10} THE HORSE. 



the harness saddle or the riding saddle. The treatment is the 

 same as recommended for sore shoulders. 



SIig:ht Cold and Coug:h — This ailment is caused 

 through the horse catching a chill in some way or other. The 

 symptoms are a running from the nostrils and eyes, dull coat, 

 sneezing, the jDresence of a cough, and general languidness of 

 behaviour on the part of the horse. A horse suffering from 

 cold should be kept warmly housed and clothed if necessary, 

 but jjlenty of fresh air in the stable is also essential. Severe 

 fast work must be avoided, but light and slow work 

 or exercise is beneficial, provided the weather is dry 

 and fine; the horse must not be exposed to wet. 

 A one-ounce do'Se of nitrate of potash may be given 

 once a day in the drinking water. The throat may 

 be rubbed with a liniment. The food should be damped, and 

 a little linseed oil may with advantage be mixed with the corn. 

 Tlie diet must be fairly laxative, and should include bran-and- 

 linseed mashes. 



Other illnesses — The ailments whichhavebeen treated 

 of constitute only a small number of those to which horses are 

 subject. There are a good nun.ber of others which occur fre- 

 quently in horses, but the treatniv^nt of which is outside tlie 

 scope of the horse-owner. They can only be satisfactorily 

 dealt with by a qualified veterinary surgeon, and the latter 

 should always be called in without delay whenever a horse falls 

 ill, and the owner or attendant notices tliat there is something 

 the matter Avith the animal. Many cases of loss to horse- 

 owners occur through delay in obtaiaing the advice of a vet., 

 valuable time being lost in procrastination. 



The more common diseases, of a more or less serious charac- 

 ter, are as follows : Colic, strangles, severe catarrh or cold, 

 bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, and influenza. There 

 are some details about these which the horse-owner will find 

 useful to know, and these are therefore given. 



Colic. — This is also known as '" gripes," and consists in a 

 serious disturbance of the digestive systei^L Horses suffering 



