xi] ORGANIC, FUNCTIONAL AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES 147 



colour at line of contact, jaundice is due to 

 obstruction in the duct ; if a brown colour, it 

 is due to inactivity of liver. 



In cases of inactivity of liver, give calomel 

 1 dr., followed by an aloes ball, and feed on 

 easily digestive soft foods. 



If due to obstruction in duct, do not give 

 calomel, but give ball of aloes and nux vomica, 

 and feed rationally. (Many ready-made balls 

 contain calomel.) 



560. HEPATITIS, or INFLAMMATION OF LIVER. 

 Cause. Often follows jaundice. Feeding on 



ergotised grasses, fermented malt. Generally 

 fatal if whole liver is involved. 



Symptoms. Dull and languid. Coat staring, 

 dry, and dusty in appearance. Horse looks to 

 his right side, pulse quick and weak, appetite 

 gone, thirst increased, rapid breathing, faeces 

 devoid of colour and hard. Urine scanty and 

 tinged in colour. Horse rolls moderately and 

 gets up again. May be lame in forelegs. Dropsy 

 of hindlegs and belly may follow. 



Treatment. Careful feeding ; scalded bran ; 

 also roots and grain fodder. Give cathartic and 

 nerve stimulants (strychnine); if pulse is quick, 

 give aconite. Apply counter-irritants over region 

 of liver. On slight recovery, give pot. iodide 

 internally. (Liver is at back of diaphragm, more 

 on right side.) 



561. RUPTURE OF LIVER. May result from a 

 fall or collision, or from a diseased liver. 

 Difficult to diagnose. Horse looks to his right 

 side, pulse irregular and rapidly decreasing. 

 Head down, internal haemorrhage. Mouth cold 

 and clammy, legs and body later become cold. 

 Cold sweats. Mucous membrane blanched. If 

 very slight, treatment may be of use. 



Treatment. Perfect quietude. Dieting ; in- 

 ternal styptics, as iron. Mineral acid tonics as 

 hydrochloric acid. 



Gall stones are unknown in horses ; horse has 

 no gall bladder. 



562. SPLENITIS is inflammation of the spleen, 

 which is situated behind the diaphragm on the 

 left side of abdomen, on left of stomach. Spleni- 

 tis is uncommon, and often fatal. 



Symptoms. Like colic, but less alarming in 

 appearance. Quiet and weak pulse, dullness, 

 ears droop, head down, respiration increased, 

 abdomen tucked up. More coma in summer. 



Treatment. Give morphine. Counter-irritants 

 over spleen. Give cannabis indica and aconite. 

 Very careful diet. 



563. PERITONITIS. Inflammation of perito- 

 neum, which surrounds practically all the viscera 

 in the abdomen and pelvis. 



Cause. Follows other inflammation in abdo- 

 men, as metritis, enteritis, gastritis, etc. Punc- 

 tured wounds. Badly-conducted operations, 

 allowing infection to reach peritoneum. 



Symptoms. Horse turns head towards flank, 

 does not roll. Great pain, mouth hot, respiration 



increased, pulse 60 to 80. Eye a little reddened. 

 Temperature high, wiry pulse. No peristaltic 

 action, i.e. absence of internal murmur. Usually 

 constipation, faeces slimy. Abdomen very tender. 

 Relaxed anus. 



Treatment. Give tincture opium 2 oz., and 

 spirits ether nit. 2 oz. Backrake, and warm 

 enema. Hot water application over abdomen, 

 and give linseed oil 1 pt. 



564. ASCITES, or DROPSY, is a non-inflamma- 

 tory transudation into the abdomen. Is 

 uncommon. 



Cause. Often follows diseases of heart, 

 kidneys and liver, peritonitis and tuberculosis. 



Symptoms. Coat staring and dry. Dull and 

 languid. Hidebound ; horse is sluggish, pulse 

 quick and weak, abdomen extended, dull sound 

 on tapping (not like colic). Appetite generally 

 good, bowels irregular. 



Treatment. Diet, give diuretics, also pot. 

 iodide 1 dr. twice a day, also pilocarpine 1 gr. 

 every two hours. If bad, use trocar. All fluid 

 must not be drawn off at once ; therefore, do not 

 puncture too low down. If convulsions present, 

 stop flow of fluid. Death often occurs from 

 asphyxia by pressure on diaphragm, and there- 

 fore on lungs. 



DROPSY OF WOMB (UTERINE DROPSY). Due to 

 abnormal presence of fluid in uterus, resulting 

 from perverted secretion. Examine by inserting 

 greased hand into vagina. The womb will feel 

 like a cushion. Do not mistake for pregnancy, 

 when the foetus will feel hard. 



Treatment. Open neck of uterus and allow 

 fluid to escape. Same treatment as above. 



565. ACUTE NEPHRITIS, or INFLAMMATION or 

 KIDNEY. 



Cause. Chills, sudden checking of sweating, 

 abuse of diuretics, as nitre ; overdose of turpen- 

 tine, cantharides, croton oil, etc. Over-ripe 

 grasses, mouldy or inferior food, too severe 

 external blistering with cantharides, turpentine, 

 croton oil. Over-exertion, blows and falls. In 

 conjunction with anthrax, foot and mouth 

 disease, glanders and tuberculosis. 



Symptoms. Bladder empty, temperature up, 

 pulse quick and generally weak, mouth and 

 nostrils hot, pain and uneasiness. Points nose 

 at kidneys (just behind saddle on top of back). 

 Rolls gently, may moan, frequent attempts to 

 urinate ; urine may be suspended, any passed is 

 dribbly and thick, due to uriniferous tube casts 

 and fibrin. Heat around kidneys if hand is 

 passed in rectum. Constipation, flanks sunken, 

 abdomen tucked up, often straddling gait, 

 patches of perspiration on shoulders and flanks. 

 Later, perspiration may smell of urine ; this is 

 uraemic poisoning. 



Treatment. Examine per rectum. Massage 

 all over kidneys and keep body very warm. Hot 

 applications to region. Induce perspiration by 

 all means possible. Freshly flayed sheepskin, 



