64 BUKEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSIKY. 



water in small quantities. After a horse has purged from twelve to 

 twenty-four hours it can mostl}^ be stopped, or *'set," as horsemen 

 sa}', by feeding on dry oats and hay. Should the purging continue, 

 however, it is best treated by giving demulcent drinks — linseed tea 

 and oatmeal or wheat-flour gruel. After this the astringents spoken 

 of for diarrhea may be given. Besides this the horse is to receive 

 brandy in doses of from 2 to 4 ounces, with milk and eggs, four or 

 Aa'c times a da3^ 



Laminitis "founder" is a frequent sequel of superpurgation and 

 is to be guarded against by removing the shoes and standing the horse 

 on moist sawdust or some similar bedding. 



Dysentery. — This -disease, sometimes called "bloody flux,'' is an 

 intestinal disease attended with fever, occasional abdominal pains, and 

 fluid discharges, mingled with blood. Discharges in dysentery arc 

 coffee colored or l)loody, liquid, and ver}'^ offensive in odor, and passed 

 with nmch straining. It is rare in the horse, l)ut is sometimes quite 

 prevalent among foals. 



Caicses. — Probably the most common cause is keeping young horses 

 in particular for a long time on low, wet, marshy pastures, without 

 other feed (a diarrhea of long standing sometimes terminates in d3\sen- 

 tery); exposure during cold, wet weather; decomposed foods; stagnant 

 water that contains large quantities of decomposing vegetable matter; 

 low, damp, and dark stables, particularly if crowded; the existence of 

 some disease, as tuberculosis of the abdominal form. In suckling foals 

 it may come from feeding the dam on irritant foods or from disease of 

 the udder. In other foals it ma}'^ be produced b}^ exposure to cold and 

 damp, to irritant food, or to worms. 



Symptoms. — The initial symptom is a chill, which probabl}^ escapes 

 notice in the majorit}^ of instances. The discharges are offensive and 

 for the most part licjuid, although it is common to find lumps of solid 

 fecal matter floating in this liquid portion; shreds of mucous membrane 

 and blood may be passed, or the evacuations may be muco-purulent; 

 there is much straining, and, rarely, R3anptoms of abdominal pain; the 

 subject lies down a great deal; the pulse is quickened and the temper- 

 ature elevated. Thirst is a prominent symptom. In the adult, death 

 rarely follows under two to three weeks, but in foals the disease ma}'- 

 end in death after a few days. 



Treatment. — This is most unsatisfactory, and I am inclined to place 

 more dependence upon the care and feed than anv medication that may 

 be adopted. First of all the horse must be placed in a dry, v:arm, yet 

 well-ventilated stable; the skin is to receive attention by frequent rub- 

 bings of the surface of the body, with blankets, and bandages to the 

 legs. The water must be pure and given in small quantities; the food, 

 that which is light and easily digested. Medicinalh^, give at first a 

 light dose of castor oil, about one-half pint, to which has been added 2 



