146 The Management and Treatment of the Horse, 



severe, as any hesitation might prove fatal, therefore 

 the veterinary surgeon should be called in at once, and 

 while he is coming the vein of the neck should be 

 opened, and as much blood taken as the animal will 

 b ear _from eight to ten quarts— according to the size of 

 the horse. After some time has elapsed this should be 

 repeated, only a less quantity of blood taken, as in 

 this complaint the animal makes blood fast. If the 

 lower intestines or rectum are overloaded with dung, 

 the hand should be forced up the rectum, and the 

 bowels relieved in this way. If the animal exhibits 

 symptoms of relief the following may be given in the 

 form of a ball — Barbadoes aloes ten drachms, calomel 

 two drachms, ginger ihree drachms, jalap half a 

 drachm, mixed with honey to form a ball. To many 

 of my readers this will appear a large dose to give, but 

 we must bear in mind that desperate diseases require 

 desperate remedies, and unless the medicine in this case 

 is sufficient to act at once on the nerves of the stomach, 

 and thereby relieve the brain, our chances of success are 

 small. It is hardly necessary to remark again that this 

 disease is in general very rapid, and the utmost prompti- 

 tude must be exercised in the remedies. In some 

 instances the horse dies instantaneously whenever he 

 falls, but whilst he lives there is hope ol a cure, however 

 severe the symptoms may appear, if we do not hesitate 

 with our remedies. In cases of this kind, where the 

 symptoms are well defined, as I have stated above, the 

 groom or farmers should act, for whilst they wait for the 

 arrival of the veterinary surgeon, the horse may become 

 past hope, and when the veterinary surgeon arrives he 



