COMMON AILMENTS. 25 



it is not too mucli to ask that you should at least see to 

 his comfort before your own. 



Assuming an attack of staggers to have occurred in spite 

 of yrur humanity and precaution, bleeding from the jugular 

 must be resorted to, and purging medicine given. In most 

 cases, the veterinary surgeon will be necessary, as there is 

 a considerable amount of danger generally attendant on this 

 disease. 



Colic frequently attacks horses after eating green meat, or 

 after drinking a large quantity of cold water whilst in a 

 heated or exhausted condition. The pain will come on in 

 very severe paroxysms. The horse stands with his hind legs 

 " tucked up " under him, paws violently, and often either 

 falls or lays down suddenly, turning over on his back, 

 apparently with the object of obtaining relief. The pulse is 

 not very materially quickened ; the ears and legs are of the 

 normal temperature. After a few minutes, the spasm passes 

 off, only to return again after a short lapse of time. The 

 proper remedies here indicated are : first to well hand rub 

 the stomach with some stimulating embrocation, such as 

 EUiman's, or one made of mustard, 4oz., to oil of turpentine, 

 loz. Walk the horse about, if he will let you, but do not 

 attempt any violent exercise with him. If the spasm shows 

 signs of returning, inject plentifully with warm water. 



Diarrhcea. — Green food, or a violent drug, is usually the 

 cause of this condition of the horse. It may be known by 

 the approach of restlessness and fever, though not to any 

 very great degree, and by spasmodic pains something akin to 

 those experienced in colic, though, unlike the latter com- 

 plaint, there is continued strong purging here. The pulse 

 will also be heightened. Let the animal drink nothing but 

 rice water. Give him a drench composed of powdered chalk, 

 loz. ; gum arabic, loz, (dissolved in a pint of hot water); oil 

 of peppermint, 20 drops, and tincture of opium, ^oz., every 

 night. Should the trouble continue, give the drench twice, 

 instead of once, a day. 



Costiveness is mostly brought about by too much hard food, 

 or a sudden chill. Inject warm water freely, substitute hot 

 bran-mashes for the corn, and get the horse to drink as much 

 thin, warm gruel as possible. About 2dr. of dissolved aloes, 

 mixed with a small quantity of opium, and made up as a 

 draught, should be given twice a day until the desired eflFect 



