19th Century Horse Diseases.....

[Ken Knopp]

Folks,

Like the dutiful AC'er I used the search engine on this one but could not come up with much. Perhaps it was a great post "before" the infamous crash? Anyway, I am interested in learning more about 19th century horse diseases. In particular the following and their period symptoms, causes and remedies.

“scratches” or “grease-heel”, “sore-tongue”, hoof-rot, chapped hock, founder, “fistula”

I am familiar with some but not all of them and maybe some of the terminology is repetitive but my understanding is that these were not only very common period maladies in horses and mules (particularly in the war) but common knowledge amongst the populace.
Help me here. In the interest of education and period impressions can anyone contribute any information?

Ken R Knopp

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

[Andrew German]

Re: 19th Century Horse Diseases.....

Hello Ken,

As a member of the 1st Maine (and researcher on the 1st Pennsylvania) I look at this from the federal side, but there's no question that horse health was a major issue for Civil War armies as well as civilian horsekeepers. Glanders, greased heel, and other epidemics, as well as individual debilitation, became major impediments to cavalry mobility. In March 1863 federal regiments were authorized to name a veterinary surgeon to address the ailments of the unit's mounts, and the cavalry depots established later that year provided rehabilitation for broken-down horses not condemned to death for incurable diseases.

One period source that gives an overview of horse diseases and treatments is Henry William Herbert's Horses, Mules, and Ponies, and How to Keep Them (1859; reprinted in paperback by Lyons Press). J. Roemer's1863 book, Cavalry: Its History, Management, and Uses in War, also has a chapter on the frailties of horses. I believe there may be other, more specific period titles on treating horse ailments, but I don't have them in my library.

Hope this helps a little!
Andrew German

[Hank Trent]

Re: 19th Century Horse Diseases.....

Some full-view books online:

Youatt on the Structure and Diseases of the Horse

http://books.google.com/books?id=RFcCAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

It's nice to see that Google's people wear finger protection when handling old books, but keep scrolling down to the table of contents on page vii, or use the search function. :)

Mason's Farrier and Stud-book

http://books.google.com/books?id=MWkXAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA7

Herbert's "Horses Mules and Ponies...." is also online at Google books, but only in a partial view.

An older book, in which a British farrier shows us dumb Americans how to do it in the south and western states:

http://books.google.com/books?id=74-h8wjt9ZQC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

In fact, just searching for any disease by name or a search string like this:

http://books.google.com/books?output=html&q=intitle%3Ahorses+intitle%3Adiseases+date%3A0-1865&btnG=Search+Books

will bring up enough to keep you busy for a while. A lot of the titles are older and British, though.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com




Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com

[gschult3]

Re: 19th Century Horse Diseases.....

Ken,
<O:p</O:p
The following is taken from an original book in my library The Practical Farmer, Gardner, and Housewife, or, Dictionary of Agriculture, Horticulture, and Domestic Economy by Edward James Hooper, Cincinnati: Published by Geo. Conclin, 1840. It doesn’t get to all your questions but covers a few from a treatment perspective.
<O:p</O:p
Scratches or grease-heel: (page 140) “GREASE in horses is not contagious. Swelled legs will sometimes end in greasy heels. It is a local complaint, and does not require physicing, except in cases of great inflammation. The heels should be first well washed with soap and water, and the scurf or dandruff take out, and white ointment composed of one drachm of sugar of lead, rubbed down with an ounce of lard, will usually supple, and cool, and heal the feet. If cracks appear – if small, a solution of 2 drachms of blue vitriol, called by some blue stone, or four of alum in a pint of water, will often soon dry them up. But if the cracks are deep, and there is lameness, it will be necessary to poultice. A poultice if linseed meal will be the most effectual, unless the discharge is thin and offensive, when an ounce of finely powdered charcoal should be mixed with linseed meal, or a poultice of carrots boiled soft and mashed. After this, use an ointment of 1 part of rosin, and 3 of lard melted together. Green meat should be given at this time. After work in cold weather, washing the legs in cold water, and not rubbing them dry, is a great error. The safest plan is to rub the dirt off with a brush after it is dry. The hair should not be cut off the heels of farm horses. For road horses it is best to cut it off.”<O:p></O:p>

Sore-tongue: (page 496) “TONGUE, sore, cure for horses. Sugar of lead, four ounces, bole ammoniac, four ounces, burnt alum, eight ounces. Put the whole into three quarts of good vinegar, and wash or swab two or three times daily, keeping the bits out of the mouth; said quantity is sufficient for six horses.”<O:p</O:p

Hoof-rot: this item is not listed, only ‘bony hoof’ and ‘brittle hoof’ are.<O:p</O:p

Chapped hock: not listed as such but is listed (page 165) as “CAPPED HOCK is an enlargement of the joint of the elbow.”<O:p</O:p

Founder, definition #1: (page 111) “FOUNDER, or inflammation of the foot, called acute founder in the horse. Bleed to the fullest extent.”<O:p</O:p
Founder, definition #2: (page 111) “FOUNDER chest in the horse. Symptoms, stiffness of the body, shoulders and fore legs, and sometimes with cough. Bleed and purge.”<O:p</O:p

Fistula: (page 104) “FISTULOUS WITHERS, or saddle galls. Use cooling applications, such as vinegar and water; but if there is matter, apply warm fomentations as in poll evil, to encourage a free discharge. Then a seton, daily wetted with a blister of Spanish Flies in powder 1 ounce, oil of origanum 2 drachms, oil of turpentine 4 ounces, olive oil 2 ounces. Steep the flies in the turpentine 3 weeks – strain off and add the oil.”<O:p</O:p

G<O:p</O:p

[Ken Knopp]

Re: 19th Century Horse Diseases.....

Thank you Greg, Hank and Andrew. Good stuff and good information to know.

I was just reading today about an epidemic of sore tongue and I believe also scratches that afflicted Stuart's horses in the winter of 1862-63 leaving several dead and many unfit for use. No doubt the result of poor stable conditions in the winter quarters. It left me curious as to the remedies Stuart ordered to counter the problem. From Andrews comments I might infer that the Yank cavalry was likely dealing with the same type issues. As noted, they set up regimental veterinarians and later, the cavalry depots.
Interestingly, at about the same time (fall 1863) the Confederates apparently authorized four Field Transportation districts under the Inspector General’s Office. The distinctive feature of this appears to have been the establishment of horse infirmaries or convalescent camps under special officers whereby sick, lame and exhausted horses were sent for recruitment. Others appear to have been set up elsewhere sometimes by independent command. I read about them quite often but except for the one in Lynchburg not much is known about the organizational details or their results.

Ken R Knopp

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

[Andrew German]

Re: 19th Century Horse Diseases.....

Hello again, Ken.

Here's a quote from my manuscript history of the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry regarding horse diseases. William P. Lloyd made the entry in his diary on November 17, 1862, at the same time that Stuart's command was suffering similar symptoms.

"We have a disease among our horses which is rendering many of them unserviceable," wrote William Lloyd. "It either effects them in the mouth, inflaming the lips & tongue and preventing them from eating, or breaks out first above the hoof, producing deep ulceration and in a short time rendering the horse useless. I have seen horses so bad that every step they would make the hoof works up and down and appears about to drop off, the blood and matter spurting out all round the foot. They take it very suddenly too, Last night my horse appeared perfectly well, and this morning the first step he took, I discovered him very lame and one of his hind feet discharging."

Lloyd's diary is part of the Southern Historical Collection at the University of North Carolina Library.

Being so fond of horses, it makes me wince to read it.
Andrew German

[Mark Choate]

Re: 19th Century Horse Diseases.....

Fellas,

This is some excellent information that y'all are laying out and I really appreciate it.

Andrew,
In the manuscript quote that you provide for the 1st Penn. Cav does Lloyd go on to say whether or not this disease was ultimately fatal or not?? Also, what name does he assign to it?

How our ancestors dealt with diseases (both human and equine) has always been a fascinating subject to me.

Please, provide more info if you have it.

thanks,
Mark

[Ken Knopp]

Re: 19th Century Horse Diseases.....

While thumbing around some research material on Custer I came across this well known photo of Custer's Indian War era horses which struck me for its obvious illustration of the hard life of a cavalry horse. Now, if this photo has been discussed before please forgive me (or perhaps indulge my altizmer's a moment?). And yes, I know it is a post war photo but I could not help but note the numerous white hair markings on Vic and Dandy's back indicating healed saddle sores. Moreover, note that the horse on the left is pointing his foot suggesting navicular or some other similar malady no doubt due to hard riding.
There was a thread on the hard use of cavalry horses some time ago but I could not find it on the search engine (yes, I dutifully tried) so I added it here. Anyway, its things like this that remind me of the differences between the horse seen as a tool (transportation to the fight) back in those days and how we today view our horses.
In short.....do ya think they were hard on their horses?


Ken R Knopp

[Mark Choate]

Re: 19th Century Horse Diseases.....

Good point and great info, Ken,

Yeah, we focus on the hardships that the men endured, which were incredible, no doubt, but those horses had about as rough of an existence as any possibly could. Also, as to the white spots on the backs and at the risk of triggering another onslaught of Jenifer discussion, Custer favored a Jennie saddle. I don't know however if he was still using it after the war, but we know of the notorious "bad fitting" and sore-backing that the Jenifer was guilty of. Especially the Patent model.

thanks,
Mark

[Ronnie Tucker]

Re: 19th Century Horse Diseases.....

The trooper in the WBTS used his horse as a tool to accomplish whatever the task was at the time. There were times that the fate of an army might depend on extra hard riding to get there. This might notbe so bad except that there could be a needed pursuit after the battle and the cavalry might not have been in a shape to press the retreat effectively.

The cavalry had to jusge how to save their horses as best they could. Hopefully you always have something left in your horse to use but after a while your mount's reserve gets used up. Some horses at this point will quit you, others will continue to try and will go the point of exhaustion. This could mean death or a long needed time for recuperation. This time might not be available, therefore the horse with the will to please will finally go down.

In our hobby today there are way too may who don't know how much nerve the horse they ride has. They may not ride at all between events. When they do ride, it is never for any extended period. My wife and I ride a lot and go away from home to ride, where, it is possible to ride a long way and be in the saddle a long time. Six hours is a pretty normal time for us to be out. Eight is not unusual. Twenty five or thirty miles is easily done. You have to use your horse to know what he can stand. If your horse is tired, he won't waste energy doing wrong. The more time you spend in the saddle, the more efficient you and your horse become.

Back to Ken's question, were they hard on their horses? They did what had to be done. Sometimes that meant yes, hard could mean fatal.

Ronnie Tucker
7th TN