DISEASES OF THE LIVER, URINARY ORGANS, ETC. 331 



there should be some undetected inflammatioii 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 until the bowels are freely opened. Bleeding 

 should always be resorted to, regulated according to the ap- 

 parent degree of inflammation, and the occasional stupor of 

 the animal. Plenty of water, slightly warmed, or thin gruel^ 

 should be given." 



TREATMENT. 



Our remedies in this disease are necessarily constitutional, 

 rather than specific ; or, perhaps, it would be still more 

 proper to class them as preventives. They consist of sulphur 

 and resin, and a very free use of the bark of the yellow 

 poplar, either in the form of a powder, or as a decoction, to be 

 administered as a drench. If this bark, in chips or pulver- 

 ized, be kept in the manger, the horse will eat considerable 

 quantities of it. It acts as one of the best of tonics for him. 

 Golden seal operates very advantageously in the same man- 

 ner, and, in connection with sulphur and resin, forms a most 

 excellent tonic alterative. The dose is one ounce of the 

 powder, in his feed or in the compound of sulphur and resin. 

 But, above all the alteratives known to the profession gen- 

 erally, we give the preference to the " jimson " seed. This 

 may be considered the liver and blood medicine for the 

 horse. 



To the above list of remedies may be added Prof. Dale's 

 powders (see Chapter XXIV), which are highly recommended 

 for their action upon the blood and general system of the 

 horse. 



ENLARGEMENT OF THE SPLEEN. 



"What is the precise function of the spleen — or melt, as it 

 is commonly called — has never been fully demonstrated. 

 This strange organ is subject to enlargement, but from w^hat 

 cause, or by what remedies to counteract it, no one seems 

 to have more than surmised. We confess to an entire igno- 



