HYGIENIC REMEDIES 135 



allowing horses, immediately after recovery, their full 

 allowance of dry corn and hay. 



Unless when affected with diarrhoea, dysentery, or diabetes, 

 animals do not injure themselves by taking too much water 

 or watery fluids, but are often rendered uncomfortable by 

 undue restriction. A supply of water should always be 

 within the patient's reach. Cold water seldom does harm, 

 and is more palatable and refreshing than when tepid. 

 Salines, chalk, and other simple medicines, sometimes given 

 with the water offered to sick horses, should be sparingly 

 added, or administered in some other way. 



Much mismanagement occurs with regard to the ventila- 

 tion and temperature of the habitations of sick animals. 

 Even for horses or cattle accustomed to comfortable boxes, 

 a temperature of 60 to 65 Fahr. is sufficiently warm. 

 Avoiding draughts, cool air should be freely admitted. No 

 restorative or tonic is so effectual as cool, pure air, and it is 

 especially needful in diseases of the respiratory organs and 

 in zymotic cases. Sunlight is also an essential factor of 

 health, especially in young animals. It increases the capa- 

 city of the blood and tissues for oxygen, favours healthy 

 excretion, and is an excellent disinfectant. 



A comfortable bed greatly conduces to the restoration of 

 most sick animals. A sick, exhausted horse, who to his dis- 

 advantage would continue to stand if kept in a stall, will 

 often at once lie down and rest if placed in a comfortable box. 

 In febrile and inflammatory attacks, and during recovery 

 from exhausting disease, alike in horses and cattle, a warm 

 rug or two, and flannel bandages to the legs, help to maintain 

 equable temperature and combat congestion of internal 

 organs ; but at least twice daily these rugs and bandages 

 should be removed, the skin wisped over, and the clothing at 

 once replaced. In fever, when the skin is hot and dry, great 

 comfort results, a natural moist state of skin is secured, and 

 more active blood purification and restoration ensue, from 

 sponging the body several times a day with tepid water 

 acidulated with vinegar, quickly drying, and at once putting 

 on the clothing. 



Attention to the position of the patient is frequently im- 

 portant in the treatment of disease. The debilitated horse 



