46 NAVIX ox THE HORSE. 



PUTRID FEVER. 



This disease has committed great ravages in those portions 

 of country where it has prevailed. Where it has appeared as 

 an epidemic, it has carried off about two-thirds of the horses. 



Symptoms.— 1 shall only give such a description of this malady 

 as will enable the reader to recognize it when it makes its ap- 

 pearance. Great weakness and prostration, which rapidly in- 

 crease. The horse walks in a wrangling or striding manner ; is 

 very thirsty, and would appear to drink enormously, from the 

 time he continues at the trough, but he is unable to swallow. 

 He finally lies down, and is too weak to get up again ; he paws, 

 and shows great signs of pain. The pulse is very weak ; the 

 breathing is short, and a rattling sound is in the throat ; a froth 

 like soapsuds obstructs the air passages ; the horse coughs, but 

 is too weak to effect any thing. Very great congestion of the 

 lungs soon takes place ; the pulse becomes weak, the legs and 

 ears cold. Sometimes a great discharge of saliva takes place 

 from the mouth, and the breath is very offensive. The bowels 

 are generally costive, but when discharges do take place, they 

 are covered with slime. The temperature of the skin is gen 

 erally below health, but sometimes the heat rises very high. 

 The countenance is anxious and haggard. Epidemic influence 

 seems to be the cause of this fearful plague. 



Treatment. — In cases where the strength is not extremely en- 

 feebled, give the following : 



Take — Powdered camphor 1 dram. 



Powdered niter , J ounce. 



Mix, and give in half a pint of warm water, as a drench. To be given every 

 six hours. 



To act on the bowels give one ounce of aloes, thirty grains of 

 podophyllin, and half an ounce of capsicum, in a pint of warm 

 water. If the strength fails after the flow of water is increased, 

 the niter may be omitted in the first prescription, and the cam- 

 phor given with the following : 



