298 REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 



we have not the urgency of the symptoms as first described. The 

 action is loose, straggling and slovenly. A slight pnsh will al- 

 most suffice to throw the animal to the ground. In addition to 

 these appearances, we have constipated bowels, diminished 

 secretion of urine, and yellowish membranes. At this stage good 

 may result from judicious treatment, but if on the contrary, 

 medicines are poured down the animal's throat without due re- 

 gard to the nature of the ailment and action of remedies, we find 

 the breathing becomes accelerated, pulse increase in frequency, 

 and diminish in strength, general weakness rapidly comes on, 

 and insensibility follows, during which the animal dies. 



Treatment. — A brisk dose of purgative medicine, with inces- 

 sant injections. If the animal will drink, add common salt to 

 the water, or otherwise, add half a handful to a pint of tepid 

 water, and horn it down about an hour after the purgative dose 

 has been administered. 



Remove all aliment, as nothing tends more to sicken an 

 animal than the sight of food during nausea and the loss of ap- 

 petite. During symptoms of violence, arising from cerebral ex- 

 citement or pain, cold cloths should be applied to the head, or 

 blisters applied to the top and sides of the neck. Great advan- 

 tage would be derived from the application of ice to the withers 

 and bottom of the neck. Put on plenty of warm clothing, and 

 if the animal cannot rise, cover him also with plenty of straw. 



If paralysis threatens, apply mustard to the loins, persevere 

 in enemas, and expedite the action of purgative medicines as 

 much as possible by the administration of fluids. 



In cases where the urgency of symptoms, are overcome and 

 recovery apparent, give one ounce of the tincture of gentian, 

 three or four times a day, with two drams of powdered ginger. 



There is yet another disease which arises from the neglect of 

 proper regulations in the management of horses, viz., Calculi. 

 Keep your horses indefinite periods of time without food; im- 

 pair the digestive organs also by an additional cause — too long 

 continued work ; supply inferior food and water, and the animal 

 will snap at anything he can to appease the craving hunger he 

 endures. It is thus he meets with foreign bodies, such as bits 

 of stones, wood, nails, &c, &c, these, when swallowed, are sur- 

 rounded by deposits thrown down from secretions, which in health 

 would hold them soluble, and the result is the commencement of a 

 stone or calculus, which may, possibly, pass from the body, while 

 yet of an insignificant bulk ; but there is a probability that some 

 day or other death will result from increased size and pre- 

 sence. Any influence which brings about an impairment of 

 the digestive organs, is likely, when long continued, to give rise 

 to the formation of calculi, particlarly when the subject has a 

 ravenous appetite— -bulimia — and is induced to take in such 



