548 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



is regarded as a hopeful symptom, but the animal that appears indifferent 

 to the sting of it, and upon whose skin no visible effect is pi'oduced, is not 

 very likely to recover. Good nursing and suitable environment is of the 

 utmost importance, and every inducement offered to the animal to lie down. 

 It is not true to say that horses affected with this disease never lie down, 

 but it is a common symptom, and doubtless militates against their recovery, 

 as a few minutes' sleep is more likely to be obtained at intervals if the 

 animal assumes a recumbent posture. Tonics, as quinine, vegetable bitters, 

 and mineral acids are helpful in restoring the patient's strength when the 

 temperature has come down to neai'ly normal, but some considerable time 

 should be allowed to elapse before he is put to work, as the products of 

 inflammation must have time to be carried away before it is safe to call 

 upon the lungs for any great effort. 



Congestion of the lungs. — To clearly understand the difference between 

 congestion and inflammation of the lungs the reader is referred to the 

 Physiology of Respiration at page 467. It is not congestion of the lung 

 substance itself, though it has that appearance to the unaided eye when 

 seen 'post-mortem. It is engorgement of those pulmonary vessels whose 

 office it is to carry venous blood to the lungs for removal by contact with 

 the oxygen of inspired air. The known causes are several besides others 

 not so clearly understood. To put a typical case before the reader we 

 will choose the hastily conditioned hunter, or the grass-bellied yeomanry 

 horse wliich the recruit in his pride parades on the first day of " permanent " 

 duty. The first has had too much corn and too little exertion, while the 

 latter is soft and full of blood, conditions altogether unfavourable for severe 

 muscular exertion. In the excitement of the chase (or under orders and a 

 heavy kit), the animal is overtaxed and the blood forced into the lungs is 

 not carried away ; the animal's distress tells a practised horseman that it is 

 time to pull up and turn his head to the wind, slacken his girths, and retire 

 from the field. If he has a flask in his holster the rider will give its con- 

 tents to his horse rather than himself, and probably no further trouble 

 will result. On the other hand, if the animal is urged to further exertion 

 Ids life may be the forfeit. Though ridden to a standstill he may presently 

 be induced to walk to the nearest hostelry, but he will not feed. His 

 ears and legs will be found to be cold, his eyes injected, not with the same 

 tint as in ordinary inflammation, but darker in colour ; blowing, trembling, 

 perhaps partial sweats, hanging his head in a corner and looking altogether 

 a picture of dejection. If successful treatment is not adopted he succumbs 

 in a day or two from literal "want of breath," or a portion of the lungs 

 may remain patent and he dies a few days later when the engorged part 

 has become putrid. Congestion of a less severe nature may show itself only 

 in dulness and shallow breathing, staring coat, loss of appetite, and the 

 symptoms above described only in a modified form. It is nevertheless ex- 

 tremely dangerous, and such cases after a few days suddenly take a turn for 

 the worse and death ensues when the owner may not have thought at all 

 seriously of the case. From what has been said it will be seen that con- 

 gestion of the lungs is sudden in its development and dangerous to the 

 animal's life 



Treatment. — The disease being one of obstructed circulation, the rational 

 treatment is to give such remedies as enjoy the reputation of urging on the 



