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Lea cartaa. planches, tableaux, etc., pauvent dtre filmis i dee taux de rMuction diff*rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul cliche, il est film* A panir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche i droite, et de haut en baa. en prenant le nombre d'images n^cessaira. Las diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithodo. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 EJfc um ■^ ^i^'iHI 1, ^i4 ^m ■t^Ui gtSE '"^^ ''^i •i > >-^-!^ "'"fl il ftf'l WW' ( o7 (■« <'■'■' i i\\ \ 'Il * i TATTKR^ALJ.'s Mi-DicAL AND Surgical TREATMENT — OK — DISEASED HORSES. Written for Farmers and Horseowners Generally. HV STANLEY GEORGE TATTERSALL, OF LONDON AND NKW VOHK (late K. n.) . VETERINARY SURGEON, ->+<^. C!-A.3Sr.A.IDI^lsr ElDITlOlSr. ->♦<- \ l-'onbon, C^ni. LONDON I'RINTIN,; ANDLI riio<;RAi'Hi.\(; CO. TO EDMUND. TATTERSALL, ESQ., OK AI.BKRT .;aiE AND COI.IIEKNH COUKT, WKST KI-NsrN.nON, THIS WORK IS nEDTCATE.,. in ,oVIN,; KF.MKMHRANTr OK AI.I. THE KIM) AND AFFECTIONATE ACTS noNE BY HIM TO THE AUTHOR. Entered according to Act of the Par! ^'^U^n^JP^^i^:^;::^'' '' ^-""^>^<-r«e -V..,^, FPS-EFiPLCE, Q., i If is the cmtnm at present, especially in couutrij distrirts, for many fanners and oilier owners of fior.s.s to attend to the lesser eoinplaints and diseases of heir own animals. This custom, may he attrilmted to various causes: in many cases the distance to he traversed, in order lo reach a veterinary sanicon. is one great reason, and this especially refers to such cases as Colic and other diseases which require to he treated immediately, in order to avert most serious consequences. This work is not, and does not pretend to he, scientific : therefore T hope it will he received hy the more learned ivith the forhearanee which is merited hy such a plain and simple work. It is the re.mlt of over twenty-three years' practice, and all the remedies given have heen per.^onally tested over ami over again hy the author, with most .satisfactory remits, hoth to the patients and the owners. The author therefore hopes that it may he of service to those for whom if is written, and he eqaally heneflcial to their animals, he heivg thoroughly convinced that it is honestly written for that purpose. tersall, Z^74G CHAPTER I. ABSCESSES-POLL EVIL.-FISTULOUS WITHERS- FISTULA -ARTER .ES.-APOPLEXV.-BRAIN.-BONES.-FRACTURES Abscesses are swellings accompanied by inflammation of the mus- cu ar or other tissues, and sometimes shew only as pustules on the ^■ .n ac, ,hey have often been termed tumors, which d'e finition, ow ve s' tumors as such and abscesses as such have their origin in the same or general irruat.on, .s the primary reason of these appearances Thev are of two kmds-superficial, .-. ., on the surface of the tissues as for •nstance^Strangles or a badly treated wound, or deep-seat d as in Pol Evn or Fistulous Withers. A tumor may be described'as a dtd Ic!s and causes the discharge of pus matter), so in the tumor the irritatinn existing in the abscess having ceased, the parts become consol d'eind the enlargement remains, although the connection with the generarvitalUv of the system has disappeared. general vitality in sS^'^'h^ AbSCesses.-Of these may be named the abscess formed n Strangles, abscesses formed in the Alveolar process (teeth and gums) on he knee, along the back, in the sole of the foot, scrotum, etc The T^;^,^' ^" ''' '''-'-' '' '' ^^-^ '^ -^"-^ - Symj,^oms.-A soft and tender enlargement of the parts, accomoanied by heat, and usually by general fever of the whole system, some mesm re reratSed! ''''' '""'" '^'''^ ^ '^ ^^'^^ ^^ ^"-^ ^r ^X j>../,«.«/._Hot poultices. /..,«.«,/, ,,«,^,^, „, ^jid 3,;^^,^^. 1 niments. As soon as fluctuation (action of liquid) is detected, open the abscess with a sharp lancet or knife ; then recommence poulticing, keeping he wound open until .// M. ..,/.. /. ,,scAa.,.,. Then heal' p w.U a loose dressing on a cloth, of carbolic acid (pure), two scruples ; tinct compound of aloes and myrrh, glycerine, one ounce each; water, one 1 ' Unless the matter is completely evacuated, although the wound will heai up. yet It will sooner or later break out again by the re-formation of pus 6 Poll Evil consists in the first instance of a hot sweUing situated on the top of the head, at the back of the ears, and more on one side than on the actual poll. It is caused by a blow of some description or other and is troublesome to cure unless taken at the very outset, when sometimes by the use of stimulating liniments, resolution can be produced and there is an end of the matter. The general case is that the matter is overlooked until the abscess bursts of itself, by which time the pus has, for want of an outlet, burrowed downwards, forming sinuses (pipes) in its journey. Treatmeut.-\yxx^cWy the abscess is soft and the fluctuating sensation IS to be felt, open the enlargement on the lower side, pass a seton needle armed with tape through the top of the swelling, bringing it out through a dependmg opening made by the knife ; move the tapes backwards and forwards at least three times a day, and dress the tapes with lard three parts, turpentine and savin one part (melt together); then pass a probe into the wound above, and in all probability the probe will pass into two or three different passages,-if not. all right. If it does so, then take a small glass syringe and inject about a teaspoonful or two of the following into the wound :-Caibolic acid, pure, two parts ; glycerine, one part • hydrochloric acid, one part: water, fifteen parts. Stop all grain, and feea bran mashes and hay. It is well also to give powders of carbonate of iron two parts, gentian one part, golden seal one part, sulphur two parts, and liquorice root six parts. Dose, half ounce three times a day This is always a troublesome disease, and generally, on account of the time it takes to cure it, is a cause of dissatisfaction to both the surgeon and the o\^ner. Fistulous WitherS.-(7««.^.-The general cause of this disorder is to be attributea to the continuous bumping pressure of a bad fitting saddle Consequently the disease is generally confined to saddle horses. Like Poll Evil, also, the cases are mostly to be found amongst the coarser breeds of horses. Symptoms.— -X^n&tx enlargement in the neighborhood of the withers This complaint when taken at the outset may invariably be cured by thJ ust oirepellenH, such as sal ammoniac four ounces, acetate of lead one ounce, vinegar one pint. Apply this continually to the enlargement by keeping on cloths wet with the lotion, and at the same time give a dose ofphysic, such as linseed oil one pint, powdered aloes six drams oil of juniper one dram, tincture of capsicum one dram, and feed bran mashes Once for all, I may here say that say when a purge of oil and aloes is ated on the han on the her, and is letimes, by nd there is •verlooked "or want of ourney. ; sensation ton needle It through wards and lard three >s a probe s into two ke a small following one part ; , and feed ite of iron parts, and This is le time it n and the Jrder is ta ig saddle, Js. Like e coarser i withers. ;d by the lead one 2ment by ^e a dose us, oil of I mashes, aloes is not .^ HH . u ''^' understanding is that the powdered aloes shall no be added to the o.l until the horse's head has been raised for the purpose of g.vmg the medicine If the aloes is added to the oil any ength of tnne before administration, it goes to the bottom, forms a gluey bstance, and >s of no use whatever. Repellents, however, are of no u e less used at once. The continual bumping of an ill-fitting saddle w 1 necessarily cause continual irritation ; pus is formed and forces its wav tZZl'lr''"' ^'""^^^ (P'T-) - - goes. The treatment sin th,s case be the same as advised in Poll Evil. All sinuses must be la d b ir: ;^^^":^!'-^'"i--d or dressed as in Poll Evil, and care nlust be taken to make the mc.s.ons longitudinally, otherwise serious injury may occur to the hgaments and muscles, resulting in some cases n Z permanent disability of the animal. ^ Fistula in the Scrotum (testicle b^s).~Causes — r^.^r.*. . • perly performed or improperly attended to "^ """''' -^^'''''''^^ ""P^o- ^7'v//t7w.— Formation of pus and sinuses. Treatment —^^m^ as in Fistulous Withers. foot^nHT"*^ ^!'^"^* ^' ' '^''"'" ^°^™'"S °" ^h^ -o'-onet of the horse's toot and frequently extending to the sole the ikm^i . u treated corn or the pressure of gravel Ti;is mus b ''?.,""' ' ''"^ as advised in other fistul*. ^^ ^'"'"^"^ "^^ '"J^^^'°"« Venous Fistula.-This is caused byclumsiness in the on.rn. a • the performance of the act of phlebotom^ (bleel" ^o Z^^^^^^^^^^ an,mal, whenever the vein is injured to such a degree Is to e,",;! impotent to perform its proper functions, the circulation fs carried on in "^t^^^^r^ - '-'-' --^^ -^ -•" «ndin;^rpisTg:: Treatme»t.~Thc saa.. as described for other Fistula. Fistula of the Hoof (Coronal Fistula Ouitfor\ n^u- • caused by a bio. or bruise, ^.rnp^niityfZTtr^^'ZZ"'"' dition of the blood, and unless attended to in thTfiL ! , '^"' aTo^To,: ""bif '''-""' ■•" '^^ "•■"■--r :; r r. '^ ::^;r 8 SympfotHs.—SmaW swelling on the front of the foot where the hqrn and hair meet. Treatment.— Vrohe thoroughly and inject at the coronet ; if it is found that the sinuses have formed downwards, make an opening in the sole to meet them, so that the discharge may be drained off. Fistula of Anus is not frequent; is sometimes caused by the operator making the incision for docking too close to the anus. The Treatment.— Sa.me as other Fistulte. Fistula of the Jaw, Dental Fistula and Salivary Fistula all explain themselves by their names, and the treatment is the same as in other cases of Fistulse. Here we take occasion to warn our readers that the '' blood is the life ", and therefore to impress upon them the necessity of keeping the circulation free and the blood pure ; unless this is attended to, a cure will never be effectually performed. Arteries, Injuries to. — Superficial arteries are subject to injuries, such as lacerations and contusions. In cases of violent contusions, the result may be an aneurism, which is an enlargement of the arterial coats and a consequent interference with the circulation of the blood. In the cases of aneurism of the larger arteries, such, for instance, as the Aorta, the con- sequences are, sooner or later, fatal. In cases of laceration, rupture, or the cutting of an external artery, which are not at all uncommon, the remedy is to take up the artery by tying it with waxed silk or thread, when the blood by the action of endosmose will find other channels. Too much attention cannot be given to expedition in these cases, as it is very astonishing to some people to see such a large animal so soon affected by what appears to them to be such a little loss of blood. The artery spirts its blood at regular intervals, whereas the blood from the vein flows regularly. Arterial blood is a light scarlet ; venous blood, however, is of a darker color, and generally of a thicker consistency. After death arteries may be identified by their retaining their circular or tubular forms, whereas the veins are collapsed in the dead subject. Apoplexy. — This disease is usually found in young ; lorses, who have short necks and who are too fat. It is evidently a rush and accumulation of blood in the head. A tight-bearing rein often conduces to this attack. This is on account of its so drawing the head back from its natural position that the freedom of the circulation is interfered with. It is also ime as in 1 lod is the 1 1 ;ping the m cure will m iries, such m the result s ats and a V the cases 1 I, the con- 1 ipture, or 9 imon, the B )r thread, w nels. Too W ; it is very ■m ■ffected by 1 ery spirts H '^ein flows H ever, is of S ter death B liar forms, 1 who have m lumulation s his attack. u ts natural H It is also H caused by excessive feeding of heating food, combined with want of the exercise. Bloating of the bowels, excessive exertion in hot weather, exposure to a hot sun, and sudden changes from heat to cold, will also produce it. Syw/foms.—Famtness ; running round and round, like a dog when he IS going to lie down ; unconsciousness, and hanging the head on the manger. These, combined with perspiration, irregularity of the pulse, red and protruding eyes, with short and labored breathing, are the symptoms ; sometimes also there is paralysis of the eyelids. rrea^M~U in harness, loosen all parts thereof, and place the head high on a truss of straw, or anything that is handy. Take from four to SIX quans of blood from the jugular vein, and appl/ ice or cold wlr to the head and neck; give, also, tincture of aconite ten drops sweet spirits ot nitre one ounce, aromatic spirits of ammonia six drams', water ^iLr', T"' '"'' '"' '"''' '^'^ ^°"'- ""^'' '"^^ «y-Ptoms have disappeared. Do not work the horse for a week after the attack • give h.m two hours' exercise daily, and feed bran mashes with scalded olts. Brain, Inflammation ^/.-This is caused, generally speaking, by b ows or other violent concussions. When thoroughly set in there is very little hope of doing any good for the patient. If anything is to be done, the ch.ef reliance must be placed upon bleeding and cold applications to the head. Generally, however, the horse in such cases is quite unapproach- able^ and the best remedy for the safety of all is to put an end to the animal s existence as he is very dangerous. Sometimes, nevertheless he pat.ent especially in the first approach of the disease, become^ comatose (unconscious), in which case excessive bleeding and cdd applications to the head are the only remedies. Should tl^s treatment succeed the animal must be turned out for at least three months. Ind gTea precautions must be taken. Excessive work and all excitement must be orbidden, and h.s feed must be reduced, bran mashes being fed a leas hree tunes a week. It . not advisable, however, to keep 'a hors ha has had such an attack, and he should be disposed of. th. fo?r*' ^"^""'Z /^.-Amongst the diseases the bones are subject to ^ rr fit" t:rr:;r:;rn:: r°"' r-^ 10 which the bone has been broken without breaking the skin, and where the bone has not been splintered. The Compound Fracture is when the bone lias been broken and the skin also. The Compound Comminuted is that in which not only has the bone and skin been broken, but when the bone has also been splintered. In speaking of fractures, the treatment is the same in all, with the exception of fracture and sometimes depression of the skull, which will be mentioned separately. Treatment.— Ox\\y a few years ago, whenever a horse, cow or dog broke his leg, the fashion was to kill him, no matter in what situation I he fracture was. Now, unless in exceptional cases, there is no excuse for doing any such thing. In the case of a simple fracture, the firs: thing to do is to make a thorough examination and find out the exact manner in which the bone is broken. Having ascertained this, make a plaster of Paris paste. Take two squares of linen and make small pads of same stuff to fit over the fracture. Then sling the horse. Now plaster the paste on some linen bandages, and having put the pads over the fracture secure them witii the dry linen. Then bandage with the plaster of Paris bandages, after having, of course, brought the two ends of the factured bone in exact opposition. It is best to sling the animal in a stable with an earthen floor, as then a hole can be made under the injured limb. The horse should be lowered every day or so, but the strain on the slings should not be taken off. The injured bone will unite in about six weeks, and the only further treatment is frequent applications of ice or cold water at the point of union. Compound Fracture.— Here the skin is broken also; the first indica- tion, then, is to cleanse the wound and ascertain that the bone is not splintered. In some respects these cases come out even better than a simple fracture. The operator is able, generally, to see the fracture, which he cannot do in a simple fracture. He can, therefore, bring the bone exactly into its proper place, whereas, in simple fracture he has to rely on his sense of feeling. The bone must be set as indicated in the case of simple fracture, and the wound, after being properly cleansed, should be dressed with a lotion composed of carbolic acid one scruple, glycerine one ounce, water eight ounces. A cloth wet with this should be left on underneath the plaster of Paris bandage, and it can generally be contrived that a portion of the healing lotion may be poured down so as to saturate the bandages ; otherwise an open bandage must be contrived, in which case proper professional advice had better be obtained. 1 >* iSMNOS l^^OK IIOWSK. A-Leather or Stiff Canvas B-B,ea?t Stia P C— Quarter St rafD. 11 Compound Comminuted Fracture, in this case, in addition to -accrat.onof the sk.n. the bone has not only b.cn broken, but spHntered ad what .arc termed " spicule. ", or sharp pieces of the bone, have' >.cn,„e detached from, or loosened on. tlie bone itself The flesh must be la-d open imiil all the splintered part is exposed to view. Tl>e sphnters m.ist be removed or detache.l. and the bone brought to a smooth condi- t'">. Ih< 'nutment then is the same as in a compound fracture. Of course. ,f the bone is much broken up. the only remedy would be ainpuiat.on, which in a horse would be useless, unless, indeed, it might l>o in the case of a valuable racing brood mare. In cases of valuable .'nim PT'''''' ''^^ ^^«" ''^^'■"^"^^d, and a lee of wood adapted to the anunal. 1 h^ cow soon accustoms herself to the new conditions i d re.nauis of use for breeding purposes and for milk. As this has 'be. successAdly done in the case of cattle, there seems to be no reason whv .should not be do..e u, ,he case of a mare whose progeny would com- o rred to the forelegs. It may here be remarked that in setting the bZ w ^r 'r '" ''^^''^^^ofaUorso, although unification o'f th bon w.ll take place, yet the leg. through the abnormal contraction of the hgaments. w.ll generally be slightly shorter than the sound ones In case of a fracture of the bone or bones above the hock, the result of reducmg the fracture is almost always unsatisfactory. Fracture of the Skull.-This is brought on generally by horses run- altho r T'"^ '" '°"'''' ^'"^ ' """ °^ ■'^"'"^ ^"^^^ hard substance ; although, cases have occurred where it has been produced by a blow In most cases coma (unconsciousness) is immediately apparent, owing to ^ part struck bemg broken in and consequently pressing upon the brail wl Jil,' "r '" 1 '' "• ""''''"'' ^° '''' ■■" ^ ^^■■"'■^" practitioner, Mho u, 11 perform the operation of trephining. This is done by using a n.a mstrument hke an auger, with which a small circular piec'e o bon IS cut out from the skull at a small distance from the injured part • then an mstrument, known as an elevator, is introduced, and the par ;f t.e bony covenng wh.ch ,s pressing on the brain is lifted to its proper lev ins r ed"'ln' ''"''"'' "! '" ^"'""^ ""^' '^ ^^"^"^^^ ^^^ a plate inserted. In some cases, however, the skin will grow thickly ove the ught nearly in nsert a budding deeply, as that one, saturate a I by applying a ck to above the oes and myrrh, It is necessary nts, in order to operly treated, on of the bones 13 the horse can hardly bend the knee afterwards. During this treatment, as, indeed, in the case of all serious wounds, symptomatic levei is always more or less set up, and. indeed, in some cases, proves fatal from irritation and consequent exhaustion of the whole system, Therefore the horse should have a purge, consisting of linseed oil (raw) one i)int, nitre one ounce, ginger half an ounce, and Barbadoes aloes seven drams. i\[ix the powdered aloes with the powdered ginger and with nitre, and wlien the horse's head is held ready to drench put the powders into the oil and administer. The feed should be, for at least a week, bran mashes with half allowance of corn (oats). If the local fever becomes general, then use the medicine prescribed for symptomatic fevers (see under head of Vet. Materia Medica at the end of the book), that is, saline powders. Broken Heart.— This fatal accident is only mentioned as a precaution to owners against over exertion of willing animals, more especially as some people doubt that such a thing ever occurred. It is a fact never- theless, of which the following is one of several instances. It is really congestion and rupture of the heart ; although, of course, the congestion may cause the fatal issue through apoplexy, by symptomatic action of the brain. Many years ago this termination took place at a town called Natchez, in the United States of America. The race was on the Pharsalia race-course, between a mire called Jenny Lind and a horse called HIack Dick— best three in five heats. Dick was the favorite at odds. They ran very closely together, and just at the winning post the mare began to draw clear of him. His rider applied whip and spur, and he m ide such a mighty effort that he reeled, but he still struggled on and fell dead within ten feet of the winning post. A post-mortem was made, and the cause of death was as above stated. Much regret was expressed at the time, as was natural, for so plucky an animal. Bladder, Pro/use Stalin}^.— Thi^, of course, is the unnatural discharge of large quantities of urine, caused by the bladder having become irritated, and the consequent arrest of the mucous secretion. This in turn irritates the kidneys and causes them to perform double work, hence the mordinate flow of water. In the first instance the urine is pale-colored, after a little while it changes to a more muddy colour. rw////^///. -Change of diet ; linseed tea for drink ; urva ursi six drams, cascanlia one ounce, gentian one ounce, cinchona bark three ounces, all powdered and mixed ; divide into six powders. Give one mornmg and evening, and repeat if necessary. If the horse will not eat ■^ .ft holding the tongue in the ]^ft Tan J ^ °^ ^'"^^' ^»^^«' O"''. and. -ot of the tongue, then , f goTht' ZZ ''' r^''' ^^' ^' °» '« the -aterdovvn him to wash the rLats of h/ .•'"" ' '''''''' '' '^^^- away the bitter taste. ^ """ •''"^"^'"e down and to take Inflammation of Tine ^- |m.a,io„ only, aUhougl, in soJeca e, hi h," J ' '"'"''"■ ="= "'= .nflammation has extended .otteneTof in .. '■™'''" ''''"•>' *•= 2= Puise, afer .„e disease his il^n I^ u" '''' ?"'''"'^'"''-> .oca, .„„a„™a.„., acion, and Hses aceoMll^r J'„— -; ™^;!;e C««j«.--This disease may be rane.^ k k.dneys, in case of their being affected with ' '7''''"'^ ''^^''°" "''^ the caused by stones and gravel 3epcs ted .n h "I' t"''"''- '' '"^^^ ^'^^ be change of water may brin. it on n ^. ''^','?'^^^^'-' «•• a cold. Even a after the terminatio-fof a^clse of diab "r^' o "•'^"'^- '' ''^ ^^^ -- amount of work imposed upon the n P'^'^^^'O'^ally the excessive will produce inflammation of' s colts i'"' ' ''' ''^^"^^ °^ diabetes lib coats m many oases. Treatmetit. — Linseed tea for d ' t • glycerine two drams, tincture opiumThirtv h""'"'" ''°"''' '^^^"^ d-'^PS. th,s dose three times a day, anTifat t 1 e-H^'r "''" °"' °""^^- ^''^e be no improvement, then send for the n.V . T" "^^^^ ''''^^ ^^^^^^ '« to be had in the neighborhood. '' "' '^'^^ Practitioner that is ^ZXnilTl :!;;;;^r :?t- :'::; r ^ - '-^^^-- ^^ sease; for instance, driving a horse Tr a ,1 . "•■'"^' ^^'^ cause this •ng h,m the opportunity of staling T, '1? ° . f '"'' ^'^'^°"' ^"°^- o^-s disease. I-l^se cases Lalr:::^:!;^-- ^t^^^^^" ■•> '" lOat, conse- ••^s- ■ry bitter, then vveet oil, and, i oil on to the ipful of clean n and to talve with inconti'i- 3n preventing of moisture, iand scanty, : in drops, is itah'ng, when ■> save the full, as the pangrury.) ses with the jerliy in its on with the nay also be i- Even a s also seen excessive f diabetes ve drops, ce. Give seems to er that is iment for :aiise this ut allow- a reason a 15 quently the coats of the bladder lose their contractile qualities, or at all events the contractile power is more or less weakened, so that some of the urine is left in the bladder. What is worse still is, that under these circumstances the bladder evinces a disposition to fill rapidly, which morbid condition is present in all diseases of the bladder, whether sympathetic or otherwise, but, unfortunately, especially so in the case now under consideration. The c onsequence of this distention, if not relieved, would be rupture of the body of the bladder, as indeed has very often been the case. This distention may be easily detected by an examination per rectum. The hand should, after being properly oiled, be passed into the rectum, and the distended bladder will be felt underneath. Very frequently the bladder may be assisted in emptying itself by smoothing it gently with the finger anteriorly from its neck. Otherwise the horse nust be gently cast, and the catheter introduced as often as needful The tune of using the catheter miy be determined by the fullness of the bladder, as evinced by the feeling under the hand in the rectum. Treatment.— -Drink, linseed tea ; bran mash three times a week. Nux vomica twelve drams, gentian one ounce, golden sed one ounce, powdered liquorice root six ounces. Mix and divide into twelve powders ; give one morning and evening. Stone in the, and Lithotomy.— Stones of various sizes, and also gravel, are frequently a cause of distress to the horse. The probable origin of the stone is the deposition of gravel, one small grain being sufficient to form a nucleus for the growth of the stone. The water which is drunk by the animal is generally impregnated with the elements fit for forming stones (calculi). The water of muddy pools, puddles, etc., contains the most perfect materials for forming stones. Some of the calculi form themselves in the intestines, reproducing similar symptoms to those of spasmodic colic. After death they are found generally in the ccecum (blind gut), and are sometimes as large as a cannon ball. The author saw one at Cincinnati, U. S. A., which was as large as a thirty-two pound shot. ^j^;////'^m. -Difficulty and pain during urination, the water being passed oiif by drops, the legs straddled, and in walking the straddling is kept up for a longer or shorter time. By making an examination as in the disease above treated, or paralysis of the bladder, the diagnosis may be verified Pass a catheter and draw off the water, then the stone mav be distinctly felt by the hand. 16 Treatment.-Kcx^^ and other remedies have been, and are now prescribed for this disorder. The only real and efficacious remedy is the operation of lithotomy, which is performed as follows :-The horse is to be cast and turned upon his back, being retained in that position by trusses of straw placed on each side of him. The urine should be drawn off. A long oiled rod of smooth whalebone must then be passed up the urethra and when coming to the curve the hand should be pressed on it, and ii will ascend into the bladder in the region of the perineum. Cut down on the probe with a scalpel and through the opening made pass a sound- ing catheter, when the stone may be felt. If the stone is too large to be withdrawn through the incision, crushing forceps must be used, and it must be taken out piecemeal. Warm water must then be injected through the opening into the bladder, and the wound healed up by a dressing of carbolized oil, such as sweet oil half a pint, carbolic acid two scruples. In these cases the operator should be one who understands anatomy, such as a veterinary surgeon, although almost every case treated m this way with ordinary care results in a complete cure and the immediate relief of the patient. Sediment, and perhaps some blood, will be passed tor a little time, but very soon the evacuations of the urine will take place m the same natural and healthy way as it did before the disorder occurred. Inflammation of the Neck Of-(Strangury).-This may be caused 1 ?rf !^ "" ^''''°" '" *^^ ^^^^^ °f inflammation of the kidneys, or of the bladder itself. The most frequent cause, however, seems to be that ot spasmodic colic. The result is stricture or contraction of the sphincter muscle surrounding the neck of the bladder, whereby the exit of the urine is cut off. The kidneys are, of course, constantly engaged in the act of eliminating the urea from the blood, which urea is, as fast as it IS eliminated, passed down in successive drops through the ureters into the bladder. And here the usual course of proceeding resorted to by grooms, farmers and other unskilled persons, is strongly to be condemned The animal evinces signs, by straddling and otherwise, of his desire to urinate. This gives the persons alluded to the impression that diuretic medicines (medicines stimulating the action of the kidneys) are required Consequently, such medicines as nitre and others of their kind are im- mediately administered. The consequences resulting from such practice are disastrous in the extreme. The diuretic medicines acting immediately upon the kidneys cause these organs to perform double their natural functions, and the urme is poured into the bladder in double quantities • and are now, IS remedy is the le horse is to be sition by trusses e drawn off. A up the urethra, 5ed on it, and it im. Cut down e pass a sound- too large to be 3e used, and it in be injected Sealed up by a rbolic acid two ho understands !ry case treated 1 the immediate will be passed irine will take re the disorder may be caused kidneys, or of !ms to be that raction of the lereby the exit antly engaged a is, as fast as he ureters into esorted to by )e condemned. • his desire to I that diuretic I are required, kind are im- such practice a; immediately their natural e quantities ; i 17 as, through the spasmodic contraction, there is no means of passage for the unne, the bladder is distended beyond its natural capacity, and although Its elasticity may save it for a little time, yet. unless some exit is found mimediately, rupture of that organ will take place, and with that deatn ensues. Again, if left too long, although relief may be administered in time to avert a fatal termination of the disorder, yet the ulterior sequelae will be more or less injurious. In many cases the morbid dis tention ot the coats of the bladder will cause the loss to a certain extent of us elastic properties, and, in consequence, ever after the contractile properties of the bladder will be seriously curtailed in their proper func tions ; the horse will then only pass some portion of urine at each time of staling, leaving some in the organ, which will cause irritation and the troubles with whi^ch that is accompanied. Through sympathetic action also irritation and consequent disease of the Prostate Gland, ureters above and urethra below, is always to be feared and provided for. All these dis agreeables are to be looked for through the improper administration of diuretic medicines ,n the case of contraction of the neck of the bladder It IS a good thing, therefore, for the owners or superintendents of large' stables to absolutely forbid anyone but themselves administering nitre and other diuretics, as the experience of all practitioners of any length of practice will inform them that this is a mode of proceeding very favor- ably received, and is a cause of much trouble and expense to the owner and anxiety to the practitioner who may be called into the case. Trea^meut.-Loc^l and internal administration of sedative anodyne medicine is the only sure means of relaxing the spasm, unless, indeed it IS caused, as it sometimes is in cases of spasmodic colic, by the pressure ot accumulated (f.ces) dung, when of course the ren;edy is ZZ which IS the removal of the cause of pressure by the hand and medicm ' Apply hot blankets wrung out of boiling water to the groin, and before applying them sprinkle each blanket with ether, one ounce /chloroform 2c T ' TT °' "''T' '^•^ °""^^- O"^^'^^ «f ^'- hot blank"; lace a dry blanket warmed, and secure it. Leave this on for two ho." If necessary, and apply again until relief is obtained. However with the administration internally of the following medicine I have usually s'ucc d d .n giving relief in less than twenty minutes, and during twenty two yea s practice have never had a fatal case: For a full grown ho'se ch ora, hydrate, five drams ; olive oil, th.^ee ounces. To be" repeated in hal a hour if necessary. ' 18 Broken Wind.— This subject I must abbreviate as much as possible, as a small book might be written on the causes, forms and results of this lamentable affection. The functions of the lungs are both vital and mysterious, and with regard to these functions, as well as to the internal digestive functions, we are bound, if we tell the real truth, to own ourselves comparatively ignorant. Theories in abundance exist and are put forward by those who think it derogatory to their scientific dignity to confess their ignorance as to the function of the lungs in reoxygenating the venous blood, so also as to the internal transformations that take place invisible to Us, in the internal digestive process, and also as to the mystery of conception. All these hypotheses remain, as they are likely to remain, simple theories and speculations. We are allowed to know enough, however, both as to the anatomy, physiology and pathology of these organs to enable us to palliate, and in some cases, taken in their first inception, also to cure this complaint. Two different kinds of morbid changes are products of broken wind. One is where the air cells are broken down or ruptured by 6ver exertion, and remain in a soft condition. This morbid state, its irritation and consequent local inflammation, causes the walls of the air cells, which are numberless, to become disorganized in their extensions ; consequently, the portion of the lung affected, which possibly contained thousands of cells, is broken down into one compara- tively large cavity, through which the air, in the action of inspiration and respiration, rushes with force, instead of ramifying, as it would do in the case of a healthy lung- -in, out and through each cell — and, consequently, expiration is slower than the inspiration. The second kind is caused by a cold settling on the perforations of the branches of bronchial tubes, thereby enlarging the means of exit. Consequently, in this case the expirations are faster than the inspirations. Broken wind, again, may be caused by diseases of the upper part of the larynx, which may cause a permanent thickening of the membrane and produce what is termed roaring. Thick Wind, again, is caused by the thickening of the walls of the cells through deposit of the secretion of the bronchial tubes. The causes of Broken Wind are various, and it is demonstrably developed in a variety of ways. It is undoubtedly hereditary ; it may also be caused by a chronic affection of the thoracic organ arising from improperly treateu pneumonia. Adhesion of the lungs to the pleura through previous inflariim.atory action may also cause it, as may also induration pf the lungs and the deposition of water in the chest. ach as possible, results of this 3oth vital and to the internal • own ourselves and are put tific dignity to reoxygenating hat take place, to the mystery ^^ withoutblood.| tting It ha thatf H T T"'""'" ""q"=«ble men and horses in I "spr„ 'afd '° "f "" "'"™ '" l"==" ""t ^''^'^ '° effects that it had to be re-resorted to for d sake o he '^'r" """ became, in fact, a morbid habi, to the ays t^'^We ^ rio^'r'*' " men and women who accustom themselves to the hab.t o TA ""'■' '" m some of its various forms The«, „„(■„ , '"'""S opium the habit, and i„ ni„ety-„re cales ou o , ? T"" "='=°"'' ^""'" '° «f. The same results occur fZ dvhl ho " " ■"" """' "' """"•' very frequent habi. with somrowTe " o^ h avT" "™=««"ily-a .he system of the animal accustriel tr e'^of tt "^ "' """ drug, u„t,l the quantity required and cousumeV H -^ ''°"°'""" astonishing. Should the arsenic be stopped The ■" """'"""« begins to fall away, and recourse mus' b hadt 1"™".'"""='"'"='' .he same result occurs from indiscrimnate bleeding "ot fh '"'".« ' hand, at the time these opinions a»ain«, ,„j- . ^"'"S- O" 'he other advanced, the reaction wis so" re« am '"*'"'"""'"= W==di„g were first «s allowed in no casr The I'L ^*',' T'"'" ""'"= *« ^'« " »Uhi„ u, .,. w from the time ^hfc!!;;: ^^TZ ^TZr^^Z •)■> time, and proper attention is paid to the animal by warmly clothing him, placing him in a stable, not too hot, chilling his water and giving him little, if any, hard food, then there is an end of the matter. If this is not done in the time specified, on no account must the horse be bled, but pre- caution must be taken to guard against the inflammatory action, which will soon evince its presence in the lungs. Again, in cases of brain fever, as in violent local inflammatory action, great benefit may be had from the use of the fleam or lancet. More especially is this so with regard to sprains of the back sinews, laminitis, etc. In these cases I am sure that the remedy of bleeding from the toe is certainly never resorted to half as often as it should be. 'J'his work is intended for farmers and others who do not pretend to know much about medical treatment ; therefore, in this place, and once for all, I must ask the forbearance of those who are well up in these matters, while I point out such simple things as directions for bleeding ; and also in other parts of this work where I explain things which seem and are simple enough to those acquainted with them, bue are still mysteries to those who do not know what to do in such cases. In bleeding from the jugular vein, the first thing to do is to find the vein. The horse has one jugular vein on each side of the neck. Select the side, hy sponging the neck for two or three inches, and then applying a thickish cord round the neck with a little pressure, the vein will stand out plainly developed. The proper place to open is about 8 to lo inches from the jaw ; however, some operators will prefer it higher and some lower. The blood should be received in a pail, the capacity of which is known, and the edge of the vessel should be held closely against the lower edge of the incision. As to the incision, it can be made either with a lancet or fleam. I consider that there is no instrument so suitable as the sprmg-fleam. Not only is this instrument suitable for the operation of bleeding alone, but also for the opening of all superficial abscesses when they assume the necessary sup- purative stage. When a suitable amount of blood is taken (the quantity should be apportioned according to the disease, as also to the intensity thereof), then the incised skin should be brought into apposition, a clean steel pin passed through and kept in position by winding round it a couple of long hairs from the tail. Great care must be exercised in pin- ning up the orifice that the vein is not injured, and that too much skin is not drawn over the incision, so that the bloud may not flow underneath the skin and cause a swelling and possibly a fistulous ulcer ; the more inflammation there is, the less amount of serum (watery matter) is to be t ■ « clothing liini, nd giving him If this is not bled, but pre- action, which ;ases of brain t may be had s this so with ese cases I am never resorted •r farmers and :al treatment ; forbearance of t such simple I of this work 3iigh to those lose who do 1 the jugular le horse has by sponging sh cord round ly developed, aw J however, blood should he edge of the incision. As I. J consider iot only is this t also for the lecessary sup- . (the quantity the intensity sition, a clean ^g round it a jrcised in pin- to much skin >w underneath er ; the more latter) is to be 23 I detected on the summit of the coagulated blood, and the blood i. th.vu the mass of blood, approximately speaking, in a grown ho se is about fifty four gallons. The stronger the consistency of the iZr^ 7? more buff or darkish yellow appearance on the to m' " ?' an,ount of inflammation present.'' ,n diseas h ^ lucHL " man, en cases frequently results from opening the a guIaT ns' th aTerv aT" "''''^"'"' '" ''''''' °^"'^^ -^ '•-- the Zola artery, ai.d, m my opmion, if ever amaurosis, palsy of the nm.V and make incision Tf th^ n ^ j ^ '" ^ curved bistoury in ho, wa, w rif 1 e cis „°„ i, "",' """ ''"'^' '"™ P'-= *e fj some ,ow or lint, and sa.uratirit ,vlh ll of ""^ " """''• "^' •en pa„. ,„.„ , i„,o .He wZd'a':!:^ "ol TZ:^^''"' ^'^ *er:frsrrdfato7Z^::inrdr^^^^^^^^^^^^^ for various so-called disorder. A. "™/emedy with most farmers permanently, excepting tiasef I aZs' T :''''' '''''''' ^^ cedure is decidedly correct r!! 1 7 ,' ''"" '^'' '""^h"^ ^^ P^O" .de o„,, ^^jzZr. aoTseZ tr .::rif cr " =- the danger of cutting the palatine artery is avoided T '^ '""'"' found it a very hard thing to get blood at otert alfa'Th" ' k""^ forced to wait for an hour for fear r ch^ i J u ' ^ ' ^ ^^^^ '^een artiticially, although .hrarttt/n":? '"'*'«*= ''-"--^.e Mo„d"r^,"e^ 'rZ ,x ri?.tr."''^'^'" ^^ """'" "-^ -"' -« Shoulder, caused by spr.!." or otLr^ ^.^ . ^ X^, -«-""»" "' *= treme cases this is unnecessary a. tl,. / ' ^ ' ^""'^^e''' '" very ex- 24 fr: certainly a n.^take. It used to be, and indeed in rural districts of Eng- land and Aiiierica is still, thought by many that the presence of bots attached to the coat of the stomach, and in many cases found in the abdominal cavity after death, was the cause of the fatal termin- tion of whatever the real disease was which the horse was suffer- ing from. This opinion is a great fallacy. Many people, also, who should have known better, have insisted and argued that the creatures have eaten through the stomach and so caused death— an utter absurdity, for many reasons. The Bot is the grub or chrysalis, so to speak, of the CEstrus Equinui or Horse Gad-fly. In the autumn of che year this fly is very numerous and of great annoyance to the horse, as is its relative, the CEstrus Bovinus, to cattle ; the insect deposits its eggs generally on the forepart of the horse, about the chest and fore-legs preferably, and probably in the act of depositing them inflicts a slight sting to the animal (the eggs adhere to the hair through some sticky matter formed by the insect); the horse then, either immediately or soon after, licks the place, to allay the irritation caused l^y the sting, and in so doing swallows the eggs. It may be that the glutinous matter has some irritative qualities with regard to the skin; at all events he licks them off and swallows them. They are, as a rule, passed into the stomach with the saliva without becoming attached anywhere on their way down the oesophagus (swallowing pipe), and the heat of the stomach hatches them, forming the Bot in question. This insect, then, is of chrysalis form, and is furnished with two hooks at its tail end, by which it attaches itself to the muscular coat of the stomach, having the head part hanging down, and being nourished by the juices of the horse's food through the process of imbibition, it having no mouth, consequently no powers of eating through anything. The creature is attached to the muscular coat of the stomach; hence there is no consciousness of pain to his host, the horse. In due time, when arrived at maturity, generally about or before spring, the creature lets go his hold and is passed, together with the excrement?, through the whole length of the alimentary canal, and thence to the open air by the rectum. In a short time the bot is transformed again into the CEstrus Equinus or Gad Fly, and prepares itself a new progeny ready to take advantage of these rent-free quarters in the same or another horse. When a horse becomes ill, the healthy functions of the stomach become deranged. The bot does not like that, nor does he duly appreciate the phenomenal amount and great variety of drugs which are usually administered to his unfortunate entertainer ; consequently, he lets go and istricts of Eng- esence of bots found in the fatal termin- je was suffer- ple, also, who : the creatures utter absurdity, 3 speak, of llie year this tly is is its relative, js generally on preferably, and to the animal formed by the icks the place, g swallows the tative qualities iwallows them, saliva without us (swallowing ig the Bot in furnished with the muscular ivn, and being he process of '.ating through f the stomach; lorse. In due re spring, the e excrementF, ce to the open again into the igeny ready to another horse, imach become ippreciate the \ are usually he lets go and 25 passes off as before expl.uned. This is the reason that when performing post morte,n exammations on animals which have been a long ime a^ " so few bots are found. On the other hand, if a healthy ho.^rrkiZ' suddenly, by -dent or otherwise, then the Stomach is us'uaU o nd ', of bots rh.s fact goes to prove that, ordinarily speaking the fict of 21 ots bemg present in large numbers is not the cL.se o s cL e s ^ ,l«h there have been exceptions to this rule ; but that is only when thl h t h..ve attached themselves to a part rarely frequented - t^ 3^:^; =;: thi^ stir r nr t^^r- - --- -- -produ.d.;hJi:i;rcr:f::^-;r2r cavity after death fs^^Tc' : "to b isp^e/ ^ ^ t J" t' ^''T'"^' worms have been found in th. c °''P"'^0; ^" 'n the human subject, during the lifenf h ' ''"'^ '"^"'^ ^'^ "°^ '"habit that region and very JLjy^tTZTj:':' "' '"7^ '"' '— *'■ solid bo„es swallowed bv .h^J t u u °^ ''°«'' '' '^''""''' or o,l,er i„cr> „ S if ha! ^^ '='' " '' '" *= '''' ■" '""^ having vi.ali.,,™r; 'wt "wlri'^otj"''"' '"^ """'"'' -he s,„„achs of „a„v of .Ke Lr^ZL mZLZ^JZ T" '" .. goes w„ho„. sayi„g ,ha, ,he s.o^ch's vi,a i ! hasdeo:;,!. T^' the exudation of the juice co„n^"> ^ I "" ^"" ^"'"' being subdued by .h Tea.h " he talu. ,1 ""^•"" °' "•' "'''"' through the coats of the stomach Th T • '"'" "'"''" '""^ "" the bot unhooks and e To a„d ta^ ^7' """""^ '">- "'*''--'• intestinal canal, as he would do if ,;! h "''""« ""="■ *™"8'- ">= tionally. through thelo^ eaf^^ glTe :Z:^V:. ^^"'' ""'"'- into the abdominal cavity-much probablv TT "^ f"""' mce -vhere he is found, and givencred'it for ,h, n °"'" astonishment- power than „e Itnew be Vd ht f t^aZ^of" h^"^ ^"""'""^^' somethtngmostastonishln. People witb atrspiHt'^rklXr: 'J 2G inquiry have placed them in spirits of turpentine and even in far stronger preparations, such as strong acids, and at the end of two or three hours found them alive. This is another evidence of the futility of attempting to remove them, as was and is now frequently done, by medicine. It is evident that, even if the horse is believed to have "got the bots", the very complete manner in which the bot ignores the effects of strong medicines, such as turpentine, acids, etc., would show that the remedies might very probably kill the horse, yet it would take no effect on the bot. The symptoms usually imputed to bots are those of colic, strangury, and, in some cases, even inflammation of the bowels, and people would hardly believe that there is so much ignorance on this subject in some country places, unless they were personally interested in the subject. If bots are there, let them alone ; they will come away in time. Should such symptoms arise as those just mentioned, look for the cause of such symptoms elsewhere than to bots, and be by no means persuaded l>y any one to try experiments on the health of the horse for the purpose of removing an imaginary evil. > Colic is of two kinds, spasmodic or acute, and flatulent or windy. Spasmodic Colic is various in its causes, There may be an hereditary predisposition on account of the weakness of the stomach and small intestines ; cold may also cause its appearance, but its most prolific source is indigestion. Both weakness of the stomach and indigestion itself may react upon each other. The direct cause of the painful spasmodic paroxysms is irritation of the par vagam or large nerves running to the stomach. No pain can be felt unless a nerve is irritated; therefore, all pain in man or beast must ^be directly traced to nervous influence. A horse is more liable to take colic when too highly fed, than one that is only fed sufficiently, but in moderation also. The reason of this is that a greater amount of excitement and irritation is caused in the digestive organs of the overfed animal, than in the one who is only allowed a proper sufficiency of food. Drinking cold water when in a state of perspiration is another cause of gripes ; this is more especially so if the water should be of a harder or softer constituency than the animal is accustomed to. This is the reason that the trainers of valuable race horses carry their horse's drinking water with them when the animal has to run at a distance from home. Bad and musty hay, again, is still another cause. This kind of hay frequently lies in an undigested state in the stomach and causes the irritation necessary to produce the complaint. Working a horse too soon n far stronger )r three hours of attempting iicine. It is he bots ", the ;cts of strong the remedies :t on the hot. ic, strangury, people would bject in some ; subject. If Should such luse of such laded by any le purpose of t or windy. may be an stomach and most prolific d indigestion the painful erves running 'ed; therefore, JUS influence. m one that is )f this is that the digestive wed a proper f perspiration water should customed to. 5 carry their at a distance ;. This kind nd causes the )rse too soon 27 alter a meal will cause this disease, much for tl,- =,™. case of nntsty l,ay. Suppression of he ur n ttouT hr"","^ '" *' of the blatider or otherwiL will cause colicky 4,^ A t '""'" hand, the distention of the intestine either i,f,^„T f '"' "" ""= ""'" l>o>vels. will cause suppressio,?: he 'i:^ Coi":,' TT' °" "'"" of itself ignorant opinion which is abrlTd 1 ,1 ''' '^ "'"■ '''""' The danger lies in^he fact .h« ^oltrnt?: eVdTy'Xrr t^t^' :e'^:::.:::i;::rd;rrrr:'t':„r"- d^'^^' -- ^^''^^ .nto the other, which'is r^r^rerri^r^^r ^.::::r"rr''T"" ever, like n,a„y other disorders causing great irrtaorto t^, ' :eCr7th:rr t:s r 4'r ^-'^' '° -" - -^ »hohas.dthe=Lrstrr.rin:^^ httle care and attention, the difference of Z ^ surperficial. With a diseases are very obviou! TnlT i ^'"'^'""'^ '"'''''"^^'^ '" ^'^««e balancing ..^^t: i:::;^;^^ r:?^ rvT 'r--'^ at his flanks ; /us ears and le^r, areofttZ^ry " '^'"^"'"">' the aUernations of cold and iZ:fJ::Z^:':!::Z'; "'' ' ""' noticed ; he sometimes breaks o.,t into "^equent as not to be generally ever, this last ^r^tzz;:;:^:''''^'^''^''''' ''^■ intermittent, that is, the sDasms mm! J^. ^ '^''^'-oxysms are quiet. For compa i on of Z T \ ^°' ""^ '^'''' '' ^" '■"'«^^''^' o{ tioned, the reaZ " feld J^hTn " "'I^ '" °''" ^'""^^^^ -^"- bowels, strangury, and t.:: i e SZ'^ 1^0^"^"^" °^ '^^ fessional men to remember the diffe en e n the,^ ^ """' ''' ""P^^" them down in parallel columns 1^^ f ^y'^Ptoms is to mark horse owners to do thi as the L '''^ ^°'' ^"'^''' ""^ tions, and the rett^ ^l^r rnLrfoT;:; ''^^ ''" ^'^^ injurious and sometimes fatal in the other '' ''' "^^'^^^ °^ aiwa>f ^^r'-: ■::;:;;:l/Tr" ' ^^-^^^'-^^ --^ --- ^- ^ ^ave remediesofi.nH.nlTu ; 't J "T""' ' ' ''''' "«' "^^^ ^''« «"d i'-r 1 ( ; 28 independent of the medicine. I have known the tincture of opium (laudanum) to be administered, in numberless cases, until twelve and jnore ounces have been given in less than twelve hours, without any beneficial effect, but rather the contrary. Every man, however ignorant in other matters, and even in common education, seems to think that the know- ledge of doctoring a horse is born in him, and is quite insulted if you quietly question his abilities on that subject ; and the more ignorant of all other things he is, the more he pretends to know of the horse. The same man if upbraided for his ignorance in not knowing Greek, or in not knowing how to repair the broken works of a watch, would complacently reply that he was not a watchmaker or a Greek scholar, and not reproach himself for his want of knowledge in these matters. But the same individual considers that he knows all about the horse, and that it is a reproach to his manliness if he confesses that he has not that knowledge ; wher^^s the animal is constructed in such a marvellous manner, that all the watches and chronometers ever made or to be made are as proper to be compared with the digestiv^ functions and other parts of the animal economy, as a child's toy cart with the most elaborately constructed railway engine. I have seen almost every kind of thing put down the throat of the unfortunate and long-suffering animal, from raw salt pork and herring ! ! to petroleum lamp oil, and the country practitioner has frequently as much trouble to get rid of the effects of the nauseous subjects administered before his arrival as to cure the complaint. The treatment for a grown horse is, hydrate of chloral four drams, sweet Spirits of nitre one ounce, to be given in six ounces of olive (sweet) oil, and to be repeated in half an hour, if necessary. The necessity, however, for the repetition of the dose occurs very rarely indeed. For horses subject to this disorder the hydrate of chloral can be made into a pill, or ball, with six drams of nitre and a sufficiency of linseed meal and honey to form a consistent mass ; these can be carried in the pocket, and may be the means of saving the animal from a fatal attack of inflammation of the bowels, by curing the attack of colic. 29 I, CHAPTER IV. FLATULENT COLIC- COUGH. -CASTRATION.- CANKER. Flatulent Colic—This is termed windy colic by more euphem- .S.C wruers and unless checked, results in what is termed Tympanith vh.ch s.gn,fies that the bowels are so full of gas that on beating'glTy on the external parts they are found tense, like a drum <'blort''Z" "' 'y^'T- ^"''^ '^ '"d'-gestion; in cattle it is called the veJetahle i' "" i '" '""^^ ^^'^"^"^'y ^y ^•^«''- ^^--king into a vegetable garden or a field of green maize (Indian corn). The food tTonand hril ° .'^ "^'^ '^^'^ °' ^'^^ ^^^'"^^'^ ^^^^^^ ^ermenta- r fills the ?'''"r' °;"''°" '' '''- ^^ ^^^ g- •« ^°™^d it gradu- anLa h ^^"!"^\^"^ ^'^^ '"^^^tines, and, if not soon relieved, the res! is tl.?" T'f " "■"' ^'""^^ ^'^^ '"^--' ^--^^'-. -d the equally fatal, suffocation may ensue. extern°a!i?!hf '"".'k" "' ''' ^"' ^"^ "'^'^^ '^ '^ "°^ >'^' observable sition ^ at 1 T' T "°' "^'^ '"'°^'"^^' by ■"^"^'"g the suppo- onhf wk as' T"" .'•'''" '^"'^^''^ "'" ^'- balance himself .ntestnes as aso 'T°'r ""''''' ^""'""^^ "'" ^e heard in the mtestmes as also m col.c of a spasmodic kind, and in this as in al> sru^d^:tnfi::r'°"" '- '''--' ^^'"^^'^^-^^ yar^oMhTanU siiould be confined on some soft place, otherwise in his rollings and t»mbhngs he may cause an internal rupture. ^ ate of^r^ril""?' 'f1"'''''''°" °f °"«°"nce and a-half of the carbon- fa rep^^^^^^^ ^'''' "•" ''' - - '•--ediate relief, ta the lut o re °^ ' I" ''''" '"'""*'^- ^'^^"•d ^be gas not pass off by . d In case The'J" u """ "' ^" '°"^ °^ ^^°' ^^e trocar must be o lorSe of IW . "' "° '''^°"^^^ ^'^ ^'"'"°"'-. ^ -^ak solution water hit he . ^°"' ^easpoonful of chloride of lime to one pint of the^e be no one Tu '° '' '^^^^"^'- ^"^^"'^ ^^ese be ineffectual and I \ 30 rush ; keep the hole open, if possible, by inserting a hollow tube — such as a hollow cane or piece of elder— until the gas has all escaped, and the wounds will close themselves by their natural elasticity. The trocar should be inserted, or the cut with the knife made, on the left side about three and a-half inches l>e/o7ei and anteriorly from the hip bone ; however, when the distention has assumed the form of Tympanitis, it is very hard for the most skillful practitioner to be particular to an inch, on account of the enlargement of the parts. No fatal resu ts in such cases have ever been recorded to my knowledge and by any reliable authority, which is more strange, because the peritoneum must be pierced to reach the intestine, and injuries to the covering in other places frequently superinduce Peritonitis, a most difficult disease to treat successfully. Cough, Chronic. — This is generally the result of a cold improperly treated, although it may possibly, in some cases, be the sequel of a bad attack of bronchitis or other disease of the pulmonary organs, by which an abnormal action has been induced in the trachea, causing either a thickening of the coats or a subacute inflammatory action, and, con- sequently, a tickling sensation, to be relieved only by coughing. It may, of course, be the consequence of broken wind. The seat of the disorder is in the trachea (windpipe), or in its branches — the bronchial tulf:s. The symptoms of chronic cough are self-evident, and sometimes it may seem to the owner, after his long, careful and judicious treatment, that it has been cured. Much to his dismay, however, after a longer or a shorter period has elapsed, the symptoms may return in another form, that is, in the form of that disorder termed " roaring." This result may especially be induced by putting the animal to very hard work. Many owners do not detect and realize that a cough has become chronic until it is too late for any one to do much in alleviation of the disorder, as after a cold accompanied by co:igh, the cold being cured, the owner daily im- agines that the cough will go away, when it really has, unfortunately, come to stay. Treatment. — The treatment of chronic cough is, as a rule, most unsatisfactory. When once the cough has thoroughly taken hold, it may truly be said that the case is almost, if not quite, hopeless. Its severity may, however, be reduced by topical external remedies ; but the chief reliance is to be placed upon the care proper to be exercised in dieting, o.nd attention to all hygienic rules. The treatment, such as it is, varies little, whether the attack is periodical or permanently constitutional. • tube — such as :aped, and the le trocar should ibout three and ever, when the r hard for the account of the lave ever been vhich is more the intestine, y superinduce old improperly equel of a bad ^ans, by which causing either ;tion, and, con- ;hing. It may, of the disorder the bronchial and sometimes ious treatment, jr a longer or a another form, his result may work. Many ; chronic until isorder, as after wner daily im- , unfortunately. 31 . , Should hovvever, the attack be periodical, a mild blister over the trachea, with the administration of tartar emetic one scruple, opium ten grains made up into a pill, with powdered liquorice root and balsam of tolu, is sometmies effectual enough. The ball should be given for four days, and at an interval of a week for another two days. The horse should be care- fully watched so that he does not take coid, and his drinking water should be chilled ; the water, also, should be given him only at regular intervals, and in small quantities at a time. The oats and hay should be thoroughly clean and freed from dust, and it is well to dampen the oats before giving hem. But, like all other chronic disorders, the hope of cuHn. a thoroughly established case is almost infinitesimal. CastPation.-This operation consists in removing the testicles of the male horse, and consequently destroying his reproductive powers- n uire Tnf '"^h' k'"' '" ' ''''"" ^'^'^"^ ^'^ ^^^ ^ ^ -'-ous man for r Ml /•'"' "" T' ^°"''' "^'' ^""^^^^-tly, of more use to man for nding, driving, and for draught purposes. The usual age proper to castrate a stallion is twelve months ; there are. however, a great number of exceptions to this rule. If a horse is weak with regard to the con ormation o his shoulders, or even lightly formed in that region he houid not be castrated at twelve months, but he should be al owei to r main entire until the shoulders are reasonably well developed. On the other hand, many colts are too heavy in their forehands, and with such eTet^ilLearf • r","' hunters, should be allowed to remain entire until at least their fourth year, and this j)ractice has been pursued tr^'rmadotr ' T' ""'''' ^"' Roadsters, and always has r'esuU d who wercat'ted V \"™'' '' ""^"^'^^ ^^^^ >---)' ^^an in those Who were castrated earlier in their youth. Undoubtedly, if the horse has C Lee? ' oJh '" ''""^ '^"^ '''''' '« ^^-y^ - -ore solid and (other things being equal) superior ttlTof itttet™ J: '^rS of yearling colts ,t is found impossible to castrate them as the testTc Is ^;zr^T 'r ''' ^^^^""^ ^^^^^' ^" -hi^h'cLtir: : c^a.;and^;e^^t^=Cr ^-;- i-^ 32 both countries, either by ordinary ligature or by the use of the ecrasseur, which is a French method, but which has become generally adoptedby all who are or who wish to be thought skilled practitioners. In using the clam and irons, the first thing to do is to make a soft bed of straw, or of some other yielding material ; buckle a broad strap with an iron ring let into it, round each leg at the pastern ; make the standing part of the rope fast to the strap on the near fore-leg, then pass the rope from the near fore- leg through the ring of the strap on the near hind-leg, from there take the rope across and through the ring on the off hind-leg, and bring it forward to the ring on the off fore-leg, pass it again through that ring and across and through the ring on the near fore-leg and bring the end of the rope backwards ready for pulling — the horse now standing on the straw or dung heap ; let one man stand at his head and the rest all pull. The pull will bring all the legs together, and the man at the same time bearing his weight towards the left, the horse will fall softly on his /e/t side. Then open the scrotum (testicle bag) with the knife ; the opening is to be made at the lowest end, cutting downwards until not only the testicle itself is exposed but also the epididymis, or false testicle above ; then, if operating with the clam and irons, the covering of the testicle and epididymis is to be pushed downwards and the clam fastened above the false testicle. The searing iron, having been brought to a dull white heat, is now to be passed across the clam with a sawing motion, thereby searing off the organ of reproduction. Then after the lapse of a few seconds let up on the screw of the clam, so as to observe whether there is any hemorrhage or not ; if there is, it must be applied again ; if not, proceed in the same way with the other testicle. There will be quite a little swelling the next day, but the only precaution to be taken is to keep the horse indoors, so - that he will not catch cold, and to foment the swollen parts with water, slightly warmed, in which a half ounce of alumen and a half ounce of borax has been dissolved. Nevertheless, his diet should be attended to, the corn being reduced to a quarter of his usual allowance and previously scalded, one bran mash a day being given, and the chill should be taken off the water. In operating with the wooden clams the only difference is, that, on the clams being applied as above directed, the knife is then used instead of the red hot iron, and the clams, whose grooves have been previously filled with a mixture of one part of corrosive sublimate and three parts of the red oxide of mercury, are to be allowed to remain on. until twenty-four hours after the operation, when the waxed twine, which of the ecrasseur, lly adopted.by all s. In using the ;d of straw, or of an iron ring let y part of the rope rom the near fore- ileg, from there :he off hind-leg, "ore-leg, pass it Dugh the ring rope backwards \r or dung heap ; he pull will bring earing his weight side. Then open is to be made at testicle itself is then, if, operating i epididymis is to false testicle. The !at, is now to be iy searing off the seconds let up on 3 any hemorrhage oceed in the same swelling the next ; horse indoors, so - parts with water* i a half ounce of lid be attended to, ice and previously 11 should be taken only difference is, knife is then used •ooves have been ive sublimate and )wcd io remain on axed twine, which 4 33 secure them at one end. is to be cut and the clams removed The method of castratmg by means of the ecrasseur is simply thTof to J on the same principle as that of ligating the scrotum wUh a a^^rd as frequently pract ced in the ca-s*. nf Ur. ^ '^"' non-professional^.n. As thiXoTisl ^ foTlC? it t recommend them to use the American plan of the c am TmH r ^"^ They can always get the elder wood To make thtrnVr °°^- piece orstrong elder, or any wood having^ '^etntbt;;'^ o^^ht should be about eight or nine inches in length) split it elZVl i centre and take out the pith. Secure one end o id ly bv the '^l cobbler's waxed thin cord and leave the other .nH. u ^. ""^^"^ °^ attached ready to secure ^^^r;.:'::^^^^^^^^^ to be operated on. When the testicle and false testicle are L T the operation, place the open jaws (so to sneak of t ''°''^ '" and bring the open end's as' near t X is 'o ,t" k""'' '"' pmchers, securing them in that position by h lool w xed'c oT' ^^ open end. I consider this last method by L the best Ir is s , '' ''Z .n my opinion, a horse so castrated is not so Hable io Ifr ^'TV"'' such as lockjaw, as he is by the other methods-e pe ctl y " in t. "^^' of operation by the ecrasseur. The reasons for !hf<= '^'' fitted for professional argument than for a book of th 7'"'" • '" "°" care is to be taken in the operation of castnttn ^^^"'P"""" Great is used, that the spermatic cord shol rrp;.l e7 ''''' "^''"'^ is occasionally done with the idea 0,1. Tf ""' '"■"""^- ^^'"'^ possible, and accounts in ^ y case oTfh ^ '''"^ " '^'^'^ "P - (Tetanus). The cause of th^Tppearance of v '^''""^'^^ "' ^"^^J^^ is generally attributed to cat;hing'coTdo;un ^ ^"^' ^^-^ the use of the knife, etc. Catchinrcold in 't " ! r^''''"'' '" without doubt, bring .n tetanus, as'w ilth shockTn a h '"" f' excessive nervous irritability. Some horsL for . '" °^ "" momentaryconvulsionsatthetimeresnerV '"''' ^^" '"'« I attribute the acquisition of loc^U^ n'lh ^ "'"' " '"''^'- ^"^ notion of pulling down on the cordis "^ ' '"'"' '° '^^' ^°°l'"«h spermatic "erveUdripX^^.-^^^^^^^^^^^^ the for farmers to understand and undertake fh;« ^'^.''•'^"y- It is well There are so many carvers anT eMe^ /^^^^^^^^^^^ spring that, excepting in the case of valuable animas ^^^^^ '^'^^ titioner, are seldom asked t. perform thi operatir Th ''T/ ^'^^ course, do the job for three o four shilhWaTdhr"- ' °^ sn"»»gs, and having no responsibility }l I ' 34 and no professional character f^ I • • - .o .he after res,,,. „f ,: eT;:;^,;' '^ ->'" of indifference .„ .„e„ hm.se f and did „„, do i, p't^'' "■!' ''^P"f»™ed .he operation reliable persons, ha. ou.we,un'f'„''7^ been ,a,e,y i„f„4,, ™" operation of castration among the or,),y 1 "'"'■ °" "''^ inches the ,^l--; in fac, mnch .he "!,!» a" „ ^f "" " '"'"""''' ^^ 'es..cles are simply cu, off, and thev a ^ n' T °^ "'""' '«'"', rtose wonder argtting by analogy, .ha^.l e sitTdt'" ™" ""^ " ^^ ^ case of boar p.g, ,ha„ („ „ '"^ ^"ould be no nore d=nger in the .'0" IS much the same. Thett,rv oT"' '' """ ""'•■"""^oal 'on "re a clot and stopping the heinorrhSn '°''" ■■ '""""'■ "'"'"y formi" same ,n the horse, al„ys supposfnV '''i ""■ '^"y ^"ould i. no, |>e ,he' bear to young practitioners, not iJtZl, ' "P"^"™ '^ "'" "e wel human being and the animal, isl „ f", "P^«- Cancer, both in the primary origin, its incubato,; t^' and ?'"."' "''"'=• "<'* -' >o I's Some advocate the knife, »hichi?o„t;r ■"" "=""= of ,rea,men "old .he germ-in-rheWd theo y ° d h"'""^ P"'"""'"^ ^ =ome, aga.n on .ha. fluid. My opinion, sSinrfro^'^'™' "' =-*oate it by'acS cancer ,s undo„b,edly due o poisofo " ' """'""' "'""Poin^ is >ha* "-es. in .he blood, which :::z:^'z:^T X^'f ^ 35 to some given local part of the body, and that therefore it requires both the knife and medicines alterative to the constituency of the blood for its erad.cat.on. Moreover, I consider that canker in the foot is cancer or at all events, a disease of a cancerous nature. Canker in the foot of a horse when thoroughly established has all the appearances, with the same symptoms, that it has in the human subject, and ends, if not checked in the same way, that is, in a degeneration and disintegration of the parts actmg m a Phagedenic (spreading) form, and resulting fatally by I'yoemia (blood-poisoning). Canker is the result of Thrush of a virulent nature and which has either been badly treated or which has, by its destructive power, refused to yield to the medical remedies prescribed for its allevia- tion and cure. The first thing on seeing the case is to excise with the kn.fe all presentations of fungus (proud flesh), and then to apply to the parts a mixture of hydrochloric acid one ounce, carbolic acid two drams • or, hotter still, a powder composed of sulphate of copper one ounce' arsenic two drams, powdered prepared chalk one ounce. Sprinkle this' over the parts, and if the disease has eaten in towards the coffin-bone the powder must be pressed in to all the parts affected. Generally it breaks out on different parts of the sole and at the frog, and so penetrates into he foot, even to the coffin bone, before being checked ; the powder or liquid must touch all diseased parts, being forced inwards on cotton wool or even oakum, by a spatula, and all proud flesh must be pared until it s/iews blood. This application must be made at least twice a day and the foot , mst be dressed so that the remedy is kept in contact with the diseased surface. Internally, one dram of sulphate of iron, one dram and a-half of powdered gentian, three grains of arsenic, and four drams of powdered liquorice root, must be administered morning and evening until the disease shews signs of amendment, when the arsenic can be dropped and one dram of Canadian Golden Seal (Hydrastis Canadensis) IS to substituted in lieu thereof. Bran ma.^h every other day, corn one- fourth part only of usual quantity, //.^/y of fresh air and a clean stable This treatment, with due attention to clean dressings, will effect a cure A good plan is to put on a shoe, lightly tacked, made in such a way that a piece or wood, or, better still, a piece of zinc can be slipped in and out Uy this means the dressings can be kept in apposition to the diseased surface, especially if a thick, clean cloth is pushed in gently, so as to wedge the dressing, gently upwards and inwards. II I 36 CHAPTER V CORNS. COFFIN JOINT.- CONTRACTION ^^ couch" xJia' '^'^ ^'^ ^*^^««"- Corns.— These deposits in tli« k^ in the human subject. I^m „ h^^^^^^^^^^ to those originally are deposits in the form of / "'T ' "" '''« "^^'^^ they rorm differs in the horse fromh.t f^f^^' ''r- ^'"^-S^ thei!: result from tlie same cause that s nr "' '"" '^''^ undoubtedly great, and, probably through iceLntcr'" ^ '"' '''' ^'^' '« ^-te al the man. ^ '"cessant action, greater than in the case of Causes.— The cause of a corn ;' ^°^°^' 'ts Before this is seen, however. reneUl. s" ," '"u""^ '' ''' ^-"• shewn by the animal as to con^n ^ I olnt';;:. ''""T' ""' '' ^'rong. In great numbers of cases the cnr! .^^-^^thmg is very animal has had all his leg. shoulde etr VT ^°°'''^ ''' ""''' the • the ^ownward. and was deligltfulirbHr^lLT^^^^^^ ''' ^'^"'^-^ bad m^.M/../ that he went stumpy in fl^^u- ^" ^"'"'"^^^ ^^^ «° have induced anyone to imagine Zt he w r /''' '"'^'^' ^^^^ ^^^'V by his action. I ..d him'^ken t': Zi?;, r hI ^'"'^^•■"^i ''^^^ ^ !,n5un immeaiately, as 1 37 suspected corns, and on examination, by cutting down with tiie drawing knife, we found a fine specimen of corn in each fore foot, which was duly treated, and m a short time the horse was discharged perfectly sound I must, liowever, say, in justice to my predecessors in the case, that, as is generally the case, neither of the corns was evident until cut down ujjon Ihis fact, however, hardly justifies them, as it was their duty to have suspected the presence of corns, and therefore to have searched for them Sometmies the corn is situated in the hollow of the sole, close to the bar of the frog. Lameness is always present in a greater or less degree and the manner m which the horse flinches when on rough and uneven roads especially if he should happen to tread on a stone, should place the seat of disease beyond doubt to the mind of anyone of a reasonably observant nature. Treatment.—Som^ people have used the actual cautery (red hot iron), but this method of cure is to be deprecated. The cure is to cut down until blood is apparent and then to apply by means of tow or a portion of lint, the following preparation :-Oil of tar, two ounces • hydrochloric acid, one ounce. This will finish the case, always supposing hat the pus has not extended itself, as it frequently does, along the sole If this should be the case, it must be let out with the knife and properly poulticed with linseed meal, to. which a few drops of carbolic acid have been added, and then healed by applications of oil of tar one ounce carbolic acid half a scruple. The fact of the extended secretion of the pus under the sole can soon be detected by the tenderness evinced by the animal under any slight pressure. It is of no use, however, to cure the horse unless, m re-shoeing him, some regard is not had to the causes which produced the disease. If the shoe is put on in the former manner without parmgout the heels, in a short time, the horse will be as bad as he was before. The hoof should be soaked in warm water three times a day, and after doing this it must be sponged in, out, and all over with a portion of the following preparation :-Oil of tar, three ounces ; common turpentine, one ounce; sperm (whale) oil, twelve ounces. This will soften the hoof and help it to throw its pores open. The heel of the shoe should be thinned oflF on the affected side and the heels rasped so that they do not touch the shoe. Should the horse's heels have become thickened and hard, then an endeavor must be made to soften them by putting on the poultice boot and renewing the poultices frequently. A bar shoe, with leather sole, is absnlntplv n'»''''=sT" "'V>»n *K , ., ., /. , ^ ' ""•' -^ ''"^n iHc turns are on both sides of the footj and, in my opinion, the bar shoe and leather sole ill l!l should be used ^^ should U-, expandeTb?!,"""'' " ""'>■ ""« com The h , The aftcT treatmem '"'^""°" """le for the „i, r I ' """' l* '"•^ been ex.raced, by Dol "' '" ^' Whad after" i ,h! '^ Ef — ---rite 1 1;-'''^- --- ' ^^'"^ ^^'■y rarely seen Coffin Joint, Strain nr n •' ™os,ly confined ,„ ,l,e ,"„ f",'"'* '""^» or ,c„d„„ " u! ?'■ °'' Symptoms Heat at fh h wt':oTetf..'Tr'' ^» i'«Mh:r:f r •;;' "--• p^""^- i» appare„r ,r,r° '""' ^'""P^und o„°JsHe ^T ''"""'"K- ^'d ^ea. Of he „ " .■"l^ ^^^ he will Icnuckle overt si '" ""= '^"="=- accus,o„,ed, od e '.hr"' "=-<'-"■-, app r f .: "T"" *« *= ".e «a, Of ,a„,e„e« b/.L : ,1 T Tn.red" ." ''eels are, or •ressure (the Sometimes a et. This is the internal this is tiue - abnormal 'he sensible d, must be oiil matter. oil of tar, 'he matter "orns are, ^rely seen ' arises as - name is )"'•>', or, e injury into the e joints affected ertread- netimes I'hich is re, and L>y the seen in lat the ' when lainftil e the :, and eness t the lo is 1 to anyone who luis seen even only one case before. It is like a great many other things,— when a person has once seen the manner in which the horse acts he cmuof mistake ii again ; but I really cannot explain the exact action on paper, any more than I can describe the color violet except by saying that it is violet. ' 7>M//«^;//.— Poultice the whole hoof continuously after removing the shoe. Before doing so, however, bleed freely from the toe as described before, under Bleeding. Give one of these powders morning and evening should the pulse run high and the schneiderian membrane (membrane of the nose) appear of a scarlet color instead of its natural pink :-Bicarbonate of soda, nitre, bitartrate of potash, each three drams- half allowance of oats and bran mash. This treatment, carefully and patiently followed out, in combination with rest and quiet, will effect a certain cure. If this is not effectual, use the Biniodide Blister round the coronet, but do not allow the Blister to touch the heels. It may here further be said that all horses having a thin sole and hoof are more liable to this in- jury than those others the component parts of whose hoofs are of greater tenacity. ° Contraction.— Some few horses have an hereditary tendency to contraction of the heels These are those kind of animals either one of whose parents were afflicted with narrow ■ deformed feet, or whose hoofs were of a morbidly dry and brittl' uisteacy. In some cases the much- to-be-reprehended custom of f.anng the frog (thereby destroying the elas- ticity ul the foot and producing abnormal concussion) is the cause of con- tracted heels. And here I may say, once for all, that no owner of a horse should allow the blacksmith to touch the frog, unless it may be to take off any ragged edges or abnormal growths. The practice, also, of blacksmiths applying the red-hot shoe to the foot, in order to save their work in paring, is another ^ ry fruitful cause of this disorder. This custom like- wise should not be permitted by the owner. The blacksmitl- n these cases, burns into the hoof with the red hot shoe, leaving its impress, and cuts and pares round the mark left until the hoof is brought to the shape of the shoe, the direct opposite of what he should do. The shoe should be made, and, if necessary, altered, and re-altered, until it fits the foot ; but this, in many cases, causes more work than is agreeable to the smith • consequently, instead of fitting the shoe to suit the foot, he fits the foot to suit the shoe. Again, the application of the red-hot shoe tends to r.nntrr.ct the horn, thereby closing the pores uf the hoof. The conse- quence IS a dry and brittle hoof, and hard heels, with all the unfortunate •t!;| n ^ 40 'gnorance or carelessness of "; bla tmfth" V' '^ ^""^"^^^ ^° ^^e kn,fe too fredy on the sole. They oare ' '' ^" "^'"^ °^ '^^ drawing. «ee if it will yield, and do noZlT/"'^\^' '^' ^°'^' 'Numbing it to sole bends under pressure of tZ'^T^'^^' ^-'"^^ -rk untU the ■^e only „.oderately pared, otherwis contra " TT^' '''' ^°'^ ^"^-"'^ '•es^lt- ^ contraction of the heels will be the Treat tnent. — Soak dailv ' i, •^hoof as recommended fl'l'" ''T,\ ""' """'^ '"= ''--■"8 for EH as ,h„s, and put „„ , ^ar shoe Ifter f '' T """" *= ™™"" It .s necessary ,„ attend also to he « 71'^'"^ "'^ '''^'^ "^iightly. ■he system is feverish the hoof 'ill r'"" "' "'^ ••">'"""■« if '""'^-;'';;''-'"«°rp^:e,;;r;rs;e:d;':::e:"' '^"-"^ '-" -« or beas", byTotn^e^b^^ly tThoulr'"""' "' "'"^ '"^-™< "■ "an pores, in whatever manner, is the cl" ' J^ M "^f^ '^^ Perspiratory managed in many differen ways somet^nel^- '^'"' °' ^°"^^^' "^^^ be frequently through carelessness ^ r^or i T' '"'''"^' '"^ ""-^ •" - state of perspiration, is taken to ^''"^ driven, and being standing, while his master goes „" 1 'T l'^""' ""' '^''^'^ -"d left frequently not so much as a Z " hr '" ""'' "^"^'"^^^ ^' P'^asure!- t -t the cold air causes the por of r T ''"• ''' -^us^-^ncl is t e perspiratory matter is thrown "wa d and" '" ""^"'^^ ^"^ ^'-e, and of some organ, is evinced in the 1 iniri k' ''"^"""^ ^^e mucous lining pn«.arily, through the sympathe i S.Hf ,:::^ -^^ ''' "^^"'^ -^ -se Ihe lungs of a horse being very senlve '''^""'"S ™"cous membrane, the stomach, are easily affected by anv 'hLo I" "'''' '^°"''S"'^>' ^'^h organ. An animal thoroughly heaL bv a ? ?'"'" '^^"^^^ '" ^^at up andg.ven a large drink of'cold late' th 7' 'T' '' ^"^ '^ P""^d ing double work are in a state of ,Wn u "=' ^""'"^ l^^^" Perform- stomach by its reflex action uesaTinten"' '"' ^'^ ^"'^ ^^^^ '" ^"^ organs,--a shock almost as great Is wouldt. '°"f '"''^ ^'^^^'^ ^« ^hese pour the cold water on the ub^^ e o? T T'' "' " "^^ P^-'^'e to uDstance 01 the lungs themselves. The 41 result is sometimes simply a cold, generally, however, a congestive chill, followed by Pneumonia (Inflammation of the Lungs). A cold in its primary stages is very easy to cure, but the stages from a c^ld to a fatal disease are so very undefined, and so rapid in their mode of action, that it is better to pay serious attention to a slight cold, than to risk the con- sequence of letting it run, on the chance of its curing itself, as some say. A cold is more usually experienced by horses in the spring and autumn, on account of the weak and relaxed state of their system, through the biennial shedding of their coats, and generally, also, from the owner making no allowance for this law of the animal economy, and working them just as hardly as he would at any other time of the year. The general vitality of the system is greatly lowered during the time this process is going on, and the pores of the skin consequently lose much of their contractile qualities. They, therefore, sweat more easily than when in their normal con- dition of health, sweating excessively being always a sign of weakness of the system. When the animals are in this state they will take cold by standing in a draughfor otherwise, by which another horse would not be affected. Again, they are more liable to the serious results of colds in the spring than they are in the autumn, In the spring they are full of feed, and consequently in a gross condition ; whereas in the autumn they are hard from their daily summer's work. Badly ventilated stables and care- lessness with regard to clothing,— for instance, putting two or three rugs on on one night, and only one on the next,— this is another cause of a cold. The drying up by the heat of the blood of the mucous secretion on the membrane of the Trachea is the cause of a cold in the same manner as the secretion on the Pleura is dried, thereby causing adhesion of the Pleura to the Ribs, Lungs or Diaphragm. The horse whose Tracheal membrane is affected in this manner will take a cold ; the horse whose Pleura is adhesive to any of the large organs r^entioned will take Pneu- monia (Inflammation of the Lungs). Symptoms.— Tht symptoms of a cold are self-evident. Running from the nose and eyes, cough, and frequently a staring coat ; the eyes also are dull, languid, and sometimes red ; the patient is more or less off bis feed ; pulse slightly feverish. Treatment.— Good nursing is the best kind of treatment. A warm stable, warm clothing, and pure air are the best medicines known in these as in many other cases. The horse should be steamed, by boiling hay until steam rises and then placing the steaming hay in a nose-bag with a little III iM l\^' '?!, 'Ik Hi '■I 42 «r, and allowing the steam tr. ., ">ro«„g a rug over all. Give linLd ^ . u """'"• ""= "«'*. and Muple of handfiils of scalded „,,, ""'' '''^" ""shes ho,, „',l, a one of these p„„ders, ^or'it ^^h °" ■'"' "' '"= ""'''>. -d in , e" ,h powdered genua,,, gi^r a d^suTpt rTf ' '""""■'= <" •■™". °- dr^ J """ce. Keep ,he animal free fr„„^^ '. " ,"""" ' "''™™» '»o., half an remedies being followed, a c„"„^n be efff .J'' "'"• ""'' *^'=«'<"- and I' ;s no, ,he cold ,ha, is ,o be dre ded ,f ,"""°"' '"' """"' "o'M^- — ^a, accr. ,hro„gh ^:-Z^X:^l^Z - .^e o.a„s,"S;\rcthl7crdr ;r '^^ -• - -e .-onar, ™co„s s=cre,io„, or, i, Jy ,™^ t, Z"'""'"' '"'"^ "" °f ">e '" >l>e .rachea, bronchial tubes, or even i^^^the, "'T "' '"'"S" l^xiies eases, as m ,he grea, Epiz„o-,ic which oc J""^' 'l-emselves. J„ some «tee„ years ago, ,he Cough as ^11 •.7"' '" "'= """"i ^'a'es aboul "as u„doub,edly caused b/a',mosZic iflL" " ''"""™= "'-""'^d Phenc wave, so ,o speak, was clear yrada"„d'';,', '"' '"f^'^'^'' '"■»''^- A coughmg horse draws in ,he air Juh dlffi '^ "■'" " «"=" ""'■ bome„mes ,he cough is symptomMic ^ T^' """ "P^'^ « "oisily »f the disease c.,usi„g, he co,,gh impL,t '■'■'"« ,ha, ,he removal Agam, when i, is caused by tkl lodgmeL ' r ,rT' °' "" ""'^'' '^^^'f- asdus,, or ,he particle of an oa" fhe cL ^ '^'"«" ^"bs,ance, such -bstance is dislodged, "hereby he irritatif T'l""" """' "" fo-'g" • appears. I,, ,herefore, behoves .L "It'^''^^^ -" "'e cough dfs- whether the cough exists as a disorder o? toelf „ " k ""'" ""* '""""'y on some other abnormal disturbance in , he vst T^""" '' '^ "'P^dent con,„a„, ofa cold, in which case , ,^ uStT f r"*""' '"= "^"^' <=»"■ to be traced to the lungs, the cough igener^ T'J"" ""'^" ""^ 'ause is The cough is very often aggravf ,ed afet , f''" '"'' ''™' '" »u„d. water, „, which case, the lungs are to hf ^°™ ''"' ^"allowed his explained, of the contiguityof "« sto™ T'"'."' '''■ "" "'""'"'' as before tbe lungs. Which are alwayr/n ccouTof ,? "" """""'"' '"-^'o ctr' ^- - - -- -- — rthi: ti^x j- •be ^^sr;;rr::::-:;rd^^^^^^ -" ---^ -« .o ot aqua ammonia fort, (strong i •' 43 spirits of ammonia) three ounces, oil of turpentine one ounce, soap liniment five ounces, tinct. of camphor two ounces, and olive oil seven ounces. This is a very good liniment for ordinary purposes, and should be always kept in the stable, as it is also a good remedy for strains, weak tendons, etc. At the same time the following powders are to be adminis- tered morning and evening: Bicarbonate of soda, nitre, bitartrate of potash, all powdered, of each six ounces ; powdered liquorice root, twelve ounces, and powdered opium, two drams ; mix and divide into twelve powders, give one morning and evening as above directed, and when the cough shows signs of yielding, one a day only. Careful attention is to be given to the clothing of the animal, and he must be kept out of all draughts. His diet should consist of thick oatmeal gruel and bran mash, equal parts, with linseed i. . for his drink. Curb.— Consists of inflammation of the lining membrane of the sheath, through which the back sinew or tendon runs. It shews itself four or five inches . - v the point of the hock, generally not far from the point of the sh * . . muscular attachment. It is caused by blows or more generally by strains, as in jumping with hounds, or otherwise, or by pulling and straining at a heavy load. This disease, moreover, is, with- out doubt, hereditary, and is one of the very few cases in which I believe that the treatment by actual cautery (firing) may be justified. Some horses shew their predisposition to this disease before they actually develop it. These animals are usually more or less cowhocked, lumpy, and coarse-looking in the region of the lower part of the hock and back -sinew. Curb may arise also from a slip, as in rising from the floor of a wet and slippery stable. Sometimes it appears quite suddenly. The lameness occasioned by this disease or injury is neces- sarily very painful. Treafmenf.—Many cases of Curb will yield to the application of a Blister repeated three times with an interval of a week between. First of all, however, the local inflammation must be reduced by hot fomentations frequently applied. Then shave or cut off the hair over the Curb and rub the blister well into the skin, leaving a coating of blister over the Curb about the thickness of half-a crown, and prevent the blister from running down the leg, which it often does ( being melted by the heat of the skin), by securing lightly below the blistered part a light linen bandage previously oiled, the lower part being tied with tape. Twenty-four hours afterwards dress the blistered surface with sweet oil or common lard free 't 44 from salt. With thp f^u ■ effecting a cure/ Ta^tSe^'r ' '''' '"-'■^^'^ ^-eeded in crystals dissolved by alcohol) old "'"' '"° ^''^'^^ ^ >odrne ( „ «n ounce; simple cerate, or .^ d ? e ^ro"" ' .''"''^"'^^ P^-dered ha^f' as directed. Should the r, "" '^''' ^°"^ ounces : mix anH directed under the art cle r .' "°' """'^ ^° ^^'^' ^^en thro,V the . " undoubted remedv h ^"''^"^'°"' ^"d fire the Curb- thTs . '' "' had r ^ '^emedy. J have never failed wfh .i, vT, ' '^ ^ ^"'■e and had I done so. I should have fired n t. T ' ^^''''' J"«^ advised • but horses not only curbed, but tho e of ^ ^ ,' ""'" ^ ^'^^^ '""^ ^^^ a the cases of those where the r k '^^ ^PPearance. were fired 7 -s quite successful. In t e cas^: .f^ ^"''^ ^-^'^p^d.Ihe ope'atio: on account of the curby appe^nce th" "'"' '''' ^urb was suspected ^-^y cases, curbs were fhrown o' 'n ''^^ °P^^^^'°" ^^s a failure Is !n gentlemen used to seem to dlngh „ T '"' ''^" ^'^ °'^^-^'-- Many fired as a preventive to curb, but in no "°"^'"^ ^^'"^^'^ hunters were resuu effectually as a prevem ve. When'ho '' "" ''^ ''^ ^P-^bn ^^-eloped. m all cases a permanent rre^as^S.'^^ '"' ^'' ''^'^y cceeded in iodine (in lered, half' X, and use ■ horse as ^ sure and ^''sed; but e ago, all ired. In operation uspected re. as in Many ers were peration s visibly 45 CHAPTER VI. CONSTIPATION IN SUCKLINGS.-DROPSY. Constipation in Sucklings.— Young colts and fillies are fre- quently troubled with constipation, which occurs during the first few days after their birth. The matter, of course, would be simple enough in the case of older animals. In the case of these young creatures, however, fatal results, very frequently ensue, from the effects of inflammation which is set up by the non-expulsion of the hardened fceces (dung) which is impacted in the rectum (straight gut). With older animals a mild dose of an oily purgative medicine would, together with injections, speedily make all things right. In these young things it would be very dangerous to resort to purgation by any medicines whatever given through the stomach, as that organ would conjointly with the bowels, immediately be attacked with inflammation. In treating young stock of this age and up to the time of weaning, I have always treated them through the mother's milk, that is, supposing such a suckling had a cough, or was feverish, I should then administer febrifuge (anti-fever) medicine to the mother, and the effect of that medicine would be observed in the suckling in a modified form through the milk imbibed from the mother. In these cases the administration of the amount of medicine, as well as the nature of it, which would be necessary to effect an evacuation of the bowels, would be simply equivalent to a sentence of death to the suckling. The treatment is to inject a small portion of sweet oil into the rectum, and after waiting ten minutes or so, then to oil the hand and fingers, whereby it is then possible to introduce the hand, or the fingers at all events, and so remove the hardened balls of dung. That is everything that is wanted in the case. Dropsy takes place in several different organs of the horse. There is Dropsy of the Head (Hydrocephalus), or as it is called in the human subject, "water on the brain"; Dropsy of the 0«/ (Hydro-thorax) ; Dropsy of the Pericardium (bag covering tlie heart) ; Dropsy of the Abdomen (Ascites) ; Dropsy of the Ovaries ; Dropsy of the Testicle (Hy- drocele) ; Dropsy of the Skin (Anasarca). Dropsy is the deposition and infiltration of serum, or water, into one of these organs, or the skin. In the latter case, however, the deposit and infiltration, though referred to the skin, is not in the skin itself, but rather in the cellular tissue lying under the skin. 46 Dropsy is a consequence and nnf o consli,„e„« of ,he blood Lin I'h '''"'■"' "' " '™-- «':■=" the ""> When once .horougl « aoHst'.''"'",!' '"' "^"'"'"^'^ -""!'»" "<" cured, as a general rultti!^^ '== 'TP""")- -""iated but seemingly, ,„ ,ook upon the disease a 'an f"-'"; '^"''- " '' '*" f"*™. of this misapprehension the ffec, is Z°T °"'' ""'' '" ~"»equen« effect; for instance, tapping fir''' v't °f ">=-»« of the "ecessary enough at its proper ti™"",? i ,',, " "'" ^"""S'' ""^ been ascertained and propirlv X^H H '=''"* "' *^ *'^ease had substance could have been abfo^H 1 u°''" "" P™''^'''''')' "-e watery si.y for the operation of altg A "k7°"" """ """ "" -ces torpidity of the absorbents Ts the chief ""'"'"''"''•'"• ''"d consequent ■•" ".e ra. id manner that it Is and t """ 'k .' "" "'" -cumulates caused by an impoverished and Vnhrl. "^ """>" '' "-doubtedly original cause of this d ^l^ed cl* 'n' ^T"'"" "' "" """"'■ ^e Senerally, to the suppression of so^eTth"/ ""'' ""'■" ""^ "^ "^"^ed, -on of urine, of .he lacteal fluid „, "theT""''"'"'™^- "^^"'''■ condition of the blood. Again lot cL? I "' "'" P™<'"« this exhalants, suppression anf "oi^s oZ t't"'''""''"'' ■•""•>' "^ "> discharges, obstructions of TheTungs bv o "* """*' °' ""f''^' certainty, effect a more or lessH^ '^ . """"" °' '"'°'^<" """. «o a Ponents of the blood ; and so the r'°"^?.'=°"'""°" "' '"= """ com- '0 produce such disea'srasTumr::.?^ toZ' ' '"' '"^ « '™^-'^ head,^^s"d:,f^rattifrs;r"sr-f''"''--^'°- °" -^^ other organ already alTected ilrone ?'. •'^T"'""= ""''"" "i* some disease in which the absorb'enTs' have ost ',"; "'"'' ''— "' °f sorre influenza, erysipelas, etc Sli2 lo™! « '°"'=' =■"=" "= epi^oSlic niay produce a de^ession I'f Ln ! ",f ""'"'.°"' "^ "'"'"" ^^"==' P'essure of small tumors or erd'ce's' XmL'^r ^^ '^^ ^angstrt:rd-:;;\h:'r;:'':::^V'^' '"' "'"'■ '-^'"^ ^"". -» 47 for a competent veterinary surgeon, as the disease is quite similar in its symptoms to the primary action in congestion of the brain. If this assist- ance cannot be obtained, cut or shave off the hair on the poll, and beneath and a little behind the ear in a circle about the size of a crown piece, and apply the following blister, well rubbed in :— Take biniodide of mercury, one dram ; cantharides, half an ounce ; iodine (dissolve tlie crystal in alcohol), three drams ; simple cerate, or sweet lard, two ounces and a-half. Then administer (for a full grown horse) raw linseed oil, one pint ; tincture of ginger, one ounce ; iodide of potassium, two drams ; spirits of nitre, two ounces ; mix them together, and at the moment the head is held up for administration, add 'o the mixture powdered Barbadoes aloes, seven drams ; do not put the aloes in until you are ready to give the medicine, as it should not be allowed time to sink down through the oil to the bottom of the horn or bottle. Very little hay should be given, but bran mashes and a handful of scalded oats may be allowed. The chill should be taken off the drin'cng water, or he may be allowed, hay tea. Dropsy of the Heart.- Here, again, is a misnomer, as the heart itself is not the subject of Dropsy, according to my experience, but the sac or bag which envelops that organ is the seat of this disorder. Symptoms.—VL&Avy breathing, straddling with forelegs; the animal will not lie down, evidently feeling the pressure of the enlarged pericar- dium on the heart itself, and fearing suffocation. There is also an expression of alarm to be observed in the eye, which is aggravated every time the feeling of oppression is increased. lyeaimettt.—AW treatment is ineffectual in this case. Dropsy of the Abdomen.— (Ascites).— This disease, unlike the former disease just mentioned, is infrequent, happily, in its occurrence. When it does occur, in almost all cases it is practically the ruin of the horse ; at the very best, the horse becomes greatly deteriorated, both as to his pecuniary value, and also as to his general health. It consists of a large accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, or belly. This usually takes place after inflammation of some of the abdominal viscera, and the peri- toneum (the covering of the viscera) is distended, and thus forms a sac or cavity. The water escapes into the cavity by infiltration, and causes a great amount of pressure, tension, and, consequently, more or less irrita- tion ; moreover, by the space taken up by the fluid, a difficulty of breathing is experienced, and this is caused by pressure on the lungs. SM Bi- ■ 48 being passed „„,y i„ s^al ',ua„, hie ,3'""°" °f """'• '^^ -'" the abdomen and struck, the fluera iol „f h " '"'"^ '^ P''"=^<' "" Fat.y films are found i^ Z T' T J u "'" "" ""^ P'='"ly l«ard. «.--e ,„ causing absor^.l^ "f ile"d"4:: (.::;;lr "= '''" "' *» application of a lengthv bli^J """.'='"" "^ " s.yell,as that is evMence ,1 th "'' "°''. ''P'^''""'' '"^' blister we may hope that th o gh thi s iLV' "T' ""■ """ ""«q"e„tly snch an amount of tone as to LtlT^ *' "''°*'"'^ "■">' «»'e most useful functions Take sttohate „;"" '" """" '" '' '""'""" ^'^ "an, golden seal and gi ger t™ o^lce "ZT" """" '"'' ^ "'"■ S^"' juniper berries and nitre two ™nr«.''' "' '""^'"'"" ''' "rams, by mixing with linseed me land I '"' "'"'"' '"" '"^'"^ "all Half an ounce of aml^n 'to eacKp fl'of dlT •"""'"« '"" "-'"«■ and the chill taken off the water TlT^ ! ^^^ """" '= '" ^ «'"en, be thoroughly cleaned and , h \ *°"''' "^ '"=^'''=''' ^"d >'h°"Id also, shoufd L ,b:t;;;i:, ':::T,zzr °*." ''^^^ ^".^ ^^- a.way!7aro'nda'!;%t?:/:;r:"°-)-T^'= a-^ec.iou, again, is of all dropsical attacks tnthf T^ """""' " '"P^venes, as stated of inflamtSation. a din ah, ost^eyeT^ '"^f ">" "'"P^^' "«"- "■■ack 'he Lungs. Inthiscaseth wien uidha? "f "^ '""'"""-"on of of one. but generally andT,?^l ""'"""''"''""'''""'' cayity cbecked.i„bofhof he'plurj ,hem™b' 'T'""^" ""'""' " "<« be and coyering the lungs) T„i ""="""^"= ''"'"«*= walls of the chest in others, fafty and^er s s aTLrrst"::: T""'^ ^'' "' '^^'■' In so,„e cases the rapidity with rtich ,1 „ .7?"''"°" "' Pr^ent, remarkable. The cause is, L Sore stlted In ,L ' ~"''='='' '' ™'' horses, the hounds being i„ mZTl fa, .' Tf °°' '^' °™ mare.beingunabletopass,hrough^^e::tf;:tlrc;rr;•e"c: 49 of a lady rider and her horse, who were trying to get through, jumped clean off the bridge into the brook, much to my disgust, as it was very cold; the run was continued and she seemed all right when she was load- ed in the evening in the horse-box for town ; a day or so after, hydro-thorax set in after a very slight attack of pneumonia, and ended fatally. I was not then in practice, and the surgeon called in could do nothing effectu- ally for her, although he had her under his treatme.it for some days. Symptoms. — \)\^c\\\\.y in breathing, the Pleurae being involved; the affected animal breathes in a kind of a jerking manner, similarly, and on the same principle as the cough is re|)ressed with a jerk in pleurisy. As in all cases where the suffocating feeling is experienced by the animal through any kind of pressure on the pulmonary organs, the animal stands with his forelegs well apart, and for the same reason he is afraid to lie down. A gurgling noise may also be detected in the chest, consequent upon the dilation of the lungs, through the inhalation of air in the act of breathing. If this disease should be caused, as it is in many cases, from poverty of food, cold and damp stables, and general inattention to the care of the animal, and all this accumulation of evils should act upon a debilitated or wasting constitution, then hydro-thorax may take place with- out much inflammatory action occurring, or, at all events, without it being taken much notice of; and, consequently, the horse will continue to be worked, and in these cases it is generally slow work to cure the disease, the complaint quietly and insidiously undermining the health and con- stitution, until death mercifully puts an end to his sufferings. In these latter cases, after death the lungs are found to be smaller than their natural size ; this results from these organs having contracted through pressure. There is, in the case of well-nourished animals, a strong hope to be entertained by the owner that the natural forces, with a little assist- ance, may be brought to reassert themselves, and a cure may be effected by the renewal of the power and tone of the absorbents. In all cases of animals badly nourished and worse cared for, even this hope is hardly allowable. Treatment.— Iht operation termed Tapping should be performed at once. The reason that many cases prove fatal after this operation has been performed is that, as a rule, it is put off until too late to be of any service. The operation is performed with the trocar and canula, the puncture being made through the cartilages of the ribs (generally between the seventh and tenth rib), and the trocar being withdrawn the fluid fW U]>>1 , 50 escapes through the canula, which should, however, be cleansed occasion- ally by the introduction of a thin piece of whalebone, as otherwise the coagulable matters will probably choke it up and j.r.-vent the exit of the fluid. After tapping one side, then operate on the other, taking care that the incision in the skin should be made so that the skin w.ll, after the withdrawal of the canula, cover the wound, for which purpose the skin should be drawn either forward or backward from the site of the puncture I only speak cursorily on this operation, as in the event of it having to be performed it is most advisable for the owner to oi,;ain the services of a reliable practitioner, as it is quite possible for an unskilled person to wound the apex of the heart, or to allow the air to have access to the pleural cavity, in either of which cases it is almost unnecessary to say that a fatal result would ensue. The medicinal treatment is to give sulphate of iron, two ounces ; nitrate, two ounces ; goldenseal and gentian, one ounce; iodide of potassium, six drams; linseed meal, five ounces; pulverized black antimony, one ounce and a-half ; mix and divide into twelve powder-^ Give one morning and evening. It is best in these cases to put each powder into just enough water to maW it liquid, and to pour it down his throat, as by this meanc we are certain that he gets his medicine, whereas by putting It damped into the feed more or less is left, which fact, although of no importance in some slight cases, such as cold, etc., still in a danger- ous case like this is of great importance, as every medicinal assistance is required, and, therefore, every grain prescribed should be administered Some horses are also very cunning and will shake as much as possible of the powder from off their feed before consuming it. Apply a blister composed of biniodide af mercury, three drams ; cantharides, powdered SIX drams ; iodine in crystals (dissolved), four drams ; and lard (sweet) oi- simple cerate, six ounces. This blister is to be rubbed in on each side on a space four inches square, just behind and above the elbow. Give linseed tea for drink, and the most nourishing food he will eat If his appetite is bad, ten.pt him with carrots, apples, or even boiled potatoes " Have the legs well hand-rubbed (and afterwards bandaged) at least twice a day, and make the man doing the rubbing use plenty of elbow grease Should there be any trouble in administering the powders in water, then roll each one into a pill with honey and give in that manner. Dropsy of the Skin (Anasarca).-This is a very common complaint and consists of infiltration of a watery fluid into the cellular tissue lying underneath the skin. It usually first makes its appearance =S=^ 51 under the belly, and if not checked runs backwards towards the sheath and forwards between the forelegs. It gradually extends over the whole body, the face and head being sometimes very much enlarged. Its cause is debilitation and want of tone in the absorbents, and the general causes mentioned in this work as to Dropsy of the other parts apply equally to this case. The skin if pressed inwards with the finger will leave an indentation, or, in common parlance, " wind-pit". The remedies are tonics as given for other cases of Dropsy. In these cases, however, there is much less danger of a fatal issue. Gentle exercise should be given with the tonics, and it is advisable in bad cases to scarify the skin— make light incisions with a scalpel. This will relieve the tension of the parts and greatly assist the action of the tonic medicines. Give good sound food, and do not grudge it; take the chill off the drinking water, and above all things, give no purging medicines. Dropsy of the Testicle (Hydrocele).-In this case the liquid deposition IS found in the scrotum (testicle bag) of the st.illion, and as in other cases of Dropsy just treated of, is caused by inflammation in some contiguous parts-by a blow, for instance, on the testicles themselves as m falling at a jump in the hunting field. Inflammation, however, in Iny part of the genito-urinary mechanism will produce this local disorder. ^j/^w/Z^/^.-Enlargement of the Scrotum, and an evident appearance of tiuid therein. Treatment.— The tonic treatment mentioned before in cases of Dropsy IS to be pursued, and the Scrotum tapped with a small trocar Iheflmd having been withdrawn, a watery solution of Iodine is to be thrown into the Scrotum after due cleaning by the inject on of warm water. It is well, also, to support the injured Scrotum by means of a sling, secured over the loins. Diet the same as in other cases of Dropsy l! )earance f i 52 CHAPTER VII. DIARRHCEA.-DYSENTERY. -DIABETES. DISEASE OF THE EYE.-PALSY OF THE OPTIC NERVE. OPHTHALMIA. FILM. Diarrhoea. Sometimes called " scours " by farmers. A looseness of the bowels, caused most frequently by the presence of some foreign or undigested substar ce, which irritates the mucous lining of the intestines ; or it may be caused by a weakness of the absorbent system, in which latter case the absorbents having lost their functional powers, they become unable to take up the watery fluid of the intestines ; in both of these cases extra peristaltic action is set up, and the dung becomes of a more or less liquid consistency. The animal system always obeys a strong law, which causes it to endeavor to throw off any foreign sub stance wherever it is situated. This is shown in the case of a sliver of wood in the skin, as also in the case of indigestible substances either in the stomach or in the alimentary canal ; hence, in a great number of cases an attack of Diarrhoea is to be considered as a curative effort of nature, and should on no account Be suddenly stopped by means of astringents, as such treatment will result in an attack of inflammation of the bowels, and in all probability will cause the loss of the horse. As an example :— Some few years ago, in one of the large cities of America, a certain person had been appointed as a marshal of one of the numerous processions so dear to the American citizen. This individual owned a w/«V(f horse, and to his great loss in the sequel, the animal was taken ill with Diarrhoea the day before that appointed for the show, and being of a white color, the effects of the disorder were unpleasantly conspicuous in the region of his tail. The citizen, to whom in common with the generality of Americans a procession is a matter of solemn importance, especially when he is dressed in costume, immediately sent for a veterinary surgeon, and told him that he wanted the disorder stopped, as it was imperative that he should ride the horse on the morrow in the, procession. The surgeon duly warned him of the risk he ran in suddenly checking the discharge, but the owner was deaf to all remonstrances. The discharge was duly slopped, the valiant citizen rode in the procession, soon after inflammation of the bowels set in, the horse died, and the next procession the citizen rides in will not, it is to be hoped, be of such an expensive nature to him. He, like many other owners of horses, bought his experience very dearly, but the probability is that he, also like many others, will not choose to profit by the lesson. Some horses purge much 63 more easily than others, and should be dieted accordingly. Horses will occasionally scour through nervous excitement, for instance, wlien at a meet with hounds, but in these cases it is only a temporary matter, generally speaking, although such circumstances might give rise to the bowels taking on a morbid lubit, as it is well known that physical habits once contracted in the horse are as hard to eradicate as bad moral habits amongst ourselves. The inordinate use of cathartic medicine may cause Diarrhiea, as may also colds, the suddenly closure of the per- spiratory tubes, and acidity of the stomach. Ulceration of the intestines IS another cause of this disease, as is also -.uy u. .ease of the liver, whereby the bile becomes perverted in its natur,. and is ither redundant, or on the other hand deficient in the constitutati riccess^ y to act effectually on the chyme, and thereby aid its transform.nion intr chyle. Wet or frozen lierbage having strong diuretic qualities is a acLer very common cause of the complaint. Debility of the .system is also a certain and very frequent cause of the complaint. S}'m/>fo>ns.— The chief symptom is self-evident, the dung being passed as a watery discharge, and sometimes even squirted out instead of its having the usual consistency and shape natural to it in health. In ordinary Diarrhcea there is little or no smell in the discharged fluid; sometimes, however, it is fetid, in which case extra care must be taken or It will run into dysentery. The horse is dull and heavy, with a disin- clination to move, but yet is evidently in a state of uneasiness and dis- quietude. There is generally little or no pain, so that doubtless the uneasiness of the animal is to be attributed to the natural feeling of oppressiveness and distention which are characteristic of this disorder. Treatment — The only way we can cure a disease of any kind is to use such curative knowledge as we have, and endeavor to assist the natural forces. The disturbance of the equilibrium of the natural forces IS the sole cause of any disease. Therefore, when the system is evidently trying to relieve itself of something o other which is causing irritation to it, the most common-sense way is to assist the system in its endeavor, and not to run counter to that which it is trying to do, by administering astringents, and thereby checking its means of helping itself. Accord- ingly, I recommend a dose of mild opening medicine immediately, as follows: Raw linseed oil (warmed), one pint and a-ha!f; tincture of ginger, one ounce ; tincture of the muriate of iron, two drams ; sweet spirits of nitre, one ounce ; and watery solution of Barbadoes aloes, four liPi ;\ I h 54 drams ; mix and give warm. I also advise that injections of hot soap- suds, at least a pailful and a-half, be thrown up. The patient is to be warmly clothed, the legs to be well hand-rubbed and bandaged, and plenty of sweet air to be let into the stable. The chill to be taken off his drinking water, and to each half-pail two teacupfuls of rice water is to be added. To make the rice water : Boil the rice and press it through a piece of linen, and the liquid is the rice water required. If the horse is getting weaker, give hot bran mash and scalded oats and drench him two or three times a day (according to the exigencies of the case) with warm ale one pint, flour gmel, not too thick, one pint. The injection also should consist of thin hot flour gruel in each pail, of which an ounce of laudanum and two drams of tincture of catechu should be mixed. This treatment I have always found effectual in ordinary cases. When the discharge begins to be thicker, its natural consistency may be encouraged by tonics. Give sulphate of copper one ounce, golden seal one ounce, powdered cinchona bark three ounces, ginger one and ahalf ounces, linseed meal five ounces and a-half; mix and divide into twelve powders, or if preferable, roll up into pills with honey or treacle; give one morning, noon and evening, until further improvement, and t^hen decrease to morning and evening only. The drink may be changed to thickish linseed tea, and the injections may be stopped. Give also two hours a day walking exercise, one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon, in fine weather, but on no account allow the animal outside in wet or cold weather. Good nursing in this, as indeed in all other dis- eases, ever improves the case, and is of so much importance to the medical treatment, that without it medicines, however good and adapted to the case, will have little or no effect. Dysentery.— May be said to be diarrhoea in an aggravated form and having a typhoid tendency. If diarrhoea attacks an animal which is simply debilitated, it will probably pass away from the patient in that form after proper treatment ; but if the blood constituents have a tendency to purulency, then in that case the simple diarrhoea will run into Dysentery, the irritation being increased and the absorbents still inactive. Sympfoms— The pulse indicates signs of fever. Sometimes, how- ever, the fever is higher than it ;s at other times— colicky pains are requently felt. The foecal discharge is not quite so watery as in Diarrhoea but generally consists of small quantities of dung mixed with blood and mucous matter which is accompanied by a strong and fetid odor. Some- .4i==j 55 times, also, in the efforts of the animal to assist the imaginary discharge, the rectum is protruded and even inverted. The animal is very sore in that locality. Give injections as before, very carefully and gently, and in each pail put thickish flour gruel one pint, watery solution of opium one and a-half ounces. Take tincture muriate of iron three ounces, carbolic acid two scruples, glycerine four ounces, tincture of ginger two ounces, hydrate of chloral one ounce, spirits of nitre three ounces, water eight ounces; give two teaspoonfuls every four hours or oftener if it seems neces- sary. Diet, bran mash, scalded oats, and thick flour grue! in equal quantities, but only a little at the time. If he won't eat then drench him with one pint of good, sound, hot ale, and one pint of thick flour gruel, three times a day. For drink he must only be allowed thick linseed tea. Great attention must be paid to leanliness, both as to sponging the animal clean and then properly drying him, and also as i > the removal from the stable of all fetid discharges, cloths, etc. Good ventilation and attention will generally effect a cure. When he begins to mend, then take him out for exercise as directed in the case of animals convalescent from Diarrhoea. Diabetes.— This disease among the old writers was described under the head of Profuse Staling (for which see under that heading), which, indeed, in combination with its saccharine (sugary) constituents forms its most obvious symptoms. It is a disease the origin of which is usually imputed to the kidneys, and it is an undoubted fact that ni the post-mortem examinations of animals who have succumbed to this disease the kidneys are always found to be more or less in a state of disintegration.' In some cases the kidneys are pale and flabby, and may be called half rotten ; in other cases these organs have an appearance of inflammation, being highly vascular, although otherwise little difference is to be seen from the same organs in a state of health. That these organs have suffered from the effects of the disease is of course obvious to any observer • but that they are the cause of the disease, as a great many people seem' to think, is, in my opinion, a great error. I believe that the primary and real cause of this complaint is to be looked for in some peculiarity or other of the digestive machinery, and especially to some morbid antag- onism in the lacteals to matters of a saccharine nature. Starch, which is a constituent of all grain, is by some mysterious process converted, at a!} events partially, into sugar by the action of the digestive organs. The process by which this is effected is quite a mystery to us, in common with 56 the appropriation and deposition of the particles of the ahment which go to replenish the worn-out bone, artery, ligament, or nerve. Each appro- priate particle is miraculously selected from the digested food, and each goes to Its proper place-lime to bone, gluten to cartilage, etc. All these wonderful transpositions are, and probably ever will be, beyond the very limited knowledge of man, and remain, like many other important subjects, a mere matter of conjecture. The saccharine matter is passed on in its usual course to the kidneys, and being in excess of its usual and proper quantity, acts as a foreign substance and a consequent irritant to these organs. This excessive irritation acts as a morbid stimulant to the kidneys and causes them to perform double work in their acts of secretion Hence they become diseased and worn out, and hence, also, the immense amount of urme which is passed by the patient. It is also to be remarked that the amount of water passed is more than double that which is con- sumed by the animal for drinking purposes, or than could be eliminated from the watery parts of the food, and this accounts for the excessive emaciation which soon develops itself in the case. Saccharine matter is always present in considerable quantities in the urine of a Diabetic patient. This disease is an insidious one, and the complaint has gener- ally been progressing gradually for a long time before the owner's attention is directed to it. Some horses, too, may have profuse staling as a symptom- atic disorder, and in these cases it is only necessary to treat the disease successfully from which this symptom originates, and the staling will then become natural again. In these cases, however, the saccharinr matter, which 13 the test point, is absent. The inordinate use of diuretic medi- cines undoubtedy conduces to this disease; bad hay, half fermented oats and, in fact, anything which tends to the impoverishment of the healthy constituents of the blood, will also encourage such morbid action in the digestive functions, as will tend to engender this disease. Symptoms.— K profuse and frequent discharge of urine. The coat is dry and rough-great thirst, and a ^ " orous appetite, and a gradual marasmus (wasting away) of the whole body The pulse is weak and in- distinct, and, as is natural in most cases of debility, the legs soon become swollen. Treatment.—The first thing to be done, should the disease be detected before much weakness is indicated, is to purge the horse, and thereby clean out the alimentary canal. However, should great weakness have made its appearance, the purge must be omitted. Use the oily 57 aloetic purge, for which see the Medicinal Appendix. Give good, sound food and hnseed tea, and one of these powders or pills, morning, noon and evening :— Take carbonate of iron, two ounces and a half ; gentian, two ounces ; ginger, one ounce and a-half ; sulphate of quinine, one ounce and a-half; iodide of potassium, one ounce and two drams ; and linseed meal, eight ounces. Mix, and divide into twelve powders or balls. Be- ^ sides this, the last thing at night, give four grains of arsenic, and allow the horse two pints of lime-water a day Eye, Disease of— There are a great number of diseases, unfortun- ately, to which the eye of the horse is subject. In a practical work of this sort, however, it is my intention to write only of those most commonly seen, and more or less understood by those desirous of treating their own animals in ordinary cases, and in the cases of many of whom the dis- tance of their places of residence from that of a veterinary practitioner necessitates their doing something or other without delay. The eye of the horse is very similar in its construction and appendages to that of a man. The difference chiefly is in the shape, and also consists in the fact of the horse having one more muscle than the human being. This muscle IS called the retractor muscle, and has the power of drawing the eye back- ward and inwards. The membrana nictitans (haw) is another appendage which is given to the horse, and which being unnecessary to the human being (on account of his possession of two hands, wherewith to wipe or cleanse the eye), is not found in man. This membrane is thrown over the eye, and retracted instantaneously. Through this momentary action, at the animal's own volition, the ball of the eye is cleansed from dust or other impurities. Palsy of the Optic NePVe.— (Amaurosis or gutta serena). This disease, although considered incurable, is worth a few words, if only to warn farmers against buying horses suffering from this infirmity ; and the more so, that the detection of the disease is not evident to any but a very careful observer. The primary cause seems to be obscure ; the actual cause is inflammation in the neurilemma (nerve covering) of the optic nerve or nerves. It results, in my opinion, either from .sympathy with some other affected part of the nervous system situated in the brain, or from slight affections of the brain itself Almost every kind of experi- ment has been tried to cure this disease, but quite ineffectuallv : the onlv case approaching this disease ever recorded as cured, was cured by accident. In this case the jugular vein was destroyed through the ,; Vi ■ 58 inexperience of a young practitioner. The vein became obliterated after considerable tumefaction of the neck ; the disease left the eyes, and the inflammation never returned. This case, however, was a violent attack of inflammation of the eyes, and would have probably resulted in paraly- sis of the optic nerves, had it not been checked in this very extraordinary manner. As the removal of the inflammatory action was, of course, due to this extraordinary counter-irritation, it seems almost allowable to imagine that by systematic and prope ly placed counter-irritation, a cure might be accomplished, especially as the applications most in favor in this disease have been setons between the jaws, towels in the same place and blistering de/unti the ears. ' Sj'frJ>to»is.— The eyes are quite bright, and on a casual examination are not to be distinguished from any sound eye. If, however, the eye is tested by placing the flame of a candle close up in front of it, then it is observed that the pupil of the eye does not contract as it wou'ld do if it were sound. The horse, moreover, gives evidence of his blindness by his manner of holding his head. He further lifts his feet highly, and with the certain amount of hesitation which is observable in all blind animals. Treatme7it.~h.% every one has failed, it seems almost presumptuous to prescribe anything in such a case. However, it would be advisable to try small setons in the upper part of the cheek, and blisters about the size of half-a crown three inches behind and under each eye. I would also secure small cloths loosely over each eye saturated with chloroform and belladonna, each one part to eight parts of water; over these light cloths thick and dry linen should be spread to prevent evaporation. During the treatment I should advise only a quarter feed of oats and plenty of bran mash. I believe that there is a chance of a cure under such treat- ment, and as these cases are not very common, it seems to be certainly worth a trial. Ophthalmia.— This is really inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the membrane which lines the eye-lids, and is also reflected back over the cornea (membrane covering the eye-ball). This membrane is highly vascular (full of blood-vessels) under the eye-lids, but more slightly so than the covering of the eye-ball. Ophthalmia is manifested in two different ways ; that is, it is called Acute Ophthalmia when the attack IS, though severe, still temporary only ; and it is called Periodical Ophthal- mia when it is intermittent in its action. Ophthalmia, either Acute or Periodic, is the most common of the diseases of the eye in the horse. 69 When one eye is affected the other eye is, also, always more or less affected. This is occasioned by the decussation of the optic r ves which partially amalgamate between the brain and their expansion into the retina. In the case of an injury to the nerve of the left eye, it is partially the right optic nerve which is affected, and vice versa. Where one eye is affected by inflammation, which eventually destroys the sight, then sooner or later the other eye will be similarly affected, and the result will be, as in the case of the first eye affected, blindness. As many old fallacies are still perpetuated, it may be as well to say here, that the old supposition which held that when one eye went blind it was a sure sign of safety to the other eye, is most erroneous, and simply shows a lack of anatomical rofns.— Sometimes the horse drops suddenly without v/arn- mg. Sometimes premonitory symptoms occiii ten or fif een minutes before the fit takes possession of paiL.,t. Doawtless th. se premonitory symptoms, which consist of shaking the head and nervous twitchings of the limbs and bodv are present before each attack, but being in harness and m moirjn, which is th time when the attack usually takes place, they are not observed. Mares are far more subject to this disease than horses are. If the animal is mi ,.i,e stable when these premonitory symptoms show themselves, it '' better *o take it out into a yard where there is plenty of straw or soft m, ire es. The attack comes on very sudden!., and the hoi»e falls as it loi ery part of the animal being in a stat 3 ot nervous tension, seems as rigid a. if made out ot wood. Tlu eyes are protruded and stare, froth appears at the mouth, and sometimes the tongut is severely lacerated through bein- caught by the teeth ; every now and then the afflicted animal seems to to 65 partially revive and lashes out impartially in every direction, the lower lip drops and perspiration begins to show itself (a good symptom). 'I'he horse during this fit is not only a painful object to look at, but even a ^ernble one, and to an uninstructed person there would appear to he cer- tainly but one termination to the terrible struggle— grinding of the teeth, and so forth, that seem to be literally rending the animal's frame. The disease, however, is worse in its ajjpearance than its reality, as there is little if any danger to the vital functions. Some animals show strange sym|)toms. In the last case that came under my care, the animal did a thing which was ahnost an impossibility to be done, and, certainly, never could be accomplished by man or beast in their conscious moments. The i)atient was a trotting horse, with a record 2.23. I as called in to treat an old injury on one of her legs, by which she was slightly lame ; after attending for a few minutes to the case, the owner told me that the day before she had had a lit of staggers while in harness, in which she (ell and broke a shaft, spilling her passengers over the road. After a few inquiries I told him my belief was that it was F^pilepsy, and not Apoplexy, and that as the treatment was very different in the two cases, I should be very glad if I was iresent if she was seized again. I had not spoken these words ten minutes • 11 I noi.<:ed the throwing of the head and the limbs and body ' ommencing I immediately had her taken into a field, and the fit, a very horrible one look at, came on ; after ten minutes of struggling, mus- cular tensio' grindir of the teeth, she jumped up and stood solidly like a wooden horse, w person might count ten seconds or more very slowly, and during thai time ^he length of her body p.nd head was leaning at an angle of forty-six or forty-seven degrees, taking the line from her fore to her hind legs as the base. It certainly was a most extraordinary sight and a very unnatural and weird one. Treatment. — The treatment must, of course, be preventive ; its action if possible. When the fit is coming on, however, if possible put a thick piece of wood as a gag into the moutli, to prevent the tongue being bitten. Exercise, sound feed in moderate quantities, and freedom from excitement, are to be recommended in this case. When the fit is once on, the paroxysms may be relieved by the administration of chloroform by inhalation (providing aiways that the heart of the animal is not diseased). Put an ounce and a-half of chloroform on a sponge an and as in the case of matter of yellow fever subjects in the human race, has had no effect whatever either one way or the other Many hold that abrasion of the skin is necessary in order that the farcer" ous and glanderous matter may have sufficient power to impregnate the animal system with its poisonous qua'ities. I believe, however, that the matter coming in contact with a delicate membrane, such as the mucous membran. lining the nostrils, has in itself such a penetrating and cor- rod.ng power that it forces itself into the minute texture of the membrane and is consequently taken up by the absorbents and capillary blood vessels, and so conveyed gradually into the large blood vessels and tissues Farcy seems to be certainly a poisonous disease, differing only from glanders m the ratio of its malignancy and in its position,-Farcy affect- ing the skin, cellular tissue and lymphatics ; whereas glanders affects the whole organism. The cause of Farcy is either to be imputed to contagion or atmospheric infection, or else is quite a matter of conjecture. As this js the case, ,t may well be asked whether the presence of microbes and bacilh does not solve the problem of its cause. My own opinion, published ten vears apn in -a KT V i.-n/-r ic tU-- tU ■ ■' "^ " *'■ ^' I'^per, is thai the poisonous germs of many diseases are lying latent in many, if not all, animal systems, and that it I i i I UI 70 only requires a given state of external atmospheric influence, together with a given and predisposing state of the animal's system, to develop and fructify these germs, producing tiiereby the disease. Then comes the question, whence the germs ? There can be little doubt that their original engenderment is assisted, if not actually produced, by atmospheric inhalation, or by contagion on the delicate mucous surfaces, such as the membrane of the nose, eye, etc. These invisible irritants tend, doubtless, to the incubation of a diseased condition of the blood through their presence, and are a source of many diseases for the cause or causes of the appearance of which we, with our limited but still boasted knowledge, are unable to account. Sj/mJ>tofus.~The first symptoms observed are external; there is a discharge from both nostrils, slight in the beginning, but increasing in volume and purulency as the disease gradually encroaches on the general system. In the inside of the hind legs, following the course of the veins, swellings may be observed, accompanied by small knots, as it were. These are the enlarged and irritated lymphatic' absorbents ; the old practitioners gave them the name of farcy buds, and this name they have still retained. In mild cases which have been properly treated, the symptoms are limited to these just mentioned, and in such a case a cure may be hoped for. In these mild cases, as in cases of a more serious nature, the knots or swell- ings in the inside of the hind-legs will shortly burst and discharge a fetid and ichorous matter. These swellings are the enlarged lymphatics which follow the course of the veins, and it is probably from their contiguity to the veins, that the older practitioners used in many cases to attribute the disease to the veins themselves. We all now know what a great mis- take that was ; but many mistakes, even greater than that, have now been rectified through the greater attention which has of late been paid by assiduous and painstakmg men devoted to the veterinary art. Treatment.— OY>e\\ the enlargements or Farcy buds with a lancet or scalpel, and apply to each, by means of a small piece of sponge tied to the end of a probe or piece of whalebone, the following mixture : Take hydro- chloric acid, half an ounce ; strongest carbolic acid, six drams ; glycerine, one ounce, Apply this daily until the sores lose their unhealthy appear- ance. At the same time give the oily aioetie purge (see Appendix), and when the medicine has operated thoroughly then give : Sulphate of copper, one ounce ; arsenic, one dram ; iodide of potassium, one ounce ; sulphur, one ounce ; linseed meal, eight ounces ; nitre, one and a-ha!f ounces • 71 mix, and divide into twelve powders or balls and give one twice a day mornnig and evening, an hour before feeding. Take the chill off the water, and take care the animal does not take cold. The discharge from the nose should not be checked, but rather encouraged by steaming as before directed m other cases. The pails or other vessels, however, which are used for this purpose should be destroyed after the case is completed to avoid all danger of transmitting the disease to some other healthy horse, as precaution is better than cure. In the next stage of lthe rain and mud ; it may further . be caused by a draught of cold air from cracks in the stable, or other- wise, playing upon the heels when e.,;. oration of the water brought in m the hair of the heels is taking p^., a These are the causes, or some of the causes, but it must be more ..., less constitutional, as under the same conditions of two horses standsn,; side by side in the same stable one horse will take the disease, while th. other animal remains unaffected' which goes to show that the blood of the affected animal is predisposed' to take on disease, and is, therefore, more or less disordered, while the blood of the unaffected animal has by its healthy condition sufficient vitality to resist the encroachments of the disease. Large draught horses of slow action, and horses of a coarse breed are more subject to it than are half-bred or three-quarter-bred animals In the thoroughbred race- horse It is rarely, if ever, present. This fact, no doubt, is to be attributed in a great measure to the careful grooming which the heels receive daily m this class of horse, as well as to the regular exercise always given The reason that Mie impure blood causes such inflammation and suppur- ation to take place in the heels, and especially in the hind heels is as follows : In all the four feet of the horse the circulation of the blood IS always carried on with less force than in the other extremities of the body, on account of their being (the hind l--s especially) situated at such a distance from the organ of propulsion, which is, of course the heart Moreover, through the law of gravitation all fluids, such as serum have 79 a tendency downwards, and consequently cause a greater demand on tlie vital powers for resistance to that tendency. The probable reason of the blood being out of order in this case is to be looked for in the closure of the sensible or insensible perspiratory pores of the skin, or otherwise ; certainly in the suspension of some of the secretory functions, that is, there is a check son ewhere in the excretions, it may be, of the kidneys, or of the bowels; therefore it is, in my opinion, useless to tre;it the exudation of grease and its subsequei cracks a-nd grapy tn- us, unless the system is also put into order by medicinal treatmtu igh the blood. Sympoms.—'Vht heels (as I have just said generally of the hind legs) begin to swell and jccome very tender, and soon there is an exuda- tion of slimy matter resembling grease ; this exudation is different in its first appearance in horses whose blood is very r>lightly out of order, it appearing in the greasy form ; but in horses whose blood is considerably tainted, the exudation is fo-jl-smelling, more watery, and tinged with mucus, the swelling gradually extends up the leg almost to the hock, and the skin cracks and ulcerates, and if the right remedies are not applied successfully, small enlargements of a fungoid nature make their appear- ance and hang from the heels in bunches like currants or grapes, which latter appellation is still retained ; the appearance of the disease in this form is certain evidence that the disease has become inveterate, or has been most inefficiently treated, for the disease should never be allowed to proceed to such a stage as " grapes." Treatment (Preventive.)— Dry the heels thoroughly after washing. Never allow the animal to stand in the stable with wet or muddy heels, especially if the hair is long ; give good bedding and allow no draughts in the stable; see that the animal has proper exercise, and that his secretory and excretory functions are in proper order. Treatment. — VV^ash the heels carefully and gently, and then apply poultices for twenty-four hours, hot and hot, after which dry thoroughly, and, if no cracks have appeared, apply the following lotion frequently, and after applying bind a piece of flannel, saturated vith the lotion, around the heel, but do not tie it too tightly :— Take carbolic acid, two scruples ; glycerine,one ounce and a-half; fluid extract of catechu, half an ounce; mix. At the same time give internally the oily aloetic purge (see Appendix): and tvventy-four hours after give tincture of muriate of iron, two ounces ; com- pound syrup of sarsaparilla, six ounces; iodide of potassium, half an ounce ; IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) & 1.0 I.I 1.25 ■ 4:0 2.5 1.4 2.2 2£ I 1.8 1.6 150mm V

<^ <9 c?. i A 80 compound tincture of gentian, two ounces ; cinnamon water, one pint • mix Give a wmegiassful three times a day. If the cracks have appeared,' then apply a lotion of carbolic acid one dram, sulphate of zinc one ounce water one pint, and use as before directed Purge the horse again with the oily aloetic purge, in which two scruples of the oil of juniper and half an ounce of sweet spirits of nitre is to be mixed before giving; and twenty- four hours after the purge has been administered, give the following powders three times a day for two days, and then twice a day until amendment commences, after which once a day will be sufficient :— Sulphate of iron (exsiccated), two ounces ; golden seal, one ounce and a-half; nitre, two ounces ; gentian, two ounces ; sulphur, two ounces ; and linseed- meal, SIX ounces ; mix and divide into twelve powders or balls When grapes are formed, the last treatment is to be persisted in, the purge being given each week for two weeks, and the tonic powders as before directed; and should the excrescences assume a bloody appearance with an increasing fetid odor, then it is best to make a slight incision and to apply with a sponge on the end of a probe or piece of whalebone a mixture of hydrochloric acid half an ounce, pyroligneous acid one ounce, to each of the so-called grapes. The horse should be supplied with good, sound food, and in plentv, should have linseed tea for drink, and should also receive good care and nursing, which is half the battle gained in cases of this description, and, indeed, I may say, in cases of all descriptions. Hidebound.— This uncomfortable disorder is not a primary affection but IS symptomatic of some other complaint. Its chief cause may be' considered to be functional disorder in the organs of digestion, caused generally speaking, by want of proper feed, or by the condition of the food given, such as bad oats or bad hay, which, while they momentarily satisfy the craving of the animal's hunger, do not supply the organs of digestion with the proper nutritive substance to form healthy chyme and chyle consequently the lacteal function is also either checked or entirely stopped' as the lacteals will refuse to receive any great amount of matter which is' improper for the building up of the animal's system, and what is received goes only to cause a morbid action in these most necessary and even vital vessels. Some poor creatures who have been continually in a state of semi-starvation and uncleanliness develop Mange, whilst others whose vitality of system is stronger will under the same circumstances become Hidebound. On account of the loss of digestive power, defective pers- 81 piration ensues, and so much are the above mentioned lacteal absorbents affected in some cases that tumors have been found, after death, on some of the larger lacteal vessels. When this state of the skin is observed, instead of going to work to remove tlie cause, the owner frequently resorts to the use of diaphoretic (sweating) medicines, whereby the case is made worse, and in all probability it is from this cause that these post mortem tumors have been found. To secure success in any case it is the cause of a disease which must be treated efficiently, and the effect will disappear, although in many places, and in many cases daily seen, the contrary opinion seems to be held and carried out. Symptoms. — The symptoms are self evident — general weakness of the whole system. The membrane of the nose is pale, the pulse is weak and fluctuating and the skin seems glued to the ribsj the urine is pale and small in quantity, the dung is passed in small balls and smells badly ; these are generally the symptoms. The appetite also is uncertain, some- times being voracious, at other times the contrary. Many persons have given the cause of Hidebound as worms, bots, etc. These will cause a staring coat, but not positive Hidebound. Treatment. — Good feed, good housing and tonic medicines. The indication is to excite the digestive organs to resume their proper functions. If we succeed in this, the lacteals and lymphatics in turn assume their proper functions as a matter of course. In consequence of this action, then, the perspiratory tubes recover their tone, and sensible and insensible perspiration is exuded in its proper proportions, and the equilibrium of the whole system is restored. Give bran mashes daily with full allowance of oats (scalded). Let the patient have a good, deep, warm bed of straw. Card him or hand rub him thoroughly at least twice a day ; this will excite the vessels ol the skin and will remove any dust or dirt which may clog the perspiratory pores. Give him strong linseed tea for drink, and a handful or two of linseed meal with his oats. Exercise quietly for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. Bandage the legs at night and clothe him warmly. Do not, however, stint the fresh air, but keep the stable moderately warm. Give the tonic powders as follows : — Car- bonate of iron, two ounces; gentian, one ounce and a-half; cinchona bark, powdered, two ounces ; ginger, one ounce and a-half; and linseed meal, five ounces ; one ball or powder morning, noon and evening, one hour before feeding. H I 82 HydPophobia.-This very awful disease is occasionally but no' .ncurable. I he d.sease ,s contracted through the bite of a dog in a state of madness, as a general rule, although the bite of a cat or fox who may b suffenng from the disease is equally as capable of producing Hydro hould '? " ^ ? V "' '" '''■ ^'"" •^^'"^' - ^-'-ent of any use madness, ,t w.ll be useless to say very much on this subject, exceptin^r that .t simply dr.ves the animal into a state of furious madnes andTa! no one .s safe from the attacks of the animal. He will grind hs tee h tear at everyt ung, and strike at everything, and if an end fs not p t toht proceedmgs t rough the administration of a bullet, he will destrlve^ th.ng wuhm h,s reach, Though nothing can be done to effecTeven a palhafon of the disease, still much may be done in the wav of a ng precaut.ons aga.nst his being attacked by a rabid ani.nal. ' As a t "^ every one keeps a dog, it may be well that I should explain the synitom o Hydrophobe u. that animal, as, in the case of any one owning a dog wh,ch shows symptoms of ;../ Jfy,roJ>m,-,, it will enable him to at ah e ents, save h.s horses from the danger of oeing bitten by the a„iml Moreover the symptoms of Hydrophobia in the dog are in miny case rn.saken for the symptoms of other complaints, such, for i" L a able dogs have been destroyed for precaution's . -'-. and in mo- r.^c very much to the regret of the owners of the '.'a" bdieC h there are many false notions both as to the diagnosis and pretended c e of th,s d.sease, and that these false notions are in ..any case ins nuated .0 the pubhc mu.d for a certain purpose. HydrophobL is very are „ man horse or dog. When once acquired it is «//../, .^curaJehylny methods that at present we have any knowledge of Inoc ion L v reduc .on and .nfiltration through the system of L inferior an.mTs' has been loudly put forward as a cure for the human subject, and peoXhave been treated m this manner and discharged as cured This may ctual v be so but as m most of the cases we read an account of iuTs d th at th dog was proved to be mad because he frothed at the mouth " t ! a.r to assume that the human cases were more hysterical Hydrophobia than the actual and dread disease itself, and my reason for thfs is a ve " approachin/epileptic .r^JVc^ ^"^ r^ t^^Z^V^^ 83 Hydrophobia. Again, it is said that another proof of canine madness lies in the fact that the dog careers along at full speed, with his tongue hanging out and his tail tucked well between his legs. The running at full speed, again, is quite the contrary to the actions of a dog suffering from any stage of Hydrophobia. These alarms occur as a periodical scare during the hot weather. It is a favorite amusement of the amiable youth of most countries, whose i)arents show their intense love of liberty by allowing their children the full freedom of the gutter and its accompaniments, to chase and pelt every unfortunate dog within their reach, and of whom they are not afraid When an unfortunate cur (for to this class the so-called mad dogs in the street usually belong) is chased by a crowd of these ragamuffins at full speed and with the thermometer standing at 90° in the shade, it seems to me quite natural that the poor frightened beast should tuck his tail between his legs and run. As a dog perspires largely through his tongue, it is, again, quite natural that the heat should cause him to put it out in order to relieve the lungs, and possibly the pleasant amusement of these arabs, " combined with the heat, fri^Kr and excitement, will very soon produce the frothing at the mouth and the subsequent fit of Epilepsy, more especially if the dog should be young. This Epilepsy is very common among dogs, especially to those of a nervous temperament, but there is no danger in it either to t; e dog or the master. The symptoms of Hydrophobia in the dog are as follows :— The animal seems desirous of being by itself, it will hide itself in the hay-loft, or, if a house dog, will get under the sofa or chairs, eviL\Mitly trying to keep out of the way. Then the eyeballs become slightly injected, and there is occasionally a slight cough. He is usually quiet enough unless interfered with, when he will sometimes snap ; and it is very noticeable that those whom he is most attached to in his sane and healthy mo. lents are the people whom he generally snaps at first. He will soon begin to drool saliva from the corners of his mouth, he becomes more or less dejected, and soon experiences a difficulty of swallowing, and a hollow groan or cough is present. Before this stage comes on, however, he will go round picking up and swallowing all kinds of queer things-^ pieces of wood, brick and even glass; although this may not be noticed at the time, yet by examining the body after death these kinds of fc jign substances will invariably be found in the stomach of the animal which has suffered from this disease. Some people think that human beings, horses and dogs alike, have a horror of water— not only of drinking it, but even of the sound made in the process of pouring it from one vessel into another. I think this is contrary to the facts generally seen. In all cases : i !• In 84 (though certainly few in number) which I have seen in the case of the dog under true Hydrophobia, the animals had no great horror of water, and the reason that they refused to drink was not on that account, but simply on account of excessive local congestion in the neighborhood of the fauces, thoroid cartilage and upper part of the trachea and oesophagus. Both facts were proved. The dogs made no objection to the water, but simply could not swallow ;t After death I found the vessels in the locality were full of thick, black, stagnant blood, and the neck was, as it always is towards the last, correspondingly enlarged. My readers are, therefore, warned of the danger of allowing a dog with any suspicion of this disease to wander round the stables, as if the horses o;-^ bitten, there will be little appearance until the premonitory symptoms set in, and in that case that horse, and possibly his neighbor, is doomed. A dog in the primary stages of Hydrophobia is very sly and will give a snap as he pa? ses, and though it may cause little or no pain to the horse, still if the skin has been broken through by ever such a little snap, the virus will be absorbed into the system of the bitten animal, and the rpsult will be a very horrible death. Should a horse be bitten by a dog suspected to be mad, or by any dog who shows symptoms of any kind of disease, the wound must be laid open (the horse having been first cast, if necessary,) and the application of either hydrochloric acid or a red-hot iron must not be delayed for one moment. If time has gone by sufficient for absorption to take place, the case is hopeless, if the dog was suffering from even incipient Hydrophobia ; but. the precaution must be exercised, as it might arrest the absorption of the poison. Most cases treated in this way turn out well, and great credit is given to the application ; but when this occurs we may be thoroughly sure, either that the application of the iron or acid was applied so quickly after the bite as to prevent the absorbents taking up the poison, or else that the dog which bit the horse was in no way afllicted with Hydrophobia. ? !■ ; »<: ■' < « 85 CHAPTER XI. INFLAMMATION OF BOWELS, LIVER, KIDNEYS, LUNCS.^ JAUNDICE. Inflammation of the Bowels (Enteritis),-This disease is, unfor- tunately, far from uncommon amongst horses, and is a disease which is in most cases far from easy to cure. It is common in country districts to hear that a horse died from inflammation. This information is, to say the east of ,t, rather vague. As there is occasionally some confusion between the term of Fever and Inflammation, it may be as well to say that the terms Inflammation is usually confined to local affections, as of the bowels lungs, etc., whereas Fever is general inflammation of the whole svstem' Inflammation consists of a heated condition, and consequent a^celer" ated action, of the blood. Anything which causes a sudden check to any organ or part of an organ whereby its vital function is prevented w. 1 cause Inflammation ; for instance, cold, by closing the perspiratory' tubes of the skm, checks the perspiration, which is thrown inwa.dly upon the circulation of the blood and produces inflammatory action Again, when one organ is irritated in this manner, the blood rushes to that part and adds excitement to the already heated blood When this action occurs generally to the whole system at once, it is called Fever. Inflammation of the Bowels evinces itself in two different fornis. In the one, which is caused by inflammation of the mucous coat of the intestines, its chief symptoms are looseness and fluidity of the foecal discharges. When the vascular coat is aff-ected constipation takes place, and there is what is vulgarly known as "no passage ", the heat of the blood and body having absorbed all the moisture of the intestinal canal. C««.-« are numerous, among which may be mentioned overdriving catching cold, irritation from indigestible food, and most frequently of all from attacks of spasmodic colic which have been neglected or else improperly treated. Sometimes the attack is confined to the large intestines, that is, in its primary stage ; at other times the small intestines are the first to experience inflammatory action. In the former case the pain exhibited is much less than in the latter case. The excessive use of stimulants such as cordial balls, alcohol, etc., will produce inflammation of the bowels. Poisons of irritant nature will also have this effect, but as they are exceptional, both in their action as well as in their occurrence, they cannot be treated of under this heading. ^ 86 Symptoms. — Pulse high, sometimes when the disease has well set in, being double that of natural health, Schneiderian membrane (membrane of nose) highly injected, ears and legs alternately hot and cold, lying down quickly and frequently, and as quickly jumping up again, pawing with the fore-feet, and looking at the flanlcs every now and then, the belly being very tender to pressure. The animal is rather constipated and makes continual efforts to pass his dung, or else the dung comes forth in an almost liquid form. Treatment. — In both varieties the treatment varies very slightly, the only essential difference being that in the constipated form injections must be more frequently used after the hardened and accumulated dung has been removed by a well oiled hand and arm. It is necessary in all cases where great pain is evinced to give some kind of preparation at once which will relieve that pain and quiet the irritation of the nervous system, therefore it is best to give hydrate of chloral together with the purgative medicine. Therefore give : Linseed oil, raw, one quart ; tinct. capsicum, two drams ; hydrate of choral, three drams ; powdered barbadoes aloes, six drams ; spirit of nitre, one ounce ;imix and give. Place some rugs in boiling water, and having wrung them out apply them to the horse's abdo- men, placing a dry rug over all to keep the heat from evaporating. Two hours after this medicine has been given, take fluid extract of aconite two drams, hydrate of chloral one ounce, sweet spirits of nitre four ounces, water one pint ; give half a wineglassful every hour until the pulse begins to come down, and then every three hours. Place the horse in a loose box with plenty of straw and free ventilation ; keep him com- fortably clothed ; do not be afraid of the fresh air. If he will eat at all (which is not very likely), let his feed be bran mashes (properly scalded), and his drink must be thick linseed tea. In extreme cases, when the pulse runs very high, it might be expedient to open the jugular vein and take blood j as a general rule, however, it is not advisable, as, if the case continues, the horse requires all the blood he has to support him against the weakness, which soon shows itself in this disease. If this treatment produces a diminution of the pulsations and the animal seems to be in less pain and the evacuations become more natural, then give the aconite medicine only once in three hours, and then, as the symptoms improve, gradually lessen the administration of the medicine. When he becomes convalescent it is necessary that great care should be taken of the animal, otherwise he will have a relapse — a relapse in this disease is very much worse than the original complaint, and generally terminates fatally. If in summertime the horse should be turned out for a month or two, at all events, in the daytime ; he should receive for the first two weeks one of these powders a day :-Take cinchona bark, powdered, six ounces ; carbo- nate of iron, two ounces ; gentian, powdered, one ounce and ahalf; ginger one ounce and a-half ; iinseed meal, six ounces ; mix, and divide into' fourteen powders or balls ; give one a day. and see that he ^ets them. When a horse has had a severe attack of inflammation of the bowels, he ought not to be worked for at least a month; if he is put to hard work under that time, it is ten to one but that he will take it again, and, if he does. It will be, in all probability, in a far more severe form than he had in the first instance. Wherever one of the large and important internal organs has been once attacked with violent inflammation, by that fact the organ once affected will always be more predisposed to take on inflam- mation again, and causes which would not affect it before being previously attacked, will be quite sufficient to cause a recurrence of inflammatory action more or less severe. In all such cases as these, the benefit of the experience and skill of a good veterinary practitioner will be of great service to the owner. Inflammation of the Liver.-(Hepatitis).— This disease, although not seen every day, still is much more common than is generally sup- posed ; the symptoms, moreover, being more or less obscure are liable to be, and are, very frequently mistaken for some other disorder. Indeed considering the amount of work which this organ is called on to perform' in the cleansing of the blood from all bitter and hurtful constituents, it ought to be a matter of great thankfulnes o owners of horses that the complaint is not more frequency developed t..i n it usually is. Inflammation of the Liver really consists of two stages. That which is the first is ordinary inflammation of the substance of one of the lobes ; the second is where the inflammation has extended itself, or perhaps has confined itself in the first place to that portion from which the biliary ducts open. The primary stage, as a rule, yields without much difficulty to proper treat- ment ; the second stage is much more difficult to cure, and is known by the appellation of Jaundice (Icterus), for which see under that heading. The symptoms in both stages are the same, and each arises from the same cause, namely, inflammation. It is very rare for Inflammation of the Liver to develop itself as a primary disease ; it more usually results from sympathetic action with some of the adjacent viscera, such as the kidneys or intestines. The inflammation gradually extends, unless checked, until the whole organ is under its influence and the secretion of the bile becomes irregular, being sometimes in excess and sometimes nearly sup- pressed, this last result resulting from the torpidity of the organ. Symptom.— An enlargement of the liver is frequently apparent, and upon pressure the animal will evince pain, especially if the seat of inflam- mation is in the upper and posterior lobe, which is more easily felt than it would be if the inflammatory action was seated in the other parts of the organ. The horse is dumpish and the i)ulse high ; the urine is frequently darker in color than it should be. and the dung is either lighter or darker in color, according as the bile is either secreted too lavishly or is sup- pressed. If the dung is pale in color, the bile is suppressed ; if darker than natural, it is secreted inordinately. Treat we/it.— Give podophyllin twelve grains, Barbadoes aloes six drams, ginger one ounce, raw linseed oil one pint and a-haif ; mix. Six hours afterwards, take every hour, tincture of aconite six drams, hydrate of chloral one ounce, oil of juniper half-ounce, water one pint; give half a wineglassful every two hours. Should iscouring ensue, then take carbo- nate of iron two drams, prepared chalk two scruples, opium two scruples, gentian two scruples, and linseed meal one ounce ; give at once, and repeat if necessary ; at the same time injections of warm flour gruel must be administered occasionally. It is not good to check the discharge altogether, but only gradually, if at all ; but when the scouring continues for any length of time, this last powder will act upon the digestive organs as a tonic, and support the animal's system against the weakness which the continued scouring will inevitably produce. Jaundice.— (Icterus).— This is really a sequel or continuation of Inflammation of the Liver, only that the inflammation has increased its action. This inflammatory action of the liver has obstructed the normal action of the organ and opposes the exit of the bile through the biliary duct into the duodenum (one of the small intestines), which is the cause of the yellow appearance of the eyes, skin and membrane of the nose, from which the disease takes its name, and for which the old-fashioned name, " The Yellows," was still more expressive. The bile is taken up into the circulation, and this produces the yellow appearance. The elephant, horse, deer, rhinoceros, camel and goat have no gall-bladder ; these, with three kinds only of birds, are the only instances of that deficiency in the mammalia. In consequence of this the bile is thrown back on the biliary ducts and on to the vessels of the liver itself, and being re-absorbed is carried into the circulation. Although the i flamma- 89 tory action is evidently more powerful thari in ordinary Hepatitis, still it yields to proper treatment with as equal facility as the ordinary inflamma- tion of the liver. Frequently, however, the yellow tinge remains in patients who have entirely recovered, sometimes for a little while only, occasionally even for life. Sym/>fo,fis.— Yellowness of the eyes, tongue, membrane of the nose and of the skin where visible ; dung pale and slimy and hard, yet some- times the horse will scour— but this is when the bowels have become implicated symathetically— which occurs soonest when the patient is in an impoverished condition. The pulse is quick and weak, the appetite is practically lost, and, as a rule, the general symptoms of inflammatory action are present ; but not always, as occasional cases are seen when the yellow tinge comes with little of any signs of inflammation. The urine is dark, owing to the fact of the darker parts of the bile, which naturally would be i)assed off by, and would add to the color of, the dung, having passed to the kidneys. These organs have eliminated the darker particles of the bile, which are more or less earthy in their nature and passed thus off in the urine, and this is the cause of its dark color. The urine when passed leaves a dark or bloody appearance on the stable floor or ground. Treaime;it.— Give the podophyllin purge, and twelve hours after take iodide of potassium one ounce, sulphate of iron one ounce and a-half, goldenseal one ounce, buchu two ounces, linseed meal six ounces ; mix, and divide into twelve powders or balls; give one morning and evening. In case of scouring, treat as directed under Inflammation of the Liver. In both cases give bran mash and scalded oats for feed, unless scouring v . , aken place, linseed tea for drink, and in each half pail of tea put half hi. ounce of nitre. I have treated on Jaundice somewhat out of its alphabetical order, on account of its inseparable connection with the previous disease treated of. Inflammation of the Kidneys (Nephritis).— This is occasionally mistaken, through appearance of blood in the urine, for affection of the bladder. This mistake should not occur, as blood in the urine is dis- tinctively a symptom of Inflammation of the Kidneys. The reason that it is thus mistaken is that the other symptoms which are always present are sometimes not looked for, the appearance of the blood in the urine being sufficiently explanatory to superficial observers of the disease under which they suppose the horse to be suffering. The cause of this disease 90 ) i is, in numerous cases, the much-to-be-deprecated practice among stable keepers and others of administering diuretic medicines in too great quantities, and at times when they are not only not required, but are actu- ally a source of great danger to the patient. In this case, which is now being considered, the fact of the aj)pearance of the blood is sutticient evidence of the irritated and overworked condition of these organs. The administration, then, of diuretic medicines under such a condition of things, is mo.«it i)ernicious to the animal's safety. 'I'he effect of diuretic medicines is to increase the action of the kidneys, which are already in a condition predisposing them to disorganization, through the excessive and unnatural labor which has been the primary rause of the inflammation. One kidney, especially if it be the left one, may be affected for a short time without much evidence of the otlier having been attacked ; but not for long, both kidneys being soon involved in the same disease. The right kidney being loose from the ribs, but slightly attached to the lobe of the liver, will naturally suffer sympatheti9ally with the liver under any inflammatory action which may take place in that organ. Cold rain falling on the loins is a cause of this disease. Blows, also, across the loins will occasionally produce inflammation of these glands. Sometimes, again, stones or gravel are conveyed to the kidneys, and, through their interfer- ence with the functions of these bodies, produce inflammation. Violent riding or driving, or an incomplete cure of Inflammation of the Bowels, will produce the disease. Symptoms. — These are : Blood being passed in the urine, feverish pulse, disinclination to eat, stiffness in the hind parts, and, beyond these, a symptom which is clearly and obviously to be attributed to the kidneys alone, that is, excessive tenderness in the region of the loins. If the lumbar region is pressed upon— that is, that part external to the seat of the kid- neys—the horse will shrink from the pressure ; but it is to be remembered in thus testing the kidneys, that the right kidney occupies a position further forward than that of the left, and also that the left kidney is close to the ribs, while the right organ is comparatively loose. Treatment.^— A\\ diuretic medicines are to be abjured. Give warm injections and half of the aloetic oily purge as before given in other diseases, or see Appendix. Apply over the kidneys the following lini- ment : — Take aqua ammonia (strong), three ounces ; tincture of camphor, two ounces ; oil of origanum, one ounce ; tincture of iodine, one ounce ; olive oil, eight ounces ; mixj and rub gently in over the 91 kidneys, afterwards covering them with a cloth and putting the clothing on over all ; give linseed tea rather thick for drink and feed bran mash ; keep tlie horse out of draughts of cold air, and give the following medi' cmc punctually :-Take fluid extract o{ aconite, six drams ; fluid extract of buchu, two ounces ; tmcture of opium, one ounce and a-haif ; glycerine, two oimces ; water, twelve ounce- ; give half a wineglassful every two hours untd amendment. Ho not continue the medicine longer than to give two doses after the puUe begins to subside and the pain in the loins IS eased. The horse should not be worked for a month after this disease has been cured ; more especially is this to be borne in mind with regard to Hacks, Hunters, and other saddle horses. The system of horses once thoroughly affected by this disease is always very obnoxious to the action of dmretic medicines. When the horse begins to impro> < , give him daily one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon for walking exercise, and put him on a course of tonic powders of iron (see .Medicinal* Appendix); give one powder every morning and evening for fourteen days. Inflammation of the Lung:s.-( Pneumonia).— This is a disease frequently occurring to the horse, and, like all diseases of the respiratory organs, is a comi)laint greatly to be feared by all owners of horses. Unless speedily arrested, the inflammatory action which takes place in the lungs results either fatally, or else leaves some part of the respiratory apparatus in an unnatural condition, producing broken wind roaring, or some other such affection. I.ike all other inflammatory disorders, it is caused by the checkage of the natural functions by the arrest of the perspiratory action. There are and have been many cases which have been considered as cured, when only part, actually speaking of the lungs are left in a state capable of performing their proi)er duties to the system ; this is when the cure has been by resolution, by which the part of the lungs most severely implicated have become solidified, and the air cells have been consequently obliterated ; this constitutes one kind of broken wind, although the part affected may be so small that little evidence is given by the horse to show the damage done. Inflammation of the Lungs is often the sequel of bronchitis, influenza, and other diseases of a catarrhal nature. It may also be very easily produced by or through the medium of the stomach; for instance, by giving a horse a drink of cold water when the lungs are in a great state of heat and consequent relaxation ; the lungs, through the immediate contiguity of the stomach receive a great shock, and the functions of the organs are so violently disturbed that acute inflammation of the lungs frequently ensues The I 7 fill 92 miserable hovels, dignified by the name of stables, and which are occasionally still seen in some rural districts, are very fruitful causes of this disease. Over-driving or -iding is also occasionally a reason of its appearance. Symptoms.— TU horse ih variably is attacked with a chill ; this is a sign of congestive action in the lungs. Unfortunately, it is a most rare thuig indeed when this is seen and appreciated at the full value of its warning. It is probable that in many cases it is observed, but not con- sidered of enough importance to be reported to the owner or some other person who might know enough to understand its significance. If, how- ever, it is seen and understood, then, using proper remedies— that is, by simply taking blood from the jugular vein— the disease can be arrested in its very premonitory stage ; but the same remedy which will at this time save all further danger and trouble, if used even one hour after the chill has taken place, will greatly add to the present danger of the animal, and render almost certain a fatal termination of the case. The ears and legs are cold, the breathing oppressed, and the animal stands resting his head and foreparts against the manger, or, if in the field, a gate, or some other support. He cannot persuade himself to lie down, although tired, being evidently oppressed with a suffocating feelmg, and, consequently, as in Dropsy, he stands up, as in that position there is less pressure on the affected parts than there is in a state of recumbency. Soon the Schneiderian membrane (membrane of the nose) assumes a bright scarlet color, becoming gradually livid, the breathing is labored and violent and soon becomes stertorous, the heart seeming to work like a force-pump. Sweats break out, the ears and legs become deathly cold, and the end speedily ensues. If the animal's system responds to the treatment, the ears and legs gradually become warm, the membrane of the nose resumes its ordinary rose color, and a certain and excellent symptom shows itself—///^ horse lies down. When this is seen, then a favorable termination of the case is, humanly speaking, certain. Treatment.— The old fashion of treating this disease was to wrap him up as warmly as possible and exclude all air as much as possible, and also to bleed him. This treatment is, happily, relegated to the shades of limbo, together with other equally bad so-called means of treatment. The horse should be warmly clothed and have as much fresh air as possible, consist- ently with keeping him out of draughts. The horse is benefitted by the oxygen in the air, and shows it himself by his actions. He will always point his muzzle towards an open window, or any place from which the 93 fresh ".ir is coming. On no account allow the administration of oil or other medicines of a purgative nature. It is, perhaps, permissible in the human subject under certain conditions, but it is certain death to the horse under any conditions. Remember this well, as if the reader lives in the country and has an animal affected with this disease, he is certain to be advised to give oil or something like it, and if the permission is given, and the oil administered, the case may as well be given up and let alone, as there is only one ending to a case so thrown away. Take cantharides (powdered) two ounces, biniodide of mercury four drams, iodine (in crystals dissolved) six drams, lard (or simple cerate) six ounces i mix, and rub in on both sides over the lungs. If the blister does not rise, the case is almost beyond hope, as this shows that the vitality of the sys- tem is so much lowered that it refuses to respond to even the intense irritation caused 1 he blister, and, consequently, it is to be supposed that a corresponding loss of vitality exists in the organs affected, so that there is little hope of their being able to rally against the overpowering action of the inflammation already existing. Let the feet and legs, from the coronet to the knee, be thoroughly rubbed with this lotion :— Capsicum (powdered), two ounces ; alcohol, half a pint ; water, two quarts ; bathe and rub hard three times a day, a..d then bandage loosely. Give intern- ally :^ Liquor ammonia acetatis (procurable at any chemist's), four ounces ; spirits of nitre (sweet), two ounces ; tincture of aconite, one ounce ; tinct. of belladona, two drams ; water, sixteen ounces ; give three parts of a wineglass every three-quarters of an hour until some favorable effect seems to have taken place. (To ascertain this refer to the symptoms.) Drinks of cold linseed tea may be given. When the horse begins to mend give him the iron tonic powders three times a day for two days, and after that twice a day for two weeks, then once a day for two weeks. If it is summer-time turn him out in the day, being careful that he is not left out in a shower. Give him also one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon for walking exercise. Clothe him warmly, but give him plenty of fresh air. For the first week after convalescence give him warm bran mash three times a week, and scald his oats. Give him also carrots cut up small. The linseed tea should also be continued for a week or so, and Xhe.ngradual/y come back to ordinary feed. The horse should u.tainly not be used for a month after a severe attack of Inflammation of the Lungs, and it would be better in this, as in other cases where severe inflammatory action has been set up and cured, to turn out the convales- cent patient for at least two or three months if the weather is warm and fine. PI- I i i i: 94 CHAPTER XII. INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH, GUMS AND PALATE, FEET.WOMB.- INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTIONS.-INTERNAL INTUSSUSCEPTION. Inflammation of the Stomach (Gastritis).— in cases of inflam- mation of the intestines, and especially when the inflammatory action is chiefly confined to the small intestines, there is, from their close connec- tion with each other, both as to position and as to functional action, more or less sympathetic fever in the stomach. The pain, however, in Inflammation of the Stomach, whether primary or sympathetic, is never so acute as that felt when the inflammation has its chief seat in the small intestines. As a primary disease. Inflammation of the Stomach itself is rarely seen. When it exists as a primary disease, the cause may be attributed to the action of irritant medicines, or sub- stances of a corroding nature, such as mineral poisons and essential oils or acids. , Symptoms.— kre rather obscure and seldom attributed to this disease, being very similar to those of Inflammation of the Intestines and Colic \ so much so, that for these latter diseases the horse is nearly always' treated, and, as before remarked, on account of their close conneption with each other and their contiguous position, the remedies frequently prove effective. Pain is present, and dullness, want of appetite and slob- bering from the mouth. Suppression of the natural discharges of dung and urine is frequently a symptom. At other times the dung is slimy and fetid, and the urine highly colored. Ireatment—GwQ the oily aloetic purge, and before giving place in it tincture of aconite eight drops, and hyrate of chloral three drams ; inject one quart of warm linseed tea every four hours into the stomach by means of a tube ; then take bicarbonate of soda, nitre, and bitartrate of potash, of each two ounces ; mix, and divide into six powders, and give one morning and evening; before giving the powders drop on each powder five drops of the tincture of aconite. The horse should be fed (if he will eat anything) on hot bran mashes, and should have linseed tea for drink. Inflammation of the Gums and Palate.— (Lampas).— This is generally seen in young horses only, although occasionally it docs not pass over animals of a more mature age. 95 Symptoms.— ThQ palate becomes tumefied ; it is soft and tender, and that to such an extent that it seems level with the teeth. The horse either refuses his food or else he eats with evident reluctance and passes great quantities of his oats in a whole or undigested condition. This is on account of the tenderness of the bars of the mouth, which become susceptib^p to the prick of the oats or large pieces of hay. Treatment.— -li was considered for some time that the proper means of cure for this disease was the burning of the bars of the mouth with the red-hot iron, and to this day some people have not got over this infatuated notion. Such a treatment is cruel and utterly unnecessary ; it is worse than useless, as it is injurious, destroying, to a certain extent, the horse's sense of taste. The proper treatment is to scarify the bars of the mouth with a lancet or other instrument ; cut the bars on each side from back- ward to forward, making the incision to correspond with the division between the second and third incisor teeth on each side. Care must be taken to cut in the right place, so as not to wound the palatine artery or vein. Sometimes great bleeding takes place ; at others it is hard to get blood ; in the latter case the mouth seems to be almost horny. It is well to watch until the bleeding stops, and should the artery be cut by mistake, then insert a pad saturated with thick alum water and flour, and keep it in that position by bandage and tape ovtr the nose. If, however, bleeding from the artery cannot be stopped in a reasonable time, then take a balling iron, or failing the possession of that article— which in passing, I may say, no stable should be without— then keep his mouth open for a moment, with the assistance of another man and a pitchfork, and apply the red-hot iron to the wound ; this will cause an immediate stop to the bleeding. As there is always more or less of fever in these cases, the following powders should be given :— Take nitre, bicarbonate of soda, bitartrate of potash, two ounces of each ; mix, and divide into twelve powders ; give one morn- ing and evening ; feed bran mash hot and take the chill off his drinking water. This treatment will be all that is necessary in this case, and will complete a cure. Inflammation of the Feet (Laminitis).— This is inflammation of the laminie (leaf-like process) in the interior of the hoof; and the cause is frequently metastasis,— that is, a shifting suddenly of inflammatory action from one organ to another. Affections of the stomach will influence the feet, and it is well for owners of horses to mark the intimate relation which seems to exist between the feet and stomach in the horse. The kV 96 cause of this very violent inflammation and consequent pain in tiie foot of the horse is no doubt that of metastatic (transitory) action.-that is the leet are predisposed to take on inflammatory action at the time of seizure ; and, inflammatory action existing in some part of the system, it fl.es to the structure of the foot, being excited to do so by the carelessness of the driver or rider in allowing the animal to pass through brooks or water of some description when the animal is in a state of pe I'piration The same result also occurs when the animal is caught in a storm of cold ram under the same systemic conditions. The cause, however, in many cases IS somewhat obscure. I have seen some cases where the causes stated have certainly not existed, and where the attack seemed to come on all in a minute. In! these cases of Idiopathic Laminitis, however, it is probable that the origin of the disease was not sufiiciently noted, as there must have been some very strong predisposing causes originally to produce such a great amount of inflammation. Symptoms.— Gx^B.i heat and excessive tenderness in the feet. Pastern arteries throb violently, the breathing becomes short and apparently difii- cult, resembling the panting of a dog. The pain increases to such an extent that the horse jumps with all four legs at once in his efforts at progression ; but this only occurs for a very short time, during which his action resembles that of an Australian butkjumper. Very soon the pain becomes so intense that he cannot stand, and in almost every severe case the horse has to be treated either in a recumbent position, or else has to be put m shngs. If a speedy check is not put to this state of things the lungs soon begin to show sympathetic action, and gradually the whole ' system ,s involved. Soon also a separation takes place at the coronet, and the horse loses his hoof or hoofs. This occurs on account of the inflammatory action at that point, which disorganizes the nutritive vessels which supply the hoof, and consequently keep it in a state of vitality : when, however, this occurs, the vitality of the horny structure is lost, and the horny case is cast as a foreign substance, in compliance with the inevitable rule of the natural forces in all cases of a similar nature. It is true that even then, if the patient can be rallied, a new hoof will form but It will generally be smaller and out of proportion to the original one' and will always be more or less soft in its consistency, and consequently of little use in comparison with the original one. Treatment— ^xxhtr sling the animal or put him into a loose box with two or three feet of 3tra-.v for a bed. I have generally treated them in 97 this way without slinging, and never had the misfortune to lose a hoof. The treatment I have used with success has been this : Take the shoes oft as gently as possible, then apply hot poultices of bran or linseed meal, and as fast as one begins to lose its heat and moisture apply another. Do this/^'rj«/<'////y for twenty-four hours. Bleed from the toe at the com- mencement of the treatment. After twenty-four hours apply poultices of prunded ice, and give the following internally :— Take fluid extract of aconite, one dram ; hydrate of chloral, one ounce ; sweet spirits of nitre, two ounces ; water, one pint ; give half a wineglass every three hours until there is evident alleviation of the pain and inflammation. Feed bran mash and scalded oats, and give linseed tea, thick, for drink. His first shoeing after such an attack must be with a bar-shoe and a felt or leather sole. When the animal is able to stand up, let the feet be bathed three or four times a day for ten minutes or more at a time with the coldest water procurable, and add to each pail of water for bathing purposes one teacupful of salt. The horse should be turned out, if the weather is favorable, for at least six weeks ; but under no circumstances should he be regularly worked under that time, although he should have regular gentle exercise daily. Inflammation of the Womb.— (Metritis).— This occurs occa- sionally only, either after parturition or after a mare has miscarried. According to my experience such cases are more frequent in cows than in mares, and more especially in cows of a thoroughbred strain. Symptoms.— Vwhe high, Schneiderian membrane injected, pain in the lumbar region, and the exudation of blood or mucus from the vulva. Treatment. — Warm fomentations and poultices to the groin, the latter to be applied by means of bandages secured over the loins. The simple biniodide of mercury blister (see Medicinal Appendix) should be rubbed in on each side over the loins, but the blister on each side should not be more than one inch square. The womb should be occasionally sponged gently out by means of a soft cloth dipped in lukewarm water in each quart of which put five drops of carbolic acid and two scruples of watery solution of opium. Give internally the following medicine :— Take tincture of aconite, one ounce ; hydrate of chloral, one ounce ; tincture of muriate of iron, one ounce ; glycerine, two ounces ; water, one pint ; give half a wineglassful every two hours until some amendment is visible. Feed bran mash, take the chill off" the d. inking water, and in each pail of water put one ounce of nitre. It is best in a case of this des- cription to obtain, if possible, the services of a well-informed practitioner. 14 I i; fl 98 Intestinal Obstructions. - (Calculus). - Accumulations in the form of stones, or earthy matters of considerable size, are occasionally sources of pam and dangerous inflammation in the horse. It is most remarkable that these large accretions are frequently formed from a nucleus of two or three hairs or a little gravel. 7 hey generally lodge and are found after death in the coecum (or blind gut). The process of diges- tion takes place chiefly in the intestines of the horse, very little of that process being carried on in the stomach. The function of digestion is generally considered to be completed in the coecum, which may account perhaps, for the deposit of the original foreign element which forms the' nucleus of the calculus. When in Cincinnati, U. S., many years ago, a brother practitioner showed me a calculus which was taken a short time before from one of his patients and eventually proved fatal to him as it produced inflammation which killed him, and which was due to the obstruction of the bowels caused by the calculus; it was certainly the size of the thirty-two pound shot used in the navy ; it was of a greenish tinge, and after being duly polished w^s exposed to view in the window of a druggist. Another probable reason of these things being found in the ccEcum lies in the fact that the coecum has only one orifice (hence the vulgar expression, blind gut) ; consequently, the earthy substances being sent into the coecum by the peristaltic action of the intestines, are unable to return, for the want of such stimulative action to force them back • and as the process of digestion goes on, the useless substances, such as dirt etc., are eliminated and deposited in the coecum. Spasmodic colic' truly, forms itselHntoa recurrent habit of the system ; but, in a very great number of cases, .he so-called colic is nothing more or less than obstruc- " tive calculi. This fact, unfortunately, can never be properly proved until after death. Symptoms.— Tht symptoms are those of violent colic, and remedies are ineffectual. The pain can be stopped by medicines of a narcotic and anaesthetic nature, but only partially, if, indeed, at all. My belief is that It IS the change of movement in the horse which alone stops the pain • the calculus presses on some part of the intestines, producing an obstruc- tion ; hence the pain. In the act of moving him to give him medicine, the bowels slightly shift their position, and the obstruction no longer presses on the parts ; the pain naturally stops, and we all look with complacency on the excellent cure which we think we have made of a bad case of Spasmodic Colic, Treatment.— ThtvQ is no treatment of any use. However, if we have 99 suspicions, on account of the frequently recurring paroxysms of pain in the animal, that these obstructive agencies are at work, the only thing I know of is to administer morphine or chloral, on the cliance of it slightly palliating the pain (which is always doubtful), and at the same time to move the animal about, in order to relieve the pressure by the change in the position of the calculus. Internal Intussusception.— This consists of one part of a bowel having by some abnormal action doubled back, as it were, and forced itself into itself Sometimes the bowels, from the result of inflammatory con- tortion or otherwise, will tie themselves into a complete knot. It is almost superfluous to say that in both of these cases the result is fatal, and that in a very short time. Moving about might do good, but it is more pro- bable that it would only hasten the animal's death, by increasing the already existing inflammation. The symptoms in these cases are those of excruciating pain, and are a compound of those seen in Inflammation of the Bowels and Spasmodic Colic, .r\^^:2^ 100 CHAPTER Xril. INFLUENZA.-INFLAMMATION, METASTATIC. -JAW, DISLOCATION OF.- KIDNEYS. Influenza (Vulg. Distemper).— This disease may be divided into two kinds— Simple, and Epidemic or Epizootic; and there is no doubt but that although the symptoms are very nearly the same, yet the cause is somewhat different. The cause of both is atmospheric; but in the case of Epizootic Influenza the germ of disease is evidently of a more malignant form, and acts with a more fatal result altogether more frequently than in the case of the ordinary Influenza which exhibits itself in the spring and autumn of the year. In the case of the great EpizoJtic which made its appearance in the United States many years ago, the evidence of its con- veyance by the atmosphere was so plain as to be indisputable. When I at that time treated some cases of this disease in Chicago, State of Illinois, there was not a single horse to be .seen in the streets of that large city- private conveyances, omnibuses and tram cars were all invisible, and the want of vehicular trafllic made the city appear almost as if it was deserted. Some individuals of an inventive genius had put horses' harness, collar and all, on a few cows, and attached them to carts ; this latter fact greatly added to the peculiar appearance of the deserted streets. Being called to Lexington, Kentucky, which is south of Chicago, I had to pass through Cincinnati, lying between the two points. At Cincinnati a few cases only had yet made their appearance, but in a few days afterwards the disease struck that city. At Lexington, the very night after my arrival, symptoms of Influenza showed themselves in a gentleman's private stable, and in two days it was all over the place. This showed plainly that the disease had travelled very rapidly in a direction from the north to the south, or nearly so. By some this Epizootic was termed the Pink Eye, owing to the eye appearing pinkish, through the injection ot the blood vessels of that organ. Symptoms.— \ cough is usually the first symptom to be descried, then follows running from nose and eyes, sore throat, and consequent difficulty in swallowing ; the Schneiderian membrane is pale and the pulse weak ; the appetite is nearly, if not eatirely, gone ; this last symptom is a very bad one, as the system is dreadfully weakened through the dis- charge from the nostrils, and the disease itself thereby accumulates greater strength, as the discharge is usually profuse and the patient having Vf I Bandage to Retain Poultice in Throat Affection^ Method of Poulticing for Strangles . ' . i.i I 101 no appetite ; ti.e waste of the system goen on without any supply of nour s,,ent bemg received to supply the extreme deb.lity of the sy' stem W a ness generally, and want of appet.r.. are the chief things to be com- bated m this disease. I have had patients several times who have eZ ::: rfotmir:" '''" ''-r^ ''- '--' ^vh^w" d- : given to them m the same way that a drench is given ; had this not been done the au.mals would have actually died of stLati n. I the s «„! can be kept up. and especially if the animal can be coaxed to eat iv ..lS"'""'"u~'^ll" '''"""""' °^ '^'' ^'^^^«« ^°"«'«t« in giving the an.mal everythmg that will strengthen him, and supply the waste caued by the nasal discharge. Scald the oats, give a little hot mash occasionX he fon : T'^'.^'^^.^PP'-' sugar-anything to coax him to r;" ': he followmg tome, which will act on the digestive organs and give em half hnseed, one ounce ; gentian and goldenseal, one ounce each • powdered liquorice root, eight ounces ; mix, and divide into twelve powders or balls, and give one three times a day until the appet te bl^ n to return ; then one twice a day for at least a week ; after tS . one ol^": a day for two weeks more ; at the same time every effort possiWe shd be made to encourage the discharge, for which p^^rpose he must be um perly steamed Boil some hay. and when the steam i's well produced t'hen place some of the hay in a nose-bag, or a common stable bu kei and spnnk le it with oil of tar ; place the bag or pail under the horL' n'strUs about half a foot off from them, and cover pail, head and all with a u« eaving h.m. however, a space to see from, as otherwise he will b^ rightened, and it will be almost impossible to perform the steaming o a ■to be benencal to the patient. In many cases, however, thirdoe „o succeed m producing an increase in the discharge. In that case It an old brazier or iron bucket, fill it with lighted embers or red ht coals' then cut up some old boots into pieces and place them, together with two o" ree ounces of tar upon the hot coals or emberi ; Ln vr hat hi shall be placed under the animal's nostrils, and cover all up as be o e directed m steaming with hay. This, though rather an o d f s,^: ed sree'ded TeV 7"" '" '''"' old-fashioned; and I have many times succeeaed m effectinpr mv r>iirpr>op ;„ »u: . - , ■' /• -1 J -1 , . •' I'-'-t'^''^ '" tnia muiiiicr wnen 1 have entirely faded „,,h ,ho hay. All diseases require carefl „„rsi„g, and .his one I I' 102 especially so 'l"o alleviate the rough, which is always prc.-i it in more or less intensiiy apply a liniment to the throat, as follows :— Take strong aqua ammonia, three ounces ; iodine, in .crystals (dissolved in alcohol), \wo drams; spirits of tiirpc itine, one ounce ; tincture of camphor, two ounces ; olive oil, ten ounces ; mix, and rul) well in under the throat, and for about fiftt-cn inches down the neck over the windpipe. He must be well clothed and kept out of draughts of cold air, but at the. same time plenty of pure, fresh air .should be allowed him. Thick linseed tea should be given him to drink; and as for food, if he will eat, give him his full allowance, and perliaj)s a little more, scalding the oats, (jreat cnre must be taken to avoid his having a relapse, as in such a case the relapsed case generally ai)pears, not as Intluenza, but as Inflammation of the Lungs, and the greater number of fatal cases that took place during the Epizootic in the United States wore those of animals which, when con- valescent from the Influenza, took a relapse with Pneumonia; and in almost every instance this was the fault of carelessness, or worse, on the part of those who should have exercised more care and judgment towards them. Inflammation Metastatic (Founder, Acute.)— This di-sease has been very curiously eonfouuded with Inflammation of the Feet (Lami- nitis), and is indifferently termed Founder and Lameness in the Feet by some old writers. They are entirely different, Founders being the conse- quence of a systemic predisposition to inflammatory action, which action is attracted by metastasis (shifting) to the forelegs, shoulders, the muscles of the chest, and especially the joints of these parts, in which it very much resembles Arthritic Rheumatism. In fever in the feet, it is the feet which are the seat of the acute pain, and the feet only. In Founder, the feet, per se, are only so far affected as to be sympathetically sensible of the acute pain and fever which exists in the parts above them. Founder is, strangely enough, principally confined to the fore jjaiis 01 the body, tne reason for which has not yet been satisfactorily exnlaiiitd To look ... a horse in an acute stage of Founder, one migui be easily excused if he imagined the hind-parts to be equally affected with the fore-parts ; this ap- pearance, however, is delusive. The horse tries to relieve the pain which is existing in his fore-parts by pushing his hind-legs under him, and the pain ^o'-vvi'-d, together with this action, causes a state of rigidity which makes .; "^■ft..;u!t i-i move him at all in his stall ; in fact, the body, if it is moved ai •■1, ,•; moved iltogether, as if he were made of wood. That there is £i'm. pain even i. dependent of sympathy in the hind-parts is, doubtless, ! !! 103 true enciigli. but tlie true seat of llic inflammation lies in the fore extremi- ties. This is provtvl by the treatment proving successful, the local applications of which are applied to the fore parts only, and relieving the I)ain and inflammatory action in those parts, is equivalent to a cure of all parts, as the hind stiffness imnicdiately disappears. I'here are many causes of Founder, the chief of which are driving through cold rain or through water, either too soon after feeding or whilst the animal \n in a state of i)c,Tspiiation ; and another very certain cause is, the standing .^ horse in a draught of cold air under the same conditions. I had exjjeri ence of a case where the horse was brought in in a lather (a anious trotting horse), and the coachman inadvertently left a door open ior not more llian a very few minutes. In less than an hour and a-half he was as stiff as a board. These are the chief causc.^ although there are others also, but I give the causes only which are risily to be averted by the owner and as a means of prevention. Thi., disease, in my opinion, certainly affects the joints very largely, and pr .bably this is the reason that it has been termed Rheumatic Fever by soiue. Sj^fu/fom.—The horse becomes slightly stiff at first in the forward parts, so much so that a person might, and often does, imagine tha- he has i)icked up a stone.- Gradually he becomes more stiff until he can, with the utmost difficulty, i)ut one foot before another, and as to turning him round in the stall, such is an absolute imposs l)ility ; he breaks out into sweats, especially round the shoulders ; he breathes short, and his pulse shows signs of fever ; the Schneiderian membr ne, as is always the case, corroborating the pulse by becoming scarlet , color. He is in evident pain, and it is dangerous to attempt to lift a f( re-leg, even if it is possible to do so, as should the effort be successlul he will come over on the person attempting it. Some practitioners try a hor e by standing him in a draught of cold air as a test for his lungs ; the dan. ers of such a trial are two-fold. In one case Pneumonia may set in, in i e other i)erhaps Founder, but nearly always one or the other. When I heard this first, I could hardly believe it. but it is a fact unfortunately too well verified. TreafwefU.—Ta.ke cayenne pepper, two ounces ; alcohol, one pint : water, one gallon. Cause the legs from the knees downwards to be thoroushly rubbed with this lotion ; on account of its pun ency the oper- ator will, if possible, make a short job of it ; but do not a..ow this, make the rubber keep on at his work for at least fifteen minutes at a time, and repeat every hour and a-half; after each application apply bandages in H. 104 loosely, saturated with the lotion. Take off the shoes and poultice the feet. Give internally at once : — Tartarized antimony, one dram ; ginger, one dram ; gentian, one dram ; and two hours afterwards one of the fol- lowing balls or powders : — Take nitre, bi-carbonate of soda, bi-tartrate of potash, each two ounces and a-quarter; mix, and divide into twelve powders or balls, and give one three times a day until improvement sets in. At the moment the powders are about to be administered, drop on each five drops of the tincture of aconite. Keep the horse very warmly clothed in a warm but well-ventilated stable, but out of all draughts of air. Feed bran mash and scalded oats, and give linseed tea for drink. Many people have many ways of treating this disease — some, doubtless, very good, some equally bad, and a great number very comical. I can only say that during my practice of twenty-three years, I believe that, possibly with the exception of spasmodic colic, I have had more cases of this disease than of any other, and in every case I have suc- ceeded in limbering them up and curing them completely in always less than three days, using the treatment whkh I direct to be used in this book. If the case is not properly treated, a chronic stiffness with rheu- matic tendency remains, and is, unfortunately, frequently exhibited in the streets to-day. Jaw, Dislocation of. — By horses running away, by their falling from a height, or even by a heavy fall over a gate when with hounds, the jaw is occasionally dislocated. It can be dislocated in two different ways, that is, it can be thrown forward causing the lower jaw to protrude in front of the upper jaw, giving the animal a very peculiar and repulsive appearance ; or it is possible, but very rarely indeed it happens, that it can be thrown downward and backward — I say it is possible, but that is about all. However, the lower jaw may be dislocated so that it protrudes for- ward of its natural position easily enough. To reduce the dislocation, take a round stick of wood and cover it with cloth, place it crossways in the mouth against the lower grinders, then press downward and slightly backward and the jaw will slip into its place with a click, the teeth meet- ing on the cloth-covered stick, and thus obviating any danger to the teeth or otherwise at the moment of its re-articulation. Kidneys (Hypertrophy of).— Hypertrophy or excessive nutrition of the Kidneys is met with more often than suspected, but even when the primary cause of the fatal result to a sick animal is this disease, it is very rarely detected until the animal is opened after death, and this is more to the 105 ordirof tt RI^Hr"""!, °' '^ ^^""^"^^ '"'"^ '"'^^^'^- f- --e dis- order of the Bladder ; and in a case that came under my observation a hand, and m hat case by mverting his hand might have certainly felt the .mmensely enlarged kidney ; the organ being inordinately enlarged in competent to perform its proper functions, whereby the impurities o the being passed off m the urme, these impurities are reabsorbed by the blood and passmg round the circulatory organs reach the lungs in thdr turn e consequence .s that the impure blood is only partially oxygenized and the foul part which has come from the diseased kidney, irritates the lun. and causes ulcers to form on that organ, resulting, in nearly every casn dea h by suffocation. The ulcers not being suspected until the '."';«" lernof "k " 'T '^ ^'^ '•"'^^^^^ ^^°- '^' "-^"'^' and some times not even then, they gradually enlarge themselves until the surface o the lung ,s almost entirely one mass of them ; at last they burst in tubes Td"''"; ^'' ''' '^"^ ''°^^ ''' ^''^-^^"^^"^ -- theVonc ial tubes, and suffocation ensues. That there is any cure for this enlarge believe , and this paragraph ,s only written as a caution to would-be buyers and traders of horses, in order that they may be wary in taking a horse wuh a purulent nasal discharge. It wouJld seem almos't needlerto rnention such a subject in the way of caution, if it were not for e m ny tricks and frauds that are practiced on unsuspecting buyers. H i 1 1 1 LOCKED-JAW. 106 CHAPTER XIV. MEGRIMS.- LARYNGITIS.- MUMPS. AND SALLENDERS.- MANGE, MALLENDERS Locked-Jaw (Tetanus). — This is essentially a disease implicating the entire nervous syHiem,and is very difficult to cure, the more especially as its seldom shows itself specifically until from fourteen to twenty-one days after its primary cause has been established. Its cause essentially is injury to a nerve or nerves, and although the whole nervous system, is most distressingly thrown into a state of the most extreme tension, yet the original cause may be the injury through a wound to the smallest nerve, or even when certain parts are in a state of inflammation, and conse- quently most susceptible to adverse action, may result from cold, and •; may well be assumed that in all cases of Idiopathic Tetanus, the cause is the extreme irritation caused by a cold draught of air playing upon the extremity of a nerve or nerves, internally or externally, which nerves, or some portion of their intercommunicable parts, are in some way diseased and consequently open to disorder. Locked-Jaw frequently sets in after the operation of castration or docking the tail. Many operators have been, and still are, blamed for this occurrence, where there may have been no ground for this censure, as, speaking generally, it is not usually the act of operating which causes this disease, but some neglect or im- proper treatment afterwards. There are, of course, some cases in which > by dragging at the spermatic cord or other ill-management in the opera- tion, the cause of Locked-Jaw may be very properly attributed to the operator, but in general it is not so, and the same remarks may as justly be received with regard to the operation of Dock- ing. The causes most frequently present are those of either the horse picking up a rusty nail or other foreign body of a lacerat- ing nature, or else the farrier pricks the horse, and, as a general rule, to make matters worse, he neglects to own that he has done so, hoping, no doubt, that the wound will heal up and that will be the end of it Generally speaking, the horse will be a little lame and the wound appar- ently heals up and he become sound. A chief factor in the case, how- ever, is forgotten. The wound truly has healed, but the nerve has been injured and irritated in all probability by dirt, sand or gravel, which should have been removed immediately. This irritation is removed after a little, and as the wound heals and the horse goes sound, no more is 107 thought of the matter. The mischief is done, however, and in a short nme generally about three weeks from the time of the injur "the p monuory symptoms of Locked-Jaw become evident. The most evere cases seen, and the least hopeful in their progress, are those where the injury .s m the foot. A horse may take the'diLse' from ,^ ire " t e neck, as I have personally seen, and also from an ulcerated ooth b t in o cue than those m wh.ch the or.ginal injury has been in the foot, being :: t'^r;!;:? zr ^^^ "^ '-- ^^ ''''^^' -^- ^^^ ---s .n,-n/'T'""T?r' "^^y be called the stage of incubation has been gomg on for probably three weeks, and the horse is deemed all right when all at once he begins to show a disinclinat.on to eat ; tl is usual v put down to a want of appetite, and in all probability tl e rdir"^ wh.ch w,th n.tre and the urine ball, seems to be the remedy for a I dis eases the orse ,s heir to, is got in readines to be administered T e fir t th.ng to do ,s, of course, to open his mouth to receive the cure aJI When th>s ,s attempted it is found that the jaws are very nearly closed I say very nearly, because until the jaws are 'very nearly dos d l.e caVea h.s oats and even his hay, and the fact of his being able to eat^ hi" oat ^d hay , ,.e attendants to overlook the'gradual closin ^fl aws At the same t.me, ,f the eyes had been noticed carefullv a pecuharly starmg appearance would have been observed ; the ears also are unnaturally erect. These are the first symptoms, and /f the a pe^Tan of the eyes and ears had been noted some days before, the jaws wou d have been found to be stiff in their action, but not closed to the extent of . terfermg very much with the masticatory action. Much valuable t me therefore ,s generally thrown away by this want of observation and as .n all ot er complamts. the disease has had time to acquire a 're sUn force entnelysuper,or to that which it had some days^efore, and he difficulty of arr>vmg at a satisfactory termination of the case is greatly increased. A certain indication of the presence of Locked-Jaw is the acnon of the Haw when the head is lifted upwards by the hand When th,s ,s done the Haw covers half the eye, and the anLal has the appea ance of lookmg, as it were, backward towards the observer ; such a > fox-terrier. Soon the tail shows that the caudal nerve« are under th- influence of the disease ; the tail stands out straight,' and, a th di L : progresses. ,t shakes or shivers, and that frequently before the shaking and 11 < ' ^1 108 shivering of the whole frame has commenced ; the animal stands next with its neck stretched out, appearing rigid all over, and the hind legs are straddled, resembling a horse desiring to stale. The bowels now become constipated. Sometimes a small amount of dung is passed, but, if so, it is in round, dry or shiny balls, the urine also is scanty in quantity and unnatural in its color. Constipation is always present, and some evidently think that this is a cause and seem to endeavor to move the bowels only. Constipation is the effect of the disease, and not by any means the cause. The old saying was, that if you could move the bowels the case was as good as cured, and every effort in the shape of monstrous amounts of aloes and other purgative medicines, with clysters, were administered, little, if any attention being paid to the fact that actual disease itself lay in the abnormal condition of the nervous system. The jaws gradually close tightly together, and so strong is the nervous tension, that men have actually tried to pry them open with an iron bar and failed. A fact which not only shows the immense power of this nervous disease, but also shows the ipnorance and want of feeling in t;he men who tried such an experi- ment. Horses have been buried all but the head in snow, pushed off heights into a river, and numerous other barbaric endeavors have been made under all kinds of forms to cure this disease. Such shocks may relax the tension temporarily, but only temporarily, and the disease resumes its power with greater malignancy than before. The pulse rises to 70, and after a day or so goes down to from 36 to 40, and yet lower sometimes. Soon the animal breaks out in cold sweats, and quivers all over by paroxysms, and sometimes the sweat pours off the animal, as if he had just come out of a brook. Death occurs generally from the ninth to fifteenth day, never over that. In the few cases I have been successful in, improvement has occurred visibly and definitely from the seventh to the ninth day. After death, the abdominal viscera generally show signs of inflammation, the meninges of the brain also give evidence of inflam- matory action, but the chief evidence of inflammatory action is to be seen in the meninges and body of the spinal cord itself Treatment. — As a general rule the treatment in this case proves inefficacious. As before mentioned, all kinds of experiments have been resorted to in the endeavor to cure this most serious and usually fatal disease. The older treatment was that of purgatives and anti-spasmodics, such as opium, camphor, etc. ; and those indications are still to be fol- lowed strenuously, and to be applied as early as ^^ossible. I believe however:, that hydrate of chloral, in combination with the occasional 109 inhalation of chloroform, is almost a specific in this disease, especially when assisted by the proner action of purgative medicines. In the case of the disease being caused by a nail, prick, or other wound in the foot, I believe that much assistance would be derived by the performance of the operation of neurotomy (nerving), as it is quite possible that the shock caused to the whole nervous system by the excision of part of the nerve, would cause a relaxation of the extreme tension, which is the most promi- nent feature in the disease. Providing the patient has no serious organic disease of the heart, the administration of chloroform by inhalation is always beneficial,and in soTne cases will effect a cure independently of any other remedies ; taken, however, in combination with the exhibition of anti-spasmodics, of which the hydrate of chloral forms the principal basis, it is almost a certain cure if applied within any reasonable time after the symptoms of closure of the jaws has made its appearance. Still, the exhibition of purgatives should not be omitted, nor should the injections either ; but instead of loading the stomach with large doses of aloes, especially when in the form of a ball, the purgatives should be exhibited in a saline form with aconite. Supposing, therefore, that the origin of the disease can be traced back to a wound in the foot, the wound should be enlarged and properly cleansed with a weak solution of carbolic acid, such as, water half a pint, carbolic acid one scruple, glycerine one ounce ; mix. I have hardly, if ever, found any evidence of dirt there, even in the feet of those animals which have died from the effects of the disease. Some say that the irritation to the nerve which causes the disease is caused by the deposit of sand or some- thing from the nail, and doubtless, the quantity of any foreign substance sufficient to irritate a small nerve might be almost infinitesimal ; but my opinion is that the nervous shock is incubated and developed— not so much by any foreign substance, as by the actual injury to the nerve itself or its neurilemma (covering). After the wound has been properly cleansed, leave a pledget of cotton-wool saturated with the lotion just mentioned in the wound, renewing the dressing every twelve hours until healing takes place. Take oil of wormwood, one ounce ; tincture of opium, four ounces ; oil of turpentine, two ounces ; tincture of camphor, four ounces ; olive oil, ten ounces ; mix, and rub thoroughly into and all around the jaws. For purgative, take bi-carbonate of soda, bi-tartrate of potash, each one pound ; nitre, half a pound ; ejjsom salts, a pound ; mix, and give four ounces twice a day until the dung appears more natural, and on each four ounces drop eight drops of the tincture of aconite. If the jaws are no S^S;:a^';r'7 ^^-^^f-- or .edlcme seems an i.possi- or r.lT tlTlZi T " '"''' ^'"' "°^ '°° '^^'^ with a hammer nlace h. ' u ^ ^'^"^ "'"'^ ^ '''^'^^ relaxation of the jaws Then ttm%rr.i:\^z \-r:^^^-^--d piece or jod;. ke: tncted nnH v.! f " " ""' successful, two teeth must be ex- fluid exLct of valerrn on "''' ' '"''"^' "' ''"^P'^°^' ^°"^ -'"^^«> water, one pmt m^ """'' ' '""''' '^'"'' °^ "''^^' ^^"^ °""-es dicr, one pint, mix; give a wmeglassful every two hours Tw.V. takmg cold, and give him gentle exercise daily. ^ '"' depraved conditio,,. This disease is also occasl ^Uy Tu'd „ a P.dem,c Ep,.„o,ic) form, and „l,e„ so is in many cases very obs„a o sunocat,on. Pus of a very th.ck consistency is tlirown o„t forming as .- »,ere a cast, and thereby closing ,he epiglottis (valve ove .i e 3' pipe), and preventing the breathing „f rhe patient' ,„ sole "f rtese Ill cases this takes place so quickly that the operation of tracheotomy, which should be resorted to in such a case, is frequently performed too late, and this fatal delay occurs in the human subject also, as the author can witness in the case of one of his own brothers. Symptoms.~T\\Q back part of the throat is visibly much inikmed ; the pulse is high ,; the Schneiderian membrane of a scarlet color ; the breathing is short and rattling, sometimes almost stertoroup, and the func- tion is evidently performed with difficulty ; the neck is swollen and very tender ; the head is stretched out nearly straight (in order to aid him in breathing), and, of course, he has great difficulty in swallowing anything. When taken to water, the liquid returns partially through the nose, and this should be noted when taking place, as it is always an evidence that something is wrong in the throat. Treatment.— \i at the commencement of the complaint, clothe him well, and apply a blister to the upper part of the wind-pipe, outside (see Iodine Blister, Med. Appendix) ; give him hot bran mash and fever powders of bicarbonate of soda, etc., (see Med. Appendi.x) twice a day, with thick linseed tea for drink. If, however, the first mild stage has been overlooked, as is generally the case, and matter has been more or less thrown out, the head being thrown out and the breathing difficult, then send for the nearest skilled practitioner to perform the operation of tracheotomy, otherwise, in all probability, the horse will die from suffoca- tion. Should there be none in the vicinity, then the best way is to try to do it yourself, as if it is not done at once, and the cast has formed in a more or less hardened form, a fatal termination is almost certain. Feel down the wind-pipe for from twelve to fifteen inches from the jaw, and select one particular ring in the wind-pipe through which the incision is to be made. The proper way is to make an incision over the ring and cut out a circular piece, but being in a hurry to let him breathe, cut through the ring and keep the incision open, while another person passes in some kind of a tube, cover this with gauze to prevent the inhalation of dust, and secure it by strings round his neck. I have heard of a case in which the practitioner having no tube with him, made the incision (and that in the dark), and held it open until the farm people broke off the curved spout of a kettle, which he inserted until he could be better pro- vided with a proper tube, thereby saving the' animal's life. In all cases the throat should be blistered, and sulphur burnt in small quantities close to the animal's head. Take a stick and tie a small sponge on to the top, : 5 ; ! u y dabbing the ins de of e Xoa with th. '" "T" \ '""' minutes after take .nlnJ,,.. r ! .. " ^''^ sponged stick; ten sa.urate it wilh .h^ so u i°„ Z ^ ' ""«. take a large sponge, inside and back part oiZZ' T * " ""' ""'' ^P'"'' "" """ *= of .inc.; of ac™ e 1 l,r 7'"° "'' '"" P''»'<'ers,wi.h five drops potash, .»ol„ce of s 1; jrf r"'-''"' ""' """'' ^f^h'-^^'f Tl>e cas. can soil fb e ! eked " "'rV '"''"'''" """^ " «">■■ keeping .he mo„.l, Ipe^ wUh' e ball n? ' T" "'" *' """" '''' ..ion .0 ;„, o.:;: ix;: .ir eTr :: J: btr °^ - v^Mcb"- ra.id":e:;r.bte:r'i?"'"^''°""^''« ''""'^'' °'-''' n.ay resul. from .he snpp essjrn „f ^c iZ " '"""'"' ' ^'^ " '' In some cases where anSL ht , k *'.'" '^'"" »' S't-"8'==- allowing an exi. .0 ihe ons ?h?T k ' """'" '''"■ *= P"'l'<«= "f deptho'f fro„:„: :i'„fh *"s rbTrh rr' :"■"""=' *^' ^ .he pus can be liberated ,nd t u ""^ *= «a'P=l before -ered the format^^r; rsfnC b^LS Lt^asl^r " nppeS:;a-t'of :e;rb:;.;irr;"h™''"- "■' '^' -" "- pressure, soon becomes ha Zed o^clZ sed' 'ZT' IT ""'" Cifflculty in masticating food as the acHonTf rh T" ''" «''^' great pain by pressing on the enlfr J,1 7 ! '^"" '" "'""''"8 "^^""^ mistaken for i„dp,>"f Wk/d 11^1-?^ 'i" """''' '"•"'"' " I""' >«=" shows signs of inll'tt'-^Tle head " st'rXd 'r';': ""'" also difficulty in swallowing as weiras^.h: arflStir '""' " after rtTo^fTh^?"' ''°' ""''''' P°""™' '" *e "umber of four, one ouowmg im.ment.-Take soap liniment, eight ounces- tincture of drmk and hot bran mash for food. ^'"scea tea tor MallendePS and Sallenders. (See Scurfy Eruption.) 113 fr.n ''*^"8re.-This is not very common in the horse, being seen more ^^rn'r" : ;." ""'r""' ^'^ '°^- "''^^-^' ^^^ --« - -o^tly h" same .n both spec.es of animals, being impoverished or tainted blood in conjuncfon w.th want of cleanliness and care in the owners of the ZTw M "''^' °^ '°"'''' ^' ^^"^'•^^^^d from another animal, being in ts f highly contagK>us. It resembles the itch in the human subject, bt n the case of the horse and dog it causes the unfortunate recipient o thed.sease to assume a far more disgusting appearance than even the man. Pus ules sometimes form and present a very loathsome appear at^ce, but t ,s ,s where the disease is not attacked by ren.edies at'once forms, one of which is dry and scurfy, while the other is soft, humid and and pustulous It ,s said to be the sequel of Surfeit, although I have never seen such a result follow that disease. If it does follow Surfeit then It must be from other concomitant circumstances aiding in the matter. Sy,»/foms.-Th,se are very obvious. The animal becomes verv restless and s continually rubbing and scratching himself. This causes the parts which are rubbed and scratched to become denuded of the hai and sometimes the scarf-skin also. Then, if the animal has acquired the dry form of Mange, the cuticle appears whitish or dusty, but if it is Z humid variety. little pimples and vesicles appear charged with matter which soon empty themselves either of their own accord or through he continual rubbing which the animal persists in. in order to relieve the terribly Itchy feeling under which he is suffering. After these discharge crusts form underneath which the ulcerative process is going on As tTe process of denudation goes on, the animal begins to become weak and thin and If the cause is not soon checked, the animal sinks into such a debilitated state, that his vital forces refuse to rally and the case termin ates fatally under Dropsy or some other disease, indicating the complete demoralization of the system. "uipicie 7>r«/;«.«/ -Take sulphur, half a pound ; carbolic acid, half an ounce; unsalted lard one pound; mix, and make into an ointment and apply frequently and liberally to all the affected spots. Then take iodide of potassium, one ounce ; arsenic, two scruples ; sulphate of copper, one ounce ; gentian, one ounce; nitre, three ounces ; linseed meal, six ounces ; mix, and divide into twelve powders or balls Give one morning and evening until amendment. It is better to divide the arsenic separately from the other ingredients, so that an equal amount is 114 given in each powder. The animal must be isolated, as almost every- thing that It has touched will give the disease to another horse ; and cer.- tamly, if the harness and clothing is ever to be used again, it should be repeatedly washed in carbolized water and submitted to a long quaran- tme. Give him as much wholesome and nourishing food as he will eat m reason ; take the chill off his water, and occasionally give him some' thick hnseed tea, and be very careful he does not catch cold. Those in attendance on the animal should be very cautious with regard to washing their hands every time after handling him, otherwise they will contract this disease in some form or other. Ilil 115 CHAPTER XV. MOUTH AND TONGUE. NERVING. NAViCULARTHRITIS NASAL r. p.. PROTRUSION OF THE GUT. PROLAPSUS OF THE WOMB ^^^^- POISONS. of sucking colts and fillie. in .1 7 sometimes m those {, cons aim hllies. In the former case the causes mav he fnnnH .n some cases from sympathetic inflammatorv action s .ciras ,s c^n "h n-.omthe..L,er.and-se.r-:;;-^^^^^^^ rreaOue.t.-U it is a suckling, purify the mother's milk by putting, her on a course of Tonic Iron Po^vders (see Medicinal \,),)endiv^ r a grmvn-up horse, remedy the ill-fitting \,it or file the t.t'he ' may be. and give him the Iron Powders. In both cases tVk' . . r' acd one dram, honey (thick) three ounces ; nnx and / ^ L u ct be means of a small stick, the top of which is covered by a si Is, n" he sponge agau, being covered with soft linen If the ulL s a e IS CeH "LTled"^ cL'r'' '" TT' ''' -'-'' ^'"til7ere;Tr linseed tea t drink. ""'"' "^' ^^^''^' °^'^ '^' ^-^' ^^^' ^'"'ck NePVingr (Neurotomy).-As this operation is so frequerllv recom ormed. Ihe operation consisis of excising from half an i„H, ,„ mc and a-half of .he plan.ar nerve, which snpp, ^Z org „ LZ of ,h hoof „,.h sensation. Sometitnes the opirator only s^ipsTh" n v caself'thr"''"","""' "" "'"'''•' """'"-"'^ deLoy'ed "the zi:l:v'z ::: zr '^ --' ^°°" -^^-^^ ^^ In the case of the excisfon „f *T'"^ '°^"''" "S"'"' to the length of the Ice ever. " T,' "' "" ""=' ''"""'"^ ■ J 1, L "^ excucJ, so IS the length of time which is oer,. P.ed by the process of reuni.ion, and. conseqnemly, inle restorln of 116 sensation to inner organization of the hoof. In a very great number of cases where the lameness is evidently in the interior of the hoof, and there is difficulty in diagnosing the exact seat of the injury, it is put down to disease (as it is wrongly called) of the Navicular Joint (Navicularthritis), and great numbers of horses have undergone this operation when ([uite free from any such disease — many of them to the great loss of their owners. This operation is generally called for in the cases of racing and other blooded stock. The results are generally most unsatisfactory. The sensation is temporarily destroyed, and the lameness consequently disap- pears for a little, and the operation is loudly i)raised. In a short time, however, when the nerve is reunited, sensation returns, and, of course, the horse is as lame as ever. In other cases, through the interference by the operation with the nutritive vessels of the hoof, a crack appears at the coronet and the hoof is shed. It is true, as mentioned in reference to another disease, that a new hoof may, and generally will, grow again, but it is smaller and never as strong as the original one. The operation consists in casting the animal and excising (snipping is no good in any case) about an inch or an inch and a-half of the plantar nerve, which runs down the leg in company with its artery and vein and passes into the hoof, thereby supplying sensation and ramifying there. The excision should be made about two to three inches above the fetlock ; this is called the high operation, the low operation being where the incision through the skin is made a little above the junction of the hair with the hoof. The nerve lies between the vein and artery, and is detected by its white colour. Its position can be ascertained when it is covered by cellular tissue, by the pulsation of the artery lying beside it. The higher the incision is made, the more cellular tissue is likely to be found covering it. The high oper- ation is the best, as the sensation is more perfectly destroyed than in the low operation. The nerve after being dissected from its cellular tissue (if any) is raised by means of a curved, blunt needle, and separated by means of a pair of scissors, the upper part being cut through by the scissors ; then the lower division is made of whatsoever length is judged best by the operator. At the first incision the horse will generally struggle violently, and occasionally fall into convulsions. On the lower cut being made by the scissors he will take no notice, as he feels nothing. If the operation must be performed, it is much better, providing the animal's heart is sound, to administer chloroform, as thereby the shock will be averted from the nervous system, and there will be no struggling. The wound may be brought together, either with a stitch or with rubber plaister, and 117 1ZTy^"'\ '"'"'""^ "'^ "*''^"- ''''' ^^"^^^y «^--- '--ever, very m ch hke stunning a man to relieve him of a stomach aciie. If the so called incurable lameness exists even really in the Navicular Joint, it neces- sarily follows that there has been inflammation, and that in all probability ulceration as made its appearance ; the abnormal action in thi hoof prl"^ duced by the inflammatory and ulcerative stages causes the irritation of the nerves mside the hoof, and hence the pain. Directly the nerve is excised above, It bemg the vehicle of sensation, of course the pain ceases ; but the real disease, which consists of the ulcerative process, stiil exists and prospers in ■ ts gradual process of disorganixing the whole internal strticture of the hoof • therefore, m thes. cases, it is by „o means a remedy, but at the best a tide-' over, m some few cases it may be of service where the proper remedies have time and means to reach the real disease, as in that case the absence o pain will tindoubtedly help the cure. But for people to take a hors^ who has any kind of inflammation (not to say ulceration) in the hoof, and after nerving him to set him to his usual work, as is often done, is not only the quintessence of absurdity, but a very impolitic proceeditig, if only ooked at from the standard of pecuniary profit, to say nothing of the future interests of the animal. ^ Navicularthpitis (Disease of the Navicular Bone).-This is the disease referred to under the head of " Nerving." It is inflammation and subsequent ulceration of thearticulation of the coffin bone with the Navicular bone^ 1 he Navicular bone is a small bone, generally about an inch and a.half o two tnches long, varying, of course, according to the si^e of the animals which own it. The joint may be said really to consist of three bones as the Navicular bone (or Shuttle) is in articulation with both the cofhr) bone and the lower pastern. The lameness is usually put down to a violent strain during motion ; but it is very questionable whether Navi- cular disease cannot more often be attributed to a strain of the lower part of the back tendon at its insertion, than to a strain of the actual Navicular joint itself. The symptoms are those indicative of any pain and lameness in the back part of the interior of the hoof The horse goes more upon the toe of the affected foot than upon the heel, and points accordingly. Some say that the lameness is intermittent, but it has not appeared so to me in the very few genuir.e cases of this disease with which I have been brought in contact. Should this intermittent lameness be present, the horse being in daily work, I believe it should direct atten tion to another point than the Navicular joint. The disease being dee'p- MM H!»iMO>l. (I\0 l«'\r( \\\ llU' l\OOl l>l lo-^'l .»|>pl»l«-|\l \\\:\\\ in ll||\l I lilill till. ini"< M\ ilwH »',»«o H Mt'»'<', luul ilii'« m;u l>f H'|ti'i\iril m inli'ivnl'i ol' ;« vvt'i'k li^i ihivo lnui'"» l'«M\lu« i> ll\r litoi .nv/./w.'^^w r dtt lliiri- iln 'I, «»no «iiU-^ t\»t m U'UHi iluvc timt r,»ki' iniliui' (n\ ciV'fliilM, (lis'dilviMl), luill rt« v^u>uv,l»Mi«>>l\M'>\nv,(\v»»\li,m»'<.<\u»ll>nil«lt"<,|>inMli'HMl,itiii' iiimici swotM \m\\. »m H\»\\pK' «'oi,uo, 1iN»n ot\n«<'H . \\\\\. t\\\A upplv nil niitmni llii' j\\n\\\<<\\ »>l \\M^ .«ii»^ l\.Mi\, r\<<'p\m^ ihi> h«'i'l'4. wlii'ii' lln' mMm i'< lliin , \'Ut «*rt ll\0 h; i\iul lUh (U tl\i>(0\l^l>lv ;\I| lUi ii\t li ;inil i\\\A)\ ;U>>*vvm1\»- iMWrUon >'I h.in uml lioni (woiuv lorn hinipi nidi luh u\ )ivuU\ »>vM\u' ««wo«M \\\\ o\ lionh hul. ,n»»l irpi';U ii\ uii\i> A.w* , uivr hImh iHisot a >l\'»tli;n>iiM>l iniini't ol n vvlmi' t»i volUnv >-\>Km 1h>n< bo\h \\os(ul'<. m\\\ >\>< to hi- » :ui'*ril ptiinMiilv ln'in n »NvK< .»\U| ^^^n>-0.pUM\^ vwpptx^HSlUn Ol U»r ( \H;IHr(MI'» pl'I'.pllllllilM. HI, ill ;lll t''\v\\l>, ToMU il»o ;«hi<on»lui'»n ol boih tlu' 'umu'Ioiv ninl I'Mirimv l\\\>vMivM\s. pv>H!«U>lv tho kuluovs ui l»o\vi>|s. It llu- vliMclmim' i'* Imm niic Mv>s\nl v^nlv. W is to l>o lv>v>ko«l \ipon wilh siispirion . untl imtliiliiiii. il iml Ahx\»vU ov\K< ;U onrc b(> msmu-d on. In is (iciii'i.illv tlivulcil ^n^^^uvv^ki^uls— S\i,\uon, is U\v-n lvMn\0(l, on accmint ol llu' in *Mx\»M^'. \ ihiUmuv o\\\\k- >\ n\pt<>m>..iU\»l ilio o\ itlont omtshIvo inlhnM\('(> wlinli x\ l\rts ohiunovl »noi iho gonoial »on»tilulion. Malinimnl (iliri. In Npiic \A' ihosovlotinuions, I havo soon Nasal iJlool lun lor thiotMVot'ks with no ii\alig »\Ant svmptvMws at all. ri\is »lisoaso is soiuolin>os nnsiakon hv innotanl per sons, tor viianvlois. anil nn»lor that »loliision llu- animal is m ciisiunallv ^WsttvmM Sm'h a o;»so ooomtxHl nmliM my ohsoivation in the Stalo of Now Wnk. whou^ .» oortain oity socioly, v>rmoiil worth il Us piopoi piaiu-, insistiM upv^n tl\o dosti notion o( the anintal, tho wiso am'iit ol this Svviotv ^who was an anotuMicorl ktunving as nunh alumt the two tlisoasos AS ho viid ;\l>out K»\)tlish gvamtUiti. It is i\ooilloss to say that a stop was sov>»i put to this uitoallod for tntoitoioi\oo. Simf'U'^s. — A ^H^ious vlischarjio hom (ho nostrils ol a yoliowiah- ^>*^,. iiitl (III' ii u'^ illwin M I'lil Ini liKrtV I** ilVilil imI III illll'l Vill'l III (llli'i- (liM'i, ll lf|ll':ll CM'IV lisMoht'il), liiill ICll.ilMt' illllU'i'; nil lUiiiniil llic skill i'< lllill ; nil iiiili iinil Illll'l illlrl mil ll\^ , nivi' iiImu (m-c Mcilii null III ll Wlllli' III iiiiiinlv liKiii It llinii, III, III illl mill cMiciiiiv Ht> I-* liiMll iilir lolllllnll, 11 IIkI ifi.illv iliviilril iitllv tilt' III rrll ll> (ill'i'l ll.lVill|J nilMt III llic 111 llilliU'lin> wliirli ■I'l, In Hpiu- 111 I with III) ltlllli^ IV igiioiiiiil per is lUCllSIOIl.lllv n till' StnU; of ^ pmpoi pliU'.o, iimMil of (liis lio two ilisi-asi'H lial ii slop wjiH ot a yollDwish- whiii • kImi ""•^"A lli.'h. i ''" 'iMl-lU!- I'. Illl. I< ,IM.| V(HM,| IIIH """*• '■' ••"II 'lll.l nil hiM ,„,,,! , ,1 ^" •"•'Hil.« („„„ llu. .y,.., wl.i.l. M IlIlM '•'•<'ll«ll(lllll| (liill,, ""•• 'IHi.lih, ,in,| ll "••H lllllllllKOll ; ll 'If ( ( " '""•"• •M'l.-M, |,„| ,„,, „| '"IIICil //,//,, l„,fl, i''''"l iM(l(M(l»(| ; \\^,. »Hl fll)(f»-M »uA 1,^ •^"VM. M,. |,M,,„|„.,, |„.„^,j, •'iiliii^....! Mihl pnjiiliii I •^•""'"i",!!,,,,. ^,|,„„,, ^,„,,,,,^ ,,^^ ^ "VllipillliHi,. „. iJMi, nl III,. I M''llll»'|i|(Mirt "'"• ''' lllllllllV IIIMM- Ml |,.,„, „( iili/j;>i (t ' (II V 'ItV/ )(M' MO/t, 'k'i. 'tl)r(wi()({ ''W '•••• llllclllMl """''"'"' "l'l"''"til.«M.,|,|,., II '" ""'""i ""'I Hm. pul,,. i, ,„,,.,j^, "•"""•••^ M""liilaili|r|< '••iiliKiiiiiil Hill • "'illiMliI „„v i(,|,.Mll.'i| '"*♦• 'Vlll Mill ..JIliM j„„, I, M'l Mlalc l,\ lalc ''''|''>V, I'/tiry ( '» *'V*-(( ''•VtT Mf III,. ^,, I,,,, ,,1,^,^1 "«•• '1 "lI'MVl.ll ,M „p,„,M. il ,H i.V I... rl "I'lMi'H l.'.jii^ ol,i,<.,v,i|,|,. ;/ ,1 •"•■Mlliiaiic. ll MI'IIiiI'i, (lillinilu. il, .,^^.,^\\ ''III. (|M/S(>.f,/ y. NliKill Italic. ••' 1'^ |';iMS((| „n. I 'K. 'iii'l III" /la.ikH mI.mw „ ,j„„| "•"KC. if Ihr ilim I •"••"^i'liiallv ,„v(.(,.,| vviil, 1,1 • '""*"" ill '"lo,, ,,,„| ,f„, ,1, iiiii- 'I'M i" \v,\u\. 'IIkI IIiimi "I'M" ci'idiialiv (limini^l '"'' ni\\ alw.iy'! 'ippcaci oiilv hux^ «'""•''••"■ ••«|'<'n/illv i( ||„. ,|j^, I for fffitfimnf. Tiim ,1 "'11' iio'ihil. I, ""* III 'pianfiiy „,„| ,1,,, ^ "ll your ^H.ui] a A( ll,|y II" (icaiii) l/f f:|„.,:k,w|, |„(f "• «ysl'Tri, f|„. "'i'i«. Htfier l,y „„.;,„<, of |,o(M lull iiiak • i'"ii/.a (for will, I I «'■'■ iiiidci I "'' 'iii'l far, a« |,rfofr ,\ III « "' (III "pciiiiij/ jnt(, i|„. fi I"' li'vi'liiij/;. s '"■"'■'I in (.;^«.,^^ ,,f •'"•'•"Vis,., and i|„.n.i,y ,.| "iifal siiiimcs \,y ,„, watiii iiijcnioii^. Slid '•'"i«ii'K III.' s.ip/,osf.l i,„ 'line TV(i,utuu-ui] \),o ■Ills of III*. \u-\,h\ni: i,r K'liKiv'iiig of any Holifl I Ircaiiriciit is ^,„o.| wlir>fi f| I'ii'liir^' l,y „„-ar„ of U(] V'fC/ltod, n« il I,;,.; I roinoves (lie cflij inalK.-r fr.Mii tliat spol i<, „| '«'<'ii, as a rair,., is ,,„{,, "• nrr/'ssify for rhf ':! and not tlic '"lie indicated, but whnu iinrc-asofiaMf;, as ir / f'oslori" i||!' ((,,,,, , f ,i '" time 01 (Ik; vessel ':aiise. '/li,,. r,rsf and f;hi,.f i,,,i lU ly licaltl 'y perspiration ; tl « whose finif.don it u-.aw l=i to prodiK;/- "' ""•^' '"• ''""' I'y 'onic ;.nd diaj,!.'. 120 retic medicines, partially aided by external hand rubbing. For this purpose the horse should be well wisped over every two hours, at least, and this duty must be performed energetically. Then take : Sulphur three ounces ; tartar emetic, one ounce and a-half ; exsiccated sulphate of iron, two ounces ; iodide of potassium, one ounce ; arsenic, one dram ; linseed meal, eight ounces ; mix (and see that the arsenic is equally divided), divide into twelve powders or balls, and give one morning and evening. It is always safest, in case of after-consequences, to isolate the patient and to keep the stable properly disinfected, removing all dung and urine immediately on its being passed ; but this latter remark applies to all cases of sick horses. Good nursing is a great desideratum in this case especially, and much patience must be exhibited. The food must be sound and good, and not stinted. When the horse becomes convalescent give him gentie daily exercise, one hour morning and afternoon, and give him tonic iron powders, one morning and evening, for at least three weeks. Do not put the animal to work until at least a month after recovery ; but turn him out in the daytime if the weather is suitable, remembering always that it takes the animal a long time to recover his natural strength after such a weakening disease. Protrusion of the Gut.— The rectum, which is the last of the large intestines, occasionally protrudes from the anus in a very disgusting manner, and sometimes is not at all easy to replace, or at all evc.its when returned is difficult to keep in its place. When protruded it is inverted (turned inside out, as it were,) and appears generally, but not always, in an inflamed condition, its colour being red, and when this is so the horse seems urged to force it out more. The cause of this unnatural condition of things is sometimes constipation of an obstinate character, sometimes painful diarrhoea, vioJent bloating of the intestines, and sometimes it occurs without any apparent cause. When any of the above conditions are present and are combined with muscular relaxation, then Prolapsus of the Rectum takes place. Treatment.— 'S,\3i\\d the animal in such a position that his hindquarters are higher than his forequarters, wash the exposed parts with lukewarm alum water, and having oiled the hand and arm, place it in its original position. If it has occurred from the irritation caused by constipation or diarrhoea, of course, when these causes are removed the rectum will gradu- ally be retracted ; but if the cause is not perceivable it will generally be necessary to occasionally inject a weak solution of catechu and alum returning it as often as it protrudes, and persevering with the injections. 121 allv uLTT^ ""^ ^^' ^**"'** (Uterus).-This occurs after an unusu- ally hard and protracted parturition, and occasionally, but not often a er a m,scarnage. Sometimes the womb is onlv part.a ly ex r ted at'othe times the whole uterus protrudes. ' ^"X exerted, at other not I"''''-T'~^^" ''°'"^ '""^' ^' ^^P^^^^d ^-m^ne^My. If this is imminent 0,1 well the hand and arm, or else immerse it in warm cLm te«, saturate th s with the solution and insert it into the vadna • there until ,t IS seen that there is no danger of its being forced out through the UTS' 7':"f- '1" """""• ^''■^ " P--"' "'" "- •-' -d of * T tted Hannel, and bmd it loosely there Feed th^ m.r^ ^ • ;"^ "'^^"ea bran.mashes. and in eachU^ut rdrlms:f^ I ::Lt ^^ non. .drams of tincture of ginger, two drams of the tinctur f e t.an. Should sympathetic fever appear to any extent, then stop the tonics .trSoTrrn ^"' ''" "■"""" "^^^''"'^^ ^■■^^^ drops aid sw «p.nts of mtre one ounce, every six hours until the fever abates its force. ^ Poisons. -There are numbers of cases where poisons of different ^escnpuons are g.ven either intentionally or inadvertently to horse The stomach-pump should be used, of course, immediately either,-if possilL o extract the contents of the stomach, or dilution of the cc^nt n sTf tie stomach should be managed by means of a long, hollow and flex 1 e ube A k Iful vetermanan should be at once summoned in these cases bu^ th s book .s written for farmers and others, to enable them to assist tlm se ves, especially when living at a distance from a profession man I wUl give the best means of treating the cases of PoisoLg ge e" ,y s e'n the more especially as if the case is not at once attended t' the ab orption of the poison becomes complete, and neutralization being then impossible he case certainly will end fatally. The most common cL o po'oli g m horses and cattle are those caused by arsenic, corrosive subl mate strychnine or onium. and occisionallv hv X ■ suoiimate, „cnn,>P iw .• ' " occasionally by the excessive medicinal use of aconite by incompetent persons. One great drawback which we experi- 122 ence in the case of horses which are poisoned, is the fact of our inability to excite vomiting by means of emetics. Owing to the i)ecuhar construction of the horse's stomach, in combination with other reasons not necessary to be explained in a simple and plain work such as this is hoped to be, the horse is unable to empty the contents of his stomach through the act of vomiting, as the dog, for instance, is ; this makes the case doubly danger- ous, as we have only to rely on neutralizing the poison by its antidotes, and in nine cases out of ten it is not known what poison the horse has swallowed. The symptoms, too, of almost all poisons which are not of a narcotic, nature are mostly the same, strychnine excepted, where the poison acts especially on tl>e nervous system. Symptoms.— In poisons of a corrosive nature, such as arsenic, cor- rosive sublimate, etc., are violent thirst, the animal shudders and has an appealing, plaintive expression, violent pain in the stomach and bowels, frothing or dribbling from the mouth, grating the teeth, gaping with belching, cold sweat with trembling of the limbs, occasionally painful diarrhrea, with difficulty in excretion, and frequently convulsions alter- nated with coma (unconsciousness). In Poisoning: by StPychnine many of the above symptoms are sometimes present ; at other times not at all. Strychnine as poison may be detected during life more easily than almost any poison, as the effect it pro- duces on the patient is unique. These are tetanic convulsions— the poison seems to act directly on the nervous organization, and the whole frame is in a state of alternate nervous tension and relaxation, something similar to an animal affected by Locked- Jaw, but still more similar to an animal iii an epileptic fit. Judging by the appearance exhibited by an animal when poisoned by strychnine, and an animal suffering under Lock-Jaw or Epilepsy, the symptoms being so exactly alike, especially in Epilepsy, the administration of strychnine in the cases of these diseases should, according to the doctrine of the homreopathists, certainly produce a cure' It is, however, almost needless to say that, although frequently tried, it has no effect as a cure on such cases under any circumstances. The unfortunate animal falls, jerks himself up, jerks his legs out and holds them stiff, and every now and then throws them out and again contracts them spasmodically. The animal when down throws his head backwards, and for a time it seems as if it was immovable from that position. He draws his feet up to his belly, or holds them out straight, as if made of wood, and presents all the symptoms of Epilepsy with, occasionally stertorous breathing. This continues until the end, which, fortunately for 123 the suffering animal, is not long in coming. From the appearance of the e>es, and from other symp^oms, it may well be doubted, however, if the ammal experiences that physical pain which we should be liable o infer from h,s seemmgly pan^ful contortions, as in all probability the ..fects of the po.son act almost immediately on the brain, producing more or less of ;rr;;r^;r:iir ^^"^"""^ °"^^^^^ -'- ^^^o.niy..,^:^ comnol^H^'^'^n "^ ^^ NaPCOtics.-These are generally opium and its compounds Ihe symptoms begin by dullness, lack-lustre eyes, resting the head agamst the manger or wall, stertorous breathing ; all these symn toms gradually increase until somnolency occurs. Sometimes there L co..tort,on of the eyes, the animal staggers and has violent and i vo lunta X motions of the hmbs ; but this not often, and when these motions are present ,t .s only for a short time, and usually before the narcot c act on rcfnnle: ""''"•' '"" "' ''^ ^^"^"^- ^"^'^ ^^^^ somnolency ses in, complete unconsciousness ,s observed, with cold sweats and unnatural breathM.g, and the animal dies of what may be aptly termed Aponrexv bv poisoning. When the poison is unknown and cannot, for wan of an of half-a-dozen eggs, or sweet oil, a quart, or even melted lard, as these emollients may, by acting as a pabulum for the poison, be the means of av.ng a great amount of corrosive action on the coats of the s omach until something more effectual can be accomplished For arsenic, give at once prepared chalk one ounce, castor oil one quart; then get m.mediately from the chemist's the hydrated pelade (sesquioxide) of iron, with directions from him n.iik.'^:^^^;:::^ ^"'""^"^' '''-' ''- ^'''' °^ ^'^-^ ^^^^ -'^-^ ^ p- of For carbolic acid olive or castor oil one quart, repeated as required Por strychnine, give olive oil one quart, tincture of opium four ounces and then tannic acid one dram, chlorine one dram, oliOe oil half a ^r^ and repeat as required. ' ^ For narcotics, try to make the animal move about if not too far gone, douse the head and neck with cold water, and apply ammonia t the nostrils giving one ounce of carbonate of ammonia n a pntowatr every two hours. Black coffee is supposed to be good, but these remid e. usually are ineffectual, owing to the time lost in passlngover the sTmZ'l na ura dulness and so forth. The poison received by animals Js a ,e only discovered by opening them after death, and very frequenti; not then 124 CHAPTER XVI. PULSE. PLEURISY.- PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. PARALYSIS. ! Pulse. — As the Pulse is the chief means we have of finding out the exact state of the circulation, and, consequently, the presence of fever on the one hand, and that of debility on the other, it is very necessary for all farmers and horse owners who take any interest in the well-being of their animals, to acquire some little knowledge of this sure indicator of the state of animal's system. In 'all works treating on veterinary subjects the state of the Pulse is described by the terms soft, full, wiry, hard, etc., and these terms very frequently confuse the aspirant after veterinary medical knowledge, for what one man will term full, for instance, another man will give a term which does not apply to that particular state of the Pulse. The proper signification of the heart-beats, as shown by the Pulse, can only be a matter clearly acquired by means of a long practical experience. There- fore, all owners of horses should frequently practice themselves in taking the Pulse, and when they have become practiced in doing so, they will be able to appreciate their own personal definitions of the terms " wiry "> '•hard", "full", etc. The Pulse of an ordinary farm or driving horse visually beats from thirty-six to forty times in a minute. Horses which are termed blood horses, such as race-horses and other thoroughbreds, have a higher Pulse than horses of an ordinary grade, the beats varying from five to fifteen more, according to the breed and according also to the degree of the animal's nervous temperament. Draught horses, such as Clydesdales and others have a lower pulsation generally than even ordi- nary horses. New born sucklings have a very high pulse when first born, generally from eighty to a hundred, but the beats subside as the animal acquires age. In cases of fever the Pulse doubles its beats very frequently, and it need hardly be said, that the higher the Pulse goes, the more danger there is to the animal. The place of taking the Pulse differs in different animals. Of course, wherever an artery is, there is also the Pulse, but the most convenient place for observing the pulsations in the horse is at the lower angle of the jaw. At this point the submaxillary artery may be plainly felt, and the more especially, as there being little thickness of mus- cular or other tissue over it at this spot, the artery may be gently pressed against the jaw-bone, the pulsations from the effect of this action being more easily felt and numbered. The temporal artery, too, will be also easily felt. The most convenient place for observing the pulsations o 125 this artery is a little below and back of the eye. The plantar artery can also be felt under the fetlock joint, and in the case of cows and other horned cattle this place is frequently chosen by persons desirous of ascertaining the Pulse in these animals. In the dog the large artery inside the th.-gh is usually the place applied to for this purpose. The Schneiderian membrane (the membrane lining of the nostrils) alters greatly in color accordmg as the Pulse either rises in fever, or is lowered in the number of Its pulsatioi'.s in the cases of debility. The natural color of this membrane is rosy pink ; as the Pulse rises in fever, the membrane becoming injected assumes a deeper color, and when the Pulse is very high is of a bright scarlet. When weakness sets in, the Pulse, of course, subsides, and the membrane loses its rosy pink color and becomes pallid or white. This membrane also is indicative of other stages in diseases, as in Inflammation ot the Lungs, when at a certain stage it assumes a livid color; as also in cases of Cllanders, and when mortification through Gangrene has set in. This is a membrane to the appearance of which much more attention should be paid than is usually done. Whenever the natural color of this membrane changes, it is time to find out the cause of it, if possible, and the evidence of the Pulse is always corroborative of the abnormal action m the system which causes the change of color in the membrane. Pleurisy (inflammation of the Pleura).— The Pleura is a serous membrane, forming as it does the wall of the chest and the lungs ; it covers the lungs, and being a serous membrane has little sensation while the animal is in good health. When attacked with disease, however, its sensibilities seem more acute than even those of the mucous membranes. That many more cases of Pleurisy occur than are usually taken notice of, may be assumed with certainty, on account of the number of horses which, dying from some other disease, are found to have pleuritic adhesions and other evidences of inflammation of that membrane, which has evidently been cured by the simple efforts of the natural forces, for on questioning those who have owned them all their life the> have said that they were never aware of the animal having had any such disease. In these cases, probably not having been very severe in their symptoms, it has been passed over as a cold or a cough, although it is hard to believe that the peculiar cough which is indicative of this complaint should be mistaken for an ordinary cough. In Inflan.mation of the Pleura there is, on account of the relative positions of this membrane and the lungs, alwavs more or iess sympathetic inflammatory action in the lungs, and" for this reason it very seldom exists as a purely separate disease. .Ill 1 JO i>/V/^/«. -The symptoms are those of an incipient attack of Inflam- mat.on of the Lungs (which see under that heading). Tiiere is one symptom however, which is specifically indicative of Inflammation of the Pleura. 1 his ,s the peculiarity in the cough. The action of coughing seems to be cut short in the middle and ends m a kind of hiccoughing grunt^ Another plain symptom of Pleurisy is that the animal will //e on other affect.ons of an organ, the animal will lie (if he lies at all) on the sound s.de. St.ll another action takes place here which is not common .n Inflammation of the Lungs.-the horse w.ll lie down and rest In Pneumonia, even in its incipient stage, the patient seems to have a fear of lying down, even though he evidently is in need of rest. Treat, „euf. -The tn.-atmen^ is the same as in Inflammation of the Lungs, only that the blister need Le applied only to the side affected. If bo h sides are affected, then, of course, the blister must be applied impai- detec ed, both by pressure (when the animal will shrink) and by the fact that If only one side is affected, on that side he will lie. Great attention however, should be paid to a case of Pleurisy, however mild it may seem' m Its symptoms, as, if neglected, it will not be long before the kings become thoroughly affected and .here is a case of pleuro-nneumonia, whose resistant power to curative remedies will be considerably stronger than It would be if Imited to simple Pleurisy. Pleuro-Pneumonia.-This disease may be divided into two kinds -simple and typhoid. In the first kind of this disease there is no danger or, at all events, very little danger of contagion or infection ; in the second kind contagion and infection is sure, and the disease becomes a perfect scourge especially where there are many animals crowded together in an ill-ventilated stable, and under conditions where the sanitary arrangemerts are imperfect. The second kind, Typhoid Pleuropneumonia, is occasion- ally a result of the neglect of proper treatment in the first stage, but more often It IS epizootic (epidemic) and is caused by the inhalation of poison- ous germs, either from the presence of other infected animals or from atmospheric influence. In Simple Pleuro-Pneumonia the symptoms are the same as in Inflammation of the Lungs, with the addition of the cough which IS that peculiar to Pleurisy, the animal, as it were, strangles the cough, and, in fact, is actually afraid to give effect to the co°ugh on 127 pract.cally t e same as that .n Inflammation of the Lungs and Pleurisy. n,i.. if'. P^®"^0-Pneumonia.-This disease has frecn.ently been m.staken, both ,n ,ts symptoms and treatment, for Tuber uo is the symptoms certan,ly have a resemblance in both diseases to a perik observer, but there is really considerable difference both in the s mptom d f^ nf Te T? '"V"' '^^^-'-'■'- ai'I-rances also'ar ve" rfh r' . ^ '"''--"10S.S.) Both Typhoid Pleuro-Pneumonia and ruberculos.s are, however, much more prevalent amongst horned cattle than among horses and for the last few years, and indeed at prese t rypho.d or Contagious Pleuro-Pneumonia in beef cattle is the ca'se of po:: 3:7:?"" " ''r- ^^^-"'^-^ ^^^"-^ ■" -"'^ ^- ^-^^r ;:. ofle smead o ;r°" "'1 '""''^'"^ ^"--tine regulations as prevent ves nL hnH H ""'' ^''" '^"""'^^ ^•^^"g ^'^°^« ^-""--^ which have stock W." ""?"", '' "^ " '"°'"g^'^^ --"g "-- o- i>ealthy stock. Whenever the plague of this disease is more virulent than usua^ a .s generally found that there is more or less of Epizootic Infl en.aa m ally .f hat disease has been treated on the principal of deple in. the system by contuntal purging or by bleeding, as the proper ttZt dmetncaly opposite. The disease comes on very Insidiously ad ey qu ck y. It seems to undermine the whole system before the fact of iti actual presence .s properly appreciated. In nine cases out of t n u e pnmary cause ,s atmospheric germs, and sometimes horses are affec'ed a the sa,e moment though situated miles apart, as I have seen myse'f rh.s fact alone would show that the atmosphere acts as a vehicle or t Influerua. (See under that heading.) Those animals which have a pre- d.spos,t,on to the d,sease,-that is, whose vital forces are depressed f'om some cause or another, will take it sooner than others whose constitu.on b faaT ;L"°d' f'^"'^'^^^°'^''^^ '''''' ^'" be.norelike" be fatal. The disease has a rap.d tendency to Gangrene, and, in fact in fhe Tal ? ^''^'^'"^^'«-.°f--^'« -hich have died from this disease'all he vttal organs appear m a state of disintegration and rottenness the lungs and pleura are partially disorganized, and pieces are fo nd flo;t nf le^r:;' rh :"'"' : 't'-'^ ^" ^-^"-^ «^ ^^^-^'-- " - g blnoT •/ . ' ^^' ^''' "^ ""'"^^' consistency, and the very blood 13 putrid and ot an unnatural color. These facts L .imni t.oned to show the malignant and gangrenous t^r^fThVdras^Td 128 the consequent necessity of precaution as well as energetic treatment in such cases. Complications take place as the case advances, and he will sometimes paw the ground and look round at his side, thereby showing that the abdominal viscera are implicated in the disorder ; sometimes he will be afflicted with purging, and when this is so the discharge is dread- fully fetid, and sometimes consists of black matter and decomposed blood. S_yw/>Uws.—The first symptom generally observed is the peculiar cough, which is soft, languid, and, as in the case of pleuritic affections, it IS cut short in its action. There is a wistful and dejected appearance in the animal. He holds his head low, and his eyes lose their brightness The temperature of the ears and limbs alternates between cold and heat and sometimes when the limbs or the ears are felt they will appear warm' on the contact, but on holding the hand still, cold will seem to come up as It were, from the deeper-seated tissues. The Schneiderian membrane IS either of a leaden color or appears livid, tinged with red, the coat stares and the appetite is gone, the breath is bad and the pulse is feeble and between seventy and eighty in its pulsations. The dung is dry and unnatural in appearance, and the urine is offensive and high in color ; the animal also shows signs of tenderness, as in Pleurisy, when pressed between the ribs, and sometimes there is a discharge of foul mucus from the nostrils. 7>-m/w^«/.— Immediate and preventive treatment is called for here. First isolate the diseased animal, and after disinfecting the stable allow him all the fresh air he can get, being careful, however, that he catches no cold from draughts of air. When the foul discharge from the nostrils appears in combination with foul breath and anal discharge of corrupted blood, there is no hope of a cure, but the animal should be at once destroyed and buried in quicklime, in order that the danger of contagion may be avoided and the lives of other healthy animals in the neighbor- hood may be saved. In a case of this description it is imperative that a competent veterinary surgeon should be called in, and that at the very first outset of the disease, as, on account of the complications with which the disease is involved, and the danger to healthy stock around, it is quite out of the province of any one but an expert to handle this disease. This account of the disease is given in order to enable owners to take precautions at once, so that this dreadful gangrenous stage may be averted. The treatment the practitioner will prescribe will no doubt eatment in ind he will )y showing letimes he e is dread- !composed le peculiar fections, it ;a ranee in )righlness. and heat, )ear warm come up, Tiembrane , the coat e is feeble 3 dry and :olor ; the 1 pressed ucus from 1 for here, ible allow atches no e nostrils :orrupted at once ;ontagion neighbor- ve that a the very ith which und, it is > disease. 1 to take may be o doubt I2!t consist of medicines of an antipholgistic and disinfectant nature in combi- nation or alternation with strong tonics. I have used carbolic acid mternaily with other medicines with very good effect. In case of the suspicion of Typhoid Pleuro-Pneumonia, it is undoubtedly the duty of the owner to give notice to the veterinary authority of the countv, in order that the best means known, both curative and preventive, may be'exercised. Paralysis (Paraplegia, Hemiplegia).— There are two kind of Para- lysis in horses. One kind is that in whicii the posterior parts of the animal become paralyzed, and, consequently, useless to the animal This is termed Paraplegia, and is the variety which is generally and almost always seen. The other kind is where one side only of the horse is paralyzed and although very frequently to be observed in the human subject, seldom If ever attacks the hors« ; this variety is called Hemiplegia. The causes of these attacks are injuries to the brain, violent strains of the back or even blows over the spine. Paralysis will also occur after a severe attack of Apoplexy, and in some cases that I have seen, the primary cause was never satisfactorily ascertained. I have seen it occur in connection with a violent and neglected attack of Inflammation of the Lungs, of which the animal died. I was able to completely restore the animal as far as* the paralysis was concerned, but the lungs being attended to too lale the ammal died a day or so after the paralysis was removed. I have 'also seen it occur from some temporary affection of the bladder which caused retention of the urine ; but as on my drawing off the urine the animal soon recovered, and, especially as she was an old brood mare, I have reason to beheye that the attack was only sympathetic, whatever it might have been if it had not been immediately attended to. _ Symptoms (Paraplegia).-The animal is found lying down, and con- tinuining to do so beyond a reasonable time, is generally urged to get up when It IS found that such an act is beyond the animal's powers. Being urged by the whip, the animal struggles to get up, but succeeds only with his fore-feet, and remains sitting on his hindquarters like a dog On pricking the animal with a needle, or the point of a penknife in the hind- quarters, It IS quite evident that all sensation in that part is lost The tail IS also quite inactive, and when lifted up drops in a perfectly unnatural manner. The disease lies in the spinal cord, which after death is found occasionally marked with black spots or lines, and always in a more or less congested state, either with regard to its trunk or its envelopes (meninges). The disease is more frequent in mares than in horses or geldings. m m iiii I'M) 7>r<,/„,„/A_ Place ,he animal in a loose box with plenty of straw or imseeu tea for drink, keep the horse warm and quiet. Wlien conval escent ano.nt the bhstered part witi, olive oil or sweet lard nd rub in iunce oilln ™"^^"°^'/-" ounces ; tincture of camphor, fou ounce , ohve o. , s.x ounces ; n,ix. Give him also, on convalescence a two \in CHAPTKR XVn, PARTURmON. PATELLA. PARALVS.SOFTHE OPT.C NERVE.-QUITTOR RHEUMATISM. RUPTURE. R.NCBONE.-ROARINC. '*""^'^'*'*' STOMACH. -SURFEIT. Parturltlon.-The mare shoi.Id cnrry her foal eleven calendar months and one week fron. the time of co^x.ring This t me hoi v IS not always to be depended on, as some mares wi , go o "w "7' month after their time and have a safe delivery, while'otl ^.^1 f::^ f .j a week to a month in advance of their proper time, and that wiui afl o mare and foa!. These cases are exceptions to the genera rl ne J' heless. very^v mares can he depended on as to theiftime wit in aweek enher way I he immediate time of foaling is to be detected by 1 e si" tK.n of m.Ik ,n the udder, which occurs usually within twenty for w' of dehvery. and a gh.tinous substance forms on the teats ; wl e, tl s observed, her fme is nearly arrived, as this isa sure sympton .! d ' tu i Uon ,s never delayed (if natural) above twentyfour hour t S ' T membranous sac, containing a fluid substance known v ," , y t the waters "usually protrudes into the vagina and there break dis passage of the foal easier through the pelvic bon.s. These bones also assume ,,,3t.c,ty at this time to which they are a stranger u Xord. nary cucumstances. As these phenomena are taking place the womb contracts n. order to expel the foal, and these contact onVare TaTed "labor pams When the bladder-like appearance is seen in tl e vag a do not, as some, rupture it, but allow it to f,reak of itself. Ulsrll the membranous covenng of the foal and will break of itself .t ,l time with much more advantage than it will ,f th time , ^ bv':: attendant. There are several ways called presentation, in h , d'^fo .s presented .n the vagina, but there is .>„iy one way which is na . 1 unattended with trouble and danger. The' natural .I^e .^o ':; L", s where the fore-legs appear thrust straight out with the he d Ivt j between them. In such a case very bttle, if any. help is rec u red b! f mare, ,n order to secure a good delivery. In all othe. p ntatio s however, more or less help is required. The foal appear attacfe7bv a menjbrane to the afterbirth (placenta), which is yet in' the womb Ln after however, fresh pains or contractions of the womb take place and the placenta is expelled. Should there be twins e.^h f^- sZIST separate umbilical cord attached to a separat^ pi^c^ia; t:;t|^::U I 132 always so, as sometimes one placenta is attached to the two cords of the twins, ^or this reason, as a matter of precaution in case of such an occurrence when any foal is born, it is necessary, of course, to cut and i.e .he umbilical cord (navel string) about an inch and a-half or two inches from Its belly, and not only this, but before cutting the membrane tie it again about two inches from where the cord is to be cut on the colt newly born, and then cut between the ligatures. Should there be only one foal no harm is done; but should there be two, and these attached to the same' plancenta, then the foal still in the womb is safe. Should'this be the case however, that there is yet another in the womb, and the navel strin- has been cut without tying in two places, as directed, then the air penetrating hrough the membrane to the foal still in utero will cause its death, as the lungs have not yet become inflated through exposure to the oxygen of the atmosphere, and the air will immediately stop the foetal circulation In some cases, however, the pains are too feeble ; in some they cease altogether ; in some, again, these are too strong and lapse into convulsions In such cases remedies must be given to assist the natural forces, and thereby produce a safe delivery to both mother and foal. In cases of feeble pains, or the ceasing of the uterine contractions, give occasionally one scruple of the fluid extract of secale cornutum in two ounces of brandy and two ounces of water. If they are too severe and convulsive give half an ounce of choral hydrate in an ounce of water, as may be required. The foal is sometimes presented with its hind-legs first some- times one fore-leg is presented and the other doubled under him and sometimes in the case of those born, or rather delivered, dead, the head is found forced backwards along the spine. In all these cases competent help IS required. Some cases may be pushed back and turned into a proper position. Others, such as when the hind-legs present first, may be drawn out in that position. In almost all cases of these false presentations the foal IS either dead, or dies under the manipulations which necessarily take place in order to deliver the foal and save the dam. In almost every case, with the exercise of patience, the proper placing of the maie and the use of bands, the misplaced foal can be extracted. Some resort to the operation termed embryotomy, which is simply cutting the foal in pieces inside the womb. Nearly all such cases seem to be fatal to the mother, either immediately or in a very short time afterwards, as however skilful the operator may be, the danger of wounding the walls of the womb IS almost impossible to be obviated. Nevertheless, if it can be done by no other means, the risk has to be taken, but there is much less danger in 133 ought, and ,he„i.„us, be reledbXd IfTr.n ™T "'=" '' for a week or two, as I have sea,, in ,i , """"'' "> '™»'" becomes frightfullv felid T„H ''''"' "' "»'^' "'" ''' decays (blood poison „'p:::f,:™"'' r"' 'T"'"" '="■> "^ j"'---^' i. is produced by co,d Ip rf d e, ' ZT''^'"" '" ""=' '="^=^ ■ is frequently combined wuh pti 1^- ' tf " f'^")"'""/ f«^l- This *rab). In such case, 2 ^"'""""l "' Metritis (inflammation of the she is thirsty Is ptea^nh'"""'": '^ ""^ "" "''• ''-^'h" "ard, down frequent y;ad at etthleVd"""'""' '"''"' ' '^^'^ '» "P -^ Paralysis having set in -rhel ^ 7" cannot rise again. Parturient in great pain-gr ts ^ ee , IV " . """ """' '"'" "^= '" -«""^ rapidity/and unles mm d elv a i^dld f' T ''I ""'"'' ^'"^ 8-"' ' are the same as those pr«crted,o ,1 '" ''"'''• T^ remedies this exception, that no mtZiv^ "■' .'""'"'"'^""on of the Bowels, with injections of «rmicurr r^' "'°"''' ^' «'"™' ^"d also "omb, instead of g," rthe J "" •"""" '""""' "" "'™" '""> '>'- reliance for a cure m, s, L tn h" '"""T '"' "'" ''"""■ The chief tioned in treating7';rfla'™r„''™t°h: BoVe^r'-^ "'''-''-' ^ "- Join. !tn"Up':« :it'd" Tr-°" "■= ^"'^■""'■"' °f ">= -^^ responds to the'.; a o\nc >'■„''! T"'^ '"f •"«»"-• -<> i- -r. horse's hock cor esponds as !o^^ h ^r'" '""'="' ''"'""^y 'he do the bones of the 11 , ZT T T* ""= ""'"^ "^ ">' """>■ « human wrist. Thi! Patel a in ^ .'" ■ "'■'"« """ "'= ''<"'« "f the or violent strain and t„ lav , r°"' " "••""' "> *"'"^'"'o" by a blow weakness of Te ligaments ,'\ T J" ""''" P°^'"" "'™sh the seem to be ch^Sy ^TS : tl^t ■ '" ■', '" '" ""''■ ^""^ ""- continually getting oul of ^ 'ce. " ' tt cTse":'; If"',"' 'f "^ '^ naturally becomes iiselP^. nnfji ^ • dislocation, the joint is dragged beh" d he iT T, "'°" '''^" '^'^^^' ^"^ ^^e whole leg nun stand beh d d s ead tTTT' '''''' ''^' °^^"-' ^^^ «- (the operator standi". r^iH^v t ' '''" '""^^ ^'^^ ^^^ '" ^oth hands face to'the ta I) d fft T hlf /'^ '"^ '-^"^ '^'"^■^^^^' -''^ ^'^ the Patella wil slide ba k nto 1 J L °"'""'' "^' "P"^^d^> ^^en warm water everv tur ht "^f,^^^^ ^"^J ^-^P• ^athe the part with is no inflammationleft. th n aoolv t'h'' h IT " " '"'"^^ '^^^ ^^ere eit. tnen apply the bni.odide of mercury blister, one Ilr 134 part of the blister to one part of lard. Rub this in thoroughly round the joint, and grease twenty-four hours afterwards with unsalted lard or sweet oil. In case of Laxation of the Patella, the same mode of action is to be Used in restoring it into its place, and the blister just recommended is to ,be applied, as in dislocation, but no lard is to be added to the vesicant. Paralysis of the Optic Nerve.— (See Amaurosis, under Diseases of the Eye.) QuittOP.— (See under head of Fistula in the Hoof, and Corns.) Rheumatism.— The causes of Rheumatism are the acquisition of-a cold, or it may arise from a sudden change in the weather, great moisture in the atmosphere being an excitant to all animals having a predisposition to that complaint. This predisposition is caused by an excess of acid in . the blood, the acid being supposed to be lactic acid. All parts of the animal frame are open to this attack, but it generally confines itself to the outward parts, and especially to the joints, and in the horse is more frequently seen in the fore than in the hind parts. This disease has a metastatic (shifting) nature,— that is, it flies sometimes very suddenly from one part to the other. Occasionally, indeed, it flies to the heart, causing death thereby. The lameness occasioned by this disease is frequently attributed to other causes, on account of the occult nature of the complaint. Sjym/>/oms.— Attacks of lameness in the part affected appearing and disappearing, and depending a great deal on the atmosphere being either humid or dry. If the attack is an acute one, the parts affected are tender and hot, with tension ; if chronic, there is little if any heat and tension, although the pain is, no doubt, equally hard to bear as in the acute stage. In this latter form the disease is more obstinate and hard to cure than in the former case. 2reahnen^.— Foment the affected parts with a hot solution made by boiling hops ; keep on the fomentation for from a quarter to half an hour at the time, and then, having dried the parts thoroughly, apply this liniment : Take oil of wormwood, two ounces ; iodine (in crystals dissolved by a little alcohol), four drams; tincture of camphor, one ounce; aqua ammonia, three ounces; olive oil, twelve ounces; mix and rub in thoroughly, and cover the affected parts with flannel previously warmed. Give internally : Take tincture of colchicum, four ounces ; iodide of potassium, one ounce and a-half ; hydrate of cloral, one ounce and a-half; compound tincture of gentian, one ounce and a-half; water, one pint'; mix, and let stand for twenty-four hours, occasionally shaking it ; then add 135 to it half a pint of the best bmndy. During the twenty-four hours this is s anchng, g.ve one powder every six hours of the folio Jng .-Bib ate of soda two ounces ; bitartrate of potash, two ounces ; n're, two ounce m.x and d.v.de „Uo four powders. Then give two ounces of the former' colducum m,xture every four hours until amendment, feed bran mTsh and g.ve hnseed tea for drink. Patience and perseverance are "q" d in all cases of Rheumatism. 'cumrea Rupture (Hernia).-There are two kinds of Rupture generally seen s"cror^' H?r f '""'' ''"''"■^^' °^ '^^"^^^•' -^'•^^ ofher s trm d Scrota . and th,s last is seen in stallions only, as in geldings the operadon nXn "h ' "'rf- ^° '^"' '^ absorption and contract orpr! ^ented the descent of the intestine through the inguinal ring. Umbilical Rupture .s not an n.frequent occurrence. It is simply the hfeak-n'o h covermg of the nUestmes, by which means the bowels escape thro ,^[ h nt made, and, consequently, are out of their normal position, beng retan,ed only by the external skin. If, on.'account of the smallnes of hf em and the excess of bowels escaped, they cannot be returned wit u enlargmg the openmg, the rupture is termed strangulated. In many case a stout bandage of leather or stiff canvas passed tightly around X ruptured parts may result, after duly pressing them back a.fd ap^l^g a pad over the spot, m a cure. Some horses perform their daily work in a ruptured condition seemingly without much pain or annoyance In other cases, however, and, indeed, in the generality of cases, the bowe ha to be replaced by an operation. This is performed by first casting the hors and then after openmg the external skin and integii.ents, replacing tS bowel and securing ,t by sutures. In a case of this kind, ;here a op ation IS to be performed, it is imperatively necessary that he assistance of a reliable surgeon should be called in; therefore, it is useless to enter into unnecessary details. Scrotal Hernia consists of the protrusion of the intestine through the inguinal ring into the scrotum, a not v y diC Ventrll"o?ir h-r' ,"»'"'•' "°" '"^"^""^ ^^^" '^ "^ practitioner t lire u re an^H ! " T'' '" ^''^ ^"^' ''''' P^^^-^--^ --'^^ance IS required, and the usual consequence of Scrotal Hernia is the necessity of castrating the horse, whereby, of course, the animal's worth is much depreciated in the market. Ringrbone.-The cause of Ringbone is either a strain or blow, or else It has been derived from the sire or dam, it being one of the hereditary dis eases. The pathology of Ringbone is very similar to that of Artia^r Spavin m 136 ^;«/>/^/;«.— Lameness, generally in one particular foot, and nearly always in one of the front feet. Heat is present at the coronet, and, presently an enlargement develops itself in the front and at one and so. letimes both sides of the articulation of the fetlock joint. Whenever the enlargement is at one side or the other, and not in the front, it is known as Ossification of the Lateral Cartilages, but practically there is very little difference. I have seen, and, indeed, owned a young horse which had an immense Ringbone, so large that it made him quite conspicuous, but he was not at all lame ; again, I have seen animals with hardly any visible exostosis, which could hardly step out for pain. It is a very common disease in horses, and depreciates their market value greatly. Ringbone used to be a subject of very peculiar ideas, and of very peculiar treatment. Treatment.— Qit^X numbers of people hold that firing is tlie only remedy for Ringbone. My experience is that all cases of Ring- bone are amenable to the action of blistering whenever the basis of the blister consists of iodine. I never saw a case of Ringbone which was treated with the iodine blister, assiduously and patiently, but what termi- nated in a cure of the lameness. The removal of the enlargement of the bone entirely is, I believe, utterly out of the question ; but in all cases treated by the iodine blister, with iodide of potassium internally, there is considerable reduction in the size of the ossification. First take blood from the toe. Cut off the hair over the ossification and rub in thoroughly the following blister, anointing the parts with sweet lard or olive oil twenty-four hours afterwards :— Take biniodide of mercury, three drams ; cantharides, powdeij^d, one ounce; iodine (in crystals dissolved in alcohol), six drams ; sweet lard or simple cerate, five ounces ; mix, and apply. This blister must be repeated, if necessary, every seven days for a month, and then the animal is to be turned out for two months if the weather is fine. In most cases I have seen two applications of the blister were all that was required, and it succeeds where firing is worse than useless. Take nitre, four ounces ; iodide of potassium, two ounces ; bicarbonate of soda, four ounces ; mix and divide into twelve powders or balls, and give one morning and evening. Feed bran mash and oats, half allowance during treatment. Roaring'.— This is a membranous projec.:.jii in, or otherwise a thickening of the coats of, the windpipe. It may be brought on by a cold and cough improperly treated or neglected. In such a case, taken at the start, the only hope of any remedy lies in the use of counter-irritants, for 137 ZlTTonheT'^Z''' :"'""' '■" "" ""'^Bio- muscula. .issue. and When i. 's so ^ .Lz::::^.^^'^:^^^''^ complaint conseitutes unsoundness in the horse HO J'r tir:::r „7it— ^^ -"^ °^ - — ■•- all kSi^'XTr'^J^". ^T" '''■" ^"P^ ""^ belch, and will endeavor to eat ? t Ift is n ," -'k''''"'"' ^"^"^ ^^ P'^^^- f-- ^he walls, etc The f.^ct of this complaint being present indicates in many cases that the animal has not been fed at r«nMi„ • , ^ ^^ ^"^ SS ■'-.trr- •■ -"- "= ~ * eveni^'TtheT''"" '' "'"^" intervals.-that is, at morn, noon and „J f,'"'''?"--'""s disease is indicative of the blood being overheated 8enera;;7,:;X-^!rIt"'""'" " "'"""" ^'"'^^' """" '^^ 'W". and - .i^Xa^n^rrzricfhe ritiHr^--: »ch,ng se„sa.,on which is always a concomitant of Ihis disorder ' 138 (refined) five ounces, tartar emetic one ounce and a-half ; mix and divide into twelve powders or balls and give one morning and evening. Sponge the scurfy eruptions with carbolic acid one dram, water one quart, and dry properly. Give bran mash and half feed of oats, and take the chill off the drinking water. Great care nlust be taken that the patient does not tf.ke cold in this case. The sulphuf throws open the pores of the skin, and horses under any treatment in which sulphur is an ingredient should be thoroughly insured against the liability to cold through draughts of air or otherwise. 130 CHAPTER XVIII. SPRINCHALT.-SADDLE AND COLLAR SORES.-SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT. SPAVIN.-SPLINTS.-SLIVERS. as Jlllf!!^T ^^"'"''""^-'^^ ''^''y •^^ ^«"«d Sciatica, hI ^S T "'^^'"'"^"°"« of subjects which have been in their life t.me afflu:ted w.th this troublesome, ungainlylooking compla n have developed more or less disease of the Sciatic nerve. pickstrCe"nr;'\' -^T ''r' ""^^'^ ^° '^^•^^^ start, suddemy he picks up .ne of h.s hmd-legs, lifting it high in the air, and both lifting it and brmgmg ,t down with a spasmodic motion. In some cas ^h other cases he abnormal action ,s perpetual. In the cases where the unun.1 act.cn ,s lessened by motion, it would seem that some p^at on of the .isease at least was within the range of possibility : endeavorers for that purpose have blundered by blistering and rowelh4 but as X acuon ,s caused by extreme nervous tension one would be inc in d to suppose .hat the treatment should consist of antispasmodic nd a odv- remed es applied externally to the region of the sciatic nerve 1^^ admm,stered internally to act on the whole nervous system Fo sich a JaTIue in? of '''''''"'T' T' ''""'''''' ^ ^^^ ^"--^d ^^ Locked Jaw, altermg, of course, the place for the external applications As the disease . mcurable under any treatment so far applied,'it m gh 'be woi^h tha description, should consist of carbolic acid one dram, olile oTone a.ha,f; or .ulpha.e of .inc. .„„ dram. ; s^ee.ra,' .::'„:" Z Ti make an „,„,„ent, or take compound ,i„cu,re of aloes Z nZl' ^nH ol.ve 0,1 of each ,„o ounces. When the skin is badly separated shouW ne es's?f .haTall • '"™ 7 "'"^ "'" "' '"' ^"--. '' - ^'1 "' necessary that all pressure be removed from ,he injured parts. It would I SI 140 seem almost ridicalous to insist upon such a very obvious course were it not for the great number of cases which are dailv seen wh.r. !? ' apphes the remedy and still continues to allow a „ aUo be 13 oe worked m a breast collar, and the abrasion or wound after b^in.. healed by one of the remedies now mentioned, should be wthed in "alt weeks. Whenever the sores smell badly, or assume an unhealthy appear- an e always use carbolic acid (st.ong) two drams, olive oil e g It o nee w n u %"'"" '"'""■^^'^ "■' ^^^«- --ti-ed. Wh neve .' welhng, by us fluctuating feeling, indicates the presence of pus mat r) then immediately open it at its lowest dependency, that the ma tT m t run away eas.ly. after which hot bran or linseed meJl p^u t oes shoL be r:::^ "i: t:iz-;r ^" ^^-'- ---^ «^ - --■^--- Suspensory Ligament (Rupiure of, Breaki,,. Down) Th, expr«s,oo "broke,, do.,, ■■ has necessarily, and unfor.una.ery I be~u Ld very frequently among horsemen on ,he turf. This lerm is used Ly experts r-L t r-h,- ^';;: ::,=s:rt di„:^: r ^ suspensory h.amenr ^:^,': hi^mis-^rr^rd";^;::: "ot «rnrr ;e:SyXt;r:rat^^^^^^^^ ^-" -- • " although the membrane ;,nH fi,« n . ^'^^ ^'"^^' ^0°' 141 ofVrriTfL 's^;^7T 'TT '°"= "'- ■>- -"""^ the case. Racer, once 11,1 , . ''"'' '" *'' '= ""' ^'^V'^'ly afterward. This severe sir,in ,1 7 ''"'°"" ^^mP'tently with .he so.cal,:d re", r^ do^n "I'nd ^T'7' '"" '" ™""'»"'™ only another form of pracicair I,,;,! L ""'"" '"'^ ""'P""'' rally speaking, is ttseless':: a tee espechl v"! ■''^"'■™"' ''"" excessive lameness in tl,es„ n,.. '^'P^'^'t'ly f" any distance. The h-gamenrous fibers T „ , v IIT'""^'"' ''"'"' "^ 'acera.ion of ,he the distention of ,hese,trss'^,':":r'H' T" ^'""^''' "^""""^^ '° tendons beyond their Ll^^i and r. t , it Tr "'"^ *=""" °'*= tendons themselves are nr,.H , '" '^"Pacity. In some cases the Place in the shj:; o The tendo 7,;:'^," "T""' !' ""= '=^'™ •"^- can in some cases be absorbed 'by tre!Zt K .'"^ ™'""";<' --* cannot be effected Ivnioh will h, ,i """™'- "' however, absorption form, between the'tS;: t^ o'-ndwi,, assume a c„a,„,a.ed formed round the back sinews n^^\ CtHosttics will conseqtiently be lin^h, and when the a^^i^Zt co^r ^rthr^te Z T" °' "u be very apparent indeed. After movLrabom „, ""' 7" lameness will larselv suhsiH, fn , " '""^ tlie Here is to be ZL Te l « , " "'°"°" "^ ""= ""'b- 'uhbing in these k i d of tses afd' "'i, " '"'"'"''' '^ """^ with bandaging. The fraction of th^'p XTatLd rt, " " ""'''"^'' ters the coagulated deposits ; therefore a, hand 't I ' """'°"' "="'• amount of friction, it is nece sarily be ;fi ia R„ ,, '"Vfr" " """"' rg™i:;;strtr:^rr;''"--'"-^^^ The mjury can, however, be palliated in some ca es to T ' "''^• Some cases, too, have been treated with success anH . n . f ''' '"''"' have broken down to be raced agai^ Case of , ' ^^ '^ ' ''^ "'"'' given up in a hurry, but patienc^ ad pe e;e a„ ^sh:! "" '' and the result when these conditions obtai ""f equentlv "^'T'' agreeable surprise to the owner. The Z hou d h" T"" "' ''^" continuously bathed with water as hot as'Sn'rbornl T.^LZ ii l Ji I ■ ? til 142 shoe should be put on, so as to throw the weight and tl,e strain off the injured parts. This treatment, together with slight doses of fever medi- cine mternally and a diminution of the animal's corn, should continue until the local fever has subsided. Alter this a liniment composed of oil of tar, laudanum, spirits of turpentine and olive oil should be applied and the leg thoroughly bandaged from the knee to below the fetlock. If after two or three weeks there is no great benefit visible, the indication is to use the assistance of a mild blister composed of biniodide of mercury cantharides and iodine (in crystals), made up with simpla cerate or lard' The greatest factor in the cure will be the regular attention and proper nursing of the patient. It may be truthfully said that in most cases after due perseverance the owner may look forward hopefully always to a partial and probably to a total cure. Spavin (Bone).— This is, unfortunately, a too common disease among horses, and is transmitted from parents to offspring, being among the hereditary class of diseases, and constituting unsoundness. The cause, when not hereditary, is a violent strain or blow, causing a rupture of one or more of the small synovial sacs which are placed at the articu- lations of all the bones for the purpose of lubrication. No joint will work smoothly unless this joint oil is present and in healthy action, any more than a cart-wheel will revolve smoothly without grease or oil. One great cause of this disease is furnished by working and straining the horse when too young, and at a time when the bones have not yet become firmly knu together in their constituency. By a violent strain the sac containing the joint-oil or synovia, as it is called, is ruptured, the oil flows out, and having no external means of exit it gradually coagulates and is transformed into cartilage and then into bone, forming what is known as an exostosis,— that IS, bone growing upon bone. If the exostosis is where it usually is,— that is at the articulation of the tarsal or leg bone with the three lower 'bones of the hock, there is always good hope of curing the lameness permanently when it is taken in time ; but, unfortunately, as a general rule, the animal is not attended to until some days or weeks after the time has elapsed when the case would easily yield to proper remedies. When the protuberance (which IS the exostosis) is developed higher up in the bones of the hock the case becomes so much the more difficult to handle, as the higher bones of the hock are larger and bear a greater strain in the act of locomotion than those in the lower articulation. All bones have a thin membranous covering which is termed the periosteum ; this membrane, in health, has little or no sensation, but when stretched, as it must be, through abno'rmal 143 growth of the enlargement, then the nerves become very sensitive and produce the .ntense pain whicl, causes the horse's lameness. The ind ca t.ons ,n the treatment, therefore, are to produce anchylosis (union of t lie jomtm the small bones alTected, and by stimulation' to cause e mem brane covering the small bones to exert its powers of elasticity and To eXrti ■'"""'"^"^^ ^"' ^"'*^^^^^ ^-^ depoir'^'ii-ti.: effected, the lameness ceases, although more or less of ihe protuberant canno, blemo""^ IT"' ' '"'■ "'^ "'" ^'^ •""'^"'^^«- ^"' ^^e exostosis cannot be removed but very partially, if, indeed, at all. lamentstoT"'^-"' '^'■^\ ^^'"1''°"' >« '-">^"<--«- -"d a description of lameness not seen m any other injury or complaint. The horse is hme when brought out of the stable, and for a short time after starting VZl he ammal contmues in motion, so does the lameness gradually disappear bemg exactly the contrary of what happens in other'cases on3sT Stand the horse squarely on his feet, and then look between the fore-legs to the hock-jomts ; or the observation may be made from behind the mil be observed, sometimes only as large as a nut, sometimes larger and s pos.t.on .s, as a general rule, at the junction of the leg-bone w th the three ower bones of the hock on the inside of the joint. ^The size of the protuberance vanes m .lifferent cases, and I have seen horses with hardly wa' qut la^e!"''""" ""' ''"" ^'"^ '"" •" ^^'"' "" ^"'^^^^'"^"' wise uZTl'rr'j " T''"'' ' ^P^"'^ ""y ^ g^-^ --ber of w.se people, and cons.dermg th,s is so, it seems wonderful that it proves so ineffectual n. many cases. Bleed from the toe and apply tl e iod ne bhs ter recommended for Ringbone every six days for a month ; the turn the horse out, ff the weather is fair, for two months, and if not we It en repeat the same process. This treatment is effectual where there s any reasonable hope of cure,_that is to say, that any case which can be ur d by finng can be cured by this treatment, and the animal, although expenencmg necessary pain in the process, will not be put to the tortu'e wh.ch m many cases is caused by the red-hot iron, and, more than that he will be left with no blemishes. ' of ,hfh-"^^.^°^^"~^°^ ^P''" •' " ''^' enlargement in the inner bend Of the hu.., ;nc same place where Sallenders make their appearance It IS enlargement of the synovial sac, and is merely an eyesore, the horse 144 being free from lameness on its account. I.ameness is occasionally attri- buted to this cause, but I believe the idea to be a fallacy. If the horse is lame on the sam.e leg which gives evidence of Bog Spavin, a further exami- nation will reveal some other reason for the unsoundness of the animal. It IS considered by many writers to be of the same nature as Thorough- pin and as Windgnll. However, if required, it may be greatly reduced in size, if not entirely removed, by using the following ointment :— Take lodme (in crystals, dissolved in a sufficiency of alcohol), six drams ; bmiodide of mercury, two drams ; sweet lard or simple cerate, four ounces ; mix, and make an ointment. This will blister slightly Apply by rubbing in thoroughly, and t'ease twenty-four hour, afterwards with olive oil or sweet lard, and repeat in a weeV. The horse must, of course, be thrown out of work, and patience and i^erseverauce will require to be exercised in the case. Between the application of the iodine pre- paration take webbed rubber and fit it to the Bog Spavin. At night apply this over a pad of linen soaked in tincture of catechu two ounces, alum water one gallon. The place of swelling is also to be bathed daily three tinies with this solution. Care must be taken that the rubber bandage and pad are not applied until the soreness of the blister has subsided. Splints. — Here is another disease which is brought on, as a general rule, by overworking or overstraining horses when young. The disease is almost invariably confined to the fore-legs. The splint bones are held in position with the cannon or carpal bone by a cartilaginous union, and this substance is the original seat of the disease. The disease is caused by an excessive strain, and the bones in young horses having not yet acquired the same consistency which attains to them at full growth, are consequently less able to stand either strain or concussion than when the animal is older. Another cause which is favorable to the development of Splints IS the thinning of the shoe on the inside, because the concussion in the action of stepping is chiefly on the inner side, and, consequently, the shoe should, if there be any difference to be made, be rather thicker on the inner than on the outer side. Through this strain inflammatory action is set up and cartilaginous substance is thrown out which develops into an exostosis (bone growing upon bone) on the shank or big bone of the fore- leg. The periosteum (close membranous covering of the bone) is put upon the stretch by the enlargement, and the nerves of the membrane being irritated by the tension, cause the pain and consequent lameness. Many horses suffer severe lameness from a Splint, while a few others it affects not at all ; but generally speaking there is more or less lameness in all 143 cases of Splint, especially during its incipient fumiation. In some cases when the exostosis is developed high up in the leg. the .n- tion of the knee jomt ,s interfered with and severe lameness takes place, uccomi^anied hy a great amount of trouble in restoring the horse to a sound condition. Treatment.-VniXm^ aside the mention of numberless harsh and ancient methods of curing Splints, still there are yet at least three ways by which It may be cured. Oneway is by performing the operation known as periosteotomy, which consists of separating the periosteum cr coverinc of the bone and thereby relieving the tension and c onsequent pain. T/ie ten- sion and acco. panyn-r pain being removed, of course the lameness ceases Another method ,s that of inserting a seton above the .Splint and bringinj It out well below the se,:,. , of injury. In this case the seton tape is moved daily, and the u rnunati..n is. I believe, generally favorable. However of this last remedy : can only speak from hearsay. The most simple remedy -the best, and the most reliable, to bleed from the toe and to apply the blister of lod.ne and biniodide of mercury, as prescribed for HoneS^^avin . Apply It on the ossification after having cut off the hair over it and around It for a small space, and grease with sweet lard or olive oil twenty-four hours afterwards. Apply again, if nece.ssary, in fourteen days. But it must be remembered that blistering causes great pain and great after- tenderness in the parts, so that it is good practice to allow some little time to e apse after a severe blister has been applied, in order to be sure that the lameness still existing is not to be attributed u. the tenderness pro- duced by the action of the blister only. In all cases of applying blisters It IS, I presume, almost unnecessary to say that the patient's head should either be tied short until the excessive pain caused by the application has been partially relieved by the application of the sweet lard or olive oil, or else that a cradle should be put on for the same period. Slivers. -Slivers of wood are sometimes driven into the body of the horse by acc.deiit. These accidents may occur through a horse running away and smashing up the shafts or some other wooden portion of the trap Many cases occur where a iiorse is partially impaled through another animal running away and coming in contact with the injured beast. Again, it may occur where a hunte. riiisses his take off at a gate the bars of which are more or less rotten. ' Treatment.-ln slight cases there is nothing to do but to d^aw the splinter out, and after washing the wound internally by means of injection^ of warm water one quart, carbolic a " ' " one dram, then simply to heal up 146 the wound by means of a healing embrocation or ointment, according to the choice of the owner (for which see Medicinal Appendix). When, how- ever, the splinter is long and large, as it has been in many cases which have come under my observation, then it is necessary to exercise a little more caution before extracting the splinter. Sometimes an artery of importance may be mjured, or in pulling out the sliver an artery may be torn, in which case dangerous hemorrhage might ensue if the operator is not prepared. Therefore, in case of such an accident it is well to have a redhot iron and a curved needle, threaded with thick white silk, trebled in thickness, so that the artery may be taken up by the needle and silk and tied, or else that the bleeding may be stopped by the application of the redhot iron. If the wound is very large it must be sponged out with the carbolized water just mentioned, and then brought together by means of sutures (stitches), and in such a case the presence of a professional man will be advisable. If, however, one is not procurable, great care must be taken that no part, however small, of the splinter is overlooked and allowed to remain in the wound. Sho^ild this occur, abscesses will form, and th econtingencies in the case are, to say the least, quite doubtful. •~-o-H.-:^>^«<«. 147 CHAPTER XIX. ^'''kwElLPn?^;;^'*""''' MENINGITIS. -SAND CRACK. - STRAINS. SWELLED LEGS.-SUNSTROKE.-STALLIONS. -TRACHEOTOMY. THOROUGH PIN.-TYPHUS FEVER.-TYPHOID FEVER. Scarlet Fever is not very frequent in the horse, although occasion- ally observed, and, no doubt, is many times passed over without being recognized Those practitioners who have seen the greater number of cases hold that it is not infectious or cmtagious, a fact which, if the case IS really a gentiine one of Scarlet Fever, I should be very much inclined to doubt. The late Mr. Percival, in his Hippo-Pathology, classes it among the diseases which are peculiar to the throat and air passages. It seems to be in many casco a sequel of Epizootic Influenza, and when assuming a malignant form it becomes complicated with a typhoid state of Inflam- mation of the Lungs with a typhoid state of fever generally, and with Purpura Hemorraghica. In the simple stage the fever begins to abate about the fourth or fifth day of the acute stage, but in the maglignant form not before the seventh or eighth day. The symptoms of malignant scarlet fever are simply those of the simple or acute stage aggravated. Sym/fom.-The limbs are swollen and the hair and skin, especially about the foreparts, is elevated in blotchy swellings. The action of the pulse IS increased, but more in some cases than in others. Scarlet spots may be observed on the Schneiderian membrane (membrane of the nose) — the throat is sore. Treatment Success in treating this disease is attained by good nursing as much as by the remedies, and if the hygenic conditions are not attended to then the appearance of the maglignant form is inevitable 1 he stable should be dry, warm and comfortable, ventilation being attended to, and great care exercised that the animal is kept out of all draughts- the clothing should be warm, but light. A liniment of a mild description should be applied and well rubbed into the throat, such as tincture of iodine two ounces, aqua ammonia three ounces, tincture of camphor two ounces, olive oil one pint ; mix carefully, and do not shake too much or allow ,t to be put too near the fire. Give bicarbonate of soda powders (see Appendix), each powder to be sprinkled with four drops of the tine ture of aconite, and one powder given in the morning and one in the evening. Feed hot mash and cut carrots, and give linseed tea for drink. Spinal Meningitis.— (See Paralysis.) i 'li 148 Sand Crack is the result of brittleness in the hoof, which renders it hable to crack. Sand or gravel then insinuating itself into the opening prevents the crack from rejoining through the irritation caused by its presence. The brittleness of the hoof is produced through various causes, among which may be mentioned Thrush, long continued inflammatory action in the foot or anything which interferes with the functions of those vessels entering the hoof whose part it is to supply matter for the forma- tion of new horn. These entering at the coronet are quickly affected by firing or repeated and unnecessary blistering. Heated weather and hot, sandy roads will sometimes cause it, as will anything which will cause the hoof to dry up by closure of the pores thereof. Symptoms. — A split in the hoof, which generally occurs in the inside quarter of the fore foot, but sometimes in the front and more rarely on the outside quarter. If the split is from the toe and partially upwards the treatment is much more sure and much easier than it is when the crack extends from tht^ coronet downwards. Sometimes, even, the crack appears on the front part of the hind toot, but this is not a very frequent occurrence. Treatment. — When the crack has not reached the coronet, take the horse to a blacksmith's and cause him to make a line above the crack, and from that line draw two lines down on each side of the crack, about three-quarters of an inch off, and then draw a line across at the bottom of the crack (if it has not extended to the shoe), then let him cut down on these lines until blood is just visible. If, however, the crack is clean down to the shoe, then let him cut a semicircle of one inch and a-half in the horn where it joins the shoe, the centre of which is under the crack. This operation will isolate the crack, and as the horn gn v.s down, the isolated part will be gradually worked downwards, leavmg the growth of new horn in its place. This is on the same principle as when a person discolors his finger nail by catching it in a door or striking it with a ham- mer ; in this . ase the black mark is daily observed passing toward the tip of the nail, and the crack will go the same way on the same principle. If the split goes up to the coronet, then, of course, there is no room for the upper line and consequent cutting with the drawing knife. In this case do the same as to the other lines, cutting down as before directed ; and rest will, with the hoof dressing now to be recommended, complete the cure. In this latter case, however, the whole coronet should be daily anointed with oil of tar and sweet lard equal parts, to aid the vessels sup- 1 renders it he opening sed by its ous causes, flammatory IS of those the forma- iffected by :r and hot, 1 cause the the inside e rarely on ly upwards when the , the crack y frequent Method of Cutting for Contracted Heels. (Se8 Page 39.) t, take the crack, and ack, about bottom of down on ;lean down lalf in the the crack, down, the growth of 1 a person ith a ham- ird the tip nciple. If »m for the this case :ted ; and nplete the ! be daily ;ssels sup- A-CracK. B-TI,e Incision, Method of Operating for Sand crack. 149 plying the horn in their functions Ji ■ ^^ . hoof dressing over. I,e whole hoc .h,: ,i„e, aTa/a'nd t"°"'"^ Ihorougkly rubbed in —Take oil „f ,' *^' '" """ " '» «o ounces ; „l,„e (sper„, ' , „' e"' "' 'l", ""r^ ' "i' ."^ '"Pen.ine, applied to all horses two or 1^.7 , ^""^ ""'''"« '"""I" ^ horses to acquire a strll^ndrKf ' """' '"' "'"^'^ d«iring their remark that prvi„u"d„?„ '!^°°' '' '"'^'" "' ''= "<^'='iless to be thoroughly cl an ed tZ 7 T '" ""= "'' °' •""'■ ^^ ""^'^ »l'°"l" otherwise ; as it s often when -h ^ "'""""'' "'"'"''' °" '>>' ^'i'ters, or ameness s b h ,d It Ml „ T " '" ""="""• '^Sain, when the Pressure of the h '^ ^ * '' "'™«'''"8 "'ong with the stifle " asthe"^ hi^^f „°n gil!r'" r^^-'T"'"' '^^ -« of lainenels, joint seems to be affected tit . '" f™"""" '=>' ^'>™ki"g- If the coffin observer (see CoVn Sstrlin) si" "" ""'t""^ P'^'" '" ''"' *- is in the hock, a s Z trTt fooVerfor'!;""^' '^r''"''"" and rear backwards unti he nearlv sits d "r?^"'''' '' "'" ^'^^'"'^ ;:::^re;i:r"r:t:attrtn^n-r Navicularthritis. and for straH thl ^0^",:^' PaJaris"^" ^^= ""'" h. .thing tL affecte-t^Vou^r d- at;wr::n^^^^^^^^^ It 150 water. If the strain is deep seated, or if it is of ionf-uinding. then use the biniodide of meicury blister in conjunction v/ah iu;mply t!ir..i^.h want oi exercise. Some horses of a weak, washy constitution sceui to be chronirrlly affected with "stocking", even when they do have a uffici ;-icy of work. !n such cases the animal's constitution is in adebili.ated condition, and somtrthing is wron!?. It is a certainty, however, that oiich mimal . require a vigorous ton'.-, treatoient, and for that purpose should be put on a fortnight's course of lun.c ii >u powd-:s (see Medicinal Appendix)— one morning and eveniii'- ') he legs should be well rubbed down morning and evening, and al night ti!.;y should be well and properly bandaged. If horses, however, <' stock " in the stable, the fault, as a rule, lies with those who have the care of them, rather than the constitutions of the animals themselves. Sunstroke.— This affection is very rarely seen in this country, but it is not uncommon in the U. S. of America, and especially in the southern parts during the summer season. It is not absolutely necessary, as some people think, that the sun should be visibly shining to cause a sunstroke. Sunstroke in horses sometimes occurs when the sun is not visible, although, of course, the heat and oppression in the atmosphere, which, acting on the brain causes the attack, is primarily due to the sun. Sy„i/>toms.— The horse acts almost as a man does under the influence of too much alcoholic liquor ; he staggers about, falls down, tries to rise and stumbles on his knees in the act of locomotion, the pulse is high and the eyes are more or less set, showing that partial unconsciousness has taken place. The symptoms may be confounded with those of Megrnns or partial Apoplexy. Treatment.— \i the attack is very severe, take about five quarts of blood from the jugular vein, and bathe the head with cold water, or cold whisky and water, or cold water mixed with alcohol. When the animal has recovered consciousness, give tincture of - ite half an ounce, sweet spirits of nitre four ounces, fluid extract of va", . ,. two drams, water half a pint; m:x ?nd give a wineglassful . erv i uur for three hours, then a wineghs " : every four hours for twen ' i.^ ■ .lOurs. A day or so after- wards sympathetic fever will set in, for v..^ -^ a lookout must be kept. It dint,, theti use (see iVIediciual lev com|iiai«it, ;r, horses may Some horses affected %vilh ork. 111 such a7id something ulrc a vigorous rtnight's course morning and id evening, and orses, however* who have the themselves. lis country, but in the southern essary, as some ise a sunstroke, isible, although* hich, acting on ier the influence iwn, tries to rise ulse is high and nsciousness has ose of Megrims t five quarts of id water, or cold /hen the animal an ounce, sweet Irams, water half iree hours, then . day or so after- nust be kept. It 151 is hard to say exactly what organ may be especially attacked, but if the an.mal has at any previous time been attacked with inflammation of the lungs, or mflammation of any of the great organs, then the inflammatory action will be especially diverted to that particular part, the treatment for which, when the symptoms appear, see under the particular heading In close and muggy weather, which is particularly favorable to the develop ment of this disease, it is very advisable, as a matter of precaution to dnve or nde slowly, and to fasten a large flat sponge between the animal's ears, keeping the same moist at every convenient opportunity. Stallions (Public).-The subject of country stallions has been a matter of interest to all well-wishers of the horse and of the prosperity of the farming community for many years, and still continues to be so Of so much interest to the general community has this subject seemed to be, that m some countries, France for instance, the matter has been taken up and legislated upon by the government. The Anglo-Saxon nature of the people of England and the United States of North America objects sometmies to their own disadvantage, to any interference with their private affairs, each man considering that he is the best judge of what is most to h.s own interest in his own business. It is, however, more than probable that ff we were to institute some kind of ofticial supervision over the public stallions which year by year, in numberless cases, propagate such a very unprofitable strain of horses, we should in a very short time be as a nation, the possessors of a far more useful class of horses both 'for agricultural purposes and for the road. Looking at it as a mere matter of money, it is far more profitable to the farmer in the end to pay Xc or even ;^io, for the services of a stallion of decent form and pedigree and whose adaptability to the mare physically is complete, than to pay' jTi for the services of an animal whose adaptability to the propagation of a class of horse which will command a good price in the market is out of all question, and who may be, and very frequentlv is, the inheritor of all kinds of malformations and hereditary diseases. In picking out a stallion proper judgment should be used in considering his physical conformity in conjunction with the physical conformity of the mare. For instance if the mare is deficient in her forequarters and in breadth of chest then a stalhon should be selected which has an excessive developmert in that respect. The more roomy the mare is behind the better the development of the future foal. Do not take a very large stallion for a very .small mare If this IS done the result is, generally speaking, the production of a foal all bone and little else, and frequently such a selection results in the death I ! 152 of the dam on account of the impossibility of the exit of the foal through the pelvic bones by reason of its size. A small, roomy mare which has been mated with an animal proportionately of her own size, or, perhaps comparatively a little larger, will generally throw a larger, and always a more symetrical foal, than if the stallion was, as in some cases, a giant in comparison to the intended dam. Should the mare be too coarse in any particular part-say, for instance, the head, then select a horse which is very fine in head and neck. A little attention paid to these remarks may be the cause of the owner of the mare being the possessor of a superior foal for his own use ; or if he breeds for the market he will speedily find the difference, through the additional money which will be placed to his credit in the bank. Tracheotomy.— (See Laryngitis.) Thorough Pin.— This is a puffy enlargement situated immediately under the tendo achilles, and in front and a little below the point of the hock. It is of the same nature as windgalls, and is simply an eyesore, never occasioning lameness in the possessor. The swelling is soft and flexible and can be, as it were, pushed from one side to the other. It is an enlarged bursa or sac. If regarded as an eyesore, it may be reduced by the application weekly of an iodine blister, and in some cases the sac has been opened and the membranous attachments destroyed by the fingers, after which a solution of sulphate of zinc is thrown in and the wound' brought together by suture. As, however, the animal is not lamed by this complaint, the best way is to use the iodine blister and patience, and even if the whole enlargement is not reduced, still the satisfaction remains that the animal is not blemished, as it often is when opened. Typhus Fever.— This is sometimes termed, Putrid Fever on account of its tendency to gangrene. It may result from either contagion or infection. It may also be caused by the poisonous atmosphere of unclean and, consequently, unhealthy stables. Other fevers may also, by ill man- agement, degenerate into Typhus. 5y;///>/^w.f.— Weakness, with a continual desire to lie down ; the eyes are dull and sometimes running with water ; a quick and foul breath ; dung soft and foetid; the urine dark-colored and of a thickish consistency. Soon diarrhoea commences, having a very foul odor, and the head, limbs and body become more or less swollen, and the death is by gangrene and mortification. al through ivhich has •, perhaps nd always e cases, a too coarse :t a horse id to these possessor tet he will ich will be nmediately 3int of the in eyesore, is soft and ther. It is be reduced ses the sac yed by the in and the s not lamed id patience, satisfaction pened. ■ on account antagion or 2 of unclean by ill man- n ; the eyes bul breath ; consistency, head, limbs angrene and 153 Treafmenf.—Uo\ate the patient and have the stable kept thoroughly clean and sprinkled with disinfectants. The foecal discharges (dung) and urine must be removed immediately on their discharge. Take pure nitric acid and a half pint of water, drop the acid into the water drop by drop until, by tasting, it acquires a distinctly acid taste. Give half a pint of this solution three times a day. Take tincture of aconite, one dram ; carbolic acid, two scruples ; tincture of iron, one ounce and ahalf ; com- pound tincture of gentian, two ounces ; tincture of iodine, one scruple ; water, one i)int ; mix, and divide into ten doses. Give one dose every four hours until improvement sets in. The attendance of a competent practitioner is required, as this dose should be increased or altered according to the circumstances of the case. The result of these cases, also, is always doubtful, and usually fatal. If the animal will eat (which is not generally the case), his feed should consist of bran mash and scalded or boiled oats or wheat, and his drink should be thick linseed tea. Should he not eat, and should the services of a veterinarian be unattainable, then give him a pint of warm ale, mixed with a pint of thick oatmeal gruel, twice a day at least. Typhoid Fever.— Strictly speaking, although this term Typhoid Fever is very common, especially in human practice, thi r . no such thing as Typhoid Fever, although there is fever of a typhoid description. Any fever which assumes a weak and low form, with a tendency to typhus, is a typhoid fever. For instance, inflammation of the lungs may assume such condition as just mentioned, when it is termed Typhoid Pneumonia. When any fever assumes, or has a tendency to assume, the form of low or debilitated fever, the indications are to increase the stamina of the constitution as much as possible, by the use of tonics in combination with the usual remedies for whatever form of fever may bepresent. Symp/ows.— The symptoms of a typhoid fever ; re general debility and want of recuperative power in the vitality of the system, and are to be treated, as just mentioned, by means of tonics and careful nursing, combined with all proper hygienic conditions, and this can best be done under the superintendency of a veterinary practitioner, if one is to be obtained. 154 CHAPIER XX. STACCEry. THRUSH. TUBERCULOSIS. TEETH. TOOTHACHE. ULCr'iJ ON THE LUNGS. TUMORS ON THE PENIS. USE OF ORDINARY INSTRUMENTS. VAGINAL INFLAMMATION. VENERAL DISEASES. WORMS. Staggfers (Stomach).— '!i.., is really torp'Jity in the action of the digestive organs. Either from over distention of the stomach or from the presence of indigestible substances in that organ, the vitality and functions of the digestive organs are either impaired or partially paralyzed, the co.isequence is irritation and a consequent irregularity in the function of the circulation, in whitii, through sympathetic action and also practically oy engorgement, the blood vessels of the brain take part, and the symp- toms are good evidence of that irgan having become affected by the over, loaded stomach. Symptoms. — The animal se«^ms perfectly stupid; the eyes are half shut; he pays no attention n-hen poken to; he stands le.Ti'ng his head on the manger or against the wall. The pulse is high and ojjpressed and and the breathing slow and heavy. Treatment. — Give at once oily aloetic purge in conjunction u-ith eight drops of the tincture of aconite. The operation of the medicine must be assisted by frequent injections of hoi soapsuds and water in which two to four ounces of epsom salts should be dissolved. If the breathing is very heavy and the s ipidity seems to increase, it is better to take three or f( - quart'- of blor from the iugular vein. Apply hot water to the stomach by means of rugs. Bathe the head occasionally wi ii cold water, and keep the animal very quiet. One quart of hot water, in which an ounce f ginj^' r I;s infused, will when occasionally administered, assist the action of the puigative, and on this action the cure is to he depended on, for as soon as the stomach is unloaded the vessels of the brain will be relieved. If this does not take place soon, a ruj)ture of some of the small vessels of the brain is liable icc' or the animnl dies from apoplexy- produced by the i ugorged bi a \ els. Thrush. — This is a discharge from the cleft of • frog of the foot. The discharge is thickish and has a most villanous smell. The cause is the stepping on a stone, or a bruise of some kind or other, £,uperadded upon a depraved state of the system. This latter fact teaches us that it 155 is quite useless to apply remedies to the seat of the discharge unless the conduion of tlie l,Io(,d is attended to at the same time The reason that so many cases of Thrush prove so obstinate to handle, or degenerate (as they may) into Canker, is because the disciiarge only is attempted to be stopped, and the unhealthy condition of the general system is overh.oked. 'I he primary inflammation caused by the bruise usually commences at the pomt where the back sinew is inserted mto the bottom of the coffin bone. .S>w//^/«i-,— Tenderness at the cleft of the frog, with feverisli pulse, and the discharge of the foul matter just mentioned. Treatment.— Vhy^ic the horse with the oily aloetic purge. Twenty- four hours aftei .rds give the sulphate of iron or carbonate of iron l)owders, one morning and evening. Take oif the shoe, pare away the diseased parts of the frog and remove all the accumulation of foul m.uter by sponging and washing thoroughly ; then applv half a dozen poultices of hot hnseed meal, one after the other. If there is any fungus (proud flesh) round the cleft remove il by touching with hydrochloric acid • then take carbolic acid two drams, glycerine two ounces, and insert ueepl'v into the cleft, by means of a pledget of oakum or thick cotton wool. ' This dressing should be ciianged twice a day, when the cleft should be thoroughly cleansed by means of lu.t carboli/ed water, that is, water one pint, and carbolic acid two scruples. The ho. c must, of course be thrown out of work. It should be unnecessary to direct this, but, unfor- tunately, for the humanity of some people, horses wi:h the Thrush are v^ y frecjuently to be .see.i in cabs and othe. r„nveyances doing their usual work, m spite of the pain which the driver ////.,/ know that the anmials are suffering fror.a the diseas," It is a matter of necessity for the success of the cure that the animal should be relieved of his daily work if not for the .,ake of the pain caused to por, ,„imal in the act oi locomotion. Tuberculosis is a disease of the lungs more frequently met with in horned cattle than in horses. Indeed, at this present moment (,890) it is a cause of great anxiety to owners of cattle and consumers of beef in all parts of the civilized world. It consists of tubercles which are formed m the lungs by the inhalation of ,he germs or microbes which have the power of propagating this very lata! disease. The symptoms are much the same as m horned cattle, and are very frequently , onfused with and mistaken f r, 1 euro-Pneumonia. ]u the comparatively few cases which are seen m horses, the power of infection and contagion seems to be 156 miicli less than in the cases of horned stock. Nevertheless, all proper means of precaution against contagion or infection, in the shape of isola- tion, disinfection, "tc, should be most carefully exercised. As in all cases of contagious ui suspectedly contagious diseases, the presence of a competent veterinary surgeon is absolutely necessary, it would be of little use to the readers of this book that any lengthy disquisition on the subject should be inflicted on farnKirs and others who desire only to treat their own horses, either from simple diseases, or in cases where they are deprived, by their situation or otherwise, of the professional skill of a competent veterinarian ; therefore it may be simply stated that the symp- toms are by no means definite to an unskilled person, and also that in many cases the disease has not been detected by professional men until the evidences of it were apparent in the /tfi/-//w;7fw examination. Whenever, however, a horse is found to be attacked by slight intermittent attacks of fever in combination with a loud and moist cough, and sometimes with a discharge from the nostrils and a tendency to diarralicea, then Tuber- culosis may be suspected, and the suspicion is changed almost into certainty when the temperature rises to between 107 and 108, and emaci- ation seems to be setting in. I'.efore this last-mentioned appearance is observed, any careful man will have taken proper professional advice on the case. Teeth. — Whenever the horse passes his oats whole, cr when he quids his hay, or even when he refuses to eat, the horse's mouth and teeth should be examined by means of the balling iron, which instrument should be in possession of all owners of horses. There are, of course, other troubles which will cause the animal to quid and refuse his feed, such as sickness, and the oats may be passed in an undigested condition through the presence of indigestion ; but in many cases the unfortunate animal gets dosed for some imaginary disease, when the teeth are the only cause of the supposed symptoms. The edges of the grinders frerpiently become ragged and uneven, and sometimes, also, out of level on the crown of the tooth so that one tooth protruding upwards renders it most difficult, if not impossible, for the horse to masticate his food properly. Occasionally the side edges become like splinters and as sharp as a knife. When the horse tries to masticate under such conditions the tongue becomes most severely lacerated, and sometimes, as I have experienced myself, the hands of the examiner suffer in the same manner. Having the mouth kept open by the balling iron, then feel all the back teeth, upper and lower, and having detected the uneven part, take the >oth rasp and file it down level ; md 157 if tliere is no tooth rasp at liand, then borrow a file from the blacksmith. If one tooth interferes, and is in such a position as to be unapproachable by the rasp, then extract it. Sometimes the horse is suffering from a toothache caused by an abscess at the root of a tooth. To detect this pass the hand along the gums (which, indeed, should always be done), and on touching the spot a small, soft protuberance will be felt ; the animal will evince signs of tenderness and i)ain on feeling the |)resence of the examiner's fingers ; the fluctuating feeling caused by the accumulation of matter will also be evidence of the cause of the horse's disinclination to eat or masticate. Another symptom of toothache is given by the horse continually shaking his head from side to side, and tossing it up and down ; the breath is also occasionally foul. U the tooth seems tnuch decayed then extract it ; if it does not seem so, then lance the abscess and wash it out with warm water one pint, carbolic acid two scruples, honey two ounces, and feed mashes for two or three days afterwards. Toothache.— (See Teeth.) Ulcers on the Lungs.— (See Hypertrophy of the Kidneys.) Tumors on the Penis.— Tumors, sometimes small and sometimes assuming the form of a bunch of grapes, occasionally form on the Penis and a considerable distance up the sheath. The last case of this kind which came under my observation and treatment was one in which the bunch of grapy tumors were as large as a man's fist and choked up the sheath to such an extent as to interfere with the exit of the urine. Treafme/if.— Throw the horse on his right side, draw out the penis and take them all off at one cut with the scalpel ; then touch lightly with the hot iron. Give the animal the oily aloetic purge, and inject the sheath twice a day with warm alum water. Use of Ordinary Instruments.— There are several instruments the use of which, being simple, should be in the possession of all owners of horses. Among these may be mentioned the following :— The Balling Iron, the Spring Fleam, the Rubber Catheter, the Injection Syringe, the Scalpel, the Tooth Rasp, and the Budding Iron. The hailing Iron' can be constructed at a very small expense by any blacksmith. It simply consists of two straight pieces of iron connected together by a circle of the same metal, the lower edge being curved outwards ; through this circle the hand is passed during the examination of the teeth, mouth or throat, and also in the act of giving the horse a ball or pill ; without it 1 58 also the teeth cannot be properly filed. The Spring Fleam is very useful in case of opening abscesses. The Rubber Catheter, where tlie bladder is thoroughly distended and the exit of the urine stopped by inflammatory action in the neck of that organ, may be the means of saving the horse's life, as in some cases rupture of the bladder may take place before the services of a surgeon can be obtained. In Uie use of this instrument care is to be taken that it is well oiled. Withd'raw the penis and insert the Catheter ; when it arrives at the perinceum, immediatelv under the bladder, push it very gently backwards, and by pressing the point of the inserted Catheter it will enter the neck of the bladder ; immediate relief will follow. It would be best, supposing the bladder to be not too much distended, to cast the horse on his right side, but should the distention be thorough, danger of rupture is present through the struggles of the horse in the act of casting. In mares, however, it is very easy to draw the urine, as the orifice of the bladder is so much more easy to be reached, and in almost all cases it may be done by the fingers alone, and without the use of the Catheter. An Injection Syringe is also an indispensable adjunct to the stable of all who takes an interest in their animals ; the use of this instrument is obvious. The same remarks apply to the Scalpel and Tooth Rasp. The Budding Iron is chiefly used for the destruction of small portions of fungus or proud flesh in wounds ; it is also applied to farcy buds, but for ordinary owners of horses its greatest use is in stopping sudden hemorrhage (bleeding) of arteries or other vessels. Vagfinal Inflammation.—A mare may take cold and then contract an inflammatory action in the vagina, and she is more liable to this affec- tion during the i)eriod of horsing than under ordinary circumstances. Keep her stabled, and clothe her warmly. Take tincture of arnica two ounces, water one quart, and inject three or four times a day. Halve her feed, and let it consist of bran mash and hay, with linseed tea for drink. Give her two powders a day, one in the morning and one in the evening, of the bicarbonate of soda powders (see Medicinal Appendix), Venereal Diseases.— Both horses and mares are occasionally affected by these diseases. Gonorrhcea, however, is more frequently seen than the more serious and constitutional disease of Syphilis. Never, theless, the latter disease obtains in many cases, and is less often found in mares than in stallions. Mares, on account of the relative position of the p.irts affected, are more easily cured of both Gonorrhoea and Syphilis than stallions. The more simi)le of these diseases, which, of course, is very useful he bladder lammatory the horse's before the iment care insert the le bladder, le inserted .vill follow, tended, to thorough, in the act ine, as the in almost ise of the net to the ise of this and Tootii 1 of small ;d to farcy I stopping n contract this affec- imstances. rnica two Halve her for drink. : evening, casionally ently seen Never, 'ten found )osition of d Syphilis course, is 150 Gonorrhcea, is not very difficult to cure ; but it is otherwise with Syphilis, as this latter complaint obtains such a firm hold of the system, when once' established, that it is very obstinate in its resistance to medicinal remedies. The cause of Gonorrhoea is either contagion or an accumulation of filth m external generative organs. The symptoms consist of a foul smelling discharge from these organs. The treatment consists of washing out the parts frequently and injecting a solution of water one quart, carbolic acid two scruples, sulphate of zinc two scruples ; at the same time the tonic iron powders must be given morning and evening until improvement IS visible. It is almost superfluous to say thnt during the treatment the animal, whether stallion or mare, should not be permitted to perform the act of copulation. Syphilis, which shows itself by means of chancres and buboes, is more troublesome to manage. This disease is an animal poison, and IS either hereditary or is contracted by contagion in the act of copula- tion. The symptoms are a discharge from the sexual organs, followed by the formation of chancres and then buboes. If not relieved, the whole system being impregnated by the poison, the nasal cartilages and bones become affected and carious, discharging a fa>tid matter. If taken in time, a cure may be expected without much difficulty, otherwise the animal becomes loathsome, and, if a stallion, practically useless. In a case of this description, if the horse is worth treating, the best thing to do is to send for a competent surgeon. Worms.— There are three different kinds of Worms which are found in the horse. These parasites are a source of much annoyance, and in some cases cause serious disturbance to the animal's general sys- tem. One kind, which are called Ascarides, or otherwise, Needle Worms afi-ect the large intestines more than the smaller ones, and more especially they infect the rectum, which is the ,ast, and, as it is called, the straight -i,t Another kind consists of worms (Lumbrici) varying in length from one" to twelve inches ; these somewhat resemble the enormous earth worm, being sharp at both ends, but of a whitish, or whitish-red color. The third kind consists of the Tcenia or Tape Worm, which grows in links, each link having the power of reproduction in itself-at least, so it is said ; but as a matter of fact, if the head is removed, the presence of the worm is discontinued, so that one would be inclined to think that in some way or other the source of vitality and reproduction must lie in the head. These last grow to an enormous length and are more frequently found in colts and niiics than in horses of an older growth. The cause of the presence of worms is due to indigestion. As it has been proved beyond all matter 160 of cavil that the possibility of spontaneous generation only exists in the fertile brains of a certain school of philosophers, the ova or germs of these parasites must exist in the hay or other food, and become developed by the fermentation which takes place through the heat of the stomach in all cases of undigested food. The presence of worms in the horse is frequently mistaken for other complaints ; as the staring coat, cough, etc., which denote the presence of these pests, form part of the symptoms of several other diseases. Symptoms. — When the horse is affected by the small Needle Worm, he will rub his hindquarters, to relieve the sensation of itching of which the presence of this kinds of worm is productive ; this he will not do in the case of the Lumbrici or larger worm. The presence of the smaller worm, although it may be in much larger quantities than the other, will be a source of less pain and trouble to the animal than the presence of the other kind. In the case of both kind of worms, however, the coat will have a staring appearance and the skin will appear as in " Hidebound." The other symptoms apply to both kinds of worms, only that in the case of the " Needle Worm " they are generally less severe than in the case of the large worm. The smaller worms, moreover, will indicate their pres- ence by the appearance of a yellowish, sticky substance clinging to the fundament. The other symptoms consist of a cough, and this cough differs from the cough which accompanies the affections of the respiratory organs, being of a deeper and more hollow sound, and leaving a vibrating action in the flanks. Emaciation and weakness and occasional attacks of pain in the bowels are also present as symptoms. The worms also are occasionally passed off with the dung. The appetite is very variable ; sometimes the animal will eat voraciously, and then soon afterwards his appetite seems entirely gone. Rumbling noises are heard in the intestines every now and then, and the breath is frequently unpleasant in its smell. Treatment. — The treatment is the same for both descriptions of worms, and is quite effectual if the directions be faithfully followed out. The treatment of Taenia must be the same until some better specific remedy is discovered. There are all kinds of so-called " specifics " for Tcenia or Tapeworm, both for the animal and for the human being. The outside bark of the pomegranate root is about as good, or possibly better, than any of the others. The treatment of Worms only a short time ago used to consist nf calniiu;!. turnentine. .T.nd freouent'.y of so-called remedies which, although the possibility of their killing the horse was very 161 apparent indeed, seemed only to make the intended victims more lively, and as anthelmintics were frequently innocuous. Take, for grown horses and mares, powdered mix areca three ounces, gentian two ounces ; mix, and divide into three balls or powders ; give one ball or powder every morning, for three mornings, an hour before feeding. On the fourth day give the oily aloetic purge. Feed bran mash and take the chill off the drinking water. For foals and yearlings take, for a foal six months' old, santonine (powdered) one scruple and a-half, gentian two scruples ; give once every alternate day for three days. _3 -^iWf 162 CHAPTER XXI. WARTS.- WINDGALLS.- BURNS ON THE FLESH. LICE AND VERMIN.- STINGS OF INSECTS. Warts.— These excrescences make their appearance on various parts of tlie horse's body, the head and legs being, however, their most frequent seat. When growing very large they frequently assume the form as of a bunch of grapes, one wart growing on to another ; they are of a grey color, about the size of a hazel nut, of a ragged appearance, and occa- sionally they exude blood, which blood has more or less propa^ ting power for the renewal of fresh warts when touching a healthy excoriation or cut. Sometimes the wart grows in the form of a mushroom, having a pedicle or stem deeply imbeded in the tissues of the skin. They are of various sizes and qualities; some are hard, dry, p.ninless and brittle; others, again, are exactly the contrary in their condition, being soft, liumid, spongy, and very painful, especially when touched. There ^s also always more or less itchiness experienced by the animal in the region of the wart. Some grow to an immense size, especially those of the humid kind which bleed. 7>-(?a/w. /, ^} Ol *: '>' /; / '/ 150mm >IPPLIED_^ IIV14GE . Inc .a^ 1653 East Main Street .^= r^ Rochester, NY 14609 USA -ass*^ Phone: 716/482-0300 .^=S'.= Fax: 716/288-5989 © 1993, Applied Image, Inc., All Rights Reserved ^ 4^ i\ ^\ '4^ 'In \ i I i 170 HEREDITARY TRANSMISSION OF DEFECTS IN HORSES, OR LAW OF HEREDITY IN HORSES. It is a matter of the greatest importance to horse owners in general that they should be thoroughly acquainted with the phenomena attending the law of heredity in animals. More particularly does this apply to the owners and trainers of valuable stock, the breeding and speed of .vhich stock adapts them either to the race-course or trotting-track. In using the expression " law of heredity ," it is necessary to go back to the scientific definition of the word, which is simply to be understood as meaning " the demonstrable exhibition and method of an occult force ". As a matter of fact, comparatively lutle or any attention is given to this important subject by those whose pecuniary interest would seem to be most affected by the results to be obtained through a due and careful attention to this most remarkable law of nature. No 'breeder or trainer of moderate intellectual acquirements will deny the truth of this proposition. There are a number of horsemen, however, though unfortunately a large minority, who will testify of their success in the development of blooded stock through their intelligent regard of nature's laws in this respect. There is no manner of doubt but that if horsemen in general and breeders in particular would carefully devote some portion of their time to the obser- vation of the eventualities produced by this unerring law, both for good and for evil, the result would be of substantial benefit to themselves in a pecuniary form, and a great improvement in the breed and racing capa- bilities of thoroughbred stock in general. The point to which the interest of all owners of horses should be directed is this : Can hereditary peculiarities, both mental and physical, be so manipulated as to become a benefit to owners, arid, consequently, also to the equine race ? It is, unfortunately, perfectly demonstrable that the deformities, bodily weak- nesses, and mental viciousness of the sire or dam are daily transmitted to their offspring. This being an indisputable fact, why should it not be possible, by a proper selection in mating to modify or eliminate the bad qualities in the foal by the opposite qualities of the parents ? The answer is that there is no valid reason why this cannot be done By perfect judgment and due care as to selection, as much improvement should be developed, in proportion as the evil consequences of improper selection are now to be witnessed. As a general rule most people seem to act as if the physical malformations were the only evil legacies transmitted by the rs IN n general attending ply to the of .vhich In using ; scientific ling " the 5 a matter important St affected on to this moderate a. There minority, ied stock There is reeders in the obser- 1 for good elves in a cing capa- le interest liereditary become e ? It is, lily weak- smitted to it not be i the bad tie answer By perfect ihould be • selection act as if ed by the 171 ' parents. There are, however, on the turf to-day too many examples of the transmission of the mental vices of the sire or dam. Horses of great repute are occasionally seen, who have to be brought to the post in blinkers or hoods. One of the best performers of last year, a thorough good horse, who is now at Westchester, is an example in point. Others agam turn sulky and rogu.'sh at the fall of the flag on account of which their owners' interests come, most lamentably, to grief. The number of cases this year of abuse amongst two and three-year-old colts also has has become quite alarming to owners and trainers, and has been, through the mistaken supposition of the necessity of castration, the cause of the loss of many valuable animals' services at the stud. These instances among numberless others are all to be traced more or less to the law of heredity. It must be admitted, however, in passing, that all owners of valuable racing and trotting stock, as well as all experts, are agreed that there is at present a decided superfluity of useless stallions. The con- sequences of the use of an imperfect or vicious sire are very far-reaching indeed, and the patronage of such an animal is to be very much deprecated by all true lovers of the horse. This great error, combined with the mistake of improper selection in mating, with regard to the mental and physical qualifications of the two animals, is a potent factor in the deteri- oration of the thoroughbred horse. The same error is largely to be found, also, in the agricultural districts among farmers and breeders of carriage, riding and farm stock. This mistake, however, is probably to be imputed to their limited opportunities for observation and to the excessive cheapness at which the services of rural sires are valued. If the former, however, was able to see beforehand what his foal was likely to be, he would probably spring a few more dollars and obtain the services of a horse whose progeny would be of some value in the market On many accounts, therefore, it is greatly to be desired that all public stallions should be, to a certain extent at all events, under the supervision of some competent authority. A moderate sized book might easily be written on this subject. Briefly, however, the breeder should endeavor to strengthen all weak points m the mare, by mating her with a stallion whose physical development preponderates in those points where she is defective. For example, should a mare show too much daylight under her, a horse should be selected which is well ribbed up, and which has a great depth of girth. A small mare should never be put to a stallion very much larger than herself. The production of such a union is invariably a large colt, all bone • the danger in parturition is also to be taken into very" serious consideration 172 in such a case. In the case of the small mare, the horse should not be much, if any, larger than the mare. In the case of a large and roomy mare experience has shown that a mate a litile smaller, but selected with' a view to supply any deficiencies visible in the mare, has produced the most satisfactory results. When handling a valuable mare a great deal of importance must be attached to the qualities of the stallion to which she is first put. Instances are numberless in which it is shown thttt the impression received by the nervous system of the mare in her first union are conveyed, not only to the foal produced by that act, but to the subsequent progeny which may be produced by other stallions. As all, example there is the case of the thoroughbred mare which was put to a quagga ; the foal was striped as the quagga ; subsequently the mare was put to a thoroughbred called The Colonel ; that colt was striped, and an subsequent colts were more or less marked by the peculiar impress of the original father, the quagga. •. Another instance may be quoted fqr the information of such readers as have not peculiarly interested themselves on this point. A bay mare was in the act of being covered by a black stallion, when a chestnut gelding with a white blaze down his face broke loose and galloped into the yard. The nervous system of the mare was evidently greatly im. pressed by the appearance of the stranger. The effect was this, that at the usual time the mare dropped a colt the very image of the intruder, being a chestnut with a white blay.e ; whereas the sire was black and the dam bay. The argument of analogy to the human race holds good here. If it holds good in these cases it may also be surmised that it will hold equally good in most, if not all others. A late professor at Bellevue cites a case where a woman, in a delicate condition, greatly longed to see a watch. She was gratified, and her child was born with the figures of the dial marked in the white of the eyeballs. Van Ammon also relates a case where a carpenter, in a peasant's cottage, was attacked by a soldier ; the woman rushed in and broke the soldier's sword and the neighbors arrested him; the mother turned to the infant in the cradle, who was growing and laughing, and administered her milk to it, and in five minutes it died from poison. Her unnatural excitement had vitiated her blood and milk, and was fatal to the offspring. These facts, therefore, can be strictly and properly applied to mares and their foals. This should tend to. warn breeders not only as to their selection in mating horses and mar s, but .also as to the danger of unduly exciting the matrons at any time^ while in foal, as is too often done both by voice aad whip. The analogy uld not be md roomy ected with duced the sat deal of which she X thstt the first union 3Ut to the 5. As all put to a mare was ;d, and an •ess of the :h readers bay mare . chestnut aped into eatly im- s, that at intruder, k and the ood here, will hold ivue cites to see a es of the OS a case soldier ; leighbors who was : minutes er blood e, can be )uld tend id mar s, ny time, • analogy 173 progeny. HeaUhy blood consis.s raai, of fil, 'V !,'"''.°" "'= corpuscles.solids of serum and water ircaseso?^! [ ""'^ "'''" formations of a rod-like form have bee d sco e" d a^ " """"^"l- sranujes have been detected in the vital fluid Both ,h T ''"" common to horses and the mps,!„„ , \ ™'' "■«= diseases are .ion of the blood ;.„lh s'he r. is " ""? ".""^ l""—' ^ondi- atmospheric influence or ervot, e'xJL:"' "' '?"""!" '''"'"«■ "-■ one, probably al, three condi on t^ fv " ,e3ed ,1 '° '' " "°'" extent. One thing is certain, that heredit; vi^add L ' ly toT 'ch ' '"^ of the acquirement of this poisonous condition .ni^ "'" be the sole cause. eondition, and, in many cases, will The foal, therefore, may be stunted not only throu.h ,1,, rtchess or excessive poverty of the mother's food bu \V . Tl'"! vitality in its molhe:'s blood caused hv l,., j. ■' ' ' '"'' °' blood is. Of course, stipplied' t^rf:;:, ■ 't 7 Z^t^X "'"' a warning to all lovers of horses to be very particular in fhll ^r'' "" broodmares. Select the right mates both as o hi '""""'"^ "^ •heir bodily constitution, having d e cat a so as .'7'°" "'■ ""=" " '° tion. Be particular as to the qui itfa of nod h '"""'' '''"""'■ mares in foal, and especially a™M cWng he mar"'" '""""■ '"' Rather should they be kept in absolute ,i™'especia7yrtl,:"l 7 "'^ the period of gestation, of course bein., allow do ! . ■""' "' "w:::^:r:rrhi^:r^™---"^^^^^^^^^^ Snch care will sa«; Trod^t^^ ve tp^ ''.r^'lL^'::'" r^ the poor, miserable, half-starved looking creature wifl V ' ""'' ""' ;o^of.n produced, much to the disgus.ljr isZ::; ^Ir^lfJ; 174 Medicinal Appendix. MEDICINES USED IN THIS BOOK. OILY ALGETIC PURGE. Raw Linseed Oil One Pint. Tincture Ginger One Ounce. Spirits of Nitre (Sweet) One Ounce. Aloes Barl idoes (in powder) Seven Drams. Mix the three first ingredients, and when the patient's head is in position and all ready, then add the powdered aloes. CARBGLISED GIL. (For Slight Cuts or Wounds.) Olive Oil or Linseed Oil One Pint. Carbolic Acid (strong) One Dram. Shake Well. DIGESTIVE OINTMENT. (For Dressing Seton Tapes.) Oil of Turpentine Four Ounces. Lard Two Ounces. Melt Together. SALINE DRAUGHT. Glauber's Salts Four Ounces. Linseed Meal Two Ounces. Warm Water One Quart. LIME WATER. Lime. Four Ounces. Water One Quart. Let stand for two days and strain off the water. IODINE BLISTER. Iodine (in crystals dissolved in a sufficiency of alcohol) Six Drams. Biniodide of Mercury Two Drams. Cantharides (powdered) Four Drams. Lard or Simple Cerate Four and one-half Ounces. Mix. 17^ X. One Pint, ne Ounce, ne Ounce, sn Drams, lead is in One Pint, ►ne Dram. r Ounces, o Ounces. :r Ounces, o Ounces. )ne Quart. • Ounces, le Quart. ix Drams. fo Drams, ur Drams, f Ounces. r.oT'SZ?"'^^"' '^'^-T'-'^EVER, POWDERS. Six Ounces. Bica Bitartrate of Potash Nitre Mix and divide into twelve powders five drops of the tincture of or balls. On administering, droi) aconite on each powder. TONIC POWDERS (IRON) Carbonate of Iron Gentian (powdered) . .' ^"^ ^'"'''^' ^'^ ^'^"'^■ Golden Seal (powdered) ;^ '^'''° ^""^^^• Linseed Meal °"^ ^""^^ ^"^ a-'^a""- Mix and divide into' t;velve powders or balls! ^"' ^""'"• ALTERATIVE TONIC POWDERS Gentian (powdered) [\ , ^''^'^■'''' ^'"^ ^'^^'f- Iodide of Potassium Ginger [[ Powdered Liquorice Root Mix and divide into twelve powders or balls: ^'' """"'''■ HEALING LOTION. Tmct. of Aloes and Myrrh Glycerine . '^^^o Ounces. Carbolic Acid (strong) ... " " Water Two Scruples. V,_ , ■ ■ ^ One Pint. HEALING OINTMENT. Impure Carbonate of Zinc (Calamine) ... On. n Carbolic Acid '-^"^ Ounce. Simple Cerate or Lard . . •••... .One Dram. - ". Three Ounces. Mix. COMMON LINIMENT. 9n.n T • • ^""""'' ^*"' '''""' *'" '""—-"on is Subdued.) boap Lmiment ' Aqua Ammonia (strong) ^'^"^^ Ounces. Spirits of Camphor. . . .!..... ^^^^^ Ounces. Turpentine ^^^ Ounces. Olive Oil Two Ounces ■ " ■ Mix, '^^'■^e Ounces. 17( 1 1) Two Drams. DIAPHORETIC BALL. (For Opening Pores of Skin.) Tartarized Antimony One Dram One Scruple. Gentian (powdered) .< „ Capsicum '• j, „ Linseed Meal Mix. Make into a bail with honey. CAUSTIC APPLICATION-HYDROCHLORIC ACID. (For Foetid Ulcers, Etc.) Bran Mash.— In making a mash of bran, ])our />o:/i\i^r jf,a/gr on to the bran, sid stir until of the consistency of very thick porridge. In making mashes of malt (useful in cases of great weakness), use warm water, not boiling ; in the former case the power of fermentation is nearly wholly removed ; in the latter case the boiling water would only cause the malt to clog. MERCURIAL BALL (For Liver.) S^'r^^l One Dram. Barbadoes Aloes p^,,, ^^^^^ Mix, Make into a ball with linseed meal and honey. PURGING BALL (Ordinary.) Barbadoes Aloes r Seven Drams. ^•"S^"" Half an Ounce. Mix. Make into a ball with linseed meal and honey. URINE BALL. ^'''^ Six Drams. Buchu (powdered) Two Drams. Mix. Make into a bail with linseed meal and honey. ALTERATIVE POWDERS. (For 8l'S 131 ISO 131 134 Mallen.lers nn.l Snilcn.lcrs (»cc Scurfy ''"riipiions) M-uihand Tongue (Apthd!)..!! I'v>i.sf)ns l'r..(riision(.fihc I.arjjc- (;ut .'.'.[ I'roirusionofthe Wonil) l'ul»c I'lciirisy I'leiiro I'neiimonin 'A II. *, I *o arturition Paralysis I'atella, Dislocation of. . . . ....'" '!J '^hiillor •* KuiUiire . . * I^e Kheiimntism ■ jj KoariniT . • • ■ .J4 ,,. , 136 Kinglione Stomach, Acidity of ! Jf Surfeit ^' •Stringhalt.... '^^ .. 139 Sores •'^ 139 StajjKt-rs (see also under Kpilepsy). 154 Suspensory Ligament, Injuries of . . . ,40 Saddle and Collar (ialls ,!q Spavin, Hone Spavin, Hog. . . '44 '45 S «5 152 'Sa Splints Slivers in Body Scarlet I'evcr ''"'*■ Spinal .Mcninj{iiig . '*' Sand Crack '"*' Sh' uidtr Strain. "* Swelled I,e«s '^' Stallions. I'ubjic ,,[[[ '^^ Sunstroke Strangles (see under Abscesses)! '^° Stone in (he HIadder Tracheotomy Thorough Tin Typhus Fever ' " Typhoid Fever ,;, Thrush '53 Toothache Teeth, '•''ling.........'.'.'.''.'' ■"■JJJ Tuberculosis ' Urethra, Tumors around . . . ." ." .' ,'„ Ulcers on Lungs ' ■ 3/ Use of Simple Instruments for Farmers! Ill ^ agina, Inllammation of ,.g N'agina, Ol.structed ! . . 1 eg Venereal Diseases , L Windgalls f .!• loa "orms .... Warts 'f «iirns, Stmgs of Insects, etc ,5, Age of the Horse, to Ascertain. . .... . ,64 I'lllK. •47 '47 »48 '49 150 'SI 'SO L'sscs) r '$ 'S» 'S3 '5» «SJ '54 "57 '56 '55 '57 'S7