SCAELATIXA. 303 



necessarily duo to any renal complication, as they are common 

 sequelee to most debilitating diseases in the horse. 



Treatment. — In the milder forms of the disease it is sufficient 

 to keep the animal in a warm, well- ventilated, light, loose box, 

 to feed it on laxative food, and give small and repeated doses of 

 the nitrate of j)otash, hyposulphite of soda, or chlorate of potash, 

 in the food or water. The body must be clothed according to 

 the weather, and the general comfort of the animal attended to. 



In the graver forms, the animal must be carefully watched, 

 more especially with regard to its breathing, for in some cases 

 the glottis and other structures of the throat rapidly swell, the 

 larynx becomes constricted, and the animal may die from suffo- 

 cation. Whenever this is threatened, tracheotomy must be 

 performed ; and in all cases where the breathing is difficult, and 

 accompanied by a loud roaring noise, this operation is to be 

 resorted to, in order that the animal may obtain pure air to 

 oxidize its already impure blood. 



The throat is to be repeatedly bathed with hot water and 

 enveloped in warm poultices, and the animal made to inhale 

 the steam of hot water. The mouth is to be frequently washed 

 out with salt and water, and if the coryza is excessive some of it 

 may be applied to the nose. If tlie face and nares are swollen, 

 they must be frequently bathed with cold water, and afterwards 

 dressed with some astringent lotion, such as a solution of the 

 tincture of terchloride of iron. If the bowels are very torpid, a 

 gentle laxative may be administered, such as one pint of linseed 

 oil, but active purgation must on no account be induced ; the 

 nitrate of potash may be given freely in the food or water, and 

 abundance allowed of the latter, which must be cold and fresh. 

 If signs of purpura supervene, the chlorate of potash must be 

 substituted for the nitrate. If much depression is present, 

 draughts of spirits of nitrous ether may be given, provided 

 deglutition is not difficult ; but if the act of swallowing causes 

 pain and cough, nothing should be forced upon the animal, or 

 suffocation may ensue. Indeed, where the throat is very sore, 

 even the oil must be withheld, and the bowels relieved by 

 enemas, or by the sulphate of magnesia dissolved in the horse's 

 water. If he will drink this, it has a very good effect, but 

 many horses will not drink at all if salts are dissolved in their 

 water. After the first few days milk, or milk with eggs, is to be 



