DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 801 



DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



THE diseases of horses are very numerous, some of which can scarcely be distinguished 

 from others, in their early stages, even by the most skilled veterinarian ; it is therefore 

 not advisable for an inexperienced person to attempt to prescribe in such cases, since 

 a successful treatment of sick animals necessitates, not only a thorough knowledge of the 

 whole animal system, but also the symptoms and nature of the disease, as well as the nature 

 and action of the remedies. &quot;When a horse seems slightly ailing, it will frequently be found 

 that good nursing, rest, and judicious feeding for a few days are all that will be necessary to 

 restore him. 



Nature effects cures more frequently in spite of powerful drugs, than with any assistance 

 they may afford. There are, however, instances of acute disease where prompt attention will 

 be necessary; and under such circumstances a good veterinarian, if procurable, should be 

 sent for, but beware of ignorant &quot; quacks &quot; who administer powerful drugs of which they 

 know little, into animals of which they know less, and which would either render recovery 

 impossible, or cause a needless amount of suffering to the poor animal. 



There may be cases of sickness or accidents where immediate action is necessary, which, 

 if delayed a sufficiently long time to send for aid, might endanger the life of the animal. 



Again, there are ailments of a trifling nature, requiring the most simple remedies, where 

 it would be wholly unnecessary to secure the advice of a veterinarian, and which any person 

 of good judgment could treat who was at all familiar with horses and their management. In any 

 case, it is well for those having the care of horses to acquaint themselves with the nature of 

 the more common diseases and their remedies. 



We do not, however, approve the practice so frequently seen among horsemen of con 

 stantly dosing horses with all sorts of nostrums, torturing them with applications of every 

 nature, both external and internal, which would be sufficient to make even a well animal 

 sick. 



Blistering should never be resorted to, except in cases of real necessity. Firing is a 

 barbarous, cruel practice, and should become forever obsolete. Deep burning often results in 

 inflammation and ulceration that may with difficulty be healed, and in the majority of cases 

 more injury than benefit results from this mode of treatment. Blisters are only beneficial as 

 a counter irritant, and are seldom necessary. 



Good care and kind treatment, which comprise the observance of sanitary laws and 

 humane considerations in all respects, will have a tendency to keep animals in a vigorous and 

 healthy condition to the extent that but little if any medicine will ever be required. The 

 majority of diseases to which horses are subject are due, either directly or indirectly, to a 

 lack of ventilation in stables, as well as a lack of cleanliness in stable management, in other 

 respects. Herbert very justly remarks: 



&quot;It is not too much to say that more than one-half the ailments of horses arise, in the 

 first instance, from bad management, or, to speak more correctly, from absence of all man 

 agement, from an improper system of feeding, from ill-constructed, unventilated, filthy 

 stabling, from injudicious driving, and neglect of cleaning. &quot;When disease has arisen, it is 

 immediately aggravated and, perhaps, rendered ultimately fatal, either by want of medical 

 aid, or, what is far more frequent as well as far more prejudicial, ignorant, improper, and 

 often violent treatment, either on a wrong diagnosis of the affection, or on a still more wrong 

 system of relieving it. Over-medicining and quacking slightly ailing horses is the bane of 

 half the private stables in cities, and of nearly all the farm stables in the country; and one 

 or the other, or both combined, cause the ruin of half the horses which &quot;go to the bad &quot; every 

 year. 



There is no quack on earth equal to an ignorant, opinionated groom; and every one, 



