204 LIGHT HORSES : BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



the nature of the disease. He will not stir if he can avoid it, 

 but remains rooted to the ground, resting his weight as much 

 as possible on the heels. The feet feel extremely hot, and 

 striking the hoof intensifies the pain. 



Treatment. The shoes should be removed from the in- 

 flamed feet, if possible, and the walls lowered to a level 

 with the soles, so as to allow these and the frogs to sustain 

 a greater portion of the weight. But this is a difficult opera- 

 tion, as the horse suffers excruciating pain when one fore foot 

 is lifted. The animal should therefore be put into a sling, or, 

 better, thrown down, the litter being peat moss or sawdust. 

 This allows the shoes to be taken off and the feet attended 

 to. Cold poultices of bran or other material, or cold wet 

 cloths, should be applied to the feet and kept constantly wet 

 and cold. Carbonate of soda may be mixed with the poultices 

 or water. Unless there has been purging, a dose of physic 

 should be given, and the diet ought to be of a laxative nature. 

 If the horse is lying and does not attempt to change position, 

 he should be turned over every day to prevent the occurrence 

 of sores on salient parts of the body. When the intense pain 

 and inflammation have subsided, exercise on soft ground 

 should be enforced for some time. 



Colic. 



Colic is spasm of the intestines, or may be due to distension 

 of these with gas (flatulent colic). Many causes may give 

 rise to colic, such as indigestion, mismanagement in feeding 

 or watering, chills, worms, &c. 



Symptoms. The attack is usually sudden, and the chief 

 sign is the manifestation of restlessness, owing to the pain 

 experienced. The horse lies down and rolls about, then gets 

 up, shakes himself, looks towards his flanks, paws, strikes 

 at his belly with the hind feet, and if in a loose box wanders 

 around it. The pain subsides, and the horse then remains 

 quiet and may commence to eat; but in a short time the 



