278 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



system — with feverishnes?, and in some cases ac- 

 tual lever — sliirht watering or mattering aiiout the 

 eyes — wiih a cloudiness about the cornea — languor 

 — refusal to eat— slight husky cough with slight 

 discharge from the nostril— swelling of the legs — 

 stiffness in liie loins and legs- sometimes only one 

 leg being atiiecied. It attacks in come cases with 

 coTicky symptoms— or the womb becomes excited 

 and mares cast their Ibals— in others inflamma'ion 

 of the bowels comes on. Should the catarrhal 

 symptoms not be controlled early, swelling oC the 

 glands ol' the throat and neck takes place with 

 inflammation of the windiiipe and lungs— high 

 lever and puffing of the skin — the inflammation o! 

 the eyes increases and results in blindness— the 

 stiflhess of the limbs becomes worse — spasms come 

 on — with intense liiver, and inflammation of the 

 brain or lungs takes place, and death ibllows 

 quickly. 



In many of the cases rest and light feed are all 

 that is necessary. The disease continues but 

 three or four days. In most of the cases which 

 have occurred in our neighborhood the irritability 

 of the system has been checked, and the disease 

 controlled by a single iarge bleeding, and lor salety 

 we recommend it in all cases. In one case, where 

 high fever was present, and highly inflammatory 

 symptoms, with increasing stiffness in the limbs, 

 great swelling of the legs, and disposition to spasm, 

 with acute pain in the bowels, we saw eight quarts 

 of blood taken from the neck, followed by an ene- 

 ma of two ounces of laudanum, procure immediate 

 relief— the symptoms returning on the Ibllowing 

 day, eight quarts more weie taken away, and a 

 repetition of the laudanum two or three times gave 

 permanent relief 



In one fatal case which we have seen, symp- 

 toms of intense inflammation of the trachea, lungs 

 and bowels were present — in another inflammation 

 of the womb. 



We consider the disease as catarrhal— afl'ecting 

 the mucous membranes and glandular system — 

 coming on with a general irritability of the whole 

 systern, which, unless immediately removed, is 

 Ibllowed by inflammatinn of the most irritable or- 

 gan of the animal— in some horses there being a 

 trreater disposition to have one organ affected than 

 another, as is noticed in man— colds producing al- 

 lections of the air-tubes, bowels, or rheumatic 

 symptoms, according to particular susceptibility of 

 individuals to take on disease of those kinds. 



While noticing the present epidemic, we would 

 throw out a few hints on the diseases of horses in 

 general. Most of them are inflammatory, and ihe 

 extraordinary power of the heart and arterial sys- 

 tem requires, that where liever is present, the most 

 vigorous depleting measures should be used at an 

 early period. More horses die of inflammation ot 

 the stomach and bowels than from, any other dis- 

 ease, and most persons who have given any atten- 

 tion to the subject, notice how very rapidly inflam- 

 mation runs its course in a iiorse. This renders it 

 important to attend to symptoms immediately, and 

 we can scarcely go wrong in bleeding a horse with 

 symptoms of colic or hots — and giving enemas of 

 laudanum — frequently horses are lost by waiting 

 for the operation of a purge — in twelve or fifteen 

 hours inflammation will run on to an uncontrolla- 

 ble point, while ordinarily 20 or 24 hours will be 

 necessary for the developement of the action of the 

 cathartic ; large bleedings followed by large doses 



(preferable by enema) of laudanum are more suc- 

 cessful in controlling inflammation than any other 

 means — and we consider this as the most valuable 

 treatment in acute cases ol' this kind. In chronic 

 affections cathartics or laxatives may be used 

 beneficially. 



A long controversy has occupied farriers and 

 gentlemen who attend much to horses on the sub- 

 ject of bots. A great many insist that they are 

 injurious to the horse and cause death — while 

 oilieis are perfectly convinced that they are harm- 

 less. Writers of high reputation are arrayed on 

 both sides, and believe, (like the knighis of the 

 shield, who vitnved it from opposite sides and Ibught 

 about their difference of opinion) they may both 

 be right. During a healthy state of the stomach 

 it is covered with a secretion of nmcus, upon 

 which it is supposed the botleeds ; — when a hors« 

 is driven too hard, or eats loo much, or drinks cold 

 water when heated, inflammaiion of the mucous 

 coat of the stomach is apt to lake place — the se- 

 cretion is frequently checked — the stomach in 

 health is protected by the mucus from the me- 

 chanical irritation of the hot — but now its presence 

 on an unprotected inflamed surface increases the 

 inflammation, and disorganization rapidly Ibllows 

 — ulceration effectinir what the hot is supposed lo 

 make, a perforation through the coats of the sto- 

 mach or bowels. 



This perforation we have seen where no bots 

 could be fi-iund — and we have seen it in horses 

 where bots were thickly present, and here we 

 have invariably noticed the absence of the mucus. 

 We frequently hear of soothing mixtures of lauda- 

 num relieving bots (as it is called) — and also of 

 rubbing the chest and belly vviih turpentine giving 

 ease. It is by quieting inflammation or transfer- 

 ring it to a less vital structure, and thus relieving 

 the primary disorder. 



It is much 10 be regretted, that medical gentle- 

 men pay so little attention to the diseases of this 

 noble animal. How many valuable lives might be 

 saved, if they did not consider it beneath the dig- 

 nity of the profession to be horse doctors! 



" Of all domesticated animals, the horse has 

 the most powerful claims on the sympathy and 

 attention ofihe medical practitioner. The lawyer 

 may construct his briefs — ihe parson' may per- 

 form his clerical duties — and the merchant may 

 grow rich in his counting house with little assis- 

 tance li-om the horse ; but to the medical man, 

 ihis spirited and intelligent animal is as essential 

 as the knowledge which he acquires in the schools, 

 or Ihe medicines which he prescribes lor his pa- 

 tients. The horse is his companion and best friend 

 in the town and in the country. He carries him 

 proudly through the crowded street — he conveys 

 him salely over the midnight heath. He shares 

 with his master in all the toils, and in many of the 

 dangers of jjrofessional \Ub. He is as much ex- 

 posed to the elements — more indeed than ihe physi- 

 cian and surgeon — and he is not exempt from 

 many of the diseases to which his superior is liable. 

 To inflammation, fever, rheumatism, organic dis- 

 ease of the heart, liver and lungs the horse is very 

 prone ; and the study of his maladies is as neces- 

 sary to the medical practitioner in a pecuniary 

 point of view, as it is interesting in a pathological." 

 — Dr. J. Johnson. 



In England veterinary colleges have become 

 frequent, and ihe later publications of the British 



