CONFORMATION — CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS 



drugs, of the nature of which they are entirely ignorant, 

 to improve, as they imagine, the bloom of their horse's coat 

 and his condition generally. Antimony is frequently used 

 for this purpose, but it is a most dangerous drug to give a 

 horse, and its use in a stable should be absolutely forbidden. 

 It may be added, moreover, that a servant who surreptitiously 

 administers poisonous drugs to his master's horses is liable 

 to imprisonment, no matter how laudable his intentions may 

 be. (See Exercise^ Feeding, Medicmes.) 



Conformation. — A very great deal depends upon the 

 shape of a horse, and the structural formation of each breed 

 depends to a considerable extent upon the useful purposes 

 to which it is devoted. Thus the riding horse should have 

 a long sloping shoulder and sloping pasterns, whilst the 

 draught animal requires to be exceptionally powerful about 

 the hind-quarters in order that he can start a heavy load. 

 The above are only generalities, all points of detail being gone 

 into elsewhere, but the mention of them goes to show that the 

 person who desires to purchase a horse for any particular 

 work should satisfy himself, so far as he possibly can by 

 appearances, that the animal is adapted for his purposes. 

 (See Breeds, Buying, Harness Horse, Points, Riding Horse.) 



Congestion of the Lungs, if present in an acute form, is 

 a very dangerous thing, for its attack is sudden, and if the 

 patient is not properly attended to fatal results may speedily 

 follow. A heated horse coming into a badly - ventilated, 

 stuffy stable is very liable to be attacked, and so are animals 

 which are above themselves in condition, or in a low state 

 of health. 



Symptoms. — Dilated nostrils and very hurried breathing, 

 the horse appearing unable to inhale sufficient air. He will 

 therefore often stand with his fore-legs wide apart and his 

 neck stretched out ; his legs are generally very cold, though 

 his body may be wet with perspiration. 



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