54 THE DISEASES OF IIORSES, 



Inflammation of the Lungs.— See Catarrh, Cough, and Pneumonia. 



Inflammation of the Stomach.— See Gastritis. 



Influenza. — This disease appears to be of an epidemic character, 

 attacking animals simultaneously over a wide district ; young animals are 

 for the most part the subjects of attack, and it is generally most prevalent 

 in the spring of the year. The first symptom indicating influenza likely to 

 be observed by the groom or owner is the very rapid loss of strength, 

 which is an invariable accompaniment or result of the disease. On 

 examination the white of the eye will be seen to have a yellowish tinge, 

 and the whole eye dull ; the pulse is feeble but wiry, the lining membrane 

 of the nostrils pale ; a thick copious discharge from the nose sets in, 

 with frequent cough and occasionally sore throat ; the whole frame 

 becomes affected ; sometimes local swellings occur ; and not uncommonly 

 the legs swell, and there is considerable heat and fever in the feet, with 

 lameness. As a rule the bowels are constipated, and the great debility of 

 the animal precludes the use of purgatives. When influenza is first dis- 

 covered the horse should be placed in the most comfortable loose box at 

 command, where he can breathe fresh air without being exposed to draughts 

 or subjected to sudden changes of temperature. This is a disease where 

 good nursing and kind attention is of quite as much value as medicines ; 

 the horse must be made as comfortable as possible, and all his wants 

 regularly attended to with little fuss and much kindness, which the 

 sympathetic nature of the horse will fully appreciate. "Where, as ie 

 generally the case, the bowels are constipated, this must be overcome by 

 very gentle laxatives, such as linseed or olive oil, assisted by gruel mashes 

 with stewed linseed, boiled carrots, &c, and in some cases aided by back 

 raking (as already described, p. 33). To encourage the nasal discharge, 

 reduce the fever, and as likely to give special relief in cases where there is 

 sore throat, the following electuary should be made, and a tablespoonful 

 of it placed on the tongue at intervals of a few hours : 



Electuary for Sore Throat. — Take powdered chlorate of potash 4oz., 

 powdered gum guaiacum 2oz., powdered gum acacia 2oz., powdered 

 liquorice 4oz., powdered opium foz. ; let these be very carefully mixed and 

 made into an electuary by the addition of 8oz. of honey and 8oz. of oxymel 

 of squills. 



One of the principal objects to be kept in view in treating a horse 

 with influenza is to keep up the strength, which very rapidly fails in all 

 instances, and this feature of the disease must be promptly mot by the 

 administration of stimulants such as sulphuric and nitric ether, spirit of 

 sal volatile, &c. : these may be given from the first. 



Stimulant in Influenza.— Dose, loz. of sulphuric ether, |oz. spirit of 

 nitrous ether, and loz. of laudanum, given in a pint of gruel night and 

 morning. 



As the nasal discharge increases ale or porter should be substituted for 

 the gruel. Artificial stimulants must not, however, be entirely depended 

 on, the animal should be coaxed to eat strengthening and easily assimilated 



