DK. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 37 



peculiar, glassy appearance. The pulse is weak and irregular. 

 There is a heaving motion of the flanks. The animal stands per- 

 sistently, and soon peculiar swellings appear in the limbs, and 

 extend along the belly. Death usually results when a considera- 

 ble quantity of water collects in the chest. Perhaps several gal- 

 lons of fluid will collect in a few days, and seriously interfere 

 with the action of the lungs. 



Treatment. The great aim in the treatment of this disease is 

 to support the animal's system as best we can, so as to cause ab- 

 sorption of the fluid in the chest. This may be done by giving 

 nutritious, easily digested food and .stimulants. Two ounces of 

 sweet nitre and six ounces of whisky can be given as a drench 

 every two or four hours in one-half pint of water; or, alcohol, 

 ale, wine, etc., may be given. Tapping the chest and drawing off 

 the fluid with a suitable instrument can sometimes be done suc- 

 cessfully by a qualified veterinary surgeon, but we will not rec- 

 ommend the operation here. Give two drams of nitrate of pot- 

 assium twice per day, and the best of care must be taken of the 

 animal all through, if a recovery is expected. 



THUMPS SPASM OF THE DIAPHEAGM. 



Thumps, or spasm of the diaphragm, is generally thought to 

 be a palpitation of the heart by inexperienced persons. It may 

 be as well to state that the heart has nothing to do with it. There 

 is a very important muscle (called the diaphragm, or midriff) in 

 the body, which separates the chest-cavity from the abdominal 

 (cavity which contains the bowels). Spasms or irregular move- 

 ments of this muscular partition in the horse- is called the 

 "thumps." Thumps in the horse is the same as "hiccoughs" in 

 man, although the peculiar noise is not always made in the 

 throat of the horse, as in man. 



