DIETETIC AND CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES. 71 



inclination to rise, the staggering gait, the hurried breathing 

 becoming quick and wheezing on the least exertion, and the 

 palpitations are highly characteristic. Towards the end the 

 urine may pass involuntarily or diarrhoea may supervene. 

 Death sometimes occurs early, before there is much emaciation, 

 and horses will even die in harness. 



Prevention. — Avoid everything calculated to reduce the sys- 

 tem unduly. Severe depletive treatment of disease (bleeding, 

 purging, diuretics) should only be resorted to under necessity. 

 Hard work, excessive yield of milk, etc., can only be warranted 

 under a rich, abundant food, and in an animal of great powers 

 of digestion and assimilation. Regularity in feeding, watering, 

 and work are essential. 



The eftect of a spare diet, even in idleness, must be carefully 

 watched, as well as a long-continued feeding on one variety of 

 plant. If evil effects are shown there should be a prompt 

 change to natural hay or grass, consisting of a variety of plants 

 grown on a dry soil, and a liberal supply of grain. 



In cases due to parasites or other removable cause, attention 

 to these is manifestly the first step to prevention. 



Treatment — After removal of the causes, support by nourish- 

 ing, easily-digested food in small bulk to avoid exhausting the 

 powers of the stomach. Ground oats, barley, oil-cake, and a 

 little natural hay may be especially mentioned, though, for 

 weak subjects, thick, well-boiled gruels and beef-tea (even for 

 herbivora) may be resorted to. Tonics are all-important (iron, 

 gentian, quassia, cascarilla, cinchona, common salt, pepsin), 

 but should be given in small doses to the weaker subjects. 

 Iron and gentian, given as tinctures, are especially useful. In 

 extreme cases, health may be speedily revived by the trans- 

 fusion of blood from a healthy animal In all cases, the 

 patient should be allowed rest in a dry, warm, well-aired piace, 

 and should have light, sunshine, and grooming. 



