82 



HORSE— DISEASES AND REMEDIES. 



fine network of vessels of which the lungs 

 are in great part composed. The blood 

 in the one case is collected by the in- 

 creased necessity for its aeration with a 

 failing circulation, as in over-exhaustion, or 

 in the other it is forced inwards upon the 

 vital organs by the chill which the skin 

 has received. The capillaries are then 

 roused to act beyond their strength, and 

 an inflammatory condition is established 

 as a reparatory effort of nature, which 

 may possibly stop short as soon as the ob- 

 ject is accomplished, but more frequently 

 .goes on beyond this, and an attack of 

 pneumonia sets in with more or less inten- 

 sity, according to circumstances. For 

 these reasons, when the lungs are evi- 

 dently congested no pains should be 

 :spared to relieve them by causing the skin 

 to act, before the aid of nature is invoked, 

 rsince it can never be certain that she will 

 -stop short at the proper point. 



Congestion of the lungs is too often 

 neglected and allowed to go on to inflam- 

 mation. Veterinary surgeons, indeed, are 

 : seldom called in before this stage has run 

 its course and inflammation is established. 

 It is true that every horse owner endeav- 

 ors to ascertain all the particulars relating 

 to it, because he is constantly in fear of 

 having to treat it, and he would gladly 

 benefit by the advice and experience of 

 those, more competent to treat it than 

 himself. But the great mass of horse- 

 masters are wholly ignorant of its action, 

 .and we shall therefore endeavor to lay 

 ■ down instructions which may be benefi- 

 . cia> to those who are so unlucky as to 

 shave a horse with congested lungs, either 

 .caused by over-exertion or by a chill, or 

 Iby a combination of the two, as most fre- 

 quently happens. 



When a fat " dealer's horse," that is, 

 one made up for sale and not for use, is 

 ridden in a sharp burst across the country, 

 his lungs are, most unfortunately, tried; 

 for he is not only loaded with blood con- 

 taining an excess of stimulating materials 

 (or in a state of plethora, as it is called), 

 but his heart and blood-vessels are not 

 prepared by previous exercise to carry on 

 khe circulation when unusual demands 

 •upon them are made. The consequence 

 is, that as soon as he has gone half a 

 dozen miles, he not only tires, but, if 

 pressed, his gallant spirit carries him on 

 until the blood collects and stagnates in 



his lungs, from a defect in the circulating 

 apparatus, and he becomes absolutely 

 choked from a want of that decarboniza- 

 tion which is necessary to his very exist- 

 ence. Air is taken freely into his lungs, 

 but the circulation almost ceases in them, 

 and in spite of his hurried breathing, as 

 shown by his panting sides, he is almost 

 as completely suffocated as if a cord was 

 tied round his neck. On examining his 

 eyes and nostrils they are seen to be tur- 

 gid and purple, the vessels being filled 

 with carbonized blood, while the heart 

 beats rapidly but feebly, and the counten- 

 ance is expressive of anxiety and distress. 

 In this state many a horseman finds his 

 steed every winter, and a pretty dilemma 

 he is in. The question of treatment is a 

 serious one even to the most experienced 

 in such matters, but one thing is quite 

 clear, that the more urgent the case the 

 more danger there is in having recourse 

 to the lancet. Bleeding to the extent of 

 a few pounds will sometimes relieve a 

 trifling case of exhaustion, but in a really 

 severe one it will take away the only 

 chance which remains. The best plan is 

 to give the animal plenty of air, turn his 

 head to the wind, and if any kind of fer- 

 mented liquor can be obtained, give him 

 a little at once. Neat spirits are apt to 

 cause increased distress from spasm of the 

 larynx, but it is even better to risk this 

 than to let the exhaustion continue. If, 

 therefore, the horse is incapable of walk- 

 ing to the nearest farm-house or inn, the 

 better plan is to leave him with a light 

 covering on him of some kind, and at 

 once to proceed to procure a quart of ale 

 or wine, whichever can be obtained the 

 most easily. One or the other of these, 

 slightly warmed, and spiced if possible, 

 should be poured down his throat, which 

 can readily be done, as he has no power 

 to resist, and then in. a few minutes he 

 may generally be induced to move quietly 

 on towards the nearest stable. Here he 

 must remain all night if the attack is a 

 bad one, or if he recovers soon he may 

 be walked quietly home. When he 

 reaches his stable, in the evening or the 

 next morning early, if the pulse rises and 

 is hard and jerking, he may be bled with 

 advantage, but rarely should this be done 

 for some hours after the first attack. Con- 

 gestion is essentially produced by debility, 

 and although an abstraction of blood re- 



