DISEASES OF HORSES 315 



ored, being sometimes almost brown or black, like thick 

 coffee. The victim may die in a few hours or may re- 

 cover as soon. Again there may be a partial paralysis 

 of the hind limbs which lasts for months, and possibly 

 the animal may never fully recover. 



The cause of azoturia is overfeeding with rich feeds, 

 as grains, especially oats, cottonseed-meal and alfalfa, 

 with lack of exercise. Where animals have the run of a 

 small lot or barnyard the disease seldom is found. The 

 animals attacked are those confined in close stalls for 

 several days, fed regularly and given no exercise to aid 

 nature in digesting the feed. 



Remedies. In the beginning something to loosen up 

 the bowels is necessary, a dose consisting of four to six 

 drams of powdered aloes or a pound of Glauber's salts 

 being advisable. Follow this with a dose consisting of 

 four drams of bromide of potassium with one ounce of 

 sweet spirits of nitre given every five or six hours, for 

 three or four times, until the nervous conditions are re- 

 lieved. The bromide quiets the nerves and the nitre in- 

 creases the urinary secretions. A well-known veterina- 

 rian recommends a tablespoon of powdered saltpetre in 

 a quart of water given as a drench. 



Get the animal home as soon as possible and give it 

 moderate daily exercise, keep the bowels open, and cut 

 down the feed to the minimum. If the paralysis of the 

 limbs comes the advice of a good veterinarian will be 

 needed if a recovery is hoped for. 



Snake Bites. Symptoms : If the attack by a snake is 

 seen, the remedies to be used can be applied immediate- 

 Iv. but probably nine-tenths of all such injuries take 

 place when animals are grazing in pastures and nothing 

 is known of it. A horse comes in with its head or neck 



