THE GENTLEMAN'S NEW POCKET FARRIER, COMPRISING A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NOBLE AND USEFUL ANIMAL THE HORSE; TOGETHER WITH THE QUICKEST AND SIMPLEST MODE OF FATTENING; NECESSARY TREAT ALSO, A CONCISE ACCOUNT OF THE DISEASES TO WHICH THE HORSE IS SUBJECT, PROVED TO BE EFFECTUAL. BY RICHARD MASON, M. D. FORMERLY OF SURRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA. EIGHTH EDITION, WITH ADDITIONS. 130 TO WHICH IS ADDED, A PRIZE ESSAY ON MULES; AND AN APPENDIX, Containing Observations and Recipes for the cure of most of the ALSO, AN ADDENDA, CONTAINING ANNALS OF THE TURF, AMERICAN STUD BOOK, RULES FOR TRAINING, RACING, &c. PHILADELPHIA: GRIGG & ELLIOT, No. 9 NORTH FOURTH STREET. 1841. Entered according to the act of Congress, in the year 1840, by JOHN GRIGG, in the clerk's office of the district court of the United States, in and for the eastern district of Pennsylvania. T. K. & P. G. COLLINS, PRINTERS, PHILA. PREFACE. Few subjects can more justly claim the attention of the public, than that noble and useful animal, the horse; and there are few indeed of any moment, that have met with more neglect from society. Not more than one or two authors in the United States have turned their attention to this interesting subject. This neglect, in which every individual is so deeply interested, must have proceeded from the low standing in society. to which the horse has been sunk by men destitute of veracity, too often having the opportunity of dealing in those invaluable animals, committing frauds, making false statements of age, gaits, condition, &c. to the injury of those who are unfortunate enough to confide in their assertions, or to deal with them. In this little work, whose size is calculated for the pocket, I shall endeavour to guard the unsuspecting Cagainst the arts of the jockey, and to point out so plainly the difference between an elegant and a common horse a good and bad horse, a sound and an unsound horse, that any person may become a tolerable judge, by reading this little book with attention, however unfamiliar the subject may have been heretofore. It is my object to be useful rather than offend, or appear learned. I shall avoid all hard names, technical terms. &c.; and will offer to the public the information I possess, with candour and simplicity. In a work of this nature, the claim to entire originality must be relinquished; so far from attempting it, I confess I have, in a few instances, made quotations from other authors, when I have found from experience they contained matter, useful, clear, plain, and familiar for my purpose. I hope this acknowledgment will be received in place of marks of quotation. Amongst the great number of animals under the control of man, the excellent horse, unquestionably, is the most serviceable. How often do we see him the sole dependence of the poor farmer and his family, with whom he divides the morsel, shares in the toils, and by slowly turning up the soil, not only keeps them free from want, but fills the barn with plenty! Trace him from the lowest to the highest situation, you will find him faithful, affectionate, and no less useful. In every species of farming, the horse bears the principal burden, and is the means of increasing wealth and happiness. In the transportation of foreign growth and manufactures to the interior of our country, and the exportation of the produce of the United States, the faithful horse affords a speedy conveyance to and from the water's edge. For the quick communications by posts and stages, even with the most remote parts of the union, we are indebted to the horse. Even our happy republican government has been established, protected, defended, and administered, by the means and aid of these noble animals. Men of every profession, must all acknowledge the benefit derived from him; indeed he has been the very spring of punctuality and attention to business of almost every description. The horse, in his nature, is mild, patient, forgiving, and affectionate. After being hard used, half starved, and unmercifully beaten, who recol |