DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 113- 



Inflammation of the laniyx is a serious and sometimes a fatal disease, 

 and, as before stated, is usually complicated with inflammation of the- 

 pharynx, constituting what is popularh^ known as "sore throat." The 

 chief causes are chilling and exposure. 



Symjytoms. — About the first symptom noticed is cough, followed by 

 difficulty in swallowing, which may be due to soreness of the mem- 

 brane of the pharynx, over which the food or water must pass, or to 

 the pain caused by the contraction of the muscles necessary to impel 

 the food or water onward to the gullet; or this same contraction of the 

 muscles may cause a pressure on the larynx and produce pain. In 

 many instances the difficulty in swallowing is so great that water, and-^ 

 in some cases food, is returned through the nose. This, however,, 

 does not occur from laryngitis alone, but only when the pharynx is- 

 involved in the inflammation. The glands between the lower jaw- 

 bones and below the ears may be swollen. Pressure on the larynx' 

 induces coughing. The head is more or less "poked out," and has 

 the appearance of being stifily carried. The membrane in the nose'- 

 becomes red. A discharge from the nostrils soon appears. As the- 

 disease advances, the breathing may assume a more or less noisj' char- 

 acter; sometimes a harsh rasping snore is emitted with every respira-- 

 tion, the breathing becomes hurried, and occasionalh" the animal 

 seems threatened with suffocation. 



Treatment. — In all cases steam the nostrils, as has been advised for- 

 cold in the head. In bad cases cause the steam to be inhaled continu- 

 ously for hours — until relief is afforded. Have a fresh bucketful of 

 boiling water ever}' fifteen or twenty minutes. In each bucketful of 

 water put a tablespoonf ul of oil of turpentine, or compound tincture of 

 benzoin, the vapor of which will be carried along with the steam to- 

 the affected parts and have a beneficial effect. In mild eases steaming; 

 the nostrils five, six, or seven times a day will suflice. 



The animal should be placed in a comfortable, dr}' stall (a box stall- 

 preferred), and should have a pure atmosphere to breathe. The body 

 should be l)lanketed, and bandages applied to the legs. The diet should 

 consist of soft food — bran mashes, scalded oats, linseed gruel, and, best' 

 of all, grass, if in season, which should be fresh. The manger, or' 

 trough, should not be too high nor too low, but a temporary one should- 

 be constructed at about the height he carries his head. Having tc- 

 reach too high or too low ma}' cause so much pain that the animal 

 would rather forego satisfying what little appetite he might have than- 

 inflict pain Iw craning his head for food or water. A supply of fresh, 

 water should be before him all the time; he will not drink too much, 

 nor ,vill the cold water hurt him. Constipation (if present) must be- 

 relieved be enemas of warm water, administered three or four times- 

 during the twentj'-four hours. 

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