306 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



symptom, however, is the presence of the worms in the durg, 

 and these can usually be found if carefully sought for. In 

 such a case it is well to give a dose of physic to clear away 

 the mucus in which the vermin live; and if this is associated 

 with a vermifuge the majority of the parasites may be ex- 

 pelled at once. Six table-spoonfuls of castor oil, with two or 

 three tea-spoonfuls of oil of turpentine, according to the size 

 of the foal, should be well shaken together and given as one 

 dose. After this has operated twenty grains of powdered 

 sulphate of iron and ten grains of santonin may be given 

 daily for a week, when the dose of oil and turpentine may be 

 repeated, which will usually clear away all the parasites that 

 remain in the bowels. 



In conclusion, a caution is needed against a too common 

 method of treating diarrhoea from the outset with opium and 

 astringents with the view of cutting short the discharge. 

 As a rule scouring is but an indication of the presence in the 

 stomach or bowels of some cause of irritation, and all attempts 

 to quiet the irritation by opium or astringents serve but to 

 imprison the cause of trouble and thus prolong its irritant 

 action. The soundest policy in all such cases is to expel the 

 disturber with a bland laxative like castor oil, guarding its 

 action, if need be, by a little laudanum or other soothing 

 agent; and only later, when the irritant has been expelled, 

 to check the discharge and shelter and protect the irritated 

 bowels by weak solutions of gum arabic, of slippery-elm, or 

 by well-boiled linseed tea or starch. But even then these 

 must be used in moderation lest they should produce a sec- 

 ondary constipation, which will prove even more hurtful 

 than the diarrhoea. A good prescription for this stage, and 

 which may be repeated once, twice, or thrice a day, as may 

 be necessary, is eight grains of kino, one ounce tincture of 

 cinnamon, one-half drachm of gum arabic, and two drachms 

 of chalk. To sucking animals this may be given along with 

 the preparation of rennet, and should only be continued so 

 long as the bowels are loose and irritable. 



STRANGLES OR DISTEMPER. 



However strangles may be produced, or whatever acces- 

 sory causes may favor its development, there can be no doubt 



