112 Diseases of the Horse. 



SORE THROAT— LARYNGITIS— PHARYNGITIS. 



Definition. — Inflammation of the lining membrane of the 

 upper parts of the food and air passages, usually accompanied 

 with cough, difficult swallowing, and fever. Although a 

 distinction is drawn between laryngitis and pharyngitis, prac- 

 tically they are nearly always both present when either is. 



Causes. — The same that give rise to colds and catarrhs. 

 In addition to those, bots may cause it in horses. 



Symptoms. — In its acute and severe forms this is a dan- 

 gerous disease. The breathing rapidly becomes difficult and 

 sounds hoarse. The inspiration is longer than the respira- 

 tion. The animal's nose is protruded, the eyes are prominent, 

 watery and bloodshot. There is a distressed expression of 

 the face, a hoarse rasping cough, cold sweats on the body and 

 legs, and they and the ears feel cold to the touch. The animal 

 stamps its feet repeatedly and is excitable. Prostration and 

 death may rapidly ensue. Generally, however, these «symp- 

 toms are present in a much milder form. There is usually a 

 running from the nose, and evident pain in the act of swal- 

 lowing. 



Treatment. — This should be prompt where the symptoms 

 are of the severe type above described. The throat should 

 be fomented with cloths wrung out of hot mustard water, 

 the animal's head should be held over a bucket of hot water 

 so that he can inhale the steam, and if signs of strangling 

 and suffi^cation appear, no hesitation must be had to open the 

 upper part of the windpipe lengthwise with a sharp knife, 

 and a tube of lead be inserted for the animal to breathe through. 

 Should the attempt to steam the throat excite the horse, it 

 should not be pushed, as it is of great importance to keep 

 him quiet. 



Owing to the difficulty of swallowing, medicine caimot 

 well be given by the throat; but the compound cougli mix- 



