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Transcriber's Note:
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retained. Apparent typographical errors have been corrected.
Italics are indicated by _underscores_. Small capitals have been
replaced by full capitals.
THE
SPORTING DICTIONARY,
AND
RURAL REPOSITORY
OF
GENERAL INFORMATION
UPON EVERY SUBJECT APPERTAINING
TO
THE SPORTS OF THE FIELD.
INSCRIBED TO
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THE EARL OF SANDWICH,
_Master of His Majesty's Stag Hounds_.
BY
WILLIAM TAPLIN,
AUTHOR OF THE GENTLEMAN'S STABLE DIRECTORY.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON.
Printed by Thomas Maiden, Sherbourn-Lane,
FOR VERNOR AND HOOD, LONGMAN AND REES,
J. SCATCHERD, J. WALKER, AND J. HARRIS.
1803.
THE
SPORTING DICTIONARY.
I & J.
JARDON—is a term but little used in the present improved state of
FARRIERY, and but little known, except to the few remaining
practitioners of the old school, who are gradually becoming almost as
obsolete as the word itself. A jardon was the name given to any callous
enlargement on the outside of either hock, proceeding from blows, or by
kicks from other horses; although they more frequently arise from sudden
turns or twists in too short a compass, or being too violently thrown
upon their haunches in the manege, or elsewhere. In slight affections,
they are not always productive of pain or lameness; and if properly
attended to upon their first appearance, are sometimes reduced and
obliterated without any future ill effect. Powerful repellents, and
strengthening embrocations, are the most efficacious applications.
BLISTERING first, and FIRING afterwards, have been the usual practice.
It is, however, certain they are, in general, too hastily adopted. Daily
fomentations of hot vinegar, followed by a strong embrocation of extract
of Saturn, and camphorated spirits, might probably prevent the necessity
for either.
JAUNDICE.—The jaundice is a disorder to which quadrupeds are subject as
well as the human species; and notwithstanding the difference in the
formation of each, it originates in a similar cause with one as with the
other. When HORSES are attacked with it, they are said to have the
YELLOWS; which name it also goes by with farmers and country
practitioners, when it is observed to make its appearance among what
they term "the cow cattle." It proceeds from a partial and imperfect
secretion, or temporary obstruction of the gall through the biliary
duct, which being compulsively regurgitated, diffuses a tinge of its
property through every part of the system, constituting the
distinguishing appearance from which the disorder derives its name. When
proceeding from this cause, and a proper mode of treatment is adopted in
the earliest instance, but little trouble is known to follow, and a
certain cure is soon obtained; but should tubercles in, or a schirrosity
of, the liver, or an induration of its collateral glandular parts, have
proved the cause, more patience, time, and medical perseverance, will be
required, before a perfect cure can be expected or obtained.
The leading symptoms of this disorder in a HORSE are, a dulness of the
head and debility of the body, heaviness about the eyes, head hanging
drowsily in the manger, loss of appetite, pulse both languid and low, a
laborious respiration, and daily reduction of flesh. Soon after these
symptoms successively come on, they are followed by a yellowness of the
inside of the eye-lids, the lips, the tongue, and the bars of the mouth;
even the urine is of a saffron colour. In this state, from an evident
deficiency in the corresponding secretions, and a proportional inaction
of the dependent emunctories, nature becomes universally overcharged,
and labours under the sluggish debility already described. BRACKEN, who
understood this disorder perfectly, and described it most accurately,
plainly perceived, the certainty of cure depended entirely upon removing
such obstructions as soon as possible after their first appearance,
before the disorder had made any progress towards inveteracy or long
standing: to effect which, he judiciously recommends purgatives, with a
large proportion of ENGLISH SAFFRON and TURKEY RHUBARB. 'Tis true, the
great efficacy of the different preparations of MERCURY, as
DEOBSTRUENTS, was not so well known in his time, as at the present
moment, or the MERCURIUS DULCIS would have been introduced as a powerful
assistant upon the occasion. Proceeding in a scientific disquisition of
the disorder, he recommends hepatic deobstruents, with soap, salt of
tartar, turmeric, soap of tartar, and filings of iron, fully convinced,
as he says, of their efficacy, after the most satisfactory and repeated
trials.
Upon the subject he observes, "The soap of tartar, &c. operates
powerfully upon the obstructions in the liver, which are the cause of
the jaundice, and help to carry off the offending matter by urine. And
as the term DIURETIC is oftener used than understood, I shall give the
reader a short account of the operation of diuretics. Under the term
diuretic may be comprehended all those medicines whose most remarkable
properties appear in their increasing the discharge by urine, or which
are supposed to have any power in removing obstructions of the urinary
glands, or passages, from what cause soever, whether _humours_,
_gravel_, or other offending matter. And in this view, diuretics come
under these following kinds; to wit, they are either such as soften and
lubricate the fibres composing the urinary glands and canals, by which
they yield and relax into their due dimensions and capacities, of which
kinds are all emollients already explained; or they are such as, by
their attenuating and detersive properties, rarify and thin viscous or
slimy humours, and adhere or carry them along the passages: or, again,
they must be such as have a power of so altering the crafts or mixture
of the humours, as to fit those to pass which could not get through
before; and of this kind is the _soap of tartar_, as well as all the
tribe of _lixivials_ and _fixed salts_."
Gentle DEOBSTRUENTS, which additionally excite the secretion, and
promote the discharge of urine, are known to act upon the _motion_ as
well as the _property_ of the BLOOD, by stimulating the solids, and
quickening their vibrations, thereby increasing the blood's velocity,
and promoting its attenuation. Hence it is, those diuretics recommended
by BRACKEN are peculiarly adapted to this, and such other disorders as
originate in sluggish viscid habits, where the blood becomes too
adhesive for regular circulation. He is of opinion, "That the JAUNDICE
in HORSES mostly proceeds from a diminution or decay of the animal salts
contained in the blood, and therefore the addition of such kind of salts
must restore the creature to soundness of body." He also says, "he is
fully persuaded that _Castile soap_, dissolved in white wine, or even in
beer, will cure the disorder in its earliest stage; and that those who
may be inclined to try it upon a HORSE in the _yellows_, may mix an
ounce in two quarts of beer, and give it at four times, a pint a day,
either _warm_ or _cold_, letting the horse have exercise; for the
jaundice occasions a sluggish laziness in either man or beast, therefore
exercise is proper to hinder the fluids from forming preternatural
cohesions, which lay the foundation of the distemper."
However right he may have been in his opinion and practice, in the less
enlightened time in which he wrote, (two thirds of a century since,) it
may be reasonably presumed, that the many great and astonishing
improvements in chemistry, and discoveries in medicine, have thrown some
new lights upon the cure of this, as well as of many other disorders,
the causes of which are not obscured by the least mist of ambiguity. It
is not only clearly ascertained, but generally known, that the jaundice
in horses (if attended to upon the first appearance of bilious
regurgitation, before the obstructions are become rigidly permanent,
constituting an induration of the liver or glands) submits to a course
of mild mercurial purging balls properly administered; followed by a few
alteratives, composed of ÆTHIOPS MINERAL, incorporated with the PECTORAL
CORDIAL BALL. See List of MEDICINES at the End of the Work.
JAWS KNOTTED.—Tumefactions under the jaws of horses, for want of a more
technical or scientific definition, gave rise to the sublime term of
_knotted jaws_; which, however, tends to no distinction, or to any
particular description; although tumors may be frequently found there of
different kinds, produced by, or arising from, many different causes.
Temporary tumefactions of the glands may originate in COLD, and
sometimes as suddenly disappear upon a perfect recovery from the cause.
Inflammatory tumors form these, as upon the _attack_ of the STRANGLES,
or from a foulness and viscidity of the blood; in either of which,
relief can only be obtained by speedily promoting suppuration. Glandular
tumors sometimes form these, become indurated and stationary, never
producing pain or inconvenience during the life of the horse. Others, of
a much more critical and dangerous description, make their appearance
there also, and are the certain prognostic of FARCY GLANDERS. Some
professional knowledge, and judicious discrimination, is absolutely
necessary, to distinguish between one and the other in the first
instance, the better to regulate (if necessary) the mode of treatment in
the next. In all simple tumors arising from cold, local circumstances,
or temporary inconvenience, hot fomentation daily, with a sponge or
flannel dipt in a decoction of aromatic garden herbs, and afterwards
kept in a state of equal temperature with a double flannel and hood,
will be found to expedite obliteration, by promoting an early and
plentiful discharge from the nostrils. All swellings under the jaws
which are painful upon pressure, indicate a tendency to suppuration,
which cannot be too soon promoted by such stimulative poultices as may
be thought most applicable to the purpose.
IMPOSTHUME.—An imposthume is that kind of inflammatory enlargement, or
swelling, which terminates in a formation of matter, produced by an
effort of Nature to relieve herself from some offending morbidity under
which she labours. Its progress will be found under the head ABSCESS,
with which it is synonymous, and where the danger of attempting
repulsion is fully explained.
IMPERFECTIONS.—The term, so far as it is applied to horses, implies
little more than what is to be seen under the different heads of
BLEMISHES and DEFECTS. A horse may be very found, handsome, and
valuable, yet he may have _imperfections_ not arising from, or
originating in, _blemishes_; as well as not amounting to what is meant
to be conveyed by the idea of _defects_. Imperfections may be considered
as slight drawbacks upon excellence, which, although they do not very
considerably reduce the intrinsic value of the horse, yet he would be
much better without them; as warmth or violence of temper, when put into
action with any other horse in company; shying or starting, either in
meeting or passing a carriage; uneasy and restless in mounting or
dismounting; aukwardness in the gait of any particular leg, although it
may not impede the velocity of action.
INJECTIONS.—Many medical solutions and lotions are so called; though the
word more properly applies only to such compositions as are prepared
solely for the purpose of being conveyed by means of an instrument,
called a long-necked syringe, (formed of either ivory or pewter,) into
such remote cavities, or sinuses, as may be formed by accident,
imposthume, or disease, in any part of the body.
INTERFERE.—A horse was formerly said to interfere, when one
fetlock-joint received an injury in action, by a _cut_ or _blow_ from
the foot of the other leg. The term, however, is completely out of use;
and a horse subject to this defect is now said to cut. See CUTTING.
JOCKEY.—This term, in its particular and most confined signification,
implies the person who actually rides a horse for PLATE, MATCH,
SUBSCRIPTION, SWEEPSTAKES, or any other PRIZE; but custom and provincial
forms have been productive of local deviations. To say in one district,
that any man is "_a good jockey_," means no more, than that he is a good
HORSEMAN. In another, to say he is "quite A JOCKEY," is to communicate
an idea, that he is very little, _if any_, better than a swindler, and
exceedingly well qualified to _jockey_ any person with whom he has a
trading transaction. HORSE-DEALERS, till within the last half century,
passed under the regular denomination of _jockies_ in every market town
and country fair in the kingdom; from which indefinite description they
are now relieved by the kind intention of his Majesty's Ministers, who
have since STAMPED them with a _badge_ of professional dignity, and
enjoined an annual pecuniary contribution for the distinction.
JOCKEY, in the present universal acceptation of the word with the
superior classes of society, as well as the sporting world at large, is
applied merely to the RIDERS of RUNNING HORSES; upon the prevailing
superiority of whose speed, and the _untainted_ integrity of the JOCKIES
who are _entrusted_ to _regulate_ that SPEED, immense sums annually
depend. Where so much unlimited confidence is reposed, it is almost
natural to conclude, an adequate integrity would be insured. TIME, that
unerring monitor, and invariable criterion of truth, has long since
demonstrated the fallacy of such philosophic and philanthropic
expectation: the depravity of human nature has so repeatedly rendered
the experiment abortive, that numbers, upon the stroke of _whose whip_,
or the regulation of _whose rein_, thousands upon thousands were
frequently depending, have finished the career of life, without a
_garment_, without a _shilling_, without the common necessaries of life,
and without one friendly finger of commiseration to close the eye of
contrite misery, at the tremendous moment of passing that "bourne from
whence no traveller returns;" while many other professors of the _same
art_ die possessed of an immensity of property. Whether one has been
more fortunate than another in always being on the _right_ side, or more
fortunate in escaping _detection_, it is not the privilege or intent of
these pages to explore; suffice it, therefore, to observe, that the
HONOR, PROBITY, and personal INTEGRITY of a JOCKEY, should, like the
VIRTUE of a WOMAN, be not only pure, but unsuspected. Although it is
well known large fortunes have been acquired by some individuals
_intimately_ and _secretly_ connected with the turf and its
dependencies, yet it is not likely that JOCKIES, and their numerous
_emissaries_, should accumulate wealth, unless a very considerable
proportion of _certainty_ was invariably annexed to the speculation. See
HORSE RACING, TURF, and TRAINING.
JOCKEY CLUB—is a sporting establishment of the higher order, originally
instituted, and still held, at NEWMARKET, composed of noblemen,
gentlemen, and the most distinguished sporting characters in the
kingdom, who are elected by ballot, for the better exclusion of such as
may be thought improper persons to be admitted members of so honorable
and eminent a society. The Jockey Club, in their collective capacity,
are considered the only supreme court to which any SPORTING APPEAL can
be made; and their award or decision is abided by as _final_, whenever
solicited. All transactions within the official departments of the
STEWARDS, the Keeper of the Match Book, the Judge, and every
subordinate, is regulated by a system of invariable punctuality, equal
to the first offices in the State; in confirmation of which, the
following are introduced as well worthy of being known and admired (for
the equity of their adoption) in every part of the world.