THi: MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 57 



We find from experience that salt has a good effect on this 

 disease, and therefore generally allow the patient all he 

 will eat. 



The best drink for the patient is flaxseed tea, acidulated with 

 cream of tartar, and thickened with powdered licorice. Yet if 

 he eat much salt, which is often the case, a corresponding thirst 

 may be expected : in this event, we see no good reason in with- 

 holding water, provided it be given a quart or two at a time, with 

 the chill off, although warm water generally excites disgust on 

 the part of our patient, and he will often go thirsty rather than 

 drink the nauseous stuff, which would at almost any time sicken 

 a dog. As regards the diet : a plethoric horse should be half 

 starved, both in view of reducing his fat and lessening the fever, 

 which, as a matter of course, will accompany the malady. In 

 fact, sloppy drinks and scalded shorts are all that are needed in 

 any case, until the disease turns for the better. 



Should the throat be sore, let it be rubbed occasionally with 

 warm vinegar and salt. The discharge from the nostrils must 

 be encouraged by steaming. The rectum may be emptied occa- 

 sionally with warm soapsuds. In view of guarding against sub- 

 sequent cough and debility, we give the following : — 



Powdered elecampane, 

 " pleurisy root, 

 " licorice, 



Slippery elm, . . . 



Salt, 



Gentian, 



equal parts. 



Dose, 1 ounce daily. 



The swollen limbs are to be rubbed frequently, and the patient 

 must have walking exercise as soon as the state of his health 

 permits. 



It is a notorious fact that there is no disease to which horses 

 in this country are subject that has opened so wide a field for 

 empiricism as this. Every man has his favorite remedy, and 

 often applies it to his own loss, because he thinks it beneath his 

 dignity to employ a physician to treat what horse dealers con- 

 sider a simple disease, which, however, frequently becomes com- 

 plicated from want of knowing when to do nothing, or applying 

 suitable means at the proper time. 



