REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 291 



with enemata of tepid water if required. To prevent obstinate 

 constipation is to prevent disease, and the main secret is to 

 observe a regular system of diet and exercise. 



In foals, constipation often becomes dangerous shortly after 

 birth, from the accumulation and hardening of excrement within 

 the bowels prior to birth. The symptoms are those of urgent 

 colic, and need treatment of a similar, character, such as enemas 

 of tepid water, and medicine of a laxative nature ; probably one 

 of the best draughts is tincture of rhubarb, one or two ounces, in 

 tepid water. 



Jaundice occurs occasionally as an idiopathic affection, and 

 therefore, merits a place under the class of diseases of the digestive 

 organs. The causes are those which, being long continued, pro- 

 duce derangement of the stomach, intestines, &c. ; such as bad 

 food, ill treatment, and irregular habits, the effects of which, a 

 predisposing state of body, concentrates in the liver. 



The Symptoms are capricious, or absent appetite, with a slimy 

 tongue. The evacuations are hard, dry, and coated with mucous, 

 and the urine, if examined, contains the principles of biliary mat- 

 ter. The skin is dull and unthrifty-looking, swellings take place 

 in the extremities and abdomen, if relief is not obtained, and the 

 temperature of the whole body becomes very low indeed. Some- 

 times these cases prove very obstinate, the symptoms continue, 

 and the animal at length dies. 



P. M. Appearances. — Gall ducts are callous or indurated, 

 gall stones may be present. Sometimes obstructions are found 

 in the hepatic veins, as lymph deposits from previous inflam- 

 mation of those vessels ; at other times enlargement of the whole, 

 or part of the gland occurs, or abscesses form. Hydatids may 

 be discovered. 



Treatment. — Use saline purgatives, as Epsom or Glauber 

 salts, to establish a proper action of the bowels, and afterwards 

 administer from 10 to 30 grains of calomel. Nitre, or the sulphates 

 of potash and soda, are probably the best medicines, in one to 

 three or four ounces each day. Aloes may be used as a purgative 

 instead of the salines at first, if preferred, and a stimulant of 

 cantharidine ointment or mustard applied externally. Enemas 

 should not be forgotten, nor linseed tea as a drink omitted. 



Preventive treatment will be found to consist in the use of 

 good food. Adopting a regular system and time for feeding, 

 with work apportioned to each animal of a character which can 

 be accomplished without exhausting him. A fair share of work 

 conduces towards health, but an unnecessary amount, with long 

 fasts, are the prolific sources of disease, even when the food is 

 unquestionable in quality. 



Colic. — This disease is known in two forms. One arises 



