DISEASES OF THE HORSE 37 



Nitrate, four ounces; Pulv. Gentian Root, four ounces; 

 Pulv. Anise Seed, eight ounces. Make into thirty-two 

 powders and give one powder three times daily in feed. 



DROPSY 



(Of the Belly, Chesty Sheath, Udder and Legs) 



Cause: Poor circulation; kidneys not working prop- 

 erly ; lack of exercise ; diseases of the lungs, liver, heart, 

 w^omb or sheath. Mares heavy Avith foal often have 

 dropsical swellings. 



Symptoms: Swelling seldom contains fluid, although 

 sometimes a sticky serum oozes through the skin; fin- 

 gers pressed against the swollen parts leave impressions. 



Treatment: Avoid giving physics in this condition 

 when possible, especially to mares with foal. Feed laxa- 

 tive food, as hot bran mashes, green grass, carrots, pota- 

 toes, etc. ; also the following mixture : Potassi Iodide, 

 two ounces; Potassi Nitrate, four ounces; Chloride of 

 Potash, two ounces. Mix and make into sixteen powders. 

 Place one powder in their drinking w^ater three times a 

 day. Exercise the animal as much as possible and you 

 will derive good results from this treatment within a 

 week or so. 



I may add that in the above affection it is a bad prac- 

 tice to apply hot applications, as the chances are it would 

 produce a sloughing of the skin. 



ECZEMA 

 * Cause: Anything that interferes with the healthy 

 action of the skin, as checked sweating, irritation from 

 dirty blankets or harness, or from accumulation of dirt 

 on the skin through want of grooming, errors in feed- 

 ing, overheat, or by infection. In some cases the cause 

 seems to be constitutional ; in others, local. Though the 

 disease is not parasitic in character, it is probable that 

 when once contracted the diseased parts may be become* 

 infected. 



