DISEASES OF HORSES 133 



may be given. If a veterinarian is at hand lie will withdraw the 

 accumulation of water by tapping and then endeavor to prevent ite 

 recurrence (though this is almost sure to follow) by giving three 

 times a day saltpeter, 1 ounce, and iodide of potasn, 1 dram, and by 

 the application of mustard or blisters over the abdominal walls. 

 Tonics, mineral and vegetable, are also indicated. Probably the 

 best tonic is one consisting of powdered sulphate of iron, gentian, 

 and ginger in equal parts; a heaping tablespponful of the mixture 

 is given as a drench or mixed with the feed, twice a day. Good 

 nutritious foods and gentle exercise complete the treatment. 



DISEASES OF THE LIVER. 



The liver of the horse is, in the United States, but rarely the 

 seat of disease, and when we consider how frequently the liver of 

 man is affected this can not but appear strange. The absence of 

 the gall bladder may account to a certain extent for his freedom 

 from liver diseases; as overdistention of this and the presence in it 

 of calculi (stones) in man is a frequent source of trouble. In 

 domestic animals, as in man, hot climates tend to produce diseases 

 of the liver, just as in cold climates lung diseases prevail. Not only 

 are diseases of the liver rare in horses in temperate climates, but 

 they are also very obscure, and in many cases pass totally unob- 

 served until after death. There are some symptoms, however, 

 which, when present, should make us examine the liver as care- 

 fully as possible. These are jaundice (yellowness of the mucous 

 membranes of the mouth, nose, and eyes) and the condition of the 

 dung, it being light in color and pasty in appearance. 



HEPATITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER. This disease 

 may be general or local, and may assume an acute or chronic form. 

 The symptoms of acute hepatitis are : Dullness ; the horse is suffer- 

 ing from some internal pain, but not of a severe type; constipated 

 and clay-colored dung balls; scanty and high-colored urine; and 

 general febrile symptoms. If lying down, he is mostly found on 

 the left side; looks occasionally toward the right side, which, upon 

 close inspection, may be found to be slightly enlarged over the 

 posterior ribs, where pain upon pressure is also evinced. Obscure 

 lameness in front, of the right leg mostly, may be a symptom of 

 hepatitis. The horse, toward the last, reels or staggers in his gait 

 and falls backward in a fainting fit, during one of which he finally 

 succumbs. Death is sometimes due to rupture of the enveloping 

 coat of the liver or of some of its blood vessels. 



Causes. Among the causes that lead to this disease we must 

 mention first the stimulating effect of overfeeding, particularly 

 during hot weather. Horses that are well fed and receive but little 

 exercise are the best subjects for disease of this organ. We must 

 add to these causes the more mechanical ones, as injuries on the 

 right side over the liver, worms in the liver, foreign bodies as 

 needles or naik that have been swallowed and in their wanderings 

 have entered the liver and, lastly, in some instances, the exten- 

 sion of inflammation from neighboring parts, thus involving this 

 organ. Acute hepatitis may terminate in chronic inflammation, 



