Book VII. DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 981 



Inside of the eyelids also are tinged with the inflammation. The appetite now becomes affected ; and 

 although there is not much apparent pain, except when the horse coughs, yet there is much anxiety of 

 countenance present. The pulse is usually small but quick. If in this state the horse accidentally or erro- 

 neously be taken out and subjected to considerable exertion, it is almost always fatal to him : it likewise 

 happens that this complaint is sometimes mistaken for distemper, and, from a fear of profuse bleeding, the 

 only remedy that is to be depended on is omitted, and the horse is lost At the veterinary college, in these 

 cases, a small dose of aloes is given every six hours, and after being bled and rowelled, the horse is turned 

 out in the open air; and it is affirmed that many recover from this treatment. Certain it is, that the 

 stable in which a horse is placed in this disease can hardly be too cool ; but when entirely turned out, 

 his feet and legs cannot conveniently be hand. rubbed, or bandaged up to promote circulation ; neither 

 can we blister a horse when tumeu out, so conveniently ; and on blistering we depend as the second source 

 of cure. 



646+. The treatment is to be commenced by attempts at lessening the action of the arterial system by 

 early and large bleedings, as seven or eight quarts from a large horse, and which should be repeated in five 

 or six hours if he be not relieved in his breathing. Immediately rub into the brisket, on the chest, and 

 behind the fore legs, the blister. [Vet Pharm. 6559. No. 1.) Give half a dose of physic, and assist it by 

 mashes and warm water, which, if not readily taken, horn down. Back-rake also, and throw up the laxa- 

 tive clyster. (Vet. Pharm. 656+.) Avoid all exercise, clothe moderately, allow a free circulation of cool 

 air through the stable, and rub the legs frequently ; and when not under this process, keep them bandaged 

 up to the knees with hay-bands or woollen cloths. When the bowels are opened, give the fever drink 

 {Vet. Pharm. 6.380.) three times a day. The terminations of this complaint are various. It is not uncom- 

 mon for the horse to appear better, to eat and to drink, and to excite every hope of a perfect recovery ; but 

 on some sudden exertion he falls down and expires. On examination after death, it is found that effusion 

 of a large quantity of serous fluid has taken place in the chest. 



6+55. Thick wind is another termination of pneumonia, by leaving the bronchial passages charged with 

 coagulated blood. Moderate exercise and so'iling in the stable, with mild mercurial physic, form the best 

 mode of treatment ; but frequently the cough resists all these, and terminates in broken wind. 



6+56. lioaring is also a termination of pneumonia, in which case the lungs are not affected, but con- 

 gealed blood, under the name of coagulable lymph, remains in the trachea or windpipe, and obstructs the 

 free passage of the air ; by means of which the roaring noise is made. It is in vain to expect a cure : 

 blistering the throat sometimes slightly relieves it. 



6+57. Chronic cough is also a termination of pneumonia, and appears dependent on a peculiar irrita- 

 bility the disease leaves in the bronchial passages, which are found afterwards incapable of bearing any 

 sudden alteration of temperature: thus horses with this kind of cough are excited to it as soon as the 

 stable door opens, and by every exertion, by drinking, by eating, and, in fact, by any thing that alters 

 the situation of the body, or is new to the part. But, besides pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs 

 producing it, it is often brought on likewise by gross feeding, which, weakening the stomach, im- 

 poverishes the blood, and thus injures the lungs which are fed by that blood. Worms also by the same 

 means are a cause of chronic cough It is thus that we expect to derive benefit by mediums acting on 

 the stomach Green food is often found useful, but particularly carrots. The hay should be excellent 

 in quality and small in quantity ; and it will be found that soiling in the stable, but particularly a course 

 of carrots, forms a better plan of treatment than turning out. If worms be suspected, treat as under 

 that head. (6+78.) Formula? of chronic cough balls are seen in the Vet. Pharm. (6569.) 



6+58. Broken wind is also sometimes brought on by pneumonia, and sometimes by occult causes. It is 

 often occasioned by over-exertion after full meals, in which the lungs become permanently weakened, 

 perhaps ruptured, in their air-cells. Inexperienced persons find some difficulty in detecting broken wind 

 from other chest affections, as chronic cough, occasional colds, &c. &c. 



6+59 Criteria of broken tvind. The cough which accompanies broken wind is a short deep hollow 

 grunting no.se, and the short grunting expiration is peculiarly excited by turning a horse quickly round, 

 striking him smartly with a stick at the same time, which often produces the deep sound without the 

 cough ; and which is so significant as never to be mistaken when once heard and attended to : but the 

 principal peculiarity arises from the beating of the flanks, which operate rather by three efforts than by 

 two as usual. In the first, the air is drawn in, in the usual manner, and the flanks fill up as in common : 

 but in the next, the falling of the flanks is by no means natural ; for it is not done by a gradual sinking of 

 the sides, but it takes place at once, with a kind of jerk, as though the horse were sighing ; and then a 

 third effort takes place by a more slow drawing up of the muscles of the belly and flanks, to press out the 

 remaining air. Broken wind usually destroys the fecundity of the mare, and hence argues permanent 

 alteration of structure; it is also always incurable, but horses may be rendered very useful that have it, 

 by feeding them very nutritiouslv, but with their food much condensed in bulk. Little hay should be 

 ailowed, aiid that little should be" wetted, water in any other way should be given but sparingly, for which 

 they are however very greedy : from which circumstance, as well as that they are peculiarly flatulent, we 

 learn, that the vitiation of the lungs is either aggravated by the deranged state of the digestive organs ; 

 or, which is more probable, that the digestive powers become weakened from the state of the lungs. In 

 some few cases a partial rupture of the diaphragm or midriff' has been observed in broken wind. 



6+iiO. Diseases of the belly. Inflamed stomach seldom attacks the horse as an idiopathic affection, but 

 it is not unfrequent for the stomach to become inflamed by mineral poisons as well as rendered inert by 

 vegetable ones. Over-distention may also inflame it. 



6+61. Mineral poisons inflame the stomach acutelv, and produce excessive distress, and cold sweats ; the 

 animal lies down, rolls, gets up again, looks short round to his ribs, stamps with his fore feet, and his 

 pulse beats quick and short. Wh n arsenic or corrosive sublimate have occasioned the malady, a viscid 

 mucus distils from the nose and mouth, and the breath is fetid. When copper in the form of vitriolic 

 salts or verdigris has been given, to the foregoing symptoms are usually added ineffectual attempts to 

 vomit. Immediately the poisoning is discovered, pour down two ounces of sulphuretted potash, in a quart 

 of water • or in the absence of that, an ounce of common potash in the same quantity of water : or when 

 no better substitute is at hand, even strong soap-suds are advisable. Mineral poisons have also another 

 mode of acting and are often received into the constitution, neither by design to do mischief, nor by 

 mistake • but are purposely given as remedies. In this way, both mercury and arsenic are frequently 

 given for worms glanders, farcy, &C., in daily doses, which, when even of considerable magnitude, occa. 

 sion for manv days no inconvenience; all at once, however, the constitution becomes fully saturated with 

 the poison, and although before diffused throughout the blood, it now appears to return and act on the 

 stomach to the great surprise of the owner. In these cases the symptoms are not usually so violent as in 

 the former instance, but thev are equallv fatal A similar treatment with the one already prescribed is 



."_ ^ . 1 . 1 -_._!_ i." T ..11.1...... *->;- lirilll nlllllt-.f II k- 



constitution will part with the previous quantity. . . 



6+6+ Salivation is also another mode oj poisoning ; and though not equally injurious to thestomach, it 

 often proves distressing, and sometimes fatal. Whenever, therefore, mercurials are given, carefully 

 watch the gums, and as soon as they look red, and the horse quids his hay, give him a mild purge instead 



01 GK^Veeetable poisons also inflame the stomach ; but by no means in an equal degree with the mineral 

 poisons • nor is it supposed that it is the inaammation they raise that proves destructive, bU by an eflecj 

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