New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-09
HINTS FOR HORSEKEEPERs. .....L.


It is not too much to say that more than ouehalf the
ailments of horscs arise in the first instance, from bad
management, Or to speak more correctly from absence
of all management from an improper system OF
feedipeE from RECONSTRUCTED, unventilated, filthy stab
lng from njudcious driving aud neglect Of cleaning.
When disease has arisen, it is Immediately aggravated
and, perhaps rendered ultimately fatal either by wait
of medical aid or what is far frequent as well as
far more preudicial, ignorant improper, and ofen
violent treatment either on wrong diagnosis of the
affection, or on still wrong system of relieving
il. Overwhelming and vulgarly quacking slightly
aing horses is the bane Of half the private stables in
cities and of nearly all the gm stables in the country;
and one or the Other both combined, the
of half the horses which go to the bat every year.
There is no quaek earth equal 10 an ignorant,
oyiDiopated groom; and every nowadays holds
himself groom who is trusted with the of a
horse, even if he do not know how to clean him prop.
ery, or TO feed him not To interfere with his
working hours Every OF these wretched Eel
lows, who has no more idea Of horses structure VI
of his constitution than be has Of the model Of ship
or the economy Of empire, is sure to have thou
sand inaMbc remedies for every possible disease the
names of which lie does not know, nor their causes,
origin or operation; and which, if he did know
their names he is entirely incapable Of distinguishing
one from the other These remedies he applies at hap
hazard, wholly in the dark as to their effect on the
system in general or the particular disease, aud Of
course nine times out Of ten, he applies them wrong.
fully and oggravates fifty fold the injury he Affects to
be able to relieve.
These are the fellows who are constantly admins-
teriDg purgative balls, diuretc bal cordial balls, On
their own hook, without advice, orders, or possible
reason--and such balls, too some OF them scarcely
less fatal than cannon ball-who are continually
drugging their horses with nitre m their food, under
an idea that it is cooling TO the system, and that il
makes the coat sleek and silky; never suspecng that
it is violent duretic; that its operation on the nd
neys irritating and eIhausting In the extreme ana
that the only way in which It cooh the animal is sys-
tenn is that il reduces his strength and acts as serious
drain on his constitution. These lastly, are the Eel
lows who are constantly applying hot Gals, merry I'M
tants and timuants to wounds, strains bruises, or
Commissions, which in themselves produce violent IN
termination, and to which, requiring as they 10 the
exhibition of mild and soothing remedies, coid Io'Vs
or warm lamentations, the application OF these sunni
latin volatile essences s much what II "ouId De I'd
administer brandy and cayenne TO man win Dram
fever. The pcrtinacity of these fellows ncrednei
u cir seltcopceit is only eqnaled by Their ignorance
and their presumption Is equaIed oy no'hing' lheT
contempt for their masters, whether those masters
resI,v know something about horse, or nothing Is
ipvnriabe. and always the same. But II Is worthy Of
remark. and especially worthy Of being remarked by
masters, who, because they are conscious of their
own want Of kill FOO often abandon themselves and
their unhappy horses to the tender mercies Of these
mperinent chariatans, that however unused 10 horses
the master may be- be Is yet undoubtedly far ftcr 70
Judge when medicine is 10 be administered, and wien
Dot than the Irish or negro help possibly be- Who
probably, cannot read a tne or dcduce the simplest
effect from cause; beeGuse be has some power Of
ratiocnation, which tie other has lot.
1t should therefore, be positive rule in. every 81
bic, whether for Pleasure farm purposes tia; lot
draehm Of medicine il ever to be administered without
the express orders Of the master, and the very nr
dsobedenee OF this rule should be fcowed By tho in
tsnt discharge Of the offender g. he d.'oocy
once, Of SET puTyc,e he does go wi aliy because Ms