TREATMENT OF DISEASES OP THE HORSE. 487 



kidney may be impaired, or inflammation may be produced. That inflam- 

 mation may be of an acute character, and destroy the patient ; or, although 

 not intense in its nature, it may by frequent repetition assume a chronic 

 form, and more slowly, but as sui-ely, do irreparable mischief. Hence the 

 necessity of attention to that portion of the food which may have a diuretic 

 power. Mow-burnt hay and foxy oats are the unsuspected causes of 

 many a disease in the horse, at first obscure, but ultimately referable to 

 injury or inflammation of the urinary organs. Hence, too, the impropi'iety 

 of suffering medicines of a diuretic nature to be at the command of the 

 ignorant carter or groom. In swelled legs, cracks, and inflammations 

 which are said to be produced by humours floating in the blood, diuretics 

 are evidently beneficial ; but they should be as mild as possible, and not 

 oftener given or continu.ed longer than the case requires. For some 

 cautions as to the administration of diuretics, and a list of the safest and 

 best, the reader is referred to page 337. 



Drinks. — Many practitioners and horse-proprietors have a great objec- 

 tion to the administration of medicines in the form of drinks. A drink 

 is not so portable as a ball, it is more troublesome to give, and a portion 

 of it is usually wasted. If the drink contains any acid substance, it is apt 

 to excoriate the mouth, or to irritate the throat already sore from disease, 

 or the unpleasant taste of the drug may tmnecessarily nauseate the horse. 

 There are some medicines, however, which must be given in the form of 

 di'ink, as in colic ; and the time, perhaps, is not distant when purgatives 

 will be thus administered, as more speedy, and safer in their operation. 

 In cases of much debility and entire loss of appetite, all medicine should 

 be given in solution, for the stomach may not have sufiicient power to 

 dissolve the paper in which the ball is wrapped, or the substance of the 

 baU. 



An ox's horn, the larger end being cut slanting^, is the usual and best 

 instrument for administering drinks. The noose of a halter is introduced 

 into the mouth, and then, by means of a stable fork, the head is elevated 

 by the groom considerably higher than for the delivery of a ball. The 

 assistant stands on a pail or stable-basket on the off-side of the horse, and 

 with the right hand introduces the horn gently into the mouth, and over 

 the tongue, and by a dexterous turn of the horn empties the whole of the 

 drink — not more than about six ounces — into the back part of the mouth. 

 The horn is now quickly withdrawn, and the greater portion of the fluid 

 vn.ll be swallowed. A portion of it, however, will often be obstinately held 

 in the mouth for a long time, and the head must be kept up until the 

 whole is got rid of, wliich a quick, but not violent slap on the muzzle will 

 generally compel the horse to do. The art of giving a drink consists in 

 not putting too much into the horn at once ; introducing the horn far 

 enough into the moiith, and quickly turning and withdrawing it, without 

 bruising or wounding the mouth, the tongue being loosened at the same 

 moment. A bottle is a disgraceful and dangerous instrument to use, excejit 

 it be a flat pint bottle, with a long and thick neck. 



Ferrdm, Iron. — Of this metal there are two preparations adopted by 

 veterinarians. The Carbonate is a mild and useftil tonic in doses of from 

 two to four drachms. The Sulphate (green vitriol or copperas) is more 

 powerful. It should never be given in the early stages of recovery, and 

 always with caution. The dose should be the same as that of the car- 

 bonate. The sulphate has lately been recommended for the cure of that 

 deceitful stage or form of glanders, in Avhich there is nothing to charac- 

 terise the disease but a very shght discharge from the nostrils. It is to 

 be dissolved in the common drink of the horse. It is worth a trial, but too 

 sanguine expectations must not be encouraged of the power of any drag 



