524 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



It is much used for troubles of the serous membranes, lowers the tem- 

 perature, and is of value in this disease in preventing the exudation 

 into the tissue of the lungs. The alkalines, as the sulphate and bicar- 

 bonate of soda, the nitrate of potash, and very small doses of the iodide 

 of potash, should be employed to regulate the digestive tract, the kid- 

 neys, and the other excreting glands, and to stimulate absorption of 

 the Tvaste matter. 



Serums and antitoxins have been used in the treatment of this dis- 

 ease, especially in Germany. The results appear to show some benefit 

 in some instances, but none in others; altogether they are not espe- 

 cially encouraging. 



The diet demands the strictest attention from the outset. In many 

 of the fevers the food has to be diminished in quantity and regulated 

 in the quality of its heat-producing components during the acute part 

 of the disease, so as to lessen the material for combustion in the in- 

 flamed organs. In edematous pneumonia, on the contrary, all the 

 food that can possibly be digested and assimilated must be given. 

 Choice must be made of the richest material which can be handled by 

 the weakened stomach and intestines without fatiguing them. Good, 

 sound hay should be chopped short and dampened or partly boiled ; in 

 the latter case the hay tea can be reserved to use as a drink. Oats 

 may be preferred dry or in other cases will be taken better scalded ; 

 in most cases, however, it is better to give slops of oatmeal, to which 

 can be added a little bran, barley flour, or boiled milk and wheat 

 flour. Pure cow's milk, not too rich in fatt}^ matter, can be given 

 alone or with beaten eggs ; frequently the horse will have to be coaxed 

 with the milk diluted wdth several parts of water at first, but Avill 

 soon learn to drink the pure milk. Apples and carrots cut up raw or 

 boiled are useful, and fresh clover in small quantities will frequently 

 stimulate the appetite. In other words, try various foods and com- 

 binations and give the horse what he will eat. Throughout the 

 course of the disease and during convalescence the greatest attention 

 must be taken to cleaning the coat thoroughly so as to keep the glands 

 of the skin in w^orking order, and light, warm covering must be used 

 to protect the animal from cold or drafts of air, 



HORSEPOX, OR EQUINE VARIOLA. 

 [Synonyms: Variola equina; piistular grease; plihjctenoid herpes.] 



Defmition. — Horsepox is a specific infectious fever of the horse 

 attended by an eruption of pustules, or pocks, over any part of the 

 skin or on the mucous membranes lining the various cavities in the 

 body, but chiefly, and often exclusively, upon the pasterns and fet- 

 locks. The eruption may commence upon the lips, or about the nos- 

 trils or eyes. 



