66 TEEATMENT OF DISEASES 



It is well known that all muscles are subject to inflammatory action 

 and muscular pain from work disproportionate to their strength ; for 

 example, let any man undertake to saw wood, practice with heavy 

 dumb-bells, or ride on a horse — feats that he has never been accus- 

 tomed to — and whether the labor be excessive or not, the individual 

 will shortly complain of more or less muscular pain, and if he be a 

 weak man, the more excessive will be that pain. Now the muscles 

 of the horse being just as susceptible to pain as those of the man, 

 are just as easily operated on through the well known exciting 

 causes. 



In the case of a horse, when the work has been very excessive and 

 of a character to bring the muscles of the shoulders, their tendons 

 and coverings, into a state of over-exertion, it will often be found 

 that some of the muscular fibres in the region of the shoulder, are 

 fractured, small blood-vessels are ruptured, and other pathological 

 changes take place ; this is followed by inflammation — myositis. Sup- 

 pose, therefore, a horse shows symptoms of myositis after excessive 

 work, and in the course of a few days it is noticed that the muscles 

 of his shoulders are wasting away, and they continue to waste, so 

 that all pei'sons who examine the animal pronounce him sweenied — 

 we may then infer that the wasting (sweeney) is not symptomatic, 

 but is the result of myositis, the principal treatment for which is, rest; 

 afterwards diminish the work, and by proper diet and tonics, in- 

 crease the power to do it. 



LARYNGITIS. 



Laryngitis signifies inflammation of the lining membrane of the 

 larynx ; it is sometimes known as sore throat. Like other inflamma- 

 tory affections of the respiratory apparatus, it is accompanied by 

 feverish symptoms — heat, pain, and diflicult respiration. 



The inflammatory condition exists during a hmited period, varying 

 from two to five days ; then, generally, commences the suppurative 

 stage, which is characterized by a discharge from both nostrils. 



Cause of Laryngitis. — As regards the special cause of this 

 affection very httle is known ; it is supposed, however, to originate 

 in a common cold, &c., yet I have known horses to become the sub- 

 jects of it that have not been exposed to the ordinary influences 

 which are said to produce the symptoms of cold ; hence we may 

 infer that bad management, and the evils of domestication have 

 something to do with it. 



The fact is, disease neither .respects man nor horse ; each must 

 once in a while suffer and groan, swallow drugs, get well, or else 

 " Icich the bucket /" and as regards the horse, the greater his value, 

 the more likely is he to get sick, from the fact that he is sure to be 

 petted, over-fed, and generally he is too well cared for. 



Symptoms. — The most observable symptoms are, protrusion of the 

 head ; a sort of half suppressed cough ; slight swelling in the region 

 of the throat; difficulty in swallowing; and if the ear be applied to 

 this region, a grating sound is heard. 



