2o6 Common Diseases of the Horse 



affected if at all, and the abscess will soon come to a head. 

 Deeply-seated abscesses more often burst inwardly and discharge 

 through the nostrils and mouth, whilst the superficial or external 

 abscesses do so underneath the jaw. 



Treatment. — Everything must be done to encourage the abscess 

 to come to a head. For this purpose the swelling should be 

 fomented with very hot water, the longer the better, and after- 

 wards a little embrocation may be well rubbed in with two fingers 

 to the most prominent part. This may be repeated from day to 

 day. In a favourable case the abscess will burst about the fourth 

 or fifth day. If it is apparently deep-seated it may be advisable 

 to apply a smart fly bHster to the whole outward surface of the 

 swelling, but in a case of this nature veterinary advice should be 

 sought. After the abscess has burst, a finger should be inserted 

 into the opening and the cavity explored; loose tissue must be 

 broken down gently to give relief to any imprisoned matter. The 

 cavity may then be syringed out with a dilute disinfectant and the 

 part kept clean. A plug of tow soaked in antiseptic dressing may 

 be inserted so that gradual healing from the bottom results. 

 This process may be repeated night and morning. 



A course of medicines is also advisable. The diet should be 

 tempting, and it is sometimes advantageous to have the manger 

 placed on the ground to aid the escape of nasal discharge. The 

 nostrils should be carefully sponged as mentioned in common 

 cold. Clothing suitable to the season and the severity of the 

 case will have to be used. In some cases it is necessary for 

 the attendant veterinary surgeon to put a tube in the animal's 

 windpipe. 



Colic 



Colic is the manifestation of sudden pain in the abdomen. It 

 may be called true, when the pain is caused by disturbances of the 

 stomach or intestines, and false when associated with any other 

 abdominal organs. It is further divided into two kinds known as 

 spasmodic, which is caused by spasm or contraction of the muscular 

 coats of the stomach or intestines, and flatulent, when the bowels 

 or stomach are unduly stretched or over-distended by gas arising 

 from fermentation of food. Horses are more liable to colic than 

 any other domesticated animal on account of the relatively small 

 size of the stomach and its relationship to man's method of feeding. 

 The average gastric capacity of the horse is from 2\ to 3| gal., 

 and this is small when compared with that of the ox, whose 

 capacity is from 40 to 60 gal. 



