HORSE— CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 



ior 



•with a sponge. The following wash may 

 then be applied, and it should be repeat- 

 ■ed every day: 



Take of Solution of Chloride of Zinc 2 drachms. 

 Water . i pint. Mix. 



If the morbid growths are very exten- 

 sive, nothing but amputation of the penis 

 or the use of corrosive sublimate will re- 

 move them. Severe hemorrhage some- 

 times follows both of these measures, but 

 it seldom goes on to a dangerous extent. 

 Still it is scarcely advisable for any one 

 but a professional man to undertake the 

 operation. 



In the mare the vagina is sometimes in- 

 flamed, attended with a copious yellow 

 discharge. An injection of the wash 

 mentioned in the last paragraph will gen- 

 erally soon set the matter right. At first 

 it should be used only of half the strength, 

 gradually increasing it, until the full quan- 

 tity of chloride of zinc is employed. 



Inversion of the uterus sometimes fol- 

 lows parturition, but it is very rare in the 

 mare. The uterus should be at once re- 

 placed, using as little force as possible, 

 and taking care before the hand is with- 

 drawn that it really is turned back again 

 from its inverted position. 



Nymphomania occurs sometimes in 

 mares at the time of being " in use," and 

 goes on to such an extent as to render 

 them absolutely regardless of pain, for the 

 time being, though not to make them 

 lose their consciousness. They will kick 

 and squeal till they become white with 

 sweat, and no restraint will prevent them 

 from trying to continue their violent at- 

 tempts to destroy everything behind them. 

 These symptoms are especially developed 

 in presence of other animus of the same 

 species, whether mares or geldings; but 

 the near proximity of an entire horse will 

 be still worse. If placed in a loose box, 

 without any restaint whatever, they gen- 

 erally become more calm, and when the 

 state is developed, such a plan should al- 

 ways be adopted. It is chiefly among 

 highly-fed and lightly-worked mares that 

 the disease is manifested; and a dose of 

 physic, with starvation in a loose box, 

 away from any other horse, will very soon 

 put an end to it in almost every instance. 



HORSE, Phrenitis, or Mad Staggers.— 

 Phrenitis seldom occurs, except in over- 

 fed and lightly-worked horses, nor among 

 them is it by any means a common dis- 



ease. The early symptoms are generally 

 those of an ordinary cold ; there is heavi- 

 ness of the eyes, with a redness of the 

 conjunctiva, and want of appetite. After 

 a day or two occupied by these premoni- 

 tory signs, which will seldom serve to put 

 even the most experienced observer on his 

 guard, the horse becomes suddenly deliri- 

 ous, attempting to bite and strike every 

 one who comes near him, regardless of 

 the ordinary influences of love and fear. 

 He plunges in his stall, attempts to get free 

 from his halter rein, and very often suc- 

 ceeds in doing so, when he will stop at 

 nothing to gain still further liberty. If 

 unchecked, he soon dashes himself to 

 pieces, and death puts an end to his strug- 

 gles. The only treatment which is of the 

 slightest use is bleeding till the horse ab- 

 solutely falls, or till he becomes quite 

 quiet and tractable, if the case is only a 

 mild one. Immediately afterwards a large 

 dose of tartar emetic (two or three 

 drachms) should be given, followed in an 

 hour or two by a strong physic ball ; or, 

 if the case is a very bad one, by a drench, 

 containing half a pint of castor oil and 

 six or eight drops of croton oil. Clysters 

 and back-raking will of course be requir- 

 ed, to obviate the risk of hard accumula- 

 tions in the bowels, but where there is 

 great violence, they cannot always be em- 

 ployed, and the case must take its chance 

 in these respects. The diet should be 

 confined to a few mouthfuls of hay or 

 grass, with a plentiful supply of water. 



HORSE, Epilepsy and Convulsions. — 

 These diseases, or symptoms, are not often 

 met with in the adult, but in the foal they 

 sometimes occur, and are not unattended 

 with danger. The young thing will per- 

 haps gallop after its dam round and round 

 its paddock, and then all at once stop, 

 stagger, and fall to the ground, where it 

 lies, struggling with more or less violence, 

 for a few minutes or longer, and then raises 

 its head, stares about, gets up, and is ap- 

 parently as well as ever. It is generally 

 in the hot days of summer that these at- 

 tacks occur, and it appears highly prob- 

 able that the direct rays of the sun play- 

 ing on the head have something to do 

 with it. Death seldom takes place during 

 the first attack, but sometimes after two 

 or three repetitions, the convulsions go on 

 increasing, and the foal becomes comatose 

 and dies. A mild dose of linseed oil is the 



