108 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



pure air can not be overestimated, but drafts must be avoided. The 

 benefit derived from the inhalation of steam is considerable. This 

 is effected by holding the horse's head over a bucketful of boiling 

 water, so that the animal will be compelled to inhale steam with 

 every inhalation of air. Stirring the hot water with a wisp of hay 

 causes the steam to arise in greater abundance. One may cause the 

 horse to put his nose in a bag containing cut hay upon which hot 

 water has been poured, the bottom of the bag being stood in a bucket, 

 but the bag must be of loose texture, as gunny sack, or, if of canvas, 

 holes must be cut in the side to admit fresh air. 



The horse may be made to inhale steam four or five times a day, 

 about fifteen or twenty minutes each time. 



Particular attention should be paid to the diet. Give bran mashes, 

 scalded oats, linseed gruel, and grass, if in season. If the horse 

 evinces no desire for this soft diet, it is better to allow any kind of 

 food he will eat, such as hay, oats, corn, etc., than to keep him on 

 short rations. 



If the animal is constipated, relieve this symptom by injections 

 (enemas) of warm water into the rectum three of four times a day, 

 but do not administer purgative medicines, excepting of a mild 

 character. 



For simple cases the foregoing is all that is required, but if the 

 appetite is lost and the animal appears debilitated and dull, give 3 

 ounces of the solution of acetate of ammonia and 2 drams of pow- 

 dered chlorate of potassium diluted with a pint of water three times a 

 day as a drench. Be careful when giving the drench ; do not pound 

 the horse on the gullet to make him swallow; be patient, and take 

 time, and do it right. 



If the weather be cold, blanket the animal and keep him in a com- 

 fortable stall. If the throat is sore, treat as advised for that ailment, 

 to be described hereafter. 



If, after ten daj^s or two weeks, the discharge from the nostrils con- 

 tinues, give one-half dram of reduced iron three times a day. This 

 may be mixed with damp feed. Common cold should be thoroughly 

 understood and intelligently treated in order to prevent more danger- 

 ous diseases. 



CHRONIC CATARRH (OR NASAL GLEET, OR COLLECTION IN THE SINUSES ). 



This is a subacute or chronic inflammation of some part of the 

 membrane affected in common cold, the disease just described. It is 

 manifested by a persistent discharge of a thick white or yellowish 

 white matter from one or both nostrils. The commonest cause is a 

 neglected or badly treated cold, and it usually follows those cases 

 where the horse has suffered exposure, been overworked, or has not 

 received proper food, and, as a consequence, has become debilitated. 



