50 THE DISEASES OF HORSES, 



under their charge drugs of a powerful and irritant character that should 

 never be used except by the order and under the supervision of the veteri- 

 nary surgeon. Most stablemen, however, have a reverence for nostrums, 

 equal to their total want of knowledge of the power and character of the 

 drugs of which they are compounded, and ignorance delights in secrecy and 

 mystery ; so that even the strong mineral acids, oil of vitriol, spirit of salt, 

 and aquafortis are surreptitiously given to the master's horse to improve 

 his appetite and appearance; whilst arsenic, savine, and cantharides each 

 enter into various condition, coating, or worm powders in more or less 

 repute with such people. If the disease is in an acute form, the symptoms 

 will be more sudden in their appearance and more violent, the horse showing 

 intense thirst, probably superpurgation, great pain, evidenced by the 

 tucked-up belly, at which he kicks, or, in his rolling, as in colic, there 

 may be violent straining and passing of mucus, and somtimes convulsions. 

 If a veterinary surgeon is not within easy reach, give the following 



Drencli for Gastritis : Castor oil half a pint, bicarbonate of soda, |oz. ; 

 laudanum, 2oz. ; spirit of sulphuric ether, l^oz., with a pint of gruel. 



The veterinary should, however, be called in as soon as possible, as 

 he might, on the spot, elicit facts which would suggest to him the cause, 

 and, discovering the poison used, apply the best antidote. 



A more chronic form of the disease may be induced by the noxious 

 atmosphere of unclean and unventilated stables, combined with indifferent 

 food and general want of attention, when the horse shows a vitiated 

 appetite, greedily eating soiled litter, gnawing at manger, rack, &c, and 

 devouring pieces of old mortar and other foreign and unnatural substances. 

 This state should be counteracted by giving tonics and good food, but if 

 the disease has progressed far it will require the skilled veterinary to deal 

 with it. 



Glanders.— See Farcy. 



Grease. — This is one of the most filthy and loathsome diseases from 

 which the horse suffers, and it is not merely discreditable, but most dis- 

 graceful to the intelligence and humanity of the owner, and to the character 

 of the stableman for aptitude for his business, and honesty and industry in 

 performing his duties, the disease being wholly preventible, and never 

 occurring, except as the result of shameful ignorance of sanitary laws 

 that may be said to be palpable to the grossest sense, or the culpable 

 neglect of ordinary cleanliness and decent attention to the comfort of the 

 animal under charge. That this ' is so may be proved by anyone at all 

 observant who will ask himself where "Grease" is to be met with, and 

 take the slightest trouble to answer the question practically. Assuredly 

 he will not find it in the gentleman's stable, where the horse's health and 

 comfort are studied, where a proper appreciation of the laws of health and 

 the right of the four-footed servant to the consideration of man are shown 

 in all the arrangements of the stable, and where the intelligent and active 

 groom knows his duties, and is too proud alike of himself and his charge to 

 neglect them. 



