A HORSE PROSTRATE FROM BEING OVERRIDDEN.
It is a dangerous thing to trust a dumb animal to the guidance of an ignorant man; such a person is dangerous because he does not understand that certain preparation adapts vitality to particular usages. A racer may be a mysterious creature, about which he dares to think nothing, excepting that it is a horse, very beautiful and very fleet; a hunter, in his notion, is any horse running after hounds; he takes the stable favorite out for a morning canter, crosses the hunt, and immediately, with no thought of harm, joins the field. For the first few acres a very ungentlemanly person may, in a very gruff voice, request him to "hold hard and not to ride over the dogs;" but the first three fields passed, there is no need of such a caution. The horse, with that perfect abandonment of self which makes its will its master's choice, and converts the rider's pleasure into its delight, strains every nerve; its head is protruded and its legs outstretched; it struggles hard, but can make no way. Voice, whip, and spur by turns urge the animal onward, but it has been taken suddenly from its uses; the horse thinks not of that, it only seeks to gratify the being who for a time has become its ruler. To his amusement it devotes itself, and obedient to this idea, it runs, or endeavors to run, till its limbs are with difficulty lifted from the ground; it reels, it falls, and the would-be huntsman stands over a prostrate steed.
The horse has congestion of the lungs. Yes; but what caused it? Over-exertion, accompanied by a consequent absence of nervous energy. The sensibility of the larynx, feeling the exhaustion before the body appreciated it, inclined inward; they prevented the atmosphere from oxygenating the blood. Deficient oxygen causes the frame, spite of violent exertion, to feel clammy cold. The brain being supplied with impure blood, produces temporary insensibility. Vitality seems to be contesting with death.
Now, were a fleam, and some one who understood how to use it, at hand, venesection might do good; neither are to be found; the animal after some time rises, and with difficulty is led to shelter. Country opinions always incline to stimulants; gin and pepper is, in all rural districts, a potent horse physic. A dose is administered; the horse seems to amend; another and another jorum is poured down the animal's throat. After the third potion it is clear to all the horse is becoming worse. Bloody water is soon blown from the nostrils; partial sweats break forth; the eye assumes a gray appearance; all at once the departing life appears to rally; the animal seems to walk with a firmer step; but just as this fact has been observed, it falls, and almost without a struggle expires.
Such is a lamentable instance of the general ignorance which prevails concerning horses. Firmly as nature may have united man and horse, gentility would dissever them; it is not polite in society to speak of man's most patient companion and most faithful slave. Gentility condescends to use animals, but loves to prate only of frivolity. The education of the young, which should be directed by the conversation of the matured, is thus neglected; boys, London boys especially, regard the stable as a place to be avoided; they view horses, not as the gentlest of created beings, but as creatures it were a breach of good manners to speak of "before ladies." They learn to consider these animals and all that concerns them, as subjects to be forgotten the instant "society is entered." From the ignorance thus fostered, and from the fashion which prefers to talk about trifles to conversing of those matters which constitute the facts of reality and involve the instruction of the youthful, springs that mishap which has been described as congestion of the lungs.
A noble animal is thus, by prejudice, denied the benefit which would otherwise result from social opinion. Woman, whose gentleness fits her for the companionship of the timid horse, is, as by design, kept in perfect ignorance of her lawful possession. The creature is separated even from those benefits which would result from the expression of feminine sentiment. A being that seeks protection, that with a submission amounting to a perfect denial of self, entreats for shelter and begs to serve, is handed over to the harshest order of the human race. Much more than this, it is transferred to the custody of the ignorant, who view its nature as requiring to be subdued, and think they display spirit when they treat the most fearful of living creatures as though it were a carnivorous brute bent upon ravening and destroying.
When a horse sinks in the field, bleed if possible; should the necessary means not be at hand, a vein may be punctured with a knife, and every vein in the body is then turgid with congestion. There is no difficulty of seeing where to puncture, and a pint taken at this time does more good than a gallon abstracted one hour subsequently. Then cover the body; pull off your own coat if there be any want of clothing; you caused the mischief and should not heed personal nicety when reparation is possible. Lead quickly but gently to the nearest stable; there heap hot rugs upon the body; the desire is to relieve the lungs by determining the blood to the surface; bandage the legs and cover the neck; warm the stable either with fire or by means of tubs full of boiling water. This being done, if a chemist lives in the neighborhood, procure one ounce of ether and half an once of laudanum, which dose, in rather more than half a pint of water, should be given, without any noise or bustle, every half hour. Should no chemist be near, take two tablespoonfuls of turpentine, which beat up with the yolk of an egg, and give in half a pint of water. Place a pailful of cold gruel within easy reach of the horse, and see that there is an ample bed under it. These things being done, do not leave the place before the fate of the horse is determined, which it invariably is before thirty hours have expired; for the proprietor's presence is the only surety that orders are obeyed, where horses and the uninstructed are concerned.
CONGESTION IN THE STABLE.
This affection mostly attacks debilitated or fat horses. These creatures are driven far in a four-wheeled carriage, heavily laden. One animal, of small size, has to drag an entire family. Else, the quadruped has to journey fast to avoid a shower of rain. The horse is flogged onward. A horse, whose motions are quickened by the lash, is not likely to be very closely observed. It is much more probable the speed will be blamed as laziness, than the laboring life be pitied for exhaustion. Yet, when congestion follows, it is proof positive that the powers of nature were overtaxed.