DISEASES PECULIAR TO BREEDING STOCK. 309 



stables, such as fumes of burning sulphur diluted so as to 

 be breathed without irritation, or the exhalations from 

 shallow basins of carbolic acid and alcohol. We may add 

 the further precaution not to expose to cold, wet, nor ex- 

 haustion during convalescence from this affection, as many 

 cases of irregular course and untoward results have occurred 

 from the lack of just such care. 



In the treatment of the affection much more reliance is to 

 be placed on sound hygienic measures than on medication. 

 The patients should be fed liberally on scalded or boiled 

 grain, or wheat-bran, and if this can be given from a nose- 

 bag it will soothe and relieve the air passages and greatly 

 hasten the formation of matter and recovery. This should 

 be done at least twice a day. No less important is the con- 

 tinuous application of warmth and moisture to the swelling 

 between the jaws. This may be accomplished by persistent 

 fomentation with warm water, by the application of a poul- 

 tice in a bag of thin cotton, or, better and more conveniently, 

 by enveloping the head in a sheet, with holes cut for the 

 ears and eyes, and laced down the middle of the face, and in- 

 serting a large wet sponge so that it may lie in contact with 

 the swelling. This can be kept saturated with warm water 

 by pouring a little into it occasionally. When the matter 

 approaches the surface, and appears to be separated from 

 the finger by a thin layer of skin only, it should be freely 

 opened with a sharp knife. The fomentations may be kept 

 up until the surrounding hardness has entirely disappeared. 

 The swellings in unwonted situations should be similarly 

 treated, so as to seek a discharge of the matter externally. 

 The formations in internal organs are too often fatal because 

 of the vital importance of the structures involved. 



This is a malady through which most horses pass once in 

 their lives. In this respect it resembles measles, scarlatina 

 and other eruptive fevers of children. Precisely what are 

 the conditions which lead to its development it may be diffi- 

 cult to state in so many words, but there can be no doubt 

 that among the many predisposing causes change of locality 

 holds a very high place. Horses moved from one county or 

 State to another, from a hilly to a flat region, or the reverse, 



