226 CHAPTER 23. 



attention to the diet, abundance of pure air, occasional alterative medi- 

 cine, general good stable management, and, if need be, tonics, offer the 

 best chance of restoring the digestive powers to a healthy state. The 

 best and most nutritious food only should be given. Any distension of 

 the belly, such as that caused by the use of bulky forage, always affects 

 unfavorably the free movement of the lungs ; whilst bad food will be 

 certain to aggravate the indigestion. With a special view of avoiding 

 any undue distension of the stomach, both food and water should be 

 given in small quantities at frequent intervals. 



In very many cases, whether the cough arises from irritability of the 

 membrane of the larynx, or from the lungs in sympathy with the diges- 

 tive organs, much benefit will be derived from the administration of tar, 

 either in water or in balls. For the purpose of impregnating the water, 

 it will be sufficient to pour a quart of the best Archangel tar into a large 

 cask, from which the water may, when required, be drawn; or two 

 drachms of tar may be made up into a ball with gentian, and given 

 daily. 



If the Cough has followed bronchitis, pneumonia, or influenza, and is 

 accompanied with an extra secretion of mucus, with occasional discharge 

 from the nose after coughing, or with a wheezing noise, mineral tonics 

 such as a drachm of sulphate or iodide of copper with two drachms of 

 gentian given daily for a week will be beneficial; the effect produced 

 must, however, be carefully watched. If the cough notwithstanding con- 

 tinues, a change of treatment may be desirable, and the box may be 

 fumigated with tar. This may easily be effected by putting some tar in 

 an iron ladle, and plunging a bar of hot iron into it. 



In many cases of Chronic cough arsenic is very beneficial. It may be 

 commenced in doses of two grains twice a day mixed with two drachms 

 each of nitre and sulphur slightly wetted arid mixed with the corn. 

 The dose of arsenic may be increased gradually to four grains and con- 

 tinued for a week or so. After which it should be intermitted for ten 

 days, when it may be again repeated. 



Chronic cough may be, if we may use the expression, intermittent in 

 its character, that is, it may be absent for a time, and then returns as a 

 dry, hacking, half suppressed cough, repeated several times in succession, 

 although the horse may not otherwise be out of health. In such cases a 

 ball made of half a drachm of camphor, one or two drachms of nitre, 

 one scruple to half a drachm of calomel, and one drachm of aloes, with 

 tar and Venice turpentine sufficient to make a ball, will be useful every 

 evening for a few nights, after which it may be discontinued, and re- 

 peated after an interval ; or, the following may be given night and morn- 

 ing for a week with benefit, viz. extract of belladonna and camphor, of 

 each half a drachm, with two drachms of tar, with sufficient linseed meal 

 to make a ball. 



Horses affected with Chronic cough, if kept in good condition, often 

 continue for years to perform even moderately fast work; whilst on the 

 other hand, if the condition falls off, the malady always increases and is 

 apt to degenerate into Broken Wind. 



