176 HOW TO PHYSIC A HORSE. 



amuse him, cold maslies and green meat, but on no account 

 a particle of oats. Eight-and-fortj hours generally de- 

 cides the question of death or life. But in case of recov- 

 ery, it is necessary long to watch for a relapse, which is of 

 frequent, one might say of general, occurrence. It is to be 

 met at once by the same energetic treatment. Andnovv, one 

 word to the owner of a horse which has had one bad attack 

 of inflammation, either of the lungs or of the bowels. Get 

 rid of him as soon as possible! It is ten to one that 

 he will have another, and another, and, as in the former 

 instance, end by becoming broken-winded, — in the latter 

 by bemg useless, from a nearly chronic state of the disease. 

 The second class of ailments, which every horse-keeper 

 ought to be prepared to treat himself, without assistance, 

 are those natural and constantly occurring cases which are 

 almost habitually present in large stables or farming estab- 

 lishments, and in aid of which to call in a veterinary sur- 

 geon on every occasion would be both an absurd expense 

 and a useless waste of time. Such are, for instance, costive- 

 ness, common cough, bronchitis, or catarrhal disease, stran- 

 gles or colt-distemper, worms, difficulty in staling, and some 

 others, which any man who keeps a horse ought to be able 

 to treat successfully himself, without any advice, and with 

 ordinary medicines, easily procurable from any druggist. 

 Condition, in its proper sense, is more dependent on proper 

 and systematic feeding, exercising, clothing and lodging, 

 than on medicine ; and if a horse be of good, sound con- 

 stitution, and be judiciously fed, regularly worked, warmly 

 yet not too warmly clothed and stabled, in a building prop- 

 erly ventilated and aerated; and, above all, if he be kept 

 scrupulously and religiously clean, there will for him be 

 but little need of medicine of any kind. From ill-con- 

 structed stables arise half the worst diseases, those for 

 instance of the lungs, from want of ventilation ; many of 



