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action on the stomach and bowels, and ultimately upon the blood 

 itself. 



(4.) Surfeit. — A disease making its appearance in the spring of 

 the year in fat horses that are short and well built. It is charac- 

 terized by tumors about the size of a grain of Indian corn, cover- 

 ing the whole body as completely as the nettle-rash does that of 

 children, and does not generally cause itching, nor is it, like some 

 skin diseases, contagious. 



Cause. Robust stamina. 



Treatment. Give soft or slop feed composed of bran, cut hay, 

 cold w^ater, and salt, for a few days. Give grass, if it can be had, 

 without any additional feed. A few doses of the sulphite of soda 

 will be of advantage. 



Bleeding and purging have arrested the tumors in their growth, 

 but unfortunately they become permanent fixtures, only to be re- 

 moved by calomel and opium, which cause their absorption. In 

 this event, take calomel, thirty grains ; opium, ten grains; mix, 

 and give once a day for a week or ten days. Good feeding will 

 have to be given. 



Ringworm. — Forrigo, and Favus are names given to this disease. 



Symptoms. Small circular patches, or scales, sometimes running 

 together, forming large crusts and ulcers under them, in which in- 

 sects breed. This is a contagious disease, and is communicated 

 from man to animals, and animals to man. The microscope has 

 shown the presence of fungi in the scab of ringworm, but whether 

 it be merely the effect of the disease, or otherwise, is not at present 

 known. It is, however, more likely to be the cause. 



Treatment. Wash and keep the parts clean, and aim at destroy- 

 ing the fungi. For this purpose remove tlie scab as soon as 

 formed, and apply a solution of oxalic acid to the surface, using 

 fifteen grains of the acid to an ounce of water. Tar ointment, 

 creosote, sulphur, and mercur}', have all been tried; but none of 

 these meet with so much success as tiie solution of oxalic acid, 

 just as recommended. For other diseases of the skin, see Grease, 

 Mallenders, Sallenders, Tumors and Boils. 



Slobbering. — Tliis is traceable in horses to a variety of causes. 

 We may enumerate large doses of aconite, or veratrum ; also sore 

 or scald mouth, and in some cases poisoning. Slobbering from 



