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MODERN HORSE MANAGEMENT 



[chap. 



seems to be composed of the colouring matter 

 from the dark grey hairs. 



Melanosis is common in India, and I have 

 seen several cases in England, yet in Canada, 

 where dappled-grey horses are so very popular, 

 the disease is not common. Removal of these 

 tumours by the knife usually does little good. 



619. Tetanus, or Lockjaw. 



Cause. — Directly, by a bacterium, tetanus 

 bacillus, which gains access to an open, neg- 

 lected wound, where it remains in the damaged 

 tissue, and there produces a poison (toxin) that 

 readily spreads throughout the nervous system, 

 causing tetanic spasm of the voluntary muscles. 

 In the human subject there are several states, 

 but in the horse only one, called trismus. {See 

 Chapter XVII.) These germs are present in the 

 earth, especially in clay and any highly organic 

 soil. Horse-dung causes them to become more 

 virulent ; hence, if they gain access to a stable, 

 they become more dangerous. This bacillus and 

 the anthrax bacillus are the only two yet dis- 

 covered that will remain for any length of time 

 off their host without dying. The tetanus 

 bacillus is anaerobic, i.e. cannot thrive in the 

 presence of oxygen. Indirect causes are cuts, 

 wounds, broken knees that have been neglected 

 from the first. In some countries (as parts of 

 Spain and France) the tetanus bacilli are so 

 numerous in the soil that any wound, especially 

 a puncture, is a source of great danger. 



Symptoms. — Similar to poisoning from 

 strychnine. Comes on gradually. Contraction 

 of muscles of expression. Later, the rest of head, 

 neck, back and tail. Neck ewed, eyes drawn 

 back. Horse stands with outstretched limbs, 

 looks nervous and terrified. Breathing quick, 

 flanks tucked up. Recovery seldom occurs until 

 after second or third week. 



Treatment. — Treat any wound with keenest 

 antiseptic care, cutting out all unhealthy tissue. 

 If much toxin has got into the blood, case may 

 be fatal. Put in dark box-stall, keep absolutely 

 quiet and away from any excitement. Dust 

 wound with antitetanic powder and inject anti- 

 tetanic serum, as follows : 



620. Inject hypodermically at once 2,000 to 

 3,000 ampules (units) of fresh antitetanic serum, 

 and repeat in twenty-four hours. The dose will 

 probably make the horse feel sick for a few 

 hours. I have used this upon horses that have 

 been badly wounded with rusty nails, as a pre- 

 caution against tetanus, with splendid results. 

 In one case a horse had had a rusty nail in its 

 foot for twelve days, and on removal black pus 

 came out suddenly. Two injections, as above, 

 were given with an interval of twenty-four 

 hours, and the horse was worked, in seven days, 

 absolutely sound. Of course, there was no proof 

 that he was going to have tetanus, but there was 

 a great chance. Give aloes ball and calomel and 

 laxative food. Give cannabis indica i dr., chloral 



hydrate ^ oz., and pot. iodide i dr., in capsule, 

 every four hours. If the serum cannot be 

 obtained, inject under the skin 2 per cent, solu- 

 tion carbolic acid, i oz. every two hours. Do 

 not excite or try to drench. Give drugs in ball 

 or gelatine capsule. 



621. Paralysis. — For paralysis, which be- 

 comes apparent by loss of control of certain 

 muscles and no hardness, as in azoturia, the 

 best treatment, but which may be of no use, are 

 local stimulants, or even blisters, to the parts, 

 and electricity and massage. The bowels must 

 be kept open, and horse carefully fed and 

 attended to. Give nux vomica F.E. 1 dr. in feed 

 morning and night. 



622. SXRINGHALT. 



Cause. — A brain affection, generally, but may 

 be due to pressure on the nerve that leads to 

 the affected muscle. It affects one or both hind- 

 legs. 



Symptoms. — Raising the leg, or legs, very 

 high, even when at the walk. 



Treatment. — Good feeding and electricity may 

 do good. As a rule, an operation is necessary, 

 that of removing part of the tendon of the pero- 

 neus muscle, which causes the abnormal action 

 of the hindlegs. Give strychnine. 



623. Cerebro-spinal Meningitis is inflamma- 

 tion of the meningeal covering of the brain and 

 spinal cord. Its method of transmission from 

 horse to horse is undoubtedly through a micro- 

 organism, i.e. through the horse eating and 

 drinking infected food and water. 



Symptoms. — ^Its course is generally acute and 

 fatal. It is not uncommon in Western Canada 

 in hot weather. Attack may come on suddenly 

 or slowly. Unconsciousness, partial paralysis of 

 the hindquarters, probable pain on pressure 

 along spine. Head very hot. Horse walks about 

 with head low, as in a sleep, not knowing where 

 he is going. Will try to hide head in dark 

 corner. If given a bucket of water, may suffo- 

 cate himself by immersing head in the water, 

 owing to its being unable to swallow ; this may 

 be first symptom noticed. May walk into a 

 stream and drown himself. I remember a 

 large Clydesdale in Manitoba drowning herself 

 in this way. 



Treatment. — Sling horse, if he lies down ; 

 otherwise let him walk about, if he cannot hurt 

 himself. Put ice bags to spine. Give purgative 

 and diuretics. Give strychnine I gr. and canna- 

 bis indica F.E. i dr. every fourhours. 



624. Anthrax, or Cattle Plague (sometimes 

 called Horse Plague).— Very rare in horses. 

 Generally a most fatal disease ; due to the 

 presence of the anthrax bacillus in the blood, 

 causing imperfect oxidation of the blood, which 

 becomes thick and dark. Is very infectious. The 

 anthrax bacillus, like that of tetanus, will live 

 in a passive or spore state for any length of time 

 away from its host; thus a field in which an 



