DISEASES OF HORSES. 701 



breathing is much troubled, it may be necessary to apply the 

 ammoniacal liniment. (See Index.) If in the summer, a poultice 

 will be needed. If it is a mild case, the abscess should be al- 

 lowed to form thoroughly before opening it. After the tumor 

 has been cut open, give sulphate of iron, one dram, three times a 

 day for a few days, and bathe the wound with tepid water. In 

 some more tardy cases the abscess does not form or point soon 

 enough, and at the same time it greatly interferes with the 

 breathing; poultice, if in warm weather, but if in cold weather, 

 apply heated wool to the part to keep it warm ; also causing 

 the animal to breathe steam, not too hot or too much of it, is 

 beneficial. In such a case it may be necessary to open the ab- 

 scess much sooner than in a milder case. And it is also some- 

 times necessary to perform tracheotomy, which is cutting into the 

 wind-pipe, about half way down the neck, and inserting a tube 

 through which the animal may breathe until the tumor de- 

 creases in size, so that the animal may again breathe naturally. 

 This operation will not here be described, as a surgeon should 

 be called at once. The pus of strangles may be absorbed into 

 the circulation, and cause blood-poisoning, and abscess in any 

 part of the body. This may occur from a wound also. In some 

 cases in which the bowels are costive, it may be necessary to 

 give a slight dose of physic, as four or five drams of aloes first 

 dissolved in hot water and given when cool, yet this is seldom 

 necessary. Always give injections of warm soap-suds, which in 

 most cases is all that is necessary to cause the bowels to act. 



Scratches Cracked Heels. This is at first confined to 

 the outside layer of the skin, but if not checked it will impli- 

 cate the deeper structures. 



CAUSES. Permitting the legs to remain wet or muddy. 

 When the legs are wet and muddy they should be dried and 

 bandaged. 



SYMPTOMS. More or less swelling about the heels. The 

 animal travels stiffly when first taken from the stable, but soon 

 gets better. In some cases the foot will be lifted, like string- 

 halt. Blood may ooze through the skin. If this disease is not 

 checked it will often terminate in grease. 



