DISEASES OF. HORSES 207 



fering from urethritis should be withheld from service, as should 

 mares with leucorrhea. 



STRICTURE OF THE URETHRA. 



This is a permanent narrowing of the urethra at a given point, 

 the result of previous inflammation, caused by the passage or arrest 

 of a stone, or gravel, by strong astringent injections in the early non- 

 secreting stages of urethritis, or 'by contracting of the lining mem- 

 brane occurring during the healing of ulcers in neglected inflamma- 

 tions of that canal. The trouble is shown by the passage of urine in 

 a fine stream, with straining, pain, and groaning, and by frequent 

 painful erections. It must be remedied by mechanical dilatation, 

 with catheters just large enough to pass with gentle force, to be in- 

 serted once a day, and to be used of larger size as the passage will ad- 

 mit them. The catheter should be kept perfectly clean, and washed 

 in a borax solution and well oiled before it is introduced. (Spl. Rpt. 

 Horses, Dept, Ag. 1911.) 



DISEASES AFFECTING LOCOMOTION. 



It is as living, organized, locomotive machines that the horse, 

 camel, ox, and their burden-bearing companions are of practical 

 value to man. Hence the consideration of their usefulness and conse- 

 quent value to their human masters ultimately and naturally resolves 

 itself into an inquiry concerning the condition of that special portion 

 of their organism which controls their function of locomotion. This 

 is especially true in regard to the members of the equine family, the 

 most numerous and valuable of all the beasts of burden, and it nat- 

 urally follows that with the horse for a subject of discussion the spe- 

 cial topic and leading theme of inquiry will, by an easy lapse, become 

 an inquest into the condition and efficiency of his power for useful- 

 ness as a carrier or traveler. There is a large amount of abstract 

 interest in the study of that endowment of the animal economy 

 which enables its possessor to change his place at will and convey 

 himself whithersoever his needs or his moods may incline him ; but 

 how much greater the interest that attaches to me subject when it 

 becomes a practical and economic question and includes within its 

 purview the various related topics which belong to the domains of 

 physiology, pathology^ therapeutics, and the entire round of scientific 

 investigation into which it is finally merged as a subject for medical 

 and surgical consideration in a word, of actual disease and its treat- 

 ment! It is not surprising that the intricate and complicated ap- 

 paratus of locomotion, with its symmetry and harmony of move- 

 ment and the perfection and beauty of its details and adjuncts, 

 should, by students of creative design and attentive observers of na- 

 ture and her marvelous contrivances and adaptations, be admiringly 

 denominated a living machine. 



The horse in a state of domesticity is of all the animal tribe the 

 largest sharer with his master in his liability to the accidents and 

 dangers which are among the incidents of civilized life. From his 

 exposure to the missiles of war on the battlefield to his chance of pick- 

 ing up a nail from the city pavement there is no hour when he is not 

 in danger of incurring injuries which for their repair may demand 



