93 



over the cheeks. The animal has some fever, which may be easily 

 detected by placing the finger in the mouth, as the feeling of heat con- 

 veyed to the finger will be greater than natural. 



To become somewhat expert in ascertaining the changes of temiDera- 

 ture in the horse, it is only necessary to place the finger often in the 

 mouths of horses known to be healthy. After you have become accus- 

 tomed to the warmth of the mouth of the healthy animal you will have 

 no difficulty in detecting a marked increase of the temi^erature. Some 

 veterinarians become so expert in this method of examination that 

 they trust to it in preference to the use of thermometers. 



The animal may be dull ; he frequently emits a sort of sneezing snort, 

 but does not cough unless the throat is affected; he expels the air 

 forcibly through his nostrils very often in a manner that may be aptly 

 called "blowing his nose." A few days after the attack begins the 

 discharge from the nostrils changes from a watery to that of a thick 

 mvicilaginous state, of a yellowish-white color, and may be more 

 or less profuse. Often the appetite is lost, and the animal becomes 

 debilitated. 



Treatment. — This disease is not serious, but inasmuch as neglect or 

 bad treatment may cause it to run into a dangerous complication, it 

 should receive proper attention. The animal should not be worked 

 for a few days. A few days of quiet rest, with pure air and good food, 

 will be of greater benefit than medication administered while the horse 

 is excited and exposed to draughts and changes of temperature. The 

 benefit derived from the inhalation of steam can not be overestimated. 

 This is effected by holding the horse's head over a bucketful of boil- 

 ing water so that the animal will be compelled to inhale steam with 

 every inhalation of air. Stirring the hot water with a wisp of hay 

 causes the steam to arise in greater abundance. By no means adopt 

 the pernicious method of steaming — advised by some authors and prac- 

 ticed by many people — by putting the head in a bag with hot water or 

 scalded bran. Common sense would be sufficient to condemn the 

 method, if those who practice it would only think. With the head so 

 closely confined in the bag the horse is compelled to inhale over and 

 over the foul air expelled from the lungs. This is malpractice on a 

 healthy horse, and much worse when the animal is ill, for then it has 

 a greater necessity for pure air. 



The horse should be made to inhale steam four or five times a day, 

 about fifteen or tAventy minutes each time. 



Particular attention should be paid to the diet. Give bran mashes, 

 scalded oats, linseed gruel, and grass if in season. If the horse evinces 

 no desii'e for this soft diet, it is well to allow any kind of food he will 

 eat, such as hay, oats, corn, etc. 



If the animal is constipated, relieve this symptom by injections 

 (enemas) of warm water into the rectum (last gut) three or four times 

 a day, but under no circumstances administer purgative medicines. 



