110 



THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



likely, however, to happen when the animal is not regularly 

 worked. It is very natural to suppose that urine of this kind, 

 abounding in morbific materials, should irritate the membranes 

 lining the urinary organs, and result in a high grade of inflamma- 

 tory action. Yet the disease may arise from other causes. We 

 have known it produced by repeated doses of gin and saleratus, 

 and spirits of turpentine ; but generally, these agents involve the 

 ureters and bladder in the inflammatory diathesis. It has gen- 

 erally been considered that the disease is often brought about by 

 over-exertion, either in drawing heavy loads, or in holding back 

 (shaft horses) on going down hill ; in fact, immoderate work of 

 any kind might result in a disease of this character. 



Symptoms. — A constant desire to void urine, although only 

 passed in small quantities, high colored, and sometimes tinged 

 with blood, though more generally quite natural. There is usu- 

 ally a peculiar stiffness in the hind extremities, especially when 

 the horse is made to describe a circle. Pressure on the loins 

 elicits symptoms of pain, and the pulse and respirations denote 

 febrile symptoms. 



Treatment. — Apply a cold water bandage to the loins, and 

 administer a drench composed of 



Linseed oil, ) . , e , 



Mucilage of slippery elm, £ pint of each. 



Enemas of warm water should be given daily. The less fluid 

 the animal drinks, the better ; and the best drink, under the cir- 

 cumstances, is flaxseed tea. Should the horse refuse to partake 

 of it, a sloppy mess, made of oatmeal and boiling water, will 

 answer, and he will probably prefer it to the former. In a few 

 cases, which were considered of recent origin, we have prescribed 

 a solution of muriate of iron, in doses of two fluid drachms, twice 

 a day, and we have reason to think that the remedy did some 

 good. The article should be turned into pure water, and offered 

 to the patient in a bucket. This preparation of iron is a valuable 

 tonic, and in chronic cases will generally prove serviceable. In 

 the acute stage, and after the bowels have responded to some 

 mild cathartic, either linseed oil, Glauber salts, or a decoction of 

 marshmallows will have a beneficial effect. The decoction is 

 thus prepared : Take of marshmallow roots, dried and bruised, 



