HORSE— CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 



8.3 



lieves the vessels of a part of their load, 

 it increases their weakness in a still greater 

 degree, and they are less able to do their 

 work, diminished though it may be, than 

 they were before. Hundreds of over- 

 worked horses have been killed by the 

 abuse of the lancet in the hunting-field, 

 but the principle on which their treatment 

 should be conducted is better understood 

 now than formerly. 



When congestion shows itself as the 

 result of a chill, the following symptoms 

 are displayed : First and foremost there is 

 rapid and laborious breathing, the horse 

 standing with his legs wide apart, his 

 head thrust straight forward, and his 

 flanks heaving. The skin is generally dry, 

 but if there is any sweat, it is a cold one. 

 The legs are icy cold, and also the ears. 

 The whites of the eyes and lining of the 

 nostrils are of a purplish hue, but not very 

 deep in color. The pulse is slightly ac- 

 celerated (from forty to fifty), but not hard 

 and incompressible ; and lastly, the attack 

 is of recent duration. These signs, how- 

 ever, are not to be fully relied on as mark- 

 ing congestion rather than inflammation, 

 without having recourse to an examina- 

 tion of the lungs by means of the ear. 

 Placing it against the side of the chest, 

 in inflammation there would be certain 

 marked sounds, presently to be described, 

 whilst in the state we are now consider- 

 ing they are wholly absent, and all that is 

 heard is the usual respiratory murmur 

 slightly increased in intensity. It is of the 

 utmost importance to make out exactly 

 the nature of the case, for the treatment 

 should be very different in congestion and 

 inflammation. If in the former condition 

 the blood can only be drawn into the 

 skin, relief is at once afforded and all 

 danger is at an end; but in the latter, 

 though some slight advantage would be 

 gained, the progress of the disease would 

 not be materially checked. To produce 

 this determination of blood to the skin 

 without loss of time, is sometimes very 

 difficult ; but by the application of hot 

 water and blankets, it may generally be ac- 

 complished. Two men, supplied with a 

 tub of very hot water and plenty of cloth- 

 ing, should be rapid in their movements, 

 and proceed as follows : Have an assist- 

 ant ready to strip the patient when or- 

 dered, then dipping a blanket in the 

 water, it is taken out and partially wrung, 



leaving as much water in its meshes as it 

 can hold without dropping ; as socn as it 

 is cool enough for the human hand to 

 bear its pressure it should be gently, but 

 quickly, laid upon the horse's back, and 

 the rug, which has just come off, while 

 still warm, placed over it, with two or 

 three more over all, the number depend- 

 ing upon the temperature of the air. An- 

 other smaller rug may, in the same way, 

 be wetted and applied to the neck, cover- 

 ing it with two or three hoods, but taking 

 care to avoid pressure upon the windpipe. 

 The legs also should be wrapped in flan- 

 nel bandages, made as hot as possible be- 

 fore the fire, but dry. In the course of 

 half an hour, if the skin of the parts un- 

 covered does not become warm, and 

 show evidences of sweating coming on, 

 another rug must be dipped in the same 

 way and substituted quickly for the first. 

 Usually, however, the desired effect is 

 produced within twenty minutes, and 

 then great care and some little tact 

 are required to manage the operation. If 

 the sweating is allowed to go on beyond 

 a certain point exhaustion is produced, 

 attended by almost as much danger as in- 

 flammation ; while on the other hand, in 

 attempting to moderate the action of the 

 skin, risk is incurred of a chill, and thus 

 upsetting all the benefit which might 

 otherwise have been derived. But by 

 throwing open the doors to the external 

 air, which may freely be admitted as soon 

 as the skin acts, and by reducing the 

 number of additional rugs, the amount of 

 sweat given off may be kept within due 

 bounds, and in the course of two or three 

 hours the previously wetted rug or blanket 

 may be removed, and a dry, warm one. 

 substituted for it, but the assistants must 

 be "quick and handy in effecting the 

 change. Many a case of inflammation 

 of the lungs, kidneys, or bowels might be 

 stopped in limine by the adoption of this 

 plan ; but the misfortune is that it requires 

 all the Skill and tact of the veterinary 

 surgeon, first of all to diagnose the case, 

 and afterwards to manage its treatment. 

 Still, if a master will undertake the super- 

 intendence of the operation himself, and 

 is accustomed to disease, there is little 

 risk of failure. 



The symptoms of acute pneumonia are 

 a quick and distressed respiration, averag- 

 ing about sixty inspirations in the minute. 



