Diseases of the Horse. 



CHAPTER I. 

 SYMPTOMS AND GENERAL TREATMENT. 



I. INTRODUCTION. 11. OUTWARD MANIFESTATIONS OF DISEASE. III. SYMP- 

 TOMS OF INTERNAL DISEASES. IV. IMPORTANCE OF PROMPT TREATMENT. 



V. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TREATING. VI. NURSING AND FEEDING SICK ANI- 

 MALS. VII. EXPLANATION OF TERMS USED. VIII. GRADUATION OF DOSES. 



IX. HOW OFTEN TO GIVE MEDICINES. X. FORMS OF MEDICINES AND HOW 



TO ADMINISTER. 



I. Introduction. 



The horse, especially when subject to artificial care and conditions, and 

 more especially in cities and large stables, is liable to pretty much the 

 same diseases, or, at least, to diseases similar in their nature to those of 

 man. Besides various epidemics, such as lung diseases, colds and influen- 

 za, — diseases arising from injuries, and bad care, involving diseases of 

 the skin and its integuments, and of the ligaments, muscles and bones, 

 are quite common in horses. Such diseases are comparatively rave in 

 the human family, for the reason that horses are often put to terrible 

 strain in running, leaping, drawing heavy loads in the mud, and on rough 

 pavements, etc. These, from the want of proper knowledge, or from 

 neglect, assume the most serious forms, and often totally unfit the horse 

 for active labor, if they do not entirely ruin him. 



The importance of common-sense treatment and training has been 

 fully elucidated in the preceding pages. The importance of proper care, 

 sufficient clothing, grooming, good ventilation, and kindness in their gen- 

 eral treatment has also been insisted on. If the information to be given 

 in the succeeding pages, relating to proper care in sickness, is observed, 

 much trouble and loss will ])e saved to the farmer, who is often necessarily 

 precluded from calling in the services of a competent veterinary sur- 

 geon, because, in many country districts ,there are none. 



The object of this work, therefore, is to give, in plain language, the 

 necessary treatment of such diseases as may be cared for, by other than 

 the professional surgeon ; and to give such advice as will prevent the oc- 

 currence of many disabilities, which, if taken out of the list, by their 

 prevention, would very much lighten the task of the veterinarian. These 

 should l)c well known and carefully studied by every horse owner, for 

 thus might often be i)revented spavin ; curb ; splint ; ringbone ; caries, 



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