ONION
—is an article which would not have found its way here, but in consequence of its great utility upon a certain emergency, which entitles its property to be more universally known. No trifling occurrence can possibly occasion more temporary mortification to a SPORTSMAN, than to see his horse labouring under the STRANGURY (or suppression of urine) after the long stage of a journey, or the severity of a chase. In such cases, the first FARRIER is generally called in, who proceeding upon the "KILL or CURE" system of former times, prepares a potion of the most powerful urinary stimulants, plentifully besprinkled with SPIRITS of TURPENTINE, oil of juniper, and other equally mild and efficacious ingredients, frequently laying the foundation of inflammation; when an onion being peeled, and a small clove or two of the inside properly insinuated within the SHEATH, may nineteen times out of twenty be expected to produce the desired effect, without the interposition of any medicine whatever.
OPENING the HEELS
.—The ceremony of opening a horse's heels is sometimes necessary, when they are become contracted by so constantly standing upon the dry litter, and hot dung of stables, in the Metropolis; a circumstance which occurs much less in the country, where the defect is but little known. Although there can be no doubt of a hoof's contracting in a great degree by the means already mentioned, it must be more so, where the hoofs are not OILED or STOPPED for weeks, or, probably, months together. It is, however, a matter of doubt, whether the back-handed stroke of the smith's rasp in SHOEING, is not a more constant or frequent cause of the narrowness of the heels than any other. Let it arise from whatever cause, the remedy with them is always ready; "OPEN THE HEELS;" or, in other words, cut away; first with the BUTTRESS, and then with the drawing-knife, till little or nothing is left to cut: when the basis of bearing is taken away, the heel is let down to the ground, the TENDONS are put upon the STRETCH, the horse, being divested of his natural support, hobbles like a cripple, and there is no remedy, but to wait with patience for a perfect regeneration of parts so wantonly destroyed.
OPODELDOC
—is an article of external use in STRAINS, BRUISES, and other complaints, as well with the human species as with the brute creation. It is prepared by dissolving three ounces of Spanish soap, and one ounce of CAMPHIRE, in a pint of SPIRIT of ROSEMARY. Others dissolve the soap and camphire in rectified spirits of wine, adding OIL of ORIGANUM, and other essential oils. Its excellent properties are universally admitted in its various applications to the human frame; but doubts naturally arise how far it may contribute any great portion of EFFICACY to HORSES, or to any other animal, where the soap again coagulates, and constitutes so matted a mass upon the surface, that it is only with persevering difficulty the hair can be disunited even at the second application.
ORIGANUM, OIL of
,—is a well-known essential oil, extracted from the plant whose name it bears: it is an admirable collateral corroborant, when incorporated with judicious proportions of such other medicines as are proper for STRAINS, or a relaxed state of the TENDONS. If used in too great quantities, or added to heterogeneous articles, it disunites itself almost immediately; and, instead of executing the office of a gentle STIMULANT, penetrating the pores, assumes the power of the milder class of CAUSTICS, occasioning an eschar upon the part impregnated, terminating with a loss of hair.
OROONOKO
—was one of the most celebrated horses of his time: he was bred by the late Lord Portmore; was got by Crab out of Miss Slamerkin; foaled in 1743; and was own brother to Othello, the famous Black and all Black.