JAUXDlCi-:. ■M.'i 



qiiently fatal disease. It will arise from a vai-iety of causes, sucli as u 

 plethoric state of the system, induced by high feeding and want of exer- 

 cise, over- exertion especially in hot weather, injuries to the side, and sym- 

 pathy with other inflamed organs, as the lungs or bowels. In the early 

 stages of the disease the animal will generally be found dull, and off his 

 feed ; he will give evidence of abdominal pain, by restlessness and fre- 

 quently looking at his sides, but not so much as in enteritis. The breath- 

 ing and pulse will also be slightly increased. As the disease progresses 

 the internal membrane of the mouth, nose, and eyes will become of a 

 yellow colour, the bowels are constipated, and the small quantities of hard 

 faeces voided, will be of a clayish yellow colour. The lU'ine also will be 

 highly coloiired with bile. The animal will now give evidence of pain, 

 on pressure being applied to the right side, over the region of the liver ; 

 lameness of the off fore-limb will also occasionally be present. If the 

 symptoms go on increasing in severity, and no relief be afforded, a fatal 

 termination will probably be the result in eight or ten days. Our treat- 

 ment should consist in the immediate abstraction of blood to the extent of 

 five or six quarts. Tliis should be at once followed by 5i. calomel, with 

 5iij. to ^iv. aloes. Counter-irritation, also, in the form of a blister, 

 should be applied to the right side. The animal should be placed in a 

 cool well-ventilated stable, kept as quiet as possible, and allowed nothing 

 in the shape of food, except bran mash, and linseed or oatmeal gruel. If 

 the symptoms yield to treatment, and the animal begins to recover, he 

 shoiild for some time be kept on light, nutritious foods. Vegetable tonics 

 may also be given to restore the tone of the digestive system, great atten- 

 tion being paid to the state of the bowels. 



JAUNDICE, 



Commonly called the yellows, is a more frequent, but more tractable 

 disease. It is the introduction of bile into the general circulation. This 

 is usually caused by some obstruction in the ducts or tubes that convey 

 the bile from the liver to the intestines. The horse, however, has but one 

 duct, through which the bile usually flows as quickly as it is formed, and 

 there is no gall-bladder. Jaundice does, however, occasionally appear, 

 either from an increased flow or altered quality of the bile, or obstruction 

 even in this simple tube. The yelloAvness of the eyes and mouth, and of 

 the skin where it is not covered with hair, mark it sufficiently plainly. 

 The dung is small and hard ; the urine highly coloured ; the horse languid, 

 and the appetite impaired. If he is not soon reheved, he sometimes be- 

 gins to express considerable uneasiness ; at other times he is dull, heavy, 

 and stnpid. A characteristic symptom is lameness of the right fore-leg, 

 resembling the pain in the right shoulder of the human being in hepatic 

 affections. The principal causes are over-feeding or over-exertion in 

 sultry weather, or too little woi-k generpjly speaking, or inflammation or 

 other disease of the liver itself. 



It is first necessary to enquire whether this affection of the liver is not 

 the consequence of the sympathy of that organ with some other part, foi", 

 to a very considerable degree, it frequently accompanies inflammation of 

 the bowels and the lungs. These diseases being subdued, jaundice will- 

 disappear. If there is no other apparent disease to any great extent, an 

 endeavour to restore the natural passage of the bile by purgatives may be 

 tried — not consisting of large doses, lest there should be some undetected 

 inflammation of the lungs or bowels, in either of which a strong purgative 

 would be dangerous ; but given in small quantities, repeated at short 

 intervals, and imtil the bowels are freely opened. Plenty of water 

 slightly warmed, or thin gruel, should be given. The hnrse should be 



