112 THE FAMILY HORSE. 



CHAPTER X. 



AILMENTS AND THEIR REMEDIES. 



It is not the intention of this little work to make an amateur 

 horse-doctor of every person who has the care of a horse. Veter- 

 inary science has attained as high a development as any other 

 branch of medical science, and a thorough knowledge of it can 

 be acquired only by long study and experience. No department of 

 science has been marked by greater reforms than veterinary prac- 

 tice. The old barbarous methods of indiscriminate bleeding, blister- 

 ing, purging, firing, and other " heroic " treatment, have been super- 

 seded by an enlightened system, which is indicated as follows by 

 the writings of two eminent veterinary authorities. Dr. Dixon 

 says: "Nature is ever busy, by the silent operation of her own 

 forces, in curing disease. Her medicines are air, warmth, food, 

 water, and sleep." Again : *' Blood is the fuel that keeps the lamp 

 of Ufe burning ; if the fuel be withdrawn, the vital spark is extin- 

 guished." Dr. Geo. H. Dadd says in his "Modern Horse Doctor" : 

 " During nine years' practice in the city of Boston, the author of this 

 work has never in a single case of any form of disease had recourse 

 to the practice of blood-letting." Similar citations could be multi- 

 plied, all showing a thorough reform in veterinary practice. Ca- 

 thartics, diuretics or surgical interference of any kind should 

 never be resorted to by any one but a qualified practitioner. In 

 fact, if a horse worth saving is attacked with any serious ailment, 

 the only safe course is to call a veterinary surgeon, if one can be 

 obtained. 



Yet there are some ills which horse-flesh is heir to, so sudden 

 and violent in their development, and fatal in their results, that all 

 horse-keepers should know something of their pathology and symp- 

 toms, as well as the means of rendering at least the first aid, or the 

 horse may die before professional assistance can arrive. There are 

 other, less acute affections, which call for care and good manage- 

 ment rather than medical or surgical treatment. In every case 

 prevention is better than cure, and to secure this the horse-keeper 

 should have some knowledge of morbid conditions and their causes. 

 We shall briefly mention a few ailments which are most likely to 

 require attention. 



