103 



If a chronic cougli reniam.s after all tlie other symptoms have disap- 

 peared, it is advisable to give 1 dram of iodide of potassium dissolved 

 in a bucketful of drinking water one hour before feeding, three times a 

 day, for a month if necessary. Also rub in well the preparation of 

 iodide of mercury (as advised for the swollen glands) about the throat, 

 from ear to ear, and in the space betvreen the lower jaw bones. The 

 application may be repeated every third day until the part is blistered. 



SPASM OF THE LARYNX. 



This has been described by some authorities. The symptoms given 

 are : Sudden seizure by a violent fit of coughing ; the horse may reel 

 and fall, and after a few minutes recover, and be as well as ever. The 

 treatment recommended is: Give a pint of linseed oil and after it has 

 operated administer 3 drams of bromide of potassium three times a day, 

 dissolved in the drinking water, or give as a drench in about a half 

 pint of water, for a week. Then give a dram of powdered nux vomica 

 (either on the food or shaken with water as a drench) once a day for a 

 few weeks. 



CROUP AND DIPHTHERIA. 



Both of these diseases, it is claimed, afEect the horse. But such 

 cases must be rare, as veterinarians of extended exi)erience have failed 

 to recognize a single ease in their i)ractice. The sjnnptoms are so 

 much like those of inflammation of the larynx that it would be impos- 

 sible for the general reader to discriminate between them. 



ROARING. 



Horses that are affected with a chronic disease that causes a loud 

 unnatural noise in breathing are called "roarers." This class does 

 not include those affected with severe sore throat, as in these cases 

 the breathing is noisj^ only during the attack of the acute disease. 



Roaring is caused by an obstruction to the free passage of the air 

 in some part of the respiratorj"^ tract. Nasal polypi, thickening of the 

 membrane, pharyngeal polypi, deformed bones, paralysis of the wing 

 of the nostril, etc., are occasional causes. The noisy breathing of 

 horses after having been idle and put to sudden exertion is not due to 

 any disease, and is onlj^ temporary. Very often a nervous, excitable 

 horse will make a noise for a short time when started off, generally 

 caused bj-^the cramped position in which the head and neck are forced, 

 in order to hold him back. 



Many other causes may occasion temporary, intermitting, or per- 

 manent noisy respiration, but after all other causes are enumerated 

 it will be found that more than nine out of ten cases of chronic roar- 

 ing are caused by paralysis of the muscles of the larynx; and almost 

 invariably it is the muscles of the left side of the larynx that are 

 affected. 



