454 HANDY-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



** actively purged ; the bowels and lungs act so strongly in sym- 

 " pathy, that inflammation of the former would surely supervene, 

 *' and prove fatal. The horse must be back-raked, and clystered 

 " with warm gruel, containing eight ounces of Epsom salts. 

 ** Castor oil must never be given; it is a most dangerous medi- 

 *■*■ cine to the horse. Doses of niter, digitalis, and tartar emetic, 

 " in the proportion of three ounces of the first, one of the second, 

 ** and one and a half of the third, may be given, morning and 

 *' evening, until the animal begins to amend, when the dose may 

 '■*■ be reduced to one-half. The horse must be warmlv clothed, 

 ** but kept in a cool box. As he recovers, his skin should be 

 " gently rubbed with a brush, if it do not irritate him ; but his 

 *' legs must be constantly and thoroughly hand-rubbed and ban- 

 *' daged. He should not be coaxed to eat, but may have a little 

 '' hay to amuse him, cold mashes and green meat, but on no 

 "account a particle of oats. Eight-and-forty hours generally 

 ** decides the question of death or life. But in case of recovery, 

 " it is necessary long to watch for a relapse, which is of frequent, 

 " one might say of general, occurrence. It is to be met at once 

 '* by the same energetic treatment. And now, one word to the 

 *' owner of a horse which has had one bad attack of inflammation, 

 *' either of the lungs or of the bowels. Get rid of him as soon 

 " as possible ! It is ten to one that he will have another, and 

 " another, and, as in the former instance, end by becoming 

 *' broken-winded, — in the latter by being useless, from a nearly 

 *' chronic state of the disease." 



******* 



"Common Cough is generally subdued without much diffi- 

 ** cuky, though it often becomes of most serious consequence 

 *' if neglected. It is accompanied by a heightened pulse ; a slight 

 ** discharge from the nose and eyes, a rough coat, and a dimin- 

 *' ished appetite, being its symptoms. The horse should be kept 

 *' warm, fed on mashes, and should have a dose or two of medi- 

 " cine. If the cough be very obstinate, bleeding may be necessary." 



The following further directions by the same author contain 

 valuable information for all owners of horses : — 



