THE HOKSE AND ITS DISEASES, 123 



mucli impaired. He will remaiu in this condition from 

 one to twelve hours, he then falls. His eyes are open 

 and protruding, with a fixed, seemingly unconscious 

 stare — he grinds his teeth ; the strong convulsive 

 twitchings follow, and these are the certain preludes of 

 death. 



Causes. — A deranged state of the digestive organs is 

 the most ordinary cause, and this is the effect of over- 

 feeding. Some persons are so foolish as to suppose that 

 horses may have as much grain as they can eat, but this 

 is a serious mistake, because, even without the aid of 

 water, the grain will swell in the stomach. 



Remedy. — The horse must be bled ; take eight quarts 

 of blood fi'om the jugular vein, and after some time 

 has elapsed, this should be repeated, but a lesser 

 quantity. If the lower intestines or rectum is over 

 loaded, the hand should be forced up, and the bowels 

 relieved, and if the animal exhibits symptoms of relief, 

 the following medicine should be administered in the 

 form of a ball : — 



Barbadoes Aloes 7 drachms. 



Calomel 2 ,, 



Ginger 2 ,, 



These to be mixed with honey, in a sufficient quantity 

 to form a ball ; also, give several clysters, composed as 

 follows : — 



Oatmeal 3 quarts. 



Common Salt 3 ounces. 



Linseed Oil ^ pint. 



These clysters may be repeated twice or three times 

 a day. A blister may be applied behind the ears, with 

 benefit ; should the horse sufficiently recover to be able 

 to take food, boiled barley, scaled bran or oatmeal, and 

 luke-warm water should be given to him for some days, 

 until he is able to masticate hay, which ought to be of 

 the best quality. 



