49 



cloths wrung out of hot water will also do good service. 

 If the bowels are operated on by the oil, and all hard faeces 

 are ejected, it is a very favorable symptom. As the horse 

 improves the greatest care is required in the selection of 

 food. No bran, hay, or mashes is to be given on any pre- 

 tence. Cold gruel mixed with an ounce each of tincture of 

 opium and sweet spirits of nitre may be given every couple 

 of hours. As convalescence proceeds, boiled roots, scalded 

 oats, in very small quantities at one meal is the proper diet 

 for a horse recovering from this tedious and very dangerous 

 disease. Good nursing is more requisite in this disease 

 than in any other with which the horse is afflicted. 



BOTS, WORMS, ETC. 



Cause. — The former of these pests are sometimes found 

 in the stomach, while the latter are occasionally met with in 

 the caecum, colon and duodenum of the horse, but it must be 

 confessed that the injury done lies more in the fancies of 

 horsemen than in the intestines of the animals supposed to 

 be afflicted with them. However, in rare instances, where 

 animals are allowed to graze for a long time in low, wet 

 meadows, and marshy grounds, worms, in large quantities, 

 find their way into the stomach, and occasion some trouble. 

 Bots do little harm to the stomach, unless in immense num- 

 bers, so as to interfere with digestion. 



Symptoms. — A dull untufty coat, irritable bowels. The 

 dung light colored and unhealthy looking Occasionally 

 there is expelled quantities of mucus. There are also 

 colicky pains and a general thriftless appearance in the 

 animals so affected. Convulsions resulting from worms is 

 not seen once in a lifetime. 



Treatment, — For bots and worms of all kinds, the 

 remedies are much the same. Occasionally they are ex- 

 pelled in large numbers by the effort of nature without any 

 medicine. However, much good has been accomplished 



