On the Yellow TFater of itorses, 149 



They resembled the stuffing of a boiled blood puddmg. 

 The whole liver of the horse who died last, was reduced 

 to one fourth of its usual size, and on the parts near it, 

 there was some redness, or inflammation. The disease 

 appears to be an highly malignant bilious fever. The 

 secretion of the 5z7e is obstructed by the morbid state of 

 of the liver and the gall is retained in the blood : and thus 

 tinging that and the urine^ possibly gave the name to the 

 disease, of the yellow water. The horse is among the 

 few animals, having no gall bladder. 



The horses in one stable (in or near vvdiich I find no 

 putrid taint, there being nothing but what is common 

 about stables) were alone affected. The horses on my 

 farm (those diseased being family horses, used in a car- 

 riage, and for riding) are yet in health.*" Their feed 

 has been chopped corn, rye and cut straw; which some 

 object to, at this season (July and August) unless the 

 horses are hard worked. Indian com is peculiarly heat- 

 ing. A change of food is best. For family horses, used 

 irregularly, and stabled constantly, the general food 

 should be oats and hay. Flax seed, and chopped grain ^ 

 or shorts, should occasionally be given, with some sul- 

 phur and nitre. Air, exercise and cleanliness, should 

 never be neglected. My horses were generally kept in 

 the stable, in which I never before had a sick horse. I 

 have since heard of horses dying of the yellow water, 

 that had not been stabled since wmXtw The facts as to the 

 health of horses stabled, or pastured entirely, are so va- 

 rious, that no accurate decision can be made. From 



* None of the farm horses became diseased. But several 

 in the neighbourhood were affected. 



