GENERAL DISEASES. 115 



Morbid Anatomy. — General pallor and loss of tonicity of 

 the muscles, and soft flabby condition of the large glands 

 of the abdomen, are noticed. In the brain and spinal 

 cord there may be serous eff'usion into the sub-arachnoid 

 spaces, or infiltration of the membranes with a gelatinous 

 matter. 



Treatment. — Change and careful regulation of the diet 

 are essential. At first the food should be restricted to hay 

 and mashes, and the animal should be rested and carefully 

 attended to for a few days. 



Mild aperients should be given, and bicarbonate of soda 

 or potash allowed freely in the drinking-water. The alkaline 

 salt is especially called for when the horse exhibits a depraved 

 appetite by eating the mortar or licking the walls. 



Iodine and iodide of potassium are the most valuable of 

 internal remedies, and, indeed, are regarded as specifics. 

 The compound tincture of iodine may be prescribed, or 

 iodide of potassium may be given in the drinking-water 

 in two-drachm doses twice daily. Vegetable tonics may 

 also be administered. 



Other remedies often used are sulphate and perchloride 

 of iron, and arsenic in the form of Fowler's solution. 



DIABETES MELLITUS.— This disease is rarely met 

 with in the horse, and its pathology is very obscure. 



Etiology. — The glycogenic activity of the liver appears to 

 be increased in this disease, and thus more glycogen is 

 converted into glucose and thrown into the circulation than 

 can be used in the economy. The surplus is thus excreted 

 by the kidneys. Whether this increased functional activity 

 is due to direct nervous influence on the hepatic cells, or 

 whether it arises from vaso-motor disturbance producing 

 dilation of the hepatic arteries, or lastly, whether it be in 

 some cases due to the former, and in other cases to the 

 latter, is uncertain. 



8—2 



