LOSS or APPETITE. 313 



Treatment. — It is first necessary, when practicable, to- 

 ascertain the cause of the derangement. "Where a doubt exists 

 as to whether or not the want of appetite arises from the 

 derangement of the teeth, or the presence of a foreign body, 

 such as a nail or a thorn within the substance of the cheeks or 

 the gums, cast the patient, and examine the buccal cavity and 

 its contents with every care, when if anything of the kind be 

 present it should be extracted forthwith, and the injury after- 

 wards treated as a common wound ; or on the other hand, if one 

 or more of the teeth are carious, or their growth be irregular, 

 they should be treated accordiog to the dii'ections given in the 

 article on Derangement of the Teeth, pages 299 to 804. 



The attendant should make enquiries about the work of the 

 patient. Is the animal worked beyond its strength ? Is the 

 horse naturally a delicate feeder, or is the regular food deficient 

 in quantity and wholesomeness ? Does the person having the 

 care of the horse sell the corn and pocket the proceeds ? 

 Instances of this kind have occurred, and veterinary surgeons 

 have been consulted as to why the animal so treated did not 

 thrive. 



Any one owning horses which are unthrifty in their general 

 appearance, and who allows them an abundance of wholesome 

 food, will act wisely to acertain if the driver of the team keeps 

 a cow or a pig. 



Where Loss of Appetite, however, occurs as a primary 

 condition, the best remedies in general are — Nux Vomica 1, 

 Arsenicum 3, Sesquichloride of Iron, and Tincture of Capsi- 

 cum 1. 



Nux Vomica. — Aeset^icum. — Use the Nux in 2-drachm 

 doses of the 1st dilution, mixed with 2 or 3 ounces of water. 

 The Nux may be either given alone or in alternation with 

 Arsenic 3 in 2-drachm doses, mixed with 2 or 3 ounces of water. 



