REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 333 



of being matured, so that treatment, except in the cases referred 

 to, is not productive of much good. 



The Preventive Treatment for diseases of the respiratory organs 

 are careful housing and freedom from draughts, avoiding standing 

 exposed to wind and rain. Stables should be well ventilated, 

 and kept at an even temperature of 60° or thereabouts. All bad 

 smells should be investigated and suppressed. Horses with 

 long coats brought into a cold, draughty stable, or allowed to 

 stand in the cold air after violent exertion, often suffer very badly ; 

 and on the other hand also those that are clipped. Extremes 

 should be avoided. Great care, proper clothing, and avoiding of 

 debilitating and cooling medicines, with properly apportioned 

 work and good stable management, are the secrets of preventing, 

 not only of these, but all nearly of the diseases to which the 

 farm horse is liable. 



DISEASES OF THE URINARY AND GENITAL ORGANS. 



Nephritis, or inflammation of the kidneys, is not frequently 

 observed in the domestic animals. It, however, does occur at 

 times among farm horses, and chiefly from eating inferior food, 

 as kiln dried oats, heated or musty hay, excessive use of strong 

 diuretic medicine, and the influence of sprains on the back and 

 loins. The Mercurialis Perennis, or common herb mercury, will 

 produce it, and various other plants, at certain seasons of the 

 year. The symptoms are those of excessive fever, pulse irritable 

 and quick, numbering at least 90 or 100. The animal strains, 

 and stands stretching, with hind legs wide apart. The urine is 

 highly coloured, and sometimes* bloody. After death the external 

 membrane shows signs of inflammation, whilst the internal 

 structures of the glands are disorganised, softened, and gorged 

 with blood. 



Treatment. — Mild laxative medicine should be given at once, 

 and hot rugs placed over the loins and body, bandages to the 

 legs, and the utmost quiet enjoined. The medicines best to be 

 given are aloes or linseed oil, extracts of belladonna, hyoscyamus, 

 or tincture of aconite (Fleming's), as advised already, in the 

 respective diseases. A strong mustard embrocation should be 

 placed on the loins, and enemas of tepid water and soap or salt 

 employed every half-hour until the bowels act. Alkalies in very 

 small doses, as the bicarbonate of potash or soda, should be 

 allowed in the drinks, which should be thick and mucilaginous, 

 as linseed tea, gum water, &c. 



Bloody Ukine arises from the causes which produce inflam- 

 mation of the kidneys, wholly or partially, and degeneration of 

 the mucous membranes of the urinary passages, by which secre- 

 tion urine is suspended and blood transudes unchanged. If the 

 treatment recommended for nephritis should not succeed, use 



