THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 85 



We have given the reader merely an outline of the symptoms 

 of this scourge of animated creation ; much might be written in 

 detail concerning it, very interesting and instructive to the 

 student of veterinary medicine, yet unprofitable to the practical 

 man, — the man of toil and care, — whose occupation does not 

 admit of so thorough a course of training as that required by the 

 former. It will be noticed, however, in addition to the foregoing 

 symptoms, that the horse scarcely, if ever, during the latter — 

 and indeed it may happen so during the early stage — never lies 

 down ; and that the nostrils are always distended, and appear 

 thin around their margins. 



Treatment of Consumption. — The main feature in the treat- 

 ment of the malady contemplates the invigoration of the system, 

 by good, nutritious diet, — including, if possible, green food, — 

 gentle exercise, pure air, and if the weather be cold, warm cloth- 

 ing : by the due employment of these means in the early stage, 

 perhaps, many valuable horses might be saved. 



As the tubercles seem to be formed at the expense of albumen, 

 such articles should be given as are known to be rich in that 

 material : milk, for example, should be allowed to the amount of a 

 quart per day. It is a well-known and exceedingly interesting 

 fact, that milk affords us the only instance in which nature has 

 provided a single article of food for the support of the animal 

 body ; and as it contains so large a proportion of albumen, besides 

 oil and sugar, it must be a valuable agent in the treatment of 

 consumption. We know of no better way of strengthening the 

 faith of our readers in this simple, yet sanative agent, than to 

 remark, that all the tissues, organized, and if — there are any — 

 unorganized, are formed from the albumen and fibrine of the 

 blood ; gelatine may be detected in them, however, yet that also 

 is formed from albumen and fibrine. Gelatine taken in the form 

 of jelly, soup, or broth, although very useful in the treatment of 

 prostrating diseases, cannot be applied to the nutrition of the 

 albuminous tissues. 



" Some experiments have recently been made in Paris on this 

 subject, with a view of determining howfar the soup made from 

 crushed bones, which constituted a principal article of diet in the 

 hospitals of Paris, was adequate for the support of the patients. 



