476 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



VII. Conclusions. 



Since we have no definite knowledge of how the animal becomes in- 

 fected, and from the fact that all medicinal treatment so far employed 

 has given no uniform success, attention should be given to the i^revention, 

 and especially to the mode of infection, as stated before. 



A very capable authority gives the following facts as to mortality and 

 treatment : 



The prognosis should be guarded. Most practitioners report about 

 fifty per cent, mortality, but if the horses were treated according to the 

 veterinarian's direction it is doubtful if the mortality would be more than 

 twenty-five per cent. Drs. Francis and Marsteller, of Texas, have issued 

 a bulletin in which they hold that an animal that has had the disease 

 is always infectious. This statement needs further experimental support. 



In the treatment of the disease the affected animals should be kept 

 absolutely at rest, they should not even be led out of their stalls to the 

 watering trough. Sunshine has a decided injurious effect upon the 

 diseased animals; they should be kept in a comfortable stall. 



In the acute type the temperature should be diminished by cold baths. 

 Water may be safely and conveniently applied with a hose. When water 

 is not available for a bath, frequent rectal injections of cool water should 

 be resorted to. Stimulants should be given, the dosage depending upon 

 the requirement of the case. Arsenic appears to be a very reliable agent 

 in this disease. It is usually given as Fowler's solution, the dosage vary- 

 ing somew'hat, though generally speaking, large doses should be given. 

 Any ordinary adult horse should receive from two to three ounces of 

 Fowler's solution daily until the temperature becomes normal. Tonics 

 should he prescribed for at least two weeks after the animal has apparently 

 returned to normal. In the chronic form, the temperature should be 

 kept as near normal as possible by baths or rectal injections. Stimulants 

 should be given at least three times daily, conjoined ^A-ith Fowler's solu- 

 tion, giving of the latter not less than two ounces daily. The Fowler 

 solution may be suspended for a day or two if there are signs of arsenical 

 poisoning. This line of treatment continued for from four to six weeks 

 apparently completely destroys the causative agent of the disease, or, at 

 least, the animals recover, 



