Veterinary aide memoire and receipt book. W. H. Ryves, Lt.-Colonel, Comdg. 8th Bengal Cavalry (later, Brigadier-General)
The following memoranda & receipts were originally compiled by Col Ryves for the aid of his officers of the 8th Bengal cavalry in 1864.
William Ryves was an astute observer in all things relating to horses, especially conditioning and the well-being of the cavalry brigade horses.
Not only did they have unusually high climatic temperatures, wet seasons and lack of good supplies, the animal feed, often in plentiful supply, was not always of the best grade. It was vitally important to keep the horses in good condition, staving off any illness they may otherwise contract. The variation of heat and wet was a constant worry to the owners of these magnificent animals, not only with nineteenth century cavalry, but also with the marauding and fighting armies of the eleventh century crusaders, the marauding vikings and the invading romans.
In nineteenth century India, Ryve's cavalry horses, used energetically for sport besides their brigade duties, would have been kept in tip top condition, any prevention and illness being treated with the known cures of the day, besides those indigenous cures known and used within the country they found themselves serving in.
A medicine chest was produced to accompany the fifth addition of Ryves work in 1876 and was known as the "Ryve" Veterinary Medicine Chest.
This chest has been designed and constructed to accompany the present edition (fifth) of General Ryves' valuable work, and will be found of the utmost value to those who own or have the care of valuable horses, and are away from stations where the advice of a Veterinary Surgeon can be obtained. The chest is made of stout Teak, and is fitted with handles, lock and key. It contains, in flint glass stoppered bottles, all the Medicines recommended in this book, with the exception of a few unimportant articles which can at all times be procured in any Bazar in India.
It is provided also with a set of scales and weights, mortar and pestle, ointment slab
and spatulas, bandages &c.
With the aid of this chest any of the liniments, balls, powders, ointments, &c., recommended in
this book, can be prepared by the most inexperienced person.
Surgical instruments are not included, but can be added if desired.
Price when cash accompanies with the order Rs 100. Credit, Rs. 125.
“The officers of the 8th Bengal cavalry. Dear gentlemen, I have been induced to throw together the following Recipes and memoranda collected at various times and from numerous sources in the hope that they may prove acceptable to you, and of some use to the officers of our branch of the service generally,- knowing as I do, how totally unable we are when marching, and at many stations, to obtain professional advice for a sick horse, however urgent the case; and, that under the best of circumstances, it can only be occasionally available;-the aid of Veterinary Surgeons, as a duty, being confined to government horses alone.
It is difficult for non-professional men, (when forced by circumstances to treat horses suffering from disease, and depend entirely on their own resources,) to carry prescriptions in their minds, and to remember, at the moment of need, the uses which medicines may be beneficially applied, and the proportions and combinations in which they may be given...For more minute details, and when time and opportunity admit, I must refer you to "Stonehenge," youatt, Spooner's edition of White, or Percival. Some deseases are, beyond doubt, too obscure to be within the treatment of any but veterinary surgeons, but with the aid of the works at our disposal, and with care and attention, we may hope to be able to afford tolerably efficient assistance in the ordinary and more frequent diseases of the horse; and if we can attain but this much, we shall have made ourselves the more generally efficient as Cavalry Officers, and shall frequently, I am assured, have occasion to feel and to acknowledge the benefit of it. Officers have ample opportunities while with native Cavalry Regiments for bringing into use any theoretical knowledge they may take the trouble to obtain, and for gathering practical experience; and it will be found that the surest means of keeping off serious illness is, by care and watchfulness, to detect the first symptons of derangement, when a single and mild dose of physic given in time, and indeed sometimes the use of the muzzle alone, will completely check an impending attack.
I have so often derived the greatest benefit from a mild purgative dose given to a horse on the first appearance of foulness or loss of apetite, especially at the change of season,-in the spring and autumn,-when moulting, that I confidently recommend the practice, as a safe one. Prevention is better than cure, and the effects of a moderate dose of aloes given to a horse that has been prepared with a few bran mashes, and which is properly treated while under its influence, need rarely be feared.
In many cases, when illness has shown itself, active purgatives must be carefully avoided, and would prove injurious.
It may occasionally be advisable to give a dose of physic to a horse, if in very high condition, previous to castration. But I seldom do so, and have found a preparation of three or four days on mash diet, with the muzzle for a few hours before the operation, sufficient. The best months for castrating in, are February, March, and April; the next best, October and November; but I have operated with impunity, and with almost equal success, at all seasons of the year. I would not, from choice, operate in very hot weather or during the rainy season, but would not hesitate to do so in the case of a horse that becomes dangerous. Horses castrated in the autumn, carry rougher coats than those operated on in the spring.
Abstain from the use of the Fleam and Lancet as much as possible; they are very rarely required, though, when needed, they should be used freely, and untill a decided effect is produced on the pulse. Bleeding from the jugular vein, by which the whole system is effected, is not advisable, except in accute inflammatory diseases. In these, every means must be taken to reduce the urgency of the symptoms as speedily as possible; but do what one may, such diseases are attended with danger and uncertainty, especially in the hands of any but professional men.
Local bleeding, by leeches or otherwise, is occasionally of much service; in such cases the quantity of blood taken is comparatively small, and intended to affect only some particular part, such as bleeding at the toe, or from the pastern vein, in Laminitis; or from the vein near the eye, in inflammation of the eye.
The diseases which in our regiment are the most common are:-
1.-Colic or gripes, both spasmodic and flatulent.
2.-Catarrh, or cold.
3.-Coughs.
4.-Strangles, often very severe.
5.-Swelled legs or Anasarca.
6.-Derangements of the Digestive Organs.
7.-Slight derangements of the urinary Organs.
8.-Skin diseases.
9.-Jaundice.
10.-Rheumatism
In but few of these is an active purgative advisable; in some, it is inadmissible, and would probably prove injurious...To the above mentioned constitutional derangements, may be added the following local ones, viz, sores, flesh wounds, thrush, sandcrack, pricked hoof, and quitter; and enlargements of the joints, tumours, and lameness from sprains, blows or other causes. In all of which, even a slight knowledge of the remedies to be applied is valuable, and must be often taxed...I will merely add, that disease will be frequently averted by a systematic careful attention to the state of a horse's digestion, and to its secretions,-by studying the constitutions of particular horses, and by a consequent judicious alteration in their food; substituting oats, when procurable, adawur, ground barley, and occasionally mash diet, (wholly or in part,) for gram.
Gram, though nutritious and fattening, is, in my opinion, more heating and conductive to foulness than any other grain, and therefore not always suitable for delicate horses. It frequently diagrees with Northern horses, especially in the hot weather, and they show a marked improvement on being put on barley. I believe that the rough, rusty, unhealthy coats, and general want of tone and condition, when observable amongst Regimental horses, may be traced to the persistency with which, in large bodies, all horses are alike kept on a regulation allowance and uniform species of grain. If you find a horse tucked up, unthrifty and out of sorts, without distinct signs of particular illness, and know it to have had due attention and a full allowance of grain, do not try to force on flesh by giving increased feeds of what has already proved unsuitable. But put the horse entirely, or nearly entirely, on mash diet, giving suttoo, gruel and linseed tea to drink, with green food if procrable, and in nine cases out of ten you will find a marked change for the better; the help of a little mild alterative medicine may expedite a cure, but, even without any medicine, I have often seen horses fatten under this simple treatment, which causes an improvement in their secretions. However anxious, owing to a particular object in view, you may be to get down a full allowance of grain and put up hard flesh, rest assured that it cannot be done while a horse's stomach is out of order, and that a delicate horse, when on even soft food, or any kind of food it can digest, will be fresher and fitter for work, than a dyspeptic animal full of undigested and therefore irritating hard grain, As soon as a healthy appetite and skin have been restored, and the ribs become fairly covered with flesh, the horse can be gradually and with impunity brought back to its ordinary food”.
The following memoranda & receipts were originally compiled by Col Ryves for the aid of his officers of the 8th Bengal cavalry in 1864.
William Ryves was an astute observer in all things relating to horses, especially conditioning and the well-being of the cavalry brigade horses.
Not only did they have unusually high climatic temperatures, wet seasons and lack of good supplies, the animal feed, often in plentiful supply, was not always of the best grade. It was vitally important to keep the horses in good condition, staving off any illness they may otherwise contract. The variation of heat and wet was a constant worry to the owners of these magnificent animals, not only with nineteenth century cavalry, but also with the marauding and fighting armies of the eleventh century crusaders, the marauding vikings and the invading romans.
In nineteenth century India, Ryve's cavalry horses, used energetically for sport besides their brigade duties, would have been kept in tip top condition, any prevention and illness being treated with the known cures of the day, besides those indigenous cures known and used within the country they found themselves serving in.
A medicine chest was produced to accompany the fifth addition of Ryves work in 1876 and was known as the "Ryve" Veterinary Medicine Chest.
This chest has been designed and constructed to accompany the present edition (fifth) of General Ryves' valuable work, and will be found of the utmost value to those who own or have the care of valuable horses, and are away from stations where the advice of a Veterinary Surgeon can be obtained. The chest is made of stout Teak, and is fitted with handles, lock and key. It contains, in flint glass stoppered bottles, all the Medicines recommended in this book, with the exception of a few unimportant articles which can at all times be procured in any Bazar in India.
It is provided also with a set of scales and weights, mortar and pestle, ointment slab
and spatulas, bandages &c.
With the aid of this chest any of the liniments, balls, powders, ointments, &c., recommended in
this book, can be prepared by the most inexperienced person.
Surgical instruments are not included, but can be added if desired.
Price when cash accompanies with the order Rs 100. Credit, Rs. 125.
“The officers of the 8th Bengal cavalry. Dear gentlemen, I have been induced to throw together the following Recipes and memoranda collected at various times and from numerous sources in the hope that they may prove acceptable to you, and of some use to the officers of our branch of the service generally,- knowing as I do, how totally unable we are when marching, and at many stations, to obtain professional advice for a sick horse, however urgent the case; and, that under the best of circumstances, it can only be occasionally available;-the aid of Veterinary Surgeons, as a duty, being confined to government horses alone.
It is difficult for non-professional men, (when forced by circumstances to treat horses suffering from disease, and depend entirely on their own resources,) to carry prescriptions in their minds, and to remember, at the moment of need, the uses which medicines may be beneficially applied, and the proportions and combinations in which they may be given...For more minute details, and when time and opportunity admit, I must refer you to "Stonehenge," youatt, Spooner's edition of White, or Percival. Some deseases are, beyond doubt, too obscure to be within the treatment of any but veterinary surgeons, but with the aid of the works at our disposal, and with care and attention, we may hope to be able to afford tolerably efficient assistance in the ordinary and more frequent diseases of the horse; and if we can attain but this much, we shall have made ourselves the more generally efficient as Cavalry Officers, and shall frequently, I am assured, have occasion to feel and to acknowledge the benefit of it. Officers have ample opportunities while with native Cavalry Regiments for bringing into use any theoretical knowledge they may take the trouble to obtain, and for gathering practical experience; and it will be found that the surest means of keeping off serious illness is, by care and watchfulness, to detect the first symptons of derangement, when a single and mild dose of physic given in time, and indeed sometimes the use of the muzzle alone, will completely check an impending attack.
I have so often derived the greatest benefit from a mild purgative dose given to a horse on the first appearance of foulness or loss of apetite, especially at the change of season,-in the spring and autumn,-when moulting, that I confidently recommend the practice, as a safe one. Prevention is better than cure, and the effects of a moderate dose of aloes given to a horse that has been prepared with a few bran mashes, and which is properly treated while under its influence, need rarely be feared.
In many cases, when illness has shown itself, active purgatives must be carefully avoided, and would prove injurious.
It may occasionally be advisable to give a dose of physic to a horse, if in very high condition, previous to castration. But I seldom do so, and have found a preparation of three or four days on mash diet, with the muzzle for a few hours before the operation, sufficient. The best months for castrating in, are February, March, and April; the next best, October and November; but I have operated with impunity, and with almost equal success, at all seasons of the year. I would not, from choice, operate in very hot weather or during the rainy season, but would not hesitate to do so in the case of a horse that becomes dangerous. Horses castrated in the autumn, carry rougher coats than those operated on in the spring.
Abstain from the use of the Fleam and Lancet as much as possible; they are very rarely required, though, when needed, they should be used freely, and untill a decided effect is produced on the pulse. Bleeding from the jugular vein, by which the whole system is effected, is not advisable, except in accute inflammatory diseases. In these, every means must be taken to reduce the urgency of the symptoms as speedily as possible; but do what one may, such diseases are attended with danger and uncertainty, especially in the hands of any but professional men.
Local bleeding, by leeches or otherwise, is occasionally of much service; in such cases the quantity of blood taken is comparatively small, and intended to affect only some particular part, such as bleeding at the toe, or from the pastern vein, in Laminitis; or from the vein near the eye, in inflammation of the eye.
The diseases which in our regiment are the most common are:-
1.-Colic or gripes, both spasmodic and flatulent.
2.-Catarrh, or cold.
3.-Coughs.
4.-Strangles, often very severe.
5.-Swelled legs or Anasarca.
6.-Derangements of the Digestive Organs.
7.-Slight derangements of the urinary Organs.
8.-Skin diseases.
9.-Jaundice.
10.-Rheumatism
In but few of these is an active purgative advisable; in some, it is inadmissible, and would probably prove injurious...To the above mentioned constitutional derangements, may be added the following local ones, viz, sores, flesh wounds, thrush, sandcrack, pricked hoof, and quitter; and enlargements of the joints, tumours, and lameness from sprains, blows or other causes. In all of which, even a slight knowledge of the remedies to be applied is valuable, and must be often taxed...I will merely add, that disease will be frequently averted by a systematic careful attention to the state of a horse's digestion, and to its secretions,-by studying the constitutions of particular horses, and by a consequent judicious alteration in their food; substituting oats, when procurable, adawur, ground barley, and occasionally mash diet, (wholly or in part,) for gram.
Gram, though nutritious and fattening, is, in my opinion, more heating and conductive to foulness than any other grain, and therefore not always suitable for delicate horses. It frequently diagrees with Northern horses, especially in the hot weather, and they show a marked improvement on being put on barley. I believe that the rough, rusty, unhealthy coats, and general want of tone and condition, when observable amongst Regimental horses, may be traced to the persistency with which, in large bodies, all horses are alike kept on a regulation allowance and uniform species of grain. If you find a horse tucked up, unthrifty and out of sorts, without distinct signs of particular illness, and know it to have had due attention and a full allowance of grain, do not try to force on flesh by giving increased feeds of what has already proved unsuitable. But put the horse entirely, or nearly entirely, on mash diet, giving suttoo, gruel and linseed tea to drink, with green food if procrable, and in nine cases out of ten you will find a marked change for the better; the help of a little mild alterative medicine may expedite a cure, but, even without any medicine, I have often seen horses fatten under this simple treatment, which causes an improvement in their secretions. However anxious, owing to a particular object in view, you may be to get down a full allowance of grain and put up hard flesh, rest assured that it cannot be done while a horse's stomach is out of order, and that a delicate horse, when on even soft food, or any kind of food it can digest, will be fresher and fitter for work, than a dyspeptic animal full of undigested and therefore irritating hard grain, As soon as a healthy appetite and skin have been restored, and the ribs become fairly covered with flesh, the horse can be gradually and with impunity brought back to its ordinary food”.
Animal health - Veterinary aide memoire
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W. H. Ryves, Lt.- Colonel,
Comdg. 8th Bengal Cavalry. Seetapore, 1864
Comdg. 8th Bengal Cavalry. Seetapore, 1864
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Preserving rural bygones
Preserving rural bygones