598 The Book of the Horse. 



progress beyond a slow pace without danger of asphyxia. This pathological condition is very 

 often the result of hereditary taint, but may be the result of acute disease of the respiratory 

 organs. 



If a horse is a roarer or whistler he will usually make a grunting noise when taking a fence, 

 when attempting to, or in the act of, kicking, or when a person feints to strike him ; but this 

 is not an infallible sign : the only reliable test is that of making the animal gallop. 



Glanders. — This direful disease of the horse is due to the introduction of specific poison 

 into the blood. It is of a fatal and infectious character, and when once it appears in a stud 

 requires the utmost care and determination to eradicate. In many instances it so resembles other 

 diseases of a local type that even the most expert can simply say of them, " highly suspicious." 

 But such are the facilities for this disease to spread through a stable, and such is the fatality 

 of the disease, that it zvoidd be far better to err on the safe side, and destroy one animal suspicions, 

 but not absolutely affected, than to run the risk of infecting the whole stud. 



The symptoms commonly present are a discharge from the nostrils of a peculiar tenacious 

 character, sometimes purulent, at others transparent ; an unhealthy, lead-like colour of the 

 lining membrane of the nasal chamber : in some instances ulcers are seen upon it (this is 

 diagnostic) ; there is an enlargement under the jaw, the animal frequently coughs, and if the 

 case is running its course rapidly there will be considerable constitutional disturbance. It 

 is frequently associated with the formation of ulcers about the legs, head, and under the surface 

 of the belly, a condition designated farcy. 



Indigestioji is a common cause of suffering to the horse, both in an acute and sub-acute form. 

 Attacks of it may very frequently be avoided by carefully dieting the animal. The horse's 

 stomach is small, and cannot deal with a large quantity of bulky food. He should be fed fre- 

 quently, and always watered before being fed. If these simple rules were more frequently ob- 

 served, many horses that now succumb to diseases of the stomach and bowels would be preserved. 



Colic. — This malady is owing to a spasmodic contraction of the muscular coat of the bowel, 

 brought on by feeding upon indigestible food, taking large quantities of cold water, exposure to 

 cold, sudden change of diet, improper use of purgative medicines, crib-biting, and other causes. 

 Its symptoms are very violent abdominal pain at intervals, shown by recklessly rolling and 

 tumbling about, kicking at the belly, looking anxiously round at the sides, and frequently 

 pawing; the pulse during the paroxysm of pain is very quick and bounding, but subsides 

 almost to its usual character during the intervals between the attacks of pain. The horse's 

 pulse may be readily counted at the submaxillary artery, where that vessel passes under the 

 lower jaw ; a little careful manipulation will allow of its being distinctly felt about six inches 

 in front of the angle of the jaw. (In health it beats from thirty-two to thirty-six per minute.) 

 The same applies to the respiration ; the surface temperature is pretty equal ; in some cases the 

 belly is enlarged from wind, in grooms' language, but otherwise appearances are as usual. A 

 draught, composed of tincture of opium one ounce, nitric ether an maice and a half, and oil of 

 turpetitine one ounce, should be given in a pint of tepid gruel. If the attack is known to arise 

 from indigestible food having been taken, add four drachms of aloes in solution to the draught. 

 If symptoms of flatulence are present, an ounce of the aromatic spirit of ammonia should be 

 substituted for the turpentine. Providing the attack does not pass oft' in two hours, the 

 draught, minus the aloes, ought to be repeated. The horse may be prevented injuring himself 

 from struggling by being slowly walked about. As these attacks are frequently associated 

 with complications, means ought to be taken at the onset of the case, to obtain the services 

 of the veterinary surgeon. 



