60 THE VETERINARY SCIENCE. 



CHAPTER II. 



DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY OR 

 BREATHING ORGANS. 



SIMPLE CATARRH OR COLD IN THE HEAD. 



THIS disease means a running' or discharge from the nose 

 and sinuses of the head. It first commences with cong-es- 

 tion of the mucous membrane, or what is commonly known 

 as the lining" membrane, of the nose and head. Then this conges- 

 tion is followed by an inflammation and dryness of the membrane, 

 and in a few days this is followed by a discharge of a watery 

 nature, which later on in the disease turns to a thicker fluid of a 

 whitish or yellowish color, varying according to the severity 

 of the case. 



Causes. — The most common, perhaps, is exposure or sudden 

 changes in the weather, such as we have in the fall and spring ; 

 or standing in a draft, while warm, after drivuig. It is generally 

 found in horses that are in poor condition, the system being run 

 down by poor feeding or over v^ork. 



Symptoms. — The animal is noticed to be dull and not eating 

 very well. The hair is standing out and looks rough ; pulse not 

 much affected ; throat shows soreness when you press on it ; also 

 discharges freely at the nostrils. The breathing is about natural, 

 and usually the animal does not make quite so much urine, or 

 water. 



Treatment. — As a general thing the treatment is quite simple. 

 Make the horse as comfortable as possible in his stable ; see that 

 plenty of pure air can get in, and tliat his stall is kept nice and 

 clean. Feed him plenty of soft food such as warm bran mashes, 

 boiled oats, or scalded chopped oats, and it is a good plan to boil 

 up some flax seed and put a teacupful of the juice and boiled flax 

 seed in with his food two or three times a day, according to how 

 much it seems to loosen the bowels. In all cases of this kind it is 

 well to keep the bowels open with soft lood. In bad cases it is 

 best not to work the animal very much — just enough for good 

 exercise. Give him a teaspoonful of the following mixture, three 

 times a daj' in his food, and if he will not take it in his food put it 

 on his tongue with a large spoon, which can be done by drawing 

 the tongue out with one hand and putting the spoon well back 



