222 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



be diluted with a quart of milk. When the animal is unable to swal- 

 low liquids, oatmeal gruel and milk should be given by injection per 

 rectum to sustain the strength of the animal. A pailful of cool water 

 should be constantly before him, placed high enough for him to reach 

 it without special effort ; even if he can not drink, the laving of the 

 mouth is refreshing. Excellent success frequently may be obtained 

 by clothing the upper part of the head, the neck, and greater part of 

 the body in woolen blankets kept saturated with very warm water. 

 This treatment should be continued for six or eight hours at a time. 

 It often relaxes the cramped muscles and gives them rest and the ani- 

 mal almost entire freedom from pain ; but it should be used every day 

 until the acute spasms have permanently subsided in order to be of 

 any lasting benefit. 



Recently subcutaneous injections of brain emulsion have been rec- 

 ommended. It is thought that the tetanus toxin will attach itself to 

 the brain cells so injected and thus free the system of this poison. 

 ^Y[\en it is due to a wound, the wound should be thoroughly cleaned 

 and disinfected with carbolic acid. If from a wound which has 

 healed, an excision of the cicatrix may be beneficial. In all cases it 

 is not uncommon to have a partial recovery followed by relapse when 

 the animal becomes excited from any cause. 



RABIES, HYDROPHOBIA, OR MADNESS. 



This disease does not arise spontaneously among horses, but is the 

 result of a bite from a rabid animal — generally a dog or cat. The 

 development of the disease follows the bite in from three weeks to 

 three months — very rarely in two weeks. (See also page 545.) 



Symptoms. — The first manifestation of the development of this dis- 

 ease may be an increased excitability and viciousness; very slight 

 noises or the approach of a person incites the animal to kick, strike, 

 or bite at any object near him. Very often the horse will bite his own 

 limbs or sides, lacerating the flesh and tearing the skin. The eyes 

 appear staring, bloodshot; the ears are on the alert to catch all 

 sounds; the head is held erect. In some cases the animal will con- 

 tinually rub and bite the locality of the wound inflicted by the rabid 

 animal. This symptom may precede all others. Generally the 

 bowels become constipated and he makes frequent attempts at urina- 

 tion, which is painful, and the urine very dark colored. The furious 

 symptoms appear in paroxysms; at other times the animal may eat 

 and drink, although swallowing appears to become painful toward 

 the latter stage of the disease, and may cause renewed paroxysms. 

 The muscles of the limbs or back may be subject to intermittent 

 spasms, or spasmodic tremors; finally, the hind limbs become para- 

 lyzed, breathing very difficult, and convulsions supervene, followed 



