DISEASES OF HORSES. 153 



DIARRHOEA IN HORSES. 



Causes.— Over-exertion, bad digestion of the stom- 

 ach, too much green fodder, too much water and 

 being driven rapidly after, inflammation of the inner 

 coating of the bowels. 



Symptoms. — Easily known by looseness and scouring 

 of the horse. If left to run it will lead to inflamma- 

 tion, and in some cases, especially in hot weather, mor- 

 tification often sets in; then the patient is out of the 

 reach of the most skillful practitioner. 



The usual remedy is to apply a hot blanket over the 

 loin side, /. e., over the large intestines, for a consider- 

 able length of time. Give internally tr. belladonna, say 

 thirty drops in half tea-cup of cold water, in a drench, 

 and repeat every four hours; also a sufficiency of flax- 

 seed, mucilage, or slippery-elm tea; a little gruel of 

 wheat-flour often. Keep the patient as quiet as pos- 

 sible. Give four quarts of cool soft water to drink at 

 a time. Ess. peppermint, two oz., added to \ oz. of 

 opium, in a drench, together with the teas and 

 gruel mentioned. An injection of Castile soap, say 

 two to four quarts; add \ oz. opium, or belladonna, 

 which will assist. As the patient grows better lessen 

 the dose to half the amount and every eight hours; 

 still keep up the teas; they are very essential in the 

 disease to quiet and soothe. Take good care of the 

 patient and have a good comfortable stall, well 

 bedded, and as little noise as possible near the horse. 



BOTS. 



There has been and is so much misconception about 

 bots and their destructiveness to the horse, that a few 

 words about them seem advisable. All horses that are 



