— 294 — 



nying fever, liver and hmc^ diseases. Horses hal»ituMlly costive 

 should be supplied with soft feed and grass in season. Costive- 

 ness, as a concomitant of fever, etc., should in all cases be let 

 alone, as it is a provision of nature to protect herself from ex- 

 haustion. 



Consumption. — Causes. Repeated attacks of influenza, lunp^ 

 fever, or bronchitis, or any of these diseases treated by bleeding, 

 and other reducing remedies or agents. Consumption in the horse 

 runs its course in from one to two weeks. 



Nature of Consumption. — A wasting, or breaking down of the 

 structure of the lungs. The tuberculous form of consumption I 

 have never seen in the horse. Tubercles are seen in bad cases of 

 glanders (which see). These tubercles suppurate, and discliarge 

 pus. This pus is absorbed and taken into the blood, and sets up 

 a ferment, or leaven, as the Scriptures call it. This is the great 

 trouble in consumption in man, and glanders in the horse. Why 

 authors have not called this tuberculous disease in horses, con- 

 sumption, I do not know, except it be, and I am inclined to be- 

 lieve it is, from an entire ignorance of its true patholog}- or 

 character. 



Treatment. Incurable. To prolong the life, beef soup, iron, 

 gentian, tonics and stimulants, are indicated. In the tuberculous 

 form, sulphite of soda should be given to arrest the ferment, and 

 keep the blood clear of impurities, in addition to the remedies to 

 support the strength. (See Medicines.) Decay, _2)H^/•^ac^^o??., fer- 

 mentation, are true and scientific expressions, with no vague 

 meaning. Such, then, are the conditions embraced in the word 

 consumption, whether in men or animals. 



Contagion. — This term is applied to something (as the virus 

 of Glanders), coming in contact with the body of an animal in 

 health, producing a similar disease to that existing in the animal 

 from which it came. In a word, it is a specific poison. Few dis- 

 eases of animals are considered contagious. The followinsj diseases 

 are, however, considered of that character: — Glanders, in horses; 

 contagious typhus and small pox, in cattle and sheep. Although 

 many animals may be taken sick one after another, this is no 

 proof that the disease is contagious ; for it must be remembered 

 that a number of animals, all situated and cared for in the same 



