104 DISEASES OF THE HEAD 



Tliis disease is more easily prevented than cured, and 

 horse-owners do well to avoid leaving an animal Avhen 

 heated, or after exercise, standing unclothed in the 

 cold or in a chilly draught. Also be careful about 

 transferring a horse suddenly from total exposure at 

 grass, or from a healthy airy stable to an ill-ventilated 

 and crowded one. 



Though influenza or distemper are often considered 

 to be epidemic, contagion should be, as before observed, 

 most carefully guarded against. Some professional men 

 hold these two designations to represent distinct dis- 

 eases. In influenza the animal becomes speedily at- 

 tenuated, and the whole system appears disordered and 

 debilitated, occasionally with lameness, as if from fever 

 of the feet. 



There is generally one mark which may be permitted 

 to be peculiar as distinguishing some forms of influenza, 

 particularly in certain seasons during its prevalence, 

 which is that of the mucous surfaces assuming a yellow 

 colour all over the body, and the white of the eye 

 being also tinged with that hue. 



When influenza assumes a serious character, the pro- 

 fessional man must be left to deal with it ; but pending 

 the arrival of such assistance, the treatment here recom- 

 mended can do no harm, the primary seat of the dis- 

 ease being that of the respiratory organ. 



Larynrjitis, Bronchitis, Pleurisy. — I will not attempt 

 to enter into descriptions or prescribe separate modes 

 of treatment for these and other diseases of the respira- 

 tory organs, such delicate distinctions belonging exclu- 

 sively to the professional man ; but while awaiting his 

 advice, the treatment recommended for common cold 

 and influenza can do no harm in any attacks of the 



