230 THE HORSE 



quart of linseed oil, with one ounce of epsom salts, 

 and also give about two ounces of sweet spirits of nitre 

 Place blankets wrung out in hot water and turpentine 

 over his loins; or else rub white liniment on his loins 

 and hips. 



A horse recovering from azoturia is, as a rule, ex- 

 tremely lame in one or both of his hind legs because of 

 atrophy of the muscles of the hip and stifle. However, 

 this lameness is purely mechanical. It causes no pain, 

 and the horse gradually gets over it if he receives 

 regular but gentle exercise — such as to strengthen 

 the muscles and restore them to their normal condition. 



THE LIVER 



Diseases of the liver require a good veterinary 

 surgeon both for diagnosis and treatment, but there is 

 a bilious condition into which horses occasionally fall 

 that might be mentioned here. 



You have, we will assume, a fat, thrifty young horse 

 doing very little work, who is lively and spirited one 

 day, and very dull and sluggish the next. His coat 

 looks rough, his skin is full of dandruff, and you are 

 disgusted with him. The trouble is probably an in- 

 active liver, and a handful of epsom or glauber salts 

 should be placed in his grain for three or four nights. 

 If this does not bring him round, renew the salts for 

 three or four more nights, or give him a dose of physic. 

 In any case, let him have plenty of bran mashes. 



