208 THE HORSE OWNER's 



PNEUMONIA. 



This disease is known to horsemen as lung fever. It is 

 either inflammatory or congestive, arising from various 

 causes — as high feeding, badl}'' ventilated stables, violent 

 exercise, or sudden changes from heat to cold. In the 

 congestive stage there is no pulse to be found, and on ap- 

 plying the ear to the side, no sound is heard ; cold sweats 

 bedew the body, the- respiration is labored, eyes wild in 

 their expression, legs cold, the animal appears dull and 

 stupid, and is with difficulty made to move; he does not lie 

 down. In these cases medicines are not required; in fact, 

 they often do 'more injury than good; the free and speedy 

 use of the lancet is our only hope, and a pure air is of the 

 greatest importance; a pail of cold water should be placed 

 before the animal, but no food should be given until the 

 animal is relieved ; and then only mashes of wheat bran. 

 Under this treatment he will speedily recover, or inflam- 

 mation of the lungs will be established. The pulse now 

 becomes quick, the mouth hot, legs cold, head hanging in 

 or under the manger, appetite lost ; on applying the ear to 

 the side, a crepitating or crackling sound is heard; respira" 

 tion quick ; the treatment here must be prompt and ener- 

 getic ; blisters to the sides, such as previously spoken of, 

 must be used, and give internally two ounces of spirits of 

 nitre in half a pint of water; follow this in two hours with 

 ten drops of tincture of aconite in water, to be given every 

 six hours until relief is obtained; or give instead one of 

 the following powders; Tartrate of antimony, pulverized 

 digitalis, of each one drachm ; nitrate of potassa, one 

 ounce; mix and divide into eight powders; give one every 

 four hours upon the tongue. Injections of soap and water 

 are very useful in these cases. The legs should be hand- 



