150 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE BULLETINS. 



an attack. So, adopting this cognomen, let us for a moment turn to the 

 cause of the comphiint, which in this case, as in all others, is the first thing 

 to discover before we can hope to combat in an intelligent manner the 

 invasion of the disorder ; and in reference to it I may say, without going 

 further, that exj)erience has taught us beyond all reasonable doubt that the 

 disease is caused by feeding horses too liberally upon nutritious food and 

 not giving them any exercise. I may say in this connection that every case 

 of this malady I have met with presented just about the same history, and 

 may further say that those who have described the disease, did so in a manner 

 which corroborates what I myself have witnessed, so I think if I just briefly 

 outline in familiar terms the history which I invariably get, it may make an 

 impression that will do good in the future, to wit : 



The horse was in good condition and well fed, but owing to certain cir- 

 cumstances had not been out of his stall for a day or two. When 'Drought 

 out he was in the best of spirits, never, perhaps, feeling better in his life; 

 but in a variable time, from a few minutes to, say, a quarter of an hour after 

 being on the road, it would begin to show symptoms of distress, and the 

 change from what would appear to be robust health, to extreme prostration 

 is very alarming, indeed almost incredible, running its course and destroying 

 life in a day or so ; happily, though, this is a malady Avhich, if dealt with 

 judiciously, is often amenable to treatment. 



This disease may occur at any season of the 3'ear, but in my experience is 

 more jDrevalent in the early spring than at other times, owing, of course, to 

 the fact that animals are more subjected to the exciting cause at this than at 

 other times. 



To be able to recognize the disorder in the early stages is a matter of im- 

 portance, for the sooner appropriate remedies are administered the better. 



THE SYMPTOMS 



are usually very well marked, although we will once in awhile meet with 

 cases where it is not eas}' to recognize the disease at first sight ; as a rule, 

 though, the horse, after being driven and alloAved to stand, will tremble, 

 sometimes violently. The eyes Avill present a very anxious look ; perspira- 

 tion will rmi down the face ; sometimes the whole body is bedewed with 

 sweat. The animal, at this stage, generally paws with its fore feet and soon 

 lies down, or it will crouch behind and appear as if injured across the back, 

 having much difficulty in manipulating its hind legs when required to walk, 

 when it eventuallv lies down and in manv instances is unable to rise, although 

 it may be able to get up on its fore legs and sit, as it were, like a dog; but 

 this attitude is not often attained more than a few moments, when the poor 

 creature will fall upon its broad side. At this stage the urine, if voided or 

 draAvn away, is usually of a brownish red color. I have seen it described as 

 being of the apjjearance of coflt'ee, and, indeed, the comparison is striking. 

 The breathing becomes hurried, the nostrils often being dilated and red 

 within. When the hind quarters are apparently most affected they will have 

 a hard board-like feeling when pressed uj^on with the hand ; the same con- 

 dition of the muscles will apjjear on the shoulders when the forequarters are 

 affected. The pulse becomes elevated. 



TEEATMENT. 



It has become a very threadbare exjiression to say that an '' Ounce of pre- 



