CHRONIC COUGH 541 



and after adopting the balls recommended for that state, it may be treated 

 by attention to the general health, and the exhibition of an expectorant 

 ball twice a day, composed of the following materials : — 



Take of Gum Ammoniacum ^ ounce. 



Powdered Squill 1 drachm. 



Castile Soap 2 drachms. 



Mix and make into a ball. 



CHRONIC COUGH 



By this term is understood a cough that comes on without any fever or 

 evidences of the horse having taken cold. It differs in this respect from 

 chronic bronchitis, which generally supervenes upon the acute form, and is 

 always attended in the early stage by feverishness. It appears probable 

 that chronic cough is dependent upon an unnatural stimulus to the mucous 

 membrane, for it almost always makes its appearance when much corn is 

 given without due preparation, and ceases on a return to green food. It is, 

 therefoi'e, very commonly termed a stomach cough. The symj^toms are all 

 summed up in the presence of a dry cough, which is seldom manifested 

 while in the stable, but comes on whenever the breathing is hastened by 

 any pace beyond a walk. Two or three coughs are then given, and the 

 horse perhaps is able to go on with his work, but after resting for a few 

 minutes, and again starting, it comes on again, and annoys the rider or 

 driver by its tantalizing promise of disappearance followed by disappoint- 

 ment. Very often this kind of cough is caused by the irritation of worms, 

 but any disorder of the digestive organs appears to have the power of 

 producing it. The usual treatment for chronic bronchitis seems here to 

 be quite powerless, and the only plan of proceeding likely to be attended 

 with success, is to look for the cause of the irritation, and remove it. 

 Sometimes this will be found in a hot stable, the horse having previously 

 been accustomed to a cool one. Here the alteration of the temperature by 

 ten or fifteen degrees will in a few days effect a cure, and nothing else is 

 required. 



Again, it may be that the corn has been overdone, in which case a gentle 

 dose of physic, followed by a diminished allowance of corn, and a bran-mash 

 twice a week, will be successful. If the stomach is much disoi-dered, green 

 food will be the best stimulus to a healthy condition, or in its absence a 

 few warm cordial balls may be tried. The existence of worms should be 

 ascertained in doubtful cases, and if they are present, the proper remedies 

 must be given for their removal. Linseed oil and spirit of turpentine, 

 which are both excellent worm remedies, are highly recommended in chronic 

 cough, and whether or not their good effect is due to their antagonism to 

 worms, they may be regarded as specially useful. 



A very successful combination is the following mixture : — 



Take of Spirit of Turpentine 2 ounces. 



Mucilage of Acacia 6 ounces. 



Gum Ammoniacum J ounce. 



Laudanum 4 ounces. 



Water 2 quarts. 



Mix, and give half-a-pint as a drench every night : the bottle must be well shaken 

 before pouring out the dose. 



