200 DISEASES OF HORSES. 



unhealthy one, which custom has rendered necessary ; thus a man 

 in training for running or fighting, and a man out of training, are 

 both considered equally healthy. But there are circumstances that 

 produce a morbid state of condition different from all these. It is 

 common to hear persons say " my horse is sadly out of condition, 

 and I cannot tell either what is the matter with him, or how to get 

 him into better case." Various are the causes that may produce 

 this : a sudden alteration of the food, or temperature, or of habits 

 altogether, may become a cause. Removing a horse from grass to 

 a heated stable, full feeding, and hard exercise, will often do it : 

 therefore these changes should always be gradual. Bad food, as 

 mow-burnt hay, musty oats, beans, &c., likewise mineral waters, 

 foul air, &.C., are frequent causes. Diabetes, or profuse staling, 

 is often brought on by these means, and the condition of the horse 

 becomes greatly reduced. It is requisite, therefore, to enquire 

 whether any of these errors are in existence, and to immediately 

 remove them : but it often happens that the stomach has become 

 relaxed and the hide become bound ; neither of which readily 

 remove, even though the original evil may be amended. When the 

 relaxed stomach has produced lampas, treat the mouth as described 

 under that disease (25,) but the stomach itself must be principally 

 attended to. First mash and give a dose of physic ; after it has 

 sc.t, com?nence the treatment, if the horse be of a full habit, by 

 moderate bleeding and a nightly alterative. (Vet. Pharm. 129, 

 No, 1 or 2.) Buf if he be not in full, but in low flesh, commence 

 by a daily tonic, (Vet. Pharm. 130, No. 1 or 2,) which will gradu- 

 ally remove the swelling within the mouth, and loosen the hide. 

 A sudden cold applied to the skin often brings on a want of con- 

 dition with surfeit. In which case, bleeding, with nightly altera- 

 tive, (Vet. Pharm. 129, No. 1 or 2,) with or without an assistant 

 dose of physic, as the habits of the horse may require, constitute 

 the proper treatment. Worms form another cause of morbid con- 

 dition which are to be removed as described (57.) Excessive fatigue 

 is also productive of a bad state of condition, which often proves 

 very obstinate. Turning out to very good grass is the quickest 

 care, and when that is impracticable, soiling in the stable, or 

 feeding with carrots, parsnips, beet root, &c. will be food restora- 

 tives ; as medicines give tonics daily. (Vet. Pharm. 130, No. 1 or 2.) 

 It will be only necessary to add, that in considering the state, of a 

 horse's condition, the effect is apt to be mistaken for the cause, and 

 the symptoms for the disease. Hide-bound and lampas are not in 

 themselves any thing more than effects, or symptoms ; the former 

 being commonly, and the latter always dependent on a deranged 



