78 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



accustomed vivacity and spirit. But his appetite is good. 

 Yery likely, indeed, he eiats voraciously, and this only 

 serves to allay suspicion. A horse with the big head con- 

 tinues to eat until the last moment. When no longer able 

 to raise his head from the earth, the poor creature, lying 

 upon his side, as well as he can, begs for corn; and strange 

 as. it may appear, corn— one of the principal causes of the 

 disease — is the only food he wants, and nothing else will 

 he eat. 



TREATMENT. 



The object of this must be twofold : first, to dry up the 

 humor in the jaws and head ; and, second, to free the system 

 from the general effects of the disease. This, of course, can 

 be most easily done in the early stages, yet the disease may 

 often be overcome when it has made considerable progress. 

 It is worth a trial whenever a horse can raise himself to 

 his feet. 



Bleeding is the first and indispensable thing to be done. 

 The blood is very thick, almost black, and moves very 

 sluggishly. The veins are congested — often dreadfully con- 

 tracted. JS'o medicines can be made to operate upon the 

 system while the blood remains in this condition. The 

 mucous absorbents of the intestines are nearly closed, and 

 food passes onward through them undigested. While com- 

 munication between the digestive organs and the blood 

 is so nearly cut off, it is folly to give medicines. Bleed- 

 ing thins the blood, as well as decreases its quantity ; relaxes 

 the system, and enables the absorbents concerned in the 

 functions of nutrition to perform their proper ofiices. Medi- 

 cines can now again reach the circulation and be carried 

 to the extremities by the capillaries. The quantity of blood 

 taken should be from two to four quarts, according to the 

 character of the symptoms. In a bad case the bleeding 

 should be repeated every sixth day, though ordinarily 

 from two to four times, at intervals of ten days, will be 

 enough. 



The bleeding having been performed, the practitioner 



9 



