FIRST AID IN DISEASE AND LAMENESS 



the head turned to one side; and when upon the 

 feet the nose is either touching or pointing to the 

 flank. There will also be noticed intervals of relief 

 between the spasms. This trouble is seldom serious, 

 and will in nearly all cases yield to two ounces each 

 of sulphurous ether and laudanum in a pint of warm 

 water, the dose to be repeated in an hour, if necessary. 

 The attack, however, may assume the tympanetic 

 form (swelling), and the case become serious. This 

 may call for the introduction of the trocar, a pointed 

 instrument enclosed in a sheath or tube, and intro- 

 duced into the right flank. This in many cases 

 affords almost instant relief, and may be employed 

 by anyone, as there is no risk in its use. When this 

 treatment is not available, one ounce of chloral hy- 

 drate in a pint of water, or the same quantity of 

 salicylate of soda, will often prove beneficial. In 

 either case, if a drugstore is not accessible, one pint 

 of whisky and an ounce each of ground ginger root 

 and black pepper in a pint of water will often prove 

 effective. 



Another very common ailment, and one which the 

 horse-owner should be prepared to meet, is a high 

 febrile condition, an acute influenza better known 

 as " pink eye." It usually follows the moving of 

 horses from one to another part of the country. 

 This seems to be the result of exposure, change of 

 climate, water, feeding, care, etc. The first symp- 

 toms of this malady are loss of appetite, high fever, 

 eyes much swollen, partly closed, and a generally disr 

 tressed appearance; ana, inasmuch as there is a 

 strong tendency to pneumonia, the febrile condition 

 should be reduced as quickly as possible. Some prac- 

 titioners favor a cathartic, but when we take into 

 consideration the debilitating character of the attack 



341 



