GENERAL DISEASES OF THE LOCOMOTORY APPARATUS 137 



The prognosis is unfavorable in the severe form. When 

 nervous s;^Tnptoms are absent recovery usually occurs in from 

 two to ten days. Complications are common. More or less 

 atrophy of the muscles of the quarters may result (Fig. 30). 



The preventive treatment consists in avoiding conditions that 

 may favor the production of the disease. ]\Iore attention should 

 be given the feeding and care of work animals. If it is not pos- 

 sible to permit horses that are worked to exercise in a lot or 

 pasture when idle, the ration should be reduced and roots, 

 chopped, or soft feed given. 



Careful nursing is an important part of the ireatment. As 

 soon as the horse shows evidence of an attack, it should be stopped 

 and allowed to stand until sufficiently recovered to be moved. 

 If paralysis occurs, we should make it as comfortable as possible 

 and arrange to move it to a comfortable, warm, well-bedded stall. 

 It may be advisable to place the animal in slings. This is not 

 advisable in the serious form of the disease because of the extent 

 of the paralysis and the nervous s^miptoms. A very light diet, 

 bran mashes, chopped hay or green feed, should be fed during 

 the convalescent period and for several days after complete 

 recovery has occurred. 



The following lines of medicinal treatment may be recom- 

 mended. We should endeavor to stimulate the elimination of 

 the waste products from the body by way of the kidneys, intes- 

 tines and skin. This may be accomplished by administering 

 saline cathartics, covering the body with blankets, encouraging 

 the animal to drink plenty of water and feeding soft feeds. 

 Glauber's salts may be given as a drench, or eserine may be given 

 hypodermically. Sedatives such as chloral hydrate may be used 

 to quiet the animal. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Give a general description of the locomotory apparatus. 



2. Give the causes of rheumatism: describe the treatment. 



3. What is azoturia? Give the cause of this disease. 



