220 Veterinary Elements. 



the disease shows such symptoms as dark coffee-colored 

 urine, excitement, spasms of the muscles of the croup, 

 the driver often thinks that a limb is broken or the ani- 

 mal's back is sprained. The horse will leave the stable 

 all right, in fact livelier than usual, a short time later 

 perspires freely, gets lame on one leg seemingly unable 

 to put weight on it, the muscles of the loin and croup 

 swell and get hard, the breathing is hurried, and event- 

 ually the animal goes down and is unable to rise on its 

 hind quarters, hence the non-professional speaks of this 

 disease as "spinal disease, paralysis," etc. The pre- 

 ventive treatment already mentioned for big leg should be 

 adopted for all heavy horses and rotund roadsters, espe- 

 .cially those easy keepers. Once the disease has made its 

 appearance energetic treatment is necessary, place in a 

 well -bedded box, give a^purgative, poultice or bathe the 

 loins with hot water, a liniment may be applied after- 

 wards, blanket so as to encourage sweating, empty the 

 bowels and draw off the urine, turn frequently on its 

 bed; give plenty of water to drink, and in a few days 

 try and get the horse on its feet, slings may be useful in 

 such cases. A noted German veterinarian recommends 

 the use of one to one and one-half pounds of baking soda 

 daily. The main treatment should be early left to the 

 professional, the stockman devoting himself to get the 

 patient into the best possible place for treatment and 

 nursing; as a result of this disease wasting of the muscles 

 (atrophy) of the loins and croup may result, in such 

 cases months of rest out at pasture and an occasional 

 blister will be needed to entirely restore the parts to their 

 natural condition. 



