340 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



TREATMENT. 



In all cases of this complaint, give the spirits of niter mix- 

 ture, prescribed in the last section for gravel ; but the quan- 

 tity there specified should be divided into three instead of 

 four 'doses, of which administer one at morning, noon, and 

 night, in a pint of warm water. If gravel be the cause of 

 - the trouble, the niter mixture should be used in connection 

 with the other treatment laid down for that disease. Should 

 there be much swelling of the parts, bathe them well with 

 cold salt and water, three or four times a day. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER. 



In nearly all cases, the existence of this disease is due to 

 gravel, yet occcasionally one finds a case of primary inflam- 

 mation of the bladder. The books call this disorder cystitis. 

 The neck is that part of the organ most generally afl:ected, 

 the membranes of its body being involved but comparatively 

 seldom. 



There is always a degree of inflammation in connection 

 with gravel, owing to the mechanical irritation of the parts. 

 Aside from this, we know of no other cause for this disease, 

 except the administration of certain poisons as diuretics, con- 

 spicuous in the list of which are cantharides and nux vomica. 

 If people will force such substances into the horse's stomach, 

 they deserve to lose their stock. But how can they plead 

 guiltless to the charge of wantonly torturing and destroying 

 those dumb brutes committed to their control by the benefi- 

 cent Creator ? 



TREATMENT. 



Copious bleeding is the first step in the treatment. iNTot 

 less than a gallon of blood should be extracted at once. 

 Then give the niter mixture, as directed for gravel. Let the 

 patient have a pint of flaxseed tea three times a day, and, 

 ^ if he will eat at all, set before him only light, soft food — 

 preferably a bran-mash — rye-bran, if it can be procured 



