DISEASES OF THE HOESE 33 



CURB 



Cause: Faulty conformation of the hind legs; that 

 is to say, if an animal has crooked legs, a slight sprain 

 from slipping or jumping will produce Curb. In cases 

 where an animal has well proportioned limbs, and is 

 afflicted with Curb, it is caused by a rupture of the small 

 ligament or cord situated just back of the hock. 



Symptoms: A swelling will be noticed on the back 

 part of the hock. At first the animal is lame and the 

 enlargement is hot and painful. After a few days' rest 

 the inflammation will partially subside and the enlarge- 

 ment can be plainly seen. When the animal is walked 

 about he may be very lame at the start, but this will dis- 

 appear as he is moved. 



Tkeatment : When the Curb is hot and painful, it is 

 well to apply ice packs or cold water to the part. When 

 the inflammation subsides, apply Eed Iodide of Mercury, 

 two drams ; Lard, two ounces. Mix and rub in well for 

 twenty minutes; repeat every forty-eight hours until 

 three applications are applied. If the Curb is of long 

 standing it is more difficult to treat, in which case the 

 above treatment should be repeated again in two or three 

 months. Do not use the animal in drawing heavy loads, 

 or drive on slippery roads, for six months. Give the 

 blister time to strengthen the ruptured tendons. A high- 

 heeled shoe is often valuable in relieving tendons of 



their tension. 



DIARRHCEA 



Cause : Sudden change of food, frozen food, soft food, 

 unwholesome food, stagnant water, or drinking large 

 quantities of water at one time, purgative medicines, or 

 it may be associated with blood diseases, lung and in- 

 testinal affections, or produced by micro-organisms. 

 Many horses, parti^ilarly slack loined, slight, ''washy'' 

 animals, purge if worked or excited, as may be observed 

 among race horses when taken to a race course. Diar- 

 rhoea may also be due to worms, or it may be merely 



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