DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 199 



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lar to the girth, to hold down the collar when pulling' upgrade; regular 

 feed and exercise, without allowing the animal to become excessively 

 plethoric; moderate checking, allowing a free-and-easy movement of 

 the head; well-ventilated stabling, proper cleanliness, pure water, etc. 



SUNSTROKE, HEAT STROKE, OR HEAT EXHAUSTION. 



The term sunstroke is applied to affections occasioned not exclusively 

 by exposure to the sun's rays, as the word signifies, but by the action 

 of great heat combined generally with humid atmosphere. Exhaustion 

 produced bj^ a long-continued heat is often the essential factor, and is 

 called heat exhaustion. Horses on the race track undergoing pro- 

 ti-acted and severe work in hot weather often succumb to heat exliaus- 

 tion. Draft horses exposed to the direct rays of the sun for many 

 hours^ which do not receive proper care in watering, feeding, and rest 

 in shady places, suffer very frequently from sunstroke. 



Symptoms. — Sunstroke is manifested suddenly. The animal stops, 

 drops his head, begins to stagger, and soon falls to the ground uncon- 

 scious. The breathing is marked with great stertor, the pulse is very 

 slow and irregular, cold sweats break out in patches on the surface of 

 the body, and the animal often dies without recovering consciousness. 

 The temperature becomes very high, reaching 105° to 109" F. 



In heat exhaustion the animal usuall}^ requires urging for some 

 time previous to the appearance of any other symptoms, generally 

 perspiration is checked, and then he becomes weak in his gait, the 

 breathing hurried or panting, eyes wateiy or bloodshot, nostrils 

 dilated and highl}^ reddened, assuming a dark, purple color; the pulse 

 is rapid and weak, the heart l)oundi ng, followed by unconsciousness 

 and death. If recovery takes place, convalescence extends over a long- 

 period of time, during which incoordination of movement may persist. 



Pathology. — Sunstroke, virtually active congestion of the brain, 

 often accompanied by effusion and blood extravasation, characterizes 

 this condition, with often rapid and fatal lowering of all the vital 

 functions. The death may be due in many instances to the complete 

 stagnation in the circulation of the brain, inducing anemia, or want of 

 nourishment of that organ. In other cases it may be directly due to 

 the excessive compression of the nerve matter controlling the heart's 

 action, and cause paral3^si8 of that organ. There are also changes in 

 the composition of the blood. 



Treatment. — Under no circumstances is bloodletting permissible in 

 sunstroke. Ice or very cold water should be applied to the head and 

 along the spine and half an ounce of carbonate of ammonia or 6 

 ounces of whiskj^ should be given in 1 ^^int of water. Cold water 

 should be showered upon the bod}^ of the horse from the hose or 

 otherwise. This should be continued until the temperature is down 

 to 103° F. Brisk friction of the limbs and the application of spirits 



