818 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



Oats and hay should not be allowed during the attack, but may be given gradually, a little at a 

 time, as the horse gets better. Anything that would have a tendency to irritate the bowels 

 should be carefully avoided. 



Inflammation of the Kidneys. This is by no means a rare disease in horses, and 

 it is also one which is usually treated more unskillfully than almost any other. Some of its 

 causes are the improper use of nitre or other diuretics, poor food, over-work, exposure to cold 

 after being heated, or under the saddle a long time, being out in a cold storm with the rain 

 dripping upon the loins; also a strain in the loins. 



The symptoms are short, quick breathing, accompanied with fever, quick pulse, disincli 

 nation in the animal to walk or move the hind legs, but when he does so, keeps them unnatur 

 ally wide apart. The urine will also be scanty and dark-colored, frequently bloody. A pres 

 sure with the hand upon the loins over the kidneys will prove tenderness and soreness in this 

 locality, by the manner of the animal. 



Clothe the horse warmly, and avoid drafts of cold air. Apply a paste of ground mus 

 tard wet with vinegar to the loins, by rubbing it into the hair with the fingers; afterwards 

 keep clothes wet in hot water upon the loins; or a sheep-skin with the skin side inward may 

 be kept there, to induce perspiration in that locality, a fresh one being applied after a few 

 hours, as the first becomes wet. 



Give all the flax-seed tea the animal will drink, and keep the bowels open by injections 

 of the same, or warm water. About twenty grains of powdered opium may be given two or 

 three times at intervals of two or three hours during the first stages. If there is much fever, 

 twenty drops of tincture of aconite may also be given with benefit, to be repeated a few times 

 at intervals of four hours, until the fever abates. Rest for four or five weeks, and careful 

 usage for some time will be necessary, as this disease is slow in recovery, and will be liable to 

 return unless some such precaution is taken. Always allow plenty of cool drink to the ani 

 mal with this disease. 



Inflammation of the Lungs (Lung Fever Pneumonia). This disease is 

 usually caused by taking a sudden cold, such as may be contracted by the horse on being 

 taken from an ill-ventilated, warm stable, and driven against a cold, sharp wind, or in a snow 

 or cold rain storm ; a change from a warm stable to a colder one ; standing exposed to a draft 

 of air in the stable; exposure to cold after being heated by hard work or driving; turning 

 the horse out to pasture early in the spring before the weather has become sufficiently warm , 

 working the animal when he is not in proper condition, or putting too much hard work upon 

 one that has not been accustomed to it. 



The first symptom and the surest in this disease is a chill, the animal almost invariably 

 being taken with an attack of shivering, and seems to be cold all over. This soon passes off 

 and is succeeded by a general warmth of the body, or more commonly by a fever heat, and 

 cold legs and ears. The pulse will be quick and wiry, and the breathing difficult. A pecu 

 liar crepitating sound will be heard from the lungs, if the ear is applied to the chest or neck. 

 The horse has a generally dejected air, drops his head, and does not seem inclined to he 

 down, or change his position. 



The animal should be kept warmly clothed, and the legs bandaged, but the stable should 

 be supplied with pure fresh air by the most perfect system of ventilation, which will be 

 an abundance of pure air without exposing the animal to a draft. 



Keep the bowels open by giving part green food, such as carrots, turnips, and potatoes, 

 if the animal will eat, feeding little at a time and often; if not, and there is any costiveness, 

 a moderate dose of raw linseed oil may be given (not castor oil). Give plenty of water, or, 

 what is better, flax-seed tea. Rub a mustard paste, made of ground mustard and vinegar, on 

 the sides and chest, in the locality directly over the lungs (which can be determined by the 



