,—in horses, are the cracks which appear in the HEELS during the severity of the winter season, and are much more the consequence of neglect, or a want of knowledge in the stable discipline, than the effect produced by changes in the weather; which may in general be counteracted by the means in constant practice with those who proceed systematically, and take the same care of their horses, as prudence prompts them to take of themselves. They proceed mostly from being left with wet legs, which, in very COLD or FROSTY weather, occasions such a tightness and rigidity of the skin, that, when brought into sudden and brisk action, it bursts asunder, (in a greater or less degree,) according to the texture of the skin, or the constitutional irritability of the horse. These soon become exceedingly painful; and if the weather should repeatedly vary from short frosts to alternate thaws, and the horse continue in use, the constant insinuation of the sharp particles of small gravel and sand of the dirty roads, is productive of such excruciating sensations, that the subject refuses food, and does not lay down for many days and nights in succession: when even gently compelled to move, he lifts up the limb in so much misery, that it is with the greatest reluctance he brings it again to the ground; on the contrary, keeps it so long suspended, that it is expected he must inevitably fall over in his stall. If worked in this state, he comes out of the stable as if completely crippled; and every day's delay in the attempt at relief, must be a culpable protraction of cure: palliatives (with work) will prove deceptive; rest should be adopted, and cure obtained. This can only be effected by poultices made of LINSEED POWDER, milk, and a little olive oil, applied immediately after comfortable softenings with warm gruel, and a small sponge: an ALTERATIVE POWDER in a mash nightly, and the use of camphorated SPERMA-CÆTI LINIMENT, night and morning, when the poultices are left off, will be found greatly to assist the general intent.
KIDNEYS
.—The horse is always liable to local injuries, as well as permanent disorders, of these parts. Inflammation and ulceration are also produced by different means: some proceed from external causes, as BRUISES and BLOWS; being too heavily laden with burdens, or drawing too heavy weights; both which should be equally attended to, and guarded against. The distinguishing symptoms of diseased KIDNIES, are a palpable weakness of the hind part of the back and loins, a painful sinking of those parts upon pressure, a difficulty of staling, which is generally voided partially in small quantities, and frequently with short groans of internal disquietude: in slight affections, the urine is white, but turbid; in severe cases, very high coloured, as if tinged with blood: there is mostly a heaviness of the eyes, debility of body, a loathing of food, and a tendency to symptomatic fever. From whatever cause an injury may arise, or from whatever state of the body a disease of the parts may proceed, BLEEDING largely is the first step to speedy relief, and the prevention of danger. The quality and quantity of MEDICINE must be regulated by the shades, as well as the duration, of the disorder, according to consequences likely to ensue. Warm glysters of gruel and olive oil occasionally; mashes, made of ground malt and bran, for food; and thin gruel for drink, in which GUM ARABIC should be dissolved, to lubricate the passages, and sheath any asperity with which the parts may be affected. Should the weakness of the loins increase, the difficulty of staling continue, the urine become more thick and fœtid, the strength more reduced, and the frame emaciated, one or both the kidneys may be considered in a state of ulceration, and cure cannot be expected.
KILLING GAME
.—The privilege of KILLING GAME (in any way whatever) is now dependent upon a two-fold qualification; in want of BOTH which, the transgressor renders himself liable to a DOUBLE, and in want of either, to a single penalty; which, divested of technical ambiguity, and the complicated abstrusity of the GAME LAWS in their present extended state, is reduced to the following state of simplification, adapted to every comprehension.
In different Acts of Parliament during the reigns of James the First, Charles the Second, and Queen Anne, the landed possessions necessary to constitute a qualification to kill game, (exempt from pains and penalties,) have varied materially, in proportion to the gradual alteration in the value of money, which has continued to diminish in a corresponding degree. The landed qualification established by the 23d Charles the Second, c. xxv. and still adhered to, is the possession of LANDS, TENEMENTS, or other estates of inheritance, of the CLEAR yearly value of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS. Or, for term of life, A LEASE or LEASES for ninety-nine years, or any longer term, of the CLEAR yearly value of ONE HUNDRED and FIFTY POUNDS. Persons not so qualified, either killing, or going in pursuit of game with an intent to kill, and being convicted upon the OATH of one witness, before a Justice of the Peace, forfeits FIVE POUNDS for each offence; half to the informer, and half to the poor of the parish where the offence is committed.
Thus far a line is drawn between the QUALIFIED and the unqualified, in respect to LANDED privilege, upon former Acts of Parliament; clearly defining who possessed a LEGAL RIGHT to pursue and KILL GAME under such sanction, and who were the persons prohibited from so doing, and liable to the penalty before described. In addition to which distinction, it has been enacted by successive Acts in the present reign of George the Third, That every person who shall use any DOG, GUN, NET, or other engine, for the taking or killing of game, (except a game-keeper acting under a deputation duly registered,) shall every year, previous to his using the same, deliver his name and place of abode to the Clerk of the Peace of the county where he shall reside, and take out an annual CERTIFICATE, or licence, bearing a stamp, for which three guineas are to be paid. This licence, when obtained, does not authorize unqualified persons to kill game, but leaves them still liable to the PENALTY of FIVE POUNDS for each offence, as already described. The penalty for killing game without having procured the ANNUAL CERTIFICATE, is TWENTY POUNDS to either the qualified or unqualified; so that the unqualified, prosecuted to conviction, is in a predicament of only five pounds worse than the QUALIFIED, the penalty being twenty pounds with one, and five-and-twenty with the other. Any person in pursuit of game, having his name and place of abode demanded by another, who is possessed of a certificate, and refusing to tell the same, is liable to a penalty of FIFTY POUNDS. See Game-keepers, and Game Laws.
KINDLE
.—A doe rabbit is said to KINDLE when she brings forth her young.