THE HORSE AND ITS DISEASES. 131 



becomes quick, small and irregular. If the poor 

 animal is touched, or the slightest blast of air directed 

 over his body, the quickening of the pulse, and recur- 

 rence of the spasms, indicate his fear and pain ; thus, 

 the disease continues for 9 or 10 days, at which time 

 the animal is exhausted from the expenditure of nervous 

 energy. 



Treatment. — As it is a diseased state of the nerves 

 which conveys motor influence to the muscles, the most 

 appropriate treatment consists in that which is to be 

 directed to their origin — the brain and spinal cord. 

 The brain has been trepanned, with a view to increase 

 the pressure on the masses, and the whole region cerebral 

 of the spine has been blistered ; but although relaxation 

 of the muscles, and a temporary diminutive of the spasms 

 have thus been effected, still, they are of no avail, when 

 they are confided in alone ; and as a torpid and sluggish 

 condition of the bowels is an invariable concomitant 

 symptom, the exhibition of croton oil in doses of half a 

 drachm is highly commendable, without the slightest 

 fear of causing inflammation of the bowels, the animal 

 enjoying an undoubted immunity from any such 

 untoward feature, when attacked by this formidable 

 disease. To sum up, the treatment is of a two-fold 

 nature, local and constitutional. 



As it is invariably the cause of a wound, the wound 

 must be searched for, and cauterised with actual cautery, 

 (red hot iron,) or lunar caustic, and then dressed with 

 digestive ointment. 



The constitutional treatment consists in tranquilising 

 the system, and the most potent agent here is bleeding, 

 to the extent of 20 pounds; administering powdered 

 opium in a dose of two drachms, at first in the form of 

 a ball, and repeating the opium in diminished doses of a 

 drachm every four hours. 



The following purgative drench may be given with 

 advantage, if the jaws can be opened. 



I 



