66 TIIE DISEASES OF HORSES, 



general disturbance of the system, which is the main thing the surgeon 

 will look for to enable him to form an opinion. It is safe practice for the 

 horse owner, when the symptoms of inflammation of the eye are unusually 

 severe, and do not quickly yield to the remedies given above, at once to 

 consult a skilled veterinarian without delay. Above all things, do not 

 permit harsh measures of cruelty, under which farriers attempt to cloak, 

 but which really display, their ignorance, one of which is to cut away 

 the hair from lids which have, of course, suffered with other parts of 

 the eye, and from their enlarged and red appearance are held to be the 

 cause, instead of one of the suffering membranes. Among the causes of 

 ophthalmia are sudden change to warm stables and high living : and when 

 this cause is known, bleeding, physic and mashes substituted for corn may 

 prevent it going beyond the first stage. Often the cause is small, hot, 

 and ill- ventilated stables, where there is not sufficient air to supply 

 the wants of the horse, and the atmosphere is further vitiated by the 

 exhalations, especially the free ammonia discharged from dung and urine. 

 These are preventible causes, and to prevention and the more simple 

 attempt at cure of the disease in its incipient stages the owner's 

 personal efforts should be limited. 



Over-reach. — Fast horses, and especially those that in their natural step 

 considerably overlap with their hind feet the ground covered by the fore 

 feet, are most liable to the injury termed over-reach. Such horses, when 

 tried, may be heard to click, the fore foot not being removed quick 

 enough, the toe of the hind 3hoe knocks or clicks against the shoe of the 

 fore foot ; it is at such times or in a gallop across stiff ground which holds 

 the foot that the evil is likely to take place, the hind foot catching the 

 heel of the fore foot a blow, resulting in an injury likely to produce suppura- 

 tion, and, if not judiciously treated, ending in quittor cr false quarter. The 

 treatment required is to (with care and gentleness) clean the wound, and 

 if it is a simple clean cut apply to it with a soft brush or camel's ha>'r 

 pencil equal parts of tincture of arnica and tincture of matico, mixed, after- 

 wards binding the wound up with a linen bandage, with the part of it 

 immediately covering the wound well wetted with a mixture in equal parts 

 of Friar's balsam and camphorated oil; this must be changed in two or 

 three days, and if matter has formed apply to it the lotion of chloride of 

 zinc (p. 47). Where the wound is a torn and ragged one, bathe it with 

 this lotion : 



Lotion for Ragged Wounds. — Sulphate of copper 2dr., vinegar 2oz., 

 water 7oz., apply daily, keeping the wound covered with the balsam and 

 camphorated oil. 



P. 



Paralysis.— Horses, like all our domestic animals, are liable to 

 affections of the nervous system involving a partial or total loss of 

 power. Partial paralysis is most frequently met with. Total paralysis 



