74 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE. 



Symptoms. — These consist of troubles of locomotion (movement), 

 which appear during exercise and generally within a quarter to half 

 an hour after starting. 



The disease begins very suddenly, in an unusual degree of restless- 

 ness, with profuse perspiration; these symptoms are speedily suc- 

 ceeded by a desire to lie down, by great sluggishness, by loss of mov- 

 ing power in the hind limbs, and by violent spasms of the large 

 muscles of the loins, thighs, and hind quarters. The affected muscles 

 are swollen and very hard, and later may atrophy, especially those 

 located above the stifle. If the animal is down, he makes an effort to 

 stand, but, from the total loss of power in the hind limbs, is unable 

 to rise. 



The "ore limbs and shoulder muscles may be similarly affected, but 

 in this case the disease is less severe. * 



The pulse usually becomes rapid ; the temperature rarely increases, 

 even in the grave form; the appetite is seldom diminished, and, as a 

 rule, the animal will drink large quantities of water. 



The urine is coffee-colored and is generally retained in the bladder. 



Treatment. — As soon as the first symptoms are noticed, halt at 

 once. Keep the animal on his feet ; unsaddle or unharness and blanket 

 promptly: then move him as gently as possible to the nearest shelter, 

 where he must have complete rest. If possible, heat some common 

 salt or some oats; place in a sack and spread over the loins (under the 

 blanket), to relieve the pain. Feed only good hay or laxative food 

 and avoid oats and corn. Encourage the horse to drink as much 

 water as possible, as this will assist the kidneys in carrying the 

 poisonous material out of the blood. When the urine clears, the 

 animal may be gradually returned to work. 



If it has been possible to reach the stables, place the horse in a 

 roomy stall; if there is then danger of his lying down, use the sus- 

 pending slings, provided he is able to partially support his weight on 

 his hind legs; then give 2 ounces of sweet spirits of niter and 2 to 4 

 drams of fluid extract of cannabis indica in a pint of water. In a 

 half hour administer a physic ball. 



If the animal has dropped on the road and is unable to rise he must 

 be taken to the stable by the use of a stone boat or other extempor- 

 ized means; plenty of bedding must then be supplied and the patient 

 frequently turned from side to side; apply ^ ounce of fluid extract 

 of digitalis to the loins and rub in well, to stimulate the action of the 

 kidneys. If the patient has retention of urine, the bladder must be 

 emptied several times daily; this can be accomplished by passing 

 the hand into the rectum and applying moderate pressure upon the 

 bladder, or by the introduction of the catheter. 



This disease occurs in the army only through carelessness. When 

 the horse is left resting for twenty-four to forty-eight hours or longer 



