-jf. 



48 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



a deformity of one or both forelegs from the knee down, 

 giving the whole appearance an awkward look. Farm- 

 ers having such a colt should not think it useless, or 

 at all impaired; for in my own extensive practice, I have 

 not seen one that did not become as perfect as the most 

 perfect of animals. 



Observe. — Whether the mother have sufficient milk for 

 the colt, and if not, teach the colt to suck milk out of a 

 bottle, or from something else ; for by good nourishment 

 these deformed conditions of the legs will disappear. 



Diabetes. — This is a disease accompanied by a great 

 and frequent flow of urine, containing sugar in solution. 



Causes. — The sugar, starch, and some of the food are 

 transferred into sugar. The origin of this affection is 

 supposed to be a ferment changing the material of the 

 system into sugar, as diastase converts starch into sugar 

 in malting. 



Symptoms. — Great flow of clear urine, very great 

 thirst, ravenous appetite, weakness and general debility. 



Treatment. — Although this disease is considered incu- 

 rable, I have on two occasions cured the animal by the 

 iodide of iron, too expensive a medicine to be recom- 

 mended for general use. The action of this medicine, 

 at least the iodide portion, allayed the thirst, and the 

 iron supported the strength and system, also acting as an 

 astringent {to dry up.) 



This medicine should be seconded by good feeding and 

 plenty of it. (See Iodide of Iron in Medicine list.) 



Diaphoretics. — This term is applied to medicines 

 having the power of producing sweating. The horse is 

 not easily acted upon in this way by the use of medi- 

 cines, except by one or two atricles, as aconite or vera- 



