ANAEMIA 479 



conditions. The anaemic state may be very gradually acquired where bad 

 hygienic conditions exist, or it may follow more quickly upon diarrhoea, 

 influenza in any of its many forms, glanders, and parturient troubles in 

 the mare, and the multiplication of parasites within the body. 



Symptoms. There is pallor of the membranes lining the eyelids and 

 the nasal cavities; the tongue has a limp or soft feeling not imparted to 

 the hand in a healthy animal, and conveys an impression of coldness to the 

 touch; emaciation and debility coexist with a harsh, dry skin, and dropsical 

 swellings appear from time to time, especially in colts at the end of the 

 winter, when the fare has been poor and the season cold and wet. Low, 

 marshy, water-logged land is especially conducive to anaemia in young 

 animals. Persistent or pernicious anaemia results in great weakness, loss 

 of spirits evinced by drooping head and listlessness, nervous irritability 

 and palpitation of the heart when suddenly disturbed, a want of co- 

 ordination of the voluntary muscles, and, in mares or fillies, suppression 

 or absence of the oestrual periods are sometimes induced, and a peculiar 

 murmur or ripple is heard near the region of the heart. 



The pulse is irregular, feeble, and intermittent, and sudden attacks 

 of palpitation of the heart come on now and again, when its contractions 

 may be heard at a considerable distance. 



As the heart grows weak, and nervous prostration increases, respira- 

 tion becomes shallow, digestion is impaired, and the desire for exercise 

 diminishes. Abdominal pains, of the nature of mild attacks of colic, and 

 a distended or tympanitic abdomen are not unfrequently noted. 



Treatment. Since the causes are so many and varied, they should be 

 carefully investigated before a remedy is prescribed. It would be useless, 

 for instance, to rely solely upon a blood restorative if the maintenance 

 of a host of parasites within were the cause. In colts at grass the little 

 worm Strongylus tetracanthus infests the bowels in some seasons to such 

 an extent as to destroy the life of its victims without for a time producing 

 other marked symptoms than those of anaemia. Anthelmintics combined 

 with tonic remedies will here be indicated. (See Parasites.) 



The anaemia which follows upon specific diseases, such as influenza, 

 strangles, &c., will be combated by mineral and vegetable tonics and a 

 diet at once nutritive and easy of digestion. In the case of colts which 

 have suffered from the inclemency of the winter, and pasture of inferior 

 quality, a careful process of building up of the system is advised, and it 

 has to be borne in mind that animals in this state must not be too hastily 

 supplied with a full ration of nutritious diet, because the power of digestion 

 and assimilation has suffered in common with all the other functions of the 

 body. At first milk and then gruels should be given in conjunction with 



