15 



CHOKING. 



Choking in horses is generally attended with violent indications 

 of distress, by his out-stretched neck and frequent abortive attempts 

 to gulp down something, while the saliva flows from the mouth. 

 Occasionally these efforts become spasmodic, the head is drawn into 

 the chest, and again protuded with violent muscular action, and the 

 horse will now and then utter a piercing scream. It may be ascer- 

 tained that an obstruction exists in a part of the oesophagus, where 

 it may be easily manipulated ; but in many instances the agent will 

 have passed too low down to be felt, or will have been arrested at 

 the entrance to the gullet, where it can only be reached by passing 

 the hand into the mouth and carrying it back to the posterior part. 



The best plan is that of gently manipulating the body in a down- 

 ward direction, and occasionally reversing the course of the pressure 

 so as to cause, if possible, the movement of the mass to a new posi- 

 tion. During the time a little oil may at intervals be poured into 

 the mouth ; but care must be taken not to keep the head held up 

 by force. A small portion of the fluid Avill probably run down the 

 swallow ; but the greater part will return through the nostrils, and 

 if this is prevented the superfluous oil will run into the larynx, and 

 not unlikely cause immediate suffocation. 



COAT, TO MAKE A HORSE CAST ITS. 



Give it scalded linseed, with a bran mash twice a week containing 

 loz. of nitre ; also keep it warm in the stable, and take care that 

 the skin is not chilled out of doors. 



COLIC. 



On the appearance of the first symptoms of colic, administer a 

 ball containing 8drs. of aloes, and throw up the rectum warm water 

 enemata every ten minutes until relief is afforded. 



The treatment to be used in the case of colic is recommended as 

 follows in " Stewart's Stable Economy " (where draught horses are 

 kept, this remedy should be always at hand) : '' Take a quart of 

 brandy ; add to it 4oz. of sweet spirit of nitre, 3oz. of whole ginger, 

 and 3oz. of cloves. In eight days this mixture or tincture is ready 

 for use ; the cloves and ginger may still remain in the bottle, but 

 they are not to be given. Set the bottle past, and put a label upon 

 it; call it the 'colic mixture.' The dose is 6oz., to be given in a 

 quart of milk or warm water, every fifteen or twenty minutes, till 

 the horse be cured. Keep his head straight and not too high when it 



