient data to determine with

accuracy.

The cure, it has been hinted, must generally be left to the veterinary practitioner, whose chief object should be to empty the stomach. In severe cases, an ounce of laudanum and a drachm of pounded ginger, in a quart of warm ale, may be used with probable success.

Broken-wind.

Curb-Bog-spavin-Bone-spavin.

ment, so as to render the animal unsound.
The hock-joint is particularly liable to derange-
One
of these affections is called curb, which arises
from over-exertion of the ligaments, and takes the
form of an enlargement a few inches beneath the
joint of the hock. A more serious complaint of
from over-exertion, and is an inflammation in the
the hock is the bog-spavin, which takes place
vesicles containing the lubricating material for
the joint. This disease is almost incurable; and
the poor animal is in general only fit for ordinary

and moderate work all the rest of his life. The
bone-spavin is a still more formidable disease. It
is an affection of the bones of the hock-joint,

caused by violent action, or any kind of shoeing which throws an undue strain on certain liga

When the breathing of a horse is rapid and laborious, it is said to be thick-winded; and when it breathes irregularly, the inspiration taking one effort, and the expiration two, it is called broken-ments, and deranges the action of the bones.A wind. Inflammation of the lungs from cold is a cause of thick-wind, the condition of these organs preventing the full action of the air-tubes. The chief cause of broken-wind is sharp work after over-feeding-causing the animal to run while the

stomach is full. Grossly fed, badly managed horses, are hence most subject to the complaint. Carriage and coach horses are seldom brokenwinded, unless they bring the disease to their work, for they live principally on corn, and their work is regular, and care is taken that they shall not be fed immediately before their work. The farmer's horse is the broken-winded horse, because the food on which he is fed is bulky, and too often selected on account of its cheapness; because there is little regularity in the management of most of the farmer's stables, or the work of his teams; and because, after many an hour's fasting, the horses are often suffered to gorge themselves with this bulky food; and then, with the stomach pressing upon the lungs, and almost impeding ordinary respiration, they are put again to work, and sometimes to that which requires considerable exertion. The agriculturist knows that many a horse becomes broken-winded in the straw-yard. There is little nutriment in the provender which he there finds; and to obtain enough for the support of life, he is compelled to keep the stomach constantly full, and pressing upon the lungs. Some animals have come up from grass broken-winded that went out perfectly sound. The exact nature

and the consequence is a lameness or stiff motion bony deposit takes place, the joint is stiffened, in the hind-legs. Blistering as a counter-irritant, and rest, are the principal remedies prescribed for this complaint; but the best thing of all, so as to prevent not only this, but all other similar complaints, is never to overload the horse, or put him, especially before he comes to his full strength, to any violent exertion.

Physicking.

Horses, even when attended to with the greatest care, occasionally get into a condition which requires physic-that is, purgative medicine; as, for example, when they have been too long on hard food, and require a laxative; when they get into a heated state of body from constant highfeeding; when their bowels get overloaded or disordered; or when they are getting too fat. The most simple laxative is a bran-mash. Bran is put into a pail, and softened with boiling water; when cooled sufficiently, it is given to the animal as the last feed at night, instead of corn or Horses hay. About half a pailful is a dose. used by commercial travellers or others during the whole week, and fed on corn, are indulged in a mash on Saturday night; and this, with the rest on Sunday, keeps them in good condition. When a working-horse is lamed, or becomes sick, and must remain idle for a few days, he requires to be relieved by a dose of physic.

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Generally, this consists of from four to seven drachms of Barbadoes aloes, powdered, and formed into a round moistened mass, fit to be swallowed. It requires to be administered by a skilful groom, who will push it over the throat adroitly, without alarming the animal. Sometimes the powder is mixed with a little Castile soap. An hour or less after taking physic, a bran-mash should be given, and then the horse be gently exercised. On his return to the stable, he may be offered a drink of water from which the chill is taken, or as warm as he will take it.

We should consider it imprudent to offer any further explanations of the materia medica of horses; and again recommend all unskilled or but partially instructed persons not to attempt doctoring their horses themselves, but to obtain at once the advice of a veterinary surgeon.

ADVICE IN PURCHASING A HORSE.

The purchasing of a horse is ordinarily a matter of very serious difficulty, in consequence of the proverbial trickiness of dealers, and the many defective points in the animal's constitution, which cannot be seen with all the care that may be bestowed. In offering any hints on this important particular, we must refer to the instructions of authorities whose testimony is worthy of confidence. Mr Stewart has written a valuable little manual, entitled Advice to the Purchasers of Horses, which should be in the hands of all who have frequent occasion to make purchases. The following are a few of his admonitions:

life in him"-that is, they torture him with the lash, till, between pain and fear, the poor animal is so much excited, as to bound from side to side with his utmost agility at the least sound or movement of the by-standers.'

This writer continues, in relation to the head and other parts of the animal: 'The head, as being a part not at all contributing to progression, should in the saddle-horse be small, that it may be light; the nostrils expanded, to admit plenty of air, and the space between the branches of the lower jaw, called the channel, should be wide, that there may be plenty of room for the head of the windpipe. In the draught-horse, a heavy head is not, so far as utility is concerned, an objection, for it enables him to throw some weight into the collar; and hence, excepting its ugliness, it is rather an advantage, if he is used entirely for draught. But it makes the saddlehorse bear heavy on the hand of the rider, makes him liable to stumble, and, when placed at the end of a long neck, is apt to wear out the fore-feet and legs by its great weight. The neck of the saddle-horse should be thin, not too much arched, and rather short than long, for the same reason that the head should be light; and in the draughthorse it may be thick, stallion-like, and sufficiently long to afford plenty of room for the collar, and for the same reason that the head may be large in this animal. The windpipe should be large, and standing well out from the neck, that the air may have an easy passage to and from the lungs. A horse intended to be used for the miscellaneous purposes of carriage and draught, should have a head and neck neither too light nor too heavy.

'In buying a horse, one of the chief requisites to be attended to is the degree of nervous energy which the animal possesses; and it is the union 'That the saddle-horse may be safe, and have of this energy with good conformation that makes extensive action, it is necessary that the withers many horses invaluable. Its absence or presence, be high. This advantage is indicated by the however, is not likely to be discovered by the horse standing well up before; and it is usual, in purchaser without a trial; and to avoid disap- shewing a horse, to exaggerate the height of the pointment in this respect, it is therefore advisable forehand by making him stand with his fore-fect to obtain one prior to purchase. The horse on a somewhat elevated spot. A horse with low should be set to the work he will be called on to withers appears thick and cloddy about the perform; and if he is intended for the saddle or shoulder. In the ass and mule, the withers are single harness, he should have no companion on very low, and the shoulders very flat, and this is his trial, for many animals work well in company the reason why they are so unpleasant to ride, that are downright sluggards when alone. Some and why it is next to impossible to keep the horses have an unpleasant way of going, or are saddle in its proper place without the aid of a difficult to manage, or have some vice which is crupper. High withers, however, are not essential only displayed when at work: these are so many to the racer or the draught-horse. The former more reasons for having a trial prior to striking a does all his work by leaps, and that is performed bargain. But if that cannot be obtained, some best when the horse stands somewhat higher sort of conclusion regarding the animal's spirit behind than before: neither are high withers may be drawn from his general appearance. The necessary to the draught-horse; but in the roadway he carries his head, his attention to sur-ster, they are as important as the safety of the rounding objects, his gait, and the lively motion of his ears, may all or each be looked to as indicative of "bottom," or willingness to work. It is only, however, in a private stable, or in that of a respectable dealer, that these criteria can be depended upon; for in a market-place, the animal is too much excited by the cracking of whips, and the too frequent application of them, to be judged of as regards his temper. Neither must the buyer be thrown off his guard by the animation which horses display at an auction, or on coming out of the stable of a petty dealer; for it is a fact, which cannot be too well made known, that there are many unprincipled dealers who make it their business, before shewing a horse, "to put some

rider is, for a horse with a low forehand is easily thrown on his knees. In the draught-horse, this tendency towards the ground is obviated by the support the collar affords.

The chest should be deep and wide in all horses, but especially so in one intended for quick work, in order that there may be plenty of room for the play of those important organs, the lungs.

'The back should not be too long nor too short; for though length is favourable to an extended stride and rapid motion, yet it makes the horse weak, and unable either to draw or carry any considerable weight. On the other hand, if the back be too short, the horse's action must be confined; and short-backed horses, in

'In the saddle-horse, and where safety is desirable, the position of the fore-leg is worthy of attention. It should be placed well forward, and descend perpendicularly to the ground, the toe being nearly in a line with the point of the shoulder. The pasterns should neither be turned in nor out. When they are turned inwards, the horse is in general very liable to cut the fetlock-wheeled vehicle depends on the arrangement of joint by striking the opposite foot against it. The draught-horse may be excused though he leans a little over his fore-legs, but the saddlehorse will be apt to stumble if he does so.'

another horse of equal power which runs ten miles at a time. This is well understood by all stagecoach proprietors, and short stages have now almost everywhere superseded long ones. Such a fact should also be known to all private travellers. Whether employed in a gig, chaise, or for riding, the horse on a journey should take his day's work in two distinct stages-one in the morning, and another in the afternoon, when rested and refreshed. He should also, to remain in good condition, have a rest during the whole of Sunday. In journeying with light loads, a distance of from twenty to twenty-five miles is considered a sufficient day's task.

Riding.

In the course of either slow or fast riding, the horse may trouble his rider by plunging, shying, or restiveness. If he kick and plunge, sit upright, hold on by the legs, and do not vex him by any lashing; when let alone, he is not long in coming out of his freak. When he shies, or flies to one side, as if afraid of something, press him on the side to which he is flying, keep up his head, and bring him into his track. Pressing both legs against his sides will generally keep him from running backward. When he becomes restive-that is, turns round, and has a disinclination to go in the way he is required, the rider must keep him in his track by dint of pressure, a touch of the spur, and the hand. If he has been accustomed to spurs, and finds that your heels are The art of riding or equitation forms a regular not provided with these appendages, your case is branch of instruction, and is seldom well per- very hopeless. We must allow Walker to point formed by those who have not been regularly out the course to be pursued with a restive horse. taught; and nothing we can say can supersede If he persists in turning round, the rider must the necessity of instruction by a master. It continue to attack his unguarded side, turn him should be performed in that manner which is two or three times, and let the heel and spur, least calculated to oppress the horse and fatigue if necessary, assist the hand, before he can arm the rider, and which will be most secure for or defend himself against it. If he still refuse to both parties. The first principle in horseman-go the right way, the rider must take care that he ship is, that the horse and his rider should act and react on each other as if governed by one common feeling. To attain this end, the rider must acquire the knack of balancing himself properly on the animal, and establishing the means of making himself understood through certain movements of hand and body. For full instructions in the art, see Walker's Manly Exercises.

Riding, to one accustomed to it, is best performed with a curb and snaffle bridle; the curb, however, being only employed to bring the animal up by pressure on the mouth when occasion requires. As some horses have a much more delicate mouth than others, the nature of the bridle must depend on circumstances. In holding the reins, a union of firmness, gentleness, and lightness is the essential requisite.

Much may be done to animate a horse, either in riding or drawing, by addressing a cheerful word to him, instead of the lashing and scolding with which he is too frequently visited. If a horse requires correction or urging by the whip, he should only be touched lightly behind the girth and saddle, never on any account on the head or on a fore part of the body. We have frequently seen riders so lost to humanity as to whip their horses when restive over the head and ears. Should a horse attempt to baffle his rider, he must be pressed by the legs, urged lightly with the spur, and kept in his proper track, but not drawn up with the curb or terrified by abuse.

The most common pace in road-riding is the trot, which, in effect, is a rapid walk, and most difficult for a rider to perform with address and a small degree of fatigue to himself. In slow trotting, the body should adhere to the saddle, and when it becomes fast or rough, the body may be raised at the proper moments to case the jolting. This rising of the body, however, is to be a result of the horse's action, not an effort of the rider. The proper method is to rise and fall with the leading foot, the body rising from the seat when the foot is elevated, and falling when it sinks.

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go no other, and immediately change his attack, turning him about and reining him backward, which the horse is easily compelled to do when he sets himself against going forward. In these contests, the rider must be collected, and have an eye to the surrounding objects; for restive horses try their utmost to place their riders in awkward situations, by sidling to other horses, carriages, the foot-pavement, the houses, &c. In this case, the rider, instead of pulling him from the wall, must bend his head to it, by which his side next the wall is rendered concave, and his utmost endeavours to do injury are prevented. The instant, therefore, that the rider perceives his horse sidling to any object, he must turn his head to that object, and back him from it. There are some horses who fix themselves like stocks, setting all endeavours to move them at defiance. There, happily, their defence can in no way endanger the rider. It must, however, be converted to punishment. Let them stand, make no attempt to move them, and in a short space-frequently less than a minute-they will move of themselves.' The same author recommends the rider to remain perfectly cool in all these awkward circumstances. When passion,' he observes, possesses the rider, it prevents that concord and unity taking place which ever should subsist between the rider and his horse. He should always be disposed to amity, and never suffer the most obstinate resistance of the horse to put him out of temper.'

Neither in the above section nor elsewhere have we said anything of the accoutrements of the horse, as every article of this kind must be left to the taste of the party concerned. The harness made by all saddlers is now handsome, convenient, and durable, and so well calculated for the comfort of the wearers, that it would be superfluous to say anything respecting it, further than to recommend that it be always kept clean and glossy, and that it do not gall or press unduly on any part of the animal's body.

NEXT to the horse, the cow is justly valued as also at Chillingham Park, Northumberland. Our