

MANAGEMENT OF LIGHT HORSES. 185 



liberal allowance of that which is nutritious and suitable for 

 vigorous growth is always profitable. More especially is this 

 the case during the first autumn and winter after weaning, 

 when good feeding is absolutely necessary to enable the young 

 animal to withstand the weather, and to compensate for the 

 loss of the mother's milk. 



It has been observed that worms sometimes annoy foals 

 exceedingly when they have attained the age of three or four 

 months, or even earlier, but more particularly when they are 

 yearlings. An examination of the faeces will generally reveal 

 the presence of these parasites, while the appearance of the 

 young animals, their staring, harsh and unthrifty-looking coat, 

 longer than it should be, large pendulous belly, loss of flesh, 

 with frequently a dry, husky cough and constipation alternat- 

 ing with diarrhoea, betray the effects of the worms. The foals 

 should have access to rock salt, and small doses of powdered 

 sulphate of iron given morning and evening in a little mash. 

 Ten to fifteen grains of calomel given in mash, and repeated 

 after an interval of ten or twelve hours, is a very effectual 

 remedy, from four to six ounces of linseed oil being adminis- 

 tered six hours after the last dose. 



Warm and comfortable shelter during cold and wet weather, 

 and attention to feeding, will ward off many of the maladies to 

 which young foals are otherwise liable, but there is one 

 disease which, if all accounts are true, is on the increase, and 

 is sometimes very destructive to foals soon after birth, but 

 does not appear to be much influenced by the conditions in 

 which the animals are placed. It manifests itself by high 

 fever, intense inflammation of the joints, more especially those 

 of the knees, stifles and hocks, running on to formation of 

 abscess and ulceration of cartilage and bones. The pain and 

 suffering cause rapid emaciation, debility and death. Little 

 can be done in the way of curative treatment, but much may 

 be accomplished in the way of prevention. The cause of the 

 disease is the entrance of specific germs into the wound at the 

 navel or end of the navel string, before this has completely 



