174 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



action on the stomach and bowels, and ultimately upon 

 the blood itself. 



(4.) Surfeit. — A disease in the spring of the year in 

 fat horses, short aiid well built, and is characterized by 

 tumors about the size of a grain of Indian corn, covering 

 the whole body as completely as the nettle-rash does 

 that of children, and does not generally cause itching, 

 nor yet, like some skin diseases, is it contagious. 



Cause. — Robust stamina. 



Treatment, — Give soft or slop feed composed of bran, 

 cut hay, cold water, and salt for a few days. Give grass, 

 if it can be had, without any additional feed. A few 

 doses of the sulphite of soda will be of advantage. 



Bleeding and purging I have seen arrest the tumors 

 in their growth, but unfortunately they become perma- 

 nent fixtures, only to be removed by calomel and opium, to 

 cause their absorption. Calomel, thirty grains; opium, 

 ten grains; mix, and give once a day, for a week or ten 

 days. Good feeding w^ill here have to be given. 



Ringworm, Forrigo,, and Favus, are names given to 

 this disease. 



Symptoms. — Small circular patches, or scales, some- 

 times running together, forming large crusts and ul- 

 cers under them, in which insects breed. This is 

 a contagious disease, and is communicated from man 

 to animals, and animals to man. The microscope 

 has shown the presence of fungi in the scab of ring- 

 worm, but whether it be merely the effect of the disease, 

 is not at present known. It is, however, more likely to 

 be the cause. 



Treatment. — Wash and keep the parts clean, and aim 

 at destroying the fungi; and for this purpose remove the 

 scab as soon as formed, and apply a solution of oxalic 



