DISEASES OF THE HEAET AND BLOOD, ETC. 357 



bings, amounting almost to convalsions of the sides, we never 

 saw elsewhere. Prospects were very fair for staying there 

 the remainder of the day, until a fortunate idea suggested 

 the simple but admirable remedy which will presently be 

 prescribed under the head of Treatment. Eight quarts of 

 water, from one of the many cold lime-stone springs of this 

 region, with a handful of salt stirred in, were given her, and 

 greedily drunk. In thirty minutes all was as tranquil with 

 the animal as if nothing had happened, and we went slowly 

 on our way rejoicing. 



In about a year from that time, this mare died very sud- 

 denly, as we afterward learned, undoubtedly from the dis- 

 eased condition of the pulmonary artery. She had been 

 subject to these spells of thumps for a number of years 

 previous. | 



TREATMENT. [ 



The treatment can not be expectea to prove really cura- 

 tive ; the changed structure of the atterial walls can not be 

 corrected by the skill of man; but relief may readily be 

 given in an attack of thumps. Bleeding will accomplish this 

 almost instantly, by lessening the flow of the blood ; but it 

 must be an extreme case, indeed, in which this can become 

 necessary. It is to be tried only as a last resort. 



Any thing given the horse to cool his blood will cause the 

 thumps to subside. Ice- water, with a little salt in it, just 

 enough to make it palatable, as well as to prevent it from 

 bringing on an attack of colic, will give relief in a few min- 

 utes. This is recommended as the best and safest treatment. 

 It is astonishing with what avidity a horse in this condition 

 will drink the cold water, and that, too, with a pretty good 

 sprinkling of salt in it. All that he will swallow can do him 

 no harm. If the ice- water can not be procured, the coldest 

 water that can be will answer very well. The cessation of 

 the thumpings is only a question of time, in nearly all cases, 

 and sometimes an hour or two of rest in the shade will set 

 every thing to rights again. 



Blue stone, dissolved in spirits, has often not merely given 



