DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 183 



tion in them. It is also caused trom a horse having" bad blood 

 with too much fibrine in it. Heavy horses with slugg"ish circula- 

 tion are more liable to it than lighter horses. 



Symptoms. — The first signs are the animal will quit feeding, 

 tremble and be feverish, which is followed by lameness and swell- 

 ing along the inside of the !^'^ — usualh- the hind leg — just inside 

 the thigh. The swelling, at first, will be along the line of the 

 lymphatic vessels in the shape of a hard cord ; if you press your 

 hand on this cord the animal will immediately throw his leg out 

 and up and seem very stiff and sore ; after this stage the leg be- 

 comes greatly swollen all the way down and around it, in some 

 cases as large as a stovepipe, and it will be very sore to handle, 

 and is so painful that the horse will lift it from the floor and look 

 around at it. The symtoms of a case in the front leg are similar, 

 only the swelling starts at the chest and extends down the inside 

 of the front leg. The pulse will be quickened, and the animal 

 breathes heavier than natural. After an animal has once been 

 affected by this disease he is more liable to have it again, and 

 after he has been afflicted with it several times it terminates in 

 what is known as elephantiasis, or big leg. 



Treatment. — Get rid of the nutriment of the blood as soon as 

 possible, by bleeding ; take a half pail of blood from him if the 

 animal is strong and fat, and give him a physic drench : 



Bitter Aloes 8 to 10 drams. 



Common Soda 1 tulilespoonful. 



Ginger 1 " 



Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench ; if 

 vou bleed, just give 8 drams of aloes, and give the following 

 powders : 



NiM-ate of Potash or Saltpetre i pound. 



Sul phur i " 



(irouiid Gentian Root g: " 



Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day on 

 his tongue with a spoon or in his food. Feed on soft food, with 

 plenty of boiled flax seed in it, to keep his bowels loose. Bathe 

 the leg with luke warm water, as warm as you can bear your 

 hand in it, with some saltpetre and vinegar in the water, for 

 nearly an hour at a time, three times a day, and after wiping 

 dry, rub well with white liniment weakened down nearly one-half 

 by adding more water to it. If in very'cold weather, bandage the 

 leg to keep him from getting cold in it after the bathing. Allow 

 him to stand quiet for three or four days until you get the 



