316 VETERINARY LECTURES 



irregular, or bastard strangles. The name ' strangles,' no doubt, 

 originates from the strangling or choking sensation, which must be 

 caused by the abscesses formed under the jaw, round the throat, 

 and beneath the ears. It is mostly seen during the spring months, 

 or when young horses are newly brought in from grass and in the 

 midst of their dentition. The simple form may pass off very mildly, 

 without much disturbance, the small abscesses coming to a head and 

 bursting, with no bad results following. Good nursing and ventila- 

 tion are all that is necessary, and these are very essential in every 

 case. Soft mashes, green food, carrots or potatoes, may also be 

 given with great advantage. If necessary, a small dose of linseed 

 oil — 10 to 15 ounces — may be administered, or i-ounce doses of 

 Epsom salts can be given in a mash or in drinking-water every six 

 hours until the bowels respond, and nitrate water should be offered 

 to drink. As a preventive hypodermic injections of anti-streptococcus 

 serum are recommended. 



503. Bastard Strangles is the complicated form of strangles, 

 or when abscesses develop in an irregular manner, bursting and 

 forming again in different parts of the body, such as under the jaw, 

 under the ears, or on the side of the face. Such cases require 

 skilled attention, as they may result in pyaemia. The horse in this 

 state becomes feverish, the temperature rises to 105 and 106 , and 

 the pulse is quick and small ; there is no appetite ; the coat stands 

 on end, and in some cases the legs swell, and the abscesses under 

 the ears become so large that the animal is threatened with suffoca- 

 tion, and tracheotomy has to be performed. The bowels in such 

 cases must be regulated with mashes or green food. Purgatives 

 must be avoided, but, if necessary, 1 or 2 ounces of sulphate of soda 

 in a mash, in the drinking-water, or hay-tea, may be given twice a 

 day, while a good stimulating liniment should be applied to the throat 

 (par. 1066, No. I.); at the same time the nose should be steamed 

 (par. 501). Chlorate of potash, in 2-drachm doses, given in the 

 drinking-water along with 20-drop doses of strong hydrochloric acid 

 twice a day, also answers well ; or 1 -drachm doses of sulphate of 

 quinine may be given, night and morning, with 10 drops sulphuric 



