INFLUENZA IN HORSES. 243 



proves highly beneficial, yet their possible danger should always be 

 present to the mind. 



Mild febrifuge diuretics may be used with advantage. Spirits of 

 nitrous ether, in half-ounce doses, may be given twice a daj', or liquor 

 of the acetate of ammonia, in ounce doses, four times a day in the 

 water gruel drank. If the lever runs high, or eli'usions threaten to take 

 place, these may be increased as far as the strength will allow, but 

 always with the greatest caution and judgment. 



When the cough proves especially violent and painful, the addition 

 of anodynes, such as belladonna and camphor, is advisable. A drachm 

 of each may be added to the diuretics already advised. 



The cough may bo farther relieved, and the relaxation of the mucous 

 membranes and the appearance of the discharge hastened, by causing 

 the animal to iuhale warm water vapor several times a day, for an hour 

 at a time. This is most conveniently done by saturating chaff bran or 

 other simple agent with boiling water, r»lacing it in a nose-bag, which is 

 then hung on the patient's nose by means of a straj) crossing behind 

 the ears. This proves especially beneficial, as the moderation of the 

 fever is usually a concomitant of the api)earance of the discharge. 

 Burning a pinch of fiowers of sulphur, more or less, according to the 

 size and nature of the building, so as to impregnate the air to an ex- 

 tent just short of causing irritation and coughing, has a very soothing 

 and beneficial efiect on the mucous membrane. It is best done by lay- 

 ing a piece of paper bearing the sulphur on a shovel, and setting tire to 

 it. It is superfluous, perhaps, to say that it must be done behind the 

 patient, and not beneath his nose. The fumes of vinegar from a red- 

 hot brick, of burning leather, and the like^ are crueUy irritating, and 

 occasionally induce fatal results. 



Counter-irritants are often useful from the first. If, however, inflam- 

 mation and sore throat seem extreme, a poidtice may be advantage- 

 ously applied for a day previously, or the throat may be well fomented 

 with warm water for an hour and then wrapped in a sheep- skin with 

 the wool turned inward. When, however, there appears little danger 

 of even temporarily aggravating the local inflammation, the throat or 

 chest, where the disease has been localized, it may be Aveli rubbed with 

 a thin pulp made of the best ground mustard and" tepid water, and then 

 covered up. This may be replaced by the soap liniment, made with six 

 ounces of soap, three of camphor, and a pint, each, of proof-spirit 

 liquor, ammonia, and linseed oil. This liniment may be applied repeat- 

 edly at short intervals and well rubbed in. If a more active blister is 

 wanted an ointment may be used composed of a drachm and a half of 

 jjowdered cantharides, a scruple of camphor, ten drops of spirits of 

 wine, and an ounce of lard. The hair should be cut off and the oint- 

 ment well rubbed iu, in a direction contrary to that of the hair. After 

 it has acted, the skin should be kept soft and pliant by rubbing it with 

 fresh lard. Oil of turpentine, which has been largely used as a counter 

 irritant during the present epizootic, is only objectionable on the ground 

 of its causing so much local irritation without blistering as to drive 

 some excitable horses to distraction. 



In using any one of these counter-irritants it is best to apply them 

 over a limited space only, not exceeding the bounds of the inflamma- 

 tory action, as we can thus secure the best results from the intimate 

 nervous sympathy existing between the deeper-seated organ and the 

 skin which covers the corresponding part of the surface, and at the same 

 time avoid the depressing and debilitating effects of a blister. For 



