254 THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 



he becomes delirious. Give him water, and although he 

 attempts to drink he is unable to do so because of paralysis 

 of the gullet. These symptoms are soon followed by death. 



Care should be taken to ascertain the cause in order to 

 remove it if possible, because other horses similarly exposed 

 may also develop the disease. 



Treatment. — If noticed before it has gone too far there is 

 hope of recovery ; but if the animal is down and unable to 

 swallow the chances are against him. As soon as the disease 

 is noticed, take one-half pail of blood from him and give 



Bitter Aloes 8 drams. 



Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 dessertspoonfuls. 



Bicarbonate of Soda 1 dessertspoonful. 



Ginger 1 dessertspoonful. 



Mix in a pint of lukewarm water and give as a drench 

 then follow with a powder of : 



Powdered Nux Vomica % pound. 



Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre V\ pound. 



Hyposulphite of Soda % pound. 



Mix well together and give a teaspoonful on the tongue 

 every three hours until there is relief. Apply a mustard 

 plaster and hot cloths to the back and cover the body warm. 

 Should he get down turn him over from side to side three 

 times a day, and be very careful while drenching for fear of 

 choking him. Feed soft food, with plenty of boiled flaxseed 

 in it, and give plenty of cold water to drink. 



8. Chorea. 



This is an affection of the nervous system, in which the 

 horse loses the power to back up. 



Causes. — It is due to an injury of the spinal cord. Cases 

 have been met with in which chorea attacked a colt after 

 castration, but we are of the opinion that even then the 

 chances were that it was due to an injury as a result of 

 casting rather than to the effect of the operation. 



Symptoms. — The most noticeable symptom of course is 

 the inability to back up. In all probability he is useful in 

 other ways, will be able to pull and do anything ordinarily in 

 the shape of work so long as it requires only going ahead, but 

 try to force him to go backward and his tail rises, the muscles 

 of the hind quarters shiver, but backing up is out of the 

 question. 



