14 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



certain seasons of the year are preferable to warm. They act by con- 

 tracting the vessels, and, if judiciously applied, are of benefit. But you 

 must apply them with care, for I believe too much ice, or ice applied too 

 long, may do more harm than good. I believe they will prevent exuda- 

 tion to a certain extent. Applying cold water from the hose is some- 

 times of benefit, but it must be applied for some time to be of use. Hot 

 applications are beneficial, and sometimes preferable to cold. If there is 

 severe pain, then apply warm water, which acts by causing increased 

 debilitation of the vessels and soothing the parts. Hot water is an excel- 

 lent fomentation, or you may use medication, or use blankets warmed by 

 the fire. Either hot or cold applications, to be of benefit, must be kept 

 up for some time, and there is difficulty in this, as we order so and so done 

 and it is not done. Purgatives are useful in inflammation — the best being 

 aloes for the horse, sulphate of magnesia for the cow, and syrup of 

 buckthorn and jalap for the dog. They relieve by moving the bowels, 

 and also some fluid portions of the blood. They produce irritation and 

 increased peristaltic actions of the bowels. Although there is great 

 benefit from purgatives in some diseases, such as laminitis, constipated 

 state of the bowels, in some others they must be used with great caution, 

 as in inflammation of the lungs. Aloes is generally best given in the 

 solid form, as, if in a fluid, some is lost. Sedatives are useful in the 

 treatment of inflammation, and act by means of the nervous system. 

 These are aconite (perhaps the best), digitalis, belladonna, calomel and 

 tartar emetic. Diuretics are extensively used, more by us perhaps than 

 in human practice. Human practitioners can act upon the skin, but we 

 cannot to the same extent ; but we can act upon the urinary organs. 

 The best diuretics are neutral and alkaline salts, nitrate of potash, etc. 

 There is an increased amount of fibrinne, and these tend to counteract 

 this condition. Opium is another valuable remedy in certain inflamma- 

 tions — the great sheet anchor, so to speak, if there is violent pain— or 

 morphia, given hypodermically. Give cold water ; it tends to improve 

 the condition of the blood, especially in pneumonia, congestion of the 

 lungs, etc. Give cold water frequently. It is one of the essential ingre- 

 dients of the blood, and it is a great mistake to limit the supply. 



ORGANS OF RESPIRATION. 



The horse breathes only through the nostrils. These organs are, first, 

 nasal openings ; second, nasal chambers and sinuses ; third, pharynx ; 

 fourth, larynx ; fifth, trachea ; sixth, bronchi ; seventh, bronchial tubes ; 

 eighth, the lungs. There are two nasal openings, the right and left, 

 and are divided by the nasal peak, to which is attached the nasal car- 

 tilage. External is the skin, internal to it are the muscles. The internal 

 part of the chambers is covered with a fine thin covering. Superior to 

 the inferior commissure is the false nostril ; the small opening inside of 

 the nostril is the ductus nasi. The nasal chambers are separated by the 

 cartilaginous septum nasi. It separates the right from the left chamber. 

 In each nasal chamber we have two bones, called turbinated bones, which 

 divide the nasal chambers into three parts ; so the chambers are not one 

 continuous chamber. Each chamber is lined with mucous membrane 

 (in fact all open chambers are lined with mucous membrane, this is 

 called schneiderian or pituitary membrane ; it is continuous with the 

 skin, and also with that of the several sinuses. The sinuses of the head 

 are the frontal, superior maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid. They are, 



