376 EPIZOOTIC AND ENZOOTIC DISEASES. 



ever it likes best, to eat, a boiled linseed masli every night, roots, 

 such as carrots, turnips, or potatoes, with a handful or two of the 

 best and sweetest of hay, or grass if in season. If the alterna- 

 tions of the temperature of the skin be very marked, two or 

 three doses of spirits of nitrous ether are to be daily adminis- 

 tered in warm water ; and to excite the action of the kidneys, 

 which is often in abeyance, the ether is to be supplemented by 

 half-ounce doses of the nitrate of potash. Even when the fever 

 is high and the symptoms acute my experience leads me to 

 conclude that it is unwise to use depressants, such as aconite, 

 antipyrine, &c. If the bowels are costive, clysters of warm 

 water are to be administered, and in rare instances, where the 

 bowels are extraordinarily torpid, a dose of linseed oil. In 

 the majority of cases, however, laxative food will effect all that 

 is necessary, and it is better to avoid even the oil, except where 

 the constipation continues, or where it causes uneasiness. 



The chest is to be carefully examined at least once a day, and 

 when convenient the animal temperature registered, as well as 

 the pulse and number of respirations. 



If at the onset of the pleural inflammation there be pain and 

 distress, manifested by the horse looking to its sides and grunt- 

 ing, or attempting to lie down, opium or morphia subcutaneously 

 administered is to be given to alleviate the pain, and in order to 

 prevent its constipating effects, from eight to twelve ounces of 

 oil are to be given. One or two doses will be sufficient, for 

 when the dry condition of the first stage of the inflammation 

 has passed away, pain generally disappears. If the symptoms 

 are those of irritation rather than pain, bromide of potassium 

 may be given in preference to the opium ; and at any time 

 during the progress of the disease, if irritability is much in- 

 creased, the bromide will prove serviceable. In addition to 

 the opium, warm, soothing — not hot, scalding — fomentations 

 to the sides give great relief. These warm fomentations are 

 to be applied for at least an hour two or three times a day in 

 every severe case ; and in all instances, whenever the breathing 

 becomes catching or accelerated, they must be applied until 

 relief is given. In many cases their effect in allaying pain and 

 soothing the animal is most marked, the patient often giving a 

 " sigh of relief" in a few minutes. The best method of applying 

 them is either to wrap the horse's body in a thick blanket 



