224 The Management and Treatment of the Horse, 



DIABETES. 



This fortunately is not of such common occurrence 

 with the horse as the human subject. It consists of an 

 excessive discharge of urine, and is often the result of 

 greed on the owner's part, many farmers selling all their 

 good hay and oats, keeping only the inferior for home 

 consumption, and in consequence have their horses taken 

 with this complaint. The fungus of mouldy hay and 

 fusty oats will produce irritation of the kidneys, and to 

 mend the matter they often administer powerful diuretics, 

 which cause inflammation with an inci eased action of the 

 kidneys. The veterinary surgeon is then called in to cure 

 that which ought not to exist, and indeed would not had 

 they really studied economy and their own pockets, and 

 kept good food for their horses. This complaint is very diffi- 

 cult to cure, and the remedies must be with a view of 

 lessening the undue action. Bleeding is sometimes resorted 

 to, but this should not be carried on to the extent that it is 

 sometimes in inflammation. I have more faith in strin- 

 gent medicine, and counter-irritation ; strong mustard 

 blisters across the loins with the following astringent 

 given three times a day will have good effect : — YVortle- 

 berry leaf two drachms, catechu two drams, opium half a 

 drachm. If it can be got green food and carrots should 

 be given as well as bran mashes. 



STALING OF BLOOD. 



This is another disease of the kidneys, and nearly 

 allied to inflammation in its symptoms, and always 

 manifests itself with nighly-eolonrcd urine mixed with 

 Mood. Mostly the bowels are costive, and the following 



