198 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



he will usually succumb under the first hundred yards or half mile 

 of exercise. 



Symptoms. In the milder forms this affection may appear as a 

 lameness in one limb, from indefinite cause, succeeding to some sud- 

 den exertion and attended by a dusky-brown color of the membranes 

 of the eye and nose and some wincing when the last ribs are struck. 

 The severe forms come on after one or two days of rest on a full 

 ration, when the animal has been taken out and driven one hundred 

 paces or more. The fire and life with which he had left the stable 

 suddenly give place to dullness and oppression, as shown in heaving 

 flanks, dilated nostrils, pinched face, perspiring skin, and trembling 

 body. The muscles of the loins or haunch become swelled and rigid, 

 the subject moves stiffly or unsteadily, crouches behind, the limbs 

 being carried semiflexed, and he soon ctrops, unable to support him- 

 self. When down, the body and limbs are moved convulsively. The 

 pulse and breathing are accelerated, the eyes red with a tinge of 

 brown, and the urine, if passed, is seen to be highly colored, dark 

 brown, red, or black, but it contains neither blood clots nor globules. 



It may end fatally in a few hours or days, or a recovery may 

 ensue, which is usually more speedy and perfect if it has set in at an 

 early stage. In the late and tardy recoveries a partial paralysis of the 

 hind limbs may last for months. A frequent sequel of these tardy 

 cases is an extensive wasting of the muscles leading up from the front 

 of the stifle and a complete inability to stand. 



Prevention. The prevention of this serious affection lies in re- 

 stricting the diet and giving daily exercise when the animal is not at 

 work. A horse that has had one attack should never be left idle for 

 a single day in the stall or barnyard. "When a horse has been con- 

 demned to absolute repose on good feeding he may have a laxative 

 (one-half to 1 pound Glauber's salts) , and have graduated exercise, 

 beginning with a short walk and increasing day by day. 



Treatment. The treatment of the mild cases may consist in a 

 laxative, graduated daily exercise, and a daily dose of saltpeter (1 

 ounce). Sudden attacks will sometimes promptly subside if taken 

 on the instant and the subject kept still and calmed by a dose of 

 bromide of potassium (4 drams) and sweet spirits of niter (1 ounce). 

 The latter has the advantage of increasing the secretion of the kid- 

 neys. In severe cases, as a rule, it is desirable to begin treatment by 

 a dose of aloes (4 to 6 drams) . Fomentations with warm water over 

 the loins are always useful in calming the excitable conditions of the 

 spinal cord, muscles, liver, and kidneys, and also in favoring secre- 

 tion from the two latter. On the second day diuretics may be resorted 

 to, such as saltpeter one-half ounce, and powdered colchicum one-half 

 dram, to be repeated twice daily. A laxative may be repeated in 

 three or four days should the bowels seem to demand it, and as the 

 nervous excitement disappears any remaining muscular weakness or 

 paralysis may be treated by one-half dram nux vomica twice a day 

 and a stimulating liniment (aqua ammonia and sweet oil in equal 

 proportions) rubbed on the torpid muscles. 



