Infiamniaiion of the Lungs ; its Treatment. 251 



the horse's chest and windpipe should be also sub- 

 jected to the beneficial effects of counter irrita- 

 tion. In olden times farriers used to bleed freely 

 for inflammation of the lungs, but it is seldom 

 resorted to now. If the horse is costive, which 

 is frequently the case in inflammation of the 

 lungs, the first thing is to ^<di its bowels open ; 

 for this purpose (never give aloes in inflamma- 

 tion) the best purgative to give is three half -pints 

 of linseed oil. Some give castor oil, but that 

 mild aperient in the human being is both un- 

 certain and unsafe when administered to the 

 horse. Instead of bleeding we resort to the use 

 of digitalis^ aconite^ and acetate of ammonia. In 

 the early stages of inflammation of the lungs, 

 give digitalis one drachm morning and night. If 

 the fever runs very high give belladonna in 

 drachm doses, alternately with digitalis. If the 

 pulse is high, up to 80 or 100, give aconite in ten 

 drop doses every quarter of an hour, enemas of 

 warm soap and water, with two ounces of linseed 

 oil, which should be given every half-hour until 

 the bowels are freely open. It often happens 

 that horses are known to be a little ill, and no 

 notice is taken of them until inflammation has 

 set in ; then the owner or groom does not know 

 if it is inflammation of the lungs, bowels, or 

 colic, in which case it is always safe under the 

 circumstances to administer the following, which 

 often has the effect of arresting what would 

 otherwise have been a case of severe inflamma- 

 tion : — 



