THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS 315 



animal's head over the vessel for twenty minutes, doing it three or 

 four times a day, has an excellent and soothing effect. The nostrils 

 at the same time should be washed with Sanitas or vinegar and 

 warm water. The inhalation and w r ashing above noted are also to 

 be highly recommended in cases of catarrh and bronchitis. (Fo? 

 this purpose, never put the head into a nose-bag.) Nitrate or chlorate of 

 potash, in 2 to 3 drachm doses, given in bran mashes, or in cold 

 water night and morning, with linseed jelly and milk or hay-tea to 

 drink, can be recommended. Electuaries, composed of extract of 

 belladonna, powdered chlorate of potash, and honey are sometimes 

 used. A small piece of this is put into the horse's mouth three or 

 four times a day, but I do not subscribe to this treatment, as it 

 retards recovery and prevents the patient feeding. Should the case 

 assume a serious aspect, by the internal parts becoming congested 

 and swollen, with danger of suffocation, and the animal makes a 

 roaring noise, then tracheotomy must be performed. This is done 

 by cutting into the windpipe, and inserting a tube through which 

 the animal can breathe, independently cf the nostrils (Plate LIV., 

 No. 7). The operation is easily performed, and should not be 

 delayed too long, as, when the horse is much oppressed in getting 

 breath, some of the fluid which it attempts to drink may pass down 

 into the lungs and produce congestion, while, when the tube is in, 

 any fluid which may trickle down the windpipe comes out at the 

 tube. I have frequently seen this. In all cases of throat affections, 

 strange as it may seem, the horse is much fonder of dry than of soft 

 food or fluids. Should the bowels be very costive, they can be regu- 

 lated by giving, night and morning, from 1 J to 2 ounces of Epsom 

 salts in a mash, with a little treacle. A good-sized piece of lump 

 rock-salt should be placed in the manger for the patient to lick, and 

 also a good bunch of gorse (whins) hung up in the box for the horse 

 to pick. 



502. Strangles is a febrile suppurative disease, most commonly 

 seen in young horses, particularly at the age of two to three years, of 

 an infectious nature, and technically called febra pyogenica. It may 

 be of a simple or complicated nature. In the latter case it is termed 



