DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



It may be readily supposed that the animal doomed to the 

 manner of living which every variety of the horse experiences, 

 will be peculiarly exposed to numerous forms of suffering; 

 every natural evil will be aggravated, and many new and formi- 

 dable sources of pain and death will be superadded. 



Interest and humanity require that we should become ac- 

 quainted with the nature, and causes, and remedy of the diseases 

 of the horse. Only a slight sketch of them can be given here, 

 but sufficient perhaps to enable the owner to avoid their causes, 

 to recognize their existence, and to induce him, without danger- 

 ous delay, to apply to the proper quarter for their removal or 

 alleviation. 



The principal diseases of the horse are connected with the 

 circulatory system. From the state of habitual excitement in 

 which the animal is kept, in order to enable him to execute his 

 task, the heart and the blood-vessels will often act too impet- 

 uously ; the vital fluid will be hurried along too rapidly, either 

 through the frame generally or some particular part of it, and 

 there will be congestion, accumulation of blood in that part, or 

 inflammation, either local or general, disturbing the functions of 

 some organ or of the whole frame. 



Congestion. — Take a young horse on his first entrance into 

 the stables ; feed him somewhat highly, and what is the conse- 

 quence ? He has swellings of the legs, or inflammation of the 

 joints, or perhaps of the lungs. Take a horse that has lived 



