1G2 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



largely of cold water when heated, and subsisting on imwliole- 

 sonie food. 



Treatment. — Having properly examined the case, we should 

 immediately have recourse to bleeding, and that as extensively as 

 possible: for this purpose, a large opening should be made in the 

 jugular vein, or one on each side, and from six to eight quarts 

 taken as quickly as possible, continuing the bleeding till the 

 pulse becomes almost imperceptible. The bowels being costive, 

 the dung should be removed by back-raking, and a copious in- 

 jection thrown up. A pint and a half of linseed oil and one 

 drachm of powdered opium may next be given, and a half pint 

 of the oil, with half a drachm of opium, may be repeated every 

 six hours, till the bowels are relaxed : the injections being also 

 frequently repeated. 



The abdomen should be fomented with very hot water, which 

 should be continued for some time ; and it will afterwards be very 

 useful to apply hot sheep-skins, just removed from the dead 

 animal, to the abdomen, the woolly side outermost. If thesa 

 cannot be procured, the fomentations should be repeated, or the 

 abdomen may be stimulated by a blistering application.* The 

 legs must be kept warm by flannel bandages, assisted, if neces- 

 sary, l)y rubbing in a stimulating liniment, composed of oil and 

 spirits of turpentine. During the continuance of pain the horse 

 will, of course, take no food, nor Is any desirable. He will most 

 probably be disposed to drink, of which circumstance advantage 

 should be taken, by offering him oatmeal gruel, or linseed tea, 

 as often as he will take it. 



If relief be not obtained in the course of six hours, our 

 prognosis will be unfavourable, particularly If, on again resort- 

 ing to bleeding, we find the blood very dark and thick, and 

 with difificidty obtained. 



A second, and even a third, bleeding should be tried, though 

 in less quantity than at first. If the pain ceases, or greatly di- 

 minishes, the pulse becoming more distinct and moderate, we 

 may then augur a favourable result, which opinion will be 

 greatly strengthened by the bowels becoming gradually relaxed. 

 If a favourable result should attend, great caution Is necessary 

 for some little time as to the diet, and soft food should be given 

 for several days. 



When death occurs, we find, on examination, the muscular 

 coat, particularly of the large intestines, quite black from In- 

 flammation, and the other coats likewise Involved In a secondary 

 degree, — Ed.] 



* JNIr. Mavor has introduced some apparatus, whereby the steam from hot 

 ■\vati>r may lie applied to the abdomen for an hour tofjether, and which is 

 likely to prove of great service in cases of enteritis in particnlar, as well as 

 ill iullaiuiiiation of the chest.— FefcrmanM/i, vol. xii. p. 198.; Vet, Med. Ass. 



