400 The Care of Animals 



hind parts, often humping the back in a peculiar way. 

 He sweats profusely, there is a trembling of the muscles, 

 and he moves with much difficulty, gradually losing con- 

 trol of his hind parts and "going down," often before he 

 can be returned to the stable; he struggles to rise, but 

 is unable to do so. The affected muscles of the loins 

 and hips are swollen, tense and rigid. The urine is 

 turbid and dark in color, varjdng from a reddish coffee 

 to a very dark brown, almost black. In severe cases, 

 there is a period of excitement that lasts a day or two, 

 during which the horse struggles much. Azoturia 

 varies in severity, from a slight lameness that soon 

 passes away, to severe cases when death takes place 

 in a few hours. 



Place the horse in warm, comfortable quarters. 

 If he' can stand after being assisted to his feet, he 

 should be kept standing even if slings must be used. 

 If he cannot be got on his feet, he should be placed in 

 a comfortable position and well bedded to prevent his 

 doing injurj^ to himself. Attendants should exercise 

 care to avoid being hurt by the animal. The horse 

 should be warmly clothed, and rugs wrung from hot 

 water placed over the affected parts and changed every 

 half hour. A purge of six to eight drams of aloes 

 should be given as a ball. During the period of excite- 

 ment, bromide of potash in half -ounce to ounce doses 

 may be given every five hours. Citrate of lithium in 

 dram doses, three times daily, is good. The horse 

 should be given all the water he wants, and an ounce 

 of sweet spirits of niter twice daily to stimulate the 

 kidneys. After the excitement has passed, iodide of 



