DISEASES OF HORSES 161 



every four or five hours if it appears to benefit. When the horse is 

 hard to drench, give the following: Pulverized carbonate of ammo- 

 nia, 3 drams ; linseed meal and molasses sufficient to make the whole 

 into a stiff mass ; wrap it with a small piece of tissue paper and give 

 as a ball. This ball may be repeated every four or five hours. When 

 giving the ball care should be taken to prevent its breaking in the 

 mouth, as in case of such accident it will make the mouth sore, which 

 may prevent the animal from eating. If the bowels are constipated, 

 give enemas of warm water. Do not give purgative medicines. Do 

 not bleed the animal. 



If the animal retains an appetite, a soft diet is preferable, such 

 as scalded oats, bran mashes, and grass, if in season. If he refuses 

 cooked food, allow in small quantities anything he will eat. Hay, 

 cob corn, oats, bread, apples, and carrots may all be tried in turn. 

 Some horses will drink sweet milk when they refuse all other kinds 

 of food, and especially is this the case if the drinking water is with- 

 held for a while. One or 2 gallons at a time, four or five times a day, 

 will support life. Bear in mind that when the disease is established 

 recovery cannot occur in less than two or three weeks, and more 

 time may be necessary. Good nursing and patience are required. 



When the symptoms have abated and nothing remains of the 

 disease except the cough and a white discharge from the nostrils, all 

 other medicines should be discontinued and a course of tonic treat- 

 ment pursued. Give the following mixture: Reduced iron, 3 ounces; 

 powdered gentian, 8 ounces; mix well together and divide into six- 

 teen powders. Give a powder every night and morning mixed with 

 bran and oats, if the animal will eat it, or shaken with about a pint 

 of flaxseed tea and administered as a drench. Do not put the ani- 

 mal to work too soon after recovery. Allow ample time to regain, 

 strength. This disease is prone to become chronic and may run into 

 an incurable case of thick wind. 



PLEURISY. 



The thoracic cavity is divided into two lateral compartments, 

 each containing one lung and a part of the heart. Each lung has its 

 separate pleural membrane, or covering. The pleura is the thin 

 glistening membrane that covers the lung and also completely cov- 

 ers the internal walls of the chest. It is very thin, and to the ordi- 

 nary observer appears to be part of the lung, which, in fact, it is for 

 all practical purposes. The smooth, shiny surface of the lung, as 

 well as the smooth, shiny surface so familiar on the rib, is the pleura. 

 In health this surface is always moist. A fluid is thrown off by the 

 pleura, which causes the surface to be constantly moist. This is to 

 prevent the effects of friction between the lungs and the walls of the 

 chest and other contiguous parts which come in contact. It must be 

 remembered that the lungs are dilating each time a breath is taken 

 in, and contracting each time a breath of air is expelled. It may be 

 readily seen that if it were not for the moistened state of the surface 

 of the pleura the continual dilation and contraction and the conse- 

 quent rubbing of the parts against each other would cause serious 

 friction. 



