Colds and Coughs. 595 



the tumour often becomes very large, and the abscess forms tardily, or there may be a succes- 

 sion of abscesses ; under such circumstances the animal's system suffers considerably from 

 weakness. In other instances the tumefaction behind and between the branches of the lower 

 jaw is so great as to seriously interfere with respiration, and it becomes necessary to make 

 an artificial opening into the windpipe. In the treatment of strangles it should be borne 

 in mind that the malady is one which will run a specific course, and our object should be 

 to husband and support the resources of the system through the different stages. The 

 better tone the animal can be kept in the more quickly will the abscess form, and the 

 more completely will the poison be thrown off. Instead of lowering the animal by purgatives, 

 as would seem to be necessaiy by some of the symptoms, allow him nourishment in any 

 form he may fancy it ; linseed or oatmeal gruel, mashes of any kind, scalded hay, sliced 

 carrots, fresh-cut grass, and oats made soft by scalding, are all good. Frequently steam the 

 nostrils, to allay somewhat the irritation in the throat ; the swelling in the neck should be 

 continuously fomented or poulticed to encourage the formation of the abscess, and having 

 placed the animal in a well-ventilated box, keep him warm and comfortable by clothing the 

 body and bandaging the legs. When the abscess points, that is, when the tumour easily pits 

 on pressure at one particular place, it should be boldly opened, and when once open, on no 

 account attempt to check the discharge, but encourage it by keeping the orifice clean and 

 free. When such complications exist as before alluded to, send for the best advice you can 

 obtain. 



Common Cold and Sore Throat. — When the horse is suffering from a common cold it may 

 be detected by symptoms similar to some extent to those seen when the human subject has a 

 "cold in the head." The appetite is impaired, the animal is dull about the eyes, a watery dis- 

 charge runs from the nostrils, and in small quantity from the eyes too, the membranes of the 

 eyelids and nostrils are very red, and there is a chilly state of the animal. This is commonly 

 accompanied with sore throat, when the animal evinces a difficulty in swallowing, and oc- 

 casionally coughs. 



The patient should at once be placed in an airy loose box, the body well clothed and legs 

 bandaged, the ordinary corn diet should be suspended, and bran mashes, with scalded oats and 

 scalded hay, given instead. If sore throat exists, a mustard application should be made to the 

 upper portion of the neck and underneath part of the throat, and about half an ounce of nitre given 

 daily in a mash. If this treatment be promptly put into action, recovery, in most cases, would be 

 rapid and complete ; but from neglect and carelessness on the part of the groom, what should only 

 be a very simple matter not unfrequently becomes a complicated case; hence we have as sequels, 

 chronic cough, bronchitis, and even inflammation of the lungs.* 



Chronic cough results from various and sometimes widely different causes ; be whatever the 

 cause, however, it is of an incurable character, and whatever can be done in the way of 

 medical treatment will prove to be of a palliative character only. A horse so affected should 

 be always kept in a cool stable; his food should be of a character containing a large amount 

 of nourishment in a small space : this, and also the water, should be given to him frequently 

 and in small quantities, and the food should be always damped. If in the habit of eating the 

 litter, he should be prevented doing so, and he must be regularly exercised. Tonic medicine 

 may be given occasionally with advantage ; two dradims of powdered siilpliate of iron ivitii a 

 similar quantity of gentian may be given daily in the food. A ball, composed of one drachm 

 of camphor, two drachms of nitre, atid one drachm of aloes, made up with tar, and given 



* Kennetl's patent nose-bag is valuable for steaming a Iioisq with n colcj, 



