Book VIL DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 911 



weak ; or if there have not appeared the running of matter from the nose. If there have, the bleeding had 

 better be dispensed with, unless the fever appear, from the quick full pulse and redness of the inner sur- 

 face of the nostrils and eyelids, to be still so considerable as to require it; in which case we must not be 

 deterred Trom one moderate bleeding; and which, if the febrile symptoms do not abate, may be even 

 repeated.' It will, however, in general cases, be advisable to avoid bleeding after the second day of the 

 attack, or after the running has appeared from the nose, or after considerable weakness has come on. In 

 all cases a very cool temperature is essentially requisite : hot stables, or hot clothing are very pernicious ; 

 but particularly the former. A hood is not improper over the head, because it encourages the running to 

 make an early appearance ; and for this reason a warm mash may advantageously be hung round the 

 neck three or four times a day. Before the running commences, give night and morning the fever powder 

 (Vet. Pharm. 5909. No. 1. or 2.) in a mash or drink : after the running has come on, or as soon as the 

 weakness has become considerable, give night and morning either of the fever drinks. {Vet. Tharm. 

 5910. No.^. or 4.) Malt mashes, when the weakness is great, are proper; at other times bran 

 mashes with plenty of chilled water are best. To relieve the throat, rub the outside with mild liquid 

 blister, {Vet. Phat^n. 5894.), and if the weather be warm enough to allow it, two or three hours 

 turning out in a field each day is proper. Green meat in the stable, when it can be procured, should, 

 likewise be given. 



5767. Malignant epidemic, murrain, or Tpest. Now and then the distemper or influenza assumes a 

 character of uncommon malignance, which is happily not frequent here, but not unfrequent in con, 

 tinental countries, sweeping off a third of the horses and kine, without any means being found sufficient 

 to arrest its progress. In these cases it is found highly contagious, attacking almost all the horses as well 

 as cattle within its sphere of action, or which communicate with each other. Dr. Layard, and Osmer, 

 English writers of established reputation, noticed the appearances of this disease long ago ; and their 

 descriptions are not different from the milder kind noticed (5765.) but in degree. The throat is intensely 

 sore, and the mouth ulcerated ; the glands of the head Swell, and sometimes these and other parts sup- 

 purate and burst. The matter from the nose is bloody, and the stench intolerable; the weakness is also 

 peculiarly great, and shews itself early. 



5768. The treatment recommended by Blaine is the early use of malt mashes ; even ale is indispensablCi 

 Green meat should be allowed and a very cool stall is necessary, having a fr^e communication with 

 the open air. As medicine, three doses are necessary, every day, of the malignant epidemic fever drink 

 {Vet. Pharm. 5912.) ; half a pint of yeast with a pint of ale has been given, with good effect, three, times a 

 day ; also, to prevent the infection from spreading, fumigate the stables and all the outhouses with th 

 preventive fumigation {Vet. Pharm. 5913.) 



SuBSECT. 3. Diseases of the Head. 



5769. Epilepsy, megrims, sturdy, or turnsick, arc epileptic attacks of greater or less violence, and 

 which are apt to be confounded with the accidental strangulation that sometimes takes place, from a 

 collar too tight, or from driving a horse hard up hill, &c. The epileptic fit makes its appearance by a 

 sudden stop ; if the bofse be in action he shakes his head, looks wild and irresolute, but after some time he 

 proceeds; when more violent, he suddenly falls down, is convulsed, dungs and stales insensibly, and 

 remains some time before he recovers. This disease, like staggers, is generally the consequence of too 

 full a habit ; and is, therefore, best relieved by bleeding, and a more moderate diet ; and, where it is 

 convenient, a run at grass should be allowed to alter the habit. 



5770. The diseases of the horse's eyes are not numerous, but they are very destructive. The principal 

 are ophthalmia and gutta serena. 



5771. The ophthalmia, lunatic, or moon-blindness, is a very peculiar disease among horses, affecting their 

 eyes generally about their full growth, but sometimes later, and seldom earlier. It is but little known 

 among mules and asses, and unknown in oxen and sheep. It does not, however, appear to be a disease 

 natural to the horse, as wild, or even horses little subjected to artificial restraints, are not observed subject 

 to it. But among others, it is become so common as to have the tendency handed down in the breed ; 

 the progeny of some stallions being more prone to it than others. It is often very sudden in its attack, 

 the eyelids being found swelled and almost closed to avoid the light; they are also very red within, and 

 the haw is half drawn over the surface ; the tears flow down the face perpetually, and the whole head 

 is hot ; now and then these appearances come on gradually. The suddenness of the attack makes the 

 complaint to be attributed to accident, as blows, hay seeds within the eye, &c., and it is frequently 

 difficult to get the owner of such a horse, to believe that a constitutional attack, as it usually is, can 

 come on so suddenly. Sometimes as it comes on, so it goes off as quickly, the eye from being opaque and 

 milky, in twenty-four hours becoming clear and almost well. When such an attack has taken place, 

 even if nothing be done, the horse sooner or later amends, and the eye or eyes, for it is sometimes one 

 and sometimes both that are so attacked, become again clear and well, and remain so an indefinite 

 period, from five or six weeks to as many months. Another attack, however, sooner or later follows, to 

 which others succeed, each leaving increased milkiness on the outer coats, and some dimness within the 

 pupil, either speck-like or diffused ; and finally the horse becomes blind from cataract. When one eye 

 goes blind totally before the other, it is often a means of preventing the future attack on the remaining 

 one ; which has given rise to a custom of putting out one eye to save the other, and which has succeeded. 

 As this is a constitutional disease, brought on by artificial habits, as over exertion, close unhealthy con- 

 finement, and heating food ; so it is clear the abstraction of all these are necessary to remove the com- 

 plaint, and to prevent a recurrence ; but particularly the close, dark, and unventilated state of the stable 

 should be attended to, as well as the removal of the litter, which retains the volatile alkali of the urine, 

 and irritates the eyes most injuriously. The food should be mild and cooling, and the exercise moderate, 

 but long continued. Under the height of the attack, however, rest is advisable, with moderate 

 light, which may be still further moderated by keeping over the eye or eyes a thick cloth wet with 

 goulard water. {Vet. Pharm. 5906.) Sometimes one quarter of vinegar to three quarters of water has beep 

 found a useful application, and whichever is used, the eyes and eyebrows should be kept continually wet 

 with it, which by exciting evaporation will keep the ytart cool, A seton may be introduced under* tiie eye 

 or jaw. In some cases, blistering the forehead or cheek is found useful ; but in everv instance bleeding is 

 proper, which should be repeated until the disease lessens. When the horse is very full and gross, physic 

 and alteratives assist the cure. When blistering is used in any part near the eye, the greatest care is 

 requisite to prevent the blistering matter from being rubbed into it. ~ 



5772. Gutta serena or glass eyes, so called from the peculiar glassy appearance of the eye, arise from a 

 paralysis of the optic nerve. As the eye is not materially altered in appearance, a horse often tiecomes 

 blind without its being noticed, until his cautious stepping, quick motion of his ears, &c., give notice of 

 the case. On examination it will be found that the pupil remains dilated, however great the light, 

 and the eye is irrecoverably lost. In the very early stages, blisters to tlie forehead and stimulants to the 

 eyes, (as white vitriol a drachm, water four ounces, may be tried, but with faint hopes of success. 



5773. Pole evil. This complaint commonly requires the attendance of an experienced practitioner ; but 

 the prevention is often in the power of owners, and others about horses ; and to this point we shall par- 

 ticularly direct their attention. Pole evil is commonly the effect of accident. Kepeated small blows 

 of the manger, or continued pressure from hanging back on the haltg-, &c., will, if not remedied, 

 produce swelling at the nape of the neck with some tenderness. In tliis early state, if the collar be 

 removed and the part be kept continually wet with vinegar and water, the swelling will often disperse; 

 but if, in spite of this, it proceeds to suppuration, let a vent be made for the matter by a seton (5868) 

 po that it may readily flow out. Introduce nothing healing, but encourage a free discharge, and it may 



